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Although the delicious treats may have tempted her willpower, President Obama never gave in to the pressure

This week, while promoting her new Netflix cooking show, former First Lady Michelle Obama revealed to PEOPLE that her daughters, Sasha and Malia, became addicted to making baked goods at night during the quarantine.

They were baking way too much at the beginning of quarantine, too many delicious pies. They were good at it! Good pie crust, good fillings, recalled the star of Waffles + Mochi, which premieres on Netflix on March 16.

According to Obama, having Sasha, 19, and Malia, 22, cooking late treats eventually became problematic for her and her husband, former President Barack Obama, who are both notoriously health-conscious.

Photo: Michelle Obama Instagram

READ MORE: Barack, Michelle Obama get vaccine in new ad with all living presidents except Trump

My kids were midnight bakers. So at 1 in the morning, youd smell cinnamon buns baking, she explained in this weeks PEOPLE cover story. I had to tell them to stop because we cant have all those sweets.

She did concede though that while her willpower may have been tempted, her husband never gave in to the pressure, noting, Hes just ridiculously disciplined. We hate him.

Despite her need to playfully throw her daughters out of the kitchen during the baking escapades, ultimately Obama says she has retired from cooking and is overjoyed to pass the torch to her children.

Read More: Lexi Underwood to play Malia Obama in Showtime series The First Lady

I have retired my cooking badge, I have relinquished that skill to people who are much better at it than I am. Now that [Malia and Sasha] are back, they are cooking more, she says, adding, My girls are very much into cooking, they love the freedom of being in the kitchen, they love creating, they love experimenting. So Ive passed on that right to the next generation.

Waffles + Mochi, the entire concept is fun. Its approachable, its an adventure, its exciting, its funny, she says. More importantly, its something that I would watch even if no kids were around.

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As we previously reported, last month Netflix announced six upcoming projects from Barack and Michelle Obamas production company, Higher Ground Productions, yet somehow managed to keep their latest offering, titled Waffles + Mochi, a secret until a week later when it was announced separately.

With the help of friendly new faces like the supermarket owner, Mrs. Obama, and a magical flying shopping cart as their guide, Waffles and Mochi blast off on global ingredient missions, traveling to kitchens, restaurants, farms, and homes all over the world, cooking up recipes with everyday ingredients alongside renowned chefs, home cooks, kids and celebrities, Netflix said in a statement.

ADAM ROSE/NETFLIX

Read More: Donald Glover signs Amazon deal, Malia Obama to be on writing staff

According to CNN, the kid-centric cooking show will feature two puppets named Waffles and Mochi on their journey to become chefs, with Obama co-starring as a supermarket owner.

The new announcement comes just days after the streaming service and Higher Ground Productions unveiled a slate of four new movies and two television series, all set to come out in the next few years, including a film about the first man to summit Mt. Everest and a young adult thriller about a Native American teen who goes undercover.

Waffles + Mochi will be available for streaming starting March 16. The healthy food themes of the show are perfectly aligned with Obamas previous initiatives such as her Lets Move! public health campaign, which was aimed at combatting childhood obesity.

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Michelle Obama shut down Sasha, Malia from late-night ...

Former President Obama opens up about a wide range of topics in a newinterviewwith The Skimm, including race relations, world leaders he would want to be in a group text with and which states have the best food.

The truth of the matter is that the scars of slavery and Jim Crow never fully went away,Obama says, according to quotes released by The Skimm on Friday. Theyre embedded in our institutions, theyre embedded in our economy and theyre embedded in our attitudes.

The former president had said last monththat he believes reparations for BlackAmericans are justified because "the wealth of this country" was in large part "built on the backs of slaves," but that he couldnt pursue such policies during his presidency because of the politics ofwhite resistance and resentment.

You know what the United States has never fully done a reckoning of our past. I am somebody who is an eternal optimist and insists on us recognizing the extraordinary progress in race relations thats been made just in my lifetime, he says in the new interview promoting his memoir "A Promised Land."

Race relations have been at the forefront of the national discussion since protests against systemic inequality and police brutality mushroomed last yearsafter the death of George Floyd and other Black Americans.

Obama also touches on lighter topics such as who he would want in a group chat with foreign leaders and where to find the best food in America.

World leaders Id want in a group text. Dalai Lama. Love that guy. Pope FrancisPope FrancisPope Francis may be Joe Biden's most important ally A fearless pope makes history in Iraq Biden: Pope's Iraq trip 'a symbol of hope for the entire world' MORE, a genuinely good man. [German Chancellor] Angela Merkel. Former prime minister of India, Prime Minister [Manmohan] Singh. Maybe Id throw Queen Elizabeth in there just because she has a drier sense of humor than people think, he says.

For where to find the best grub in the U.S., Obama specifically mentions locations including Tennessee and Louisiana, though he demurs on where the worst might be.

"I could probably name the states with the worst food, but that would hurt people's feelings. There are a lot of states with great food," he says. "California is filled with amazing restaurants, to Memphis barbecue, to New Orleans jambalaya, crab cakes in Maryland. America's got a lot of good food out there."

"There are a handful of states where, as a general rule, the food is terrible, but they shall go unmentioned," he added.

Read more:
Obama discusses racism, world leaders and which states have the best food | TheHill - The Hill

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and their respective former first ladies are part of a newly released ad campaign urging Americans to get the coronavirus vaccine when it is their turn, a push that is aimed squarely at combating vaccine skepticism.

There are two ads in the campaign: a minute-long, more personal spot that shows the four former presidents and former first ladies receiving their vaccines, and another that features Clinton, Bush and Obama standing together to urge Americans to step up and get vaccinated, CNN reported.

The ads are being released at a critical time in the fight against the coronavirus and one year after the outbreak was first declared a pandemic.

With vaccines becoming more widely available in cities and states across the country, those in charge of getting vaccines in the arms of Americans are eager to use the influence of people such as the former presidents to push people to get their shots. Vaccine hesitancy remains an issue, even as the number of people hesitant to get the vaccine has been dropping rapidly.

The longer spot begins with Bush touting that Covid vaccines will "soon be available to everyone," before Obama says that the vaccine means "hope" that it "will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease."

The ad then turns to the presidents describing what they have missed during the pandemic and why they want to be vaccinated. Clinton says he wants to "go back to work" and to "be able to move around." Obama says he misses visiting his mother-in-law and he wants to "hug her and see her on her birthday." And Bush says he is "really looking forward to going to Opening Day in Texas Rangers Stadium with the full stadium."

RELATED: Former Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton volunteer to get coronavirus vaccine publicly to prove it's safe

Carter does not speak on camera, but the 96-year-old President says during the spot that he is getting vaccinated "because we want this pandemic to end as soon as possible."

The ad ends with all four former presidents urging Americans to get the vaccine as images of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Barack and Michelle Obama, George and Laura Bush and Bill and Hillary Clinton all getting their vaccines are shown.

"So, we urge you to get vaccinated when it is available to you," Obama says.

"Roll up your sleeve and do you part," Bush says.

"This is our shot," Clinton says.

According to CNN data, about 93.7 million vaccine doses have been administered in the United States, with the Food and Drug Administration issuing emergency use authorizations for three vaccines: The two-shot Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson one.

The coronavirus has infected over 29 million people in the United States, killing over 529,000 Americans. The death toll worldwide has reached roughly 2.6 million.

The second spot features Clinton, Bush and Obama standing together at Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. The three were there on January 20 for a ceremony during President Joe Biden's inauguration.

The ad is framed like an address by the three former presidents to the American people, with Bush beginning the ad by saying, "Our fellow Americans," before Clinton says, "Right now, the Covid-19 vaccines are available to millions of Americans" and Obama adds, "And soon they will be available to everyone."

"The science is clear, these vaccines will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease," Bush says. "So, we urge you to get vaccinated when it is available to you."

"That's the first step to ending the pandemic and moving our country forward," Obama says. "It's up to you."

The ads are part of a collaboration between the Covid Collaborative project and the Ad Council, a nonprofit organization the produces and promotes public service announcements. The council said the project with the four former presidents and first ladies began in December 2020 and are being released on Thursday because vaccines are becoming more widely available.

RELATED: Former Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton honor Biden in video

"In this pandemic, we need every American to help so that all Americans can recover," said former Republican Gov. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho and former Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, the co-Chairs of the COVID Collaborative. "These former Presidents and First Ladies have come together to show that each of us, regardless of political party, has a stake in beating this virus."

In statements provided to CNN, each former president urged Americans to get vaccinated.

"Over the past year, the pandemic has taken an immeasurable toll on families all across the country and upended everyone's lives," Obama said, noting he and Michelle got vaccinated "because we know it's the best way to get the country back up and running again."

Bush said he and Laura "are grateful for the dedicated scientists and researchers who enabled safe and effective vaccines to be developed so quickly" and urged Americans to get the vaccine.

RELATED: 'Banana republic': Former presidents, current lawmakers react in shock after mob breaks into Capitol

Clinton said that America "has always been at its best when we are looking out for one another and pulling together in common cause," adding that he and Hillary believe the vaccines will "bring us all one step closer to ending this pandemic."

And Carter said he and Rosalynn got the vaccine so they could "get back to church, see our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and eventually be active in our community again."

"I encourage everyone to get a vaccine when it's their turn," he added.

The Biden administration has made getting Americans vaccinated central to both its fight against the coronavirus and its messaging around the success of the President's first 100 days in office. Biden made a pledge early in his administration to get 100 million shots in arms within his first 100 days, a goal he appears likely to achieve. Biden will deliver his first primetime address to the nation on Thursday night, where he will mark the one-year anniversary of the pandemic.

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COVID-19 vaccine ad campaign features former Presidents Carter, Clinton, Bush and Obama urging vaccinations - WPVI-TV

The Girl Scouts organization on Friday announced a new program in collaboration with former first lady Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Johns Hopkins University - US marks anniversary of COVID lockdowns Obamas vaccinated against COVID-19 Former presidents, excluding Trump, tout vaccines in new ads MORE that will allow members to earn three badges and attend a virtual event with Obama.

Girl Scouts who join the "Becoming Me" program will be encouraged to "embark on their journeys to become their best selves" and will focus on themes found in the young readers' edition of Obama's bestselling memoir "Becoming," according to a press release.

"Mrs. Obama is a cultural leader and a champion for girls and women. Her journey described inBecomingclosely aligns with our mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character," Girl Scouts of theUSAInterim CEOJudith Batty said.

"Our Becoming Me program will challenge participants to look inside themselves to define who they are and who they want to become, just as Mrs. Obama does inBecoming."

Obama also shared the news of the program in an Instagram post, noting her joy working with the Girl Scouts during her time at the White House. During the Obama administration, she hosted a camping trip on the White House lawn and planted vegetables with the girls in the White House garden.

"And thats why Im so excited that the Girl Scouts will be launching their Becoming Me program to empower young readers to share their own journeys and unlock the unique and profound power that lies within each of their own stories," Obama wrote in her Instagram post. "Thats a big part of the reason I made a young readers edition in the first placeand I cant wait to hear from Girl Scouts all across the country who are reading, learning, and growing right along with me.#IAmBecoming."

The program will last for six to eight weeks beginning in May of this year and will prompt participants to complete journal activities, reflect on their personal experiences and work through content from a modified version of Obama's "Becoming" journal, according to the release.

See the article here:
Girl Scouts to launch 'Becoming Me' program in collaboration with Michelle Obama | TheHill - The Hill

The exclusive club of former presidents and first ladies has reunited with an important message: Get the COVID-19 vaccine. Missing from the campaign is former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump.

In the newly released "It's Up To You" ad campaign, former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and former first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, are emphasizing the importance of Americans getting the vaccine as soon as they are eligible.

There are two ads in the new campaign. One shows the former presidents and first ladies receiving their vaccines and sharing personal anecdotes, and another features Mr. Clinton, Mr. Bush and Mr. Obama standing together in a direct address to the American people.

"Soon they will be available to everyone," Mr. Bush says of the vaccine at the beginning of the first ad.

"This vaccine means hope," Mr. Obama says next. "It will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease."

Mr. Clinton says he wants to go back to work, Mr. Obama discusses being able to hug Michelle's mother and see her on her birthday and Mr. Bush shares his excitement for attending Opening Day at Texas Rangers Stadium at full capacity.

"I'm getting vaccinated because we want this pandemic to end as soon as possible," Mr. Carter says, although he does not appear on video.

The ad ends with images of the former presidents and first ladies receiving their shots, concluding with a smiling photo of Mr. Carter holding his vaccine card.

The second ad features Mr. Bush, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Obama standing together at Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Ceremony. The three former presidents united at Arlington on January 20 to mark President Biden's inauguration.

"The science is clear, these vaccines will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease," Mr. Bush says. "So, we urge you to get vaccinated when it is available to you."

"They could save your life," Mr. Clinton adds.

"That's the first step to ending the pandemic and moving our country forward," Mr. Obama says. "It's up to you."

Mr. Trump and his wife did not participate in the campaign. Bothreceived the coronavirus vaccine in January, but did not reveal they were vaccinated until weeks after leaving the White House.

The public service announcements come just in time for the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic.

Hesitancy to get the vaccine remains a critical issue in the U.S., as the Biden administration ramps up its efforts to vaccinate 100 million Americans in President Biden's first 100 days in office. Mr. Biden will deliver afirst primetime address to the nation Thursday night, marking the pandemic's anniversary.

More than 525,000 Americans have died due to COVID-19, according toJohns Hopkins University.

More than 93.7 million vaccine doses have been administered as of Tuesday and 123.2 million shots have been delivered,according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 32 million Americans are fully vaccinated, and the U.S. is now averaging more than 2 million shots administered per day.

Emergency-use authorizations have so far been approved for the two-shot Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines and the single dose Johnson & Johnson shot.

Originally posted here:
Former Presidents Carter, Clinton, Bush and Obama and first ladies unite to urge Americans to get vaccinated - CBS News