07/21/2026 11:59 AM -- Former President Joe Biden's office tells TMZ ... President Biden's conversations for a book a decade ago that discussed his late son are private, and were provided to the Department of Justice on the express condition they stay that way. Reversing course and making them public is just the latest example of this Administration weaponizing the DOJ for political retribution. It’s wrong, and while President Biden disagrees with today’s decision, he also respects the courts and the vital role an independent judiciary plays in a healthy democracy.
Rough news for Joe Biden to wake up to -- his appeal to block the Department of Justice from releasing audio from a 2017 interview with his memoir ghostwriter has just been rejected.
The 2-1 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit came late Monday, with the court reasoning there is a "substantial" public interest in disclosing the material, AP News reports.
The former president wanted to keep the recordings under wraps, with his legal team arguing it was an invasion of privacy. The DOJ previously said the recordings were exempt from disclosure under public records law.
Sen. Chuck Schumer is embroiled in the weightiest issues in the world right now, but TMZ DC could not pass up an opportunity to ask if he passed gas on the Senate floor.
Jacob buttonholed the Minority Leader after talking to other reporters about all things political and asked about a telltale noise that emitted from the 75-year-old's body during a Tuesday session. The question was simple and clear.
Cuteness overload on Capitol Hill ... courtesy of some 6-week-old puppies who may have a future as Capitol Police dogs.
Check out the adorable video ... Charlie Cotton was able to sniff out these soon-to-be police K-9s before they were unleashed on Capitol Hill to work on their socialization skills and confidence.
The pups weren't the only ones doing some digging ... Charlie chatted up the humans transporting this litter and got to the bottom of these dogs' purpose ... and it sounds like they have meaningful career paths in their futures.
Rep. Tim Burchettis cutting Chuck Schumersome slack over his apparent Senate floor fart ... and joking Taco Bell may be the real culprit behind the Capitol Hill gas leak.
Our TMZ DCteam caught up with the Tennessee congressman Thursday morning and asked whether he heard Schumer seemingly let one rip while ripping President Trumpon the Senate floor.
Burchett immediately points the finger at the fast-food chain currently battling some explosive headlines.
The 61-year-old lawmaker even delivers a reassuring message directly to Schumer ... telling him it's okay, he's human and -- should the Senator need him -- he'll be there. Finally ... some bipartisan support in Washington!
JD Vance says he's determined not to let his work perks turn him into an "entitled asshole" ... but the Secret Service is reportedly "fed up" with the Vice President after he allegedly tried to use a military helicopter to ferry his son to a golf lesson.
According to MS NOW ... Vance planed to fly with his young son on Marine Two to a golf lesson at Joint Base Andrews last week, but the flight got scrapped at the last second due to bad weather.
The report claims Vance's Secret Service detail grouse about his last-minute travel requests and have low morale.
Rep. Ilhan Omar says she's not convinced Senator Mitch McConnell is doing well despite the recent proof of life photo released by his office ... questioning why we haven't heard McConnell speak yet.
Our TMZ DC team caught up with the Congresswoman from Minnesota on Wednesday ... and we asked about her the online theory that photo showing him a rehab facility with his wife is doctored.
Rep. Omar says it looks like A.I. to her ... adding she has read some compelling arguments online which back up the claim, and she's personally hung up on why we haven't seen McConnell on video.
As internet sleuths dissect Mitch McConnell's proof-of-life photo, his wife Elaine Chao surfaced in the flesh ... leaving the rehabilitation center where the Senator is recovering ... we've got a photo ... and it's authentic.
The former U.S. Secretary of Labor was spotted Tuesday making a low-key exit from the rehab facility where the longtime Kentucky Senator is recovering after suffering a fall last month. It's the first time Chao has been seen in public since McConnell was hospitalized -- aside from the now-infamous photo that sent social media into overdrive.
Chao kept things understated, wearing a face mask and keeping her head down as she left the medical center and climbed into a waiting vehicle.
Clavicular's firing back at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ... saying she's got the wrong idea about what "looksmaxxing" is really about.
The viral streamer took to X after AOC's comments to TMZ DC Tuesday on Capitol Hill, where she questioned the message the craze sends to young men.
Clavicular took issue with the criticism, arguing "looksmaxxing" has been misunderstood from the start ... saying it's about becoming as well-rounded as possible, not just improving your physical appearance.
The Congresswoman from Texas told Jacob, her spidey-senses were on high alert when she heard Nolan disappeared in the presence of 3 white guys ... guys who quickly deleted their social media. And Nolan leaving his cellphone behind -- well, Crockett's not having it.
She says this is not just a problem with the Nolan Wells case ... it's a problem in Mississippi, where she says you have to be blind not to question if race plays a part in such a case.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is weighing in on viral streamer Clavicular's "looksmaxxing" craze ... and while she's not interested in piling on him personally, she does think the trend raises some bigger questions ... and she worries about the impact on young men.
Charlie caught up with AOC Tuesday on Capitol Hill and asked about the notorious playboy who's built a massive following around "looksmaxxing" ... and she explains why she's more concerned about the message young men are absorbing, rather than the man delivering it.
She says women have to deal with relentless and systemic body-image pressures ... and she'd hate to see young guys get dragged into the same cycle of believing they'll never measure up physically.
Tommy Tuberville says he has complete faith in President Donald Trump to handle the nuclear codes ... even as Trump threatens devastating military action against Iran.
Jacob caught up with the Alabama senator Monday on Capitol Hill, and TT made it crystal clear he isn't losing any sleep over Trump's rhetoric. In fact, he says he's fully behind it.
Check out the clip ... when Jacob asks whether Trump's threats could have dangerous consequences for the world, Tuberville doesn't back down one bit.
Rep. Thomas Massie says his "prison sentence" -- i.e., serving in the House of Reps -- has been commuted (he's been voted out), and he has no interested in changing prison cells by becoming a senator.
The Kentucky Congressman was upbeat Monday with Charlie, who asked him if he would consider running for Senator Mitch McConnell's seat if he resigns. Massie was pretty clear -- not interested, taking a shot at geriatric senators who belong in nursing homes.
Charlie was also interested in Massie's glow up ... a cool beard, a suitable suit, etc. Massie is quick to attribute his fresh look to the women in his life.
One small gripe -- Massie thinks just because Charlie is Australian, he's into a certain steakhouse. That's a bloomin' stereotype!
Ted Cruz is taking Lindsey Graham's death hard ... and when TMZ DC caught up with him on Capitol Hill, he looked like he was fighting to keep it together.
Charlie spoke with the Senator from Texas after his close friend's sudden death ... and the normally combative Cruz was noticeably emotional.
Check out the video ... Cruz opens up about the loss in a way you don't often see, reflecting on Graham's legacy and the reality of returning to the Senate without him.
Cruz tells us Graham "was one of a kind" ... and he says everyone in the Senate is shocked and stunned his sudden death.
Donald Trump's administration has taken a huge step in its fight against the "fake news" media ... issuing subpoenas to New York Times reporters who wrote about his plane swap in Turkey.
The newspaper reported the shocking development on Saturday, stating the Trump admin issued subpoenas to four reporters ... Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt.
The four NYT employees collaborated on a story titled "Security Precaution Led Trump to Use Old Air Force One in Leaving Turkey," which was published on Wednesday.
Kristi Noem and her longtime husband Bryon are calling it quits, according to her mother ... just months after claims surfaced about him cross-dressing and wearing fake boobs.
Kristi's mom, Corinne Arnold, spoke to the Daily Mail at her home, which borders the estate where Kristi and Bryon lived and raised kids ... and she told the outlet it's been a difficult road for the pair -- but the writing has been on the wall for a while now.
You may remember ... in March, a few weeks after Kristi was removed from her position as the Department of Homeland Security head, the Daily Mail published a story in which they said Bryon snapped photos of himself wearing oversized fake boobs and chatted with adult performers in the "bimbofication" fetish scene ... focusing on their massive fake breasts.
While the health status of Senator Mitch McConnell remains up in the air ... life goes on at his Washington, D.C. residence ... at least when it comes to flooring.
Our intrepid TMZ DC producer Charlie Cotton paid a visit to the Senator's home Friday to see if he could get any answers on Mitch's health ... and he saw something interesting leaving the house.
No, it wasn't Mitch ... it was a guy with some carpeting samples.
Charlie spoke to the guy off camera ... and it sounds like new tiles are being considered too.
