Congress

Inside TMZ’s Capitol Hill playbook

Published

6 months ago

April 25, 2026

Heading into White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend, Blue Light News caught up with the buzziest new celebrities in town: the TMZ guys.

Since arriving in Washington last week, Jacob Wasserman, Charlie Cotton and Jakson Buhaj of the TMZ DC bureau have shaken up the D.C. media bubble, asking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth what he feels in his mind and body when dropping bombs or whether lawmakers know what Grindr is.

In an interview in front of the Capitol building Friday afternoon, the trio discussed their mission, tactics and whether they’re really trying to troll us all.

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Where are you guys from and how did you get into this job?

Cotton: I’m from the capital of Australia … Canberra. I came to America and just got a job randomly at TMZ as a tour guide on our celebrity tours around Hollywood. And then I’ve been there 13 years now, doing camera stuff, doing reporter stuff.

Buhaj: I was going to go to school, and then TMZ hired me out of an ice cream shop as a [production assistant]. I did a few things for them, and Harvey [Levin] just decided he wanted me on TMZ full time. And so he was like, “Don’t go to school, come here.” And I just found myself in Capitol Hill with these guys. So it’s been quite an adventure.

Wasserman: I went to Tulane, and TMZ was my first job out of college and then just slowly built up. I’ve been there now for six and a half years. Before this I actually covered a lot of political stuff for TMZ, numerous campaign cycles. I also covered high-profile court cases, like the Sean Combs criminal trial.

The Call Your Mother and Tatte tweets — are you trolling us?

Wasserman: Yes. That was a total joke. I have to say, I didn’t really tweet before I moved here a few days ago, and I was trying to be a little tongue-in-cheek.

I’m learning that that doesn’t necessarily land always on Twitter. I’d never been to Call Your Mother, but given the line there, I was like, Oh, of course, this is really a popular place. And since everyone was losing it, I just parlayed it to Tatte. That was it.

Cotton: We’re discovering D.C. … We’re so amazed to be here. Everything feels new and exciting, and look where we are. We’re talking to you right now outside the capital, like it’s crazy. I think that sort of energy of just excitement around politics and politicians is something that this place hasn’t had for a long time, maybe, if ever.

We want to talk to people who maybe someone from middle America has no idea who it is, but because they’ve seen a few of our interactions, they know this is going to be interesting.

And if we want informed voters, if we want people to know more, we want greater transparency, I think it’s a good thing we’re here and we’re just excited about where this very fledgling sort of thing is going to go.

Talk to me about your mission and what you would see as a dream TMZ DC story.

Buhaj: A big story could be a bill that’s being passed. A big story could be what an intern is saying about a fellow intern. A big story could be who clogged the toilet in one of the House office buildings. It could mean anything for us. So I would say, dream story? I don’t think we have anything specific in mind. I think we’re here just providing factual news to the people. That’s at the forefront of our minds right now.

Wasserman: I think TMZ plays off emotion. I mean, that can be found in a soundbite. That could be found in court documents. That could be found in a 911 audio clip.

So you guys are not officially credentialed [through the congressional press galleries]. Are you seeking credentials? What’s happening there?

Wasserman: We’ve applied. So we’re just waiting.

At the same time, even when you’re not credentialed, there’s plenty of opportunity to meet a lot of people. We’ll speak to people when they walk from the House over there to the Capitol building and tunnels. What’s been so amazing is how inviting people are and how willing they are to talk.

There’s no chasing anyone down. If anything, people are coming up to us and they recognize us now. They say, “Hey, I want to talk about X, Y and Z,” and what a great opportunity for that.

Are you getting a lot of outreach from Hill staffers who want their boss to be talking to you guys?

Cotton: Yes. It’s amazing.

It’s amazing because we see them all, and we didn’t expect everyone to be so down. There have been a few people, Lindsey Graham included, who haven’t wanted to speak to us when we’ve given them the opportunity. And if they don’t want to speak to us, I don’t begrudge that one bit. I get it. This is new and scary.

We want to be here. We want to ask interesting questions. If there’s a direct question that needs to be asked, it just needs to be asked. But we don’t want to be rude. We don’t want to “gotcha” anyone. We just want to have conversations like this and have some laughs, some serious. … We’re just out here to learn about D.C. and the people in it.

There’s some chatter about TMZ paying for stories or tips. Is that true? Is that something you guys will be doing here?

Wasserman: Absolutely not. That’s just complete misinformation. I think people like to use that as a way to maybe sometimes discredit us.

The way that TMZ really operates is we work super hard. And although it’s just us three here, our engine is in Los Angeles and we have an incredible team of producers who work incredibly hard. Harvey Levin, Charles [Latibeaudiere], these are guys who have been working in journalism for decades. And we conduct ourselves the way that journalists go about reporting on stories, whether it be getting police reports, FOIA requests, searching through court documents. We take it really seriously.

How does covering politicians compare to covering celebrities?

Cotton: It’s the same. We’re just doing the same thing.

We know everything about, say, “The Real Housewives.” Yet we know nothing about the members of Congress who control our lives. You know what I mean? And we pay their salaries. They’re our public servants. So why is there more scrutiny on a private citizen rather than our public servants? And we just wanted to come over here, kind of flip it on its head and do the exact same thing we’ve been doing in LA, which is cover the news fairly, truthfully, factually.

And we want people to trust us. We want people to trust that when they talk to us on camera, we’re not going to be all weird. We want people who consume our media to know that this is accurate.

Charlie, you talked about fairness. I saw some of your posts on social media from years prior. One called Lindsey Graham a “bozo.” One praised Chuck Schumer. Talk to me a little bit about that. Can you cover these people fairly?

Cotton: Absolutely. I mean, I use that expression very liberally. If you know me, I’m Australian. You know what I mean? So, yeah, absolutely I can, and I’m also not afraid to express my opinion, either.

I’m here and I’m going to cover the news how I want. I’m going to ask the questions I want to ask. That’s just that.

The ultimate merger of celebrity and politics is happening this weekend, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. How are you guys tackling that? Where can people see you guys?

Wasserman: We are going to the Grindr party tonight. We’re going to the Substack party tomorrow.

We’re pretty tired. We’re working pretty hard. And even this morning, we were at the Pentagon. It was an early morning. So we’ll definitely pop out and show face but I don’t think it’s going to get too crazy. TBD.

Most standout interaction so far?

Cotton: AOC hanging out of the side of a car saying, “Hey TMZ DC, hi, how are you guys?”

And we’re like, “What? Like she knows us?”

People here know us and respect us and appreciate that we’re here. And sometimes in LA I haven’t felt that, but here I felt it so much. And it’s been a breath of fresh air. And I really hope that we can deliver on people’s faith.

Buhaj: I can’t talk about it yet because it’s not out, but you’re gonna have to stay tuned. … But to give you guys a hint, there are congressmen here that are very hospitable.

Wasserman: Jonathan Jackson was a great interaction I had the other day. I ran into him again at the airport, and he came up to me and he was like, “Hey, how’s it going?” We were just kind of joshing around. So that was great. And I’m happy that he feels like he could do that with me. And it’s not going to be a weird thing.

Which members have surprised you?

Buhaj: Tim Burchett.

The stuff that we talked about in an interview was crazy. It’s just you’re sitting there in that office and you’re like, “I can’t believe these words are coming out of the congressman’s mouth.”

Nothing bad, but he’s just so open about, “There’s blatant corruption here on Capitol Hill.” It’s something he wants to weed out. It was very refreshing to have an interview with a public representative who was just so open about everything.

Cotton: Two words: Shomari Figures.

I actually interviewed him for the first time yesterday, but we’re just trying to meet everyone. And he’s just so cool. He obviously looks like a dreamboat. He told me yesterday that he’s the pound for pound best athlete in Congress and I believe it.

I didn’t know Shomari Figures existed until like a few days ago. And now I do. And now I am punishing myself because I should have known because here’s this amazing guy doing amazing things.

What is the best food that you’ve encountered in Washington so far?

Cotton: There’s this coffee place called Cameo. It’s really good. … The coffee in D.C. hits.

Buhaj: I’m a coffee snob. I can name like 50 coffee spots in LA. I can name probably five or 10 across the city that I’ve been through already. Right off the bat, I’m not saying you guys don’t do it right, but LA just does it better.

Wasserman: The Peruvian chicken in Longworth.

Cotton: I want them to serve Peruvian chicken at my wake one day.

Buhaj: Honorable mention is the Barcelona Wine Bar. There’s actually some pretty good food over there. I was pretty impressed.

Congress

Scalise heads to Florida to boost several GOP candidates

Published

8 hours ago

October 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is heading to Florida to boost a raft of Republicans as the House GOP campaign arm launches new spending across the ruby-red state.

Republicans are working to ensure they prevail in a series of tight Florida races after they redrew several districts in their favor. Several GOP incumbents have warned the party needs to do more to help put out fires across these areas. Scalise is just the latest Republican leader who is looking to shore up candidates in once-thought-to-be-safe red territory.

Scalise will hold a GOTV rally Thursday with Republican Dan Green who is challenging Democratic Rep. Darren Soto in central Florida’s 9th District, according to an invite obtained by Blue Light News. Soto should be toast from the GOP redistricting effort, but he’s still hauling in significant fundraising and Democrats say their internal polling shows a tight race.

Over on the Gulf Coast, the National Republican Congressional Committee is also launching its first coordinated ad spending for Rep. Anna Paulina Luna on Wednesday. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, GOP governor nominee Rep. Byron Donalds and Sen. Ashley Moody, who is also up for reelection, are appearing at a Saturday rally with Luna.

President Donald Trump won Luna’s district by 13 points and Democrats have tried and failed to target her before. But Republicans are warning the headwinds are stronger this year and forcing a tighter than expected race.

Republicans are also working to shore up key seats in South Florida. Scalise will be with GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar in the Miami area Friday, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter, granted anonymity to share not yet public details. Salazar has raised alarm about Republican erosion with Hispanic voters in his district and other states over the Trump administration’s mass deportations.

Scalise will boost Ryan Elijah, the Republican who beat scandal-ridden Rep. Cory Mills in the primary in Florida’s 7th District, according to another person with direct knowledge of the matter, granted anonymity to speak candidly. The party feels better about the seat in recent weeks, especially more than they would have if Mills had won the GOP nomination.

The House Majority Leader will also hold events with Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast and Rep. Gus Bilirakis, according to the person.

Congress

Capitol agenda: The unknowns of a Sherrod Brown return

Published

14 hours ago

October 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Democrats may be rooting for Sherrod Brown’s comeback, but they are not exactly prepared for what’d happen next.

If Brown wins on Election Day, Democrats likely face an uncomfortable choice: break longstanding party rules to restore his seniority on powerful committees like Banking, Agriculture and Finance or potentially make him start over at the bottom.

Complicating the issue: Brown will immediately need to prepare for a grueling re-election fight in 2028 and his campaign could greatly benefit from two years with a high-profile gavel. That’s because this midterm is Ohio’s special election where voters are selecting a senator to serve out the remainder of Vice President JD Vance‘s term.

Brown’s post, therefore, may not only deeply impact Democrats’ policy agenda but could also play a key role in the party’s success in winning the battleground seat in 2028.

Some members are already suggesting the party should try to find a middle ground.

“Some accommodation that recognizes he would not be a rank freshman would make sense. But that’s distinct from handing him back a leadership role at Banking,” said Sen. Chris Coons.

The Ohio Democrat served as the top Democrat on the Banking panel for a decade. He was also a longtime member of Finance as well as Agriculture, where he would also be the most senior member if his previous service counted.

To give Brown a gavel on Agriculture or Banking could set up clashes with the Democrats now expected to lead their party on the panels: Sens. Michael Bennet and Elizabeth Warren, respectively.

It would also break Senate Democrats’ caucus rules, and precedent is not on Brown’s side when it comes to making exceptions.

Still, aides and lobbyists around the panels expect Democrats will be eager to give Brown some sort of perch.

Those close to him have been encouraging him to seek the Agriculture gavel. It’d allow him to deliver valuable policy wins for Ohio’s rural areas, influence the farm bill if it gets punted to next year and help guide the direction of cryptocurrency regulation.

Another possibility that avoids an intraparty clash: hand Brown a seat on Appropriations, which could potentially give him a subcommittee gavel and federal funding clout.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has avoided any firm commitments on Brown’s seniority, saying last month when asked: “Let’s win back the Senate first.”

What else we’re watching:

— OMAR RAID RAISES QUESTIONS FOR GOP: House Republicans — including Majority Whip Tom Emmer — have publicly cheered on the Trump administration’s investigation of GOP boogeyman Rep. Ilhan Omar. But the raid raises thorny questions for GOP leaders about how aggressively Congress wants to defend itself — regardless of party — from encroaching federal prosecutors. Lawmakers’ work communications are protected from prosecutors’ scrutiny, with few exceptions, under the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause. That draws into question whether the emails, texts, and materials on Omar’s phone, which was seized in the raid, could legally be reviewed by Trump officials. So far, Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to weigh in on how the House’s legal team may defend Omar.

— TRUMP’S TRICKY FARM MONEY PROMISE: Trump’s move Monday to turn out GOP voters by promising to send farmers $8 billion in taxpayer money is already facing a reality check. The internal USDA taxpayer-funded account Trump is tapping doesn’t actually have enough money in it right now to make the payments, meaning Congress will have to approve new funds or the administration will have to take it from another program, according to three Trump officials granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. Plus, farmers wouldn’t receive the payments until late November or early December at the earliest — well past Election Day, according to three people close to the plans.

Jasper Goodman, Grace Yarrow, Kyle Cheney and Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.

Congress

This member is so frustrated with Congress he wants voters to sidestep it

Published

14 hours ago

October 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

At the end of one of the least productive Congresses in modern history, freshman Rep. Johnny Olszewski is so sick of the gridlock on Capitol Hill that he wants voters to bypass it entirely.

“It’s been a long two years,” the Maryland Democrat said in a Tuesday interview.

“One of the things that’s made it difficult as a new member is to see not only the dysfunction, but also the missed opportunities,” he added. “There are so many issues out there that Americans support that this Congress and frankly prior Congresses have failed to act on.”

Fed up with the lack of progress on popular policies like banning congressional stock trading, equipping police with body cameras or protecting in vitro fertilization, Olszewski is introducing a constitutional amendment Thursday, first shared with POLITICO, that would create a mechanism for voters to make federal law directly.

The measure would give voters 18 months to gather signatures from at least 5% of people who participated in the most recent presidential election in 25 states. Then any qualifying direct-democracy measure would be put on ballots for the next national election and need a 60% national majority to pass.

Votes to declare war or direct federal spending would not be eligible under the proposal.

“If we were acting, there’d be no need for this to come into play,” Olszewski said. “It would create a really important backstop for the American people to say, ‘You know what … irrespective of which party is in power, Congress is failing to meet not just our everyday needs but act on issues that we overwhelmingly support and want to see acted upon.’”

The amendment — which itself would require support from two-thirds of the House and Senate as well as three-quarters of states — is an incredible longshot and would create serious implementation headaches, but Olszewski — a former civics teacher — hopes his proposal will spark a discussion about congressional reform.

“I understand that any constitutional amendment is going to be difficult,” Olszewski said. “But I’m hopeful that at least for the lame duck session, this is an opportunity to create a conversation around the fact that we have been so gridlocked that we have failed to address the needs of the American people.”