Former US President Barack Obama is in talks with Netflix to produce content for the service

Joe Pugliese / Netflix

Netflix has had success with getting tons of big names to work for its streaming service. In recent memory we have the likes of Shonda Rhimes, David Letterman, Ryan Murphy, and Mark Millar, to name a few. This time, it looks like they want to add an even bigger personality. According to The New York Times, former US President Barack Obama is in “advanced negotiations” with the streaming service for a “series of high-profile shows.” The details are supposedly being worked out but some of the proposed shows include one where Obama will highlight inspirational people and stories and another has him moderating conversations on various important issues such as health care, immigration, foreign policy, etc. Aside from Obama, the deal supposedly also includes the former first lady Michelle Obama producing content for the service as well. It’s been reported that Apple and Amazon have approached the Obamas about creating content for their services as well.

Big tech companies pledge to help millions of refugees

U.S. President Barack Obama announced at the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the United Nations that tech companies are among the 51 companies who are “investing, donating, or raising” over US$650 million to help educate, employ, and train around 6.3 million refugees from 20 countries. Some of the companies include Microsoft, Facebook, Google, HP, TripAdvisor, Uber, SAP, and Airbnb. Earlier in June, the White House started an initiative that aimed at getting “measurable and significant commitments” from the private sector to help out the forcibly displaced. Google, HP, IBM, and Microsoft were among the 15 companies who helped found the initiative.

An example given by CNET is that Google plans to give a $1 million grant to the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which was established by George Clooney and his wife Amal, to help educate Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. Another example is Microsoft plans to work with local providers in Malawi to provide wireless broadband access to refugees and international aid organizations.

President Obama's iPad photographed

President Barack Obama salutes as he walks to Marine One following a town hall meeting in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, April 6, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The photo above from White House photographer Pete Souza shows US President Barack Obama saluting officers as he walks towards Marine One. Clutched in his hand is an iPad 2 complete with a SmartCover. President Obama confirmed that he owned an iPad in a recent interview with TV anchor Jorge Ramos. 

Sources:

White House Flickr Stream

Mac Daily News