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Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 6:38 PM

Las Vegas mayor wants apology from CNN's Anderson Cooper for mocking her during interview

Las Vegas mayor wants apology from CNN's Anderson Cooper for mocking her during interview
By Ray Hagar, Nevada Newsmakers

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said on Nevada Newsmakers that Anderson Cooper should apologize for the way the CNN news anchor mocked her during a nationwide interview that went viral last year.

"I think he owes me an apology and I'd love to have it from him," Goodman told host Sam Shad.

In the April, 2020 interview, Goodman pushed for the reopening of casinos and restaurants during Gov. Sisolak's mandated closure of non-essential businesses in the state.

Anderson questioned Goodman on the safety and public health concerns of her stance, considering the nation was hunkered down against the Covid-19 epidemic. April was an especially tough month for Covid news, as the number of U.S deaths (62,557) surpassed the number of Americans killed in the Vietnam War (58,200) that month.

Goodman's backers have said some of Anderson's questions dripped of ridicule. At one point, Cooper took his glasses off, then rubbed his eyes while listening to one of Goodman's responses. In another instance, Cooper smiled or chuckled when Goodman called him 'an alarmist.'

Veteran Nevadan Journalist Ray Hagar is known for fair and tough reporting and invigorating commentary.


Cooper also responded to one of Goodman's statements with, "Wow, that's really ignorant."

"I thought he was rude," Goodman said of Cooper. "And when I saw the tape afterwards and saw his expressions and hands and everything else, I thought, 'Oh, if I had only seen you. And you are so lucky I didn't.'"

Others, however, saw Goodman's performance as a fiasco, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Late-night TV host and Las Vegas native Jimmy Kimmel tweeted that Goodman “should resign before lunch arrives today. She is an embarrassment to my hometown.”

Goodman could not see Cooper on the TV monitor during the interview because of satellite transmission issues. Re-watching it now, one could see times where the communication between Cooper and Goodman seemed strained.

"At the time, our satellite wasn't working," Goodman said. "I didn't see his face. I didn't see his props. I didn't see his gesticulations.

"So I was a sitting duck," Goodman continued. "And I spoke the truth. I believed in what I said. I believed in it then. I believe in it now. And sadly, we are where we are."

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Comment author: Jack & Nancy CookComment text: Wonderful man. Created a precious family with Linda. Will always respect and admire his contribution to teaching at FHS.Comment publication date: 4/18/26, 10:27 AMComment source: Howard David JacksonComment author: JeffDickersonComment text: Very well reported, even though our motion was denied.Comment publication date: 4/15/26, 11:05 AMComment source: Judge allows Fernley City Council to proceed with corrective agenda item in Lau expulsion caseComment author: Todd fossumComment text: Hi my name is todd fossum i'm clarence's stepson, I was wondering if he had any siblings. I think he said he had a sister that just survived cancer. If she can get ahold of me or any buddy, my number is 916. 3 4 3 1 1 7 7.Thank you have a blessed dayComment publication date: 1/16/26, 4:33 PMComment source: Clarence L Shields C Comment author: Carl HagenComment text: So just curious, what is the point of a franchise agreement if it is not exclusive?Comment publication date: 12/15/25, 4:18 PMComment source: Council approves non-exclusive franchise agreement for waste collection C Comment author: Christine S GleasonComment text: In the first photo, the woman in the middle, wearing the black shirt, is SaraH Jean Gleason. She is not an FHS Leadership Student but is the person who is responsible (with the help of her father) for starting the Fernley Community Thanksgiving Dinner in 2011. She attended this year's dinner while home from Arizona State University, where she is working on her PhD.Comment publication date: 12/8/25, 8:52 PMComment source: About 400 meals served at Community Thanksgiving DinnerComment author: SusanComment text: RIP Sean. Prayers to the family, sorry for your loss.Comment publication date: 9/25/25, 1:11 PMComment source: Sean Everett Turner
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