Janice Dean Claims She’s Being “Trolled” by Matthew Dowd Over Call for Accountability on Nursing Home Deaths

In a recent and emotional public exchange, Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean has accused political commentator Matthew Dowd of “trolling” her over her vocal calls for an investigation into the deaths of thousands of elderly individuals in New York State nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The controversy centers around Dean’s continued efforts to seek justice for the tragic deaths of her in-laws, Michael and Dolores Newman, who both passed away in 2020 after contracting the virus in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

The Personal Motivation Behind the Outcry

Dean has been outspoken about the disastrous consequences of the policies put in place by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, particularly his decision in March 2020 to mandate that nursing homes admit COVID-positive patients. This policy, which was reversed in May 2020, has been heavily criticized for contributing to the spike in deaths among the elderly, many of whom were vulnerable in nursing homes and care facilities.

The death of her in-laws—both of whom had lived in Brooklyn and had been married for 59 years—has made this issue deeply personal for Dean. “My response is we care because they’re our family members, and we are not going to give up on this,” Dean said, explaining her motivation for publicly demanding accountability for Cuomo’s role in the nursing home tragedy. However, her calls for an investigation have led to an ongoing online confrontation with Dowd, who has criticized her focus on Cuomo’s actions.

The Heated Exchange: Dowd vs. Dean

The friction began after Dean posted a heartfelt message calling for accountability for the nursing home deaths in New York, particularly the lives lost due to Cuomo’s controversial decision. In response, Matthew Dowd, a political commentator formerly with ABC News, dismissed her focus on Cuomo, suggesting that she should hold Republican governors like Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas equally accountable for COVID-related decisions in their states.

Dowd responded on social media, saying, “Now that Texas has surpassed New York in COVID deaths, I am awaiting for Ms. Dean to hold GOP Governor Abbott accountable.” This comment, aimed at shifting attention away from Cuomo, provoked a sharp response from Dean. “This ‘journalist’ has trolled me from the beginning of my quest for accountability from the governor of New York who ordered COVID-positive patients into nursing homes that helped kill thousands of elderly,” Dean tweeted, accusing Dowd of harassment.

Dean clarified her stance, asserting that her advocacy was not politically motivated but driven by personal experience. “I’ve never been a political person,” Dean explained. “I’ve taken on this role because I’ve been personally affected, and I feel that our New York Governor hasn’t been held accountable.” This confrontation has fueled an ongoing debate, with Dean’s defenders supporting her focus on Cuomo’s policies and Dowd’s critics accusing him of dismissing the gravity of the situation by politicizing it.

The Issue of Accountability: Cuomo’s Handling of Nursing Home Deaths

The crux of the dispute lies in the controversy surrounding Cuomo’s handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic. A report released in January 2022 by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office revealed that the state had undercounted nursing home deaths by as much as 50%, further complicating the public’s understanding of the true impact of the governor’s policies. This finding sparked outrage, with critics accusing Cuomo’s administration of downplaying the crisis.

The public outcry led to a federal investigation into Cuomo’s handling of the situation, including how his office had misreported the number of nursing home deaths. As the investigation progressed, the true toll became evident—12,743 deaths, as opposed to the 8,711 originally acknowledged. Dean’s personal connection to this issue, given the deaths of her in-laws, has made her a vocal advocate for accountability.

In her efforts to bring attention to these deaths, Dean has also posted symbolic images, such as a comparison between the investigations into the January 6 Capitol Riots and the New York nursing home deaths. Her posts have depicted an empty debating chamber, symbolizing the lack of attention that the issue has received in comparison to other political scandals.

Dowd’s Criticism: The Call for Balance

In his follow-up comments, Dowd defended himself, asserting that he had only made a factual observation and that he was not attempting to diminish the significance of Dean’s loss. “So weird. Been many months since I commented. And I think I have only ever tweeted a couple of things over more than a year,” Dowd said. “Always factual. And hypocrisy should always be called out.” Dowd’s insistence that his comments were simply about addressing perceived hypocrisy in political discourse has done little to quell the backlash against him.

Dean, on the other hand, has consistently emphasized that her call for accountability is personal, not partisan. “I’m trying to get accountability for the deaths of my husband’s parents and the thousands of other families out there,” she said. Dean’s repeated assertion that her focus is on New York and Cuomo’s policies highlights her belief that, regardless of political affiliation, state leaders must be held accountable for their actions, particularly when they result in harm to vulnerable populations like the elderly in nursing homes.

The Broader Debate: Personal Loss and Political Advocacy

This incident raises broader questions about the intersection of personal loss and political advocacy. For Dean, this issue is not about supporting or attacking one political party over another—it’s about seeking justice for her family and others who have suffered due to policy decisions. “I think we all have to have investigations into our leaders when it comes to COVID,” she said, further emphasizing that her call for accountability should not be reduced to a political battle between Democrats and Republicans.

Dean has consistently refrained from engaging in broader political commentary, instead focusing her efforts on the specific issue of nursing home deaths in New York. Yet, Dowd’s comments appear to push her into a broader partisan discussion, which she has repeatedly rejected. This underscores the difficulty of separating personal tragedy from the often-partisan political landscape.

The Family’s Tragedy: A Personal Perspective on the Impact of Cuomo’s Policies

Dean’s grief over the loss of her in-laws has made her advocacy for the victims of Cuomo’s policies deeply personal. Michael and Dolores “Dee” Newman, who had been married for 59 years, both died of COVID-19 in 2020 after contracting the virus in a nursing home and assisted living facility. Michael was the first to fall ill, passing away in late March, while Dolores was infected a few weeks later and died at a hospital. Their deaths have become a symbol of the broader tragedy faced by families who lost loved ones in nursing homes during the early months of the pandemic.

Dean has been open about the emotional toll these events have had on her. “The reason I am vocal is because I’m trying to seek some kind of justice for my husband’s parents and the thousands of other families out there,” she said. “Our family members deserve to be heard.”

Dowd’s Role in the Back-and-Forth

Matthew Dowd’s focus on Tarlov’s political motivations regarding her grief has drawn the ire of many, particularly those who feel he is dismissing the personal pain that Dean has experienced. His insistence that she should focus on other political figures, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, further complicates the situation. Dean has made it clear that her advocacy is focused on New York because that is where her family’s personal tragedy unfolded. By questioning her lack of focus on other governors, Dowd has attempted to redirect the conversation, but Dean remains firm in her commitment to seeking justice for the lives lost under Cuomo’s policies.

The Need for Accountability: Will Cuomo Face Consequences?

The broader question now is whether Governor Cuomo will face real accountability for his actions during the pandemic. As investigations continue, the issue of misreporting and mishandling the nursing home crisis has become a flashpoint for discussions on leadership and transparency. For Dean and many others, this is a matter of justice and the need to ensure that the mistakes of the past are acknowledged, so future tragedies can be avoided.

The case of the nursing home deaths serves as a critical moment in political discourse, especially when it involves the suffering of ordinary people. Dean’s advocacy is a reminder that, regardless of political affiliation, leaders must be held accountable for their decisions, especially when those decisions lead to significant harm.

Conclusion: The Personal and Political Collision

Janice Dean’s ongoing fight for accountability for the deaths of her in-laws has become a larger symbol of the struggle for justice in the face of political mismanagement. Her confrontation with Matthew Dowd highlights the difficulties of navigating personal tragedy while engaged in political advocacy, and the ways in which grief can become intertwined with the broader political discourse.

While Dowd’s comments about her focus on Cuomo may have seemed like an attempt to divert attention, Dean’s unwavering resolve in advocating for justice for her family and others has only strengthened her resolve. Her story underscores the importance of holding political leaders accountable for their actions, and her journey serves as an inspiration for those who seek justice, even when the political terrain is fraught with partisan battles.