Time to Put CNN on Suicide Watch: Matt Gaetz Gets Higher Ratings as a Guest Host on Newsmax
CNNâs ratings may have suffered their most embarrassing loss in recent memory as MAGA Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, serving as a guest host on the conservative TV network Newsmax, absolutely smoked them in the overall ratings in the 10 pm slot this past Friday.
It may feel like weâre kicking a dead horse at this point with news of CNNâs ratings plunging after the town hall with former President Donald Trump becoming commonplace.
But itâs a horse we enjoy kicking.
Gaetz filled in on âGreg Kelly Reportsâ on May 26th, drawing 282,000 viewers while at the same time, an episode of âThe Whole Story With Anderson Cooperâ only brought in 249,000 viewers.
The Florida Rep. opened the show promising to deliver âthe biggest stories driving Washington, D.C. right now.â
Cooperâs show did edge Gaetzâs guest host spot slightly in the coveted 25-54 age demographic.
Matt Gaetz beat CNN in the ratings while guest-hosting Newsmaxâs 10pm hour on Friday:
âą 1st: Fox News 1.22million
âą 2nd: MSNBC 922,000
âą 3rd: Newsmax 282,000
âą 4th: CNN: 249,000 https://t.co/tEMm3cgRAu pic.twitter.com/d87a31YoeXâ TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) May 31, 2023
RELATED: CNNâs Prime Time Ratings Absolutely Tank After Trump Town Hall, Now 4th Behind Newsmax
CNNâs Ratings Continue to Embarrass
Congressman Matt Gaetzâs guest hosting stint on Newsmax was the only slot in which that network beat out any of the competitors according to Fridayâs ratings numbers.
Both shows were well behind MSNBC (922,000 viewers) and Fox Newsâ âThe Ingraham Angleâ (1,227,000 viewers).
As The Political Insider reported, CNNâs primetime ratings have plunged dramatically in the days following their town hall forum earlier this month with former President Donald Trump.
Support Conservative Voices!
Sign up to receive the latest political news, insight, and commentary delivered directly to your inbox.
On Friday, May 12th, the network also came in fourth behind Fox News, MSNBC, and Newsmax. It marked a banner moment for the conservative outlet.
Just how bad are the ratings at CNN? Really, really, bad. The number of daily viewers has plummeted to the lowest since 2015. pic.twitter.com/Vp7IDtfogb
â Mike Sington (@MikeSington) May 24, 2023
The Trump Bump is Gone
CNN enjoyed a massive rating bump from Trumpâs presence at the town hall earlier this month, earning 3.3 million viewers in the 8 pm slot that Wednesday and more than doubling the next closest network.
The numbers were even more impressive in the key 25-54 age demographic coveted by advertisers.
It didnât take long for reality to smack the network square in the face, however.
âŠJust Wow!! đ Fantastic âŠ@NEWSMAXâ© TV prime time ratings beats âŠ@CNNâ©! Congrats âŠâŠ@ericbolling âŠ@ChrisPlanteShowâ© & âŠâŠ@gregkellyusaâ© & thanks âŠ@gretaâ© for reporting on this! đș pic.twitter.com/8VJ7PsEyke
â Deneen Borelli (@deneenborelli) May 15, 2023
Part of the story here isnât simply Newsmax creating superior content to what CNN puts out every night. The left-wing network lost viewers by even daring to give the former President a voice â something their fans simply cannot tolerate.
At the same time, some viewers are flocking to Newsmax in search of an alternative during prime time due to Fox Newsâ disastrous firing of Tucker Carlson.
I think itâs odd but telling when CNN admits that the only way they can get anyone to watch their network â the only time they can boast of ratings â is when they have Trump on.
It explains a lot about much media behavior. https://t.co/kciWhTJ3O3
â Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 25, 2023
Reports surfaced in 2021 indicating that Gaetz might resign from Congress to pursue a career in media, specifically referencing the pursuit of a job with the conservative outlet.
Axios cited multiple sources who claimed Gaetz was âseriously considering not seeking re-election and possibly leaving Congress early for a job at Newsmax.â
Gaetz has told some of his allies heâs interested in becoming a media personality, and floated taking a role at Newsmax.
One of the sources said he has had early conversations with the network about what a position could look like.https://t.co/dhlyDgvkqU
â Axios (@axios) March 30, 2021
âGaetz has told some of his allies heâs interested in becoming a media personality, and floated taking a role at Newsmax,â Axios wrote at the time.
A spokesperson for Newsmax indicated the network actually rejected Gaetz. Maybe they will re-think after these latest numbers.
Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.
The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspotâs â100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.â