There's a line from the Netflix political drama House of Cards, lamenting that "Politics is no longer just theatre. It's show business."
That sardonic observation was proven true once again with an NBC News analysis regarding the historic public hearings in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
The hearing saw Acting Ambassador to Ukraine William B. Taylor Jr. and State Department official George Kent both testify to the extreme irregularities in the Trump administration's dealings with Ukraine. Taylor once again confirmed that crucial, congressionally approved military aid for Ukraine was withheld on the condition that the Ukrainian President publicly announce an investigation into Trump's political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.
He also testified that Trump cared more about the investigation's announcement than actual issues in Ukraine, and that Trump was directly corresponding with Ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, about the status of the investigation announcement.
Despite the President being further implicated in threatening national security, NBC acted less like Woodward and Bernstein and more like Ebert and Roeper when covering the day's events.
Analysis: The first two witnesses called Wednesday testified to President Trump's scheme, but lacked the pizzazz ne… https://t.co/7ThPa1Fs9M— NBC News (@NBC News) 1573704784.0
NBC chose to highlight the lack of drama, or "pizzazz," in the hearings.
Though the President is a former reality television star, the proceedings shouldn't be treated with the frivolity of reality television. People were quick to point that out.
You want "pizzazz?" Go to a Broadway musical. You want style? Go to a fashion runway. These impeachment hearings… https://t.co/StUEOkNtsd— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1573739264.0
Not sure that “pizzazz” was the point. https://t.co/Ryldb8dM3o— Charlie Sykes (@Charlie Sykes) 1573740986.0
DC Journalists: You might wish you were Broadway or Hollywood film critics, but you’re not. If it was consequential… https://t.co/huxP1Sth9u— Jed Shugerman (@Jed Shugerman) 1573736389.0
The American constitution is pretty clear on this. The President can be impeached for treason, bribery or other hig… https://t.co/lPzY3Dd80z— Jeet Heer (@Jeet Heer) 1573707369.0
You know who was the most boring witness I ever saw? Alexander Butterfield. And he brought down the Nixon preside… https://t.co/UCNYSHd82J— Ronald Klain (@Ronald Klain) 1573708006.0
Some considered the headline a damning embodiment of what the United States has come to value since Trump's campaign and presidency.
America summed up in a single tweet: I wanna be interested in saving the Republic, but it's just soooooo boring.… https://t.co/KugM4x7Qkb— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) 1573739636.0
Perfect example of how news media is failing Americans and helping Trumpism. Mueller was boring. The two credible d… https://t.co/Cq3R8bPADI— Kimberley Johnson (@Kimberley Johnson) 1573744102.0
We got a reality TV host as president because some people in the media want to cover this as reality TV and disrega… https://t.co/Na1UTFqflr— Andrea Chalupa (@Andrea Chalupa) 1573741010.0
Perhaps at the next hearing, Republicans and Democrats can perform a ballet duel a la West Side Story, or join together in a rousing rendition of "Seasons of Love."