On Monday evening, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo finally “explained” his deafening silence in recent days regarding the wave of scandals facing his older brother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“Before we start tonight, let me say something that I’m sure is very obvious to you who watch my show,” Chris Cuomo said as he opened “Cuomo Prime Time” Monday evening.
“Obviously, I’m aware of what’s going on with my brother. And obviously I cannot cover it because he is my brother,” Chris Cuomo continued. “Now, of course, CNN has to cover it. They have covered it extensively, and they will continue to do so.”
It’s almost impressive that such a short collection of words can contain such high levels of misdirection, evasion, and deceit. As we break down each sentence, the true scale of the younger Cuomo’s journalistic malfeasance becomes clear: he’s an integral part of the Cuomo cover-up.
First, let’s take a look at his initial statement, “Before we start tonight, let me say something that I’m sure is very obvious to you who watch my show.” It’s unclear how Chris Cuomo could conclude that his later statements could possibly be “obvious” to audience members given that he has been completely silent on the matter. Unless the average CNN viewer possesses psychic abilities, of course.
Next, there’s the demonstrably absurd claim, “obviously I cannot cover it because he is my brother.”
It goes without saying that familial connections between politicians and journalists are rife with potential for intellectual corruption, with the Cuomo brothers standing as ongoing proof. Throughout 2020, as Andrew Cuomo was lauded as the hero of the pandemic — with “America’s governor” even finding time during his busy schedule to write a book on leadership and accept an Emmy award for his masterful use of television — Chris Cuomo couldn’t welcome the New York governor onto his show often enough.
“Obviously I cannot cover it because he is my brother” didn’t seem to apply when they were joking about who was the favorite son, debating who was a “meatball,” and chortling about the size of the governor’s nostrils. It certainly didn’t apply when Chris Cuomo vocally defended Andrew Cuomo during a segment with Sen. Ted Cruz. All while, lest we forget, he ignored the brutal impact of Gov. Cuomo’s nursing home policies.
Finally, there is the outright lie, “Now, of course, CNN has to cover it. They have covered it extensively, and they will continue to do so.” As Fox News reported, CNN were actually “stone-silent” about the accusations leveled against Gov. Cuomo by former aide Lindsey Boylan “for nearly 24 hours,” and “finally covered the story online … and led with Cuomo’s denial.”
While Chris Cuomo’s status as CNN’s leading propagandist has been cemented in place by his “obviously” speech, in some ways, he is telling the truth. Whether last year or today, Chris Cuomo’s job is clear: to protect his older brother. That involves hiding unfortunate “obvious” facts, like his failure in leadership or his alleged sexual misconduct.
While Gov. Cuomo’s fortunes have clearly changed, his younger brother’s strategy has not.
Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at @ighaworth.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.