Just under four years ago, New York’s third-term governor, Andrew Cuomo, resigned from office in disgrace, forced out by a looming impeachment inquiry led by his own Democratic Party over sexual harassment and Covid mismanagement scandals.

Shockingly, however, Cuomo has entered the New York City mayoral race and catapulted directly into the polling lead, with the help of his widespread name recognition—and some journalists willing to lend a hand to his image rehabilitation campaign. While some local papers have been scathing in their coverage of the ex-governor, the New York Times seems to be largely buying what Cuomo’s selling.