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Lawmakers continue talks but Biden ‘not confident’ Congress can pass gun reform

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — With another mass shooting at a hospital complex in Tulsa on Wednesday, and as families in Uvalde are still holding funerals for loved ones massacred last week, lawmakers are under pressure to find solutions to gun violence, but it’s unclear if even the massacre of schoolchildren will yield any new results.

A House committee was called back from recess to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to consider Democratic proposals while a bipartisan group of senators was continuing talks, with that chamber also on recess, in hopes of agreeing on a basic framework for new gun control measures when the full Senate returns next week.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, part of the group working to find a bipartisan deal, said in a statement Wednesday the group was making “rapid progress” on proposals “that could garner support from both Republicans and Democrats,” but even so, President Joe Biden told reporters he’s “not confident” lawmakers will be able to pass gun legislation, noting how he served in Congress for 36 years.

Major gun control legislation has failed for decades in the Senate due in large part to the filibuster rule, which requires 60 senators for a measure to advance toward a final vote. Though Democrats hold a razor-thin majority in Congress, they cannot push legislation through the Senate without the support of at least 10 Republicans.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., also part of the bipartisan talks, tweeted Wednesday there is “growing momentum” on a bill that can get “broad bipartisan support in the Senate” and that the group will keep working, but the group has remained tight-lipped on what the final proposal will include. Murphy has acknowledged it wouldn’t include an assault weapons ban, as it wouldn’t garner enough Republican support, despite similar legislation passing in 1994.

The House Judiciary Committee convened Thursday morning for a markup on a package of gun control measures, called “Protecting Our Kids Act,” paving the way for the full House to approve the proposals as early as next week — and then to send them to the Senate. The measures include raising the age to buy a semiautomatic centerfire rifle from 18 to 21 years old and establishing a tax credit for the safe storage of firearms.

Notably, the House has already passed gun control measures in this session of Congress, but that legislation has stalled in the Senate given GOP opposition and the 60-vote threshold — so the real fate of gun control reform in the U.S. now mostly lies with the Senate group talks.

Still, amping up the pressure, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at an event in California on Wednesday suggested Democrats would also consider holding a full House vote on an assault weapons ban following the recent mass shootings — a non-starter for Senate Republicans.

“As we get through those we will have hearings and marking up the assault weapons ban,” Pelosi said. “We are just trying to hit it in every possible way.”

While the House measures wouldn’t overcome a GOP filibuster in the Senate, the action is meant as so-called “political messaging” to pressure Senate Republicans and may put further pressure on negotiators to reach an agreement on areas of potential compromise.

Republican Leader Mitch McConnell tasked John Cornyn, R-Texas, to negotiate with the group of senators, but said at a press event in Kentucky Wednesday that “hopefully” senators will “find a way to come together” to make progress on gun violence.

“It seems to me there are two broad categories that underscore the problem: mental illness and school safety,” McConnell said. “So hopefully we can find a way to come together and make some progress on this horrendous problem consistent with our Constitution and our values.”

As lawmakers seek compromise, it appears the American public is widely supportive of universal background checks and red flag laws. An ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted in September 2019 found 89% support for universal background checks and 86% support for red flag laws. Mandatory background checks and red flag laws also won support from at least eight in 10 Republicans and conservatives, the poll found.

The full Senate and House are scheduled to return to Washington next week.

Lil Nas X laughs off hacker’s anti-Pride message on Facebook page

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lil Nas X had the most on-brand reaction after a hacker gained access to his Facebook account and posted an anti-Pride message.

An unknown person commandeered the Grammy winner’s page and wrote, “F*** PRIDE MONTH, I faked being gay b**** [thank you] for the [money].” The comment was quickly removed, but not before fans grabbed screenshots of the inflammatory message.

Of course, Lil Nas X, who is openly gay, is way more active on Twitter than Facebook and laughed out loud at the screen shots. “i’m screaming because this is something i would actually say,” he tweeted. He also joked the hacker had better grammatical skills because they used commas and periods, as well as capitalized letters.

Of course, the “Industry Baby” rapper wasn’t through with having fun with the hack and even got a T-shirt made. He took to Instagram to show off his new tee, which reads, “White, Straight, Conservative Male. Are you triggered?”

Lil Nas X did a full on photo shoot with his new shirt, which he accessorized with leather pants, clunky platform heeled boots, diamond grillz and luxury sunglasses.

He also shared some outtakes to his Instagram Stories, which showed him holding a boat load of cash, riding in a limousine with his friends, going to a club, falling asleep at a card table and leaning against a white sculpture of a theater mask.

Maren Morris is bringing baby Hayes on tour for the first time: “I think he thinks the tour bus is like camp”

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Maren Morris hits the road next week, launching her 2022 Humble Quest Tour. It’s the first full headlining tour she’s mounted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s a big first in another way, too: She’ll be on the road for the first time since becoming a mom.

Back in March 2020, as pandemic shut-downs were ramping up in the U.S., Maren and her husband, Ryan Hurd, welcomed their first child, baby boy Hayes. Now, Maren’s planning her very first tour with her son joining her.

“I think he thinks the tour bus is like camp or something,” the singer tells E! News’ Daily Pop. “‘Cause he just has no idea what’s going on, but he gets so excited.”

Maren knows that having two-year-old Hayes along for the ride will make touring a little different, but she’s optimistic about the changes, Maren goes on to say.

“This will be my first time touring with a baby or a kid, so I’m excited,” she continues. “It’s gonna change my way of doing things, in a good way, I think.”

Before she hits the road, Maren recently hopped on social media to give fans a virtual tour of her newly revamped bus setup, including special modifications so that Hayes can be comfortable on the bus.

Maren’s Humble Quest Tour takes its name from her newest album, Humble Quest. That project includes Hayes, too: “Hummingbird,” a song Maren wrote the day she found out she was pregnant, features audio of Hayes’ voice saying “Mama.”

Andy Grammer hopes his music acts as “a spiritual chiropractor” to fans

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Andy Grammer cares more about bringing joy and comfort to his fans than writing a big radio hit. The “Fresh Eyes” singer opened up about his mission and his music-making process in a new interview.

“I used to have to write a lot of songs to get one that is good,” he told Albuquerque Journal. “And still there is no guarantee that it will be a hit. You throw a lot of darts and most are hitting the board.”

He added, “When you have a moment to really listen, music reminds you that there’s so much more in front of you than there is behind you. In my opinion, to be able to give somebody this reminder in the middle of the day is wizardry.”

“That’s my favorite part of being an artist and what makes me jump out of bed to write in the morning,” he raved.

Andy also revealed he writes his songs by himself, adding he takes special care in crafting words that’ll have an impact on the eventual listener before bringing his music to his manager for refining.

“I realize that I’m more intoxicated by art,” Andy continued. “I’m enjoying the process more because it keeps me writing and sharing what I feel. It’s so freaking fun.”

The “Honey, I’m Good” singer has said that he doesn’t necessarily care if a song is a hit — what he focuses on is how his music resonates with the audience and how it makes people feel.

“My career is less about writing and more on focusing on community. I’m grateful for every moment that I have and take advantage of making each moment count,” he said. “A great musician is like a spiritual chiropractor and it hits you in all the right places.”

The Rolling Stones launch SIXTY tour in Madrid; band plays “Out of Time” for the first time live at show

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The Rolling Stones kicked off their SIXTY tour in fine form last night with a two-hour show in front of a sold-out crowd of 53,000 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

The Stones’ 19-song set included their first live performance of the 1966 gem “Out of Time.” The show also featured renditions of such classic as “Street Fighting Man,” “19th Nervous Breakdown,” “Tumblin’ Dice,” “Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Miss You,” “Start Me Up,” “Paint It Black,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

The British rock legends also played their most recent single, 2020’s “Living in a Ghost Town,” as well as their 1978 hit “Beast of Burden,” the latter of which was chosen by an online fan vote.

During the concert, the band celebrated guitarist Ronnie Wood‘s 75th birthday, singing “Happy Birthday” to Wood with help from the audience.

According to NME, the concert began with a video tribute to late Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died last August at age 80. Russia’s current invasion of Ukraine was also addressed, with footage of the war-torn country shown during the group’s performance of “Gimme Shelter.”

Meanwhile, as he’s done for many years, Wood is creating illustrated set lists for each concert The Stones play on tour, and limited-edition prints of the painted lists are available at his online art store. The set list for the Madrid show is available now, priced at $100.

The next concert on The Stones’ 60th anniversary European trek is scheduled for this Sunday, June 5, in Munich, Germany.

Here’s the full set list of the Madrid show:

“Street Fighting Man”
“19th Nervous Breakdown”
“Sad Sad Sad”
“Tumblin’ Dice”
“Out of Time”
“Beast of Burden” (vote)
“Can’t Always Get What You Want”
“Living in a Ghost Town”
“Honky Tonk Women”
“Happy”
“Slipping Away”
“Miss You”
“Midnight Rambler”
“Start Me Up”
“Paint It Black”
“Sympathy for the Devil”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Gimme Shelter”
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

‘Property Brothers’ star Drew Scott welcomes first child with wife Linda Phan

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The Property Brothers family just got a little bit bigger. Drew Scott and his wife Linda Phan have welcomed their first child.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday evening, the HGTV star shared two adorable snapshots. The first, a black-and-white photo of the couple with their newborn’s little hand, and the second a photo of the family of three in bed.

“Our lives are forever changed,” Drew captioned the carousel. “Welcome to the world Parker James.”

Also on Wednesday, Scott, 44, and Phan, 37, revealed on their podcast At Home that they welcomed their baby boy on May 4, which also happened to be the couple’s four-year anniversary.

So, how are the new parents feeling?

“Other than pooped, I feel great,” the new mom shared. “Very happy that he’s finally here. I’m still in awe and in disbelief. I feel like every step of this pregnancy has taken me time to adjust. And then as soon as I almost adjust, it’s onto the next milestone or the next thing. I feel like I’m always playing catchup with my feelings.”

Scott shared that fatherhood so far is “amazing,” adding, “It’s this immediate love and this feeling you need to do everything you can to make them feel safe and make them feel loved.”

Asking Alexandria drops off Nothing More tour due to Danny Worsnop’s “severe throat infection”

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Asking Alexandria is dropping of the remainder of the band’s co-headlining tour with Nothing More due to frontman Danny Worsnop battling a “severe throat infection.”

The English rockers had already missed a few shows on the run as Worsnop battled the infection, which led him to consult with a voice specialist.

“Unfortunately, the news we received was not the news were were hoping for,” the band writes in a statement. “We have been told that Danny cannot sing for the next few weeks and needs to remain on vocal rest. Obviously this means we will not be able to continue on with our North American tour and it breaks our hearts to have to say that.”

The tour, which just launched in mid-May, will still continue with Nothing More and support acts Atreyu and Eva Under Fire on the bill, though any ticket holders who had their heart set on seeing Asking Alexandria may request a refund from their point of purchase.

In the meantime, Asking Alexandria is currently “working diligently to book a new tour.”

“Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us at one of these shows and thank to everyone else for your understanding,” Alexandria’s statement reads. “We love you guys and we will be back as soon as possible.”

‘The Hills’ alums Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt pregnant with second child

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Baby number two is on the way for Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt.

On Wednesday, Heidi, 35, and Spencer, 38, who are already parents to 4-year-old son Gunner Stone, shared that they’re expecting.

“My heart is overflowing with joy! I’m excited to share that I am pregnant! I have been hoping and praying for this moment for so long,” The Hills alum gushed in an Instagram post alongside her Us Weekly cover photo showing off her growing baby bump.

“Once I saw the word “pregnant” I started hysterically crying, overwhelmed with joy and shock and I sprinted upstairs to show Spencer. I couldn’t believe I was pregnant again,” she continued. “Gunner asked me why I was crying and I told him I was so happy because he is going to be a big brother!”

“To say we are all thrilled is an understatement. I am so thankful I used We are so excited for the journey ahead. Miracle baby #2 is on the way,” the reality star concluded.

Liam Payne apologizes to Zayn Malik: “Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever”

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Liam Payne walked back the inflammatory comments he made about One Direction and Zayn Malik.

To recap, the singer was a guest on Logan Paul‘s Impaulsive podcast, where he made references to Zayn’s breakup with model Gigi Hadid, his alleged physical altercation with her mother, Yolanda Hadid, and hinted Zayn’s parents were not very supportive.

“There’s many reasons why I dislike Zayn and there’s many reasons why I’ll always, always be on his side,” he also said during the lengthy interview that drew immediate backlash from 1D’s fans.

Liam has since taken to Twitter to issue a mea culpa and explained what he meant by those statements. “Guys – I wouldn’t normally comment on this stuff but when its your family it’s hard to let it slide,” he wrote. “They mentioned a specific incident involving Zayn which I responded to – but listening back maybe I didn’t articulate myself as well as I could have.”

He added in a follow-up tweet, “I was saying that there will always be things we disagree on but that I will always, always be on his side. That’s family. Zayn is my brother and I will stand by him forever.”

Liam did not address any of the other gossip-sparking remarks he made on the podcast, so his apology has garnered mixed reactions from his fanbase. Some fans are urging the singer to recant his statement that his music “outsold everybody within the band,” while others asked him to clarify the comment he made about a backstage altercation where “one member in particular threw me up a wall.”

Liam Payne’s name was trending on Twitter as of Thursday morning.

Michael Avenatti sentenced to four years in prison

June 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Michael Avenatti was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison for defrauding Stormy Daniels, the client who made him a fixture on cable and a speculative candidate for public office for a brief time during the Trump administration.

“It has been three years since she discovered what Mr. Avenatti has done and she was devastated,” Clark Brewster, Daniels’ current lawyer, said.

“The regularly accepted theme was this guy was a great lawyer but … his legal scholarship based on the cases we took over is in doubt. This was a deceitful scheme. It wasn’t a mistake. It was calculated,” he added.

Avenatti, in beige prison garb over a long-sleeved white T-shirt, entered court shackled at the ankles. The judge denied Avenatti’s request to wear a suit to his sentencing hearing.

Avenatti was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for stealing from Daniels, his former client, about $300,000 she was supposed to receive in connection with a book contract.

“Avenatti stole from his client. He did so to support his own business and fund his own lifestyle. He did so despite presenting himself to the world as his client’s champion and defender and despite using that feigned credibility to secure fame and pursue political influence. And he did so by exploiting his position of trust and authority as an attorney, by forging his client’s signature, and by lying to his client and others repeatedly and callously for months,” prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum.

The judge allowed Avenatti to serve about half of his sentence at the same time he serves prison time for extorting Nike. He will spend an extra 2 1/2 years in prison for stealing from Daniels.

The judge said the sentence reflected the “abuse of trust” Avenatti demonstrated and a belief he could get away with it because people would believe him over Daniels due to her “unorthodox” career as an adult film actress.

Daniels was not present in court.

Avenatti briefly wept as he told the judge he will forever be known as a “disgraced lawyer.”

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