Ever get the feeling some people are just playing a different game than the rest of us? Honestly, watching the financial disclosures of our elected officials feels a lot like that. While we’re out here trying to figure out if inflation is actually cooling or if eggs are just cheaper today, folks on Capitol Hill are making moves that would make a hedge fund manager sweat.
What stocks are politicians buying right now?
The short answer: Big Tech, energy, and a surprising amount of Bitcoin.
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Recent filings from late 2025 and the first few weeks of January 2026 show a massive appetite for the "Magnificent Seven," but with some weirdly specific twists. For instance, Netflix (NFLX) has been a hot favorite lately. According to data from Quiver Quantitative, it's been one of the most frequently bought tickers over the last 90 days.
But it’s not just about streaming movies.
Lately, we’ve seen a big pivot toward Alphabet (GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT). You’d think they already owned enough of those, right? Apparently not. Even as some members sell off pieces of their portfolios to comply with new ethical pressures, others are doubling down on the AI infrastructure play.
The Tech Obsession
Technology remains the heavy hitter. It's basically the bread and butter of congressional portfolios.
- Nvidia (NVDA): It’s the elephant in the room. Nancy Pelosi’s recent disclosures still show a massive heavy-weight position here through call options. She’s betting big that the AI chip demand isn't just a bubble.
- Apple (AAPL): This one is a bit of a mixed bag. Some are buying the dip, but we’ve actually seen more "sell" orders for Apple than "buys" in the most recent quarter.
- Palantir (PLTR): Jonathan Jackson recently grabbed a chunk of this. It’s a classic "defense meets tech" play that usually gets politicians excited.
The Pelosi Factor
You can’t talk about this without mentioning Nancy Pelosi. She’s basically the Michael Jordan of congressional trading, for better or worse. Her portfolio has historically outperformed the S&P 500 by a margin that is, frankly, kind of insane.
In her latest filings, she’s been active with Broadcom (AVGO) and Vistra Corp (VST). Vistra is an interesting one. It’s an energy company, but it's heavily tied to the power needs of AI data centers. It’s a "picks and shovels" play for the digital age. She also dipped her toes into Tempus AI (TEM), a health-tech firm that uses data to personalize cancer treatment.
It’s these kinds of specific, niche picks that make people suspicious. Does she know something about a coming energy bill? Or is her husband just a really good trader? We may never truly know, but the "Pelosi Tracker" accounts on X (formerly Twitter) are busier than ever.
Why the sudden interest in Bitcoin?
This is the part that surprises people.
We’ve seen a notable uptick in politicians or their spouses buying Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs. Byron Donalds, for example, reported a purchase of Bitcoin through his spouse in late December 2025. Bernie Moreno has also been active in the space.
It’s a weird shift. A few years ago, most of Congress treated crypto like a plague. Now, it’s becoming a "diversification" tool. Maybe they’re just following the market, or maybe they see the regulatory landscape becoming a lot more "crypto-friendly" in the coming months.
Breaking down the "Buy" list
If you look at the raw data from sites like Capitol Trades or Unusual Whales, a few names keep popping up. It's not always the big household names. Sometimes it's boring stuff that hints at where the country is headed.
- FactSet Research (FDS): Surprisingly, this has been one of the most-bought stocks by volume recently. It’s a financial data company. When the markets get volatile, people need data.
- Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): The "safe haven." When politicians get nervous about a recession, they run to Uncle Warren.
- Hercules Capital (HTGC): Virginia Foxx has been a frequent buyer here. It's a business development company that lends to tech startups.
The "Ban the Trades" Movement
Here is the kicker: as I’m writing this, there is a massive push to finally ban this practice.
Rep. Jack Bergman and a bunch of others just cosponsored the Stop Insider Trading Act. If this actually passes (and that's a big "if"), members of Congress and their spouses would be prohibited from trading individual stocks.
They’d have to stick to boring index funds or blind trusts.
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Some members, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal, are saying the current bill doesn't go far enough because it lets them keep the stocks they already own. They call it a "loophole big enough to drive a truck through."
Is it actually "Insider Trading"?
That’s the million-dollar question. Legally, the STOCK Act of 2012 was supposed to stop this. It says they can’t use non-public information for profit.
The problem? It’s almost impossible to prove.
If a Senator sits on a committee that oversees the military and then buys stock in a defense contractor right before a big contract is announced, is that "inside info" or just "good intuition"? The fine for violating the reporting rules is often just $200. For someone making millions in the market, that’s not a deterrent; it’s just the cost of doing business.
Actionable Steps: How to use this info
Look, I’m not saying you should blindly copy every trade a politician makes. They have different risk tolerances and, let’s be real, different "access" than we do. But their moves can be a decent "macro" indicator.
- Watch the Sectors: If 20 politicians suddenly start buying regional bank stocks, maybe there's a deregulation bill coming.
- Use the Tools: Check out Quiver Quantitative or Capitol Trades. They scrape these disclosures so you don't have to read through messy PDF files.
- Mind the Lag: Politicians have up to 45 days to report their trades. By the time you see it, the move might already be over. Don't chase a trade that happened six weeks ago.
- Focus on the "Cluster Buys": One politician buying a stock might be a fluke. Ten politicians from both parties buying the same stock? That's a signal.
Whatever happens with the legislation, for now, the data is public. It’s one of the few ways we can actually see where the "smart" (or at least the "well-connected") money is flowing.
Keep an eye on the tech and energy crossover. That seems to be the sweet spot for 2026.
Check the most recent filings yourself. You'll often find that the biggest moves happen right before a major legislative session begins. It’s probably just a coincidence, right?
Sorta.