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.
Ketanji Brown Jackson Called an ‘Embarrassment’ for Using Social Media Slang in Birthright Citizenship Opinion
Federal judge blocks blue state’s law prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks on the job
China-Based Tech Mogul Who Funds US Communist Groups in Grand Jury Crosshairs: Report
Republican Party to host historic midterm convention in Dallas, Trump announces on Truth Social
Fox News Poll: Maine Senate race is tight, with concerns about both candidates
House backs Massie’s push to release taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlement records
California couple says moving company doubled their price and is now holding belongings ‘for ransom’: report
USPS worker arrested after alleged mass shooting threat against Texas Pride event, FBI says
AfD wants to end German boycott on Russian energy, says failed Ukraine invasion shows Kremlin is no threat
Beloved Star, Outspoken Christian Kelsey Grammer Mulling Run for Office
JD Vance Explains How Leftist Motto Is ‘a Disgusting Butchering of the Nicene Creed’
Five countries in Latin America have elected pro-Trump governments since his election
Bar complaint accuses Biden-appointed district judge of dishonesty during DOJ tenure
Lawmakers press Eli Lilly for China drug trials tied to military-linked hospitals
Dems join Republicans to crush Tlaib’s war powers resolution in lopsided House vote
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.
Ketanji Brown Jackson Called an ‘Embarrassment’ for Using Social Media Slang in Birthright Citizenship Opinion
Federal judge blocks blue state’s law prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks on the job
China-Based Tech Mogul Who Funds US Communist Groups in Grand Jury Crosshairs: Report
Republican Party to host historic midterm convention in Dallas, Trump announces on Truth Social
Fox News Poll: Maine Senate race is tight, with concerns about both candidates
House backs Massie’s push to release taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlement records
California couple says moving company doubled their price and is now holding belongings ‘for ransom’: report
USPS worker arrested after alleged mass shooting threat against Texas Pride event, FBI says
AfD wants to end German boycott on Russian energy, says failed Ukraine invasion shows Kremlin is no threat
Beloved Star, Outspoken Christian Kelsey Grammer Mulling Run for Office
JD Vance Explains How Leftist Motto Is ‘a Disgusting Butchering of the Nicene Creed’
Five countries in Latin America have elected pro-Trump governments since his election
Bar complaint accuses Biden-appointed district judge of dishonesty during DOJ tenure
Lawmakers press Eli Lilly for China drug trials tied to military-linked hospitals
Dems join Republicans to crush Tlaib’s war powers resolution in lopsided House vote
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.
