An animated debate over Beyoncé's new album

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     April 1, 2024 Like many of you, I spent the weekend welcoming Cowboy Carter into my home, which has since been softly pulsating with the confident joy and artistry Beyoncé delivers with her latest genre-defying album. (In a weekend packed with potty training, "[Bodyguard](" was a perfect delight, a respite from the mind-melting tedium of poo-poo this, pee-pee that.) So this morning, it was a genuine thrill to watch my colleague Garrison Hayes [unpack the richness of Beyoncé's "Blackbird" cover](. There's something so supremely special about Beyoncé covering this widely beloved civil rights song with a performance that, in my opinion, deepens Paul McCartney's real intentions—perhaps more effectively than the original. As Garrison says, "Trust Beyoncé to reissue a song so redolent with Black history. The song was written about the Black Liberation struggle of the American civil rights movement." But apparently, not everyone at Mother Jones is a fan! An animated debate, wherein one colleague I respect deeply decried the album as "corny," roiled our chats this morning. Later in a meeting, another declared, "None of that is country music." (Let it be known: I strongly object to this language, specifically using "that" to refer to Beyoncé's music!) What's your review? —Inae Oh P.S. Back in September, we published a riveting investigation into the [psychiatric hospitals that treat foster kids]( like a gold mine. Now reporter Julia Lurie has a terrific podcast episode, thanks to our new-ish team at Reveal, that dives deeper into the alarming allegations. [Highly recommend a listen](. Advertisement [Feeding America]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Republicans Are Suing to Block Another Biden Plan to Provide Student Debt Relief]( They're trying to shut down a program that lowers monthly payments for millions. BY HANNAH LEVINTOVA SPONSORED CONTENT BY FEEDING AMERICA   Urge Congress: Strengthen SNAP in the next farm bill! The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps families put food on the table. With so many of our communities facing hunger, it's important that programs like SNAP are protected. [Tell Congress: We're counting on you to support and strengthen SNAP in the next farm bill to help keep our communities strong!]( [Trending] [Protesters shutting down traffic is good for democracyÂ]( BY NIA T. EVANS   [Donald Trump just stooped to his lowest low yet]( BY RUTH MURAI   [Disabled drivers can't use many EV chargers. It doesn't have to be this way.]( BY JULIA MÉTRAUX   [Beyoncé just covered the Beatles in the most authentic way: by honoring Black history]( BY GARRISON HAYES Advertisement [Feeding America]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [She's investigated allegations of sexual violence in war around the world. Here’s what she wants you to know.]( “Once I started looking into it, I realized there’s pretty much no conflict where it doesn’t happen,” said journalist Christina Lamb. BY JULIANNE MCSHANE MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   An important update on our finances We’re falling behind our online fundraising goals—and we can’t sustain coming up short on [donations]( month after month. It is [impossibly hard]( in the news business right now, and the [crisis]( facing journalism and democracy isn’t going away anytime soon. Neither is Mother Jones. Which is exactly why, despite the challenges we face, we just took a big gulp and [joined forces]( with the Center for Investigative Reporting, which creates the amazing podcast and public radio show [Reveal]( and other investigative projects. It’s going to be hard making it all work, and we simply can’t afford to fall behind our fundraising targets month after month. If you can part with even just a few bucks, [please support Mother Jones and investigative journalism with an urgently needed donation today](. And thank you so much to everyone who recently has. We’re grateful. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Share it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( 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