"... Nine years after leaving office, the couple each have favorability ratings well north of 50 percent. They are dignified but also real: President Obama loves playing basketball, submits brackets for the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments every March, and freely laughs at himself; Michelle Obama has been open about the reality of being empty-nesters, seems freer to give her opinions via her 'IMO' podcast, and is affectionately called 'forever FLOTUS' by her fans. And in photos, the two look as in love as ever, aging like fine wine.
"As their thoughtful, inclusive museum on the South Side of Chicago welcomes the world, we should remember the couple as fondly for what they aren’t — grifting, scowling, petty, vulgar, disinterested in each other — as much as for what they are: public servants who still endure an avalanche of hatred from some while providing aspirational Black excellence for others.
"They are living their best lives, which is the minimum they are owed." -- Shalise Manza Young, writing at "The Contrarian" Substack, on "What If Obama Had...?" On the occasion of the opening of Barack Obama's Presidential Center, Young remembers how much the Obamas were held to a standard no other politicians in living memory have or are being held to -- because they're Black Americans. Well, they met and exceeded that standard of excellence in their eight years in office, and in their lives up to the present day. Young briefly contrasts that with what many Americans will tolerate and excuse in the world-historically corrupt, ignorant, incompetent, evil (but white!!) thing currently the object of their worship. It remains to be seen if the process of national suicide that we've been engaged in, led by the Malignant Fascist and his cultists, can be stemmed and reversed. But the Obamas will always be a reminder of what a bright future many Americans once saw ahead of them.
BONUS: Chaser --
A trail of destruction. Imagine their reaction if Obama had done even one of these things.
— The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) June 20, 2026 at 12:22 AM
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