5 things you need to know Wednesday
Trump sits down with Black Caucus leaders
President Trump will meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday, a month after he was criticized for asking an African-American journalist to set up a meeting with a group of black lawmakers. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., the caucus chairman, is scheduled to chat with Trump along with other committee members to discuss issues related to the African-American community, including education, criminal justice reform and health care, according to The Washington Post.
Gorsuch to face more legal grilling from senators
Round 2. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for a second day of sparring as part of his confirmation process. On Tuesday, Gorsuch refused repeatedly to address questions from Democrats on abortion, guns, campaign spending and a host of other issues that he said could come before the court in the future. On the lightning-rod issue of abortion, Gorsuch said President Trump did not ask him whether he would overrule Roe v. Wade — and if he had asked, "I would have walked out the door."
Are U.S. high schools challenging? Exchange students say no
Foreign exchange students who spent time in U.S. high schools last year found that getting an education back home is more challenging, a new study released on Wednesday finds. Some 90% of foreign students say high school classes are easier in the U.S. than in their native country, according to the survey from Brookings Institution’s Brown Center on Education Policy. The study also found that 64.5% believed that their American counterparts spend less time on schoolwork. Though researchers attribute these findings to several factors — including U.S. school districts' obsession with sports programs — one expert says U.S. students spend the bulk of their time in school, but less is required for them to succeed in the classroom.
If you want to go to Burning Man, better get in line
Up for a giant art party in the Black Rock desert? Online registration begins at noon PT on Wednesday to buy tickets for Burning Man, the funky festival outside Reno. The main sale for tickets will be March 29, but interested buyers must register beforehand. Registration runs through noon PT Friday. The festival, which runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4, has sold out every year since 2011. The past two years, the main ticket sale has sold out in less than an hour. Burning Man's theme this year: "Radical Ritual." Yeah it is.
Airbnb is doubling down on China
The online marketplace for short-term vacation rentals will expand trips and aid for Mandarin speakers in China. It also unveiled a new brand name on Wednesday. “Aibiying” (爱彼迎) translates as “welcome each other with love," in Chinese. Airbnb has been in China for years, but the San Francisco company’s focus has been on travelers coming from China. Now it is investing to increase travel within China by both Chinese and tourists. This is only the latest in a series of steps Airbnb has taken to master the country's market. In 2014 it created a partnership with Alibaba, so Airbnb users could pay with Alipay, the ubiquitous online payment system used by 450 million Chinese.
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