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.
Pima County sheriff no stranger to controversy as criticism in Nancy Guthrie case ramps up
US military launches deadly strike on drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, leaving 3 dead
Liability or useful foil? Trump takes center stage in Susan Collins reelection fight
Schumer’s ‘E. coli’ burger photo resurfaces after another Dem’s grilling skills get torched: ‘What is that?’
Rubio steps into Munich spotlight as Trump leans on him to carry Vance’s populist message abroad
Mexican Restaurant Owner Under Fire for Offering ICE Agents Free Meals Fires Back at Leftists: ‘They Need to Look for Jesus’
Reporter’s Notebook: Bondi’s binder strategy turns House hearing into political firestorm
CEO Resigns After His Disturbing Jeffrey Epstein Email Comes to Light: ‘I Loved the Torture Video’
The Numbers Are In: Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Remake Was a Bigger Disaster Than Anyone Imagined
Noem backs SAVE America Act, slams ‘radical left’ opposition to voter IDs and proof of citizenship
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Ransom deadline passes, key evidence emerges in Nancy Guthrie case
California middle school assistant principal nabbed in child sex sting
Don Lemon pleads not guilty to charges for storming Minnesota church
Trump Keeps Stacking Up Wins, New Data Shows Inflation Slowed More Than Expected
Trump admin rips Mamdani, local Dems as activists override gov’t move at NYC monument: ‘Focused on theatrics’
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.
Pima County sheriff no stranger to controversy as criticism in Nancy Guthrie case ramps up
US military launches deadly strike on drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, leaving 3 dead
Liability or useful foil? Trump takes center stage in Susan Collins reelection fight
Schumer’s ‘E. coli’ burger photo resurfaces after another Dem’s grilling skills get torched: ‘What is that?’
Rubio steps into Munich spotlight as Trump leans on him to carry Vance’s populist message abroad
Mexican Restaurant Owner Under Fire for Offering ICE Agents Free Meals Fires Back at Leftists: ‘They Need to Look for Jesus’
Reporter’s Notebook: Bondi’s binder strategy turns House hearing into political firestorm
CEO Resigns After His Disturbing Jeffrey Epstein Email Comes to Light: ‘I Loved the Torture Video’
The Numbers Are In: Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Remake Was a Bigger Disaster Than Anyone Imagined
Noem backs SAVE America Act, slams ‘radical left’ opposition to voter IDs and proof of citizenship
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Ransom deadline passes, key evidence emerges in Nancy Guthrie case
California middle school assistant principal nabbed in child sex sting
Don Lemon pleads not guilty to charges for storming Minnesota church
Trump Keeps Stacking Up Wins, New Data Shows Inflation Slowed More Than Expected
Trump admin rips Mamdani, local Dems as activists override gov’t move at NYC monument: ‘Focused on theatrics’
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.
