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Ben Wolfgang

Ben Wolfgang

bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com

Ben Wolfgang is a national security correspondent at The Washington Times, a senior member of its Threat Status team, and the host and producer of the award-winning Threat Status Podcast. Ben covers national security, foreign policy, military affairs, the defense industry and the rapidly evolving landscape of military technology.
A Pennsylvania native, he joined The Washington Times in 2011 after serving as a political reporter at The Republican-Herald in Pottsville, Pa. Over the course of his career, Ben has covered the White House, Congress, and four presidential campaigns.
His reporting has earned recognition from some of journalism's most respected organizations, including the Virginia Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists' Washington, D.C. Chapter, among other honors.
Ben has interviewed heads of state, chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, senior military commanders, cabinet secretaries, senior government officials, and the CEOs of many of the nation's largest and most influential defense companies.
Ben is a frequent guest on broadcast media, with appearances on C-SPAN, the Sirius XM POTUS channel, and other outlets.
He can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Ben Wolfgang

Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on nominations on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ** FILE **

Renewable fuel standard promoting ethanol shunned by environmental groups

The Renewable Fuel Standard that boosted ethanol use has fallen out of favor so badly that environmentalists now see themselves on the same side of the debate as Republicans such as Sen. Ted Cruz, arguing that the entire program is deeply flawed and must be completely overhauled.

March 15, 2018
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., talks with a staffer on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, after passage of a procedural vote aimed at reopening the government. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Joe Manchin walking tight rope in West Virginia for midterm elections

The Senate's most conservative Democrat is a top target for the GOP in this year's midterm elections, but some analysts say Joe Manchin's ability to walk a tight rope in his deep red state — combined with an increasingly bitter Republican primary that could damage the eventual winner, as the candidates bash each other on opioids and other issues — should make him the favorite to win another term.

March 4, 2018
"This morning, we had a very positive and productive meeting on fixing the broken [ethanol] system. I commend President Trump for bringing the two sides together and for leaning in hard to find a win-win solution that benefits both Iowa farmers and blue-collar refinery workers," said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican. (Associated Press/File)

Ted Cruz pulls Donald Trump away from ethanol

Key senators left a White House meeting Tuesday with no concrete resolution on the future of federal ethanol policy, but critics of the Renewable Fuel Standard suggested that they are slowly pulling President Trump to a deal that will benefit the oil industry.

February 27, 2018
"This morning, we had a very positive and productive meeting on fixing the broken [ethanol] system. I commend President Trump for bringing the two sides together and for leaning in hard to find a win-win solution that benefits both Iowa farmers and blue-collar refinery workers," said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican. (Associated Press/File)

Ted Cruz hails ‘productive meeting’ with Trump about reforming federal Renewable Fuel Standard

Key senators left a White House meeting Tuesday with no concrete resolution on the future of federal ethanol policy, but critics of the Renewable Fuel Standard suggested they're slowly pulling President Trump to their side and expect to reach a deal that benefits their allies in the oil industry in the coming weeks. "We made real progress, and, with the president's leadership, I believe we are close to solving the problem," said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican.

February 27, 2018
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel speaks before a CNN town hall broadcast, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, at the BB&T Center, in Sunrise, Fla. (Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) ** FILE **

Scot Peterson vs. school gunman raises debate

On one hand, Scot Peterson has been branded a coward by President Trump, and leading Florida officials and even his own former boss say they are disgusted by his inaction.

February 25, 2018
Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, is the chief sponsor of the Fix NICS bill to add federal agency records and press states to ensure their records are part of the national background check system for gun sales. (Associated Press/File)

Gun control debate greets Congress after Florida shooting

Congress appears to be settling on the outlines of consensus for action on stricter gun controls, with moves to strengthen the background check system and to restrict sales of bump stocks the most likely areas of bipartisan action.

February 25, 2018