Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Australia Imposes Sanctions on Taliban Officials Over Human Rights Abuses 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
CFPB to Review Anti-Discrimination Policies and Fair Lending Rules Amid Policy Shift 
Cuba Quietly Signals Openness to Post-Maduro Venezuela as U.S. Pressure Intensifies 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
Trump Backs Review of U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule After Hepatitis B Policy Change 
U.S. Appeals Court Rules Trump Can Remove Members of Key Federal Labor Boards 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Trump’s New U.S. Strategy Seeks to Deter China and Protect Taiwan 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Michelle Obama took the side of Ellen DeGeneres and defended the popular host from bashers who criticized her for her friendship with the former POTUS George W. Bush. Barack Obama’s wife explained that there was nothing wrong if they are friends thus the criticisms were generally unfounded.
Why DeGeneres was bashed
In October, the photograph of the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” host with the former president was circulated online. The two were sitting side by side and watching the Dallas Cowboys’ game. The two are smiling in the picture but people slammed the TV personality via social media.
The public posted distasteful comments and most of them are asking why they must be friends and having fun together. The criticisms were based on the fact that Bush is an anti-LGBTQ who has launched homophobic campaigns before, and DeGeneres belongs to this group.
Michelle agrees with DeGeneres
Michelle Obama is also friends with Bush and when she was interviewed by the former president’s daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, via the Today show, she revealed what she thinks about the people’s negative reaction to DeGeneres’ friendship with former POTUS.
It was Jenna who opened the subject by asking Michelle Obama about her friendship with her father. USA Today noted that despite sitting at opposite sides of the political spectrum, the former FLOTUS and Bush developed great friendship over the years.
“I think you’re friends with both Ellen and my dad,” Hager said. “They sat next to each other, which cause some sort of online backlash. Your husband recently talked about the dangers of ’cancel culture.’ What do you say to people who want to be closer with each other?”
Obama replied that she had the opportunity to sit by Bush “at funerals, the highs and the lows,” and they exchange stories about their parents and children. Then she said she agrees with DeGeneres' position on keeping a friendship even if they have different views.
“Our values are the same,” Obama told Hager. “We disagree on policy, but we don’t disagree on humanity, we don’t disagree about love and compassion. I think that’s true for all of us, it’s just that we get lost in our fear of what’s different.”
