Impeachment Hearings Eve

The public impeachment hearings begin tomorrow on all the major broadcast networks and cable news channels, and everyone should immediately lower their expectations. There will be important live testimony and political shenanigans, but those people whose votes will matter most likely won’t be watching live.

This is different from the Nixon impeachment hearings in the 1970s, when people did watch the hearings live, and their opinions were informed by the live testimony. This time around, opinions will be formed after persuadable citizens have retreated to their usual news silos, like CNN, MSNBC and FOX NEWS, as well as absorbing accounts and clips on Twitter and Facebook.

All context will be obliterated by curated sound bites and spin, and we will be back into the same space we have been existing in over the past three years.

The only thing that will ultimately matter is next year’s general election. Do whatever you can to convince swing voters in the battleground states to vote for your candidate so that this time, the electoral college mirrors the popular vote.