Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the policy workflow as Democrats, Republicans, and MAGA insiders increasingly turn to different platforms for news and opinion, with LinkedIn remaining rare common ground
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Artificial intelligence has moved from novelty to routine in Washington. According to Avoq’s 2026 Policy Insiders’ Media Habits report, 96% of policy insiders now report using AI tools personally or professionally, underscoring how quickly the technology has become embedded in the daily lives of policymakers, advocates and political professionals.
While adoption is nearly universal, comfort levels differ. Republican and MAGA insiders report greater willingness to rely on AI for higher-trust tasks — such as research and document summarization — compared with their Democratic counterparts, suggesting that attitudes toward the technology may shape how quickly it becomes integrated into policy workflows.
At the same time, the report finds that how Washington’s policy insiders consume news and opinion is becoming more fragmented across political audiences.
“Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming standard in Washington, even if not everyone trusts it the same way,” said Dianne Riddle Mikeska, Partner and Head of Strategic Planning at Avoq. “But the media environment is moving the opposite direction. Aside from a few shared platforms, Democrat, Republican, and MAGA insiders are increasingly following different paths to news and opinion.”
“Reaching policymakers in today’s environment requires a strategic blend of targeted communications, digital amplification, and informed government relations, said Whit Askew, Co-Lead and Partner on Avoq’s Government Relations team. “And despite the growing use of AI as a research and efficiency tool, our Media Habits data continues to show that political constituencies today have distinct habits and preferences for their news and information consumption, therefore stakeholders much account for this to effectively break through.”
“This is what makes Media Habits research invaluable,” said Mikeska. “Understanding not just what insiders read, but who they trust and where they follow those voices, is critical for anyone trying to communicate effectively in Washington.”
The 2026 report highlights several other important trends for communicators, advocates, and policymakers:
- Democrats are voracious news site readers, Republicans read newsletters significantly more than other news sources, and MAGA are heavy browsers, favoring X and search. About half of all insiders are streaming and checking LinkedIn and Instagram.
- Opinion leaders remain influential — but where insiders follow them varies by audience. Democrats are more likely to follow opinion leaders through newsletters and traditional articles, while Republicans — particularly MAGA insiders — gravitate toward social-first personalities. Ezra Klein ranks as the most followed opinion leader among Democrats, Jake Sherman among Republicans, and Elon Musk among MAGA insiders.
- LinkedIn remains common ground across the political spectrum. LinkedIn continues to serve as a shared platform for Democratic, Republican, and MAGA insiders to engage on policy, opinion, and professional development.
About the report
The 2026 Policy Insiders’ Media Habits report was conducted in partnership with Quadrant Strategies, using their proprietary, dynamically managed panel of Washington, D.C. policy insiders, ensuring high confidence in respondent quality. The survey examines how Democratic, Republican, and MAGA policy insiders consume news, engage with media platforms, and follow opinion leaders.
To explore the full results or schedule a custom briefing, visit teamavoq.com/media-habits or contact mediahabits@teamavoq.com.
