Hey, everybody.

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Get your priorities straight. Hi, my name is Michelle Obama, and I am feeling very, very hopeful about being Conan O'Brien's friend.

You can lose the 50 bucks and I can do it. We are going to be friends, I can tell. Hey there and welcome to Conan O'Brien needs a friend, a bit of an unusual occurrence today. These podcasts usually drop, I think, as the kids say on Monday. We're putting this special episode out today, Wednesday. And it is correct that we make exceptions for this episode because our guest is the former first lady, Michelle Obama. Back again.

Yeah, back again. Now, that's true. This is the first repeat guest in the almost two and a half years that we've been doing this. And I have to tell you, that's a no brainer when Michelle Obama says that she's willing to come back and she didn't just say she's willing, she desperately pleaded.

I don't think that she wrote letters, which no one does anymore. I have so many letters from Michelle Obama. I didn't see any of these bills just piling up. I know when it became a possibility that she would come on the program and that we would have a conversation. And good God, is there a lot to talk about with Michelle Obama right now? One of the things I enjoyed observing from my perspective was how much everyone's behavior changed, because I hate to break it to you listening audience, but we're not the most professional organization.

I wouldn't say. I wouldn't say. And I say this with a lot of affection. I think we have a lot of terrific people with great capabilities working here on the podcast. But there's a slacker element to this whole enterprise. You think that's fair? So, yes, I think it trickles down. Yeah. Led from the top down. Yeah. Yeah, the fish right from the head. OK, well, I've unlike some people in the room with me right now, I don't consider marijuana gummies one of the four food groups, so.

Wow. Wow. Michelle Obama episode. That's where we're going. You're always like most people say, well, I've got to get some iron in my diet. You're the only one who I know who says I need to get high off this gummy worm right now. You know, if you work for you, you want to numb it, girly girl. How do you numb the pain of working with Conan O'Brien? We know that sonas preferred. What are you you must be doing heroin at this point.

Oh, no. I go into the closet under the clothes fetal position and just weep. Well, I'm going to say if the two methods I prefer Sonus. Yeah. Thank you very much. As soon as the method comes in raspberry, lime, all kinds of flavors come in any or. Yeah. Yours, it's just always the same coats with that mothball smell security. No it was fun and sweet to watch everybody snap to attention and I mean everybody.

So no I thought you rose to the occasion. You were quite professional. I put on makeup in a blazer and I think that it just goes to show how much we all adore Michelle Obama, former No. One. When I saw you wearing a blazer, I thought someone close to you had died. Oh, I did. I wasn't sure. Or that you just got a job at Exxon. Oh, I was. As one of the corporate leaders in Exxon.

Everybody was very professional. And then I was noticing there's like a countdown to when Michelle Obama is going to get on the Zoome call and do the interview with me. And I just saw everybody in the room. We were taping this at Largo, not here at Airwolf. We were taping it at Largo because she was also doing an appearance on the show. Right. And I just noticed cameraman suddenly standing straight. Everybody got very serious and sober and very adult.

I put on shoes and I you can't even see my feet right now one at one point during the interview. Listen, for this, unless you edited out Matt, Matt held up his shoes and said, look, Mrs. Obama, I have shoes. And it was this totally weird moment in Hide That myself. Yeah, I'm a big boy. Yeah. And Mrs. Obama seemed puzzled because she was in the middle of saying something really important about somebody.

And you cut her off and it was about in Pennsylvania and how there's this specific thing you have to remember. And he goes like Mrs. Obama, Mrs. Obama. And she goes, excuse me, because you seem confused. You didn't know who was talking. And Gawley held up a shoe on each hand. And when I have shoes and she was stunned and I think some of her people leaned in. So you probably edited that out, right, girlie?

Yeah. Good. Yeah. There's a couple of things we had to edit out of this, which I'll be honest with you, I was doing a great job. I think you're going to like the interview. Okay. No, it's true. Well, I was doing a great job. I really was. But at one point she was giving making this very beautiful, beautiful point about government and about people's need to serve. And Seona blurted out, I have a dog and his name is OK.

And you held it up to show her your dog? Yeah, she seems stunned by that because that was weird. You got too excited. I just thought she would want to see, OK, because she's really cute. Yeah, but who who who cares? You know, I care and I think she cares. She has Bo. Oh do you remember this at one point. Listen to this. I'm talking to her and I hear and I got excited and I thought, oh my God, that I just heard a dog who I think was under her desk.

And I said, Is that Bo? That's Bo and I thought, I'm such an idiot, I got excited about a celebrity. That's the only dog you get excited about, that it's a celebrity.

You don't care about sonas, but you like celebrity.

I don't like my monarchy all the time. Know, I like my dogs. They're celebrity dogs, OK? Owned by a celebrity. Oh, God, I'm technically a celebrity. I looked it up. OK, yes. People magazine has a site and that said just barely look in Boscoe or not on the same level as the presidential dog. No, it was really funny. There's a moment in the podcast where Mrs. Obama is talking to her kind of.

And I just said, excuse me, was that was that. And she went, oh, yeah, that's Bo. And I was like, that was actually the bark of Bo. What are you doing, you idiot? Yeah, no, I was excited, too. It's not weird that we would get excited about the bark of a famous dog. Yeah, dogs don't know they're famous. No, no. But that was a companion to a president.

I think that every time I watch Wizard of Oz is that that dog in that movie has no idea that he's famous. He was just like, I want to eat and then I want to moop and then I want to go to sleep. I mean, you don't know if he knows or not. He didn't know. OK, they're not. What if a dog did know and then was like a dick about it? I'm sorry, I'm cursing.

Yeah. Yeah. It's the Michelle Obama episode. No, I'm sorry. You you took it down. You know what I think about a lot? Horses watch any movie and I get distracted by the horses. Any movie horses don't know they're on camera. Come on, Michelle Obama. We got the former first lady. I know. What are you doing? OK, I'm getting off the top. What are you doing? Sorry. Anyway, to get back on the topic, you can edit all this out if you are with professionalism.

And then it's you talking about horse. I know I talked about what I said is everyone else was professional on this podcast. I am still not. Yes, I see you're not holding up shoes. Everyone else was professional. I am not because I'm supposed to be setting up this really terrific discussion with Michelle Obama. And I'm suddenly talking about how watch horses in movies because they don't know they're on camera. This starts at the top. This is trickle down economics.

It's true. You're talking about me taking edibles. You're seeing something. A high person. I know. And I'm not high. That's what's crazy. Yes, I just had some coffee, but I do I swear to God, just before we get into this amazing interview. Well, I think it's amazing. Please look at any Western, any iconic Western. The horse is laying down. The horses don't know that they're on camera and they're looking around.

You know, it's so great because people are saying iconic lines from these movies and these horses are just like, oh, no, Obama.

All right. Well, I'm sure. Oh, my God. Plenty of people out there who are listening to this, who are tuning in to hear what Michelle Obama has to say to me about so much about voting and the upcoming election and the choices we're about to make also care that horses and movies don't know they're on camera. And it's just I don't see why those two are exclusive, but it's all right. It's a total waste of time. And I'm sorry.

And there wasn't time for that. And I was going to do a serious, respectable, somber intro. And then I got diverted into how dogs and horses on movies don't know that they're on camera now. I'm saying it for the fifteenth time and I can't help myself and it's my own fault. Oh, my God.

This is why the 15 second jump forward button, I guess, was invented. Yes. Horses don't know they're on camera. Here we go. But we do have a very special episode today. My guest, of course, the former first lady, best selling author and currently co-chair of When We All Vote, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase voter participation and change the culture around voting. She also has a delightful new podcast that I was fortunate enough to be a guest on the Michelle Obama podcast.

It's now available wherever you get your podcasts, and I am truly honored. She is with us today. And we're going to be talking about stuff that we both very much care passionately about.

So Michelle Obama, welcome. I want to remind you that the last time you were on the podcast, you said you were cautiously optimistic. And I think that means that I have made some headway in that time.

There's been movement and there has been.

So what you're saying, and this is maybe I'm over interpreting this, is that because there's been progress in me going from sort of someone you might cross the street to avoid to someone you're hopeful about? I think that means America might be moving in the right direction.

Now, that's all that it means.

You know, we are moving forward as a country because my friendship with Conan O'Brien is just continuing to grow and flourish.

See if that can happen. Anything can happen.

So we have so much to talk about. First of all, there's been a big development, so much going on in the world, but a big development in your life. You launched your podcast. I actually spoke to you. I was interviewed on your podcast, has fought very honored to be part of it. But when I spoke to you, you had not launched it. You have launched your podcast now. And it is a huge success. And I've got to ask you, how do you like it?

I enjoy it. I mean, we we talked about when we did our interview, you were kind of you know, we kind of mentioned that turning on a mic and talking and being able to talk freely and openly, it's the kind of joy of tapping into feelings and having conversations that we couldn't do when I was first lady. And really, the podcast is building off of the conversations that were started through the book and on the book tour. And of course, you were a part of those conversations.

So they aren't new, but it felt like letting people into my kitchen, being a part of some of the intimate discussions that I have with my friends and family and people I trust and people like you, Conan, who are open and have done the work. I know your team is laughing at that right now, but the truth is that you have thought about a lot of things in life.

You're not just a comedian and I'm not blowing smoke, but you are a thoughtful individual with insight and a willingness to share that with others to help get them to a better place. And that's really what we were trying to do in the season of the podcast. So it was fun.

It's very easy if you reach a certain status and I'm not going to exclude myself, I'm going to. But I'm talking about you and your husband where people can think, well, they're just at this different level.

And when you talk about losing your temper at your husband, when you're driving around in a crappy car and throwing the wedding ring at him or something, you know, you know, when you when you talk about those things and people go, what? You can't do that. That's a Barack Obama. What do you mean? You lost your temper with Barack Obama and you say, no, no, he's he's a human being. He's my husband. And he really pissed me off.

And so I threw something at him, you know, it happened. Yes, it happens. He just has, as I said, protection when my wife loses it at me. There aren't six guys that jump in the way.

Barack still says that his Secret Service agents are more scared of me than they are protecting him. I bet you that's true. That's true. That's true. You know, one of the things that I remembered you asking me before your podcast launched what I liked about it, and I told you the part you're going to like maybe the most, maybe not the most, because I know how much you love having these conversations and you are a natural. But what I know you love, because I love it is when you've spent I've spent twenty seven years having makeup put on me, clothes put on me and I.

During your time at the White House and at different events, many times I saw you at events and you had to get all glammed up.

My Not the case with a podcast that is a big win on the podcast. You can sit in your underwear with no makeup on.

That's exactly what I'm doing right now.

The vision it singed into my brain.

No, no, it's that it's that one piece underwear from the nineteen six up front. Yeah. It's the old yet goldminers. You still wear it. Yeah. No skin is ever showing.

But I think that that's also part of what helps make the conversations feel more, more real because you are usually somewhere comfortable. I like right now my shoes are off, I am sitting in a chair that makes me feel good and that I think makes you more open to just sort of letting loose. You forget that other people are listening, so. Really allows you to tap in to yourself into the person that you're talking to in a way that you can't do in a, you know, a big arena or, you know, on on a on a television show so that it's far more intimate.

And I love that about it as well.

You know, it's nice, I think, especially when you're in your house.

I know you're with your family right now and you've told them all, please be quiet because I need to talk to Conan O'Brien, which is, I know, a very sacred moment in the Obama family.

But I think there's something about being in your own space with your own people. And you you get to this relaxed state. You did something that I thought was really important. You talked on your podcast about you admitted to having experiencing a low grade depression. And I thought it is a mission of mine that people understand. We have a culture of, as I said, those people over there have it better than I do. They don't feel my pain.

I don't know. It's very important for them to know you're helping a lot of people. When you say no, I, Michelle Obama, have low grade depression. I'm experiencing it. And you opened up about it. That validates so many people so well.

And I always think about how young people are listening to us. They're their heroes, they're icons, they're favorites. You know, they're they're trying to figure out how to shape their own lives. And they look to us, the people they see on TV, the people giving speeches, the the artists that they're listening to. And I think it does them no good, these young people to pretend like we're perfect and that we don't have problems because all it does is to set them up for a false sense of perfection that none of us has.

And I always think in terms of what a relief it might be for some young girl who wants to be like Michelle Obama to know that I am not perfect and that I have flaws and that I have failed and that I had to learn how to get get up and try again, that that hopefully gives them some more room to grow and to become who they are without fear of not getting it all right, because none of us do.

You know, and the current resident of the White House is someone who I think almost pathologically needs to tell you he's perfect. He's never made a mistake. We all know that that's not true. And I think that's such an unhealthy sentiment to put out in the world. I don't trust people who say I've never made a mistake. It's not possible when people come from a place of humility, which is, I don't know, remember humility.

Yeah, I know. You know, you say that word. I'm like, oh, humility. It was beautiful thing to see long ago.

Yeah, it shouldn't be it shouldn't be like the opening of Star Wars a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

There was something called humility and empathy and empathy and humanity. And I do think we are getting to a place, in my opinion, where those are being seen as, you know, never admit to anything, never say you made a mistake. These are values. None of us. We don't teach our kids these values.

No, we don't. I mean, I'd say that all the time. What do we tell our you know, we tell our kids, don't be a bully to tell the truth, to eat your peas. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And all of that. But, you know, I think it's a it's a hard standard to try to build a nation off of. It doesn't work. And it's exhausting. I say this for the people who are supporting the person in office.

It this is exhausting for everybody. You know, no one's happy, you know, deep, deep down inside, even though, you know, this party controls the government, they're in charge of everything. They're in charge in the White House. They're in charge of Congress. They're in charge of everything. So everything that's been going on has happened under their watch. So if anybody's mad on their side and disgruntled and feeling disempowered or feeling angry or scared, it's because we're going to follow in that agenda.

Yeah, yeah. We are living in a country that is based on a lack of humility, a lack of truth, a lack of hope. And it doesn't feel good. It doesn't feel good just for us. It feel it doesn't feel good for anybody because it doesn't work. You cannot lead a nation based on fear alone that there has to be some level of hope and optimism and unity and connectivity and empathy and compassion. It's who we are as people.

And there will be nothing that happens to change that in our evolution. Process any time soon. So we need to make sure we have leaders who recognize those values, who live by them and not just mold them in every four years when it's time to run for office. People have to live those values out if they want to feel it. So I hope that people are are focused and ready to make a change and vote in leaders who reflect who we are and who we want to be as a nation.

Hey, everybody, Conan O'Brien here to let you know about Team Koko's virtual comedy show hosted by my good friend, the very funny comedian Moses Storm. Moses Storeman friend streams every other Thursday on Team Koko's YouTube twitch and Facebook pages. Past guests have been Chris Read, Joakim Booster, Rachel Bloom, bestselling Kal Penn, Run Frenches, Angela Johnson and so many more. It's really a fantastic comedy show, Jampacked, featuring some of my favorite people, and I'd like you to check it out.

If you get a chance. Follow Team Coco live on Instagram for the latest show dates and guest lineups. Hello there, I'm Rory Scovel, I'm a comedian, I'm an actor, but most importantly, I'm a dad.

And I'll tell you what, as a father, it is my sworn duty to tell you about my new show with Team Coco called Dads, the podcast.

On each episode, me and my co-host, Ruthie Wyatt, are joined by a hilarious guest to talk about the mysteries of fatherhood and parenting, people like David Cross, Conan O'Brien, Sabrina Gelis and Roy Wood Jr..

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Don't miss it. You know, it's I've never been political, I'm not a political comedian, it's not my medium, it's never been a big part of my show or my work. And I've never really felt that it was my place to be very vocal about who I was going to vote for just because I felt that no one was looking to me for that. But this feels very different, and that is why I'm being very vocal about wanting to support Joe Biden, because I look at the man who's in office right now and I do not want my children to be living under a president that I find embarrassing, who I think does not have the values that I'm teaching my kids to have.

I have a 14 year old son and a 16 year old daughter, and there are certain ways I treat to teach them to behave. And I know there are people listening that might say, well, Conan is just one of those knee jerk liberal celebrities. And the point is, I can't stress more that that is not the case. And I always try to see the nuance. I always try to see past the politics and to see the humanity. And to me, it's just very clear that that Joe Biden is has to have not just my support, but I'm very passionate about that.

I'm very passionate about it. And I think he's he's really evolved. I mean, I know you know him very well, but I think Joe Biden has some of my favorite people evolve. I think he's a very decent man.

I really do. And I would love to see him in the White House.

Yeah, I. I couldn't agree with you more. And I'm right with you when it comes to politics. I know I was the former first lady, but it was because I happened to be married to somebody who became the president of the United States, not because I've got this deep desire to be in politics. So I get it. And I understand how people feel cynical about it, which is one of the reasons why I try to stay clear of it, because I think that once you in this society, because we're so divided, once you sort of identify yourself as a Republican or Democrat, the other half just can't hear what you have to say.

Right. So for me, you know, while in the last presidential elections, I've been very involved, not because I wanted to, but because I understood what was at stake. I mean, I tried to tell people, look, I. I know what it takes to be the president. I've seen it in ways that some of the best minds haven't, you know, and I know what kind of person is required and what the skill set needs to be.

And this president doesn't have it. He he he doesn't have what it is required to lead a nation. And we are living with that. Now, Joe Biden, on the other hand, I mean, I know this man so personally. I know Joe Biden. And is he perfect? No, but what did we say earlier? None of us are. And and he will be the first to admit his flaws. He will admit his mistakes.

But what he is, is he has humility because he knows loss. He knows suffering. He has you know, he he has a weeped and mourned with people. He has character. He is a profoundly decent man who has devoted his entire life to public service compared to who's sitting in the White House now, where it's really been about enriching himself, enriching his family, relating to rich people who he can identify with. And it's so amazing to me when Joe Biden is such a regular Joe, you know, that he is that guy from Scranton who has been working his fingers to the bone his entire life, foregoing wealth for going, you know, he's not a poor guy, but he has pushed aside a lot of income because he has this belief in our responsibility to serve the public.

Yeah. And he's devoted his life to that. That's the kind of leader that we need. And I am not speaking as a politician. I am speaking out now in the same way because there isn't a choice in this election. And I, I just have to do everything in my power to help people really think this through in a way that is nonpartisan but is true and it's real. Right. And this election couldn't be more important for the direction that this country is going to go.

I know that there are people who feel like they like the way things are. They like the, you know, the sort of rough and tumble that in the the crassness of this president. They they they they like his sort of grittiness. Whatever it is, but we are suffering as a nation because of it, and there is no clear plan for us moving this country in the right direction if we don't make a change. And that's just facts.

Yeah, there's one thing that stuns me and the world we're in today that I do not understand, which is what has always stood in politics, is that when things happen during a president's term and you saw this firsthand, that president is accountable, that it's just it's on your watch. So you're accountable and good things happen. Great. You you benefit. Some bad things happen. You take the hit. That is the way it has always been in American politics.

And now we're in this strange moment where I watch these ads, these ads for Trump and I watch people campaigning for Trump and and they're running as if he's an outsider who's trying to replace President Biden. And so all. And it's and to the degree that it's almost comical, they'll say elect Trump and we'll stop all of this negativity and this violence and we'll stop, you know, this just the horrors of the pandemic. And we'll stop if you don't you hate what's been happening the last couple of years.

What's all going to end if we could give Trump a chance? And I think what what are you talking about? He's the incumbent. This is insanity. This is madness.

It makes me think of, you know, that the tagline when my husband was president was, thanks, Obama. Right. Right. I mean, you remember that anything anything that happened wrong in the world, it was. Thanks, Obama. You know, my dog died. Thanks, Obama.

And I mean, so do you ever use that on him around the house? Oh, now we do all the time. He left the mayonnaise out all night. And you're going to think Obama is so perfect.

It is stunning to watch kind of the okey doke being played. It is just amazing to to sit back and see things that, you know, we just keep saying what would happen if Barack Obama said that? Did that look like that? Walk that way, talk that way? I mean, it's just, you know, and the the the Republican Party would be apoplectic. So it is it is bizarre, but it's also, you know, to put on that empathy, had there a lot of folks who are hurting, who are his supporters and they've been hurting for a while.

This economy has not worked for a lot of people for a long time to come. And people have been rightfully frustrated and they feel alienated. And so in order for us to get this back on track, we have to understand what has led people outside of racism, which is the thing everybody points to. But it's not just that there are a lot of decent folks who are hardworking, who have been bamboozled and and are afraid of things they they don't know and they don't understand.

And that is playing a significant role in and and people feeling like, you know, this is the only way to make things better is to stick with this guy who talks tough and says exactly what they think they want to hear. You know, I can understand where that comes from, but we also have to understand those of us have to put themselves in other people's shoes, too, and to think of the the level of racist and homophobic and misogynistic language that makes, quite frankly, people with my skin color feel afraid to worry is like, is this what my country thinks of me?

That, you know, people who look like me are a threat to the suburbs, that, you know, somehow young people like me who are protesting because of of of in just criminal systems, that somehow we are the you know, we're the non patriots, that we are the ones that are the problem. As I've said this, it hurts in a way that is hard to describe when you are an American who has led a life where you have tried to do right and play by the rules and get a good education and come from families that have raised you well with the values that this country says it upholds.

And to know that there are people who would vote for a continuation of this kind of chaos, possibly because they're afraid of me, it hurts.

And it's and it's sad and for for anybody who is undecided and thinks that this doesn't matter or thinks that, you know, this my my taxes are low and so, you know, I'm not really being heard. I don't know anybody who got sick from this virus. I'm fine. The message that another four years of this sends. Wow. I just have to sit with that and say we now know who this president is. We know what this man stands for.

People can't pretend like, well, maybe it'll get better, maybe he'll be more presidential. All that says to people like me is that you don't really care about my pain. You don't care about my heart. You're not willing to even try to empathize with people like me and my mom. People you've met like my brother. Right. That's that's the vast majority of brown and black folks, immigrants, LGBTQ folks. They're decent people trying to live life.

And we are frustrated, too, when things don't go right. But that doesn't mean that we are enemies of the state. That is I mean, that we want our neighbors to fear us so much that they would forgo health care and job creation and working on our environment because they're so afraid of the possibility of us. Yeah, yeah.

The word empathy is used so much these days that it's in danger of losing its meaning to to people because they hear it a lot. And people say this president lacks empathy, but you really have to break down that word and what that means. It's caring about other people. And I it's been demonstrated to me time and time and time and time and time again that the current occupant does not on a very human level, he doesn't care.

I don't think about other people and I know that Joe Biden was not is not a perfect person because nobody is. And there are many different choices for candidates in the Democratic Party. I think it's been really inspirational how just a few months ago it felt like the Democratic Party was fractured. And then once Joe Biden got the nomination, everybody came together. And I think that is speaks to his ability to unify. I think a lot of people can get behind Joe Biden.

Yeah. And so I'm very I'm with you on this. I know as as parents, we both have two children. And I very much want my children to respect the president of the United States. And I can't lie to them and tell them that I respect the current president, the United States, as a person, as a man.

I don't. And so that has been and he and Conan, you don't have to lie to them.

Kids aren't stupid. You know, they are watching. They watch. You know, it's like I wouldn't watch you anyway. I wouldn't want to anyway. But it hurts me that. Yeah, that I didn't always growing up, I didn't always like and I knew that my parents didn't always like the occupant of the White House and throughout my life. But I never felt this kind of disassociation from somebody as a human being. This is a first for me in my you know, and I am fifty seven years old and I have never, ever felt this way about a human being that was in the White House.

I never felt this disconnected from them as as a human being. And I find that to be sad and scary. And I think that's that's why I really think this time needs to end, you know.

Yeah, I agree. And that's why, you know, I'm doing everything in my power. And I know that there are many folks out there who are doing everything in their power to get the word out. You know, When We All Vote is an initiative that I started several years ago, even before this president was in office, because I knew that we were dealing with a problem in the society with people who haven't learned to make voting a part of their life.

It's not a part of the culture in a fundamental way. And we tend to only really talk about voting every four years right before an election. And that's just not enough to shift a culture and change the way young people view their their role as citizens. So, you know, our goal, while while it's very important in these coming weeks, because the election is fast approaching, the work that we do must go on and on and on, because we shouldn't be in a position where we have to convince Americans to use their right regardless of their party.

We have to make sure that people in this country understand that democracy only works when citizens are engaged. So I am grateful to everyone stepping up now. It's just that no matter what happens on November 3rd. We have to keep this going because we're in this position because too many people don't think that voting matters, they they don't understand what the president of the United States means, what the what the job entails. They don't know they don't know the separation of powers and what issues are directly controlled at the state level or the federal level.

They don't understand what the Supreme Court does and doesn't do in their lives. And a lot of that has to do with our floundering educational system, the fact that we don't put enough resources into educating the vast majority of our young people. But we have to find a way to keep doing that. We have to make sure that that young people coming up, that they look at voting with as much excitement as they do with getting their driver's license. Yes.

Yeah. And it's amazing to me that, you know, kids know how to get some heart in. Getting your license is not easy. You got you got to get a permit. You got to drive for X number of hours. Then you got to go to the DMV. I mean, let me just stop there. Every kid I know, when they get that age, they're all of a sudden they're taking they're taking tests. They're standing in line.

I mean, you know, they will move heaven and earth to get a license to drive a car and then be like, well, voting is too hard. It's like. Right. It's not harder than getting your license, OK? I hate to break it to you, but my assistant Sona has never got a license but drives anyway. Yeah. Yeah, I live on the edge. She lives on the edge. Yeah. But she's also a well she's a known shoplifter but we'll talk about.

OK, ok. OK, ok. OK I'm recovering tell and all your business. We're going to let that go. But there's more important things to talk about. Well I want to make sure I get this message out that when we all vote dog is where you go and it will give you the information you need to get registered to vote and make your plan to vote early. I mean, I think in the last election there's there were a hundred million people that were that didn't vote that were eligible to vote, which is shocking.

It's absolutely shocking. We can do so much better and we have to. Yes, I did hear a dog bark while you were speaking so eloquently in the background.

Yeah, yeah. That was so. Yeah, OK. Well I he doesn't know that I'm on a podcast. You didn't explain to Bo that. I did know I did. In fact, I had someone give him me to take him away and then he's like right up under my feet breathe and he breathes heavily. Yeah, that's a heavy breather. And all these plugs, I'm like, you're gonna unplug everything.

I'm guessing that you probably put someone in charge of keeping an eye on Bo. I thought I did. And you know what I say to that. Thanks, Obama.

I know just who to blame. I, I know just who to blame. It is a joy, joy and a privilege to talk to you. And I just want to thank you as for using your platform to to share your humanity with people because you do such a good job through the podcast and through just all your appearances of showing people who you are. And I know the real you and you are an enormously impressive human being who would never pretend to be perfect.

But I think that is such a rare thing that no one's doing that right now. And the fact that you're out there showing people who you are is a credit to you, it's a credit to your mom and not a credit to your brother. By the way, I think it's way too much credit. He gets a pass, that guy. I don't know why he gets a pass. I knew I loved Deacon. Yeah. All right.

I want you to take care and please try and get some downtime today, OK? Absolutely. Don't work too hard. All right. OK, we are back. It's just us now, the the person who commanded all the respect has now left the the interview and that was special, so special to I know 20, 20 has been such a whatever you want to call it, everybody has their own images, but just a wretched year. And it's sort of felt healing to talk to Michelle Obama.

I know. You know, I think I think if I had had any ailments beforehand, my doctor would say they're just gone. Yeah, we just scanned you and they're gone. Is a reminder of better times. Yeah.

And just that she's just a calming presence or something. Yeah. I know she I have to say, it's first of all, I am very passionate about people voting and I have in the past, you know, people say, hey, whether it's MTV, Rock the Vote or let's get out the vote. And it's felt like that's that's a good cause. But this year, this year, it feels like there's a new imperative, obviously. And so I'm thinking of getting vote tattooed on my forehead o backwards so that when it's on TV, it is that weight loss doesn't have to be backwards.

No rearview mirror. Yes, that's it. The ambulance thing vote tattooed on my forehead backwards like an ambulance logo on the hood so that when I'm in the rearview mirror of someone's car they see Conan O'Brien and they can read vote on my forehead. Right. But no one else will read it that way when they interact with you. So you walk around with it on your head. I walk around with E Tof on my forehead all the time, and people are going to say, what's that all about?

And I'll be like, Do me a favor, wise ass. Get in your car. I'll give you an eight second head start. Don't go too fast and then look for the KIYA behind you and that'll be me work and that'll be me. I this is the way I like to do it. It's a little sneakier. I think it's anyone can wear a vote t shirt, but for me to get tough on my forehead and then wait for people to notice me in their rearview mirror because I tend to get up a little close to the bumper.

Oh yeah. No, a bit of a tailgater anyway then that's cool. I think people say like, wow, that's cool. Yeah. You talk about it all the time about how a lot of younger people don't generally turn out to to vote and how it's important for them to vote. And I mean, I remember how jarring it was when I first voted. What was the first election you were allowed to participate in? Was this when did you get to this country?

OK, come on. I'm just curious what I'm I'm not I'm unclear. I was born here. Oh. Didn't jump out of a bush like you tell people. Just say you jumped out of a bush. Yes, you have. You said I floated to this country and then I know we're all human and I jumped out of a Bush craziness, domesticated me and pleased to be an assistant. That's ridiculous. Horrible thing to say. Terrible. My first election was George W's first election.

Right. And and ironically, his name was Bush. That was so bad, that was so bad. Let's take a pause. This can be used. We have to cut all of this out. We just have to take it out. It's awful. Terrible comments to make after this could be a historic interview with Michelle Obama in which we both got very serious and heartfelt and. Yeah, and now we're back in the muck again so quickly. And you got partizan for anyone who's not.

That's I can't believe that would even be a surprise. I'm just I was listening to that show, The Daily Show the other day, and they were talking to undecided voters and people were saying, yeah, I'm still not sure it's really true. How are you? Not sure. I mean, I wanted to reach through my my iPhone and grab that person and say, really? You're unsure? Well, still need to know more about this. Joe Biden.

Trump has things have gone horribly for four years, but I don't know about Biden. Not quite sure. I'd like to hear about more. Where is he on forestry, where his policies for The Woodlands. What do you sort of saying in saying there is no choice, there's absolutely no choice. There's one person who reads things. He reads pages and and can digest what is said to him and then make a decision. And then there's another person who shall go nameless, who it's been proven he can't read.

They used puppets when they tell him things. And and it's you know, it's not this is not like, oh, celebrities are so partisan and oh, I'm in a liberal bubble. It's like, come on. I've I've known and had a lot of respect for many people on both sides of the aisle. And this current situation we're in is absolutely absurd. And I guess this was a kooky experiment. America wanted to try and it didn't work out.

Let's accept it and move on. And so I just just I'm sorry. There's no so that's why it doesn't feel like and now Cohn is going to reveal what he thinks of the election. I wonder what's the Las Vegas. Oh, that's happened in 50 50. What's Conan who's really political going to say one of them can actually speak on different matters, actually has real relationships with people in his life. And this is just a neuron firing angrily.

We should have saved it as a tease. We just kept plugging it where America.

We're going to reveal between Donald Trump, former reality star, and Joe Biden, who's given his life to serving this country, which one goes and thinks better equipped after four years of diarrhea falling from the sky. Which one is Conan O'Brien going to vote for? Revealed today in a special Michelle Obama like get ready. Here it is. And then I'm all coy. See, I'll say this. He's a white male. Oh, Conan, you rascal, who you vote for?

Yeah, no, no, no, no, it's it's all clear that we have to do and if you disagree with me, blah, blah, blah. But if you're undecided, my God, we are still not sure.

It really is like saying, so where are you on? You're going to be in the ocean for six days and you need to stay alive. You can have a life preserver or you can have a bank safe to hold on to. I don't want to rush into anything. I don't want to think about it now. So what's the shape of a bank safe? Well, one float's and one will help you float. And even if you pass out, you can wrap it around your waist and you'll stay afloat in the ocean and you'll survive and people will find you and they'll give you water or you'll be rehydrated and you'll live forever.

The other, you will plunge to the bottom three miles down and die instantly here. So what's the color of the safe like? I'm undecided.

So anyway, there you have it. And you love history. You know more about presidential history than anyone. Well, anyone you know. Yes, that's true. Your family doesn't know a lot of presidential history. That's not fair. Do they know? OK, that don't just don't say it. I don't like you saying I love your family. You know that I love your family. And I you I don't know. They're very I love them.

I just don't think I don't think your mom, like, is a huge Martin Van Buren fan. I'm just going to say that. OK, that's very controversial. Yeah. She she hasn't read the latest Robert Caro biography, nor should she really. You're saying don't read right now, Auntie Caro. I don't know. I just love him. I want to pick up on some of that Joe Rogan vibe. You know, Kohnen Blast Karro, formerly a huge fan, now hates you know, I just want to, you know, big news.

Yeah, exactly. That's kind of that's going to get us some ink that's going to blow up. That's going to be everywhere. Kohnen turns on Carrow People whose koenen what's Karar. What's this now? Librarians everywhere are buzzing. Anyway, that was that was very special. And our our deep thanks to Michelle Obama and to all her people who made that possible. I know how busy she is and I don't take any of that for granted. Just a real honor to get to speak with her.

Yep.

Conan O'Brien needs a friend with Sunim Obsession. And Conan O'Brien has himself produced by me, Matt Cawley, executive produced by Adam Sachs, Joanna Solotaroff and Jeff Ross at Team Coco and Colin Anderson and Chris Bannon at Your Wolf theme song by The White Stripes. Incidental Music by Jimmy Luisito. Our supervising producer is Aaron Belayer and our associate talent producer is Jennifer Samples. The show is engineered by Wilbekin. You can rate and review this show on Apple podcast and you might find your review featured on a future episode.

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