Mother Jones faces backlash following controversial ‘Christian nationalism’ post

Mother Jones magazine and its Editor-in-Chief, Clara Jeffery, are facing backlash after a controversial post on X, formerly Twitter.

Jeffery expressed discomfort when an Alaska Airlines flight attendant wished passengers a "blessed night" upon landing in San Francisco, labeling it as "creeping Christian nationalism."

Jeffery suggested that more neutral words, such as "great" or "fantastic," would have been more appropriate. She also recounted her rowmate's comment: "This ain’t Montgomery, sweetie," referring to the Alabama city.

The post quickly drew criticism, with some users defending the use of "blessed." One commenter, identifying as left-leaning, wrote, "I wish folks a blessed day fairly often. It’s just a nice thing to say."

Jeffery responded by emphasizing the importance of respecting others' space and norms.

Her reference to Montgomery also faced scrutiny, as users highlighted the city's predominantly Black population and economic struggles, accusing Jeffery of making an inappropriate comment.

A sarcastic user remarked, "Prayers that you get through this difficult time."

This controversy has sparked broader critiques of Mother Jones, with some accusing the magazine and its staff of being disconnected from mainstream perspectives.

As a nonprofit progressive publication, Mother Jones has faced scrutiny over its editorial positions and internal controversies.

The magazine was criticized in 2016 for an article perceived to portray white nationalist Richard B. Spencer too positively, despite his promotion of racist ideologies.

In 2017, contributor Glenn Greenwald criticized the magazine for publishing an article that, in his view, dehumanized homeless people. Such incidents have led to debates over the magazine’s consistency in upholding its progressive values.