(DCNF)—Comedian Bill Maher told NewsNation host Chris Cuomo during a Sunday podcast that he believes former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York City mayoral bid is doomed due to the COVID-19 nursing home scandal under his administration.
The former governor faced accusations of underreporting the number of deaths in state nursing homes after his administration’s directive that enabled thousands of COVID-19-positive patients to enter the facilities. Maher, on “Club Random,” said he believes the issue is politically insurmountable for Cuomo’s mayoral bid, but the NewsNation host disagreed.
“I like him. He’s been on my show now a couple of times, even did the panel, which was great, I think. I don’t think he’s going to get past the nursing home thing,” Maher said. “I mean, I read the New York papers. When the Times and the Post are both on the same page, it’s — you know.”
Maher added that he doesn’t believe the former governor acted maliciously with his administration’s nursing home policy.
“Politics is a highwire act. Yeah, like one boner decision can — yeah, people go, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t trust that guy’s judgment,’ or they don’t,” he said. “I don’t know what the fuck will happen.”
The NewsNation host said he does not believe the scandal “determines the race.”
“I do,” Maher retorted.
“I think he’s got a lot of pressure against him within that party, 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,” the NewsNation host said. “I mean, that’s what they have to decide — what are they about as a party? I’m not a fan of the parties. I’m not a fan of the Democratic Party. I don’t think they’re my father’s party by a long shot.”
The NewsNation host also noted his brother’s polling advantage. A March 26 Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill poll found Cuomo with 38% support in the Democratic primary, while New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani placed second with just 10%.
“You know, Andrew’s leading in the polls for a reason. It’s not name recognition,” the NewsNation host added. “It’s because when people look at their experience living in the city, they believe he’s someone who can make it better.”
“It’s also huge name recognition. You’re the Cuomos. You’re like royalty in New York,” Maher replied. “Your father was the governor. Your brother was the governor. You know, come on, of course it’s name recognition.”
The NewsNation host said the former governor’s prominence also means New Yorkers “know the controversies also,” with which Maher agreed.
The comedian further noted that he believes the mayoral race consists of a “weak field” that will benefit the former governor.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, formerly a Democrat, announced on Thursday that he would seek reelection as an independent candidate in his city’s 2025 mayoral race. Adams had only 8% support in the March poll.
Issues related to the modification of nursing home data during the pandemic first arose in May 2020 when the Daily Caller News Foundation reported that the former governor’s office manipulated data to improve the governor’s image.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith asked the former governor in March about his responsibility for the crisis and the allegations of undercounting, but he did not express any guilt and defended his record.
“For every 100 people in nursing homes, how many died? The state of New York is number 38, which means only 12 states had a lower rate of death than New York,” the former governor said. “And that is saying something, Stephen, because, you know, we had it first, and other states had months to prepare. It just fell out of the sky for New Yorkers. But those are federal numbers.”
“The rate of death in nursing homes — we ranked number 38. I would have liked to be number 50. But 38 — only 12 states had a lower rate of death,” he continued. “I think that says New York officials, health officials, not only did their job but did it well.”
The former governor resigned in August 2021 following Attorney General Letitia James’ report finding that he allegedly sexually harassed eleven women, including a state trooper assigned to his protective detail. He did not take responsibility for the charges, but argued that the New York state government would be unable to prioritize the COVID-19 pandemic if he stayed in office.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.