The Onion's Plan to Satirize Infowars Amid Legal Turmoil

Tue Apr 21 2026 23:28:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Onion intends to take over Infowars' platforms as Alex Jones faces $1 billion in defamation judgments. The deal, aimed at generating profits for Sandy Hook victims' families, could reshape how news is consumed.

The satirical news outlet The Onion has proposed a plan to temporarily license Infowars' platforms from Alex Jones, who is currently dealing with over $1 billion in defamation liabilities related to his statements about the Sandy Hook tragedy. If approved, The Onion will create parody content to be distributed on Infowars' channels, potentially transforming them into a comedy network while benefiting the Sandy Hook victims' families. The arrangement is set to last six months and could generate significant profits for those affected by Jones' claims.

The satirical news outlet The Onion is back with a new plan to take over the Infowars platforms of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones as his company faces liquidation over more than $1 billion in defamation judgments owed to relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Under a proposal submitted Monday to a state judge in Texas, The Onion would be granted an exclusive, temporary license to the intellectual property of Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems, allowing the outlet to put its own content on the Infowars website and social media accounts.

Ben Collins, chief executive of The Onion, stated that the deal could be in place around April 30, pending approval from Judge Maya Guerra Gamble in Austin. He added that The Onion has already hired personnel, including Tim Heidecker, known for his comedic work, to run Infowars as a parody site.

“We’ll build this into a bigger comedy network,” Collins mentioned, emphasizing that profits from this new venture would support the Sandy Hook families.

After the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, Jones infamously labeled it a hoax, leading to lawsuits from victims' relatives. These lawsuits have culminated in over $1.4 billion awarded in damages for emotional distress.

Although Jones plans to contest the licensing proposal in court, he has indicated that should the deal proceed, his operations would shift to other platforms. He affirmed that his show would continue under the same name despite the change in ownership of the Infowars production.

The licensing deal is set for six months with the possibility to renew for another six as a court-appointed receiver works to sell Infowars’ assets, directing proceeds to assist Sandy Hook families. The receiver is noted to support The Onion's plan, which includes an $81,000 monthly rent fee for the Infowars studio.

This development unfolds as Jones continues to navigate numerous legal challenges, recently appealing significant damages awarded against him, all while pursuing new opportunities via personal social media accounts and radio stations.