Obama Says He’ll Focus on Helping New Generation of Leaders

HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama says one of his missions after leaving office will be to develop a new generation of leaders on issues such as climate change, criminal justice reform and expanding health insurance coverage.

In a wide-ranging interview with NPR, Obama says he wants to ensure that young people working on those issues have "whatever resources, credibility, spotlight that I can bring to help them rise up."

Obama says the issues he cares most about will be well served when that new generation moves into positions of authority.

The Democratic Party has been hit hard during his presidency. He'll leave with the GOP controlling the White House and Congress.

Obama says Republicans have been systematically building from the ground up while Democrats have "ceded too much territory."