Paid Protesters

Paid Protesters

Published: March 3, 2026

Duration: 41:08

From abolitionists to the Tea Party, accusations of “paid protesters” have shadowed American political movements for centuries. But what if the reality is more nuanced (and more interesting) than the talking points suggest?

In this episode, Andy Mills sits down with Adam Swart, founder and CEO of Crowds on Demand, a company that quite literally pays people to demonstrate. Swart pulls back the curtain on an industry most people encounter only as a conspiracy theory, explaining how his business actually works.

As you’ll hear, Swart makes his provocative case that the “astroturf vs. grassroots” debate is...