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.
Admiral Tells Congress He Had a Good Reason for Ordering Second Strike on Drug Boat
Violent retaliation against US citizens possible in Venezuela conflict, expert warns
Watch: Prince Harry Snipes at Donald Trump in Cringey Colbert Appearance
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Who is Brian Cole, the DC pipe bomb suspect?
NYU attack suspect allegedly assaulted woman days earlier, found burglarizing off-campus apartments: report
NYC teen arrested, charged with setting homeless subway rider on fire, police say
Alberta Pastor Arrested for Refusing to Apologize for Hurting Woke Librarian’s Feelings
Huge DC Pipe Bomb Twist Changes the Story – The Biden Admin Knew
Trump hosts ‘Washington Accords’ Rwanda-Congo peace deal signing, vows US rare earths purchases
Young Americans give big thumbs down to Democrats, Republicans, Trump: poll
Trump ‘most important president in maybe 100 years’
US announces ‘reconsideration’ of ties with Tanzania amid ‘disturbing violence against civilians’
PhRMA started cutting them checks, then they started attacking its enemies
Samaritan’s Purse Plane Hijacked While on Aid Mission
WATCH: Dem lawmaker thanks Trump for pardon, says it came as a surprise amid re-election bid
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.
Admiral Tells Congress He Had a Good Reason for Ordering Second Strike on Drug Boat
Violent retaliation against US citizens possible in Venezuela conflict, expert warns
Watch: Prince Harry Snipes at Donald Trump in Cringey Colbert Appearance
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Who is Brian Cole, the DC pipe bomb suspect?
NYU attack suspect allegedly assaulted woman days earlier, found burglarizing off-campus apartments: report
NYC teen arrested, charged with setting homeless subway rider on fire, police say
Alberta Pastor Arrested for Refusing to Apologize for Hurting Woke Librarian’s Feelings
Huge DC Pipe Bomb Twist Changes the Story – The Biden Admin Knew
Trump hosts ‘Washington Accords’ Rwanda-Congo peace deal signing, vows US rare earths purchases
Young Americans give big thumbs down to Democrats, Republicans, Trump: poll
Trump ‘most important president in maybe 100 years’
US announces ‘reconsideration’ of ties with Tanzania amid ‘disturbing violence against civilians’
PhRMA started cutting them checks, then they started attacking its enemies
Samaritan’s Purse Plane Hijacked While on Aid Mission
WATCH: Dem lawmaker thanks Trump for pardon, says it came as a surprise amid re-election bid
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.
