Hometown Satirical Newspaper Conquers the World
Decades before “fake news” became a political dog whistle, the folks behind The Onion were publishing tongue-in-cheek, satirical news. The founders launched it in 1988 right here in Madison. Christine Wenc was a copy editor, writer, and illustrator on the original staff, and is the author of “Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire.” Host Bianca Martin chats with Christine about the Onion’s early days, and why Madison was the perfect birthplace for the iconic paper.
This show originally aired March 18. 2025.
👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 11th episode:
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
Fire on Fair Oaks, E. Coli Lakes Study, and Tom Farley On Recovery
TGIF! The City Cast Madison team is here with the biggest news stories of the week. More than 75 firefighters responded to a fire at Madi...
Why Distill America Puts Madison in High Spirits
This Saturday is the 18th annual Distill America event at Breese Stevens Field. Attendees will sample spirits from more than 90 vendors r...
Ticks Suck Extra Bad This Season, Plus Banned Watertown Song Will Play at the Barrymore
Thoroughly checking yourself for ticks is a must-do after spending time outdoors in the spring and summer. Tick season has already been b...
Is Madison a Beach Town?
We think one of Madison’s best qualities is its ability to transform with the weather, and we argue that in the summer, Madison becomes a...
MMSD Parental Leave, Land Donation to Ho-Chunk Nation, and Police Monitor Contradicts Internal Investigation
This week, the Madison Metro School District school board approved a 12-week paid parental leave policy for all district staff. Meanwhile...
Who Wins Summer in the USA? Madison Makes Its Case
City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson hosts this showdown where 12 City Cast reps, including City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin, co...
Inside the Wisconsin Academy’s Biggest Night
The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters connects Wisconsinites at the intersection of science, art, and culture. And their bigg...
Secrets Around Data Centers, Vegan Sausage Fest, and Madison Public Market Is Opening in July
Data centers have become a hot-button issue across the state. Newly released public documents show that Alliant Energy has received propo...
How Madison’s Smart Studios Shaped Indie Rock
Did you know that Nirvana recorded demos for their breakthrough album “Nevermind” here in Madison? It’s true. They recorded with Butch Vi...
'Your City Could Be Better': Do DC’s Hated Traffic Cameras Really Make the City Safer? — Presented By City Cast Madison
Would Madison be safer if there were more automated traffic cameras? In 2025, Washington, DC, brought in nearly $270 million from more th...