This is True, Really News

From a terrifying Australian crime scene that turned out to be a discarded bespoke adult doll to a Miami man trying to smuggle live birds in his pants, Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes cover the week's most bizarre true headlines. This episode also breaks down how FEMA uses the legendary "Waffle House Index" to track hurricane devastation and the New York lawyers who humiliated themselv...

We're back in the Mailbag with a hilarious mix of small-town police blotter absurdity and the funniest autocorrect text fails you'll ever hear (Adults Only!). From a man calling 911 for a sliced finger  while already in the ER  to a teen lobbing Oscar Mayer slices at her ex's house, the Flathead Police Blotter never disappoints. Then, the guys accidentally ace a Nobel Prize quiz before...

What do a flooded New Jersey street shark, a Brazilian serial killer in a dress, and a Roman Emperor's fatal cheese binge have in common?  They're all on today's episode of  This is True Really News  with Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes! Plus, with the MLB playoffs heating up, the guys dive into some "inside baseball" to discuss the absolute weakest teams to ever stumble their...

In Episode 1105 of  This Is True Really News , a Kentucky police officer tries to use "qualified immunity" as a magic spell to arrest a perfectly sober crash victim for a DUI. Plus, how does 200 pounds of confiscated cocaine just mysteriously vanish from a Caribbean police station? Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes are back to break down the most absurd, hilarious, and bizarre news stories f...

Happy Saturday! In Episode 252 of the  This is True Really News Mailbag , we kick things off with a collection of the most bizarre and hilarious signs out in the wild—from "pumpkin spice" oil changes to strict rules about cats on the golf course. Then, we dive into historical events with completely unexpected consequences. Did you know the Titanic disaster directly caused the deadliest s...

From a suspicious package that brought D.C. traffic to a standstill to the wildest monastery scandals you'll ever hear, Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes are back to break down the week’s most ridiculous true headlines. In Episode 1104, we discover the golfing origins of the "F-bomb" (aka "ground pounding"), find out why an astronomer thinks SpaceX needs a spiritual permit to c...

In episode 1103 of  This is True, Really News , Scott Combs and Tony Vercanez break down some of the most bafflingly stupid criminal masterminds to ever make the headlines. We kick things off with a Virginia fraudster dubbed "Sauce God" who ran a $2 million check fraud ring—and generously provided all the evidence to the Feds by bragging on social media. Plus, an inside job at an Arizona...

A 72-year-old man makes medical history, Katmai National Park prepares for its chunkiest residents, and a Mississippi wildlife rescue throws graduation ceremonies for raccoons. Tony and the crew are back to unpack the most bizarre true news stories of the week, including an Indiana arson case that takes a shockingly painful turn. In This Episode: 0:00  – Intro, rice pilaf debates, and podcast anal...

Robot Spies, Mushroom Loyalty Cards & The Serial Sniffer | This is True Really News Ep 1102 All the news you're about to hear is true... really, as far as you know. This week, Scot and Tony dive into the wild world of criminal masterminds and robotic revelations. We kick things off in Minnesota with a drug dealer who tried to build customer retention using "Flower Daddy" punch ca...

A legally blind man goes on a 150-mile drunk driving joyride in the UK, and three Florida men in their underwear assault a Waffle House with beef sticks. Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes return for Episode 1101 of  This is True, Really News  to break down the week's most unbelievable—but entirely true—headlines. We also dive into the intense, high-stakes world of Texas high school competitive bar...

Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes open up the mailbag for a milestone Episode 250 of  This is True, Really News ! In this episode, we dive into a truly bizarre batch of weird news, including an unexpected demographic revelation about our podcast audience and a painful update on Scot's 300,000-mile truck. What's inside the mailbag today: Our Shocking Spotify Stats:  We check our streaming numbe...

Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes return for Episode 1100 to break down the week's most absurd, hilarious, and completely true news stories. From heroic poultry to questionable scientific experiments, this episode covers it all. In this episode: The Hero Goose:  A Fort Bend County, Texas family credits their 4-month-old pet goose, "Goosey," with saving their barn from a fiery disaster by...

This week, Scot and Tony tackle the bizarre medical phenomenon of "scrommiting" caused by high-octane cannabis, a high-stakes Hungarian grave-digging contest, and the latest ridiculously brilliant Ig Nobel Prize winners. Episode Highlights The "Scrommiting" Epidemic:  Why emergency rooms are seeing a spike in patients taking scalding hot showers to stop intense screaming and vo...

Scot and Tony unpack a thoroughly chaotic mix of modern engineering miracles, bizarre historical legislation, and nostalgic listener comments. Whether it is exploring how raw human sewage is being transformed into a 42% stronger concrete alternative or dissecting the UK's very real 1986 Salmon Act, this episode bridges the gap between the fascinating and the completely absurd. Episode Highligh...

Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes are back with a fresh batch of weird, wild, and incredibly true stories. This week, we cover a heroic emergency plane landing on a busy Florida interstate, an organized syndicate of car-eating marmots in California, and a miraculous reunion between two friends who took a DNA test. Plus, plenty of Star Wars banter and a healthy dose of skepticism about Hollywood fight...

Episode 1097 of This Is True Really News brings you the week's weirdest completely factual stories from around the globe. Join Scott Combs and Tony Burkanis as they dive into bizarre soil science, massive beer heists, and surprisingly wholesome animal adventures. In This Episode The Great PBR Heist:  Thieves make off with 40,000 pounds of Pabst Blue Ribbon in California, prompting a brilliant...

Welcome back to the  This is True Really News Mailbag ! In Episode 248, we dive into some of the most bizarre and questionable news headlines of the week, ranging from wild fast-food car hop encounters to incredibly blatant criminal usernames. We then step into the wayback machine to explore the hilarious 1966 literary hoax orchestrated by  Newsday  columnist Mike McGrady. Frustrated by the massiv...

Get ready for instant karma in Philadelphia and a 21-year miracle in the plumbing. Episode 1096 brings you bizarre, heartwarming, and hilarious true stories from across the map, courtesy of Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes. Episode Chapters0:00 - Intro: Philly Fans, Cheesesteaks, and the Right Bread1:55 - Kitten Rescued from a Honda Grille in Iowa4:50 - Chucky Mask Prankster Messes with the Wrong Wom...

Welcome to This Is True, Really News Episode 1095!Join Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes as they break down the most unbelievable—yet entirely true—headlines of the week. From bizarre biotech marketing stunts in New York City to a literal "pizza terrorist" in Poland, we are serving up the strange news with a heavy side of snark. In This Episode, We Cover:The Tumblehair: Why a 10-foot, 150-po...

Welcome to the cozy confines of the burlap mailbag! In Episode 247, Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes are breaking down the news, the reviews, and a little bit of superhero lore. From a UK restaurant owner with a zero-tolerance policy for ridiculous complaints to the 80-year history of Spain’s massive La Tomatina food fight, we cover the hard-hitting journalism you expect. Plus, a detour into the DC U...

What happens when an Arkansas high schooler plays an hour of football with a highly venomous cottonmouth snake hiding inside his helmet? Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes dive into that unbelievable true story, plus a few more weird and wild news items on this week's episode! We also discuss why Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is sending a cease-and-desist letter to his alma mater over a j...

Welcome to your momentary respite from the "real" news! This week, Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes dive into the bizarre, the hilarious, and the utterly ridiculous stories you didn't know you needed. Make sure to like, subscribe, and follow so we can keep the almighty algorithm happy. AI Gone Wild:  How Flock Safety's automated license plate readers are sending squad cars after inn...

The Kentucky Meat Shower, Waking Polar Bears, and History’s Most Bizarre Days Join Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes for another trip into the weirdest corners of the week's news! In Episode 246 of the Mailbag, we’re tackling everything from a rabid beaver with limits to a $5,000 fine for waking a sleeping polar bear. Plus, what exactly was going on during the Kentucky Meat Shower of 1876? We also...

Trapped in a toilet for 8 hours over a Mountain Dew? Welcome to another wild episode of This is True Really News! In Episode 1092, Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes dive into the most bizarre, laugh-out-loud, and straight-up unbelievable true news stories of the week. We cover a Minnesota man who went to extreme (and highly illegal) lengths to keep kids off his lawn, a Kansas City man whose quest for...

Scott Combs and Tony Vercanez are back with another batch of weird, wild, and (mostly) true news stories! This week, we're diving into the Amazon basin to meet a fish with human teeth and a very unfortunate nickname. Plus, we cover a movie screening in Colombia that was evacuated for the stinkiest reason possible, unearth Victorian skeletons in England, and thaw out a truly chilling cold case...