Hello, from CNN, I'm Jo Beck with the 5 things you need to know for Wednesday, October 9th.

There are fears Hurricane Milton could become one of the most destructive storms on record as it barrels towards Florida today. The storm remains an extremely powerful Category five hurricane, but it's predicted to weaken to a Category three when it makes landfall tonight. During that time, it's forecast to double in size, meaning its disastrous impacts will be felt over a far bigger area, along with powerful wind gusts. Heavy rainfall is expected for much of Florida, with nearly 20 million people under flood watches. Florida Congresswoman Kathy Castor says the storm will be catastrophic on the heels of Hurricane Helene.

Helene was a surge without much rain, without much wind. But Milton is a monster. We're going to have flash flooding. We're going to have roofs ripped off. And the National Hurricane Center says many of the areas will be uninhabitable after this.

The Storm Prediction Center is also warning that several tornadoes could spawn in cities in Milton's path.

You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza.

That was Israel's Prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the people of Lebanon in a video message yesterday. His warning comes as the United Nations raised the alarm about seeing a repeat of the destruction in Gaza. As Israel escalates its offensives in Lebanon. The U.N. says Lebanon is already seeing the same patterns and methods of warfare. Israel's military has flattened most of Gaza to rubble, killing around 42,000 people and leaving about 90% of the population internally displaced. And the offensive there is far from over, with forces issuing evacuation orders for parts of northern Gaza, an area that aid workers have described as an unlivable wasteland.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been appearing on several popular TV shows as former President Donald Trump has been battling revelations from a new book. Harris appeared on The View and 60 Minutes before she cracked open appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

I'm obviously not Joe Biden. Um...

I noticed (audience laughter).

So, that would be one change to service of.... But also I think it's important to say with 28 days to go, I'm not Donald Trump.

The media blitz is being seen as an attempt to get in front of friendly interviewers with more targeted audiences and with no more debate scheduled. This could present the best opportunities for her to get newsmaking moments in the final sprint to Election Day. Trump, meanwhile, has been denying claims that investigative journalist Bob Woodward is making in his new book. Woodward says the former president secretly sent Russian President Vladimir Putin, quote, Covid test machines for his personal use in 2020 and had phone calls with him after he left the White House. Take a listen to how Trump responded on Newsmax.

I think that Woodward's a real jerk.

An Afghan national is facing charges in the U.S. for allegedly plotting an ISIS inspired terrorist attack on Election Day. The FBI arrested a 27 year old man in Oklahoma on Monday after he bought rifles and ammunition from an undercover law enforcement officer. He's been charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, among other charges, according to court documents. The man partnered with a minor, planned to liquidate his assets, repatriate his family to Afghanistan, purchase assault rifles and stage a, quote, "violent attack.".

Up next.

Is there something you've learned in your grief that would help others who are listening?

Anderson Cooper talks to actor Andrew Garfield about losing his mom.

Actor Andrew Garfield has opened up about losing his mother in a thoughtful discussion with CNN's Anderson Cooper. As part of the third season of his podcast, All There Is, Cooper asked the actor what he learned in his grief. Garfield responded by expressing gratitude to his friends.

They would send me messages and it would literally just be, I'm here, I've got you. None of these people tried to fix it. I didn't try to run away from it either. But basically they were saying, If you need us to sit with you while you cry, we can do that.

You can listen to the new season of All There is with Anderson Cooper wherever you get your podcasts.

That's all for now. I'll be back with more news at 9 p.m. Eastern.