12:30 Report — NYC mayor charged with bribery; Zelensky meets with Harris

View Online  12:30 REPORT It's Thursday. I really can't wait until we see the sun again; It's been *so* long. I can feel the Seattle readers rolling their eyes. 😬 Here's what's happening today: Adams becomes first NYC mayor in history to be indicted. Most of Capitol Hill has cleared out until Election Day. Ukraine's Zelensky is in D.C. for meetings. Florida is bracing for Hurricane Helene to make landfall tonight. Three houses on the Outer Banks have collapsed into the ocean this week.   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.   🗽 In New York Eric Adams is having a bad day: ©  AP New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) has been indicted on charges of federal corruption, making him the first sitting mayor of the city to face criminal charges.   What are the charges?: He faces five counts, including wire fraud and bribery. 🔎 Read the unsealed indictment   From the indictment: "By 2018, Adams – who had by then made known his plans to run for Mayor of New York City – not only accepted but sought illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals."   Adams says he will 'fight these injustices': Adams posted a video reaction online while the indictment was still sealed, saying that if he is charged with federal crimes, "these charges will be entirely false, based on lies." 📹 Watch Adams's video statement   Was this out of the blue?: Not really. FBI agents raided his home earlier this year as part of an investigation. Plus, several of Adams's deputies had their homes searched earlier this week.   Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called on Adams to resign Wednesday. "I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration," Ocasio-Cortez posted on X.   What happens next?: There's no legal requirement for him to leave office, reports The New York Times, but there would be a special election if he does. "There is another way Mr. Adams could leave office: The New York City Charter gives Gov. Kathy Hochul the power to remove him. But the process would be complicated." Read the NYT explainer: 'With Eric Adams Indicted, What Happens Next?' ➤  HAPPENING AT 4:30 P.M.:  Former President Trump is delivering remarks to the press at 4:30 p.m. today in New York, N.Y. 💻 Livestream 🌸️ In The District Zelensky chose a quiet* day to visit DC: ©  The Hill, Greg Nash (*Really hope I didn't jinx myself with this.) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington today for meetings after most lawmakers left town to campaign.   On Capitol Hill: He's meeting with a bipartisan group of senators, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).   📹 Watch Zelensky arrive on Capitol Hill — I wonder what he and Schumer are chatting about. Punchbowl's Andrew Desiderio noted that he "counted at least 15 senators walking in."   And a stop at the executive branch: Vice President Harris is meeting with Zelensky this afternoon. Plus, President Biden pledged $8 billion to Ukraine this morning, drawing funds from a military stockpile that was at risk of expiring on Sept. 30.   Uncomfy: Zelensky's recent spat with Republicans is adding some tension to this visit. He recently called Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) "too extreme." Republicans are also upset about a visit to Pennsylvania, which they allege is considered election meddling. More on the GOP-Zelensky tension ➤  ALSO HAPPENING THIS MORNING:  The House's bipartisan task force investigating the assassination attempt on former President Trump held its first hearing. 💻 Watch the hearing The bell has rung, and everyone runs down the Capitol steps — IT'S RECESSSSSSS: ©  GIPHY/BenJammins The first round of government funding drama has concluded! The House and the Senate both passed a three-month funding extension to give themselves until Dec. 20 to sort out any funding battles. They've left town to campaign and will be out of session until after Election Day.   I wouldn't say Republicans won this round … : Republicans came out of this fight looking pretty disunified. The House passed the bill with every Democrat voting "yes" and 82 Republicans voting no. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) needed Democrats on his side or it would have failed because hard-liners were unhappy with the plan.   Yes, but: Republicans are coming out of this fight feeling bullish about their chances of controlling the House, Senate and White House next year. Read Emily Brooks and Mike Lillis's reporting on how the GOP is feeling   More analysis: 'With Few Wins to Highlight, House Republicans Head Home to Chase Votes,' writes The New York Times's Annie Karni. 🚌 On The Campaign Trail Everyone's making the TV rounds!: Vice President Harris fielded questions from MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday in a rare, wide-ranging interview. Meanwhile, former first lady Melania Trump appeared on "Fox & Friends" this morning.   Let's start with Harris: Here are five takeaways from The Hill's Alex Gangitano: Harris lays out pricey agenda Walz pick was gut decision Harris knocks Trump on tariffs Harris defends opposition to U.S. Steel sale Ruhle interview is Harris's deepest on policy Now, onto Melania: She called the raid at her Mar-a-Lago residence in connection with the classified documents investigation "an invasion of privacy." And while discussing the assassination attempt on her husband, former President Trump, she said it was a "miracle" that he survived. ➤  LISTEN CLOSELY. YOU CAN HEAR THE COLLECTIVE GULP IN SPRINGFIELD: Trump recently declared that he is planning to visit Springfield, Ohio, after stating unfounded claims that local Haitian immigrants are eating residents' pets. Keep in mind: It's unclear when or whether Trump will actually visit, though.   Meanwhile: A Republican congressman on Thursday walked back his earlier comments calling Haitians "thugs" and promoting the false claim about Haitian migrants eating pets in Ohio, following uproar among colleagues. ➤  MORE READS FROM THE TRAIL: 'Trump's Most Misunderstood Policy Proposal':The Atlantic 'Harris Puts Government Intervention at Heart of Economic Policy': The Wall Street Journal 'What Harris and Trump Get Wrong About the Border': TIME ⛈️ Other News this Morning Go home, Helene: ©  GIPHY/Storyful Hurricane Helene has intensified into a Category 2 storm and is barreling toward Florida, where it is expected to make landfall tonight. It's possible it will strengthen into a Category 3 or higher because of the warm water, according to The Weather Channel.   The storm surges are concerning for Florida's gulf coast, with some areas potentially seeing surges reaching 15 to 20 feet.   🌀 Weather Channel forecast 🌀 Storm tracker map of the expected path 🌀 Projections from the National Hurricane Center ➤  SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: Check out 📹 this video of the waves in Tampa Bay this morning.   And the 📹 flooding in Sarasota   Plus, the 📹 water splashing onto a bridge in Florida Hoda is leaving the 'Today' show: NBC News's Hoda Kotb announced this morning that she will be leaving the "Today" show early next year.   Why?: She says she's been at NBC News for 26 years and wants to spend more time with her children.   📹 Watch her emotional announcement 🐝 Internet Buzz 🥞🥟 Celebrate: It's National Pancake Day and National Dumpling Day! What a star lineup.   🎧 Ouch: The Atlantic's Spencer Kornhaber writes, "Why Katy Perry Can't Get Her Groove Back." The gist: "The pop singer is stuck in a rut—and her soulless new album doesn't get her moving." Read the argument   🌊 This is so sad: The third house this week has collapsed into the ocean on North Carolina's Outer Banks because of rising sea levels and erosion. (WAVY) 📹 Watch the house collapse into the waves   🐶 Read this if you have a Bella, Teddy, Luna, Max, etc.: ANSWERS Pet Food is voluntarily pulling some of its dog foods from shelves because some samples have tested positive for salmonella and listeria.🗒️The list of affected dog foods 📆 On The Agenda The House and Senate are o-u-t, OUT (Think we can modify the "Hot to Go!" dance for this?) President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern) Noon: Biden and Harris are having lunch together. 12:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream 3:05 p.m.: Harris and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky deliver remarks. 💻 Livestream 4:45 p.m.: Harris delivers remarks from the Rose Garden addressing gun violence. 💻 Livestream Friday: Harris travels to Douglas, Ariz., and San Francisco. Just announced — 3: NewsNation is airing a documentary on former President Clinton's time in the White House. 👋 And Finally… Could you help us out? This puppy is too tired to get out of bed today. Stay Engaged Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@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! 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