Shutdowns weren't done by media figures, they were done by policy-makers inside governments.

> That was just decentralized [governments] deciding to copy each other's opinions, because there's safety in numbers and group think, and because dissent sticks out and gets attacked.

Sorry, I thought that substitution was implied.

And "consent" to shutdowns were manufactured by policy makers inside governments paying media companies to promote their policies. It was a concerted effort.