Hurricane Irma, now a Category 3 storm, begins lashing Florida  —  (CNN)Hurricane Irma's strong winds and outer rain bands lashed the Florida Keys on Saturday as the Category 3 storm pushed toward the state amid dire warnings of devastating gales, heavy rain and a potentially deadly storm surge.

Fired FNC Anchor Eric Bolling, Son Dies from Drug Overdose (UPDATE)  —  Fired FNC Anchor Eric Bolling — Son Dies from OD  —  EXCLUSIVE DETAILS  —  2:45 PM PT — Eric tweeted about the tragedy, saying ... “Adrienne and I are devastated by the loss of our beloved son ... Details still unclear.”

Bound to No Party, Trump Upends 150 Years of Two-Party Rule  —  WASHINGTON — When Donald J. Trump set his sights on the presidency in the 2000 election, he pursued the nomination of the Reform Party, a home for disenchanted independents.  “The Republican Party has just moved too far to the extreme right,” he explained.

More than 50 animals found tethered to trees in Palm Beach County as Irma approaches  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Officials are calling it animal cruelty like they've never seen before.  —  As Hurricane Irma's outer bands inch closer to Palm Beach County, animal control officers said they are hustling to rescue abandoned animals.

Why Trump hopes the new Trump sticks  —  A Trump adviser says that after a tumultuous seven months in office, it had finally dawned on the president: “People really f@&@ing hate me.”  For someone who has spent his life lapping up adulation, however fake, it was a harsh realization.

George Clooney slams ‘failed f—ing screenwriter’ Steve Bannon  —  Steve Bannon has called himself a “street fighter,” but George Clooney has another way to describe the controversial former advisor to President Donald Trump: a “failed f—ing screenwriter.”

Florida governor has ignored climate change risks, critics say … TAMPA — Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has been ubiquitous in recent days as Hurricane Irma bears down on the Sunshine State, warning of deadly winds and storm surges and imploring residents to heed evacuation orders.

‘Trump betrays everyone’: The president has a long record as an unpredictable ally  —  President Trump prepared for the pivotal meeting with congressional leaders by huddling with his senior team — his chief of staff, his legislative director and the heads of Treasury and the Office of Management …

Al Sharpton's daughter Ashley Sharpton arrested after cops say she attacked cab driver  —  Rev. Al Sharpton's daughter's birthday celebration ended in handcuffs early Saturday after she attacked a cabbie in Midtown, police sources said.  —  Ashley Sharpton, 30, is facing charges of petty larceny …

Trump review leans toward proposing mini-nuke  —  The Trump administration is considering proposing smaller, more tactical nuclear weapons that would cause less damage than traditional thermonuclear bombs — a move that would give military commanders more options but could also make the use of atomic arms more likely.

More White, More Male, More Jesus: CIA Employees Fear Pompeo Is Quietly Killing the Agency's Diversity Mandate  —  CIA insiders worry reforms pushed by Brennan are languishing in his absence.  —  In early summer, Judy and Dennis Shepard bought plane tickets to give a speech to the workforce at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.