Archive for the ‘Obama’ Category

Michelle Obama, Frustrated with Biden Family, Is Notably Absent From President’s Campaign Trail – Washington Free Beacon

Michelle Obama is noticeably absent from President Joe Bidens reelection campaign. In private conversations, the former first lady expresses frustration over the Biden familys exile of her close friend and Hunter Bidens ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, Axios reports.

Although her husband, former president Barack Obama, has supported President Bidens reelection bid on X, at fundraisers, and in campaign videos this year, Michelle Obama, a popular Democratic voice, has distanced herself from the campaign.

After Buhles divorce from Hunter Biden in 2017, Michellewho became close friends with Buhle during her husbands presidencyprivately told others that she felt the Biden family had wronged Buhle, anonymous sources close to the situation told Axios.

Buhle battled through Hunter's drug use and infidelity during their marriage. In the first son's recent trial, Hunters ex-girlfriendand brother Beau Bidens widowHallie Biden testified that her romantic relationship with Hunter began in late 2015 and early 2016when Buhle had said she and Hunter were not living together but still working on their marriage.

Although Barack Obama has been influential throughout Bidens presidency and reelection bid, the Obama-Biden relationship has been growing tense since 2015.

That year, then-vice president Biden was weighing a presidential run, and President Obama discouraged it, putting his support behind Hillary Clinton instead. It also was the year Biden's son Beau died of cancer, beginning years of unrest for the Biden family, including Hunter and Buhle's divorce, according to Axios.

Michelle has not entirely cut the Bidens out of her circle. Jill Biden "graciously" joined a memorial service for Michelle's mother on Monday, a source told Axios.

A spokesperson for Michelle Obama told Axios the former first lady supports Biden's reelection. "She is friends with Kathleen and with the Bidens. Two things can be true."

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Michelle Obama, Frustrated with Biden Family, Is Notably Absent From President's Campaign Trail - Washington Free Beacon

Obama’s Sister Gets Tear-Gassed in Live Interview During Kenya Protests – The Daily Beast

Barack Obamas half-sister was tear-gassed in the middle of a live interview with CNN amid protests in the Kenyan capital Tuesday.

Auma Obama, a Kenyan-British activist, showed up to support demonstrators taking part in nationwide protests against proposed tax hikes. Police opened fire with live ammunition and tear gas outside the parliament, with the chaos unfolding even as Obama tried to speak with CNN.

Im here because look at whats happening. Young Kenyans are demonstrating for their rights. They are demonstrating with flags and banners, she said. Moments later, she began coughing along with fellow demonstrators as tear gas enveloped the group.

I cant even see anymore, were being tear-gassed, she said.

Several bodies were seen by journalists outside the parliament after police opened fire, according to the Associated Press. A paramedic cited by Reuters said at least 10 demonstrators had been shot dead, though there was no immediate confirmation from police.

The unrest hit a fever pitch Tuesday as protesters stormed the parliament and legislators fled. Parts of the building were set ablaze before reportedly being put out by police water cannons.

Protesters have raged against a finance bill that would raise an extra $2.7 billion in taxes at a time when Kenyan citizens are already struggling.

They are budgeting for corruption, one protester told Reuters. We wont relent. Its the government that is going to back off. Not us.

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Obama's Sister Gets Tear-Gassed in Live Interview During Kenya Protests - The Daily Beast

Mayor Vows To Support South Shore Housing Protections Near Obama Center, But Is Light On Details – Block Club Chicago

WOODLAWN Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke enthusiastically about supporting South Shore residents in their fight against displacement during a housing summit this weekend.

However, the mayor shared few details on how hell throw his weight behind a set of housing protections proposed for the neighborhood, as supporters push to pass them before the Obama Presidential Center opens.

Several hundred people gathered Saturday for the second annual community benefits agreement summit at Hyde Park Academy High School, 6220 S. Stony Island Ave. in Woodlawn.

The summit was organized by members of the Obama CBA Coalition, who for nearly a decade have organized for anti-displacement policies in neighborhoods surrounding the Obama Center.

Summit attendees rallied in support of passing the South Shore Housing Preservation Ordinance, which has stalled for months in City Councils housing committee after being introduced in October. The ordinance would, among other points:

To read theordinance,click here. A one-page brief is availablehere.

Nearly90 percent of voters across nine 5th Ward precinctsnear the Obama Center site supported an anti-displacement ordinance in a non-binding referendum last February. A similar referendum in 2019 wasoverwhelmingly approved by votersin several 5th and 20th ward precincts.

The CBA Coalition has focused its efforts on South Shore since 2021, following a successful campaign which secured housing protections for Woodlawn in 2020.

The mayor repeatedly encouraged coalition members to grow their movement beyond the voices that are already convinced of the need for affordable housing and other protections, he said.

As much as there are real examples of harm that has been administered to our people by previous [mayoral] administrations, they did have some help from some of our people, Johnson said. Some of those individuals need to be organized.

This fight requires a far more robust, energetic [and] broader coalition, because what we do right for South Shore becomes the model for preventing displacement across the South and West sides, he said.

The Obama Center is expected to open in 2026. When asked whether he would commit to pushing the South Shore ordinance through council by 2025, Johnson took a long way of saying yes, he said. The mayor offered few details as he mostly repeated his points about winning over skeptics.

Of course Im down with the fight, but we need more hands swinging, Johnson said. My commitment to fighting alongside you has to be tethered to growing our fight.

During the summit, Johnson highlighted his push to expand a program offering free legal counsel to low-income Chicagoans in eviction court, which began in 2022 and is funded for three years using $8 million of federal COVID-19 relief.

The South Shore ordinance would create an Office of the Tenant Advocate that would similarly represent tenants in court and administrative cases at its discretion, among other functions. The office would start as a two-year pilot program in South Shore, then expand to a citywide office, according to the proposal.

The mayor also touted the South Shore Condo Preservation Pilot Program, a $15 million pilot program passed in 2022 to support residents of shared-ownership housing in South Shore.

Ald. Desmon Yancy (5th) introduced the South Shore Housing Preservation Ordinance in October with support from Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th), the latter of whom was crucial in passing the 2020 Woodlawn housing ordinance.

After several speeches from South Shore residents who shared their experiences of being priced out of the neighborhood in recent years, the alderpeople called on City Council to quickly pass the ordinance. The neighbors stories show how gentrification and displacement are already taking place while the Obama Center is built, they said.

Yancy echoed Johnsons points on the need for continued community work, as the mayors commitment is not enough to pass the ordinance, Yancy said. We need 26 [City Council] votes, he said.

The alderperson also referenced his alleged unprovoked assault by housing committee vice chair and fellow South Shore Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th) in February. The conflict was sparked by a disagreement over the ordinance proposal, which would affect 10 precincts in Mitchells ward, Yancy told the Sun-Times.

Frankly, there are Black aldermen who dont believe that we need affordable housing in our community, Yancy said Saturday. There are Black aldermen who dont believe that we need pathways to homeownership in our community. There are Black aldermen who dont believe that Black people should be in South Shore.

Yancy urged the council to pass the ordinance by September. If its not passed before budget season kicks into full gear, its a wrap for this year, he said.

The pressure is on now, Yancy said.

Coalition members vowed during the summit to continue their fight against displacement in South Shore and beyond. They asked supporters to attend upcoming council meetings and demand their alderpeople back the ordinance.

We wont stop until everyone is able to afford to stay, who wants to stay, until there are no more evictions by greedy landlords, [and] until our continued existence on the South Side right next to the Obama Center is a public right and no longer in danger, coalition member and Woodlawn resident Margaret Brewer said.

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Mayor Vows To Support South Shore Housing Protections Near Obama Center, But Is Light On Details - Block Club Chicago

Barack Obamas Sister, Auma Obama, Hit With Tear Gas During Live Interview Amid Protests In Kenya – imdb

Auma Obama, the half-sister of former President Barack Obama, was hit with tear gas during a live interview amid the protests in Nairobi, Kenya.

On June 25, CNN International correspondent Larry Madowo spoke with Auma during violent protests in Kenya, which included police firing live rounds and tear gas on protesters attempting to storm Parliament to protest legislation known as Finance Bill 2024.

The bill would raise an additional $2.7 billion in taxes at a time when many Kenyan citizens are struggling with poverty.

At least five people were killed in clashes with police, and dozens more had been injured.

Im here because look at whats happening, Auma told Madowo. Young Kenyans, who are demonstrating for their rights, theyre demonstrating with flags and banners.

I cant even see anymore! she added. Theyre being tear-gassed!

She started coughing along with the other activists around her while tear gas filled the air.

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Barack Obamas Sister, Auma Obama, Hit With Tear Gas During Live Interview Amid Protests In Kenya - imdb

Barack Obama’s Half Sister Tear-Gassed at Protest in Kenya – The Root

Auma Obama (half-sister of former US president Barack Obama) attends the Goldene Bild der Frau award at Hamburg Cruise Center on October 21, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Photo: Isa Foltin/WireImage ( Getty Images )

As the 7 Days of Rage in Kenya continues to go on in response to a recently passed tax hike as a part of the Finance Bill 2024 that prompted outrage from Kenyans, former President Barack Obamas half-sister and activist Auma Obama was unfortunately caught in the crossfire.

Susan Heyward on Season Four of The Boys

In live footage aired on Tuesday on CNN, Auma was seen being teargassed alongside a group of protestors out in the streets. When initially approached for an interview by anchor Larry Madowo live on the ground, Auma and the group were immediately imbued with tear gas, causing them to seek respite elsewhere in order to finish the rest of their conversation.

I am here because look at whats happening, young Kenyans are demonstrating for their rights. Theyre demonstrating with flags and banners, I cant even see anymore. We are being tear gassed, she said in between a coughing fit before she, the anchor, and the group moved away to try to escape the gas.

After a short break to somewhat regain her composure, Auma continued:

I cant believe that these young people are trying to demonstrate for their rights, I came to join them...to tell them that we understand that they need to use their voices and were being tear gassed. Were being tear gassed, we have flags and banners. Nothing else! Nothing else! These young people have nothing else! Just flags and banners, the Kenyan flag. How can you tear gas your own people? Listen to them! Listen to the children, theyre 80 percent of our population. 80percent! If they decided to turn against us, they can! And that is what theyre doing now so please listen to these young people.

As previously reported by the AP, thousands of protestors took to Kenyas parliament to object to the passing of the finance bill, burning part of the building and prompting police involvement. As of Tuesday, five people were reported dead while more than 30 were injured. The Kenya Human Rights Commission has called on Kenyan President William Ruto to put an end to the violence against protestors. The passing of this bill comes amid nationwide frustrations over inflation and high cost of living.

Later on Tuesday, Auma seemed to be fairing OK, telling a user who asked about her well-being on X/Twitter: Thank you for asking, Am good[sic]. She also noted that her half-brother checked in on her to make sure she was good.

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Barack Obama's Half Sister Tear-Gassed at Protest in Kenya - The Root