Malia, Sasha Ready to Babysit: Obama

White House releases new family photo

(NEWSER) - The first family has a new portrait: President and Michelle Obama posed with daughters Sasha, 10, and Malia, 13, in the Oval Office for the new photo, snapped by White House photographer Pete Souza, notes People . Last time around, in 2009, Annie Leibovitz did the honors. Click here to see that one. The new one is now in the White House Flickr feed here . More»

(NEWSER) - Among the families around the world gathering tomorrow to celebrate the beginning of Passover with a dinner, or seder, will be a high-profile group: the Obamas. The White House seder tradition started on the campaign trail in 2008, when then-senator Barack Obama surprised three staffers by showing up for their makeshift celebration in a Pennsylvania hotel basement. Last year's seder was a bit more impressive, with close to two dozen friends, relatives, and staffers gathering at the White House. More»

Secret Service will use 'R' names for First Family

(NEWSER) - John McCain called himself a “maverick,” but the Secret Service has dubbed Barack Obama the real “Renegade," according to the Chicago Tribune. In keeping with tradition that’s been around since Harry Truman (“General”), the agency has given the president-elect’s family corresponding alliterative code names: “Renaissance” (Michelle), “Radiance” (Malia) and “Rosebud” (Sasha). More»

Prez a big fan of Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire, Homeland

(NEWSER) - President Obama's elder daughter Malia is now 13, old enough to have a Facebook account, but the first couple has no intention of lifting their ban on their daughters using the site . And the girls don't mind, the president tells People , characterizing their view as, "Why would we want to have a whole bunch of people who we don't know knowing our business? That doesn't make much sense." Adds Obama: "We'll see how they feel in four years." More»

Would you want your daughters watching that stuff?

(NEWSER) - In a recent iVillage interview, Michelle Obama let this little tidbit slip: Unlike, apparently, most of America , the president is not a huge fan of the Kardashians. Asked if any TV shows are off limits for the first daughters, Michelle replied, "Barack really thinks some of the Kardashians—when they watch that stuff—he doesn't like that as much. But I sort of feel like if we're talking about it, and I'm more concerned with how they take it in—what did you learn when you watched that? And if they're learning the right lessons, like, that was crazy, then I'm like, OK." More»