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Senator Ted Cruz says Jon Stewart has it all wrong ... he supports veterans, but wasn't down to support the bill that just went down in flames ... saying the Democrats were guilty of a cheap trick that would cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.

We got the Texas Senator Thursday at Reagan National Airport and asked about the GOP's opposition to the PACT Act -- a bill designed to expand healthcare coverage for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins during their service.

Jon Stewart went nuclear on Republicans, especially Senator Pat Toomey, after the PACT Act was shot down ... calling him a "F*****g coward" for voting against the bill.

Cruz says he actually supports the PACT Act -- despite voting against it -- because he says the Democrats were using it as a vessel to spend way more over the next ten years. It gets super technical, but Cruz thinks the bill would open the door to allow Democrats to spend another $400 billion on programs unrelated to veterans. That's certainly not the way Democrats and veteran groups see it.

Stewart was recently floated as an appealing Democratic Presidential candidate in 2024 ... we tried to ask Cruz his thoughts on Stewart as a politician, but he bounced ... saying he had to catch a flight.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito put Prince Harry and other foreign leaders on blast for blasting him and 4 of his colleagues who overturned Roe v. Wade ... this after the Duke of Sussex likened the SCOTUS decision to the war in Ukraine.

Justice Alito spoke about religious liberty in Rome ... at a conference run by the University of Notre Dame Law School.

As he ticked off the public figures from foreign lands who criticized the opinion, he quipped with dripping sarcasm, "What really wounded me was when the Duke of Sussex addressed the United Nations and seemed to compare the decision, whose name may not be spoken, with the Russian attack on Ukraine"

He was referring to Prince Harry's speech at the UN last week ... where Harry listed numerous events that made 2022 "a painful year in a painful decade" -- with the Roe v. Wade decision and the attack on Ukraine front and center.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is getting support in the wake of the backlash over his Vogue cover shoot ... and it's from orgs helping his people on the frontlines.

A rep for NOVA Ukraine, a nonprofit that spreads awareness of the war while providing aid to Ukrainians, tells TMZ the article was "brilliantly written" ... wondering if the people criticizing the story even read it.

As we reported, Zelensky and his wife, Olena, were dragged online after appearing on the latest cover of Vogue. Some saw it as the President turning this crisis into the Zelensky show ... while looking for pats on the back along the way.

The rep for NOVA Ukraine says the photo shoot brings much-needed attention to the war ... as media coverage has dwindled as the conflict drags on. The way NOVA sees it, the focus should be on Ukraine's leaders who have "led a country which is being blown to pieces day by day, and continue to lead with their head high."

Michael Capponi, President of the Global Empowerment Mission, tells us the photo shoot does a lot of good .. Zelensky is using his PR skills to call upon the world for help, unlike previous Ukrainian presidents.

Michael's org sends first responders to disaster zones in Ukraine ... first responders who are critical in the rebuilding effort. He says Americans don't fully understand the impact of this war, likening it to a daily Hurricane Irma.

Jeff Ross isn't surprised -- isn't surprised at all -- at Jon Stewart's overflowing emotion after the Senate turned thumbs down on a critical bill to help our veterans ... because he says comedians feel pain more than most.

We got Jeff Thursday in Bev Hills at Judi's Deli ... and he could not have been more supportive of his fellow comedian. Part of Jeff's admiration seems to be rooted in Jon's character, but there's also the DNA of comedians ... to feel and project not just their own pain but the pain of others.

Jeff says he's totally down with Jon running for President in 2024 -- something that's kinda become a thing online and elsewhere ... despite Jon flatly rejecting the idea.

Nonetheless, it seems that Jeff thinks lobbying Jon to run wouldn't be a bad idea.

Jon Stewart is putting the Republican party on blast after voting "no" on a bill to expand healthcare coverage for veterans ... and he's calling one Senator out specifically, saying the guy's nothing short of spineless.

Jon joined House Speaker Pelosi and a group of veterans for a powerful press conference on the PACT Act Thursday ... and he lays it down hard on the GOP Senators who blocked the bill with a 55 to 42 vote.

The House already passed it, and if it got the necessary 60 votes in the Senate the bill would help those exposed to toxic burn pits and Vietnam-era veterans exposed to the deadly herbicide Agent Orange.

He begins to list the ways the PACT Act could help, before a veteran seated next to him mentions it'll prevent people like him from going down dark paths, including suicide. The man was holding a sign reading, "Veterans blood is on Republicans hands."

Jon then points his frustration toward PA Senator Toomey, saying he "isn’t going to hear that because he won’t sit down with this man, because he’s a f**king coward."

Toomey showed his lack of support for the bill directly on the Senate floor, claiming it would create $400 billion in unrelated spending, which he called a “budgetary gimmick.”

Jon says the GOP Senators aren't supporting the troops, but they will support the war machine ... referring to the massive Pentagon budgets they happily pass.

He also got a laugh from the crowd, talking about them working on "Senate time" -- calling them tortoises that live to be 200.

Donald Trump's back in D.C. for his first public remarks there since January 6, 2021 -- and there are a lot of unhappy people ... many of whom waited to greet him at the door.

The ex-Prez showed up Tuesday at the Marriot Marquis Hotel as the keynote speaker for the America First Policy Institute Summit ... where he said more of the same from his recent speeches -- repeating falsehoods about the election being "stolen," and teasing a run in 2024.

What was happening right outside, however, was far more interesting ... a fair amount of protesters had infiltrated the building and lined several floors inside the hotel, most of them yelling and throwing around flyers to voice their displeasure with DT being there.

What they were apparently chanting ... "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA" -- and the pieces of paper they hurled read, "INDICT TRUMP PROTECT DEMOCRACY."

Unclear if any of these people actually breached the conference room where Trump was speaking, but if not, ya gotta imagine they did disrupt a little. Outside, it was just as boisterous with even more demonstrators lining the streets ... on both sides of the Trump line.

Eleven members of the Texas State Legislature have fired off a letter to Sidley Austin, one of the largest law firms in the U.S., threatening the firm and its lawyers with criminal prosecution and disbarment if they in any way facilitate abortions, even in other states.

The letter, sent to the Chair of the firm's management committee and obtained by TMZ, states the Texas Freedom Caucus -- run by the 11 Texas Republican representatives -- has become aware Sidley Austin is "reimbursing travel costs of employees who leave Texas to murder their unborn children." The Caucus also accuses the firm of complicity in performing illegal abortions.

Rep. Mayes Middleton, the Chair of the Caucus who signed the letter, warns Sidley Austin abortion is a felony in Texas unless the mother's life is in danger.  Middleton notes the law covers "drug-induced abortions if any part of the drug regimen is ingested in Texas, even if the drugs were dispensed by an out-of-state abortionist."

Middleton threatens, if Sidley Austin violates the law, the firm and all of the partners will be subject to criminal prosecution and disbarment.

And maybe the most ominous ... the letter says Sidley "may have aided or abetted drug-induced abortions in violation of the Texas Heartbeat Act, by paying for abortions (or abortion-related travel) in which the patient ingested the second drug in Texas after receiving the drugs from an out-of-state provider." The letter goes on to say there is litigation underway to uncover the identity of the lawyers who did this. The letter demands Sidley preserve all documents related to any lawyer who basically helped any woman get an abortion after Sept. 1, 2021 -- the date the Texas Heartbeat Act was enacted.

The letter goes on to warn the law firm and its 2,000 lawyers ... there will be new legislation in the next session of the Texas State Legislature that will specifically target law firms that pay for abortion or abortion-related travel.

The legislation would also give private citizens the right to sue anyone who pays for an elective abortion performed on a Texas resident ... whether they pay directly or reimburse. It will also incentivize citizens who bring these lawsuits with a $10,000 bounty if they prevail.

There's more ... the new legislation would require the Texas State Bar to disbar any attorney who violates the anti-abortion law. And, if the State Bar refuses to act, then members of the public can sue the State Bar and get a judge to require the Bar to disbar the offending lawyer.

And in case there are any D.A.'s who won't enforce the law ... the proposed legislation would give any D.A. in the State the right to prosecute even outside their jurisdiction.

Dr. Jill Biden is taking hate aimed at her hubby in stride -- absorbing a heckler's harsh words and redirecting them right back at 'em with a little reverse psychology.

The First Lady showed grace this week while out in New Haven, CT -- one of 3 states she's set to be visiting as part of a new tour to promote summer learning -- where some dude standing on the sidewalk about 30 yards from her let Mrs. Biden how he felt about Joe.

Check it out ... while Jill was heading into a building -- reportedly for an ice cream break amid the day's event -- the man shouts from a distance ... saying JB's the "worst president we ever had," and adding that she (and Joe maybe?) owe the American people gas money.

Nothing too crazy, but what's wild is Jill heard it loud and clear ... and responded. Rather than just ignore the jab, which she could've done, she spun it around -- and gave thanks!

DJB says she appreciates this fella's support and keeps it moving ... looks like the back-and-forth actually gave some of her Secret Service members a chuckle -- 'cause, yeah, it's funny.

The mystery hunk o' man seated inside the Jan. 6th hearing -- who's being called "Clark Kent" for obvious reasons -- is taking the Internet by storm, and TMZ's learned his previously secret identity.

Sorry to disappoint folks, but he's not a superhero ... although he's in a heroic field of work. Sources tell us he's 23-year-old Alex Wollet ... a med school student from Ohio.

Right now he's living in D.C. and doing a fellowship at The National Institutes of Health -- so, yeah ... Dr. Fauci and co. have some eye candy in the office. We obtained a photo of Alex wearing what looks like the same suit he was rocking at the hearing Thursday night.

The guy became a big thing online during the televised hearing ... where he was -- not accidentally, we think -- seated in the front row. He's already getting so much attention, he's switched his social media accounts to private.

As you know, the January 6th Committee is still undergoing hearings regarding last year's insurrection ... attempting to make the connection between former President Donald Trump to the storming of the Capitol.

Donald Trump was exposed Thursday night in the very building where he fanned the flames of insurrection ... and the outtake of his speech to the nation January 7th makes it clear -- the only thing he cared about was propagating the lie that he won the election.

The outtake is both shocking and, frankly, comical. When he gets to the part where he talks about the rioters breaking the law, he stops and exclaims, "I can't say that!" There's another part where he's supposed to say the election is over, but he won't say the words.

The January 6th Committee made it clear ... Trump only gave the speech because there was a move both in The White House and Congress to get him out of the Office of President, either by the 25th Amendment or impeachment.

There's a part of the outtake right out of the 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' with Ted Baxter. Trump is talking about what happened the day before and after flubbing the word "Yesterday," he says, "Yesterday is a hard word for me."

In another outtake, shot on January 6th, where Trump is supposed to quell the violence by calling off the insurrectionists, he begins with his grievances over the election results and ends with it as well.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger delivered rousing, impassioned remarks about Donald Trump and the impact of what he has done to American democracy. It's definitely worth watching.

The Secret Service barely made it out of the Capitol January 6th along with Vice President Mike Pence ... and never-before-seen video shows just how close they came to calamity.

The January 6th presented video Thursday night showing a portion of the frantic 13 minutes in which the Secret Service tried to snake its way through the riot-torn building and bring the Veep to safety.

You hear and see the sheer desperation as one of the agents says if they don't get out now they may lose their ability to leave the building. They were literally feet from the mob, which was chanting "Hang Mike Pence."

An anonymous White House official testified how grim the scene was -- there were agents asking home base to contact their families to say goodbye. It was that desperate, and you hear and feel it.

President Joe Biden is experiencing firsthand the COVID wave, because he caught the 'Rona like millions of others.

According to The White House, Biden is experiencing "very mild symptoms."

He has been out in recent days stumping this week in front of big crowds, fighting for climate change laws. After his speech Wednesday, he mingled maskless with a bunch of people, also mostly unmasked.

The White House Biden is fully vaccinated and twice boosted, he is taking Paxlovid, which treats the symptoms of the virus.

The White House says Biden will isolate at The White House, but he will continue working. He will stay in isolation until he tests negative.

The White House Medical Unit is contacting folks who came in close contact with the President.

Biden was recently in Saudi Arabia, where The White House announced he would fist-bump, rather than shake hands, in an effort to avoid COVID. However, after taking heat for a fist-bump with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he seemingly switched to shaking hands with other leaders.

Biden's last test for COVID was Tuesday, when he tested negative.

Pete Buttigieg's ex-communications chief, Lis Smith, says President Biden should, and probably will, run for reelection in 2024 -- but if he doesn't, she's got thoughts on replacements.

The veteran Democratic political strategist -- who helped Buttigieg make a solid presidential run in the 2020 election cycle -- told us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" ... she thinks Biden is definitely gonna go for it again, and encourages him to do so. But, amid questions about his age, she offers up 3 types of candidates who might enter the campaign.

She suggests a governor or 2, and although Gavin Newsom supporters might think he's a shoo-in ... Lis thinks the Cali guy isn't the ideal choice to win over moderate Dems in purple states like Ohio or Pennsylvania.

Check out who she did name though ... some people who aren't necessarily national players yet, but could probably appeal to a wider base.

Remember, Lis worked wonders for Mayor Pete once upon a time, so her picks certainly carry weight. She recounts her storied professional and personal life in politics in her new book, "Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story."

Prince Harry lumped the recent Roe v. Wade decision in with other international issues, saying they were all hurting democracy, but Meghan's calling BS -- Meghan McCain, that is.

The Duke of Sussex delivered a speech to the U.N. this week -- in observance of Nelson Mandela Day -- and one of the things he said was the reversal of a federal right to an abortion was among the many things he considers a threat to freedom.

The others ... COVID, the war in Ukraine, disinformation and climate change -- all of which he said were among the top perils facing the world. But, McCain thinks he's misinformed.

In a piece written for Daily Mail, she slams the ex-Royal for what she considers virtue signaling -- especially on the Supreme Court's Roe decision ... which she says isn't a threat to democracy, but more so an exercise in it since it gives the power over that issue back to the states.

McCain, who is undoubtedly conservative, argues Harry is ignorant because he isn't an American citizen -- but likes to play one on TV now that he lives here with his wife Meghan Markle. She cites other times where he's admitted ignorance to the First Amendment.

The whole op-ed goes on to call Harry "woke," rhetorically asking if America isn't good enough for him ... why is he even here? She also cites his and MM's accusation of racism within the Royal family to make her point.

Indeed, it's a Harry-bashing think piece ... and in the end, McCain asks this of the Duke: "Maybe he needs reminding that he is a guest here and not a guest who has been universally embraced by the American public."

She adds ... "So here goes: This is not your home country. In fact, my country went to war against yours so that we'd never have to be subject to a royal lecture ever again."

Senator Ted Cruz seems to be telegraphing what many believe the Supreme Court might do next -- namely, overturn legalized gay marriage ... this on the heels of Roe v Wade.

The Texas legislator expressed his own personal disapproval of the landmark decision in Obergefell v Hodges back in 2015 -- a ruling that made gay marriage legal throughout the entire United States ... and which some worry might be on the chopping block soon.

Watch ... during a recent appearance on 'The Cloakroom' podcast via Verdict+, Cruz says he thinks the High Court overreached in its authority back then, ushering in a new right that isn't explicitly stated in the Constitution -- TC, of course, is a strict constructionist.

While he doesn't go further to say anything but his viewpoint on the matter -- saying that it was the wrong decision -- the Twitter-sphere is, no doubt, up in arms after seeing this.

The theory ... the Supreme Court isn't going to just stop at abortion -- that the Justices might try and overturn a lot of old cases tied to privacy -- including Obergefell, if not more. Of course, in order for that to happen ... a case touching on this must be brought forth, of which there doesn't seem to be any right now on the court docket in the near future.

Still, the fact a case could potentially make its way to SCOTUS is a very real possibility ... and with this current Justice lineup, they might be inclined to undo years of precedent.

Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly said he thought the court had a duty to go back and overturn a number of cases that were in the same legal ballpark as Roe ... and it sounds like Senator Cruz is onboard with that.

Ivana Trump's cause of death has been revealed as blunt impact injuries to her torso ... the result of a fall down stairs inside her home.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the autopsy was completed Friday. As we told you, cops got a call just after 12:30 PM ET Thursday to Trump's NYC apartment saying Ivana had gone into cardiac arrest.

As news of her death broke, former President Donald Trump, who was Ivana's second husband, said the following, "She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life. Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them as we were all so proud of her. Rest In Peace, Ivana!"

Ivana and Trump married in 1977 and split in 1992, their relationship made headlines at one point when Donald had an affair with Marla Maples.

Shortly after her death on Thursday, Ivana's son, Eric Trump, was spotted outside her home ... telling photographers, "A very sad day."