Call it the Michelle Obama effect. Approximately three million more viewers tuned in to watch the coverage of the first night of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, beating the first night of the Republican convention 26 million viewers to 23 million viewers, according to Nielsen data that recorded the number of traditional TV viewers. The Democrats' count might still go up too, after the ratings for smaller channels get tallied, CNN reports.
Despite being a little rough around the edges, the Democrats trotted out their stars for the night, with Michelle Obama, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders all speaking. At the RNC's first night, the keynote speaker was Melania Trump, who came under fire shortly afterward for plagiarizing Michelle Obama.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The CIA is openly recruiting foreign spies in other countriesIn the Spotlight The agency is posting instructions in multiple languages for people to contact them
-
'People want to understand food — but only to a point'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How do cash-back apps work and are they worth it?The Explainer Put a percentage of the amount you spend back in your pocket
-
Ports reopen after dockworkers halt strikeSpeed Read The 36 ports that closed this week, from Maine to Texas, will start reopening today
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homesSpeed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bidSpeed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detenteSpeed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe feesSpeed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billionSpeed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
