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How We’re Shaping the Conversation on Capitol Hill: A Look at Who Congress Listens to Online

Insights • August 25, 2025

Since the 119th Congress began in January, our team at Rational 360 has been mapping how influence flows through the halls of Congress – not just in committee rooms and caucus briefings, but on social media.

Our newest report, Influencing the 119th Congress, tracks the people and organizations most followed by Members of Congress online. Our clients have benefited from this analysis, as it reveals where attention is shifting, who is rising, and how industry groups and top companies can reach the individuals shaping public policy in real-time.

We are now releasing a summary of this work, revealing who has had the most impact influencing Congress on social media.

The Big Picture

We analyzed the official and personal social media accounts of all 535 Members of Congress, identifying which accounts they follow most and what that reveals about the media ecosystems they trust. From media figures to policy think tanks, our analysis categorizes the most-followed accounts across six influence types:

• Media Figures

• News Outlets

• Political Figures

• Policy Influencers

• Policy Organizations

• Non-Policy Influencers

The findings provide a blueprint for anyone seeking to make a meaningful impact in today’s fragmented digital landscape.

Key Takeaways from the Report

• POLITICO and The Hill dominate across party lines, with more than 47% of Congress following each outlet.

• Social media is deeply polarized, with Republicans and Democrats following influencers largely within their respective ideological echo chambers.

• Elon Musk remains highly followed, but the dynamics are shifting as he exits the Administration. 

• New voices are rising, including Jake Sherman, Hakeem Jeffries, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Karine Jean-Pierre. 

• The economy is the most discussed issue by both Democrats and Republicans.

Why It Matters

Influence today does not just live on cable news or in front-page headlines—it is algorithmic, fragmented, and real-time. If you want to shape what Congress hears, you have to understand what—and who—they are already listening to.

This report is part of the broader Rational 360 mission: To help our clients reach decisionmakers others cannot. With this analysis, we provide a data-driven roadmap for achieving influence at the highest level.

Explore the full report here.