Is the US an oligarchy or a democracy? It's a spectrum.

Some people think USA is already an oligarchy instead of a democracy. Basically run by the rich with their lobbyists, corporate power and so forth. The line between democracy and oligarchy is blurry. It's like a scale depending on where one draws the line, to some extent.

I wouldn't say we are an oligarchy, yet at least. Ironically, populism may be pushing us that way, however. Populism seems to follow celebrities ranging from Donald Trump and Elon Musk to Hollywood celebrities. There are celebrities influencing thinking on both the left and the right. Many conspiracy theories are based on Hollywood movies. I'm not into movies that much, but I remember seeing China Syndrome.

Many callers to radio talk shows seem to get the plots for their conspiracy theories from the movies. They often say, "this is happening like, you know, in the movie (fill in the blank)."