12:30 Report — Dems feel October nerves; Milton recovery begins

🚗 Plus: Elon Musk announces new self-driving car

View Online  12:30 REPORT Happy Friday! The photos of the northern lights last night are insanely beautiful. Did you see them? Send me your pictures! Here's what's happening today: Millions of Floridians are still without power; the storm's death toll is at 15. Dangerous conspiracy theories surrounding the storm are running rampant. Democrats are increasingly worried about Trump's popularity with men. Musk announced a new self-driving car with no steering wheel or pedals.   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.   🚌 The Campaign Trail We know Democrats are worried, but why?:  © GIPHY/Veep HBO Vice President Harris and former President Trump are very much in a dead heat. That's sure to make both campaigns nervous weeks out from the election, but Democratic fears seem deeper than that.   Part of that is the condensed campaign: Democrats were riding a honeymoon-stage high late this summer after President Biden passed the baton to Harris. But that excitement died down moving into fall, with stressors of hurricanes, an escalating Middle East and rocky media interviews punctuating the condensed campaign season.   But there's another element to this: A string of polls this week show Harris may be losing too many male voters to Trump. The gender gap isn't new, but it's very pronounced this year.   A Democratic strategist warned The Hill's Amie Parnes: "I don't think people understand what a big problem we have on our hands with men. … Hispanic men, men in general."   Some context: When Hillary Clinton lost the election in 2016, Trump won male voters by 11 points, according to the Pew Research Center. Compare that to 2020, when Trump had a 2 point advantage over President Biden among men. The 2016 comparison is what's worrying Democrats.   Read more: 'Democrats fear Harris losing too many male voters to Trump' Missin' the campaign trail?: Former President Obama will travel to Arizona and Nevada next week to campaign for Vice President Harris, reports The Hill's Alex Gangitano. He plans to stump for her until Election Day.   Where?: Tucson, Ariz., on Oct. 18; Las Vegas on Oct. 19.   State of play: Obama kicked off his battleground state tour on Thursday with a rally in Pittsburgh. He repeatedly hit Trump on several fronts, including abortion access, immigration and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He even compared Trump to the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.   What Obama brings to the table beyond attacking Trump: Credibility and authority for Harris's campaign. Obama made a stern appeal to Black male voters on Thursday, encouraging them to deliver the same energy they did for his campaigns. Watch a clip of what I mean by Obama's 'stern' tone   Keep in mind: Obama is one of the most popular Democrats in the country and he and Harris have been friends for 20 years. MORE TIDBITS FROM THE TRAIL: Harris is on the cover of Vogue: This is the last edition before Election Day. 📸 See the cover   It can get hot in big crowds: The Washington Post's Dylan Wells posted that "it is extremely hot inside Harris's Chandler rally — lots of calls for medics as attendees pass out, and a supporter throwing up near the press pen." 📸 Photo from the Arizona event Congrats!!: Former President Trump revealed that his daughter, Tiffany Trump, is pregnant with her first child. 🚧 Hurricane Milton Milton has been devastating: © Kairat Kassymbekov via AP Hurricane Milton left a path of destruction in Florida. At least 15 people have died and millions are still without power, The Washington Post reported.   It wasn't just simply Milton: Tampa was spared a direct hit, but it compounded with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, adding to the impacts.   If you're affected by the storms: Here's how to apply for FEMA aid. STORM SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: Water was sucked out of Tampa Bay before landfall: Watch the 📹 NewsNation video.   📹 Examining the damage from an airboat   Stay out of the water: Florida officials are urging residents to avoid the floodwaters because there may be gators, stingrays and snakes.   In Venice, Fla.: Some houses are buried in sand. 📹 The footage   📹 Yikes, this is some of the flooding near Orlando   Want to see Ron DeSantis cook at a Waffle House?: 📹 Here's a clip of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) cooking for first responders in Sarasota County.   At Disney: 📹 Watch the storm hit Disney's Polynesian Village Resort   Storms in the past five years: 📸 Here's a graphic showing Florida storms that have hit in the past five years. The conspiracy theories are wild: While Hurricane Milton was brewing in the Gulf, conspiracy theories went rampant on the internet, baselessly alleging that the powerful storm was engineered by the U.S. government.   For example: Infowars's Alex Jones called the recent catastrophic storms "weather weapons" created by the government. Others allege the storm was created to clear areas to mine lithium. Some accused the government of controlling the weather to help Democrats in November. Oof: The Atlantic explains that earlier this week, "a verified account on X reposted a TikTok video of a massive funnel cloud with the caption 'WHAT IS HAPPENING TO FLORIDA?!' The clip, which was eventually removed but had been viewed 662,000 times as of yesterday evening, turned out to be from a video of a CGI tornado that was originally published months ago." © GIPHY/ Late Night with Seth Meyers The claims are so rampant that Biden even addressed it: President Biden described the claims as "completely ridiculous" and "so stupid" Wednesday.   And Fox News's Neil Cavuto slammed former President Trump for spreading falsehoods about hurricane relief money.   Some meteorologists are even getting death threats, according to The Guardian.   If you've heard any theories: Reuters fact-checked the rumors about the recent storms.   The immediate risks: It could prevent hurricane victims from getting the relief they need. The New York Times reports that the disinformation has made relief workers a target.   Read Charlie Warzel's report. It's fascinating: 'I'm Running Out of Ways to Explain How Bad This Is': "What's happening in America today is something darker than a misinformation crisis." 🐝 Internet Buzz 🍕 Celebrate: Today is National Sausage Pizza Day!   🤖 A Tesla with no wheel or pedals: Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the new "Cybercab," a self-driving car that has no steering wheel or pedals. It's expected to cost less than $30,000. It will need regulatory approval before it can be sold, though. What we know about the Cybercab   🍗 Love the shoutout to Puritan Backroom in New Hampshire!: The New York Times's Pete Wells writes "How Chicken Tenders Conquered America."   💸 TD Bank is in some deep mud: Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank) is facing unprecedented fines and penalties after allegedly failing to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in drug money laundering. Five things to know about the scandal 📆 On The Agenda The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in Washington, D.C. Vice President Harris is in Arizona. (all times Eastern) 12:30 p.m.: Biden receives a briefing on the response to Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Harris attends virtually. 1 p.m.: Biden provides an update on the federal government's response to Hurricanes Milton and Helene. 💻 Livestream 1:40 p.m.: Harris speaks at a virtual campaign event. 2:30 p.m.: Biden receives his daily briefing. 2:40 p.m.: Harris campaigns in Scottsdale, Ariz. 3 p.m: Former President Trump campaigns in Aurora, Colo. 💻 Video 5:20 p.m.: Harris leaves Arizona and returns to Washington. 8:30 p.m.: Trump campaigns in Reno, Nev. 💻 Livestream 👋 And Finally… This cat would like to say a quick hello and goodbye. 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 week! 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