Ben Wolfgang

Obama: U.S. must secure global climate-change deal ‘before it’s too late’

President Obama said Saturday that with the U.S. at the helm, the world must come together later this year and strike a groundbreaking climate-change accord or the planet as we know it may cease to exist.

Obama pushes Congress to act quickly on trade authority

President Obama on Friday pressed Congress to act quickly and grant him the trade authority he needs to finalize major deals with Asia and other markets.

Obama climate change rules could cost 300,000 jobs, report warns

On the same day the Obama administration defends its climate-change agenda in court, new research shows that the president's proposed regulations could cost nearly 300,000 U.S. jobs.

Hillary Clinton praises Elizabeth Warren, a ‘special kind of leader’

Hillary Rodham Clinton believes Sen. Elizabeth Warren is a "special kind of leader" who will play a critical role in American politics for years to come.

Obama: ‘Major progress’ in fight against Ebola

President Obama said Wednesday the world has made "major progress" in the fight against the Ebola virus.

GOP calls for temporary halt to EPA’s Clean Power Plan

Republicans' latest attempt to slow the Obama administration's climate change agenda calls for new regulations to be halted until all legal challenges are settled — an argument similar to the one President Obama has used when blocking the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Obama: ‘Pretty clear cut’ that Obamacare will survive Supreme Court test

President Obama said Monday that there is little doubt the Supreme Court will rule in the administration's favor and won't gut a key portion of the president's signature health care reform law.

Russia’s missile deal with Iran could hamper nuclear talks, White House hints

The White House suggested Monday that Russia's decision to sell antimissile rocket systems to Iran could splinter the international community in the effort to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Raul Castro demands raise doubts, but Obama optimistic for U.S.-Cuba relations

Twenty-four hours before coming face to face with Cuban President Raul Castro, President Obama on Thursday continued to extend an olive branch from Washington to Havana — but analysts say there are real questions about whether Mr. Castro truly is interested in friendly relations with the U.S.

Obama blasts war on drugs: ‘It’s been very unproductive’

Fewer children crossing border, but challenges remain

Nearly a year after the flood of unaccompanied children streaming across the U.S. border reached crisis proportions, President Obama this week heads to a key summit in Panama amid concerns the administration hasn't done enough to address the root causes of the problem.

Obama phones key senator to sell Iran deal

President Obama continues trying to sell a preliminary nuclear deal with Iran to skeptical lawmakers on Capitol Hill, many of whom back legislation that would give Congress final authority over whether the agreement is implemented.

White House: South Carolina shooting video ‘awfully hard to watch’

The White House said Wednesday video footage showing a white South Carolina police officer appearing to shoot a black suspect in the back multiple times is "awfully hard to watch" and demonstrates why officers should wear body cameras.

Jeremy Bernard, White House social secretary, stepping down

Jeremy Bernard, the first male to serve as White House social secretary, will step down next month after four years on the job, the Obama administration said Wednesday.

Obama’s new climate effort stresses health impacts

With his top aides hailing him as the "greenest president" in history, President Obama on Tuesday launched a new effort to highlight the impacts of climate change on Americans' health, the latest attempt to justify this administration's unprecedented environmental agenda.

Obama, Cuba President Raul Castro set to meet for first time since diplomatic thaw

Four months after announcing a historic diplomatic thaw with Cuba, and with key questions about the future of the two nations' relationship still unanswered, President Obama will come face-to-face with the leader of the communist island later this week at a top-level summit in Panama.

Russian cyberhack not confirmed by White House

White House officials Tuesday would not confirm a CNN report saying Russian hackers were behind a high-profile cyberattack on the State Department and the White House.

Obama: Scott Walker needs to ‘bone up’ on foreign policy

President Obama is tipping the Democrats' hand on which Republican they fear most in 2016 — by taking a foreign policy potshot at Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Obama says nuclear deal can’t make Iran recognize Israel

President Obama said Monday it would be a "fundamental misjudgment" to try and force Iran to recognize Israel's right to exist, or to make such a demand as part of broader negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

‘The deal’s not done’ — key questions remain in Iran deal, White House says

Despite President Obama's lofty rhetoric last week that he'd reached a "historic" nuclear understanding with Iran, the White House Monday tamped down expectations that a final deal is in sight, saying the two sides are still far apart on key sticking points.