Chris Cuomo responds to YouTube comments about Elon Musk, mass deportations & more

Summary

The Chris Cuomo Project: Episode Summary Release Date: December 26, 2024

In this episode of The Chris Cuomo Project, host Chris Cuomo engages with listener comments, delving into a range of pressing topics including Elon Musk’s potential political ambitions, the implications of mass deportations, the evolving cable industry, and reflections on recent election outcomes. Through insightful discussions and in-depth analysis, Cuomo offers his veteran perspective on contemporary political and cultural issues.

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1. Introduction to Listener Comments

The episode begins with Chris Cuomo introducing the segment dedicated to responding to listener comments. Partnering with co-host Greg Ott, Cuomo emphasizes the importance of diverse opinions and strong reactions in fostering meaningful dialogue.

Chris Cuomo [00:50]: "The project is necessarily a collaboration here... the diversity of opinion and what the trigger points are."

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2. Trump's Divisiveness and Media Strategies

A significant portion of the episode focuses on former President Donald Trump’s role in American politics. Cuomo addresses a listener's comment questioning why Trump has been labeled as divisive by left-leaning media.

Chris Cuomo [03:58]: "He has played. Look, it is textbook demagoguery, okay? He plays to people's fears, prejudices and anger."

Cuomo elaborates on Trump’s strategy of capitalizing on societal divisions to garner support, reinforcing his position as an outsider challenging the establishment. He argues that Trump's ability to tap into both justified and exaggerated fears has effectively split the nation.

Chris Cuomo [04:30]: "The country was just split in half in the election he won. Why a lot of Democrats stayed home... They tried to match grievance with a grievance movement and they lost."

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3. Mass Deportations and Economic Impact

Addressing Patricia Melgareo’s comment on mass deportations, Cuomo explores the economic ramifications of such actions. He challenges the premise that deportations would "trash our economy," offering a nuanced view on immigration’s role in the labor market.

Patricia Melgareo [07:27]: "How mass deportation will trash our economy."

Chris Cuomo [07:35]: "Is that a fair premise? Trash it? No. Make prices higher, maybe. Why? Labor shortage?"

Cuomo explains that many immigrants fill essential jobs that are often unattractive to the domestic workforce, contributing to various sectors like agriculture and service industries. He argues that mass deportations would lead to labor shortages, increased costs, and economic instability.

Chris Cuomo [09:00]: "Most overwhelmingly, they are taking jobs that you don't want... So that's why they're coming."

He concludes that a balanced approach is necessary, advocating for policies that address both economic needs and humanitarian concerns without resorting to extreme measures.

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4. Cable Industry Changes: MSNBC Spin-off and Speculations

The conversation shifts to the recent news of Comcast spinning off MSNBC, CNBC, and other cable networks. Cuomo assesses the motivations behind this move and addresses speculations about potential acquisitions by figures like Elon Musk.

Greg Ott [18:21]: "Comcast is spinning off MSNBC and CNBC... What do you have thoughts on the state of the cable industry?"

Chris Cuomo [18:55]: "They're spinning it off because that's what's best for their business... It's just business."

Cuomo dismisses concerns that the spin-off is politically motivated, attributing it instead to financial strategies aimed at optimizing profit and managing operational costs. He acknowledges the ongoing viability of cable through subscription models but remains skeptical about high-profile takeovers altering the landscape significantly.

Chris Cuomo [21:25]: "The market decides. Musk is making X into what he wants it to be."

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5. Listener Reactions to the Election Outcome

Cuomo addresses passionate listener calls regarding the recent election results. Nancy from Pennsylvania expresses disbelief in the election outcome, citing suspicions of foul play.

Nancy [32:48]: "There is absolutely no way we lost this election... Something is not right."

Chris Cuomo [32:57]: "He did something. Something is not right. ... If they do, then we'll look at that proof."

Cuomo acknowledges the emotional responses from supporters but emphasizes the lack of evidence supporting claims of election fraud. He highlights the importance of accepting official results and encourages listeners to move beyond unfounded allegations to foster national unity.

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6. Pop Culture: Stallone and Current Cultural Shifts

Venturing into lighter territory, Cuomo and Ott discuss Sylvester Stallone’s cultural relevance, particularly in relation to Trump’s public persona. They reflect on how Stallone's association with Trump affects his legacy and public perception.

Greg Ott [21:59]: "Are we reliving the 80s Stallone?"

Chris Cuomo [23:15]: "He is an aging American who is uncomfortable with what he sees developing in the culture around him."

Cuomo shares a personal anecdote about Stallone’s campaign theme song, comparing it to Trump’s political comeback, underscoring the intertwining of pop culture and politics.

Chris Cuomo [24:13]: "It's Rocky, really the kind of... how he came up and what he was about... you give people what they want, you got them in your pocket."

The discussion highlights the intersection of entertainment and politics, illustrating how public figures navigate changing cultural landscapes.

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7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wrapping up the episode, Cuomo reiterates the podcast’s mission to engage with listeners’ perspectives and encourage constructive discourse. He emphasizes the necessity of understanding diverse viewpoints to bridge societal divides.

Chris Cuomo [35:46]: "This is the problem with your generation... But a big part of this is that I'm not just talking at you, I'm talking to you and I'm taking your feedback and we're trying to get to a better place."

Cuomo invites listeners to subscribe for ad-free content and continues to promote the podcast’s collaborative spirit, aiming to foster a more informed and united audience.

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Notable Quotes:

• On Trump’s Divisiveness:

  "He plays to people's fears, prejudices and anger." — Chris Cuomo [03:58]

• On Mass Deportations:

  "They are taking jobs that you don't want. So that's why they're coming." — Chris Cuomo [09:00]

• On Cable Industry Spin-off:

  "They're spinning it off because that's what's best for their business... It's just business." — Chris Cuomo [18:55]

• On Election Claims:

  "If they do, then we'll look at that proof." — Chris Cuomo [32:57]

• On Pop Culture and Politics:

  "You give people what they want, you got them in your pocket." — Chris Cuomo [24:13]

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Final Thoughts:

In this episode, Chris Cuomo adeptly navigates through a spectrum of topics, balancing political critique with cultural commentary. By addressing listener concerns and dissecting complex issues, Cuomo reinforces the podcast’s commitment to independent journalism and informed discourse. Whether tackling the nuances of immigration policy or the dynamics of media influence, The Chris Cuomo Project provides listeners with a comprehensive and engaging analysis of today’s most pressing matters.

Transcript

[Chris Cuomo]

This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. The holidays mean more travel, more shopping, more time online, and more personal info in places that could expose you to identity theft. That's why LifeLock monitors millions of data points every second. If your identity is stolen, their US based restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Get more holiday fun and less holiday worry with Lifelock. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast terms apply. Isn't it better to talk to somebody than about them? I agree. I'm Chris Cuomo. Welcome to the Chris Cuomo Project where we are going to take on your comments because that's the whole point of the project. The project is necessarily a collaboration here and I put out a lot of information, a lot of perspective, a lot of takes, try to give you a kind of full mix of ideas and often you have very strong reactions which I think are very helpful. Not just directionally in terms of where people's heads are, but the diversity of opinion and what the trigger points are. So what do you say? Let's take some comments with the one, the only, the redoubtable, the inimitable, the falsely named Gregory Ott.

[Greg Ott]

We kicked off this last episode of Comments with this falsely named thing we don't understand.

[Chris Cuomo]

We never got to the bottom of it.

[Greg Ott]

Well, there's nothing to get to the bottom of. Though I did lose my driver's license, so I can't really prove my identity at the moment.

[Chris Cuomo]

Wow. Does that mean anything these days?

[Greg Ott]

It means it's a pain in the ass to go about town when you don't have a driver's license. Your credit cards are in there because I just lost my credit card. So I just replaced it and updated all the numbers in my apps. But now I have to go back and do it again. I don't know. I'm checking my bank account to make sure it's actually lost in my house and not, you know, on the street.

[Chris Cuomo]

Did you show your voter ID when you voted?

[Greg Ott]

They did the signature match and I was okay. But you saw the story that a lot of young people, apparently they never learned how to sign their name. So in what Arizona ballots were thrown out. So mine is pretty good. But again, my very short name, seven letters, is just like a.

[Chris Cuomo]

It's very Ott. Where are the other four?

[Greg Ott]

G, R, E, G. So it's a very brief signature. So I don't know. It's not that. It's not that hard to weird stage.

[Chris Cuomo]

Name to pick, by the way.

[Greg Ott]

Actually it was A great stage name because as a member of the Actors Equity. As a member of the Actors Equity.

[Chris Cuomo]

Trouble with the speaker.

[Greg Ott]

I didn't do my vocal.

[Chris Cuomo]

Norwegian. You've been practicing.

[Greg Ott]

Anyway, the point is the name wasn't taken and so I grabbed it. It's in my grasp. My name is in my grasp. But my driver's license fell out of my ass, so I don't know where it is.

[Chris Cuomo]

Fell out of your ass?

[Greg Ott]

Well, my back pocket.

[Chris Cuomo]

I got you.

[Greg Ott]

I know. I don't store my driver's license in my. It's a bad way to start the show, really. We should not be talking about me. We should be talking about you and your lovely audience because we put out there every time we do a comments episode. Hey, do you have any new comments that you would like to ask Chris? Any specific questions you'd like to get out there and the people have spoken. We've gotten a lot of comments from the last batch of comments. Would you like to hear some?

[Chris Cuomo]

As you may know, I do. Greg picks the comments that we discuss. I don't look at the comments. I'm not aware of the comments. I don't even know if they're real comments. But I will tell you this. I guarantee you someone's going to take a bite out of my ass in the next set of things that he says.

[Greg Ott]

Yeah, I mean, that's, that's true. But let's start, let's start things off.

[Chris Cuomo]

Nothing makes him happier. Let's start things reading somebody else's invective.

[Greg Ott]

Let's start on the light row for go to the dark roast. Okay, let's, let's keep it, let's keep things at a low simmer here. This is from Weaver B. Pooh.

[Chris Cuomo]

What?

[Greg Ott]

Weaver Be. Poo. That's the username. Weaver Be.

[Chris Cuomo]

That was his second choice of stage name after Gregory.

[Greg Ott]

Yeah.

[Chris Cuomo]

Was.

[Greg Ott]

It was either OTT or Poo, and I went with OT Will you elaborate on why you feel Trump has been divisive, volatile hate rhetoric for nine years by left leaning media was to, in quotes, divide Americans.

[Chris Cuomo]

Two things can be true at once. Why do I think Trump is divisive? I mean, is that a rhetorical question? I mean, the man is, has been right. Let's be our best. Okay? I don't know what he's going to be in this administration. Ordinarily you'd say, yes, you do. You've seen the last one. But he is a shapeshifter. This guy was a Democrat. He had different ideas. Now he's on top of this populist movement that has a lot of policies that are actually good for the top as opposed to the workers. But we'll see how he is. Because dispositionally he can change almost randomly to suit whatever his interest is in that moment. But I am not having to really dig here to find examples of Trump being divisive. He has played. Look, it is textbook demagoguery, okay? He plays to people's fears, prejudices and anger. That's what he does. Now is some of that fear and anger because prejudice is never justified, in my opinion. But are the other two justified? Yes. Yes. Does he exaggerate some of those things? Welcome to politics. But to say, why do you say he's been divisive just because you agree with everything he says? There are a lot of people who don't. And I don't think you can find me a metric that doesn't show that he is divisive. I mean, the country was just split in half in the election he won. Why a lot of Democrats stayed home. Why they weren't motivated by Harris. Why they didn't like the process. They didn't like the message. Democrats usually win because of what they are for, not what they are against. And they tried to match grievance with a grievance movement and they lost.

[Greg Ott]

I actually have a perfect comment to follow up on that one. This is from someone wondering one thing. Their username is either Lathe of Heaven or la. The of Heaven.

[Chris Cuomo]

I go with Lathe.

[Greg Ott]

The Lathe of Heaven.

[Chris Cuomo]

Lathe is a tool.

[Greg Ott]

Yeah, yeah. And LA is full of tools.

[Chris Cuomo]

That's good. See, he's very funny. Professional grade, by the way. Second City.

[Greg Ott]

It's not random Lathe of Heaven. I was wondering one thing. I do understand what you said about running on grievance and that's why they lost along with pushing certain issues on the general public. But one thing that really puzzles me is that with all the seriously heavy conservative icons like the Cheneys, including Dick, and a serious shitload of past Trump administration people and a lot of other high powered conservatives backing Harris, why did that not make a difference? Now that honestly really puzzles me. I would have thought that that would have carried a lot more weight than it apparently did.

[Chris Cuomo]

Okay, what do all those people have in common? Oh, that's right, they're not here. It's a one sided conversation. They are all members of the establishment and part of the movement is to disrupt the establishment. So all of those people lose portfolio of credibility with people in the MAGA movement because they're all part of the machine. You see what I'm saying? Trump, one of his biggest assets is that he is rejected by the establishment. He is seen as being normalized, a word that, you know, I have a problem with for different reasons, but he's an outsider. They're all insiders, and that's how he cast them. And it really wound up mitigating their effectiveness.

[Greg Ott]

This is from Patricia Melgareo, 4059. How mass deportation will trash our economy. It's not really a question, but it's more of a. I think they're asking something.

[Chris Cuomo]

Well, so that is a leading question, right? Because you're assuming it trashes the economy. Is that a fair premise? Trash it? No. Make prices higher, maybe. Why? Labor shortage? Look, we like to pretend, and by we, I mean the MAGA folks, that these people are all coming here for bad reason. Right? Now, I don't believe that all MAGA people really think that. And I don't really even like calling them MAGA people. These are Americans, okay? And we got to get away from this. So why don't I start being the solution and not the problem? Okay, I agree. Thank you very much. Now, they come here because of the opportunity. Some are coming with drugs. Some are coming with human trafficking. Some are coming for no good reason. Some are organizing the other ones as banditos and coyotes and other malefactors. But most overwhelmingly are coming for the jobs. Yes, they're taking our jobs. No, they're not taking our jobs. They are taking jobs that you don't want. Now, is that absolutely true? No. Some of the jobs they take are jobs that Americans may want. Very Rarely is something 1000 in terms of the equities involved. But overwhelmingly, they are taking jobs that are unfilled because Americans do not want them or can't live on the wages that they get paid to do them. So that's why they're coming. So what happens when they leave it? You now have people in a lot of the service industries and agro business that aren't there. So what is that gonna do? It's gonna reduce services. It's gonna make it more expensive to get things picked, sorted, packaged, delivered, cleaned, cooked, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And that will be a challenge for the economy. And that's why I don't believe that Trump does a deportation of all of them. I don't think it's possible. I don't think it's legal. I don't think, logistically it makes sense in terms of how expensive it would be. And I think morally it's a problem. And I think economically. Economically it would be a problem. And I think in terms of what you do to families and communities, and it would be like going to war in our own borders in some way. So I think they're going to wind up doing a lot more than is being done right now. I think sanctuary cities have a problem, but economically you need the labor. So how do you reconcile the two? That's the conversation we never have. Because to get elected, all I have to do is scare you and direct you that the other person that I'm running against is part of the problem. I don't have to tell you how I'm gonna solve it. Or I can give you an absurd idea like I'm gonna round them all up and throw them all out like it was a Dr. Seuss book. And there's gonna be a truck with a big no that just like goes around the communities sucking up illegal immigrants and then just spits them out back into Mexico.

[Greg Ott]

What an image to put.

[Chris Cuomo]

But that's what it sounds like, right? And that's not going to happen. That's not a thing. What people don't do is deal with subtlety, deal with solutions that are accommodations of needs. We don't do that. Why? It's weakness. I'm strong. I'm all in. I'm 100%. That's politics. That's bullshit. And now governing is different. And there has to be a way to balance what is needed by the economy and frankly, just to enrich America's potential. Right. This is a nation of immigrants. And to do it legally and safely so that people are integrated into the system. So they don't just take, they also give. And that your employers aren't getting over on them. The employers are. Are the biggest missing piece in the argument. Because if you didn't pay them pennies of what you would pay American labor, they wouldn't be coming. And if you weren't part of the sell proposition to get them here, often even helping with money and logistics and organizing to bring them here. Did you know that? Oh, well, we have the E verify. When's the last time you saw a big employer get raked over the coals the way Trump does? Raking the illegal immigrants over the coals? Come on. They're the missing piece. There has to be an accommodation of the needs and the wants and the safety. We don't have that conversation because it's not as satisfying, but it's the only one that matters. Will we have it now. You know who it's up to, ironically? The Democrats. How can the Democrats be. No, no. It's all about Trump. No, it isn't. No, it isn't. The Democrats have a very real role in getting a real solution here. Support for the Chris Cuomo Project comes from Select Quote. Look, so much in life is uncertain, and the older I get, the more comfortable I am with my decision to have life insurance in place to take care of my family. All right? Now, the problem is it's complicated. You know, there's so many sales pitches, there's so much pricing, there's so much variability. That's why I am so happy to partner with Selectquote. It's one of America's leading insurance brokers. 40 years of experience. They've helped over 2 million people find over $700 billion in coverage since 1985. Head to selectquote.com and a licensed insurance agent will call you right away with the right policy for your life and your budget. Select Quote they shop, you save, get the right life insurance for you for [e-mail] Chris C. Go to SelectQuote.com Chris C today and you get started. SelectQuote.com Chris C. Support for the Chris Cuomo Project comes from Everyday Dose. Look, we all want to perform at our best mentally and physically. Sometimes habits don't set us up for success. Everyday Dose, it's coffee, but better than coffee. Since I started drinking Everyday Dose, I can get through my day and I get more consistent energy. I don't need the hits the way I did, you know, another cup, another cup, another cup. And there's not that roller coaster. Caffeine, crash and gut. Health for me is everything. And the mushrooms, collagen. It's like a one, two punch for keeping me regular and feeling good. The taste is legit. It's smooth, rich. It's actually got more of a creaminess than drinking black coffee. And it's definitely coffee flavor. None of that dirt water stuff that I've tried with some others of the mushroom drinks. So head over to everydaydose.com Chris for 25% off plus five free gifts with your first order, including a USB rechargeable frother helps. It helps. Definitely thickens it up. I like it. Every month after you're going to get an amazing free gift with your order, so go to everydaydose-o s e.com Chris. You get 25% off plus 5 free gifts with your first order. AG1 is one of my favorite partners the consistency, the constancy, the routine of wellness is fundamental to me. People often think I'm tan. I'm not tan. I got mast cell activation from my long Covid and it makes me very nutrient deficient and I'm very vitamin dependent. And that's why it's so important that I get good balanced supplementation that I can trust and I know will be absorbed this year. Try AG1 for yourself. They're offering new subscribers a free $76 gift when you sign up. What is that for 76? Get a welcome kit, a bottle of D3K2. Okay. Which is a very important vitamin combination and ratio that you should look up for yourself. 5 free travel packs also in your first box. Make sure to check out drinkag1.com CCP to get this offer, obviously through the Chris Cuomo project. That's drinkag1.com CCP get yourself to a better place today. Try it. You'll like it.

[Greg Ott]

This is from Tanzer Figueroa, 1894. Do you think Trump should forgive his enemies? And to publicly announce it periodically? And would this be the ultimate humiliation to the haters?

[Chris Cuomo]

What is he getting at?

[Greg Ott]

It seems like it's tied into Joe and Micah going to kiss the ring over at Mar a Lago and something along those lines. You didn't really talk about that. We kind of did an episode about in the in the Zone, but I don't know, maybe talk about that broadly.

[Chris Cuomo]

Look, I don't blame Joe and Mika, the MSNBC morning people, for going to see Trump. Journalists need and benefit from access to power. And I would argue that the powerful benefit from access to the media and having relationships and understanding each other. How can that not help? And there is no journalist who doesn't want to meet with the President Elect. All right, so that's a no brainer. The idea that they're somehow traitorous tells you what MSNBC and a lot of partisans believe about that place. That it's somehow wrong for them to even go normalizing. They're normalizing now. You want to criticize him? They only started going after Trump because kissing his ass stopped working for them. How do I know? I lived it. I was on CNN in the morning going against them on New Day. We beat them twice. First time CNN had ever done that. Why? Because while they were kissing Trump's ass and giving him a wet kiss every time he came on during his election run, we were holding him to account. And other people in the race as well, and the other powerful as well. And that's One of the reasons or a lot of other reasons we won. But then he gets in and all of a sudden MSNBC can't be the pro Trump, right? So all of a sudden they turn on him. Now their ratings are in the tank, the guy's back despite their best efforts. So they do what works for them. They can rationalize it and be high minded about it, but, you know, it's just advantage. Right? So that's the fair criticism. But I don't blame them for wanting to have access to power. And in terms of Trump forgiving his enemies, again, the guy is not burdened by principle. So that's not how he functions. It's about what works for him right now. So if you can do a deal with him, it doesn't matter that you were calling each other's mother's names five seconds ago. That's who he is. That is the upside of being unburdened by principle or any kind of code or I guess you could construe it as. No, his code is to just do right for the country. I didn't see that in his first term. We'll see if we see it this term.

[Greg Ott]

This is not a comment, but it's related. There's the news that came out that Comcast is spinning off MSNBC and CNBC and a bunch of like dying cable networks essentially. What do you, what's your take on, like, I've read speculation like, oh, what if, you know, some billionaire buys up MSNBC and changes it or whatever? Like, do you have any thoughts on like the state of the industry being in the cable industry and what's going to happen to these, you know, because they're going to be severed from what I understand from NBC News and so MSNBC and cnbc, you know, out to sea, not really pun intended, but like, you know, cast off to fend for themselves.

[Chris Cuomo]

What is your understanding of why Comcast is doing it?

[Greg Ott]

Because there's value in the brands of a lot of these cable channels, but cable itself is not on the ascendance at the moment. So they're taking a bunch of different brands except the most valuable ones like Bravo and NBC News and all the NBC properties except for these two. And they're packaging them up into a separate company that might be big enough to acquire other companies or be acquired by somebody like Warner Brothers or something. So the idea of being like, well, there's still some value in these brands in a sense of like managed decline in the way that like, you know, a bunch of newspapers got gobbled up, you know, when that started dying off and a bunch of, you know, TV stations and such. So it seems like some sort of way to either private equity to step in or for a big, you know, conglomerate to come together with all this. But yeah, that's what I think by.

[Chris Cuomo]

Most estimates of industry experts, cable is going to be making money on their subscription fees for probably 15 years.

[Greg Ott]

Oh my God. Just, just to be clear, like in the thing I was reading, I think it was in, I don't know, Bloomberg or Semaphore something. But it was like there's still like 70 million people still paying for cable. This is not a dead industry by any stretch of the imagination.

[Chris Cuomo]

So they're spin it off because that's what's best for their business. And all of these people who became agglomerators, you know, people who just kept acquiring, acquiring, acquiring, now they've got to get rid of stuff. Why? Because the carry costs are not justified by the cash flow. So you need to get rid of them. I don't think it's a political statement. I don't think it's a statement about msnbc. I think it's just P and L and profit and loss and that's why they're doing it. And that's business. And I don't think it means anything about that particular outlet. I think that there's absolutely an appetite and a market in America for left leaning political perspective, which is what they bring. So I think this is something that will be used for advantage by their critics in the media, which we love to do. People love to beat up on CNN right now because they're not doing as well as they as a couple of other ones. But they're certainly doing better than msnbc. And so let's see who buys it. But again, I see it just as business, not really a reflection of our politics or of our cultural disposition.

[Greg Ott]

So you're not worried that some Musk isn't going to scoop it up to turn it into what he did with Twitter?

[Chris Cuomo]

Like market decides. Musk is making X into what he wants it to be. People will decide to be there or not be there. And other than law, that is the ultimate decider. If people want what you are putting out as a product, right, and that's what all media is, then it's good. And if they don't, then it's bad. So the market decides.

[Greg Ott]

That was kind of a clumsy transition to this next question from Gabe R R8J Will Elon run for next office.

[Chris Cuomo]

Or I guess he means for office next. I have no idea. I think Elon would have a hard time on the campaign trail. I don't think he's used to that kind of dynamic. I don't know that he would ever have more power than he has right now in terms of influence over what happens. He's kind of got all the upside, none of the downside with Trump seeing him as a spirit animal right now. So he's probably right in his sweet spot now. Let's see what he does with that power and that access, and then that will probably answer your question.

[Greg Ott]

Andrea Jones, 5628 asks, Are we reliving the 80s Stallone?

[Chris Cuomo]

Really?

[Greg Ott]

Are shoulder pads coming back?

[Chris Cuomo]

Listen, I'm a huge Sly fan.

[Greg Ott]

Have you seen Rhinestone?

[Chris Cuomo]

I have.

[Greg Ott]

You know the song Drunkenstein?

[Chris Cuomo]

Yes.

[Greg Ott]

I wanted to be that for Halloween, but my wife said it was too obscure.

[Chris Cuomo]

It is.

[Greg Ott]

It'd be weird seeing me dressed up as Drunkenstein from Rhinestone with our infant daughter for her first.

[Chris Cuomo]

Yeah, it'd be too first Halloween. It's really having the daughter that she wouldn't have liked.

[Greg Ott]

Budweiser you created. I just really want to get Drunkenstein out there. For those who haven't seen it anyway, it's worth watching.

[Chris Cuomo]

It's not over the top, but it's arm wrestling.

[Greg Ott]

For what? Custody of your kid? Hey, I'm a Stallone guy. But people are pissed at him because he's Mr. Trump now. He loves Mr. Trump. And that does. I don't know, does that take away from daylight? Stop where my mom will shoot you. Tell me.

[Chris Cuomo]

He is an aging American who is uncomfortable with what he sees developing in the culture around him. That's really what this is about now. Good, bad, right, wrong. That's for you to decide. But I gotta tell you, it did hurt to hear him say that Trump is Rocky. Trump had a significant political comeback. Trump dealing with an assassination attempt the way he did was very impressive to me. I've said that many times. But Rocky, really the kind of, you know, the mythological kind of macho man of all Italians, and then you say it's Trump. That stung a little bit. You know, that was my father's campaign theme song.

[Greg Ott]

Oh, was it really?

[Chris Cuomo]

Was the Rocky song. And Sly was a big fan of my father. And it's interesting. How are you a big fan of Mario Cuomo and a big fan of Donald Trump? They could not be more different as men. I am far more like Donald Trump than my father was. That's for sure. My father just lived By a code and an integrity that is very rare these days in politics or outside of it? Me, not so much Trump. Absolutely not. But the through line is he believed in the integrity of the purpose of the individuals. He didn't agree with everything my father did. Not the way he does with Trump, but he believed my father, not just as an Italian American, but as how he came up and what he was about, that he believed in what my father was about. Similarly, he has problems with the way things are in this country, and he believes Trump is about changing what he doesn't like. So that's the through line. You give people what they want, you got them in your pocket.

[Greg Ott]

What's your favorite Stallone film?

[Chris Cuomo]

Oh, I mean, it's definitely the Rocky series. Which one?

[Greg Ott]

What about Escape Plan? No, he's like Dr. Ray Breslin. He designed the jail. So they put him in the jail and then he has to get out. It's very, very savvy.

[Chris Cuomo]

Tulsa's not bad either. Oh, Tulsa King. Yeah.

[Greg Ott]

Yeah, Tulsa King's very good.

[Chris Cuomo]

But it would be. Rocky III is rocky three.

[Greg Ott]

Oh, really, Mr. T? Not. Not number four.

[Chris Cuomo]

No, no, they went downhill. Three was it?

[Greg Ott]

What are you talking about? Five is downhill. And then you got Balboa. Then he just got Creed.

[Chris Cuomo]

Yeah, I'm not into any.

[Greg Ott]

Oh, you don't like the Creeds?

[Chris Cuomo]

No, there's. There's Rocky, and then there's everything else.

[C]

You're.

[Greg Ott]

You're a. You're a purist in so many ways.

[Chris Cuomo]

Yes, I am. Name of my wife's company also. Ding, ding. Support for the Chris Cuomo project comes from. Get main lobster. Oh, the holidays. It's all about making them special. Well, what's more special when it comes to looking down at that plate than getting Maine lobster? I'll paint you a picture. It's Christmas Eve, and all through the house. No, none of that. Certainly not a mouse. Find a mouse in my house. You know where you're going to find it? On a glue trap. But I'll tell you, here's what you will find a table filled with people talking about why they love each other, talking about what's good, laughing about what's not, and enjoying food, especially to an Italian American family. Man, we love it. And I gotta tell you, you crack open a fresh, sweet lobster, especially like us, we're all water people. What's better than getting a taste that takes you straight to the coast of Maine? Get Maine lobster. Has everything you need. Lobster rolls, lobster tails, whole lobster feast. I feel like Bubba Gump plus, as a listener of the Chris Cuomo Project, you get 15% off all orders. Store wide with promo code Cuomo. That's right. 15% off the freshest lobster you'll find anywhere. So this season, create new memories. Make it extra special by adding a touch of Maine to your holiday table. Visit getmain lobster.com use the promo code Cuomo and you'll get 15% off all orders today. Support for the Chris Cuomo project comes from Shopify. Listen, my friends, success in selling comes from a business and how often that business behind the business gets it done for that business. What does that mean? It means that you need people to help you get your wares where you need them to be. They work with Untuck it. They work with Death Wish coffee. So when you think about a business that sells through the roof, like Aloe Allbirds, skims. Yeah. Yeah. They must have a great team. Yeah. What they have is the business behind them, known as Shopify. My brothers and sisters, upgrade your business and get the same checkout that Untuck it uses. Sign up for your $1 a month trial [e-mail] Chris C. All lowercase, if you please. Chris c. Go to shopify.com Chris C. Upgrade your selling today. Where shopify.com Chris C. What else do you have?

[Greg Ott]

Now we have some listener calls. I think you're going to enjoy these.

[Chris Cuomo]

I just want to add that I.

[Greg Ott]

Think Democrats lost, well, a lot of things. But the left wing media pricked Democratic.

[Chris Cuomo]

Voters into thinking they didn't have to vote. They used polls saying that Kamala Harris.

[Greg Ott]

Was ahead by a large margin. So yeah, if anything, left wing media.

[Chris Cuomo]

Is partially to blame for the Democrats.

[Greg Ott]

Losing the election for tricking Democratic voters into complacency.

[Chris Cuomo]

That's it. Thank you. I'll give you partially to blame because, you know, there are lots of different factors in any outcome. As Jordan Peterson instructs, there is not a single factor explanation for a complex situation. However, left wing media, Look, I think that that is in part a marketing campaign for right wing media, especially on the digital side. And that's why they dominate it as they do social media in general. They made you guys so sensitive to what is in what they call mainstream media that you assume they're all out to get you. So you go and pay these people money. Okay? And I think you gotta be aware of that. Are there problems in the media? Of course, of course. I've dealt with them personally and professionally. Everything is imperfect. I still think our media is a signature blessing of Our democracy. But look, nobody said that Kamala Harris was way ahead in any way. That was echoed as the truth. Okay? It was always a close race. The polls wound up not being that different. I mean, it came down to under 300,000 votes across a number of states. So the idea that Trump blew her out, yes, they won the House, they won the Senate, and obviously he won the White House, and he won the popular vote, it seems, and that is very rare for a Republican. But it was definitely close. They just. Hey, if you lose five games, 10 to 1 or 2 to 1. Did you lose 10 games? Yeah, but the margin is also instructive of the outcome. And the Democrats didn't get wiped out in terms of margin. They just lost close races across the board. I am kind of annoyed that I'm hearing people talk about how poor America is when 90% of the people own smartphones and they spend over up to $1,000 a year on streaming service. So, you know, they can't afford eggs. That's probably the reason. Yeah, I agree. I don't know why you're annoyed, but grocery prices are a big deal, and people feeling pressure at the gas pump, rent, you know, all of the essentials. I think that's what it's all about. And I think Democrats, in part, missed that mood and got into the business of telling people that they shouldn't feel the way they feel. And also, they had to own the status quo, so that's tough to do. That's why I didn't see this as a typical incumbent election, where unless there's a recession on your watch, you usually get a second term.

[C]

Hi, Mr. Chris Cuomo. This is Nancy. I am calling from Pennsylvania. I was a New Yorker. I'm going to reference to the election. You probably are getting, like, a million phone calls. There is absolutely no way, no way we lost this election. Absolutely no way. If you look at a tape, when the speaker of the House was here in Pennsylvania, he was rubbing his hands and stating that him and former President Trump had something up their sleeve. Please call me. I know we did not lose this election. I am positive there's something not right. He swept. Nothing in history has been like this. Please. We are deeply disappointed. Something is not right. He did something. Something is not right. Thank you. Bye.

[Chris Cuomo]

We lived through it in 2016, by the way. And look, I get why you're upset, and that's okay, by the way. And could you have been misled that everybody said it was going to be close? Yeah, but they said that Pennsylvania was going to be close also and think you're taking the. They've got something out of this under up his sleeve. I think that's. That was bullshit Trumpism, something that he said. No Democrat in Pennsylvania or anywhere else has brought forward proof that the election was fugazi or rigged or wrong. And if they do, then we'll look at that proof. But you're 100% sure you're positive. How can you be positive? There's been no proof of that other than this speculation that you point to. Don't be like what you oppose. You know, that's what an aggrieved Trump voter sounded like in 2020. And I don't think you want to be that. I think you want to be better than that. I think a really interesting dynamic for you to look at in terms of what's shocking is that less people voted this time than last time. And that's weird with an expanding population, it shows how unmotivated people were. And I'm not surprised. I was a little surprised. But it is instructive of just how, just how unproductive Division is.

[Greg Ott]

To wrap up the comments section, I want to start off kind of how we began. Old Man Musky527 says Greg Ott related to Mel Ott, are you? No.

[Chris Cuomo]

How do you know?

[Greg Ott]

Well, I don't, but I'm. None of my. I don't know for sure, but none of my relatives appear to be related to the baseball player. Melot was a baseball player, from what I understand.

[Chris Cuomo]

What do you mean, from what you understand? That's who he was.

[Greg Ott]

Yeah, that's what I understand. I understand he was a baseball player who I never saw play because he was probably dead before I was born.

[Chris Cuomo]

Wasn't there a great hockey player named Ott?

[Greg Ott]

There was Wayne Gretzky.

[Chris Cuomo]

Oh, no, that's Bobby Orr.

[Greg Ott]

Oh, Bobby Orr. That's right. That's right.

[Chris Cuomo]

When you were picking your stage name, why didn't you go with or instead.

[Greg Ott]

Of OT you know, I had a teacher. I had a. See that. See, I, I host a weird news show. Greg Odd would be very appropriate for that. But I'm George Stringer. My seventh grade social studies teacher used to call me Mr. Orr and he'd go Mr. Orr. And so that was why. I don't know, I think somebody misspelled it at some point. There was a really good. I Zinged him once and I had a really good zinger in there. I was running around the classroom getting laughs and he was like, hey, Mr. Orr, slow down. You were running so fast you messed up your hair. And I turned back and I go, yeah, you were running so fast you lost your hair. He was a bald man. He did not like that.

[Chris Cuomo]

What did he say?

[Greg Ott]

He kind of huffed and puffed, but everybody got a huge laugh. You kidding me?

[Chris Cuomo]

How'd you feel? Great.

[Greg Ott]

That was like. You are you massive laugh.

[Chris Cuomo]

Is that when you learn that denigrating other people makes funny?

[Greg Ott]

He started it. He's the teacher. He taught the wrong goddamn lesson. That's his problem, not mine.

[Chris Cuomo]

This is the problem with your generation. He should have slapped you in your obnoxious pie hole.

[Greg Ott]

I was. I was probably getting applause from the classroom. You kidding me? He had it coming. Good teacher, though.

[Chris Cuomo]

Oh, yeah. So look, a big part of this is that I'm not just talking at you, I'm talking to you and I'm taking your feedback and we're trying to get to a better place. Because at the end of the day, that's what the project is all about. Different ideas, disagreement with decency, but trying to foster some understanding for you and for me. So thank you for being part of it. Thank you for subscribing and following. If you want it ad free, the easiest way is just subscribe at the substack and you get all this other good stuff there for just five bucks a month. And I'll see you on News Nation at 8p Eastern every weekday night. The problems are real. You gotta be part of the solution. So what do you say? Let's get after it.