Newly revealed communications show the former CNN leader pushed for special exemptions while the network promoted lockdowns and closures.

In these days following the dismissal of CNN’s recently-installed CEO Chris Licht, there have been regular mentions of deposed former CEO Jeff Zucker. Much of this has to do with the problems Licht faced at the network with staff inertia, as many at CNN not only were resistant to changes, they were actively retaining standards under the Zucker era, to the extent they still relied on their former leader. 

But now we get word that the issues and scandals that led to Zucker’s removal from the top spot were more extensive. Newly found dispatches from that time show that the top executives were actually lobbying the problematic figure of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to enact legislation during the pandemic on behalf of their parent company, all while on air the network promoted lockdowns and social restrictions. To underscore this, first, let’s revisit some of the prior problems.

As is known, during the early days of the shutdown, CNN regularly brought on Governor Cuomo to interview with his brother Chris. At first, the jaunty exchanges were a comedic distraction, but soon his regular appearances raised questions of journalistic propriety. The governor was essentially delivering agitprop for his COVID policies, and the network and liberals saw him as a face of opposition to the hated President Trump.

As he became popular, CNN benefitted with ratings. Cuomo parlayed this into a book deal on leadership, and he even ridiculously was granted an Emmy Award for his daily televised COVID briefings. Then Andrew (who his brother had shamelessly dubbed “The Love Guv”) was hit with a sex scandal. Chris was found to have been aiding his brother’s defense behind the scenes with journalism contacts. Eventually, it led to Andrew’s removal from office, and Chris being removed from the network. 

It is widely believed that in retaliation, Chris was leaking intel about Jeff Zucker having a relationship with CNN’s Head of Communications, Allison Gollust. Cuomo’s lawyers were believed to be shopping the revelation of this relationship to media outlets and then taking the previously-hidden details to the new Warners-Discovery management. 

This was not strictly retribution by Chris. He also wanted to show that coziness with Andrew was not restricted to the brotherly bond, but that Zucker and Gollust were also involved in courting the governor. While Gollust had been working with Zucker for about two decades, in the time between her tenure with him at NBC and then joining him at CNN, she spent a period working directly for Andrew Cuomo. Their familiarity led to his appearances in 2020.

It also led to the recently revealed dealings they were undertaking at the time. At Semafor, Max Tani has come across text messages between Gollust and Governor Cuomo showing that during the height of the pandemic, she was looking to leverage him for some policy changes on behalf of the pre-merger parent company Warner Brothers.

At the end of summer 2020, there was a brief, hesitant reopening of movie theaters in certain areas and Warners had a big film, “Tenet” released. Director Christopher Nolan wanted his movie to be seen in theaters, but the late August release was limited by state standards on movie chains reopening. The New York market was seen as a needed region for boosting lagging ticket sales (“Tenet” never played on more than 3,000 screens.) Gollust was looking to leverage her old boss for help.

The September 22, 2020 texts are between Governor Cuomo and CNN’s then-chief marketing officer, Allison Gollust. while Gollust was assisting the network’s programming side, that day she crossed over into advocating for the business interests of CNN’s parent company, texting a request that the governor speak to WarnerMedia’s studio chief, Ann Sarnoff.

“She’s bummed you don’t open theaters in NY, but perhaps you can hear her out,” Gollust said in the message, which was read to Semafor by a person with firsthand access to the exchange. The next day, Cuomo heeded Gollust’s request and called Sarnoff, who lobbied the governor to loosen restrictions on movie theaters, according to a person familiar with the exchange.

What makes this disturbing – beyond the ethical lines of journalism being crossed – is that on the air, CNN was still pushing out pandemic porn, lobbying to keep citizens restricted and businesses closed, and demonizing politicians who desired to reopen their state. Yet behind the scenes, it was working to benefit itself and its parent company with exclusive overrides in the name of revenues.

The New York Times reported, following Licht’s ouster, that many CNN names turn to Zucker today, using him as a sounding board. And it appears obvious Zucker has been using this backchannel sabotage to possibly set up things for him to become reinstated. Some who follow the industry have commented on parallels with Disney taking place at CNN. There, Bob Iger stepped away, but his replacement Bob Chapek was beset with old-school loyalty in the ranks. 

Chapek had to contend with Iger’s continued meddling, both in the press and through backchannel contacts at the company, and it led to him being forced to enter the culture war in Florida with Ron DeSantis. That battle led to many business failures and stock devaluation, and ultimately Chapek was removed and Iger reinstalled.

However, the resemblance of the scenarios end there. Iger, for one, left on his own, while Zucker was removed for a number of valid reasons. The fresh management at Warners-Discovery has any number of problematic reasons to be wary of inviting Zucker back, including the fact that the network was in a ratings tailspin before the Cuomo and Zucker removals. 

This latest revelation will further undermine any dream scenario Zucker may have had in mind for a triumphant comeback at CNN.