To prepare my blog items, I typically read a show's transcript before watching the video. And so it was, when checking out CNN's New Day this morning, that I didn't know who had so unequivocally supported the highly contentious and partisan claim by Democrats that Attorney General Barr is trying to "shield the President and color Mueller's findings for the public."
It turns out it was Chris Cuomo, whom CNN brought in to guest-host on his former New Day stomping grounds, in the absence of regular co-host John Berman.
Alisyn Camerota teed up Cuomo by reporting that "Barr's rollout plan is already igniting a firestorm. Several House chairs are calling on the AG to cancel that press conference, accusing Barr of trying to shield the president and color Mueller's findings for the public."
Retorted Cuomo: "And that's because, he is."
An angry/animated Cuomo went on to make his case against Barr offering "a reportedly stilted summary of the 400-page report, then delaying the release for close to a month, and now this presser! Where he may take questions about something no one's had a chance to digest -- except the White House, reportedly! That's right!"
CNN has routinely complained that the Trump administration doesn't hold enough press briefings, and now it turns completely around on a dime and complains there's a press briefing, showing how completely their talking points echo everything the Democrats say.
It's also rich for them to complain that someone is unfairly summarizing Russian "collusion" before we've had a chance to read Mueller's report. CNN has been summarizing Russian "collusion" for two years now.
Cuomo also indulged in an awkward humble-brag. When Camerota told viewers not to adjust their sets, that Berman was off this week and Cuomo was making a homecoming, Cuomo replied:
"Not enough steroids and plastic surgery in the world to change him [Berman] overnight to look like this gorilla [points at himself.]"
The screencap captures Camerota sharing a guffaw with Cuomo over his supposedly gorilla-like mug.
By bringing back Cuomo, and unleashing him to blast Barr and President Trump in terms that would make the most partisan commentator proud, CNN drops any pretense that its morning "news" show is anything but several more hours of liberal propagandizing.
Here's the transcript.
CNN
New Day
4/18/19
6:00 am EDT
ALISYN CAMEROTA: We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is New Day. It is Thursday, April 18th, 6 o'clock here in New York. Don't adjust your sets. John Berman is off this week, and Chris Cuomo is making a homecoming, back here with me. Great to have you.
CHRIS CUOMO: Not enough steroids and plastic surgery in the world to change him overnight to look like this gorilla [laughs heartily while pointing to his face.]
CAMEROTA: I thought you got out of this morning racket.
CUOMO: No, no: I came back.
CAMEROTA: That's so great. Well, it's very great to have you today. It is an historic day. It is two years in the making. This morning, Attorney General William Barr's redacted version of the Mueller report will be, finally, released to the public. But before that happens, Attorney General Barr will hold a press conference at 9:30 am Eastern time. A senior Justice Department official says the report will be delivered to Congress sometime after that and then it will be posted on the special counsel's website. Barr's rollout plan is already igniting a firestorm. Several House chairs are calling on the AG to cancel that press conference, accusing Barr of trying to shield the president and color Mueller's findings for the public.
CUOMO: And that's because, he is. First with a reportedly stilted summary of the 400-page report. Then delaying the release for close to a month. And now this presser, where he may take questions about something no one has had a chance to digest except the White House, reportedly. That's right! We have learned -- not from Barr who refused to answer Congress about it, but the reporting is, the Justice Department briefed the White House on the Mueller report ahead of its release today to you.
