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Taliban takes over U.S. war chest given to Afghan military

The Taliban just gained a massive new war chest, complete with U.S.-made Humvees, planes, helicopters, night-vision goggles and drones, Reuters reports.

State of play: Video shows militants inspecting lines of vehicles and opening crates of new firearms, communications gear and even military drones. Some of the equipment was given by the U.S.


  • U.S. officials aren't just worried about the Taliban using the weapons against civilians. They're also concerned the equipment could be seized by ISIS or handed over to China or Russia.

Details: The equipment includes over 2,000 armored vehicles, and up to 40 aircrafts, Reuters notes, citing an intelligence assessment.

The Biden administration is considering launching airstrikes against the larger equipment, officials told Reuters.

  • Yes, but: They also fear that such a move could provoke the Taliban at a time where the U.S. is focusing on evacuating people from Afghanistan.

What they're saying: "Everything that hasn't been destroyed is the Taliban's now," one U.S. official told Reuters.

  • "We have already seen Taliban fighters armed with U.S.-made weapons they seized from the Afghan forces. This poses a significant threat to the United States and our allies," Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Reuters.

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Kevin McCarthy gears up to run for Speaker in 2022

Surprising GOP gains in House races Tuesday and the addition of women to their caucus appears to have cleared the field of challengers to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House leadership sources tell Axios.

Why it matters: That clears the path for him to run for Speaker of the House in 2022 if Republicans are successful in a push to retake the majority in the midterms.

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New York City E-Race Grand Prix shows potential of electric vehicles

BMW's Maximilian Günther and Jaguar's Sam Bird captured the checkered flags at the thrilling New York City E-Prix racing doubleheader in Brooklyn over the weekend. But the real winners, race organizers hope, are electric vehicles themselves.

Why it matters: ABB FIA Formula E's all-electric street racing series, held in some of the world's most iconic cities, is meant to showcase EV technology in the very places electric cars are likely to have the biggest impact.

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U.S. Capitol Police conducting "active bomb threat investigation" near Library of Congress

U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday said they were conducting an "active bomb threat investigation" after reports of a "suspicious vehicle" near the Library of Congress.

The latest: The Library of Congress and several Capitol offices buildings in the area have been evacuated, AP reported. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also responding to the scene.

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FTC accuses Facebook of "buy or bury" scheme in new antitrust complaint

The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday took a second shot at alleging Facebook is an illegal monopoly in a new complaint that accuses the social media company of buying up potential competitors or thwarting their access to the platform.

Why it matters: The FTC, now led by Big Tech critic Lina Khan, is trying to save its case against Facebook after a judge dismissed its first attempt.

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