An Infowars insider on the warped world of Alex Jones

Speaker 00:00

[electronic music] This is The Guardian.

Reged Ahmed· Host0:02

Reged Ahmed here on Gadigal Land. What was it like to work for firebrand Alex Jones and conspiracy website Infowars as it spread lies and called the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre a hoax? Today, we're bringing you an episode from The Guardian's international news podcast, Today in Focus, who speak to a former Infowars staff member as the bankrupt website is poised to be taken over in the wake of huge defamation losses.

Josh Owens· Guest0:39

When I first started working there, I would say I was a believer. It's, it's why I took the job. I was a well-meaning young guy who thought that going to work there was going to make a difference. I mean, that is genuinely what I felt.

Helen Pidd· Host0:55

[upbeat music] Josh Owens was a film school dropout when he was offered a job on Infowars, the online platform run by the far right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Speaker 41:03

What's dangerous is the pharmaceuticals. What's dangerous is the vaccines. What's dangerous is the high fructose corn syrup. What's dangerous is the fluoride. That's killing millions of people a year. It's worse than tobacco.

Helen Pidd· Host1:15

Josh was a fan. He thought Alex Jones was spreading, not conspiracies, but truths, truths the establishment wants to keep secret, and he seemed to have fun while he was doing it.

Speaker 41:24

I want this covered tomorrow night. I want GMOs covered. I want what's going on covered.