cnnmoney maddow trump
CNN  — 

The shooting at a congressional baseball practice reminds us of something we too often forget: We are one country, and we’re all in this together. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.

1. Congressional shooting

You know how President Trump promised to release his taxes if he won the election, but there is serious doubt he ever will? Well, now we have them – sort of. The White House released partial information Tuesday night about the President’s 2005 taxes. It shows Trump earned more than $150 million in income and paid $38 million in taxes, after taking into account large scale depreciation for construction.

The information is fairly uneventful. Its release was spurred by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, who teased that she had the long-sought-after tax returns and would release the info Tuesday night on her show. The reveal turned out to be a dud – incomplete, and far from the incriminating bombshell many Trump critics were hoping for. If anything, she merely proved the White House was fully capable of releasing tax info – and has just decided not to.

2. President Trump

Snow piles up to the mailboxes Tuesday outside Union Dale, Pennsylvania.

The big late-winter storm spared parts of the Northeast, but five weather-related deaths were reported in three states and Canada. Some of the heaviest-hit areas were upstate New York, which got 30 inches of snow in some parts, and the Hartford, Connecticut area, where as much as 19 inches fell. Parts of New Jersey got 20 inches of snow, while other places were barely dusted. Life should start getting back to normal today. Schools, businesses and roads will reopen, though more than 1,000 flights are canceled, most in the storm zone.

3. London fire

Voters in the Netherlands head to the polls today in an election widely seen as an indicator of populist sentiment across Europe. Conservative Prime Minister Mark Rutte is facing a tight battle with far-right rival Geert Wilders, whose anti-immigrant, anti-Islam tirades have landed him in court – but also won him widespread support in a country that is increasingly polarized by austerity and immigration issues. The Dutch have 28 different parties on the ballot. Concerned lawmakers say Wilders’ charisma and controversy are pulling other parties to the right.

Puerto Rico’s power authority is working to cancel a controversial contract it awarded to a small Montana-based utility company in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The $300 million deal with Whitefish Energy has drawn widespread scrutiny. For one, the company’s only two years old and had just a few employees at the time the storm hit. It’s also based in the small hometown of US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Zinke says he had nothing to do with the contract, and the White House has also said it’s “not aware of any federal involvement in the selection.” 

4. Fed rate hike

Wow, the feds really screwed this up. The top federal banking regulator says that years ago, officials saw lots of red flags at Wells Fargo that could have stopped the fake accounts scandal. We’re talking, like, hundreds of whistleblower complaints about the bank’s aggressive sales tactics. An internal report says the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency provided “ineffective” oversight of the bank. The regulator did confront a Wells Fargo exec about the complaints but apparently didn’t follow up. Bank leaders say they’ve eliminated the unrealistic sales goals that drove the scandal.

And he’s not the only one: Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, a Trump supporter and a front-runner, is also under scrutiny after several members of her staff were accused by officials of being paid for non-existent jobs. She is also under inquiry for violent images she sent on Twitter of ISIS killings.

5. Fried potatoes study

james comey boston college 03 08 2017

Hundreds of thousands of anti-independence protesters rallied in the Catalan capital of Barcelona yesterday after Madrid took unprecedented measures to quash the region’s bid to split from Spain.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.

Judge gives custody of child to 1 dad and 2 moms

You’re gonna need one of those detective cork boards to follow this one.

Joe Biden has a favorite Obama-Biden meme

THIS IS NOT A DRILL. HE LITERALLY PICKED A FAVORITE.

Airline passenger’s headphones catch fire mid-flight

Because what we all need is more air travel-related anxiety.

Indian-American actor shares offensive audition scripts

Ugh. Can’t. Stop. Cringing.

Meet Aggretsuko: Hello Kitty’s angry, beer-swilling sister

AKA your new spirit animal.

“I guess you have really arrived when your brief suspension on Twitter is national news.”

AND FINALLY …

Does he want to go for a walk?

AHHHH! HE DOES!!! (Click to view)