After becoming the first artist to claim the entire top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Taylor Swift is dominating the Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart, as well. She has claimed the entire top 13 on that song chart with tracks from her latest album, Midnights. This feat is second only to Drake, who claimed the entire top 14 on the Streaming Songs chart with songs from Certified Lover Boy in 2021.
Christina Perri posted an adorable new photo of her 4-year-old daughter, Carmella, cradling her new baby sister, Pixie Rose. “brb never gonna recover from this photo,” Christina wrote. “our libra pixie girl has brought balance to our family and she knows it.”
Disney+ is giving us a taste of Pentatonix’s new holiday special. The first trailer was released for Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays, which airs December 2. Disney is the parent company of ABC News.
Johnny Depp is making an appearance in Rihanna‘s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4, airing on Prime Video on November 9. TMZ first reported his surprise appearance and ABC Audio has confirmed it. As previously reported, the lineup also includes performances by Anitta, Burna Boy, Don Toliver and Maxwell, as well as appearances from celebrities like Taraji P. Henson, model and actress Cara Delevingne, Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Marvel Cinematic Universe actors Simu Liu and Winston Duke.
Tate McRae and Tiësto have teamed up with Dubai’s new luxury resort Atlantis The Royal to release a song called “10:35.” The video for the track features the two artists performing all throughout the resort.
After becoming the first artist to claim the entire top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Taylor Swift is dominating the Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart, as well. She has claimed the entire top 13 on that song chart with tracks from her latest album, Midnights. This feat is second only to Drake, who claimed the entire top 14 on the Streaming Songs chart with songs from Certified Lover Boy in 2021.
Christina Perri posted an adorable new photo of her 4-year-old daughter, Carmella, cradling her new baby sister, Pixie Rose. “brb never gonna recover from this photo,” Christina wrote. “our libra pixie girl has brought balance to our family and she knows it.”
Disney+ is giving us a taste of Pentatonix’s new holiday special. The first trailer was released for Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays, which airs December 2. Disney is the parent company of ABC News.
Does Cher have a new man in her life? The 76-year-old singer was spotted in Los Angeles Wednesday holding hands with 36-year-old music executive Alexander “AE” Edwards.
Joss Stone has released a new music video for her cover of the Stevie Wonder holiday classic “What Christmas Means to Me.” The song is featured on Joss’ upcoming holiday album, Merry Christmas, Love, which comes out November 11.
(LAVEEN VILLAGE, Ariz.) — Former President Barack Obama continued his crisscrossing of midterm election battlegrounds Wednesday in Arizona — hoping to turn out voters so Democrats can hold the Senate and keep election deniers out of office.
“Our democracy is on the ballot, and nowhere is that clearer than here in Arizona,” Obama said.
A crowd of thousands, of all ages and races, packed inside Cesar Chavez High School in Laveen Village, held up their phones and stomped their feet as the former president delivered a roast and a warning on what he called the Republican “cast of characters” on the ballot in Arizona.
“They have decided it’s advantageous for them to just assert that Donald Trump won the last election, and now they want control over the next election. And their argument has no basis in reality,” Obama said. “If you’ve got an election denier serving as your governor, as your senator, as your secretary of state, as your attorney general, then democracy, as we know it, may not survive in Arizona.”
To shore up support, especially for incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly and Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, the Democratic nominee for governor, Obama tailored his attack lines to their opponents, Republicans Kari Lake and Blake Masters. Both have former President Donald Trump’s endorsement and have echoed his election denialism.
“Why would you vote for somebody who you know is not telling the truth about something? I mean, on something that important. I don’t care how nicely they say it. I don’t care how poised they are or how well-lit they are,” Obama said, referring to Lake’s TV appearances.
For more from ABC News’ team of reporters embedded in battleground states, watch “Power Trip” on Hulu, with new episodes on Sunday.
Back in May 2016, when Obama was finishing his second term and Lake was still an anchor at a FOX affiliate in Phoenix, Lake interviewed him in Arizona where they discussed Senate Republicans blocking now-Attorney General Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court. “Democracy only works when people play by the rules, where everybody is fair,” Obama told her at the time.
The former president said Wednesday he doesn’t remember thinking then that “she was the kind of person” to push conspiracies.
“I guess that stuff came later because she found it convenient — because she thought, ‘Well, here’s an opportunity to get attention,'” Obama said. “Listen, if we hadn’t just elected somebody whose main qualification was being on TV, you can say, ‘Maybe give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen?’ Well, now we know. It doesn’t just work out just because somebody’s been on TV. Turns out, being president or governor is about more than snappy lines and good lighting.”
The crowd roared.
Notably, Lake contributed to Obama’s first presidential campaign and voted for him, but attributes that now to dissatisfaction with the Republican establishment.
“Katie, she may not be flashy,” Obama said of Hobbs before an outspoken attendee disagreed. “She could have been. She just chooses not to be, because she’s serious about her work.”
Hobbs, who has faced criticism for refusing to debate Lake, has run a low-key campaign when compared to her competitor’s large-scale rallies and moderated Q&A events. But Wednesday, she took a jab at Lake in front of her largest audience yet.
“Democracy is the system that sent Barack Obama to the White House, and democracy is the system that will send Kari Lake back to whatever dark corner of the internet she came from,” Hobbs said to cheers.
Several Democrats spoke at the rally, including secretary of state candidate Adrian Fontes and attorney general candidate Kris Mayes — and one lone Republican, Mesa Mayor John Giles, an outspoken Lake critic.
“Kari Lake is playing to an audience of one. I promise you if she’s elected, she’ll spend more time traveling to Mar-a-Lago than to Mesa,” Giles said. “Likewise, Blake Masters wants to go to the Senate to represent two people: One, a billionaire in California, the other, a want-to-be billionaire former president in Florida,” he added, referring also to Peter Thiel, a Masters-mega donor.
For his part, Obama said of Masters, “If you were trying to create, in a lab, a wacky Republican politician, it’d look a lot like this guy.”
The former president also knocked the 36-year-old conservative and venture capitalist for scrubbing his website after his primary win to soften some of his stances.
“His website had all kinds of lies about how the election was stolen, then after he won the nomination, poof, vanished. Along with his extreme views on abortion, poof,” Obama said. “I mean, this guy is supposed to know tech. Does he think like people can’t track that?”
Arizona Republicans, meanwhile, were quick to dismiss Obama’s visit and note that he never carried Arizona.
“Barack Obama has never won Arizona, and the fact that he is here is a testament to the toxicity of Joe Biden that has rubbed off on Mark Kelly and Katie Hobbs,” Republican National Committee spokesperson Ben Petersen said in a statement. “This election is a referendum on Biden’s abject failure on skyrocketing inflation, open borders and violent crime.”
Masters also brushed off the former president’s criticism of him and has dismissed any notion of a post-primary pivot, likening his website changes to a run-of-the-mill update. He responded by posting a family photo to Twitter, with his wife and three small sons, and saying, “This is what Democrats like Obama think is wacky.”
Lake, meanwhile, has countered characterizations of her election denialism to say Democrats have also not conceded elections and have raised doubts in results dating back to 2000.
President Joe Biden, notably, has not visited the Grand Canyon State and has not announced plans to do so, focusing instead on Florida, Maryland, New Mexico and California. But the White House announced Thursday plans for first lady Jill Biden to campaign with Kelly in Phoenix this weekend, the final weekend before Election Day.
At the same time, Biden, Trump and Obama will all be in Pennsylvania on Saturday, a state that has seen razor-thin margins in another Senate race that could determine the balance of power in Congress.
While Obama’s appearance could be seen as coming too late since a majority of Arizonans vote early, and early voting ends Friday, voters outside the rally in South Phoenix predicted he’s the one to bring more people to the polls.
“I’m hoping he can energize us,” Ann Wood of Phoenix told ABC News. “I think every single vote counts. It was so close last time, and I just hope it makes a difference.”
“It’s never too late,” said Nancy Shubert of Sun West City. “As Democrats, we’re very, very, very hopeful.”
Libby Cathey is one of seven ABC News campaign reporters embedded in battleground states across the country. Watch all the twists and turns of covering the midterm elections every Sunday on Hulu’s “Power Trip” with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.
(AKRON, Ohio) — The eight officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker, the 25-year-old Black man killed during an attempted traffic stop in Akron, Ohio, have been reinstated, according to the Akron Police Department.
Some community leaders are opposing the move, saying it will lead to “the erosion of any trust remaining between the community and police.”
The officers remain under investigation by their own department as well as the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, authorities said.
The officers were on paid administrative leave following the fatal shooting. According to ABC affiliate WEWS-TV, they were brought back on duty because to a staffing “crisis” at the department, Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett said. According to the department, the officers are on administrative duty and will not be in uniform or on patrol.
“I recognize that this decision will have an impact. And there may be some community concern, but I didn’t take this decision lightly,” Mylett told the local station. “And I think this decision is in the best interests of the citizens and businesses of Akron.”
Bishop Joey Johnson, a pastor at The House of the Lord, said that the move to reinstate the officers will cause a lot of pain in a city that’s still healing. He was one of 43 community activists and religious leaders who penned a letter dated Oct. 21 to the chief about their frustrations regarding his choice to move forward with reinstating the officers.
“The family is hurting. They’re in grieving. They are traumatized,” said Johnson. “Bringing people back before the investigation is done seems like it is bringing more pain,” Johnson said.
Mylett did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment. But on Oct. 25, he released a response letter to the Akron community, saying the decision was not made “in haste,” that he still thinks it was “the correct decision given the public safety challenges of the entire community” and stands by the decision “and his commitment to build a stronger Akron.”
The chief told the Akron Beacon Journal that he was disappointed by the letter, saying he had a “consensus” from community leaders to move forward with the reinstatement.
While community leaders figure out what next steps to take in their fight for “love and justice,” Johnson said they’re focused on being able to “move toward unity … with all parties.”
“Our priority is being able to help our community, particularly when the verdict comes out,” said Johnson. “The family is hurting. They’re in grieving. They are traumatized.”
The Walker family applauded religious leaders for their letter, and slammed Mylett for returning the officers to the department.
“It is the very definition of hypocrisy for Chief Mylett to claim, as he has previously, that his department is working hard to build trust among Akron’s minority communities, and then make a callous decision like this that fosters further distrust of the Akron Police Department among this population, while jeopardizing the legitimacy of BCI’s investigation,” read a statement from the family’s legal team.
Walker was unarmed when he was fatally shot by police on June 27 after a traffic stop turned into a pursuit. He was running away when eight officers opened fire on him, body camera footage released by the city showed.
As officers pursued Walker, officials said a flash of light seen in body camera footage appeared to be the muzzle flash of a gun coming from the driver’s side of Walker’s car.
In a second body camera video, officers are heard radioing that a shot was being fired from Walker’s car.
Later in the pursuit, Walker slowed down and jumped out of the passenger side door before it came to a full stop, according to the footage. As Walker ran away from police, several officers simultaneously fired several bullets, fatally shooting him, body camera footage released by the city showed.
He was unarmed when he was shot, but a gun was found in his car by officials.
Walker had 46 gunshot wounds on his body, according to an autopsy report conducted by the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Walker also had injuries to his face, heart, both lungs, liver, spleen, left kidney, intestines, pelvis, iliac artery and several bones in his legs, to chief medical examiner Lisa Kohler.
His manner of death has been ruled homicide and the toxicology report showed no use of drugs nor alcohol by Walker at the time of the incident.
“The family is devastated by the findings of the report and still await a public apology from the police department,” the Walker family’s legal team said in a statement to ABC News.
On Thursday, several arenas across the country, including New York City’s Madison Square Garden and San Francisco’s Chase Center, tweeted photos of the cover of Paramore’s upcoming album, This Is Why, superimposed on their respective venues.
Paramore has also been hinting at some sort of announcement via the band’s website calendar, which is currently teasing that “more” will happen on Friday.
Throughout the fall, Paramore has been touring more intimate theaters across the U.S., marking Hayley Williams and company’s first live shows in four years. Their current 2023 plans include headlining New Jersey’s Adjacent Festival and opening for a date on Taylor Swift‘s stadium tour, as well as a tour of the United Kingdom and South America.
This Is Why, the follow-up to 2017’s After Laughter, is due out February 10, 2023.
Meanwhile, you can catch Paramore perform on NBC’s The Tonight Show Thursday.
Aubrey Plaza is joining her Parks & Rec hubby Chris Pratt in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The websiteThe Illuminerdi first broke the news that the Emily the Criminal and White Lotus star will appear in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, the Emmy-winning WandaVision spin-off bound for Disney+.
The Hollywood Reporter added Thursday that Emma Caulfield, who played a nosy neighbor to Elizabeth Olsen‘s Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany‘s Vision in the hit, is also back for the spin-off.
The spin-off, starring Emmy nominee Kathryn Hahn in the witchy title role of Agatha Harkness, also added Heartstopper actor Joe Locke to the cast.
The actor confirmed that news himself via Instagram, noting he “screamed” when Marvel Studios emailed him to officially welcome him into the Marvel Universe. Officially, Marvel Studios remains publicly mum on most of its casting news, including for the 2023 series.
(SAN FRANCISCO) — Paul Pelosi has been released from the hospital, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News, six days after being attacked in his home.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(NEW YORK) — A 43-year-old woman said she was raped while jogging along Manhattan’s West Side Highway Thursday morning, according to police.
The woman told authorities she was jogging near Pier 45 when, at about 5:30 a.m., a man grabbed her from behind, choked her and knocked her to the ground, the New York Police Department said.
She said he raped her, stole her wallet and phone and then fled on foot, according to police.
The victim flagged down another jogger who dialed 911, police said.
She was taken to a hospital in stable condition, police said.
Police announced the arrest of 29-year-old Carl Phanor on Thursday in connection with the jogger’s rape. Phanor has also been charged in the March 27 rape of a different woman in a nearly identical location. Additionally, police said Phanor has been charged in a third incident, an attack on a woman on the East Side of Manhattan. He is facing charges of sexually motivated robbery, robbery, grand larceny, strangulation, predatory sexual assault and criminal sex act.
Police said Phanor is undomiciled.
Law enforcement sources told ABC News earlier that a suspect was apprehended after police said he used the victim’s credit card at a Target in Midtown Manhattan.
Gabrielle Sumkin, who identified herself as the jogger who called 911, told ABC News she was on her usual running route when she noticed the victim, who she said appeared to be in distress. She said the victim had blood on her arm and elbows and was covering her eyes with her hand.
The 23-year-old said the victim could barely speak. Sumkin said, while she was on the phone with 911, the woman kept repeating, “I need help.”
She said she didn’t want to press the woman about what happened, and said she left the scene once first responders arrived. Sumkin said it wasn’t until news reports came out that she learned the woman had been raped.
Sumkin said she was sickened when she found out, and excused herself from work to go on a walk and cry.
“It’s disgusting. I’m a staunch feminist. I support women,” she said. “People who commit crimes like that are at the absolute bottom of my list.”
(NEW YORK) — The FBI on Thursday said it has “received credible information of a broad threat” to New Jersey synagogues.
In a tweet, the FBI urged people to “stay alert” and “take all security precautions to protect your community and facility.”
The threat, which originated online, was not specific to any one synagogue, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
The nature of the threat was not immediately clear, but law enforcement sources said it was not a bomb threat.
“Law enforcement will be increasing patrols in sensitive areas,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. “Some of these patrols will be in marked vehicles and others will not — but please do not be alarmed if you observe an increase in police presence as we are taking these steps in an abundance of caution.”
Platkin also urged residents “to be extra vigilant” and report any suspicious activity to the police.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted that he’s in touch with the FBI, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with local law enforcement to ensure that all houses of worship are protected,” the governor said.
The New York Police Department said it’s aware of the FBI’s alert.
“In an abundance of caution, the NYPD’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureaus are working diligently alongside the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI to ensure the safety and well-being of every area that encompasses our Jewish citizens and synagogues here in New York City and the Tri-State area,” the department tweeted.
Some have tried their hand at a Whitney Houston biopic, but an authorized story of the singer’s life will soon make its debut. I Wanna Dance with Somebody, named after her 1987 hit, is due out December 17 — amid the merry holiday season.
The film is about Whitney’s rise to fame, but centers on her relationship with mentor/record executive Clive Davis, who serves as a producer on the project.
Speaking to Billboard, Clive says it was time that “a full-fledged theatrical biopic be done on Whitney.” To ensure the biopic was an accurate depiction of her life, he made sure Anthony McCarten, who wrote the film, researched “every aspect of Whitney,” and even went as far as introducing him to her family and collaborators.
When he felt that the final script “was authentic, honest and understood the full nature of Whitney’s life,” Clive brought McCarten to Pat Houston, executor of Whitney’s estate, and Larry Mestel, CEO and founder of Primary Wave. They produced the film alongside Davis, Sony Tristar and Compelling Pictures.
With the film complete, Clive says he’s satisfied, especially with the portrayal of his relationship with Whitney. He notes that the film “hit home,” is realistic and is “very accurate in its portrayal of the dialogues we had.”
The record exec hopes the biopic has “a very positive effect” on Whitney’s legacy, as “it shows real depth and understanding of who she was, as well as the magnitude of what her musical life represented.”
He says seeing Whitney be celebrated again brings him “a combination of enormous pride, enormous regret at her premature passing, wonderment at the uniqueness of her incomparable voice and the impact she had on musicians, artists, singers everywhere.”
“It’s been quite the emotional human experience,” Clive adds.
