Let's Get After it with Chris Cuomo

In today's bonus edition, Chris aims at questioning the premise in all things: from the broad concept of What is America and what do we want it to be? To a closer look at the Mississippi 15 week abortion ban case before the Supreme Court and whether the Conservative argument to kick it back to the states and have the court remain neutral, is not taking into account a woman's right to autonomy over her body.And after a break-in to hear the timeline of facts that led a Michigan prosecutor to charge the parents of the student who shot and killed fellow classmates at Oxford High, questioning the premise of gun laws and gun safety measures. How does the law look at parents when it comes to the acts their children commit?And another thing: A nod to the songwriting genius of Billy Joel, how the Michigan school shooting charges will play out in the courts, and whether expanding the High Court is a realistic solution to a SCOTUS that seems more often politicized.In Chris' estimation, we need to get to the fundamentals- we keep going from symptom to symptom, but not dealing with what's underlying.

More than reading the tea leaves of where the nine Justices may come down, in today's episode, Chris cautions that reading into the questions they ask is not always representative of the outcome they ultimately come to decide.  So while the arguments can be instructive in getting a sense of what they seek to understand, it is not always dispositive of their leaning.Then, Chris and Vick tick through the Justices' questions and arguments that generally fall into three camps of outcome: kick it to the states and uphold Mississippi; a compromise of allowing Mississippi law to go to 15 weeks but keeping Roe in tact; or allowing the 50 years of precedent to hold firm as many Justices have reiterated over the years since Roe and then Casey were decided.Chris explains that while a lot is made of past judicial decisions,  something is stare decisis (the Latin term in the law for standing by things decided) until it isn't.  In other words: precedent is only precedent until they change it.And Another Thing:  A beat on the continual need to keep calm and carry on when it comes to the Omicron variant, and Chris' prescription to not to let panic get ahead of the facts. Plus:  An introduction to the Cuomo family dogs, all three!

In today's episode, after a brief note at the top, Chris digs in to the essential arguments being put forth by the state of Mississippi in their effort to inch back the rights of women to seek an abortion after 15 weeks. While the arguments may spur outrage in pro-choice supporters, they should be understood. The most egregious among them: that progression in women's rights has brought them to a place where  they no longer need abortions:"The march of progress has left Roe and Casey behind. Those cases maintained that an unwanted pregnancy could doom women to “a distressful life and future,”... Factual developments undercut those assessments. Today, adoption is accessible and on a wide scale women attain both professional success and a rich family life...". So says the MS  Attorney General  Lynn Fitch in a brief for petitioners.And Another Thing: Chris and Vick lay out the arguments of both sides about whether you should care that, according to Mark Meadows' forthcoming book, President Trump tested positive for COVID three days before the Presidential debate with Joe Biden, and kept up all appearances, meetings with Gold Star families, rallies and White House gatherings, despite concerns about getting others sick. After the initial test, he took a subsequent antigen test (Rapid test) that was negative, and so he decided he was  clear. Chris argues that depending what side of the aisle you sit on determines if you care about this. Did he have a duty to share a positive diagnosis? 

Today is one of those BOLO days- a good time to watch what's coming up as the results will reverberate loudly. To that end, Chris breaks down the news that Former Trump C.O.S. Mark Meadows, who so far had defied subpoenas from the Select Committee, is now complying. To what extent and what fruit it might bear is still unknown. As is the intensity and veracity of the new Omicron variant. Chris urges caution and patience before crying out that the sky is falling.Also of note, tomorrow begins arguments in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization in which they are challenging a Mississippi state law banning abortions after 15 weeks, a timeframe that advocates say is often before a woman may even know she is pregnant. This SCOTUS decision will have significant ripple effects all across the country.And then, a look at Bloomberg reporting that while inflation is an ongoing issue in our pandemic economy, business profits are also at a record high, the highest since 1950. While wages are generally up, as is inflation, so are profit margins.PLUS: A beat on Chris' love for the Wu-Tang Clan and their sense of community. This sentiment is mirrored in many of our local communities but somehow we've lost that sense nationally. And a quick take on the start of the trial of Minnesota police officer Kim Potter in the shooting death of Daunte Wright.

Embracing the suck is hard, especially at a time when the hits keep on coming, but in today's episode, Chris offers a different perspective: take the time to reflect and be thankful for all the things that shape who you are. Be thankful for the failures because you learn from them, and appreciate that you can draw strength from what isn't easy.Chris urges us all to deal with the real- it all shapes us.PLUS: A best on the genius of Charles Schultz, how Chris talked himself out of an extra fridge, and these trials being a metaphore of where we are.

In today's episode, Chris is joined by Jonathan Karl, the chief Washington correspondent for ABC News, to look at some of the takeaways and insights from his new book  "Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show". Chris refers to Jon's book at the first draft of history, and a must read- whether you are a supporter of President Trump or a detractor.  Jonathan gives a window into the last weeks of the Trump presidency, the efforts to overturn the election and the role he and his administration played in the lead up to January 6th, what happened that day and in the aftermath.Jonathan has reported from the White House under 4 Presidents, and his new book is "Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show", a follow up to his best seller: "Front Row at the Trump Show". PLUS: A beat on the aftermath of the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case, the need to change the Self Defense and Stand Your Ground laws, and a question: Why is the Right so interested in lionizing Rittenhouse? Why would he want himself cast that way?Chris also weighs why the Rittenhouse case is far different than the McMichaels'/Bryan case of killing of Ahmaud Arbery, and why a duty to retreat must be part of the fix.

In a special edition episode today, Chris spoke to listeners as we all awaited the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. You'll hear the verdict coming in in real time, Chris' reaction to it and his understanding of the reasons behind it. He also speaks to callers from around the country who want to talk through this decision with him.We hear from Sam in Wisconsin (pre-verdict),  Brian in Illinois, Harold in Vermont, Todd in Pennsylvania and Jennifer in Florida.PLUS: Chris drills down on self defense laws being problematic and something that we should focus on moving forward. 

In today's episode, a look at three current items in the hopper:On the censure vote  on Rep Paul Gosar brought by House Democrats, Chris argues that while he is a provocateur and plays to animus, he questions whether their decision to punish him in this way is productive or will be perceived as an overreach by the center left of the country.And he takes a beat to review some of his Prime Time convo with Bill Maher on 'wokeness', old school liberals and acknowledging progress.Lastly, Chris digs into an analysis of the differences in the Kyle Rittenhouse deliberations and the McMichael's/Roddie Bryan trial in the killing of Amhaud Arbery. As the prosecution cross-examined Travis McMichael, some truths were revealed about his shifting story and how well the prosecution is making the case.And another thing: Chris addresses some pushback on his take on the censure vote.

In today's episode, Chris drills down on the Kyle Rittenhouse case and the two questions he thinks will define the outcome: was he reasonable when he used deadly force? And did he provoke the altercation?In Chris' estimation, the 'why' at trial is limited to whether it was reasonable to use deadly force to avoid injury or death. But the jury is not sequestered, and as humans, we tend to apply ourselves to what we see and how we see it. Will the jury find him sympathetic or with bad intentions?PLUS: A beat on the closing arguments from both sides.

On Veterans Day, on every day, we should be following up talk of support with action. In todays' Episode, Chris speaks with Jeremy Butler, the head of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) about the work they are doing to support veterans, get action on covering health concerns  after exposure to Burn Pits, what the Biden Administration is doing and could do better, and how veterans are very much still working to help our Afghan allies. Visit them at www.iava.org to see how you can help: with support, with advocacy, with your voice. 

In today's episode, Chris takes a moment to analyze what's next after a Judge blocked Trump's efforts to keep documents out of the hands of the Select Committee, and then takes a deep dive on the surge in inflation, as reports show it reaching a 30 year high. While Chris sees inflation as cyclical,  what are the reasons behind it? How volatile is it and what are the ongoing indicators to watch?  Who wins and who loses in the policies put forward? A brief tutorial on Inflation 101.And Another Thing: The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse is about all of us and how we see the events that played out in Kenosha. Do you see a scared kid on the stand who was just trying to protect himself and the city during a protest? Or a vigilante who put himself into a bad situation with an illegal gun and killed 2 people?  The divisions around how we see this case is as much about us as it is about Kyle.

Listen all y'all it's a sabotage: In todays episode,  Chris drills down on the question of whether Dems, GOP and frankly, all of us are sabotaging what matters instead of fixing what's broken.  This applies to  the continuing issuance of House Committee subpoenas in the wake of Bannon's no show, as the DOJ still mulls what's next.  Or whether Dems could have/should have pushed through Build Back Better or if it's better to work in good faith and settle up once the CBO has a chance to score the cost.  Are we our own worst enemy? Is Karen Tumulty's opinion right that perhaps Dems slowing their roll and allowing the CBO to score the cost of BBB can show moderate voters that the Dems are being thoughtful here and want responsible government? Should progressives be thanking them? Last Tuesdays elections in part seem to suggest that people want action, but responsible action. And Another Thing: The Travis Scott festival's tragedy was avoidable and an unforced error. By setting up festival seating when it's known that fans tend to rush the stage, it puts into question who is liable and how they could have done better to protect concert-goers. 

BONUS EDITION: Cuomo is back! After traveling to Italy to cover the G20, Chris is back in the New York groove and ready to get after it!In today's episode, a look at what is in the massive bipartisan infrastructure bill that the House passed late Friday, and some caution from Chris to go slow on analyzing Build Back Better, as well as a warning to Democrats  in the form of some alliteration: Price tag politics present a paradox. Chris also takes a moment to remind us not to forget the need for accountability when it comes to our ingrained social media platforms.And another thing: Chris' take on the Packer's star quarterback Aaron Rodgers not being straight on whether he'd been vaccinated.

In today's episode, Chris looks at the incremental progress with the Democrats reconciliation bill and whether immigration reform can make the cut. Also some back and forth on whether this has always been a priority or whether getting this through is a 'Johnny come lately' attempt to cram as much in as possible, despite the parliamentarian's ruling on the subject.Plus: a beat on the continuing market watch as inflation concerns hit up against supply chain issues, and whether this is a short term problem or will need a longer term market correction. How much should be blamed on President Biden vs. overall economic conditions in a pandemic?And Another Thing: The shooting on the set of the film 'Rust' was tragic and avoidable. Analysis on what went sideways and how to fix it moving forward.

In todays episode, Chris urges Dems to leave the Price Tag politics alone and to keep pitching the human infrastructure programs to the American people. He thinks Biden helped his own case during last week's Town Hall, but he needs to do more of it. We all see the problems, but what are you going to do about it?Chris thinks something will happen this week on the reconciliation piece, but beware the false headline of "framework achieved"- the reality is that parts of the framework will continue to be negotiated.Also, Chris and Vick take a look at the latest trends in the Great Resignation. We see the what, but why??And a beat on the Facebook Papers...And Another Thing: Chris (live from Zoom after a tech glitch!) gives some insight into the old adage in the media: "If it bleeds, it leads...", how Facebook could/should be regulated by Congress, and how the Voting Rights bill needs to be the hill Dems are willing to die on.

In today's episode, Chris contends that a lot of the noise around 'if' the reconciliation bill will get done is overly hyped. He thinks it's a given that the Dems will get it done,  it's more a question of what it will look like. But the same measure does not apply to the push for voting rights, after the Senate GOP torpedoed any chance of overriding the filibuster and reaching the 60 vote threshold to even debate Joe Manchin's paired down version. So where does this leave the Dems? The GOP? Us?And Another Thing: Now that the FDA is preparing to review and likely approve the COVID vaccine for our 5-11 year olds, will you give it to your kiddos? 

In today's episode, Chris looks at the long game of former President Trump suing the National Archives in order to stop or at least slow documents getting into the hands of Select Committee members. As Chris rightly put it, people can evade and blur facts but documents can't. And with some added insight from Norm Eisen last night on Cuomo Prime Time, Chris give us a sharper focus on the WHY.Also on the docket: Is Joe Manchin out of step with his party on clean energy? Why does he continue to prop up a receding coal industry that even in his state is costing constituents more in utilities and creating less opportunities and jobs then it did 20 years ago?And Anther Thing: Another aspect of General Colin Powell's legacy is shining a light on the need to protect the immuno-compromised among us, when even with vaccinations, they are vulnerable.

In today's special Bonus episode, Chris remembers the leadership and life of General Colin Powell, who, after serving his country for decades, succumbed to complications from COVID, having a suppressed immune system as he battled cancer. After his early military career had him serve in combat in Vietnam, General Powell went on to many firsts, as:-the first Black National Security Adviser (Ronald Reagan) - the youngest and first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (George HW Bush)- the first Black Secretary of State (George W Bush), making him the highest ranking African American official of the time. His legacy was one of integrity and strength of both purpose and conviction.And Another thing: Chris takes a beat on whether President Biden is pushing hard enough to sure up voting rights.

Whether applied to the push and pull of civil liberties vs vaccine mandates, or the Democrats squabbling over what could be a huge win for their party and their President, Chris uses today's episode to look at the break down of any form of movement for the betterment of us all. Cooperation is no longer a term uttered in our politics or in this pandemic.He remarks what a sad state of affairs we've arrived at that we can all assume that no one on the Republican side is going to touch any part of Biden's Build Back Better push, let alone getting all the Dems to sort out their disagreements.  And this applies to things like Pre K and child care, not traditional wedge issues. Plus, a beat on the continuing breakdowns in our supply chain and why we should all be paying attention to what's happening at our ports and with our long haul truckers.And Another thing: Congrats to William Shatner for reaching the final frontier, and the latest in the Gabby Petito case, after the autopsy report is released.

For today's episode, Chris applies the lens of 'standards': what standards we hold in our own lives (think: how we look, how we feel, how we live, our behavior) and why we apply them on a personal level, but not in our public life.  Use the lens of the standards you hold in most areas of your life, and you quickly see there is a disconnect between what we hold ourselves to vs our political leaders.And Another Thing: Applying these standards to Senator Mike Lee, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, among others who back the Big Lie, and it becomes clear accountability is lacking when lying is the standard. 

In this special Bonus episode, Chris has an extended dialogue with General Stan McChrystal, US Army (Retired) about his new book: Risk: A User's Guide,  co-authored with Anna Butrico. They talk through assessing risk in our own lives: amid the pandemic and persistent uncertainty at work and at home, with real world examples of how to systematically detect and respond to it.  This is a conversation not to miss.  General Stanley McChrystal retired in July 2010 as a four-star general in the U.S. Army. His last assignment was as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force and as the commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He had previously served as the director of the Joint Staff and as the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. The author of My Share of the Task, Team of Teams, and Leaders, he is currently a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and the cofounder of the McChrystal Group.

On today's episode, Chris digs into the importance of paying attention to the ongoing  investigations into former President Trump's efforts to thwart the results of the 2020 election. Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin just released a Committee report detailing some of the events in the White House leading up to January 6th, along with some revelations about how intentional Trump was (and continues to be) about spreading the 'Big Lie'.Trump and his team never really tried to find hard proof, they just worked to echo accusations and question election results as a form of fueling suspicion. There were so many around him that knew it was a false premise and were complicit in their silence. And what Chris finds almost  more instructive is reading the GOP's rebuttal to the Judiciary report from Senator Chuck Grassley.And another thing: Chris had a good day fishing. 

With little movement in negotiations on infrastructure, and the GOP doing whatever it can to obstruct Democrats from doing their job in raising the debt ceiling, Rep. Ro Khanna offers optimism when he joins Chris on today's podcast.  Khanna doesn't hold a crystal ball, but he does see a path forward at some point with Senators Manchin and Sinema reaching a compromise with the rest of their party.  He admits that overcoming the issue of the debt ceiling is a challenging one, but offers reasoning as to why he does not see the United States defaulting.  Rep. Ro Khanna on the Democratic party: We have a higher bar.  We need to be the party of aspiration. Plus: Chris asks if the Facebook outage happened to them or for them.  The timing has to raise a few eyebrows. It happened on the heels of the company's former employee  Frances Hougen revealing herself as the company's whistleblower on 60 Minutes.  Whether it did happen to them or for them, Chris makes it clear that Facebook needs to be better at what it does.  We all need to be better.

On today's episode, Chris chats with Paul Begala, veteran Democratic strategist, author and former advisor to President Bill Clinton  (@PaulBegala) about the state of affairs in within the party. What do progressives want? What about moderates? Can they find a way forward? And can they get something done?Plus:  Why is X Mas gonna suck? Chris and Vick look at the breakdown in our national and global supply chain and why you should care. Think: the T.P. 'crisis' of April 2020 x1000. And Cuomo's take on the Reason for the Season and why he is not a fan of the consumer aspect of the holidays.

On todays episode, a beat on the GOP opposition to raising the debt ceiling and the Dems C.R. solution on the budget, after which Chris and Vick go through the Socratic exercise of what the infrastructure negotiations are about. Do these machinations matter to you?  Is Biden going to get bruised here? What is the problem? And who is the problem?Progressives  or moderates? Manchin and/or Sinema? Schumer or McConnell? Pelosi or McCarthy?Also,  A Closer Look: at the genius of The White Stripes and on an unfair headline decrying that Joe Manchin is rejecting Nancy Pelosi's call for a deal. 

Today's episode brought to you by the K.I.S.S. principle: Keep it simple, Stupid. We can all do better, and it is all in our control. Chris knows we are in control of how we live in our world, and we can apply this to every facet of what's before us: - Joint Chiefs Chair General Milley testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the Afghanistan withdrawal. - The effects of COVID becoming more and more a reflection of where you live and what party your state tends to vote for- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell refusing to raise the debt ceiling- Dems not able to come together on the bipartisan bill and reconciliation piece of infrastructureHow do we get past this?Plus an anecdote from Chris about helping a stranded driver with a flat tire.And a Deeper Dive: on the nasty politics of all those slamming General Milley for 'going rogue' who won't amend their criticism when they hear that Sec Pompeo, Miller and Sec Esper were all in the know about his calls to his Chinese counterpart, and his chat with Speaker Pelosi.

SPECIAL BONUS EDITION:  When you remove all the filters, all the lenses, all the allegiances, you can  just see what's obvious: whether applied to the pandemic, the debt ceiling showdown, the infrastructure in-fighting among Dems and even Title 42 as applied to immigration. The common denominator is the poison of our politics. When the messaging changes but it doesn't fit with our Ride or Die politics, criticism is wrong and it's the critic who sucks, instead of new information leading to an evolving understanding.Politics is poison right now and "don't trust" is pervasive. PLUS:A Deeper Look: at a WP opinion piece from columnist Michele Norris who coined "Covertigo": the sense of never ending uncertainty in this pandemic, and the toll the stress of consistent inconsistency takes on our lives. We are all going to need a little help from our friends to get past not only this moment, but  as we re-enter society.

In today's episode, Chris gives a positive nod to the bubbling recognition that is happening around coverage of Gabby Petito: it's giving the media cause to shine a prolonged light on many other people that are missing, especially in minority communities after many calls to do so.Their loved ones hope for the same sort of national recognition and police and FBI involvement to aide them in finding answers. And not for nothing-  much of the media that are complaining about a lack of coverage of missing people in black and brown populations, are the same that are not in the habit of covering it themselves. We can all do better.Chris hopes this is a usable moment to shift the dynamic and keep a light on all of  these missing people.And Another Thing: A deeper look at the Daniel Robinson case out of Arizona, as national media begin to draw attention to the case.

In today's episode, Chris tells the story of an overheard conversation about why not to take the vaccine, and what it says about how we convey what we hold true and convince ourselves to believe the unbelievable. Repetition can make things more persuasive, but it can't make things more true. He then turns to Congress and his view that the Democrats are flirting with suicide with the party infighting and distrust of fellow members. If this skepticism is pervasive and unchecked, the Dems may blow up President Biden's agenda and their chances at a majority in 2022.A woman recently told Chris to "stop trying to make us something we're not", in terms of looking for better than the darkness of our politics these days. While Chris doesn't consider himself a romantic or a foolish optimist, in the political realm, can a leopard change it's stripes?And Another Thing: The absence of Gabby Petito's  fiancé Brian Laundrie has many ascribing blame to  him for her death, but don't get out over your skis. There are more questions then answers right now, though talking definitely helps if he is innocent. Cuom'ote of the Day: "The media is a reflection of us, to be honest. You like to talk about the media like it's something else but it really isn't. It's you. It reflects you."

In today's episode, Chris offers the autumn season as an opportunity for a reset on our politics of opposition and animosity. Let's look for solutions.On immigration, both sides see advantage in using it as an issue to galvanize, but not in actually solving the problem. While the images coming from the border are a gut punch, he argues that neither side benefits from a fix, but we can't get better alone. We need each other. When everything is wrong and no one wants to make it right, it is time for a recalibration: Do you want better than this? The same goes with the majority of vaccinated people being held in check by a minority of unvaccinated.On all these issues, we accept in politics what we never would in our own lives.And Another Thing: Chris takes a beat on the importance of messaging from the Biden administration as vaccine approval for 5-11 year olds is on the horizon.

In today's episode, Chris drives home the point that no matter the issue in our politics, the only thing that matters at the end of the day is who votes. There is no need to complicate the obvious. As the General Milley news is flushed out, we find that the loudest voices saying he had 'gone rogue' and was a national security threat, are now silent when the facts don't bare that out. And they are silent because all that matters is who votes. In many politicians' estimation, 'talking tough' is all that is often remembered when election season comes around. Not being right. Or amending a false premise.If you are motivated by a loss of rights, it is not enough to talk or think or feel, you most vote. And Another thing: Chris takes a beat on why he is covering these two crime stories of the Alex Murdaugh family and his botched assisted suicide, and the missing 22 year old Van Life enthusiast Gabby Petito.

Did General Milley do the right thing? It's a question being asked in all corners. Was he a cool head keeping the ship righted during a chaotic storm? Or an overzealous General who went over and above the head of the Executive Branch? Depends who you ask.But in todays' Episode, Chris challenges the question itself. The loudest voices hammering Milley for convening top brass after January 6th, are the same who stood silent during the insurrection and after, never mentioning President Trump's role in it or calling him to account for inciting his followers that day, Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz among them.What is to be done when the Executive Branch operates outside of political and lawful norms, but the other co-equal branches do nothing to check that power?Also: A Second Guess on what the results of the California Governor's recall election says about how Newsom ran his campaign and the issues that lie ahead for the Golden State's GOP.

In todays episode, Chris shares an anecdote about a run in with a hornet in his house this morning as an instruction on how Dems need to play their hand. He hits on the idea that playing nice will not get it done when it comes to Democrats getting their dual infrastructure plans passed, as the window is closing for action before the midterms.Not to mention the hill to die on in Chris' estimation: getting the Freedom to Vote Act passed, like, yesterday.The opposition of Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation is a problem for Dems they need to figure out and fix. Voters will not forgive them for "Manchinema's" blockage, they will see it as a failure of the whole party.And Another Thing: Chris takes a beat on tennis star Novak Djokovic being able to play at the U.S. Open despite saying no to the vaccine. Contrasted with Naomi Osaka's pile on over protecting her own mental health, Chris shines a light on this selective outrage.

In this special bonus episode, Chris reflects on the 20 year anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and shares his personal experience that day and in the aftermath. "Never Forget" was never just about the events of 9/11, but in Chris' estimation, taking care to remember our inter-connectedness. And when he looks at how we have faired collectively two decades later, in the midst of COVID and mis/disinformation, he's concerned we have forgotten that were are all interwoven and linked together as Americans.How have we aged? Where is our resolve? And Another Thing: A look at President Biden's moves to mandate the vaccine more broadly and the pushback it incurred.

On today's episode, Chris takes a beat at the top to call it as he sees it: good on the Biden administration for listening to military leadership and creating a 'public/private partnership' to centralize information and unify purpose in aiding those who are still trying to leave Afghanistan. #DigitalDunkirk And then he Gets After It: how long will the majority of Americans stand for being held hostage by the minority who refuse to get vaccinated? Biden's E.O. mandating the vaccine for federal employees and contractors is a step toward saying 'enough is enough', but Chris is concerned that the unintended consequence of a mandate is that it can also create deeper resistance. PLUS: A Deeper Look: As the Los Angeles Unified School District decides whether to mandate vaccines for their students aged 12 and up, the question remains: should they?

On today's episode, Chris digs deep into the concept of a multi-party political system, where representation is more focused on bringing ideas and being results oriented, and where the choices are beyond just A or B. He argues that the binary system of our R's and D's has essentially failed in that there is no position other than opposition, and compromise is seen as weakness. It's no longer enough to say either party has a 'big tent'- there has been such an expansion of our ideological spectrum in recent years that our society is ripe for a multitude of parties with the potential to  build coalitions to move the ball forward. Any ball.A NY Times opinion piece by Lee Drutman also gets Chris thinking about ways to make this happen: Drutman's idea centers around six parties, and how they'd represent broader, more diverse districts through passage of The Fair Representation Act.And another thing: When can kids under 12 get the vaccine??

Chris sees Labor Day as a forced reset. And on today's episode, he looks to the wisdom of Yoda: "Do or do not- there is no try"... with caveats, of course. While explaining the talk is crucial, walking the walk is essential when it comes to following through on political promises to make them reality. And right now, walking the walk is everything for President Biden: how can he actually intervene in the Texas abortion law?  How can he guide the nation past COVID? How can he get his agenda passed with such a slim Senate majority and the 60 vote filibuster in tact?Plus: A Personal Note:  A window into Chris' family life as he navigates back to school with three kids, and the funny reality of the media covering him getting coffee as a news story.Cuom'ote of the Day: "The law is our national religion. That is how we walk the talk."

In today's Episode, Chris argues that when 50% of the representation represents 20% of the population, it allows for a Tyranny of a Minority. We see this in cancel culture as well as laws crafted from extreme views within the parties. The state of Texas' abortion law is reflective of a minority interest. Chris also looks at the SCOTUS decision not to freeze the state law, by and large tilting their hand as to how they might rule in the coming Mississippi case this fall that asks for a 15 week viability standard.And while abortion is being restricted in the most significant way since Roe v Wade was decided in 1973, Texas in the same week enacted a law to allow gun owners to open carry in public with no license or training. Also on the table: a Second Guess on #Digital Dunkirk as veterans and U.S. citizens outside the government work to help get people out of Afghanistan after the U.S. evacuation and withdrawal has ended.

In this Episode, Chris applies the Prayer of St Francis to our current  state of play: on the Afghanistan withdrawal as well as COVID. It also applies to the Texas abortion law  that just banned the procedure beyond six weeks,  after the Supreme Court failed to rule on emergency requests by providers. Do you believe in 'to each their own' or do we have an interdependence and an interconnectedness? Chris sees little forgiveness in the public square anymore to tolerate views outside of our own.The Prayer of St. Francis says this: be an instrument of peace. Where there is hatred, bring love; where there is offense, bring pardon; let me not seek as much to be consoled, as to console. Chris asks in a secular sense, who thinks of others first anymore in any of our collective struggles.Cuom'ote of the Day: "One of the main rules of crisis is, 'Don't blame during  the crisis, get out of the crisis'. We've forgotten that."

In today's episode, Chris urges a reframe on the idea that 'the 20 year war is over".  Nothing is over. He argues that we all as a nation wanted out of Afghanistan. No one cared when President Trump invited the Taliban to Camp David, Chris included.  And Biden got dealt a bad hand that he didn't play well.  But we are doing ourselves dirty time and time again, when a 'War on Terror' and also a pandemic can be made political and divisive.Chris thinks the remedy for all that ails us is  Common Concern and Collective Will. Can we find this in any cause?Cuom'ote of the Day: "A war is about an oppositional side that either you conquer or you don't. That's not what this was."  

If you get a bad hand and have no choice but to play, you do the best with what you've got.  In the case of Afghanistan, Biden may have gotten a raw deal, but this doesn't mean that folding is an option.  Nor does it mean that we have the time to place blame on previous presidents like Trump, Obama, or even Bush when it comes to the current state of play in Kabul.  With explosions near Kabul airport causing casualties that include U.S. service members, focusing decisively on the now is the only path ahead. A political pandemic:  The politicization of COVID isn't new.  However, the pandemic being used for political gain continues to shape our national identity. Cuom'ote of the day: "We are where we are as a function of our own bad intention." 

What is the role of blame in our analysis of what's happening with the Afghanistan withdrawal? In today's episode, Chris makes the case that we are fixated on blame, and while its comforting and satisfying, it is also reductive and destructive.'Get Them Out' and 'Fix It' should be the sole focus.This applies to the the Afghanistan withdrawal but also to the pandemic.Also up to bat: Chris' take on this emerging demographic as a new voting block: Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated. That is the new constituency politicians should be talking to. Cuom'ote of the Day: "There is an 'us' and a 'them', but it is not the one that is pitched to you by the media and by politicians. It's not red/blue. It is reasonable and unreasonable, as evidenced in vaccinated and unvaccinated."

We settle for too little from our leadership and Chris  thinks it is long over due for us to demand more.  We should expect President Biden to acknowledge the mistakes amid the withdrawal from Afghanistan and tell us exactly how he is going to fix it.  The lives of Americans and our allies are at stake and we should see swift, decisive action should the Taliban interfere with or stall our efforts to evacuate.  The U.S. must honor the promises made to the people who have helped us in Afghanistan for the last 20 years.Failing of the collective: Opposition continues to be the position as the pandemic rages on.  Beat COVID? We're still too busy arguing about masks.Cuom'ote of the day: "Criticizing America is part of our signature freedom."

In today's episode, Chris focuses on how we are processing the 'right now' in Afghanistan: the chaos of today, and the mistakes being made, of which there are plenty. Whether Biden or Trump, both administrations got us to where we are.  And while many Americans agree that we should be leaving the 'Forgotten War' after 20 years in-country, the 'how' we leave is among the most important, and seemingly, the most miscalculated. But the longer view of what we wanted to accomplish and what our Armed Forces sacrificed and carried out needs focus as well. Front and Center: Beyond our own diplomats and civilians, some 18,000+ Afghan citizens and their families are scrambling to get out of Afghanistan. The interpreters, the drivers, the cultural advisers, are among those that aligned with the U.S. and our interests, and are now in direct threat from the Taliban. How do we get them out? Is it not our moral obligation to protect them after they helped us? Why wasn't this happening first?  Chris looks at the long game and argues it happened for two reasons: poor planning and not understanding this as a priority.At Issue: How do you now keep us safe? 

In today's episode, Chris shakes his head over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' exec order disallowing local school districts to mandate masks in schools in high risk areas, coupled with a threat to take away funding if they defy him. Why?If there were one motivation to bring us together to protect against the virus, it would be for our kids, right?  Despite the Delta variant being an increasing threat to young and old, there is still messaging from some state leaders that kneecaps those on the local level aiming to keep kids healthy and in school.  Chris takes some time to make sense of it all.Also: Will those resisting the vaccine come around when it's FDA approved? Maybe, but millions will still remain eligible and likely continue to say no to the shot. Cuom'ote of the Day:  "Common concern should cause collective will."

In todays episode, Chris looks at the rise in hospitalizations among younger adults, people in their 20's and 30's, as well as the uptick in cases among children. While there is good news in more people getting the shot, if we stay at this pace of vaccinations (averaging around 446,000ish a day), it would take until February for every eligible American to get vaccinated.There are calls from the NIH that in order to get a handle on this spread, we'd need to reach upwards of 1 million shots per day.Cuom'ote of the Day: "Division is such a zero sum game, that as soon as somebody says, 'I  am against who is criticizing me'...  or questions the questioner, it kinda becomes zero sum and everybody goes back to looking at it through the lens of their own political pre-disposition. And that is part of the deep denial that is making us sick."

In today's episode, Chris breaks down the reality: we failed to tackle the pandemic head on with a unified and measured approach from jump.  What now? Is it time for businesses beyond Walmart and Google to require proof of vaccination? How about municipalities as NYC just announced?  Will messaging in these confusing times ever be fully trusted?  And how concerned should we be about Breakthrough cases? There is no magic number on vaccinations, but hospitalizations and deaths are a lagging indicator, so this will take time to claw our way back from. On the numbers: The Delta variant is spreading faster than we thought. Vaccination rates are up but positivity rates are not going down. Chris breaks down what this means as it relates to what lies ahead.Cuom'ote of the Day:   Your rights end where my rights begin.

In today's episode: Chris talks through a new approach for his show:  to create a COVID Control Room. It is time to be all in. Our fate is in our own hands, and while vaccine hesitancy continues to befuddle many of us, the Mo' Man takes a beat to outline some of the numbers around who and why people are not getting the shot. A recent You Gov poll analyzed by Philip Bump of the Washington Post finds an overlay of about 1 in 8 people who are not worried, not vaxxed and not wearing a mask. Also on the table: Chris outlines what he sees as a new coalition to tap into: the vaccinated among us. Both left and right who are fully vaxxed and getting fed up with the continuing lackadaisical response from their fellow  Americans.  Those who don't or won't get the shot, are in essence holding the rest back from a return to normalcy. This could be a substantial voting block come 2022.Cuom'ote of the Day: "I like them because the vaccinated are people who are openly reasonable and they are not defined by party. It's not fair to say it's all Republicans..."

In today's episode, Chris looks at these three pieces to our collective puzzle that should be obvious:- That all of our leaders should advocate for vaccination-  That the election results were legitimate - That January 6th  was one of the darkest days in our historyBut somehow there is not consensus on any of the above.  To understand why you are on one side or the other, ask yourself the following questions.  Do you choose to have faith?  What is your why?  What do you want to be about?Cuom'ote of the Day: Opposition is too much of a viable position.

**Be advised- offensive language in playback of Officer testimony**On Vaccine hesitancy: There is no high ground on any of this. People  all around the world, for generations have fought to live in reality, to live in the truth. Seeing the vaccine as an infringement to freedom is in defiance of reality. On the January 6th Select Committee: Chris weighs concerns of whether the work of the Committee will yield any results beyond a straight reckoning for history. As he plays back the harrowing account of Officer Harry Dunn, who was confronted by insurrectionists as racial epithets were hurled at him,  Chris urges the question: will this change any hearts or minds? One way it might: There is power in exposing the reality of what happened to people who may not have seen the footage or heard the officer accounts of what happened. Maybe it can shift the, 'it was just a peaceful, loving crowd' lament.Welcome back!

The choices we make in our own lives are  largely based on what information we receive through the internet, media, and our leaders.  Chris addresses the reasoning behind what we choose to believe and what we don't.  The healing of our collective health has been hindered by false information on why not to get vaccinated. Yet, so many continue to believe the falsehoods.  The 2020 election has been proven indisputably to be legitimate.  Still, partisan perspective encourages millions to believe the big lie.  Critical race theory's core use should be an academic exercise in how slavery has caused racial inequalities.  But somehow there are many who see it as some sort of degradation of whites in America.  It's all not true but so many believe it.  Why?Also on the Table:  McCarthy's unwavering allegiance to Trump continues undoubtedly due to McCarthy's lust for power.  Will it pay off? Cuomo on Vacation: Chris will be getting some much deserved rest and relaxation next week, but will be back to get after it with you when he returns the week of July 26th..