5 things you need to know Tuesday
1. It's Pope time
After all the hype, it's finally here: Pope Francis touches down in the USA. President Obama, the first lady and Vice President Biden will greet the pontiff Tuesday afternoon at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., but the pope's schedule doesn't pick up until Wednesday morning. So what can Washingtonians expect on Tuesday? Traffic.
2. Shareholders decide if Bank of America CEO can also be chairman of the board
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan will face one of the toughest tests of his career Tuesday when shareholders decide whether to strip him of his role as chairman of the board. Last year, the bank's board agreed to elevate Moynihan to the role of chairman — the most powerful job at any company — without first consulting shareholders. That led to a wave of criticism because it went directly against a 2009 vote by shareholders to separate the chairman and CEO roles under then-CEO Ken Lewis. Moynihan succeeded Lewis as CEO in 2010. If Moynihan prevails, his troubles with shareholders may be just getting started, some shareholders said.
3. Brian Williams returns to air on MSNBC
After a suspension, demotion and pay cut, Brian Williams returns to TV news in time for the pope's U.S. visit. The former anchor for NBC Nightly News will serve as live breaking news anchor for MSNBC during the cable network's coverage of Pope Francis' D.C., New York and Philadelphia stops. Williams, who had served as both chief anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, was suspended in February after he was challenged on social media about a statement he made about his reporting tour in Iraq in 2003.
4. Female veterans make history with Honor Flight
The first all-female Honor Flight will bring more than 140 veterans from the Cincinnati area to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. VA Secretary Robert McDonald will join the women at Arlington National Cemetery's Women in Military Service Memorial. Half of the veterans are from World War II, and half served in the post-9/11 era. Honor Flights transport vets to D.C. to visit and reflect at the memorials built to honor their service. Women have been included in past Honor Flights but usually no more than a few at a time.
5. 'Muppets' debut with Kermit, Miss Piggy ... and Denise
Miss Piggy nearly broke the Internet this summer when she announced her split from Kermit the Frog. Now we can see how the former couple is handling their work lives and new relationships when The Muppets airs Tuesday on ABC (8 p.m. ET/PT). The Office-style mockumentary is a show-within-a-show as we follow Kermit, the executive producer and Piggy, the talent, behind the scenes of her Up Late with Miss Piggy venture. Staff members Fozzie Bear and Gonzo are fighting their own love battles: Fozzie is trying to woo his human girlfriend's parents and Gonzo explores online dating. Oh, and Kermit's new girlfriend, Denise, is in the mix, too. It's a complicated scene, that's even harder to film, but these grown-up characters are just trying to live their lives.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Heavy rain will soak the Southwest on Tuesday while high heat scorches the Plains.
Stocks: U.S. stock futures and European markets fell Tuesday, after Fed officials tried to soothe fears over the global economy, and investors hoped for stabilization in weak China factory data.
TV tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at NCIS, The Voice, and Fresh off the Boat.
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