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.
Mexican national faces federal charges after CBP finds $238K in fentanyl inside electric moped
NYPD cop found guilty of chokehold in first conviction since restraint tactic banned after George Floyd death
Detransitioners reveal how doctors pushed them toward life-altering treatment as teens
White House exposes ‘Transshipment Scam’ costing US up to $26B, points finger at China
Live bullet found aboard United flight forces passengers off plane for security sweep at Denver airport
Woke Colorado School District Teaches 5-Year-Olds Sexual Anatomy Using Images So Bad We Refuse to Post Them – By Age 7, It Gets Far Worse
Marco Rubio gets 68 new jobs in epic White House birthday gift inspired by viral meme
Watch: Bystander Appears to Capture New B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Flying Low Over Wichita
HHS warns Texas hospitals against denying life-saving care to newborn with disability
Exclusive: Oklahoma Police Chief Cancels City’s Flock Safety Contract After Citizens Raise Privacy Concerns
Gun rights groups capitalize after judge reverses decades-old restrictions: ‘Monumental’
Federal appeals court restores Texas mail ballot ID requirements in major election integrity ruling
Legal Expert: Don Lemon’s Legal Battle Could Have Devastating Unintended Consequences for Abortion Clinics
Watch: NBC Broadcasts Dead Air – Twice – As Literally Speechless Election Analyst Learns Results Are Missing from 5 of 9 USB Drives in Blue City
JD Vance and RFK Jr. Refer Hospitals and Clinics to DOJ in Response to ‘Wolves in White Coats’ Report
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.
Mexican national faces federal charges after CBP finds $238K in fentanyl inside electric moped
NYPD cop found guilty of chokehold in first conviction since restraint tactic banned after George Floyd death
Detransitioners reveal how doctors pushed them toward life-altering treatment as teens
White House exposes ‘Transshipment Scam’ costing US up to $26B, points finger at China
Live bullet found aboard United flight forces passengers off plane for security sweep at Denver airport
Woke Colorado School District Teaches 5-Year-Olds Sexual Anatomy Using Images So Bad We Refuse to Post Them – By Age 7, It Gets Far Worse
Marco Rubio gets 68 new jobs in epic White House birthday gift inspired by viral meme
Watch: Bystander Appears to Capture New B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Flying Low Over Wichita
HHS warns Texas hospitals against denying life-saving care to newborn with disability
Exclusive: Oklahoma Police Chief Cancels City’s Flock Safety Contract After Citizens Raise Privacy Concerns
Gun rights groups capitalize after judge reverses decades-old restrictions: ‘Monumental’
Federal appeals court restores Texas mail ballot ID requirements in major election integrity ruling
Legal Expert: Don Lemon’s Legal Battle Could Have Devastating Unintended Consequences for Abortion Clinics
Watch: NBC Broadcasts Dead Air – Twice – As Literally Speechless Election Analyst Learns Results Are Missing from 5 of 9 USB Drives in Blue City
JD Vance and RFK Jr. Refer Hospitals and Clinics to DOJ in Response to ‘Wolves in White Coats’ Report
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.
