Staff Reports
Thanksgiving has become a celebration of gratitude, and this year, there’s a long list of reasons to be thankful for—starting with President-elect Donald Trump’s triumphant victory, which has led to a well-deserved red wave sweeping across the nation. The icing on the cake? The rapid descent of liberal mainstream media into what can only be described as ratings oblivion.
The Hallmark Channel, known for its cheerful, heartwarming holiday programming, has elegantly danced into the forefront, outshining its liberal competitors. While Fox News continues to lead the pack, Hallmark’s average viewership skyrocketed to 526,000 for the week from November 18 to 24, outpacing MSNBC’s 458,000 and CNN’s paltry 314,000. It appears that viewers would rather cozy up with some lighthearted holiday films than sorrowfully tune in to the likes of Maddow and the gang.
Post-election, the mainstream news outlets are experiencing a sharp decline that might prompt a reset with their lineups—almost like a desperate New Year’s resolution that nobody believes will stick. MSNBC has watched its viewership plunge by a staggering 47 percent, while CNN has not fared much better with its dwindling numbers reaching only 398,000 viewers. It’s like a collective hangover after a disastrous party: nobody wants to relive that night again.
In a particularly amusing turn of events, Rachel Maddow, often hailed as the “ratings Viagra” of MSNBC, has seen a plummet in her numbers that would leave even the most seasoned network veteran shaking their head in disbelief. Since Election Day, her show has shed viewers at a rate that would rival a sinking ship, witnessing a 41 percent tumble overall and a breathtaking 50 percent decline in the coveted 25-54 demographic. Speculation runs rampant that her emotional on-air moment regarding a five-million-dollar pay cut only added to the spectacle of a network already in disarray.
We Are Thankful for the Collapse of Liberal Networks This Year https://t.co/RG0XGEDVpt
— JB (@JBRawhide) November 29, 2024
Other liberal hosts are also facing the harsh reality of declining relevance; Joe Scarborough has lost 37 percent of his audience since November 5. Clearly, the left-wing talking heads might need a new script—or perhaps just a better understanding of what viewers actually want. With ratings floundering, whispers within the cable news circles indicate a seismic shift may be on the horizon, complete with program changes and pay cuts that would make any accountant smile.
As these networks spiral, Comcast’s plan to spin off MSNBC and CNBC by the end of 2025 may turn into a last-ditch effort to salvage their sunk viewership. Meanwhile, Fox News has seen its ratings blossom, with viewers flocking to the channel in droves, resulting in a remarkable 32 percent increase since Trump’s election. In a strange twist of fate, it appears that while some are busy drowning in their sorrows, others are reveling in the bounty of success.
