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Fresh from 2020 election, super PACs are already back attracting big donations

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Fresh off one of the most expensive presidential elections in modern American history, wealthy donors from both sides of the aisle are already back pumping big checks into supporting Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s political efforts.

Campaign disclosure reports filed last week showed Team Trump’s aggressive post-White House fundraising efforts raising more than $50 million over the past six months, with more than $100 million on hand heading into the second half of the year. Trump’s post-election fundraising operation has mainly focused on small-dollar online contributions through his newly formed political action committee, Save America, and his presidential campaign committee-turned PAC, Make America Great Again PAC — both of which are limited by federal campaign regulations to contributions of $5,000 per person.

In comparison, Team Biden — which hasn’t been soliciting donations as aggressively or extensively as Trump’s multi-entity fundraising team and instead has mainly been raising money through his presidential campaign committee — reported bringing in $10 million in the first six months of the year, with $4.7 million on hand. Much of Biden’s campaign committee’s fundraising — limited by federal regulations to contributions of $2,800 per person — has also focused on small online donations.

As a result, contributions from wealthy donors who want to show bigger support are coming through outside entities like super PACs, which can solicit an unlimited amount of money from a single donor — unlike a presidential campaign or a regular PAC.

A newly formed pro-Trump super PAC, led by former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, took in more than $3 million in the two months since it started accepting donations, its first financial disclosure report shows.

The super PAC, called Make America Great Again Action (MAGA Action), received donations ranging from $5,000 to $1 million from three dozen donors between May 10 and June 30, after reportedly hosting a fundraising dinner at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, with a price tag of $250,000 per person.

The $1 million donation came from Nevada-based businessman Don Ahern, who had fundraised for Trump during Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. Waste management tycoon Anthony Lomangino, who had previously given big checks to Trump’s various fundraising committees during Trump’s presidency, also gave $500,000 to the super PAC.

Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was unseated by Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock last November, also wrote a $250,000 check to the super PAC, while MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who has continued to push false claims of a rigged election, also gave $100,000 to the group.

The MAGA Action committee is reportedly going to serve as the main pro-Trump super PAC in his post-White House era, a role that another super PAC, America First Action, had played during his time in office. America First donated an additional $1.8 million in monetary and in-kind contributions to MAGA Action during the first half of this year, according to its disclosure report.

MAGA Action has already begun supporting pro-Trump political efforts, spending more than $417,000 to support coal industry lobbyist Mike Carey in a GOP special election primary in Ohio’s House race. Carey, who was endorsed by Trump, won the primary last week.

Biden’s big-dollar supporters are already in action as well, writing five-figure and six-figure checks to super PACs that have been supporting his campaign and political efforts, according to disclosures.

Unite the Country, a super PAC formed last year with the main purpose of supporting Biden during the 2020 presidential election, brought in just over $1 million from a handful of big and small donors in the first half of this year.

Major labor unions were among Unite the Country’s biggest donors, with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC contributing $500,000, the Amalgamated Transit Union’s super PAC giving $250,000, and the ironworker union’s PAC contributing $100,000.

Wayfair CEO Niraj Shah also contributed $95,000, while several attorneys made five-figure donations.

The American Bridge 21st Century PAC, another major Democratic super PAC that backed Biden during the 2020 election and is also involved in numerous other pro-Democratic political efforts, reported taking in nearly $9 million already this year. Among the big checks the organization received was $2 million from Lone Pine Capital partner Stephen Mandel and $1 million from Sequoia Capital partner Michael Moritz, disclosure filings show.

Unite the Country and American Bridge have yet to report any 2021 expenditures supporting specific candidates, but they have reported other advertising, fundraising and consulting expenditures.

Extreme weather across US puts 150 million Americans at risk this week

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — At least 150 million Americans are at risk for severe weather as a triple threat of extreme events stretches across the country.

While there are more than 100 fires burning throughout the United States — including the Dixie Fire, which has become the 2nd largest in California history — other severe weather is also on its way.

A tornado outbreak hit the Midwest with more storms headed to the area, record temperatures are possible in both the Northeast and Northwest, and a tropical system is likely to become Tropical Storm Fred later Tuesday.

Tornadoes in the Midwest

After a tornado outbreak on Monday in the Midwest, several more rounds of severe weather are expected in that region through at least Thursday.

There were 16 reported tornadoes in the Midwest, with 14 of them happening in Illinois alone.

The severe weather will pick up again Tuesday from Kansas to Michigan, including parts of already hard-hit Illinois and Wisconsin. While brief tornadoes will be possible, widespread damaging winds are the main concern.

Summer heat waves

The severe weather is being fueled in part by extreme heat. A heat wave is already developing across the Mississippi River valley with temperatures that will feel like over 100 degrees Fahrenheit from Texas to Illinois. The heat index may reach over 105 degrees in cities like Little Rock, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee.

Record high temperatures will be challenged in both the Northwest and Northeast later this week.

In the Northwest, temperatures will exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Oregon, Idaho and Northern California. Portland, Oregon, could see temperatures top 107 degrees by Thursday

In the Northeast, temperatures are soaring into the 90s from Washington, D.C., to Boston. Of particular concern will be parts of New Jersey, where the heat index may reach 110 degrees on Thursday.

Tropical system in Caribbean

A tropical system is brewing in the Atlantic and is currently affecting the Caribbean; the current forecast shows that it could begin affecting Florida as soon as this weekend.

This system will likely become Tropical Storm Fred sometime Tuesday. Tropical storm alerts have been issued for parts of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The system will likely weaken a little bit over the Dominican Republic, and while it’s too early to determine the magnitude and location of exact impacts, ABC News’ forecast models in the last 24 hours have seemed to indicate that a restrengthening tropical system may head toward Florida by the end of this week.

This system could continue to be a nuisance — particularly to the southeast U.S. — through early next week.

New York Assembly committee to hold hearings through August on possible Cuomo impeachment

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — If impeachment proceedings against embattled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo were to take place, the process would likely begin in early September, according to a tentative hearing schedule set by state lawmakers.

The New York State Assembly Judiciary Committee said it will hold hearings through the remainder of the month to review evidence against Cuomo, as well as hear expert testimony surrounding sexual harassment and the standards for impeachment.

“These sessions will conclude with the potential for a vote on articles of impeachment if necessary and appropriate,” the committee’s chairman, Charles Lavine, said Monday.

A report released by State Attorney General Letitia James last week found that Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including current and former state employees. In at least one instance, the investigation determined that the governor sought to retaliate against a woman who leveled accusations against him.

Cuomo has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct or harassment.

Lavine said Cuomo has until Friday to submit exculpatory evidence which he promised the committee would consider.

“The governor has clearly lost the confidence of the majority members,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Monday, reiterating what he said last week in the wake of the state attorney general’s report being released.

“Our goal is to bring the matter to a close with all haste,” Heastie added.

The impeachment investigation includes the sexual harassment allegations and allegations the governor inappropriately used state resources to write a book, as well as further concerns raised surrounding COVID-19 and nursing homes and accusations that Cuomo provided preferential access to COVID-19 testing to friends and relatives, according to Lavine.

“Just on the nursing home question alone there are a half million pages of documentation,” Lavine said in noting the volume of evidence.

On Aug. 16 and Aug. 23, outside counsel is set to update investigative findings and the Judiciary Committee members will review the evidence in a secure environment. After Aug. 23, public hearings for expert testimony on sexual assault and harassment and on the impeachment process itself are set to take place. The committee will then issue a recommendation on whether the Assembly should approve articles of impeachment.

If the governor resigns beforehand, Lavine conceded “impeachment would be moot” but said there is a procedure to establish a prohibition on Cuomo that prevents him from holding elective office in the state.

Earlier Monday, Lavine called the findings of the state attorney general’s report “deeply disturbing” as he ushered the committee into executive session to discuss next steps in the impeachment investigation.

“We commend the attorney general on her work and her agreement to provide relevant materials to this committee,” Lavine said. “The findings, the content, of the report are deeply disturbing.”

If impeachment proceedings are initiated, it would mark the first impeachment of a New York governor in more than a century.

K.Flay wonders how Fred Durst felt “deeply” with “Break Stuff” cover

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Between the new Woodstock ’99 documentary and their recent performance at Lollapalooza, Limp Bizkit and “Break Stuff” have been in the news lately, certainly more than anyone could’ve predicted for the year 2021. Except for K.Flay, apparently.

The “Blood in the Cut” rocker, born Kristine Flaherty, released her take on “Break Stuff” for a ’90s-themed covers EP late last year, along with versions of Green Day‘s “Brain Stew” and The Offspring‘s “Self Esteem.” As Flaherty tells ABC Audio, she didn’t cover “Break Stuff” for any nostalgic reasons — in fact, she wasn’t even listening to Limp Bizkit during the glory days of nu metal.

“People are coming into that music at this point with baggage,” Flaherty says. “For me, I wasn’t, really. I was coming in with more fresh eyes, but certainly with an awareness of the history and the context.”

Instead, Flaherty felt a kinship with “Break Stuff’s” immortal opening line, which felt especially relevant amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At the beginning of COVID, every morning I was, like, ‘Yeah, it’s just one of those days. You don’t wanna wake up, everything is f***ed, and everybody sucks,'” she laughs. “And I thought, ‘God, I’ve never felt that before in my life, why do I feel that way?’ And it’s because I’m really depressed.”

That moment of self-reflection then led her to explore a nominally surface-level lyric with more empathy.

“If I feel depressed and these lyrics are relatable, I wonder how Fred Durst felt when he was writing the song?” she recalls thinking. “Deeply, not like, ‘I’m wearing a hat and khakis and I’m screaming!’ But, like, actually, inside of his heart, how did he feel?”

Along with the covers EP, K.Flay also released a new, original EP called Inside Voices in June.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Selena Gomez on making ‘Only Murders in the Building’ versus ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Selena Gomez is ready for people to see her first adult TV role, Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.

The singer/actress, who hasn’t had a starring role in a TV series since her Disney Channel days on Wizards of Waverly Place, told reporters at the Television Critics Association Summer 2021 Press Tour that she felt way more in control this time around.

“I signed my life away to Disney at a very young age. So, I didn’t know exactly what I was doing,” she said.

“What I’d say is the level of sophistication of the material is first the reason why I wanted to do this [show],” she added, noting the differences between making a show as a kid versus an adult.

“…I was a kid [on Wizards of Waverly Place]; I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just riding around on set,” she noted. “And now I just — I feel like a sponge and I soak up all the wisdom that I can.”

Selena said another big draw was being cast as her actual age: She turned 29 last month. She stars as Mabel in the murder-mystery series opposite comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short, who she says became like her “two crazy uncles” in real life.

“How they lead a set is so commendable,” she said of the two. “They are so humble and they are kind and they are there till the very end and they are just really…they’ve set such an example for me.”

Only Murders in the Building debuts August 31.

Jury selection underway in R. Kelly’s upcoming sex trafficking trial

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Disgraced singer R. Kelly is heading to trial later this month and jury selection is currently underway in New York.

According to Page Six, Kelly will head to trial in Brooklyn on August 18. The singer, whose birth name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces state and federal charges for sex trafficking, racketeering, coercion and other charges related to the alleged abuse and exploitation of six women over the course of 25 years. He could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Judge Ann Donnelly oversaw the selection of several jurors on Monday, ensuring members of the prospective jury will remain impartial despite the serious nature of the allegations against the 54-year-old singer.

He maintains his innocence.

Kelly’s Brooklyn trial has been postponed at least five times because of the COVID-19 pandemic — but the most recent delay was for Kelly to review his case materials with his new legal team. As previously reported, two of Kelly’s top lawyers withdrew from the case in June.

Kelly also faces a separate indictment in Chicago for allegations regarding child pornography. That particular trial is slated to start in September.

Romantics guitarist Mike Skill says his new solo version of “What I Like About You” “kicks a**”

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Romantics lead guitarist Mike Skill recently released a new version of his band’s classic 1980 tune “What I Like About You.” It’s available now via streaming services and will be included on Skill’s debut solo album Skill…Mike Skill, due out on September 10.

Skill tells ABC Audio that he thinks his new version “kicks a**.”

Mike co-wrote “What I Like About You” with founding Romantics drummer Jimmy Marinos, who sang lead on the original track. But since frontman Wally Palmar handled lead vocal duties on most of The Romantics’ tunes, Skill says his solo project gives him the chance to make it “known that I’m able to get out there and sing songs as well.”

The updated rendition of “What I Like About You” features Skill on both lead and backing vocals, guitars and bass, with current Romantics member Brad Elvis on drums.

Mike reveals that he began recording the new version so the The Romantics could offer it for use in movies, TV shows and commercials, but that plan fell through. Then, when the COVID pandemic last year quashed plans for the band to celebrate their 40th anniversary, Skill found himself with extra time on his hands.

He began gathering songs for his first solo album, and decided to include his new version of “What I Like About You” in the project, and release it as a single to mark its 41st anniversary.

To record his updated version, Skill says, “I brought out the old Hiwatts, the same amps I used on the original song. The Rickenbacker [guitars]…I wanted to make sure it had that really crisp, raw energy — a real…thump to it. And it came out that way. [It] turned out really good.”

‘The Bachelorette’ recap: Katie’s journey ends with an engagement to Blake

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Katie Thurston concluded her turbulent journey on Monday night’s The Bachelorette season 17 finale where she, Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams were joined by a studio audience, who watched the final moments unravel with an engagement to Blake Moynes, the 30-year-old a wildlife manager from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Monday’s episode picked up with Katie, heartbroken and defeated after Greg‘s sudden departure, insisting that she’d had enough.

“So, what do you want to happen?” asked mentor Kaitlyn Bristowe, to which Katie answered, “I want someone to book my flight home.”

The following morning, Kaitlyn and Tayshia delivered the news to Blake and Justin that Katie decided to see her journey through to the end and that each of the guys would have the chance to spend an overnight date with Katie in the fantasy suite.

Her first overnight date was with Blake. After bringing him up to speed on what had happened between her and Greg, as well as her thoughts about leaving, the revelation left Blake questioning how strong his relationship with Katie really was.

“I don’t play games with love,” said Blake, adding that he absolutely loved Katie. She reciprocated by telling him that she was in love with him as well. The date ended with the two disappearing into the fantasy suite, before reemerging the following morning, enjoying breakfast in bed.

“Best date of my life,” Katie would tell Kaitlyn the next morning, adding unabashedly, “I was plenty happy — many times!”

She then declared, “My heart officially belongs to Blake.”

So where did that leave Justin? The Baltimore investment sales consultant, anxiously looking forward to his date, was instead greeted with Katie’s announcement that she had told Blake she loved him, and could only be in love with one person.

Later at the “After the Final Rose” portion of the show, Justin would tell Kaitlyn and Tayshia that he was “blindsided” by the breakup and watching it played back hurt “just as much now as it did then.” He believed Katie didn’t give him a fair shot.

Next, it was time for Blake to meet Katie’s family, who held nothing back — especially her aunt, who relentlessly grilled Blake in an effort to find out if he was ready for the ups and downs of marriage.

Katie’s mom was a little more forgiving, but still left Blake doubting if he was ready for that big leap with Katie.

Katie’s journey ended with Blake proposing to her — but not before making Bachelor Nation hold their collective breaths for a few seconds.

“I can’t give you what you came here for,” he teased, before taking a long pause, followed by “because you deserve so much more,” after which he dropped to one knee.

There was also a tense showdown between Katie and Greg during the After the Final Rose segment. When responding to rumors she heard about Greg attending acting school, she claimed his “shy guy” persona was all an act, and that he was actually a “confident, cocky boy” from New Jersey.

Defending his behavior following their hometown date, Greg said, “I’m sorry, honestly if you feel like I was talking down to you…”

“Gaslighting is probably, I think, a better word,” she interrupted.

Katie also revealed on “After the Final Rose” that her family only found out they were engaged on Monday — along with the rest of us.

The Bachelorette season 18, featuring Michelle Young is set to premiere October 19, following Bachelor in Paradise, kicking off Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Scoreboard roundup — 8/9/21

August 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

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

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
Cleveland 9, Cincinnati 3

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Chi White Sox 11, Minnesota 1
NY Yankees 8 Kansas City 6

NATIONAL LEAGUE
San Diego 8, Miami 3
Milwaukee at Chi Cubs (Postponed)

How Much Exercise Do You Need?

August 10, 2021 by John Tesh

If you want to lose weight – how much daily exercise do you need?

A new study from the University of Kentucky, Lexington found people who worked out vigorously for an HOUR EVERY DAY ended up losing weight, compared to those who only exercised a few times a week.

It’s down to something we’ve talked about before: The “licensing effect.” That’s when you pat yourself on the back for doing something virtuous – like exercising – and give yourself license, or permission, to indulge in another way – like eating more.

That’s why people who exercise tend to eat more to make up for it. So those who only worked out a couple times a week canceled out any calories they burned… But only up to a point.

Those who exercised DAILY ended up burning more calories than they consumed – even though they were eating more.

And it matters whether the exercise is intense, too. Because intense workouts raise levels of the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin, which doesn’t happen with light exercise.

The research found that weight-loss sweet spot is an hour of moderate to intense exercise a day… and aim to burn 3,000 calories through exercise every week.

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