Obama reveals his bagel loyalties

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 31 August 2015

As Obama continues to campaign for Congress' support for the Iran nuclear deal, he spoke to Jewish-American publication The Forward's editor-in-chief Jane Eisner about the deal, Israel's safety, and accusations of anti-Semitism.

But then Eisner broke out the tough questions for the president — what's his favorite flavor of bagel?

THE PRESIDENT: I was always a big poppy seed guy.Q: Poppy seed.THE PRESIDENT: So the poppy seed bagels at H&H Bagels — which somebody told me they closed —BEN RHODES: They closed.Q: It's closed, yes.THE PRESIDENT: Which is shocking.RHODES: My school was a block from H&H bagels.THE PRESIDENT: I mean, I would walk down from —RHODES: Columbia.THE PRESIDENT: — Columbia just to get H&H bagels on Saturdays or on the weekends.Q: And what do you like on a poppy seed?THE PRESIDENT: Just a schmear.Q: Just a schmear.THE PRESIDENT: Lox and capers okay, but generally just your basic schmear. [The Forward]

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.