The Sam Sanders Show Can Satire Save Democracy? w/ The Onion CEO Ben Collins
Oct 3, 2025
Ben Collins, the CEO of The Onion and a former NBC News reporter, dives into the world of satire and its impact on democracy. He shares insights on journalism's struggles with free speech and discusses relaunching The Onion’s print newspaper. Ben argues that AI will never match human humor and reveals what makes a great joke. He reflects on satire's role in confronting power, offers perspectives on the changing media landscape, and shares his thoughts on pop culture, including a bold take on Joe Rogan.
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Replace Toxic Ads With Real Revenue
- Turn off bad ad streams and find alternative revenue even if it cuts major income immediately.
- Relaunching print or other beloved physical products can convert devoted readers into sustainable subscribers.
How The Onion Brought Back Print
- The Onion found a newspaper printer near O'Hare and automated packaging with a robot arm to deliver printed papers to 57,000 subscribers.
- Their return to print scaled quickly and reached readers in over 50 countries.
Double Down On Your Strengths
- Lean into what your outlet does best and protect expertise and craft rather than chasing broad, diluted coverage.
- Focus on unique strengths to attract readers even in a declining industry.