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.
Outgoing Cracker Barrel CEO to Receive Millions in Severance Pay
Conservatives Clash Over Caitlin Clark’s Response to Question About Trans Athletes
Democratic socialist Francesca Hong has former child star, OnlyFans model in senior campaign role: report
Airbnb’s $750,000 to Karen Bass fuels pay-to-play claims over LA rental policy
Schumer said ‘Democrats support voter ID’ — then every Senate Democrat voted against GOP bill
Schumer caves, hands Republicans shutdown win after months of uncertainty
SEE IT: Dem senators rally behind El-Sayed but duck questions on progressive agenda
Two men accused of posing as federal agents arrested after allegedly targeting 85-year-old in $200K gold scam
Senate GOP punts party-line budget fight until after August recess
Trump urges Jeanine Pirro to revisit dropped Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case
More than 50 bodies found decomposing inside Chicago funeral home after neighbors complained of ‘stench’
Fed-Up NYC Homeowners Take to Court to Fight Back Against Mamdani’s New Tax ‘Debacle’
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has security clearance revoked over Air Force One disclosure
Trump-Backed Rep. Andy Ogles Loses Primary After Green Energy Group Spent Big to Unseat Him
Chilling new video shows armed citizens, off-duty trooper confront In-N-Out gunman during deadly rampage
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.
Outgoing Cracker Barrel CEO to Receive Millions in Severance Pay
Conservatives Clash Over Caitlin Clark’s Response to Question About Trans Athletes
Democratic socialist Francesca Hong has former child star, OnlyFans model in senior campaign role: report
Airbnb’s $750,000 to Karen Bass fuels pay-to-play claims over LA rental policy
Schumer said ‘Democrats support voter ID’ — then every Senate Democrat voted against GOP bill
Schumer caves, hands Republicans shutdown win after months of uncertainty
SEE IT: Dem senators rally behind El-Sayed but duck questions on progressive agenda
Two men accused of posing as federal agents arrested after allegedly targeting 85-year-old in $200K gold scam
Senate GOP punts party-line budget fight until after August recess
Trump urges Jeanine Pirro to revisit dropped Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case
More than 50 bodies found decomposing inside Chicago funeral home after neighbors complained of ‘stench’
Fed-Up NYC Homeowners Take to Court to Fight Back Against Mamdani’s New Tax ‘Debacle’
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has security clearance revoked over Air Force One disclosure
Trump-Backed Rep. Andy Ogles Loses Primary After Green Energy Group Spent Big to Unseat Him
Chilling new video shows armed citizens, off-duty trooper confront In-N-Out gunman during deadly rampage
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.
