Barack Obama Faces Backlash Over New Podcast

Barack Obama is jumping back into the spotlight with a brand-new podcast — but critics are already tearing it apart before a single episode has even dropped.

The former president announced that he is launching A Great Book with Barack Obama, an Audible series devoted to books that shaped his views on race, politics, faith, family and America.

But instead of excitement, the announcement immediately sparked ridicule from some of Obama’s harshest critics, who mocked the project as boring, out of touch and destined to become a cure for insomnia.

“Thanks, I’ll use this if I ever have trouble sleeping,” one critic sneered.

Another piled on: “Omg is this funny. I thought it was a joke… I guess it is, actually.”

The brutal reaction came after Obama, 65, unveiled the series on X alongside an old photo of himself standing in front of a towering bookshelf.

“At a time when fewer people are able to sit down with a book, it’s important to remember the joy and power that can come from reading,” Obama wrote.

“And some books don’t just tell a story – they change the way we see the world.”

The first episode is set to hit Audible on Sept. 24.

Obama Reveals Books That Shaped His Politics

Obama said the podcast will focus on books that had a major influence on him as a young man and ultimately helped shape the worldview he carried into the White House.

His selections include The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré.

Obama said the works helped influence the way he thinks about “family, faith, race, politics and America.”

The former Democratic president also revealed that he plans to invite friends and notable guests onto the program to dissect the books and explain why they still matter.

“I invited some friends to explore why these books resonate, how they can shape our understanding of ourselves and each other, and why literature matters now more than ever,” Obama said.

But conservatives and other critics wasted little time mocking the former president’s latest attempt to remain part of the national conversation.

Critics Savage Obama’s Pitch

One of the biggest targets was Obama’s claim that “fewer people are able to sit down with a book.”

Some commenters questioned whether the former president had any idea how ordinary Americans actually spend their time.

“Why do you think fewer people are able to read a book now?” one critic asked.

“This seems odd – I think plenty of people do, and most have time – what a bizarre start to a post.”

The backlash quickly turned Obama’s carefully staged literary announcement into yet another partisan flashpoint.

For supporters, the podcast is a chance to hear one of America’s most famous former presidents discuss literature and the ideas that influenced his life.

For his detractors, it is another example of Obama refusing to fade quietly into retirement.

New Project Comes as Obama Marriage Rumors Refuse to Die

The podcast announcement also comes as Barack and Michelle Obama continue to face years of speculation about tension in their marriage.

Michelle has repeatedly opened up about the difficult reality of being married to one of the most powerful political figures in the world.

During the debut episode of her IMO podcast with brother Craig Robinson, the former first lady admitted that Barack’s rise to the presidency was never something she had planned for.

“Being married to the president of the United States (is a) thing that none of us kind of banked on,” she said.

“We knew Barack was smart and ambitious, but, you know…”

Michelle has also acknowledged that she initially did not want Barack to run for president at all.

Her increasingly candid remarks about the strain of political life helped fuel speculation that the former first couple’s marriage was on shaky ground.

Michelle Insists She Never Wanted to Leave

Barack and Michelle eventually confronted the rumors head-on during a joint podcast appearance.

Michelle insisted that despite some difficult years, she never seriously considered ending their marriage.

“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,” she said.

“And we’ve had some really hard times.”

Michelle added that the couple had shared “a lot of fun times” and “a lot of adventures,” saying Barack ultimately made her a better person.

Barack then laughed off the divorce chatter with a joke.

“She took me back!” he cracked. “It was touch and go for a while.”

Now Obama is opening another chapter in his post-presidential career — and once again putting himself squarely in the middle of the culture wars.

Whether his new book podcast becomes a hit with listeners or gives his critics even more ammunition, one thing is already clear: Obama still knows how to get people talking.