Audio & Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo is a Guest on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton – ny.gov
Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo was a guest on MSNBC's PoliticsNation with Rev.Al Sharpton.
AUDIOis availablehere.
A rush transcript of the Governor's interview is available below:
Al Sharpton:I'm joined now by theGovernor of theState ofNewYork,AndrewCuomo. GovernorCuomo, thank you for being with us. First of all, tell people nationwide, and you andIhave debated and we've known each other 35 years since both of us were toddlers - no, we were grown but we've known each other that long- whyI've said this is some bedrock stuff. Alot of groups for many years have been pushing for some of these things. You andIhave talked about it for years, even some of the progressive groups for the last several years. But now you've signed it into law. Explain what those bills are and thenIwant to go into your executive order which raised the bar as far asI'm concerned thatIdid not even expect to hear when I went to the bill signing.
Governor Cuomo:Thanks,Reverend.Good to be with you. We have known each other 35 years andIunderstand that you're more fit than you were 35 years ago. I just don't know how we started out the same age and you became younger than me after 35 years. Look,God bless you. You have been arguing this case for a long time. RodneyKing was 30 years ago. AbnerLouimainNewYork, 23 years ago he was brutalized. MikeMcAlarywon thePulitzer, your friend and mine.
Why did it take so long? I don't knowbut we're here nowandIbelieve you making that argument, you standing up every time there was an injustice, we hit a critical mass and the nation rose up withMr. Floyd. We now have to seize the momentbecause you're exactly right. It's demonstration, legislation,reconciliation. The point of the demonstration is for change and the change comes when you change the lawsand this is the moment we're inandIwant to make sure we capitalize on the moment andNewYork can be the laboratory for this.We have that energy. People want change. What is the change? Let's show them inNewYork.
We passed what's calledrepeal 50-A. It's a new transparency for the disclosure of complaints against policeso you'll get the full file of a police officer when he's accused or she's accused of doing something wrong. Now that can either exonerate or it can implicate. If there were no other charges that would work to the police officer's benefit. If there was a pattern of charges we'd know that also.
We legislated that theAttorneyGeneral is a special prosecutorif there's a police killing and you knowI had done that by executive order five years ago but now that is part of the law. So we're making dramatic legal changes that should have been made frankly 30 years ago. No chokeholds. I mean,Eric garner, we went through that tragedy six years ago. Why did it take so long? I don't know. But we're here now. Capitalize on the moment. Carpe diem, seize the day, seize the moment. Carpe momentum. And we've done that by changing the laws inNewYork and we signed that into law this week. You were kind enough to be there.
Al Sharpton:Now the thing that also impressed me and you're right, we've dealt with these laws whileIwas with you when you announced the giving theAttorneyGeneral by executive order special prosecutor five years ago, but now it's law. It's not just an executive order. I rememberJonathanMoore the attorney,DonnaLieberman,attorney, MikeHardy and others dealing with you for a long time about 50-A, and a lot of other groups that have come in. One of the things that strikes me is on theLeft you're going to have people arguing about who should get credit rather than making sure we're monitoring in force, and on theRight you're going to have unions that are going to be angry at you or thinking you went too far. But it's getting the job done. But you went a step further. You said you want every mayor of every city and police chief to come up with a plan on how to work with the community around these issues or you'd withholdState moneyandIthink this is something other of the governors, 49 others to be exact, ought to really look at. Explain that executive order becauseIthink this is something totally different and it's backed up with money.
Governor Cuomo:Reverend,I'm excited by this moment. As I saidI'm sorry it took so long to come. I'm sorry so many had to suffer and so many had to die. I applaud you for your continued advocacy over all these years. But now we're here. Let's seize the moment. You askedMartin, and good to see him, by the way, even ifon this video,where do we go from here?I think the point about the Kerner Commission - take a fundamental look at society. Justice only works if we have full justice, social justice, economic justice and racial justice. I think that's right, but short term in this moment what can we get done? Reform the police. Reform the police. The outrage has been expressed. People are ready to change. Government is ready to change. But the art form is and do what? What we're saying in New York is every local government, you have to reinvent your police department. You have to sit down at a table and redesign it in a collaborative. Bring in those protesters, bring in those activists, bring in those civil rights people, sit there with the police department, bring the mayor, bring the city council and redesign the police department now in this moment. Take into consideration everything we've heard. We want to demilitarize the police. How do you do that? Use of force policy, how do you do that? End bias of policing, how do you do that? More diversity. Okay, how do you do that? That's the art form, turning the energy into action and what we said in New York is every local community has to do that. The city has to do that. The mayor has to be at the table. The city council president. You have nine months. You then have to pass a law instituting that plan and if you don't do it then you're not going to get any State funds. Because why? If you don't have an incentive sanction they're not going to do it. This is a hot potato. The politicians don't really want to deal with it. They'd rather do these press releases, stop tear gas, stop rubber bullets. It's a more fundamental issue than that. You want a different police force for the year 2020. Design it and design it now so we don't lose this moment which has been too long in coming.
Reverend Al Sharpton:The President and others in the Republican Party have yet to really address this. I understand Senator Tim Scott is supposed to do it and Martin III just said we need to have bipartisan focus on this. Here's Tim Scott, Senator from South Carolina, this morning on Meet The Press signaling the Trump Administration's response to this moment. Watch this.
Senator Tim Scott:The executive order that will come out I think on Tuesday really does reference a national database, strengthening a national data base, police misconduct from my understanding. It also talks about the importance of co-responders from a mental health perspective.
Reverend Al Sharpton:Shouldn't he look at the blueprint that you've just done with these four bills and executive orders to go further than just having a database? We know there's the problem, to just certify and put the numbers to the problem is not moving toward government solving the problem.
Governor Cuomo:Reverend, we know what they're going to do. There's no secrets left with this administration. We saw the President's response when he staged that photo op and he had the military kick out the protesters so it didn't get in the way of the camera lens. They're not going to do anything. I don't even know what that means, a national database of bad cops. What is a bad cop? What are the rules? What do you want the police to do? What is the use of force policy? How do you demilitarize the police? That'swhat we have to find out first and we have to do it now. This moment is so precious, right? When do we actually make change in society? When the planets line up. When did we get gun control in the state of New York? After the Sandy Hook massacre because people stood up and said enough is enough. That's when change comes. People are standing up and saying enough is enough now. Great, seize the moment and make the change. But literally redesign the police department community by community. Because the New York City police department is one type of police department. Suffolk County will have other issues. Erie County will have other issues. Buffalo, Mayor Brown, God bless him, he'll have other issues to address. But make them do it now while we have the moment and we have the energy. And that's how change comes.
Reverend Al Sharpton:All right, Governor Andrew Cuomo, again, thank you for being with us. And again, we've known each other for years, I won't tell everybody that your father, Governor Mario Cuomo, told me Chris was his favorite son and that your oldest daughter said to Chris that I'm her favorite TV show. Good to be with you, Governor.
- Al Sharpton pocketed nearly $1 million in bonuses from his National Action Network nonprofit - New York Post - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Endorsement Of Vigilantism: Rev. Al Sharpton Rips JD Vance Inviting Daniel Penny To Army-Navy Game - NewsOne - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Al Sharpton floats Biden pardon for Dothan half-brother, pastor convicted of fraud, tax evasion - 1819 News - December 8th, 2024 [December 8th, 2024]
- Black church coalition calls on MSNBC to suspend Al Sharpton over donations from Harris campaign - Fox News - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Church turns on MSNBC host Al Sharpton over $500,000 in payments from Harris campaign - The Telegraph - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton Faces Scrutiny Over Pay-to-Play Harris Controversy - eurweb.com - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton to speak at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church anniversary - WSFA - December 2nd, 2024 [December 2nd, 2024]
- Al Sharpton's acceptance of Kamala Harris campaign's $500K donation a 'bridge too far' for MSNBC colleagues - New York Post - December 2nd, 2024 [December 2nd, 2024]
- Al Sharpton continuing to host MSNBC show, make regular appearances after Harris campaign payment revealed - Fox News - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton, Mayor Adams hosts Thanksgiving dinner for families at National Action Network - ABC7 New York - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Conflict of interest? Harris' campaign donated $500,000 to Al Sharpton before her MSNBC interview - Voz Media - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- MSNBC Says It Was 'Unaware' of Harris Campaign Contributions to Al Sharpton NonprofitBut Won't Say Whether It's Taking Action - Washington Free Beacon - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- MSNBC 'unaware' Harris campaign donated $500K to Al Sharpton nonprofit before friendly interview - Washington Examiner - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- MSNBC makes eye-opening admission about the $500,000 Kamala Harris gave to host Al Sharpton's non-profit - Daily Mail - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- MSNBC reacts to claims Kamala Harris paid $500K to Al Sharpton nonprofit before interview - Raw Story - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- MSNBC reacts to claims Kamala Harris paid $500K to Al Sharpton nonprofit before interview - MSN - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- Al Sharpton reveals Trump cold called him after election win - MSN - November 26th, 2024 [November 26th, 2024]
- We can lose a round, but the fight aint over, Rev. Al Sharpton vows after Trump win - New York Daily News - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- We can lose a round, but the fight aint over, Rev. Al Sharpton vows after Trump win - NNY360 - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton celebrating 70th birthday with star-studded event - Spectrum News 1 - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton will give keynote address Friday for Anne Arundel NAACP annual event - Capital Gazette - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Al Sharpton and Donny Deutsch worry theyll be imprisoned if Trump is re-elected, but on enemy list - New York Post - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton stops in Flint on 'Wheels of Justice Freedom' tour - WJRT - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- Go With the Flo: Rev. Al Sharpton turns 70, Sean Diddy Combs' children stand by their dad, Sherri Shepherd receives Vanguard Award - Amsterdam News - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- Overnight Cable News Ratings for Oct. 18-21: Kamala Harris Interview Lifts Al Sharpton to Second Place on Sunday - Adweek - October 24th, 2024 [October 24th, 2024]
- Al Sharpton sets Kamala up to whine about Trump for calling her the S-Word - AllSides - October 24th, 2024 [October 24th, 2024]
- Harris refuses to push back on suggestion shes too progressive during Al Sharpton interview - MSN - October 24th, 2024 [October 24th, 2024]
- Al Sharpton: Trump's like an old boxer pushed back into the ring'he just doesnt have it' - MSN - October 21st, 2024 [October 21st, 2024]
- MSNBC's Al Sharpton, Donny Deutsch 'convinced' they'll be put on enemy's 'list' if Trump elected - Fox News - October 21st, 2024 [October 21st, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton and family members gather to remember four-year-old boy in Harlem - Spectrum News NY1 - October 21st, 2024 [October 21st, 2024]
- MSNBC's Donny Deutsch, Al Sharpton think they'll be put on a 'list' if Trump wins - Fox News - October 21st, 2024 [October 21st, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton holds prayer service for 4-year-old Jahmeik Modlin, the Harlem boy who starved to death - 1010 WINS - October 21st, 2024 [October 21st, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton urges Gov. Hochul not to remove Mayor Adams from office ahead of trial - Gothamist - October 1st, 2024 [October 1st, 2024]
- Al Sharpton calls for emergency meeting of NY leaders to discuss Adams corruption charges - New York Post - October 1st, 2024 [October 1st, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton, Central Park Five members get out the vote in Philadelphia - NBC Philadelphia - October 1st, 2024 [October 1st, 2024]
- Report Links Mark Robinson to Comment That Cops Should Have Shot Al Sharpton - The New York Times - October 1st, 2024 [October 1st, 2024]
- Mark Robinson Once Called for Someone to Shoot Al Sharpton, Called Oprah a Witch - The Daily Beast - October 1st, 2024 [October 1st, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton says theres no precedent for possible NYC Mayor removal by Gov. Hochul - MSN - October 1st, 2024 [October 1st, 2024]
- Jill Biden and Al Sharpton pay tribute to civil rights activist Sybil Morial - The Associated Press - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Jill Biden and Al Sharpton Pay Tribute to Civil Rights Activist Sybil Morial - U.S. News & World Report - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Jill Biden and Al Sharpton pay tribute to civil rights activist Sybil Morial - The Boston Globe - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Kamala Harris, AOC, Al Sharpton praised Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2020 townhall dedicated to COVID, honoring black Americans - New York Post - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Jill Biden and Al Sharpton pay tribute to civil rights activist Sybil Morial - The Caledonian-Record - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Reverend Al Sharpton's father passes away at age 93 as the social justice activist speaks out on their 'compli - Daily Mail - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Jill Biden and Al Sharpton pay tribute to civil rights activist Sybil Morial - MSN - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- From SBF to Al Sharpton: The infamous inmates of MDC, where Diddy is awaiting trial - Brooklyn Magazine - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Whos That Young Fella: Anthony Andersons Shocking Transformation Takes the Spotlight In New Photo with Al Sharpton - Atlanta Black Star - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- Reverend Al Sharpton Joins Rally With Citizens for a New Delaware Way PAC to Oppose Bethany Hall-Longs Gubernatorial Bid and Advocate for Justice -... - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Al B. Sure! and Rev. Al Sharpton Respond to CMS's Decision to Reinstate Medicare Coverage for Lifesaving Post-Transplant Blood Tests, Removing March... - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- Reverend Al Sharpton: Celtics' Bill Russell took his celebrity status to the causes - Celtics Wire - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- Reverend Al Sharpton: Celtics' Bill Russell took his celebrity status to the causes - Yahoo! Voices - August 18th, 2024 [August 18th, 2024]
- PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton on MSNBC - MSNBC - August 14th, 2024 [August 14th, 2024]
- Al Sharpton & Lloyd Williams: Honoring Harlem's past and inspiring the future: Harlem Week at 50 - New York Daily News - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- The Rev. Al Sharpton gives eulogy for Milwaukee man who died at Hyatt - WISN Milwaukee - July 12th, 2024 [July 12th, 2024]
- Al Sharpton to deliver eulogy for Black man who died after being held down by Milwaukee hotel guards - Madison.com - July 12th, 2024 [July 12th, 2024]
- Dozens of community members attend DVontaye Mitchell's funeral - Spectrum News 1 - July 12th, 2024 [July 12th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton Coming to Yonkers May 28 to Celebrate Messiah Baptist Church's 150th Anniversary & Landmark ... - Yonkers Times - May 27th, 2024 [May 27th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton and Aisha McShaw Dazzle at Met Gala - eurweb.com - May 20th, 2024 [May 20th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton to give eulogy at Frank Tyson's funeral - News 5 Cleveland WEWS - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- Al Sharpton comes to Delaware to urge inclusive judiciary - WHYY - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton to give eulogy for Frank E. Tyson: Bodycam video shows man saying 'I can't breathe' before death in ... - WKYC.com - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton joins Wilmington protest calling for Delaware court diversity - The Philadelphia Tribune - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- MSNBC's Al Sharpton Slams Anti-Israel Demonstrations, Compares Their Actions With January 6 Capitol Rioters - The Stock Dork - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- Mark Robinson Can't Stop Making Uncle Tom's Cabin References - The Root - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- NYC Mayor Adams, Rikers Island detainees baptized by the Rev. Sharpton on Good Friday - Yahoo! Voices - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Mayor Adams, Rikers Island detainees baptized by Rev. Sharpton on Good Friday - New York Daily News - April 1st, 2024 [April 1st, 2024]
- Al Sharpton Baptizes NYC Mayor Eric Adams at Rikers Island and There Are Photos - The Root - April 1st, 2024 [April 1st, 2024]
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams gets baptized in jail by Rev. Al Sharpton on Good Friday - TheGrio - April 1st, 2024 [April 1st, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton Calls Out Pastors Using Trump Bible on Easter - TheWrap - April 1st, 2024 [April 1st, 2024]
- New York City's mayor gets baptized in jail by Rev. Al Sharpton on Good Friday - Lufkin Daily News - April 1st, 2024 [April 1st, 2024]
- NYC Mayor Adams, Rikers Island detainees baptized by the Rev. Sharpton on Good Friday - Yahoo News UK - April 1st, 2024 [April 1st, 2024]
- New York City's mayor gets baptized in jail by Rev. Al Sharpton on Good Friday - The Caledonian-Record - April 1st, 2024 [April 1st, 2024]
- Rev. Al Sharpton to give eulogy for Ramon McGhee, other Shelby County inmates who died - FOX13 Memphis - March 7th, 2024 [March 7th, 2024]
- HEiTC'S AL B. SURE! AND REV. AL SHARPTON TO CMS: RESTORE MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR LIFE-SAVING ... - PR Newswire - March 7th, 2024 [March 7th, 2024]
- More than 1200 Frontline Workers and Reverend Al Sharpton Rally With Faith and Union Leaders, Elected Officials at ... - New York City Central Labor... - March 7th, 2024 [March 7th, 2024]
- Rev. Sharpton joins Save SUNY Downstate hospital rally in BK - Amsterdam News - March 7th, 2024 [March 7th, 2024]
- Transcript: Mayor Adams Appears Live On MSNBC's PoliticsNation ... - nyc.gov - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Why Is Your Most Conservative Family Member Screaming About A ... - Defector - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Al Sharpton Biopic, New Tamar And Evelyn Braxton Show And More ... - Blavity News - October 15th, 2023 [October 15th, 2023]
- Al Sharpton biopic, Tamar and Evelyn Braxton's new show and more coming to TV One in 2024 - OiCanadian - OI Canadian - October 15th, 2023 [October 15th, 2023]