The Onion’s Latest Joke: Taking Over Infowars
The Daily
07/07/26
•22m
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Last Thursday, the satirical newspaper The Onion started its own version of Infowars, the infamous online hub of misinformation created by Alex Jones.
The takeover has been years in the making. After Mr. Jones lost two defamation cases, his assets were put up for auction. The Onion took over Infowars and said it planned to convert the site into a parody of itself.
Ben Collins, who is the chief executive of The Onion, and the comedian Tim Heidecker talk about what they plan to do with the newly acquired platform and why they pushed so hard to take control of it.
Guest:
- Ben Collins, chief executive of The Onion
- Tim Heidecker, actor and comedian
Background reading:
- The Onion’s plan to take over Infowars.
Photo: Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times
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Previous Episode
President Trump called a major bill to address the housing crisis “the most comprehensive and consequential housing legislation in the history of our country,” and a Congress controlled by his own party passed it by overwhelming margins.
So why is he refusing to sign it?
Michael Gold, who covers Congress for The New York Times, discusses Mr. Trump’s abrupt reversal and what may lie ahead.
Guest: Michael Gold, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times in Washington.
Background reading:
- Mr. Trump’s refusal to sign the housing bill complicates a bipartisan effort.
- These are the three potential fates for the bill.
Photo: Philip Cheung for The New York Times
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
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Next Episode
The Implosion of Graham Platner
July 8
•35m
The campaign for Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for Senate from Maine, imploded this week after he was accused of rape.
Lisa Lerer and Shane Goldmacher, national political correspondents for The New York Times, discuss the battle over who should replace him on the ballot and the identity crisis inside the Democratic Party.
Guest:
- Lisa Lerer, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.
- Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Mr. Platner’s Democratic support evaporated after the sexual assault allegation.
- Progressives and moderates are gearing up for a fight over an as-yet-undecided process in Maine to name a replacement for Mr. Platner.
Photo: Sophie Park for The New York Times
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
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