Current Status and Recent Developments
As of April 30, 2026, The Onion's attempt to take over Infowars is in legal limbo. A hearing scheduled for Thursday was converted into a status conference after the Texas Third Court of Appeals granted an emergency motion by Jones' lawyers that temporarily blocked transfer of Infowars assets. The next court hearing is set for May 28. The case has now moved to the Texas Supreme Court, where the Sandy Hook families' attorneys have filed an appeal seeking to overturn the appeals court ruling that halted the deal.
The Proposed Deal
The Onion and the court-appointed state receiver agreed to a licensing arrangement where The Onion would pay $81,000 per month to use the Infowars.com domain, brand name, and associated intellectual property. After six months, The Onion would have the option to renew or purchase the assets outright. The agreement would allow The Onion to immediately transform Infowars into parody and comedy sites, with revenue going to Sandy Hook families who won more than $1.3 billion in defamation judgments against Jones. The Onion CEO Ben Collins said the company had prepared satirical content ready to launch immediately upon takeover.
Jones' Legal Strategy
Alex Jones has repeatedly used legal filings and emergency court motions to delay the liquidation of Infowars and block The Onion's takeover. He filed for personal bankruptcy and cited pending appeals and his continuing bankruptcy case as reasons the deal should not proceed. Jones declared the appeals court ruling a 'massive victory' and called The Onion's plan illegal. Lawyers for the Sandy Hook families have accused Jones of using numerous court filings to delay the liquidation process repeatedly.
Previous Failed Attempt
This is The Onion's second major effort to acquire Infowars. In November 2024, The Onion won a federal bankruptcy auction of Free Speech Systems assets with a bid of $1.75 million, supported by gun control nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety and the Sandy Hook families. However, a federal judge overturned the auction results, citing problems with the process and The Onion's bid. This led The Onion to pursue the current licensing agreement instead.
Sandy Hook Families' Position
The Sandy Hook families, who sued Jones for defamation over his false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax, support The Onion's takeover plan. Their attorneys have filed appeals with the Texas Supreme Court seeking to overturn the temporary stay. According to attorney Chris Mattei, the families have yet to collect any money from their $1 billion-plus in judgments and are determined to see the liquidation proceed. The families have expressed patience but urgency in obtaining what they are owed.
The Onion's Response
CEO Ben Collins criticized the repeated legal delays, calling them 'newly insane, unprecedented legal stalling.' Collins expressed frustration at what he characterized as Jones' 'amoral war to deny paying the Sandy Hook families.' Despite the setbacks, Collins said The Onion remains committed to the acquisition. He described the process as 'the most elaborate bullshit' but emphasized that securing the platform to transform it into comedy content while supporting Sandy Hook families was worth the effort. 
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