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.
Florida man arrested for allegedly pointing lasers at passenger aircraft at international airport: police
Officials knew Manhattan Project chemicals disposed improperly at Missouri sites, documents reveal
Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians
It’s the 1950s All Over Again: GOP Turns to Nat’l Guard to Protect Minority Students from Radical Dems, Leftists
New Republican challenger to Elizabeth Warren says ‘no one has disappointed Massachusetts more’
NFL Pro Bowler Humbles Mouthy High Schooler with a Simple Question
US Navy Converting Oil Rigs Into Active Missile Launch Stations with Five Times the Capacity of a Destroyer
Minneapolis ordinance imposes highest minimum cigarette price in America
The Best Mario Is a Flat Cutout: Everything You Need to Know About ‘Paper Mario’
Tennessee nears law banning adults from helping minors find, receive sex reassignment care
What Was Spotted Under a Chinese Bomber Looks Just Like Piece of American Tech Lost Over China
Early in-person voting starts for North Carolina primary runoffs
Chicago Cubs Pitcher Forced to Remove Glove with American Flag Because it Was a ‘Distraction’
Biden Campaign Seeking to Use Obama, George Clooney, Possibly Julia Roberts to Garner Support from Hollywood Elites: Report
Blue state in battle over AG’s illegal immigration dictate that ‘handcuffs’ police
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.
Florida man arrested for allegedly pointing lasers at passenger aircraft at international airport: police
Officials knew Manhattan Project chemicals disposed improperly at Missouri sites, documents reveal
Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians
It’s the 1950s All Over Again: GOP Turns to Nat’l Guard to Protect Minority Students from Radical Dems, Leftists
New Republican challenger to Elizabeth Warren says ‘no one has disappointed Massachusetts more’
NFL Pro Bowler Humbles Mouthy High Schooler with a Simple Question
US Navy Converting Oil Rigs Into Active Missile Launch Stations with Five Times the Capacity of a Destroyer
Minneapolis ordinance imposes highest minimum cigarette price in America
The Best Mario Is a Flat Cutout: Everything You Need to Know About ‘Paper Mario’
Tennessee nears law banning adults from helping minors find, receive sex reassignment care
What Was Spotted Under a Chinese Bomber Looks Just Like Piece of American Tech Lost Over China
Early in-person voting starts for North Carolina primary runoffs
Chicago Cubs Pitcher Forced to Remove Glove with American Flag Because it Was a ‘Distraction’
Biden Campaign Seeking to Use Obama, George Clooney, Possibly Julia Roberts to Garner Support from Hollywood Elites: Report
Blue state in battle over AG’s illegal immigration dictate that ‘handcuffs’ police
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.
Scroll down to leave a comment:
