NEWS AND OPINION:
Nielsen — the longtime leader in audience measurement and data — has some startling news for us.
“The growing bounty of content on streaming services has forever changed TV viewing behavior, with streaming consumption now consistently accounting for the biggest driver of TV usage. And while the time we spend with TV is largely flat, our time spent streaming video continues to rise. In 2023, U.S. audiences streamed 21 million years’ worth of video, an incredible 21% increase from the 17 million years worth they streamed in 2022,” Nielsen said in a report released Wednesday and shared with Inside the Beltway.
Wait, let’s repeat that: Americans watched 21 million years’ worth of videos last year.
According to Gracenote — an entertainment data and technology company associated with Nielsen — that audience also had 90 different streaming services from which to choose by the end of 2023, up from 51 services at the start of 2020.
PRESS PRESSES THE GOP
The Republican National Committee’s annual winter meeting is underway in Las Vegas. And of course, Inside the Beltway hopes the event has a productive outcome, some teachable moments and some convivial encounters.
The news media, however, is not framing the event in complimentary terms. A few headlines from the last 48 hours:
“Party feud breaks out ahead of RNC meeting in Las Vegas” (Politico); “Ahead of the RNC’s winter meeting, feuds take a toll on the party” (MSNBC); “Republicans fighting ahead of meeting in Las Vegas” (Las Vegas Sun); “‘God awakened me’: Republicans suddenly want to oust Ronna McDaniel” (the New Republic); “The RNC will meet privately after Trump allies pull resolution to call him the ‘presumptive nominee’” (The Associated Press); “Local Republicans slam lack of resources from party at ‘alternate RNC’ meeting” (Washington Examiner); and “GOP grassroots versus RNC takes center stage in Las Vegas (the Nevada Globe).
HALEY’S INVITATION
One Republican presidential hopeful is still hearing the call of the debate stage.
“If Donald Trump wants to be the Republican nominee, he should debate Nikki Haley and answer the American people’s questions instead of ranting and raving about nonsense at 2 a.m. in the morning,” said Olivia Perez-Cubas, national spokesperson for the Haley campaign, in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
There are still “important questions” to answer, the campaign added in the statement, citing three issues in particular.
“What will they do to combat the runaway inflation they both caused? How will they stand up to China when they both lavish praise on the communist regime and appease its leaders?” the campaign asked.
“How will they handle the toughest job in America when they don’t have the stamina to stand on a debate stage and answer tough questions?” the Haley campaign also demanded.
TRUMP’S VP SURVEY
“Who do you think my vice president should be?” asks former President Donald Trump in an emailed campaign outreach released Wednesday. It calls upon participants to answer some questions, and here they are verbatim from the source:
• Should my VP be a government official or political outsider?
• What are the top issues my VP should focus on?
• Would you prefer my VP be a military veteran?
• Should my VP be a person of faith?
• If you had five minutes with me, tell me why you want that person to be your next VP?
According to a public notice, the quiz was “Paid for by Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee, a joint fundraising committee composed of and authorized by Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc. and Save America. Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee, a joint fundraising committee composed of and authorized by Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc. and Save America.”
MEANWHILE IN MANHATTAN
Here’s an update from the New York Young Republicans Club, which was founded in 1911 and remains engaged in GOP matters. The organization also hosts a number of memorable social events, leadership programs, volunteer activities and much more.
On Thursday, the club will stage a “Paint the Town Red” social — centered on Nick Adams — which the host organization describes as “Alpha Male, entrepreneur, conservative influencer, and author of the anticipated 2024 book release, ‘Alpha Kings.’”
Mr. Adams’ book arrives Feb. 28.
“Featuring a foreword from President Donald J. Trump, ‘Alpha Kings’ unapologetically makes the case for traditional masculinity. Nick Adams, using his world-class wisdom and wit, shows the young men of America what it means to be a true alpha male in today’s hyper-feminized world. Tackling the culture wars, sports, and politics, ‘Alpha Kings’ is sure to land on the shelf next to books like The Bible and ‘The Art of the Deal,’ the greatest books in history,” the BookBaby, the publisher, says in advance notes.
“The Art of the Deal,” by the way, is one of Mr. Trump’s most well-known books, published in 1987.
Inside the Beltway will revisit Mr. Adams when his book is published.
POLL DU JOUR
• 44% of U.S. adults would vote for former President Donald Trump if the presidential election were held today.
• 35% would vote for President Biden if the election were held today.
• 9% would vote for independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• 1% would vote for independent candidate Cornel West.
• 1% would vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
• 2% would vote for “someone else.”
• 7% don’t know who they would vote for or have no opinion.
• 2% would not vote.
SOURCE: A Morning Consult/Bloomberg poll of 4,956 registered U.S. voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, conducted online Jan. 16-22.
• Contact Jennifer Harper at [email protected].