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.
Trump claims donor funded White House ballroom includes hidden build below with security focus
Trump dominates CPAC poll as conservatives rally behind agenda, back Iran action
CNN Host Point Blank Asks Hakeem Jeffries If Shutdown Is Purely A Negotiating Tactic
Jaguar Makes Major Marketing Pivot After Woke Ad Disaster
Christian Father May Be Executed by Islamic Country
Passenger bomb threat triggers police response and evacuation on Frontier flight under investigation
DHS criticizes plea deal that could free migrant after guilty plea in teen assault case
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what to expect on DHS funding when the Senate meets Monday
Bank of America to Pay $72.5M Settlement Over Epstein Lawsuit
Huckabee says Israeli police blocking Palm Sunday service is an ‘overreach’
Vacation rental near Yosemite allegedly used to secretly record guests, 4,000 illegal files found
Tiger Woods’ Friends Admit He ‘Drives Like a Bat Out of Hell Very Often’
How This Archaeological Find Shows the Ancient Link Between Israel and Persia
Scathing report claims nation’s oldest labor union ‘betrayed’ MAGA members through ‘shocking’ spending
Daughter of Air Canada flight attendant ejected from crash provides update, details mother’s injuries
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.
Trump claims donor funded White House ballroom includes hidden build below with security focus
Trump dominates CPAC poll as conservatives rally behind agenda, back Iran action
CNN Host Point Blank Asks Hakeem Jeffries If Shutdown Is Purely A Negotiating Tactic
Jaguar Makes Major Marketing Pivot After Woke Ad Disaster
Christian Father May Be Executed by Islamic Country
Passenger bomb threat triggers police response and evacuation on Frontier flight under investigation
DHS criticizes plea deal that could free migrant after guilty plea in teen assault case
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what to expect on DHS funding when the Senate meets Monday
Bank of America to Pay $72.5M Settlement Over Epstein Lawsuit
Huckabee says Israeli police blocking Palm Sunday service is an ‘overreach’
Vacation rental near Yosemite allegedly used to secretly record guests, 4,000 illegal files found
Tiger Woods’ Friends Admit He ‘Drives Like a Bat Out of Hell Very Often’
How This Archaeological Find Shows the Ancient Link Between Israel and Persia
Scathing report claims nation’s oldest labor union ‘betrayed’ MAGA members through ‘shocking’ spending
Daughter of Air Canada flight attendant ejected from crash provides update, details mother’s injuries
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.
