I don't know about NBC and NYT, but this has been covered extensively since 2013 when Cook first published his data. There is even Wikipedia page on it.
On intervals the deniers re-invent their criticism of Cook to try to make you think that they are plowing fresh ground.
Last year it was Rick Santorium who disputed Cook.
Here's Cook's article from 2015 where he discusses the methodology that the deniers(in this case Rick Santorum) use:
Rick Santorum Tries to Use My Research to Cast Doubt on My Other Research
Cook’s methodology has never been taken seriously by anyone who is not an activist. It was intended to be propaganda from the time it was first conceived. Are you seriously arguing that it has any actual merit?