Infrastructure Passes and Collapse in Afghanistan

In his first interview after voting yes on the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill, Sen. Bill ...

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In his first interview after voting yes on the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill, Sen. Bill Cassidy joins Sarah and Steve to talk about how it feels to see that bill pass the Senate. Plus, Cassidy puts on his doctor hat to talk about COVID-19. Then Steve is joined by Tom Joscelyn to discuss the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. How much longer until the Taliban seizes full control of the country? 

Show Notes:

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  1. David B.

    Cassidy gives the example of Mike Pence dealing specifically with a problem in SE Indiana (as governor) to show how governing should be done as locally as possible. In fact, this is an example of the opposite. Governing locally, this action would have been taken by county and city governments in that area, not strong-armed by the state governor for their little part of the state.

    Interesting as it seems to be an indication that Republicans have forgotten what "governing locally" even means.

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    Ben Connelly

    “You’re not that young.” Worst line from the interview although I realize that being born in 94 (or later) means you’re still pretty young and inexperienced (cough). I’ve heard worse than that in podcast interviews before though.

    I have to say, as someone opposed to the infrastructure package, I was almost swayed by Cassidy’s argument based on what the Wharton school said. If it’s true and it eventually turns into a net negative debt/deficit growth that would be a good thing. But I’m skeptical.

    As to the situation in Afghanistan, at this point there are few words. Tom and Steve’s discussion was insightful and on point. We should have stayed. It’s a travesty what has been done. The vitriol directed at people like Tom who call him a “warmonger” is disgusting. The lying by those who know the truth is immoral.

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    Andrewabranch

    Steve, if you want a humanitarian, more personal view of what has, is, and will happen in Afghanistan, you need to talk to Mindy Belz from WORLD News Group. (That brought you Harvest Prude). A lot of this is big-picture, American-centric discussion of the collapse. Mindy has developed contacts over the decades and is already hearing from them as the country collapses, particularly regarding religious minorities, I.e. Christians.

    You can put more faces to this.

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      Andrewabranch

      mbelz@worldmag.com

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        Andrewabranch

        Her tweet today:

        “Afghan-American church leaders met today and I spoke to several. With tears and sobs they recounted what they’re hearing from family now in Taliban controlled areas who 1 week ago lived free. Look around for the Afghan-Americans in your own city you can support at this time.”

        https://twitter.com/mcbelz/status/1426610227248615429?s=21

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    Justin Perry-Naw Dawg Doctrine

    Do we think Sen. Cassidy's aide made up an event to get him off the interview? Too bad, I really like him.

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    David Burke

    Mr. Hayes,
    Tom Cotton’s Op-Ed in the NYTimes last year calling for the US military to be loosed upon American citizens falls in the realm of “serious debate”?

    Really?…

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  6. Jason Runyan

    Great and informative show! What really burns me up about the Molly Hemingway's, Tucker Carlson's, Donald Trump's and other isolationists is they do nothing but complain about "nation building" and "forever wars" and stuff, and cheer when we pull out of these places, caring not a whit about the women and children now becoming Taliban sex slaves, but the have the balls (or whatever) to throw a complete fit when the consequences of Europe and eventually America get overrun with refugees from these countries! Complete hypocrites!

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    Adicesa14

    These were terrific, albeit depressing, conversations. They are illustration of an accelerating decline of American culture and leadership.

    Senator Cassidy’s description of the disfunction of Congress and the Biden agenda are disheartening. What is most astonishing, to me, is the refusal to recognize the effect of profligate spending.

    If my memory is correct, Osama Bin Laden and the bulk of Al Qaeda fighters were trapped at Tora Bora. Our forces stood aside to allow Afghan forces to apply the coup de grace. They failed, Al Qaeda escaped to Pakistan, and here we are.

    “Three Presidents in a row” wanted to get out of Afghanistan. If the Afghan government and security forces were competent that would make sense. However, that is not the case. Withdrawing without a rational plan to give the Afghans a fighting chance to resist the Taliban and Al Qaeda is perverse and disgraceful. Several days ago, Jonathan Rauch lamented the American leadership of the 1850’s. Taylor, Filmore, Pierce and Buchanan were the most abysmal consecutive American Presidents until now. Obama, Trump, and Biden give them overwhelming competition for fecklessness.

    President Biden has attempted to assuage Iran and Hamas with $’s, reviving both. Why should it be a surprise he wants to give $’s to the Taliban. Perhaps, we could provide the Taliban and Al Qaeda office space in Manhattan.

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  8. Alan

    With a nod to David French: not only was it predictable that the American people wouldn't want to pay the cost for a long-term war in Afghanistan, it was predicted (by the Taliban). We need to stop engaging in military missions that we don't have the will to see through. You go to war backed by the nation that you have, not the nation you wished you had.

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      Narwhal

      There were few Americans in the aughts who didn’t support the War in Afghanistan. I think it is arguable that if we had not invaded Iraq in the the pursuit of nonexistent WMDs then support for the War in Afghanistan would have remained much the same after the aughts. The two became conflated in the minds of some.

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  9. ROBERT

    Excellent podcast! Tom Joycelyn was brilliant in his explanations- although the story is extremely depressing.
    I do applaud Sarah for posing the question about vaccine mandates and the issues at the children's hospital. But I still think Mr Cassidy was let off the hook in his defense of no statewide mandate. He seems to make clear he has no problem with all of the current vaccine mandates that he and everyone have been subjected to our entire lives - for other diseases. But yet he can't bring himself to support the same stance on COVID vaccines? His logic of local institution decision making makes no sense compared to the spirited defense of all the other mandates that came in the podcast just before. It does not square.
    I get that you can't beat these guys to death and expect to ever have them appear again. But I think a reasonable challenge on this point was more than warranted here. At least one more attempt would have made me happier!

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  10. Zack Frank

    Sarah Isgur is a treasure for her plain (and often brutal) questions to high profile guests

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