Podcast Summary: The Dumbest Things Michelle Said on CHD | The Brett Cooper Show, Episode 123

Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Brett Cooper
Episode Theme: Brett dives into Michelle Obama’s recent Call Her Daddy (CHD) interview with Alex Cooper, critiquing what she sees as contradictions, performative feminism, and Michelle's ongoing grievances about the public's focus on her fashion, her role as First Lady, and the status of women in politics.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on Michelle Obama’s interview on Call Her Daddy, specifically her comments about her public image, fashion, accomplishments, and the state of female empowerment in politics. Brett Cooper scrutinizes apparent contradictions between Michelle’s messaging and her actions, critiques her persistent complaints about media portrayal and sexism, and discusses broader cultural implications regarding modern feminism, generational attitudes, and authenticity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michelle Obama and “Fashion Hypocrisy”

• Context: Michelle Obama joined Alex Cooper on CHD to promote her fashion-focused book, yet repeatedly expresses annoyance when conversation turns to her style.
  • Michelle claims frustration at the media’s fixation on her outfits instead of her accomplishments, despite her book’s very premise.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Just listen,” Brett says, then plays Michelle:
    • “...the first thing, after all this great conversation and connection, the top of the article would be she was wearing…” (Michelle Obama, [03:41])
• Brett’s Take:
  • “She’s talking about the significance of who you choose to wear…where you’re spending your money putting your values. Obviously, her values are all about race towards designers and your clothing. But meanwhile, she’s sitting on other podcast saying, don’t talk to me about my clothing. It's not relevant.” ([07:11])

Timestamp Highlights:

• [03:26] Michelle mock-offended at fashion talk
• [05:37] Alex Cooper opens interview with: “Talk to me about your outfit. How did you pick it?”

2. The “Fashion Book” Irony

• Michelle Obama’s fashion book celebrates her outfits as First Lady, but she also complains about her legacy being reduced to clothing (see: “don’t judge me by my fashion, also buy my book about my fashion” – Brett summarizing online commentary).
• Brett notes the contradiction:
  • “It is an absolute clown show…she couldn’t even help herself on this podcast…they still talked about her clothing.” ([04:15])

Notable Commentary:

• “Michelle Obama urges women not to buy from white-owned brands while wearing a $1,100 skirt created by a white designer.” ([07:11])
• “Racist, hypocritical, and privileged. Those are three great words to describe Michelle Obama.” ([07:11])

3. Race and Fashion

• Michelle expresses intentionality around supporting designers of color, encouraging listeners to “be mindful” of whose work they wear ([06:36]).
  • “If I hear of someone whose fashion that I like and I know that they're a person of color, I try to make it a point.” (Michelle Obama, [06:36])
• Brett calls out the irony of promoting this racial focus while wearing a “white designer’s” skirt, labeling the message as out-of-touch and hypocritical.

4. Feminist Jargon & Outdated Rhetoric

• Brett connects the episode’s tone to “peak 2016 feminism”:
  • “Empty slogans of ‘I’m with her,’ ‘Don’t ask me what I’m wearing,’ ‘I’m a boss babe.’” ([08:49])
• Describes the obsession with oppression and empty empowerment platitudes, suggesting both Michelle and Alex Cooper fail to offer meaningful or modern feminist perspectives.

5. Michelle’s Career Frustration & Role as First Lady

• Michelle laments losing her individual identity due to being the President’s wife ([10:20]):
  • “All of that just disappeared in the course of this whole election. And you now see me as just Barack Obama’s wife. So that made me say what? That, that quickly my shoes become the most important thing about me.” (Michelle Obama, [10:20])
• Brett’s contrasting perspective:
  • “How incredible is it that you had the opportunity to do something as remarkable as being the first lady of the United States…Just compare her attitude to, you know, Usha Vance…” ([11:00])
  • Praises Usha Vance’s humility and acceptance of her new role, contrasting Michelle’s “inability to let it go.”

6. Why Not Run for President?

• Alex Cooper raises the topic ([17:27]):
  • “You said, don't even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You're not ready for a woman. You're not.” (Alex Cooper, [17:27])
• Michelle:
  • “There are men out there that were not gonna vote for a woman. Let's just be real about it and let's put that on the table and talk about, well, what's that about?” (Michelle Obama, [17:35])
• Alex Cooper then frames this as proof of patriarchy ([18:18]):
  • “I do think the most obvious, glaring example of the patriarchy is the fact that we have never in the history of time ever had a woman be the president of the United States.” (Alex Cooper, [18:18])
  • “Actually, we're legally not equal to men… How could a woman even be the president…when we don’t even have equal rights to half of the population?”
• Brett counters:
  • “We’re back talking about the patriarchy and misogyny and not having a female president. We’re not equal. We have to band together, girlies, and fight for our rights. What rights? What rights are you trying to fight for?” ([18:58])
  • Sees this complaint as out-of-touch and irrelevant in contemporary America.

7. Brett’s Hypothesis: Jealousy & Resentment

• Brett suggests Michelle harbors resentment for never having had the political spotlight herself ([19:43]):
  • “I genuinely think that Michelle is deeply jealous and resentful, that she is deeply angry that it was Barack and not her that became president…always coming up with these excuses…because, you know, men aren’t ready for somebody like her to be president.”
• Adds that Michelle’s pattern is to belittle or undermine her husband’s achievements in public, rooting this in an old Harvard law professor’s claim that Michelle was “smarter” than Barack.

8. One Positive Takeaway

• Brett highlights a piece of advice from Michelle to young listeners ([21:49]):
  • “I want young listeners to focus more on their internal feelings instead of what the world is telling you to feel. Really start trusting your gut and building that internal gut of how you feel about other people, how you feel about yourself...in the end the work is still within.” (Michelle Obama, [21:49])
• Brett agrees:
  • “You are in control of your life. You have agency over yourself, your responses and your emotions. And I think that that is paramount.” ([22:37])
  • Stresses this as crucial life advice, especially for young women entering adulthood and relationships.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Michelle Obama on fashion scrutiny: “The first thing, after all this great conversation...the top of the article would be she was wearing...” ([03:41])
• Alex Cooper’s opening line: “Talk to me about your outfit. How did you pick it?” ([05:37])
• Michelle Obama on making choices by race: “If I hear of someone whose fashion that I like and I know that they're a person of color, I try to make it a point…” ([06:36])
• Michelle Obama on being defined by shoes: “All of that just disappeared…you now see me as Just Barack Obama's wife. So that made me say what? That, that quickly my shoes become the most important thing about me.” ([10:20])
• On women as president:
  • “There are men out there that were not gonna vote for a woman. Let's just be real about it and let's put that on the table…” (Michelle Obama, [17:35])
• Michelle Obama’s advice:
  • “Focus more on your internal feelings instead of what the world is telling you to feel...in the end the work is still within.” ([21:49])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:26] Michelle objects to fashion focus
• [05:37] Alex Cooper asks about Michelle’s outfit
• [06:36] Michelle on supporting designers of color
• [10:20] Michelle laments loss of individual identity as First Lady
• [17:27] Alex Cooper asks about running for president
• [17:35] Michelle blames men for lack of female president
• [18:18] Alex Cooper claims patriarchy is the reason for no female president
• [21:49] Michelle offers self-growth advice to young listeners

Podcast Tone & Style

Brett’s analysis is sharp, sarcastic, and provocative, leaning into cultural criticism and humor. She intersperses her arguments with anecdotes and internet reactions, using a tone that's both caustic and conversational, especially when mocking what she sees as shallow feminism or hypocrisy.

Conclusion

This episode unpacks the contradictions and performative elements of Michelle Obama's Call Her Daddy interview—from fashion politics to feminist rhetoric—ultimately questioning the authenticity of Michelle’s self-presentation and the persistence of certain cultural narratives. Although most of the discussion is critical, Brett acknowledges a universal truth in Michelle’s advice about personal agency and self-knowledge, closing on a rare note of agreement.