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.
Bombshell Video Catches Reported Insiders Admitting Somalis Are Paying For, Harvesting Omar Votes
Obama Presidential Hits Jaw-Dropping Total Cost of Over $1 Billion, Tripling Past Estimates
Man shot and killed inside New York City subway station in Midtown Manhattan: NYPD
California diners are cutting back as costs soar — but restaurant owner reveals one trend that’s booming
Watch: Stunt Chopper at Navy SEAL Fundraiser Thrills Guests With Small Explosions and Red, White and Blue Smoke Show
Hero Dad Who Stopped Oregon School Shooting Doesn’t Want an Award, Tragically Feels Guilt Over Not Saving More
‘Moderate’ AG’s office turned to groups that spent years suing prisons for recruiting help: emails reveal
A Symbolic Detail Hidden in Background of Netflix’s New ‘Narnia’ Trailer Has Fans Fearing the Worst
Alito Shuts Down Retirement Talks as Midterms Threaten GOP Path to Confirm Successor
Pope Leo XIV leaves hospital and returns to Vatican after lung cancer surgery
From handyman to House history: HVAC mogul Joe Strada pushes trade schools, business mindset in Florida race
They’ll Never Learn: As Crime Sprees Plague Seattle, It’s Socialist Mayor Introduces Soft-on-Crime ‘Connection Court’
Ilhan Omar should be jailed, deported if citizenship fraud proven, Top House Republican says
They May Come to Your State Too: Flood of West Nile Fever Cases Hits LA Thanks to Mosquito Swarms
When purity politics runs its course: Even the most strident DSA politicians must learn to compromise
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.
Bombshell Video Catches Reported Insiders Admitting Somalis Are Paying For, Harvesting Omar Votes
Obama Presidential Hits Jaw-Dropping Total Cost of Over $1 Billion, Tripling Past Estimates
Man shot and killed inside New York City subway station in Midtown Manhattan: NYPD
California diners are cutting back as costs soar — but restaurant owner reveals one trend that’s booming
Watch: Stunt Chopper at Navy SEAL Fundraiser Thrills Guests With Small Explosions and Red, White and Blue Smoke Show
Hero Dad Who Stopped Oregon School Shooting Doesn’t Want an Award, Tragically Feels Guilt Over Not Saving More
‘Moderate’ AG’s office turned to groups that spent years suing prisons for recruiting help: emails reveal
A Symbolic Detail Hidden in Background of Netflix’s New ‘Narnia’ Trailer Has Fans Fearing the Worst
Alito Shuts Down Retirement Talks as Midterms Threaten GOP Path to Confirm Successor
Pope Leo XIV leaves hospital and returns to Vatican after lung cancer surgery
From handyman to House history: HVAC mogul Joe Strada pushes trade schools, business mindset in Florida race
They’ll Never Learn: As Crime Sprees Plague Seattle, It’s Socialist Mayor Introduces Soft-on-Crime ‘Connection Court’
Ilhan Omar should be jailed, deported if citizenship fraud proven, Top House Republican says
They May Come to Your State Too: Flood of West Nile Fever Cases Hits LA Thanks to Mosquito Swarms
When purity politics runs its course: Even the most strident DSA politicians must learn to compromise
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.
