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US News

Hurricane Milton Slams Florida With Powerful Winds, Heavy Rain

What's going on: Last night, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Sarasota, Florida, as a powerful Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph. More than 3 million homes and businesses were without electricity this morning, according to poweroutage.us, and flash flooding emergencies are in place for densely populated cities like Tampa and St. Petersburg. Even before Milton made landfall, reports indicated that more than a dozen tornadoes tore through parts of the state, leading to multiple fatalities in St. Lucie County. As Milton — now a Category 1 storm — moves through Florida, experts warn of storm surges that could get as high as 15 feet (here’s a video of what that can look like). The National Hurricane Center said the storm “has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record” for western Florida. Now, many are bracing for the storm’s aftermath.

What it means: Milton is the fifth hurricane to hit the US this year and the second to batter Florida in just two weeks. Officials have been sounding the alarm for days, issuing mandatory evacuation orders for 7.3 million residents across 15 counties. Thousands of Floridians quickly packed what they could, with some sitting in hours of traffic. However, not everyone could evacuate, as some people faced gasoline shortages. First responders and hospital staff are staying behind. Others face barriers such as language or lack of resources, making evacuation difficult. Additionally, some migrants fear their immigration status could be questioned at shelters, despite reassurances from officials.

Related: Some Floridians Share Why They Didn’t Evacuate (CNN)

Politics

Could This Pennsylvania County Pick the Winner of the 2024 Election?

What's going on: You’ve heard of swing states, but what about swing counties? In an election that’s this close, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are not only campaigning in battleground states, they’re zeroing in on the counties that could, well, swing the swing state in their favor. Take Erie County, Pennsylvania. It accounts for about 2% of the state’s population, but it’s become quite a bellwether area. In the last 25 statewide elections since 2008, Erie County voted for the winner over 90% of the time, according to US News and World Report. That includes the presidential races: The majority of Erie voters backed former President Barack Obama twice, supported Trump in 2016, and selected President Joe Biden in 2020. As for this year’s candidates, Reutersreports that the Harris campaign has been knocking on doors in Erie County, and Trump’s team has visited the county twice in this election cycle.

What it means: The road to 270 electoral votes goes through Erie County, according to political experts. With 19 electoral votes up for grabs, Pennsylvania holds the most of any battleground state. To win Erie, experts say both candidates will have to appeal to the area’s diverse population. Erie County has heavily Democratic city centers, conservative rural areas, and politically mixed suburbs. Historically, how Pennsylvania votes also offers insight into trends in other swing states, meaning the state could signal a blue or red wave in the election. Meanwhile, top strategists from both camps determined that the state is the most likely to tilt the scale. Currently, the race in the state is deadlocked, with polls showing little movement for months.

Related: Trump’s Rambling Speeches Are Raising Concerns About His Mental Fitness (NYT Gift Link)

Entertainment

And the 2025 Met Gala Theme Is…

What's going on: Fashion’s biggest night is more than six months away, but we’re already learning about the annual star-studded event. Yesterday, the Met announced its 2025 gala theme: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The theme, which pairs with an exhibit of the same title, will focus on the history of Black “dandyism” — a term historically used to describe men devoted to style. The exhibit will explore dandyism, starting with 18th-century Europe during the Atlantic slave trade, when Black men were dressed to reflect the wealth of their enslavers. The show will follow dandyism through the present day, highlighting how Black men have reclaimed their style by pushing back against an unjust system. The event’s title takes a page from the memoir of an enslaved man who eventually bought his freedom, writing that he planned to celebrate by wearing “a suit of superfine clothes.”

What it means: This exhibit and theme give the Met Gala — a gathering that’s often criticized as a symbol of white privilege — a chance to focus specifically on designers of color. The show’s curator noted the event will also serve as another thread in the museum and Costume Institute’s ongoing efforts to address their shortcomings, particularly regarding diversity and inclusion. While some hope that the event will hit its mark in portraying dandyism’s complex history, others are already expressing doubts and concerns about how celebs, designers, and attendees will interpret the theme. There’s also criticism about the absence of Black women from the list of co-chairs, which include big names like A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, and Pharrell Williams. LeBron James is as an honorary chair.

Related: The Met’s Problem With Illegally Obtained Art (The Guardian)