Politix

Kamala Harris' presidential run may have given "Veep" viewership a boost ... but, the show's creator says any links between her and the show's main character weren't intentional.

Armando Iannucci -- the man who created the 17-time Emmy-winning saga -- sat down for a recent interview with The Guardian ... and, he quickly put any doubts to rest, adamantly saying KH didn't inspire Julia Louis Dreyfus' Selina Meyer.

He says he understands where people see the connection -- a female senator, elevated to the vice presidency before they have to step into the president's shoes after he steps down -- but, it's all just one big coincidence.

J.D. Vance is defending his comments on Kamala Harris, Oprah and Gayle King are clearing up their relationship and Travis Kelce is blessing a fan ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles break down Donald Trump running mate's defense of his controversial "childless cat ladies" remark.

Donald Trump's healing well after the attempt on his life, 'cause he's not wearing the bandage on his ear anymore -- and, frankly ... it's still a bit of a mystery if he got hit at all.

The ex-Prez sat down for an audience with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday ... and, pics are now circulating of his uncovered right ear -- and, ya gotta see them 'cause there's seemingly no lasting damage. That, or he's healed up in record time.

Check out the photos for yourself ... it's obviously not taken right next to the ear, but there's no major scarring/scabbing to see -- surprising given his former doctor Ronny Jackson told a couple interviewers the bullet blew off part of his ear, so you'd expect some damage.

Donald Trump is going back to the scene of the crime -- returning to the Pennsylvania town where he was nearly assassinated for another campaign rally.

The former president just announced plans for an event in Butler, PA, where he says he's going to honor the rallygoer who died during the July 13 shooting ... firefighter Corey Comperatore.

Trump says he will also be honoring the "brave patriots" who were injured by gunfire and survived.

Josh Hall is leaning on friends during his divorce from Christina Haack, dropping a pic of himself with Candace Owens and Amber Rose -- which came together spontaneously.

The celebrity realtor was grinning ear-to-ear in the IG Story post Friday ... clearly enjoying his company in Nashville despite his recent single status. Some might've thought this pic implies something else might be afoot between him and the two ladies ... but that ain't the case.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Candace is Josh’s longtime pal, and after finding out he was in Nashville and going through a tough time in his personal life -- she invited him to come kick it with her and Amber, and he took her up on the offer.

Donald Trump has been railing on the FBI's director for suggesting he might not have been hit by a bullet when he was shot at -- and now ... the agency's completely backpedaling.

The FBI just put out a statement that unequivocally stands firm on the notion Trump was, in fact, struck by one of Thomas Matthew Crooks' AR-15 rounds a couple weeks ago at his rally in Butler, PA ... where one person was killed, and two others were injured.

The statement reads, "What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle."

J.D. Vance is trying to claw his way out of the "childless cat lady" controversy ... purr-suading everyone he's not a cat hater, and claiming people totally missed his point.

Donald Trump's running mate appeared on "The Megyn Kelly Show" Friday ... claiming haters are too busy fixating on the sarcasm in his old 2021 comments and not enough on the supposed wisdom he was trying to drop.

The U.S. Senator from Ohio attempted to clear things up ... saying the real point he was trying to make was having kids and becoming a parent was good, and seriously shifts your perspective in a major way.

Kamala Harris is zeroing in on comments J.D. Vance made back when he was running for Senate ... grousing about women -- especially Black women -- flying around the country to get abortions.

Vance appeared in 2022 on Aimee Terese's "Very Fine People" podcast, and said there needed to be a ban on abortion, because leaving it to the states would allow women to travel to parts of the country where abortion is still legal.

He gave an example ... “Ohio bans abortion … you know, in let’s say 2024. And then, every day, George Soros sends a 747 to Columbus to load up disproportionately Black women to get them to go have abortions in California. And of course, the left will celebrate this as a victory for diversity.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won't say he's playing spoiler ... but Donald Trump might not feel that way -- 'cause he says he's swiping more votes away from Trump than Kamala Harris.

The independent presidential candidate sat down for an interview with "CBS Mornings" Friday ... and, when asked point blank whose support he's eroding more -- he admits it's mainly Trump supporters who are breaking rank and falling into his camp.

Kennedy says he mentioned how much support he's taking from DJT when he spoke to the ex-Prez recently ... and, explains Trump told him they needed to do something to solve the problem. Major Garrett asks if that translated to Trump offering him a gig in his cabinet.

Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign just got a massive boost — and it comes from none other than Barack and Michelle Obama!

The former president and first lady endorsed Harris' presidential bid in a video released Friday on social media ... although the call apparently happened earlier this week. Harris gets a joint phone call from the Obamas, where they gush over her and say they'll do everything they can to get her into the Oval Office.

Needless to say, VP Harris is incredibly grateful and goes on to thank them for their continuous support and friendship over the years.

Donald Trump doesn't like Christopher Wray one bit -- and much of his hatred for the FBI director has to do with the recent attempt on his life.

Case in point .. Trump jumped on his Truth Social platform Thursday night to go on a diatribe about Wray for testifying that it was still a mystery whether the former president was actually shot by a bullet from a would-be assassin.

Trump wrote ..."FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively "uneventful" - Wrong!"

Celine Dion is in France for her big comeback, Jennifer Aniston is beefing with J.D. Vance and Tom Brady is NOT dating a swimsuit model ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles look at Celine's warm welcome in Paris, where she is set to perform for the first time in years ... kicking off the opening ceremonies for the Paris Olympics.

Vice President Kamala Harris is getting with the times ... as in, she's joining a social media app popular with younger voters.

Harris is now on TikTok ... joining the platform Thursday to keep building on her momentum with Democrats, which has been obvious since President Biden dropped out of the race Sunday and endorsed her for prez.

The current veep's first TikTok post was brief and to the point, explaining why she started an official account -- "Well, I've heard that recently I've been on the For You Page, so I thought I'd get on here myself."

Kesha is clawing back at Sen. J.D. Vance over his disdain for "childless cat ladies" -- she's wearing his insult as a badge of honor, and firing some expletives his way ... just for good measure.

The "Joyride" singer rolled up to LAX Thursday, and a photog asked her about Donald Trump's running mate, who's sparked outrage with his past comments about childless women running the Democratic party.

Kesha starts booing the moment the photog utters Vance's name, quickly adding a "F*** bad men!"

Ana Navarro is defending Vice President Kamala Harris -- following a slew of attacks on her dating history -- by sharing a throwback image of a naked Melania Trump.

The 'View' co-host just posted an old GQ photo of Melania, showing the former first lady in the nude -- all the goods are covered by a fur rug -- but Melania's wearing nothing but jewelry and she's chained to a briefcase inside Donald Trump's private jet.

Ana says the image, from the January 2000 GQ magazine edition, is appropriate given all the heat Kamala is taking for her former relationships ... including accusations she slept her way to the top of the political ladder.

Vice President Kamala Harris' stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, is firing back at J.D. Vance for his controversial “childless cat lady” remark aimed at women like her stepmom.

Ella -- the daughter of Kamala's hubby Douglas Emhoff -- was trailed by her Secret Service detail Thursday while walking her dog in Brooklyn, and a photog asked her about the crack from Donald Trump's running mate.

Ella wasn't exactly anxious to speak -- she took a pass on a question about the support for her stepmom -- but wasn't about to let Vance's comments go unchecked -- calling it "upsetting" that he'd say something like that.