You’ll discover no love in any respect from most conservatives for fired ex-CNN “Prime Time” host Chris Cuomo, however one space the place’s been proven to be proper is in his declare that CNN was nicely conscious of how deeply he was concerned in advising his brother Andrew Cuomo – exactly as a result of they, too, took half within the advising of the disgraced former governor beginning nicely earlier than the 2021 sexual harassment scandals that in the end ended up being the senior Cuomo’s undoing.
Till now, we’d solely gotten drips and drabs (together with paraphrased textual content messages) from information shops just like the New York Submit and the Wall Road Journal of what reportedly went on behind the scenes on the community regarding them performing extra in a “publicist” function than an adversarial one with Andrew Cuomo, together with insider information on how former government VP Allison Gollust and former CNN president Jeff Zucker took on teaching roles for Cuomo on his each day pandemic briefings, partly as a manner to assist CNN’s rankings through the midday timeslot and partly to attempt to embarrass then-President Trump.
However in a brand new blockbuster report from Rolling Stone of all locations, receipts have been dropped at the desk exhibiting the extent of CNN’s cheerleading for Andrew Cuomo and their work behind closed doorways to form protection that was extra favorable to him.
The article began off by speaking about how through the early days of the coronavirus outbreak right here within the U.S., Trump and Cuomo had a cellphone dialog that Trump ended up discussing in obscure element with the media concerning potential momentary quarantines for elements of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. When Cuomo was requested about Trump’s feedback by the press throughout a briefing, he didn’t have rather more to supply past an informal shrug, questioning how it might be useful from a medical perspective.
However when Cuomo appeared on CNN later that night, he harshly rebuked Trump, speaking about how a quarantine would create “chaos and mayhem” for the area from an financial and monetary standpoint, whereas fielding what Rolling Stone described as “tailored”-sounding questions for Cuomo from anchor Ana Cabrera. Right here’s the place the Rolling Stone story picks up from there:
What viewers didn’t know is that within the hours between Cuomo’s Albany press convention and his CNN dinner-hour look, he corresponded straight with CNN management. Firing off a textual content to the community’s prime advertising and communications government, Allison Gollust — who had additionally been his personal publicist a number of years prior — Cuomo wrote, in an obvious reference to CNN President Jeff Zucker, “Ask Jeff to name me plz.” Zucker’s representatives say he has “no report” of talking to Cuomo that day. Regardless, Cuomo landed on a speaking level positive to seize Trump’s consideration. And Zucker definitely knew precisely which levers to drag when it got here to the president, given their lengthy and profitable relationship by way of the truth present The Apprentice.
About half-hour earlier than Cuomo appeared on CNN by distant feed, Gollust emailed a programing staffer, cc’ing Zucker, and provided the governor as a last-minute visitor to speak about Trump’s proposed quarantine. She then advised Zucker that the governor wish to converse with him. When the phase ended, Gollust texted Cuomo: “Nicely finished . . . Cuomo-W. Trump-L.”
The story additionally hinted at what probably might have been a extra intimate relationship between Gollust and Cuomo, with Cuomo allegedly utilizing coded language at one level and Gollust seemingly reciprocating:
In early 2020, Cuomo texted Gollust, “You don’t wish to see me now that I’m single?” She replied, “A drink with you’ll be the perfect date I’ve had shortly.” 4 months later, he fired off a textual content to Gollust suggesting he be her “pool boy.” https://t.co/9XJ1RsSFdC
— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) March 11, 2022
The texts went past banter. When a rumor circulated that Trump was about to close down NYC, Gollust invited the guv to “squash it” on CNN. She quipped to her ex-boss, “I’m fairly positive I finished being your publicist 8 years in the past, however apparently I nonetheless am.” https://t.co/9XJ1RsSFdC
— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) March 11, 2022
A spokesperson for each Zucker and Gollust responded to the Rolling Stone report as they did to the experiences that broke in February, suggesting Rolling Stone’s claims have been “far-fetched” and “patently ridiculous.” However we heard these kind of denials all all through 2021 when CNN was more and more getting criticized even by some at usually CNN-friendly information shops, and the denials held about as a lot water then as they do now.
Beneath new administration, CNN is alleged to be on the brink of clear home and get again to precise reporting reasonably than partaking in flame wars with Republicans and Fox Information, which might be a welcome improvement. That mentioned, I’ll consider it when – and if – I see it.
Flashback –>> Report: The Chickens Come Dwelling to Roost for Chris Wallace
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