Senator Lindsey Graham Calls for the Assassination of Putin ... Draws Fire from Both Parties
3/4/22
Senator Lindsey Graham has said out loud what lots of people have been wishing, but the reality is ... calling for the assassination of a foreign leader is a dangerous, even reckless game.
Graham appeared on Fox News Thursday and called for someone in Russia to "step up to the plate" ... "The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country and the world a great service."
Graham was direct, asking, "Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military?"
Graham then doubled down in a tweet ... “Unless you want to live in darkness for the rest of your life, be isolated from the rest of the world in abject poverty, and live in darkness you need to step up to the plate."
Putin has become a despised war criminal who is randomly killing innocent civilians, flirting with nuclear reactor disaster and destroying a country. He's also become extremely unstable and paranoid.
The problem -- several problems -- what Russia and the world could end up with could be even worse. Maybe more to the point ... it's dangerous for American leaders to call for the assassination of a head of state. It's hard to maintain moral high ground when we call for the violent overthrow of another government. We should've learned that from the Bay of Pigs.
Graham's remarks drew fire from both parties. Rep Ilhan Omar tweeted, "I really wish our members of Congress would cool it and regulate their remarks as the administration works to avoid WWlll."
Sen. Ted Cruz echoed the sentiment ... "This is an exceptionally bad idea. Use massive economic sanctions; BOYCOTT Russian oil & gas; and provide military aid so the Ukrainians can defend themselves," Cruz tweeted. "But we should not be calling for the assassination of heads of state."
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Ukraine Nuclear Plant Bursts into Flames During Russian Attack
Ukraine is on the edge of a nuclear meltdown after Russian forces attacked the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe ... sending flames into the night sky, and raising fears of another Chernobyl.
Ukrainian officials insist the Zaporizhzhia plant outside the city of Enerhodar is stable ... for now. They say reactor No. 1 was damaged, but personnel have been able to keep it operating safely. Radiation levels in the area are not at dangerous levels.
But, President Zelenskyy is making it crystal clear his country barely avoided total disaster. During a speech Friday he called the attack on the nuclear plant "a terror of a new level."
He also addressed citizens of Russia ... reminding them their countries were united in 1986 when the Chernobyl plant melted down in the world's biggest nuclear disaster.
Zelensky is urging Russians to demand an end to the war, because he accurately points out ... if a nuclear plant goes up in Ukraine ... the radiation won't stop at the border.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to raise the issue of Russia attacking the plant.
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UFC Champ Israel Adesanya Kicks Cup Off Harvey Levin's Head ... Wild Video!!!
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WARNING -- DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME ... unless you know Harvey Levin.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya paid a visit to the TMZ office on Thursday ... and naturally, we had to put his world-class skills to the test.
The Last Stylebender was up for the challenge ... saying he'd love to knock a cup off someone's head with a round kick -- and none other than our fearless leader, Harv, volunteered to get a front-row seat for the demo.
Worth noting -- Adesanya is the best of the best ... so we figured HL was never in any real danger. Harvey was not as convinced, which is obvious in the video.
The time came for Adesanya to show off his kick ... and thankfully, he knocked the cup off cleanly!!
The whole office cheered, while Harvey breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Now, a source -- whose name rhymes with Shmarvey -- swears Izzy's foot made contact with Harvey's head, but video doesn't support that at all. IF anything at all, HL felt the cup zooming off his head ... which just shows the kinda impact these kicks can make.
Shoutout to Izzy for the awesome moment.
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'Downton Abbey' Massive Fire Erupts at Yorkshire Set
A high-profile film set used in the hugely successful "Downton Abbey" and "Peaky Blinders" series is currently engulfed in flames ... after a massive fire broke out in Yorkshire.
Reports say the fire broke out midday Thursday at the historic Dalton Mills building in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Video from the scene shows the scope of the inferno, and there are allegedly more than 100 firefighters on hand to battle the blaze.
As for the actual building, it was once the largest textile mill in Yorkshire, but fans of the show have come to recognize it as the backdrop for the feature film "Downton Abbey" and the Netflix show "Peaky Blinders".
The first episode of "Peaky Blinders" aired in 2013, and the series is currently on its 6th season.
The set was also used for the historical drama film, "Downton Abbey", which was released back in September 2019.
Huge fire at Dalton Mills Keighley 😔 pic.twitter.com/qHxNo70CHX
— Jon Hidden-Coley (@JonHiddenColey) March 3, 2022 @JonHiddenColey
It's unclear what may have started the fire, but local residents have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed to help prevent damage from the huge clouds of smoke billowing into the air.
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CM Punk Left A Bloody Mess ... During AEW Dynamite
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Blood. Everywhere.
CM Punk was oozing from the forehead and hanging from the ropes during AEW Dynamite on Wednesday ... and it was all at the hands of his fan-turned-nemesis MJF!!
The two wrestling superstars met ahead of their big dog collar match at Revolution on Sunday ... and it was anything but civil.
For those who haven't been keeping up with the epic feud, MJF recently handed his former idol his first-ever loss in AEW ... and they've traded insults back and forth ever since.
MJF had previously opened up about how he worshiped Punk as a kid and was so hurt when he quit wrestling ... even shedding a tear as he talked.
Fast forward to Wednesday, when Punk tried to extend an olive branch over the situation -- which was met with a kick in the nuts and a piledriver.
Okay, well that's what we were expecting. @The_MJF proves why he is the Scum of The Earth! #AEWDynamite is LIVE on @TBSNetwork right now! pic.twitter.com/y9Z7Tidq6r
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 3, 2022 @AEW
Real soap opera stuff.
But, MJF didn't stop there -- he then punched Punk in the head with his Dynamite Diamond Ring ... causing him to gush blood everywhere.
"You stupid, stupid old man," MJF said in Punk's face. "I'm a snake. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist."
"I'm going to show you and all these mindless sheep that I'm the devil himself!" @The_MJF delivers a bloodied @CMPunk a chilling message! Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS right now! pic.twitter.com/lWOernyu4H
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 3, 2022 @AEW
"And this Sunday at Revolution, I'm going to show you and all these mindless sheep that I am the devil himself."
Punk was then pulled up on the rope by the chain and collar attached to his neck ... visibly struggling as Shawn Spears continued to yank.
The epic showdown takes place on Sunday ... and we're expecting fireworks.
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Ukrainian President Zelensky From Dancer To Defender ... On 'Dancing with the Stars'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has become a worldwide war hero, but long before he ascended to the Presidency -- he showed some mad skills on the dance floor.
Think about it. #Putin, that all his life wanted to be seen as the 'tough guy', is getting humiliated by a former comedian who once won the #Ukrainian version of 'Dancing with the Stars'. #Zelenskyy is a Legend. Putin is definitely mad. 😆 pic.twitter.com/3U8qpQqdQr
— WallStreetPro (@wallstreetpro) February 27, 2022 @wallstreetpro
Zelensky appeared on the Ukrainian version of "Dancing with the Stars" back in 2006, and he was awesome. The video, which has gone viral, shows Zelensky in a variety of costumes with moves that would impress a pro. That's not just our opinion, it's the judge's as well, because Zelensky won!
BTW ... one of the dances features Zelensky with partner Olena Shoptenko, wearing blindfolds as they mentally counted steps, hitting their marks with perfection.
At the time he appeared on the show, Zelensky was starring in the political satire comedy, "Servant of the People." The show went off the air in 2019, the year Zelensky turned art into life and won the Presidency.
BTW ... before ascending to the Presidency, Zelensky voiced Paddington in the Ukranian version of both "Paddington" and "Paddington 2."
It's gotta rankle Putin ... knowing that a former comedian has captured the hearts and minds of the world, as he falls into dark isolation.
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Ukrainian Invasion Ukraine Military Annihilate Russian Convoy ... On Outskirts of Kyiv
Ukrainian soldiers kicked Russia's ass in a battle that left Russian tanks destroyed in the road and Russian soldiers dead ... and the person who is probably most surprised is the aggressor himself -- Vladimir Putin.
The video shows the aftermath of a massive battle on the outskirts of the capital -- in a town called Bucha ... which shows tons of Russian military equipment and vehicles torched up and utterly destroyed ... apparently at the hands of the Ukrainian army.
Ukrainian officials say as many as 100 units of enemy equipment were stopped in their tracks ... which halted a convoy that was trying to make its way toward the epicenter of the nation.
As you see in the videos ... it was more than just tanks and armored vehicles that got blown up. Surrounding buildings and homes also suffered some ruin during the fight -- but it sounds like there were more Russian casualties than Ukrainian.
While the official tally varies from source to source ... some European officials estimate as many as 50 Russian aircraft, 150 tanks and 4,300 soldiers have either perished or been successfully pushed back.
"This vehicle is still smoking ... ammunition boxes [are] on the ground ... there's unexploded grenades ... everywhere. A real scene of devastation." @mchancecnn gets a look at the aftermath of a ferocious battle on the outskirts of Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/9nVBC3OgiB
— CNN (@CNN) February 28, 2022 @CNN
CNN's Matthew Chance also got compelling on-the-ground footage of the aftermath ... and it was clearly a bloody affair, as he actually panned to a dead man left behind -- whom he claimed was a Russian.
Point being ... Ukraine is holding its own, and there are some reports that Russia's actually getting clobbered out in the field. The question ... how will Putin respond? Time will tell.
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Daring Rescue Cruise Ship Saves Floating Migrants ... Off Coast of Cuba
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A group of apparent migrants who were stuck in the big blue with nothing but each other and a raft found refuge in a nearby cruise ship -- which swooped them up in heroic fashion.
Check out this video showing a daring rescue Friday somewhere out on the Atlantic -- about 50 miles from Cuba, we're told, and en route back toward Florida -- where a Celebrity Apex came across these guys in the water ... floating aimlessly in the middle of nowhere.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Apparently, it was actually a passenger who spotted them out there ... and then sounded the alarm. The captain of the ship turned the thing around to go get 'em -- and to bring them onboard, of course.
That's exactly what happened ... but it was no easy task getting a ladder down to the stranded trio -- who struggled, at first, in securing it -- but were ultimately successful.
As you can see ... folks were cheering when they finally got a hold of the rungs and were able to hoist themselves up. We're told that the captain later explained that if they'd left them out there ... those folks would've perished, not just because of the choppy waters ... but because they simply didn't have any supplies on hand -- including absolutely no food.
In the end the U.S. Coast Guard was summoned to collect the group ... which is what they did. Unclear what might become of them -- but they'll almost certainly be processed through immigration to figure out where they need to go. At least they're alive, though!
We're told the Celebrity Apex continued on its voyage and touched down in Ft. Lauderdale Saturday. That's a tale of the high seas those vacationers won't soon forget ... no doubt.
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Putin's War Ukrainians Mock Russian Troops ... After Tank Runs Out of Gas
The Ukrainians are not only a stronger force than the Russians expected, but they're also bringing attitude to the fight, and they're doing it in an awesome fashion.
Check out this video ... some Ukrainians were driving and came upon a Russian tank that apparently ran out of gas and was simply stuck in the road. Rather than hightailing it out of there, the Ukrainians mocked the Russians, asking if they wanted a tow back to Russia.
Here's the translation of how the convo went ...
Ukrainians: You guys broke down?
Russians: What?
Ukrainians: You broke down? Maybe you need a tow back to Russia.
*Both sides laugh*
Ukrainians: Do you know where you're headed?
Russians: No.
Ukrainians: Well you're headed toward Kyiv.
Russians: What are people saying?
Ukrainians: Everything is going our way. Your side is surrendering well because none of your guys know where they're headed. I asked a whole caravan of guys like you and none of you know where you're headed.
The brutal reality ... the Russian assault on Ukraine has intensified over the last 12 hours, but the Russian troops have met with intense resistance. The capital -- Kyiv -- and is the flashpoint.
Untold thousands of Ukrainians have fled their homeland, but those who are staying have made it clear ... they will not go down without a righteous fight, and they're proving it in many, many ways ... standing up against a brutal dictator who kills people he doesn't like and lies to justify invading a free country ... killing innocent civilians.
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Ukraine Invasion Russian Tank Crushes Car ... Driver Miraculously Survives!!!
New evidence of the brutality Ukrainian civilians are suffering at the hands of Russian forces -- video of a tank flattening a car on the streets of Kyiv, but somehow the driver is still alive.
The horrifying scene unfolded in Ukraine's capital as a tank rolled down a desolate surface street ... until it suddenly, and intentionally, swerved to crush a sedan driving in the opposite direction.
The citizens recording the scene screamed out, obviously thinking the driver had been killed. Aftermath video does show the car severely damaged, but you also see the man behind the wheel alive ... though clearly injured.
Several people gathered around to peel back the car's frame ... attempting to free the man from the wreckage.
As you can see, the top of the car was torn off, and the rescuers had to use a crowbar to pry open the driver's side door.
The video started going viral Friday, and there are conflicting reports about whether the tank belongs to the Russian army or a Ukrainian tank hijacked by Russian troops.
Either way, it's a miracle the man in the car survived the violent encounter.
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Ukrainian Invasion Father Sobs As he Sends His Daughter Away ... In Heartbreaking Video
A Ukrainian father broke down in tears as he gave his daughter a final goodbye as she fled to safety ... and the video drives home the heartbreak of the brutal Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian father is inconsolable as his daughter cries during their final embrace ... as the young girl and a woman board a bus for safety.
The dad tells his daughter he loves her as he sobs and gently places a hat on his daughter's head.
It's difficult but important to watch because it drives home the tragedy of Putin's aggression. As he leaves his daughter -- perhaps not know when or even if he'll see her again -- he asks for her hand. As she leaves, he gazes in agony.
This scene is likely being played out with many other Ukrainian families .. ripped apart as they flee for safety or fight for freedom.
One of the reasons families are splitting up ... the Ukrainian government is requiring men between 18 and 60 to stay in the country ... presumably to resist the invasion.
The cost of war ... driven home by a simple video.
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Russian Attack Invasion Triggers Mass Exodus in Ukraine Video Shows Residential Bombing
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The assault on Ukraine has sent thousands of Ukrainians running for cover and fleeing as bombs drop on innocent civilians.
As you know by now, Russia has brazenly attacked Ukraine from all angles, and its citizens -- who up till now were shockingly calm -- are now dealing with an impossible situation. Try to survive the attack, or get out.
The video (above) is shocking ... a Russian fighter jet buzzes a home in Ukraine and drops a bomb either right near or on a house. You hear children wailing in fear inside the building.
Traffic is snarled in what looks like a never-ending line of cars as people flee Kyiv.
And, the train station has become a bomb shelter ... jam-packed with hundreds of people huddled together. Look at the faces, the families and the fear.
Hundreds of people, including many women and children are currently taking shelter inside a subway station in Kharkiv, #Ukraine as explosions are heard in the city. @washingtonpost pic.twitter.com/ZddeHqlMvU
— Salwan Georges (@salwangeorges) February 24, 2022 @salwangeorges
The questions now ... how far will Putin go? And, how much will the Ukrainians fight to preserve their homeland? Putin has brazenly lied about his act of war, suggesting Ukraine has some sort of Nazi influence. It's a ridiculous statement ... the President of Ukraine is Jewish, and the only aggressor here is Russia.
And predictably ... Donald Trump is praising the brutal dictator, calling his acts of aggression "genius."
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Kanye West 'Donda 2' Audio Disaster ... Throws Mic Out of Frustration
Kanye West might finally have someone else to aim his anger at other than Pete Davidson -- his "Donda 2" event's sound engineer -- who seemingly blew it in Miami ... causing West to throw his mic in frustration.
Ye premiered new tracks from his album Tuesday night at a live listening event for fans at LoanDepot Park in Miami. While the whole thing started smoothly, with Kanye playing tracks from the new album, by the end, the event -- streamed on stemplayer.com -- had totally unraveled and Kanye looked visibly pissed off.
Things really seemed to take a turn during the song "Jail 2" when Marilyn Manson and DaBaby joined Kanye on stage. It appeared Kanye was supposed to perform the song live -- but was having some serious issues with his in-ear ... eventually throwing his microphone in frustration, Kanye never picked the mic up again.
The final song of the night, "Off The Grid" -- a song from the first "Donda" album -- was a total mess, Fivio Foreign and Playboi Carti joined Kanye to perform it, and Fivio's mic was totally out of sync totally off with the music playing ... sounding like he was trying to catch up to the song the entire time.
We spoke with a couple people who were in the audience, who said the audio issues weren't as noticeable as they were to those streaming from home.
While most of "Donda 2" sounded like it was incomplete, the fans in Miami certainly got their fair share of guest appearances during the show -- Jack Harlow, Migos, Pusha T, Alicia Keys and The Game, to name a few. Elon Musk was among the celebs in the crowd.
The lyrics were mostly unsurprising, but one song, titled "Security" seemingly took aim at Pete, with the words, "Pop some, I ain't getting frisked. I put your security at risk. Pop some I ain't getting frisked. I put your security at risk. Ok we gon' make this an event? y'all gone need security for this. Security gon’ need security for this."
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Jon Jones Arrest Video UFC Star Slammed Head Into Cop Car Called Officer 'F***ing Nerd'
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Jon Jones violently bashed his head into a cop car and called an officer a "f***ing nerd" during his arrest on the Las Vegas strip back in September ... new police video shows.
In the footage, Jones -- who was in handcuffs and surrounded by cops following an alleged altercation with his fiancee at a nearby hotel -- was clearly furious with officers, screaming at them relentlessly.
The UFC superstar can be heard in the clip asking why he was being detained ... before he launched a verbal tirade against one of the cops standing next to him.
Jones repeatedly called the man a "nerd" ... asking for his name over and over again. Jones also accused the cop and other officers of embarrassing him on an important night for him (his epic 2013 fight against Alexander Gustafsson was being inducted into the Hall of Fame).
Video shows Jones got so upset with the police -- he actually slammed his forehead into the hood of the police cruiser he was being held up against.
At that point, officers rushed him away, chastising him for the move.
As we reported, Jones was being arrested after he was accused of getting physical with his fiancee and pulling her hair at around 5 AM at Caesars Palace on Sept. 24.
Jones was ultimately hit with misdemeanor domestic battery and felony tampering with a vehicle over the incident ... though court records showed officials dropped the misdemeanor count against the fighter in December after he pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of destroying property of another.
As part of his sentencing, records showed the 34-year-old was ordered to stay out of trouble, pay restitution to the victim, and take anger management counseling.
OCTOBER 2021
Jones said shortly after the arrest that he was done drinking booze ... and he later shared a video with his fiancee that appeared to show them being a happy couple.
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Mayday! Helicopter Crashes Near Miami Beach ... 2 Hospitalized, 3 Onboard
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The FAA tells TMZ ... "A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in the Atlantic Ocean near Miami Beach, Fla., under unknown circumstances at approximately 1:20 PM local time today. Three persons were onboard. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates."
A helicopter went down in Miami -- crash landing in the ocean, no less ... and mere feet from swimmers.
The accident happened Saturday afternoon in South Beach, with Miami Beach PD releasing surveillance footage that shows the moment the chopper starts to descend from the sky.
South Beach Miami Helicopter crash pic.twitter.com/6dmdGFx2pB
— iggy luko (@LukoIggy) February 19, 2022 @LukoIggy
As you can see, it comes into frame out of nowhere ... and then heads straight down into the water incredibly close to the shore. Indeed, it appears there were people out by where the aircraft ended up touching down. Fortunately, it doesn't look like any of them were hit.
People were expectedly shocked from the sight, and it looks like the authorities responded quickly. Jet skis on hand immediately rode out to the site, and eventually ... boats arrived on the scene as well to fish out the passengers and to clear the area.
Helicopter remains sunken off of South Beach. #miamibeach pic.twitter.com/eJbRG3iPoR
— South Beach News (@sobenews) February 19, 2022 @sobenews
So far, only two have been hospitalized ... they're said to have actually been in the helicopter, and they were transported in stable condition.
No word on any other injuries so far, or what may have caused this to happen in the first place. It's also unclear what sort of a helicopter this is ... commercial, private or otherwise.
I’m sittin on south beach Miami… a fuckin helicopter has just crashed into the sea in front of us… pic.twitter.com/U2RCcy63Ot
— stan the man (@StanthemanAVFC) February 19, 2022 @StanthemanAVFC
The FAA has been looped in, and an investigation in underway.
Originally Published -- 12:44 PM PT
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NFL's Bud Dupree Booked On Assault Charge ... After Alleged Walgreens Attack
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Tennesee Titans defensive end Bud Dupree spent part of his Friday morning in jail ... TMZ Sports has confirmed the football player finally turned himself in for booking after he was cited for his alleged role in a January altercation at a Walgreens.
The Metro Nashville Police Department tells us Dupree was booked on a misdemeanor assault charge in the 9 o'clock hour Friday morning. He took a mugshot and he's no longer in custody, a spokesperson told us.
According to records, Dupree also had a court hearing scheduled for Friday.
.@Bud_Dupree bounces out to warmups … and @dezfitz8 gives @Titans HC Mike Vrabel a playful shove (wait for it) … pic.twitter.com/kxsSZa3W33
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) January 2, 2022 @jwyattsports
As we previously reported, Dupree was cited for misdemeanor battery on Jan. 4 after cops say he attacked an employee at a Nashville Walgreens on Jan. 2, just hours after the Titans' home game against the Miami Dolphins.
In a statement, cops said Dupree grabbed the employee and then later tried to take the man's phone -- and eventually fled the scene before officers arrived.
TMZ Sports obtained video of the incident ... and in the footage, you can see Dupree did appear to grab a man and then wrestle with him for several seconds inside of the store.
Sources close to Dupree allege he was being heckled with nasty comments ... claiming the man threatened to spit on the women he was with and kick Bud in the knee.
The Titans said at the time they were "aware of the situation and are gathering additional information."