On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, far-right radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones reacted strongly on social media after learning that satirical news outlet The Onion had reached a deal to take control of his media company, Infowars. In a video shared to X, Jones appeared shirtless and declared, “They’re in deep s**t,” adding, “Just because you’re wearing my shirt, don’t mean you’re me.” He later stated in a separate video that he plans to “file a whole bunch of actions against” the agreement, which remains subject to judicial approval in Texas.
The development follows a prolonged legal battle involving Infowars, which faces liquidation after losing a defamation lawsuit brought by the families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Those families were awarded nearly $1.3 billion in damages after courts found Jones liable for spreading false claims that the massacre was a hoax. Jones has since acknowledged the shooting was real but maintained his comments were protected under free speech.
According to reporting by NPR, The Onion has agreed to a novel deal to take over Infowars, with the understanding that if approved by a Texas judge, the satirical publication would be able to employ the platform to parody conspiracy theories and advocate for gun control. The families of the Sandy Hook victims support the arrangement, viewing it as a way to counteract years of harassment they endured due to Jones’ false narratives. One of their attorneys, Chris Mattei, said they “took on Alex Jones to stop him from inflicting the same harm on others” by using “his corrupt business platform to torment and harass them for profit.”
The BBC reported that The Onion’s proposal involves a licensing arrangement allowing it to publish parody content on Infowars’ platforms, rather than an outright purchase. This approach follows a prior failed attempt by The Onion to buy Infowars outright, which was rejected by a judge who raised concerns about the auction process not yielding the best possible bids. Jones has reportedly said he will resist the current effort, and Infowars remains under threat of liquidation due to the outstanding legal judgments against him.
PBS NewsHour noted that a lawyer representing the Sandy Hook families expressed support for The Onion’s plan, emphasizing that the families have long sought accountability and a means to limit the spread of harmful misinformation. The outlet highlighted that Jones declared bankruptcy in 2022 as the legal proceedings continued, and in June 2024, a judge ordered the liquidation of his personal assets. However, a subsequent attempt by The Onion to acquire Infowars was blocked later that year by a judicial ruling.
The New York Times reported that the current agreement involves The Onion paying $81,000 per month to license Infowars.com, with an option to renew after six months. Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, confirmed the deal in a LinkedIn post, describing it as the culmination of a two-year effort to secure accountability for the Sandy Hook families. He told The Times, “We are excited to lie constantly for cold, hard cash, but this time in a cool way, and we’ll make sure some of it gets back to the families,” a statement framed as satirical commentary on the situation.
Jones responded to the announcement by accusing The Onion of fraud, claiming, “The Onion Is Fraudulently Claiming They Took Over Infowars AGAIN After Being Caught Trying To Pull Off Same Hoax In 2024!” He likewise asserted, without evidence, that former President Donald Trump publicly supports the deal and has “joined forces with the Democratic Party to shut down Info Wars,” framing the situation as retaliation for his alleged role in exposing the Epstein files. No credible sources have corroborated Jones’ claims about Trump’s involvement.
The legal context remains tied to the ongoing fallout from the Sandy Hook defamation case. After Jones was found liable, courts moved to enforce payment of the judgment, leading to efforts to liquidate his assets, including Infowars. The bankruptcy proceedings and subsequent rulings have shaped the current attempt by The Onion to assume control through a court-supervised process. Any final resolution will depend on approval from the presiding Texas judge overseeing the case.
As of this writing, the next step in the process awaits judicial review of the proposed licensing agreement. No date has been publicly set for a hearing, but the matter remains active in the civil proceedings related to the Sandy Hook litigation. Parties involved include the plaintiffs representing the victims’ families, Alex Jones as the defendant, and The Onion as the proposed licensee seeking to repurpose the Infowars platform for satirical and corrective content.
For ongoing updates, readers may consult official court filings from the relevant Texas district court or monitor statements from the legal representatives of the Sandy Hook families. The situation continues to evolve as courts determine the future of Infowars and the extent to which its platform may be transformed under new stewardship.
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