Ann Hornaday: WaPo film critic since 2002; 2008 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism;
worked as a researcher and assistant to Gloria Steinem; began contributing to the “Arts & Leisure” section of The New York Times - Wikipedia:
9 Apr: WaPo: Andrew Cuomos star turn is part of a long cinematic tradition
By Ann Hornaday, movie critic
We all have a role to play, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said at his daily press briefing on Monday. And we have to respect the role that we play.
And, really, has the world ever been more of a stage?
As Cuomos news conferences about the coronavirus pandemic have become appointment viewing for millions of new fans across the country, the role hes been assigned now feels as if it were meant for him all along...
These convergences of actors, projected personae, moments in time have happened before: Laurence Oliviers Hamlet. Maria Falconettis Saint Joan. Marlon Brandos Stanley Kowalski...
Abraham Lincoln understood this...Winston Churchills greatest creation might have been the beloved and respected World War II leader known as Winston Churchill. At least in part, audiences are flocking to Cuomos daily PowerPoint presentations not just for raw data, but for his convincing, emotionally transparent portrayal of an authority figure we gravitate toward, for reasons we cant quite articulate...
...his combination of grandeur and naturalism have coalesced into a performance for the ages, with man and material meeting their moment to create something bigger than the component parts...
As many observers have noted, Cuomos chops as national protagonist are all the more impressive when theyre compared to the cult of personality swirling around President Trump, who honed his presentational craft in the repertory vineyards of reality TV, and who clearly aspires to Cuomos star status (his staff reportedly watches the governors briefings with avid, and most likely envious, interest). But what Trump fails to understand is that the most gifted actors are capable of grasping text and subtext; even though theyre performing, they calibrate every detail of vocal, facial and physical expression to tell the truth. Trump, on the other hand, is delivering a workshop-worthy exercise in acting as lying, all too often in substance, but also in his affect of pretense, narcissistic bluster and insincerity...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/andrew-cuomos-star-turn-is-part-of-a-long-cinematic-tradition/2020/04/08/29a97e52-78ed-11ea-b6ff-597f170df8f8_story.html
8 Apr: Brookings Institution: Cuomo and Trumps daily briefings in a propaganda world
by Linda Peek Schacht
He does not have the White House Seal but his daily briefings are watched by millions (LINKS TO SYRACUSE.COM BELOW, WHICH DOESN’T GIVE ANY CABLE FIGURES) of Americans...
The Cuomo model is what Americans need in time of crisis. Mr. Cuomo, following Aristotles insights, is binding up our nations fabric as it frays...
no cable numbers, but 4.7m online over SIX DAYS:
31 Mar: Syracuse.com: Digital views for Cuomos daily coronavirus briefings set records
By Mark Weiner
In a six-day period ending Monday, more than 4.7 million people tuned in to watch Cuomos briefings through Facebook, Twitter, Periscope and a livestream feed on the states website, according to the governors office...
The spotlight has also given rise to calls for Cuomo to run for president...
https://www.syracuse.com/coronavirus/2020/03/digital-views-for-cuomos-daily-coronavirus-briefings-near-1m-a-day.html
from anti-Trump ABC in Australia last nite:
1h24m12s to 1h28m11s: ABC radio talks to US correspondent, Tim Cass in NYC; Quinn: listener wants to know what was the initial source of the virus in NY? then says we’re not usually political, but the caller wants to know what is the view of Trump vs Cuomo; Kass says source was originally thought to be from China; in last couple of days it’s thought it was Europe.
Cuomo is King right now. he’s been very pro-active getting these hospitals, PPEs set up. people all over the country are listening to his two press conferences daily. Trump is not performing well; he said we’d all be back to work and celebrating Easter; it’s not happening. expect to be home at least another month, maybe more. no mention of possible exaggeration of the death count.
AUDIO: ABC Australia: Overnights with Rod Quinn
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/overnights/overnights/12121034
Good lord what ignorance and bias counts for journalism