The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Barack Obama in the Trump Era

May 11, 2026·25 min·5-min readnarrativepolitics
Podzilla Summary (5 min)
TLDR
Barack Obama, though frequently called upon to rescue the Democratic Party from the Trump era, insists he is already doing more than any modern ex-president while grappling with personal and political tensions about his role. His legacy is shaped not by nostalgia but by a deliberate effor

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Guest

P

Peter Slevin

narrative on The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

Barack ObamaPeter SlevinDavid RemnickMichelle ObamaBen RhodesMaxwell Frost

Books

Becomingby Michelle Obama

Companies

Netflix

Topics

Civil Rights HistoryDemocracyLeadershipLong Form JournalismPolitical NewsRacial JusticeUs Politics

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