The Most Influential Women

For a special cover, former President Barack Obama reflects on the most influential women in his life and his new memoir, A Promised Land.

Oh, and do you recognize that jacket? (Hint: It’s the same one he sunk a three-pointer in two weeks ago). https://t.co/0mKkR2K7t8 pic.twitter.com/XAECT0KXci

— InStyle (@InStyle) November 19, 2020

What’s the most badass thing about Michelle, Malia, and Sasha? “They all have multiple badass qualities,” Obama say… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
  (@InStyle) November 19, 2020

In an excerpt from the first chapter of his memoir, Obama introduces us to his family and life in Hawaii: “The thou… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
  (@InStyle) November 19, 2020

We celebrate @barackobama’s, ‘A Promised Land,’ with this special cover. We asked Obama to wear the jacket he sank the three pointer in while campaigning with Biden. He was surprised: “I’ve got better jackets.” When reminded, he grinned. “I showed some swag in that one.” @instyle pic.twitter.com/yhhje1JHix

— Laura Brown (@laurabrown99) November 19, 2020

Keep Fighting For Breonna

Make your voices heard here. Pre-written emails and letters can be found here to send to the relevant officials

More people have been arrested for protesting the murder of Breonna Taylor than for the actual murder of Breonna Taylor.

—
Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) July 16, 2020

I've been in Louisville for the past few months and have been following the protests here closely. People here have… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
KK Rebecca Lai (@kkrebeccalai) July 16, 2020

****

4 months later, and Louisville is still demanding justice for Breonna Taylor. https://t.co/YnvEidyHyQ

—
VICE News (@VICENews) July 16, 2020

The Challenges We Face

Here are a couple of articles that are worth reading — from housing to health, these stories use data to explore ch… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 19, 2020

nytimes.com/2020/02/11/hea…

—
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 19, 2020

Yes We Did

Tonight at @thewharfdc, Lawrence Jackson, a White House photographer during Obama’s two terms, shares photos and be… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Pendants and Pentagrams (@PoliticsProse) October 22, 2019

****

The result is an intimate look at President Obama’s two terms, what it felt like to be a black man photographing the first black president of the United States and the ways, Jackson says, that the former president and first lady maintained their authenticity both on and off camera. “Lawrence has a talent for capturing the big scene, the iconic images that will help explain our times for future generations,” the president writes. “But he also has a unique gift for capturing those quieter moments—the margins of a big event, the pauses in a busy day, some stolen times with Michelle and our girls.”

More here

****

Hidden Heroes

****

I’ve always been so inspired by the military caregivers who give so much to care for our nation’s wounded warriors.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) October 24, 2019

The gangs all here. Tonight, we’re thrilled to honor @MichelleObama with the Tom Hanks #HiddenHeroes Champion award… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Elizabeth Dole Foundation (@DoleFoundation) October 23, 2019

****

Former First Lady Michelle Obama became teary as she accepted the Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion award for service to military caregivers on Thursday night at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes gala.

Opening up during a speech at the Washington, D.C. event, the former first lady said she first became aware of the difficulties for spouses, parents, and children of wounded and ill vets while on the campaign trail when her husband was first running for president.

“You all changed me forever,” she said. “You have changed the way I see service, you’ve changed the way I see war, you’ve changed the way I see this entire country. Whether we simply talk about the values we like to pride ourselves on, values like duty and honor and patriotism, or if we actually live them out.”

More here

****

.@savannahguthrie emceed the second annual Hidden Heroes Gala with the @DoleFoundation on Wednesday night, and some… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 24, 2019

Find @MichelleObama's powerful remarks here👇 business.facebook.com/ElizabethDoleF… https://t.co/SCzclzunX1

—
Elizabeth Dole Foundation (@DoleFoundation) October 24, 2019

****

Eight years ago First Lady @michelleobama started Joining Forces to activate support for service members, veterans,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Elizabeth Dole Foundation (@DoleFoundation) October 24, 2019

Michelle Obama Is Everything!

Michelle Obama: Whatever comes next, I hope "I embrace new opportunities ... I hope that I am always growing into t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 03, 2019

****

I was just 2 years old when Michelle Obama became first lady. When I was growing up, she was always just there, smiling on the covers of magazines, surrounded by groups of kids in the White House gardens, holding hands with her husband. At that time, I didn’t have a concept of who she really was. But as I got older I began to realize how important she was—and the impact she was having on my generation. I learned more about her in Becoming, her memoir, in which she tells the story of her journey from Chicago’s South Side to the White House. Her voice is honest and often vulnerable, especially when she experiences change, like going to a new high school or becoming the first lady. Frequently she asks herself, “Am I good enough?” But she is also mesmerizing and determined, asserting herself as a force from a young age. Michelle Obama doesn’t use her book to preach, though. Instead she shares her ideas with the world through storytelling. As a journalist, that’s how I communicate too—by knocking on doors and asking people to share their stories. And so when I got the chance to interview her, my goal was simple: to uncover more about the ideas behind her stories and how they can inspire us all, regardless of our politics.

More here

****

Michelle And Meghan

"Whatever your background, it’s easy to feel connected to Mrs Obama. There’s something magical about the way in whi… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
British Vogue (@BritishVogue) July 29, 2019

Podcasts On Podcasts

Barack and Michelle Obama Sign @Spotify Deal to Produce Exclusive Podcasts bit.ly/2WxIEAV

—
  (@Variety) June 06, 2019

****

“We’ve always believed in the value of entertaining, thought-provoking conversation,” President Obama said in a statement provided by Spotify. “It helps us build connections with each other and open ourselves up to new ideas. We’re excited about Higher Ground Audio because podcasts offer an extraordinary opportunity to foster productive dialogue, make people smile and make people think, and, hopefully, bring us all a little closer together.”

Michelle Obama said, “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to amplify voices that are too often ignored or silenced altogether, and through Spotify, we can share those stories with the world. Our hope is that through compelling, inspirational storytelling, Higher Ground Audio will not only produce engaging podcasts, but help people connect emotionally and open up their minds — and their hearts.”

****

Renaissance Of The Written Word

We owe a big part of the renaissance of the written word in recent months to Michelle Obama's memoir, “Becoming.” I… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) May 24, 2019

The Sun Came Out

****

Lyndsey Parker

****

For two years in a row, Barack Obama has included tracks from By the Way, I Forgive You, “The Joke” and “Every Time I Hear That Song” on his Spotify playlists. The irony isn’t lost on me that “The Joke,” which was inspired by the fallout from the 2016 presidential election, was celebrated by a president very different from the one currently in the White House…

****

Well, I certainly have a lot of respect for [Obama], and I think the irony of what you pointed out is certainly an interesting perspective too. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. And if you listen closely to “The Joke,” you can hear him in it. You can hear Obama’s influence on me in that song. He influenced me in big ways during his presidency. I saw my parents get health insurance for the first time. I proposed to my wife on the day that he became the first American president ever to come out in support of marriage equality — and it had always bothered me that he hadn’t up until that point. I had the ring for a long time, and I had been waiting for the opportunity to propose to Catherine [Shepherd, who is British], but we kept hitting roadblocks with DOMA. We kept hitting roadblocks with the airports and the borders, and getting to and from the U.S. together without having to lie about our relationship. We were very discouraged at the time. So when [Obama] came out [in support of gay marriage], it was like the sun came out.

****

****

There are detractors out there who think artists should just “shut up and sing” and keep politics out of music…

Being told to “stop being political” is just hilarious to me. I wake up every day political: a gay mom raising a house full of women. There’s really nothing not political about that. So, I can write about my own personal experience and have it be wildly political. That just happens to be the life and the hand I was dealt.

****

More here

****