Michelle Obama Reveals What Topic Is Off-Limits With Her Daughters

Newsweek

12-05-2025

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Michelle Obama revealed what topic she refuses to discuss with her daughters during a recent episode of her podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson.
The Context
The former first lady, 61, announced in March that she and her older brother, Craig Robinson, were launching IMO—short for "in my opinion." The show's first two episodes were released on March 12 and featured an introduction and an interview with actor Issa Rae.
"I'm going to be honest. We don't have all the answers," Obama wrote via Instagram at the time. "But there will be a lot of opinions. A lot of learning. And plenty of laughs. Because we all need some moments of light right now."
The Becoming author and her husband, former President Barack Obama, wed in October 1992. The couple has two daughters: Malia Obama, 26, and Sasha Obama, 23.
L-R: Malia, Michelle, Barack and Sasha Obama pose for a family portrait in the Rose Garden of the White House on April 5, 2015.
L-R: Malia, Michelle, Barack and Sasha Obama pose for a family portrait in the Rose Garden of the White House on April 5, 2015.
Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images
What To Know
On Friday's special live episode of IMO, Michelle Obama got candid with guest Tina Knowles about parenting her children, noting that there's a specific subject she refused to talk about with them.
"We got to the point at our dinner table where we just didn't talk about school at all," the attorney said. "It would be like, 'OK, you passed.' I didn't want to hear about grades."
"I didn't want to get into that because I didn't know what kind of student Sasha would be," she explained, adding that she didn't want to compare her girls. "So to this day, Malia still feels like I don't give her enough credit, but she's good."
Newsweek reached out to Malia and Sasha Obama's representative via email for comment.
Michelle said that Malia used to pick on Sasha.
"They're three years apart, and you know, the big sister knows everything. So you got the little sister at the dinner table, and of course the big sister's like, 'Well, that's not how you say that,' and, 'Why don't you know this?'"
The podcast host said she had to "pull her aside" and be like, "'Don't step on my child. No one stepped on you.'"
"When you were her age and you sat at the table not knowing anything, me and your father were like, 'Oh every word you utter is so brilliant.'"
Knowles, the mother of singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, said of Malia and Sasha: "They are both so brilliant. I had lunch with them, and I was just like, 'Woah.' I mean so confident and smart and talented."
What People Are Saying
In the comments underneath the podcast on YouTube, fans praised the interview with Knowles, who was there to promote her new book, Matriarch.
@RachelDesignsvideos commented: "I never knew how much I needed to see two Capricorns have a conversation like this—until today. You two are a force to be reckoned with! As a fellow Capricorn, it was so validating to watch you both express yourselves so openly and authentically. It reminded me of how important it is to speak up for myself and protect my peace—because nobody's breaking my soul."
@MindYourOwn777 commented: "I'm absolutely enjoying her interviews with different guests. They're all fascinating, relatable and so real."
@lab5896 commented: "Love, love these two ladies. This is a kitchen table talk. I like people that are down to earth in good clothing with a bank account."
What Happens Next
Matriarch was released in April and is currently available for purchase.