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Senator Susan Collins was the target of a bribery investigation before President Donald Trump basically derailed the probe, according to a new report ... but her team is calling BS.

ProPublica dove into the alleged sordid affair in a new exposé published Tuesday ... claiming the Maine senator's campaign was strapped for cash in 2020 when she entered into an illicit understanding with the defense contractor Navatek through intermediaries.

The report alleges Navatek's CEO Martin Kao told top Collins fundraiser Scott Reed he'd make sure the campaign received thousands of dollars from a shell company -- in exchange for the senator guaranteeing "tens of millions of dollars in additional federal funding."

Ed Sheeran's concert in Philadelphia brought out protesters last weekend ... though that may be small potatoes when compared to the protest that's scheduled near the stadium on Saturday.

Another demonstration is set for this weekend outside one of Ed's concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough ... the very stadium billionaire Robert Kraft -- who allegedly spearheaded an effort among other stadium owners to get Macklemore removed from the tour.

The Massachusetts Peace Action -- an advocacy group focused on ending the Israel-Palestinian conflict -- is sponsoring the demonstration around the corner from Gillette before Ed's second show at the location this weekend. He's set to play the venue Friday as well.

It was all Natalie Harp's fault that 3 major news organizations got banned from the White House ... after she reportedly showed President Trump clips of TV hosts ripping him.

Natalie put the final nail in the coffin for CNN, MS NOW and Politico when she showed the commander-in-chief all the negative stories the 3 media outlets had published about him ... according to the Wall Street Journal.

In particular, Natalie focused on TV news anchors bashing the administration during their broadcasts -- and Trump had seen enough by Friday, after watching an unfavorable MS NOW report.

Kristi Noem is showing off the spoils of a recent hunting trip ... posing with a massive elk she says she took down with a bow.

The former Homeland Security Secretary posted several photos on social media showing her kneeling behind the animal, with her bow resting across the dead elk's body.

Noem says she "finally had a little time" to share pics from the archery hunt ... calling it "super fun" and thanking a bunch of guy friends for helping make it happen.

Rep. Lauren Boebert is unloading on the media over coverage of wild allegations she hooked up with three staffers and made a hush-money payment ... blasting journalists for falling for what she calls a bogus smear.

The Colorado congresswoman posted a video Sunday ripping reporters who covered the complaint ... saying some outlets rushed to publish the salacious claims without bothering to check whether the ethics complaint could actually move forward.

Boebert says the complaint was dressed up to look official enough to generate headlines ... but she says simple research would show no member of Congress signed off on the complaint, and the timing of the filing -- within 60 days of an election -- means the Ethics Committee can't even accept it.

The talks surrounding Paramount's anti-trust case are splitting state officials at the bargaining table into two factions -- deal and no deal.

The studio is trying to settle the case brought against the entertainment giant by 12 states as it tries to push forward its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Now, a new report claims there's no consensus among the states involved.

Despite many in the entertainment industry -- including Mark Ruffalo -- urging California AG Rob Bonta not to reach a settlement over the merger, Bonta is apparently trying to push the deal through ... this according to CNN.

ICE agents have shot and injured a man in Austin, Texas ... and investigators are being tight lipped about the altercation.

Sunday afternoon, a man -- whose name, age, and race have not been revealed -- was shot, injured, and transported to a local hospital, this according to a press conference given by Austin officials.

City officials made it clear that the Austin Police Department was not involved in the incident -- and Mayor Kirk Watson also emphasized that he is "not happy at all" about the fact that there was a shooting involving someone who "purports to be law enforcement."

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump will be crossing the political aisle tomorrow ... and meeting up for their third in-person meeting.

The meeting is set to go down in Zohran's residence, Gracie Mansion, ahead of the U.N. General Assembly ... this according to CNN.

Apparently president and mayor's sit-down will "focus on issues affecting New York City and New Yorkers" ... Zohran's spokesperson said.

Mark Ruffalo is begging California not to settle their anti-trust lawsuit with Paramount ... as the studio seeks to take over Warner Bros. Discovery.

Tagging in California Attorney General Rob Bonta ... he told the official ... "Don't you dare ... do not cave. 5,670 film makers put their necks on the line for you to fight this merger. Another 75,000+ and counting have signed to tell you not to concede in just 3 weeks."

Mark said that Bonta's constituents would "be hurt if you let this lousy deal filled with empty promises go forward."

First there was Space Force ... now, President Donald Trump has announced that in order to monitor artificial intelligence, he will create -- you guessed it -- an A.I. Force.

The prez took to Truth Social Saturday morning to claim that the growing concern about the nefarious capabilities of A.I. are simply part of a hoax ... this despite several members of the tech community direly sounding the alarm and sharing instances of A.I. going rogue.

He wrote ... "We will not in any way hinder or stifle the growth of this incredible industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!"

Nicki Minaj has no apologies for loving President Trump ... but don't expect her to turn her next tour into a political rally.

Nicki joined Laura Ingraham on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" Friday alongside Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler to discuss the "Million-Dollar Pitch Competition" ... and the conversation quickly turned to her relationship with Trump.

Asked what she says to critics of their partnership, Nicki's answer was blunt -- "Absolutely nothing."

Donald Trump's White House has a fancy new status symbol ... custom Rolexes with a presidential seal on the dial ... and they look super cool!!!

According to Vanity Fair, a small group of Trump administration insiders has gotten their hands on custom timepieces known as the "White House Rolex."

The watches were reportedly purchased and modified by a bespoke operation in London ... with buyers choosing between a gold Day-Date Presidential and a GMT model with Rolex's signature red-and-blue "Pepsi" bezel.

Nancy Mace took a break from dodging d*** pics in her direct messages to call out Gavin Newsom online ... responding to our story about her horny suitors by taking a shot at the prominent Democrat.

The Congresswoman from South Carolina jumped on X, reacting to Charlie's recent interview with her on Capitol Hill -- ya know, the one where she told us she's not sure if she wants to date in a world where men send photos of their penises.

Nancy quoted our post and added a photo of Gavin, then trolled him in her caption ... "Someone just sent me this d*** pic. I said stop."

Ms. Rachel is joining Macklemore's initiative to help raise money for Palestinians ... she committed to matching his $1 million donation and says "every wealthy white celebrity" should join the cause.

The popular children's creator revealed Thursday that she'd be donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund -- which totally makes sense ... she's one of their ambassadors!

Ms. Rachel wrote ... "I will match Macklemore's donation and I invite every wealthy white celebrity to match it and speak out against the genocide in Gaza."