Coates & Noah On Obama in the Shadow of Trump

Ta Nehisi Coates sits for an extended interview with Trevor Noah, The Atlantic meets The Daily Show, to discuss Coates' new essay "My President Was Black."

"The first white people Obama ever knew were decent in a way that few black people of that era experienced....

What Obama was [therefore] able to offer white America is something very few African Americans could—trust."

Very, very thoughtful interview & conversation and well worth the 22 minutes. Thank you Coates & Noah & Obama.

Michelle Obama struck a related note in an interview with Oprah. Our first lady highlighted that those who criticized her husband for failing to deliver on his campaign promise of Hope need to re-think that in a context where merely the promise of a Trump presidency has already sapped all hope of hope from the room.

"We feel the difference now. See, now, we are feeling what not having hope feels like. Hope is necessary. It's a necessary concept and Barack didn't just talk about hope because he thought it was just a nice slogan to get votes."

"I feel Barack has been that for the nation in ways that people will come to appreciate. Having a grown-up in the White House who can say to you in times of crisis and turmoil, 'Hey, it's going to be okay. Let's remember the good things that we have.'" 

CNN reported today that...

More than one in three (38%) Americans think Trump will be a "poor or terrible" president, according to a Pew Research Center national survey released in December.