The Taliban advance

Senate Democrats' $3.5 trillion plan; the Taliban is claiming new territory in Afghanistan.

Senate Democrats have released their budget framework; the Taliban are claiming new territory in Afghanistan.    Tonight's Sentences was written by Gabby Birenbaum. TOP NEWS The $3.5 trillion budget plan     Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released the text of the $3.5 trillion budget framework that Democratic committee chairs will be tasked with turning into legislation. [Vox / Andrew Prokop] The budget proposes spending targets for a variety of antipoverty and climate-focused programs, including universal pre-kindergarten and free community college, reducing prescription drug costs, and investments in public housing and clean energy development. [NPR / Kelsey Snell] The resolution includes a number of priorities of Budget Chair Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), including an expansion of Medicare benefits, stronger laws to protect organized labor, and the creation of a civilian climate corps. [The New York Times / Emily Cochrane] On the immigration front, the framework recommends $107 billion for the Judiciary Committee to create a pathway to permanent status for "qualified immigrants," though it does not specify who that covers. [The Hill / Rebecca Beitsch] The budget resolution does not address raising the debt limit, creating a game of political chicken with Senate Republicans, who say they will not work with Democrats to do so. [Politico / Jennifer Scholtes and Caitlin Emma] Schumer has tasked each committee with turning in the text of their pieces of legislation by September 15. With a 50-50 margin, each individual senator's support will be critical to the bill's passage. [Axios / Alayna Treene]  The bill would then go to the House, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the bipartisan infrastructure bill will sit until the budget resolution arrives, tying their fates together. [NBC News / Rebecca Shabad] Taliban advancing in Afghanistan The US does not officially withdraw from Afghanistan until August 31, but the Taliban is already engaging in an aggressive campaign to take back territory, having captured more than half of Afghan districts. [The New York Times / Christina Goldblum and Thomas Gibbons-Neff] Over the weekend, the Taliban captured five regional capitals, including commercial hub Kunduz. [CNBC / Amanda Macias and Natasha Turak] Kabul, the nation's capital, remains under the control of the Afghan government. But the Taliban have begun carrying out an assassination campaign against government officials. [The Associated Press / Rahim Faiez] The past several years had seen conflict between the Taliban and the US-backed regional government occurring in rural provinces. But the Taliban has taken the war to the country's urban areas, leading to civilian casualties. [The Washington Post / Susannah George] The Taliban have refused calls for a ceasefire. [BBC News] MISCELLANEOUS The bipartisan infrastructure bill is expected to pass the Senate as early as Monday. [Politico / Burgess Everett and Marianne Levine] The United Nations' new climate report describes the current state of climate change as a "code red for humanity." [The Associated Press / Seth Borenstein] According to the June jobs report, average wages for restaurant and grocery workers rose to a level above $15 per hour for the first time. [The Hill / Mychael Schnell] The Tokyo Olympics held its closing ceremony Sunday, with very few athletes in attendance. [New York Magazine / Will Leitch] Support our journalism Reader contributions help keep Vox and newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work from as little as $7. Contribute VERBATIM "When we took the majority in the Senate earlier this year, the American people entrusted us with a great responsibility: to make their lives better. I am happy to report that we are making great progress towards that goal." [Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on Democrats' budget framework] LISTEN TO THIS     Vox's Sean Illing talks with former Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron about the state of journalism. They discuss Baron's post-retirement reflections on both the Post and the profession at large, what's gone wrong with the way news gets made in this country, and how deep the problems we're facing really are. [Spotify / Sean Illing] Read more from Vox The devastating new UN report on climate change, explained   It's time to accept that school won't be normal in the fall   The law that broke US immigration   How to fight climate despair   Brands are already marketing to Generation Alpha     This email was sent to edwardlorilla1986.paxforex@blogger.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 11, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.