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Michael Smerconish broke down what he means by referring to 2 of TV’s greatest hits to make his political point about the presidential election -- voters are generally locked in on their completely different choices -- and their equal popularity has this race up in the air.

The CNN host joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday ... and he says the liberal "Ted Lasso" fans versus conservative "Yellowstone" diehards comparison highlights the differences in style in popular preference between the candidates -- and no matter which way you slice the data, there's no clear projected winner before Election Day next week.

Watch the full video 'cause Michael dives deeper into the comparison ... and he even dishes on what it says about our guy Charles, a big fan of both shows.

Hurricane Milton has been pummeling Florida's central west coast -- and the killer storm even walloped CNN's most recognizable face -- Anderson Cooper.

Anderson, who usually anchors his show, "Anderson Cooper 360," from a cozy New York studio, hit the ground near Siesta Keys, FL, to report on the "dangerous Category 3" hurricane -- but he got roughed up Wednesday night.

Check out the video ... Anderson was doing a live shot from a waterlogged pier and dealing with high winds and torrential rain when flying debris smacked him square in the head.

Kamala Harris didn't take the bait when asked about Donald Trump's comments about her race during her CNN sit-down Thursday night ... giving a brief response before quickly moving on.

The Vice President gave her first interview since she was nominated the Democratic presidential candidate to CNN host Dana Bash – and, at one point, their convo turned to Trump – Harris' Republican rival in the 2024 election.

Bash set it up by saying many people would be surprised to learn Kamala has never met Trump face-to-face.

Vice President Kamala Harris is recalling the moment President Biden called her up to tell her he was dropping out of the race ... interrupting what was supposed to be a family weekend.

Harris just sat down for her first interview since becoming Democrats' choice for president ... telling CNN's Dana Bash about the phone call that turned the 2024 election on its head.

The Veep says she was having a nice Sunday with her family, cooking bacon for her nieces and getting ready to do a puzzle with her loved ones when all off a sudden the phone rang ... with Biden on the other line.

Vice President Kamala Harris is adamant her values haven't changed ... despite the fact she's shifted her viewpoints on policies like immigration and fracking.

The presidential hopeful offered a glimpse into her pivoted POV in the first sneak peek for her upcoming televised sit-down with CNN -- in which she's expected to discuss her goals and vision for the country she'll pursue if she's elected president in November.

In new footage released ahead of Thursday night's premiere, Harris was asked about her reversed stance on a possible fracking ban, and her desire to decriminalize illegal border crossings.

Before this cool lil guy giving major side-eye and a smise turned into a broadcaster, he was just playing with his pet snake, Sam, and growing up with quite a famous mama (a Vanderbilt) and runnin' around the concrete jungle!

From a young age, this gent was in the media; i.e.: being photographed for Harper's Bazaar and was a guest on 'The Tonight Show' at age 3. After graduating from Yale, he worked and made his way to becoming a broadcaster on CNN.

Need one more clue? New Years even with Andy Cohen!

Nancy Pelosi clearly pissed off President Joe Biden ... because they haven't spoken in weeks, and it all goes back to her putting pressure on the Prez to withdraw from the race.

The former House speaker stopped by CNN Monday, and Pelosi awkwardly confessed she hadn't spoken with 46 since he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and tapped Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement.

Watch the clip. Pelosi is uncharacteristically nervous as she describes her current relationship with Biden, or lack thereof. What's especially interesting ... she hedged when asked if she was "okay" with Biden today.

Cyndi Lauper's giving her review of Donald Trump's leadership skills ... saying the former prez isn't a good boss -- because he didn't stay loyal to his employees.

The singer-songwriter joined Christiane Amanpour on her CNN show and openly discussed her time working under DJT on the hit show "Celebrity Apprentice" during its ninth season in 2010.

When asked about her time on the show, Lauper says she joined to start up the "Give A Damn" Campaign ... raising money to highlight LGBTQ+ youths.

Barack Obama's half sister was inadvertently tear-gassed during a deadly demonstration in Africa ... and it's all on video.

Auma Obama was being interviewed by CNN in the middle of Tuesday's protests in Nairobi, Kenya -- when all of a sudden, explosions could be heard in the background ... and she starts coughing and tearing up.

The ex-Prez's half sibling -- to whom he's related on his father's side -- says she can't see anymore because of tear gas in the air ... and CNN field reporter Larry Madowo starts coughing too as the street interview is forced to end.

A CNN anchor became so indignant over Trump's Press Secretary criticizing the alleged bias of her CNN colleagues who will moderate Thursday's Presidential debate, she pulled the plug on the interview!

Kasie Hunt had just begun interviewing Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt Monday morning, and right out of the gate, Leavitt said Thursday's debate would be a hostile territory for Donald Trump because the CNN moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, were biased against the former Prez.

Hunt fired back ... her colleagues have "acquitted themselves as professionals," adding that candidates who attack the moderators are showing clear signs they're losing.

It doesn't look like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is going to have a chance to join President Biden and former prez Donald Trump on the debate stage this month -- and he thinks it's mostly Biden blocking him.

We spoke to the independent presidential candidate for Wednesday's "TMZ Live," and he explained why he recently filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against CNN ... alleging it colluded with the Biden campaign to keep him out of the mix for the June 27 debate.

According to RFK Jr. ... he believes Joe and co. clandestinely made CNN alter the criteria for debate inclusion, so that, technically, he wouldn't qualify -- which is something CNN has outright denied, FWIW.

Kevin Costner was determined to give Whitney Houston a proper sendoff after her death ... and nothing was going to get in his way, not even a major TV network.

The actor recalled his "The Bodyguard" costar's 2012 funeral during an appearance on Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast, revealing an unfortunate moment he had while preparing for his friend's farewell.

Costner, who was one of 8 people to speak at the singer's funeral, was asked ahead of the ceremony to shorten his speech ... so CNN and other networks could air commercials during the broadcast.

11:30 AM PT -- A source familiar with the situation tells TMZ … Cam'ron's rep was fully aware and briefed about the segment and topic ahead of his interview on CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip.

9:53 AM PT -- Cam'ron isn't apologizing for his behavior during last night's wild CNN interview.

On his "It Is What It Is" sports show he cohosts with former Bad Boy rapper Ma$e, the Harlem rapper said CNN only contacted him to talk BS, so he gave them just that -- a BS interview!!!

The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court is gunning for Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Hamas leaders ... accusing each side of crimes against humanity in the ongoing war.

Karim Khan -- who's heading up this effort -- broke the news Monday ... saying his office is now applying for arrest warrants for each side of the conflict -- a couple for Israeli's Prime Minister including its Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, and three on the Hamas side too.

For Hamas ... the ICC wants to arrest and charge leader Yahya Sinwar and two other high-ranking officials -- Al-Qassam Brigades and Ismail Haniyeh. All are accused of war crimes.

Don Lemon finally got hitched to his longtime fiancé, Tim Malone, Saturday night ... and a bevy of TV and other stars came out to see the fancy ceremony in NYC.

The former CNN host married Tim at Manhattan's Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church five years after Don first announced their engagement on Instagram.

The two looked spiffy dressed in their suits and bow ties with velvet jackets. They also brought along their two cute white pooches to watch them exchange their vows.