Chris Cuomo plans his comeback, says he’ll never hate CNN in his debut podcast

Former CNN host Chris Cuomo is planning his comeback, and it’s a podcast.

Cuomo started Thursday The Chris Cuomo ProjectAn interview podcast that releases two episodes a week, Tuesday and Thursday. On the podcast, Cuomo “will put his subscription to today’s current events and explore how these stories are covered by all sides of the media,” according to the podcast’s official YouTube page.

It will also feature “in-depth interviews with newsmakers, opinion leaders and other influential figures,” according to the description.

The premiere episode featured interviews with actor Sean Penn and Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, and included excerpts from Cuomo’s recent trip to Ukraine.

But Cuomo also used the inaugural episode to talk about her departure from CNN and the circumstances surrounding her. Although CNN canceled in December, Cuomo was ready to transition.

As for CNN, I will never be a hater. CNN has great people, CNN has a great purpose and I wish them the best of luck, and I miss a lot of people there,” Cuomo said. “But it’s time to move on and I think I can be more than I was before. “

However, he apologized to his “amazing crew” on the cable news channel.

“The people who made my number one show on CNN from the beginning and kept it there,” Cuomo said. “They never get the credit they deserve, it’s always about the hair and teeth, the people on TV. I couldn’t say goodbye and I’m sorry. I am sorry that circumstances have prevented me from telling you face to face what each of you means to me.”

Since CNN fired him, Cuomo has promoted himself as a “free agent”, even selling “free agent” products on his website, with the slogan “Are you free?” The podcast’s description emphasizes that it is “free”. the limitations of a traditional media organization. And as such it is “for those who do not fit perfectly on one side or the other”.

During the introduction to his podcast, he reinforced his thesis by suggesting that cable news channels “massage” their coverage to suit what their audience wants to hear.

Cuo, who worked at Fox News and ABC News before joining CNN, also said he was supported in his career by Roger Ailes and Jeff Zucker: “two of the most influential, powerful, talented and, of course, controversial media moguls.” . .

Cuomo is scheduled to appear on Dan Abrams’ NewsNation show next Tuesday, where he is expected to speak about the new project. Abrams’ show also emphasizes presenter independence and sees Abrams criticizing media coverage of other outlets for its bias.

Cuomo was fired by CNN in December after “new information emerged about his involvement in defending his brother”. His brother Andrew Cuomo was governor of New York but resigned after harassment allegations were made against him. According to the New York attorney general’s findings, the CNN anchor was a strategist on his behalf.

On the podcast, Cuomo continued to defend his efforts to help his brother.

“To me the past is the past and it’s no use to you if what’s said and done about my brother gets done,” he said. “And there are some outstanding legal battles I have to respect, but let me be clear: I’m sorry for how things turned out, but I will never regret helping my family. I promised my father that I will always be there for my brother and I always will be, just as he was always there for me, just as my sisters were there for me and him. This is a family. “

After cutting CNN, Cuomo also shut down his SiriusXM program and took an upcoming book off the calendar. The podcast, which will stream on YouTube, Spotify and other podcast platforms, is his first project since leaving the cable news channel.

In March, Cuomo also served CNN with a $125 million arbitration demand. Arbitration must continue.