Topic: Higher Ground

Former President Barack Obama won a Creative Arts Emmy for narrating the Netflix documentary series "Our Great National Parks." Meanwhile, the Biden administration requested an additional $13.7 billion in military aid for Ukraine, bringing the total proposed emergency funding to over $47 billion. This funding request also includes billions for COVID-19 and monkeypox responses, drawing criticism over the scale of ongoing emergency spending.

Barack and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground, is reportedly ending its exclusive deal with Spotify to seek a non-exclusive distribution model. The hosts discuss the failure of the Obamas' podcasts to generate significant advertising revenue compared to Joe Rogan. They predict a broader collapse of mainstream streaming models in favor of over-the-air (OTA) digital signals.

Barack and Michelle Obama have officially entered the entertainment industry by signing a multi-year deal with Netflix under their new company, Higher Ground Productions. The former first couple will produce a mix of scripted and unscripted content, including documentaries and features, leveraging their significant influence in Hollywood.