While NBC’s Today show and ABC’s Good Morning America provided full reports Thursday morning on the latest scandal to rock Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, CBS This Morning decided to censor the story and focus on promoting the upcoming ultra-woke NAACP Image Awards instead.
“Under fire again, embattled Governor Andrew Cuomo facing a new scandal. Reports he gave family members, including his mother and brother, special access to COVID tests at the very start of the pandemic,” co-host Hoda Kotb told viewers at the top of the Today show. Teeing up a full report minutes later, fellow co-host Craig Melvin noted: “Meanwhile, already under pressure to resign over sexual harassment allegations, embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing a new controversy this morning, and this one is tied to COVID tests for members of his own family.”
Correspondent Stephanie Gosk explained: “Governor Cuomo made tests available to his family and people close to him, essentially allowing them to cut the line while others had to wait.” She then highlighted how CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was one of the family members who got special treatment:
This morning, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo facing a new scandal, reportedly giving members of his inner circle access to hard to come by COVID tests when the state was at the epicenter of the pandemic early on. The Times Union of Albany says according to three people with direct knowledge of the situation, Cuomo directed top health officials to prioritize people with close ties to his administration and family members, including his mother and his younger brother Chris Cuomo, an anchor for CNN.
She pointed out how “In the early days of the pandemic, the Governor frequently appeared on his brother’s show.” The reporter then cited CNN’s incredibly lame response to the scandal involving one of their prime time hosts: “Chris, who tested positive for coronavirus last March, is not commenting, but CNN released a statement that reads in part, ‘When Chris was showing symptoms and was concerned about possible spread, he turned to anyone he could for advice and assistance, as any human being would.’”
Leading off ABC’s Good Morning America, fill-in co-host T.J. Holmes announced: “New trouble for Cuomo. Reports that the New York Governor prioritized COVID testing for his family members and close allies at the beginning of the pandemic, when millions were struggling to find available testing.”
Later, correspondent Stephanie Ramos provided the details:
This morning another accusation hanging over New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration. Multiple newspapers are reporting that back in March, at the beginning of the pandemic, the Governor instructed top health officials to prioritize COVID testing for his family members and top associates. According to the Albany Times Union, those family members included his mother and brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo.
Instead of covering the latest turmoil for a prominent, scandal-plagued Democrat, CBS This Morning managed to completely ignore the topic. Instead, the broadcast spent over a minute gushing over the upcoming NAACP Image Awards on BET (owned by CBS parent company Viacom), set to honor woke leftists like Lebron James. Vladimir Duthiers excitedly proclaimed: “First on CBS This Morning, we’ve got the inside scoop on this year’s 52nd Annual NAACP Image Awards....We’ve also learned Lebron James scored this year’s President’s Award for his distinguished work in public service.”
In addition, This Morning spent nearly five minutes promoting Democratic Party efforts to undermine election security and rig future political contests in their favor.
CBS skipping Cuomo and promoting a woke awards show instead was brought to viewers by JCPenny and Capital One. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a full transcript of NBC’s March 25 Today show coverage of Cuomo:
7:12 AM ET
CRAIG MELVIN: Meanwhile, already under pressure to resign over sexual harassment allegations, embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing a new controversy this morning, and this one is tied to COVID tests for members of his own family. NBC’s Stephanie Gosk has that story. Steph, good morning.
STEPHANIE GOSK: Good morning, Craig. You know, early on in the pandemic, tests were difficult to come by. Now multiple outlets are reporting that Governor Cuomo made tests available to his family and people close to him, essentially allowing them to cut the line while others had to wait.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Cuomo Family Given Special Access; Report: Ordered Officials to Prioritize His Family for COVID Tests]
GOSK: This morning, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo facing a new scandal, reportedly giving members of his inner circle access to hard to come by COVID tests when the state was at the epicenter of the pandemic early on. The Times Union of Albany says according to three people with direct knowledge of the situation, Cuomo directed top health officials to prioritize people with close ties to his administration and family members, including his mother and his younger brother Chris Cuomo, an anchor for CNN. In the early days of the pandemic, the Governor frequently appeared on his brother’s show.
CHRIS CUOMO: This is the normal swab. This was the actual swab that was being used to fit up that double barrel shotgun that you have mounted on the front of your pretty face.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO [D-NY]: See, I said I was going to be nice and sweet.
GOSK: Chris, who tested positive for coronavirus last March, is not commenting, but CNN released a statement that reads in part, “When Chris was showing symptoms and was concerned about possible spread, he turned to anyone he could for advice and assistance, as any human being would.” The Washington Post, citing two sources, says employees at Wadsworth Center, the state’s lab in Albany, would work overtime to process the results of those close to the Governor.
GOV. CUOMO: It is so fast and so easy that even a governor can take this test.
GOSK: Last May, the Governor seen taking a COVID test during one of his daily briefings as a way to encourage the public. The Cuomo team also released a statement, saying in part, “In the early days of the pandemic, when there was a heavy emphasis on contact tracing, we were absolutely going above and beyond to get people testing – including in some instances going to people’s homes. Among those we assisted were members of the general public, including legislators, reporters, state workers and their families who feared they had contracted virus and had the capability to further spread it.”
The fallout comes amid mounting pressure on the Governor to resign after several women came forward alleging sexual harassment, which Cuomo has denied.
This could mean further legal trouble for the Governor in the State of New York. It’s illegal for officials to receive or provide special privileges. Craig?
MELVIN: Stephanie Gosk for us. Steph, thank you.
Here is a full transcript of ABC’s GMA coverage of Cuomo:
7:16 AM ET
AMY ROBACH: We’re gonna turn now to that new trouble for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Reports say when testing was so hard to access for many Americans, the embattled Governor gave special COVID testing priority to his family and influential people close to his administration. Stephanie Ramos is joining us now with more on that. Good morning, Stephanie.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Cuomo In Crisis; Report: Governor Gave COVID Testing Priority to Family]
STEPHANIE RAMOS: Hi there, Amy. This morning another accusation hanging over New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration. Multiple newspapers are reporting that back in March, at the beginning of the pandemic, the Governor instructed top health officials to prioritize COVID testing for his family members and top associates. According to the Albany Times Union, those family members included his mother and brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo. The tests allegedly conducted by top health officials, at times in private homes hundreds of miles from the capital. Those priority tests came at a time when millions of New Yorkers were struggling to find available testing. The Times Union says an official within the Governor’s office claims the testing was done in good faith in an effort to trace the virus.
Now, this new accusation comes as the Governor faces multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior. Cuomo still denies ever touching anyone inappropriately. Amy?
ROBACH: Alright, Stephanie Ramos, thank you.
