(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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