SamuelGabrielSG on Nostr: GPS Data Exposes Astroturfing at Denver Bernie-AOC Rally “Grassroots” or ...
GPS Data Exposes Astroturfing at Denver Bernie-AOC Rally
“Grassroots” or Manufactured Momentum?
The headlines were glowing. Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rolled into Denver and drew what media outlets called a 34,000-strong crowd—framed as a grassroots uprising of everyday Americans.
But the data tells a different story.
An independent GPS-based analysis of mobile device data puts the real crowd closer to 20,000. Still sizable—but far from record-breaking. More revealing? The majority of attendees didn’t come for Bernie or AOC. They’re part of a traveling protest circuit.
84% of devices had attended 9+ previous demonstrations—ranging from BLM and Antifa protests to pro-Palestinian marches and Kamala Harris campaign stops. Over 30% had shown up at 20+ events, often across multiple states.
This wasn’t organic. It was organized.
Connected Groups:
Many attendees had GPS and digital ties to activist organizations including:
Disruption Project
Indivisible
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
Rise & Resist
Troublemakers Collective
Several of these groups are funded via ActBlue and receive logistical or indirect support through NGOs linked to USAID—an agency with a long history of orchestrating “pro-democracy” events abroad.
A Familiar Playbook:
The method is clear: stage a high-optics event, inflate the numbers, flood social media, and spin a narrative. Drones, tight camera shots, pre-written press releases—it’s all standard now. But this isn’t grassroots energy. It’s a well-rehearsed performance.
Real local support gets overshadowed. Authentic movements get drowned out. This creates a false sense of national consensus—one that influences media coverage, campaign strategies, and ultimately, elections.
Why It Matters:
If nearly 9 out of 10 attendees at a “local” rally are seasoned, multi-state activists, what does that say about the authenticity of the moment? Who is driving these narratives? And how often are we being shown a crowd that doesn’t reflect the actual public?
This isn’t just about one rally. It’s about truth in representation—and whether we can still tell the difference between a movement and a media event.
Watch the crowd. But follow the footprints.
“Grassroots” or Manufactured Momentum?
The headlines were glowing. Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rolled into Denver and drew what media outlets called a 34,000-strong crowd—framed as a grassroots uprising of everyday Americans.
But the data tells a different story.
An independent GPS-based analysis of mobile device data puts the real crowd closer to 20,000. Still sizable—but far from record-breaking. More revealing? The majority of attendees didn’t come for Bernie or AOC. They’re part of a traveling protest circuit.
84% of devices had attended 9+ previous demonstrations—ranging from BLM and Antifa protests to pro-Palestinian marches and Kamala Harris campaign stops. Over 30% had shown up at 20+ events, often across multiple states.
This wasn’t organic. It was organized.
Connected Groups:
Many attendees had GPS and digital ties to activist organizations including:
Disruption Project
Indivisible
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
Rise & Resist
Troublemakers Collective
Several of these groups are funded via ActBlue and receive logistical or indirect support through NGOs linked to USAID—an agency with a long history of orchestrating “pro-democracy” events abroad.
A Familiar Playbook:
The method is clear: stage a high-optics event, inflate the numbers, flood social media, and spin a narrative. Drones, tight camera shots, pre-written press releases—it’s all standard now. But this isn’t grassroots energy. It’s a well-rehearsed performance.
Real local support gets overshadowed. Authentic movements get drowned out. This creates a false sense of national consensus—one that influences media coverage, campaign strategies, and ultimately, elections.
Why It Matters:
If nearly 9 out of 10 attendees at a “local” rally are seasoned, multi-state activists, what does that say about the authenticity of the moment? Who is driving these narratives? And how often are we being shown a crowd that doesn’t reflect the actual public?
This isn’t just about one rally. It’s about truth in representation—and whether we can still tell the difference between a movement and a media event.
Watch the crowd. But follow the footprints.