5 things you need to know Wednesday
Florida tries harder than ever to return to normal
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, Floridians are trying to return to normal. Cruises were due to resume from Miami on Wednesday, a day later than planned, because Carnival Cruise Lines had to clear away sunken sailboats. Flights are still grounded at some airports, though air traffic is starting to return to normal. And the primary supplier of power in Florida said power will be restored to most of the East Coast by Sunday, and most of the West Coast four or five days later. While cities across the Sunshine State assess the damage inflicted by Irma, here's how you can help.
Trump to talk race, Charlottesville with GOP Sen. Tim Scott
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., will meet with President Trump Wednesday to discuss race and a white supremacist rally that turned violent in Charlottesville, Va. Scott — the only African-American Republican in the Senate — criticized Trump's response last month to the events in Charlottesville, which resulted in the deaths of three people including a young woman who was hit when a car drove through a crowd of counter-protesters. Trump initially condemned the violence from "many sides" before calling out white supremacists, neo-Nazis and the KKK by name, after two days of criticism. But a day later Trump said both the protesters and counter-protesters were to blame. Trump also plans to meet with a bipartisan group of moderate House members on Wednesday to discuss a variety of issues ranging from tax reform to health care.
USA! USA! Los Angeles expected to get 2028 Olympics
The International Olympic Committee is expected to ratify an agreement Wednesday that would award the 2024 Olympics to Paris and 2028 Olympics to Los Angeles. The IOC vote at its meeting in Lima, Peru, is seen as a formality since a deal with the two cities was brokered in July. However, a growing scandal over bidding for the 2016 Rio games looms in the background. For Los Angeles, a yes vote will set off a fundraising drive to raise more than $5 billion for the games, which would be the first Summer Olympics in the U.S. since Atlanta in 1996. (There's an outside chance the U.S. could get the 2026 Winter Games — two years before L.A.)
Sanders to introduce single-payer legislation
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Wednesday will introduce a bill to create a "single-payer," government-run health care system, an issue that is gaining ground among Democrats who are seen as possible presidential candidates. On Tuesday, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand became the ninth Democratic senator to publicly support the "Medicare-For-All Act of 2017," joining Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and others. Their support raises the possibility that more than one Democratic candidate in 2020 will have announced support for a single-payer system. Sanders made single-payer a focal point of his failed presidential primary bid against Hillary Clinton.
Spicer to really hit late-night TV circuit
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer (not Melissa McCarthy, who famously impersonated him on Saturday Night Live) is making his late-night debut on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! Wednesday (11:35 ET/PT). The guest spot will be Spicer’s first network TV interview since resigning in July from his post at the White House. The appearance follows ex White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci's visit on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in August.
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