TMZ Goes to Washington
4/21/202626 min
The celebrity tabloid outlet is turning its attention to DC and supercharging a new era of political reporting. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi with help from Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. TMZ Founder and Executive Producer Harvey Levin displayed at a TMZ launch party. Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images. Further reading: TMZ gets political by Paula Mejía for The New Yorker. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsHarvey Levin· Soundbite0:00
If you are watching this and you see a senator out and about somewhere, especially somewhere on vacation, send them to us. Send it to the TMZ tip line.
Noelle King· Host0:10
[upbeat music] TMZ founder Harvey Levin asked, Americans answered. During the recent government shutdown, tipsters sent him photos of lawmakers doing anything but their job. Senator Robert Garcia in a casino, Ted Cruz at the airport, Lindsey Graham Disney adulting with a bubble wand. Levin built his empire on celebrity gossip, but he told CNN that it was an interview his outfit did with a TSA worker who wasn't getting her paycheck during the shutdown that radicalized him.
Harvey Levin· Soundbite0:39
It's not that the Democrats are at fault or the Republicans are at fault, they're all at fault.
Noelle King· Host0:43
So he set his sights on DC, sending a team of three producers skittering around Capitol Hill and forcing the question, should we cover our politicians like celebrities? That's coming up on Today Explained from Vox.
Speaker 20:54
Do you think you would've got as far in politics if you weren't so handsome?
Speaker 30:58
Support for the show today comes from Sony Pictures Classics. Their three-time BAFTA winner, I Swear, stars Robert Aramayo. It's the true story of John Davidson, a young man navigating life with Tourette's in 1980s Britain while fighting for understanding. In theaters April 24th.
Speaker 41:15
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