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.
Daughter of Prominent Southern Baptist Pastor Dies at 19, Points Thousands to Jesus as a Result
Florida Just Handed Homeowners a Massive Tax Cut – No New Department Was Required to Pull It Off
MAGA voters reveal who they want to see lead GOP in 2028
DOJ sees exodus of staff after midterm losses
From ‘Red Sprouts’ to school board races, DSA’s years-long effort to reach children gains momentum
South Carolina’s new Democratic senator supports gun control on public health grounds
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies are undermining Trump’s peace efforts, former top prosecutor alleges
New Jersey town reveals staggering $26M theft days after election, sparking backlash
Three teens, adult charged with murder after woman finds her teenage son dead in abandoned home
Two experienced skydivers die after midair collision entangles their parachutes
Betting Markets’ Midterm Predictions Were Dead On: Now They’re Saying DeSantis’s Odds of Becoming POTUS Are Skyrocketing
Chiefs Star Goes Bankrupt Mid-Season, Pawns Super Bowl Ring as Collateral
Housing Market Struggles May Signal Incoming Economic Crisis
Young Actress Reveals She Was Offered Cocaine at Hollywood Wrap Party at 11 Years Old
Ex-police officer accused of stabbing NYC jogger to death appears emotionless in new photos
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.
Daughter of Prominent Southern Baptist Pastor Dies at 19, Points Thousands to Jesus as a Result
Florida Just Handed Homeowners a Massive Tax Cut – No New Department Was Required to Pull It Off
MAGA voters reveal who they want to see lead GOP in 2028
DOJ sees exodus of staff after midterm losses
From ‘Red Sprouts’ to school board races, DSA’s years-long effort to reach children gains momentum
South Carolina’s new Democratic senator supports gun control on public health grounds
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies are undermining Trump’s peace efforts, former top prosecutor alleges
New Jersey town reveals staggering $26M theft days after election, sparking backlash
Three teens, adult charged with murder after woman finds her teenage son dead in abandoned home
Two experienced skydivers die after midair collision entangles their parachutes
Betting Markets’ Midterm Predictions Were Dead On: Now They’re Saying DeSantis’s Odds of Becoming POTUS Are Skyrocketing
Chiefs Star Goes Bankrupt Mid-Season, Pawns Super Bowl Ring as Collateral
Housing Market Struggles May Signal Incoming Economic Crisis
Young Actress Reveals She Was Offered Cocaine at Hollywood Wrap Party at 11 Years Old
Ex-police officer accused of stabbing NYC jogger to death appears emotionless in new photos
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.
