Politics

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. 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.

Chris Kluwe says he's been contacted by multiple people from the Democratic party, and while he straight up says he doesn't want to run for political office, the former Vikings punter tells TMZ Sports he'd be willing to do it.

43-year-old Kluwe went viral last week after he delivered an explosive anti-Donald Trump, anti-MAGA speech at a city council meeting in Huntington Beach, CA ... which ultimately led to his arrest.

We spoke with the 8-year NFL vet ... and asked him about a potential run for office.

Jane Fonda used her Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Award speech to warn her fellow actors about impending political decisions ... saying they need to look out for one another -- 'cause a whole lot of bad is headed their way.

The veteran actress spoke at Sunday night's ceremony ... and, while the at-times rambling speech touched a number of different topics, the crux of the speech was a warning to her fellow stars.

Jane focuses on empathy in the address ... saying actors get to open people up to a variety of new ideas and concepts, and stars would need every bit of their empathy in the days ahead.

Rudy Giuliani's taking his time picking a new hair dye ... eyeing the ingredients on the back with suspicion -- and, he's got good reason to be cautious.

The former mayor of New York City hit up a Walmart in Secaucus, New Jersey Saturday afternoon ... pulling up in a mobility scooter with an aide by his side.

The two are in the haircare section -- you can see the products on the shelf in front of him -- and Giuliani is scrutinizing the back of what we're told is hair dye.

Porsha Williams' estranged husband has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid their bitter divorce ... and the 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star calls the situation "disheartening."

Simon Guobadia, a Nigerian philanthropist, is being held at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, per U.S. Department of Homeland Security records.

Not long after the news started to make headlines, Porsha addressed the situation via an IG statement ... "It's disheartening to see my estranged husband make choices that have led to this outcome. At this moment my priority is moving forward with my family. 🙏🏾."

Luigi Mangione's lawyer is pissed off at the mayor of New York City ... blasting Mayor Eric Adams for giving a TV interview about the alleged evidence against her client -- when she says she has yet to receive it from cops.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo appeared on the steps of a NYC courthouse Friday just minutes after Mangione's court appearance ... the first look the public has gotten of him since he was arraigned in December for allegedly murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

KFA says she had a few serious concerns to bring up in court ... one of the biggest being "Who is Luigi Mangione?" -- a recent documentary released by HBO which features high-ranking police officials and Mayor Adams himself.

Hunter Schafer -- a prominent transgender actress and activist -- says the U.S. government has changed one of her major documents ... showing her passport, which now identifies her as male, to her fans.

The "Euphoria" star posted a video after she received her new passport in the mail ... claiming she opened it up and was surprised to see a little "M" instead of an "F" listed under the gender category.

She says she filled out the paperwork the same as always -- identifying herself as a female ... but, she adds she never got her birth certificate changed, and thinks the department that issues the crucial travel document may have cross-referenced her application with the other document.

Justin Trudeau broke out a big ol' jug of salt and poured it all over the United States' wounds on Thursday night ... dancing on the American hockey team's grave after it lost a heartbreaker to Canada.

In the deciding game of the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, Connor McDavid scored an overtime goal to give the Canadians the championship trophy over USA ... and not long after, Trudeau took to his X page to gloat about the win.

Making reference to Donald Trump's various threats of annexing Canada ... Trudeau smugly wrote, "You can’t take our country -- and you can’t take our game."

Former Congressman Matt Gaetz is hitting back at Alan Ritchson, accusing the actor of lying about them being adversaries when they attended the same Florida high school.

Gaetz posted a message Thursday on X, explaining that Hollywood had apparently changed Ritchson -- best known for his title role as Jack Reacher in the TV series, "Reacher."

Gaetz — who represented Florida's 1st congressional district from 2017 to 2024 -- said the two were on the Speech and Debate Team at Niceville High School and couldn't remember any tension between them, saying flat out "we were not adversaries."

Elon Musk is ready to cut through all the red tape in Washington, D.C. ... and even the red tree trunks too -- 'cause he brought a chainsaw out onstage at CPAC!

The tech mogul and head of the Department of Government Efficiency attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in D.C. -- a pep rally for the conservative base of the Republican party held every year in February.

Musk made a surprise appearance at the event ... and, during the show, President of Argentina Javier Milei presented Musk with a new toy -- a chainsaw with a silver blade and writing engraved on the side.

President Donald Trump is doubling down on plans to build statues for Kobe Bryant and Muhammad Ali ... telling a White House crowd the immortal U.S. athletes would forever be memorialized in the National Garden of American Heroes.

"Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali," POTUS said at a gathering celebrating Black History Month at 1600 Penn. Ave., before announcing Mamba would also be honored.

"And the late Kobe Bryant, people love Kobe Bryant," Trump added before noting close friend and legendary golfer Tiger Woods, who was present at the gathering, would receive a statue at another time.

Jim Jones is having a hard time wrapping his head around the bruhaha revolving around Snoop Dogg, Nelly and other rap stars performing for Donald Trump's Prezzy gala ... he remembers the time rappers were considered enemies of the state!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the Harlem Capo on Thursday with Dyce Payso as he put the finishing touches on his upcoming album "At The Church Steps" inside the NYC Pelle Pelle store.

The pioneering hip hop fashion brand will add to his photoshoot, but it's the politics Jim says he doesn't have a handle on.

Alan Ritchson's not voting for his childhood classmate Matt Gaetz anytime soon ... 'cause he used some choice verbiage to take a shot at the dude who he calls his adversary.

The "Reacher" star sat down for an interview with GQ -- released Wednesday -- when he was asked about the former congressman who he met in Niceville, Florida where his family settled when he was a kid.

It sounds like the two weren't having sleepovers and going on double dates ... 'cause Ritchson says, "That mother******. We are adversaries. It's shocking to me that the panhandle of Florida continues to vote for somebody—knowing everything we know about him and the promises that he's made behind closed doors about pardoning certain criminals—he's just not a good dude!"

Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe was arrested and carried out of a city council meeting after becoming disruptive during an anti-MAGA rant!

Kluwe, who played for the Vikings from 2005 to 2012, showed up to the meeting in Huntington Beach ... where he absolutely unloaded on Donald Trump supporters.

Despite many people seemingly not agreeing with the 43-year-old former pro athlete, we're in America, not Germany, and you're allowed to criticize politicians.

Hurricane -- a Special Operations Canine and the most decorated dog in U.S. history -- has died, according to a statement posted to the official White House account.

According to the post -- which calls Hurricane a "true American hero" -- Hurricane bravely defended the White House for years ... before he unfortunately had to be put down this week.

TMZ has obtained pictures of Hurricane's last day ... full of fun times with his handler Marshall Mirarchi and other members of the Secret Service.