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.
Viktor Orban faces uphill battle to hold leadership as opposition hits him on Russia ties and accusations of corruption
Where things stand with Iran war in its third week
Minnesota bill would ban warrants allowing police to collect data from devices near a crime scene
Jasmine Crockett defends her security guard who was killed in police standoff, wanted for impersonating cop
ABC News Left Out Crucial Context In Story About Iran Drone Threat To California
Anti-ICE agitators blow cover in Boston, allowing child rape suspect to evade arrest for weeks
Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins convicted in husband’s murder
Search for missing retired Air Force general enters third week as investigators probe new clues
Trump questions Newsom’s fitness for White House, citing his dyslexia
Court allows DOJ to proceed with appeal over law firm executive orders
Trump lawyer in Jack Smith case draws conservative backing after DOJ praise rattles ‘elite’ legal conference
Illegal immigrant held on ICE detainer in Charlotte murder as disturbing details surface
Vance accuses media of trying to ‘drive a wedge’ between him and Trump over Iran
Cornyn clashes with progressive Rep Greg Casar in heated airport face-off over DHS shutdown
Trump Kennedy Center’s board votes unanimously to approve $257M renovations and two-year closure
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.
Viktor Orban faces uphill battle to hold leadership as opposition hits him on Russia ties and accusations of corruption
Where things stand with Iran war in its third week
Minnesota bill would ban warrants allowing police to collect data from devices near a crime scene
Jasmine Crockett defends her security guard who was killed in police standoff, wanted for impersonating cop
ABC News Left Out Crucial Context In Story About Iran Drone Threat To California
Anti-ICE agitators blow cover in Boston, allowing child rape suspect to evade arrest for weeks
Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins convicted in husband’s murder
Search for missing retired Air Force general enters third week as investigators probe new clues
Trump questions Newsom’s fitness for White House, citing his dyslexia
Court allows DOJ to proceed with appeal over law firm executive orders
Trump lawyer in Jack Smith case draws conservative backing after DOJ praise rattles ‘elite’ legal conference
Illegal immigrant held on ICE detainer in Charlotte murder as disturbing details surface
Vance accuses media of trying to ‘drive a wedge’ between him and Trump over Iran
Cornyn clashes with progressive Rep Greg Casar in heated airport face-off over DHS shutdown
Trump Kennedy Center’s board votes unanimously to approve $257M renovations and two-year closure
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.
