'Unpresidented': Fake edition of Washington Post claims Trump resigned

Summary

The video discusses a prank by activist group The Yes Men, who distributed fake editions of The Washington Post in Washington, DC, portraying a fictional future where the president leaves office following a massive uprising. The stunt aimed to spark conversation about political activism and media credibility, echoing a similar action the group took in 2008 with The New York Times. The video explores the motivations behind the prank and the potential impact on public trust in the media, especially in today’s context where attacks on journalism are more common.

Takeaways

• 😊 Fake editions of The Washington Post were distributed in Washington, DC on January 16th.
• 📰 The fake newspapers mimicked The Post’s design, including fonts and the masthead, making them convincing at first glance.
• 🚨 The content portrayed a fictional scenario where the president had left office following massive citizen-led uprisings, particularly women-led marches.
• 🎭 The activist group The Yes Men claimed responsibility for creating the fake newspaper and a matching website.
• 🛠️ The Yes Men are known for organizing pranks and disruptions to draw attention to their leftist causes.
• 📑 This prank aimed to present a vision of the future, encouraging activists to use it as a guidebook for change.
• 💸 About 25,000 copies of the fake paper were printed, with 10,000 distributed across the city at a cost of $40,000.
• 🗞️ The Yes Men previously executed a similar prank in 2008 with a fake version of The New York Times.
• 📅 The current political context, especially the president’s attacks on the media, made the prank resonate differently than in 2008.
• ⚠️ There are concerns that such pranks may further erode public trust in media, which could be counterproductive to liberal activists' goals.

Q & A

What event is the transcript discussing?

The transcript discusses a prank where fake editions of *The Washington Post* were distributed in Washington, DC, on January 16th.

Who claimed responsibility for the fake newspaper?

The Yes Men group, a self-described 'trickster activist collective,' claimed responsibility for the fake *Washington Post* newspaper.

What was the theme or message of the fake newspaper?

The fake newspaper presented a fictional scenario where the U.S. president had left the Oval Office following massive citizen uprisings, especially women-led marches.

What was the purpose of the fake newspaper according to The Yes Men group?

The purpose was to lay out a vision of what the country could look like and serve as a 'guide book' for activists to push for such changes.

How many copies of the fake *Washington Post* were printed and distributed?

The Yes Men group printed 25,000 copies of the fake newspaper, with about 10,000 copies being distributed on the streets.

How much did the entire effort to create and distribute the fake newspaper cost?

The entire effort cost approximately $40,000.

What similar stunt did The Yes Men group pull in 2008?

In 2008, The Yes Men created a fake copy of *The New York Times*, pressuring former President Barack Obama to push for progressive goals.

What is the difference between the 2008 prank and the recent *Washington Post* prank?

The 2008 prank did not take place in a context where the president was attacking the media. The current prank is being read differently due to the growing mistrust in media and the context of media criticism.

What concerns have been raised about the impact of this prank?

The prank has raised concerns about potentially further eroding the credibility and trustworthiness of news sources, which may be counterintuitive to the goals of these liberal activist groups.

What is the main critique of using such stunts to promote activism?

The main critique is that while such stunts may attract attention to activist causes, they may also contribute to the erosion of public trust in legitimate news sources.