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BumRushDaShow

(171,793 posts)
23. It actually wasn't the headline
Sat Apr 4, 2026, 01:39 PM
Apr 4

This was something that TMZ advertised - requesting that if anyone spots these rogue members of Congress anywhere, to send them pics - Send Us Congress Vacay Pics!!!

CNN

TMZ’s founder channels national anger with Washington

PUBLISHED Apr 3, 2026, 3:54 PM ET

TMZ’s founder Harvey Levin knows what the people want to see. Usually, that’s celebrity drama and misbehavior by athletes. As the site flooded the internet this week with photos of lawmakers on vacation while Congress is in recess in the middle of a punishing partial government shutdown, it was clear he once again had his finger on the pulse.

To Levin, the photos captured something that endless stories about the partial shutdown — now the longest in the country’s history — could not. “I think you grab people where — you meet them where they want to be, and here they want these images, and the images tell the story for them, and that’s what we’re doing right now,” Levin said in an interview on CNN’s “The Story Is with Elex Michaelson.”

The flood of photos began with Sen. Lindsey Graham on vacation at Disney World in Orlando holding a bubble wand inspired by “The Little Mermaid.” Photos of other lawmakers — either in their home districts or on vacation during the two-week spring break recess — followed.

Levin said he issued a call for TMZ’s audience to send in photos after interviewing a Transportation Security Agency worker who was not getting paid because of the partial shutdown, caused by disagreements in Congress over immigration enforcement reform.

(snip)


NYT TMZ Sics Its Tipsters on a New Breed of Celebrity Villain: Members of Congress

The Guardian - TMZ tracks US lawmakers vacationing amid the partial government shutdown

The Hill - TMZ wants photos of lawmakers vacationing ‘at your expense’ amid TSA shutdown

If people can't figure out what the strategy is here that HELPS our cause, instead obsessing over the "messenger outlet" reporting on what one entity is doing to generate outrage at what is going on, then there is not much I can do other than to keep digging through finding news that gets blanked out by Taylor Swift, "March Madness", and Blake Lively.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

During COVID, NJ shut down the beaches. Christie & family had their own private beach. Norrrm Apr 4 #1
My wife is an Alabama girl AverageOldGuy Apr 4 #2
And the Florabama Lounge is famous for a yearly "mullet toss." Bo Zarts Apr 4 #6
Dirtbag who was at death's door, and survived, displacedvermoter Apr 4 #3
In fact, contrary to how George Wallace finally "saw the light" after his gun-related ordeal BumRushDaShow Apr 4 #4
Charlie Kirk was even ok with his own assassination. Norrrm Apr 4 #8
Despite Being Gunned Down at Baseball Practice and Saved by a Lesbian Cop, Rep. Steve Scalise Is Still Pro-Gun and Anti- cbabe Apr 4 #9
Thanks for this post..too many forget the brave cop Scalise could care less about Deuxcents Apr 4 #26
Isn't he the one who a black lesbian law enforcement personnel saved his life by going after the person .. Botany Apr 4 #15
Call me crazy but there are so many reasons to be repulsed by this guy and... CincyDem Apr 4 #5
Yep. But par for the course for Raw Story. onenote Apr 4 #7
"Grocery shopping ain't one of them." BumRushDaShow Apr 4 #11
I agree with you 100% on each of those issues and he's deplorable. CincyDem Apr 4 #18
It actually wasn't the headline BumRushDaShow Apr 4 #23
Agree, at this point he could be working in a displacedvermoter Apr 4 #20
In all fairness, Baitball Blogger Apr 4 #10
Lots of folks in the south - Gulf Shores/Orange are in Alabama - TBF Apr 4 #12
Fugitives JoseBalow Apr 4 #14
That was my first thought. generalbetrayus Apr 4 #21
That's how he looks when "living it up"? nuxvomica Apr 4 #13
Oh, darn. Doodles Apr 4 #16
Let Them Eat Vacation Seafood. POS. Vile scumbag. kairos12 Apr 4 #17
Congress, GET BACK TO WORK! Wild blueberry Apr 4 #19
Why do people like this LilElf70 Apr 4 #22
What about the Scotland Tour ampm Apr 4 #24
No chance that meal will fit on the $3 plan. Hope22 Apr 4 #25
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