FBI Director James Comey, Director, and Michael Rogers, Director of the National Security Agency, testify before a House committee about Intelligence concerning Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.
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

With a swift one-two punch, FBI Director James Comey put a big cloud over the Trump White House that could hang around for a while. First he confirmed at a House hearing that the FBI is looking into alleged collusion between President Trump’s campaign aides and Russia during the 2016 election. Then he shot down Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that President Obama had ordered wiretapping at Trump Tower, a stinging rebuke of a sitting president. Republicans at the hearing reacted to this with sudden outrage about leaks, while the White House suggested we all move along – nothing to see here.

2. President Trump

Save the date. The divorce proceedings between the European Union and the UK will officially begin on March 29. That’s when UK Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50 – the mechanism that lets a country leave the EU. And like most divorces, this one won’t be pretty. There are lots of difficult negotiations ahead – most to do with trade and immigration – as the UK and EU prepare for their post-Brexit relationship. The breakup is due to take about two years.

3. London fire

Meaf ban airlines

There’s a new travel ban, but it’s not the one you’re thinking of. This one bans electronics – not people – in the cabin on flights from some countries in the Middle East and Africa to the US. One US official says this may have something to do with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which has been trying to build bombs that contain little or no metal in order to take down a plane.

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

The GOP’s alternative to Obamacare comes up Thursday for a vote in the House, and it’s not looking good. Some conservatives dubbed the bill “Obamacare Lite,” so changes were made to woo them: states would be stopped immediately from expanding Medicaid, older Americans would get more tax credits. It didn’t work. House GOP leaders still don’t have the 216 votes needed to pass the bill. Things aren’t looking so hot in the Senate either. A group of GOP senators came out of a meeting about changes to the bill visibly frustrated. President Trump will try to rally the troops this morning.

5. Fried potatoes study

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.

CAIR map of targeted mosques card

We mapped 33 incidents from January 1 to March 20 in which mosques were targets of threats, vandalism or arson. (During the same time period in 2016, there were just 17 such incidents.)

BREAKFAST BROWSE

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Jerseygate

Our long national nightmare is over. Tom Brady’s jersey from Super Bowl LI has been found.

Weeded out

Woody Harrelson’s a pot head no more. The hard-partying actor says he no longer indulges in the green stuff.

Big bird

Yes, that video of a mammoth chicken you saw on Twitter was real. And yes, you should be terrified.

Moving in

Say hello to Julia, the newest resident of “Sesame Street” and the first Muppet with autism.

01 sesame street Julia autism

What I meant to say was …

A soccer player from Ghana was thanking everybody after being honored after a recent match – his wife and his girlfriend. Ooops!

TODAY’S NUMBER

37%

The President’s job approval rating - his worst since taking office.

AND FINALLY …

The struggle is real

Bright sun. Beautiful beach. Still, trying to sunbathe with a chocolate lab is doggone impossible. (Click to view)