It's Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. Let's start here.
1. FEMA funds
Asuerto Ricoraced forurricane Doriann Wednesday, Presidentonald Trumpook aim at the U.S. territory, calling it "one of the most corrupt places on earth," while adding, "I'm the best thing that's ever happened to Puerto Rico."
Trumpaidhe Federal Emergency Management Agency "will do a great job" handling any potential damage from Dorian, now swirling toward the U.S. mainland, amid scrutiny over his administration's decision toivert millionsin FEMA disaster funds to address the border crisis.
Some of the money would cover the cost of detaining and transporting undocumented migrants, as well as temporary hearing sites at the border, according to ABC News' Kyra Phillips, who tells "Start Here" that critics are questioning why funds are being transferred from FEMA at the height ofurricaneeason.
FEMA said in a statement that even with the proposed transfer the money left behind in its accounts "will be sufficient to support operational needs and will not impact ongoing long-term recovery efforts across the country."
2. State of the Senate
Ten Democratic presidential candidates appear to have met the Democratic Party's rules to qualify for theext debate, according to an ABC News analysis.
Twenty contenders still remain in the race after Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.,roppeder 2020 bid on Wednesday, but there was also a shake-up in the fight for the Senate with Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., announcing hisetirement, highlighting the Senate math needed for each party to pass their legislative wishlists if they win the White House.
"Anything all these Democrats talk about wanting to do that couldn't just be done through executive action ... will probably need 50 votes for everything ranging from health care to potentially confirming Supreme Court justices," FiveThirtyEight Editor-in-Chief Nate Silver says.
3. Sub missile test?
Newatellite imagesf a North Korean shipyard reveal a potential new threat