We’re back and we’re reading – everything from the “New York Times” to the “Wall Street Journal.” We’re trying to help you keep up with the rapid pace of politics and policy. Today we’ve got the latest on Hurricane Florence, Trump’s most recent Twitter drama, and an accusation of sexual misconduct.

Rescues underway in North Carolina

Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina Friday morning.

According to The New York Times, winds were 90 miles an hour when the storm came ashore, but dropped to 80 miles an hour four hours following landfall.

Dana Outlaw, the major of New Bern, N.C., said that 200 people were rescued and 150 are still awaiting rescue. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) anticipates several more days of flooding and is focused on saving lives.

Track the storm’s location here.

Trump warns against spreading false news about hurricanes

President Trump encouraged Americans not to spread rumors about Hurricane Florence — one day after he did just that about Hurricane Maria.

FEMA tweeted that they had set up a “rumor control page” to help keep facts about the storm straight. Trump retweeted this along with two other messages from FEMA.

It was only yesterday that Trump claimed that “3,000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico.” However, according to The Washington Post, a study found that 2,975 people died as a result of Hurricane Maria.

Manafort to cooperate in Russia investigation as part of plea deal

According to CBS News, Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign chairman, will cooperate with the special counsel in its Russia investigation.

Manafort is pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy against the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The plea deal is seen as a cooperation agreement, said prosecutor Andrew Weissman. It could jeopardize his chance of a presidential pardon.

Manafort has been in jail for three months because a judge revoked his bail for violating the terms of his release.

Kavanaugh denies accusation of sexual misconduct

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh denied an allegation of sexual misconduct on Friday.

This accusation is from his high school years. In a written statement released through the White House, Kavanagh said, “I did not do this back in high school or at any time.”

A letter from women Kavanaugh knew in high school was released by Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The letter addresses Kavanaugh’s perceived behavior.

In the weekly Democratic statement there was no mention of the allegation against Kavanaugh. 

Record number of women running for office

A record 256 women are running for the House and Senate this year.

The question is whether or not there will be a “record-breaking surge” of women in office come January, The New York Times said.

There are more women running against each other than ever before. In 2002, 19 contests were women vs. women and in 2018 there are 33.

According to The New York Times, the best chance for women to “make history” is in the House.

Three debates before November for Cruz and O’Rourke

Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke will debate each other three times before the midterms in November.

Domestic policy will be debated first, followed by foreign policy issues. The first of the three debates will take place, before a live audience, on Sept. 21 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

According to CBS News, Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office in over 20 years. 

Polls show Cruz ahead of O’Rourke, but only by 4 points.

Have a great weekend. Check back Monday for more.