TALIBAN REBELS have conquered most of Afghanistan and are insisting the U.S. complete evacuation by Aug. 31 (Shutterstock).

The original deadline of Aug. 31 to evacuate Americans and Afghans who worked with the U.S. will be observed, President Joe Biden said Tuesday.

“Every day we’re on the ground is another day that we known ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both us and allied forces and innocent civilians,” he said, according to the Associated Press.

His remarks came after a Talban spokesman said that the evacuation must be completed by next Tuesday and “no exceptions will be allowed.”

Biden is facing some domestic and international opposition to his handling of the evacuations, but Pentagon officials told the AP that they are confident the airlifts will be finished by the deadline.

According to The New York Times, some Congressional leaders doubt that’s possible.

“People are going to die, and they are going to be left behind,” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) if the deadline isn’t extended.

Blueprint for $3.5T budget passes House

A BUDGET “blueprint” for $3.5 trillion advances (Shutterstock).

On a strict party line vote, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 220-212 on Tuesday for a $3.5 trillion budget “blueprint,” advancing a major part of President Joe Biden’s plans to expand the social safety net.

According to The New York Times, the U.S. Senate has already given approval. If Biden’s spending package is approved, as expected, it will mean billions more for public education, child care, health care and more.

Democrats say the cost of those expenses will be met by higher taxes on the rich and by improving economic conditions. Republicans complain it would “explode the deficit.”

Fauci: More jabs would defeat COVID

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI getting “jabbed.”

If more Americans get inoculated against the coronavirus, the U.S. could beat COVID-19 by early 2022, said Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday.

According to Reuters.com, Fauci said, “I would like to appeal to the people who are not vaccinated to realize that we have the capability, among ourselves, to essentially cut down the time frame to getting down to the end of this pandemic.”

Fauci is the leading expert in the U.S. on infectious diseases. His comments came after the FDA on Monday gave full approval to the Pfizer vaccine.

Also in the news:

• Charlie Watts, drummer for the iconic Rolling Stones rock band, has died at the age of 80. He joined the band in 1963.
• Officials in Tennessee reported Tuesday they have found dozens of people previously declared “missing” in the wake of torrential rain and flooding in that state.