Country music star Bailey Zimmerman opens up about his quest for love in a heartfelt interview. Continue reading…

House Speaker Mike Johnson is probably breathing just a little easier this morning, as Republican Michael Rulli's victory in Ohio's 6th Congressional District Tuesday night gave him just a tad more breathing room in his narrow Republican House majority. Rulli was widely expected to win, as former President Donald Trump...

Republicans grew their small majority in the House of Representatives after state Sen. Michael Rulli won a special election for a vacant seat in eastern Ohio. According to Roll Call, Rulli defeated Democrat Michael Kripchak 52 percent to 48 percent. “Rulli will serve the remainder of former Republican Rep. Bill Johnson’s term, which runs through January. When he is sworn in, Republicans will hold 219 seats to Democrats’ 213,” Roll Call stated. Johnson resigned from Congress to become president of Youngstown State University. Rulli and Kripchak will face each other again in November’s election. Some individuals suggest the GOP should worry after Tuesday’s results. The Ohio 6th CD special election results should be a major alarm bell for the entire GOP. Bill Johnson won this seat by 35 points in 2022. It’s a Trump +30 district. The Republican will win, but it is a 4.4 point race with 65% of the vote in. That’s insanely bad. pic.twitter.com/y7A6dTCqDE — Peter Henlein (@SwissWatchGuy) June 12, 2024 Donald Trump won this #OH06 Congressional district by +29 in 2020. Tonight, the Republican who won the special election by only +8 is an Ohio State Senator who spent over $700k, … while the Democrat is a first time candidate who only spent $25K. h/t @sjclermont pic.twitter.com/0rKFCL7b0r — Fernand R. Amandi (@AmandiOnAir) June 12, 2024 Per Roll Call: Rulli comes to Congress from the Ohio Senate, where he was elected to two terms starting in 2018. His state Senate seat encompasses many of the same eastern Ohio communities as the 6th Congressional District, and he beat state Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus by less than 9 percentage points in a March special primary. Rulli grew up in Poland, Ohio. His grandfather and great-uncle established the Rulli Bros. grocery store in 1917, which the family still operates at two locations in the Youngstown area. Rulli left his home town to attend Emerson College in Boston and played bass in a Boston-area grunge band called Red Bliss. Afterward, Rulli returned to Ohio and worked in the family business. He’s been in politics since winning a seat to the Leetonia School Board in 2009. In Congress, Rulli says his focus will be on growing the local economy, including manufacturing and energy industries in eastern Ohio. He plans to take up his predecessor Johnson’s legacy as a champion of oil and natural gas. As expected, Republicans will win this special election for Congress in Ohio – but the margin will raise eyebrows. In 2022, the GOP won this seat by 67-33 https://t.co/4s1a1uADV6 pic.twitter.com/AoGwiL1Ygv — Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 12, 2024 From the Associated Press: Rulli’s victory by roughly 10 percentage points was much closer than earlier GOP performances in Ohio’s 6th District. Johnson won his last four elections by more than 30 percentage points. Trump also carried the district by around 30 percentage points in 2020. While this was a special election held in the summer, when turnout traditionally dips, the results could offer hope for Democrats looking to be competitive this fall in Ohio and neighboring Pennsylvania. “We knew the polls were gong to be close, and the guy I ran against really worked. He’s a really hard worker,” Rulli said. “But this is a blue-collar district, this is Bruce Springstein, the forgotten man, ‘Joe Bag of Donuts.’ They don’t trust the Democrats and Republicans, and they look at the individual. And I’m really good at retail politics.” The second-term state senator is from Salem in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley, where he directs operations for his family’s 100-year-old chain of grocery stores.

Former Donald Trump adviser and War Room host Steve Bannon filed an emergency motion Tuesday evening asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to overrule a lower court’s order that he report to prison by July 1st. Bannon is seeking sufficient time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary, over his contempt of Congress conviction. He was sentenced to four months in prison for defying subpoenas from the J6 Committee. JUST IN: Steve Bannon files an emergency request at the D.C. Circuit, asking them to prevent him from having to report to prison on July 1 for his contempt of Congress conviction. https://t.co/3nUbFwzNdX pic.twitter.com/OHzmF2PTx2 — Chris “Law Dork” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 11, 2024 NBC News reports: Bannon’s attorney argued in Tuesday’s filing that his imprisonment would block him from acting as a “meaningful adviser” in the campaign leading up to the November election. “The government seeks to imprison Mr. Bannon for the four-month period leading up to the November election, when millions of Americans look to him for information on important campaign issues,” wrote Trent McCotter, a new addition to Bannon’s legal team. “This would also effectively bar Mr. Bannon from serving as a meaningful advisor in the ongoing national campaign.” A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit last month upheld Bannon’s contempt of Congress conviction, prompting the trial judge who presided over Bannon’s case to rule that he must report to prison at the end of the month. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, said last week that the “original basis” for his stay of the imposition of Bannon’s sentence no longer applied after an appeals court upheld the conviction. “There is also no denying the political realities here. Mr. Bannon is a high-profile political commentator and campaign strategist. He was prosecuted by an administration whose policies are a frequent target of Mr. Bannon’s public statements,” the motion says, according to Fox News. Per Fox News: The motion Tuesday comes after Trump was convicted on 34 felony charges in his New York City hush money trial and faces a sentencing hearing next month just four days before the Republican National Convention, where the GOP will likely declare him their official 2024 presidential nominee. Bannon “intends to vigorously pursue his remaining appeals in this case and has retained experienced Supreme Court counsel,” his lawyers wrote Tuesday, asking the court to allow him to remain on release given there is “no dispute that Mr. Bannon ‘is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community if released’ —indeed, he has been out on release for years now without incident, and his ‘crime’ was non-violent.” “Mr. Bannon faced what the Court has described as a novel scenario: Congress was pursuing documents and testimony from a former executive branch official, yet counsel for the former President himself required Mr. Bannon to protect executive privilege in responding to the subpoena,” the motion says. “Mr. Bannon followed the advice of his counsel and requested that the Committee resolve the privilege issues with the holder of that privilege, or have the matter resolved in a civil suit.” Bannon’s lawyer at trial argued that the former adviser did not ignore the subpoena, but was still engaged in good-faith negotiations with the congressional committee when he was charged. Read the full motion HERE.

The US will stop at nothing, including the use of neo-Nazis, to damage Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. Peskov made the remarks following Washington’s decision to lift a ban on supplying weapons [...] The post Kremlin Says US Is ‘Flirting With Neo-Nazis’ In Ukraine appeared first on The People's Voice.

Review & Photos by Joe Schaeffer The historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills reverberated with the electrifying sounds of Mr. Big. The iconic rock band, known for their fusion of melodic hooks and technical prowess, delivered a memorable performance that left fans both nostalgic and exhilarated. Mr. Big, the iconic US rock band, embarked on their Big Finish Tour and are celebrating nearly 40 years of making records. The tour kicked off in Japan last July and took them across Asia, East Coast US and South America. They are currently back in the US for more dates before heading into Europe and the UK into the summer. During this swansong tour, Mr. Big is performing their breakthrough 1991 album Lean Into It in its entirety, along with other tracks from their distinguished career. The setlist this evening was a trip down memory lane. From the opening riff of “Addicted to That Rush” to the soulful ballad “Just Take My Heart,” the band showcased their timeless sound. The electric drill-infused anthem “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy” had the crowd on their feet, while the bluesy groove of “Colorado Bulldog” resonated through the venue. The chemistry between the band members was unmistakable. Billy Sheehan’s thunderous bass lines, Paul Gilbert’s lightning-fast guitar solos, and Nick D’Virgilio’s precise drumming created a sonic tapestry that enveloped the audience. Eric Martin’s vocals soared effortlessly, capturing the essence of Mr. Big’s signature sound. Mr. Big didn’t shy away from surprises. Their cover of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World” was a heartfelt tribute, and the crowd joined in to sing every word. The instrumental switch during “Good Lovin’” showcased the band’s versatility, with Martin on bass, Sheehan on vocals, Gilbert on drums, and D’Virgilio on guitar. And when they launched into The Who’s classic “Baba O’Riley,” the energy in the room reached a fever pitch. The Saban’s intimate setting allowed fans to connect with the band up close. The venue’s acoustics were spot-on, ensuring that every note resonated beautifully. The crowd’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Mr. Big reciprocated with their high-octane performance. Whether you grew up listening to their hits or discovered them recently, this show was a testament to their enduring legacy. As the final chords echoed through the venue, it was clear that Mr. Big had left an indelible mark on the music scene.

The Doobie Brothers have weathered enough styles and changes in personnel to deserve recognition as the sturdy and successful unit they are. Embracing an easy-going, country-infected stance that has always been at the foundation of their sound, Sibling Rivalry, released in 2000, didn’t exactly set the world on fire. It did, however, satisfy those who yearn for the simple rhythm and lightly textured harmonies that the Doobies have always been known for. Without Michael McDonald in the fold, the band reached beyond the blue-eyed funk/jazz leanings that, to many of their early fans, almost killed off their credibility as a viable rock and roll band. The album opens with the swinging “People Gotta Love Again.” Much in the vein of “Listen To The Music,” guitarist Tom Johnston’s message addresses everybody who needs to take a look around and start respecting each other a little more. The country-blues “Leave My Heartache Behind” from Patrick Simmons is reminiscent of the 1974 hit, “Black Water”. The band succumbs to mellower strains with the rather ordinary, “Ordinary Man,” but bounces back with the upbeat “Jericho.” It doesn’t last long as the band falls into the meager “On Every Corner” that only sustains itself with a blend of Doobie-like lush harmonies and decent guitar work by Johnston, Simmons and John McFee. It grows even more placid on Michael Hossack’s “Angels Of Madness,” which could have used a boast from someone like McDonald. Thankfully, Johnston kicks things back into place with “45th Floor,” a politically charged ode that somehow shifts the entire outfit into high gear. After that, things settle down again with “Can’t Stand To Lose,” co-written by Poco’s Rusty Young and sounding more like the Eagles than the Doobie Brothers. “Higher Ground” shuffles along aimlessly but finds its voice with a catchy refrain. “Gates Of Eden” doesn’t bring much to the table while “Don’t Be Afraid” trips into a contemporary jazz booby trap. Drummer Keith Knudson, whose songwriting credits appear through-out the more somber tunes of the CD, finally manages to let loose on “Rocking Horse.” With Johnston and McFee tearing into some wailing leads, this song manages to lift the album out of the slumbers. Finishing off with the solid and breezy acoustical instrumental, “Five Corners,” Sibling Rivalry, following 1991’s Brotherhood, is everything you’d expect from a group of 70s rockers at the top of the new century. It would be another 10 years until The Doobie Brothers delivered another studio album. That is another story altogether. ~ Shawn Perry

When it comes to Little Feat’s Sam’s Place, their first new studio album in 12 years, there are a lot of firsts. It’s the first blues album by the group. It’s the first to feature guitarist Scott Sharrard and drummer Tony Leone. And it’s the first with Sam Clayton handling lead vocals on every song. The band’s conga player since 1972, Clayton sang background vocals on most of Little Feat’s albums from the 70s. In more recent times, he’s stepped out front, so it only makes sense he gets his shot at carrying a whole album. Brought to life by a stellar lineup that also includes keyboardist Bill Payne, guitarist Fred Tackett, and bassist Kenny Gradney, Sam’s Place apprises the purity and value of one of America’s finest rock and roll bands. The album was recorded at Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, except for the live version of  “Got My Mojo Working,” captured during one of the band’s shows in late 2022. Though the nine songs are mostly covers by the likes of Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters, “Milkman,” the opening track, was penned by Clayton (with lyrics by his wife Joni), Tackett, and Sharrard. It’s an easy-going blues-and-brass-soaked number that suitably sets the pace for what’s to follow. A swift run-through of Willie Dixon’s “You’ll Be Mine” measures up to Little Feat standards. Clayton’s interpretation of the two Muddy Blues songs are also definite stand outs. A duet with Bonnie Raitt on “Long Distance Call” catches the spark of the spirit, while a rollicking bounce through “Can’t Be Satisfied,” long a staple on the band’s setlist, lifts Clayton’s bluesy roar to new heights. The song also finds Payne at his very best, driving the tempo with his mad chops on the piano while Michael “The Bull” LoBue cushions the corners with his harmonica. Clayton owns the melody on Little Walter’s “Last Night,” which is dedicated to the late Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes fame. Bobby Charles’ Cajun-flavored “Why People Like That” chugs along to a slab of tasty slide work from Sharrard that dutifully complements Clayton’s throaty vocals. It may take the live version of Preston Foster’s notorious “Got My Mojo Working” to convince any doubters in the room to appreciate the vocals, the players, and everything good and magical about Little Feat. This is the band operating to the max, fueled on adrenaline, sweat, and love for the blues. While Little Feat continue touring the States, Sam’s Place is a great reminder of just how great they still are in the studio. Sharrard and Leone both sing with the band, so perhaps there’s a song or two they could sing on the next record. Of course, whatever else Clayton, Payne, Tackett, and Gradney bring to the table is even better. With Little Feat, one can never get enough of what each player adds to their unique elixir of sound and symmetry. ~ Shawn Perry