THE DAILY NEWSLETTER - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

Media Winners & Losers

MEDIA WINNER:
Michael Smerconish

On Tuesday night, Sean Hannity dominated the 9 p.m. time slot, drawing 2.91 million in total viewers and 433,000 in the demo.

CNN’s Michael Smerconishfilling in for recently-fired anchor Chris Cuomo, secured 659,000 total viewers and 176,000 viewers in the demo.

Those numbers may pale in comparison to Hannity’s, but they are in line with what Cuomo drew in recent months, and ensured Smerconish placed third on the CNN roster in total viewers and second in the demo.

If the argument for Cuomo's longevity was his draw, then Smerconish holding his own following the spectacular exit isn't just notable, it's fascinating.

Over on MSNBC, Rachel Maddow came in second in total viewers in the timeslot, with 2.09 million total viewers and 245,000 viewers in the demo. 

In the end, Fox News had a dominating streak on the day, with the top 11 shows in the demo, as well as the top six shows in terms of total viewers. Another ratings victory for the network's continuing streak.

Here's a full breakdown of Tuesday's cable news ratings by show.

As for the three networks overall, here are the total day averages in total viewers and the 25-54 category.

  • Total viewers:
    • CNN: 521,000
    • Fox News: 1.74 million
    • MSNBC: 887,00
  • 25-54 Demo:
    • CNN: 122,000
    • Fox News: 292,000
    • MSNBC: 91,000

Here are the prime time averages in total viewers and the 25-54 demo.

  • Total viewers:
    • CNN: 670,000
    • Fox News: 2.79 million
    • MSNBC: 1.53 million
  • 25-54 Demo:
    • CNN: 164,000
    • Fox News: 448,000
    • MSNBC: 170,000

Read the full article here, from Mediaite+!

MEDIA LOSER:
Emily Compagno

On Wednesday, Outnumbered cohost Emily Compagno hailed Better.com CEO Vishal Garg for firing 900 employees via Zoom last week.

“This isn’t news that you’re going to want to hear,” Garg told the doomed employees. “If you’re on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off. Your employment here is terminated effective immediately.”

Later, Garg was revealed to have authored a blog post ripping some of his former employees’ work ethics. “You guys know that at least 250 of the people terminated were working an average of 2 hours a day while clocking 8 hours+ a day in the payroll system?” he wrote. He accused those workers of “stealing.”

Garg eventually issued an apology to current employees about how he handled the situation.

Cohost Brian Kilmeade called Garg’s actions “classless” and an “embarrassment.” Meanwhile, Kennedy said that “to do that with 900 people on a Zoom call and the classless way that he did, people remember that," and was "probably a horrible person to work for.”

Compagno, though, offered a very different take.

“I loved this, actually,” she said.. “I love this so much. The productivity of those 900 individuals averaged two hours a day even though they paid for eight,” she continued, not mentioning that Varg had alleged that 250 employees had slacked off, not all 900.

“And I understand the indelicate nature of this, but part of my role as a federal attorney when I was managing and acting director was terminating individuals,” she added. “And I did it with the utmost respect and care. But I also had to do it with a lot of security measures in place. I love that for 900 people he stayed safe and he let them know that their theft was no longer tolerated."

"So for me, good riddance," said Compagno narrowly avoiding the word "humbug" as she wrapped up. "Sorry guys, bye! For all of them, they’re snowflakes. They’re probably millennials and Z’s. They need to learn work ethic.”

Compagno’s cohosts reacted with surprise.

Same.

The A-Block

Bob Dole

The casket of late former Sen. Bob Dole arrived at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday where he will lie in state.

The former Senate majority leader and Republican presidential nominee passed away on Sunday at the age of 98 after a battle with cancer. Fox News carried live pictures of the Kansas icon’s arrival at the Capitol, and America’s Newsroom hosts Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer commented on Dole’s legacy, noting he was known for reaching across the aisle throughout his long political career.

“That is quite a sight from that camera shot,” Hemmer commented as U.S. service members prepared Dole’s casket for transfer into the building.

“It is gorgeous. Senator Dole, of course, one of the greatest generation who fought against German fascism and Japanese imperialism and helped the United States and allies win the cold war,” commented Perino.

Among the remembrances, Perino remarked on Dole's legacy as a fighter for gender equality.

Democrats and Republicans spoke at the memorial today, including President Joe Biden., who described the late senator as a "giant of our history."

“I had the great honor of serving with Bob, as many of you around this casket have, I served with him for twenty-five years,” Biden said. “He did have great wit.”

“They once asked him why, in God’s name, he voted to continue to fund Amtrak,” Biden continued. “He said, ‘Because if he didn’t, Biden would stay overnight and cause more trouble.'”

To a smattering of laughter the president explained “I commuted every day. It’s a true story. He was the deciding vote.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also remembered Dole with a story about his wit. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also delivered remarks at the service.


In Other News...

New York Attorney General Reportedly Seeking to Depose Trump in Coming Weeks

Victims in Oxford School Shooting Sue District and Staffers in Two $100 Million Lawsuits

Morning Joe Ridicules David Perdue's Claim He Wouldn't Have Certified 2020 Results: 'Making a Fool of Himself'

New: Fox News Under Investigation Over Ex-Host Melissa Francis’ Retaliation and Gender Discrimination Claims

HALL: Steven Crowder Makes Cringeworthy Gesture While Asking Kyle Rittenhouse About a Potential Girlfriend

Must See Clip

"'Maybe' on the Coffee Enema"

Jordan Klepper is used to facing off with Donald Trump supporters and anti-vaxxers on the right, but recently tried his hand at confronting progressives.

The Daily Show correspondent traveled to Southern California to attend protests near Venice Beach and Santa Monica, exposing attendees who seemed hesitant to call themselves “anti-vaxxers.”

“The discussion around vaccines and mandates tends to pit red state versus blue,” Klepper said on Wednesday’s The Daily Show. “But I had heard there was vaccine hesitancy in the elitest of the elite blue corners of the U.S.”

And that's just what he set out to find. And found.

Links We Like

The Crocodile Tears of Conservatives
- Sarah Jones, Intelligencer
Trump Helps Stacey Abrams And Georgia Democrats By Backing Perdue Over Kemp
- Max Burns, NBC Think
Behold, the Many Ways Pro-Death Republicans Are Going After Biden’s Vaccine Mandates
- BBess Levin, Vanity Fair
New Zealand To Pass Lifetime Ban On Tobacco For Next Generation
- Christopher Hutton, Washington Examiner
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