Dave Davies

This is Fresh Air.

Journalist and historian Ian Baruma has spent decades writing about dark corners of 20th century history.

In his latest book, Stay Alive, Berlin 1939-1945, Baruma explores what life was like during World War II in the German capital, where his father was working as a forced laborer.

Our critic-at-large John Power says Baruma's observations of life under Nazi rule have special relevance now in an era of creeping authoritarianism.

John Powers reviewed Stay Alive by Ian Baruman.

Our digital media producer is Molly C.V.

Nesperer.

The Challenger directed today's show.

For Terry Gross and Tanya Mosley, I'm Dave Davies.

This is Fresh Air.

I'm Dave Davies.

Our guest today has a story to tell about what it's like to work in a disinformation factory.

It's the one created by this man.

You might recognize that as the voice of Alex Jones, the force behind InfoWars, the website, radio program, video streaming show, and podcast known for propagating countless conspiracy theories.

Among them, the notion that the deadly school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary was a hoax staged by the government to justify seizing the guns of American citizens.

Josh Owen spent four years in his 20s as a video editor and field producer for Jones and his media company.

His new memoir takes readers inside the frenetic Infowars paranoia shop, where Jones constantly demanded that his staff churn out stories of the evil perpetrated by the deep state and global elites, stories based on few, if any, actual facts.

Owens was troubled by the work, but stayed longer than he wishes he had.

Because the pay was good, the work was engaging, and while he found Jones a troubled and sometimes terrifying man, Owens still sought his approval.

After leaving Infowars, Owens spoke out against conspiratorial thinking in writing and appearing in the HBO documentary, The Truth vs. Alex Jones.