One of the world’s most extreme, stomach-churning, violent, evil cults is back in control of a country. And it’s going to be ugly. “Recently, the price of burkas has doubled, and in some cases increased by even more. Women are purchasing the best armor to protect themselves from the Taliban: the veil.” A must-read from Lynsey Addario in The Atlantic: The Taliban’s Return Is Catastrophic for Women.

+ “Already, in Taliban-controlled parts of Afghanistan … Taliban have rulers ‘have asked families to marry off one girl per family to their fighters; said women should not leave home without a male relative; and ordered men to pray in mosques and grow beards.'” Afghan government collapses, Taliban seize control: 5 essential reads.

+ The Taliban are megarich – here’s where they get the money. (Mostly drugs.)