TMZ hit Washington at a time when Congress was facing historically low trust, political fatigue, and rampant sexual misconduct scandals. Now, lawmakers have to face transparency head-on.
While traditional outlets have covered Congress for decades, the entrance of the Hollywood tabloid reflects how politics, scandal, and social media culture are now inseparable from governing.
Yet, some lawmakers and staff are not running from TMZ’s trademark aggressiveness. In fact, many say they’re ready for the change.
“I’m not afraid of anybody,” Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI) told the Washington Examiner. “I think we all have to embrace anybody who wants to shine light on what happens in here, because I think that’s the best disinfectant, and hopefully it makes us more accountable, more responsible to the people we work for.”
And just like the best Hollywood publicist tries to court TMZ for beneficial coverage of their client, congressional communications staff see the new outlet the same way.
“We recognized the value and reach they have pretty early on, so we decided it was better to lean in rather than just take measures to try to avoid the inevitable, which means opening a line of communications with them, just like we do with every other outlet or reporter who covers the Congress,” one senior GOP communications staffer told the Washington Examiner.
According to the Pew Research Center, public trust in Washington is at a mere 17%, marking a near seven-decade low since the question first started being polled. By comparison, public trust stood at 73% in 1958, a more than 50% drop from today. Trust began eroding in the 1960s, as the war in Vietnam escalated and continued to decline as the nation then faced Watergate, globalization, and forever wars in the Middle East.
Likely making those numbers worse is that in recent months, Congress has been beset by a season of scandal. In recent weeks, former Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resigned before facing likely expulsion over allegations of sexual misconduct. Ex-Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick similarly quit Congress ahead of a likely expulsion for allegedly stealing millions from Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster aid.
The high-profile scandals have left many Americans questioning the ethics of the nation’s capital.
“I hope it is,” Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) responded when the Washington Examiner asked if this could be a new era of public trust. “People don’t like us and trust us right now, and if more transparency, and attention, and consequences for members is what’s going to help regain that trust.”
Still, admitting that Congress has a problem is easier than figuring out how to fix it.
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“I’m hoping that there’s a higher standard of ethics, that there’s a robust amount of transparency around the processes that govern ourselves, and also that we do everything we can to be the best versions of ourselves when we serve our constituents,” Amo said.
Lawmakers also acknowledge that TMZ reaches audiences that many traditional political outlets struggle to reach: those outside the Washington bubble.
“I’ve run into the TMZ guys several times, and I love having him here,” Subramanyam said. “A lot of people don’t pay attention to the day-to-day here. They’re not in our D.C. bubble, but they pay attention to TMZ, and so it’s a fun way of having people who normally wouldn’t pay attention to politics see what we’re doing.”
For communications staff, it gives their boss an opportunity to show their personality on camera.
“I think the approach they’re taking will show a new light on Congress, particularly the more personal side, which is definitely needed,” the senior GOP communications staffer continued. “That’s how they’ll carve out their lane and what I think they’ll be successful at. They’re focused on ‘pulling the veil back’ on D.C. to everyday Americans.”
Three TMZ reporters arrived in Washington last month ahead of a chaotic stretch on Capitol Hill that included multiple House resignations and an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
The outlet, long known for aggressively covering celebrities and entertainment culture in Los Angeles, quickly became a curiosity around the Capitol.
“If you don’t love that TMZ sent these three guys to come waltz through DC and help tear down the pretentious attitude that stands in the way of the people’s work, then you have insider syndrome too,” Drop Site News reporter Julian Andreone wrote on X.
While Washington is no red carpet, Capitol Hill has increasingly become imbued with social media culture and entertainment. Lawmakers once seen as stuffy now host podcasts from their offices and schedule time on their calendars to record TikToks.
“Washington has spent years turning politics into entertainment, so it was probably inevitable that an outlet like TMZ would eventually move into the space,” Republican strategist Dennis Lennox told the Washington Examiner.
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While Lennox highlighted the entertainment portion of politics, he also highlighted another complaint from voters across the country: age.
“The funny thing is that a lot of Americans imagine Congress as some nonstop carnival of debauchery, bacchanalia, and House of Cards-style corruption when, in reality, most members are boring senior citizens whose biggest thrill is making the last flight home on Thursday night,” Lennox went on to say. “For every Eric Swalwell or Tony Gonzales scandal, there are 50 lawmakers worrying about cholesterol medication and what time they can FaceTime with their kids or grandkids.”