Matt Gaetz beats CNN as guest host on Newsmax.

Joe SaundersJune 1, 2023

Matt Gaetz Takes on CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Wins

Rep. Matt Gaetz is known for his showmanship and willingness to take on anyone, including his own party’s leadership. On Friday night, he put his skills to the test as a substitute host on “Greg Kelly Reports” on Newsmax. And the results were impressive.

Gaetz outdrew CNN veteran Anderson Cooper in the 10 p.m. Eastern slot with 282,000 viewers to Cooper’s 249,000, according to the New York Post. The congressman opened the program with trademark humor, jokingly reassuring viewers that they were on the right channel and that Greg Kelly hadn’t suddenly grown better hair.

Gaetz then delved into current issues such as the debt-ceiling talks, inflation, and the weaponization of the FBI against conservatives. It was the kind of content that Americans tuning in on a Friday night want to see.

CNN loses prime time ratings battle to Newsmax show guest-hosted by Matt Gaetz https://t.co/r0yjcKTKbI pic.twitter.com/bbMku4W67e

— New York Post (@nypost) May 31, 2023

Gaetz’s performance was a hit with viewers, and many are calling for him to guest-host more often. What do you think? Cast your vote below:

Do you think Matt Gaetz should guest-host more often?

Newsmax Viewership Beats CNN’s Anderson Cooper in Friday Night Ratings

On Friday night, Newsmax host Matt Gaetz beat CNN’s Anderson Cooper in the ratings, according to The New York Post. While Cooper’s show focused on a one-year retrospective of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Gaetz’s show covered a range of topics, including the border crisis and the Biden administration’s failures.

Granted, Cooper beat Gaetz in the coveted demographic of viewers ages 25-54, but it’s a good bet many of them weren’t actually watching what was on the screen. Younger adults tend to have better things to do on Friday nights than navel-gaze with Anderson Cooper, no matter what white noise is coming from the TV.

Newsmax viewers are much more likely to be engaged in what they’re watching — or they wouldn’t have Newsmax on in the first place. Meanwhile, both networks were whipped solidly by Fox News and MSNBC in the time slot.

Pushing Progressive Priorities

While the topic of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School is important, it suits the Democratic mania for pushing progressive priorities under any guise — in this case, gun control. But the viewing numbers show Americans weren’t buying it.

So, the Gaetz level of showmanship isn’t up to toppling the cable news giant of Fox or MSNBC yet, but it looks like he’s more than capable of taking on a warmed-over has-been like Anderson Cooper rehashing a story from last year simply because it suits the liberal worldview.

Matt Gaetz Takes Over Newsmax and Wins Big

Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Matt Gaetz knows how to captivate an audience. The Florida congressman recently guest-hosted on Newsmax and the ratings speak for themselves – CNN couldn’t compete.

Gaetz is known for his unapologetic approach to politics and his willingness to take on both Democrats and members of his own party. He’s a showman at heart and it’s clear that his style translates well to television.

While he may not be ready to leave his day job just yet, it’s clear that Gaetz has a future in television if he wants it. And with an audience already waiting, it’s only a matter of time before we see more of him on the small screen.