The Fox News Rundown

This Week:

President Biden announced on Thursday that U.S. troops will be coming home from Afghanistan by August 31, running ahead of schedule of the original September 11 deadline. The President defended his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan despite the Taliban surging across the country, saying he will not send "another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan with no reasonable expectation of achieving a different outcome." FOX News Washington Correspondent Rachel Sutherland and FOX News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin discuss the situation in Afghanistan and the President push to remove U.S. troops from the region.

As American forces are pulled out of Afghanistan, locally employed civilians (LECs) and their families who served the U.S. military as interpreters are being hunted and assassinated by Taliban fighters. Now, thousands of Afghan interpreters in the region are seeking asylum in the U.S. Former Afghan interpreter, Zalmay Niazy, speaks to Fox News Rundown host, Dave Anthony, to tell his story of joining the U.S. armed forces as an interpreter, the threat of deportation he's under due to an interaction he had as a child with the Taliban, and the current danger he and his family face as a result of his collaboration with American troops.

After more than a year of working from home many Americans are heading back into the office, a big transition for many. All across the U.S. there are "Help Wanted" signs everywhere you go, but businesses are having a hard time attracting workers. At the same time there are also a lot of people quitting their jobs. Rachel Sutherland speaks with Chief Economist at Moody Analytics, Mark Zandi about the job market, Americans returning to work and how it impacts the economy going forward.

As COVID-19 restrictions loosen across the United States, Americans are removing their masks and returning to concerts, large events, and professional sports. But Minor League Baseball lost 92% of all revenue in 2020 as seasons were cancelled and crowds vanished in response to the pandemic. Now, a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives have written the Minor League Baseball Relief Act to ease the financial burden of COVID-19. Fox News Congressional Correspondent, Chad Pergram, discusses the specific challenge Capitol Hill faces in addressing MiLB's need.

America's longest war will be coming to an end sooner than expected. President Biden announcing Thursday that U.S. troops will be out of Afghanistan by August 31, earlier than his original September 11 deadline. The President defending his decision to end military operations despite the Taliban advancing and getting stronger in the region, saying he will not send "another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan with no reasonable expectation of achieving a different outcome." House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) weighs in on the situation in Afghanistan and what he wants to see from the President when it comes to dealing with America's enemies around the world.

In the month of July two billionaires are set to take flight aboard the spacecrafts built by their respective companies. Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is set to launch the VSS Unity on July 11th, just nine days before Jeff Bezos takes off in Blue Origin's rocket, New Shepard. As the two men prepare to launch into space, they are creating new buzz surrounding the burgeoning space tourism industry. Former NASA astronaut and engineering professor at Columbia University Mike Massimino joins to break down what the future of space tourism may look like, the safety of passengers and crew who board commercial space vessels and how the partnership between NASA and private industry could revolutionize space travel.

Don't miss the good news with Tonya J. Powers.

Plus, commentary by former White House speechwriter and FOX News contributor Marc Thiessen.

Earlier this week, Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab told a room full of ambassadors and diplomats that his country is just days away 'from a social explosion' appealing for help from the United Nations and other countries in the region. The Lebanese currency has lost ninety percent of its value and almost eighty percent of households don't have enough food to eat. And while the situation is already a tragedy, there are real political concerns over outside influences getting control. FOX's Trey Yingst speaks with Dr. Ibrahim Hazboun, a Senior FOX News Producer, who says the international community is right to be concerned about a power vacuum in Lebanon.

In the beginning of 2020 the idea that COVID-19 originated from a lab in Wuhan China was dismissed by many scientists as a conspiracy. Now the theory that the virus started from a lab leak has gained a lot of traction, with many calling for an investigation and for China to be held accountable. Former State Department investigator and Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute David Asher explains why the coronavirus origins theory cannot be ruled out. He also discusses the evidence he uncovered that points to the virus originating from a lab instead of an animal host and what the U.S. should be doing to get China to be transparent about what happened and to prepare for future pandemics.

 

Following the recent withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban has been on the offensive in the region, taking control of 193 districts and seizing a large cache of weapons from captured Afghan military outposts. As American forces are pulled out of Afghanistan, locally employed civilians (LECs) and their families who served the U.S. military as interpreters are being hunted and assassinated by Taliban fighters. Many members of Congress and the U.S. military are speaking out, demanding we help our allies to safety. With thousands of Afghan interpreters left in the region seeking asylum in the U.S. former Afghan interpreter Zalmay Niazy joins to tell his story of joining the U.S. armed forces as an interpreter, the perils he and his family face as a result of his collaboration with American troops and the current danger he faces being under threat of deportation due to an interaction he had as a child with the Taliban.

 

Plus, commentary by FOX Nation host Tomi Lahren.

As the United States starts to return to pre-pandemic living, a record number of employees are leaving their jobs to seek other career and life opportunities. Employers are struggling to keep a workforce that has different feelings on a work-life balance. FOX's Trey Yingst speaks with Debi Yadegari, Founder and CEO of 'Villyge', about what is being called the 'great resignation' and what factors are driving it.

President Biden is ramping up his vaccination initiative in hopes of preventing another coronavirus spike across the U.S. from the Delta variant and the more recent Lambda variant. Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Fox News Medical contributor, Dr. Marty Makary joins today to discuss how concerned Americans should be about the threat of the new COVID-19 variants and what protocols we should take as we prepare to return to school or the office.

Jesse Watters has saved the world. At least that is what the co-host of FOX News' "The Five" claims in his new book, "How I Saved The World." Watters joins the Rundown to discuss his career at FOX, some of the more contentious confrontations he experienced while reporting for the news network, and why he is not bothered by his critics. Watters also discusses an awkward confrontation with former Vice President Al Gore and looks back at "The Five" as it celebrates its tenth anniversary.

Plus, commentary by Guy Benson, host of the Guy Benson Show.

Both China and the United States, two of the largest economies in the world, are calling on their financial institutions to put more regulations on the trading of cryptocurrencies. Proposed regulations have been proven to spook investors but government interest can go a long way in legitimizing the currency. FOX's Trey Yingst speaks with David Sacco, of New Haven University, about the impact of cryptocurrency regulation and advice on investing in the volatile market.

It may still be a little early to start talking about the 2022 midterm elections but a lot will be riding on it. With the Democrats only having a slim majority in both the House and Senate, Republicans are looking to flip seats and take back control. The state of Florida has some big races this year, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is running for re-election as the incumbent and after leading his state through the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Val Demmings (D-FL) is challenging Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) for his seat in 2022 as well. National Journal Politics Editor and FOX News Radio Political Analyst Josh Kraushaar joins to break down some of the Florida races and where the state could be leaning.

What a difference a year makes. Last summer, the travel industry was nearly in tatters as COVID-related restrictions and fears kept most people home. Now, cooped up  Americans are eager to get out and rushing to book flights, hotel rooms and rental cars. But while the travel industry booms and the overall outlook is good, there are challenges ahead. Roger Dow, President and CEO of U.S. Travel Association, explains despite vacationers spending big bucks again, the lack of business travelers, increasing gas prices, and labor shortages are stalling a full bounce back. 

Plus, commentary from FOX News Contributor Kat Timpf.

The Vatican has said Pope Francis is in "good general condition, alert and breathing on his own" after undergoing an intestinal procedure on the colon. And, a Judge in Lebanon leading a new investigation into last year's devastating explosion at the port of Beirut wants to focus on powerful politicians and security officials for questioning. FOX's Trey Yingst speaks to Yonat Friling, FOX News Field Producer, about these stories and others developing around the world.

As a nationwide debate over history and how it should be taught to children in schools heats up, FOX News' Brian Kilmeade remains passionate about the subject and loves exploring our nation's most overlooked or misunderstood figures and events. In the latest episodes of his FOX Nation special, "What Made America Great," Kilmeade takes a deep dive into several  new subjects including the rich history of Miami's Little Havana and the mysterious Greenbrier in West Virginia that was built for congress as a fallout shelter during the Cold War. The FOX & Friends co-host and FOX Talk host joins the Rundown to discuss his Nation special and why understanding our country's past is so important.

In April 2020 Broadway star Nick Cordero was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was admitted to the hospital and battled the virus for three months. Cordero was placed on a ventilator, suffered mini-strokes, lung infections and had his leg amputated until finally succumbing to the virus last July at the age of 41, leaving behind his wife and son, who was just one year old at the time. Now, his wife Amanda Kloots is honoring her late husband in her new memoir "Live Your Life." Kloots joins today's 'Rundown' to share why she decided to write the book, her decision to share what she was going through on social media and how it helped her through that time.

Plus, commentary from former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, host of the "Jason in the House" podcast.