WEST LOS ANGELES - In late October, a new call to action began rippling through online forums, social-feeds and talk-radio waves. It was initiated by Harvey Levin—the veteran television producer, legal analyst and founder of TMZ. The movement goes by the bold name OWTA, acronym for “Out With Their Assess.” And its mission: vote every member of the U.S. Congress out of office, regardless of party, ideology or whether you like your own representative or not.
TMZ Livestream. Warning: Coarse language
- By Allan R. Ellenberger Opinion and observation from the heart of old Hollywood.
The Spark
Nov. 4. (THLR) - Harvey Levin, better known for breaking celebrity stories and shaping modern tabloid-journalism, has in recent weeks shifted his focus—or at least his public line of fire—toward the political class. Having spent decades observing the intersections of law, media and power, he argues that the legislative branch has grown too ossified, too self-protective, and too disconnected from the electorate to be reformed by incremental change.
In his own telling, the message is simple: even if you’re comfortable with a member of Congress, you’re not doing your democratic duty. Because comfort leads to complacency—which, in this view, is what allows broken systems to persist. OWTA is not just a slogan but a proposition: treat every representative like a fresh opportunity, not a permanent fixture.
Why Now?
Levin’s pivot may come as a surprise to some. His earlier career—law school at the University of Chicago, practicing attorney, legal analyst, and eventual tabloid-trailblazer—gave him a unique vantage point. He’s seen legal appeals, media spectacles, systemic failures and public discontent. And in the wake of the government shut-down, intensifying polarization, legislative gridlock, scandal fatigue and voter apathy, the time-for-change drumbeat is louder than ever.
OWTA taps into that mood: it’s not left or right, it’s wholesale. Whether your rep is beloved or loathed, OWTA says: Out with them—then let the people decide anew. The aim is to reset rather than tweak.
How It’s Working
The movement spreads by social media hashtags (#OWTA, #OutWithTheirAssess), local meet-ups, podcasts, and opinion pieces—some originating from Levin’s own outlets. The core message:
- At the next election, support challengers rather than incumbents.
- Resist the default “safe vote” for the familiar face.
- Treat your ballot as a mechanism of renewal, not reward.
- Elect representatives who have no “permanent seat” mindset.
Levin has reportedly encouraged influencers to join the conversation, urged voters to calculate the incumbency-rate and asked local organizers to host “OWTA Forums” where voters openly tally how long their members of Congress have served and discuss fresh candidates. He has even interviewed Representative’s Maxine Waters, Jasmine Crocker and House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries on TMZ Live, but it was uncertain whether the message was taken seriously—or if they felt threatened by it.
The Questions It Raises
With such a sweeping doctrine, OWTA inevitably triggers major questions:
- Is sweeping replacement realistic or desirable? Some argue experience matters. Others say freshness is overdue.
- What happens to continuity of governance? Replacing large swaths of Congress simultaneously could disrupt legislative memory, committee expertise, institutional knowledge.
- Is it purely anti-incumbent or pro-something? Levin frames it as pro-democracy, but critics will ask what the positive alternative is.
- Does the movement risk being co-opted by partisan interests? When a public figure like Levin leads it, watchers will ask: whose agenda is really driving it?
Why It Matters to You
This movement offers a compelling intersection of celebrity influence and civic activism. It’s a timely narrative: a former lawyer-turned-tabloid kingpin turning his attention to Congress and asking the public to “wipe the slate.” It blends showbiz, media-dynamics, civic reform and the evergreen question: Who governs the governors?
What to Watch Next
- Will any Congress members respond to the OWTA call publicly?
- Will challengers cite OWTA as part of their campaign messaging?
- Will media outlets pick up “Out With Their Assess” as a recognizable brand?
- Will voter turnout or challenger-success rates shift measurably in districts where OWTA is active?
- And will Levin hold public events or perhaps launch a dedicated media platform to promote OWTA themes?
Final Word
Levin is clearly not letting go of this. OWTA is not for the faint-hearted. It asks voters to look beyond familiar names and comfortable allegiances, to embrace structural risk in the name of renewal. By putting his name behind it, Harvey Levin has made it more than a quirky hashtag—it’s now a story, a movement, a challenge. Whether it becomes a footnote or a force remains to be seen. But if you’ve ever been frustrated by the status quo in Washington, OWTA gives you a clear call to action.
Your Comments:
What do you think of Harvey Levin's movement to change Congress? Do you think it will have any chance to work? Please comment below.
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