The truth is stranger (and funnier) than fiction as The Onion buys InfoWars

Right here’s the kind of headline you would possibly see in The Onion:

The Onion buys Alex Jones’ Infowars.

After which what would comply with could be a smart-alecky story in regards to the satirical web site taking down the crackpot conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, scooping up his web site from public sale, and the way a gun security advocacy group would promote on the revamped web site that may make enjoyable of different knuckleheads and dangerous actors.

It might be hilarious.

Now right here’s the deal. Every little thing above is true!

And, it is hilarious.

The Onion did find yourself with InfoWars on Thursday, profitable a chapter public sale to take over the positioning.

The Related Press’ Dave Collins reported that The Onion’s bid was backed by the households of Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing victims, to whom Jones owes greater than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the 2012 bloodbath a hoax.

The New York Occasions’ Benjamin Mullin wrote, “Everytown for Gun Security, a nonprofit devoted to ending gun violence that was based within the aftermath of the Sandy Hook capturing, will promote on a relaunched model of the positioning below The Onion. The publication plans to reintroduce Infowars in January as a parody of itself, mocking ‘bizarre web personalities’ like Mr. Jones who site visitors in misinformation and well being dietary supplements, Ben Collins, the chief govt of The Onion’s guardian firm, World Tetrahedron, stated in an interview.”

Ben Collins advised Mullin, “We thought this could be a hilarious joke. That is going to be our reply to this no-guardrails world the place there aren’t any gatekeepers and all the things’s type of insane.”

After all The Onion had a narrative on its web site about it from pretend CEO Bryce P. Tetraeder, who wrote, “No value could be too excessive for such a cornucopia of malleable property and minds. And but, in a stroke of excellent fortune, a formidable particular curiosity group has outwitted the hapless proprietor of InfoWars (a forgettable man with an already-forgotten title) and compelled him to promote it at a steep cut price: lower than one trillion {dollars}. Make no mistake: This can be a coup for our firm and a well-deserved victory for multinational elites the world over.”

In his AP story, Dave Collins wrote, “On his stay broadcast, Jones was indignant and defiant, vowing to problem the sale and public sale course of in court docket. He later introduced his present was being shut down. Jones, who had advised listeners for days that he had a brand new studio arrange close by, then resumed his broadcast from the brand new location, carrying them stay on his accounts on X.”

Jones advised his listeners, “This can be a complete assault on free speech, the deep state is totally uncontrolled. That is the tyranny of the New World Order, determined to silence the American folks.”

Possibly if Jones hadn’t been discovered chargeable for saying the Sandy Hook shootings have been a hoax, his web site wouldn’t be within the place he’s now.

Mullin wrote, “Mr. Collins stated The Onion started considering a bid for Infowars this summer time, when he learn on-line that it was going to be auctioned off. The publication’s management group noticed a possibility to play a really humorous, very public joke on Mr. Jones if issues broke their approach.

In early fall, Mr. Collins reached out to the attorneys for the households of the victims of the Sandy Hook shootings, whom he knew from his days as a reporter masking misinformation at NBC Information. The households expressed help for The Onion’s bid, Mr. Collins stated.”

Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed within the Sandy Hook capturing, stated in a press release, “The dissolution of Alex Jones’s property and the demise of Infowars is the justice we have now lengthy awaited and fought for.”

Craig Melvin has been chosen by NBC Information to interchange Hoda Kotb as co-host of the “As we speak” present. Melvin will transfer into the chair alongside Savannah Guthrie from 7 to 9 a.m. Jap after Kotb leaves on Jan. 10 of subsequent 12 months.

That’s the precise transfer.

Melvin already hosts the present’s third hour and is the information anchor through the first two hours. He’ll proceed internet hosting the third hour with Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones.

Libby Leist, senior vice chairman of “As we speak,” stated in a press release, “We’re past thrilled to have Craig step into the co-anchor chair. He’s been an integral and beloved a part of our household. From breaking information protection within the discipline, to presidential interviews, to a number of Olympics and Tremendous Bowls, Craig’s proven he has the expertise and the vary to cowl all that we do right here at ‘As we speak.’ And he does it with out ever shedding that Southern appeal.”

The present made the announcement official on the air. Melvin stated, “I’ve loved only a lifetime of blessings and that is the newest.” He advised Kotb and Guthrie, “You guys are the sisters I by no means thought I wanted.”

Charlotte Klein’s newest for New York journal: “Who Needs to Cowl the Second Coming of Trump?”

It will get into who the following White Home press secretary may be. Klein lists potential candidates as Karoline Leavitt, who was the marketing campaign’s nationwide press secretary and now could be the transition spokeswoman; marketing campaign spokesman Steven Cheung; marketing campaign advisers Danielle Alvarez and Brian Hughes; Tim Murtaugh, a former 2020 Trump marketing campaign communications director; and, Scott Jennings — the conservative voice on many CNN panels.

Klein additionally writes about what protection from the most important information organizations would possibly appear like.

She wrote that one political author advised her, “Protecting a Trump administration simply requires a fairly sturdy sturdy group that’s going to be accessible on a regular basis.” However, one other added, “Who has the cash to rent? Principally everyone seems to be laying people off. There’s simply not plenty of sources on the market. A handful of locations shall be on the hunt, and everybody else shall be attempting to maintain their present expertise from bailing.”

• The Washington Submit’s Jeremy Barr with “With jobs to fill, Trump as soon as once more turns to Fox Information.”
• Talking of Fox Information, Margaret Sullivan’s newest column for The Guardian is “Any line of separation between Fox Information and the US authorities is about to fade.” Sullivan writes, “It’s exhausting to leap from Fox to a job at a severe information group. However, if you wish to work on the Trump White Home, there are few higher resume-builders.”
• And Politico’s Jasper Goodman with “Trump’s cable information Cupboard,” He writes, “Need a job within the second Trump administration? Get booked on a cable information present.”
• The Wall Avenue Journal’s Joe Flint and Drew FitzGerald with “Trump vs. Media Strikes Again to the White Home.”
• In the course of the presidential marketing campaign, Donald Trump talked to a bunch of podcasters and streamers. Jon Caramanica and The New York Occasions watched all of them and wrote, “The place to Discover the Avuncular Donald Trump? Examine the Manosphere.”
• For Columbia Journalism Evaluate, Paul Beckett with “The Wall Avenue Journal’s Marketing campaign to Free Evan Gershkovich.”
• Liz Seymour has been named managing editor of The Washington Submit. Seymour, who has been with the Submit for 25 years, was most lately a deputy managing editor. Seymour joins present managing editors Matea Gold, Krissah Thompson and Scott Vance and can report back to govt editor Matt Murray.
• The Washington Submit’s Jessica Contrera and Jenn Abelson (with pictures by Carolyn Van Houten) with “A police chief was accused of paying $100 to rape a teen — and attempting to cowl it up.”

Have suggestions or a tip? E mail Poynter senior media author Tom Jones at [email protected].

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