Wednesday’s highly anticipated public impeachment hearing amounted to a ratings flop, with only 13 million viewers tuning in, according to reports.
The hearing, which featured Bill Taylor, acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, and George Kent, a senior State Department official, was teased as a “bombshell, given House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff’s (D-CA) allocating Democrats more time to dominate and minimize GOP voices in the first hour. Nonetheless, Democrats failed to live up to the hype, as reflected in viewership.
According to Axios, Wednesday’s lackluster impeachment hearing drew just 13 million viewers. The number pales in comparison to those who viewed former FBI Director James Comey’s June 2017 testimony and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s September 2018 hearing, which saw 19.5 million viewers and 20 million viewers, respectively.
Of the cable news networks, Fox News led the pack with 2.9 million viewers between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST, followed by MSNBC with 2.7 million, per Axios. CNN fell over one million viewers behind Fox News, attracting 1.8 million viewers. ABC edged out CBS, but both drew around two million viewers, followed by NBC with 1.7 viewers.
Dartmouth sorority, fraternity members face charges after death of student, 20, at party
Civil Air Patrol plane crash during Colorado training exercise leaves 2 dead, 1 injured
Officials Vow Justice After American, Five Tourists Killed in Poisoning
Dallas mayor who abandoned Democratic Party says more will follow
Trump taps Texan Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary
Former Police Officer Who Beat Homeless Man at VA Hospital Gets Maximum Possible Sentence
Trump taps Brooke Rollins to lead the Department of Agriculture
Building Super Allegedly Befriends 100-Year-Old Tenant, Gains Power of Attorney for Massive Betrayal
UFC President Dana White Makes Big Political Promise Post-Trump Victory
Teen May Be Charged as an Adult After 13-Year-Old Cheerleader Found Dead in the Woods
Ric Grenell under consideration to be Trump’s point man on Ukraine: report
Steelers Receiver Fights with Opponent During Final Play of Team’s Crushing Loss
Ernst burnishes pork-cutting credentials by leading DOGE Senate Caucus
As MSNBC Ratings Crater After Election, Network Gives Rachel Maddow Brutal New Deal: Report
Daniel Penny’s Defense Rests with Huge Courtroom Point About ‘Victim’: Here’s What Cops Would Have Seen Running Neely’s Info
The numbers, however, do not reflect those who watched the debate on alternative platforms, as Axios noted.
The impeachment hearing left many Democrats feeling, privately, deflated. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) masterfully made a mockery of Schiff’s “star witness” by demonstrating Taylor’s stunning lack of knowledge:
The hearing forced impeachment-driven Democrats and establishment media outlets to tweak the narrative to focus on what they now claim is President Trump’s “attempted” crimes – bribery and extortion – despite a lack of basis for either accusation.
This exchange between Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Wednesday’s witnesses laid out the new narrative:
“So ambassadors, is attempted murder a crime?” he asked, repeating his question. “Is attempted murder a crime?”
“Attempted murder is a crime,” Taylor said.
“Is attempted robbery a crime?” he asked.
“Neither of us is a lawyer,” Taylor began before Castro interrupted.
“I think anyone in this room could answer that question,” he said.
“I’ll go out on a limb and say yes it is,” Taylor said.
“Is attempted extortion and bribery a crime?” Castro asked, trying to draw a parallel.
“I don’t know sir,” Taylor said.
Dartmouth sorority, fraternity members face charges after death of student, 20, at party
Civil Air Patrol plane crash during Colorado training exercise leaves 2 dead, 1 injured
Officials Vow Justice After American, Five Tourists Killed in Poisoning
Dallas mayor who abandoned Democratic Party says more will follow
Trump taps Texan Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary
Former Police Officer Who Beat Homeless Man at VA Hospital Gets Maximum Possible Sentence
Trump taps Brooke Rollins to lead the Department of Agriculture
Building Super Allegedly Befriends 100-Year-Old Tenant, Gains Power of Attorney for Massive Betrayal
UFC President Dana White Makes Big Political Promise Post-Trump Victory
Teen May Be Charged as an Adult After 13-Year-Old Cheerleader Found Dead in the Woods
Ric Grenell under consideration to be Trump’s point man on Ukraine: report
Steelers Receiver Fights with Opponent During Final Play of Team’s Crushing Loss
Ernst burnishes pork-cutting credentials by leading DOGE Senate Caucus
As MSNBC Ratings Crater After Election, Network Gives Rachel Maddow Brutal New Deal: Report
Daniel Penny’s Defense Rests with Huge Courtroom Point About ‘Victim’: Here’s What Cops Would Have Seen Running Neely’s Info
The second round of public impeachment hearings, featuring former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, will air Friday at 9:00 a.m. EST.
Story cited here.
