You Might Want to Rethink

TikTok might become an American-owned company on the heels of the Trump administration's security concerns about the app -- if Microsoft can get a deal done.

The software behemoth went public Sunday with its plans, announcing it was pursuing to purchase TikTok from its parent company ByteDance, and Microsoft's CEO has already had a chat with President Trump about the potential deal.

It seems they're pretty eager to please the Prez, too ... saying, "Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury."

In other words, they're gonna make sure they put "America first" here ... both on the security side and the economic side. Music to the administration's ears, no doubt.

There's more though -- Microsoft says it's planning to complete their discussions with the China-run TikTok team no later than September 15 -- and in the meantime ... they'll continue to brief Uncle Sam and co. on where they stand. Sounds like the feds are onboard with this.

Remember, last week Trump said he was considering banning TikTok from the States outright -- BUT, he also said they were looking at alternatives ... Microsoft included, apparently.

One last thing on how Microsoft plans to address Trump's security concerns ... they say, among other measures, their crack team will ensure that all private data of American TikTok users is transferred, and any still out there being stored in foreign servers ... will be deleted.

America might run on Dunkin' -- but one of the chain's employees allegedly runs on hatred for police, 'cause he got busted for spitting into a cop's morning cup o' Joe.

This man here -- 25-year-old Vincent Sessler -- was arrested in Chicago after a state police officer claims he innocently ordered a cup earlier this week from the Dunkin' Donuts where Sessler works ... and upon removing the lid to cool it down down, discovered some fresh phlegm sitting on top.

Police have a much more descriptive way of putting it though -- they say the officer "observed a large, thick piece of mucus which was later confirmed to be saliva" floating inside.

Chi-Town authorities also say that after an investigation was conducted, they arrested Sessler for disorderly conduct, reckless conduct and battery to a peace officer. Someone even posted a photo of the alleged loogie ... it's gross.

One of the most vile, disgusting displays we've seen in a long time went down in Nokomis, Florida, when a white supremacist spewing his love for Trump and hatred for others violently attacked a woman.

The self-proclaimed Aryan and white supremacist, Nicholas Arnold Schock, went on a rampage inside a restaurant and began screaming, "I'm a white supremacist, Aryan Nation will rule the world. People covered in tattoos are gonna be my closest relatives, I promise you."

Someone at the restaurant asked him to pipe down because kids were present, to which he responded ... "I don't give a f***, call Donald Trump, please."

And then, he hurled some disgusting obscenities, and as he tried to make his way inside a female staffer blocked him, and then, with all his might, unloaded a punch to her face.

The crowd clearly had enough, tackling the guy and taking him to the ground.

Schock was arrested and charged with battery and disturbing the peace. He's still in custody.

A group of angry Trump supporters went on a tirade against a handful of black lives matter protesters, with the leader of the group declaring, "You're racist against my white heritage."

It's an ugly scene that played out in Keystone Heights, Florida, where 4 BLM protesters were across the street from the Trumpers. The group waving "Trump 2020" flags, along with some confederate flags, were taunting the protesters.

They claim the BLM protesters are racist, and then there's this. When the group learns one of the BLM protesters is holding a sign that says, "Start Healing," the leader of the group says in response, "We ain't hurt you yet, motherf***ers. We can get you something to heal up motherf***er real quick."

Two white supremacists were arrested Friday for attacking a vehicle with a shovel, after the woman screamed at the people inside the car, "only white lives matter," and her husband got all Hitlery with the Nazi salute, declaring, "white power."

The incident went down in Torrance, CA, when Gregory and Rachel Howell got involved in a road rage incident ... this according to the Torrance Police Dept.

The woman inside the vehicle recorded the confrontation. The hateful comments and gestures apparently weren't enough for the married couple, because the guy went back to his truck, grabbed a shovel from his pickup truck and used it to go wild on the car, striking it several times before the driver beat a hasty retreat.

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse are giving away money ... or so it seems after nearly 200 people in Rhode Island mistakenly received tax refund checks signed by the Disney duo.

The hilarious technical error was discovered when some people received checks with a Mickey signature under the general treasurer line, and Walt's name signed under state controller.

Hold on to your mouse ears hat -- Rhode Island officials say this was a technical glitch. The Disney signatures are used by the Rhode Island Division of Taxation on test files. They were never meant to be stamped on the 176 live checks mailed out ... mostly to business owners.

For the record, officials mailed out new checks with the correct signatures. And, in case you're wondering -- Seth Magaziner and Peter Keenan are the state's real treasurer and controller, respectively. Chill out, guys ... you haven't been replaced.

And, here's a fun fact raised by The AP in its report on the tax flub: "Mickey Mouse is the cartoon character that was animator and producer Walt Disney’s first big hit."

The sight of a George Floyd 3D hologram is pissing off racists -- at least one of whom flew into a rage and spewed the n-word at spectators.

The disturbing altercation went down in Richmond, Virginia where the Floyd hologram was projected above the site where a Robert E. Lee statue had stood a month ago. As a crowd gathered for the event, a white woman started yelling, "This is my city" ... prompting some people to push her away.

The video, shot Tuesday night, really amps up, though, when she screams ... "Look at that n****r s**t!"

A nearby man immediately told her to get lost (that's the clean version) -- at which point several people shoved her away from the event ... narrowly avoiding more violence.

The event was dubbed "A Monumental Change: The George Floyd Hologram Memorial Project." As we reported ... the hologram first appeared in Richmond and it'll make stops at 5 other sites including some in North Carolina and Georgia.

This is unusual nowadays, but senators on both sides of the aisle are in agreement on something -- President Trump can float the idea of election delays all he wants ... it ain't happening.

We got Sen. Tim Kaine -- a Virginia Democrat and former VP candidate -- on Capitol Hill Thursday, and he reassured voters ... POTUS simply doesn't have the authority to push the November 3 election date.

Now, he admits it might be a challenge convincing the Prez of that, but he also thinks POTUS might have an ulterior motive for raising the issue in the first place.

Sen. Kaine has faith members of Congress -- including Republicans -- will make sure the election goes down as scheduled, and Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana lends credence to that.

Cassidy is a GOP'er and went a little softer on Trump, naturally, and attempted to explain where the Prez was coming from when he tweeted, "Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???"

But, he still came to the same conclusion -- Sen. Cassidy tells us there's no need to delay the election, and he'll support the winner, because the U.S. Constitution tells him so.

As we reported ... Trump's using the false notion of rampant fraud connected to mail-in voting as the basis for all this postponement buzz.

The U.S. Open has a 'Rona problem and a Drone-a problem -- meaning there's concern about unmannned aircrafts infiltrating the tennis tournament ... and the NYPD is on the case.

With the U.S. Open set to go down in New York on Aug. 31, organizers have already said no fans will be allowed to attend the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources tell TMZ Sports ... law enforcement is now anticipating an uptick in drone activity around Flushing Meadows from both journalists and fans trying to get a bird's-eye shot of the action.

We're told ... there are concerns about athlete safety and also the possibility of drones creating distractions during tournament play that could affect the event.

The NYPD tells us they will "have a counter-drone team" at the event to keep watch for anyone who violates drone laws.

"Drones are illegal over New York City and anyone using one needs to basically have a pilot's license and a flight plan," an NYPD spokesperson tells TMZ Sports.

So, how will cops catch the drone violators? We're told the NYPD will use sensors that can detect signals from drones and the handheld devices that control them.

If caught, illegal drone operators could face stiff penalties -- especially if an out-of-control drone strikes a person.

Tekashi 6ix9ine sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but before he can be truly free, he's gotta give back to the community ... and he wants to make sure he survives it.

T69's attorney, Lance Lazzaro, tells us his client will be released from home confinement by Saturday -- which will allow him to move into the next phase of his sentence ... community service. We're told 6ix9ine hasn't done a single hour since he's been stuck at home.

Now that he'll be able to get out again ... Lance says there's a new problem his legal team is circling -- namely, where the hell to put the guy so he can complete 300 hours of community service.

It's gonna take him a while to complete that, and his team's concern is Tekashi could be a sitting duck for anyone seeking revenge ... while he's doing good to make good on his sentence.

Luckily for him ... Lance and co. are already making arrangements to keep their client safe. One of the ways they plan to do that is by asking Tekashi's probation officer to let him do his time at a highly secured facility, like a VA hospital or even a learning institution of some kind.

Anywhere where there's lots of people and maybe even armed guards and/or cops around would be the ticket in their eyes.

We're told Lance feels the probation officer assigned will take these pleas into consideration and act appropriately -- otherwise, it could spell trouble for Tekashi.

Rep. Maxine Waters fears what's going on in Portland could be a sign of trouble to come in November ... IF President Trump loses the election, and refuses to give up power.

The Congresswoman, who was on Capitol Hill, was super concerned over AG William Barr's testimony, in which he supported the aggressive federal response to the protests.

Even more ominous than Barr ... Trump refusing to say he'd accept the results of the election, win or lose, and even more ominous ... whether he'd hand over the reigns of power.

Rep. Waters makes it clear ... she's worried her fears could become a reality, especially since neither Trump nor Barr will squarely say the President will accept the election results.

Waters says there's evidence Trump won't go willingly if he loses ... as she puts it, he's a wanna-be dictator whose methods follow a long line of dictators. And, she thinks the federal presence in Portland may be a dry run for things to come in November.

A woman in Michigan is now facing the music after setting a Jeep on fire ... as she now sits injured, behind bars.

Sydney Parham made news for all the wrong reasons last week in the Detroit suburb of Harrison Township ... where she's allegedly seen on video dousing a black Jeep with gasoline and setting it on fire. When the jeep ignited in flames, Parham got more than she bargained for as the explosion of flames knocked her back.

Parham was arrested for arson and is in jail in lieu of $20,000. As for why she torched the Jeep ... the owner of the SUV, Avery Stephens, says he's got no idea.