Cindy SebastianNov 7, 2022
Daniel Schuman

Hey everyone, I'm building a list of congressional offices on Mastodon -- members of the House and Senate, committees, leadership offices, and non-partisan offices.

If you know of a member of congress that is on mastodon, please add them to the list, here: bit.ly/CongMastoForm

If you want to see who we have found so far, check out https://bit.ly/MastoCong

Thank you! Please help amplify to crowdsource the list.

Nov 5, 2022 at 10:44pmWeb
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 5, 2022
If you also want to respond to tweet (toot?), that works for me, too.
Show threadRose Hayden-Smith, PhDNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman This is so genuinely helpful. Thank you.
Show threadEllenor Bjornsdottir   Nov 6, 2022
@danielschuman “Post” is platform-neutral, important when you’re in a federated system. M’don calls them toots, boosts and so on - but other software has different names for them. The whole APub verse is not an extinct elephant.
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022
I've inverted the link to see who we've found so far (it's only AOC), but the list is here: https://bit.ly/MastoCong
Show threadMartin Vermeer FCD (inactive)Nov 6, 2022
@danielschuman The AOC handle is a Twitter mirror, not a real presence
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022
@mvermeer Yes, correct.
Show threadPhilip Ferenc AshlockNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman It's early days, but even looking internationally, I've struggled finding many legit accounts for government agencies or officials - aside from apparently official/unofficial mirrors like @[email protected] and @kajakallas The major exception being @[email protected] and others listed on https://social.network.europa.eu/explore
Explore EU Voice

Discover users based on their interests

Mastodon hosted on social.network.europa.eu
Show threadPhilip Ferenc AshlockNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman Also, just FYI, the bitly link to the list of "who we have found so far" doesn't seem to be working for me
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022
@ashlock thank you for telling me. The link is also inside the submit a member form. I’ll get it updated.
Show threadStargeezer SmithNov 6, 2022
@ashlock @danielschuman
Ditto.
Show threadItsLisaRiceNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman Great resource. Will you share the list once it's completed?
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022

@ItsLisaRice Yes, gladly. The list is at this URL, but so far, we've only found one account.

https://bit.ly/MastoCong

Show threadQutapiNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman hi. Thanks for doing this! Not sure if it’s the learning curve but that link to the list didn’t work for me.
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022
@Qutapi It's not you, it's me. Here's the link: https://bit.ly/MastoCong
Show threadgrantimatterNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman
I'm afraid https://bit.ly/CongMasto
is giving a 404 error....
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022

@grantimatter Thank you. It's because I inverted the URL. This is it: https://bit.ly/MastoCong

Sorry!

Show threadDrew MochakNov 6, 2022
@heidilifeldman @danielschuman The list gives me a 404.
Show threadKatherine HawkinsNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman that link isn't working for me for some reason
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022

@katherinehawkins Try this.

https://bit.ly/MastoCong

(There's really nothing to see as of yet)

Congress on Mastodon (Responses)

Data about Members of Congress on Mastodon If you are from a congressional office and want you account verified, please email [email protected] This spreadsheet is maintained by Demand Progress Education Fund Timestamp,Member Last Name / Committee Name / Leadership Name,Member of Congres...

Google Docs
Show threadPhilip Ferenc AshlockNov 6, 2022

@danielschuman @katherinehawkins Daniel, you can use the edit feature to fix the broken link in your original post.

I've also created a new public spreadsheet with different tabs to collect other government accounts, see

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gBj_7JpQl4SOnQ6wCU6fKJjmnqjiEJ2E74urPK6OqvI/edit?usp=sharing

Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022
@ashlock @katherinehawkins There's an edit feature!???
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022
@ashlock @katherinehawkins Whoah. That's nice. Fixed it.
Show threadErnie SmithNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman second link seems broken alas
Show threaddawnatellaNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman I think what we all want to see is the representatives on mastodon but most aren't. it would be nice if the congress itself would just setup a mastodon server for them. they might like to have control over that.... the possibilities are endless here on #mastodon I love it!
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022
@dawnatella I've had the exact same thought. It would likely have to be the House and Senate setting up their own servers, and we'd have to figure something out separate for the support agencies, but yes.
Show threaddawnatellaNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman totally. Universities should have #mastodon servers too, I think. So powerful taking the social media space into micro-community, user control. Could be a social media renaissance where we learn how to do this tech better and promote #democracy w it rather than destroy it. Strikes me that smaller, micro, local is usually preferable.
Show threadWillow!Nov 7, 2022

@dawnatella @danielschuman

I think MIT has its own Mastodon instance for its students

Show threadLina RodriguezNov 7, 2022

@dawnatella

Something like this?

Show threadLina RodriguezNov 7, 2022

@danielschuman @dawnatella
I have worked in the past alongside the Singapore government, the US Navy and the European Commission, observing closely how they do their Social Media (astounding)

This is something that needs to be done but from the top. Good luck but please feel free to contact me should you need any help.

Show threadNarwhalNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman The links work now. Thanks!
Show threadaevaNov 6, 2022
@danielschuman I'm honestly not sure if I want the list so I can participate in civics in a small, small way, or so I can block every member of government regardless of party affiliation to preemptively remove doom scrolling bait, propaganda, and election spam from my timeline 🙃
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 6, 2022

@aeva If they go on their own instance, you could just block that. Although, for what it's worth, I've found value at times engaging with congressional twitter accounts.

From my perspective, all the members are not the same.

Show threadMarci HarrisNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman looks like @tedlieu is on? (But not active)
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022
@marcidale @tedlieu Thank you! I will add to my list. I had checked him yesterday and didn't see him.
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022
@marcidale He also provides a possible lead for one more.
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022
@marcidale I think -- I think -- for the politicos, there's going to have to be some sort of a blue check at some point, or its equivalent.
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022
@marcidale I don't know what to do when I see accounts like this.
Show threadMarci HarrisNov 7, 2022

@danielschuman eeek

yeah. Ugh. Not good.

Show threadMarci HarrisNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman but at least that is a mirror of her actual Twitter account
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022
@marcidale It says it's a mirror of her account. But who knows?
Show threadMarci HarrisNov 7, 2022

@danielschuman but who will authenticate? (Basically asking if we’re starting an instance? I assume you are already thinking about it 😉)

Would be so much better if house or senate or even some meta .gov took this on, but am not optimistic that will happen anytime soon… but maybe?

Plus first amendment issues if started/hosted by gov.. so maybe outside party is better idk

Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022

@marcidale Yes, correct.

1/ I've been thinking about either (a) starting my own instance, or (b) having the House and Senate start their own. I have emails out on the latter.

2/ Been thinking through the lessons learned from "let our congress tweet."

3/ I've scouted some domains. But I also (a) don't want to be responsible for this, and (b) don't want to pay for it. (c) Don't want someone irresponsible to do it.

4/ Tomorrows' newsletter gets into this- and a bunch of other really fun stuff.

Show threadMarci HarrisNov 7, 2022

@danielschuman I look forward to reading!

& yes to all of the considerations above (+ really messy first amendment public forum issues if official)

Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022
@marcidale I'm less worried about first amendment and more worried about efforts to get DMs through subpoenas, usage logs, etc.
Show threadTom LeeNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman @marcidale I’m still a mastodon noob but what I’ve read makes it sound like an instance could be configured to just have DMs disabled (and delete any incoming ones immediately). Might be the simplest way around this problem.
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022
@tjl @marcidale It would address the subpoena problem. It may not address the "what the logged in IP address at the time of a toot" issue, for example. Why anyone would care? I'm not entirely sure, but counsel will probably think about that kind of issue.
Show threadTom LeeNov 7, 2022

@danielschuman @marcidale a good point. I suspect that kind of logging could also be within an instance owner’s control. But your implication that this wouldn’t be simple seems right.

otoh knowing the enthusiasms of fediverse boosters, I wouldn’t be shocked if a privacy-maximalist instance config was already floating around out there in some form

Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022

@tjl @marcidale You may be right about a privacy maximalist version.

It might not even be necessary, so long as the holder of the instance has agreed/ was under legal obligation to pass all subpoena requests to the House and Senate for intervention.

Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022
@marcidale I have thought through verification mechanisms, so that part would be straightforward. Even thought about some ways to automate it.
Show threadMarci HarrisNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman might make more sense for caucus/conferences to do it TBH… then they would be responsible for rules & moderation
Show threadKKNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman @marcidale your excel list says AOC’s account is a bot account. Is that good/bad/neutral? Is it ok to follow?
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022

@kk It's totally fine to follow. The bot designation means that it automatically toots what was tweeted on twitter.

@marcidale

Show threadmaraleiaNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman thank you
Show threadBryan Chiang 🇹🇼Nov 7, 2022
@danielschuman what the most common way to forward a toot to the birdsite, do I just screenshot or does people have a better way to cross post?
Show threadDaniel SchumanNov 7, 2022

@bryanchiang I don't know what the most common way, but some people are using apps that tweet/toot to both.

To make that work, you'd have to provide your login credentials, which could be a security risk.

Here is one of those tools. (This is not an endorsement) https://crossposter.masto.donte.com.br/

Show threadBryan Chiang 🇹🇼Nov 8, 2022
@danielschuman thanks for the tip!
Show threadLina RodriguezNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman I figure something like this is what you are seeking?
Show threadLina RodriguezNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman Take a look.
Show threadLina RodriguezNov 7, 2022
@danielschuman Taken from a Wikidata Query Service
Show threadLina RodriguezNov 7, 2022

@danielschuman I am thinking @[email protected] is the one person who can help you get this off the ground.

Look at his profile and you will see. He is adding as many names as he can to help people get started.