“It’s been quite a week and I have a lot to say. So this should be very fun,” O’Keefe said. “We live in unbelievable times and investigative reporting doesn’t really happen very often anymore. Yes, we use disguise, yes, we go undercover, but sometimes it’s the only way to ferret out what people really believe — when nobody’s looking.”

He also acknowledged that his tactics are controversial and sometimes draw scorn: “I think in many ways being hated is a sign of respect,” he said.