6 current events podcasts to stay informed on the United States’ evacuation from Afghanistan

In August 2021, President Biden announced all American troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan where the U.S. has fought for 20 years. The Taliban seized control of cities and moved into Kabul, even taking over the president’s palace. Chaos ensued. Now, many Americans still in the country are trying to leave. Afghan allies continue to swarm airports in hopes of leaving the country. President Biden wants to meet August 31, 2021’s evacuation deadline. Airlifts continue.

Human rights violations have been reported. When the Taliban was last in power, women and girls’ rights were limited, and people fear this will happen again.

There is so much happening in the world right now. If you want to learn more about what’s going on in Afghanistan, we’ve rounded up some podcasts covering the latest briefings.

The Daily Punch

“The Daily Punch” is a daily news podcast updated on weekdays and hosted by journalists and authors Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman. Recent episodes presented updates on Afghanistan. On August 23, 2021, the show reported that 58,700 people have been extracted, 21,600 from Kabul alone. The House of Representatives is trying to process immigrants’ VISAs as soon as possible. Jon Hudson from The Washington Post reported that the CIA’s director Bill Burns held a secret meeting in Kabul. At Capitol Hill, Joe Biden’s intelligence assessments weren’t believed to be flawed, Jake discussed. This podcast is produced by Punchbowl News and Audacy’s Cadence13. All episodes are around 10 minutes long.

Pod Save the World

Crooked Media’s “Pod Save the World” is hosted by political commentator Tommy Vietor. From 2011-2013, Tommy was a spokesperson for President Barack Obama and the United States National Security Council. In recent episodes, Tommy unpacks the history of the war in Afghanistan. He explains President Biden’s announcement to withdraw troops, what the security looks like, and issues with processing visas. Tommy also investigates previous presidents’ roles in the war, like Trump, and how their decisions impact present events.

Up First

NPR’s “Up First” provides news reports in its daily episodes. Recent episodes spoke with evacuees and what they witnessed when leaving the base in Afghanistan. One evacuee explained food shortages were prevalent and said there is a dire lack of hygiene equipment and toilets. In addition, there are not enough TSA staff members present to process all who are leaving. In a briefing, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, doubts the U.S. will meet the deadline to evacuate everyone in time. Most episodes are under 15 minutes in length. For more politically-heavy news and commentary, you might also want to check out “The NPR Politics Podcast.”

Global News Podcast

BBC’s “Global News Podcast” reports on updates in its daily episodes, all under 30 minutes. In recent episodes, listeners hear about The UN’s Human Rights Chief, Michelle Bachelet, who received verifiable reports of human rights violations in Afghanistan. Taliban members on the ground have reported mixed messages, specifically regarding women and girls’ rights in returning to school. They’ve also been hearing about soldiers’ executions. At Kabul’s airport, thousands of Afghans are gathering in hopes to escape via military flights. Clips of people interviewed in the airport are played.

5 Things

USA Today‘s “5 Things” runs down the day’s biggest stories. With daily weekday episodes under 15 minutes long, you can surely stay to speed with the news. In a recent episode, USA Today reported that the Taliban warned against President Biden’s extension of his deadline to leave the country. Afghan refugees arriving in the US are being housed in military bases. A gunfight recently broke out in Kabul’s airport.

Morning Wire

The Daily Wire presents “Morning Wire.” The podcast is hosted by Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief, John Bickley, and co-host Georgia Howe. Recent episodes explored America’s history in Afghanistan. Other news updates reported on the Taliban’s ultimatum on the evacuation deadline. Increases in violence were explained. Another recent episode reported on Al Qaeda’s impact in the Middle East.