The Onion Takes Over Infowars After Legal Battle as Tim Heidecker Mocks Alex Jones

After months of legal battles, The Onion is finally taking over Infowars, and comedian Tim Heidecker took the opportunity to rub it in Alex Jones’ face. The satirical news outlet reached a new agreement on April 20, 2026, to acquire the conspiracy theorist’s media company, a move that could finally allow the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims to collect on the over $1 billion judgment they won against Jones in 2022.

The deal, which still requires court approval, would mark the end of a prolonged legal saga that began in 2024 when The Onion won a court-mandated auction for Infowars’ parent company. That initial victory was later blocked by a federal bankruptcy judge who raised concerns about the auction process and disputes over bids, directing the families to pursue their claims in state court instead.

Under the new agreement, The Onion will initially pay a monthly licensing fee to the court-appointed receiver overseeing Infowars, with plans to purchase the full assets once the current judicial stay expires. Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, told CNN that the company has long sought this outcome and has not wavered in its efforts throughout the proceedings.

The acquisition carries significant symbolic weight, as Jones was found liable for defamation after repeatedly claiming on-air that the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre—which killed 20 children and six adults—was a “hoax.” His false statements led to years of harassment and threats against the victims’ families, who have pursued legal action to hold him accountable and silence his platform.

Families of those killed in the shooting have consistently supported the sale, viewing it as a way to stop Jones from continuing to profit from his lies. As one of their attorneys, Chris Mattei, stated, they took on 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 new deal would not only remove Jones from control of Infowars but also allow The Onion to transform the site into a parody of itself, directly countering the conspiracy theories it once amplified.

The development quickly drew attention from comedy circles, with Tim Heidecker—known for his work with Tim and Eric and his frequent satirical takes on media and politics—highlighting the irony of the situation. His comment underscored the cultural resonance of a satirical outlet taking over a platform built on misinformation, particularly one that has caused real-world harm through its amplification of falsehoods.

If approved by a Texas judge, the agreement would represent a rare instance in which a satirical news organization acquires a controversial media outlet not for profit, but as part of a broader effort to accountability and public healing. The Onion has framed the move as a long-held goal, emphasizing its commitment to using the platform to challenge conspiracy mongering and advocate for causes like gun control—positions diametrically opposed to those historically promoted by Infowars.