Jenna Bush Hager reveals why Judy Blume discouraged her from sharing 1 of her books with her daughter

Nbcwashington · May 22, 2026 · 312 words · By Rachel Paula Abrahamson; TODAY

Celebrity Relationship Literary Adaptation

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What to know about Celebrity Relationship

When Judy Blume gave Jenna Bush Hager a copy of “Are You There God?

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 1

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center50%

Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

When Judy Blume gave Jenna Bush Hager a copy of “Are You There God?

Why it matters

It’s Me, Margaret,” — whose heroine shares the real name of her 13-year-old daughter, Mila — Jenna immediately knew what she wanted to do with it.

Common ground

“I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to give that to Mila,” Jenna told Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang during a lively appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Celebrity Relationship story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Jenna told Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang during a lively appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast?
How does this story connect Celebrity Relationship with Literary Adaptation over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/jenna-bush-judy-b…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

verified Verified By Reference 1

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Claim 1: “Jenna told Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang during a lively appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm Jenna Bush Hager appeared on the Las Culturistas podcast with hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

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web search NEUTRAL — Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers Present Seth with Las Culturistas' Best Vibe, Hands Down Award.He co-hosts Las Culturistas podcast with Bowen Yang. Rogers should have no problem working alongside Bush Hage…
https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/matt-rogers-jenna-and-friend…

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web search NEUTRAL — If You're New Subscribe http://bit.ly/1Jy0DbOMust be the season of the Good Witch because Ariana Grande is here on Las Cultch to talk WICKED and more!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kHeeMDzmZM

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web search NEUTRAL — Jenna Bush Hager is two for two on excellence in the morning , according to Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Rogers and Yang, co-hosts of the "Las Culturistas" podcast, presented Jenna with her second Las …
https://www.today.com/popculture/awards/jenna-bush-hager-las…

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Claim 2: “In a 2024 interview with People, Jenna recounted a Zoom call with Blume”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources explicitly mention a 2024 interview with People magazine where Jenna recounted a Zoom call with Judy Blume involving her daughter Mila.

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web search NEUTRAL — Jenna Welch Bush Hager is an American news personality, author, and journalist. She is the co-host of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, the fourth hour of NBC's morning news program, Today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenna_Bush_Hager

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web search NEUTRAL — When Judy Blume gave Jenna Bush Hager a copy of “Are You There God?Meanwhile, Mila appears to be just as much of a Blume fan as her mother. In a 2024 interview with People , Jenna recounted a Zoom cal…
https://www.today.com/parents/moms/jenna-bush-judy-blume-are…

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web search NEUTRAL — Judy Blume offered Jenna Bush Hager a bit of parenting advice on sharing books with her children. The Today co-host appeared on the Wednesday, May 20 episode of the Las Culturistas podcast, and chatte…
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/judy-…

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Claim 3: “Judy Blume gave Jenna Bush Hager a copy of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,””

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results from different outlets (AOL and others) confirm that Judy Blume gave Jenna Bush Hager a copy of 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.'

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jenna Welch Bush Hager (née Bush; born November 25, 1981) is an American news personality, author, and journalist. She is the co-host of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, the fourth hour of NBC's morning …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenna_Bush_Hager

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Margaret Moran Cho (born December 5, 1968) is an American stand-up comedian, actress and musician. In her stand-up routines she critiques social and political problems, especially about race and sexua…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Cho

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Sixth & I Historic Synagogue is a non-denominational, non-membership, non-traditional Jewish congregation and synagogue located at the corner of Sixth Street and I Street, NW in the Chinatown neig…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixth_&_I_Historic_Synagogue

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Blume said during an appearance on TODAY”

CORROBORATED

Web search results mention Judy Blume's interactions with Jenna Bush Hager in the context of the TODAY show and related media appearances.

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web search NEUTRAL — Judith Marcia Blume is an American writer of children's, young adult, and adult fiction. She began writing in 1959 and has published more than 26 novels. Among her best-known works are Superfudge, Are…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Blume

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web search NEUTRAL — On the Show.Add TODAY to Google. When Judy Blume gave Jenna Bush Hager a copy of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” — whose heroine shares the real name of her 13-year-old daughter, Mila — Jenna …
https://www.today.com/parents/moms/jenna-bush-judy-blume-are…

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web search NEUTRAL — Judy Blume was married to John Blume from 1959 to 1975. In the year before calling it quits, Blume had admitted to having two affairs, a new biography says. Judy experienced the negative attitudes tow…
https://www.aol.com/articles/judy-blume-had-affairs-ending-1…

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Claim 5: “In 2023, Jenna selected “Summer Sisters” as a Read With Jenna pick in celebration of the book’s 25th anniversary.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that 'Summer Sisters' was a 'Read with Jenna' pick in August 2023 to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

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web search NEUTRAL — 'Summer Sisters' by Judy Blume is Jenna Bush Hager's August 2023 book club pick (@jennabhager/Instagram). NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Jenna Bush Hager, the beloved host of NBC ‘Today’ show has won millio…
https://meaww.com/what-is-summer-sisters-all-about-today-hos…

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web search NEUTRAL — SUMMER SISTERS by Judy Blume (Bantam) is celebrating its 25th anniversary and it’s now a Read with Jenna Book Club pick! The #1 New York Times Bestseller has sold 3.5 million copies and is now being a…
https://global.penguinrandomhouse.com/announcements/judy-blu…

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web search NEUTRAL — In 2023, Bush Hager made Blume's debut adult novel Summer Sisters a Read with Jenna book club pick for its 25th anniversary, later revealing that she was working on the adaptation of the 1998 classic.
https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/judy-blume-tells-jenna-bush-18…

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Claim 6: “Jenna is producing a new adaptation of Blume’s beloved coming-of-age novel set on Martha’s Vineyard.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Jenna Bush Hager is producing a TV adaptation of Judy Blume's 'Summer Sisters', which is set on Martha's Vineyard.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “whose heroine shares the real name of her 13-year-old daughter, Mila”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Jenna Bush Hager has a daughter named Mila who is 13 years old, noting the shared name with the book's heroine.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Bush family is an American political family that has played a prominent role in American politics since the 1950s, foremost as the first family of the United States from 1989 to 1993, during the p…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_family

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is the list of episodes for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2016.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Tonight_Show_Starr…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following people are children of U.S. presidents, including biological children, confirmed and alleged extramarital children, adopted or abducted children, stepchildren, and legal wards. Status of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_children_of_presidents…

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 8: “Blume, 88”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and Famous Birthdays both confirm Judy Blume was born on February 12, 1938, making her 86 or 87 depending on the current date, but the 'Famous Birthdays' source explicitly lists her as an '88 Year Old'.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Judith Marcia Blume (née Sussman; born February 12, 1938) is an American writer of children's, young adult, and adult fiction. She began writing in 1959 and has published more than 26 novels. Among he…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Blume

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Judy Blume is an American author. She has written for a variety of audiences, switching between works for younger and older readers. Her young adult literature is discussed for its direct handling of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Blume_bibliography

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Judy Blume Diary is an activity book meant to be written in for approximately one year by aspiring writers. In 1981, Judy Blume created the book to finance her KIDS Fund, which promotes communica…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Judy_Blume_Diary

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.