Reading the ‘tea leaves': TV networks vamp for time during the wait for the Donald Trump verdict

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York accents of court reporters reading testimony. A juror’s facial expression. And tea leaves — plenty of tea leaves.

Jury deliberation meant tense, ultimately boring hours of waiting for lawyers, journalists and others at the Manhattan courtroom where former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial is being held.

It’s the same for television networks covering the case — except they have hours of time to fill for viewers. Rather than switch to something else, they have largely stuck close to the courthouse.

That means no sign, fact or opinion is too small to ignore.

NO CAMERAS IN COURT MEANS MORE TIME TO FILL

Despite New York state rules that prohibit cameras in the courtroom, television news networks have focused on the case almost exclusively while court is in session. Since the case began in mid-April, Fox News Channel’s daytime viewers are up 15% over last year at the same time, MSNBC is up 17% and CNN up 19%, according to the Nielsen company. That explains any reluctance to turn away.

“They could come out with a verdict between now and however long it takes them,” Newsmax reporter Christina Thompson said Thursday — the safest of hundreds of televised predictions since the jury began considering evidence.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Truckers suing to block New York’s congestion fee for Manhattan drivers </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Prosecutors build their case at bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez