Podcast Summary: The Onion Is Buying Infowars. No Joke
Podcast Title: The Journal
Hosts: Ryan Knutson, Kate Linebaugh, Jessica Mendoza
Production: The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet, Spotify
Episode Title: The Onion Is Buying Infowars. No Joke.
Introduction
In a startling and seemingly surreal announcement, The Onion, the renowned satirical news organization, revealed plans to acquire Infowars, a far-right media platform formerly helmed by Alex Jones. This move, initially perceived as a comedic stunt, has profound implications for media, misinformation, and advocacy against extremism.
Background: The Onion and Infowars
[00:05-00:37]
Ryan Knutsen opens the episode by highlighting The Onion's announcement to buy Infowars, underlining the initial disbelief and amusement it sparked. Infowars, previously owned by Alex Jones, became available for sale following a bankruptcy proceeding initiated by a $1.4 billion defamation judgment against Jones by the families of Sandy Hook massacre victims.
Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, elaborates on the motivation behind the acquisition:
"[00:37] We wanted people to wake up and be like, wait, I can get a push alert... And at the end of the day, that's the reaction we want from people."
— Ben Collins
The Acquisition Announcement
[05:13-07:25]
Ben Collins shares the inception of the idea to purchase Infowars, initially conceived as a humorous thought within The Onion’s creative team. Upon recognizing the potential for leveraging humor to dismantle misinformation propagated by Alex Jones, Collins reached out to John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, to explore the feasibility of the acquisition.
Key Points:
- The Onion aims to use satire to counteract the dangerous misinformation disseminated by Infowars.
- Collaboration with Everytown for Gun Safety ensures that the acquisition aligns with broader efforts to promote gun safety and combat extremism.
Collaboration with Everytown for Gun Safety
[05:27-09:30]
Ryan Knutsen introduces John Feinblatt, who discusses the strategic partnership between The Onion and Everytown. Feinblatt emphasizes the opportunity to utilize The Onion's creative prowess to reach and influence diverse audiences, including those entrenched in misinformation.
"[06:48]... The Onion keeps republishing this article after mass shootings. They've run it now 37 times, and it's something every town noticed and appreciated."
— John Feinblatt
John Feinblatt further explains:
"[07:49] We thought that an advertising relationship could actually help us really break through... Sometimes you need that kind of medium of humor to really set the record straight."
— John Feinblatt
Rationale Behind the Acquisition
[08:02-12:02]
Ben Collins discusses the dual objectives of the acquisition: delivering humor while addressing serious societal issues. He underscores The Onion’s role in highlighting and mocking the absurdities within American life, positioning the purchase of Infowars as a means to expose and ridicule misinformation.
"[08:31]... The Onion is trying as hard as possible to convince you a real thing is fake. That's basically the difference here."
— Ben Collins
John Feinblatt adds a layer of moral satisfaction to the deal, viewing it as "poetic justice" against Alex Jones' harmful narratives.
Plans for Infowars Under The Onion’s Ownership
[12:05-19:58]
Ben Collins outlines The Onion’s vision for transforming Infowars into a satirical platform that continues to engage its existing audience while attracting new viewers through humor. The objective is to dismantle the facade of misinformation by presenting parody content that highlights the absurdity of conspiracy theories.
"[13:34] We have a wide open blank canvas here that a lot of comedy writers have wanted to play in this space, but only at the quality bar that The Onion can provide. So that's what we're going to do."
— Ben Collins
Plans include:
- Relaunching Infowars as a parody news site in January 2025.
- Utilizing humor to reach and influence audiences previously aligned with Infowars.
- Integrating Everytown’s advocacy efforts to promote gun safety through creative content.
Challenges Addressed:
- Navigating the delicate balance between satire and sensitivity towards victims of misinformation.
- Overcoming skepticism from audiences accustomed to Infowars’ serious tone.
Handling Infowars’ Supplement Business
[18:57-19:58]
In a lighter segment, Ben Collins humorously addresses the future of Infowars' supplement business, acknowledging the absurdity of managing a warehouse full of supplements.
"[19:08]... if you know a supplement guy, give me a call."
— Ben Collins
This segment serves to reinforce the satirical nature of the acquisition, highlighting The Onion’s intent to inject humor into all aspects of Infowars’ operations.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
[14:43-16:26]
The sale faces scrutiny over its transparency and legality, with Alex Jones and First United American Companies questioning the process. A bankruptcy judge has scheduled a hearing to review the sale's legitimacy, ensuring that the acquisition adheres to legal standards.
John Feinblatt emphasizes the ethical imperative behind the acquisition, linking it to broader efforts to combat fear-driven narratives and promote factual discourse.
Conclusion
[20:20-20:38]
As the episode wraps up, both Ben Collins and John Feinblatt reiterate the significance of the acquisition as a tool for societal change. Collins maintains the humorous stance regarding future plans, while Feinblatt underscores the justice served against Alex Jones' legacy of misinformation.
"[20:22] I think that just to underscore the bottom line here is if I've ever seen a case of poetic justice, this is it for Alex Jones."
— John Feinblatt
"[20:33] The supplement offer is real. If you know a guy, just give me a ring."
— Ben Collins
Final Thoughts
The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars represents a bold experiment in using satire as a weapon against misinformation and extremism. By partnering with Everytown for Gun Safety, The Onion aims to leverage humor to reach broader audiences and challenge entrenched narratives. As the legal proceedings unfold, the media world watches closely to see if this unconventional strategy can effect meaningful change.
For those interested in exploring further, The Journal offers comprehensive coverage on topics intersecting money, business, and power, blending investigative journalism with insightful discussions.