• Brad Sherman photographed viewing lingerie images on tablet during flight
• Congressman blames X algorithm for serving unwanted content
• Capitol Hill staffers expose incident, Trump Jr. amplifies controversy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Representative Brad Sherman faced mounting scrutiny after photos surfaced showing the 71-year-old California Democrat viewing images of scantily-clad women on his tablet during a commercial flight. The congressman defended his behavior by blaming the X platform’s algorithmic content recommendations, claiming the material appeared without his deliberate search.

The images, posted November 14 by the Dear White Staffers account and later amplified by Donald Trump Jr., showed Sherman with his mouth agape while scrolling through multiple photos of women in lingerie. The Dear White Staffers account, run by Capitol Hill staffers dedicated to exposing poor working conditions, sparked immediate controversy when the photos went viral across social media platforms.

Algorithm defense draws skepticism

In a detailed interview with Punchbowl News reporter John Bresnahan, Sherman offered an unusual explanation for the incident. He insisted the images appeared in his X platform’s For You feed without his deliberate search, attributing the content to algorithmic recommendations that Elon Musk has allegedly manipulated.

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

“Simply put — Donald Trump Jr, the White House and MAGA are trying to divert from releasing the Epstein files,” Sherman said in his statement. “This was nothing more than scrolling through Twitter — and unfortunately Elon Musk has ruined the Twitter algorithm to give people content that they don’t ask for or subscribe to.”

The congressman, who has represented California’s 32nd Congressional District since 1997, admitted he found the images appealing. “If I see a picture of a woman, might I look at it longer than a sunset? Yeah,” he told Bresnahan. Sherman claimed he viewed more than 1,000 posts during his cross-country flight.

Political firestorm ignites

White House communications director Steven Cheung intensified the controversy by reposting the images with a derogatory comment, calling Sherman a “total gooner” — slang for someone consumed by explicit content. Sherman fired back on social media, demanding the administration “release the Epstein files,” attempting to shift focus to ongoing political controversies surrounding the late convicted sex offender.

The incident highlighted broader tensions within Democratic circles, as the Dear White Staffers account has evolved from its original mission of documenting racial disparities on Capitol Hill to becoming a platform for various political grievances. The account’s decision to expose Sherman reportedly stems from disagreements over his stance on Israel policy.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

Representative Nancy Mace seized the opportunity to criticize Sherman on social media, declaring she doesn’t want to hear complaints about her own airport conduct again. The South Carolina Republican’s comment referenced previous controversies surrounding congressional behavior in public spaces.

Technical explanations fall flat

Sherman’s defense centered on how X’s algorithm works, explaining that the platform’s “For You” tab curates content based on user interactions and engagement patterns. According to X’s terms of service, the images Sherman viewed qualify as “Adult Content,” which includes full or partial nudity and close-ups of intimate body parts.

When pressed by Bresnahan about whether viewing such material was appropriate on an airplane, Sherman conceded it was not. “Is it pornography? I don’t think Elon Musk thinks so. Is it appropriate? No,” he acknowledged during the 13-minute interview.

The congressman also dismissed questions about potential addiction issues, stating emphatically that he doesn’t have a problem with pornography. “It’s all about the algorithms,” Sherman insisted, suggesting the platform’s content curation system was entirely responsible for serving him the provocative images.

Long career faces scrutiny

Sherman’s 28-year tenure in Congress has included service on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Financial Services Committee. Before entering Congress, he served on the California State Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1996, where he led efforts to repeal the state’s controversial snack tax.

The UCLA graduate and Harvard Law School alumnus has built a reputation as a consumer rights advocate and champion for working families. Sherman played a key role in forming the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and has consistently supported progressive policies on environmental standards, education funding and healthcare reform.

However, this latest incident threatened to overshadow his legislative accomplishments. Critics on both sides of the political aisle questioned his judgment and awareness of appropriate public behavior, particularly for an elected official representing constituents.

Broader implications

The controversy underscored the challenges public officials face in an era where social media algorithms increasingly control content exposure. Sherman’s attempt to blame algorithmic recommendations for his viewing choices raised questions about personal responsibility versus platform design.

Technical experts noted that X’s “For You” feed learns from user behavior, meaning repeated engagement with similar content increases the likelihood of seeing more. The algorithm tracks likes, retweets, replies and even how long users linger on specific posts to tailor future recommendations.

Sherman’s admission that he looked at the images “longer than a sunset” suggested active engagement rather than passive scrolling, contradicting his claims about unwanted algorithmic content. His justification that “if you have to fly across the country, you look at a lot of stuff on your tablet” failed to resonate with critics who noted millions of Americans fly daily without viewing explicit material.

Should elected officials face stricter accountability for their public conduct, or do algorithmic recommendations share responsibility for content exposure?

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10