Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called for government regulation of the internet as part of a broader effort to reduce loneliness and powerlessness among Americans, two conditions he argues push voters toward leaders like President Donald Trump. Murphy made the remarks on September 21 during an appearance on the I’ve Had It podcast, where he discussed his book, Crisis of the Common Good.

Murphy told the podcast hosts that isolation and helplessness define the country right now. “Those are the two things I think Americans are going through right now… They don’t feel powerful at all, and they feel lonely,” he said.

His remedy for loneliness coincidentally becomes an excuse to grow the government even further.

“And so, government should build a set of rules in which people feel more powerful – that’s why the minimum wage is so important – and people feel so more connected,” Murphy said.

He added, “That’s why, you know, rebuilding healthy institutions in your town should be a project that government is involved in.”

Then he got to the internet and revealed his true objective. “Regulating the internet so that you’re spending less time alone on Instagram should be an important government project,” Murphy said. And if Americans feel more powerful and less alone, Murphy argued, “they are going to be less likely to fall for a bullshit demagogue like Donald Trump.”

Senator Chris Murphy to Jennifer Welch: Government needs to regulate social media so people are less likely to support a candidate like President Trump.

The left will censor your speech as soon as they have the power to do so. They’re not hiding the ball here.

They did it…

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 21, 2026

Murphy’s framework leaves little room for the more than 77 million Americans who voted for Trump in 2024 over high inflation, the border crisis, or high crime. In his telling, they were lonely, they spent too much time alone on Instagram, and they “fell for” something.

The platform he picked out makes an odd target. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. Instagram users found that 23% described the political content they see there as mostly liberal, and only 7% called it mostly conservative. Another 26% said they don’t see political content on Instagram at all. By its users’ own account, whatever politics the app serves up leans left. Though it’s far more likely he has other platforms in mind when he talks about regulating the internet if he thinks social media is causing people to vote for Trump.

Murphy gave no details on what his regulation would look like, whether time limits, design mandates, or rules on content. He was specific about its purpose. He wants fewer voters who “fall for” Trump, and a goal defined by one politician’s support points toward regulating what people see, which is where the censorship concerns begin. Murphy insists none of this is partisan. He claims the things that make people “more connected” and “more powerful” cut across political lines. His own summary of his idea runs counter to that. “Unless you fix what’s broken with the culture, you’re going to be stuck with people like Trump for a long time,” Murphy said.

Murphy’s comments come as lawmakers in both parties push to rein in social media companies to protect younger users, and some have floated rolling back Section 230’s liability shield. Protecting children is a legitimate cause. Any tool Congress builds for it, however, will belong to whoever holds power next.

Journalist Lara Logan couldn’t help but acknowledge the hypocrisy of Murphy’s proposal to regulate the internet.

“Are these the same people screaming foul about certain media organizations being kicked out of the White House?” she asked on X.