Page 754 – 105.7 WDNY

Trump urges Republicans to ‘take over’ and ‘nationalize’ voting

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump on Monday called on Republicans to “take over” and “nationalize” voting as he continued to make false claims about the electoral process in the U.S. with the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon.

Trump made the comments in an interview with former FBI Director Dan Bongino, who resigned from his post in December and returned to podcasting.

Trump alleged noncitizen voting was improperly influencing election outcomes, though experts insist such instances are incredibly rare and already illegal, and told Bongino it was “amazing that the Republicans aren’t tougher on it.”

“The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over,'” Trump said. “We should take over the voting … in at least many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that are so crooked and they’re counting votes.”

The Constitution gives states the authority to conduct federal elections, subject to laws passed by Congress. The elections clause states, in part, that “state legislatures will establish the times, places, and manner of holding elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate.”

Trump didn’t elaborate on how he wanted Republicans to “nationalize” voting.

Asked by ABC News for specifics on what Trump meant, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded, “President Trump cares deeply about the safety and security of our elections — that’s why he’s urged Congress to pass the SAVE Act and other legislative proposals that would establish a uniform standard of photo ID for voting, prohibit no-excuse mail-in voting, and end the practice of ballot harvesting.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the chamber’s top Democrat, slammed Trump over his comments to Bongino.

“Just a few hours ago, Donald Trump said he wants to nationalize elections around the country. That’s what Trump said. You think he believes in democracy? He said, ‘We want to take over, the Republicans ought to nationalize the voting,'” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Does Donald Trump need a copy of the Constitution? What he is saying is outlandishly illegal.”

Trump’s agenda is at stake in this year’s elections, where all seats in the House and 35 in the Senate will be up for grabs. Currently, Republicans hold narrow margins in both chambers — but midterm cycles are historically unkind to the sitting president’s party.

Last year, Trump and other Republicans pushed for mid-decade redistricting in order to gain additional House seats. The president warned Republicans last month that they have to win the midterms or he will get “impeached.”

Trump also continues to litigate his 2020 election loss, spreading false claims of fraud.

Last week, the FBI searched and seized original 2020 voting records from the Fulton County Elections and Operations Hub in Georgia, a swing state that went blue in 2020 and helped secure Joe Biden’s victory.

“Now you’re going to see something in Georgia where they were able to get, with a court order, the ballots. You’re going to see some interesting things come out,” Trump said on Bongino’s podcast.

Russia hits Ukraine energy targets with hundreds of drones, missiles, ahead of talks

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(LONDON) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged “maximum pressure” on Russia from the international community after Moscow fired hundreds of drones and missiles into Ukraine overnight into Tuesday morning, in a major attack that Zelenskyy said focused on the country’s critical energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 71 missiles and 450 drones into the country overnight, of which 38 missiles and 412 drones were shot down or suppressed. Twenty-seven missiles and 31 drones impacted across 27 locations, the air force said.

The strike was the largest reported by the Ukrainian air force of the year so far, and the largest overall number of munitions launched in a single night since the night of Dec. 27.

The number of missiles fired on Monday night was also unusually high, and the largest total for a single night since April 24, according to air force data analyzed by ABC News.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a post to Telegram that its forces “carried out a massive strike” on “Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and energy facilities used in their interests, as well as places of storage and assembly of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles.”

Zelenskyy said in a post to Telegram that the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa and Vinnytsia were attacked, with energy infrastructure and residential buildings among those hit. At least nine people have so far been confirmed injured, the president said.

“Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than resorting to diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said. “This clearly demonstrates what is needed from partners and what can help. Timely delivery of missiles for air defense systems and protection of normal life is our priority. Without pressure on Russia, there will be no end to this war.”

“Right now, Moscow is choosing terror and escalation, and that is why maximum pressure is needed,” Zelenskyy added.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said that thermal power plants powering parts of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro were among the targets of the strike. “The targets were not military. They were exclusively civilian,” Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy firm, said Russian strikes inflicted “significant” damage on its power plants, in what it said was “the ninth massive attack on the company’s thermal power stations since October 2025.”

Emergency power outages were implemented in Kyiv’s Dnieper and Darnytsia districts, DTEK said. Energy infrastructure was also damaged in Odesa, DTEK added.

Ukraine’s state energy company Ukrenergo reported “a significant number of power outages in Kyiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia and Odesa regions,” which it attributed to the “massive” overnight attack. “There are also damaged energy facilities in several regions,” Ukrenergo wrote on Telegram.

Moscow’s latest strikes came after the expiry of a brief pause in attacks on energy infrastructure agreed to by both Moscow and Kyiv following a request from U.S. President Donald Trump. Russia said that the pause expired on Sunday.

This winter — the fourth of Russia’s full-scale invasion — has seen Moscow intensively target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, wreaking havoc on the national grid and precipitating rolling and extended blackouts for millions of Ukrainians.

Monday night saw temperatures drop as low as -14 F in some parts of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha suggested on X that Russian President Vladimir Putin “waited for the temperatures to drop and stockpiled drones and missiles to continue his genocidal attacks against the Ukrainian people.”

Zelenskyy later made the same allegation in a post to Telegram. “The Russian army took advantage of the American proposal to pause the strikes for a short period, not to support diplomacy, but simply to stockpile missiles and wait for the coldest days of the year,” he said.

Russia launched its latest major strike despite an upcoming round of trilateral peace talks with U.S. and Ukrainian representatives in the United Arab Emirates, which are due to resume on Wednesday and continue into Thursday.

“Every such strike by Russia confirms that the attitude in Moscow has not changed: they are still counting on war and the destruction of Ukraine, and they do not take diplomacy seriously,” Zelenskyy said. “The work of our negotiating team will be adjusted accordingly.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited Kyiv on Tuesday to meet with Zelenskyy and address the Ukrainian parliament. Rutte told Ukrainian representatives that “important progress has been made” in trilateral U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks.

“But Russia continues to attack, as it did last night,” Rutte added. “This demonstrates their lack of seriousness about peace.”

Monday night’s attack prompted the scrambling of NATO fighter jets in Poland, which borders Ukraine to the country’s west. Poland’s Armed Forces Operational Command Operational Command said that no violation of the nation’s airspace was recorded.

German fighter jets and Dutch anti-air defense systems were among the assets put on alert, the command said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces downed at least 10 Ukrainian drones overnight.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed in a post to Telegram that it struck several targets on Russian-held territory overnight into Tuesday.

Ukraine’s targets included a drone training and production site in occupied Zaporizhzhia, a concentration of Russian forces in the western Russian border region of Belgorod and an electronic warfare site in occupied Donetsk, the General Staff said.

Scoreboard roundup — 2/2/26

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Pelicans 95, Hornets 102
Rockets 118, Pacers 114
Timberwolves 128, Grizzlies 137
76ers 128, Clippers 113

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Sabres 5, Panthers 3
Senators 3, Penguins 2
Islanders 1, Capitals 4
Canadiens 3, Wild 4
Blues 5, Predators 6
Sharks 3, Blackhawks 6
Jets 3, Stars 4
Red Wings 2, Avalanche 0
Canucks 2, Mammoth 6
Maple Leafs 4, Flames 2

Country ‘Ain’t a Bad Life,’ but Thomas Rhett does have other dreams

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

While it’s practically unfathomable that Thomas Rhett would ever forsake his home format to pursue another genre entirely, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have non-country dreams.

So what would TR do if he ever decided to color outside the lines?

“Probably something in the Motown space or literally being able to hire an orchestra for like a month and go write some kinda Sinatra-esque type songs, and be able to sing them live with the orchestra the way that they did it back then,” he reveals.

“I can’t tell you it’d be good,” he adds, “but it’d be something that I think would be really fun.”

Right now, Thomas is planted firmly in country’s top 10, enjoying his first collaborative hit with his buddy Jordan Davis on “Ain’t a Bad Life.”

Timothée Chalamet spent ‘over six figures’ to perform Bob Dylan songs on ‘Saturday Night Live’

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Timothée Chalamet has revealed he spent thousands of dollars to be able to perform Bob Dylan‘s songs on Saturday Night Live.

The Oscar-nominated actor starred as Dylan in the 2024 film A Complete Unknown.

During a Q&A on Sunday at London’s Prince Charles Cinema, as reported by Variety, Chalamet spoke about his time hosting and performing as the musical guest on the long-running comedy sketch series in January 2025.

“I spent over six figures out of my pocket to do the SNL performance,” Chalamet said. “Lorne Michaels said, ‘Hey, do you want to host SNL?’ I said, ‘Yeah, can I do the music?’ He’s like, ‘No.’ I said, ‘Alright, I’m not doing it.’ He said, ‘OK, do the music.’ But I refused to take no for an answer.”

Chalamet performed Dylan’s songs “Outlaw Blues, Three Angels” and “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” on the show.

The actor, who is nominated for best actor at the Oscars this year for Marty Supreme, spoke about how performing Dylan’s songs on SNL was part of “the new way of doing stuff” when it comes to film promotion.

“I’m trying to reach audiences, you know. I don’t want to be in the pretentious in-crowd. Marty Supreme in America had the least frequent moviegoing audience this year — people that weren’t going to see everything. That’s my favorite feedback on the movie,” Chalamet said. “So the most pretentious answer I could give you, which I actually honestly feel, is that it’s not marketing or promotion. That sounds like a gimmick, and this is not a gimmick. This is coming from my heart and my soul.”

EJAE shares her biggest ‘pinch me’ moment of ‘Golden’ & ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ phenomenon

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The KPop Demon Hunters song “Golden” became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy on Sunday night, winning the trophy for best song written for visual media. The hit single has also been nominated for the best original song Oscar. EJAE — who co-wrote “Golden” and sings on it as one of the voices of HUNTR/X in the film — says that isn’t the ultimate highlight of the song’s success for her.

Backstage at the Grammys Sunday night, EJAE was asked to share her biggest “pinch me” moment since KPop Demon Hunters took over pop culture last year. “Honestly, the biggest ‘pinch me’ moment is just the fans’ reaction,” she replied.

“Getting letters or videos or DMs or, you know, people on the street singing the song,” she continued. “People using the song to help other people, whether it be in the hospital, the nurses singing the song for the patients, whether it be the parents singing the songs to the kids.”

“That’s the reason why we write, so that’s a huge ‘pinch me’ moment as a songwriter,” she noted.

As for expectations that “Golden” will walk away with the best original song Oscar in March, EJAE said she didn’t want to get ahead of herself.

“Well, knock on wood,” she said in response to the prediction from a reporter that the song will win. She went on to say, “I don’t want to have any expectations. Just here to have fun and enjoy the moment, celebrate all music, all cultures [and] Korea. It’s such a proud moment for us.”

“We worked really, really hard in this film. So, yeah, I just think it’s just such a surreal moment. So we’re … grateful just to even be nominated. But to win is just insane.”

Grammy winner Lola Young says ‘Messy’ reflects ‘how we all feel’

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Lola Young was the winner of the best pop solo performance Grammy on Sunday for her breakthrough hit “Messy,” which she thinks is a song that reflects something everyone has experienced at one time or another.

Backstage at the awards show, Lola said, “I feel like ‘Messy’ is a song that symbolizes how we all feel, and I’m very proud of this song. I feel it speaks on just like being a messy human being and not being enough for, you know, the world.”

“And that’s how a lot of us feel a lot the time, and how I felt a lot of the time,” the British singer continued. “That’s why I think it related.”

The Grammy win was a huge comeback for Lola, who’d taken time out of the spotlight after collapsing during a festival appearance in September. On Feb. 28 she’ll find out if she’s also a winner at the BRIT Awards, the U.K. equivalent of the Grammys. She and fellow U.K. star Olivia Dean, who was named best new artist on Sunday night, are both nominated for five BRIT Awards, including artist of the year.

Grammy winner Lola Young says ‘Messy’ reflects ‘how we all feel’

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

“And that’s how a lot of us feel a lot the time, and how I felt a lot of the time,” the British singer continued. “That’s why I think it related.”

Of note, Lola and Olivia attended the same performing arts school — the BRIT School — which helped launch the careers of Adele and Amy Winehouse. Another BRIT School alum, RAYE, won the Harry Belafonte best song for social change trophy on Saturday, which is a merit award given out by the Recording Academy each year.

Wolfgang Van Halen battles ‘crowd dysmorphia’ in believing in Mammoth’s success

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Wolfgang Van Halen and his band Mammoth have notched their fourth #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with their current single, “The Spell.” As Wolf tells ABC Audio, his radio success has been “a little difficult to believe.”

“I think I’m my own toughest critic,” Wolf says. “I do stuff for myself and I write music that feels good for me, but to know that somebody else could hear it and enjoy it and derive their own meaning from it is a really cool thing.”

That self-criticism, Wolf says, has resulted in what he calls “crowd dysmorphia.”

“It’s tough for me to tell if people are into it or not, and anybody I see enjoying it, it almost seems like it’s sarcastic,” he laughs. “I think that’s just how tough my brain is on myself.”

But between the chart success and seeing more and more people coming out to shows while singing along and rocking Mammoth T-shirts, that crowd dysmorphia has started to ease.

“We’ve played almost 350 shows over the last four years, and to see that people enjoy it and wanna come see us again … it’s very humbling, and we’re very grateful to be able to do it,” Wolf says.

“The Spell” is off Mammoth’s new album, 2025’s The End. Mammoth will launch a U.S. headlining tour in March before hitting the road with Bush in April.

Joe Elliott says Def Leppard is ready to launch new ‘next level’ Vegas residency

February 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Def Leppard launches Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace The Las Vegas Residency at The Colosseum on Tuesday and fans can expect quite a show. This will be the band’s third residency in Vegas, and frontman Joe Elliott tells ABC Audio “they keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger.”

He says the beauty of Las Vegas is that it allows you to go big and “it just enthuses you to put on a show,” noting their latest residency is gonna be “next level.”

So what are they doing to make it bigger than ever?

“The production is massive. It’s the best we’ve ever had by a country mile,” Elliott says. “Visually it’s insanely different to anything we’ve ever done.”

And that includes the set list, with Elliott saying they’re planning to go “a lot deeper” in their catalog.

“We’re pulling out stuff we haven’t played in decades. Stuff we’ve never played before,” he says. Of course, they’ll still play hits like “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” but Elliott says if fans only know that song “they’re in for a shock.”

They also plan to play their recently released single “Rejoice.” Says Elliott, “It’s the reason we released it, so that we could play it.”

And with Def Leppard booked at the venue through Feb. 28, bassist Rick Savage says there will be plenty of time for them to enjoy what Vegas has to offer.

“Once you get settled in, and you’ve played two or three shows, you kinda, you become a little bit more of a tourist rather than concentrating on your proper job,” he says. “But it’s such a great town, even just to walk around, you know, whether it’s during the day or at night, all the lights and the buzz and the people.”

+ More