The prank call that fooled Wisconsin's Gov. Scott Walker
An undercover reporter punks the state's embattled governor by posing as a billionaire supporter

The audio: On Tuesday, a reporter impersonating billionaire David Koch, a major backer of conservative causes, bluffed his way into a 20-minute phone conversation with Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.), the man at the center of Wisconsin's dramatic labor protests. (Listen below.) Walker tells the fake Koch — actually Ian Murphy, editor of the Buffalo Beast — that the Wisconsin showdown is "our time to change the course of history." He also reveals a provisional plan to lure runaway Democrats back to Wisconsin, then employ a sly legislative technique to circumvent their voting power. Murphy, meanwhile, hams it up as a "Daddy Warbucks-style" figure consistent with the liberal take on Koch. At one point, he assures Walker that "Once you crush these bastards, I'll fly you out to Cali and really show you a good time" — to which Walker responds, "All right, that would be outstanding."
The reaction: This call is proof that the stand-off is really about "cracking heads and union-busting, [as if] we live in the age of The Great Gatsby or something," says Christopher Mims at Grist. It's "breathtaking" to witness such political cronyism. The prankster himself tells Sam Stein of The Huffington Post that Walker only nixed an idea to fill protesting crowds with conservative plants because it was impractical. And a statement from the governor's office, while confirming that the conversation was real, insists that "the governor maintained his appreciation for and commitment to civil discourse." Check out a recording of the prank call:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The marvelous powers of mucus
The Explainer It's snot just a pesky cold symptom
-
What to know about the 'no tax on tips' policy
The Explainer The new bill would make tip income exempt from federal income taxes
-
Dehorning rhinos sharply cuts poaching, study finds
Speed Read The painless procedure may be an effective way to reduce the widespread poaching of rhinoceroses
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy