#GoodMorningDC. Here’s the news you are waking up to this Thursday morning, April 15, 2021.
Good Morning DC! It’s Thursday, and since everyone is dragging their way towards the end of the workweek, we will keep today’s brief short.
This morning, I was a guest on Mooch FM, a popular podcast of Anthony Scaramucci. We talked about free speech and cancel culture, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.
President Biden committed yesterday to do what his predecessors could not: end the war in Afghanistan. The U.S. troops will withdraw by September 11, but does the American exit from the region also mean that the conflict is over? That’s a million-dollar question.
Trump wanted 2,500 U.S. troops withdrawn by May 1, an initial deadline he agreed with the Taliban while he was in office. Biden has a different deadline in mind. While he will finalize what Trump started, Biden will also go down the memory lane branded as the one who did it. Naturally, he won’t be giving any credit to the “former guy,” as he likes to call the former president.
Queen Elizabeth is back at her royal duties across the pond, just four days after her husband, Prince Philip, passed away. Now, that’s the example of dedication and mental strength, by the woman who never complained about anything no matter what she had to go through. She just kept carrying on.
In Denmark, during the press conference on the decision to stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Head of Denmark’s medicines agency, Tanja Erichsen, fainted in front of the press. She was taken to the hospital and is feeling better right now.
What will Biden do today?
This morning at 10:15 am. Biden and Harris will receive the Daily Brief.
At half-past noon, Biden and Harris will dine together at the White House.
At 2:00 pm, President Biden and VP Harris are scheduled to meet with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Executive Committee.
At 12:30 pm, Press Secretary Jen Psaki will brief the press.
Meanwhile, on the Hill…
At 10:30 am, Anthony Fauci and Rochelle Walkensku will testify before an Oversight subcommittee.
At 10:30 am, Democratic Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal will talk about gun violence.
At 10:45 am, Speaker Nancy Pelosi will hold her weekly news conference.
At 11:30 am, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will hold his weekly news conference.
And that’s a wrap for this Thursday morning, April 15, 2021. Thanks for waking up with Good Morning DC, our daily brief with a point of view. Good Morning DC will be back tomorrow to bring you the latest first.