MICHELLE OBAMA MAKES STUNNING CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT -'THIS IS POLITICS'.
Michelle Obama: ‘I Was Always Really Good on the Campaign Trail’
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is once again drawing conservative fire for self-praise and grievance politics after boasting about her skills as a speaker during a recent appearance at the 2026 ESSENCE Festival.
Speaking on her “IMO: The Look” podcast conversation with Keke Palmer at the event, Obama defended her oratory abilities while lamenting how media coverage during her husband’s campaigns focused on her wardrobe rather than her message.
“I was always really good on the campaign trail. I was always a powerful orator because my topic was good. It was about my husband,” Obama said.
“Now, I’m giving him passionate speeches. I think people know now that I can give a speech. That wasn’t just that. Didn’t just start happening; I was always really good on the campaign trail. I was always a powerful orator,” Obama added.
She complained that early articles about her often led with descriptions of her clothing, such as “She was wearing a purple sheath, and she had on this pair of shoes,” instead of her content.
Obama framed this as a broader tactic against women in public life.
“This is how we treat women in public life. We diminish them to just what they look like and not what I’m saying,” she added.
Obama also recalled realizing the political nature of attacks on her style, noting it was a way to “slow me down” because she was useful in undermining her husband.
Conservatives quickly pushed back on social media, calling the remarks tone-deaf and insufferable.
Critics noted that Obama enjoyed overwhelmingly positive media treatment, massive book deals, and lucrative speaking fees throughout her time in the spotlight — hardly the portrait of someone “diminished.”
Many pointed out the irony of a wealthy, highly privileged former First Lady who has long lectured Americans on everything from food to patriotism now complaining about superficial coverage years later.
Social media backlash has been swift, with users accusing Obama of remaining stuck in “victim mode” despite her elevated status.
WATCH:
This comes as the Obama Presidential Center has already come under fire after opening earlier this month.
But away from the spotlight, a very different story is still developing.
Multiple subcontractors who helped build the Obama Presidential Center say they are still fighting to recover millions of dollars they claim remain unpaid after years of work on the project.
Mike Owen, owner of Adamson Plumbing, told Fox News Digital that his company is nearly $4 million in the red after working on the project.
“That is a hole that no subcontractor, small business can survive,” Owen said.
Omar Shareef, president of the African American Contractors Association, told Fox News Digital that several Black-owned contractors privately approached him seeking help after suffering significant losses tied to the project.
“The promise was that this project was going to uplift minority contractors and uplift the community,” Shareef said. “What sense is celebrating Juneteenth if our Black contractors are not getting their money?”
Shareef further warned that some firms could lose their bonding capacity, supplier relationships, and access to future projects if the disputes remain unresolved.
The numbers involved are substantial.
Fox News Digital reports that one minority-owned subcontractor claimed losses of approximately $2.5 million, while the largest publicly known dispute involves claims exceeding $40 million connected to major concrete work on the project.
Court filings also show that at least two subcontractors later sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, although the filings do not establish that the Obama Center project directly caused those financial difficulties.
The Obama Foundation has pushed back on the criticism. Foundation officials note that the project’s construction manager, Lakeside Alliance, was responsible for hiring and managing subcontractors.
The Foundation also states that it has no contractual relationship with subcontractors and no outstanding disputed charges with Lakeside Alliance.
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BREAKING:💔Trump Issues Statement Regarding Health of Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell Health Update: Speculation Continues Amid Limited Public Information
Weeks after former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was hospitalized following a medical emergency at his Washington, D.C. home, questions persist about the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican’s condition and his ability to complete his Senate term, which ends in January 2027.
McConnell was reportedly found unconscious on or around June 14, with initial accounts indicating CPR was administered. His office has released few details since then, describing him as receiving “excellent care,” continuing to improve, and working with staff on Kentucky and Senate matters remotely while in recovery.
Later updates from McConnell’s team clarified that the senator suffered a fall, was briefly unconscious, and was treated for a mild case of pneumonia. He has since moved to a rehabilitation facility to regain strength and stated he does not plan an immediate return to the Senate floor.
Political Reactions and Calls for Transparency
White House: President Trump recently said he had “no idea” about McConnell’s current status and had not spoken with him since the hospitalization.
Kentucky Governor: Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to McConnell requesting a full public update on his health, citing transparency obligations to constituents.
Senate Colleagues: Responses from fellow Republicans have been mixed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said early on that McConnell “sounded good” in a conversation. However, Sen. Mike Lee noted that many members remain uninformed about details.
The limited information has sparked online speculation and criticism, including unverified claims about his condition. McConnell’s office has pushed back against rumors, noting ongoing improvement.
Broader Context
This situation has renewed debate over health transparency for aging lawmakers. McConnell has a history of health challenges, including previous incidents like a concussion in 2023. As of mid-July 2026, he remains absent from the Senate as it resumes work, narrowing the Republican majority’s margin on key committees.
No official timeline for his return has been confirmed, and public frustration continues over the lack of recent visual updates or more detailed medical disclosures.
This remains a developing story. For the most current details, check official statements from Sen. McConnell’s office or major news outlets.
'NATIONAL EMERGENCY' DECLARED, TRUMP SURGES US TROOPS AFTER 'MASS CASUALTIES’
Over 500 Dead In Venezuela As Rescuers Race To Find Quake Victims
Rescuers scramble to reach survivors before the “golden window” to save people closes, as at least 589 people have died in Venezuela’s twin quakes.
The country is mired in a political and financial crisis. The second quake was the strongest in the country in more than a century.
Close to 3,000 people have been wounded, many more are missing, and others remain trapped under tons of rubble.
President Donald Trump has vowed to ramp up help to Venezuela following Thursday’s quake.
“We took over Venezuela in less than one day, and the oil is flowing, and we’re getting along with them great,” Trump said in remarks from the Rose Garden Thursday evening.
“We’re going to, by the way, help them with their big – they had a tremendous earthquake last night. Did you read about massive, massive in Caracas? But we’re going to help them out,” Trump added.
A Marine Corps general flew into Caracas on Thursday to help lead the US military’s earthquake relief effort in Venezuela, where, just six months ago, US special forces launched a deadly raid to capture President Nicolás Maduro.
Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Jarrard is the senior Southern Command official on the ground.
The military said he is to “plan, coordinate, and direct the flow of rescue teams, equipment, and aid into the hardest-hit areas.”
US aircraft are flying search crews and supplies in, while State Department personnel are coordinating the broader response.
Southern Command, which directs US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, said it was “surging” forces to the region at the request of the interim government.
Relief teams from around the world are also mobilizing aid, and foreign aid pledges are pouring in.
“We haven’t slept a wink in our efforts to save lives,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on Friday.
Rodríguez also praised the arrival of international assistance and emergency crews, saying, “We have saved dozens of lives.”
More than 100 buildings collapsed in the La Guaira state, the area hardest hit by the double quake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said.
During a broadcast on state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Cabello said Caraballeda and Catia La Mar were the hardest-hit areas in the state and said 11,500 security personnel would be deployed to La Guaira on Friday to “guarantee peace.”
Venezuelan forces deployed to the area hit by Wednesday’s double earthquake are still searching for people who may be trapped under the rubble.
In an interview granted to Venezuelan public television (VTV), the Sectoral Vice President of Public Works and Services, Juan José Ramírez, stated that operations are being carried out with different machinery, such as percussion equipment that allows for the controlled breaking of concrete, with the hope of finding and rescuing more people alive.
Ramírez appealed to the public to let specialized civil protection teams do their job.
“Many times, volunteers trying to help can actually make things worse,” the official said.
Ramírez emphasized that the priority is “to save lives,” while efforts are also underway to restore basic services such as water and communications.
The US Treasury Department said Thursday it will permit “all transactions” with Venezuela “related to earthquake relief efforts.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) authorizes only partial and temporary relief from restrictions from June 26 through October 23.
The general license allows the processing and transfer of funds on behalf of third-country individuals “to or from” Venezuela, as long as they support operations covered by the specific authorization.
Venezuelans are frustrated by the slow pace of the government’s rescue response in the immediate aftermath of the twin quakes that struck on Wednesday.
“People are really frustrated. They are scared because they know that they don’t have a state that will fulfill its role. So they know that nobody is going to go there and help them,” said Venezuelan economist Jorge Jraissati.
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