Pope Leo XIV is making history in American politics ... becoming the first pope ever to cast a ballot in a U.S. general election, and he's doing it all the way from the Vatican.
The Chicago-born pontiff has officially voted in Tuesday's midterm elections, submitting a mail-in ballot in Illinois ... with the Vatican confirming Friday the 71-year-old exercised his right to vote as an American citizen.
The Vatican says Leo has long participated in U.S. elections whenever eligible, including during his years living in Peru ... and believes citizens have both a right and a duty to take part in the democratic process.
Russell Brand says he's got God in his corner during his ongoing sexual assault trial in London.
In a video posted Wednesday, the accused actor and his wife, Laura Brand, are talking about the trial ... admitting they'll be "extremely cautious" about what they say.
Laura mentioned that anytime they pull up to the courthouse, she feels like she's been putting on armor and gearing up for battle ... prompting Brand to whip out his Bible.
6:42 AM PT -- Pope Leo XIVwas just spotted walking out of Gemelli Hospital in Italy, with a big security detail around him ... as a massive crowd wished him well just outside the front doors.
Good news for Pope Leo XIV ... the pontiff is set to be released Saturday from the hospital after a four-day stay during which he received lung cancer surgery, according to the Vatican.
The Vatican also announced that the Pope won't miss out on his traditional Sunday blessing from St. Peter’s Square.
As you know, the 71-year-old Leo had surgery on his right lung after doctors spotted what appeared to be a cancerous nodule. During the procedure, doctors confirmed it was adenocarcinoma, a very common lung cancer.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is coming out swinging for Abdul El-Sayed ... calling claims linking the Michigan senatorial candidate to the Muslim Brotherhood flat-out racist.
Charlie got AOC on Friday at a Culver's in Michigan, where she's been campaigning for El-Sayed ... and he asked whether the Muslim Brotherhood controversy was rooted in reality or racism.
AOC didn't mince words ... saying the allegations fall "into racist very clearly" and blasting critics for dragging El-Sayed's painful family history into politics.
Televangelist Jim Bakker was laid to rest Monday ... but his son, Jay, was notably absent from the funeral.
Jay -- who's also a pastor -- shared a video on Instagram to be played at his father's service, explaining they had a "complicated relationship" and revealing why he skipped.
Jay says he was able to see his dad before he passed and had some good conversations.
Christa Pike's aunt says her niece is still alive because it's what God wants ... she believes the Almighty is in control now -- not officials in Tennessee.
Carrie Ross -- Christa's aunt who helped raise her -- told the Daily Mail she believes Christa surviving execution by lethal injection last week proves God wants her to live.
Christa's aunt says, "When God puts his hand on someone, God is in control. Not the Department of Correction, not us, but God."
Televangelist Jim Bakker was in hospice care in Missouri when he died Monday, TMZ has learned.
Stone County Coroner John Cunnyngham tells TMZ ... Jim was under the "immediate care" of a doctor in a hospice program before he passed away Monday night in Branson.
Cunningham says Bakker was under the care of Compassus Hospice Care, although it's unclear how long he had been receiving hospice services. The coroner received a call from the facility around 7:45 PM Monday informing him Bakker had died. His cause of death remains unknown.
Jim Bakker, the televangelist who built a Christian television empire with his former wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, has died.
His wife, Lori Bakker, announced Jim died Monday evening saying he devoted 66 years to preaching the Gospel and remained committed to his ministry until the end.
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Lori described him as her husband and best friend, adding that his heart remained with the ministry and its supporters during his final days. She asked for prayers and privacy as the family grieves.
His cause of death is currently not yet known.
Bakker rose to prominence in the 1970s as co-host of "The PTL Club," which he launched with Tammy Faye. The pair also founded Heritage USA, a Christian theme park in South Carolina.
The American Airlines passenger who became a human duct-tape roll after going berserk on a flight was allegedly triggered by a chat with a rabbi over religion, TMZ has confirmed.
Arthur Layne Lundeen was filmed being duct-taped to his seat after hurling the n-word and shouting anti-gay remarks at a flight attendant during last Thursday's AA flight from Texas to New Jersey ... and now the catalyst has been revealed.
Richard O'lenick, one of the passengers who helped restrain Lundeen, tells TMZ ... minutes before his meltdown, Lundeen was having a 2-hour convo with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn about religion when, suddenly, one comment set him off and, like a light switch, his demeanor turned and he started ranting and raving like a maniac for a good 10 minutes, making everyone around them aware there was trouble brewing.
A Rhode Island man whose birth was formally declared a "miracle" by Pope Leo XIV has been arrested in connection with a double shooting.
Tyquan Johnson, 19, is accused of shooting two people ... and he was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force at a Virginia home Wednesday morning, the Newport Police Department announced.
Police say Johnson shot two people in Newport, Rhode Island on July 19 and fled to Virginia.
The two people he allegedly shot suffered non-life-threatening injuries. A second person is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting, but Newport police did not identify them.
Conor McGregor is adamant he's not falling back on his old ways after UFC 329 didn't go as planned ... reaffirming his faith in the Man Upstairs and detailing his next steps in a heartfelt post.
Notorious spoke out on Monday following his devastating knee injury and loss to Max Holloway ... saying despite how his comeback played out, he will remain sin-free in Sin City.
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"My lifestyle changes are permanent and not just until. I am thankful I get to prove it," McGregor said on Instagram.
Conor McGregor ain't the only one buyin' Mick's "women weaken legs" motto ... 'cause boxing star Rolly Romero says he too has sworn off gettin' busy in the bedroom!
"I haven't had sex since June 4, 2025. Over a year. I gave up sex til marriage. My body reserved for my wife, that the Lord Jesus will deliver to me. I gave it up completely til marriage," RR told us at an event in Los Angeles this week.
Of course, McGregor shocked fans this week when he said he not only hasn't knocked boots, but he's sworn off any sexual touching completely in preparation for his fight against Max Holloway.
A Kentucky church is under fire after performing a mock execution by firing squad in front of kids during bible school.
The disturbing viral video shows children at Mount Olivet Baptist Church chanting, "Take him out! Blow him up!" as men dressed in military gear point guns and pretend to shoot multiple rounds into a man lying on the stage.
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You can see the pastor leading the chant during the mock execution ... and kids giggle and laugh while the mock firing squad victim gets dragged offstage and outside.
Louis Farrakhan's wife of more than 70 years has passed away ... the Nation of Islam announced Saturday.
The Honorable Minister @LouisFarrakhan with deep sadness yet with profound gratitude to Allah informs you that his beloved wife of 72 years, the First Lady of the Nation of Islam, Mother Khadijah has returned to Allah (may Allah be pleased). pic.twitter.com/W9K4jG6v4E@OfficialNOI
The religious organization released a statement ... beginning with a verse from the Quran before stating Mother Khadijah Farrakhan -- the Nation of Islam's First Lady -- has "returned to Allah."
In the post, which was reposted by Louis, the Nation of Islam says it remembers Khadijah as a "loving wife, mother, a faithful devoted follower of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad." Elijah Muhammad was one of the leaders of the Nation of Islam before Farrakhan.
If you thought the beef between Pete Davidson and Kanye West was over, then think again ... because Pete may have just poured gasoline on the fire.
Here's the deal ... Pete came out on stage at the Kia Forum in L.A. Sunday night to roast Kevin Hart ... but he also cracked jokes about the late Charlie Kirk, Tony Hinchcliffe, Lizzo and, of course, Kanye.
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Aiming below the belt, Pete let it rip, "I was in a beef with Kanye, so I’ve taken shots from better gay Nazis.”
Erika Kirk delivered a commencement speech at Hillsdale College Saturday that had a mix of personal memories along with a strong push for graduates to consider getting married young.
Speaking to roughly 5,000 people, Erika told graduates that building strong relationships early in life can shape everything that follows ... using her own experience with her late husband, Charlie Kirk, as an example.
EK revealed her and Charlie often spent their time together discussing history, philosophy, and political figures ... something she encouraged students to continue doing in their own relationships. However, a key theme of her speech centered on marriage and family, as she urged graduates to think seriously about settling down earlier rather than later.
