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.
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett Makes Troubling Concession to Transgender Activists During Oral Arguments
House Republican recognizes transgender Dem Sarah McBride as ‘the gentleman from Delaware’
Trump signals long road ahead in Venezuela in his boldest interventionist move yet
Bill Maher Issues Perfect Response to Fellow Celebs Wearing Anti-ICE ‘Be Good’ Pins
ICE head says agents facing ‘constant impediments’ after migrant seen ramming cars while trying to flee
Venezuela releases multiple American citizens from prison following military operation
Rand Paul says GOP colleagues ‘don’t give a s‑‑t about these people in the boats’: They ‘say they’re pro-life’
DOJ says ‘no basis’ for civil rights investigation into Minneapolis ICE officer killing
GOP senator suggests Fed chair Powell resign now to dodge potential criminal indictment
House Democrats Flip, Join Republicans to Overturn Biden-Era Regulation
Minneapolis-area leaders condemn ICE, call for removal amid Trump deportation campaign
White House says Trump gave ‘appropriate’ response after heckler confrontation caught on video at Ford plant
Suspected Venezuelan gangster in Portland CBP attack tied to shooting at apartment complex: police
Trump Issues Stern Mandate, Tells Tech Titans They Will Not Run Up American Utility Bills
RECKONING: Minnesota Republicans Preparing to Impeach Democratic Gov. Tim Walz
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.
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett Makes Troubling Concession to Transgender Activists During Oral Arguments
House Republican recognizes transgender Dem Sarah McBride as ‘the gentleman from Delaware’
Trump signals long road ahead in Venezuela in his boldest interventionist move yet
Bill Maher Issues Perfect Response to Fellow Celebs Wearing Anti-ICE ‘Be Good’ Pins
ICE head says agents facing ‘constant impediments’ after migrant seen ramming cars while trying to flee
Venezuela releases multiple American citizens from prison following military operation
Rand Paul says GOP colleagues ‘don’t give a s‑‑t about these people in the boats’: They ‘say they’re pro-life’
DOJ says ‘no basis’ for civil rights investigation into Minneapolis ICE officer killing
GOP senator suggests Fed chair Powell resign now to dodge potential criminal indictment
House Democrats Flip, Join Republicans to Overturn Biden-Era Regulation
Minneapolis-area leaders condemn ICE, call for removal amid Trump deportation campaign
White House says Trump gave ‘appropriate’ response after heckler confrontation caught on video at Ford plant
Suspected Venezuelan gangster in Portland CBP attack tied to shooting at apartment complex: police
Trump Issues Stern Mandate, Tells Tech Titans They Will Not Run Up American Utility Bills
RECKONING: Minnesota Republicans Preparing to Impeach Democratic Gov. Tim Walz
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.
