I kind of agree with both Dogmush's and Mech's last posts, even if they sound like they're kind of opposite of each other.
I think Alex Jones is an ass who needed to be sued in the same way I recently called elsewhere for the people harassing the Colorado baker to be sued (though admittedly I called for a ridiculous amount for effect in my argument, they need to be sued for an amount that means something). Alex Jones should have been sued for an amount that means something in the real world.
I looked up his net worth, reported as $40 million. A billion dollar settlement is cartoonish here. A $20 million settlement would have been a real world number that actually affected him, if you believe that he should be severely punished for what he did.
Which leads into where I agree with Mech: There are dozens and dozens of MSM "journalists" who have done the same thing Jones has done. Worse, because Jones is just a loudmouth celebrity. Journalists hide behind their occupation as "truth tellers" while telling outrageous lies that detrimentally affect - even ruin - innocent people. They don't deserve a pass anymore than Jones does. One might include every Harridan that appears on The View. They have detrimentally affected way more people than Jones ever has.
This ^^^^^
With a comment
"I looked up his net worth, reported as $40 million. A billion dollar settlement is cartoonish here. A $20 million settlement would have been a real world number that actually affected him, if you believe that he should be severely punished for what he did."
They don't want to punish him they want to destroy him. Bury him in a debt grave so deep he will never see the light of day again.
Now that said, what do you think the settlement would have been if he was a leftist or even if there would have been one? Have the media talking heads and politicians who were demanding photos of the dead children be publicized been sued?
Edit: Whoops Got stuck on the term settlement.
Replace settlement with verdict awarded in the question.