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.
Muslim civil rights group CAIR sues Texas over Abbott’s ‘terrorist’ designation
Immigrants fined up to $1.8 million for remaining in US sue Trump administration
Eric Swalwell announces run for California governor, vows to be ‘protector and fighter’
Missouri attorney general takes new legal aim at mail-order abortion pills over safety concerns
US-backed foreign broadcaster selling pricy news gear for pennies on the dollar to ‘spite’ taxpayers
Biden DOJ subpoenaed Jim Jordan’s phone records covering more than two years
Republicans Working to End Biden-era Regulation That Funded Travel for Illegal Alien Minors Who Were Getting Abortions
Florida executes Richard Barry Randolph, convicted of raping, killing former convenience store manager
Nydia Velazquez, first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, announces 2026 retirement
Rescue operation underway after possible overboard incident on Carnival Cruise ship
Charge against Melodee Buzzard’s mom dismissed, ankle monitor removed as FBI hunts for missing 9-year-old
Fate of Abrego Garcia hangs as judge grills DOJ on removal order
Thune attempt to alter controversial ‘Arctic Frost’ provision blocked
CDC Declares ‘the Possibility That Infant Vaccines Cause Autism’ Has Not Been Ruled Out in Major Messaging Shift
Major Fire Triggers Evacuation at COP30 Climate Summit
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.
Muslim civil rights group CAIR sues Texas over Abbott’s ‘terrorist’ designation
Immigrants fined up to $1.8 million for remaining in US sue Trump administration
Eric Swalwell announces run for California governor, vows to be ‘protector and fighter’
Missouri attorney general takes new legal aim at mail-order abortion pills over safety concerns
US-backed foreign broadcaster selling pricy news gear for pennies on the dollar to ‘spite’ taxpayers
Biden DOJ subpoenaed Jim Jordan’s phone records covering more than two years
Republicans Working to End Biden-era Regulation That Funded Travel for Illegal Alien Minors Who Were Getting Abortions
Florida executes Richard Barry Randolph, convicted of raping, killing former convenience store manager
Nydia Velazquez, first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, announces 2026 retirement
Rescue operation underway after possible overboard incident on Carnival Cruise ship
Charge against Melodee Buzzard’s mom dismissed, ankle monitor removed as FBI hunts for missing 9-year-old
Fate of Abrego Garcia hangs as judge grills DOJ on removal order
Thune attempt to alter controversial ‘Arctic Frost’ provision blocked
CDC Declares ‘the Possibility That Infant Vaccines Cause Autism’ Has Not Been Ruled Out in Major Messaging Shift
Major Fire Triggers Evacuation at COP30 Climate Summit
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.
