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Senate prepares for SAVE America Act debate, Mullin’s confirmation hearing to lead DHS amid shutdown

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — It’s set to be a critical week in Congress as lawmakers continue to scrutinize the Iran war — with opportunities to press the Trump administration as members of the president’s Cabinet and senior military commanders are set to make appearances.

The country’s top intelligence community officials make their way to Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday, when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel as well as top officials from the Defense Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency are scheduled to appear before the House and Senate Intelligence committees for the Worldwide Threats hearings.

While these are annual hearings, this year’s presentation comes amid heightened focus on the intelligence community because of the Iran war as lawmakers mull a potential emergency supplemental bill to fund the open-ended operation.

The money that has so far been spent to fund operations in Iran comes out of Pentagon funds already allocated by Congress. Congress has not yet approved any additional funding for the war with Iran.

Also on Wednesday, Sen. Markwayne Mullin will appear for his public confirmation hearing to serve as the Secretary of Homeland Security after being tapped by Trump earlier this month to take over from Kristi Noem.

He’ll be before the Senate Homeland Security Committee while the department he’s seeking to lead remains shut down due to a funding stalemate, with no clear end to that shutdown in sight.

Parts of DHS — from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the Transportation Security Administration to the Coast Guard — are shut down amid a funding fight over Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats have said they will fund the department only if changes are made to the agency in the wake of the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis earlier this year.

While Mullin is expected to be grilled by Democrats over ongoing challenges at DHS, he is ultimately expected to swiftly sail to confirmation. The Senate Homeland Security Committee is scheduled to vote on his nomination on Thursday. After that vote, his nomination will head to the Senate floor. He could be confirmed as soon as the following week.

Mullin may face questions about threats to the homeland after DHS warned of potential lone-wolf and cyberattacks amid the ongoing strikes in Iran, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by ABC News.

Majority Leader John Thune has signaled that this is the week that the Senate is going to attempt to move forward with votes on the SAVE America Act, which would change voter ID requirements ahead of November’s midterm elections. It comes after President Donald Trump threatened that he would not sign any other legislation coming to his desk until the SAVE America Act was passed.

The showdown is expected to produce heated debate on the floor — not only about the bill’s provisions, but also the Senate’s wonky and longstanding procedures.

Trump has mentioned the possibility of utilizing the so-called “talking filibuster” to pass the SAVE America Act. The “talking filibuster” would be a departure from the Senate’s usual operating procedure that some hope would allow senators to side-step the current rules requiring 60 votes to advance most legislation. It could see lawmakers making tireless speeches on endless numbers of amendments on the floor.

Thune has consistently reiterated that there are not the votes in the Senate to support a talking filibuster or modify the chamber’s filibuster rules. So while the floor debate may get heated, any vote that takes place on the bill is mostly symbolic, and all-but-certain to fail.

On Thursday, the investigation around convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues as Darren Indyke, longtime attorney and a co-executer of Epstein’s will, is expected to appear for a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee.

Indyke’s testimony follows accountant Richard Kahn’s deposition last week, during which he told the committee that he did not know about Epstein’s crimes, according to his prepared remarks obtained by ABC News.

Chairman James Comer continues to work to schedule transcribed interviews with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Attorney General Pam Bondi, though an aide told ABC News on Friday that neither interview has been nailed down so far.

Don Toliver reveals he’s working on new album

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

It’s been less than two months since Don Toliver released his latest album, Octane, and he’s already cooking up some new music. During a conversation with Billboard at South by Southwest, he revealed that he’s working on his next album.

Don said his creative juices have been on a high due to all that’s going on his life, hence the reason he’s been in the studio.

“I just feel like right now if I don’t put out anything, I just need to capture this moment because it’s a lot going on in my life,” he said. “Both when I was making this album and when it came out… it’s just fueling me to want to be as creative as I can possibly be.”

He adds that his desire to grow and evolve as an artist remains, though he has to balance that with quality time with his loved ones.

“Even with the balance of just trying to make as much time as I can for my family, I still want to make sure that I fulfill my duties as an artist and as a creator,” Don said. “As somebody who really tries to push things forward… to continue to create.”

He is set to kick off his Octane tour in May.

Three Days Grace’s ‘Animal I Have Become’ joins Spotify Billions Club

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Three Days Grace’s “Animal I Have Become” has become the band’s latest entry into the Spotify Billions Club.

The 2006 single marks the second 3DG song to reach the 1 billion stream milestone, following “I Hate Everything About You.” According to a press release, Three Days Grace is now the only Canadian band to have 1 billion streams on Spotify with two different songs.

“On the back of a bus in Germany, what started as a dissonant riff and a nod to the Beatles became ‘Animal I Have Become,'” Three Days Grace says in a statement. “What began as a raw idea on the road for a band from a small town like Norwood grew into a song that connected with millions around the world. Seeing it now join the billions club — and becoming the only Canadian band with two songs there — is pretty incredible.”

Three Days Grace is currently on tour in support of their latest album, 2025’s Alienation. It’s the band’s first record with their revamped two-vocalist lineup featuring returning frontman Adam Gontier and longtime singer Matt Walst.

Noah Kahan announces ‘Out of Body’ documentary Netflix premiere date

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Noah Kahan has the announced the Netflix premiere date for his upcoming documentary, Out of Body.

The film will debut on the streamer April 13. It follows Kahan during his tour in support of his breakout album, 2022’s Stick Season.

Along with the news, Kahan has shared a video on Instagram detailing what you can expect from the doc, which premieres at the South by Southwest festival on Monday.

“If you’ve listened to my music for awhile, I do talk about my family and I talk a lot about my self-image, kind of get into body dysmorphia and some of the mental health struggles I’ve had,” Kahan says in the clip. “But it’s very much front-and-center during the documentary.”

“It’ll be the first time I’ve really talked about it in a way that wasn’t through music, so I’m obviously a little nervous about baring my soul in that way,” he continues. “It’s very vulnerable, and it’s hard for me to watch, but also something I think is really important to share.’

Kahan’s follow-up to Stick Season, The Great Divide, drops April 24. The title track and the song “Porch Light” are out now.

Kahan will launch a U.S. tour in June.

Chris Young brings Famous Friends to midtown Nashville

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

“Famous Friends” will soon be more than Chris Young’s #1 hit from 2021 — it’ll also be the name of his new Nashville sports bar.

Famous Friends won’t be located on Lower Broadway near most of the other country stars’ bars, however. It’ll call Demonbreun St. in midtown Nashville home.

“I’m very excited for Famous Friends to be open in Nashville!” Chris tells Billboard. “I have been working on this as a passion project for a while now. A sports bar that will be Nashville famous for a reason. Something completely different where you can bring all your friends for a great time!”

Look for more details about Famous Friends’ opening date to be announced soon.

Death Cab for Cutie announces new album, ‘I Built You a Tower’

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Death Cab for Cutie has announced a new album called I Built You a Tower.

The 11th studio effort from the “I Will Follow You into the Dark” outfit is due out June 5. It’s the follow-up to 2022’s Asphalt Meadows.

The first single is called “Riptides,” and is out now alongside a video, which you can watch streaming on YouTube.

“‘Riptides’ is about the challenge of dealing with personal struggles as the world around us experiences tragedy and loss on an unfathomable scale,” says frontman Ben Gibbard. “And how when these two elements intertwine themselves in our psyches, it feels utterly paralyzing.”

Death Cab for Cutie will launch a U.S. tour in July.

Here’s the I Built You a Tower track list:

“Full of Stars”
“Punching the Flowers”
“Pep Talk”
“I Built You a Tower (A)”
“Envy the Birds”
“Stone Over Water”
“How Heavenly a State”
“Trap Door”
“Riptides”
“The Flavor of Metal”
“I Built You a Tower (B)”

Elton John’s star-studded Oscar viewing party raises $10.6 million for his AIDS Foundation

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Elton John’s star-studded Oscar viewing party raises .6 million for his AIDS Foundation

Elton John’s star-studded Oscar viewing party raises $10.6 million for his AIDS Foundation — Elton John attends during Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 34th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 15, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation)

Elton John’s annual Oscar viewing party, a fundraiser for his AIDS Foundation, took in $10.6 million Sunday night in West Hollywood.

The party featured Grammy-winning singer Lola Young as the musical entertainment, and included a cocktail reception, dinner and an auction where guests bid on an Elton John pinball machine, dinner with Elton and his husband David Furnish, jewelry, art photography, Rolex watches and a painting that was created live while Elton played a solo piano version of “Tiny Dancer.”

Guests at the event included Olympic star Alysa Liu, Dua Lipa and her fiancé Callum Turner, Fran Drescher, JC Chasez of *NSYNC, Brandi Carlile, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, Adam Lambert, Melissa McCarthy, Patricia Arquette, Tiffany Haddish, Yungblud, Donatella Versace, Bernie Taupin, Damiano David and his fiancée Dove Cameron, Keke Palmer and many more.

Over the years, Elton’s viewing party has raised over $125 million for the Foundation’s efforts to end AIDS. On Sunday night, Elton thanked his guests, adding, “We have a lot of work to do, still, but we’re gonna fight on. You know, I said I will never rest until this is finished. Well, I’m not gonna rest until it’s finished, and you’ve been a huge part of that.”

Oscar winner Paul Thomas Anderson on how ‘One Battle After Another’ represents our current moment

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

It was Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another that came away as the big winner during Sunday night’s 98th Academy Awards.

The movie earned six Oscars including best picture. Anderson won his first-ever Academy Awards at the ceremony, and backstage after those wins, he was asked how One Battle After Another represents this year and the current time period we are living in.

“Our film obviously has a certain amount of parallels to what’s happening in the news every day. So, it obviously reflects what’s happening in the world,” Anderson said.

The director then reflected on how One Battle After Another offers some hope for where our real world could be headed.

“In terms of where it’s going, I don’t know. But I know that the end of our movie is our hero, Willa, heading off to continue to fight against evil forces,” Anderson said. “And, I think, like I said in my speech, bring at least common sense and decency back into fashion.”

Anderson also addressed some of the criticism his film has faced over its portrayal of Teyana Taylor’s character, Perfidia Beverly Hills. The writer and director explained that Perfidia has to be who she is so that the film’s hero, Willa, played by Chase Infiniti, can right the mistakes of her parents.

“The point of it is to set up the story of Willa. The next generation. What happens when your parents, who are damaged, have handed quite a difficult history to you? How do you manage that? That’s our story. And our story is in Chase and her evolution,” Anderson said.

Numerous flights canceled as severe March storm continues

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A cross-country storm continued on Monday to produce heavy snow and strong winds in the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region, including an ice storm in northern Michigan, prompting thousands of flight cancellations and delays.

More than 3,400 flights within or out of the United States have already been canceled on Monday and more than 14,000 flights have been delayed, according to FlightAware.com, which tracks flights throughout the nation.

Between Saturday and Monday morning, more than 5,000 flights were canceled nationwide due to weather, with 3,000 flights scrapped on Sunday alone.

A major winter storm sweeping across the country has produced blizzards, ice storms and widespread destruction across parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes states.

Overnight, parts of Wisconsin recorded more than 2 feet of snow, including the city of Wausau, which received 23.4 inches of snow on Sunday and was adding to its snow totals on Monday morning.

Blizzard conditions are still occurring in parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, where the city of Minneapolis recorded 8.8 inches of snow overnight and into Monday.

Meanwhile, more than 391 reports of damaging winds have been recorded from Texas to Ohio. At least eight states — including Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and New York — have reported destructive wind gusts of 70 mph.

More than 500,000 utility customers from Texas to New York were without power on Monday morning, according to the website PowerOutage.com.

Most of the power outages are in northern Michigan, where an ongoing ice storms have toppled power lines.

Fire and ice

The March storm is also forecast to continue whipping up dry and windy conditions in the South, fueling a critical fire threat in areas of the central U.S. already dealing with wildfires.

In Nebraska, three wildfires, the largest being the Morrill Fire, have burned more than 700,000 acres of land across multiple counties in western Nebraska and killed at least one person in Arthur County, Gov. Jim Pillen said at a news conference on Saturday.

On Monday, red flag warnings for fire weather danger are in place from southern Texas through southern Louisiana, including the cities of Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi.

Severe weather outlook for Monday

On Monday, a moderate risks of severe storms is forecast to spread into South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and up to Maryland, including the cities of Washington, D.C., Richmond and Raleigh.

Severe storms are also expected to develop from Georgia to Pennsylvania, including the cities of Savannah, Charleston, Charlotte, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Destructive winds gusts greater than 70 mph could develop in these areas, especially from South Carolina to Maryland.

There’s also a risk of tornadoes popping up about midday from South Carolina to Maryland.

A line of severe thunderstorm could also spawn tornadoes from the Florida Panhandle to the West Virginia. A tornado watch was in place earlier for Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

A tornado watch is also in place for Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and much of New Jersey until 7 pm ET on Monday.

More snow in store for the East Coast

By 6 p.m. ET, snow is expected to be falling from western Virginia, West Virginia, eastern Pennsylvania and western New York. Showers and thunderstorms are also forecast to move along the East Coast from North Carolina to Maine.

The weather system is expected to move out late Monday afternoon. But lake-effect snow is expected to continue through Tuesday on the eastern side of the Great Lakes.

Snow could also make a brief appearance from the Dakotas to Ohio on Tuesday and into Tuesday night.

Record heat wave in the West

Record heat is expected to continue as a summer-like heat dome settles over the West.

Many cities throughout the West — Sacramento, San Jose, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Denver — could reach all-time high temperatures for March.

Extreme heat alerts have been issued from southern Arizona up to the Bay Area of Northern California, where temperatures could reach the mid-90s.

Part of Southern California could see temperatures climb to 109 degrees.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles diagnosed with breast cancer: Trump

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump said in a social media post Monday that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been “diagnosed with early stage breast cancer” and has decided to start treatment immediately.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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