CNN is a failing network. They’re one of the least trustworthy news outlets out there.
And CNN is spiraling out of control thanks to this Leftist host’s latest blunder.
Jake Tapper’s Ratings Dip Amid Book Tour Buzz
Jake Tapper, a prominent CNN host, faced a challenging May, marking his lowest-rated month in almost a decade. Despite a high-profile book tour that kept him in the public eye, his show, “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” struggled to maintain its audience.
Tapper, alongside Axios reporter Alex Thompson, released their new book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” in May. The book stirred significant attention, fueling discussions about alleged efforts by the Biden White House to conceal concerns regarding the former president’s fitness for office.
To promote the release, Tapper embarked on an extensive media campaign, appearing on podcasts, talk shows, and cable news segments. CNN heavily promoted the book across its platforms, amplifying Tapper’s visibility. Yet, this surge in exposure failed to translate into higher viewership for his flagship program.
Viewership Takes a Hit
From April 28 to May 25, “The Lead with Jake Tapper” averaged just 525,000 total viewers, a 25% drop compared to the same period last year. This marked Tapper’s least-watched month since August 2015.
In contrast, competitors thrived: Fox News programs “The Five” and “Special Report with Bret Baier” drew an impressive 3.3 million viewers on average during the same timeframe, dominating the cable news landscape. MSNBC also outperformed Tapper, averaging just over one million viewers in the same slot.
The audience share reflected this gap starkly. Tapper’s program captured only 11% of the cable news audience, while MSNBC secured 21% and Fox News obtained a formidable 68%.
Struggles in Key Demographics
The decline wasn’t limited to total viewership. Among the advertiser-prized demographic of adults aged 25-54, “The Lead with Jake Tapper” averaged a mere 95,000 viewers during the same period, reflecting a 15% drop from the previous year.
This demographic slump mirrored CNN’s challenges, as the network recorded its second-worst month ever in this group across both daytime and primetime programming.
Generating Headlines, Not Viewers
Despite the lackluster ratings, Tapper’s book tour sparked significant conversation. He made waves by acknowledging that he hadn’t pursued reporting on President Biden’s age-related concerns with enough vigor.
He also suggested that the alleged concealment of the former president’s mental decline could be a scandal surpassing Watergate in impact. These remarks kept Tapper in the news, but they didn’t bolster his show’s performance.
CNN’s Perspective on Reach
When asked about the ratings, a CNN spokesperson emphasized that Nielsen Media Research captures only the network’s U.S. audience, not its full reach. “The award-winning program The Lead with Jake Tapper reaches broad global audiences across CNN, CNN International and Max’s streaming platform. No single metric can capture the true reach and impact of a program driving the national conversation,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Tapper’s show wasn’t alone in its struggles. CNN as a whole faced a difficult May, grappling with some of its lowest ratings in key demographics. As Tapper continues to navigate the competitive cable news landscape, the contrast between his program’s influence on public discourse and its viewership numbers remains a point of intrigue.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
