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Home » The tangled web: Jeff Zucker and Andrew Cuomo and Chris Cuomo and CNN and…

The tangled web: Jeff Zucker and Andrew Cuomo and Chris Cuomo and CNN and…

The New Neo Posted on by

The degree of caring I’ve been able work up about this is tiny – and yet it’s a big story. So I’ll just link to and quote this on the Zucker affair and why he’s left CNN:

A familiar (and pathetic) theme being echoed in certain corners of the low-rated cable news network and other cable TV shows is that because Zucker and Gollust were engaging in a “consensual relationship” (both had gotten divorces in recent years) that he (and she) did nothing wrong…

Except the issue goes way beyond their “consensual relationship,” as we previously reported, a relationship that was allegedly an “open secret” for years in media circles even as the two were married to other people. Zucker admitted to his “evolving relationship” with Gollust during CNN’s investigation into the Chris Cuomo situation, and along with that admission came questions about whether favoritism was shown to Gollust. More importantly, the conflict of interest situation was very real considering for a period of several months in late 2012 and early 2013, Gollust worked as the comms director for then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

As far as media observers are concerned, it was Gollust’s connection with Andrew Cuomo and Zucker’s with Chris Cuomo as well as Andrew that is at the heart of what makes this “consensual relationship” in the workplace especially scandalous and deeply unethical.

Remember, Cuomo was forced out at CNN late last year after transcripts of his testimony during NY AG Tish James’ investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment against Andrew Cuomo revealed that Chris Cuomo was far more involved in advising his brother on how to handle the allegations than he (and CNN) had previously acknowledged.

Obviously, the disgraced former CNN “Prime Time” anchor isn’t taking his ouster laying down, which is what is making all of this even more intriguing. Wednesday, we reported that Chris Cuomo appears to be on a revenge tour, with Puck News founder Matt Belloni noting that “I’m told CNN received a litigation hold letter recently from Chris Cuomo lawyers, demanding, among other things, preservation of all communications between Zucker, comms chief Allison Gollust, and Andrew Cuomo.”

Further adding to the high drama was a New York Post report filed earlier that alleged that not only were Zucker and Gollust behind those cutesy “interview” segments between the Cuomo brothers during the pandemic and at a time when questions were being raised elsewhere about the nursing home scandal but that they also helped Gov. Cuomo with his pandemic response briefings:

CNN is a mess. I never watch it and I rarely watch any TV news. I’m not ordinarily interested in newspeople’s personalities, their foibles, and even their corruption (which I pretty much assume). I suppose I should be, because they most certainly have an influence on so many people’ perceptions of events, and that ends up affecting us all. But what interests me is the lies they tell about events, not their own personal behind-the-scenes smarminess, and the fact that they’re all interconnected with each other and with the Democrat politicians they assist.

Comments

The tangled web: Jeff Zucker and Andrew Cuomo and Chris Cuomo and CNN and… — 26 Comments

  1. New ownership will completely clean house. I will not miss the old “talent.” They are all hardcore Leftists.

  2. Being that CNN is clearly a demented den of sex pests, grifters, pedefiles, backstabbing tale-tellers, deep state propagandists, and other assorted creatures of low repute I’m fairly satisfied with watching it all come crashing down like some sort of dilapidated building collapsing under the weight rats and cockroaches.

    That said I have little hope that whatever is left will end up being any good.

  3. It’s a big story because it is CNN. It is uninteresting to Americans because it is CNN.

  4. Is CNN still the default channel in airports and other public places?

    What would its revenues be without those contracts?

  6. Your last paragraph, Neo, I concur. Especially this, “what interests me is the lies they tell about events…”.

  7. The MSM is an adjunct of the DNC – no doubt about it. How many women, “people of color” (God, I hate that term), and men were passed over for promotions because Zucker’s sweetheart was promoted to a plum position at CNN? Why is Allison Gollust still there and how long will her involvement with Zucker last since he is no longer in a position to advance her career? The Cuomo Brothers act on CNN back in 2020 was nauseating. Like you, I do not watch TV for my news.

  8. Huxley,

    CNN Int is the only American channel we get in Germany. Is it any wonder that the country is very anti-American.

  10. I am reminded of Henry Kissinger’s comment on the Iran-Iraq War. It’s a shame they can’t all lose. They are disgusting people.

  11. As arguably the foremost propaganda outlet for the left and democRat party (but I repeat myself), CNN’s VP of Marketing, one Allison Gollust must have been intimately involved in every aspect of CNN’s propaganda.

    In the corruption, she was all in…

    PS: one can only pray that we have seen the last of Zucker’s smirking face… but I’m not holding my breath.

    PSS; Kamala Harris now has a competitor for the ‘sleeping her way to the top’ award.

  12. They are disgusting people.

    Scott Johnson mentioned having drinks with Jeffrey Toobin in 2009 when Toobin appeared in town to deliver remarks at a local society of lawyers. His said he found Toobin in meatspace to be repulsive, among the most repulsive people he’d ever met. Mr. Johnson practiced law in Minneapolis for 40-odd years.

  13. Labeling CNN a “nest of vipers” is an insult to vipers… but then, that label increasingly describes the entire democRat party leadership.

  14. Zucker must have pissed someone off. Maybe his propaganda was too obvious even to his boss(es). In other words, he didn’t do anything “bad”, he just did things “badly”. The relationship was always a trump card that they held over him. This way they get a new player and don’t have to discuss the Democratic propaganda or the Cuomo “problem”. I wonder how big his “golden parachute” will be….

  15. In “normal” companies a romantic relationship with a subordinate is prohibited. If boss and employee fall in love, somebody has to leave.

    Various comments around the conservative blogosphere indicate that the new Discovery owner wants CNN to return to being an actual news channel. Zucker had made it into a leftist propaganda outlet.

  17. Hollywood is super concerned about ethics in television media and that’s why the film, “Bombshell” was so quickly made and released when Roger Ailes’ misogynistic behavior came to light.

    I’m sure we are weeks away (a few months, at most) from having a screenplay written and purchased by a major studio that will highlight the sex scandals at CNN, especially since it’s not just adult women who are the victims, but several CNN staff have been indicted for pedophilia. And, just like “Bombshell” Hollywood’s biggest stars will line up for roles in the film, in order to tell “Truth to Power!”

  18. We’re back to Temples and Temple Prostitutes. Oracles, too, obviously.

    Bill Gates is the now the largest Latifundia owner in the Empire.

    I wouldn’t mind some chariot races.

  19. It’s starting to look like Jeffery Toobin is the only guy there that can keep his hands to himself.

    (I cannot claim credit for that little gem)

  21. CNN was a good idea. It started out well but started to trend left when Bill Clinton was impeached. Ted Turner had already sold out to Time Warner in 1996. I watched it a lot during the 1990s, but found it was less and less a news channel and becoming more politically slanted. Not my cuppa.

    Fox began in 1996 and I started watching the O’Reilly program. (His curmudgeonly take on things matched my own.) By 2003 I seldom watched CNN or MSNBC and watched mostly Fox. Zucker came along in 2013 and really turned CNN into a DNC outlet.

    I don’t mind a newspaper or TV channel being politically biased as long as they admit their bias. Unfortunately, the MSM all pose as objective news sources. Such deception. At least Fox is willing to admit their conservative bias. Fox also has a few news reporters who attempt to do unbiased news on the few news shows they run.

    It would be nice to see a real all-news channel again. One that covers things all over the world and as objectively as possible. I’d watch it.

    TV could be a wonderful source of information. Today, it’s not. I know why Neo doesn’t watch. She wants facts and data, not opinion and spin.

  22. @ Kate > “Various comments around the conservative blogosphere indicate that the new Discovery owner wants CNN to return to being an actual news channel. Zucker had made it into a leftist propaganda outlet.”

    They’ll have to fire most or all of the staff as well.
    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-weird-world-of-cnn

    Zucker has presided over the losses for the last nine years. If a network measures its success by attracting viewers — and while that is not the only measure of success, it is extremely important — CNN, under Zucker, failed and failed and failed.

    Nevertheless, now that Zucker is out — and we still do not know the entire story of his ouster — the staff is mourning the loss of the Great Leader. According to CNN’s Brian Stelter, Michael Bass, one of the top network executives who is part of an interim leadership team, said the morning after the news broke, “I know we’re all in shock. You can’t replace Jeff. It’s not possible. There’s no one else like him. The best thing we can do is honor his legacy and continue his mission. Do what we’ve been doing every single day.” At a staff meeting, also according to Stelter, a CNN anchor said, “I just don’t want us to be rudderless” — as if Zucker had been steering them in the right direction.

    And after disbelief came anger. “Zucker’s fiercely loyal employees have been shocked and enraged,” reported Vanity Fair. They are mad at Jason Kilar, the head of WarnerMedia who fired Zucker. When Kilar appeared at a staff meeting in the Washington, D.C., bureau, reporter Jamie Gangel told him: “From everything we’ve been told, this [Zucker’s firing] does not fit the crime. I think the company has made a terrible mistake. I do not think you have any appreciation for what you’ve done to this organization, and to our coverage, and to all the people who worked for him.”
    …
    To outsiders, it all seemed exceedingly … weird. Perhaps Zucker had treated them well personally; he was known to keep good relations with on-air talent. But aside from its brief shining moment in January 2021, CNN has been in the cellar so long that perhaps some have become unable to imagine that another leader might actually do a better job.

    And as a separate consideration, I pulled this other excerpt from the link.

    Gangel told the meeting that anger over Zucker’s firing has spread to high levels of the U.S. government. “The first calls I got this morning were from four members of the January 6 committee, who felt devastated for our democracy,” she said, “because Jeff was not going to be around to make sure that CNN is able to do its job.” The extensive quotes are possible because someone in the meeting made an audio recording of it and leaked it to the media. (By the way, Gangel later corrected herself; she was contacted by four members of Congress, but only one of them was a member of the January 6 committee.)

    Democrat operatives with by-lines.

  23. CNN was a good idea. It started out well but started to trend left when Bill Clinton was impeached. Ted Turner had already sold out to Time Warner in 1996. I watched it a lot during the 1990s, but found it was less and less a news channel and becoming more politically slanted. Not my cuppa.

    If you recall the Eason Jordan affair in 2004, they were still capable of being embarrassed by the outre remarks of one of their employees.

    Note, Anderson Cooper has been knocking about CNN for 20-odd years. The man doesn’t need the money (he’s a Vanderbilt heir in addition to being handsomely compensated for being a TV taking head). His willingness to work for Jeff Zucker casts a retrospective shadow on his entire career in journalism.

  24. AesopFan, firing the entire CNN crew and starting from scratch has my support, not that my support means anything. It all depends on how seriously the new ownership wants to resurrect the business.

  25. This is all connected to Clintons and Epsteins.

    “AesopFan, firing the entire CNN crew and starting from scratch has my support, not that my support means anything. ”

    Not hard for me to make happen, if enough people really believe this.

  26. The relationship was always a trump card that they held over him. This way they get a new player and don’t have to discuss the Democratic propaganda or the Cuomo “problem”. I wonder how big his “golden parachute” will be….

    I suspect that the “golden parachute” is the reason for firing him for cause. Rips a big hole in that golden parachute.

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