Politics

Cheryl Hines says The White House can no longer avoid husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s need for Secret Service protection ... not in the wake of 2 scary incidents at their home.

The actress and comedian joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday and told us she had a front-row seat to the intruder who attempted to get inside their home, not once but twice.

Cheryl says she was on Instagram Live at the family's Brentwood estate Wednesday morning when she looked out the window and noticed a strange man in the yard, being apprehended by security.

For Cheryl, it was an alarming moment hitting way too close to home ... and we don't just mean the fact it happened at their home. There's another dimension to this -- the Kennedy's tragic family history.

Robert was only 9 years old when his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas in 1963, and then just 5 years later his father, Robert F. Kennedy, was shot and killed in L.A. while running for President.

Cheryl says the home intruder underscores the need for RFK Jr. to have Secret Service protection and not just private security watching his back as he runs as an Independent in the 2024 Presidential Election.

She says they've tried to get President Joe Biden's Department of Homeland Security to authorize Secret Service protection for RFK Jr. but have been denied ... which she finds very puzzling.

DHS' explanation for rejecting the request, at that time, was RFK Jr. wasn't polling high enough -- at least 15 percent -- to warrant protection, but the most recent poll shows him pulling 19% in a 3-way race with Biden and Trump.

She's hoping Biden reconsiders and seems to think The White House may be denying RFK Jr. protection because of the very real chance he'll be a big factor in the outcome next year.

If that's the case, Cheryl says the White House can't ignore this latest incident ... which we first reported.

Folks in Maine are rushing to stock up on guns to protect themselves in the wake of a mass shooting with a suspect who remains on the loose.

Gun and ammo stores near Lewiston, Maine are seeing a huge surge in folks trying to buy firearms and bullets, with the majority of people coming in to buy handguns.

First Due Firearms tells TMZ ... the phone is ringing off the hook with lots of first-time gun buyers and others looking to add to their firearm collection, with many folks ready to purchase and put money down.

The store says buyers are citing Wednesday's mass shooting, which killed 18 people, as the reason for purchasing guns and ammo.

Over at G3 Firearms, we're told the store's been packed since it opened bright and early at 9 AM ... with people wanting guns for protection. Most of the sales were for handguns, but we're told a few folks bought AR-15s and some even asked for body armor.

Meanwhile, at 3 Cousins Firearms we're told the business is being swamped with calls, emails and Facebook messages from people wanting guns ... and they expect to be super busy the rest of the week.

At another gun store in the area, we're told there was a 50% increase in firearms and while interest was largely for handguns, we're told a couple rifles were sold too.

With multiple counties in Maine in lockdown amid the manhunt for alleged gunman Robert Card, it sounds like people are arming themselves and bracing for the worst.

Bella Hadid habló por primera vez sobre los ataques en curso en el Medio Oriente, diciendo que las últimas dos semanas no han sido nada menos que un espectáculo de horror, al mismo tiempo que condenó el terrorismo en todos los ámbitos.

La modelo, que es parte palestina, dijo lo que pensaba el jueves escribiendo primero: "Perdóname por mi silencio", admitiendo que ha sido difícil encontrar las palabras para las "profundamente intrincadas y horribles últimas dos semanas".

Afirma que la muerte y la destrucción que se está produciendo en Israel y Palestina han hecho que el mundo vuelva a centrarse "en una situación que lleva décadas cobrando vidas inocentes y afectando a familias", y añade: "El pueblo y los niños de Palestina, especialmente en Gaza, no pueden permitirse nuestro silencio".

Bella dice que su "corazón está sangrando de dolor por el trauma" que ha visto en Internet, añadiendo que está de luto junto a las familias que están devastadas para siempre después de ver las secuelas de los ataques aéreos de Gaza.

Aunque la modelo habló sobre todo a favor de Palestina, añadió: "Estoy de luto por las familias israelíes que han estado lidiando con el dolor y las secuelas del 7 de octubre", cuando los terroristas de Hamás atacaron por primera vez Israel, escribiendo: "Condeno los ataques terroristas contra cualquier civil, en cualquier lugar".

También confirmó lo que las fuentes nos dijeron la semana pasada y es que ha recibido cientos de amenazas de muerte. Recuerden, su hermana, Gigi también se refirió al tema y fue recibida con desdén por su postura pro-palestina.

Bella Hadid is speaking out for the first time on the ongoing attacks in the Middle East ... saying the last 2 weeks have been nothing short of a horror show, condemning terrorism across the board.

The model, who is part Palestinian, spoke her mind Thursday, first by writing, "Forgive me for my silence" ... before admitting it's been tough to find the words for the "deeply intricate and horrific past 2 weeks."

She says the death and destruction happening in Israel and Palestine shifted the world's focus "back towards a situation that has been taking innocent lives and affecting families for decades" -- adding, "The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence."

Bella says her "heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma" she's already seen online ... adding she's mourning alongside the families that are forever broken after seeing the aftermath of the Gaza airstrikes.

While she's mostly speaking in favor of Palestine, she adds, "I mourn for the Israeli families that have been dealing with the pain and aftermath of October 7," when Hamas terrorists first attacked Israel .... writing, "I condemn the terrorist attacks on any civilians, anywhere."

She also confirmed what sources told us last week -- she's gotten hundreds of death threats, and even had her own phone number leaked. Remember ... her sister, Gigi, also spoke out, and was met with disdain over her pro-Palestinian stance.

Gigi came under fire directly by the State of Israel's social media account for her comments, too.

A fitness instructor is being accused of tearing down a poster of kidnapped Israeli kids outside a popular Los Angeles gym  ... and he says he's "proud" to be doing it.

The incident went down Wednesday outside the iconic Gold's Gym in Venice -- the man crumpled up the poster and chucked it in the trash. He's asked about why he ripped it down, telling the man filming he's proud of himself, before adding "Get the f*** away."

The man in question has been identified as model and fitness trainer Zaid Shaat -- his social media profiles say he's a "Lifetime Natural Athlete," and that he loves to "motivate people to live a healthy lifestyle. I am passionate about helping people achieve their goals and dreams."

Worth mentioning that Joe Gold, the founder of Gold's Gym, was Jewish ... and folks online have been letting Shaat have it over what he did outside the L.A. hot spot.

As you know, Hamas first attacked Israel on Oct. 7 killing thousands and taking more than 200 civilians hostage -- all of which sparked war as Israel retaliates.

Un instructor de fitness está siendo acusado por arrancar un póster de  niños israelíes secuestrados afuera de un popular gimnasio de Los Ángeles y dice que está "orgulloso" de haberlo hecho.

El incidente ocurrió el miércoles fuera del icónico Gold's Gym en Venice, cuando el hombre arrugó el cartel y lo tiró a la basura. En el video le preguntan por qué lo hizo, y les dice que está orgulloso de haberlo hecho, antes de añadir "váyanse todos a la mier***".

El hombre en cuestión ha sido identificado como Zaid Shaat, modelo y entrenador físico. Sus perfiles en las redes sociales dicen que es un "atleta natural de toda la vida" y que le encanta motivar a la gente a vivir un estilo de vida saludable. "Me apasiona ayudar a la gente a alcanzar sus metas y sueños".

Vale la pena mencionar que Joe Gold, el fundador de Gold's Gym, era judío y los usuarios en las redes están pidiendo que lo castiguen por lo que hizo.

Como ustedes saben, Hamas atacó por primera vez a Israel el 7 de octubre, causando la muerte de miles de personas y tomando como rehenes a más de 200 civiles, lo cual ha desatado una guerra mientras Israel toma represalias.

2:20 PM PT -- Cops have released the name of the man as Jonathan Macht ... and say he was served with an emergency protective order after he was cited for the first trespass arrest. He then violated that order when he returned ... getting arrested for the violation as well as trespassing again.

12:50 PM PT -- Kennedy's campaign just put out a statement about the incident, saying the man gained access to his property after climbing a fence and asked to speak with Kennedy. The statement also reveals Kennedy was home during the first and second incidents.

What's more, Kennedy's team says they've alerted Secret Service about the "obsessed" individual several times in recent months ... but Kennedy still hasn't gotten SS protection.

10:07 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the same guy returned to the home early Thursday morning around 1:30 AM and was arrested again ... this time for violating a court order.

A scary situation for Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines ... as a man attempted to get inside their home, prompting a security and police response to get him into custody.

Law enforcement sources say they got a burglary call to the Brentwood property Wednesday morning around 9:30 AM. It's unclear what the man was trying to do or what he said, but we're told Kennedy's security was home and able to subdue the guy until cops arrived.

Our sources say Cheryl was home at the time of the incident, and saw the guy in her yard ... but it's unclear if Robert was also home. We're told the whole thing was handled quickly.

It was about two weeks ago when Kennedy Jr. declared his Independent candidacy for the 2024 Presidential Election -- ending his Democratic primary campaign.

Robert and Cheryl have been married since 2014 when they got hitched at the Kennedy Compound on Cape Cod.

We reached out to a rep for Kennedy ... so far, no word back.

10:07 AM PT -- Fuentes policiales dicen a TMZ que el mismo hombre regresó a la casa la madrugada del jueves alrededor de la 1:30 AM y fue detenido nuevamente, esta vez por violar una orden judicial.

Robert Kennedy Jr. y Cheryl Hines pasaron un gran susto cuando un hombre trató de entrar en su casa, lo que provocó una respuesta de la policía para ponerlo bajo arresto.

Fuentes policiales dicen que recibieron una llamada de robo en su propiedad de Brentwood el miércoles alrededor de las 9:30 AM. No está claro lo que el hombre estaba tratando de hacer o lo que dijo, pero nos dicen que la seguridad de Kennedy estaba en casa y fue capaz de someter al hombre hasta que llegó la policía.

Nuestras fuentes dicen que Cheryl estaba en casa en el momento del incidente y vio al tipo en su patio, pero no está claro si Robert estaba junto a ella también. Nos dicen que todo el asunto fue manejado rápidamente.

Fue hace unas dos semanas cuando Kennedy Jr. declaró su candidatura independiente para las elecciones presidenciales de 2024, poniendo fin a su campaña de primarias demócratas.

Robert y Cheryl están casados desde 2014. Su ceremonia fue en el Kennedy Compound en Cape Cod.

Nos pusimos en contacto con un representante del candidato, pero hasta ahora no hemos tenido respuesta.

Maine is a state in the U.S. without a red flag law to take away firearms from those who show signs of being a threat to others -- a law that could have protected the 18 people killed and 13 injured in Wednesday's mass shooting.

U.S. Army Reservist Robert Card allegedly used an AR-15-style gun to kill 18 people in Lewiston, Maine. While a massive manhunt is underway to find him, many have pointed to the state's light gun laws as a major issue.

The state does have a yellow flag law -- the main difference is that, unlike a red flag law, it doesn't specifically empower family members to directly ask a judge to order the removal of someone's guns and block them from purchasing more.

In this case, only cops can issue a request.

It's also a permitless carry state and doesn't have a robust background check program ... and hasn't banned the purchase of assault-style weapons, like the one Card allegedly used at the bowling alley where a youth league was competing.

As we reported, authorities say Card is a trained firearms instructor with 2 decades of military experience -- and recently reported "hearing voices" and threatened to shoot up the National Guard Base in Saco, ME.

There are also reports he was committed to a mental institution this past summer and was released.

Meta de Mark Zuckerberg se aseguró de diseñar Facebook e Instagram para que sean muy difíciles de dejar y el resultado ha sido negativo para la sociedad, al menos esa es la alegación del Fiscal General de Tennessee y otros 41 estados.

Jonathan Skrmetti, el policía más importante del Estado de Voluntarios, se unió a nosotros el miércoles en "TMZ Live" para exponer por qué 41 estados  —y Washington, DC— están demandando a Facebook y a la compañía matriz de Instagram por supuestamente perjudicar a la juventud de nuestra nación.

Alegan que las aplicaciones de redes sociales están diseñadas intencionalmente para aprovechar la forma en que todos estamos conectados, haciendo las plataformas extremadamente adictivas con características como el desplazamiento infinito, recordatorios y notificaciones, solo por nombrar algunas.

Skrmetti dice que Meta es plenamente consciente de que las aplicaciones son difíciles de dejar y lo malo que es para la gente. Dice que causan problemas de sueño, ansiedad, déficit de atención, depresión y suicidio potencial.

En sus ojos, solo hay mucho que los padres pueden hacer para detener a sus hijos de engancharse a las redes sociales, y es en un punto ahora donde el gobierno tiene que intervenir para hacer cambios.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta made sure to design Facebook and Instagram so they are super hard to quit, and the result has been bad for society ... at least that's the allegation from Tennessee's Attorney General, and 41 other AGs.

Jonathan Skrmetti, the Volunteer State's top cop, joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" to lay out why 41 states -- and Washington, DC -- are suing Facebook and Instagram's parent company for allegedly harming our nation's youth.

He says the social media apps are intentionally designed to take advantage of the way we're all wired -- making the platforms extremely addicting with features like infinite scrolling, reminders and notifications, just to name a few.

Skrmetti says Meta is fully aware the apps are hard to quit and bad for folks -- he says they cause sleep deprivation, anxiety, ADD, depression and potential suicide.

In his eyes, there's only so much parents can do to stop their kids from getting hooked on social media, and it's at a point now where the government needs to step in to make changes.

The NBA's squarely in the sights of the United States Department of Justice over accusations The Association worked to torpedo Ice Cube's Big3 basketball league ... allegations the NBA denies.

TMZ Sports has learned the DOJ launched the inquiry months ago, examining alleged anticompetitive behavior on the part of the NBA, aimed at squashing the Big3's growth.

Those allegations, we're told, range from the NBA purportedly throwing its weight around to prevent sponsors and others potential partners from doing business with the rap legend's league ... to discouraging television networks from carrying Big3 games.

Cube and business partner Jeff Kwatinetz launched the 3-on-3 league, made up almost entirely of retired NBA players, in 2017.

Some current players have expressed a desire to play in Cube's league in the offseason, but we're told, as the Big3 sees it, the NBA has prevented guys from doing so, putting arbitrary rules in place to stop players from hooping in Ice's league.

FYI, the NBA and Big3 seasons do not overlap.

Of course, it's a regular occurrence for NBA players, including some of the biggest stars in the world like LeBron James, to hoop in non-NBA games after the season ends ... such as L.A.'s famed Drew League.

Big3 officials, according to sources familiar with the investigation, believe they've been unfairly targeted by the NBA.

We've also been told NBA owners have been discouraged from investing in the Big3 while simultaneously owning a franchise.

Referees haven't been immune, either, according to a source ... who says they've been told they cannot officiate for the Big3, despite some working for other organizations outside of the NBA.

A source familiar with the Dept. of Justice investigation tells us Cube and Kwatinetz met with DOJ lawyers during the first half of the year. We're also told investigators have begun reaching out to NBA owners as part of their investigation.

If the government ultimately finds the league committed antitrust violations, the NBA could face a significant fine.

We reached out to the league for comment ... and NBA spokesman Mike Bass, addressing the allegations of sponsorship and TV network interference, pressuring potential Big3 partners, and others, told us, "Those claims are not true."

Bass also added ... "We have been supportive of the Big3 since its inception, but we declined to invest."

La NBA está en la mira del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos por las acusaciones de que la Asociación trabajó para torpedear la liga de baloncesto Big3 de Ice Cube, acusaciones que la NBA niega.

TMZ Sports ha descubierto que se inició la investigación hace meses, el examen de la presunta conducta anticompetitiva por parte de la NBA con el objetivo de aplastar el crecimiento de la Big3.

Supuestamente la NBA está emitiendo estas acusaciones para evitar que los patrocinadores y otros socios potenciales hagan negocios con la liga de la leyenda del rap y así convencer a las cadenas de televisión de no  mostrar los juegos de la Big3.

Cube y su socio Jeff Kwatinetz lanzaron la liga de 3 contra 3, compuesta casi en su totalidad por jugadores retirados de la NBA, en 2017.

Algunos jugadores actuales han expresado su deseo de jugar en la liga de Cube en la temporada baja, pero nos informan que la NBA ha impedido que los chicos lo hagan, poniendo reglas arbitrarias para evitar que los jugadores entren a la liga de Ice.

Para tu información, las temporadas de la NBA y de la Big3 no coinciden. Por supuesto, es habitual que los jugadores de la NBA —incluidas algunas de las mayores estrellas del mundo como LeBron James— participen en partidos que no son de la NBA una vez finalizada la temporada, como la famosa Drew League de Los Ángeles.

Según fuentes familiarizadas con la investigación, los directivos de Big3 creen que han sido injustamente atacados por la NBA.

También nos informan que se ha disuadido a los propietarios de la NBA de invertir en la Big3 al tiempo que poseen una franquicia.

Los árbitros tampoco han sido inmunes, según una fuente, se les ha dicho que no pueden oficiar para la Big3, a pesar de que algunos trabajan para otras organizaciones fuera de la NBA.

Una fuente familiarizada con la investigación del Departamento de Justicia nos dice que Cube y Kwatinetz se reunieron con abogados del DOJ durante la primera mitad del año. También nos han dicho que los investigadores han empezado a ponerse en contacto con los propietarios de la NBA como parte de su investigación.

Si finalmente el gobierno determina que la liga cometió infracciones antimonopolio, la NBA podría enfrentarse a una multa significativa.

Nos pusimos en contacto con la liga para hacer comentarios y el portavoz de la NBA, Mike Bass, se refirió a las acusaciones de interferencia de patrocinadores y cadenas de televisión y nos dijo: "Esas afirmaciones no son ciertas".

Bass también añadió: "Hemos apoyado a la Big3 desde su creación, pero declinamos invertir".

Toneladas de estrellas de Hollywood se están uniendo para presionar a Hamas para liberar a todos los rehenes tomados por el grupo terrorista en Gaza, y le están pidiendo al presidente Biden que ayude a que esto suceda.

Tiffany Haddish, Bradley Cooper, Justin Timberlake, Chris Rock y Gwyneth Paltrow son solo algunos de los grandes nombres que han firmado una carta abierta a Biden, en la que piden que Hamás libere a todos los prisioneros.

La carta abierta forma parte de una nueva campaña de Hollywood, liderada por celebridades y ejecutivos judíos, llamada #NoHostageLeftBehind.

El número de ejecutivos que se ha unido a la campaña es realmente extraordinario y está claro que tiene buenas intenciones, pero lo que falta es cómo ella hará posible que los rehenes vuelvan casa... no es que esperemos que los famosos resuelvan eso.

Parece que Hollywood busca que la Casa Blanca que le dé una mano aquí. En la carta, las celebridades agradecen el liderazgo de Biden por traer a casa a dos rehenes estadounidenses el viernes, aunque dicen que su "alivio se ve atenuado por su abrumadora preocupación por las 220 personas inocentes, entre ellas 30 niños, que permanecen cautivos de los terroristas, amenazados de tortura y muerte".

Hamás también liberó a dos rehenes israelíes el lunes, pero sus cónyuges aún permanecen en cautiverio.

Tons of Hollywood stars are banding together to pressure Hamas to release all hostages taken by the terrorist group in Gaza ... and they're asking President Biden to help make it happen.

Tiffany Haddish, Bradley Cooper, Justin Timberlake, Chris Rock, and Gwyneth Paltrow are among the big names who signed an open letter to Biden, which calls on Hamas to set all prisoners free.

The open letter is part of a new campaign out of Hollywood, led by Jewish celebs and executives, called #NoHostageLeftBehind.

It's a truly extraordinary number of Hollywood honchos who have signed on, and it's clearly well-intentioned ... but what's clearly lacking is how the letter brings Hamas hostages home ... not that we're expecting celebs to figure that out.

Seems Hollywood is looking to the White House for a hand here ... the letter also thanks Biden for his leadership in bringing home two American hostages Friday ... though the celebs say their "relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death."

Hamas also released two Israeli hostages on Monday, but their spouses still remain in captivity.

Dave Chappelle has angered many in the Jewish community after his remarks on Israel -- but one group advocating for them is extending an olive branch if he's willing to chat.

American Jewish Committee spokesperson Richard Hirschhaut tells TMZ ... they'd love to have a sit-down with Dave to help him understand why so many people were upset, and how he can better navigate this topic next time around.

The AJC, a global advocacy organization, says Dave's first attempt to discuss Israel-Palestine -- during his Boston show last week -- missed the mark and adds ... "Dave Chappelle prides himself on precision of language and moral clarity. His comments uttered during last Friday's show at TD Garden failed on both counts."

They tell us his initial condemnation of Hamas was great -- but that he should have stopped there. AJC continues, "By criticizing Israel's retaliatory strikes and accusing the US of aiding the slaughter of innocent people, Chappelle turns truth on its head. Make no mistake, the slaughter of innocents is precisely what Hamas did on October 7th."

Of course, there've been innocent Palestinians who've been killed in the aftermath of all this as well -- upwards of 4,300, in fact, depending on which tallies you look at. The original Hamas attack claimed around 1,400 or so innocent Israeli lives.

In any case, the AJC thinks DC needs to be more precise with his language -- and they also believe he should know better at such a volatile time. According to them, his encouraging of people to shout "Free Palestine" creates a hostile and dangerous environment for Jewish people, and they say if that happens again, it's incumbent on him to ask what that means.

In their mind, the answer is obvious ... Free Palestine boils down to eliminating Israel.

Still, Richard says his org "would welcome an opportunity to meet with Chappelle and his team in an effort to help deepen his understanding of the current situation and enable him to be a source of more light than heat going forward."

Based on Dave's track record with other controversies ... the AJC probably shouldn't hold its collective breath. He doesn't tend to apologize, nor does he often feel the need to sit down with anyone after something like this.