# Area Man Feels Joy Online for First Time in Years

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/area-man-feels-joy-online-for-first-time-in-years/
- Published: 2026-11-05T15:38:07+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T00:06:51+00:00
- Original publisher: Wired
- Original article: https://www.wired.com/story/wired-world-fair-2026-ben-collins-the-onion/
- Topics: Americas, Business, Companies, Elections, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Collins says midterm wins have renewed his hope.
- The Onion’s Infowars takeover remains tied up in court.
- Harrison and Collins see satire as a way to cope.

## Summary

The Onion CEO Ben Collins and comedian Patti Harrison discussed political satire, online culture and the value of humour at the WIRED World Fair in Miami. Collins said recent Democratic midterm wins had given him hope as The Onion continues its legal fight to take control of Infowars, while both speakers described comedy as a way to cope with political despair and make difficult ideas easier to reach.

The Onion won Infowars in a bankruptcy auction, but a federal judge in Texas overturned the deal; Collins said a new decision from the state’s attorney general might change its prospects. He also said the publication was close to buying a Division I college football bowl game. Harrison recalled how MySpace connected her with like-minded people growing up in a rural community, while criticising today’s social media as abusive; Collins called the current internet a “joy vacuum” and said real-world friendships and creative work bring him the most enjoyment.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.