CNN

Van Jones says Charlie Kirk sent him a message about getting together to respectfully disagree about some major issues the day before he died ... and it underscored what Kirk was all about.

Van shared the alleged DM from Charlie with Anderson Cooper on CNN ... and it's basically Charlie reaching out to get Van to debate him on the Charlotte train stabbing.

Van and Charlie had been going back and forth over whether the Ukrainian refugee who was killed was attacked because she was white ... and the beef was heated. But Van says Charlie reached out to have a civilized and gentlemanly discussion.

The Epstein Files controversy continues to dog President Donald Trump as his relationship with the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender is under greater scrutiny lately ... now CNN is releasing more newly unearthed video of the two men together, happily chatting it up at an event in 1999.

In the newly unearthed video, obtained by CNN ... Epstein and Trump stand close together in a crowd at a Victoria's Secret fashion show in New York City -- Trump tapping on his shoulder at one point -- as they interact with other attendees ... including a young Melania.

In the minute-long-plus video of spliced-together clips from the event, Trump and Epstein are also seen sitting a couple of seats apart along the runway ... as a young Tyra Banks struts down the stage. Trump and Melania sit next to each other and enthusiastically comment on the models.

An alternate juror on Diddy's case has spoken out -- and says he agrees with the surprising verdict confirmed Wednesday that acquitted the musician of the most serious charges the federal government leveraged against him.

The unnamed juror sat down with CNN Thursday ... and he says his 350 pages of "copious" notes led him to agree with the jury that Diddy did not commit any sex trafficking or racketeering crimes.

Remember ... he was only convicted of the 2 lesser charges of transporting prostitutes for sex.

Jack Schlossberg — the grandson of John F. Kennedy — went ballistic on social media for not getting a heads up on the release of the late president's 1963 assassination files by the Trump administration.

Schlossberg jumped on X Tuesday and blasted the Trump administration for failing to notify anyone in the Kennedy clan — except Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — about the massive JFK document dump, totaling 80,000 pages!

Schlossberg said it all came as a "total surprise," but Trump's actions were not a shock, noting that RFK Jr. "definitely knew." (RFK Jr. serves as Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services.)

5:45 PM PT -- "CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source. CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested."

5:40 PM PT -- Diddy's legal team tells TMZ ... "Our written and oral communications with CNN’s counsel were clear - they destroyed the original video file they received from their source."

Bombshell in the Diddy prosecution ... CNN destroyed the only known copy of the 2016 video in which Diddy is seen beating Cassie in the hallway of an L.A. hotel ... this according to new court documents.

Diddy's defense team and prosecutors filed a joint letter about evidence in the case. According to the defense ... CNN purchased the video showing Diddy attacking Cassie in the hallway of the InterContinental Hotel in L.A. The letter claims "CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel's surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into a free editing software, altered the video and then destroyed the original footage, even though it knew about and repeatedly reported about the federal investigation."

The defense claims CNN altered and edited the footage by "covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence. It also includes speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are. As a result, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question."

5:40 PM PT -- Diddy's legal team tells TMZ ... "Our written and oral communications with CNN’s counsel were clear - they destroyed the original video file they received from their source."

CNN is vehemently denying claims by Diddy's legal team that the cable news network altered footage of him beating Cassie in a hotel hallway and then destroyed the only known copy of the video.

A spokesperson for CNN tells TMZ ... "CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source. CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested."

We broke the story ... Diddy's defense team claimed Thursday in new court docs that CNN purchased the video showing Diddy attacking Cassie in the hallway of the InterContinental Hotel in L.A.

Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, is being treated by medical experts as he recovers from a bout of pneumonia that landed him in the hospital ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for Turner tells TMZ ... the legendary media mogul has been recovering at a rehabilitation center in Florida following a recent hospitalization. The rep tells us he'd suffered a "mild case of pneumonia."

The rep says Ted "expects a full recovery."

Diplo was trippin’ — literally — during a CNN interview to ring in 2025 — and his back and forth with hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper was one for the history books.

The famous DJ made a virtual appearance on CNN’s "New Year’s Eve Live" with Andy and Anderson who were standing alongside each other in Times Square waiting for the ball to drop.

Check out the video … Andy kicked things off by asking Diplo about the most conventional place where he had done LSD.

The suspect who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan may have used a special weapon more common on farms ... at least according to cops.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters Friday police investigators are looking into the possibility the gunman used a veterinary gun ... a larger gun commonly used on ranches and farms.

Kenny says this specialized, larger firearm is used for animals because, "If an animal has to get put down, the animal can be shot without" the gun causing a loud noise.

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!