Following the release of Barack and Michelle Obama’s Netflix docuseries Working: What We Do All Day, the former U.S. president participated in a livestream for the streamer, which featured him in conversation with director Caroline Suh, two executives, and one service worker who was interviewed in the series. At the top of the event, Obama delivered one of his signature, charming speeches about how he supports the working class and unions — but he refused to acknowledge his implicit endorsement of Netflix, despite them being a key figure in the Writers Guild of America strike.
Moderated by radio personality Ira Glass, the event was live-streamed on LinkedIn on Thursday (May 25) from 5-6 PM local time. The hour-long conversation began with Obama delivering platitudes about unions and the Writers Guild of America’s current strike against studios and streamers, but failed to be any more substantial than what he’s said in the past.
Ahead of the show’s premiere on May 17, Decider criticized the series for its lackluster message about unions, which is featured in the first episode when a service worker expresses concern over the security of her job and is reassured by her union manager that she is protected, regardless of the changing times.
Following the earnest confession, Obama appears via voiceover to explain the history of unions in what would be a stirring speech, if it didn’t occur on Netflix – a streaming service that is a central figure in the WGA’s fight for fair pay and protections amid the boom of streaming entertainment.
While advertising the release of the show on May 16, Obama wrote in an Instagram caption,
This series is also about making sure we respect everyone’s line of work—because we all deserve to be valued and treated with respect. That includes the friends I made in this series and everyone else who is fighting for fair compensation and new protections that reflect changing workplaces—including the members of the WGA who are on strike right now.”
Then there was radio silence. Perhaps one would think that Obama and the creators behind the docuseries were hoping to sweep it under the rug given its ill timing, but alas, it was announced Wednesday (May 24) that Obama would be partaking in the Netflix and LinkedIn livestream. The event began with Glass telling Obama, “So, I know that before we talk about your TV show, you want to say something about the WGA strike – the Writers Guild strike – so why don’t we start there?”
Obama said, “Part of what this show Working is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills… Unfortunately one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting a fair share of the pie.”
He continued, “I think what we’ve seen throughout American history is that unions and worker organizations have had to make demands on their employers, those that are controlling whatever industry they’re in, to make sure they’re treated fairly and entertainment is no exception. My hope would be that in a time of big technological change, where you’ve got big mega corporations that are doing really well, that they keep in mind the creative people who are actually making the product that consumers appreciate and that gets exported all around the world.”
Obama went on to share his perspective of the strike, saying “I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much of a glut of product and they’re looking at their bottom line and they’re experiencing shareholder pressure, etc.” He continued, “But the fact is, is that they wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for writers who are creating the stories that matter.”
The former president called himself “somebody who’s really supportive of the Writer’s Guild” and said he “believes” in the craft of storytelling. “I’m hoping that they will be compensated and the importance of what they do will be reflected in whatever settlement’s arrived at. I’m very supportive of the writers and the strike and I’m hopeful that they get a fair share of the fruits of their labor,” he concluded.
However, Obama’s words feel like empty promises – and even worse, virtue signaling. Given his place of power, he could’ve easily remained quiet about his new production rather than cross the picket line to do the live-stream event. Television writer and producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach criticized Obama on Twitter, writing, “President @BarackObama, if you want to make a statement about the value of work, please don’t cross the @wga picket line to do publicity for a struck company.” Ph.D. candidate Matthew Borus echoed the sentiment, tweeting the former president, “So you’re crossing a WGA picket line? To talk about work?? Studs would have NEVER,” in reference to Studs Terkel, the author of the 1974 novel that Obama based his series on.
It’s unfortunate that Obama’s politics seem to be wavering at such a critical moment within the entertainment world, especially given his quick pivot to television producer. In just over a year following his presidency, Barack and Michelle Obama launched Higher Grounds Productions and have been working steadily with Netflix ever since, releasing titles such as the Emmy Award-winning series Our Great National Parks and the children’s program Waffles + Mochi. And he’s had plenty of time to prepare for the fight against Netflix, as the streamer has been a key figure in the strike since the beginning. In the early days of the strike, both the LA Times and The New York Times dubbed it the “Netflix strike” and the popular band Imagine Dragons appeared at a Netflix studio to support strikers during a protest. Are you telling me that Imagine Dragons have stronger politics than Barack Obama???
At this point, Obama’s actions are grossly undervaluing the work of picketers and telling Netflix that despite the massive outcry and threats that the strike poses to the future of entertainment, they will still have his support. What gives, man?
