based satirical news site, The Onion is poised to finally take over Info Wars.

That's the far-right platform created by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

The deal was close to 2 years in the making about 18 months ago.

The Onion won a court mandated auction for Infowars, parent company after Jones was found liable for defamation after calling the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a hoax.

He was ordered to pay over a billion dollars in damages to the families which he has yet to do.

The acquisition has been held up in court until now.

Joining to talk about that acquisition is the executive editor of The Onion Jordan LaFleur.

Welcome back.

Thank you so much for having So last time you were here is was just after you all when that bidding war for Info wars.

lot has happened since.

what got in the way of the acquisition.

You know, Alex Jones is a bit of a character, threw up a lot blockers hurdles.

But we've >> been tenacious been borrowing the tenacity of the families the Sandy Hook families themselves.

And we've just stuck with it.

To that point.

Why?

Why be tenacious?

Why?

Why keep going with I think first and foremost, this is about We want to replace something that was put in a lot you know, negative.

I'm gonna go in called evil into the world.

Start to use such a definitive word, but I think we can replace it with something better and more beneficial to the wider world.

So what is this new agreement mean?

What is this new agreement mean?

we will be taking the keys to Infowars and we will be replacing it with something >> is a more open world comedy platform, inclusive of voices of all times.

>> So tomorrow in Travis County, which is where Infowars is based.

There will be a hearing on the onions licensing agreement.

How significant is that?

>> It's extremely significant.

We imagine this will be the definitive proceeding and we're ready to move forward immediately.

What's going to happen at this hearing as our as I understand it the judge will be declaring we have the keys.

We've done it.

We're at finish line, OK?

This is yeah.

That's that's the big show.

That's right.

Alex Jones, he filed an emergency motion to block this deal.

He and his team as we know, as we have demonstrated quite litigious, do anticipate more legal obstacles I imagine that Alex Jones is not going to ever give up, but I imagine he's going do it on a different platform he wants to because we've got this one >> he and fans, they tried to frame this story is a free speech issue repeatedly claiming that the defamation cases and social media bans were an assault to his First Amendment right.

>> What do you say to people who believe this is, you know, silencing a viewpoint?

>> I think that people have a misunderstanding of what the First Amendment offers us has a population.

It is intended to ensure that Congress makes no law abridging our speech, defaming others causing willfully the emotional distress of people is not a privilege afforded to us and I'm happy to play a role in diminishing that voice.

>> This started in part as a way to help bring justice and accountability, of course, to families that you've mentioned who lost their children in the tragedy of Sandy Hook.

How are you continuing to work on that mission?

>> I think by holding the initial version of Infowars accountable by replacing it with a better version.

I think that's the way forward.

Yeah.

there are you able to explain for us the licensing agreement and how how that means these families actually get paid the something of the billion dollars that he is supposed that he's supposed to be paying My understanding is that, you know, their task is ongoing.

They will pursue out Jones.

>> And any earnings that he receives, the licensing agreement will allow us to generate revenue by any means.

We wish and we will be a.

>> Giving them a portion of those.

Okay.

That's yeah.

That's not trying to get out.

So able to generate revenue from the Web sites.

>> And some of that goes towards the families.

Yes, that's exactly You have plans, of course, to expand your comedy network with Info wars as another layer to the onion, get What can we Yes, this is a new wholly distinct operation.

I I don't know how interested people are in my ongoing involvement with it.

But I we intend to make it a a more open that allows individual creators to.

>> To mimic an parity, more modern Internet voices.

So whereas the Onion is a parody of institutional voices.

We're looking forward to having a platform that allows individual creators to speak their minds.

When you say that, I mean, it's sort of a parody of institutional voices seemed like sort of typical newspaper right?

Yes, and particularly now that we're back in print, the focus on being a newspaper back to being top of mind.

So the new Info Wars will be a parody of you said more modern voices.

That's right.

I think all all say that at first were, you know, we're thinking of it in phases.

I think people are expecting a more direct parody of the existing InfoWars.

>> We'll do that for a beat.

But I think that only has so much legs so much only so much community value in fairly short order.

We intend to expand the world and again, bringing some individual creators.

So do I understand you brought on some talent, who can parity?

Alex Jones himself?

Absolutely.

I mean, that's one of gentleman's name that we've brought on as creative directors to might occur.

A legend in many circles and one of his many talents is parity now stones.

But he's he's got more talent and we'll explore all of them.

I'm sure we'll get to see all of them.

I guess I'm curious about, you know, in addition to parenting Alex Jones, are you not giving Alex Jones more air by doing that?

I mean, with it a brief stop on the more direct parity, I think we give people a catharsis and a and opportunity to to take the take the past.

I see rain.

>> All you mentioned that there's been, you know, fatigue or you've mentioned in the past.

There's been some fatigue over parenting, white right wing extremism.

I can say that.

And last time you were here, you also talked about, you know, the difficulty of heightening from such a place of, quote, bombast, an untruth.

So basically, you know, how the plan and getting around that issue, you know, how do you sort of make fun of?

Those folks and still be funny?

Oh, absolutely not.

I think that's the the evolution that I'm referring I think it was that inside that I apparently shared with you months ago that >> led to the idea that we can only pause on right-wing parity so long.

I think I think people will find it.

Cathartic to start.

But over time we want to give people the opportunity to come and more widely on a modern media ecosystem.

Just this week, Jimmy Kimmel and first lady Melania Trump got into a squabble not the first time Kimmel has tussled with this White House.

>> What do you think of what do you think is the role of comedians did you know in times of political and social unrest, I think coming gives you a unique avenue into a >> all manner of news stories.

I think a way break down a complex issue and get to the core of the matter.

And I think it gives people a way to understand complex issues in a way that they would not have previously.

Okay.

>> Do you think it's, you know, could also be a tool for accountability in a couple of seconds.

Oh, absolutely.

comedy is maybe the best tool in media for holding people accountable.

Of course, I have