We finally got an answer to the question of whether or not Chris “Fredo” Cuomo would be making a return to television. On Thursday, the fired CNN host launched a new podcast called The Chris Cuomo Project, a “collaborative enterprise” where he can be more “real” and “authentic” without having stories “massaged to stay on message, no one is telling me to stay on a story even if I think it’s been run into the ground. Nobody is going to encourage the stoking of flames I believe should be smothered.”
Cuomo began by thanking his supporters and saying he didn’t want to “re-litigate what was said and done involving my brother [disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D)].” And noted, “there are some outstanding legal fights [with CNN] that I have to respect.”
Sounding like he’s in the mafia, Cuomo defended what he did for the family: “But let me be clear, I really do regret how everything ended. However, I won’t regret my service to my family. I promised my father I would always be there for my brother.” Cuomo didn’t address his attempts to intimidate at least one of his brother’s sexual misconduct accusers.
And despite that ongoing lawsuit with CNN for the rest of his contract, Cuomo said he would “never be a hater” of his former network because “CNN has great people” and “has a great purpose.” “And I wish them all the best and I miss so many of the people there. But, it’s time for me to move on. And I believe I can be more than I ever was before,” he added, apologizing to his former Cuomo PrimeTime crew.
Cuomo stated, when asked about the future for his venture, “That’s what I believe.” “being a reliable source of information and analysis for you, maters to me a great deal.” “My goal is to help all of get to a better place. There are always solutions. They exist, I am certain. better ways that we can speak to each other,” said the guy who said protests didn’t have to be peaceful.
While explaining how this new platform would allow him to be more “real” and “authentic,” Cuomo did throw CNN under the bus just a bit, suggesting they were stoking dangerous fires:
These are my thoughts. That have not been massaged to stay on message, no one is telling me to stay on a story even if I think it’s been run into the ground. No one is going to allow me to stoke flames that I feel should be put out of control. I’m done with that game.
This is the game. It’s measured minute-by-minute for what resonates, processed by groups of pros before being relayed to those who present to the audience.
But that didn’t stop him from touting how “our media is good and strong. I believe it’s the best I’ve ever seen this world.” “Are there problems? Yes. Do they get worse? Yes. I know what they are, I’ve struggled them myself, and I can show them to you in real time in situations that matter,” he said. “But my goal is not some gotcha contest.”
Cuomo then went on to describe his journalism brand. “journalists don’t usually share personal opinion or positions” because “it’s a nod to impartiality” and “it also keeps the out of trouble.” But he then wondered: “maybe the time has come to be more transparent.”
“My goal here is fairness,”He declared. He then suggested that even if he didn’t agree with an argument “I will also give you that argument on its best footing. I’m not going to cherry-pick facts and find ways to make somebody else’s opinion seems weak so mine seems stronger. That’s not my game.”
That was the entire plan of his game for many years at CNN. Like when he claimed there’s a “through-line” from the Tulsa Race Massacre to today’s Republican Party.
After a rundown of his family history explaining why he would always defend his family and their connections were a boon, the rest of the nearly two-hour podcast covered the war in Ukraine and featured conversations with his radical lefty actor/filmmaker friend Sean Penn and President Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andrii Yermak.
Cuomo is a man who has set lofty ideals. But his history doesn’t really support his capacity to reach them. We’ll see how he does.
You can find the transcript below. To read it, please click on “expand”.
Chris Cuomo Project
July 21, 2022
0:00:01CHRIS CUOMO: Good morning. I’m Chris Cuomo and welcome to my home.
First off, I want to say thank you. I am grateful to you and your kind thoughts. Thanks for visiting me, my family, and telling me that I should come back. It is truly amazing how much I appreciate it all.
I’m sorry it took this long. It has been an exciting few months, you may remember. Hardship, yes. A renewed sense of purpose.
For me, however, I consider the past to be the past. It would not serve your interests if you asked me to re-examine what happened with my brother. There are still legal battles I must respect.
However, let’s be real: I regret everything. I’ll never forget my duty to my family. My father promised me that I would be there to support my brother. It’s true. As he was always there for me. As my sister have always been there for me, and they have also been there to support him. That’s family.
Now, still there is loss and there’s sadness. I value the fact that you can rely on me for reliable information and analysis. And I’ve really missed being able to communicate and help; especially such wild times for all of us.
As for CNN, I’ll never be a hater. CNN’s people are great. CNN is a powerful organization. All the best to them. I am so sorry for their loss. But, it’s time for me to move on. Your help is a great way to make me more.
Before we move on, however, I must recognize one person: My amazing team. They are the people that made my show #1 on CNN, and they have stayed there. I don’t give them enough credit. It’s always about the hair and the teeth; the people on TV. I didn’t get to say good bye. That is my regret. I’m sorry that circumstances made it impossible to tell you face-to-face how much each and all of you mean to me. Thank you so much for your support and kindness. So I am back. I am available to you personally and professionally.
It is this that the turbulent past months have reminded and energized in me. To refocus, I had to stop and rethink the things that mattered to me, what I could do to make a positive difference for myself, my family and the people who care for me. Particularly in dangerous and uncertain times.
They are. I don’t want to sound like some politician, ‘cause I’m not. We can all look around at the world and find a multitude of issues that need our attention, talk about and solve.
Many of you may think I sound like someone else. You might be surprised at how many people think I am. And that’s because I am. Now more than ever before, I’m talking to you as me. I’ve always been real and tried to be authentic when it comes to how I speak to you on television. These words, however, are mine. That have not been massaged to stay on message, no one is telling me to stay on a story even if I think it’s been run into the ground. No one is going to allow me to stoke flames that I feel should be put out of control. I’m done with that game.
This is the game. It’s measured minute-by-minute for what resonates, processed by groups of pros before being relayed to those who present to the audience. And I’ll tell you more about that, but be clear, again, I’m not pitching some kind of conspiracy BS. Okay? It’s strong and good. I believe it’s the best I’ve ever seen this world.
Can there be problems? Yes. Do they get worse? Yes. I know what they are, I’ve struggled them myself, and I can show them to you in real time in situations that matter. However, my goal is not to be a winner in a gotcha competition. It’s not to say “don’t listen to them, listen to me!” Anyone who tells you that has an agenda of their own and they’re just trying to get paid, just trying to be relevant.
It is my goal to make everyone’s lives better. There are many solutions. There are other ways we can communicate with each other. Dialog, which is listening. We can both make changes as a collective and as individuals. That’s why I’m back. That’s why I’m reaching out. And that’s why I’m asking for more of you to recognize yourselves as free agents.
Okay. A Free agent to me is someone who’s not tied to any party, or team, or tribe. You’re not burdened by affiliation or agenda or dogma. You have an open mind, an open heart, and you’re willing to listen. To learn why others agree and disagree, that you are open to at least the possibility that someone who thinks differently than you may know something that you don’t.
You are now officially invited to join The Chris Cuomo Project. Okay? Let me tell you what I know to help you understand why media coverage is the way it is. You should also learn about the reasons politicians act as they do.
That’s what I meant. Operate, they’re operators. I’m not being cynical but we’ve got to be skeptical. You have to examine why things work the way that they do. I want to share experience that I’ve had and I want hear about experiences you’ve had. We can all help one another, I believe. It is possible to help other people, I believe. And I know damn well it’s worth the effort. And I’ll make it every time out. It’s my guarantee.
Chris Cuomo Project. Why? It is a collaborative venture that has been carefully designed to accomplish a specific goal. That’s the definition. And for me, that definition is you and me sharing information, share experience that lead to insight to help us reach better understanding of what’s coming at us from everywhere else.
I really see this as a chance to bring all I have seen and learned – bring it all to bear in a positive way.
(…)
13:40
Why are you here? The digital space offers something a bit different. Digital is the future. That’s not because mainstream media is bad, in my opinion. It’s because that access to ability to create and communicate is expanding and it’s expanding reach and it’s expanding our ba – our ability to interact. I also know people are looking for alternatives. I’d like to offer one.
It’s not that I believe your options are inferior. I’m not in that game. It’s not my goal to be different. You can do better, I believe. Okay?
Part of this is because I must change. I mean journalists don’t usually share personal opinion or positions. Right? It’s a nod to impartiality. This keeps them out of trouble. Perhaps it is time to be transparent. Here, fairness is what I seek.
Now I might not be able to agree with your argument. And I’ll tell you that. I’ll tell you, but also put that argument on its strongest footing. I’m not going to cherry-pick facts and find ways to make somebody else’s opinion seems weak so mine seems stronger. That’s not my game.
So, transparency, okay. So, here’s the deal. I’m a Cuomo and I’m proud of it.
(…)
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