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Rep. Salazar says Republicans are ‘squandering political capital’ amid infighting over speaker of the House

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Republicans are “playing with fire” amid ongoing party infighting over who should be the speaker of the House, according to Florida Rep. Maria Salazar.

For the first time in 100 years, the vote for speaker was not decided in the first round. Over five separate rounds, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of California has so far failed to secure the 218 votes needed to become speaker of the House, as now 21 Republicans have decided not to vote for him.

The voting, in its second day, is ongoing. The House cannot conduct other business until a speaker is chosen.

“Any of them could have raised their hand and say ‘Hey, I want to be speaker.’ So if you do, then you go out and you raise money and you help other candidates to make it into the majority,” Rep. Salazar, a Republican, told ABC News’ Linsey Davis.

With a razor-thin Republican majority, McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes. What started as a small movement of five members ahead of the new Congress, led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, grew to 21 Republicans not voting for McCarthy as speaker, a move that Salazar said is going to cost Republicans their “political capital.”

“My concern is that we, the Republicans who are playing games, who are wasting time and we’re not sending the right message to those people who elected us that we are here to do their business … And this merry-go-round that we’re going right now that I think is not good for us or for the country … We’re squandering our political capital, the capital that the American people gave us back in November,” Salazar told ABC News.

On the first speaker vote, Republicans who voted against McCarthy instead chose a range of candidates including Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. By the third round, all of the 19 detractors rallied around Jordan, a McCarthy supporter, who also gained a vote from Byron Donalds, R-Fla., when Donalds switched his vote from McCarthy to Jordan, bringing the total to 20.

In the fourth and fifth rounds of voting, on Wednesday, McCarthy lost another member when Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted present.

Despite the detractors, Salazar continued to reiterate that it was only “fair” to vote McCarthy in as speaker. Salazar also acknowledged that she is not one of McCarthy’s staunch supporters, often reiterating “he is not my friend.”

“He put us in the majority. It’s not that I am his best friend, but I think we got to be fair. And if 90% of the conference of the GOP members of the House of Representatives want that guy, then we should go with him,” Salazar told ABC News.

Salazar went on to criticize the outliers, saying they are holding up most of the conference and compared it to a marriage where you may not always agree but you don’t file for divorce over it.

“He wanted to be speaker. He went around, he raised the money. He put us in the majority. He created working groups. He then created this big document called ‘Commitment with America.’ He went to the party, he went to the other members of the party to ask for advice,” Salazar said.

“I think the guy did the most he could do. He’s not God, but he did the most. And I repeat, he is not my friend, but I think fair is fair … It’s like in a marriage. Do you really believe that you are going to be in accordance with your husband 100% of the time? No. Right. But that doesn’t mean that you’re going to divorce the guy. So why are we going around this?” Salazar told ABCNL Prime.

Without a speaker, the House cannot continue any of its regular business, including swearing-in members, forming committees or voting on legislation.

McCarthy has remained defiant and pledged that he will not give up until he is speaker, even going so far as to move into the speaker’s office.

‘Wednesday’ breaks another record for Netflix as ‘Knives Out’ sequel scores #1 on streamer’s movie chart

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Wednesday continued working its ratings magic for Netflix over the New Year’s weekend. The streaming service says the show starring Jenna Ortega managed to break another Netflix record by spending six consecutive weeks on the English TV List with over 100 million hours viewed.

Last week, nearly 104 million hours’ worth of Tim Burton‘s buzzy supernatural show were viewed.

On the movies side of things, Rian Johnson’s sequel Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was the most viewed title of the past week, with 127.2 million hours viewed, and 209.40 million hours viewed after 10 days. After Netflix’s Red Notice and Don’t Look Up, Glass Onion became the third-most-watched original movie for the streamer, seen by some 90 million households, according to the company’s numbers.

Incidentally, interest in the sequel also boosted viewership for the Oscar-nominated 2019 original, also starring Daniel Craig‘s drawly detective Benoit Blanc. That film was #3 on the Netflix’s English Films List last week.

Of Monsters and Men’s Nanna confirms release of new music

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

After teasing a possible solo project, Of Monsters and Men vocalist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir has confirmed the release of new music.

The material will arrive next Friday, January 13, and is available to presave now.

In December, Nanna shared a mysterious video alongside the caption, “New things are coming in the new year…stay tuned!” Of Monsters and Men retweeted the clip, adding that Nanna “has something verrrrry exciting coming soon.”

Prior to Of Monsters and Men’s formation, Nanna performed solo under the moniker Songbird.

Of Monsters and Men’s most recent album is 2019’s Fever Dream. They released a new single called “This Happiness” last April.

Lzzy Hale teaming up with Daughtry for upcoming Journey cover

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Lzzy Hale is embarking on a Journey with Daughtry.

The Halestorm frontwoman has teamed up with the American Idol rocker for an upcoming cover of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” which the “Don’t Stop Believin'” outfit originally released in 1983.

The joint recording is set to drop on Thursday, and you can listen to a brief preview now via Daughtry’s Instagram.

Hale and Daughtry’s version of “Separate Ways” follows a remix of the song included on the Stranger Things season 4 soundtrack alongside Metallica‘s “Master of Puppets” and Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill.”

Halestorm, meanwhile, released a new album called Back from the Dead last May.

Angry parents slam Lil Nas X and The Wiggles over rumored collab

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Lil Nas X isn’t shy about his appreciation for The Wiggles, even going so far as wanting them to co-headline his tour. But a rumored collab between the two is sending angry parents off the edge.

The Australian children’s music group recently shared a photo of them and Lil Nas X on Instagram and captioned it, “New collab in the wind?” The photo, which was taken at Australia’s Falls Festival, shows the group surrounding the rapper, who is holding up his own purple Wiggles shirt.

Apparently, some parents really didn’t like the idea of the two forces working together.

“Oh dear you can’t be serious? The Wiggles should remain a source of light not dark,” one concerned parent opined in the comment section. Another criticized, “Such a shame, my daughter loved the Wiggles. I don’t see how someone who lap dances the devil in their music videos is a good candidate for working in the children’s music industry.”

Other angry commentators claimed they will swear off The Wiggles for good if they collaborate with Lil Nas X, while other fans are coming to the artists’ defense. Said one supporter, “So many snowflakes in these comments.”

Lil Nas X has been regularly criticized by right-wing and religious individuals in recent years. He came under fire in 2021 for his controversial “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” music video, which featured him pole dancing into hell and giving the devil a lap dance before snapping his neck to steal his throne.

The rapper embraced the hate and even tried capitalizing off of it with various merchandise.

Neither X nor The Wiggles have responded to any of the angry comments.

Chase Rice saddles up for ‘GMA’ and contemplates his complicated relationship with cowboys

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Chase Rice brings his sense of irony to Good Morning America this Friday as he performs his new song, “I Hate Cowboys.”

It’s one of the two contrary title tracks of his new album, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go to Hell, which comes out February 10.

“When you listen to the song you of course get that I don’t actually hate cowboys,” Chase clarifies. “I’m really fortunate to call several of them great friends.”

“But damn, doesn’t it make you crazy when Mr. Steal Your Girl kicks open the door — with that hat and those Wranglers, and he can two-step better than you, talk cooler than you?” he asks. “‘I Hate Cowboys’ is an ode to the fact that just like Taylor Sheridan writes in Yellowstone, ‘If it were easier everyone would cowboy’ … hell, I wish I could.”

Chase co-wrote the new tune with HARDY, Old Dominion‘s Brad Tursi and hit tunesmith Ross Copperman.

Tune in to GMA Friday starting at 7 a.m. to check out Chase’s performance. You’ll also be able to watch the “I Hate Cowboys” music video online that day.

Neal Schon says fans can expect to see Journey co-founder Gregg Rollie at 50th anniversary tour

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Despite the recent public fighting between Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, they are supposed to come together next month for Journey’s 50th anniversary tour. Now Schon says fans can expect one of the band’s former members to turn up, too.

On Wednesday Schon posted a graphic for the upcoming tour on Facebook. When a fan mentioned Journey co-founder Gregg Rollie in the comments, Schon shared that Rollie will be making an appearance on the trek.

“I am SO looking forward to this. Please tell me Gregg Rollie is coming along for the ride!” the fan commented. “He’s the better keyboard player and a co-founder it only seems right. Timing couldn’t be better either!!!!” Schon replied, “you’ll be seeing him.”

Rollie was Journey’s original lead singer and keyboardist when it formed in San Francisco in 1973 and appeared on their first six albums. In 1977 he was replaced as lead singer by Steve Perry; he left the group in 1980.

As previously reported, Schon and Cain have been in the news a lot lately because of their legal battles. The most recent incident had Schon sending a cease-and-desist letter to Cain over a performance of “Don’t Stop Believin’” at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

Journey’s 50th anniversary tour, with openers Toto, kicks off February 4 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Who is Byron Donalds, latest GOP protest nominee against McCarthy’s speaker bid

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds was nominated on Wednesday as the latest protest nominee from within the GOP as leader Kevin McCarthy continues to struggle to win a majority to be elected speaker.

Who is Donalds?

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called Donalds a “dear friend, a solid conservative and, most importantly, a family man” as he nominated him for the top role.

Donalds’ campaign team has described him as a “a Trump supporting, liberty loving, pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment black man.”

Roy noted in his speech on Wednesday that, because Democrats have also put forth their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, “For the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed in nomination for speaker of the House.” That prompted a standing ovation from the chamber.

Donalds voted for McCarthy in the first two rounds of the speaker vote, on Tuesday, but on the third round switched his vote to Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, a McCarthy supporter, insisting that McCarthy failed to win the necessary support to move forward.

Since Donalds has been nominated — in the fifth round, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., nominated him — he has voted for himself.

Donalds, like Jeffries, grew up in Brooklyn but went to college in Florida and built a career there in the financial and insurance industries, according to his House biography.

He was first elected to the House in 2020 after serving as a state representative and now represents Florida’s 19th Congressional District.

“I’m blessed and highly favored, honestly. Southwest Florida has always been great to me and I’m just glad to have the opportunity to represent them in Congress,” Donalds said after winning his race in 2020, saying then that his first priority was water quality.

He and his wife, Erika, have three sons: Damon, Darin and Mason.

ABC News’ Tal Axelrod and Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report.

Shazam predicts Ice Spice, charlieonafriday have the potential to break out globally in 2023

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Shazam is one of the go-to sources for those who want to find out the names of the artists behind songs they’ve just discovered. With all those analytics in its database, the platform created a playlist featuring 50 artists it predicts may have a breakthrough year in 2023.

According to Shazam, Ice Spice and charlieonafriday are two of five hip-hop/rap stars with the potential to break out globally this year. Ice’s “Munch (Feeling You)” peaked at #11 on the Hip-Hop/Rap chart, where it’s been a mainstay, while charlieonnafriday’s song “Enough” landed on Shazam charts in 40 countries.

On the list of five artists who may break out regionally was Afro-Beat star Carterefe, whose first single topped the Shazam charts in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana while charting on other national lists. He credited the platform for the success of his single thus far.

“Shazam basically aided in boosting my music career to this point,” Carterefe told Apple Music. “Having the sound was one step, but Shazam made it easier to connect me as an artist to new listeners who may not have known me prior to hearing the sound somewhere and got to Shazam it. … It’s really been impactful and I really want to say I’m personally appreciative of it.”

Munic HB, a hip-hop/rap and trap star whose song “Pico y Pala” charted on Shazam in nine countries across Spain and Latin America in 2022, also made the list of five artists gaining popularity regionally.

Major storm to bring flooding threat, damaging winds to West Coast

January 4, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Potential for deadly flooding, damage from incoming monster storm

Potential for deadly flooding, damage from incoming monster storm
Millions in Northern California are bracing for a massive winter storm, just days after the area…

After significant rainfall last week, the West Coast is bracing for another major storm that is expected to bring the threat of flooding rain, damaging winds and mudslides.

A “potent atmospheric river” will start impacting northern California on Wednesday, before moving to the central and southern coast into Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

Damaging winds gusts of at least 50 mph are forecast Wednesday as the front moves in, with gusts up to 70 mph possible near the coast. The gusty winds may down trees and cause power outages, the agency warned.

The storm will bring “substantial rainfall to the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast on top of already saturated soils,” the National Weather Service said.

Excessive rain, with river flooding and flash flooding, is possible. Some rivers, like the Russian River, are expected to rise more than 20 feet in just over 24 hours.

“As a result look for rapid rises in area creeks, streams, and rivers. Bankfull exceedance is possible,” the National Weather Service said.

Burn scars will also be vulnerable to flooding, the agency said.

The worst of the storm is expected to hit Northern California and the Bay Area Wednesday afternoon into the evening.

“Between 3 and 7 p.m. you do not want to be on the roads anywhere in the Bay Area,” ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee said.

The heavy rain will move into Los Angeles Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, with flash flooding possible.

Over the next few days, 2 to 4 inches of rain is possible from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with 4 to 8 inches forecast in the mountains.

The excessive rain comes days after San Francisco reported its second-rainiest day ever, when over 5 inches of rain fell on New Year’s Eve.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said during a press briefing ahead of the storm that the city is anticipating “something just as significant” on Wednesday.

Ahead of the storm, the city activated its Emergency Operations Center to clear storm drains, distribute sandbags and “ensure residents are prepared,” Breed said.

The storm is forecast to then bring heavy snow as it moves into the Rockies Thursday and Friday, where up to a foot of snow is expected. Avalanche danger will be high.

This is the latest atmospheric river storm to bring significant rainfall to the region in recent weeks.

The long, narrow regions in the atmosphere are like “rivers in the sky,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They carry large amounts of water vapor over the Pacific Ocean, which is released as rain in lower elevations or snow in higher elevations when they make landfall.

The events are “tied closely to both water supply and flood risks,” NOAA said. Extreme rainfall from an atmospheric river can also cause mudslides, it said.

ABC News’ Max Golembo contributed to this report.

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