Hope, hype, and the hard truth of being America's first Black president.
Season 1 • Episode 4
LatestWith the success of the Affordable Care Act on the line, and with the drive to make same-sex marriage legal, President Obama pushes his administration to new limits.
Campaign promises of hope and change were met by a cratering economy, two never-ending wars, an epidemic of gun violence, and a surging partisan divide. In this 4-part series the president's inner circle, Congressional leaders, and journalists reflect on Barack Obama's historic two terms and the tightrope he walked as the country’s first African-American President.
Direction
Peter Schnall lets insiders speak, not lecture.
Writing
Arcs from audacity to exhaustion, beautifully structured.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released in 2020, this series became a time capsule of pre-Trump reflection—before the 2020 election made its themes urgently relevant again.
Common's presence isn't celebrity stunt casting; he campaigned extensively in 2008 and represents how Obama mobilized culture in ways previous Democrats hadn't.
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