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The Democratic Party's looking to the future by giving influencers unprecedented access at the DNC ... so says a political influencer who's attending this week in Chicago.

Leigh McGowan -- better known by her social media handle @IAmPoliticsGirl -- joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday ... and, we asked her all about the Dems inviting her and other social media personalities into the political inner sanctum.

If you didn't know ... the DNC's allowing major political influencers into the convention for the first time -- featuring big names like Deja Foxx, Nabela Noor, and Carlos Eduardo Espina -- who are speaking and creating content at the event.

Big news for Ashanti and Nelly -- they’ve officially become new parents 'cause they've just welcomed their first baby together into the world.

The singer dropped the exciting news on IG ... writing "Funny how life’s plans aren’t…always on time.. lol."

She says she's been waiting so long to be a mom, and says she's proud of her body!

Cardi B is not having it ... delivering the clapback of all clapbacks when someone had the nerve to ask online if she’d been bleaching her skin.

The rapper quoted the offending X post Wednesday ... calling out the skin-bleaching accuser as dumb, and explaining her paler look is due to her unborn baby sucking the life out of her -- leaving her pale, anemic, with sunken eyes and popping veins.

Cardi threw in that sunbathing was also a no-go ... 'cause she gets hot and dizzy in no time, making it a real health hazard ... so for the time being, she has to embrace her natural, paler complexion.

Alex Rodriguez's recent social media activity has many believing it's a subliminal message to his ex, Jennifer Lopez ... with the former MLB slugger sharing a cryptic quote shortly after she filed for divorce from Ben Affleck.

The message on A-Rod's Instagram story was posted on Tuesday afternoon -- around the time TMZ broke the news that Lopez officially called it quits on her marriage.

"You either go one way or the other, you might as well be the one deciding the direction," the post read.

The Democratic National Convention has been absolutely star-studded, and at least 2 more A-listers will take the stage on Wednesday night ... Stevie Wonder and Kenan Thompson.

DNC officials tell TMZ ... Stevie Wonder will be performing one of his hit songs, sure to energize an already rambunctious crowd in Chicago.

This won't be Stevie's first rodeo at a DNC ... he performed at the 2008 convention in Denver, playing hits like "Signed, Sealed Delivered (I'm Yours)." It's unclear what song he'll play tonight.

We're also told Stevie will take the podium and deliver a speech.

Fat Joe's got every door in New York unlocked ... 'cause he's officially got a Key to the City -- and, Mayor Eric Adams gave it to him on his old stomping grounds.

The rapper's all the way up, receiving the ceremonial key Tuesday evening before his concert at the Bronx's Orchard Beach ... Mayor Adams handing over the key at the star-studded event.

Adams highlighted Fat Joe's skills as a rapper, as well as the philanthropic work Joe does, before presenting him with the key onstage.

Al Attles -- a longtime member of the Golden State Warriors organization -- has passed away, the team announced Wednesday. He was 87 years old.

According to the organization, he died surrounded by his family in his East Bay home.

Nicknamed "The Destroyer," Attles spent his entire professional career with the same team -- being drafted to the Philadelphia Warriors in 1960. On March 2, 1962, he shared the court with Wilt Chamberlain when the center dropped 100 points -- contributing 17 of his own.

Ne-Yo’s got two partners in tow and is clearly thriving in his polyamorous groove -- even dishing to us about having space for more in his love squad!

In fact, the R&B star told TMZ in Beverly Hills Tuesday there’s no limit to his GF count ... letting us in on how he vibes with possible partners.

We also chatted with Ne-Yo about Omarion’s recent claim he’s been celibate for 3 years ... asking if he'd ever take a similar vow.

Aaron Rodgers is opening up on his decision more than a decade ago to set the record straight on his sexuality ... saying he was frustrated the rumor was "meant to shame the idea of being gay."

The New York Jets quarterback famously proclaimed he "really, really" liked women amid speculation surrounding his dating life when he was a member of the Green Bay Packers back in 2013 ... and in Ian O'Connor's new biography, "Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers," he explained why he addressed the claims.

"I think I was upset at the framing [of the rumor] because it was meant to shame the idea of being gay, and I have so many friends that are gay in the community," the four-time MVP said.

Fitness guru Richard Simmons' falls while at home contributed to his death ... something the coroner reportedly shared with Richard's brother.

Lenny Simmons says he got a call from the L.A. County Medical Examiner's Office, and they told him, "Richard's death was accidental due to complications from falls and heart disease as a contributing factor" ... according to Simmons family spokesperson Tom Estey.

TMZ confirmed the info with Estey -- lining up with the story we broke last month about Richard's final days. As we reported, he fell in his bathroom the evening of his 76th birthday, and when his housekeeper came to help him up .. he refused medical care.

Nev Schulman choked up as he thanked everyone for their support after his traumatic bike accident 2 weeks ago ... which left him with a broken neck and other injuries.

The "Catfish" star is still wearing his neck brace as he gets real with his IG followers Tuesday ... saying he was taking a 10-minute neighborhood walk to keep his body moving, just as his physical therapist advised.

Even though Nev seemed to be making strides in his amazing recovery, he admits he’s never felt more fatigued in his life -- so it looks like he’s still got a long road ahead of him to get back into tip-top shape.

No cutting corners for Donald Trump’s first outdoor rally since the July attempt on his life -- the Secret Service is going all out with bulletproof glass and other measures to make sure the former president is safe and sound.

In addition to bulletproof glass at today’s Asheboro rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum, there’s a fortress of portable storage units and moving trucks stacked up behind the media riser.

The extra security ensures anyone not attending the rally would be stuck with a blocked view -- absolutely no peeking from a distance.

Jennifer Lopez has done what seemed inevitable -- she's filed for divorce from Ben Affleck ... TMZ has learned, but there are major twists, including the symbolism of when she finally decided to do it.

J Lo filed legal docs Tuesday in L.A. County Superior Court, but they were not filed by a lawyer. Jennifer filed pro per, meaning by herself and without an attorney.

She lists the date of separation as April 26, 2024. The couple got married in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022 ... however, today, August 20, is also very significant in Bennifer lore.

There's one thing John Cena hates about the film industry -- and it ain't the long hours or memorizing lines -- the WWE legend HATES filming sex scenes!

The 16-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion appeared on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast with Shannon Sharpe, where the guys talked about everything from his legendary wrestling career to how he got his start in the movie industry.

That's when the topic of Cena's role in Amy Schumer's "Trainwreck" movie came up ... a role that required Cena to take part in some NSFW scenes.

Janet Jackson is officially back to wow fans in Las Vegas ... and now we know exactly when the superstar will return to Sin City for a new residency.

As we previously reported ... JJ was in the final stages of signing a residency deal with Resorts World ... and the plan was for the show to kick off in December.

Now we know the deal is solid ... with Janet sharing via social media the residency will kick off New Year's week -- specifically Dec. 30 ... with tickets going on sale Aug. 28.

Now that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's divorce is officially underway, we know exactly when they separated -- and, what they looked like in the immediate aftermath.

In the docs filed by J Lo on the second anniversary of their luxurious Georgia wedding, she listed the date of separation as April 26, 2024 -- a day when photogs caught both stars out and about looking a little worse for wear.

JL was in New York on the day ... rocking an oversized sweater and jeans while walking swiftly to her car, no chatting or smiling with any of her entourage here.