Michelle Obama 'Zoombombs' volunteers, talks Obama family quarantine woes with Conan O’Brien

Former first lady Michelle Obama joined Conan O’Brien’s late-night TBS talk show “Conan” Wednesday night to talk Obama family quarantine woes and the importance of voting. She also had a surprise for some young volunteers working to get out the vote.

Obama and O’Brien "Zoombombed" a group of volunteers at When We All Vote, a nonprofit organization launched in 2018 with Obama as co-chair to increase voter participation in elections.

O’Brien appeared on the Zoom chat without Obama at first. “I know the hard work that you’re doing. I’m really impressed with When We All Vote,” O’Brien said. “I wanted to pop in and just very quickly thank you all for all the work you’re doing.”

The young volunteers beamed and giggled over the shock O’Brien visit, but that was nothing compared to the surprise in store.

Then, Obama entered the chat.

“Oh my goodness!” one young volunteer exclaimed, clapping a hand over her mouth.

“What are you guys talking about?” Obama asked.

“Changing the world,” a volunteer replied.

“I know that this group is working really hard on getting the vote out and doing so much,” said O’Brien.

“Very impressive, that you guys are managing to stay so focused on getting people registered and getting them informed, and you’re doing your classes online,” Obama said. “It’s just amazing, but it’s work that is so needed. It is so important for you guys to get your generation and your peers and your family members focused on this election. The work that you’re doing couldn’t be more important, and I am so proud of you.”

The importance of voting largely dominated the episode. Outside the “Zoombomb” chat, O’Brien said to Obama: “The number of people that decided the last election was so razor-thin, everyone needs to understand how important their vote is. It’s crucial.”

Obama replied, “It amazes me to hear people say, ‘Well, I didn’t vote because I didn’t think it mattered.’ As you mentioned, this last election, in some of the swing states, the margin of difference was five votes per precinct.”

Obama concluded with a passionate call to action. “We can’t afford for people to take the attitude that voting doesn’t count,” she said. “It absolutely does.”

Obama also got personal with O’Brien, sharing some of the Obama family’s quarantine woes. It’s not all been sunshine and rainbows since the coronavirus pandemic forced them, like so many American families, into isolation in March.

There was novelty and excitement at first, Obama said, at the prospect of spending so much time together. The family exercised, played games, completed puzzles and even took up watercolor painting.

“That went away,” Obama said. “It started at first when our kids got a little sick of us, which was fine, because we were pretty much sick of them. … Now the kids are back in Zoomland with classes, they’re doing it remotely. And they are no longer thrilled about being with us.”

As for her husband, former President Barack Obama, he’s been busy finishing work on his first presidential memoir, “A Promised Land,” due on bookshelves Nov. 17.

“He’s actually spent most of this summer locked away, writing the book,” Obama said of her husband. “So he’s had limited time to get on my nerves. But then he sort of has gotten on my nerves because I haven’t seen him enough. He can’t win.”

“We’ve managed. We’re still together,” she added with a smile, “and he’s still alive.”

To register to vote or check the status of your registration, visit vote.gov.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michelle Obama Zoombombs volunteers on 'Conan,' talks quarantine woes