The following is a concise summary of the text:
The text is a transcript of a segment from John Oliver's show Last Week Tonight, where he exposes the practice of astroturfing, which is when corporations or political groups disguise themselves as spontaneous grassroots movements to influence public opinion. He gives examples of how astroturfers use misleading names, fake experts, paid demonstrators, and questionable anecdotes to advance their agendas. He warns that astroturfing can undermine genuine discourse and erode trust in democracy. He ends with a satirical ad that mocks the techniques of astroturfing.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Astroturfing is a practice where corporations or political groups disguise themselves as spontaneous, authentic, popular movements.
2. Astroturfing often involves creating fake grassroots movements, using misleading names, and hiding the true identity of the organization.
3. The term "astroturfing" was coined because it sounds like a natural, grassroots movement, but is actually fake.
4. The Citizens United decision has led to an increase in astroturfing techniques.
5. Rick Berman is a PR expert known for creating astroturf groups and defending controversial products.
6. Berman's group, the Center for Consumer Freedom, has been funded by the food and beverage industry, among others.
7. The group "Americans Against Food Taxes" was a front group for the food and beverage industry.
8. The National Wetlands Coalition worked on behalf of oil companies and real estate developers.
9. The American Council on Science and Health has been funded by fracking interests, soda companies, and chemical manufacturers.
10. Astroturf groups often use misleading names and create fake experts to lend credibility to their arguments.
11. The group "Citizens for Fire Safety" paid Dr. David Heimbach $240,000 to testify in favor of flame retardants.
12. Dr. Heimbach told a similar story about a baby being burned in three different testimonies, raising suspicions about its authenticity.
13. The medical examiner's office had no record of any burn victim matching Heimbach's description.
14. The company "Crowds on Demand" recruits actors to pose as protesters or supporters for events.
15. Crowds on Demand provided talking points for actors to use, including a statement about feeling like they live in a third-world country.
16. The CEO of Crowds on Demand, Adam Swart, admits to providing protesters but claims they are not tricking people.
17. Prince Jordan Tyson, a self-described struggling actor, was paid $100 to pose as a concerned citizen at a city council meeting.
18. Tyson later admitted to being paid and broke the "rules" of astroturfing by revealing the truth.
19. The existence of companies like Crowds on Demand has led to conspiracy theories about paid protesters and crisis actors.
20. Astroturfing can have serious consequences, including damaging public discourse and making it difficult to distinguish between real and fake grassroots movements.