6/4 -- 5:51 AM PT -- A CNN spokesperson tells TMZ ... "Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional journalist, reporting every day from the White House and the field with real depth and tenacity. She skillfully brings that reporting to the anchor chair and CNN platforms every day, which audiences around the world know they can trust.”
PresidentDonald Trumptreated an Oval Office policy question like batting practice ... taking a few swings at CNN's Kaitlan Collinsinstead of the issue she raised.
The fireworks started when POTUS was pressed about a proposed $1.8B anti-weaponization fund -- a massive compensation program for people who claimed they were victims of politically motivated government investigations -- that has since been scrapped following bipartisan criticism.
Watch the clip ... before Trump could get very far into the substance of the question, he turned his attention to Collins.
The biggest battle in Karmelo Anthony's murder trial so far isn't over evidence ... it's over whether jurors can put their personal feelings aside.
During jury selection this week in Collin County, Texas, several potential jurors admitted they would struggle to convict Anthony -- or send him to prison -- because of his age, with one person reportedly telling the court, "He looks like a child."
According to WFAA in Dallas, prosecutors questioned prospective jurors about whether Anthony's race, age, or resemblance to their own children could influence how they view the case. Anthony, now 18, is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of fellow teen Austin Metcalfat a Frisco track meet in April 2025.
Thomas Massiemay be leaving Congress, but don't expect him to disappear from Republican politics anytime soon ... because he and Marjorie Taylor Greenehave been cooking up plans behind the scenes to retake the GOP.
Charliecaught up with the outgoing Kentucky Congressman Wednesday on Capitol Hill and asked about his recent Costa Rica vacay with Greene and her fiancé, Brian Glenn-- a trip TMZ first revealed after the group was spotted dining together.
According to Massie, the getaway involved more than fishing and margaritas.
Missing government worker Melissa Casias has been found dead ... with her body "skeletonized" and a gunshot wound to her skull, a report says.
According to New Mexico State Police, a hiker found "human remains" at McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest ... who authorities have ID'ed as Melissa. They also said a gun was found "alongside the remains."
NMSP hasn't announced cause or manner of death, but investigator Thomas McNally -- who'd been looking into the case for Melissa's parents -- told DailyMail that her body was "skeletonized," sitting against a tree with a gunshot wound in her skull.
Rep. Anna Paulina Lunais pushing for criminal charges against the anti-war activist who got physical with her on Capitol Hill ... and she's drawing a line in the sand with ALL political protestors.
Jacob caught up with the Florida congresswoman Wednesday, moments after she spoke with Capitol Police, and she laid out details of the tense encounter that went down after she questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a congressional hearing.
Roll the clip ... Luna claims an organizer from CODEPINK -- a left-leaing anti-war activist group -- grilled her about the hearing, and then ... "I was literally walking, trying to walk away from this person, and they smacked me."
The office fish-in-the-microwave debate has sunk plenty of workplace friendships over the years ... but cod almighty, one South Carolina cop allegedly took things to a whole new depth!
According to an arrest warrant, Michael DeBiase, 46, a detective with the Myrtle Beach Police Department, has been charged with pointing and presenting a firearm at a fellow officer after a dispute allegedly sparked by someone reheating fish at the station on June 2.
Authorities say DeBiase unholstered his department-issued firearm in a briefing room and allegedly pointed it at another officer ... a reaction that was, shall we say, a little overcooked.
Steve Shirilla's contract for his teaching job has not been renewed, TMZ has learned. And Steve tells us he's the one who wanted out.
He told TMZ ... "I wouldn’t resign a contract with them for the simple fact of how they handled this situation… the school and the diocese showed their true colors…"
Steve also says, "I’m done talking about this or anything that’s not about the injustice my daughter has been put through my only focus is her."
Remember, Mackenzie Shirilla's dad had been put on leave after the Netflix documentary "The Crash" dropped ... because of comments he made about his daughter smoking weed.
The case against Anna Kepner's accused killer is facing new scrutiny ... after newly unsealed court records revealed the suspect's lawyer claims the FBI has no DNA evidence directly tying him to her strangulation.
According to court testimony first highlighted by FOX 35 Orlando, investigators could not say whether any DNA was recovered from injuries on Anna's neck. An FBI agent reportedly said he was unaware of any forensic evidence directly linking Timothy Hudson-- Anna's 16-year-old stepbrother -- to her death.
The issue surfaced during questioning about the government's forensic evidence ... with investigators reportedly acknowledging they could not determine whether the person who allegedly sexually assaulted Anna was also the person who killed her.
Spencer Pratt is close to securing political success and advancing to the L.A. mayoral runoff election -- though he would still have one more challenge to face.
So far, the reality star has won 30.4% of the vote as of early Wednesday morning ... putting him in second place in the primary election behind his arch nemesis, Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
Bass has so far raked in 34.8% of the vote to put her in first place, earning her a spot in the general election on November 3 in Los Angeles. City Councilwoman Nithya Raman is currently in third place with 22.3% of the primary vote.
Betty Broderick infamously killed her ex-husband and his new wife, but there was no foul play in her own recent death, TMZ has learned.
In early May, Betty died at a hospital in Chino, California, after she fell down in prison while suffering from several health issues, according to her son, Daniel Broderick.
Now, the San Bernardino County Coroner has completed its autopsy on Betty and confirmed that her death was an accident.
Former U.S. Congressman George Santos is in hot water again with the feds ... the Department of Justice is reportedly investigating him for alleged insider trading.
Santos, a convicted felon, is now facing possible new federal charges for making a suspicious trade in a prediction market on one of President Trump's speeches, according to the Associated Press.
The outlet reports that Santos bragged about attending Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, but he then bet against showing up for it.
Rep. Andy Oglesis taking back his anti-gay tweet that caused a stir Tuesday ... but claims he's not the one who posted it in the first place!
Check it out -- the Tennessee GOP rep told followers the "stupid, hurtful" message was posted by someone on his communications team when he was working on his farm and called it a "complete distraction" from his "America First focus."
He also claimed the employee was reprimanded. No word on who the employee was behind the tweet.
Mackenzie Shirilla's mom, Natalie, has some harsh words for Dominic Russo's grieving family ... blasting them as "evil" in a conversation with her daughter.
TMZ obtained audio from a prison phone call between Mackenzie and her mother ... with Natalie telling Mackenzie her late boyfriend's family is full of "evil people."
Natalie's harsh comment came as the two rehashed court testimony from Mackenzie's murder trial.
At one point, you can hear Natalie say, "Dom would be beside his frickin' self" over what was said in court.
6/2/2026 3:19 PM -- Rep. Ogles has since deleted the X post.
Rep. Mike Lawler is cussing out a GOP colleague who says "homosexuality has no place in America" ... telling TMZ DC that Rep. Andy Ogles is a "f***ing idiot" for even going there.
Rep. Lawler strongly disagreed ... saying Rep. Ogles has family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and constituents who are gay or lesbian ... and that doesn't make them any less worthy of being an American.
6/2/2026 3:19 PM -- Rep. Ogles has since deleted the X post.
Senator Ted Cruz is publicly pushing back on a member of his own party ... splitting with Rep. Andy Oglesover homosexuality's place in America, generally, and specifically, Pride Month celebrations.
Our guy Jacobgot Ted on Capitol Hill reacting to Congressman Ogles eyebrow-raising X post going after the LGBTQ community ... and he didn't hesitate to distance himself, saying, "the behavior of consenting adults is their business."
If ya missed Ogles' social media shot Tuesday morning, the U.S. Rep from Tennessee posted ... "Homosexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuclear Family Month."
Rep. Ogles' X post comes on the second day of June, which is nationally recognized as Pride Month ... though governors in Tennessee and Indiana have alternately declared June as Nuclear Family Month.
President Donald Trumpis going back for seconds at the White House Correspondents' Dinner ... announcing a new date for the event after an alleged assassination attempt forced an abrupt end to the gala.
POTUS confirmed Tuesday the annual dinner -- which was cut short when a gunman opened fire on April 25 -- has been rescheduled for July 24 at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria in D.C.
In a post on Truth Social, the Prez framed the rescheduling as a show of "Strength and Fortitude" ... saying the country can't let "Lunatics" dictate schedules or disrupt traditions.
