Forming Group Opinion with Talk Shows

 The talk show format on radio, TV and even on YouTube is a useful tool to form group opinion.

The host and guests serve as a sort of proxy family or friend group for the audience. They model the attitudes and present the interpretation of the world some oligarch wants to sell. The guests and hosts mock and deride other opinions. The guests and the hosts are presented as leading figures. The guests are usually attractive people, or at least are wearing makeup and clothes that make them look attractive or at least interesting.

They effectively launder the oligarchs' opinions into public opinion.

Of course the same thing happens on other popular media like entertainment shows, but usually in that case, broader themes are sold. Talk shows can fine tune public opinion on policy matters, legislation, and wars, for example. They're on more often, plus the thematic content can be focused more.