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defeated the recall attempt Tuesday night by a margin wider than thought possible a month ago, landing on a winning message that energized his base while he laid the groundwork for 2022 voter outreach in battleground areas as he is up for reelection. Republicans must quickly regroup and assess their chances at defeating a newly emboldened Newsom at the same time they strategize to score wins in congressional and downballot races. The recall gave rise to conservative talk-show host Larry Elder’s political career, and he is now the California Republican Party's flag-bearer less than nine months before the June primary. Elder drew more than five times as many votes as his nearest Republican rival, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, in the initial vote tally. While good for Elder, Tuesday’s election suggests it’s even better for Newsom. The Democratic governor effectively framed the recall as a head-to-head race against Elder and tethered the GOP candidate to former President Donald Trump, who remains deeply unpo[CENSORED]r in the state. As of Wednesday, 64 percent of voters chose to keep Newsom in office. Newsom defeats the California recall SharePlay Video California counties have processed nearly 9.2 million ballots so far, and it won't be clear until Thursday how many are left to count statewide. The state allows seven days for ballots to arrive in election offices as long as they're postmarked by Election Day, and the state elections chief is giving counties until Thursday to give an estimate on outstanding ballots. Here are five things to watch in the coming months: The Elder conundrum for Republicans Elder was such a gift to Newsom that even many Republicans acknowledged he was tanking what little shot the GOP had at recalling the governor. But it was Elder, easily portrayed by Newsom as a Donald Trump clone, whom the Republican base loved. Faulconer and other more moderate Republicans didn’t stand a chance. In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2 to 1, the answer would seem to involve running a Republican who could peel off some Democratic and independent votes — and also have enough money to self-finance a credible campaign. That might not work, anyway, in a state as Democratic as California. Meg Whitman lost in 2010, after all. And in the modern GOP, there may not be another chance. After Tuesday, Elder is the undeniably the party’s standard-bearer in California. “Elder can completely hijack this altar next year for his own purposes, whatever they may be,” said Rob Stutzman, a GOP political strategist in California. If he runs again, Stutzman said, “it will further delay a serious attempt at a comeback for California Republicans." Other Republicans fear Elder could hamper voter outreach to women, Asian Americans and Latinos. The radio personality's 30 years of controversial remarks provided Newsom with perfect fodder to tie the party to Trump. Elder: 'We may have lost the battle but we are going to win the war' SharePlay Video Moderate Republicans believe they have a good shot next year at unseating Newsom-appointed Attorney General Rob Bonta, either with Sacramento prosecutor Anne Marie Schubert, an independent, or with Los Angeles Republican Nathan Hochman. And Lanhee Chen, a moderate and respected GOP policy expert who’s worked for both Democratic and GOP presidents, is seen as the party's best shot at a statewide office as he runs for state controller. But if Elder defines the California Republican agenda, he could hurt the party's downticket chances.

A mouse, plural mice, is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (Mus musculus). Mice are also po[CENSORED]r as pets. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are locally common. They are known to invade homes for food and shelter. Mice are typically distinguished from rats by their size. Generally, when a muroid rodent is discovered, its common name includes the term mouse if it is smaller, or rat if it is larger. The common terms rat and mouse are not taxonomically specific. Typical mice are classified in the genus Mus, but the term mouse is not confined to members of Mus and can also apply to species from other genera such as the deer mouse, Peromyscus. Domestic mice sold as pets often differ substantially in size from the common house mouse. This is attributable to breeding and different conditions in the wild. The best-known strain of mouse is the white lab mouse. It has more uniform traits that are appropriate to its use in research. Cats, wild dogs, foxes, birds of prey, snakes and even certain kinds of arthropods have been known to prey heavily upon mice. Despite this, mice po[CENSORED]tions remain plentiful. Due to its remarkable adaptability to almost any environment, the mouse is one of the most successful mammalian genera living on Earth today. In certain contexts, mice can be considered vermin. Vermin are a major source of crop damage,[1] as they are known to cause structural damage and spread disease. Mice spread disease through their feces and are often carriers of parasites.[2] In North America, breathing dust that has come in contact with mouse excrement has been linked to hantavirus, which may lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Primarily nocturnal[3] animals, mice compensate for their poor eyesight with a keen sense of hearing. They depend on their sense of smell to locate food and avoid predators.[4] In the wild, mice are known to build intricate burrows. These burrows have long entrances and are equipped with escape tunnels. In at least one species, the architectural design of a burrow is a genetic trait.[5]

The new Monster represents all the essence of Ducati in the lightest, most compact and essential form possible. You can already guess it from the name: Monster, nothing else. The design of the new Monster is exactly what you might expect from the sport naked par excellence, but in an even more cutting-edge and modern guise. Slinky yet aggressive curves. Classic details with a modern twist. A design that aims to offer pure Monster-style emotion. A real concentration of style, sport and fun that will make you want to get rid of the superfluous and focus only on what counts, sheer riding pleasure. You can be sure to improve as a rider, experience intense emotions and enjoy yourself every time you climb on board. MONSTER AR EXPERIENCE Discover the new Monster in Augmented Reality You only need a smartphone to visualize the new Ducati Monster in 1:1 scale wherever you like it. PLAY WITH AUGMENTED REALITY The new Monster is LIGHTWEIGHT COMPACT SLEEK SPORTY AND FUN Lightweight and compact. Agile and sleek. The chassis is an aluminium front frame and contributes to to maintaining the dry weight at just 166 kg. And lightness is key to achieving a bike that is easy to ride, handle, whilst being fast and above all fun.

Banned athletics coach Alberto Salazar's four-year suspension has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). The 63-year-old was banned two years ago for a series of doping violations by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) but appealed against the decision. ADVERTISEMENT Salazar ran the Nike Oregon Project (NOP), based in Beaverton, Oregon. It was established in 2001 and was the home of British four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah. Farah has not been accused of doping, and left the Oregon Project in 2017. A BBC Panorama programme in 2015 focusing on Salazar and the NOP prompted a four-year investigation by Usada and a two-year court battle behind closed doors. It eventually resulted in bans for both Salazar and Nike endocrinologist Dr Jeffrey Brown, announced in October 2019. The appeals of Salazar and Brown, who was also banned for four years, were heard virtually over seven days in March earlier this year. A full report by Cas, which has upheld both bans, is due to be published within days. The inside story of Nike Oregon Project founder's downfall Panorama: Alberto Salazar's spectacular fall from grace Alberto Salazar celebrates with Galen Rupp and Mo Farah at the London 2012 Olympics Salazar (centre) celebrates with Galen Rupp (left) and Mo Farah (right) at the London 2012 Olympics Background - Salazar's downfall The investigation into Salazar began after a BBC Panorama programme in 2015. UK Athletics (UKA), the sport's UK governing body, conducted its own review into the claims, and gave Farah the green light to continue working with Cuban-born Salazar. Doping charges against Salazar and Dr Brown were brought by Usada in June 2017. The pair contested the charges, supported by Nike-paid lawyers, and the case went to the American Arbitration Association. Farah announced he was leaving Salazar in October 2017, the same year he was knighted, but denied his decision was to do with the doping claims. During his time at the NOP, 5,000m and 10,000m runner Farah won six world titles and four Olympic gold medals. An independent panel found Salazar and Brown possessed and trafficked a banned performance-enhancing substance and administered or attempted to administer a prohibited method to multiple track and field athletes. It added that Salazar "tampered and/or attempted to tamper with the doping control process". The panel also said Salazar and Brown "communicated repeatedly" about the athletes of the NOP performance and medical conditions, exchanging information without any apparent formal authorisation by the athletes at the NOP or distinction between Dr Brown's role as an athlete's physician and NOP consultant. Usada chief executive Travis Tygart praised athletes for having the "courage to speak out and ultimately expose the truth".

Titanic, the British luxury passenger liner underwent its sea trials in early April, after which the ship was declared seaworthy and soon after it took its first and last voyage on April 10., 1912. The 882.5 feet (269 metres) long and about 92.5 feet (28.2 metres) wide ship was known for its oppulence and with its safety features was considered 'unsinkable'. Onboard were the millionare's of US, a number of prominent and wealthy people, including American businessman Benjamin Guggenheim and British journalist William Thomas Stead some 2,200 people, approximately 1,300 of whom were passengers. It is believed John Jacob Astor IV, the richest man in the world at the time of his death. Here are some interesting facts about Titanic that will blow you mind The Titanic had 16 compartments. The ship’s builders claimed that four of the compartments could be flooded without endangering the ship's buoyancy. The system led many to claim that the Titanic was unsinkable. A theory has it that the crew didn't spot the iceberg in time because they didn't have binoculars as they were locked in a cabinet that no one had a key to. Some belive Titanic was cursed by tragedy from the beginning of its journey as eight people alone died during the ship's construction. Titanic the movie by James Cameron priced more to produce than it cost to build the Titanic, even when adjusted for inflation. The remaing survivors of Titanic passed in 2009. They were just two months old during the journey and was wrapped ina sank and then placed on a lifeboat. The large area that was used to construct the liner, Titanic than became a filming location for the famoous HBO series; The Game of Thrones. The remains of the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean that were found after a top-secret Cold War military mission was launched in 1985 will most likely disappear by the year 2030. It was reported that the Titanic II, a modern replica of the ill-fated ship that sank in the Atlantic, will make its maiden voyage while retracing the precise route of the original ship in 2022. The Titanic II, believed to cost of approximately $500 million, notably will have room for 2,400 passengers and 900 crew members, just like the original Titanic. However, the ship will be equipped with modern navigation and safety technology, including an adequate number of lifeboats.

https://edition.cnn.com/ Biden and UK to help Australia acquire nuclear submarines in new pushback on China By Kevin Liptak and Maegan Vazquez, CNN Updated 2201 GMT (0601 HKT) September 15, 2021 Biden announces trilateral partnership with UK and Australia (KCNA) Long-range Cruise Missiles Newly Developed by Academy of Defence Science Successfully Test-fired on Sept 11 and Sept 12 State media: North Korea tests long-range cruise missiles The J. Edgar Hoover Building of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seen on April 03, 2019 in Washington, DC. Saudi government reacts to released 9/11 documents For some Kenyans, a precious resource becomes a food source Who really benefits from China's crackdown on multiple industries? Hear how Haitian DJ wants to change the narrative about the country China youth culver education reform pkg Beijing's sweeping changes to social order are po[CENSORED]r with some. Here's why In this photo taken from video released by Belarusian KGB, State TV and Radio Company of Belarus on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, Belarusian KGB officers detain Russian men in a sanitarium outside in Minsk, Belarus. Belarusian officials said that more than 30 detained employees of private Russian military contractor Wagner are facing a criminal probe on charges of plotting terror attacks in Belarus amid a presidential election campaign. (Belarusian KGB, State TV and Radio Company of Belarus via AP) Inside an extraordinary plot to lure suspected war criminals out of Russia Political activist and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, Nnamdi Kanu (L), wearing a Jewish prayer shawl, speaks to veterans of the Nigerian civil war in his garden at his house in Umuahia, southeast Nigeria, on May 26, 2017, before commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the war on May 30. The war was triggered when the Igbo people, the main ethnic group in the southeast, declared an independent breakaway state, the Republic of Biafra. / AFP PHOTO / STEFAN HEUNIS (Photo credit should read STEFAN HEUNIS/AFP via Getty Images) Biafra separatist movement resurfaces in unlikely place Biden announces trilateral partnership with UK and Australia CNN's Becky Anderson sits down with Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan for a wide ranging interview. Rejecting accusations of tacit support for the Taliban, Khan spoke about opening up the airways to Kabul and an aid route -- as well as relations with the US and the growing influence with China. 'It could go to chaos': Hear Pakistani PM's concern about Afghanistan South Korea tests missiles in response to North Korea's launch Afghan Pilots Blurred Stranded Afghan military pilots on the move toward freedom North Korea leader Kim Jong Un (C) attends a paramilitary parade held to mark the 73rd founding anniversary of the republic at Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang in this undated image supplied by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on September 9, 2021. KCNA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA. Photos show North Korea testing missiles as Kim Jong Un re-emerges thinner New debate over Afghan women's attire sparks trend on Twitter British royal family hit by two scandals in one week 'It's extremely disturbing': CNN reporter reacts to latest deadly rape in India (KCNA) Long-range Cruise Missiles Newly Developed by Academy of Defence Science Successfully Test-fired on Sept 11 and Sept 12 State media: North Korea tests long-range cruise missiles The J. Edgar Hoover Building of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seen on April 03, 2019 in Washington, DC. Saudi government reacts to released 9/11 documents For some Kenyans, a precious resource becomes a food source Who really benefits from China's crackdown on multiple industries? Hear how Haitian DJ wants to change the narrative about the country China youth culver education reform pkg Beijing's sweeping changes to social order are po[CENSORED]r with some. Here's why In this photo taken from video released by Belarusian KGB, State TV and Radio Company of Belarus on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, Belarusian KGB officers detain Russian men in a sanitarium outside in Minsk, Belarus. Belarusian officials said that more than 30 detained employees of private Russian military contractor Wagner are facing a criminal probe on charges of plotting terror attacks in Belarus amid a presidential election campaign. (Belarusian KGB, State TV and Radio Company of Belarus via AP) Inside an extraordinary plot to lure suspected war criminals out of Russia Political activist and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, Nnamdi Kanu (L), wearing a Jewish prayer shawl, speaks to veterans of the Nigerian civil war in his garden at his house in Umuahia, southeast Nigeria, on May 26, 2017, before commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the war on May 30. The war was triggered when the Igbo people, the main ethnic group in the southeast, declared an independent breakaway state, the Republic of Biafra. / AFP PHOTO / STEFAN HEUNIS (Photo credit should read STEFAN HEUNIS/AFP via Getty Images) Biafra separatist movement resurfaces in unlikely place Biden announces trilateral partnership with UK and Australia CNN's Becky Anderson sits down with Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan for a wide ranging interview. Rejecting accusations of tacit support for the Taliban, Khan spoke about opening up the airways to Kabul and an aid route -- as well as relations with the US and the growing influence with China. 'It could go to chaos': Hear Pakistani PM's concern about Afghanistan South Korea tests missiles in response to North Korea's launch Afghan Pilots Blurred Stranded Afghan military pilots on the move toward freedom North Korea leader Kim Jong Un (C) attends a paramilitary parade held to mark the 73rd founding anniversary of the republic at Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang in this undated image supplied by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on September 9, 2021. KCNA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA. Photos show North Korea testing missiles as Kim Jong Un re-emerges thinner New debate over Afghan women's attire sparks trend on Twitter British royal family hit by two scandals in one week 'It's extremely disturbing': CNN reporter reacts to latest deadly rape in India (CNN)President Joe Biden on Wednesday unveiled a new effort to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, a major step toward countering China as he works to build international backing for his approach to Beijing. The announcement came as part of a new trilateral partnership among the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom that the three countries' leaders jointly revealed Wednesday afternoon. "The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom have long been faithful and capable partners and we're even closer today," the President said. "Today, we're taking another historic step to deepen and formalize cooperation among all three of our nations, because we all recognize the imperative of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific over the long term." The partnership kicks off what is expected to be a flurry of diplomatic engagements for Biden this autumn, from next week's United Nations meetings to a White House summit of Asian leaders to October's Group of 20 talks in Italy. Underpinning his efforts is a desire to rally the West and US partners in Asia in the battle between "autocracy versus democracy," one of the defining objectives of his presidency. Biden has made countering China a central aspect of his foreign policy as tensions grow over the South China Sea and Taiwan, and has said he wants American allies on board. The new partnership between the US, UK and Australia -- three English-speaking maritime democracies -- is not specifically about China, officials insisted ahead of the announcement. Instead, they said the three countries would hold a schedule of meetings over the coming months to coordinate on cyber issues, advanced technologies and defense in a bid to better meet modern-day security challenges. The new partnership is called AUKUS, pronounced "aw-kiss." Yet it is the move toward establishing nuclear submarine capability in Australia, which officials said will allow the country to operate at a vastly higher level militarily, that will amount to the center of the announcement. Nuclear submarines are able to maneuver at greater speeds and endurance, and more stealthily, than conventional ones, which must surface more often. "This allows Australia to play at a much higher level and to augment American capabilities," a senior administration official said ahead of the announcement. "This is about maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific." Biden, during Wednesday's announcement, also maintained that the establishment of AUKUS is necessary because "we need to be able to address both the current strategic environment in the region and how it may evolve." "Because the future of each of our nations and indeed the world depends on a free and open Indo-Pacific, enduring and flourishing in the decades ahead. This is about investing in our greatest strength, our alliances, and updating them to better meet the threats of today and tomorrow," the President added. 'This technology is extremely sensitive' Top officials from Australia were in Washington on Wednesday meeting with their counterparts, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, ahead of the formal announcement. During remarks Wednesday evening, Biden announced that Austin would lead efforts for the US government in close collaboration with the State Department and Department of Energy. American officials said the details of the new partnership had been closely held as they were developed over the past weeks and months, but that other allies and government stakeholders would be briefed on the specifics in the coming days. The US and UK plan to dispatch technical and strategic teams to identify the best pathway for Australia to acquire nuclear submarines over the next 18 months. It wasn't clear what the new plan means for a $90 billion deal Australia already made with France for conventional submarines. American officials described the effort to assist the country with nuclear propulsion as an exceedingly rare step between allies, undertaken only once previously, that in some ways goes against established US practice. "This technology is extremely sensitive. This is, frankly, an exception to our policy in many respects," the official said. It was necessary, they said, in order to send a message of reassurance to countries in Asia. It comes amid rising tensions between the US and China, who are maneuvering to limit each others' global influence. US officials insisted the intent of the new partnership was not to challenge China specifically. "This partnership is not aimed or about any one country, it's about advancing our strategic interests, upholding the international rules based order, and promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," the official said. Uniting allies against China Still, the announcement is the latest step by the US to push back against China's military and technological rise. Next week, Biden will host an in-person summit of the QUAD partnership of Japan, Australia and India — another grouping viewed as a way to assert American leadership in Asia. He has also sought to engage other Asian leaders, and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Singapore and Vietnam late last month. Last week, Biden held a 90-minute telephone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, their first direct communication in seven months. Officials described the conversation as "familiar" and "candid," but said Biden did not directly raise the new strategic partnership with Australia and the UK. Biden on Tuesday denied reports that Xi, in their phone call, turned down an invitation to meet in person. US officials say they still hope to set up an in-person meeting between the two leaders, but aren't sure it will occur on the sidelines of the G20 at the end of October. That is primarily because Xi has not confirmed he will physically attend the summit, which is being held in Rome. Xi has not left China in roughly 600 days, since before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. It's possible Xi participates in the summit virtually, and US officials aren't ruling out a virtual meeting between Biden and Xi. Biden, however, has said in-person sit-downs with foreign leaders are preferable to virtual meetings or phone calls, telling aides privately he doesn't believe as much can be accomplished when meeting remotely. Proof of commitment After a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan that led to questions about Biden's willingness to remain engaged abroad, officials said the new announcement should act as proof of the President's continued willingness to stand with allies and uphold a rules-based order in Asia. "Over the last several years there have been questions: does the United States still have the stomach, do we have the wit and wisdom, that we want to continue to play that role?" a senior administration official said. "What President Biden is saying with this initiative is 'Count us in.' We are all in for a deeper, sustained commitment to the Indo-Pacific. And we recognize that one of our critical roles in indeed the maintenance of peace and stability there," the official went on. Also hoping to play a larger role in Asia is the United Kingdom, which under Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sought to pursue a "Global Britain" strategy of greater engagement abroad. That effort has been sputtering at times, particularly as Johnson works to contain the Covid-19 pandemic at home and buffer his country from the economic fallout of Brexit. Still, American officials have received indications from their British counterparts that the UK hopes to "substantially step up its game in the Indo-Pacific," and believe the new partnership with Australia can help advance that goal. Ahead of the announcement, Johnson undertook a major reshuffle of his cabinet ministers, including reassigning his foreign secretary. The shake-up did not appear directly related to his later announcement with Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. American officials said the cooperation between the three countries was limited only to nuclear propulsion, and said Australia has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons. During his remarks on Wednesday, Biden emphasized that the AUKUS submarine project would be using conventionally armed submarines, not nuclear-armed ones. "We're not talking about nuclear-armed submarines. These are conventionally armed submarines that are powered by nuclear reactors," Biden said. "This technology is proven, it's safe, and the United States and UK have been operating nuclear powered submarines for decades."

Trump adviser Stephen Miller warned of 'Iraqs and 'Stans' in the US while slow-walking the entry of Afghan allies By Priscilla Alvarez and Michael Warren, CNN Updated 1914 GMT (0314 HKT) September 3, 2021 Former Pence adviser: Stephen Miller pushed 'anti-refugee' mentality The Texas state Capitol on July 31, 2021 in Austin, Texas. CNN reporter explains what's unique about Texas' abortion ban Toobin: This is the first day since 1973 that a state has 'banned' abortion Afghan refugees arrive at Dulles International Airport on August 27, 2021 in Dulles, Virginia, after being evacuated from Kabul following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. - The Pentagon said on Friday the ongoing evacuation from Afghanistan faces more threats of attack a day after a suicide bomber and possible associated gunmen killed scores at a Kabul airport gate. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images) GOP claims Afghan refugees are arriving unvetted. That's not true Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a military parade with former presidents Hu Jintao (L) and Jiang Zemin in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images) Foreign disinformation mimics right-wing criticism of Afghan withdrawal CNN's Rosa Flores reports from Humble, Texas where parents are split on the state's mask mandate ban and its effects on their children. 'I'm sending her to a warzone': Mother attacks Texas' mask mandate bans Sullivan pledges 'safe passage' for Americans in Afghanistan after deadline capitol police Michael Byrd Ashli Babbitt january 6 Trump newday ldn vpx_00002025 Capitol Police officer who shot pro-Trump rioter speaks out VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - SEPTEMBER 06: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump pauses during a campaign event September 6, 2016 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Trump participated in a discussion with retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Will Trump's 'executive privilege' claim work or just delay insurrection probe? olivia troye Former Pence adviser: Stephen Miller pushed 'anti-refugee' mentality FILE - In this July 13, 2021, file photo, radio talk show host Larry Elder speaks to supporters during a campaign stop in Norwalk, Calif. Elder, the leading Republican candidate in the California recall election that could remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office, reported income of over $100,000 in the last year from business interests that included media and film companies and a string of speeches to Republican and conservative groups, documents showed Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) California recall candidate implies accuser too ugly for accusation to be true WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 22: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks at his weekly news conference at the Capitol building on July 22, 2021 in Washington, DC. Leader McCarthy spoke about the rise in inflation and its affects on his constituents and also the controversy over the make-up the January 6th select committee. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) 'This is imaginary': CNN fact-checks Kevin McCarthy's Fox News interview claim Jen Psaki fires back at male reporter's abortion question 'Hell no, Bernie': Manchin reveals talk with Sanders about key bill In this July 16, 2019 file photo, Herschel Walker talks about 150 years of college football during the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Day in Hoover, Alabama. Texas woman told police Herschel Walker threatened and stalked her See the question that made ex-Trump attorney leave interview Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks during a news conference outside the Capitol in September 2020. WaPo: GOP Rep. Mullin tries and fails to get to Afghanistan twice The Texas state Capitol on July 31, 2021 in Austin, Texas. CNN reporter explains what's unique about Texas' abortion ban Toobin: This is the first day since 1973 that a state has 'banned' abortion Afghan refugees arrive at Dulles International Airport on August 27, 2021 in Dulles, Virginia, after being evacuated from Kabul following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. - The Pentagon said on Friday the ongoing evacuation from Afghanistan faces more threats of attack a day after a suicide bomber and possible associated gunmen killed scores at a Kabul airport gate. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images) GOP claims Afghan refugees are arriving unvetted. That's not true Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a military parade with former presidents Hu Jintao (L) and Jiang Zemin in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images) Foreign disinformation mimics right-wing criticism of Afghan withdrawal CNN's Rosa Flores reports from Humble, Texas where parents are split on the state's mask mandate ban and its effects on their children. 'I'm sending her to a warzone': Mother attacks Texas' mask mandate bans Sullivan pledges 'safe passage' for Americans in Afghanistan after deadline capitol police Michael Byrd Ashli Babbitt january 6 Trump newday ldn vpx_00002025 Capitol Police officer who shot pro-Trump rioter speaks out VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - SEPTEMBER 06: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump pauses during a campaign event September 6, 2016 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Trump participated in a discussion with retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Will Trump's 'executive privilege' claim work or just delay insurrection probe? olivia troye Former Pence adviser: Stephen Miller pushed 'anti-refugee' mentality FILE - In this July 13, 2021, file photo, radio talk show host Larry Elder speaks to supporters during a campaign stop in Norwalk, Calif. Elder, the leading Republican candidate in the California recall election that could remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office, reported income of over $100,000 in the last year from business interests that included media and film companies and a string of speeches to Republican and conservative groups, documents showed Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) California recall candidate implies accuser too ugly for accusation to be true WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 22: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks at his weekly news conference at the Capitol building on July 22, 2021 in Washington, DC. Leader McCarthy spoke about the rise in inflation and its affects on his constituents and also the controversy over the make-up the January 6th select committee. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) 'This is imaginary': CNN fact-checks Kevin McCarthy's Fox News interview claim Jen Psaki fires back at male reporter's abortion question 'Hell no, Bernie': Manchin reveals talk with Sanders about key bill In this July 16, 2019 file photo, Herschel Walker talks about 150 years of college football during the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Day in Hoover, Alabama. Texas woman told police Herschel Walker threatened and stalked her See the question that made ex-Trump attorney leave interview Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks during a news conference outside the Capitol in September 2020. WaPo: GOP Rep. Mullin tries and fails to get to Afghanistan twice (CNN)Stephen Miller seemed floored by the idea, raised during a fall Cabinet meeting in 2018, of  keeping open the doors for Afghan allies and other Middle East refugees to enter the US.  "What do you guys want?" Miller, then a top adviser to President Donald Trump, asked incredulously, according to one person in the room. "A bunch of Iraqs and 'Stans across the country?" His words stunned many in the meeting, but they were no accident. Under Miller's guidance, several sources told CNN, the Trump administration was purposefully slow-walking the entry of all refugees -- including allies who aided American soldiers in Afghanistan. Now, after the end of America's longest war, "the majority" of Afghans who worked for the US during its two-decade military campaign have likely been left behind in Afghanistan, according to State Department estimates, at the mercy of the country's new Taliban regime. And Republicans are criticizing President Joe Biden for the chaotic withdrawal and for vetting allies too loosely. But the mayhem in Kabul, as crowds of Afghans tried desperately to flee the country in the final days of August, was due in no small part to the slowdown during the previous administration, according to former officials who argue more allies could have been admitted in the years prior. Fact check: Afghans coming to US are not 'unvetted refugees' Fact check: Afghans coming to US are not 'unvetted refugees' The Trump administration's suspicion of refugees stalled an already cumbersome system of approval for Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan allies, these officials said, and the Biden administration ultimately inherited a significant backlog of more than 17,000 SIV applicants. The SIV program for Afghan nationals has been plagued with management problems and low annual caps for years leading up to the withdrawal by US forces. But while Congress and the Obama and Biden administrations share some of the blame, the Trump administration -- specifically Miller, according to former administration officials -- did much to hamper the process long before the US ramped up its efforts to withdraw from the country. That 2018 White House meeting was one in a series of incidents with Miller and his allies within the administration that stunned officials at the time. But Miller, one of Trump's most strident anti-immigration advisers, had the President's ear on refugee policy and wielded considerable power on the issue. "I can't understate the sign and impact of the signal Stephen Miller was sending," a former official told CNN. "You can't undersell the impact that those folks had on gumming up the system as a whole." Miller did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Speaking to CNN on Friday, after this story published, he disputed the words attributed to him in the 2018 meeting. He added that he has advocated for resettling refugees within safe countries in their region rather than in the United States. Among the vocal advocates for the Afghan applicants, said former officials, was James Mattis, then-Defense secretary and a retired four-star Marine general. Multiple Cabinet members and senior staff sought to convey that Afghan allies had put their lives on the line for US troops and that refugees generally were among the most vetted immigrants. But Miller, the former officials said, was insistent that more security checks were necessary to remain in-line with Trump's policy of "extreme vetting," which stemmed from his travel ban on Muslim-majority countries. Miller told CNN on Friday that he pushed for and stands by "holistic" increased visa security screening, which would have affected visa grants for Afghan allies. 'We were just blown off' The Trump administration had a "zero risk tolerance approach" to admitting refugees, including those who put their lives on the line for US troops, according to two former administration officials, despite appeals from officials at the time that Afghan allies applying for the special immigrant visa program are heavily vetted. It was "jarring," one former official said, when recalling internal White House meetings where Afghans who worked alongside the US government were cast aside. "Part of what happened was a change in the way derogatory information was assessed. This wasn't necessarily done in strict orders, but encouragement was given to people doing the vetting to make people ineligible or put aside people for further processing, anyone that had ambiguous information," the former official told CNN. The consequence: applicants might be sent to the back of the line if any questions were raised about information pertaining to their application, potentially delaying cases months if not years. "We did lose time," the former official added. As a point of comparison, under the Obama administration, the number of Afghan SIVs issued increased -- from 262 in fiscal year 2009 to 3,626 in fiscal year 2016. But under Trump, the number dropped to 1,649 in FY 2018, increased to 2,347 in fiscal year 2019 and culminated in 1,799 for fiscal year 2020. Trump also slashed the number of refugees allowed to come to the US and put a series of limits in place curtailing who was eligible to arrive, resulting in historically low admissions. A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their country. While that can also be true for SIV applicants, that program is designed to provide a pathway to the United States for Afghans who were employed by or worked on behalf of the US government. Current and former officials have stressed the importance of thoroughly vetting refugees and applicants of the special immigrant visa program. While Afghans are thoroughly vetted before working alongside US forces, they still go through a meticulous process riddled with checks before obtaining a visa to come to the US, making them among the most vetted immigrants to arrive in the US. Former officials said they tried to relay that to the Trump administration but found themselves shut out and starved of resources. Staff-level meetings at the White House about refugees became smaller, with critics of Miller's approach kept in the dark. "We were simply asking for justification for the kinds of decisions that seemed to us to be taken on an arbitrary basis," one former official said. "We were just blown off." A program in need of reform The special immigrant visa program was established in 2009 specifically for Afghan citizens, along with their spouses and unmarried children under 21, who work for the US government in Afghanistan, and who face threats for their allegiance to the US. It was later amended in 2013 to improve efficiency. But challenges remain. Special immigrant visas "have always been the redheaded stepchild of immigration processes," an administration official previously told CNN. "Very slow, but little attention to fix." A State Department inspector general report released last year found that staffing levels during the interagency and security check process contributed to delays, as well as reliance on multiple information technology systems. Still, the program was not designed to work in a pressure cooker situation as evidenced over recent weeks. It also didn't take into account a global pandemic, which led to interviews being temporarily put on pause. But refugee advocates and veterans argue more should have been done by the Biden administration to prepare for the thousands of Afghan allies who face reprisals, even death, for working for the US, before the withdrawal. "What we fear is that if our numbers are correct, if there's some 175,000 people, the SIVs, family members and the P1 and P2 applicants that were left behind," said Matt Zeller, an Afghanistan veteran, referring to refugee programs open to fleeing Afghans. "We estimate this could take the better part of the next 10 years. That's even if we can get them out alive." Faiza Sayed, director of the Safe Harbor Clinic, told CNN that the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, which oversee the SIV program, "could, but have failed to speed up the process." A senior State Department official told reporters this week that in the early stages of the evacuation the US tried to prioritize access for late-stage SIV applicants and other categories, but said the effort was unsuccessful because "every credential we tried to provide electronically was immediately disseminated to the widest possible pool." "Every day was a constant improvisational effort to figure out what was going to work that day," they said. "As we got deeper into the process, we unfortunately had to start prioritizing the people to whom we had a legal obligation first and foremost, and that was our fellow American citizens." In late July, the Senate passed provisions of a bill to streamline the SIV program and expand the number of authorized visas. "The expedited effort to clear my legislation with Senator Ernst and rapidly process SIV applicants is partly in response to the Trump administration's failure to process SIV applications, which let the program languish for years," Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a longtime proponent of the program and co-sponsor of the bill, told CNN in a statement, referring to her work with Iowa Republican Joni Ernst. Some elected Republicans -- primarily veterans like Ernst -- have been vocal about expediting the SIV process and aiding Afghans who worked with American service members. But while efforts have been made to speed up processing to meet the urgent need, Republicans have had little to say about the Trump administration's culpability. Many GOP lawmakers and opinion leaders continue to urge caution on vetting. With Trump out of office and Miller no longer in the White House, the concerns about potential security threats of Afghan allies remains a talking point in conservative media, underscoring the former administration's influence on the right. Fox News host Laura Ingraham, for instance, warned her viewers on August 16 about a vague threat from "potentially unvetted refugees from Afghanistan." And in an interview with the conservative Spectator magazine published August 27, Miller himself repeated his view that resettling refugees from places like Afghanistan threatens national security. "When you have large pockets of migration from places where jihadist ideology is prevalent, it can easily create the conditions where large numbers of people, especially young people, can become radicalized or swept up into a radical fervor," he said.