The Historical Echoes of Biden’s Afghanistan Exit; Dissecting the ‘White Lotus’ Finale; in Defense of ‘Respect’

Plus: Is Ron DeSantis's Fox News Obsession Backfiring? View in your browser | Update your preferences     A daily digest of things to discuss over drinks August 16, 2021     The Disastrous Afghanistan Exit Is in Keeping With American Tradition While the Biden administration is facing deserved criticism for the chaos in Kabul, the bungled U.S. withdrawal is also the product of two decades of policy blunders. R E A D  M O R E »     The White Lotus Was Always Going to End This Way A deliberately frustrating finale drove home the core themes of Mike White's terrific series. R E A D  M O R E »     A Perfect Tabloid Fairy Tale: Sandra Lee Is Engaged Andrew Cuomo's ex has spun a flawless narrative through paparazzi photos and anonymous sources. R E A D  M O R E »     Jennifer Hudson's Aretha Franklin Biopic Deserves More Respect Reviews dismissing the film for conventionality or tepid politics are missing the film's imaginative thrust and fierce integrity. R E A D  M O R E »     In Photos: Afghans Desperately Search for an Exit as the U.S. Withdraws The Taliban's lightning-fast takeover of Kabul and other major cities has sent many scrambling to passport offices and airports, hoping not to be left behind after America ends its two-decade war. R E A D  M O R E »     SPONSORED Chess Review: Spotlight on The Queen's Gambit Behind the scenes of the most-awarded limited series, The Queen's Gambit, now nominated for 18 Emmy® Awards. Read more about how the series came to be with star Anya Taylor-Joy and the celebrated artisans from the hit series. R E A D  M O R E » Get on the list Subscribe to our Hollywood newsletter for your essential industry and awards-season news, every day. Sign Up Now     This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.