The shooting at a congressional baseball practice reminds us of something we too often forget: We are one country, and we’re all in this together. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.
1. Congressional shooting
It wasn’t strong winds or floodwaters that killed people at a Florida nursing home – it was the lack of power. Eight residents at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills died after Hurricane Irma knocked out electricity. The center didn’t have air conditioning for three days, leaving the staff scrambling to keep residents hydrated and cool with fans and portable air units. Several state agencies have started investigations, and Florida’s governor issued an emergency moratorium to keep the nursing home from admitting new patients.
Florida Keys residents are returning to devastated homes, and much of eastern Florida still has no power. President Trump and the first lady visit storm-wrecked parts of the state today. Meantime, people on hard-hit Caribbean islands, like Anguilla and St. Thomas, are being evacuated to Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile Hurricane Jose – a Category 1 storm right now – is doing a loop-de-loop in the Atlantic. Some fear it will come near the US and the Bahamas this weekend, but most forecasting models predict it will stay out in the sea.
2. Democratic National Committee
Folks on the right are ticked off about this news. Breitbart, the site of ex-White House adviser Steve Bannon, called the President “Amnesty Don.” Conservatives have been highly suspicious of Trump’s sudden embrace of the Dems and the concept of bipartisanship.
3. The Weinstein effect
US investigators wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort under secret court orders before and after the election, sources tell CNN, an extraordinary step involving a high-ranking campaign official now at the center of the Russia meddling probe. The government snooping continued into early this year, including a period when Manafort was known to talk to President Donald Trump.
5. Fried potatoes study
More than 1.4 million customers lost power in Georgia, which was blasted by Irma’s fierce winds and torrential downpours. Many schools in the state will be closed for a second day. So will the state government. Irma left downed trees and widespread power outages in its wake in Atlanta. More than 200,000 people in South Carolina don’t have power because of the storm. There was also widespread flooding in the state’s coastal areas, including Charleston.
Rice’s previously undisclosed revelation shines new light on a practice that had come under sharp criticism from House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Devin Nunes and the President, who previously accused Rice of committing a crime. But her explanation appears to have satisfied some influential Republicans, undercutting Nunes and Trump, and raising new questions about whether any Trump associates tried to arrange back-channel discussions with the Russians.
5. Trump in Asia
At least 21 children and two teachers were killed when a fire broke out at a school in Kuala Lumpur. Witnesses reported hearing cries for help from inside the burning building and seeing children unable to escape because of metal grills on windows. Renovations to the building had reportedly blocked a fire exit. Officials are examining whether an electric short circuit caused the fire.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It was not me”
Sen. Ted Cruz, telling CNN’s Dana Bash that a staffer was to blame for a porn video getting a “like” from his Twitter account
BREAKFAST BROWSE
People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
‘Taken’ a break?
Liam Neeson hints he might be done with action movies (he thinks he’s too old), so what will he do with that “very particular set of skills” now?
Hunky heroes
Lots of people want to be saved by these cops from Gainesville, Florida, after the officers posted pictures of themselves to social media before Irma hit.
Does this come with a drink?
Quick, hop on a plane and travel to Taipai, where a restaurant will happily sell you a bowl of beef noodle soup for $325.
Baby love
Social media let out a collective “awww” after Serena Williams posted a picture of her newborn daughter to Instagram.
The collector
‘Pharma bro’ Martin Shkreli offered a reward for a strand of Hillary Clinton’s hair. So, a judge offered him a cell at the nearest jail.
NUMBER OF THE DAY
21
The number of games the Cleveland Indians have won in a row, an American League record for consecutive victories
AND FINALLY …
Don’t believe your eyes
This guy’s optical illusions are something to see. (Click to view)