please welcome to the program jodi kantor. ( cheers and applause ) how are you?he book is called "the obamas." i'm not going to lie to you. i heard a tremendous amount of controversy about this book. the portraying the first lady very poorly, as an angry woman. she was out on gayle king show talking about it. i saw you on cnn where the woman was yelling at you. so i made the mistake of listening to that before reading. so i was very angry at you. >> and then what happened? >> jon: i read it. >> and? >> jon: she seems nice. >> (laughing). >> jon: really. i'm surprised at the controversy because the book seems to portray michelle obama as a complex yet human individual struggling with this unbelievable situation yet remaining the moral compass and center of an administration trying to find its footing. the only thing i would say to you is, how dare you? >> it is really weird to me. i've been covering the obamas for five years. basically i asked two questions: what happens when you take these two pretty regular people and put them in the extremely abnormal situation

jodi kantor. >> thank you so much.

jodi kantor says valerie jett and former press secretary robert gibbs white house special who she broke. obama among her sources for the book valerie jett and former press secretary robert gibbs. coming up could we get more snow and the coming days and look at the seven day forecast at a later sports blackhawks continue to get production from the young players try to pick up points against minnesota tonight. wgn news @ 9 tonight chicago first snowstorm of the year more snow down that all season 4-8 in. likely before it is over depending on where you live hundreds of flights canceled at one point midway was shut down midday trouble could be slow and dangerous tonight especially out by area's high wind and plunging temperatures kicking in city and crews working around the clock plowing and salting roadways when will it taper off and in the next seven days more snowfall? >> absolutely correct we do have a more chance higher chance for snow in the last seven days tapering off by the clock in the morning winter storm warning for chicago area expires notice winter weather advisory is outlying

and jodi kantor joins me now. welcome, jodi. >> thanks so much for having me. >> you're getting a lot of flak for this book. how are you dealing with that? did you expect it? >> well, actually there's been a lot of praise and excitement for the book. it's gotten some great reviews. you know what's exciting about this book is that it shows how the personal intersects with the political in this white house. and you know, there were some big headlines and scoops that came out of the book. but the real book that exists for people who are reading it as opposed to the abstract thing that a lot of people have been discussing on tv without reading is this sensitive nuance texture portrayal of the obamas in the white house. >> that's clearly not how they're seeing it. i can tell from the first lady's reaction in an interview yesterday with gail king. she's not happy. >> i was surprised by her reaction. and i assume what she's reacting to is the coverage of the book, which has been a little distorted rather than the book it

"the obamas" written by jody kantor. she writes about the relationship about the president and his wife behind the doors of the white house. mrs. obama not so thrilled with the book. we'll talk about her reaction and talk with the author this morning. stephen cobelbert is exploring possible run for the office. >> i am proud to announce that i am forming an exploratory committee to lay the groundwork for my possible candidacy for the president of united states of south carolina. >> finally, i'm feeling excited about this. race, we get to weigh in and what it all means for the republicans and that, of course, hear about this? the conductor of the philharmonic, cell phone rings in the middle of a performance and you know what he did? he stops the orchestra. i am cheering for him. we agree with this. i love this man. we're going to talk about that and much, much more as we begin qu "starting point" right now. okay back. we are back once again inside the tick took diner as ashleigh and zoraida told you about. they were stosz

i'm pleased to have jodi kantor back at this tae. welcome. >> thank you. >> rose: it is good to see you. now i know you what have been doingince those interviews we had back during the campaign. books often are defined in a limited way, as you well know. because they are early sort of discuions about specific things and they miss those larger picture because they haven't-- it becomes a conversation about controversy. tell me what you think this book is about. >> i think it's about three things, charlie. it's about watching these two people learn to translate their partnership into a white hoe partnership. a couple of decades ago they just had a normal marriage like the rest of us. and now they have this kind of supermarriage where the back and forth between them really affects the whole country. there's a sense in which we're all married to the obamas now. it's about michelle obama's turn around in the white house. >> rose: evolution or turn around. >> turn around, she had a really rocky aively radio. she was just a stranger in a str

i don't see that coming through even when jodi kantor wrote.erviews where she feels like she's been misrepresented, and jodi kantor came back and said i didn't really say these things. this is something that people who are detractors of mrs. obama, i think, have taken away wrongly from the book. jon: well, let's take a listen to mrs. obama said to gayle king when she was interviewed earlier in the week about this on cbs. >> who can write about how i feel? who? what third person can tell me how i feel? >> uh-huh. >> um, or anybody for that matter. jon: judy, does she have a point? >> el, not really because -- well, not really because as long as she doesn't grant access and talk about how she feels, people are going to have to surmise how she feels through 33 aides which is what jodi kantor says is the number of people she talked tonight -- to about mrs. obama and the relationship between her and the white house staff. i find the fascinating parts of the book which i haven't read in full to be the relationship between her and the staff in the whi

so, most of you probably know jodi kantor from her work at "the new york times," but i actually know jodi bathroom when she was sick or what girl with big hair from new jersey. we met at columbia university. i think it was jodi's first week of school almost 20 years ago in jodi has been one of my best friends ever since her marriage to run the poor actually was my first wedding. so i think it only appropriate that it was my first wedding in the subject of my book that i spend the rest of my introduction talking about her marriage. so i'll do that for just a few minutes. fastmac no, just kidding. the question as i prepare for this evening is how does someone introduce one of the best friend? do i talk about exploits at columbia? the answer to that is no because their exploits were basically a statement on friday nights, so not going to go that way. i could also talk about her work bio. of course as impressive as it is, winning one of the young alumni leadership awards from columbia, dropping out of harvard law school to work at slate magazine and after that becoming a section editor at

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joining me now is the author of "the obamas" and "new york times" correspondent jodi kantor. oining me tonight, jodi. >> thanks for having me. >> jodi, your book has provoked the famous michelle obama quote of last week, the so-called angry black woman quote. and i just want to run that quote again, to show how she said it and what she was referring to when she said it. let's listen to that quote. >> it's more interesting to imagine this conflicted situation here and a strong woman and you know, but that's been an image that people have tried to paint of me since, you know, the day barack announced, that i'm some angry black woman. >> who can write about how i feel? who -- what thirty person can tell me how i feel? or anybody, for that matter. >> so just to be clear, that reference to angry black woman was not to your book, which michelle obama says she has not read and has no intention of reading. the quote did come up in the context of a discussion of your book. she was saying that that image is something people have tried to attach to her for a long time. for example, septe

the new book by author jodi kantor says the first lady felt pressured to look perfect because everyone was waiting for a black woman to make a mistake. mrs. obama also rejects the book's claim she clashed with her husband's aides, former chief of staff rahm emanuel and former press secretary robert gibbs. >> i can count the number of times i go over to the west wing, period. >> reporter: the book suggests mrs. obama did not want to be like hillary clinton, who had her own office in the west wing. according to the book, mrs. obama told an aide, i don't want to be hillary clinton. i can't be that person. white house offices acknowledge moments of tension between the first lady and the president's staff, but they say far less than in past administrations. they say the book doesn't fully convey the personal bond between the obamas. andrea mitchell, nbc news, manchester, new hampshire. >>> up next tonight, what could be the beginning of the end for a classic american guilty pleasure. >>> more incredible pictures tonight out of that town in alaska that winter clearly hasn't forgotten. while

. >> a book published this week called "the obamas" by jodi kantor, a "new york times" reporter, allegestion in the relationship between the first lady, michelle obama, and the staff of her husband. the presidential staff, of course. the book says that tension was because mrs. obama was interfering with the way the president's staff wanted to do business. the book details the friction, name well former obama press secretary robert gibbs and former obama chief of staff rahm emanuel, now the mayor of chicago. mrs. obama had this to say about rahm emanuel. >> one thing is true, that i talk very candidly to my husband about how i feel, but that's the kind of relationship i have. i wouldn't go to rahm about something i would talk to my husband about. if i didn't agree with something, i would talk to my own husband about it. >> the cantor book also details an alleged incident in which a french book says that carla bruni, the wife of nicholas sarkozy, asked mrs. obama how she liked living in the white house. mrs. obama reportedly replied, "don't ask. it's hell. i can't stand it." both mrs. obam

the problem is i respect jo jodi kantor.eporters and writers do. she acts like she's sitting there and she's michelle obama when she hasn't talked to her. she's reconstructing it from other people's accounts. and i do think that's dangerous. i also want to say, i admire the first lady, and i have that in common with the rest of the country. she's one of the most admired women in america. so this notion that the right has -- she's right behind hillary clinton and oprah winfrey. this notion that people are not going to like her if they know her and that they can damage her is kind of ridiculous. we love her. and i just wish she wouldn't fight down. i wish she wouldn't dignify people by responding to some of the garbage thrown at her. >> she never said, nor did he, barack obama, as a candidate you get two for the price of one. there was never any presentation of the two of them as political partners, as hillary clinton certainly has been for all these decades with her husband, bill. they are political partners, both political p

we'll ask the author of the new book, jodi kantor. plus, she dishes on what it's like inside the white house. >>> an amazing story of the community coming together. a hardware store came under hard times and was on the brink of closing after more than 150 years. that all changed after a resident posted an online rallying cry, asking members of the community to come to the store and spend at least $20. he called it a cash mob. it saved that store. not only did people flood in, so did calls to all those who gave, you are today's rock stars. when you have tough pain, do you want fast relief? try bayer advanced aspirin. it's not the bayer aspirin you know. it's different. first, it's been re-engineered with micro-particles. second, it enters the bloodstream fast, and rushes relief to the site of your tough pain. the best part? it's proven to relieve pain twice as fast as before. bayer advanced aspirin. test how fast it works for you. love it, or get your money back. >>> when it comes to the first family, americans really only get to see t

. >> in a new book, new york times reporter jodi kantor says, the first lady clashed with top aides like rahm emanuel. >> the president told the former chief of staff his wife was displeased with the handling of the healthcare battle, emmanuel was indignant. >> rahm emanuel is a very difficult person and i am sure that michelle obama was probably deeply offended by rahm emanuel's style. >> cantor also writes, mrs. obama's reported comments to carla bruni that living in the white house was hell created problems for former press secretary robert gibbs, when he learned she was upset with his efforts at damage control, he cursed the first lady to staffers. >> well, i mean, that is shocking. first of all, it is really stupid. they don't understand that she is the wife. and that she has got the power. >> the book reveals the evolution of michelle obama from the harvard educated mom who felt that everyone is waiting for a black woman to make a mistake to a formidable first lady. >> i think that she is now getting her sea legs. it is about giving you a voice with decision makers. >> the book say

it was written by jodi kantor. she's going to join us for breakfast with soledad.t it. the first lady not so happy with the content. we'll ask her which where she got her sources from, did she actually talk to the couple at all and we'll have a conversation about some of the impact of this book. >>> killer tons loose. we've been talking about this national nationwide manhunt after the mississippi governor pardoned four killers. today they're rying to get those four killers that report back. broving unsuccessful. we'll sit down and chat with jeff toobin about that. that's all ahead this morning in ten minutes. y r skin looks bettr even after you take it off. neutrogena® healthy skin liquid makeup. 98% saw improved skin. does your makeup do that? neutrogena® cosmetics. [oinking] [hissing] [ding] announcer: cook foods to the right temperature using a food thermometer. 3,000 americans will die from food poisoning this year. check your steps at foodsafety.gov. >>> welcome back. it's 6:50 in the east. we're getting an early read on your local news. this morning we have p

the book is how movie stars shaped american politics and -- "the obamas" and the author is jodi kantor. >> and thank you david. [applause] >> here's a short author interview from c-span campaign 2012 is as it the country. >> what function does the media served when there are outbreaks? >> well, when there is an outbreak on the media has two different functions. one comment the media looks at its coverage of convening information from the public to humanities. in the same time, should work as an analytic tool. they provide different information, diverse days. but it is very important for the media to focus on their object is coverage will as well as providing a lot of different petitions. >> what constitutes an outbreak? been that well, outbreak did a search and abnormal disease occurrence in a certain community or region a group of people. so in case of, for example come in case of west nile virus, nobody expected west nile virus would occur in the united states, but it had been. maybe not in ms's gift, but it occurred. so it was defined as an out rate. >> do think the new media list t

jodi kantor reports on the changes to the couple's relationship as they entered the white house and their effort toss raise their children and balance their personal life against the requirements of their public life. this is about an hour. >> welcome here.o i just want to say especially for the c-span audience onei wa minute about where we are. we're at sixth and i synagogue which was the origin alice reels synagogues the oldest in washington. they moved 2 miles northwest of here and it became a baathist church i believe and was the baathist church for quite a long time and then it was the congregation decided they would move it and so they were going to solve this building and was going to become a nightclub, and it was immediately as that news came out the great philanthropists said we can't let it become a nightclub let's make a senegal and again. and the refurbished it to it's literally just its original glory based on some old photographs and we were fortunate because my eldest son who is now 20 was the surest bullion 50 years to be bar misfud -- boreman sob and since world war ii t

what they're jodi kantor said that key staff members like valery jarrett and robert gibbs provided information for her book she also covered the first couple during the presidential campaign for what she was a reporter at the new york times but she has not spoken to resources since 2009 the first couple declined to be interviewed for this book and the first lady is speaking out denying what some say reggie easiest parts of this book >>i suppose is more easy to imagine conflicting situations >>parts of the books say that the first lady clashed with people like rahm emanuel when he was chief of staff and there was tension with robert gibbs who was the former press secretary and one of the author's sources >>the white house denied all of these claims sang at the first lady never had a cross word with rahm emanuel and that robert gibbs to this day is a trusted adviser >>she tries to portray me as some kind of angry black woman >>anxious not angry are the words that the author describes the first lady as behind-the- scenes >>she is very anxious for her husband to succeed and achieve his goals >>the

on c-span2, jodi kantor and her book "the obamas." she will be interviewed by "new york times" columnist david brooks. politico is reporting that the justice department has given its legal approval to president obama's senate recess appointments. it is against the objections of the senate republicans. white house officials argue that the time that this series of recessions but the senate held over the christmas break were not sufficient to block the president's power to make temporary appointees when the congress is in recess. he said the justice department has been consulted, but until the date declined to say whether the office of legal counsel high issue and a forma -- had issued a formal opinion but you can read more about this in politico. the republican presidential candidates are in south carolina today. mitt romney has appearances in west palm beach, florida. jon huntsman has a fundraiser in new york later tonight. rick perry has four events. rick santorum is in sun city, south carolina, buford, and charleston. newt gingrich h

disputes allegations about "the obamas" the about her family britain by new york times reporter jodi kantor's administration >> one of the biggest confidantes but he has thousands of smart people who surround him and i am not an expert on most issues that he is dealing with on a daily basis of what 10 and he wants to be talking to the people with the best information >> mrs. obama also takes with the book's claim prep relationship with former chief of staff rahm emmanuel current chicago mayor calls them dear friends. one person's trash another's treasure as in money maker in new york called < selanne suburb cards that people throw away john jones holding onto the cards here looks like the cards we used to ride the cta people put money on that sometimes throw them away and still money left on them he sells the cards to someone else when a discount john jones like a $5 card for $2. john jones over 100 cards at each card and a stack has a dollar or more on this. one man's trash another man's treasure. john jones says doing this for the last 10 years and made $20,000. jim ramsey has the seven d

it new book "the obamas" to buy new york times journalist jodi kantor at odds over key issues like immigration and health care reform how to present their view to the american public and how to get legislation passed in congress. according to the book rahm emmanuel has a history of clashing with first ladies similar reports between have and of the clinton when he served in bill clinton's administration fallout of the decision to close most chicago public libraries on monday mayor rahm emmanuel defends the decision and police chase caught on camera. that was that and this is now tiger woods' ex-wife during remodeling a multimillion dollar home. living with the pain of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis... could mean living with joint damage. help stop the damage before it stops you with humira. for many adults with moderate to severe ra, humira's proven to help relieve pain and stop joint damage. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events can occur, such as infections, lymphoma, or other types of cancer, blood, liver, and nerv

earlier on "today" the author, new york times correspondent jodi kantor talked about the first lady'sole in the white house and tension with rahm emanuel. >> the tension was not the kind of spectacular tension we see, you know, on tv shows and in television. it was very muffled. they had a distance relationship. the truth about them is they were philosophical foils. they had two different visions of the presidency. you know, a wife and a chief of staff are in some sense the president's two spouses. >> how much involved in the policy discussion on a day to day basis is michelle obama? >> she is not in the west wing on a day to day basis. she is not getting involved in policy details. what she cares about is the larger mission of the presidency. she's a lot like democrats on the outside. she had high expectations for this presidency and wants to see them fulfilled. >> is she disappointed with what happened so far? >> according to my reporting there were times she was really frustrated. but things have turned around for her since then. she is all in. in 2012 we are going to see her makin