TMZ descends on Washington in a test of whether tabloid tactics can serve the public interest

With spectacle, personality clashes and corruption increasingly defining American politics, it was only a matter of time before TMZ would set its sights on the Beltway.

By: Angelica Kalika, University of Colorado Boulder, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 2, 2026

Words: 1,387

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Angelica Kalika, University of Colorado Boulder

Headlines on sex, drugs, sports and divorce always attract eyeballs. In fact, the entire tabloid industry has been built on the public’s hunger for scandal and schadenfreude.

TMZ is no exception. Through the years, it has become the go-to source for celebrity gossip, salacious affairs and public meltdowns.

So what to make of TMZ’s decision to recently launch a Washington bureau – TMZ DC – to cover …

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