Mother Jones // Jan + Feb 2026

This issue of Mother Jones, like many issues, starts with an uplifting message about the moment we are in and how now is the time to organize and make a difference. In this case, Monika Bauerlein makes the argument for using our rights to defend (and expand!) our rights. For fifty years, this magazine has fought for civil and human rights, for justice, for freedom of information and for, among many other things, the working class.

The issue explores many topics from the Supreme Court to abandoned Texas oil fields, from housing policy-making in San Francisco to the rise of Riley Gaines, an anti-Trans celebrity. You can read it in part or in its entirety. There is something for everyone.

For those unfamiliar with Mother Jones, much of their content is available for free online. It is a starting place for anyone looking to be better informed about American politics and working class issues. It is a smart, courageous magazine.

What I learned from this issue beyond all else was something about how to fight for change. In the world of Yes-In-My-Backyard housing issues, if you try for big change, sometimes little changes can accrue instead. It’s the little changes (and sometimes the big changes!) that ultimately make a difference. Keep fighting for big change and champion the small wins along the way.

Mother Jones—Read this issue if you want to learn more about the US social issues.