Covid Nation: The Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, giving health authorities hope that vaccine-hesitant people will take the shots and give businesses, schools, and the states the backing to enforce vaccine mandates.

  Within hours of the announcement the Pentagon, CVS, the State University of New York and New York City schools, as well as other entities announced that they would enforce vaccination requirements.

  More than half the 170 million people vaccinated in the US have taken the Pfizer shots, but until now it has been authorized only for emergency use. Amazingly, millions of Americans have refused the vaccine because it was not approved even though its use in the real world provides far more proof of safety than any laboratory study.

   Covid-19 hospitalizations for unvaccinated people cost the US health system $2.3 billion in June and July alone, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

The Fall of Kabul: As the evacuation continues from the airport in Kabul, Taliban leaders have objected to the notion that the operation might continue beyond August 31^st, warning that there will be “consequences.”

  The Washington Post reports that CIA Director William Burns held a secret meeting in Kabul yesterday with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in the highest-level face-to-face sit-down between the Taliban and the Biden administration since the fall of the country.

  The evacuation numbers are huge. The US pulled out 10,400 in a 24-hour period between Sunday and Monday. Roughly 50,000 people have left. But as Afghans huddle around the airport, the effort now is being focused on getting out US citizens and holders of Green Cards.

  The NY Times reports that the State Department denies Afghans are getting stiffed, quoting a statement saying, “Our overriding priority remains to put as many people as possible on departing planes as quickly as possible.”

  But with the Taliban manning checkpoints in the streets and going door to door looking for people who worked with the Americans, many Afghans who want to get out are locked in their homes.

The Spin Rack: New York’s Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in as governor just after midnight, replacing the disgraced Andrew Cuomo. — In his final hours as governor, Cuomo commuted the life sentence of David Gilbert, a member of the radical left Weather Underground involved in the infamous 1981 Brinks armored car robbery that resulted in the deaths of two cops and a security guard. The state parole board must consider his release. — A clash between right wing Proud Boys and anti-fascist protesters in Portland, Oregon Sunday night, resulted in a trade of gunfire. No one was hit and a man seen on video firing a pistol was arrested. Portland has long been a hotbed for extremist knuckleheads of every persuasion. — My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell now says Donald Trump will re-ascend to the presidency by the turn of the year. Previously he predicted August 13^th. — After 14 years on the market and $148 million knocked off the price, the opulent Los Angeles estate of the late newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst is selling for $47 million. The chandeliers and sconces are not included. 

The Obit Page: Legendary hockey player Rod Gilbert, who spent his career with the New York Rangers playing 1,000 games and scoring more than 100 goals, has died at age 80.

  Gilbert’s career was in doubt before he got to the Rangers. He had spinal fusion surgery for an injury suffered when he was still playing with the juniors and went under the knife again after joining the Rangers. He went on to become part of what was known as the “Goal-a-Game” line and had four seasons with at least 80 goals and assists. 

Oh Captain, My Captain: As the old saying goes, if you want friends in politics, get a dog. 

  The Albany Times Union newspaper reports that several days ago when the homeless former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo moved to his sister’s house in Westchester, he left behind his rescue dog, Captain, a German Shepard mix, at the governor’s mansion.

   The newspaper reported that it appeared Cuomo was looking for someone to take the dog permanently, but an angry representative said it would only be temporary while Cuomo takes a vacation. Cuomo resigned in disgrace just before midnight last night and heads into the world homeless, mate less, at least temporarily dogless, and therefore, friendless.

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