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Senate committee questions TikTok in Jan. 6 Capitol attack investigation

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The Senate Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday added TikTok to a list of social media companies being scrutinized for their potential involvement in the spread of misinformation related to the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol.

In a letter obtained by ABC News, chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., wrote to the company seeking additional information on how the app monitors “extremist and conspiracy” content.

“In the lead up to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, domestic extremists reportedly used TikTok to recruit, organize, and communicate,” Peters writes to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. “Since January 6th, domestic extremist groups have used TikTok to continue to spread their messages through content supporting white supremacists, extremists, and terrorist organizations.”

The Senate Homeland Security Committee spent months examining security and response failures related to the Jan. 6 attack culminating in a bipartisan report that found failures at every level of government that led to the breach of the Capitol by Trump supporters.

Part of that report, released in June, found that there were multiple warnings on social media about potential violence leading up to the attack.

Since the report, the committee has been sharpening its focus on the role that social media played in the attack, and continues to play in the spread of extremist misinformation.

The committee’s letter to TikTok Tuesday adds the company to a list of social media giants already being examined. Chairman Peters sent letters last month to other social media and tech giants like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. A committee aide confirms that work to get the information requested from these organizations is ongoing.

Peters is seeking information from TikTok on how the company identifies content that violates its terms of service governing violent extremism, enforcement of community guidelines and information on how the company’s algorithms recommend content.

He raises concerns in his letter that TikTok benefits financially from keeping viewers engaged with extremist content, citing a Wall Street Journal investigation which found that the app directed users who viewed political videos to QAnon and election fraud content.

“These algorithms increase user engagement, which in turn increases the amount of time users spend on these platforms, and by extension, the amount of advertisements that can be shown,” Peters writes. “There is a financial incentive for social media platforms like TikTok to keep users engaged on their platforms and viewing content, including extremist content.””

TikTok did not respond to a request for comment on the committee’s letter. Its community guidelines, posted on its site, say it prohibits “violent extremism.” A TikTok representative responded to earlier questions about extremist videos on the site in a separate report by Politico.

“There is absolutely no place for violent extremism or hate speech on TikTok, and we work aggressively to remove any such content and ban individuals that violate our Community Guidelines,” spokesperson Jamie Favazza said in an email to Politico. ABC News has not independently reviewed that email.

The House has already taken some interest in TikTok, a Chinese-owned company that features a stream of short videos. The House Select Committee on Jan. 6 has asked social media companies, including TikTok, to turn over any records regarding the attack at the Capitol. The committee asked 15 companies including Facebook, and Twitter, to turn over any “records, including data, reports, analyses, and communications stretching back to Spring of 2020,” according to a committee press release.

Congress has heightened its focus in recent weeks on regulating social media more generally in light of allegations by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, who unearthed documents she says shows the company had knowledge of its platforms’ negative impact and did little to stop it.

Among other allegations, Haugen alleged in an interview on the CBS News program “60 Minutes” that Facebook decided to ease safeguards put in place to stop the spread of disinformation during the 2020 election season, which she says contributed to the Jan. 6 attack.

Facebook has publicly disputed Haugen’s claims, pointing to investments in security that the company has made in recent years.

“Every day our teams have to balance protecting the ability of people to express themselves openly with the need to keep our platform a safe and positive place,” Lena Pietsch, the director of policy communications for Facebook, said in a statement earlier this month. “To suggest we encourage bad content or do nothing is just not true.”

Haugen testified before a subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee last week. The Senate Homeland Security Committee also plans to meet with Haugen, a committee aide confirms.

The administration also said it is working to thread the needle between ensuring citizen privacy and preventing future attacks.

“We are focused on ensuring that while we do this critical work, we protect civil rights, civil liberties, and the rights and privacy of each member of the American public,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told the House Homeland Security Committee in September.

He emphasized to the committee the department is “ideology neutral” and focus on ideologies “connectivity to violence, regardless of the politics.”

“This has been a long-standing challenge,” he said.

Michael Keaton’s new Hulu limited series ‘Dopesick’ is guaranteed to make you angry

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The new limited series Dopesick premieres today on Hulu.

Michael Keaton stars as a small-town doctor who thought he was helping his patients with pain by prescribing the painkiller OxyContin, but instead ended up getting people he knew and loved addicted to opioids. Keaton tells ABC Audio he thinks his show will make people angry.

“How could you not be angry at something as large as Big Pharma, and in this case, we gotta say it, the Sackler family,” asks the actor, referring to the owners of Purdue Pharma and Mundipharma, the pharmaceutical companies at the center of the opioid crisis that have faces criminal charges, bankruptcy and billions in fines as a result. “People…most of them…we could categorize as the have-nots…they’re the victims,” he continues. “How do you not get angry?”

“I hope they’re mad,” adds Dopesick creator Danny Strong, who also hopes the series will inspire people to take action.

“I hope they have an understanding of what happened. I hope that this might inspire some push for change, particularly with the revolving door in government in which people that are overseeing these companies, pharma companies in particular, that are supposed to be there to protect and regulate the public from a criminal company like Purdue Pharma,” Strong adds. “Instead of regulating them they go and they work for them.”

Dopesick also stars Peter Sarsgaard, Will Poulter, Kaitlyn Dever and Rosario Dawson.

UNC Chapel Hill cancels classes for ‘Wellness Day’ amid suicide investigations

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(CHAPEL HILL, N.C.) — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill canceled classes and declared Tuesday a “Wellness Day” as officials investigate two suicide-related incidents from over the weekend.

“We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, both on our campus and across our nation, and we are aware that college-aged students carry an increased risk of suicide,” Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz said in a statement to students Sunday evening. “This crisis has directly impacted members of our community — especially with the passing of two students on campus in the past month.”

He encouraged students to “rest and check in with each other, adding: “Reach out to a friend, a classmate or colleague and ask them, ‘Honestly, how are you doing?'”

The UNC Police Department reported a suicide at the Forest Theater on Sept. 4, according to UNC Police’s online crime log.

Campus police responded to a suicide Saturday morning at the Hinton James Residence Hall and to another call on Sunday at 3:35 a.m. for an attempted suicide at the Granville Towers South on campus, according to the log’s data.

UNC Media Relations told ABC News the incidents are under investigation.

Leaders of the UNC student government had called for the school to pause instruction on Monday as well as Tuesday.

“The leaders of the Undergraduate and Graduate and Professional Student Governments are mourning the tragic loss of life that occurred on Carolina’s campus this weekend. We share the pain of our peers who are now navigating both the grief of losing a friend and simultaneously completing a rigorous curriculum during an already stressful semester,” students said in a statement.

Some students said they wished the university was doing even more.

“I think they are trying, but it kind of seems like a bare minimum response to me,” sophomore Annalise Zola said to ABC Durham station WTVD. “I think the response was a little delayed in that they could be funding CAPS [Counseling and Psychological Services] better and doing more to support our students.”

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people 15 to 34 years old, according to National Institute of Mental Health data.

Guskiewicz said UNC is working to create a special support network for students and staff this week, and that the campus will convene a mental health summit later this month. Students who live on campus also have been encouraged to reach out to Carolina Housing staff for support.

He also announced the upcoming launch of a campus-wide campaign to support mental health awareness called the Heels Care Network, a reporting mechanism where people can share information about someone else who may need help.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

COVID-19 live updates: US to reopen Mexico, Canada borders for vaccinated

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The United States has been facing a COVID-19 surge as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread.

More than 716,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.8 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Just 66% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the CDC.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Oct 12, 11:26 pm
US to lift land-border restrictions on Canada, Mexico with proof of vaccination

The U.S. is moving forward to lift restrictions for foreign travelers coming into the country over land-border crossings as long as they have proof of COVID-19 vaccination, according to multiple senior Biden administration officials.

The news follows a decision about two months ago from Canadian authorities to allow vaccinated American travelers to enter by land. It also follows the announcement last month of a vaccine requirement for foreign air travelers coming into the U.S.

Current air travel requirements also include presenting a negative COVID-19 test while land border requirements remain more restrictive for anyone deemed “nonessential.”

The first stage of the land-border changes is expected in early November, the officials said, when travelers deemed “nonessential” will be able to enter the U.S. with proof of vaccination. Nonessential travel, including recreation, family visits and tourism, was previously restricted at all land-border crossings.

All travelers, both essential and nonessential, will be required to have proof of vaccination starting in early January.

Unlike the requirements for air travel, this new set of restrictions does not have a testing component, the officials said.

Customs and Border Protection will enforce the requirements at U.S. land ports of entry where they will ask about vaccination status and refer travelers to a more thorough inspection on a case-by-case basis.

Oct 12, 6:00 pm
62% of 2020 law enforcement line of duty deaths were from COVID-19: Report

A report issued Tuesday found that 62% of all law enforcement deaths in the line of duty in 2020 were from COVID-19.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund revealed the statistics in a release, announcing its annual candlelight vigil on the National Mall.

Attorney General Merck Garland will lead Thursday’s vigil that will honor 701 law enforcement officers who recently died in the line of duty, including 434 who died in 2019 and 2020, the museum said in a statement.

Oct 12, 5:02 pm
White House to governors: Get ready to start vaccinating kids in November

In a private phone call Tuesday, the White House urged governors to prepare to begin vaccinating elementary-age kids in early November.

Once federal regulators give the green light, the pediatric Pfizer vaccine will be distributed in 100-dose packs. The doses, which are about one-third of what is given to adults, will be sent to thousands of sites, including pediatricians, family doctors, hospitals, health clinics and pharmacies enrolled in a federal program that guarantees the shots are provided for free. Some states are planning to provide the vaccine through schools, as well.

“We’ve secured plenty of supply, and we’ll be putting in place an allocation ordering and distribution system similar to what we’ve used for the other vaccines,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said on the call.

The Biden administration has purchased 65 million Pfizer pediatric vaccine doses, according to an HHS official. That number is more than enough to vaccinate all 28 million 5-to-11-year-olds.

At least 31,000 providers have enrolled to administer free vaccines already, according to the HHS official, and that number is expected to increase as the HHS and CDC continue to work with the existing federal program that funds many other routine childhood vaccinations all over the country.

While the White House said shipments of the pediatric vaccine will begin as soon as the FDA gives the green light, shots wouldn’t happen until the CDC makes its recommendation on who should get the vaccine.

The CDC is drafting guidance on the practice of “test to stay” being used by schools in lieu of quarantines, according to the White House call. CDC director Rochelle Walensky said it’s possible that the guidance is released this week.

Oct 12, 3:32 pm
What to expect at this week’s meetings on Moderna, J&J boosters

On Thursday and Friday, the FDA’s independent advisory panel is set to discuss and vote on whether to authorize Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters for people 18 and older. If approved, the FDA and CDC both still need to sign off. The earliest that could happen is Oct. 22.

An initial and nonbinding vote on the Moderna booster has been scheduled for around 4:45 p.m. ET Thursday. Moderna’s own scientific summary posted on Tuesday argues for a booster shot with a half dose given six months after the second shot.

An initial and nonbinding vote on the J&J booster has been scheduled for around 3:15 p.m. ET. Friday. Johnson & Johnson’s summary posted Tuesday makes the argument for a second shot, same as the first dose, given roughly six months after the single-shot vaccine.

On Friday, the National Institutes of Health will also present data on whether it’s safe and effective to mix-and-match booster doses.

“Home Sweet” for Russell is wife Kailey, son Remington, & maybe “a lot more Dickerson babies running around”

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Three summers ago, Russell Dickerson co-wrote his latest hit with Charles Kelley while on tour with Lady A and Darius Rucker. At the time, “Home Sweet” was simply Russell’s vision of his life with his wife Kailey.

Since then, it’s become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Then, it was kind of like how I saw my life panning out, I guess,” Russell looks back. “Really, it just like came true. We moved into our new house, and probably a week later found out we were pregnant. And so literally we were sitting on boxes and looking at two pink lines.”

“It’s one of those things that you just can’t make up,” he reflects. “We went from our little house over in Nashville by the zoo, and then the song literally just kind of like, came true for us, like one of those things you speak into existence, I guess. And so it really has, yeah, it’s just like, come to life.”

The couple’s son, Remington, arrived in September of 2020, and Russell predicts there’s more to come — many more, in fact.

“My wife comes from a huge family,” he explains. “She’s the youngest of six. She has five older brothers, and then that oldest brother has seven kids, so there’s literally, I think, 15 grandkids on her side.”

“And so they come from a ginormous family,” Russell continues. “And so I just got a feeling that there’s gonna be a lot more Dickerson babies running around.”

“Home Sweet” is the second single from Russell’s Southern Symphony album, following the chart-topping “Love You Like I Used To.”

‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 30 recap: Brian Austin Green and ‘Bachelor’ Matt James sent home in shocking double elimination

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

While Monday on Dancing with the Stars was sugar, spice and everything nice for Disney Heroes Night — Tuesday was an about face, with host Tyra Banks announcing an evil plot twist for Disney Villains Night: the season’s first double elimination.

The first person to head home was Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Brian Austin Green, with Banks revealing his departure was by default as he and partner Sharna Burgess finished the night at the bottom of the scoreboard.

The audience voted Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore and former Bachelor Matt James into the bottom two and the judges were evenly split over who to save. Len Goodman bemoaned being in the “horrible position” of casting the tie-breaking vote and, after some stalling, ultimately chose to spare Kenya, who fell to her knees in shock.

That decision also meant the end of Bachelor Nation’s hope of winning a third consecutive Mirrorball Trophy. Former Bachelorettes Hannah Brown and Kaitlyn Bristowe won the two previous seasons.

Speaking of consecutive wins, The Office star Melora Hardin again brought her A-game to the ballroom and again claimed first place. Her theatrical and in-character jazz routine to Tangled‘s “Mother Knows Best” — which Melora sang, by the way — earned her the first 10 of the season.

Another standout moment came from country singer Jimmie Allen, who opened the show with his Captain Hook-inspired jazz routine to Billie Eilish‘s “bad guy.” After securing his best score of the season, the Grammy nominee proudly revealed that he just found out his wife, Alexis Gale, was about to give birth to their second child.

Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby also had a great night and secured his best score of the season. The judges took a moment to salute him and dance partner Cheryl Burke, who were both “fresh out of quarantine” after testing positive for COVID-19 a few weeks ago — which meant they had the least amount of time to rehearse.

Rigsby explained he and Cheryl were able to hold their first in-person practice on Friday and, before then, relied on Zoom to communicate. Despite their triumph this week, they have to work extra hard to catch up with the rest of the pack as they are currently at the bottom of the scoreboard and are now in danger of going home.

Dancing with the Stars returns next Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, where the cast will pay homage to the movie Grease.

Here are the current standings:

Melora Hardin, The Office actress, with Artem Chivensky — 73/80
JoJo Siwa, Nickelodeon star, with Jenna Johnson — 70/80
Olivia Jade, influencer, with Val Chmerkovskiy — 70/80
Amanda Kloots, The Talk co-host, with Alan Bersten — 68/80
Suni Lee, Olympic Gold medalist, with Sasha Farber — 68/80
Jimmie Allen, country music singer, with Emma Slater — 67/80
Melanie C, Spice Girl, with Gleb Savchenko — 66/80
Michael “The Miz” Gregory, WWE superstar, Witney Carson — 65/80
Iman Shumpert, NBA player, with Daniella Karagach — 63/80
Kenya Moore, former Miss USA, with Brandon Armstrong — 59/80
Cody Rigsby, Peloton instructor, with Cheryl Burke — 58/80

Biden immigration authorities to end workplace raids

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement is ending the practice of deportation raids on worksites, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a memo on Tuesday.

“The deployment of mass worksite operations, sometimes resulting in the simultaneous arrest of hundreds of workers, was not focused on the most pernicious aspect of our country’s unauthorized employment challenge: exploitative employers,” Mayorkas wrote in the memo. “These highly visible operations misallocated enforcement resources while chilling, and even serving as a tool of retaliation for, worker cooperation in workplace standards investigations.”

He added the worksite operations go against the department’s civil rights code.

Mass worksite raids became more common after the first year of the Trump administration. One of the largest coordinated raid operations was conducted across multiple poultry plants in Mississippi in August 2019, resulting in the arrest of nearly 700 workers.

Four executives in charge of the poultry plants were indicted about a year after the raids.

Mayorkas said his department will “develop agency plans to alleviate or mitigate the fear that victims of, and witnesses to, labor trafficking and exploitation may have regarding their cooperation with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of unscrupulous employers.”

House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., applauded the DHS move.

“The previous Administration too often carried out raids that tore apart communities but allowed employers to continue exploiting workers,” he said in a statement. “Refocusing resources to counter exploitative employers is a necessary step in protecting the American labor market and workers. I appreciate the Department’s efforts to protect workers who sound the alarm on labor violations.”

The National Day Laborers Organizing Network agreed.

“By ending worksite raids and acknowledging that workers should not have to endure the threat of deportation when they courageously come forward to report labor violations, this policy begins to move the country in the right direction,” Nadia Marin-Molina, NDLON Co-Executive Director, said.

Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, who served as homeland security secretary under President Donald Trump, said the DHS should not be choosing to enforce the law against one group versus another. Wolf said that large-scale operations are not common and usually supported by federal prosecutors.

“Implying that past actions from ICE criminal investigators were wrong is not accurate and another shot at DHS law enforcement and continues the politicizing of DHS under this admin,” Wolf tweeted. “Instead of supporting professional agents, DHS is ending a perfectly legal tool in order to appease left wing progressives who want to abolish ICE.”

Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., accused President Biden of “weakening immigration law enforcement even further,” as a result of the DHS announcement on ICE raids. “American workers and their wages will suffer as a result.”

Thanks to “Cold Heart,” Elton John officially marks 50 years in the ‘Billboard’ Hot 100’s Top 40

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Happy Golden Anniversary to Elton John, who can now officially brag that he’s been scoring top 40 hits for 50 years.

“Cold Heart,” his Dua Lipa collaboration that’s a mashup of four of his past songs, has jumped from #36 to #32 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s the first time he’s been in the top 40 of the chart since “Written in the Stars,” his 1999 duet with LeAnn Rimes.

According to Billboard, that means Elton’s top 40 hits now span 50 years and 10 months — his first top 40 hit, “Your Song,” charted in December of 1970. Not including holiday songs, this is the longest span for any artist in Billboard history. Michael Jackson previously held the record at 46 years, eight months and three weeks.

Elton recently told Billboard that he credits “Dua Lipa’s popularity” with a lot of the song’s success, as well as the “brilliant” remix that the Australian dance act Pnau did in mashing up the songs. However, he notes, “I feel very, very content and happy that I’m relevant. I’ve always tried to be relevant.”

Billboard also points out the mind-blowing fact that the week in 1970 when Elton scored his first top 40 hit, the artists in the top five were Smokey Robinson, Santana, George Harrison, The Fifth Dimension and The Partridge Family. Now, it’s the likes of Drake, Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X and Ed Sheeran.

Dionne Warwick not involved in biopic of late cousin Whitney Houston: “I want them to let Whitney rest in peace”

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Dionne Warwick is the subject of a new documentary, Don’t Make Me Over, but she says she’s not interested in being part of the upcoming I Wanna Dance with Somebody biopic about her late cousin, Whitney Houston.

The latter film is being produced by Clive Davis, who signed Warwick and Houston to Arista Records, but Dionne doesn’t want to be involved in the project, explaining to the Los Angeles Times, “I want them to let Whitney rest in peace. Leave her alone. Ten years [since she died] — it’s time to let her sleep.”

Meanwhile, Warwick, who recorded for Arista during the 1990s at the same time that Aretha Franklin was on the label, says she’s not a fan of the recent Respect biopic starring Jennifer Hudson as the late Queen of Soul.

“I knew Aretha from when we were teenagers, and there was a lot missing [from the movie],” she tells the L.A. Times. Dionne feels that the film focused too much on the negative aspect of Aretha’s career. “Some filmmakers feel that they’ve got to find something cruddy and ugly in an artist’s life,” Warwick comments. “Why?”

Now 80 years old, the six-time Grammy winner began her legendary career at the age of 22 in 1962 with the title tune of her documentary, the first of many hits written for her by the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Don’t Make Over premiered last month at the Toronto International Film Festival and was first runner-up for the People’s Choice Award for Documentaries.

For her latest project, Dionne recorded a duet with Chance the Rapper, “Nothing’s Impossible,” which will be released for Thanksgiving and will raise money to aid the homeless.

New Asia box set ‘The Official Live Bootlegs Volume 1,’ featuring five full concerts, due out in November

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A new 10-CD box set titled The Official Live Bootlegs Volume 1, featuring recordings of five concerts by Asia‘s original lineup from various years of the prog-rock supergroup’s career, will be released on November 26.

Two shows featured in the expansive collection took place during the band’s initial early-1980s heyday, while the other three concerts were recorded after the original lineup reunited during the 2000s.

The concerts were recorded in May 1982 at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, New York; in August 1983 at The Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts; in March 2007 at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil; in May 2008 at the International Forum in Tokyo; and in December 2010 at The Forum in London.

Asia’s classic lineup featured former King Crimson and UK singer/bassist John Wetton, longtime Yes guitarist Steve Howe, Emerson, Lake & Palmer drummer Carl Palmer and Buggles/Yes keyboardist Geoff Downes.

The original band recorded two albums, 1982’s Asia and 1983’s Alpha, before Howe exited the group. Wetton, Howe, Downes and Palmer reunited in 2006 to mark Asia’s 25th anniversary and the group went on to record three more albums together — 2008’s Phoenix, 2010’s Omega and 2012’s XXX — before Howe again left the band in 2013.

The concerts feature Asia playing its classic songs “Heat of the Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell” and “Don’t Cry,” while the post-2000 shows also include renditions of tunes by the members’ other famous groups, among them Yes’ “Roundabout,” King Crimson’s The Court of the Crimson King and The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.”

The Official Live Bootlegs Volume 1 can be pre-ordered now. A digital album featuring 24 tracks from the box set also will be released on November 26.

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