Watching the DNC, all I could think of was how happy the Trump campaign must be that Michelle Obama appears to have zero desire to get into politics herself. I’m excited to see how Kamala handles this potential debate, don’t get me wrong, but I think Michelle would give the man one silent look and he’d wither away like Voldemort. 

Her speech at the DNC was applauded across the board, and was notable for a plethora of reasons, but perhaps none more so than her evolution in tone. Remember “when they go low, we go high”? Now we “do something.”

Michelle is not here for Trump’s BS anymore. And this shift in tone reflects the urgency of the moment: It’s time, she’s saying, to move beyond rhetoric, into decisive action. It’s time, in other words, to stop whining.

When Michelle introduced “When they go low, we go high” during the 2016 DNC – remember that? I’ve aged thirty years since then. She delivered the phrase in support of Hillary Clinton, and it quickly became a guiding principle for the party – this call to respond to negativity8 with grace and dignity. 

In an interview with Stephen Colbert, she explained ”going high” means channeling one’s anger into purposeful actions that aim to unite rather than divide. She emphasized that resorting to “going low” is ultimately unsustainable and ineffective in solving the underlying issues. Which…yes. 

But 2016 was a very different political landscape, and in 2024 Michelle’s messaging took a notable turn. In last week’s speech, oh, she did not shy away from criticizing the former President, suggesting that his view was narrow, fear-mongering, born from insecurity, and above all deeply and inexcusably self-serving. She also got in some fantastic zingers.

[Insert “black jobs” clip]

Despite this shift in tone, her message remains the same: Preserve hope, take positive action. It’s less of a departure than an evolution, and it couldn’t have come at a more crucial moment. In a time where political divisiveness often paralyzes progress, her message pushes for constructive actions that lead to real solutions.

In this wild socio-political climate, we’re all looking around for the grownups in the room, and to be provided with not just concrete steps to action, but something to actually feel good about…it’s giving me…

What was that, Oprah?

OPRAH: Joy!

That’s what I’m talking about.