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.
‘Fraudulent, Biased And Misleading’: Trump Rails Against NGO After It Put Out Bezos-Backed Climate Report
From locker rooms to Congress: Jay Feely latest athlete seeking to take lessons in leadership to Capitol Hill
Here’s what you missed from Trump’s first WHCA Dinner as president: 5 takeaways from his night with the press
Christian in Pakistan Killed by Muslim After Being Denied Drink of Water
2028, term limits, media tension: Everything Trump covered in wild marathon speech at the White House Press Correspondents’ Association dinner
Trump spares no one at WHCA dinner, taking aim at Dems, press and his own Cabinet
Gretchen Whitmer endorses moderate Haley Stevens in tight upcoming Senate primary
Trump orders signs outside Smithsonian museum amid row over its depiction of American history
California trans suspect arrested in mother’s killing after neighbor recalls heated argument
House Republicans confront NJ governor over 6,600 noncitizens registered to vote in alleged software failure
Illegal immigrant who killed Nashville restaurant owner to face ICE deportation after prison
Jon Bon Jovi Abruptly Ends Madison Square Garden Show: ‘I’m Gonna Have to Cool It’
White House Moves to ‘Restore Trust’ in Smithsonian Institution
Sophie Cunningham’s New Shoes Sell Out in Hours After Her Stand Against Wokeness
White House Correspondents’ Association dinner do-over features enhanced security measures, smaller crowd
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.
‘Fraudulent, Biased And Misleading’: Trump Rails Against NGO After It Put Out Bezos-Backed Climate Report
From locker rooms to Congress: Jay Feely latest athlete seeking to take lessons in leadership to Capitol Hill
Here’s what you missed from Trump’s first WHCA Dinner as president: 5 takeaways from his night with the press
Christian in Pakistan Killed by Muslim After Being Denied Drink of Water
2028, term limits, media tension: Everything Trump covered in wild marathon speech at the White House Press Correspondents’ Association dinner
Trump spares no one at WHCA dinner, taking aim at Dems, press and his own Cabinet
Gretchen Whitmer endorses moderate Haley Stevens in tight upcoming Senate primary
Trump orders signs outside Smithsonian museum amid row over its depiction of American history
California trans suspect arrested in mother’s killing after neighbor recalls heated argument
House Republicans confront NJ governor over 6,600 noncitizens registered to vote in alleged software failure
Illegal immigrant who killed Nashville restaurant owner to face ICE deportation after prison
Jon Bon Jovi Abruptly Ends Madison Square Garden Show: ‘I’m Gonna Have to Cool It’
White House Moves to ‘Restore Trust’ in Smithsonian Institution
Sophie Cunningham’s New Shoes Sell Out in Hours After Her Stand Against Wokeness
White House Correspondents’ Association dinner do-over features enhanced security measures, smaller crowd
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.
