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.
People Magazine Smears Scott Adams as ‘Disgraced’ After Pro-Trump Dilbert Creator Dies of Cancer
Ladies of ‘The View’ Link Trump’s Immigration Enforcement to Bonkers Plot to ‘Cancel’ Midterms, Declare ‘Martial Law’
Somali fraudster convicted in Feeding Our Future scheme tied to recent recipient of Minnesota funding
DOJ says ‘no basis’ for civil rights investigation of Minneapolis ICE shooting
White House approves Nvidia chip sales to China despite bipartisan concerns in House
Democrats eye narrow path to capture Senate majority, but one wrong move could sink them
Kristi Noem faces impeachment effort in House as 70 Dems push obstruction of Congress charge
Venezuela Releases Imprisoned Americans in ‘Important Step in the Right Direction’
Trump eyes action on Greenland, setting up White House face-off with Denmark
Watch: ‘This Isn’t Seattle!’ – Cop Uses Painful Sternal Rub to Stop Non-Compliant Woman’s Fake Seizure and It’s Priceless
Tax fight puts California on collision course as billionaires leave for red states
Teachers union slams ‘Trump regime,’ claims ICE murdered Minneapolis agitator in message to supporters
Florida paraglider survives 500-foot plunge into ocean
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett Makes Troubling Concession to Transgender Activists During Oral Arguments
Trump administration projects united front as president weighs Iran options
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.
People Magazine Smears Scott Adams as ‘Disgraced’ After Pro-Trump Dilbert Creator Dies of Cancer
Ladies of ‘The View’ Link Trump’s Immigration Enforcement to Bonkers Plot to ‘Cancel’ Midterms, Declare ‘Martial Law’
Somali fraudster convicted in Feeding Our Future scheme tied to recent recipient of Minnesota funding
DOJ says ‘no basis’ for civil rights investigation of Minneapolis ICE shooting
White House approves Nvidia chip sales to China despite bipartisan concerns in House
Democrats eye narrow path to capture Senate majority, but one wrong move could sink them
Kristi Noem faces impeachment effort in House as 70 Dems push obstruction of Congress charge
Venezuela Releases Imprisoned Americans in ‘Important Step in the Right Direction’
Trump eyes action on Greenland, setting up White House face-off with Denmark
Watch: ‘This Isn’t Seattle!’ – Cop Uses Painful Sternal Rub to Stop Non-Compliant Woman’s Fake Seizure and It’s Priceless
Tax fight puts California on collision course as billionaires leave for red states
Teachers union slams ‘Trump regime,’ claims ICE murdered Minneapolis agitator in message to supporters
Florida paraglider survives 500-foot plunge into ocean
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett Makes Troubling Concession to Transgender Activists During Oral Arguments
Trump administration projects united front as president weighs Iran options
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.
