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Obama's hilarious Samantha Bee interview touched on voting, white hair, and sexism.

On Halloween, President Obama went on "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee" to get to the bottom of some serious business — like what costume the president was trying to pull off.

GIF via "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee."

GIF via "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee."


They also found some time to talk about voting. Bee put on her best millennial impression to see if Obama could persuade her to cast her ballot on Nov. 8.

“Young people have a bigger stake in this election than anybody," the president told her. "I would hope that you’d be willing to take about the same amount of time that you spend just looking through cat videos on your phone to make sure that democracy’s working."

Bee ... wasn't making it easy for him.

GIF via "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee."

GIF via "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee."

They also talked about what Obama wants his legacy to be after he leaves the White House next year.

"If we can look back 20 years from now and say to ourselves, ‘There were a whole bunch of people who were inspired by what we did and are doing it even better,’ then we’ll feel pretty good," the president said of he and Michelle's impact in the White House.

Bee made him aware of the other monumental milestone his presidency offered America.

GIF via "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee."

GIF via "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee."

The two also touched on the hardships Hillary Clinton will face as a glass-ceiling-shattering figure, should she become president — something Obama knows a thing or two about.

Being the first black president, Obama faced unique challenges no president before him had to endure, such as the racist, ludicrous notion that he's not really an American.

“If and when Hillary is president," Bee asked, "what do you think will be the female equivalent of 'You weren’t born in this country'?”

Obama responded (emphasis added):

“I think the equivalent will be, 'She’s tired, she’s moody, she’s being emotional.' When men are ambitious, it’s just taken for granted — ‘Well, of course they should be ambitious.' But when women are ambitious, ‘Why?’ That theme, I think, will continue throughout her presidency, and it’s contributed to this notion that somehow she is hiding something.”

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images.

Obama's answer is one many women are familiar with. Because even if you detest everything about Clinton, you can still respect the fact that she will face blowback from an electorate grappling with change.

Clinton's gender has played a role in the public's perception and attitudes toward her for decades, highlighting the double standards we often see between men and women in the workplace.

She's been accused of being too emotional, but also not emotional enough. She's been too soft, apparently — but somehow also too ruthless? Her "likability liability," which dogs many women in positions of power, is just as relevant in this election as it ever was before. And you already know what happens when she's caught — gasp!not smiling on the campaign trail.

When photo blog Humans of New York profiled Clinton in September, a telling thing happened in the comment section on Facebook: women of all political stripes empathized with her story of handling sexism as a college student.

"While we’re waiting for the exam to start, a group of men began to yell things like: 'You don’t need to be here,'" Clinton recalled. "It was intense. It got very personal."

“I was taking a law school admissions test in a big classroom at Harvard. My friend and I were some of the only women...

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Humans of New York on Thursday, September 8, 2016

Clinton's HONY story of having to deal with sexist classroom bullies transcended political boundaries for many women.

And you didn't need to like her to understand the struggle.

Sadly, history will probably prove the 44th president correct, should Clinton become our 45th.

Her gender will likely play a role in how she is seen and judged as a leader.

GIF via "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee."

But if enough nasty women (and the men who support them) stand up to the injustice, maybe we can make a difference — especially for the future madam presidents headed our way.

Watch President Obama on "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee" below:

All images provided by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

Collins after being selected by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

True

A changemaker is anyone who takes creative action to solve an ongoing problem—be it in one’s own community or throughout the world.

And when it comes to creating positive change, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective can hold just as much power as years of experience. That’s why, every year, Prudential Emerging Visionaries celebrates young people for their innovative solutions to financial and societal challenges in their communities.

This national program awards 25 young leaders (ages 14-18) up to $15,000 to devote to their passion projects. Additionally, winners receive a trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, where they receive coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities with mentors to help take their innovative solutions to the next level.

For 18-year-old Sydnie Collins, one of the 2023 winners, this meant being able to take her podcast, “Perfect Timing,” to the next level.

Since 2020, the Maryland-based teen has provided a safe platform that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas. The idea came during the height of Covid-19, when Collins recalled social media “becoming a dark space flooded with news,” which greatly affected her own anxiety and depression.

Knowing that she couldn’t be the only one feeling this way, “Perfect Timing” seemed like a valuable way to give back to her community. Over the course of 109 episodes, Collins has interviewed a wide range of guests—from other young influencers to celebrities, from innovators to nonprofit leaders—all to remind Gen Z that “their dreams are tangible.”

That mission statement has since evolved beyond creating inspiring content and has expanded to hosting events and speaking publicly at summits and workshops. One of Collins’ favorite moments so far has been raising $7,000 to take 200 underserved girls to see “The Little Mermaid” on its opening weekend, to “let them know they are enough” and that there’s an “older sister” in their corner.

Of course, as with most new projects, funding for “Perfect Timing” has come entirely out of Collins’ pocket. Thankfully, the funding she earned from being selected as a Prudential Emerging Visionary is going toward upgraded recording equipment, the support of expert producers, and skill-building classes to help her become a better host and public speaker. She’ll even be able to lease an office space that allows for a live audience.

Plus, after meeting with the 24 other Prudential Emerging Visionaries and her Prudential employee coach, who is helping her develop specific action steps to connect with her target audience, Collins has more confidence in a “grander path” for her work.

“I learned that my network could extend to multiple spaces beyond my realm of podcasting and journalism when industry leaders are willing to share their expertise, time, and financial support,” she told Upworthy. “It only takes one person to change, and two people to expand that change.”

Prudential Emerging Visionaries is currently seeking applicants for 2024. Winners may receive up to $15,000 in awards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters with a parent or guardian, as well as ongoing coaching and skills development to grow their projects.

If you or someone you know between the ages of 14 -18 not only displays a bold vision for the future but is taking action to bring that vision to life, click here to learn more. Applications are due by Nov. 2, 2023.
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