On Sunday, Sen. Ted Cruz questioned why Twitter’s algorithm keeps showing him tweets from Democrats and gave “Ted Deutch … Sheldon Whitehouse … Steve Cohen … Chuck Schumer … and Chris Murphy” as examples:

Is it just me or is there something REALLY wrong with Twitter’s algorithms? Because I follow Steve Scalise and several other GOP members of Congress, I get recommended tweets from Ted Deutch … Sheldon Whitehouse … Steve Cohen … Chuck Schumer … and Chris Murphy? ? pic.twitter.com/71TWk0PklB — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 9, 2019

Um. . .

We love to bash social media companies as much as the next guy, but we’re pretty sure Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) has it right with this response:

Could be they are all members of Congress? — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) June 9, 2019

Bet Sen. Cruz wasn’t satisfied and he bet Sen. Schatz $100 that it would be different on his timeline:

Really, Brian?? You can’t think of any other similarities btwn them? And differences w/ Scalise? Twitter only does this in one DIRECTION. In fact, let’s try this experiment: take a pic of Twitter’s recs to you (a Dem senator) RIGHT NOW. I’ll give $100 if it recs even 2 of 5 Rs. https://t.co/1SnQnB6Nlp — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 9, 2019

It looks like Sen. Cruz lost the bet, although there is no screenshot proof:

It had Schumer Blumenthal Mcarthy Meadows Scalise. I think, no snark, it’s just “you like following politicians, here are some more politicians.” — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) June 9, 2019

It really isn’t just in one direction, at least where this algorithm is concerned:

Senator @tedcruz that’s simply not true. Twitter is filled with tweets from liberal folks who wonder why they get conservative recommendations. Take a minute to search and you’ll find plenty of examples. It’s not just in one direction. https://t.co/pXDF8Bt2Et — Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) June 9, 2019

The two accounts most frequently placed into my feed are Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump Jr. But, as always, Ted Cruz is the real victim here. https://t.co/jfxfiASvvl — Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) June 9, 2019

The algorithm does this for sports, too:

Dude, Twitter constantly recommends I follow the STL Cardinals and Cardinals players. This goes in all directions! https://t.co/1zJPfxeF3C — Mary Elizabeth (@mchastain81) June 9, 2019

Hopefully, the two can work together at “algorithmic transparency,” because it is a serious issue:

I get recommendations to follow all kinds of people with whom I disagree, and it never occurred to me that it would be a political conspiracy. But there are some legit issues related to algorithmic transparency that we could work on together. https://t.co/NyO3ieZ28Q — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) June 9, 2019

***