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Visit spinquest.com for more details. Hey everybody, we are here on the Bulwarks YouTube page. Subscribe if you haven't already. And what the fuck are you doing if you haven't subscribed to our YouTube page yet? I am here with two guys who are taking Washington D.C. by storm. They are the TMZ DC duo on I guess the left as you're looking at the screen is Charlie Cotton and his counterpart Jacob Wasserman, their co managing editors. And you know you guys have been running all around town asking Lindsey Graham about his bubble wand. How's it going?
B
Oh, going great. Bubble one's going great too. Congress is on recess right now actually for July 4th, so God knows where Lindsay is maybe bubble wanding it up somewhere. I would be.
A
I like how that's a verb, bubble
C
wanding it in the gay community that's going to have some subtext that we don't want to get into. All right, let's look out there.
B
All right.
C
All right, we've got some breaking news I want you guys your take on before we kind of introduce what you've been up to at TMZ dc David Hearn, who's a former Olympic canoeist, has been arrested for allegedly reaching into the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool and ripping off some of the beautiful American flag blue coating. He's been indicted by a grand jury as of today Thursday on a felony charge. Jeanine Pirro, judge, box of Wine did a whole press conference about this serious crime and talked about how he's got. They're going to go for 10 years for this. You remember they failed on their attempts to go after sandwich man in D.C. and this is her latest effort. You guys have been covering the Reflecting Pool stuff, I know, Jacob, you were down at Park Police HQ trying to get info. Why don't you give us a little reaction to this news and what you know about the situation.
A
I'm just curious if this is the tip of the iceberg. I mean, when we were at the reflecting pool just a couple weeks ago, we saw numerous people, I guess we saw one guy get arrested, we saw another woman get detained and then eventually, eventually released. And I don't know if they're just going to be making an example out of Hearn or if he's just the first one to drop. And maybe everyone's going to be gone after by the Park Police.
C
But when you were at Park Police hq, what were you, What'd you, what'd you find out there?
A
Oh, not much of anything. That was the issue, was I, we, we were spinning our wheels at the reflecting pool. And then later that night I see that Trump was in the Oval Office taking questions. And then he says, oh, well, you know, if you go to the park parks department, they'll tell you about the box cutter who cut like a 300. What did he say, 300 yards or 3? So I'm like, okay, I'll go because I'm curious about what's going on. And it was like, I know, personal issue, but it was awful weather that day. It was like raining. And the part. And this department is like middle of nowhere. I took a cab, go there like knocking on the door, no one's answering. And I'm like, isn't there's a police department? Can't you just like walk in? No, you can't. So eventually just a woman came out, handed me a post it note like, this is the email for the public. I'm like, I know what the email is. I was just so fed up that I just made like a selfie video and I was like, well, guess what, no one's telling you anything. So I wish I was more of a resourceful guy on this, but so far I'm not.
C
It feels like to me, like in a free country, people should be able to go and touch the reflecting pool, you know, without any fear that the government is going to try to detain them. And I do think that, you know, enterprising reporters like yourself should be able to go to the Park Police prison. And you Know, have free reign, not be rebuffed. It shouldn't be like an El Salvador gulag situation in the park police prison, but it does feel like we're kind of going a bad trajectory here. I don't know, you guys like you started this all what, a couple months ago now? Four months ago now?
A
Two months. Really?
C
Two months?
A
Yeah.
C
So do you feel like kind of you're at the beginning of a arc towards dystopia when you see news like this? Or was this about what you were expecting?
B
Yeah, I mean, the reflecting pool is a hot button issue, you know what I mean? And look, the claim is that Hearn Piro said he went in the water, he grabbed it and would like, you know what I mean, was pulling it off. I mean, I haven't seen any evidence of that, but that's what the claim is. If he really was like tore off like yards this thing, I mean, not good. Not good. I mean, we can agree to that. Is he like this horrible vandal going to prison for 10 years? He seemed like a nice guy when he was wearing his bike helmet. You know, he seemed like he wasn't there for trouble, but maybe he is this horrible scofflaw. We just don't realize. I don't know, it seems, it seems a bit heavy handed to me.
C
What would be the punishment, do you think, in Australia, like in Oz, for? It's sort of more of a law and order country.
B
Yeah, we are criminals. We're descended from criminals. So maybe you get a pat on the back in Australia. I don't know. Probably not. You send them to another country.
C
Yeah. Just kind of imagine, kind of the dingo going after. Do you have a famous pool in Perth?
B
A famous pool in Perth? I'm not from Perth.
C
Or Melbourne.
B
Melbourne, thank you. Actually, Tim, I hate to hit you with a gotcha question. I'm from the capital of Australia, which is Canberra. No way, Tim. That's actually.
A
He asks that to a lot of people and they never get it.
B
They never get it.
C
You know, I mean, I did do well in the geography B in sixth grade. You know, we don't need to focus on that. I can go over who beat me. It was kind of a traumatic moment. But I was pretty successful geography B. My mother was kind of like a Lebanese tiger mom though, and she was, she was disappointed with my, was my second place finish. Why don't we guys talk about the ethos of what you guys are doing? So, you know, you go over there two months, you run around Capitol Hill like, what are you trying to do. What's different about what you're doing than the other reporters over there? Like, it was just a little sense of, you know what, how a celebrity gossip outlet thinks about covering Washington.
A
Yeah, well, TMZ is a personality. And I think at times Charlie and I can be really funny or try to be funny with people, and we can ask questions that are light and have to do with pop culture. And then other times we can be really serious and try to dig in to big issues. And some. And, you know, I think the, the people who report on the Hill do a great job. Something I've noticed, just generally speaking, is when maybe they'll ask a question, someone will shut it down, they'll try to do like a follow up, and then it kind of ends there. We're trying to break through that a little bit. And I think Charlie is fantastic at that, as seen in his interviews with Ted Cruz and Dan Muser, where we're really trying to dig into an answer. And like everyone, we try to cultivate relationships on both sides of the spectrum. And I think by doing that, people have begun to trust us. And we can really get into these interesting kind of casual, informal dialogues that I think resonate with people.
B
Our audience, you know, is very different than the audience of a lot of reporters who cover Capitol Hill. Our audience maybe isn't as politically engaged. So I still think they're politically engaged, but as politically engaged as like cnn, Fox News, the bulwark, you know what I mean? So how do we get this interview with someone, that someone sitting at home scrolling on TMZ or watching us, our program, how do we make them care about this, you know, congressman from Alabama. They live somewhere else in America. Why. Why would they care what this guy or girl has to say? Well, that's the battle for us. And that's what we're trying to do. Ask, you know, common man, common woman type questions that regardless of who this person is in front of us, we know they're important. Right? We know that they have got a lot of power. What can we ask that would translate to that person sitting at home somewhere in America?
C
How have you guys figured out how to recognize people with difficulties?
A
Not easy.
C
Flashcards.
B
Thank you to our office because you printed out a hell of a lot of A4 color printing, by the way, sheets of paper so that we could like, try to like, okay, okay, that's him, that's her. That's aoc. Okay, recommit. That's memory. And so I feel like. So there's 550 odd of them. I'd say I probably got my mind around 150. I don't know. We've been in two months. It's not easy, but, yeah, that is a struggle.
C
You bet. One little piece of homework I got for you is there's this great book about the 1996 campaign by Michael Lewis called Losers. It was like, Michael Lewis is like, best book, maybe his best book, his most underrated book. He's much more well renowned for Moneyball, et cetera. But it was interesting because he goes to cover this 96 campaign as somebody who's not a political reporter. And it's so much better than all the other campaign books because he's just observing things that are interesting or weird that all of the political reporters just kind of go along with. And, like, this is just kind of how it is. Like, this is how we do business here. And I just. I'm wondering if that is, you know, kind of caught your eye at all, where you're just like this. If people kind of saw behind the camera about what was happening, like, it looks very formal or whatever right in front of your face, but, like, everything around it is preposterous.
B
So true, man. Well, what kicked us off? What. What sent us over here to D.C. was our campaign started by our big boss, Harvey Levin, saying, if you see them out on vacation, these Congress people, while psa, you know, isn't getting paid, send us the pics, send us the pictures of the congressman enjoying their lives while some people aren't getting paid. And so that's a very. Like, everyone in D.C. gets that these Congress people are off all the time, and it's just like, they don't even think about it. Like, it is what it is. But for us, us from la, we were like, what, they get more time off than school children? Are you serious? And there's been so many of those instances where we're like, wait, this is normal here? And everyone's like, yeah. I mean, yeah, it is. And so I think that's been a bit of the charm of us being here is discovering this city and how it operates with fresh eyes.
C
One example of that, of course, was Lindsey Graham at Disney World. He was pictured carrying a bubble wand. It caught the attention of the nation. We did several videos about it here on the Bulwark YouTube page. You guys had the opportunity to ask Lindsay about it a couple of times. And so we'll just play a couple of the clips.
B
I'm from tmz. Could I just ask you about the bubble one.
C
Sir,
B
can I say quickly about the bubble one? Could I ask just where is that bubble one now at this point in time? Where is it?
C
You know, I don't know.
B
You don't know?
C
I didn't buy it for me.
B
Who'd you buy it for?
C
For a friend's girl.
B
That's very nice of you, man.
C
One thing I've learned, I think we need competition for global guns because it was pretty high. Yeah, I like the deadpan.
B
I mean, I will say this about Lindsey Graham. You know, he gets a lot of flack that. That, you know, and maybe deservedly so, depending on where you stand, but he doesn't shy away from an interview. And, you know, him and I have no sort of bad blood over the bubble one sort of quest line of questioning. He. I mean, so I. I give him credit that he welcomes the. The, you know, the interest and like. So. But, yeah, the bubble one thing was just a life of its own because it's such an absurd, absurd thing.
A
Well, Charlie, when we got here, Charlie, like, first. He was like, first clip has to be the bubble wand.
B
All I wanted.
A
He dedicated himself to getting it, but. But again, even though it seems like we're hassling him about that two months later, I think we actually have a decent rapport with him now, and he's very open to speaking with us.
C
Okay, well, don't show him this clip because we do have some bad blood, me and Lindsey.
B
Okay.
C
Because way back, you know, he was a Jeb supporter. I was Jeb's communications director. We've. He loves the chardonnay. You know, sometimes the end of the campaign, he'd drink a lot of chardonnay, while I would have to sit there and babysit him. And. And so I've now, you know, moved into anti Trump media, and he encountered me in a spin room about a year or two ago and started screaming at me about how I should be ashamed of myself. So, wow. You know, it's okay. Whatever. Sometimes these relationships aren't meant to last.
B
You want me to ask him about it, Tim? I can get him on the Hill, like, next week. I ask him about it.
C
I think it's okay. I mean, given the Iran war and other things that he's complaining, I think they're probably better questions for you, but we'll talk. If I do have little fun questions related to my past for you, I'll think about it.
B
We could be.
A
Your line.
C
Yeah. I'm trying to think about the way to transition from Lindsey Graham to Congressman Abe Hamadei. Without being too on the nose, I mean Abe has done some interesting interior decorating of his office. Very large walk in closet in the office. And there's an interesting story about him last week, not from you guys, about, you know, how he's a live in staffer gentleman and I don't know, I just, I've been kind of. I'm asking because I've been waiting for the TMZ Abe Homaday take. Is it because he's in the 300 you don't recognize, you haven't taken him down yet or.
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B
I see Abe all the time and I'm like, what up Abe? You know.
C
So do you have any thoughts on what's happening there? The office? It's pretty strange what's happening in the office. I think the decorating, the looks, maxing, the live in staffer. Well, it looks TMZ ish.
A
Who's looks maxing in the office?
B
The interns.
A
The interns are looks? What does that even mean?
B
You haven't seen the photos, but like,
A
are they competing against each other? What do you mean by like looks, Max?
C
I think that they might be doing some bone smashing.
A
That's. That's news to me.
C
You guys tell me that's what I'm this, Isn't this what you're here for? That's, that's why I. If you an ABE chat. I mean it feels like TMZ viewers might be interested in the bone smashing. Downton Abbey decorated, you know, Republican congressman.
A
Yeah.
B
I mean, I don't think we're, we're interested in like his living situation. Like, we're not, we're not here to play bedroom police. You know what I mean?
C
Like maybe, hey, no opposite. We love, you know, the weirder in the bedroom it gets, the better. That's my policy. Whatever, you're down with it, but it is not policing. It's just, it's curious, it's interesting. You know, it'd be one thing if it was like a seat, you know, in secret, but, but the office. I mean, he posted a picture of a, of a man and like very small pants with his bulge showing the other day.
A
Well, I don't know enough about his situation, honestly. But what I can say is that like, there are plenty of people who live in their office and frankly, it's like a lot of people don't make enough money to the point where they can have a place in their district and live in D.C. frankly, I'm surprised not even more people live in their offices. They're pretty big and I know. Yeah.
B
So you could shoot like a whole season of cribs just going office to office throughout the cap. For real.
C
Are there any other ones that have caught your eye? I mean, I just. Again, the abs. We'll put it on the screen. Like the decoration of his office is just, you know, I, I'm a, I'm a more is more person. You know, if we were downstairs in my house, I've got a very decorated home and so. But his is, you know, most of the congressional offices are usually a little bit more strip bare. They'll have some things from the, their district. You know, if you're from Colorado, you might have a buffalo head or something or, you know what. Have you seen anything that caught your eye?
A
It's hard to say like which people in particular, but people I think in general are trying to be flashy. They're trying to make their offices fun. I think like I wanted. Who was it? The senator from New Jersey, Andy Kim. Yeah, I think he has like a skeeball in his office. There are a lot of people who have like different little things to make it fun. It's their intro to a lot of people. You know, people from their district come, let him off as cool.
B
Let him show his personality though, if that, if that's what I was into. You know, this is 2026. You know, this is, Let him, let him gold plate, whatever he wants if that's what he's into. You know, I, I, you know, I enjoy Seeing him out and about, like he's friendly with us. I, I've talked to him about like, you know, the, the photo shoot that, you know, they all, they all did. He's pretty authentically him. Like him or not. You know what I mean? Like, like, I, I don't think that he's not doing that office stuff to you.
C
I mean, authenticity, yeah, he certainly is unique, but the authenticity, I don't know. This is great. I love that you guys have this relationship. You should show him this video. Maybe it'll encourage him to kind of give you more of a behind the scenes tour. I'd like to learn more, that's all. I would like to learn more about what's happening in his office. I want to commiserate with you guys about something and I'm hoping maybe you can help me improve on this. But we can do that. We both have a. We both have run into a wall asking politicians about a similar topic. I want to play you guys talking to Westmore.
A
How many governors? You actually have to ask that just.
C
Cause I've seen the videos.
A
You're the second governor I've spoken to, so I haven't been able to ask that many. But I've just seen the videos. Like, you kind of flex it. So, like, what's the bench? What's the squad?
B
Well, I mean, you know, it's funny, I don't even know what my max is, but like, I got the baddest first lady in the country, so I gotta. Oh, professional sexy.
C
Okay.
B
Wow.
C
I love that. Keep it sexy for Mrs. Moore. Yeah, she's cool. I met, I met her at a baggage claim one time. Very nice woman. The. He wouldn't tell you though. And I had John Ossoff on about a month ago and asked him what his workout routine was. He wouldn't tell me. Then I had Raphael Warnock on. He wouldn't tell me why. What is happening? Why are. Because they're on peptides. Do you think they're embarrassed? Like, why. Why can't we just get some workout routines out of these politicians?
A
You could be on to something. I mean, I don't know. Yeah, I don't know why it's such a secret. Maybe they don't want to be shamed for how much they can or can't lift. But I think that the fact that you're lifting it all is a positive. We walk around, everyone's like a dinosaur on Capitol Hill. The fact that you're lifting and doing all these workouts, it's like, I would be leading with that. If I were a campaign manager, I'd be telling people like, lead with the workout. Like that's the first thing that'll hit them and the rest will follow.
C
Who cares if they're going to make fun of you? You know, I'm just using the little 15 pound dumbbells when I go to my ladies weights class. That's fine. I'm not ashamed.
A
That makes two of us.
C
Yeah. You also do a ladies kind of Pilates lift class.
A
I hit and a 15 pound dumbbell.
B
I didn't exercise.
C
Interesting. Yeah, look at it. We could do it. We could work out together. Next time I'm in town, I'll call you up, see what hit class you're going to.
A
Okay.
C
What else do you guys want me to know? Is there anything else about the, about D.C. that has surprised you, has caught you off guard?
B
It surprised me how much this city has embraced us. It really has surprised me because I've been doing this sort of thing, interviewing celebrities at LAX for 13 years, right? And you know, some people perceive of what I do as being like one of those paparazzi, like, leave them alone. What I do is I'm a reporter, I'm a field producer, and I'll go up to this subject and I'll kind of, I'll be friendly and if you want to chat, great. If you don't want to chat, also, great. So I've been doing the same thing, but you feel a little bit maybe of a stigma walking around LAX with people. But here, the, the other members of the media, the public for sure, the politicians on both sides. I'm sure there are people out there who don't love what we do, but I haven't met them. You know what I mean? I've been surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response. It's been like, so satisfying and like, it means a lot.
A
Definitely.
C
What's refreshing, D.C. is pretty bleak these days, you know, so getting some fresh blood in there, I think is good. I mean, you also, I mean, it would be different if you, I think, were starting to get up in their face and get personal with them. So I do think that potentially, you know, you might not be as welcome in the future if the tactics get a little more aggressive.
A
Well, and it depends what the situation is. We've done that before, so it's like we're not, that's not, to us, off limits, depending on the situation. And like, like I said from the jump, it's like we're, we're a spectrum. We can Be. We're personality. And it can be fun. It can be serious.
B
We've, like, you know, we've held them accountable in, you know, a variety of different clips. We don't want to do that every single time. It's like, you know, well, we want to, like, have fun. We want to, like, get to the truth of an issue. If there's some burning topic and it's like, come on, like, what is going on here? But I feel like, yeah, we need to. We need to be that personality so that people can trust and have faith in us.
A
And before I feel like we can even get into so many issues, people are just trying to figure out who these people are. Like, I have a lot of friends who are college educated who have, like, zero clue who their senator is or who their congressman is and probably don't even know what the Strait of Hormuz was before the Iran war. So who did we got to like? So, yeah, maybe, Tim, the point is, is that I just think it's like, we got to take a step back. We got to, like, understand who we're dealing with and who these people are before we maybe even get into some of the issues.
C
Charlie, I got a couple LAX questions I got to ask you. Just, you know, burning questions. Some of these times these celebs tell you they're. They're. When they're landing, right? Like, they wanted to be on, and they're just like, hey, man, just so you know, I'm in. I'm on the 452 coming from Philly.
B
Yeah, that happens. That happens sometimes.
C
That's what's happening with Karamo and Jussie Smollett. Right? Like, there's no way. Karamo and Jesse Smollett are supposedly dating now. They got caught in the park, and then they got caught kissing again the next day. Somebody tipped them off. Right. It's not that. What is? How else would they catch Karamo and Jussie Smollett start kissing?
A
I'm so deep in, like, D.C. now that even, like, the TMZ stories, I can't even keep up.
B
You're breaking me news now. About this.
C
You did not know I know that Karamo and Jussie Smollett are. Well, this is big. See, you guys aren't on gay Twitter. This is big news on gay Twitter.
B
I mean, I dabble in gay Twitter.
C
Exactly.
A
I wouldn't rule us out.
C
Yeah, well, obviously you're only dabbling because if you're any depth in gay Twitter, you'd be very familiar with what's happening there. What about the payoffs on the back end? Were you getting paid off at LAX? Like, please go away. I'll pay you $1,000 to kill it.
B
Someone pay me to go away. No, I'm a friendly guy. No, we don't. We didn't do that. People think TMZ does stuff like that. We don't. I just stand at LAX and see who I see most of the time.
A
Yeah. Same rule applies here. It's like, if someone doesn't want to talk unless there's a pressing issue, it's like, okay, there's. There's 500 people here. Like, we will go to the next person.
C
What part of town are you living in? Are you guys in your. You guys roommates?
A
You know, I'm moving up in the world, Tim. I've been living at my. In my aunt's basement in Bethesda for a while because I'm paying for an apartment in New York. We took this job last minute, and it cost, like, an arm and a leg to have an apartment in Brooklyn. So moved here, I was like, I'm going to save a little bit of money, but now I'm coming to you from my brand new apartment right now.
B
Day one, baby.
C
Wow. Bravo. It's telling me it's a navy yard. Tell me it's a navy yard so you can spy on the MAGA staffers.
A
No, no, it's not a navy yard. It's in an undisclosed location.
C
All of the MAGA youth are a navy yard.
A
So I've heard.
B
But it's a lot of fun. Navy yard. It's like, you know, late at night, I hear it can get troublesome, but, like, it's a nice place to hang out, have a bevy by the water.
C
Troublesome like a drunk frat guy starts saying the N word or like, what kind of. It's not like, scary troublesome. You just mean, like. Like, you know, kind of rowdy.
B
It gets. It gets rowdy, I'm told. But, yeah, we don't go out enough. We don't.
A
We don't. Like, I'm not gonna act like we. You know, we're tired. We're off the hill all day.
C
You're not sitting outside Bullfeathers.
B
No, but I will. Now, what is that? Is that. What sort of bar is that?
C
Okay, so Bullfeathers is on the hill. It's owned by a really, really annoying MAGA media guy turned bar owner, and his name is Raheem.
B
Oh, you're talking about Butterworths, my friend.
C
Butterworth's. Fuck yeah. You know Butterworth. Thank you, God. See you live there. Now what? Which one is Bullfeathers? There is a Bullfathers too. Tmz, guys. What else? Anything else? Do you have any attacks on me or any critiques, feedback, notes, scoops?
A
The last thing I'll say going off your question, what have you learned about DC is DC and just politics as a whole is what way too online. Too online for its own good. And I think it comes because the criticism of D.C. has always been it's too insular. And I think people here are like, you're right, it is. How do we become. Not that we're going to become really in touch with what people are saying on Twitter and on Instagram and now everyone has moved too much that way, but they're like insular in a different way where they think all that matters is what's happening online.
C
That's true. But, you know, that's. That's like how I built my brand. Jacob, you have to have a good, strong X account in order to build your brand. We're trying to keep working on that. Good luck, guys. Thank you for coming on. We'll keep monitoring your material and if I have any good tips for you. Now, now we're in touch.
B
Bull feathers is the feathers.
C
That's. That's another. It's another Capitol Hill restaurant that I guess nobody goes to anymore because I moved to New Orleans. How am I supposed to know what the hot restaurants are?
A
Two Lane. Two Lane alum.
C
Tulane, my man. I'm ready.
A
Roll wave.
C
Yeah, Roll wave. We'll see you guys soon. All right, Cheers. Subscribe to the feed, everybody. Cheers.
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Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Host: The Bulwark
Guests: Charlie Cotton & Jacob Wasserman (TMZ DC co-managing editors)
Date: July 4, 2026
This episode explores TMZ’s new, irreverent approach to Capitol Hill coverage, how DC has responded to paparazzi-style reporting on lawmakers, and how the lines between celebrity culture and political journalism are blurring. Host Tim Miller welcomes Charlie Cotton and Jacob Wasserman (“the TMZ DC duo”) for an inside look at what it means to bring a tabloid mindset to the heart of American politics. From viral moments with bubble wands to probing the private lives (and offices) of congressmembers, this is a rollicking journey through the new intersection of pop culture and governance.
TMZ in DC:
Charlie and Jacob discuss their mission: bringing TMZ’s tabloid, personality-driven reporting style to the rarely glamorous halls of Congress, amusingly blending light pop culture ask (“bubble wands?”) with substantive inquiry.
"You guys have been running all around town asking Lindsey Graham about his bubble wand." — Host (00:56)
Recent Headline:
The arrest of David Hearn (former Olympic canoeist) for vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool sparks debate around government overreach, police transparency, and the heavy-handedness of prosecution.
"It feels like to me, like in a free country, people should be able to go and touch the reflecting pool without any fear..." — Host (04:28) "It seems a bit heavy handed to me." — Charlie Cotton (05:09)
Media Culture Shock:
The guests explain their approach—balancing humor, informality, and “common man/woman” questions with attempts to break through political double-speak and cultivate authentic relationships on both sides of the aisle.
"We're trying to break through that a little bit. Charlie is fantastic at that, really trying to dig into an answer." — Jacob Wasserman (07:13)
"Our audience maybe isn't as politically engaged as CNN or Fox... so how do we make them care about this congressman from Alabama?" — Charlie Cotton (08:19)
Recognizing Lawmakers:
The duo describes the practical challenge of keeping track of hundreds of relatively unknown public figures (“I probably got my mind around 150,” (09:26))—solved by printing “a hell of a lot of A4 color sheets.”
Fresh Eyes:
Coming from LA, the duo is constantly surprised by the normalcy (to DC insiders) of things like frequent Congressional vacations. Their outsider's perspective spotlights political quirks that "everyone in DC just accepts" but that seem odd to regular people.
"For us from LA, we were like, what, they get more time off than school children? Are you serious?" — Charlie (10:49)
A Moment Goes National:
The team recounts their repeated, deadpan questioning of Senator Graham (playfully dubbed the “bubble wand quest”), with Graham artfully deflecting ("I didn't buy it for me. I bought it for my friend's girl." (12:22)). The exchange gains a life of its own, symbolizing TMZ’s style of chasing odd, viral moments in politics.
"He doesn't shy away from an interview…he welcomes the interest." — Charlie Cotton (12:36)
Congressional “Cribs":
The discussion turns to Congressman Abe Hamadei’s office, rumored to be extravagantly decorated with a walk-in closet, staffed by “looksmaxxing” interns, and featuring viral photos.
"You could shoot like a whole season of Cribs just going office to office throughout the capitol." — Host (17:41)
Living Situations:
Jacob notes that many lawmakers (including Abe) live in their offices, a pragmatic choice given DC’s cost of living and congressional pay.
"I'm surprised not even more people live in their offices. They're pretty big." — Jacob (17:20)
Reluctant Transparency:
The TMZ duo have found that politicians, even those with viral “workout” profiles, are oddly bashful or evasive when asked about routine, mundane personal habits.
"I don't know why it's such a secret. Maybe they don't want to be shamed for how much they can or can't lift." — Jacob (20:48)
Host’s Frustration:
Tim Miller laments how even when asking about innocuous details (“workout routine?”), lawmakers clam up—speculating it might be image management or embarrassment.
Reception:
Both Charlie and Jacob are surprised at the positive response from the DC political and media establishment to their presence— unlike the sometimes chilly or suspicious attitudes they saw in LA celebrity reporting.
"I've been surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response. It's been, like, so satisfying." — Charlie (22:50)
Boundaries:
The panel acknowledges that a more confrontational or invasive approach could tip the balance, especially as the novelty of TMZ in DC wears off.
"You might not be as welcome in the future if the tactics get a little more aggressive." — Host (22:51)
Social Media “Too Online”:
The guests observe that DC’s insularity has simply migrated online—everyone is “way too online for its own good,” obsessing over X/Twitter dramas that most Americans will never notice.
"Politics as a whole is just way too online. Too online for its own good." — Jacob (28:00)
Host’s Quip:
Miller jokes that being terminally online is a requirement for building a personal media brand.
"You have to have a good, strong X account in order to build your brand." — Host (28:37)
On the Reflecting Pool Arrest:
"If he really tore off like yards of this thing, I mean, not good. But is he this horrible vandal going to prison for 10 years? ... seems a bit heavy handed to me." — Charlie (05:09)
On the Bubble Wand Moment:
"Lindsey Graham…he doesn't shy away from an interview…he welcomes the interest. The bubble wand thing was just a life of its own because it's such an absurd thing." — Charlie (12:27–13:10)
Describing Lawmaker Recognition:
"There's 550 odd of them. I'd say I probably got my mind around 150..." — Charlie (09:26)
On Office Decor:
"His [Abe Hamadei’s] office is just…most of the congressional offices are usually a little bit more strip bare…[he’s] pretty authentically him. Like him or not." — Charlie (18:47–19:18)
On D.C.'s Embrace of TMZ:
"I've been surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response. It's been, like, so satisfying and like, it means a lot." — Charlie (22:50)
On DC’s Social Media Obsession:
"Politics as a whole is just way too online. Too online for its own good." — Jacob (28:00)
This episode delivers a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when the worlds of tabloid journalism and political reporting collide, revealing the quirks, eccentricities, and sometimes surprising openness of DC. The hosts and their guests probe the limits of “paparazzi politics”—having fun going viral with lawmakers, but also surfacing deeper truths about culture, access, and the emergence of a new kind of political celebrity.