Gavin Newsom says he'll keep cozying up to conservatives on his podcast, because Democrats have to talk to Republicans ... if they're gonna start beating 'em at the polls.
California's Governor opened up about his "This Is Gavin Newsom" pod while chatting with Bill Maher on Friday night's episode of 'Real Time' ... and he dismissed critics who say he shouldn't be "platforming" right-wing leaders and viral figures like Steve Bannon or Charlie Kirk.
Newsom admitted, "The Democratic brand is toxic now" and believes his party needs to try to find some common ground with its GOP opponents to turn things around on election days.
A New Jersey mayor was arrested for drunk driving earlier this month, allegedly driving around with her toddler in the car ... and, the police body cam footage shows what happened after she pulled into her driveway.
Gina LaPlaca -- the mayor of Lumberton Township -- was pulled over on St. Patrick's Day ... and, when she gets out of the car, she takes her son out of the car while officers pepper her with questions. She tells police she just came from picking her son up from school.
Check out the clip ... they ask about her front passenger-side-view mirror -- which has been basically smashed to bits -- and, they tell her they got lots of calls about her driving erratically. WPVI-TV was first to report the story and air the video.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is smiling through the "Governor Hot Wheels" controversy ... sharing a meme from Antonio Brown that depicts him as Professor X.
Abbott hopped on Elon Musk's app Thursday and reposted a meme from the former NFL player, which compares Abbott to the X-Men character ... who both use wheelchairs.
Human Rights Campaign
The Governor says ... "Gotta add this to my resume. Need the outfit. They see me rollin'."
Congressman Keith Self is blasting Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for cracking a joke about Texas Governor Greg Abbott's disability ... though he refused to condemn President Donald Trump for doing something similar.
The Republican representative from Texas stopped by "TMZ Live" Wednesday to discuss Crockett's recent comments ... specifically one where she called Abbott "Governor Hot Wheels" -- and, Self calls Texas Representative Crockett a bully.
Human Rights Campaign
Self says he almost wants Congress to avoid censuring Crockett, 'cause he thinks she's bad for the Democratic Party ... and, he'd happily watch her take it down from within.
Comedian Mike Glazer got heckled by a Donald Trumpsupporter in the middle of his stand-up act, with the guy calling Mike a "Jew pig" ... and it's all on video.
Mike was telling a joke about sitting in a corner with his weed pen when suddenly he turned his attention to a guy in the crowd, asking him, "How can I help you?"
The guy responded by telling Mike he wasn't "going to listen to some Jew pig."
Luke Rockhold believes it's a serious injustice that Cain Velasquez is back behind bars ... and now, he's urging Donald Trump to step in and help remedy the issue.
Rockhold told TMZ Sports on Tuesday he believes Velasquez's attempt to seriously hurt Harry Goularte on a Northern California roadway back in February 2022 was "somewhat justified" -- as the MMA legend believed the man had molested one of CV's close relatives.
Velasquez ended up spending one year behind bars and an additional two under house arrest after he was thrown in jail for the alleged attempted murder ... and Rockhold told us that punishment should have been enough.
Pop superstar Taylor Swift has reached the upper levels of United States national security, again ... she was just name-dropped this morning in a Senate intelligence hearing about global threats and American allies.
In this morning's annual briefing ... intelligence officials are facing extra scrutiny after a bombshell report published Monday revealed a magazine journalist had accidentally been added to a Signal chat among defense officials discussing classified plans about a U.S. bombing attack on Yemen a week and a half ago. In the chat, European allies were belittled and dismissed.
In the hearing today, Virginia Senator Mark Warner pressed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and FBI Director Kash Patel about the dangers of alienating allies ... and brought up the thwarted terror attacks plotted against Taylor Swift concerts in Austria last summer as an example of the benefits of friendly nations sharing crucial security information.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick misspoke when he commented about citizen reactions to the Trump administration's handling of Social Security -- at least, that’s what Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick seems to think.
Rich stopped by "TMZ Live" Monday and, while he’s giving Lutnick the benefit of the doubt, he thinks compassion is key when it comes to Social Security -- after all, it’s people’s own money coming back to them -- and they should never be denied their benefits.
All-In Podcast
Secretary Lutnick said on a podcast last week that anyone who complains about delayed or missing Social Security payments is a "fraudster." Lutnick, who is a billionaire, said his 94-year-old mother-in-law would not call to complain if she didn't get her check this month, and explicitly said "whoever screams is the one stealing."
10:20 AM PT -- A spokesperson from the Colorado governor's office tells TMZ ... "Gov. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork."
"The State Capitol was completed in 1901, and features Rose Onyx and White Yule Marble mined in Colorado, and includes portraits of former Presidents and former governors. We appreciate the President and everyone’s interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.”
Donald Trump is fuming over a painting of him hanging in the Colorado State Capitol ... calling it "purposefully distorted" and demanding it be taken down.
On Sunday night, DT fired off his complaint on Truth Social, saying ... "Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before."
Trump compares his portrait to Barack Obama's ... criticizing the artist for making Obama look wonderful while calling his own "truly the worst." He jabs at the artist too, saying she "must have lost her talent as she got older."
Some of Hollywood's biggest stars came out to support Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal in their new Broadway theater production of "Othello " -- and the whole scene was quite a splash.
BACKGRID
New York City was abuzz Sunday night with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Joe Biden and his wife Jill ... all of whom attended the "Othello" opening at the Barrymore Theatre in Midtown Manhattan.
Other VIPs included Colman Domingo, Anna Wintour, Kandi Burruss, Gayle King, Kenan Thompson, Rosie Perez, Nicole Scherzinger, Angela Bassett, and Nia Long.
George Clooney is doubling down on his decision last year to stop supporting Joe Biden during the presidential election, prompting a brutal response by Donald Trump.
Clooney — the actor and lifelong Democrat — sat down for an interview with "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday — and he talked all about his new play on Broadway, "Good Night and Good Luck," that centers around legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow.
At one point during the Q & A, "60 Minutes" correspondent Jon Wertheim asked Clooney about his decision to pull his support from Biden during the 2024 presidential election against Trump.
This is almost too outrageous to process ... Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said proudly and loudly ... if his 94-year-old mother-in-law didn't get her monthly Social Security check, she would just wait for it to come the next month, and anyone who would dare complain they didn't get their check is a criminal.
Lutnick's mother-in-law shouldn't worry ... after all, her son-in-law is worth north of $800 million. But hey, for someone who lives check to check -- well, screw 'em.
Lutnick says anyone who loudly complains they didn't get their check is a fraudster. In fact, he likes the idea of actually withholding checks because he thinks it will root out those criminals. Seriously, watch the video.
Bill Maher, an old-line lib, is actually down withElon Musk slashing the federal budget, but Bill says Elon is playing outrageous favorites by overlooking the biggest federal fat cat of all -- the military.
The 'Real Time' host laid it out in stark terms ... Musk is creating an illusion of saving $$$, when the defense budget -- which accounts for almost half of all federal spending -- remains unmolested.
CPAC
How about the 51 Air Force golf courses, Bill wonders ... why hasn't Musk 86'd them with his chainsaw? Or the Marines, with 10 golf courses.
Fair warning to anyone trying to get close to Ivanka Trump ... the Secret Service may not be your biggest problem, 'cause the First Daughter just flexed her skills on the mat -- thanks to a training sesh with Gisele's man!
The 43-year-old daughter of the 47th U.S. President was seen training BJJ with Joaquim Valente and his two brothers, Pedro and Gui, at their facility in south Florida.
"Jiu-Jitsu is more than a martial art. Rooted in tradition and guided by the 753 Code, it builds physical confidence, mental clarity, and emotional balance," the Valente Brothers wrote on social media, alongside a video of the workout session.
Ivanka shared the clip with her 11.2 million followers on X ... where she and the Valentes work on different techniques, from arm bars to throws.
CeeLo Green wants no part of the Donald Trump 2028 chatter -- telling us he prays it doesn’t happen for everyone’s sake, and dropping some serious wisdom about the whole thing.
We caught up with CeeLo at LAX Friday, and he made it crystal clear -- if you leave too much room for assumption, people will naturally jump to the worst conclusions. His advice? Pour your energy into focusing on the here and now.
Catch the video, because CeeLo delivers more gems, preaching that if we want change, we have to be the example.
Conor McGregor is going full send with his political ambitions ... announcing on social media he's running for president in Ireland.
The UFC superstar explained his reasoning behind the run on Thursday ... saying he wants to give the people of his country a proper voice in its future.
The biggest issue?? The proposed EU Migration Pact ... which shouldn't come as a surprise, considering McGregor used his recent visit with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss his problems with immigration.
