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.
AG Todd Blanche Now Among Trump Officials Living on Military Base for Safety: Report
AG Todd Blanche Now Among Trump Officials Living on Military Base for Safety: Report
It Wouldn’t Be a ‘Climate Change’ Conference Without Tons of Private Jets There, and the UN’s COP31 Certainly Delivered
It Wouldn’t Be a ‘Climate Change’ Conference Without Tons of Private Jets There, and the UN’s COP31 Certainly Delivered
Texas Democrats put DEI back on agenda after sweeping to power
Texas Democrats put DEI back on agenda after sweeping to power
Suspect ‘barricaded’ after multiple injured in shooting near DC fitness center, police say
One killed, four injured in Logan Circle shooting before gunman barricades himself in apartment and turns gun on himself
Dem rep blames ‘horrific’ traffic for missing Hegseth impeachment vote: ‘I am so sorry’
Dem rep blames ‘horrific’ traffic for missing Hegseth impeachment vote: ‘I am so sorry’
Who is Scott Colom, and how did his viral ads help secure Mississippi Senate stunner?
Trump threatens to double tariffs on Mexico if migrant caravans not stopped
Peltola campaign loses in court on rejected absentee ballots as she maintains narrow lead
Jim Jordan predicts who Dems will quickly go after in Trump admin once they take power and more top headlines
‘China is not our enemy’: Inside the DSA’s foreign travel now in Florida’s crosshairs
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.
AG Todd Blanche Now Among Trump Officials Living on Military Base for Safety: Report
AG Todd Blanche Now Among Trump Officials Living on Military Base for Safety: Report
It Wouldn’t Be a ‘Climate Change’ Conference Without Tons of Private Jets There, and the UN’s COP31 Certainly Delivered
It Wouldn’t Be a ‘Climate Change’ Conference Without Tons of Private Jets There, and the UN’s COP31 Certainly Delivered
Texas Democrats put DEI back on agenda after sweeping to power
Texas Democrats put DEI back on agenda after sweeping to power
Suspect ‘barricaded’ after multiple injured in shooting near DC fitness center, police say
One killed, four injured in Logan Circle shooting before gunman barricades himself in apartment and turns gun on himself
Dem rep blames ‘horrific’ traffic for missing Hegseth impeachment vote: ‘I am so sorry’
Dem rep blames ‘horrific’ traffic for missing Hegseth impeachment vote: ‘I am so sorry’
Who is Scott Colom, and how did his viral ads help secure Mississippi Senate stunner?
Trump threatens to double tariffs on Mexico if migrant caravans not stopped
Peltola campaign loses in court on rejected absentee ballots as she maintains narrow lead
Jim Jordan predicts who Dems will quickly go after in Trump admin once they take power and more top headlines
‘China is not our enemy’: Inside the DSA’s foreign travel now in Florida’s crosshairs
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.
