New report shows how the incestuous ties between CNN and the Cuomos were worse than you thought



An explosive new report in Rolling Stone details how former CNN chief Jeff Zucker pulled strings at the network to reward his friends and boost ratings by manipulating the news.

Rolling Stone's Tatiana Siegel spoke to more than 36 sources and obtained text messages exchanged between Zucker, his subordinate and romantic partner Allison Gollust, and disgraced ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo that show how Cuomo leveraged his relationship with his former staffer, Gollust, for positive coverage at CNN, while Zucker was more than happy to go along with it to make "great TV."

The report shows how CNN executives grossly violated journalistic ethics, including an example of how Gollust, who ran the network's marketing and communications departments, literally cheered for Cuomo after she secured TV appearances for him to attack former President Donald Trump's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EXCLUSIVE: Texts & 36 sources tell the true story of how CNN's Jeff Zucker & his cronies manipulated the news.\n\nThat includes *literally* cheerleading for their favorite pols like Andrew Cuomo. As one exec texted the former guv: \u201cCuomo-W. Trump-L.\u201d https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/jeff-zucker-cnn-resign-affair-cuomo-trump-1319698/\u00a0\u2026
— Noah Shachtman (@Noah Shachtman) 1647016705

Siegel recounts how on March 28, 2020, Trump spoke to reporters about the possibility of imposing a short-term "quarantine" in New York, New Jersey, and some parts of Connecticut to slow the spread of the coronavirus. "This would be an enforceable quarantine. You know, I’d rather not do it, but we may need it,” Trump said at the time, giving reporters an update after he discussed the measures with Cuomo, who was still the governor at this point.

Later that day, Cuomo was asked about the president's comments during his daily press briefing, and he dismissed what Trump said. “From a medical point of view, I don’t know what you’d be accomplishing,” he told reporters.

But Rolling Stone reveals that after this press conference, Cuomo texted Gollust, his former communications director who was now an executive vice-president at CNN, writing, "Ask Jeff to call me plz," apparently referring to CNN President Jeff Zucker.

While Zucker's representatives told Rolling Stone there's "no record" of a conversation between him and the governor that day, Gollust secured a TV hit for Cuomo on CNN that night, discussing Trump's quarantine proposal.

Cuomo told CNN's audience that a quarantine would cause "chaos and mayhem" in the tri-state area, predicting that it would "paralyze the economy."

Though the governor would later become infamous for imposing some of the strictest COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions in the country, in March 2020 on CNN he argued that Trump's quarantine "would shock the economic markets in a way we’ve never seen before.”

After the segment, Rolling Stone reports Gollust texted Cuomo: "Well done ... Cuomo-W. Trump-L."

In another example of how Gollust acted to benefit Cuomo, Rolling Stone reports that she invited the governor to come on CNN's "New Day" to "squash" a rumor that Trump was preparing to shut down New York City because of the pandemic. In a text message, she reportedly told Cuomo, "I’m pretty sure I stopped being your publicist 8 years ago, but apparently I still am." In another exchange, Cuomo reportedly asked Gollust to critique his performance at a press conference.

A spokeswoman for Gollust called these exchanges, "innocuous, mundane conversations that are being spun into a nefarious tale." But the spokeswoman admitted that Gollust once asked Gov. Cuomo to help her friend push through the city bureacracy to open a birthing center in Manhattan. And she also confirmed that another time Gollust asked Cuomo for a favor involving Billy Joel, who'd once hosted a Cuomo campaign fundraiser. Gollust had reportedly texted Cuomo, “I never ask you for favors, but ...,” to which Cuomo replied, “Yes, u do ask me for favors, and that’s okay. It’s mutual.”

All of this and more happened under Zucker's watch and reportedly with his approval. Rolling Stone details how Zucker enjoyed a close relationship with both Gov. Cuomo and his younger brother Chris Cuomo, a personal friend whom Zucker hired as a CNN anchor starting at $6 million salary. (Both Cuomos have lost their previous jobs amid sexual harassment scandals, though each has denied the respective allegations against them.) Zucker violated CNN's conflict-of-interest protocols to have Chris interview his brother, the governor, all in the pursuit of higher ratings because Andrew Cuomo's star was rising as a possible Democratic challenger to President Donald Trump, Rolling Stone's sources say.

On top of that, Zucker was in a decades-long sexual relationship with Gollust at the same time he was advancing her career at CNN. And Gollust in turn was working to promote Cuomo at the network, sending his preferred topics to CNN producers, just like for the March 2020 interview, according to Rolling Stone.

Rolling Stone suggests the text messages obtained by Rolling Stone are likely to be among the 100,000 texts and email exchanges reviewed by CNN's internal probe into Chris Cuomo's ethics violations. The investigation was completed on Feb. 13. WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar said in a statement the probe was "comprehensive and definitive," and said it had "found violations of Company policies, including CNN’s News Standards and Practices, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Chris Cuomo.”

Zucker left CNN on Feb. 2, 2022, citing his inappropriate affair with Gollust but making no mention of the numerous allegations of serial ethics violations that are now coming to light. Gollust was ousted from CNN on Feb. 15, after the internal probe turned up evidence of her unethical behavior.

Protesting Done Right: Don’t Defeat Your Own Cause | Guest: @Stu Does America | Ep 587

Protesting Done Right: Don’t Defeat Your Own Cause | Guest: @Stu Does America | Ep 587

Brian Stelter predicts a 'legal mess for CNN'



Brian Stelter, host of CNN's "Reliable Sources," said Sunday that the recent resignations of CNN president Jeff Zucker and Allison Gollust — the former marketing chief for CNN — was a "legal mess for CNN," Fox News reported.

Stelter said, "I was told by a source that Zucker can't comment further on the substance of why he left why he did and what happened."

He added, "Everybody is lawyer-ed up, Chris Cuomo might sue, Cuomo's lawyer apparently wants tens of millions of dollars out of this network, so this is now a legal mess for CNN."

In early February, Jeff Zucker stunned his colleagues at CNN by announcing he would resign as the news network's president and chairman of WarnerMedia's news and sports division.

In a memo, Zucker announced that he was leaving the company and that he failed to disclose a romantic relationship with his fellow CNN executive Allison Gollust.

During the investigation into the former-CNN anchor, Chris Cuomo's journalistic misconduct and allegations of the former anchor's sexually harassing coworkers, Zucker and Gollust's relationship came to light.

Zucker's memo said, "As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo's tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years. I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began, but I didn't. I was wrong."

"As a result, I am resigning today," Zucker wrote.

In response, Gollust said, "Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently, our relationship changed during Covid. I regret that we didn't disclose it at the right time. I'm incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do every day."

Gollust resigned from CNN shortly after Zucker as reports surfaced that the two's relationship began earlier than initially stated.

In response to the resignations of Zucker and Gollust, CNN's parent company, WarnerMedia, released a statement that said, "Based on interviews of more than 40 individuals and a review of over 100,000 texts and emails, the investigation found violations of Company policies, including CNN's News Standards and Practices, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Chris Cuomo."

Chris Cuomo's employment with CNN came to a dramatic end as it was revealed that he used resources at his disposal to conduct research into his brother Andrew's accusers and that he acted inappropriately with various coworkers.

It is now known that Gollust was also assisting Andrew Cuomo.

This series of high-profile resignations and terminations, along with the various ethical dilemmas attached to them, form the basis for what Stelter referred to as "a legal mess for CNN."

'Irate' Chris Wallace reportedly 'second guessing his decision' to move from Fox News to CNN+ in wake of shocking Jeff Zucker resignation



Former Fox News anchor Chris Wallace reportedly is “irate” over last week's shocking resignation of CNN boss Jeff Zucker, and Wallace also is said to be "second guessing his decision" to move to CNN+ from Fox News because of it, RadarOnline reported.

What's the background?

Wallace announced his immediate departure from his "Fox News Sunday" show in December, saying he's "honored and delighted to join Jeff Zucker and his great team. I can’t wait to get started."

CNN+ is the network's new subscription-based streaming platform. CNN noted that Wallace would anchor a weekday show featuring "interviews with newsmakers across politics, business, sports, and culture & will contribute to CNN+’s slate of live programming available at launch."

Media figures such as Howard Stern questioned Wallace's move, with the veteran shock jock asking, "People don't want CNN, who the hell's gonna pay for CNN+? I mean are they outta their minds?"

Now what?

Amid Wallace's move to CNN, Zucker said, "It is not often that a news organization gets the opportunity to bring someone of Chris Wallace's caliber on board. He is as fine a journalist as there is in our business."

But with Zucker now gone following revelations of his relationship with Allison Gollust, his second in command at the network, Wallace has been “second guessing his decision” to move from Fox News to CNN+, RadarOnline reported.

“Chris is the type of person who makes it known if he doesn’t like something,” a TV industry insider said of Wallace, according to the outlet. “He went over there for Zucker and now Zucker is gone. Wallace feels that he has been stiffed. He’s got no staff, no executive producer, and the guy he gave up a prized gig for has just walked out the door.”

What's more, Zucker reportedly eased Wallace's concerns about Jake Tapper, CNN's host of "The Lead," and Sam Feist, the network's Washington bureau chief and senior vice president, RadarOnline added.

“It’s no secret in DC that Wallace hates Jake Tapper and despises Sam Feist,” the source added, according to the outlet. “Zucker spun his magic to allay Chris’ concern about the pair, promising that his status as a ‘premiere journalist’ would not be compromised while working out of the DC bureau."

How are folks reacting?

A number of folks have been sharing some pointed observations about Wallace in the wake of Zucker's resignation and the RadarOnline report:

  • Media insider Jon Nicosia tweeted that there's "zero chance Chris Wallace stays at @CNNplus for long now that Zucker is gone. He's furious."
  • Janice Dean of Fox News — who in December promised to pursue legal action against the Cuomo family's alleged attacks against her — tweeted the following, presumably in regard to Wallace following Zucker's resignation : "I remember when a former coworker who now works at @CNN said we were rotten to the core. What an interesting turn of events..."
  • Conservative commentator Jesse Kelly wondered, "Hold on. Did [Wallace] think moving from Fox News to CNN+ was a lateral move?"

Anything else?

A report from Rolling Stone last week claimed Zucker and Gollust helped former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a left-wing Democrat, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic — much in the way Cuomo's brother, former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, did.

Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor in August over numerous accusations of sexual harassment and assault; he also was under fire before that, when a bombshell report in the New York Times said Cuomo's administration covered up a scandal regarding COVID-19 nursing home deaths even further than had been previously known.

And just a week before the Wallace-to-CNN+ announcement, CNN's infamously left-wing anchor Chris Cuomo was fired after an investigation showed how deeply involved he was in attempting to protect Andrew Cuomo from scandals. After his firing, Cuomo said Zucker had full knowledge of his attempts to help his brother Andrew — after which CNN said Chris Cuomo made "a number of accusations that are patently false. This reinforces why he was terminated for violating our standards and practices, as well as his lack of candor.”

'The View' co-host Sunny Hostin blasts Jeff Zucker's girlfriend — CNN executive VP and CMO Allison Gollust — amid relationship scandal: 'I don't think she should stay'



Sunny Hostin, co-host on "The View," says that CNN ought to fire disgraced ex-CNN head Jeff Zucker's girlfriend, Allison Gollust, who works at the network as its executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

Zucker announced his abrupt resignation from the network earlier this week, citing that he failed to disclose the relationship with Gollust during the network's investigation into Chris Cuomo's tenure at CNN.

What are the details?

Hostin said on Thursday that she can't understand why Gollust is still employed at the network despite the relationship being in apparent violation of company policies.

“As women, don’t we want other women to be held to the same standards that we hold men?” Hostin said during the segment. “Everyone said ‘Yes, Jeff Zucker has to go!’ Why does Allison get to keep her job, when she also had an incredible indiscretion, and an incredible lack of judgement?”

Gollust issued a statement confirming the relationship following Zucker's resignation.

“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years,” she said at the time. “Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.”

Media speculation, however, indicates that Zucker and Gollust have been in a relationship far longer than disclosed, calling into question the ethics of the relationship, as the two were married up until 2018 and 2017 respectively. Hostin also pointed to broadcaster Katie Couric's remarks on Zucker's and Gollust's relationship, which she questioned on Thursday.

"I worked with Jeff Zucker for many years at NBC and later on my talk show," Couric recently disclosed, noting that Gollust started out as a publicist at CNN and worked her way up to executive vice president and CMO. "He was a talented and energetic producer. His resignation took me by surprise. I've also known Allison Gollust since my days at the 'Today' show. I've wondered about the nature of their relationship, but I do know, as I wrote in my memoir 'Going There,' that it made me uncomfortable. It seems their colleagues and the media at large turned a blind eye to inappropriate behavior."

Hostin added, "It's inappropriate at best."

“I think that if I were still working at CNN and I was one of her direct reports, I would think she lacked judgment," Hostin reasoned. "I would be uncomfortable that she broke so many of those rules, and I would start questioning her leadership. I don’t think she should stay.”

Co-host Sara Haines said that she, too, believes such a relationship could cause problems in the office.

“I think the problem is the optics of this," she said. "Because if you have advanced at all or garnered special favor from a boss you’re intimate with, that’s problematic in a workplace."

What else is there to know about this?

The New York Post reported on Thursday that Zucker and Gollust's ties with the embattled Cuomo family went concerningly deep.

The outlet reported that Zucker and Gollust "made personal calls" in 2020 to New York ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in an attempt to "make more flattering appearances on his brother Chris Cuomo's show."

The report continued, "Looking to keep Andrew Cuomo on his brother’s show and boost ratings even as controversy swirled around the puffy segments, Gollust personally called Cuomo and leaned on her 'good relationship' with the governor."

Zucker also is accused of reaching out to Cuomo at least once to urge him to come on his younger brother's CNN show and enjoyed a comfortable relationship with the former governor.

"Gollust joined Zucker on a trip to Israel on March 5, 2017, where they had dinner with Andrew Cuomo ... at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem," the report continued.

The report concluded, "A second source said Zucker was interviewed by CNN’s outside law firm Cravath — which is still conducting an independent investigation into Chris Cuomo — last week, when he was asked both about his relationship with Gollust and his cozy friendship with Andrew Cuomo."

(H/T: Fox News)

CNN president Jeff Zucker stuns employees with sudden resignation



CNN president Jeff Zucker "stunned" colleagues on Wednesday by announcing his sudden resignation, writing in a memo that he had failed to disclose a romantic relationship with another senior executive at CNN.

Zucker ends a nine-year tenure as the network's president and chairman of WarnerMedia's news and sports division.

In the memo, Zucker said that his relationship came up during the investigation into disgraced ex-CNN anchor Chris Cuomo's actions to squash the sexual harassment allegations leveled at his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo's tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years. I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn't," Zucker said. "I was wrong."

"As a result, I am resigning today," he wrote.

According to the New York Times, Zucker was referring to Allison Gollust, CNN's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Gollust acknowledged the relationship in a statement on Wednesday and said she would be remaining at CNN.

“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years,” she said. “Recently, our relationship changed during Covid. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.”

Zucker and Gollust are both divorced.

CNN chief media correspondent Brian Stelter said the scandal-ridden organization was "stunned" by this development.

Jeff Zucker just announced his resignation to a stunned CNN.pic.twitter.com/sWXYNBO20d
— Brian Stelter (@Brian Stelter) 1643817772

Zucker exits CNN amid a dispute with Cuomo, who was fired in December for grossly violating journalistic ethics by helping his brother, the governor, fight sexual harassment allegations throughout 2021. Cuomo has hired Hollywood litigator Bryan Freedman and is suing CNN for $18 million, alleging the company wrongly denied him severance pay.

Cuomo and Zucker reportedly had a close relationship at CNN, and Zucker sought to protect the embattled anchor after it came to light that he was advising his brother. But after the New York attorney general's office revealed that Cuomo had sought to learn about articles being written at other news outlets about his brother, Zucker ended his support and fired the anchor.

There were also allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against Cuomo by a former junior colleague at CNN days before he was fired. Cuomo has denied the allegation.

After firing Cuomo, Zucker claimed that the news about the depth of his involvement with the governor's scandal response came as a surprise. But Cuomo has accused Zucker of having full knowledge of what he was doing, "including about the details of Mr. Cuomo's support for his brother."

CNN said in December that Cuomo's claims were "patently false."

Complicating the matter of Zucker's exit from CNN is that his girlfriend, Gollust, served as Gov. Cuomo's communications director before becoming executive vice president at CNN. This fact creates all sorts of possible conflicts of interest leading up to Cuomo's eventual termination and now Zucker's resignation.

Meanwhile, CNN ratings continue to plummet, because beyond problems with the network's leadership, its news coverage makes bad TV.