Trevor Noah reminds me of Barack Obama in a lot of ways. He’s written a successful memoir about his upbringing and mixed identity, he’s extremely well-spoken and handsome with slightly protruding ears that somehow manage to make him look just more adorable, and he seems like the kinda guy you just can’t help but like.
We all knew that something great had to be in the works a couple of years ago when the Obamas penned a deal with Netflix. Nevertheless, imagine our level of excitement for former first lady Michelle Obama’s documentary, Becoming to air on Netflix May 6.
Women all around the world resonated with the stories and affirming words shared by Obama in her candid autobiographic novel. Becoming sold more than 10 million copies. In addition to book sales, Obama’s book tour was a monumental success—and the Netflix documentary is a behind-the-scenes look of the 34-city tour. Which is great news for those who weren’t able to secure tickets for the sold-out events!
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Obama announced the documentary, writing:
“I’m excited to let you know that on May 6, @Netflix will release BECOMING, a documentary film directed by Nadia Hallgren that looks at my life and the experiences I had while touring following the release of my memoir. Those months I spent traveling—meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe—drove home the idea that what we share in common is deep and real and can’t be messed with. In groups large and small, young and old, unique and united, we came together and shared stories, filling those spaces with our joys, worries, and dreams. We processed the past and imagined a better future. In talking about the idea of ‘becoming,’ many of us dared to say our hopes out loud.”
I treasure the memories and that sense of connection now more than ever, as we struggle together to weather this pandemic, as we care for our loved ones, and cope with loss, confusion, and uncertainty.
She went on to sing the director’s praise saying, “It’s hard these days to feel grounded or hopeful, but I hope that like me, you’ll find joy and a bit of respite in what Nadia has made. Because she’s a rare talent, someone whose intelligence and compassion for others comes through in every frame she shoots. Most importantly, she understands the meaning of community, the power of community, and her work is magically able to depict it.”
On Twitter, Obama shared a clip from the documentary.
I’m excited to share that on May 6, @Netflix will release BECOMING, a documentary directed by Nadia Hallgren that shares the stories of the amazing people I met after the release of my memoir. During this difficult time, I hope you’ll find some inspiration and joy in this film. pic.twitter.com/fqsIbhXYeL
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) April 27, 2020
Mark your calendar for the release!
President Donald Trump is blaming former President Barack Obama for the lack of testing for the coronavirus, despite the fact it didn’t exist when he left office.
“The last administration left us nothing. We started off with bad, broken tests, and obsolete tests,” Trump asserted.
When CNN reporter Jim Acosta pressed Trump, asking “You say ‘broken tests’ — it’s a new virus, so how could the tests be broken?” Trump doubled down on his claim.
“We had broken tests. We had tests that were obsolete. We had tests that didn’t take care of people,” Trump continued before pivoting to Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden for their handling of the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak.
The coronavirus did not exist until late 2019 and didn’t reach the U.S. until early February although the exact date is unknown.
The flu outbreak killed about 12,500 Americans, while coronavius pandemic has already taken more than 60,000 citizens.
Obama did, however, leave a detailed 69-page document showing how to respond to the threat of a pandemic. However, Trump fired the government’s pandemic response team in 2018. Trump also largely ignored the coronavirus when it hit the U.S. in February, saying it would go away on its own.
Obama has been more vocal since the outbreak hit the U.S. in February. In April, Obama compared the coronavirus response by the U.S.to climate change deniers.
Trump also refused to take responsibility for the pandemic during a White House press briefing last month, again blaming the situation on Obama.
“No, I don’t take responsibility at all. Because we were given a — a set of circumstances, and we were given rules, regulations and specifications from a different time. It wasn’t meant for this kind of — an event with the kind of numbers that we’re talking about,” Trump said.
Trump said earlier this week that the U.S. will soon ramp up testing to test 5 million people per day. However, Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary of health for the Trump administration said otherwise.
“There is absolutely no way on Earth, on this planet or any other planet, that we can do 20 million tests a day, or even 5 million tests a day.”
President Donald Trump is blaming former President Barack Obama for the lack of testing for the coronavirus, despite the fact it didn’t exist when he left office.
“The last administration left us nothing. We started off with bad, broken tests, and obsolete tests,” Trump asserted.
When CNN reporter Jim Acosta pressed Trump, asking “You say ‘broken tests’ — it’s a new virus, so how could the tests be broken?” Trump doubled down on his claim.
“We had broken tests. We had tests that were obsolete. We had tests that didn’t take care of people,” Trump continued before pivoting to Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden for their handling of the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak.
The coronavirus did not exist until late 2019 and didn’t reach the U.S. until early February although the exact date is unknown.
The flu outbreak killed about 12,500 Americans, while coronavius pandemic has already taken more than 60,000 citizens.
Obama did, however, leave a detailed 69-page document showing how to respond to the threat of a pandemic. However, Trump fired the government’s pandemic response team in 2018. Trump also largely ignored the coronavirus when it hit the U.S. in February, saying it would go away on its own.
Obama has been more vocal since the outbreak hit the U.S. in February. In April, Obama compared the coronavirus response by the U.S.to climate change deniers.
Trump also refused to take responsibility for the pandemic during a White House press briefing last month, again blaming the situation on Obama.
“No, I don’t take responsibility at all. Because we were given a — a set of circumstances, and we were given rules, regulations and specifications from a different time. It wasn’t meant for this kind of — an event with the kind of numbers that we’re talking about,” Trump said.
Trump said earlier this week that the U.S. will soon ramp up testing to test 5 million people per day. However, Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary of health for the Trump administration said otherwise.
“There is absolutely no way on Earth, on this planet or any other planet, that we can do 20 million tests a day, or even 5 million tests a day.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed an executive order allowing teenagers in the state to skip the driving test in order to get a license. All that’s required for now is their parents’ consent.
According to CNN, all other requirements before the test must be fulfilled. Once the requirements have been fulfilled, teen learner’s permit holders will be allowed to obtain a provisional license by providing an affidavit from their parent or driving instructor stating they have completed 40 hours of supervised driving.
A clean driving record of at least one year and one day is also required. Permit holders over the age of 18 can sign their own affidavit.
The order will stay in effect until the expiration of the state’s Public Health State of Emergency, which Kemp has extended to May 13.
“During these unprecedented times, the Department of Driver Services is trying to make it as easy as a process for people to get their license and to lessen the burden on people right now,” Stormi Kenney, who owns a driving school within the state, told Fox 5 Atlanta.
Spencer Moore, Commissioner of the state’s Department of Driver Services¸ said social distancing guidelines currently make it impossible to conduct in-person tests. Additionally, there is a backlog of 30,000 applicants, with an average of 5,000 teens having taken the exam every week prior to the shutdown.
Moore added the pass rate for teens in the state is over 80%.
Kemp’s executive order also outlined how the state will loosen its social distancing requirements which went into effect last week. However, a model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, says the state shouldn’t open up until at least late June.
Even that date assumes the state will implement aggressive testing, contact tracing, isolation, and crowd-size limits to prevent more infections. Although spaces in the state are opening, African American leaders are urging residents to stay home. African American barbers in the state are also weighing health over profits.
