Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
PRIVACY: States not waiting for feds on drone privacy
The Obama administration is far behind schedule integrating drones into the national airspace and lawmakers on Capitol Hill are struggling to move legislation governing the craft, but a dozen states already have enacted regulations and laid out in detail how drones can and can't be used by law enforcement agencies and other entities. Published June 12, 2014
EPA to Ford: 15 days to fix inaccurate fuel-economy estimates
For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday ordered auto giant Ford to revise the fuel-economy estimates for six of its vehicles. Published June 12, 2014
White House outing of CIA officer results in no punishments
After inadvertently outing the CIA's top officer in Kabul last month, White House Counsel Neil Eggleston has recommended specific changes to administration protocol while the president is traveling abroad. However, a White House spokesman also said that nobody has been punished for naming the individual in a release that goes to hundreds of U.S. and foreign news outlets. Published June 11, 2014
Obama blasts GOP at high school graduation, tells students to vote Democrat
They're barely old enough to vote, but graduating seniors at a Massachusetts high school were encouraged Wednesday by President Obama to boot Republicans from office and help the administration enact more of its agenda. Published June 11, 2014
White House: Cantor’s opposition to Obama, immigration reform cost him his seat
The White House said Wednesday that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's tendency of "opposing nearly everything" cost him his seat in Virginia's congressional primary election on Tuesday. Published June 11, 2014
Hillary’s book tour from Hell: ‘Broke’ comment debacle likely tip of iceberg
As soon as her new book hit store shelves Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton became one of Twitter's biggest punch lines, mocked for her claim she and her husband were penniless when they exited the White House in 2001. Published June 10, 2014
Obama says America ‘should be ashamed’ of its gun laws
Despite virtually no legislation on gun control and little hope for a breakthrough, President Obama made clear this week he still sees the issue as a top priority in his second term, publicly chastising lawmakers and gun-rights advocates and telling them they "should be ashamed" of U.S. firearms laws. Published June 10, 2014
Obama uses social media to push college loan reform, tax hikes
President Obama on Tuesday used the popular social media site Tumblr to push a controversial Senate bill that would raise taxes in order to give borrowers a break on their student-loan payments. Published June 10, 2014
This year’s White House Christmas ornament features coal
Christmas is a time for putting past differences aside — including those between the White House and the embattled U.S. coal industry. Published June 10, 2014
Obama uses executive authority to ease student loan burdens
President Obama on Monday used his executive authority to offer college graduates some relief from crushing student loan debt and took pointed shots at Republicans, whom he again accused of favoring oil companies and billionaires over America's struggling middle class. Published June 9, 2014
When it comes to sports controversies, Obama is eager to take the field
He's the world's most powerful armchair quarterback, and President Obama hasn't shied away from weighing in on the link between concussions and football, the furor over the Washington Redskins' name and other high-profile sports controversies of the day. Published June 9, 2014
President Obama under bipartisan attack over Bergdahl exchange
While abroad in Europe last week, President Obama vehemently defended his decision to swap five Taliban guerrillas for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, but upon returning home to Washington over the weekend, the president may no longer have control over the narrative and likely will face increasingly intense questioning over the deal. Published June 8, 2014
Hillary Clinton is ‘disciplined, tough, determined’ heading into 2016: Podesta
White House counselor John Podesta indicated Friday that Hillary Rodham Clinton would make an effective president, saying the former first lady would bring a "determined" attitude to the Oval Office. Published June 6, 2014
Top adviser to Obama says carbon rules are a political winner
A top adviser to President Obama said Friday that the administration's highly controversial restrictions on carbon emissions from power plants not only will improve public health and mitigate the effects of climate change but also carry political benefits for supporters of the proposal. Published June 6, 2014
Putin faces off with Obama in first meeting since Ukraine crisis
President Obama and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had a brief face-to-face conversation in France on Friday, on the sidelines of a luncheon of international leaders, the White House said. Published June 6, 2014
‘Freedom’s victory’ — Obama commemorates 70th anniversary of D-Day
Telling World War II veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago that they exemplified the "powerful manifestation of America's commitment to human freedom," President Obama on Friday commemorated the D-Day invasion and paid a moving tribute to those who lost their lives in the fight to liberate Europe. Published June 6, 2014
Lawmakers say fear for Bergdahl’s life is no excuse for Obama’s secrecy
Obama administration officials said Thursday that they feared the Islamic militants holding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl would kill him if word of their deal to exchange him for five Taliban fighters leaked — offering the latest justification in the face of growing political controversy over why President Obama sidestepped Congress to make the trade Saturday. Published June 5, 2014
G-7 commits to adopting ‘global’ climate change agreement
President Obama on Thursday doubled down on his quest to save the world from climate change, urging every nation to "do its share" to reduce carbon emissions and follow the highly controversial path the White House is forging here in the U.S. Published June 5, 2014
Biden, McCain to head U.S. team at Ukraine inauguration
Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona and other U.S. officials will travel to Kiev on Saturday to attend the inauguration of Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko, the White House announced Thursday. Published June 5, 2014
Obama opens door for ‘businesslike’ meeting with Putin
Saying he's always had a "businesslike" relationship with Vladimir Putin, President Obama on Thursday opened the door to meet with the Russian leader when the two men visit Normandy to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landing. Published June 5, 2014
