Janelle Monae Wowwza at Critics Choice Awards ... Rocks Very Sheer Dress 👀

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Janelle Monae won the SeeHer Award at the Critics Choice show this weekend -- and it seems she wore something that was pretty on theme ... 'cause everyone got an eyeful.

The actress/singer hit the red carpet Sunday at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in L.A., where she was one of the clear standouts of the night in terms of fashion ... wearing an elegant black dress that appears to be from Vera Wang's Spring 2023 collection.

Of course, while she looked great ... what really turned heads was the fact that her gown was see-through, especially upstairs -- where she didn't seem to be wearing a bra.

There were other somewhat revealing cutouts in the dress -- around the pelvis area -- that made it a total stunner ... and Janelle pulled it off with style. She's naturally a knockout, but a lot of people were kinda shocked she went out there like this ... showing off the bod!

Eventually, she accepted her award for the night -- which was meant to honor artists who offer up representation and authenticity in their roles and performances and work ... and Janelle does both in film and in her music. She acknowledged as much in her speech.

JM identified her pronouns (she/her, they/them) ... and made a point to shout out any LGBT kids at home who might live with families who don't accept them. She said, "I see you."

Great message and all ... but still, folks might've been a little distracted. In a good way. 😅

'All Gas No Brakes' Star Andrew Callaghan Apologizes ... Talks Consent, Therapy

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Andrew Callaghan is speaking for himself regarding sexual misconduct allegations that have been hurled his way -- saying sorry to those affected, while also stepping back.

The host of "All Gas No Breaks" -- as well as HBO's new mockumentary, 'This Place Rules' -- posted a public video Sunday on a YouTube channel that he seems to have just created. It's a 4-minute plus clip, where he outright apologizes to people he's hurt in this saga.

Callaghan says he's been in a state of shock/denial these past several days after allegations made against him -- namely, a handful of women who've come forward to claim he had sex with them only after wearing them down, among other alleged sexual impropriety.

Now that he's had time to reflect, however, Callaghan says he realizes he's been engaging in toxic pursuits of women for years ... noting there's a difference between someone saying "no" and an enthusiastic partner who's clearly consenting to sexual relations.

He says this has forced him to reevaluate some things in his life, and vows to start therapy sessions immediately. Callaghan also urges other young men who've been jumping to his defense to stop and look in the mirror as well -- as this is part of a much larger convo.

Callaghan does note there's some context missing from some of the stories told about him -- and some depictions, he says, are false ... but doesn't go into detail about what those are.

We'd previously been told that one accuser, Caroline Elise, had allegedly demanded money from Callaghan before going public -- something our sources say he refused to cave to, which prompted her to post the now-viral video where she details an encounter with him.

Callaghan also apologized to his fellow collaborators -- this after a couple EPs on his HBO project denounced him and said they had no plans to work with him in the near future.

Miss Universe New Owner Accused of Rigging ... Pageant for Miss USA

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No Steve Harvey, but still a lot of controversy -- the new owner of Miss Universe has been accused of rigging the pageant for Miss USA ... despite some other clear favorites.

Anne Jakrajutatip -- who's the chief of JKN Global Group, which owns both Miss Universe and Miss USA -- is being called out by dissatisfied fans online, who feel like the fact that she literally controls both competitions is a little suspect ... not to mention where this was held.

For starters, Miss Universe was hosted in New Orleans -- airing on Roku -- and some claim the fix was in from the get-go to make sure R'Bonney Gabriel was crowned by the show's ending ... which did, in fact, happen. The runner-up was Miss Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel.

Dudamel impressed throughout the broadcast, especially with her heartfelt answers on certain questions. Her outfits were also less ridiculed than the ones Gabriel wore, particularly in the costume category ... when she walked onstage with a WILD moon landing getup.

All this aside, many are pointing to what seems to be an obvious conflict of interest from Jakrajutatip and co. Her corporation bought Miss Universe this past fall for a reported $20 million, and with it came the rights to Miss USA ... which falls under the same umbrella.

Even before this pageant, there were already gripes about how Gabriel came to be Miss USA in the first place ... dating back to October, when JKN Global came onboard as the new shot-callers. Some have claimed there was favoritism afoot in that competition as well ... and there've even been suspensions in the top ranks as a result of investigations into it.

Of course, another curve ball here is the fact Jakrajutatip is transgender -- something that caught the attention of many when she delivered a powerful speech at one point in the broadcast ... where she said Miss Universe was now owned by women, for women.

Bottom line ... Miss Universe is still as dramatic as ever, with or without any faux pas.

Nepal Plane Crash Kills At Least 68 ... Passenger Video of Final Moments

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A plane crash in Nepal has killed dozens ... but the most harrowing aspect, perhaps, is the fact the final moments from inside were captured by a truly unsuspecting passenger.

The tragedy occurred Sunday during a 27-minute Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu to the town of Pokhara -- carrying 72 onboard, including crew members. The plane was in touch with the airport it was headed to, but reportedly lost contact shortly before it went down.

When the plane smacked into the ground, it immediately erupted into flames ... and townspeople rushed out to the crash site. First responders descended onto the scene and attempted to transport as many victims as they could to the hospital. Thus far 68 people are reported as dead, and an additional 4 are still missing ... with search efforts underway.

At this point, it's unclear what caused the aircraft to nosedive -- the matter is under investigation. However, footage taken from the ground seems to show the the last few seconds the plane was in the air before it collided into a gorge ... and it's terrifying.

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DOOMED FLIGHT

Even more disturbing footage was taken from the cabin itself. An unidentified man who was in the plane right before it torpedoed was actually going live on Facebook, and as you can see in his clip -- which has since gone viral -- he has no clue they're about to crash.

Before long, he's filming some other passengers in front start to tilt to their right ... and suddenly, the plane hits the ground -- with flames taking up the entire view of the camera.

It sounds like the man recording might've survived the incident, but it's unclear what his status is now. YA has canceled all flights for Monday to mourn the deceased.

MLK & Coretta Scott 'The Embrace' Statue Unveiled ... Gets Mixed Reactions Online

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A statue honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, was unveiled this week -- depicting a famous hug they gave each other ... but not everyone sees that.

The art piece is called "The Embrace," and it was shown off in public for the first time Friday ... with a large crowd on hand in the Freedom Plaza of the Boston Common to help ring in the new addition to the space. Some King family members were also there for the honor.

Sculptor Hank Willis Thomas is the man behind the monument -- and he says he designed "The Embrace" after a 1964 photo of MLK wrapping Coretta up after hearing he'd won the Nobel Peace Prize that year. However, he decided to just show off their arms interlocking.

While the sculpture is being praised by many, it's being questioned by others -- especially on Twitter, where some can't understand why the creator didn't include their heads.

Even more people online are doing double takes ... saying they interpret the piece in different ways, especially from certain angles. For instance, some say it looks like one of the arms is holding onto a thigh -- which comes across as inappropriate for the select few who see it that way.

Of course, there are those who are outright mocking it, despite the seriousness of the subject. Everybody's a critic, we suppose -- and this one's in the eye of the beholder. 🤷🏽‍♂️

MLK Day is on Monday, BTW. Enjoy the holiday!

LGBTQ+ Viral Article Says Stop Using 'Q-Word' ... Is Queer a Slur???

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A viral article out of the UK is posing an interesting request -- pleading with the public (and the media) to stop using the word "queer" ... as the author apparently views it as a slur.

The brief opinion piece -- which also seems to be a letter to the editor -- appeared in the Guardian this week ... and the headline simply read, "Please don’t use the Q-word." It's written by a fella named Karl Lockwood, who says he's a gay man of nearly 7 decades.

In the 113-word editorial, Lockwood hones into a Guardian piece written last week, which notes that England and Wales had started to count trans and nonbinary people in their census for the first time ever -- while pointing out only 15,000 ID'd specifically as queer.

He adds, "I suspect that many of the others, like me, consider the term to be insulting and derogatory, and certainly not 'reclaimed'. I am a gay man of 66 years with many friends and acquaintances, and know no one who would refer to themselves as queer. It would seem a small minority of activists has encouraged the media to use the word without considering its offensiveness to many people. You wouldn’t use the N-word, so don’t use the Q-word."

In other words, he's referring to a time when "queer" was used to bully others -- which he feels qualifies it as hate speech ... and thus, warrants its censoring in public discourse.

It's an interesting argument, but most of Twitter seems to strongly disagree with this guy ... with a lot of folks on the bird app calling it cloaked "TERF" talk that only serves to erase queer people from the larger conversation. Some also think it targets transgender folks.

Of course, there's also the issue of comparing the use of "queer" to the n-word, which has people fired up. Many say the juxtaposition is apples to oranges -- and that conflating the two is a huge disservice to Black people, not to mention LGBTQ+ people of color.

The larger context here seems to lie in generational differences on this issue ... the man who wrote this is obviously of an older demographic, which a handful of users acknowledge and respect, but just as many feel like he shouldn't impose his views on an entire subculture.

Dallas Zoo Clouded Leopard Found!!! After Going MIA

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UPDATE

3:53 PM PT -- A happy ending to the story ... Dallas Zoo just announced Nova's been found safe and sound, saying, "We are thrilled to report we located clouded leopard Nova on-grounds at the Zoo this afternoon at approximately 4:40 PM. She was located very near the original habitat, and teams were able to safely secure her just before 5:15 PM."

UPDATE

Even better info, "Initial indications are she is not injured. She is being evaluated by our veterinary staff right now. We’ll provide further updates on her status tomorrow."

There's a scary situation unfolding at The Dallas Zoo, as a clouded leopard has gone missing, and authorities desperately track it down before nightfall.

The zoo's official Twitter account made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying, "The zoo is closed today due to a serious situation." They continued to explain the leopard was, "Not in its habitat when the team arrived this morning and is unaccounted for at this time."

The account noted that the 25 lb leopard, who reportedly is named Nova, was a "non-dangerous animal" but still advised folks who may come across the animal not to approach it if they see it outside of the zoo's walls.

The zoo says these clouded leopards are designed to live in treetops, inside dense forests, and don't pose a great risk to family pets ... but still say anyone who may feel uneasy should still bring their family pets inside.

Zookeepers say their main focus right now is bringing Nova home ... and ask anyone who spots a similar animal to DM a picture.

Originally Published -- 3:18 PM PT

Lisa Marie Presley Austin Butler's Globes Speech Goes Viral After Death ... Fans Call It 'Shockingly Sad'

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Austin Butler's Golden Globes speech is suddenly carrying even more weight after Lisa Marie Presley's death ... because tears were shed as he told her he'd love her "forever."

As you know, Austin took home the gold Tuesday night for his portrayal of Lisa Marie's father, Elvis Presley ... and now that she's passed, his speech is going viral as social media users are even more touched by his words.

The actor went through his list of thank yous, before stopping to offer special gratitude to the Presley family -- specifically Lisa Marie and her mother Priscilla Presley, who were both in the audience. He thanked them dearly for opening themselves up to the project, adding "I love you forever."

Lisa Marie got really emotional during Austin's big win, and folks online took the moment to heart ... with one saying the exchange is "extra powerful now," and another calling it "shockingly sad."

TMZ broke the story ... Lisa was rushed to the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest Thursday morning.

Sources told us EMTs were able to regain a pulse before she was transported, but tragically was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Coachella 2023 Lineup Released ... Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, Frank Ocean Headlining

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Coachella has dropped this year's highly anticipated lineup ... and some of the biggest artists are comin' to bring the house down.

Bad Bunny is set to hit the stage Friday, with Gorillaz, Metro Boomin, and Pusha T goin' all out throughout the day, amongst others. Idris Elba is also touching down on day 1, performing as a DJ for the crowd.

Saturday's headliner is K-pop group BLACKPINK -- while other performances that day will come from Rosalía, The Kid LAROI, and Charli XCX, to name a few.

Don't sleep on Sunday -- because Frank Ocean will finally be gracing the desert stage. For those unaware, he was set as a headliner for the 2020 concert before the whole thing got scrapped.

Other than Frank, Sunday's packed with artists like Björk, Dominic Fike, Latto, Rae Sremmurd, and lots more.

Fake lineups have circulated online, including one that said Justin Bieber would headline. Sources say Bieber was asked, but he turned it down in order to focus on his album. However, we're told there's a good chance he does it in 2024!

Remember, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd all headlined in 2022 ... and they surely didn't disappoint.

Despite putting on a great show more recently ... honchos working behind the scenes of the 2-weekend long festival have seen some hiccups over the last few years.

You'll recall, there was a bit of drama over who would fill the spot ... after Kanye West dropped out of the show a week before the festival began. He had plans to bring out Travis Scott, but of course, that didn't happen once Ye pulled the plug.

Coachella made its comeback that year ... after canceling the festivals in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.

Well, this year the show will go on ... and it seems like it will be a hell of a time!

It'll all go down April 14–23.

San Francisco Man Sprays Down Homeless Woman ... Point Blank with Hose

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COLD HOSPITALITY

A San Francisco man seen turning a hose on a woman on the street is sparking outrage -- but law enforcement says, as of now, he will not face any criminal consequences.

The video, shot and posted Monday, shows an older gentleman spraying the woman who was sitting on the sidewalk in front of him, seemingly minding her business. Unclear if the woman was homeless, but you can see right off the bat, he's going to town with the water -- letting it run on her for several seconds.

You can also hear the woman screaming in protest, apparently asking him to stop. Eventually, he does, and tells her to move down the block.

Never mind the fact it's been rainy and cold in SF these past few days ... this act looks cruel and unnecessary, and as you can imagine -- it's gotten a lot of pissed off people online calling for accountability, as well as the identity of the sprayer.

Some thought he was associated with the bar behind him, but the business is distancing itself ... reps say they don't know the dude, or condone his behavior.

Now, we're told cops did respond, but no one was cited or arrested.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

SFPD tells TMZ they responded to this incident -- described to them as a possible assault -- but say when they arrived, neither the man or the woman sought any further police action. So, unfortunately for those who wanted this guy in cuffs ... absolutely nothing came of it.

SFPD notes the Street Crisis Response Team came out to meet with the woman, but the result of that and her ultimate fate are unknown. Not-so-happy ending, we know.

California Storm Target Using Makeshift Drains ... After Dozens Of Roof Leaks

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The west coast is still gettin' hit HARD with flash floods ... and one Target store's roof isn't holding up well -- based on the look of dozens of leaks caught throughout the store!

Video obtained by TMZ shows the makeshift response to a seriously leaky roof at the big-box store location in Irvine, CA Monday night. Employees appear to have set up tons of strategically-placed plastic bags that take water directly into buckets below.

It's a pretty crazy sight to see ... especially as you notice just how big the store is, and the bags just keep goin' and goin'.

As we reported, this new year weather is no joke -- Montecito locals, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Oprah, and Ellen DeGeneres, were ordered to evacuate after being hit with a TON of rainfall.

Cleanup on aisle everywhere.

Snowboarder Survives Terrifying Avalanche ... Caught On Video

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SNOW-WHERE TO GO

A snowboarder sprang into survival mode when an avalanche interrupted his run over the weekend ... and the scary incident was captured on video.

Boarder Blake Nielson was shredding at Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake City, Utah when an isolated wind slab broke loose above and below him ... which knocked him to the ground and "took me for a ride."

Nielson -- who says he tested the Kessler Peak area for instabilities before his run -- was able to stay above the surface as the snow shot him down the slope ... using swimming motions with his arms and kicking his board to keep from going under.

In the video, Nielson is heard yelling over the radio to his partner ... saying, "Logan, I'm sliding!! ... I'm staying on top, but I am sliding!!"

Nielson predicts he was swept about 300 feet before he was able to come to a complete stop ... and the slope slid around 1,300 feet.

In Nielson's report of the incident, he says it's imperative to respect the wind.

"Even a small 'manageable' wind pocket can break and carry you a long way in steep terrain with long runouts," Nielson told the Utah Avalanche Center.

He also learned cross-loading is something to look out for ... as he did not expect it to be that big of a problem.

Nielson also suggests making a ski cut ... saying had he done so, he could have decreased some hazards.

Be careful out there, folks.

CTV Reporter Suffers Scary Medical Emergency Live On Air ... 'I'm Not Feeling Very Well'

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UPDATE

3:26 PM PT -- Jessica Robb just released a statement about the incident, saying, "On Sunday night, a very personal and vulnerable moment unfolded as I reported live on air. Since then, it has been shared thousands of times, along with baseless theories about the cause."

UPDATE

She says, "To everyone who has reached out with supportive messages of well wishes and concern, thank you. It's been overwhelming, and while I can't get to all the messages, please know I've seen them and appreciate every single one. I have also received an overwhelming amount of harassment and hatred, tied to false theories about the reason for the incident."

UPDATE

She continues, "While I will not share private medical information publicly, I can say that there is no cause for concern, and that my understanding of my own medical background provides a reasonable explanation for what happened. I can, however, confirm that the situation was in no way related to the COVID-19 vaccine."

A Canadian TV journalist suffered a medical emergency in the middle of her report ... and the scary moment was broadcast live on air.

CTV reporter Jessica Robb was on a live shot Sunday night with anchor Nahreman Issa when Jessica suddenly became unable to get her message out, stumbling over her words and apologizing before appearing to lose her balance.

Before she starts to wabble, Jessica says ... "Sorry, Nahreman, I'm, I'm, I'm not feeling very well right now, and I'm about to just ..." and then the camera cuts away.

Nahreman assured viewers Jessica was not alone in the field and promised the news program would share an update on Jessica's status later on in the broadcast.

CTV Edmonton confirmed Jessica's medical issue in a tweet, but it sounds like she's going to pull through. The station says, "Thanks to everyone who inquired about our reporter who became ill during the 6 PM News. Jessica Robb is feeling better and is now resting."

Originally Published -- 10:28 AM PT

Popeyes Meme Kid I'm A College Football Player!!! ... Wants NIL Deal

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Remember the TerRio look-alike who went viral for giving the side-eye at Popeyes??? That kid from the famous meme is now a college football player -- and we're all officially old.

TMZ Sports has confirmed ... Lake Erie College freshman offensive lineman Dieunerst Collin is, in fact, the little kid in the yellow shirt who became internet famous on now-defunct social media platform Vine back in the day.

As it turns out, the 6'1", 330-pounder went on to be a successful athlete since becoming a meme ... and won a state championship with East Orange Campus high school in New Jersey in 2021.

But Collin isn't shying away from his past -- in fact, he wants the fried chicken chain to hook him up with a Name, Image and Likeness deal!!

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"@popeyes I JUST WANNA TALK BUISNESS," Collin said on social media this weekend.

According to Collin's bio on the team site, he's currently studying sports management and comedian studies ... and hopes to become a sports analyst.

Someone from Popeyes better pick up the phone and call Collin ASAP.

Lizzo Cancel Culture is Appropriation ... Vents on Ills of Social Media

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Lizzo is starting the new year with a list of grievances about the state of social media -- including the notion that "cancel culture" has been warped into something unrecognizable.

The singer has been expressing a lot of opinions lately about what she sees as total nonsense when it comes to what people focus on online -- especially as it relates to her. On Sunday, though, she had a new thought ... namely, that cancel culture itself is appropriation.

Here's how Lizzo puts it ... "There was real outrage from truly marginalized people and now it’s become trendy, misused and misdirected." She adds, "I hope we can phase out of this & focus our outrage on the real problems." In the comments, several people seem to agree.

Her cancel culture theory is just the latest idea she's voiced on this issue. Earlier this week, she was addressing social media discourse at large -- suggesting users (probably Twitter ones) needed to do a better job at filtering truth from fiction before jumping to conclusions.

This goes beyond people having full-blown debates about her figure, BTW -- which continues to be a subject of conversation. Now, there seems to be talk about Lizzo's music, and which groups she may or may not be catering to ... not to mention opinions on her race.

Speaking of fat-shaming, Lizzo is again tackling that head-on. It seems she's receiving a bit of what Adele was subjected to when she noticeably lost weight ... people criticizing her for not "loving herself" as she was -- this after she'd been mercilessly mocked for years when she was doing exactly that and championing body positivity. A lose-lose scenario, really.

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SETTING IT STRAIGHT

Of course, some might say she'd be better off tuning all of this noise out and carrying on with her business -- but Lizzo's never been one to bite her tongue. On the contrary, she speaks her mind ... which is what so many people love about her to begin with.

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SPEAKING HER MIND

Something tells us she'll continue calling it like she sees it. But on this specific view of cancel culture being improperly hijacked ... it's an interesting point of contention for sure.

Ex-Prez Jair Bolsonaro Supporters Storm Brazilian Congress ... Over 2022 Election Loss

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Brazil appears to be going through its own January 6th moment -- just a couple days after the 2-year anniversary of our own, no less -- all because Jair Bolsonaro lost the election.

The ex-Brazilian Prez -- who helmed a conservative first term, and was seeking a 2nd in the 2022 Brazilian general election -- was top of mind Sunday for thousands of his supporters ... who descended upon the National Congress in Brasilia during what quickly became a riot.

Tons of video is surfacing online that shows the mob breaching barriers and storming past officers to break into the Congress building, as well as the Supreme Federal Court and even the Presidential Palace itself, where just-sworn in President Luiz Lula da Silva now resides.

It seems all the buildings in question were empty prior to the break-ins, but this sight is an ugly one to say the least -- and very reminiscent to what happened at our Capitol.

The rioters are turning the grounds upside down ... destroying property and entering areas where they would obviously never be able to reach under normal circumstances. Just like here in the States, they seem to have busted through windows and locked doors -- and are making themselves at home in a chaotic scene. A lot of them are draped in Brazilian flags.

Some reports indicate that a good amount of these folks are actually armed, and threatening to occupy the premises for as long as it takes for their demands to be met -- which seem to lie in the fact that they think the election was stolen. Why does that sound familiar?

As for the response ... Brazil's Minister of Justice, Flavio Dino, is reported to have said he'll use the full extent of the law to prosecute these vandals -- but at the moment, it doesn't look like the police on the ground are having much luck in getting 'em the hell out of there.

Just like they were here, law enforcement is completely outnumbered and being overrun by civilians ... and some of the clashes have turned quite violent.

It's actually astonishing how much this parallels what happened here in the States -- some of the snapshots are almost identical -- with rioters entering offices, taking computers and posing for selfies all throughout the area and celebrating their unlawful infiltration.

Remember, we saw this exact type of behavior ourselves ... the only difference being that our lawmakers were in the middle of a live session, and had to go into hiding.

This current attempted coup is taking place on the weekend -- when federal workers and elected officials aren't around, it seems -- but it's no less discomforting to watch unfold live.

Time will tell what comes of this in Brazil. As we know, there was a special congressional committee formed that dug into the origins of Jan. 6 -- and they concluded by pointing the finger at Donald Trump ... claiming he incited the insurrectionists and should be prosecuted.

That has yet to happen, though ... and DT has already thrown his hat in the ring for 2024.