1. The “Onion” is satire. It is comedy. It is NOT trying to be news. It is trying to be humor. Calling it fake news would be like calling “Star Trek” fake history.
2. There is no indication of any news sources deliberately lying, but more of failing to critically examine rumors and hearsay that while being of dubious reliability tend to support one’s political positions. This reflects of serious decline in journalistic standards over the last century, as journalistgs who once dilligently took a skeptical approach to anything and everything, now see their role as seeking out “facts” that support an ideological position. While the news sections of a few sources (the “Wall Street Journal”, excluding its editorial sections) is one, most include the AP (a favorite of YWN), and most leading newspaper and networks, have become less concerned with accuracy and fact checking than in presenting arguments supporting an ideological position.