Biden bets infrastructure will build the bridge to get over Afghanistan

President Joe Biden came out nearly five hours late on Tuesday to deliver remarks on the situation in Afghanistan and promptly began talking about infrastructure — a possible preview of how he plans to turn the page on a messy withdrawal.

Biden appeared after the White House confirmed the United States would stick with its original Aug. 31 withdrawal date amid increasing concerns among allies and a bipartisan group of lawmakers about whether that timeline will be adequate for evacuations. Hours earlier, the head of the CIA met with top Taliban officials as rumors of an extension flew, to no avail.