News media play a central role in democratic politics, yet how they affect policy makers remains unclear. This paper introduces the theory of strategic responsiveness — which argues elected representatives are more likely to pay attention to voter preferences when voters themselves are attentive.

The study capitalizes on Fox News's incremental launch in the late 1990s as an observational experiment. Using this natural event, researchers demonstrate that media influence emerges strategically near elections and depends heavily on partisan constituency composition.

### Key Findings

Both Republican AND Democratic members of Congress increased support for the Republican stance on divisive votes only* during election season (specifically in its waning months).

* This shift was influenced by Fox News's presence, affecting responsiveness to media content based on their district's partisan makeup.

* Media influence was most noticeable among representatives from districts with a large number of Republicans.

### Why It Matters

This research underscores the complex interplay between media and political behavior. The findings suggest that news outlets can impact legislative decisions, but this effect is contingent upon timing (election cycles) and partisan context.