Your Morning: Florida braces for Milton, scrambles to clear Helene damage

Milton: Not even two weeks after Hurricane Helene battered parts of Florida’s western coastline, Milton has strengthened into a major hurricane and is taking aim at the Sunshine State. Milton is projected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm with winds of 111-129 mph. The latest > 

Tampa Bay: Milton is expected to hit the shores of the densely populated Tampa Bay area. The region has not endured a head-on hit by a major hurricane in more than a century. As crews in Florida scramble to clear debris left behind by Helene, residents are flooding Interstate 75 with traffic to evacuate. Forecasters have warned of a potential 8-to-12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay — the highest ever predicted for Tampa Bay and nearly double the storm surge levels there from two weeks ago during Helene. What to know about Milton >

Helene aftermath: Misinformation has become a hurdle on the path to recovery as locals work to rebuild the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. Some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, are spreading unfounded claims Washington is intentionally withholding aid to people in Republican areas. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell expressed concern that misinformation is deterring affected residents from seeking available federal aid. “People are afraid to apply for our assistance,” Criswell said. Here’s what we know >

Immigration: People working with immigrants in several rural and small towns that have experienced influxes are offering solidarity to city leaders in Springfield, Ohio, advising that initial hardships are par for the course of a longer, more prosperous road. While Springfield has been thrust into the national spotlight, towns across America have dealt with influxes of immigrants for years, including people on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) like Haitians in the Ohio town. The latest > 

What is TPS? It’s a federal program that allows migrants from some countries — including Haiti and Ukraine — to legally live in the U.S. for a certain period when the conditions in their home country are unsafe. Former President Donald Trump told NewsNation last week that he would revoke the TPS for Haitian immigrants in Springfield and ensure their return to Haiti. How other cities have handled migrant influxes >

Harris media blitz: Vice President Kamala Harris was pressed on her changing policy positions and her expensive economic plan on “60 Minutes,” in what proved to be her toughest media interview since becoming the Democratic nominee. She also recently sat down for an interview with podcaster Alex Cooper and defended her family. The vice president’s media tour Tuesday will take her to studios across Manhattan, where she is set to speak with “The View,” radio host Howard Stern and tape a show with late-night host Stephen Colbert. Read more >

Trump mass deportation plan: Former President Donald Trump plans to lean heavily on local law enforcement in his efforts to conduct mass deportation of immigrants in the U.S. illegally should he return to the White House. Some local law enforcement who spoke to NewsNation embraced the former president’s plan. However, there are questions as to how it could be pulled off with limited resources. Details >

National debt: An analysis released Monday by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget suggests a Harris presidency could increase the national debt over 10 years by $3.5 trillion. The analysis also says Trump’s ideas could heap another $7.5 trillion onto the debt and possibly as much as $15.2 trillion. Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris: How policies compare >