Commerce Sec'y Howard Lutnick Misspoke About Social Security!!! Says Rep. McCormick

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IT'S THEIR MONEY!
TMZ.com

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.

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NO CHECK??? NO PROBLEM!!!
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."

Rick Wilson Right-Wing Haters Missed the Point Of 'Kill Tesla' Post!!!

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MUSK'S MORAL PANIC
TMZ.com

Political consultant Rick Wilson is brushing off right-wing outrage over the "Kill Tesla, Save the Country" photo he shared online, saying the reaction is just manufactured "moral panic" ... especially since they didn't bother to get context from his linked Substack piece.

His article, he explains on "TMZ Live" Thursday, outlines a political strategy to put financial and social pressure on Elon Musk by targeting Tesla’s stock -- completely peacefully -- in an effort to "stop the destruction that he's causing with DOGE."

Wilson argues Tesla was already struggling before he published his article, with outdated models, overpriced cars, and a failing reputation ... suggesting Musk should focus on fixing his company -- which just today saw the recall of nearly all its Cybertrucks -- rather than throwing a fit over an article.

Rep. Wesley Hunt SLAMS D.L. Hughley ... You CAN Be Black and MAGA

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WE ARE NOT A MONOLITH
TMZ.com

Rep. Wesley Hunt is torching D.L. Hughley for siding with Don Lemon's hot take ... that Black MAGA supporters can't be rational.

ICYMI ... Hughley came on "TMZ Live" Wednesday, where he pointed fingers, including calling out the GOP congressman -- check out the video below -- after Hunt clapped back at Lemon's claim, arguing he became a combat veteran, West Point grad, Ivy League triple-degree holder and a U.S. Congressman by being a "serious rational person."

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EMBRACING MAGA TO AVOID 'DEI'
TMZ.com

D.L. said plenty of Black people who aren't MAGA, including Kamala Harris, have similar accolades as Rep. Hunt, yet they're written off as "D.E.I. Hires." The comedian doubled down on Don Lemon’s point, claiming Black MAGA supporters are merely props for President Donald Trump, while Trump’s actions actively harm the Black community.

Hunter Biden Trump's Right To Revoke Protection!!! Ex-Secret Service Agent Says

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DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE PRICE
TMZ.com

Donald Trump's push to revoke Hunter and Ashley Biden's Secret Service protection has found some support from an ex-Secret Service agent.

Richard Staropoli, a former special agent with 25 years in the Secret Service, joined us Tuesday to talk about backing Trump’s decision, arguing it’s an extremely costly measure and there’s no real threat justifying their need for protection.

Staropoli -- who was appointed by Trump as the Chief Information Officer for the Department of Homeland Security in 2017 -- broke down the details of Secret Service protection, explaining it’s funded by U.S. taxpayers -- and he dives deep into the costs of providing protection for Hunter and Ashley.

D.L. Hughley Don Lemon's Right ... You Can't Be Black & Support MAGA!!!

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THEY KNOW THEY'LL BE TOKENIZED
TMZ.com

D.L. Hughley is all in on Don Lemon's take, saying he agrees -- you can be Black and Republican, but supporting MAGA? That's a no-go.

We caught up with D.L. on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and he didn’t hold back -- saying Black people know they'll be tokenized, especially since Trump’s just using Black voters, trotting them out when it suits him ... like when Stephen A. Smith claimed Black people relate to Trump because of his felony convictions.

Catch the video ... D.L. dives deeper into his examples, noting how the Prez uses marginalized groups to sanitize his stances.

'Cancer Alley' Lawsuit Dropped Local Resident Says Trump's DEI Stance Is Toxic!!!

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THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT MONEY
TMZ.com

A "Cancer Alley" resident is speaking out after the Trump administration dropped a federal lawsuit aimed at cutting toxic emissions ... telling TMZ it's upsetting but not surprising, given the president's vow to dismantle so-called "radical" DEI programs.

Roxanne Keller joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday, pointing out the highly polluted area of Louisiana known as Cancer Alley is a predominantly Black community, so she's not shocked that a Biden-era lawsuit against the chemical company Denka Performance Elastomer was dismissed last week.

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TAKING AIM AT D.E.I.

Roxanne developed fibroids after moving to the region at just 4 years old. She's since lost both her parents and several family members to cancer over the years -- all of whom lived in the area, which is known for its unacceptably high cancer risks due to major plant emissions.

Wendy Williams I'm Afraid Judge, Guardian Will Make My Life Hell ... Whole Thing's a Crock!!!

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WHAT COULD BE WORSE???
TMZ.com

Wendy Williams gets emotional thinking about a recent threat from the judge in her guardianship ... crying at the thought of being moved to a more restrictive assisted-living facility than the one she describes as a luxury prison.

The former talk show host joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and we asked her about the judge being pissed at her for grousing to the media about her guardianship and threatening to place even more restrictions on her.

Wendy talked to us for nearly 20 minutes from her room at Mount Sinai West Hospital in NYC, where she's about to be released and sent back to a residential center called Coterie ... a place she hates with a passion.

Mark Geragos On Menendez Case L.A. County D.A. Spewing Nonsense ... Do Your Homework, Pal!!!

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WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?!
TMZ.com

Attorney Mark Geragos says the new Los Angeles County District Attorney has no clue what he's talking about when it comes to the Menendez brothers ... telling us Nathan Hochman needs to brush up on the facts.

Mark, who is repping Erik and Lyle as they seek to get out from prison after three decades behind bars, joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday and offered a scathing reaction to Hochman's latest press conference.

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LIE AFTER LIE
TMZ.com

For Mark, the whole thing was ridiculous and irrelevant ... and not just because Hochman was talking about a resentencing hearing that no longer holds weight due to California Governor Gavin Newsom circumventing the process.

'Octomom' Natalie Suleman CPS Showed Up to House All the Time ... But Complimented My Parenting!!!

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THE OCTOMOM WE NEVER KNEW
TMZ.com

Natalie "Nadya" Suleman, best known as "Octomom," says Child Protective Services basically set up camp at her home in the early days after she brought home the octuplets ... showing up at least once a week, yet never knocked her parenting.

Natalie -- who's going by her birth name now, instead of Nadya -- came on "TMZ Live" to talk about what life is like for her and her 14 children now. Remember, she gave birth to the octuplets in 2009 after she was mother to 6 kids.

She opened up to us about all the public scrutiny she got after she first gave birth ... including visits from CPS "at least once a week."

Congressman Al Green Announces Plan to File Articles of Impeachment ... Hours After House Censure

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COUNTERING INCIVILITY
TMZ.com

Congressman Al Green -- the Democrat who was escorted out of the House of Representatives for interrupting President Donald Trump's address to Congress Tuesday -- says he's firing back at POTUS ... announcing plans to file articles of impeachment.

The Texas representative stopped by "TMZ Live" Thursday to talk about his dramatic exit from the chambers during Trump's speech ... and, he revealed he's planning to bring the articles to combat the president's "incivility."

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REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER

Green didn't give a timeframe for when this filing could take place ... but, he says he feels Democrats need to engage in some "righteous incivility" of their own to combat the president's behavior.

Bhad Bhabie's Dad I Need to Make Sure My Family's Safe After LV Shooting!!!

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CONCERNED ABOUT RETALIATION
TMZ.com

Bhad Bhabie and her BF Le Vaughn might drop off the radar for a bit, on the heels of him getting shot at an L.A. strip club -- her dad says he's a little worried about someone trying to finish the job.

We talked to Ira Peskowitz Wednesday on "TMZ Live," and he says whatever went down last night at Sam's Hofbrau strip club in DTLA ... LV had concerns about individuals involved in the shooting possibly showing up at the home where he lives with BB, AKA Danielle Bregoli, and their kids.

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ON THE MEND

As we reported, the suspects made a clean getaway after the early morning shooting incident, and Ira says he just wants to make sure innocent people -- such as his daughter Danielle, his granddaughter Kali, or LV's toddler son -- don't get hurt.

Rep. Wesley Hunt on Ukraine Trump's Right, Russia Holds Cards ... No More Blank Checks!!!

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THE PROCESS FOR PEACE
TMZ.com

Rep. Wesley Hunt is defending President Donald Trump over his Oval Office spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ... he says Trump's working the art of the deal to bring peace to the region.

The Congressman from Texas joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" and we asked him about Trump and J.D. Vance's heated exchange with Zelensky last week.

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PRESIDENTIAL SHOWDOWN

Hunt says Trump's right that Russia is winning the war in Ukraine and strongman Vladimir Putin holds all the cards ... and the United States can't keep giving Ukraine a blank check to fight the Russians.

Connecticut Cannibal 'Comforting' He's No Longer a Threat ... According to Psychiatrists

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NO LONGER DANGEROUS
TMZ.com

The conditional release of Connecticut’s killer cannibal is sparking major backlash, but Tyree Smith has a big ally in his corner -- his lawyer.

Joseph Bruckmann stopped by "TMZ Live" Tuesday, and he tells us it’s actually comforting that a bunch of psychiatric experts at Connecticut's Psychiatric Security Review Board unanimously agreed that Tyree is no longer a threat.

Catch the video, because of course, Joseph addresses the big concern -- could Tyree strike again? After all, he did kill Angel Gonzalez back in 2011, then confessed to eating part of his brain and an eyeball.

Elon Musk Email Demand Is Harassment ... He's A Bully, Senator Says

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STANDING UP FOR THE PEOPLE
TMZ.com

Elon Musk's email ultimatum directing federal workers to justify their job positions is nothing but a scam the American public can see right through ... so says a top Democratic senator.

The U.S. Senator from Minnesota, Tina Smith, joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday -- branding Elon as nothing but a bully using his power to be a jerk, labeling his actions as downright harassment.

Catch the video ... 'cause we pointed out it seemed like the White House seems to revel in the outrage over Elon's latest power play -- and she made it clear that's definitely the case.

L.A. County D.A. Nate Hochman Sexual Abuse History on the Table ... For Menendez Brothers Resentencing

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CONSIDERING ALL EVIDENCE
TMZ.com

L.A. County D.A. Nathan Hochman says he will consider evidence of sexual abuse at the hands of Jose Menendez when Erik and Lyle Menendez make their case for resentencing.

Hochman appeared Monday on "TMZ Live," and acknowledged the laws of government resentencing allow a judge to consider "psychological, physical, or childhood trauma, including ... abuse, neglect, exploitation, or sexual violence."

Hochman was adamant ... sexual abuse in no way calls Erik and Lyle's conviction into question, but it will come into play next month when the brothers ask a judge to resentence them to something less than life without parole -- which opens the door to a parole board freeing them.

Liam Payne's Pal Roger Nores Singer's Dad Owes Me An Apology!!!

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JUST WANT AN APOLOGY
TMZ.com

Liam Payne's pal Roger Nores is still wrapping his head around being cleared of manslaughter charges tied to the singer's tragic drug-fueled death -- and the main thing he wants now is an apology from Liam’s dad, Geoff.

Roger appeared on "TMZ Live" Thursday, explaining that even though Liam’s dad is the reason he faced charges, he’s holding no grudges -- BUT for that defamation lawsuit to go away, Geoff needs to show some real remorse.

Roger tries to understand Geoff's actions, acknowledging to us that there's no greater loss than losing a child ... and how that feeling of responsibility could drive someone to blame others, even when they don’t have all the facts.