Chris Cuomo Returns: Scandal, Star Guests, and SiriusXM’s Morning Drama

Olivia Bennett, 1/14/2026Chris Cuomo makes a bold return to morning radio with "Cuomo Mornings" on SiriusXM, promising lively and unfiltered conversations. With a star-studded guest lineup and a format that blends spectacle with substance, Cuomo aims to redefine talk radio dynamics in a high-stakes comeback.

So, what’s really changed since his last outing? Out with the standard, sleepy talk radio tropes, in with a format that bristles with ambition. "Too much of our politics is about teams instead of truth," Cuomo tells anyone within earshot—his pitch sharpened but still wearing that familiar, slightly world-weary smile. The promise for “Cuomo Mornings” is straightforward in theory: fewer canned answers, more live-wire conversation. It’s the oldest reinvention trick in the broadcasting book, but seldom does its architect carry as much public baggage—and flair for spectacle—as Cuomo.

His credits, at this point, read less like a résumé and more like a bingeable Netflix drama. Fox News alum (pre-streaming era, lest anyone forget), then ABC’s de facto legal sage. Prime-time star—until scandal cut the act short at CNN’s mainstage, his family name drawing equal parts applause and side-eye every step along the way. Through it all, Cuomo’s trajectory has seemed perfectly calculated and entirely unscripted in equal measure—no easy feat in an era where most media personalities barely bother with a second act, let alone a credible comeback.

Fast forward to January 20th: the red carpet is gone, replaced by the studio mic’s seductive glow. And yet—old habits die hard—Cuomo’s show is set to launch with a guest list that screams award season after-party. James Carville in one chair, Bob Costas in another; Mark Cuban and Senator Joe Manchin promised for later in the week. Names that don’t just drive headlines but have the ability to grab the national conversation by the collar. Toss in Rand Paul, Maryland’s Wes Moore... suddenly, appointment radio feels a bit less like a relic of the past.

Perhaps the real wildcard here is not so much which political luminary or sports legend will make the most noise, but the call-in format’s promise of live confrontation—will it be spirited democracy or caffeinated chaos by the end of the second hour? Impossible to predict, though SiriusXM certainly hopes the debate will stir up headlines as effectively as any morning talk show standoff in recent memory. Everyone longs for the next “did you hear what happened on the radio?” moment.

Corporate suits might couch this as “reclaiming the watercooler,” but for Cuomo this return is something else: a gamble, and a spectacle. The shadow of his 2021 walk-off—scandal adjacent, with more flashbulbs than closure—still looms. Would another host survive such an exit, much less be handed the keys for a second lap? Not likely. Yet, there’s always appetite for a redemption story in American entertainment; see: every Oscar campaign ever waged by an actor with a rocky past, or Crawford herself in *Mildred Pierce*—rebranded, ever-surprising.

And in the grand tradition of comeback narratives, the distinction between headline and show blurs; Cuomo’s script, laced with family legacy and media thunder, would feel at home among Old Hollywood’s tales. There’s risk—listeners can be fickle, clinging to old grievances or nostalgic for simpler broadcasts. But then again, there’s a thrill in watching a familiar face step onto a new stage, particularly when the stakes are this high, and the lines between gravitas and spectacle aren’t just blurred—they’re dancing together.

As dawn creeps in and the red “on-air” light blinks to life, it’s clear the act of return itself is as much the show as anything said in the opening monologue. Radio may not offer the glitz of a glossy premiere, but when Cuomo slips behind the mic, there’s an unmistakable shimmer—a promise that even in 2025’s media landscape, the comeback, messy and glamorous as ever, is just as seductive as the original debut.

Will his “better questions” really cut through the static? Time—and perhaps a few spirited call-ins—will tell. Still, if there’s one thing both Hollywood and AM radio have taught us, it’s this: never underestimate the crowd-pleasing power of a second act, especially one staged at sunrise.

Under the harshly charming glow of studio fluorescents—a far cry from any old-fashioned, dim-lit breakfast nook—Chris Cuomo is back, trading in the morning hush for a flurry of digital dazzle at SiriusXM. Studio 2025 feels awash with the kind of anticipation usually reserved for live movie premieres, not the back end of the AM dial. This isn’t just a routine return; it hums with the energy of a long-delayed opening night, the curtain poised to rise as POTUS Channel 124 morphs, for two hours at dawn, into what can only be described as Cuomo’s own brand of radio theater.So, what’s really changed since his last outing? Out with the standard, sleepy talk radio tropes, in with a format that bristles with ambition. "Too much of our politics is about teams instead of truth," Cuomo tells anyone within earshot—his pitch sharpened but still wearing that familiar, slightly world-weary smile. The promise for “Cuomo Mornings” is straightforward in theory: fewer canned answers, more live-wire conversation. It’s the oldest reinvention trick in the broadcasting book, but seldom does its architect carry as much public baggage—and flair for spectacle—as Cuomo.His credits, at this point, read less like a résumé and more like a bingeable Netflix drama. Fox News alum (pre-streaming era, lest anyone forget), then ABC’s de facto legal sage. Prime-time star—until scandal cut the act short at CNN’s mainstage, his family name drawing equal parts applause and side-eye every step along the way. Through it all, Cuomo’s trajectory has seemed perfectly calculated and entirely unscripted in equal measure—no easy feat in an era where most media personalities barely bother with a second act, let alone a credible comeback.Fast forward to January 20th: the red carpet is gone, replaced by the studio mic’s seductive glow. And yet—old habits die hard—Cuomo’s show is set to launch with a guest list that screams award season after-party. James Carville in one chair, Bob Costas in another; Mark Cuban and Senator Joe Manchin promised for later in the week. Names that don’t just drive headlines but have the ability to grab the national conversation by the collar. Toss in Rand Paul, Maryland’s Wes Moore... suddenly, appointment radio feels a bit less like a relic of the past.Perhaps the real wildcard here is not so much which political luminary or sports legend will make the most noise, but the call-in format’s promise of live confrontation—will it be spirited democracy or caffeinated chaos by the end of the second hour? Impossible to predict, though SiriusXM certainly hopes the debate will stir up headlines as effectively as any morning talk show standoff in recent memory. Everyone longs for the next “did you hear what happened on the radio?” moment.Corporate suits might couch this as “reclaiming the watercooler,” but for Cuomo this return is something else: a gamble, and a spectacle. The shadow of his 2021 walk-off—scandal adjacent, with more flashbulbs than closure—still looms. Would another host survive such an exit, much less be handed the keys for a second lap? Not likely. Yet, there’s always appetite for a redemption story in American entertainment; see: every Oscar campaign ever waged by an actor with a rocky past, or Crawford herself in *Mildred Pierce*—rebranded, ever-surprising.And in the grand tradition of comeback narratives, the distinction between headline and show blurs; Cuomo’s script, laced with family legacy and media thunder, would feel at home among Old Hollywood’s tales. There’s risk—listeners can be fickle, clinging to old grievances or nostalgic for simpler broadcasts. But then again, there’s a thrill in watching a familiar face step onto a new stage, particularly when the stakes are this high, and the lines between gravitas and spectacle aren’t just blurred—they’re dancing together.As dawn creeps in and the red “on-air” light blinks to life, it’s clear the act of return itself is as much the show as anything said in the opening monologue. Radio may not offer the glitz of a glossy premiere, but when Cuomo slips behind the mic, there’s an unmistakable shimmer—a promise that even in 2025’s media landscape, the comeback, messy and glamorous as ever, is just as seductive as the original debut.Will his “better questions” really cut through the static? Time—and perhaps a few spirited call-ins—will tell. Still, if there’s one thing both Hollywood and AM radio have taught us, it’s this: never underestimate the crowd-pleasing power of a second act, especially one staged at sunrise.