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.
CBS Continues Overhaul Under Bari Weiss, as Key Anchor Goes ‘Rogue’: Report
Young Americans Are Getting Absolutely Fed Up with the American Duopoly: Poll
Trump taps new architect to reshape White House as $300M ballroom build accelerates
Tom Homan fumes at protester who called him racist during clash at TPUSA event: ‘Grow a backbone’
Mamdani breaks with Adams, vows NYC will stop clearing homeless encampments in January
Arkansas county jail becomes major ICE pipeline as arrests surge under Trump crackdown
Mamdani says NYPD commissioner apologized after her brother called him ‘enemy’ of the Jewish people at gala
Harvard professor detained by ICE after Boston synagogue shooting, agrees to voluntarily leave US
Democrats’ anger at federal government hit record high just days before shutdown: Pew poll
DHS arrests dozens of illegal immigrants within 24 hours of launching New Orleans operation
Breaking: DC Pipe Bomb Suspect’s Family Has History of Working to Free Illegals from ICE, Sued the Trump Admin, And Used Trayvon Martin’s Lawyer to Fight So-Called Racism
Washington DC lights the National Christmas Tree
Ex–New York State official accused of spying for China called Hochul ‘more obedient’ than Cuomo, trial reveals
US carries out 22nd strike on alleged drug vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization
‘I Didn’t Stutter’: Stephen A. Smith and Sunny Hostin Clash on ‘The View’ Over Video Urging Troops to Ignore Trump
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.
CBS Continues Overhaul Under Bari Weiss, as Key Anchor Goes ‘Rogue’: Report
Young Americans Are Getting Absolutely Fed Up with the American Duopoly: Poll
Trump taps new architect to reshape White House as $300M ballroom build accelerates
Tom Homan fumes at protester who called him racist during clash at TPUSA event: ‘Grow a backbone’
Mamdani breaks with Adams, vows NYC will stop clearing homeless encampments in January
Arkansas county jail becomes major ICE pipeline as arrests surge under Trump crackdown
Mamdani says NYPD commissioner apologized after her brother called him ‘enemy’ of the Jewish people at gala
Harvard professor detained by ICE after Boston synagogue shooting, agrees to voluntarily leave US
Democrats’ anger at federal government hit record high just days before shutdown: Pew poll
DHS arrests dozens of illegal immigrants within 24 hours of launching New Orleans operation
Breaking: DC Pipe Bomb Suspect’s Family Has History of Working to Free Illegals from ICE, Sued the Trump Admin, And Used Trayvon Martin’s Lawyer to Fight So-Called Racism
Washington DC lights the National Christmas Tree
Ex–New York State official accused of spying for China called Hochul ‘more obedient’ than Cuomo, trial reveals
US carries out 22nd strike on alleged drug vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization
‘I Didn’t Stutter’: Stephen A. Smith and Sunny Hostin Clash on ‘The View’ Over Video Urging Troops to Ignore Trump
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.
