Question Everything Can Satire Save Democracy? w/ The Onion CEO Ben Collins
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Nov 27, 2025 
Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion and former disinformation reporter, dives into the role of satire in contemporary politics. He discusses the success behind reviving The Onion's print newspaper and critiques mainstream journalism’s fair reporting norms. Collins reflects on his attempt to buy InfoWars, aiming to shut it down, and explains why AI will never match human creativity in comedy. With a blend of humor and insight, he highlights the importance of laughing while confronting unsettling truths about media.
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Replace Toxic Ads With Paid Readers
- Turn off exploitative ad streams and build direct relationships with readers through products like a mailed newspaper.
- Use unique physical experiences to convert loyalty into paid subscriptions and sustainable revenue.
Double Down On Core Strengths
- Lean into what your organization does best instead of chasing industry norms or appeasing stakeholders.
- Use niche strengths to build a sustainable audience and resist chasing every platform trend.
Specificity Wins Over False Balance
- Satire succeeds by drilling to extreme specificity and refusing to split the difference for false 'balance'.
- That clarity lets satirists expose truth where mainstream outlets hedge and dilute meaning.