TV Ratings: First Presidential Debate Down Sharply in Early Numbers

Source: Hollywood Reporter

The first presidential debate of 2020 was widely panned by most observers — and is on track to draw a far smaller audience than the record-setting first debate four years ago.

Fast national ratings for the broadcast networks show the debate gathering 28.82 million viewers across ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox — a decline of 36 percent from 2016. Four years ago, the big four networks tallied 45.3 million viewers in the preliminary ratings, rising to 49.33 million after time zone adjustments for the live broadcast. Early figures from Spanish-language networks Telemundo and Univision show about 2.5 million people watching on those two outlets.

Tuesday's ratings will adjust upward by a decent amount in the final ratings, which will include time zone adjustments and out of home viewing (the latter wasn't part of Nielsen's count in 2016). Cable news channels and other outlets will also add millions to the total, but it's exceedingly unlikely that this debate will come close to the first face-off four years ago. (This story will be updated as more numbers come in.)

The first presidential debate of 2016 drew 84.4 million viewers across 13 networks, the biggest audience in the 60-year history of televised debates. In 2012, 67.2 million watched the opening debate; the 2008 figure was 52.4 million. Tuesday's telecast is likely to end up in between the 2008 and 2012 numbers.



Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-tuesday-sept-29-2020-presidential-debate-1

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HHS ad blitz sputters as celebrities back away

Source: Politico

They made a list of more than 30 celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift and Billy Joel to appear in their ad campaign to "inspire hope" about coronavirus, but they ended up with only Dennis Quaid, CeCe Winans and Hasidic singer Shulem Lemmer.

The health department’s $300 million-plus, taxpayer-funded vehicle to boost confidence in President Donald Trump’s response to the pandemic is sputtering. Celebrities are refusing to participate, and staff are arraying against it. Some complain of the unstated aim of helping Trump’s re-election. Others point to an ill-prepared video team and a 22-year-old political appointee who has repeatedly asserted control despite having no public health expertise, according to six people with close knowledge of the campaign and documents related to its operations.

They made a list of more than 30 celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift and Billy Joel to appear in their ad campaign to "inspire hope" about coronavirus, but they ended up with only Dennis Quaid, CeCe Winans and Hasidic singer Shulem Lemmer.

The health department’s $300 million-plus, taxpayer-funded vehicle to boost confidence in President Donald Trump’s response to the pandemic is sputtering. Celebrities are refusing to participate, and staff are arraying against it. Some complain of the unstated aim of helping Trump’s re-election. Others point to an ill-prepared video team and a 22-year-old political appointee who has repeatedly asserted control despite having no public health expertise, according to six people with close knowledge of the campaign and documents related to its operations.



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Schumer, in rare move, takes control of floor to force health care vote

Source: CNN

(CNN)Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in an extremely rare move Tuesday, took control of the Senate floor and is forcing a procedural vote on a bill, a step that is typically done only by the Senate majority leader.

The top Democrat's action now sets up a vote later this week related to a bill that would protect people with pre-existing conditions if the Supreme Court sides with the Trump administration's Department of Justice and strikes down the Affordable Care Act after arguments are heard in November.

Schumer's surprise steps were extraordinary because such motions are typically offered by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who controls the Senate and dictates what gets considered on the floor. Schumer has never before tried to force such a cloture vote in his time as the top minority leader, aides said.

The rules say any senator can do what Schumer did Tuesday but senators typically don't take these extreme steps because doing so regularly would shut down the Senate.


Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/29/politics/chuck-schumer-forces-health-care-vote/index.html

Undecided voters describe Trump as a 'crackhead,' 'arrogant' in post-debate focus group

Source: The Week

The first presidential debate left undecided American voters in agreement about at least one thing: President Trump's negativity.

Republican consultant and pollster Frank Luntz asked his focus group to use one word to describe the president and basically "every single word was negative," observed Politico's Tim Alberta. One respondent from Wisconsin called Trump obnoxious and un-presidential, while a Pennsylvania voter said he behaved like a "crackhead." Others described the president as being "un-American" and "arrogant."

In all, from 17 voters in swing states, 15 used negative words and just two used positive words or phrases to describe the president (that is, if you consider "an ass but a confident ass" to be a compliment).

The focus group's opinion of the debate tracks with a CBS poll, which found that 83 percent of debate watchers believed the tone of the evening to be "negative" while 17 percent thought it was "positive." Which raises the question: What debate were those 17 percent watching?

Read more: https://theweek.com/speedreads/940618/undecided-voters-describe-trump-crackhead-arrogant-postdebate-focus-group

Proud Boys celebrate after Trump's debate call-out

Source: NBC News

The Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, pledged allegiance to President Donald Trump on Tuesday night after he told the group to "stand back and stand by" during the evening's debate.

Many people on social media who identify with the group echoed that language, saying they were “standing down and standing by.” One known social media account for the group made “Stand back. Stand by” part of its new logo.

Trump was asked by debate moderator Chris Wallace to disavow white supremacy during a portion of the debate focused on race. Wallace asked if Trump would urge white supremacist groups that inflamed violence at nationwide protests to “stand down.”

Trump said to "give me a name" when asked to denounce a specific group, and former Vice President Joe Biden called out the Proud Boys.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/proud-boys-celebrate-after-trump-s-debate-call-out-n1241512?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

BREAKING!!!! Biden Debate Scandal PROOF!!!