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The sale of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ media empire is a major blow to one of the defining independent media brands that ushered in a new era of fringe thinking, mainstreaming conspiracy theories once banished to the edges of the internet. And while Jones’ Infowars brand is now owned by the satirical news site The Onion, media researchers and conservative media experts say its legacy will live on thanks to the far-right media ecosystem it helped inspire, which continues to flourish. YouTube and other social media platforms began removing Jones’ videos in 2018 as they were flagged for violating content rules related to violent and graphic content. “What is going to happen with Infowars ‘Onion-ified,’ and what is going to happen to the kinds of internet conspiracy theorists who Alex Jones represents?” Phillips asked. “Alex Jones is not.”

Persons: Alex Jones, Jones, ”, A.J, Bauer, Donald Trump’s, Infowars, Sandy, Jones “, Reece Peck, Barack Obama, —, ” Jones, Peck, ” Peck, Trump, Sandy Hook, Josh Owens, ” Owens, Owens, “, Elon Musk, Whitney Phillips, ” Phillips, “ Alex Jones Organizations: University of Alabama, Sandy Hook Elementary, Free Speech Systems, Safety, Rush, City University of New York, College of, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Trump, Infowars, University of Oregon Locations: Newtown , Connecticut, Austin , Texas, College of Staten Island, Trump, Infowars

For years, Republican activists have huddled in video meetings to talk about remaking democracy and plan for the election. They successfully lobbied for new state election laws and procedures, diving deep into the intricacies of election regulations. Earlier this year, Ms. Mitchell said she was called by God to shift her attention to the possibility that noncitizens were voting. They were involved in recent attempts to make it easier for State Election Board members to hold up certification while they conduct inquiries into the vote. Ms. Mitchell has talked about a federal elections overhaul should Republicans win the White House and Congress.

Persons: Donald J, Cleta Mitchell, Rebecca Dunn, Richard Uihlein, —, Mark Meadows, Russell T, Trump, Mitchell, Trump’s, John Eastman, I’ve, Donald Trump, badgered, illegals ”, ”, ” Ms, “, ” Patrice Johnson, Mike Johnson, Chip Roy, Ron Armstrong, Richard Silvestri, Matthew Seifried, Seifried, Claire Zunk, Janine Iyer, Elizabeth Ayoub, “ Janine, Johnson, Ned Jones, John Richards Jr, don’t, Jim Womack, Mr, Jones, I’m, we’ve Organizations: Republican, The New York Times, Trump, Network, Republican National Committee, Bradley Impact Foundation, Conservative Partnership Institute, Trump White House, Citizens, Gateway Pundit, Federalist, Republicans, United States, Tea Party, Michigan, Mr, Republican Party, Michigan Fair, North, United Sovereign Americans, American Legislative Exchange Council, White House Locations: America, In Nevada, Georgia, Texas, United, Michigan, Ron Armstrong , Michigan, chimed, Trump, Georgia , Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina

☆ Alaska Airlines passenger accused of trying to open cockpit door has been charged in federal court
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Rashard Rose | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight this month repeatedly tried to open the cockpit door, prompting flight attendants to barricade the door and have the man restrained until landing, court documents filed in federal court allege. Jones got up from his seat several times during the flight and made three attempts to go to the front of the plane and open the cockpit door, an air marshal wrote in an affidavit. When a flight attendant asked why he tried to access the cockpit, Jones replied that he “was testing them,” the affidavit reads. The cockpit was locked down and barricaded with a beverage cart for the remainder of the flight, according to the affidavit. The passenger had tried to access the cockpit in a “nonviolent manner” and “appeared confused,” Alaska Airlines said on Wednesday.

Persons: Nathan Jones, Jones, “, Robert Jenkins, ” Jenkins, Anne Zalewski, CNN’s Elizabeth Wolfe Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, Dulles International, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, United Airlines Locations: San Diego, Virginia, Alaska, Alexandria , Virginia

Police officers in upstate New York will not face criminal charges in connection with the death of a man who doused himself with hand sanitizer and then caught on fire when one of the officers shot a stun gun at him, the state attorney general's office said Friday. Attorney General Letitia James’ office released a report on Jones' death and the officers' actions, concluding that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers committed crimes. The officers determined Jones “could be” a danger to himself or others and decided to take him into custody, according to James’ office. One officer shot Jones with a stun gun, and his head and upper body burst into flames for about 25 seconds. There was no discussion,” he said, adding the stun gun use "was reactive and wholly unnecessary.”

Persons: general's, Jason Jones, Letitia James ’, Jones, Mr, ” James, ” Jones, James ’, Kevin Luibrand, Luibrand, ” Locations: New York, Catskill, Albany

Additionally, the lawsuit by the Nashville member of the “Tennessee Three” contends his constitutional due process rights were infringed upon by the expulsion proceedings. Jones, Pearson and Johnson were propelled into the national spotlight. They said the new House rules promote civility, respect and accountability. On the day the House voted to silence Jones, Sexton had warned Jones about calling a Republican's bills “reprehensible,” “asinine,” and “insulting." In addition to the limits on debate, House Republicans also instituted a ban on the public holding signs during floor and committee proceedings.

Persons: Justin Jones, Jones, Cameron Sexton, ”, Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson, Pearson, Johnson, Amy Wilhite, hadn't, Sexton, Bill Lee, “, Jerry Martin, Eric Holder, Holder Organizations: — Tennessee Democratic, Nashville, Tennessee, Black Democrat, Republicans, Democratic Rep, Republican Gov, Covenant School, Glock, Republican, U.S Locations: Tenn, Nashville, Tennessee

☆ Inside Infowars' crumbling empire: Ex-Staffers reveal the 'volatile' and 'unhinged' atmosphere working for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Tom Porter | Ashley Collman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

One afternoon in the spring of 2017 Alex Jones furiously lunged at his video producer. According to Jacobson, Jones had to be restrained by another Infowars staffer lest he actually hurt him. Alex Jones did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Owens also said he felt guilty about his complicity in promoting the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories during his time working there. "People hearing the words Sandy Hook, they automatically think Alex Jones," she added.

Persons: Alex Jones, lunged, Robert Jacobson, Jones, Jacobson, hawking, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Alex, baselessly, David, doesn't, Sandy Hooks, Sandy Hook, Josh Owens, Owens, Marjorie Taylor Greene, John Travolta, badgering, George, we're, Jone, Nuri Vallbona, lackey, …, That's, I'm, Christmas Jones, Kelly, David Duke, Duke, Infowars, He'd, David McCullough, Christopher Jordan, Jordan, they're, Megan Squire, Squire, Dave Mustain, Tim Kennedy, Donald Trump, Chris Mattei, Judge Barbara Bellis, Daria Karpova, Karpova, " Jacobson, he'll, He'll Organizations: Austin, Austin Community, Facebook, Factory, Infowars, Iron, Alamo, New York Times Magazine, REUTERS, New, Senate, Housing, Southern Poverty Law Center, San Diego, Free Speech Systems, YouTube, Sandy, Connecticut Superior, Associated Locations: Austin, Texas, USA, Infowars, Atlanta, Austin , Texas, U.S, New York City, Louisiana, Infowar, Newtown, Connecticut, New Orleans, Waterbury, Conn

Justin Jones pumped his fist and declared "power to the people" as he returned to the state House of Representatives after being restored by the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County. His colleague Justin Pearson, the other young Black legislator who was expelled, could get a similar vote for reinstatement on Wednesday when the Shelby County Board of Commissioners will consider reappointing him to his Memphis district. The conflict has captured national attention and served as a rallying cry for Democrats over the issues of democracy, gun violence and racial inequality. Republican lawmakers have remained largely silent since voting to oust Jones and Pearson. Reporting by Sandra Stojanovic and Omar Younis; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nashville board reinstates Black lawmaker expelled from Tennessee House
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Omar Younis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 10 (Reuters) - A Nashville-area county council on Monday voted to reinstate Representative Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives, reversing Republican lawmakers who ousted Jones and another young, Black legislator last week for staging a gun control protest on the House floor. The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County voted 36-0 to make Jones, 27, the interim representative. Before the vote, the spokesperson said the House would seat whomever the county legislatures appoint "as the constitution requires." Jones and Pearson, 28, have both said they hoped to be reappointed and that they would run again in special elections. Republicans also targeted Gloria Johnson, who is white, for expulsion, as she joined Jones and Pearson in the floor protest.

REUTERS/Karen Pulfer FochtApril 9 (Reuters) - Two Tennessee Democrats who were expelled from the Republican-dominated state House of Representatives last week over their participation in a gun control protest said on Sunday that they hoped to soon reclaim their seats. Metro Council Member Kevin Rhoten said on Twitter that he had been bombarded with emails since Thursday asking him to vote to appoint Justin Jones for the District 52 seat, and that he planned to do that. "I would be honored to accept the appointment of the Shelby County Commission and to run in a special election," Pearson told NBC on Sunday. Videos posted to Twitter showed the two Black lawmakers, Representatives Jones and Pearson, shouting through a bullhorn on the House floor, saying "No action, no peace!" Only two other Tennessee state representatives have been expelled by their colleagues since the Civil War era: one in 1980 for soliciting a bribe in exchange for blocking legislation and another in 2016 after being accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women.

☆ Brock Purdy: From 'Mr. Irrelevant' to beating the NFL's GOAT
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

And this bull is now a steer, so he’s irrelevant. Justin Casterline/Getty ImagesWhen Purdy was selected by the 49ers – and that famous red and white jersey was brought out with “Mr. Irrelevant” celebrations began in 1976, when former 49ers receiver Paul Salata founded “Irrelevant Week” in Newport Beach, California. Purdy celebrates at midfield after the Iowa State Cyclones defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 24-21 at Jack Trice Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. “I’ve tried to keep myself from being surprised about Brock Purdy years ago because nothing surprises me anymore with him.”

Jones and Infowars had already been banned from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Google Play, Vimeo, Pinterest, Mailchimp and LinkedIn. But Ye’s interview had more than 3.1 million views as of publication. On other platforms, clips of the interview got millions more. Twitter suspended Ye later that night after Ye tweeted an image that contained a swastika. He showed clips of Ye praising Hitler, and Foreman speculated that his channel might get a “strike” from YouTube as a result.

He said the school’s student affairs office interviewed Jones’ roommate, who had not seen the suspect with a gun. It wasn’t clear if the school’s internal investigation of Jones possibly having a gun ended with that roommate’s interview. On Tuesday, university officials admitted they learned Jones had been convicted of a misdemeanor for a concealed weapons violation in 2021. Hingeley revealed in court Jones’ previous scrapes with the law. He attempted to purchase a Smith & Wesson M&P15-22, a .22-caliber rifle, but “failed the background check,” the owner said.

"I’m looking for the right buyer," owner Brian Jones, 47, told NBC affiliate WKYC of Cleveland. He debuted the home as a tourist attraction in 2006 while adding property to the campus as it became available. "A Christmas Story Christmas" has an adult Ralphie (reprised by Peter Billingsley) trying hard to bring the giving spirit of the holidays to a new generation. At least one neighbor said the "Christmas Story" campus has contributed to the community. "It’s got its drawbacks, with the backup of crowds and the fact that it's all one-way streets around here," neighbor Byron Roberts told WKYC.

☆ Why is Alex Jones getting sued — and why lawsuits are not enough
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Yunkang Yang | Dr. Yunkang Yang Is An Assistant Professor Of Communication At Texas A M University. An Expert In U.S. Right-Wing Media | Social Media | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

A Connecticut jury on Wednesday ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay nearly $1 billion for defaming the families of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting victims. Misinformation purveyors often use a variety of rhetorical techniques to create misleading impressions without making demonstrably false statements. Indeed, misinformation purveyors often use a variety of rhetorical techniques to create misleading impressions without making demonstrably false statements. These different layers provide a multiplicity of points of resistance to the efforts to hold misinformation purveyors accountable. But they are not a solution to the lie machines built by incredibly savvy, incredibly cynical pundits like Alex Jones.

☆ Alex Jones grilled by Sandy Hook families’ lawyer over hoax claims, doubles down on ‘deep state’ conspiracy
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Jones baselessly told his audience in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that the incident was staged. In the Connecticut case, where Jones is being sued by eight more Sandy Hook families, Judge Barbara Bellis issued a default judgment against the Infowars founder in November 2021 after he failed to comply with court orders. The attorney argued to the jury that the lies Jones told about the families of Sandy Hook victims were far more damaging than the commentary that had bothered Jones and prompted his legal action. Because the judge already ruled that Jones is liable, the jury is determining the amount in damages to award the plaintiffs. Norman Pattis, Jones’ attorney, has argued that the claims made by the Sandy Hook plaintiffs are “exaggerated.” Pattis has also said the Sandy Hook families have “become partisans” and said the defense will argue the harm has been overstated “because they want to silence [Jones] for political reasons.”

☆ Alex Jones' billion-dollar judgement: The conspiracy theorist has turned career-ending setbacks into profit windfalls, but this could be too much to overcome
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Ashley Collman | Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Robbie Parker was later falsely called a crisis actor, and the Parkers are among those who sued Alex Jones for defamation. Longtime informal adviser to Donald Trump, Roger Stone (right), and and Alex Jones (left) speak to reporters in December 2018. Picture showing a computer screen displaying the Twitter account of Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones taken on August 15, 2018 in Washington DC. "Alex Jones is likely to continue being Alex Jones, which means he's likely to try all kinds of shenanigans to avoid accountability," said Holt. "The money awarded in damages does not repair what Alex Jones has done to those parents' lives, but it could be a step towards dismantling the toxic empire that Alex Jones has built around his brand."

☆ Alex Jones admonished by judge as Sandy Hook defamation trial goes off the rails
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York (CNN Business) Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones tangled Thursday in an explosive courtroom exchange with an attorney for families of Sandy Hook victims who have sued him in Connecticut, prompting an admonishment from the judge and warning that they could be held in contempt if they violate court rules moving forward. The warning from a frustrated Judge Barbara Bellis came during the trial that will determine how much Jones must pay the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims for his lies about the massacre. Christopher Mattei, an attorney for the families , questioned the far-right media personality about his false claim that the 2012 shooting in which 26 people were killed was a "hoax," prompting Jones to grow angry and attack him. Jones accused Mattei of being disingenuous and said he was guilty of "ambulance chasing" before descending into a rant in court about "liberals." Bellis, who had previously warned Jones that some of his outbursts were a violation of court rules, reminded the Infowars founder that he was in a "court of law" and is required to follow her instructions.

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