Politix

Paris Hilton's standing up for kids without a voice ... testifying before Congress on behalf of the children in the welfare system, and touting her own accomplishments in the space.

The socialite-turned-mogul was on Capitol Hill Wednesday to testify about the abuses of children in the system -- relating it to some of her own experiences -- before diving into how she's trying to solve the issues.

Check out the clip ... Hilton mentions she's helped outlaw several harsh disciplinary practices, including restraint and seclusion, and she's also pushed for increased site visits to hold those running foster homes accountable.

Joy Behar says it's Donald Trump, not Joe Biden, who needs to be tested before this week's debate ... and she wants Trump hooked up to the polygraph.

We got "The View" host out Tuesday in NYC outside ABC Studios -- and our photog asked her about Trump challenging Biden to take a drug test ahead of Thursday's debate ... something DT floated in an attempt to suggest Joe is on PEDs, which is unfounded.

Trump's been attempting to fan the flames on this speculation about Joe before big public events -- but Joy's seriously downplaying those concerns ... and flipping the tables on DT.

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.

Mark Hamill sees a win-win situation in an upcoming Colorado election featuring Rep. Lauren Boebert ... and the punchline here is her theater groping and vaping video.

Lauren's running for a Congressional seat in a new district in Colorado and ahead of Tuesday's primary, Mark trolled her on social media after her opponent put out an attack ad based on her infamous "Beetlejuice" date.

Her opponent, John Padora, filmed the ad from the very same theater seat Lauren was caught on video getting handsy with Quinn Gallagher and got booted from the musical.

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.

Donald Trump says he learned people could get away with abhorrent behavior as long as they had good ratings like he did on "The Apprentice" ... according to a bombshell book.

The ex-prez made the claims during an interview with Variety Co-Editor-in-Chief Ramin Setoodeh for, "Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass" which dropped Tuesday.

We've already told you a little about the new book ... but, just as a refresher, DJT sat for several interviews with Setoodeh and, the portrayal of 45 as a lonely, occasionally dotty man ex-TV star isn't flattering.

Dee Snider's revving up his political engine once more ... reminding the voting public we're all in this together and freedom isn't just a solo ride -- it's for everyone.

Speaking on November's Presidential election, the Twisted Sister frontman tells TMZ it's all about the big picture. He says if you're a gun enthusiast, you still gotta rally for a woman's right to choose. He adds if you're pro-choice, you better be in the trenches fighting for the gun guy because, hey, that's his right too!

Dee's urging people to examine exactly what rights are on the line ... and for him, it's all about women's rights.

Paris protesters are ready for a defecation demonstration ... claiming they're going to poop in the famed Seine to prove just how disgusting it is!

Social media users are talking online about a large-scale plan to defecate in the river after France's President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo claimed it was safe enough to swim in.

Here's the deal ... a couple months ago water charity Surfrider Foundation Europe claimed it had tested the water in the Seine multiple times over the course of six months from September 2023 to March 2024 and claims they found a shocking amount of bacteria in the water.

Screw all the important stuff Bill Maher says ... his interview Friday night with Jiminy Glick was howlingly funny ... and you are hereby dared to watch and not lose it with laughter.

The 'Real Time' host turned the tables during the one-on-one interview segment of the show. Bill wanted to plug his new, New York Times best-selling book, "What This Comedian Said Will Shock You," so he decided to be the interview subject.

He chose to be interviewed by Jiminy Glick (we know, it's really Martin Short,) which is a funny idea. After all, a little plug, a few laughs ... at least that was the plan.

Chris Cuomo isn't a fan of Presidential debates, dismissing them as pageantry -- but he says that's not the case with the face-off next week between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Cuomo was on "TMZ Live" Friday ... and his take is the debate will be a major test for Biden, not on policy issues but on cognition.

The NewsNation anchor breaks it down like this: If Joe steps onto the debate stage and performs well, then Trump's gonna regret all those digs, like comparing him to cartoon characters and mocking his cognitive abilities.

Stormy Daniels has gone from testifying in open court to speaking her truth onstage ... 'cause she's dived head-first into stand-up comedy -- and, TMZ's got the video.

The porn star-turned-key Trump trial witness took the stage in New Orleans Wednesday night for her show "Stormy Daniels' One-Night Stand" ... and it seems to have gone well based on the crowd reaction, who sounded psyched to see her.

SD got a rousing ovation at AllWays Lounge & Cabaret in the Big Easy -- much appreciated, 'cause she jokes she needs the love ... saying even though NOLA's one of the most dangerous U.S. cities, it's the first time she's gone bulletproof vest-free in public in months.

Russell Brand's production company got paid a nice chunk of change for performing at a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. event earlier this year ... and we're talking tens of thousands.

TMZ pulled Team Kennedy's FEC filings ... and it shows the campaign shelled out more than $68,000 to Russell's production company for "Event Entertainment - Travel Expenses" after he appeared at a campaign event for RFK Jr. and his running mate Nicole Shanahan.

Russell performed at RFK Jr.'s event in May out in Nashville -- and it was called "Night of Comedy," alongside other comedians including Rob Schneider, Dave Landau, Jim Breuer, Katherine Blanford, Jeff Dye, and Mike Binder. Russell reportedly did a filmed set where he went after legacy media and scoffed at coronavirus mandates and vax requirements.

Senator Ted Cruz is getting serious about tackling deepfake AI-generated porn with his latest bill ... which is all about forcing tech companies to do the right thing, and swiftly too.

The Texas senator came on "TMZ Live" Thursday ... telling us how the "Take It Down Act" will federally charge individuals who publish non-consensual content online -- and more importantly, mandate big tech companies to take down such content within 48 hours.

TC tells us he got the idea to propose the bill after jumping in to help a Texas high school girl whose deepfake pics ended up on Snapchat for 9 months due to a boy at her school.

Taylor Swift's private jet ended up in the crosshairs of a political protest -- environmental activists tagged multiple planes at an airfield she'd landed at ... but missed the target.

Just Stop Oil -- a British environmental activist group focused on human-caused climate change -- took responsibility for the vandalism Thursday ... confirming they were specifically going after Taylor's private plane.

The org says protesters Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald entered the private airfield at Stansted airport around 5 AM ... and sprayed paint on PJs using rigged fire extinguishers.

Louisiana's getting back to basics in its education system, 'cause a new law requiring schools to display some of the oldest written rules in every class just kicked in ... and holy cow!

The new law demands a poster-sized display of the Biblical laws hung in every public classroom in large, easy-to-read font. The bill went into effect Wednesday after the period for Governor Jeff Landry to sign or veto the bill lapsed.

The posters -- which will also include a four-paragraph statement to put them in context by explaining how the Ten Commandments used to be a core tenet of American education -- must go up in the classrooms by the start of 2025.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun got grilled on Capitol Hill this week ... and he just admitted the aerospace giant has a history of retaliation against whistleblowers.

The Boeing boss was in D.C. Tuesday -- where he was appearing before U.S. senators for a hearing meant to address all the issues at Boeing lately -- and he was asked straight-up about whistleblowers speaking truth to power ... acknowledging for a fact retaliation happens.

Pressed if Boeing fired any staffers who were responsible for the retaliation, Calhoun was unable to give any specific numbers ... but he said retaliation is a thing at Boeing and people have been fired as a result. He promised Senator Blumenthal to get him specifics.