Archive for the ‘Obama’ Category

Brandon Johnson Reveals the Advice He Received From Former President Obama – NBC Chicago

Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson is set to take office next month, and he says he received some advice from arguably the most famous living politician who hails from the city.

Johnson was speaking at an event Thursday when he revealed the somewhat-surprising guidance he was given by former President Barack Obama, who along with former first lady Michelle Obama famously raised two daughters while serving his two terms in the Oval Office.

We spent a lot of time talking about our families, Johnson said. Heres someone that was president of the United States, was an organizer and worked as a legislator, (but) he raised his family too.

That wasnt the only household-happiness advice the former president gave Johnson.

His advice to me was to make sure that you spend as much time with the kids as possible, and to take the trash out, he said.

The counsel echoes what earlier reports had indicated about the conversation between the two men. According to Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times, Obama called Johnson after his victory earlier this month, giving him advice on family and also offering assistance and support as the new mayor takes office.

Johnson has two sons and a daughter with his wife Stacie, and has said he still plans to take as active a role as he can in their lives even as he moves into his offices at City Hall.

The new mayor-elect will take the oath of office on May 15.

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Brandon Johnson Reveals the Advice He Received From Former President Obama - NBC Chicago

Duct tape can’t stop Drew Barrymore. She scoots in on Michelle Obama – Los Angeles Times

Daytime talk show host-with-the-most, Drew Barrymore, is known for getting up close and personal with guests, but is her intimate interview style too much for a former first lady?

On Mondays episode of The Drew Barrymore Show the host addressed the internet fodder regarding her touchy-feely persona with a gimmick involving duct tape and the Secret Service.

In her opening segment, Barrymore sat in her armchair with a nervous expression as her Drews News co-host Ross Mathews and two Secret Service agents approached wielding yellow tape ahead of her interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Hey, Drew. These are my friends from the Secret Service, Mathews said. They saw the memes about how close you get to people youre interviewing and they just want to make sure you arent gonna pounce on our special guest today, so Im gonna go ahead and strap you down.

Barrymore gave rueful nods as Mathews taped her to her seat. Oh gosh, I get it, she said. Look, Im in on the joke, I know that I get too close to people and Im too much, but what do you expect with the guest we have coming out?

Who wouldnt want to be close to [her]? ... Ill tell you one thing I have to be myself, she said before busting herself free from the constraints.

Barrymore welcomed Obama onto the show to discuss her new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, saying that, at night, shed hold the book to her chest wishing the former first lady were her family, mom, sister.

In the follow-up to Obamas acclaimed bestseller Becoming, Obama discusses strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in an era of uncertainty. The book also takes a deeper look at issues around race, gender, and visibility, as well as practical wisdom and advice for working through fear, finding strength in community, and living life with boldness.

Barrymore asked Obama how to live a big life and remain grounded and connected.

Its a deep, very good question, because its not just for people who are living the stereotypic big life because no matter how far weve gone I still see myself the way you see yourself, the former first lady said.

I am Michelle Robinson. Nobody knew who we were until we were in our 40s. I mean, who is Barack Obama? Weve spent the majority of our lives living as a lovely, loving married couple on the South Side of Chicago, we had great jobs, we got engaged in service, we had these two little girls, and then my husband decided to run for president and I was like, What is wrong with you? We have a nice life here.

So what I say about the White House, the White House doesnt change you, who you are, it reveals who you are, she continued. And if you were raised to be grounded and humble, you practice that, that is who you are. And so for me, I was raised on the South Side of Chicago by Marian and Fraser Robinson, and they taught us to respect people, to work hard, to treat each other as we would want to be treated.

Drew Barrymore holds hands with Michelle Obama on The Drew Barrymore Show on Monday.

(The Drew Barrymore Show / Ash Bean)

Barrymore almost made it to the end of the interview without doing her famous chair scoot, but when Drew revealed that shed once seen Obama at a gala and felt too intimidated to walk over and greet her, the former first lady encouraged her to cross hard rooms, and Barrymore caved and inched toward the former first lady to hold her hands.

Get close, girl! Obama said, laughing

OK, so I need to cross the room? Barrymore asked.

You have to cross the room. Especially if its me, Obama replied. Do it.

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Duct tape can't stop Drew Barrymore. She scoots in on Michelle Obama - Los Angeles Times

Biden Is Winning Over More Democrats Than Obama, Clinton – Newsweek

President Joe Biden currently has a higher job approval rating among Democrats than the past two presidents from his party had at the same point in their presidencies, according to a new poll.

In its most recent survey on the president's job approval, Gallup found that 87 percent of Democrats said they approve of Biden's work.

Meanwhile, during the same periodthe end of March during their third year in officeformer Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton had lower approval ratings from Democrats. According to Gallup, 79 percent of Democrats said they approved of Clinton in late March of 1995. Meanwhile, around 80 percent of Democrats approved of the job Obama was doing during the last week of March in 2011.

Overall, though, Obama and Clinton had higher job approval ratings than Biden during those periods. Obama had an approval rating from all Americans of 48 percent in late March 2011, compared to 44 who disapproved. In late March 1995, 44 percent of Americans approved of the job Clinton was doing, and 47 percent disapproved of his work.

Gallup calculated Biden's approval rating in late March to be 40 percent, with 56 percent of people saying they disapprove of his job performance.

The difference maker in the polling for the Democratic leaders is support from Republicans and people who identify as independents.

Obama's job performance in late-March/early-April 2011 was given a positive rating from 43 percent of independents and 18 percent of Republicans. Clinton's job was supported by 47 percent of independents and 17 percent of Republicans during the same time of year in 1995.

While Biden's job may have been rated positively by 87 percent of members of his own party, only 35 percent of independents and 3 percent of Republicans told Gallup they approved of his work.

Dr. Herb Asher, a professor emeritus of political science at Ohio State University, told Newsweek that Biden's low popularity among Republicans is likely due to the current political atmosphere being so "polarized."

However, Asher doesn't feel Biden's poor approval ratings among independents is because the group has started to tilt to the right.

"For independents, I do not believe that they have become more conservative," he said. "In fact, I think there is good polling data to show that while independents are unhappy with both parties, their views about the GOP are especially negative, in part because of the GOP's extremist positions and excessively strident and nasty rhetoric."

As for how Americans feel about Biden's job performance compares to that of his immediate predecessor, Gallup found the results to be about even for March in the third year in office.

Former President Donald Trump, a Republican, had an overall approval rating of 39 percent in March of 2019, compared to Biden's 40 percent.

Another poll released on Friday showed Biden gaining support among Democrats who say they want him to seek a second term in the White House.

That poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found 47 percent of Democrats said they want him to run gain, which is up from 37 percent of Democrats who said the same in a similar poll in January.

The findings from the AP/NORC poll showed fewer Democrats said they approve of the job Biden is doing than the research reflected by the recent Gallup poll. According to AP/NORC, 78 percent of Democrats said they approve of his job performance.

However, 81 percent of Democrats said they would "definitely" or "probably" support Biden in a general election if he is the party's nominee.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.

Update 04/24/23 9:25 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include comment from Dr. Herb Asher.

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Biden Is Winning Over More Democrats Than Obama, Clinton - Newsweek

Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey Get Real in Upcoming Netflix Special – Yahoo News

A new Netflix special featuring Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey is set to air April 25. The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, is adapted from an intimate conversation between the former first lady and the media mogul. Obama and Winfrey will candidly discuss topics ranging from menopause to social issues to romance in the 80-minute special.

During the conversation, Obama provides a reality check on what its like to be married to a former president. Its not a surprise as the former first lady has always been open about her marriage to Barack Obama. In a recent interview with Gayle King on CBS This Morning, she opened up about the success of her 30-year marriage. During the interview with King, Obama stated that its impossible to like everyone all the time. She added that she and her husband have worked through the hard times to come out on top.

In the upcoming series, Obama and Winfrey will also share stories of when they first met and how they became confidantes. Obama will dig into the inspiration behind her book, explaining that it came from people asking for guidance.

Apart from the upcoming Netflix special, the former first lady and mother of two has a monthly podcast. The show, also entitled The Light We Carry, is an insightful and inspiring series featuring candid conversations with a diverse range of notable guests. The podcast covers various topics, from personal growth and relationships to social issues and politics. Through her conversations, Obama explores the stories and experiences of her guests, delving into their unique perspectives and insights. Winfrey, too, has a remarkable media repertoire. That legacy continues to make headlines even over a decade after the last episode aired of her iconic show aired. The media veteran, through the OWN network, has continued to tell powerful stories.

Dont miss the chance to get a front-row seat to this inspiring and comedic conversation between two powerful women.

The post Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey Get Real in Upcoming Netflix Special appeared first on 21Ninety.

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Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey Get Real in Upcoming Netflix Special - Yahoo News

Before Michelle Obama segment, Drew Barrymore is taped to her chair. (They still hold hands) – Yahoo News

Daytime talk show host-with-the-most, Drew Barrymore, is known for getting up close and personal with guests, but is her intimate interview style too much for a former first lady?

On Mondays episode of The Drew Barrymore Show the host addressed the internet fodder regarding her touchy-feely persona with a gimmick involving duct tape and the Secret Service.

In her opening segment, Barrymore sat in her armchair with a nervous expression as her Drews News co-host Ross Mathews and two Secret Service agents approached wielding yellow tape ahead of her interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Hey, Drew. These are my friends from the Secret Service, Mathews said. They saw the memes about how close you get to people youre interviewing and they just want to make sure you arent gonna pounce on our special guest today, so Im gonna go ahead and strap you down.

Barrymore gave rueful nods as Mathews taped her to her seat. Oh gosh, I get it, she said. Look, Im in on the joke, I know that I get too close to people and Im too much, but what do you expect with the guest we have coming out?

Who wouldnt want to be close to [her]? ... Ill tell you one thing I have to be myself, she said before busting herself free from the constraints.

Barrymore welcomed Obama onto the show to discuss her new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, saying that, at night, shed hold the book to her chest wishing the former first lady were her family, mom, sister.

In the follow-up to Obamas acclaimed bestseller Becoming, Obama discusses strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in an era of uncertainty. The book also takes a deeper look at issues around race, gender, and visibility, as well as practical wisdom and advice for working through fear, finding strength in community, and living life with boldness.

Barrymore asked Obama how to live a big life and remain grounded and connected.

Its a deep, very good question, because its not just for people who are living the stereotypic big life because no matter how far weve gone I still see myself the way you see yourself, the former first lady said.

Story continues

I am Michelle Robinson. Nobody knew who we were until we were in our 40s. I mean, who is Barack Obama? Weve spent the majority of our lives living as a lovely, loving married couple on the South Side of Chicago, we had great jobs, we got engaged in service, we had these two little girls, and then my husband decided to run for president and I was like, What is wrong with you? We have a nice life here.'

"So what I say about the White House, the White House doesnt change you, who you are, it reveals who you are," she continued. "And if you were raised to be grounded and humble, you practice that, that is who you are. And so for me, I was raised on the South Side of Chicago by Marian and Fraser Robinson, and they taught us to respect people, to work hard, to treat each other as we would want to be treated."

Barrymore almost made it to the end of the interview without doing her famous chair scoot, but when Drew revealed that shed once seen Obama at a gala and felt too intimidated to walk over and greet her, the former first lady encouraged her to cross hard rooms, and Barrymore caved and inched toward the former first lady to hold her hands.

Get close, girl! Obama said, laughing

"OK, so I need to cross the room?" Barrymore asked.

"You have to cross the room. Especially if it's me," Obama replied. "Do it."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Before Michelle Obama segment, Drew Barrymore is taped to her chair. (They still hold hands) - Yahoo News