Michelle Obama’s Brother Didn’t Think Relationship With Barack Would Last
In a new episode of their IMO podcast, Michelle Obama’s brother, Craig Robinson, revealed he didn’t expect her relationship with Barack Obama to last more than a month.
The episode, which focused on dating and featured guest Tracee Ellis Ross, comes amid renewed divorce speculation. Rumors intensified after Michelle opted not to attend the funeral of President Jimmy Carter or President Donald Trump’s inauguration alongside her husband.
“I love talking about dating, because I haven’t done it in decades,” the former first lady said at the top of the podcast, per DailyMail.com.
Robinson said he learned early on from his father “you can really tell a person’s character by how they play pick-up basketball,” adding how Michelle made Craig put Barack to the test early on.
“And I’ve told this story many times about when you first started dating Barack. So Mich starts to date Barack, and we don’t know who this guy is, we’re just like, ‘Barack? Who’s got a name like Barack?’ And I’m thinking it’s gonna last a month like most of your relationships,” Robinson said.
Michelle objected, however, saying, “That’s not true. I’ve had many a long-term boyfriend.”
Robinson then laughed: “I wouldn’t call those guys boyfriends.”
He recalled his first meeting with Barack, mentioning how his mother, the late Marian Robinson, was thrilled that he was tall. “And I said to myself, ‘Too bad it’s not going to last,’” Robinson said.
“But the best part of it was, after we met him and she had been dating him for a little while she said, ‘Would you mind Craig, taking him to play?’ And at first I said, ‘No way, I’m not going to do your dirty work for you. If he turns out to be a bad dude, I’m not going to be the one to say,’” Robinson said.
“Obviously, we had a great time playing,” he added, reporting that Barack had done fine.
Still, the two have been the subject of divorce rumors for months. And Barack Obama delivered a remarkably candid admission regarding the state of his marriage to Michelle Obama in a recent interview.
“I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” Barack told Hamilton College President Steven Tepper in a conversation. “So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things.”
The former president has previously stated that his relationship with the former first lady suffered during his consecutive terms in office from 2009 to 2017.
“Let me just say this: It sure helps to be out of the White House and to have a little more time with her,” Barack said in a May 2023 interview, making sure to praise Michelle for being “forgiving” of his shortcomings.
Michelle Obama, meanwhile, responded to a surge of speculation about her marriage, stating unequivocally that recent personal decisions have nothing to do with her separation from the former president.
During an appearance on Sophia Bush’s Work in Progress podcast, the former first lady explained why she was withdrawing from certain public appearances, presenting them as purposeful choices for her well-being rather than signals of marital dysfunction.
“That’s the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with disappointing people. I mean, so much so that this year people were, you know, they couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,” Michelle said.
“That this couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?” she continued. Obama added, “That’s what society does to us.”
She clarified that women frequently feel pressure to defend their choices, especially when they don’t align with expectations.
“We start actually, finally going, ‘What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?’ And if it doesn’t fit into the sort of stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible,” Michelle Obama said.
“So you know, now is the time for me to start asking myself these hard questions of who do I truly want to be every day,” she said. That, she emphasized, “looks like whatever I want it to look like,” she added.
Caught on Camera: Suspect Attacks Cop, Instant Karma Follows
Split-Second Heroics and Lasting Legacies: Stories of Courage From Across America
What began as an ordinary evening in a quiet suburban neighborhood quickly erupted into a moment of raw intensity. A security camera captured the shocking instant when a shirtless man charged at a police officer in what appeared to be a premeditated ambush. In mere seconds, instinct, training, and split-second reflexes transformed potential tragedy into a display of controlled force.
Viral Footage Captures Instant Action
The video, now widely shared online, shows the suspect barreling toward the officer near a front doorway.
Without hesitation, the officer met the charge with remarkable precision, grabbing the aggressor mid-lunge and slamming him against a nearby wall. Witnesses nearby gasped in disbelief as the confrontation unfolded in the blink of an eye.
Viewers across social media have hailed the takedown as “instant karma,” highlighting both the dangers officers face daily and the life-saving importance of rapid, decisive action. Commentators praised the officer’s poise under pressure, noting that such reflexes are honed through years of rigorous training, experience, and situational awareness.
A Stark Contrast: Honoring Fallen Aviators
While one story captured the adrenaline of immediate heroism, the nation has also been reflecting on a quieter but equally poignant form of courage. In Dallas, tragedy struck during a historic air show when two vintage World War II aircraft—the B-17 Flying Fortress and the P-63
Kingcobra—collided mid-flight, claiming the lives of six crew members. These pilots, many of them volunteers, devoted themselves to preserving America’s aviation heritage.
Across the country, tributes poured in. Communities, veterans’ groups, and aviation enthusiasts honored their memory, celebrating the dedication, skill, and passion that brought history to life for countless spectators. Though the Dallas disaster underscored the inherent dangers of flying decades-old aircraft, it also highlighted the commitment required to preserve history and educate future generations.
Two Faces of Courage
These two events—one unfolding in seconds, the other across a lifetime of service—offer striking lessons about the human capacity for courage:
Split-Second Decision-Making: The police officer’s rapid response prevented serious injury, showing how instinct and training converge to protect lives in unpredictable moments.
Enduring Dedication: The aviators’ commitment to preserving history demonstrates bravery on a different scale, where passion and perseverance meet risk over years of effort.
Both scenarios remind us that courage takes many forms. Sometimes, it’s the reflex that stops an attack before it happens. Other times, it’s a lifelong devotion to a cause greater than oneself, even in the face of mortal danger.
Reflecting on Risk and Responsibility
The viral police encounter also sparks discussions about law enforcement preparedness and the importance of community trust. Officers operate in high-stakes environments where hesitation can have severe consequences, yet their commitment ensures public safety every day.
Meanwhile, the Dallas air show tragedy serves as a cautionary tale for enthusiasts and regulators alike. Preserving history is a noble endeavor, but it must be balanced with stringent safety measures to protect both participants and spectators.
Conclusion
From a suburban street to the skies above Dallas, these stories capture the spectrum of bravery in America. Instant heroics and enduring commitment remind us that courage is not confined to a single moment—it can be immediate, like a police officer intercepting danger, or lifelong, like pilots safeguarding history for future generations.
Whether in a split-second reaction or across decades of dedication, human resilience manifests in remarkable ways. These events challenge us to recognize and honor courage in all its forms, and to appreciate the sacrifices—both immediate and enduring—that shape the safety, legacy, and spirit of our communities.
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