Happy first Monday in May.
If that's relevant to your interests in any way, or hell, if you're just as repulsed by today's oligarchy as I am, well, I'd like to invite you into a little exploration of Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos, both of whom will be at the Met Gala tonight as honorary chairs, in addition to their roles as lead sponsors.
The appointment, which prompted a small outcry and calls for a boycott, is something of an apotheosis for the Bezoses, who have spent recent years effectively inviting themselves into some of the most exclusive corners in high fashion.
But the deeper implications of the Bezoses at the Met Gala, what it means for the culture and the ambitions of the superrich, are something to interrogate. So, I reached out to one of my favorite sources, a fabulous art historian at Columbia University, to learn more about the Bezoses storming the gates of the Met Gala. Read what she had to say—and why Sánchez Bezos will "never be elegant"—here.
—Inae Oh
P.S. Yesterday was World Press Freedom Day, an annual observance to emphasize the importance of a free press and reflect on the dangers that newsrooms and journalists face. A free press is essential to democracy, and at Mother Jones, we’re committed to upholding our First Amendment right. Will you stand with us? Make a donation of any amount to support press freedom.
