Bill Maher suggests Andrew Cuomo's nursing home scandal may cost his NYC mayoral campaign
Bill Maher doubted former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo could overcome his handling of nursing homes during the coronavirus pandemic when discussing his mayoral aspirations.
The "Real Time" host spoke to Cuomo's brother, ex-CNN host Chris Cuomo, about the former governor's bid for New York City mayor on Maher's "Club Random" podcast on Sunday. Although Cuomo is leading in the polls against other Democratic candidates and current NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who left the party to run as an independent, Maher suggested his past COVID-19 directives could come back to haunt him.
"I don't think he's going to get past the nursing home thing," Maher said before suggesting that Cuomo has to own the issue.
He added, "Politics is a highwire act. One boner decision can make people go, 'I'm sorry, I can't trust that guy's judgment.' Or they don't. I don't know what the f--- will happen."
By contrast, Chris Cuomo remarked that he believed the scandal wouldn't determine the race but that there would be pressure coming from Democrats.
"I think he's got a lot pressure against him within that party," Chris Cuomo said. "And they're going to have to make a decision whether they want to be in power or they want to police their own set of beliefs within their party. I mean, that's what they have to decide. What are they about as a party?"
Andrew Cuomo came under fire over a controversial directive issued in March 2020 that initially barred nursing homes from refusing to accept patients who had tested positive for COVID-19. The directive aimed to free up beds in case hospitals got overwhelmed but was later rescinded amid speculation that it had accelerated outbreaks and deaths among the state's most vulnerable population.
A report released in March 2022 by the New York state comptroller later found that Cuomo's Health Department "was not transparent in its reporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes" and it "understated the number of deaths at nursing homes by as much as 50%" during some points of the pandemic.
Cuomo ultimately resigned from office in August 2021 following sexual harassment allegations, which he denies.
In response to Cuomo's mayoral bid, Adams told reporters that the former governor should "answer" for his role in the nursing home deaths.
"I've met with some of the nursing home family members and advocates. There's some things that we want to do with them. But he has to answer that question on the trail," Adams responded. "Should that be an automatic disqualification? No, I think it needs to be answered on the trail, exactly what happened. And I think some of those family members are going to be looking forward to that."
In a comment to Fox News Digital, Cuomo's campaign argued his original directive was consistent with federal guidance and accused opponents of playing "political games" with the issue.
"More than 1 million Americans died as a result of the COVID pandemic, and our hearts break for the families of every person who lost a loved one –but unfortunately, as the DOJ IG confirmed, that pain has been weaponized and politicized for purely electoral purposes for years. Being Mayor of the greatest City in the world is a tremendous undertaking that requires experience, a proven record of accomplishment and management capacity – traits none of these other extreme MAGA nor fringe DSA mayoral candidates have," the statement read.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
36 minutes ago
- Politico
Trump's invasion of California marches on
Presented by Health Justice Action Fund ALL ANGLES: California leaders are bracing as Donald Trump's administration continues its multi-pronged attack on the state. The president is considering cutting federal education funds to California, which could cost the cash-strapped state billions of dollars, our Rebecca Carballo, Juan Perez Jr. and Eric He report today. The development comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass grapple with Trump's deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Southern California. The governor is awaiting a Thursday afternoon hearing on a request for a restraining order over the deployment of the National Guard and Marines. (The federal judge assigned to the case is the younger brother of retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.) Trump claimed he called Newsom 'a day ago' and that Los Angeles 'would be burning' if not for the federal government's intervention. Newsom is fact-checking him in real time … 'There was no call. Not even a voicemail,' Newsom said in an X post responding to Trump's Oval Office comments. 'Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn't even know who he's talking to.' Meanwhile, Bass today told reporters that she has 'no idea' what the 700 Marines sent to Los Angeles by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are for, and that coordination between the city and the federal government has not been strong. 'People have asked me, what are the Marines going to do when they get here? That's a good question.' she said. She said the National Guard's only assignment was to guard federal buildings. Bass said she plans to call the president later today to tell him to stop the raids that she says have the potential to 'devastate the economy of the city of Los Angeles.' 'Don't you want the World Cup to be a success, a success for you? Well, if that's what you want, give us help. Give us the $130 million that is being used for no reason,' Bass said, referencing what Hegseth said could be a 60-day effort from the federal government. The mayor said the Los Angeles Police Department has the situation under control and that assistance from the federal government is not needed. 'The violence that has happened has required LAPD to ask for additional assistance, but not from the federal government,' she said. Bass said there might be another rally today and that she would be attending an interfaith prayer service to call for peace. Norman reported from Los Angeles. IT'S TUESDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lholden@ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY GETTING THE BOOT: State Sen. Caroline Menjivar — who has been vocal about her opposition to cutting Medi-Cal benefits for undocumented immigrants — will no longer serve on a legislative budget subcommittee, our Rachel Bluth reports for POLITICO Pro subscribers. Menjivar's removal from the panel by outgoing Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire comes after the Legislature released a budget proposal that includes some of the cuts to the insurance program that Newsom put forth in a plan to close a $12 billion budget hole. According to Menjivar, she was briefed about the Legislature's budget proposal over the weekend as her home district of Los Angeles was thrown into chaos over immigration raids and violent confrontations between protesters and police. With the subcommittee scheduled to vote on the cuts at a meeting Tuesday evening, she said she let McGuire know ahead of time that she planned to vote against them. Then, Monday evening, Menjivar's chief of staff got a call from McGuire's office with word that she was being removed from her post. Menjivar said she tried to get an explanation from McGuire but her calls to him went unanswered. 'I'm disappointed,' Menjivar said. 'I really wish I could have recorded my concerns.' IN OTHER NEWS TRAFFICKING DEBATE CONTINUES: The Assembly's embattled sex trafficking bill advanced from the Senate Public Safety Committee today, even as some members called for major changes as it moves through the second house. The legislation from Assembly Public Safety Chair Nick Schultz would increase penalties for people soliciting sex from 16- and 17-year-olds and would criminalize loitering with the intent to buy sex. State Sen. Scott Wiener had strong words about the second provision, which undoes part of a bill he authored three years ago that decriminalized loitering with the intent to commit prostitution. He and others who oppose that element of the bill say it could be used to target people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Wiener voted to move the bill forward, but he said the loitering element 'needs to come out before it comes to the floor.' 'I've already spent years repealing the loitering law,' Wiener said. 'I'm not going to be introducing the bill and having to go through that again and have all the death threats and calling me a pedophile.' Assemblymember Maggy Krell — who originally authored the legislation — plunged her house into chaos by working with Republicans to restore the stronger sentences for soliciting older teens after Democrats removed the provision. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas then stripped the bill from Krell and gave it to Schultz, who committed to continuing discussions about the legislation as it heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. POSTING THROUGH IT: As tensions between Trump and California have escalated, so has the intensity and, to some eyes, cringiness, of the governor's social media presence. Newsom's team this morning posted a Taylor Swift-themed Instagram reel showing Trump's Truth Social posts and photos of Newsom and the president to the soundtrack of 'You Need to Calm Down.' A Star Wars-style X post from the governor's press office account features another Truth Social post being read by a villainous-sounding voice with movie images in the background. (This newsletter writer must admit her colleagues had to tell her the voice is supposed to belong to Emperor Palpatine.) WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY — National Guard units blocked roadways near the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse in Santa Ana on Tuesday after the city's downtown saw clashes between protesters and law enforcement. (Orange County Register) — San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is treading lightly over Los Angeles's clash with the Trump administration, saying his priority is 'keeping San Franciscans safe.' (San Francisco Chronicle) AROUND THE STATE — The San Diego city council approved a $43.60 monthly fee for trash collection at single-family homes. (San Diego Union Tribune) — Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester said that she did not violate policy when she flew first-class to ten conferences in a one year period because she reimbursed the city for the difference between a coach and first-class ticket. (Sacramento Bee) — compiled by Nicole Norman
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lake County GOP chair alleges Dems set up for caucus during work hours
Lake County Republican Party Chairman and county councilman Randy Niemeyer raised concerns Tuesday about Democratic employees setting up for the party's caucus during work hours and paying student election workers for training they didn't attend. Lake County Board of Elections and Registration Director Michelle Fajman said the set-up for the caucus took place over the weekend, and that student election workers have a different training sign-in and payment process compared to other election workers. Niemeyer, R-Cedar Lake, said during the council's Tuesday meeting five or six Democratic employees spent three hours setting up for the county Democratic Party caucus, which was held Saturday, March 1, at the Lake County Government Center auditorium, during work hours Friday, February 28. The county's employee handbook says 'that activity is deemed improper,' Niemeyer said, so he'd like to look into why the employees set up the caucus during work hours, what has been done to correct the action, and who paid for the workers' time. 'That is not allowed to happen on government time even if there is someone else paying for it,' Niemeyer said. 'I don't think it's ever good practice for government workers to be participating in political work during their work hours.' Lake County has a history of employees doing political work in the office, Niemeyer said, like former Lake County Surveyor George Van Til who was convicted in federal court for using county resources to run his campaign. 'We've had situations here in the past where people have faced legal consequences for those sorts of things, and I sure as heck don't want to see another black eye on Lake County.' Employees did not spend three hours setting up for the caucus during business hours. The voting machines and tables were delivered that Friday, Fajman said, but all set up was done Saturday morning. Fajman said some employees could've walked into the auditorium to see if the equipment was in the room ready to be set up the next day. Employees like to walk the government campus during their breaks, so it's possible some employees could've walked by the auditorium, she said, but no set-up was done. During the May special Crown Point and Hobart school referendum elections, Niemeyer said he was concerned about inspectors and students being paid for training, which they have to attend by law, but records indicate that some didn't receive training. 'We've got some discrepancies there in processes and systems that need to be looked into,' Niemeyer said. Fajman said that special elections are paid for by the entity holding the election, so all payments of election workers would be paid for by the school districts. Initially, the money comes out of the county's general fund, and then the schools reimburse the county for the elections. Under Indiana law, clerks and judges can complete election training online or in person, Fajman said. Inspectors have to do training in person, she said. Further, Indiana law dictates that students have to attend training, Fajman said, so they can pick in person or online. Fajman said when election workers go to training, they show their driver's license and check in on a poll pad against voter registration data. Because some students aren't old enough to vote yet, Fajman said they are checked in manually. To get paid, students on Election Day sign a pay claim and mark on the claim that they attend training. Inspectors could have a discrepancy in training attendance because there could be situations where an inspector had to back out of working the election – but remains on the record – and another inspector fills in, Fajman said. The election office has been working toward coming up with a system to better track attendance and payments, Fajman said, and hopes to launch it by the next general election. 'Right now, there's no foolproof method that we have, but we're looking into it right now,' Fajman said. Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said he supports Niemeyer raising questions about what occurred in the election office and during the special election. But there's 'agencies out there to police that,' Bilski said. Bilski said the situations should be looked into and see what the investigations find. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, said since Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, was in the audience of the meeting, maybe the legislature could look into election training criteria to make it more clear who can and can't do which type of training. akukulka@
Politico
41 minutes ago
- Politico
Why the U.S. government is touting tourism in Afghanistan
Presented by Housing For US HAPPY TRAILS — If you haven't made summer plans yet, here's an idea: Have you considered Afghanistan? The State Department strongly advises against travel for Americans but the Department of Homeland Security has determined that conditions are on the upswing in the perennially war-torn country — and that even tourism is starting to come back. 'Tourists are sharing their experiences on social media, highlighting the peaceful countryside, welcoming locals, and the cultural heritage, according to some reports,' DHS said. The rosy observation appears in a recent DHS notification in the Federal Register, announcing the revocation of Temporary Protected Status for about 12,000 Afghans who have taken refuge in the U.S., part of the Trump administration's larger effort to dismantle refugee programs and remove non-citizens from the country. In a finding that has confounded experts and advocates, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determined that there have been 'notable improvements' in the security and economy of Afghanistan such that refugees would not be in imminent danger upon their return. Afghanistan used to be a popular draw for foreign backpackers, part of the famed 'Hippy Trail.' That ended with the Soviet invasion in 1979, which ushered in nearly 40 years of conflict. By some measures, the country is indeed experiencing a period of relative calm compared to more recent years. That's because the U.S. is no longer at war with the Taliban thanks to a peace deal signed during President Donald Trump's first term and a chaotic American withdrawal completed under President Joe Biden. The White House still has a hostile view of the Taliban government, including Afghanistan on a list of 19 countries whose citizens are now banned or restricted from entering the U.S. under an executive order that took effect Monday. But in the federal register, DHS notes that attacks involving improvised explosive devices have declined by 72 percent over the past year; the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has fallen to 23.7 million, down from 29 million a year earlier; and GDP rose 2.7 percent. DHS notes approvingly that tourism has increased a whopping 913 percent, reportedly with the encouragement of the ultraconservative Taliban, since the U.S. withdrawal – with about 7,000 people, primarily from China, visiting Afghanistan in 2023. DHS, however, seems to have been selective with its statistics. In the footnotes of its Federal Register notice, the agency three times cites a report from last year by the United States Institute of Peace – an independent organization that the Trump administration and DOGE moved to shut down (a judge has halted the effort but the organization still faces an uncertain future). USIP's report on the state of the country three years into Taliban rule is much less sanguine, concluding that Afghanistan has 'only a façade of domestic stability' and that humanitarian and human rights conditions are 'dire.' Since taking power, the Taliban has issued over 100 decrees restricting the rights of women and girls to education, employment, healthcare and mobility — even declaring that female voices cannot be heard outside the home, according to USIP. Hundreds of men and women have been subjected to public floggings. Authorities have carried out disappearances and extrajudicial killings. In any case, the report was not produced to make a case, one way or the other, for Afghan TPS, said Scott Worden, USIP's director of Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs. 'It's validating to see the US government crediting the quality of USIP's research enough to cite it in an important administrative determination,' Worden said. 'However, the information that is cited in the USIP report does not speak to the specific risks that Afghans who have received TPS face if they go back to a Taliban-run Afghanistan.' The fact that Chinese tourists find the country safe, he said, is not really relevant since their government supported the Taliban. 'That is a totally different circumstance from an Afghan who helped America, who worked closely with Americans will face if they return to Taliban rule and will be subject to persecution or even worse.' As for American tourists, it may be best to stick with the State Department advisory, which flatly recommends 'do not travel.' Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@ Or contact tonight's author at bfox@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @ben_foxed. What'd I Miss? — California asks judge to 'immediately' block military from joining ICE raids: Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking a federal judge for a restraining order that blocks Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from ordering National Guard troops and Marines to support immigration raids in Los Angeles. 'They must be stopped, immediately,' attorneys for the state wrote in a filing today. The request, submitted around 11 a.m. local time today, urged U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer to act within two hours. The urgent plea came as Newsom and other California officials continued to assail Trump's order to 'federalize' 4,000 members of the state's National Guard for a mission to protect federal immigration facilities and personnel amid street protests. The state sued Monday to block that effort as well as Hegseth's subsequent deployment of 700 Marines to assist the National Guard effort. The restraining order request, however, is focused explicitly on a growing expectation among California officials that those troops will soon be sent on arrest missions alongside agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement — raising the likelihood of direct confrontations with L.A. residents. — Troops deployed to LA will cost $134M, Pentagon official says: President Donald Trump's decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles amid mass deportation protests will likely cost $134 million, the Pentagon's budget chief told lawmakers. Acting Pentagon comptroller Bryn MacDonnell, testifying at a House budget hearing today alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, said the estimate covers costs such as travel, housing and food. — Trump administration weighs pulling education grants for California: The Trump administration is considering cutting federal education funds to California, according to people familiar with the administration's thinking. The discussion comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump feud over the president's deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles to stop immigration protests. A Trump administration employee, who was not permitted to speak publicly about the administration's plans, told POLITICO the Education Department may stop the disbursement of 'formula funds,' which are awards based on a predetermined formula created by Congress. The administration has not yet reached a final decision, according to a separate person familiar with the discussions. But there is some uncertainty over the department's ability to pull funding that is not directly connected to California's state department of education. — Trump: Protests in DC will be met with 'very heavy force': President Donald Trump warned that any protests during this weekend's major military parade in Washington will be met with 'very heavy force.' 'If there's any protester who wants to come out, they will be met with very big force,' the president said today during an impromptu Oval Office press conference. 'I haven't even heard about a protest, but [there are] people that hate our country.' The comments come as the White House and Washington law enforcement officials are preparing for a military parade on Saturday, which coincides with the Army's 250th — and Trump's 79th — birthday. — Former Biden aides agree to testify on his mental acuity to House Oversight: Four senior Biden White House aides agreed to testify to the House Oversight Committee as part of its probe into former President Joe Biden's ailing health while in office, according to a committee aide. Chair James Comer had requested the aides' cooperation with his investigation in May, amid renewed scrutiny in Washington of the former president's mental acuity. Last week, the Kentucky Republican sent a subpoena to Biden's physician Kevin O'Connor, calling him to appear on June 27 after O'Connor rejected Comer's invitation to testify. Even after Biden largely retreated from public view, congressional Republicans have focused extensively on concerns around the octogenarian former president's health. The Senate will hold a hearing on the matter next week. AROUND THE WORLD BRITISH SANCTIONS — Britain will formally sanction two far-right Israeli ministers for their comments over Gaza, the U.K. confirmed today. The assets of Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will be frozen and the pair will also face travel bans, the Times first reported. No financial institutions will be allowed to deal with them. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the ministers had 'incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.' He added: 'These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now — to hold those responsible to account.' In response, Israel said: 'It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the Cabinet would meet next week to respond to what he called the 'unacceptable decision.' While the U.S. has continued to stand resolutely behind Israel as it wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, other longtime allies — including the EU, Britain and Canada — have grown increasingly critical of Israel and its military tactics. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have consistently been the most hard-line ministers in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and are crucial allies keeping him in power. 'A DANGER TO US ALL' — The European Commission announced today its latest salvo of sanctions on Russia, taking aim at the Kremlin's energy exports, infrastructure and financial institutions. The measures, which are intended to pile pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine, include proposals to lower the oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel and ban the use of the Nord Stream pipelines to funnel gas between Russia and Germany. A further 22 Russian banks will also be cut off from the SWIFT international banking system, with the current, partial prohibition on Russian financial institutions broadened to a 'full transaction ban,' Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. Calling the sanctions 'robust' and 'hard-biting,' von der Leyen said the Russian economy was already buckling under the pressure of the EU's past measures and the new package would pummel it further. 'Russia continues to bring death and destruction to Ukraine,' she said at a joint press conference with the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas. 'Our message is clear: This war must end.' Kallas said it was 'clear that Russia does not want peace' and needed to pay the price for its 'outright illegal' war. 'Russia is cruel, aggressive and a danger to us all,' she added. Nightly Number RADAR SWEEP SPEED WINS — New research suggests that the speed at which you walk can reveal how your brain is functioning. And a precipitous decline in walking speed can predict other underlying health problems. It's normal to slow down your walking pace as you age. But people who can keep up a quick pace into their later years are more likely to have a brain that's functioning like that of a younger person than those whose average gait is much slower. The research can even predict survival — a study showed that men with the slowest walking speeds at age 75 had a 19% chance of living for 10 years, compared to men with the fastest walking speeds who had an 87% chance of survival. Jasmin Fox-Skelly reports for the BBC. Parting Image Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here.
