Your Wednesday Briefing – The New York Times

Bracing for Dorian’s wrath

Having reduced parts of the Bahamas to rubble, a weakened but dangerous Hurricane Dorian has begun lashing the Florida shore. Storm surge warnings are posted all the way to North Carolina, and seawater could rise to seven feet above normal tidal levels in some places. We’re tracking the storm’s path, and will have live updates.

An epic showdown in British politics

Prime Minister Boris Johnson swept into office in July with a vow to take Britain out of the European Union by whatever means necessary. But Parliament has pulled the rug out from under him, and could vote on legislation as soon as today that would block a withdrawal without a formal agreement with Brussels.

Some of the lawmakers who handed Mr. Johnson defeat on his first vote as prime minister are members of his own Conservative Party. The conflict threatens to hollow out the world’s oldest and most successful political party.

What’s next: Mr. Johnson is expected to formally call today for an election on Oct. 14, about two weeks before the Brexit deadline.

Go deeper: European leaders have resisted demands to change a deal struck with Theresa May, Mr. Johnson’s predecessor. But if Britain leaves without an agreement, the entire Continent could tip toward a recession.

The long push to strike Iran

The crisis over Iran’s nuclear program may ultimately be about the complexities of America’s relationship with Israel. Israeli officials have long contemplated a unilateral strike against Iran, and some believe that President Trump — unlike his immediate predecessors — wouldn’t stand in the way.

Now Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is flexing military muscle, including by launching raids into Syria against Iranian and Hezbollah troops and arms stores. With Israeli elections on Sept. 17, Mr. Netanyahu could be bluffing, but some worry that Mr. Trump could give him a green light to attack Iran itself.

Go deeper: Mr. Trump’s hardball tactics are a departure from the Obama administration’s view that Iran would have to “share the neighborhood” with Saudi Arabia.

Walmart wades into gun safety debate

A month after a gunman killed 22 people at a Walmart store in Texas, the nation’s biggest retailer said on Tuesday that it would stop selling ammunition that can be used in military-style assault rifles; discourage customers from openly carrying guns in its stores; and press Congress to increase background checks and consider a ban on assault rifles.

“As we’ve seen before, these horrific events occur and then the spotlight fades,” said Doug McMillon, Walmart’s chief executive. “We should not allow that to happen. Congress and the administration should act.”

What’s next: American executives have long said that Washington is responsible for solving the gun violence crisis, but Mr. McMillon’s leadership could prove to be a watershed, our business columnist writes.

Reaction: Walmart’s decision is in line with opinion polls that indicate a public desire for more gun controls, but gun rights supporters, including the National Rifle Association, rebuked the company.

Closer look: We profiled the 32 people caught up in shooting in West Texas on Saturday.

If you have half an hour, this is worth it

Could love win the presidency?

What we’re watching: This video, from Humor and Animals. “Need a reminder of joy?” asks Andrea Kannapell, the briefings editor. “Join a water-loving Labrador on a pelt for the water.”

Now, a break from the news

Cook: Dates give sesame chicken with cashews a touch of sweetness. (Our Five Weeknight Dishes newsletter has more recommendations.)

Go: At the Public Theater in New York, Disney’s animated “Hercules” becomes a pageant of civic engagement. “Much of the new material is better than the old,” our critic writes.

Watch: “Steven Universe” has evolved from 11-minute shorts to a 90-minute musical. Its creator discusses how this happened.

Smarter Living: Unlike many physical illnesses or disabilities, mental illness isn’t always visible. But anti-discrimination laws only go so far, so you need a strategy at work.