Billboard‘s Songs of the Summer chart runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and now, at the official halfway mark, it’s probably a safe bet to predict that Harry Styles will capture the title.
The 20-position chart combines streaming, airplay and sales data from the Billboard Hot 100 chart to determine the most popular songs in the land. At the end of the season, the song of the summer will be revealed. And so far, Harry’s hit “As It Was” has been #1 on all seven weeks that the chart has been active this summer.
Other songs in the top five include Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill,” Jack Harlow’s “First Class,” Future‘s “Wait for U” and Lizzo‘s “About Damn Time.” And three songs on the chart are so popular that they’re still hanging around after making LAST year’s Song of the Summer chart: Glass Animals‘ “Heat Waves,” “Stay” by Justin Bieber, and The Kid LAROI and Ed Sheeran‘s “Bad Habits.”
Over on the Hot 100, “As It Was” has been #1 for 10 weeks. In the more than 50-year history of that chart, which includes more than 1,100 #1s, only 41 other songs have ruled for 10 weeks or more.
Last year’s song of the summer was “Butter” by BTS.
Tool bassist Justin Chancellor has premiered “Scanner Void,” a new song with his MTVoid side project, which also features Peter Mohamed of the Polish band Sweet Noise.
“Scanner Void” is available now via digital outlets. It’s first single off the duo’s next album, the sophomore follow-up to 2013’s Nothing’s Matter, which is due out later this summer.
“Peter and I really push each other,” Chancellor says. “My playing is a reaction to what he creates. He’ll hit me with a beat, and I’ll spend days recording to it — almost in stream of consciousness. I’ll respond to him, and I’m always excited at what he pulls out from my response. It’s all cause and effect.”
“There is a means to this end, though; we’re both trying to write a song we would like to listen to,” he adds. “There’s a genuine momentum to it.”
Chancellor recently got off the road with Tool touring behind their 2019 album, Fear Inoculum.
(WASHINGTON) — Steve Bannon, who served as former President Donald Trump’s chief strategist before departing the White House in August 2017, is on trial for defying a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Bannon was subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 panel for records and testimony in September of last year, with the committee telling him it had “reason to believe that you have information relevant to understanding activities that led to and informed the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
After the House of Representatives voted to hold him in contempt for defying the subpoena, the Justice Department in November charged Bannon with two counts of criminal contempt of Congress, setting up this week’s trial.
Here is how the news is developing. All times are Eastern.
Jul 19, 3:55 PM EDT
Defense tells jury ‘there was no ignoring the subpoena’
Bannon’s defense attorney Matt “Evan” Corcoran said in his opening statement that “no one ignored the subpoena” issued to Bannon, and that “there was direct engagement by Bob Costello,” Bannon’s attorney, with the House committee, specifically committee staffer Kristin Amerling.
He said Costello “immediately” communicated to the committee that there was an objection to the subpoena, “and that Steve Bannon could not appear and that he could not provide documents.”
“So there was no ignoring the subpoena,” Corcoran said. What followed was “a considerable back and forth” between Amerling and Costello — “they did what two lawyers do, they negotiated.”
Corcoran said, “the government wants you to believe … that Mr. Bannon committed a crime by not showing up to a congressional hearing room … but the evidence is going to be crystal clear no one, no one believed Mr. Bannon was going to appear on Oct. 14, 2021,” and the reasons he couldn’t appear had been articulated to the committee.
Corcoran told the jury that the government has to prove beyond a reasonable that Steve Bannon willfully defaulted when he didn’t appear for the deposition on Oct. 14, 2021 — “but you’ll find from the evidence that that date on the subpoena was the subject of ongoing discussions” and it was not “fixed.”
In addition, Corcoran told jurors, you will hear that “almost every single one” of the witnesses subpoenaed led to negotiations between committee staff and lawyers, and often the appearance would be at a later date than what was on the subpoena.
Corcoran also argued that the prosecution may have been infected by politics, telling the jury that with each document or each statement provided at trial, they should ask themselves: “Is this piece of evidence affected by politics?”
Jul 19, 3:31 PM EDT
Prosecutors say Bannon’s failure to comply was deliberate
Continuing her opening statement, federal prosecutor Amanda Vaughn told the jury that the subpoena to Bannon directed him to provide documents by the morning of Oct. 7, 2021, and to appear for a deposition the morning of Oct. 14, 2021 — but instead he had an attorney, Robert Costello, send a letter to the committee informing the committee that he would not comply “in any way,” she said.
“The excuse the defendant gave for not complying” was the claim that “a privilege” meant he didn’t have to turn over certain information, Vaughn said. “[But] it’s not up to the defendant or anyone else to decide if he can ignore the [request] based on a privilege, it’s up to the committee.”
And, said Vaughn, the committee clearly told Bannon that “your privilege does not get you out of this one, you have to provide documents, and you have to come to your deposition.” And importantly, she said, the committee told Bannon that “a refusal to comply” could result in criminal prosecution.
“You will see, the defendant’s failure to comply was deliberate here,” Vaughn told the jury. “The only verdict that is supported by the evidence here: that the defendant showed his contempt for the U.S. Congress, and that he’s guilty.”
Federal prosecutor Amanda Vaughn began opening statements by saying, “In September of last year, Congress needed information from the defendant, Steve Bannon. … Congress needed to know what the defendant knew about the events of Jan. 6, 2021. … Congress had gotten information that the defendant might have some details about the events leading up to that day and what occurred that day.”
So, Vaughn told the jury, Congress gave Bannon a subpoena “that mandated” he provide any information he might have.
“Congress was entitled to the information it sought, it wasn’t optional,” Vaughn said. “But as you will learn in this trial, the defendant refused to hand over the information he might have.”
Vaughn said Bannon ignored “multiple warnings” that he could face criminal prosecution for refusing to comply with the subpoena and for preventing the government from getting “important information.”
“The defendant decided he was above the law and decided he didn’t need to follow the government’s orders,” she said.
Jul 19, 2:51 PM EDT
Judge instructs jury of the burden of proof
Prior to opening statements, the judge made clear to the jury that the Justice Department has the burden to prove four distinct elements “beyond a reasonable doubt”:
(1) that Bannon was in fact subpoenaed for testimony and/or documents;
(2) that the testimony and/or documents were “pertinent” to the Jan. 6 committee’s investigation;
(3) that Bannon “failed to comply or refused to comply” with the subpoena;
(4) that the “failure or refusal to comply was willful.”
Jul 19, 2:44 PM EDT
Jury sworn in after judge denies continuance
A 14-member jury has been sworn in for the contempt trial of ex-Trump strategist Steve Bannon.
Of the 14 jurors, nine are men and five are women.
The swearing-in of the jury comes after U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols denied the defense’s request for a one-month delay of the trial, which attorneys for Bannon argued was necessary due to a “seismic shift in the understanding of the parties” of what the government’s evidence will be.
“We have a jury that is just about picked,” Nichols said in denying the request for a one-month continuance.
One of the jurors, a man who works for an appliance company, said Monday during jury selection that he watched the first Jan. 6 committee hearing and believes the committee is “trying to find the truth about what happened” on Jan. 6.
Another juror, a man who works as a maintenance manager for the Washington, D.C., Parks and Recreation department, said he believes what happened on Jan. 6 “doesn’t make sense.”
Another juror, a woman who works as a photographer for NASA, said “a lot” of her “photographer friends were at the Capitol” on Jan. 6, and she has watched some of the Jan. 6 hearings on the news.
(NEW YORK) — States with a large number of unvaccinated first responders “may face major workforce disruptions due to COVID-19 illness,” according to a study released Tuesday by researchers at the University of Miami.
First responders are more likely to contract COVID-19 than another population of individuals, but less likely to trust vaccines, the study says.
Last year, the leading cause of line of duty deaths amongst law enforcement was COVID-19, with 301 COVID deaths in 2021, according to the Office Down Memorial Page end of year report. This year is no different. The mid-year report from the group found over 95 COVID deaths in 2022. In fact, the group concluded the large increase in law enforcement deaths was entirely due to COVID-19 year over year.
The study looked at firefighters and police officers primarily in Arizona and Florida and found that out of the 1415 participants, 829 were fully vaccinated and 586 were not. The majority of the participants who took the survey were white men.
First responders in Florida who participated in the survey were likely to not be vaccinated than vaccinated as 291 were unvaccinated and 228 were fully vaccinated. The survey also found that 545 firefighters who participated in the survey were vaccinated but 419 were not. The numbers of fully vaccinated law enforcement officers offer a better picture with 157 law enforcement officers were vaccinated and 81 were unvaccinated.
“Given the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines during the public health emergency, governments should consider vaccine mandates with regular testing and alternative work assignments for unvaccinated workers,” the study concludes. “Furthermore, the low trust in government among first responders suggests a need to leverage trusted nongovernmental sources to increase vaccination rates.”
ABC News’ Eric Strauss contributed to this report.
(GIDEON, Mo.) — In the small town of Gideon, Missouri, — with a population of about 1,000 people — almost everyone knows one another, according to local police chief Rinda Dillard.
When the Gideon Police Department were called for a wellness check on a residence on July 9, they made a tragic discovery when no one answered the door and police had to force their way into the home.
Inside, an older couple and three of their dogs were found dead. The cause of death was heat exposure, according to officials.
“Nobody checked on them. More than anything, just make sure you check on your neighbors,” Dillard told ABC News. “It was a horrible, tragic situation. Definitely could have been avoided. They didn’t have any kind of air conditioner. They’ve had one fan inside their home.”
As the heat breaks records worldwide — reaching dangerously high, unprecedented temperatures — officials are warning people to look out for one another.
Reach out to neighbors
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people check on their neighbors regularly, particularly older, sick, or disabled people, as well as people who live alone or who are impoverished.
“Closely monitor people who depend on you for their care and ask these questions: Are they drinking enough water? Do they have access to air conditioning? Do they need help keeping cool?” the CDC guidance reads.
For homeless populations in your neighborhood, call your local public officials or homeless advocacy groups if you see someone in need of help. Non-emergency hotlines, such as 311 services, can also offer aid.
Homeless people are about 200 times more likely to die from heat-associated causes than sheltered people, climate scientist David Hondula told The Weather Channel based on new research.
“Homeless people can be at great risk during extreme heat events, especially if they are elderly or disabled, struggle with alcohol or drug addiction, or suffer from medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and more,” the CDC reads.
When you check on your neighbors, it’s important to note what to look for when visiting.
Know signs of heat stress, exhaustion
“Ask yourself these questions: Are they drinking enough water? Do they have access to air conditioning? Do they know how to keep cool? Do they show any signs of heat stress?” the CDC guidance reads.
Make sure to get neighbors the help they need if they do not have access to protective measures. Also, take note of any signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
For signs of these conditions, check out ABC News’ guide to staying safe in extreme heat.
If someone needs help, it’s important to know where to go to, to get them what they need.
Familiarize yourself with available local resources and how to get them
“If there’s something out of whack, call the police department … so we can check the resources and see what they have available,” said Dillard.
She, alongside recommendations from the CDC, advises people to check with local agencies and non-governmental organizations that may be able to offer support.
Many local agencies and groups can provide air conditioners, offer subsidies for at-home cooling appliances, or can direct and transport people to cooling centers.
Local governments often develop plans that identify how to respond to extreme heat, especially as trends show that this problem is being exacerbated by climate change.
“If you are interested in heat-response planning efforts in your community, your town or city hall is a great place to start,” the CDC advises. “Ask how you can get involved!”
Parker McCollum has a new song in the works, and he’s giving fans a taste.
On socials, Parker has been teasing that he has a new song coming out. On Monday, he finally gave fans a listen in by sharing a snippet of the chorus of the track, called “Handle on You.” The countrified number finds him singing about a long lost lover who still plagues his mind, no matter how hard he tries to forget her.
“I’ve been fighting with your memory/I hate the way it hits me/I wake up every day black and blue/After all this back and forth/A fifth won’t do/Yeah I finally got a handle on you,” he croons.
“Soon…,” he hints in the caption of the TikTok video where the song is playing over a live performance.
And it seems the song is coming sooner rather than later, as he posted on Twitter Monday, “2 week till song come out.”
Kane Brown and his wife, Katelyn, participated in the tortilla challenge, and the results are hilarious.
The country couple hopped on the ongoing TikTok trend wherein two people play rounds of rock, paper, scissor while holding water in their mouths. When one person loses the round, the other slaps them across the face with a tortilla, the goal being not to laugh and keep the water in your mouth. Whoever spits the water out first loses.
The results of the game are as humorous as the concept, as the two stand outside their Nashville home with their cheeks filled with water and a loose tortilla prepared in hand. The video opens with Katelyn slapping her husband in the face with the tortilla, both of them laughing while still managing to hold the water in.
The second round gets a little trickier, as Katelyn’s rock defeats Kane’s scissor, the two cackling after she slaps him. Katelyn almost loses it on the fourth round, but manages to hold it together, until they both lose control on round five when Kane slaps her upside the head with the tortilla, eliminating themselves by spitting out the water as they laugh out loud. Their 2-year-old daughter, Kingsley, makes an appearance at the end, watching the madness from the porch.
“#tortillachallenge who won?” Katelyn asks in the comments, with one fan replying, “y’all win the entire trend to be honest” with a laughing emoji.
Killswitch Engage are headlining an upcoming concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of the label Metal Blade Records.
The show will take place October 5 in Las Vegas and will also include Fit for an Autopsy and Visigoth on the bill. Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 22 at 10 a.m. PT.
Founded by Brian Slagel, Metal Blade Records made its debut in 1982 with the Metal Massacre compilation, which featured a then-unknown Metallica. The label would go on to release albums from metal heavyweights, including Slayer, Cannibal Corpse and GWAR. Killswitch Engage released their latest album, 2019’s Atonement, on Metal Blade.
“I can’t imagine where music or my journey as a musician would be with out Metal Blade Records,” says KsE frontman Jesse Leach. “I can speak for the band when I say we are stoked and absolutely honored to be apart of the 40th anniversary celebration! Killer lineup and a legendary milestone for metal music around the world! Massive respect and love to Brian Slagel for all he has done for music and for Killswitch!”
The Insecure star married his girlfriend, model/actress NinaSenicar, in a garden ceremony in Tuscany, Italy. He posted an Instagram photo from their wedding day along with the caption, “July 9, 2022. Forever.”
Jay, 40, and Nina, 36, got engaged in January 2019 and have a daughter, NoraGrace, who will turn 3 years old in November.
“We always knew we wanted to get married in Italy because going there was the first trip we ever took together,” Nina told Vogue. They searched for locations in June 2019, but their plans were delayed due to the pandemic.
“Italy was one of the hardest hit areas in the world, on a strict lockdown and closed to tourists,” Jay remembered. “We weren’t sure how widespread it would be or how long any of it would last, so we had to cancel everything.” The couple set a wedding date for July 9, 2021, which was then moved to this year.
After all the excitement, the Top Gun: Maverick star says he needs some rest.
“The groom can’t help but find himself in need of a little R&R. I just feel like we need a vacation after throwing the craziest three-day party ever,” Jay joked. “After everything that everyone has been through over the last few years to bring over 190 people together for three days in Tuscany and celebrate was surreal.
“Seeing all of our friends from different parts of our lives together smiling and laughing, connecting, forming their own friendships was such a huge part of what we wanted out of the weekend and the celebration,” Jay continued. “We wanted to create moments and memories that would last the rest of our lives.”
(CHARLESTON, W.Va.) — Abortions in West Virginia can — at least temporarily — resume after a judge struck down a pre-Roe ban Monday.
Following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade last month, the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia said in a statement on Facebook it would not be performing the procedure “until further notice” due to fear of prosecution under an 1882 law on the books.
The law made performing abortions, including administering drugs for medication abortions, a felony punishable by three to 10 years in prison.
However, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Tera Salango issued a preliminary injunction against the ban, meaning the state’s only clinic can perform the procedure again.
The Women’s Health Center told ABC News it is already booking abortion patients for appointments next week.
“The impacts of abortion being pushed out of reach for the last month have been devastating,” Katie Quiñonez, executive director of the clinic, said in a statement. “[The] decision is a sigh of relief and means we can once again serve the people who reach out to us for abortion services.”
“Make no mistake: Essential health care shouldn’t depend on the whims of a court or politicians, it should be based on compassion and what’s best for one’s life and future,” Quiñonez said.
In the lawsuit, attorneys for the clinic argued the statute should be considered void because it has not been enforced in several years and because newer laws have been passed that supersede the old law, such as a 2015 law allowing abortions up until 20 weeks gestation.
“What this decision did is, at least temporarily, provide some clarity around conflicting laws we had,” Loree Stark, legal director of the ACLU of West Virginia, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the clinic along with other firms, told ABC News. “It’s clear, at least for the moment, that … people seeking abortion care now have some access to it.”
She added, “This gives people some hope. To bring this before a judge and for the judge to really examine all the information in front of her and to choose to enjoin the law should hopefully give people hope.”
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey called the decision a “dark day” and vowed his office will appeal the ruling to the state’s Supreme Court of Appeals.
“As a strong pro-life advocate, I am committed to protecting unborn babies to the fullest extent possible under the law, and I will not rest until this injunction is lifted,” he said in a statement sent to ABC News. “The current law on the books calls for the protection of life.”
