YouTuber, educational creator and recent lobbyist to assist legislators, MatPat, stated that political considerations kept him from testifying during recent congressional hearings on creator rights. He said he was asked to appear but was later shelved from the schedule. The disclosure draws attention to how creators are selected or excluded for public policy discussions.
Too “bipartisan” to testify
In a livestream, MatPat said he had been invited by congressional staff to provide testimony but that the invitation was retracted at a later stage. He suggested his political viewpoints or stature may have played a role in the decision. He emphasized that creators should have more voices in shaping legislation that affects digital content, monetization and platform governance.
“We weren’t selected because we were too ‘general information,’ and we weren’t arguing on behalf of one way or the other. We had a general spread, and that was a bummer. It really made me sad,” MatPat said.
MatPat said he views creator rights as a bipartisan issue that affects people across political and ideological lines. However, he believes this nonpartisan perspective may have limited his ability to participate in the congressional discussion.
“There are a lot of systems structured around an ‘us versus them’ mentality, where issues are framed as red versus blue,” he said.
Commentators said that MatPat’s remarks might signal that political alignment and content sensitivity may influence which creators are given access to policy forums. Others pointed out that congressional schedules and vetting processes are complex and that not all invited individuals ultimately appear.
Creator rights hearings
Recent hearings in U.S. Congress have focused on issues such as copyright policy, revenue sharing, content moderation, and Section 230 reform. Platforms like YouTube, Twitch and TikTok are under sustained legislative interest as creators advocate for clearer, more favorable frameworks. Some creators testified about fairness in algorithmic transparency and unpaid monetization.