©  GIPHY/Mean Girls 

Idalia, barreling toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, strengthened into a hurricane this morning. Forecasters have described the storm, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, as an “extremely dangerous major hurricane.”  

A headline on The Weather Channel's homepage earlier this morning:“HURRICANE IDALIA AIMED RIGHT AT FLORIDA.”  

• AccuWeather: Live storm tracker 

• Fox Weather: Storm forecast 

• The National Hurricane Center: Storm tracker and projections 

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Daily Operations Briefing

• The Florida Division of Emergency Management: Announcements, updates and plans 

• Bay News 9: Evacuation zones and shelters by county 

Well, the phrase seems accurate — ‘Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning’: Fox News 13’s Kailey Tracy posted videos of the incredible red skies this morning in Florida. Watch 

A rule of thumb: You do not want to be where Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore is stationed for a storm event. Where is Cantore this morning? In Cedar Key, Fla. Photo of Cantore in front of the wild sunrise, via Weather Channel producer Steve Petyerak 

The Weather Channel has 12 crews deployed: Here’s a graphic of where each crew is. It’s actually a pretty interesting metric of projections. See the graphic 

Check out this satellite imagery: You can see Hurricanes Idalia and Franklin simultaneously spinning. Video from AccuWeather 

Inside the tracking and storm prep organization: Here’s a photo of the operations at the National Weather Service in Tallahassee. Photo  

Practical advice from Florida's chief financial officer and state fire marshal: Take video of the inside and outside of your house. “You’ll have a before and after shot of your belongings for if you need to file a claim,” Jimmy Patronis says. Specific recommendations of what to capture 

Tidbit from The National Weather Service (NWS): @alli_wing posted a screenshot of a warning about the storm. Screenshot — they did not soften this message 

It’s Tuesday. Florida is bracing for Hurricane Idalia. Politicos are discussing the ramifications of former President Trump’s new trial date. And in lighter news, the Obamas attended the U.S. Open last night. Keep reading for photos. 

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  

©   GIPHY/The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Biden administration announced the first 10 drugs this morning that have been chosen for price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  

 
The list of 10 drugs: From The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced this morning that he has been diagnosed with a blood cancer. 

Scalise said in a statement: “After a few days of not feeling like myself this past week, I had some blood work done. The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer.” 

What now?: He has begun treatment and plans to return to Washington, D.C., for work. More from Scalise 

You never, ever casually compare anything to the KKK. Really, it is that simple...  

GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is in political hot water for comments he made comparing Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a Black Democrat representing Massachusetts, to “modern grand wizards” of the Ku Klux Klan.  
 
If you’re wondering how we got here, that’s a fair question: Ramaswamy made the comments on Friday at a campaign stop in Iowa, referencing a quote Pressley made in 2019 about diversity. Here’s that 2019 saga 

How it has played out: Pressley shot back at Ramaswamy, calling his comments “shameful” and “dangerous.” Ramaswamy didn’t back down but instead doubled down on Monday, saying, “It’s racist. It’d make the Grand Wizard of the KKK proud. It’s driving reactionary attacks. It needs to end.” The full back and forth 

“While the storm is a real danger for Florida, it’s also an opportunity of sorts for [Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)], who is one of the few Republicans in the presidential race currently serving constituents,” writes The Hill’s Julia Manchester. More on the opportunity DeSantis has to showcase his leadership style 

💰 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has raised $1 million in the 72 hours following the debate. (From Fox News’s Paul Steinhauser) 

📊 Former President Trump’s polling dropped by six points, according to a new Emerson College survey. (The Hill) 

🙅‍️GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie predicted that former President Trump’s Jan. 6 trial will be “disastrous” for the GOP. (The Hill) 

🔮 Election forecaster Kyle Kondik of Sabato’s Crystal Ball argues why Ohio is not the key battleground that some think.  (Politico) 

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A federal judge scheduled former President Trump’s Jan. 6-related trial for March 4, the day before Super Tuesday — the biggest day on the GOP nominating calendar. 

What U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said about the timing: The trial date “cannot and should not” depend on the defendant’s work schedule. 

The Hill’s Niall Stanage explains: “It is a remarkable choice, even if Chutkan professes indifference to the political ramifications of her decision. Around 14 states are expected to cast ballots in the GOP primary on Super Tuesday.”  Stanage’s full column 

©  GIPHY/Saturday Night Live

In an interview with CNN’s “The Source,” former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) compared former President Trump’s “moral compass” to more of an “axe murderer than a president.”  

I’m smirking because *of course* I am one to judge. Have you read my newsletter before? ;)  

@OnlyInBoston posted a photo of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at Fenway Park. Photo of Sanders smiling in a button-down shirt 

©  AP

Former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama! 

The former first lady delivered remarks, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open offering equal prize money for men and women. Full story 

The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. 

• 10 a.m.: Biden received his daily briefing. 

• 📺 1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gives a press briefing. Livestream 

• 📺 1 p.m.: The House Foreign Affairs Committee holds a roundtable on the terrorist attack during the U.S.’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. C-SPAN livestream 

• 📺 2 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks on lowering health care costs. Harris participates. Livestream 

• 📺 2 p.m. Deputy Defense Department spokesperson Sabrina Singh gives a press briefing. Livestream 

• 3:45 p.m.: Biden holds a bilateral meeting with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles. 

• September 5: The Senate returns. Senate calendar 

• September 12: The House returns. House calendar  

• March 4, 2024: The federal trial on former President Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Details 

All times Eastern.

Today is National Chop Suey Day!

Thousands of red heads gathered in the city of Tilburg in the Netherlands for a “ginger” summit. The full story, including some cool photos, from The Washington Post’s Kelly Kasulis Cho. 

And because you made it this far, here’s a pup searching for its friends. 

Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to ecrisp@thehill.com. A friend forward this to you? Subscribe here.

View past issues of 12:30 Report here and check out other newsletters from The Hill here. See you next time!