Ben Wolfgang

Obama, Putin to mark D-Day celebration in France

Obama rallies Dems, says midterm elections crucial to breaking cycle of ‘cynicism and dysfunction’

President Obama told Democratic donors Wednesday night that the looming November midterm contests are vitally important — even more important than his own election victories in terms of breaking "this downward spiral of even more cynicism and more dysfunction" that has gripped the nation's political system.

Obama tours site of devastating Arkansas tornadoes, pledges federal support

President Obama on Wednesday told the people of an Arkansas town devastated by tornadoes that their "country is going to be here for you" through the long rebuilding process.

Obama to strip Russia of trade benefits

President Obama on Wednesday took further action economic action against Russia.

White House disputes Putin claim of Russian troop withdrawal from Ukraine border

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday his troops have pulled back from the Ukrainian border — a claim immediately disputed by the White House — and also declared that an insurgent-backed referendum Sunday should be scrapped, raising questions about whether Mr. Putin has blinked or is merely trying to distance Moscow from further violence and unrest.

Driver in custody after prompting White House lockdown

U.S. Secret Service stopped the driver, who hasn't been identified and appears to have been driving a Honda sedan, and took him into custody about 4:40 p.m.

White House rejects calls for VA chief Shinseki to resign

Amid growing calls for his resignation, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki still has the full trust of President Obama, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday.

Texas-based radio station mocks Obama’s climate report

A Dallas-based radio station is pitching in to fight climate change — by declaring all of its programming "carbon neutral."

Obama woos weathermen to sell climate-change agenda

President Obama on Tuesday will turn to some of the nation's top meteorologists to promote action on climate change.

GOP rejects grim White House climate change report

Republicans vowed Tuesday to fight back against the Obama administration's regulatory agenda, dismissing the White House's massive new climate change report as nothing more than a "political document intended to frighten Americans."

Common Core backers mount a counterattack

Facing increasingly vocal criticism, supporters of the Common Core package of school reforms launched a counter-assault Monday, seeking to reassure wavering Republicans that supporting the controversial new educational standards doesn't necessarily spell political doom in primary elections.

White House hints it will shun Hill Benghazi probe

The White House on Monday bashed the latest Republican effort to investigate its handling of the deadly Benghazi attack and hinted it won't cooperate with the effort.

White House: We back fracking, U.S. energy boom

Republican critics and some in the energy industry have often cast President Obama as hostile to fossil fuels, but the White House on Monday issued a clear endorsement of the domestic oil and gas boom and the controversial drilling technique that has made it possible.

Obama continues touting executive action; GOP says inaction on Ukraine hurts the U.S.

President Obama on Saturday vowed to continue using his executive authority whenever possible this year, but Republicans countered that the commander in chief's lack of action on Ukraine hurts the U.S. at home and abroad.

Obama asks Justice Department for review of death penalty procedures

After the botched execution of an Oklahoma inmate earlier this week, President Obama said Friday it's time for the U.S. to ask itself "difficult and profound questions" surrounding the death penalty.

Obama, Merkel sound firm but reluctant note on more Russian sanctions

President Obama and his German counterpart said Friday they are prepared to enact further sanctions on Russia if violence and unrest continue in eastern Ukraine, but the two leaders sounded lukewarm in their desire to pursue such a course.

No man for old country: Obama rarely retreats to Camp David

Compared with President George W. Bush, President Obama has rarely visited Camp David, the sprawling, secluded retreat in northern Maryland that has become a regular getaway spot for presidents over the past 70 years.

NASA chief tries to reassure Congress amid rift with Russia over Ukraine

Deteriorating relations with Russia have not harmed Americans' ability to get astronauts to the International Space Station, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden told Congress on Thursday, trying to reassure lawmakers who fear the diplomatic rift could derail the U.S. space program.

‘Big data’ study group unveils massive report, makes 6 recommendations to Obama

The staggering amount of data readily accessible in 2014 means the federal government must take specific steps to ensure personal privacy is protected and Americans aren't discriminated against, a special White House panel recommended Thursday.

Pushing minimum wage, Obama revives message of ‘change’

After a Republican filibuster stalled a minimum-wage hike Wednesday, President Obama declared that the GOP can't stand in the way of "change" any longer and implored voters to boot from office any lawmaker who doesn't back raising wages, extending unemployment insurance and other Democratic wish-list items.