John Oliver says ‘astroturfing’ is ‘serious threat to our public discourse’

Warning: Video contains explicit language

The topic of the monologue on the latest episode of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”: “Astroturfing.”

It’s the practice of significant actors using “nonprofit front groups,” Oliver called them, to mimic grassroots advocacy movements. Oliver cited how some groups turned to a company called Crowds on Demand, which paid participants to attend public meetings and rallies to advocate for certain causes.

The tactics, Oliver said, are “sophisticated, effective, and dangerous.”

“Astroturfing is a serious threat to our public discourse,” he added.

You can watch Oliver’s commentary at the top of this story.