Mother Jones - January/February 2024

In this issue

Thanks to an accrual of personal wealth not seen since the Gilded Age, America’s billionaires are tightening their grip on our democracy and shaping practically every facet of our lives. Senior reporter Tim Murphy kicks off this special Mother Jones issue with a feature that makes the case that America’s plutocrats—emboldened to use the nation and its resources and people as their play toys—are starting to resemble their more infamous counterpart: Russian oligarchs. Casey Michel, author of “American Kleptocracy,” reports on how the United States has become a haven for the world’s shady cash through anonymous shell companies, secret trusts, and money-laundering enablers. Senior editor Michael Mechanic, author of “Jackpot: How the Super-Rich Really Live and How Their Wealth Harms Us All,” sheds light on how philanthropy in America is broken—and we’re all paying the price. Politics reporter Abby Vesoulis reveals how Elon Musk is transforming the Lone Star State into a company town. And Washington bureau chief David Corn writes that Donald Trump doesn’t just want to be an oligarch; he wants to rule them.

Mother Jones Magazine Description:

Mother Jones is a nonprofit news outlet that delivers bold and original award-winning reporting on the urgent issues of our day, from politics and climate change to education and the food we eat. We investigate stories that are in the public and the nation's interest. From revelatory scoops to deep-dive investigations, Mother Jones journalism is storytelling that informs and inspires 9 million monthly readers.

We are headquartered in San Francisco and have bureaus in Washington, DC, and New York City. Mother Jones has been nominated for more than 30 National Magazine Awards and has won seven times, including for General Excellence in 2001, 2008, and 2010. In addition, Mother Jones has been recognized repeatedly with top industry honors, including two National Press Club Awards, three Online News Association Awards, and the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award two years in a row. Mother Jones has also been named a finalist for eight Data Journalism Awards.