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Michelle Obama denies being involved in hiring of FDNY boss

Michelle Obama insists she played no role in helping embattled FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh secure her position.

Rumors ignited within the FDNY that Obama gave Kavanaugh a former campaign staffer for her husband, Barack a glowing endorsement and urged New York City Mayor Eric Adams to promote her to commissioner last year, sources told The Post.

Now, nearly a year into the job, sources within the department are complaining she was wrongfully appointed thanks to her lofty connections.

Shes essentially a PR person without any firefighting experience, and sheslost the respect of the force, said one of the sources.

A spokesperson for the former first lady shot down the allegations that she had a hand in Kavanughs promotion.

Michelle Obama was never involved in any way with Commissioner Kavanaghs appointment to the FDNY, Obamas office told The Post in a statement.

Kavanagh, who cut her teeth working on campaigns for Barack Obama and other Democratic politicians beginning in 2006, was named the interim chief after former Commissioner Daniel Nigro retired in February 2022.

Adams waited more than seven months to name Kavanaugh, 40, to the top job.

A spokesman for Adams also strongly denied that Obama was involved in Kavanaghs hiring and referred The Post to the citys press release announcing her appointment in October 2022.

New Yorkers and New York CitysBravestdeserve an exceptional leaderand CommissionerKavanagh has the vision, the skills,and the compassion to lead the FDNY into the future, said Adams in the press statement.

Thereleasealso featured quotes from politicians, including US Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) of Brooklyn. Kavanagh worked for Clarke in 2008.

Kavanagh the first woman in history to become commissioner of the more than 17,000-strong force whipped up turmoil among the FDNYs rank and file after she demoted three high-ranking fire chiefs this week. In response, two other FDNY bigwigs, Chief of Department John Hodgens and Chief of Operations John Esposito, voluntarily sought their own demotions, in protest about reportedly being kept in the dark.

Hodgens is one of the most honorable individuals I have ever met, said former New York City firefighter and now attorney Pete Gleason. I have no doubt that she [Kavanagh] undermined his ability to be the uniformed leader of the FDNY, and that shows how treacherous she is. Shes demoting people and she is supposed to run it past him. What she created is a very public embarrassment for the FDNY.

Before joining former Mayor Bill de Blasios administration, where she spearheaded public health campaigns with former first lady Chirlane McCray, California-born Kavanaugh worked for the Advance Group, according to her LinkedIn page. She is listed as the companys vice president of campaigns and elections, and worked for the Democratic lobbyist between 2006 and 2012, when she went on to head up get-out-the-vote operations in Pennsylvania for the Obama campaign.

She became a senior adviser to de Blasios campaign in 2013 and began her career at the FDNY as director of external affairs in 2014. Since then, Kavanagh has risen through the ranks despite having no experience as a firefighter.

As deputy fire commissioner, she partnered with McCray in November 2020 to launch a mental health initiative allowing crisis counselors to be dispatched through 911 calls instead of the NYPD.

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Michelle Obama denies being involved in hiring of FDNY boss

MC Business Quiz January 10, 2023: Travel edit, Barack Obama breakfast cereal, and Around the World in 80… – Moneycontrol

MC Business Quiz January 10, 2023: Travel edit, Barack Obama breakfast cereal, and Around the World in 80...  Moneycontrol

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MC Business Quiz January 10, 2023: Travel edit, Barack Obama breakfast cereal, and Around the World in 80... - Moneycontrol

Why Jenna Bush Hager Is "Emotional Over Malia, Sasha Obama Growing Up …

Jenna Bush Hagerknows a thing or two about growing up as the daughter of a U.S. President.In fact, this month marked 14 years since Jennadaughter of George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bushdrove from her teaching job in Maryland to give the daughters of the next sitting President, Barack Obama, a tour of their new home at the White House in 2008. Now, looking back on that moment of herself alongside a then 10-year-old Sasha Obama and a 7-year-old Malia Obama, Jenna can't help gush over how far they've come."I can't believe it," the Today With Jenna & Hoda co-host exclusively told E! News. "You know, they were the same age that we were when my grandfather [George H. W. Bush] became president. They were first and fourth graders." It's a recollection that serves as a full circle moment for Jenna, whoshares kids Mila, 9, Poppy, 7, and Hal, 3, with husband Henry Chase Hager. "I have first and fourth graders," she shared. "Fourteen years ago, those little babies were just twinkles in my eyes when I was a teacher in Baltimore, Maryland." Referring to Today, she added, "I did not have this job quite yet."

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Michelle Obama reacts to viral clip of Barack Obama being called fine by fan – Yahoo News

  1. Michelle Obama reacts to viral clip of Barack Obama being called fine by fan  Yahoo News
  2. Michelle Obama Reacts To Viral Clip Of Woman Calling Barack Obama 'fine'  TODAY
  3. Michelle Obama Reacts to Husband Barack Being Called Fine  E! NEWS
  4. Michelle Obama Says Barack Obama Shattered Her Idea Of Romance In First Hawaii Visit  Yahoo Eurosport UK
  5. Michelle Obama Has The Perfect Response To Viral Clip Of Woman Calling Barack Obama 'Fine'  HuffPost
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Michelle Obama reacts to viral clip of Barack Obama being called fine by fan - Yahoo News

Obama to campaign for Warnock on Dec. 1 before Senate runoff

Former President Barack Obama, reprising his battleground blitz ahead of the midterm elections, will campaign again for Sen. Raphael Warnock as the Georgia Democrat tries to withstand a strong challenge from Republican Herschel Walker before their Dec. 6 runoff.

Obamas return trip to Georgia is scheduled for Dec. 1, the eve of the final day of early in-person voting that has proven critical to Democrats in recent years, including Warnocks runoff special election victory nearly two years ago. Obama first appeared with Warnock in late October during the general election early voting period.

Warnock led Walker by about 36,000 votes in the general election but fell short of a majority, triggering a runoff under Georgia law.

Obama is the only significant national Democrat to campaign in person for Warnock, who has spent much of his reelection bid aiming for independent voters and even moderate Republicans, in addition to Democrats core supporters. Republicans, in turn, have sought to frame the race more as a national referendum on the two parties, tying Warnock to President Joe Biden and generationally high inflation.

Democrats managed to defend their Senate majority, already securing 50 seats -- along with Vice President Kamala Harris tie-breaking vote -- and managing to limit Republicans to a threadbare majority in the House. But Georgia remains a key seat because a 51st senator would give Democrats an outright majority, including on Senate committees, while giving the caucus insurance against defections.

Warnock and other Democrats around the country embraced Obama as well-positioned to carry the partys banner because he remains intensely popular among the Democratic base and is still well-regarded among independents.

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Trying to capitalize on that standing before the general election, Obama took on the GOP framing of voters midterm choice, arguing that Republicans were offering no real solutions to inflation that the former president stressed is a global phenomenon, not something that Biden and Democrats in Washington created. Obama also called Republicans a threat to democracy, pointing to many GOP leaders continued support for former President Donald Trump and his false claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent.

In Georgia specifically, Obama hammered Walker, a celebrity athlete turned politician, as woefully unprepared for the Senate, an argument Warnock is pressing both in his campaign speeches and in paid advertising.

Walker has welcomed a parade of national Republican figures, including multiple visits from Sens. Rick Scott of Florida, the GOPs Senate campaign chairman, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. But he has not appeared with Trump, despite their long-running friendship and the former president encouraging Walker to run and then endorsing him.

Most early in-person voting for the runoff is expected to occur from Nov. 28 through Dec. 2, the week prior to the runoff Election Day. Some counties plan to open early voting sites as early as Tuesday, but many counties said they couldnt manage that in the days ahead of Thanksgiving. A state judge last week granted Democrats request to allow early voting on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, though state officials have appealed. Its not clear how many local elections offices would be able to mobilize to stand up early sites on the holiday weekend even if they are allowed to do so.

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Obama to campaign for Warnock on Dec. 1 before Senate runoff