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2:50 PM PT -- Newsom's office tells TMZ ... "After hearing from Rachel, the Governor immediately spoke to President Biden and as a result of that call the President committed to covering 100% of the recovery costs for the next 180 days. That’s a game-changer."

The Governor's rep also says they spoke to Rachel in order "to connect her with recovery services, local support, and provide the latest information."

They add, "This was not a normal blaze. When this fire began, firefighters were battling flames fueled by 100mph hurricane-force winds against them."

According to Newsom's office, local officials say "three million gallons of water (enough water to cover 2 football fields in a foot of water) were stored in three large tanks for fire hydrants before the Palisades fire, but the supply was exhausted because of the extreme scale of the fire and extraordinary nature of this hurricane-force firestorm."

CA Gov. Gavin Newsom tried to use President Biden as a shield when a distraught wildfire victim confronted him Thursday -- but his efforts kinda blew up in his face.

The woman, a lawyer named Rachel Darvish, ran up to Newsom as he was getting into his car -- leaving a devastated Pacific Palisades -- and started hammering him with questions about everything that went wrong for firefighters ... and a Sky News camera crew captured the intense showdown.

Darvish demanded answers about why there was no water pressure in fire hydrants to help firefighters knock down the flames -- Newsom quickly responded by holding up his phone and telling her he was talking to President Biden at that very moment about getting aid to victims.

President Jimmy Carter's missing out on some serious drama -- his funeral created a mini soap opera between President-elect Donald Trump, all his White House predecessors ... and his former VP Mike Pence.

You could feel the tension in the air as Trump strode into the National Cathedral Thursday morning in Washington, DC, because one of the first people he came face to face with was Pence -- ya know, the guy Trump's supporters targeted in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The former running mates kept it classy ... looking each other in the eyes, shaking hands and keeping it moving.

1:23 AM PT -- Newsom’s spokesperson Izzy Gardon tells TMZ … “There is no such document as the water restoration declaration – that is pure fiction. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need.”

President-elect Donald Trump is fanning the flames of divisiveness amid the massive wildfires burning across Los Angeles ... posting a scathing critique of California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Trump hopped on his Truth Social platform Wednesday and placed the blame for the raging brush fires squarely at the feet of Newsom, accusing him of choosing an endangered fish over badly needed water resources to fight fires.

Trump kicked off his tongue-lashing by yet again referring to the gov as "Newscum" ... before  claiming Gavin "refused" to sign a declaration allowing water from "the North" to flow into the areas "currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way." Trump said Newsom favored the Delta smelt fish over the people of California ... and that he would change all that once he takes office on January 20.

One supporter of President-elect Donald Trump got way too into the "MAGA" spirit while driving in the snow recently, resulting in a nasty car wreck -- which was documented on a live stream.

Check it out ... three Trump supporters were speeding down a snowy highway while blasting "M-A-G-A," a pro-Trump take on 45 (soon-to-be 47)'s favorite song, the Village People's "Y.M.C.A."

The Trumper and his 2 women passengers couldn't help but sing along and dance to the song as they live-streamed their journey.

The wife of a Texas man convicted and imprisoned for his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots tells us she’s in touch with the Trump administration about his possible pardon -- and she’s confident he’ll be released.

Nicole Reffitt, wife of Guy Reffitt -- currently serving an 80-month sentence -- told "TMZ Live" Monday that while the incoming Trump administration hasn’t shared exact plans, she’s been told to stay ready for action when Trump steps into the Oval Office on day one, January 20.

You’ve gotta see the video -- Nicole’s confidence in her husband’s release is crystal clear, and she thinks pardoning him, or commuting his sentence, along with others hit with what she says are overblown charges could actually help unite the public.

Michael J. Fox received America's highest civilian honor Saturday ... after President Joe Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in an emotional moment.

The actor attended the ceremony at the White House Saturday ... alongside several other stars and high-profile Democrats who received the same honor from the 46th president.

Watch the clip ... Michael walks to centerstage with help from a man in uniform to stand alongside POTUS -- when a series of his accomplishments are read out.

The procession for former President Jimmy Carter has begun in Georgia ... his home state, which is where he died this week at the age of 100.

A motorcade with a flag-draped casket of the 39th president began the journey to Washington by going through his hometown of Plains on Saturday.

Former Secret Service agents who protected President Carter acted as pallbearers when the procession initially began at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in GA.

Jimmy Carter -- the 39th President of the United States, a renowned philanthropist and a Nobel Peace Prize winner -- has died.

The news of his death was confirmed by his son, Jimmy Carter III also known as Chip to the Washington Post on Sunday.

The Carter Center tells TMZ ... Jimmy passed away at home surrounded by family. He was the longest living former president in history when he passed away.

Donald Trump's showering praise on the late Jimmy Carter ... saying he did his best to improve the lives of his fellow Americans -- and, the country owes him a debt.

The president-elect posted to his social media platform, Truth Social, Sunday ... only about an hour after the Carter Center announced the former president had passed away at 100.

In his message, Trump writes that anyone who has been president knows it's a very exclusive club ... and, only members in its ranks can understand the responsibility of leading the country.

Donald Trump is urging the Supreme Court to pause the upcoming TikTok ban.

A new law is set to go into effect Jan. 19 -- the day before Trump is inaugurated for his second presidency -- and it requires TikTok be sold by its Chinese parent company or be shut down.

Trump's lawyer, John Sauer, filed a brief Friday saying DJT requests SCOTUS consider delaying the upcoming change ... at least until Trump is in office.

J.D. Vance is a long way from Donald Trump's golf courses and Mar-a-Lago ... because he's on a snow-covered mountain in Colorado.

The Vice President-elect hit the slopes in Aspen on Friday ... with his family and a Secret Service security detail in tow.

J.D. was covered head to toe in skiing gear for the occasion ... ski mask, helmet, goggles, gloves, the whole nine yards.

Donald Trump looks like he may be having some technical difficulties ... because a post on his social media platform reads a lot like a potential private message to Elon Musk.

President-elect Trump posted this bizarre message Friday on Truth Social, and it's getting a lot of attention for a Bill Gates name drop ... "Where are you? When are you coming to the 'Center of the Universe,' Mar-a-Lago. Bill Gates asked to come, tonight. We miss you and x! New Year's Eve is going to be AMAZING!!!  DJT"

On its own, the post doesn't make a whole lot of sense ... but there are some clues this may have been a private message intended for Elon.

Adam McKay says fans of "Wicked" may want to see the movie ASAP ... 'cause he worries politicians may try to ban it for it's message.

The Oscar-winning writer and director took to X Monday ... saying the hit film based on the Broadway musical is one of the most radical big budget Hollywood films he's ever seen -- claiming it's "about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda."

He likens the film to other progressive movies -- like "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Sound of Music," "The Searchers" and "Citizen Kane."

Bill Clinton will not be spending the holidays in a hospital bed instead he'll be able to spend Christmas at home with his family after a brief medical scare landed him in the hospital this week.

According to Angel Ureña, the former President's Deputy Chief of Staff, he was discharged from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C. on Tuesday after being admitted on Monday with a fever. In a statement posted on X, Ureña said Clinton had been treated for the flu and had remained at the hospital for observation and testing.

His statement concluded, "He and his family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and are touched by the kind messages and well wishes he received. He sends his warmest wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season to all."

Bernie Sanders is calling out Jeff Bezos to get his priorities straight, slamming the Amazon founder for his dinner with Donald Trump ... as some workers at the company went on strike at multiple locations across the U.S. Thursday.

In an X post Thursday, Bernie came for Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's double date at Mar-a-Lago with Trump and Melania Wednesday night, and accuses him of engaging in illegal union-busting.

He also sent a direct message to Amazon in the same post, urging them to follow the law and negotiate a fair contract with the Teamsters.

Kim Kardashian is earning props from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for her advocacy, which he says played a key role in his decision to release prisoner Dawn Jackson ... after she served 25 years for fatally stabbing a man she claimed was sexually abusing her.

Governor Murphy, who commuted Jackson’s 30-year sentence by 5 years, thanked Kim for bringing attention to the case ... explaining in an X post Monday that after reviewing the "unimaginable trauma and sexual abuse" Dawn faced, he felt her original sentence was way too harsh.

Murphy not only shared an article about Kim’s role in helping Dawn, he also highlighted that Dawn took responsibility for her actions and served her time without further incidents. He made it clear -- it was time for her to get the second chance she truly deserved.