How to Write Satire So Subtle That Conservatives Think You’re Serious

The Fine Line Between Satire and Fox News

Some satire is so deadpan it’s mistaken for real news. The secret? Mimic the tone of hyperpartisan media. Example: “Breaking: Liberals Now Want to Ban Oxygen for Being Too Woke.”

Step 1: Borrow Right-Wing Rhetoric

Use phrases like “radical left,” “snowflakes,” or “deep state” unironically. Example: “The radical left’s war on Christmas escalates: Santa now identifies as a non-binary elf.”

Step 2: Cite “Experts”

Fabricate think tanks. Example: “A study from the Institute of Things That Sound True confirms: 87% of millennials would rather eat avocado toast than defend freedom.”

Step 3: Avoid Obvious Absurdity

The more plausible the premise, the better. Example: “Democrats propose bill to replace national anthem with a Lizzo song.”

Advanced Techniques

1. The “Satire-to-News Pipeline”

Write something absurd, then watch pundits cite it. Example: “CNN fact-checks satire piece about Biden installing a waterslide in the Oval Office.”

2. The “Tucker Carlson”

Deliver satire with a straight face. Example: “Tonight on Fox: Is critical race theory turning frogs gay?”

3. The “Poe’s Law Bait”

Example: “GOP introduces bill requiring all schools to teach that dinosaurs rode Noah’s Ark.”

Conclusion

If your satire gets shared unironically by angry uncles, you’ve succeeded. Just don’t blame us when it ends up in a congressional hearing.