MOTHER JONES DAILY: Why Activists Went on Hunger Strike Over a Trash Incinerator, This Is What a Winning Climate Movement Looks Like, Convicted MAGA fraudster should get 30 years in prison, prosecutors say, What RFK Jr. doesn’t get about paid family caregiving, GOP lawmakers are pushing “alarming” bills to shield Big Oil from climate liability, Number go up 24APR26

 

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April 24, 2026 Amid the litany of combative and strange remarks from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he testified before Congress this week, my colleague Julia Métraux noticed something especially vexing: Kennedy’s attacks against paid caregiving. Specifically, Kennedy singled out the fact that some states allow some family caregivers to receive payment through Medicaid, a system Kennedy alleged is “rife with fraud.” Kennedy indicated that he’d like to dismantle those programs in favor of unpaid work, implicitly by women, in the home—already the predominant model for many households, and a far from sustainable one. I don’t exactly expect the scion of a storied political family to understand the importance of Medicaid-backed programs that provide millions, including the disabled, with the support they need to avoid institutions. Plus, going after safety net programs is bread and butter for the right. Still, it’s all enraging.  But don’t let me convince you. Julia talked to a parent and advocate who fought for paid caregiving for minor disabled children in her home state of Oregon about what RFK Jr. doesn’t understand—or want to know—about these programs. I urge you to read. —Inae Oh

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Why Activists Went on Hunger Strike Over a Trash Incinerator “We’re not going to allow anyone else to be sacrificed and murdered by this facility.” BY SOPHIE HURWITZ

SPONSORED POST This Is What a Winning Climate Movement Looks Like Across the country, young leaders are securing real victories — and showing us how to build a movement people want to join. THIS CONTENT WAS PAID FOR AND SPONSORED BY US CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK.

Convicted MAGA fraudster should get 30 years in prison, prosecutors say BY DAN FRIEDMAN What RFK Jr. doesn’t get about paid family caregiving CALLI ROSS AS TOLD TO JULIA MÉTRAUX GOP lawmakers are pushing “alarming” bills to shield Big Oil from climate liability BY DHARNA NOOR

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Number go up Our charts tell the story of oligarchy in overdrive. BY TIM MURPHY, SCHUYLER MITCHELL, AND CHASITY HALE

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MOTHER JONES DAILY: Joe Kent’s Resignation Is Tearing MAGA Apart, 10 Worst Crises You Won’t See in Headlines (But Should), Trump wants $200 billion for bombs. Here's what that could buy instead., Workers in Colorado have shut down one of the nation’s biggest meatpacking plants, A clarinetist, a high school student, and some climate deniers write a science paper, Mr. Rogers and the fight for public media 20MAR26

 

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March 20, 2026 $200 billion. That's what Pete Hegseth is asking for in additional Pentagon funding to continue its devastating war in Iran. As Hegseth so elegantly told reporters this week, "It takes money to kill bad guys." If the Trump administration weren't so hellbent on "death and destruction," what else could that money pay for? My colleagues and I ran the numbers, and boy, it turns out $200 billion can do a whole lot. Here's a sample: 2.8 million public school teacher salaries 2,857 luxury 737 jets, bedroom included 378 years of federal public broadcasting funding 500 more White House ballrooms 1,779,628 Washington Post salaries And plenty more. Take a maddening look here. —Inae Oh P.S. Today is the final day of our $50,000 fundraising match. As a reader, you’re part of the Mother Jones community fighting for the truth. And our investigations are fueled by reader donations. Make a donation of any amount today to support fearless, unwavering reporting—and see your gift doubled for twice the impact.

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Joe Kent’s Resignation Is Tearing MAGA Apart The former Green Beret's criticism of the Iran war is fueling a broader crack-up among Trump's base. BY NOAH LANARD

SPONSORED POST 10 Worst Crises You Won’t See in Headlines (But Should) CARE’s annual Crisis Report notes countries the media isn’t covering. THIS CONTENT WAS PAID FOR AND SPONSORED BY CARE.ORG.

Trump wants $200 billion for bombs. Here's what that could buy instead. BY TIM MURPHY, INAE OH, AND KATIE HERCHENROEDER Workers in Colorado have shut down one of the nation’s biggest meatpacking plants BY TED GENOWAYS A clarinetist, a high school student, and some climate deniers write a science paper BY JESSICA MCKENZIE

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Mr. Rogers and the fight for public media Take a trip to Mr. Rogers’ real-life neighborhood in this special episode that celebrates the life and work of public media’s most famous defender. BY REVEAL

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Your source for journalism that doesn't shrink back. Fifty years and counting. Keep us growing with a gift of any amount. Donate Subscribe For advertising opportunities see our online media kit. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today. www.MotherJones.com PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755