Politics vs. Culture

Barack Obama's time in office seems to have convinced him that solutions to our problems don't lie in politics but in culture. He is said to be negotiating a show for himself on Netflix, but not to talk about politics:

Mr. Obama does not intend to use his Netflix shows to directly respond to President Trump or conservative critics, according to people familiar with discussions about the programming. They said the Obamas had talked about producing shows that highlight inspirational stories.

But the Netflix deal, while not a direct answer to Fox News or Breitbart.com, would give Mr. Obama an unfiltered method of communication with the public similar to the audiences he already reaches through social media, with 101 million Twitter followers and 55 million people who have liked his Facebook page.

“President and Mrs. Obama have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire,” Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to the former president, said Thursday. “Throughout their lives, they have lifted up stories of people whose efforts to make a difference are quietly changing the world for the better. As they consider their future personal plans, they continue to explore new ways to help others tell and share their stories.”

He seems to feel that the worst things about America right now are in our heads: anger, fear, despair about the future. I recall his advice to liberals after Trump won the election, which was to watch cat videos.