Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Obama stays out of dispute with French bank
President Obama said Thursday that he's staying out of a dispute with France's largest bank as the Justice Department mulls huge fines against the institution, stating he will rely on the media to keep him informed of new developments. Published June 5, 2014
Still no plans for Obama-Putin meeting this week, White House says
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany all plan to meet with President Vladimir Putin later this week at events marking the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landing, but the White House says President Obama has no plans to talk with the Russian leader. Published June 4, 2014
Obama: Russia’s ‘dark tactics’ in Ukraine won’t stand
President Obama on Wednesday took direct aim at Russia and said the "dark tactics" employed by Moscow against Ukraine will not stand in the 21st century. Published June 4, 2014
Obama uses gray area for Bowe Bergdahl decision
For a commander in chief who's always been somewhat ill at ease with the ambiguities of the war on terror, this weekend's "prisoner swap" with the Taliban was the latest instance of President Obama trying to figure out when to treat it like a traditional war, and when to deem it a 21st-century conflict that breaks many of the rules of regular warfare. Published June 3, 2014
Obama fires back in defending Bergdahl trade — ‘We seized that opportunity’
President Obama said Tuesday he had an obligation to secure the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, regardless of the circumstances surrounding Sgt. Bergdahl's capture by the Taliban five years ago and despite claims he's a "deserter" who walked away from his unit. Published June 3, 2014
New EPA carbon limits further natural gas boom at expense of coal
In dealing a major blow to U.S. coal on Monday, President Obama very well may have tipped the scales in favor of domestic natural gas even more. Published June 2, 2014
Carbon rules not tough enough, some environmentalists say
The Obama administration on Monday unveiled sweeping new regulations to limit carbon emissions, but some in the environmental community say the plan is not aggressive enough. Published June 2, 2014
EPA tells states: Cut carbon pollution by 30 percent over next 15 years
The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed unprecedented regulations to cut carbon pollution from power plants by 30 percent over the next 15 years, saddling states with the responsibility of figuring out how to meet President Obama's ambitious and highly controversial climate change goals. Published June 2, 2014
Democrats use Pope Francis to sell EPA carbon rule
A Democratic senator said Monday that President Obama's controversial new carbon pollution rule is part of a "moral duty" to protect the Earth — a goal shared by Pope Francis. Published June 2, 2014
EPA eyeing 30 percent emissions cut for power plants
Having failed to ram a key piece of his climate agenda through Congress in 2010, President Obama on Monday will endorse far-reaching new restrictions on carbon pollution widely expected to push states to embrace cap-and-trade-style systems. Published June 1, 2014
Obama: New carbon emissions rules will not ‘kill jobs and crush the economy’
Two days before his administration releases controversial new rules limiting carbon emissions from power plants, President Obama on Saturday defended the looming regulations and said they're a necessary step in the larger fight against climate change. Published May 31, 2014
Shinseki apologizes, gets summoned to White House for ominous meeting
President Obama has called Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to the Oval Office, the White House said Friday, raising more questions about whether the embattled secretary will offer his resignation. Published May 30, 2014
Obama had secret lunch with Hillary Clinton on Thursday
Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the White House on Thursday and had lunch with President Obama — a meeting that was not part of the president's daily schedule and was only acknowledged by the White House after People magazine revealed it in a tweet. Published May 29, 2014
White House touts energy record ahead of new coal regs
Less than a week before releasing far-reaching new restrictions on coal-fired power plants, the White House and its environmentalist allies on Thursday launched a preemptive attack against critics of its energy policy. Published May 29, 2014
Obama: I may have had concussions
President Obama said Thursday that he may have suffered concussions while playing youth football. Published May 29, 2014
After White House blows CIA agent’s cover, Obama says U.S. must protect sources abroad
Three days after the White House inadvertently blew the cover of the CIA's top officer in Kabul, President Obama on Wednesday said his administration is committed to effective intelligence-gathering and protecting "sources and methods" abroad. Published May 28, 2014
Obama defends Afghan pullback, outreach to Syria
President Obama on Wednesday defended his actions on national security and offered something of a reboot of his foreign policy in an attempt to define America's role as the war in Afghanistan comes to a close. Published May 28, 2014
Cafeteria politics: Michelle Obama starts food fight with lawmakers on school lunches
First lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday chided congressional Republicans for attempting to roll back her school lunch standards, calling the effort "unacceptable" and accusing lawmakers of playing politics with the health of young students. Published May 27, 2014
One-percenter: Wealth of Hillary Clinton complicates her image as populist champion
When your own minimum wage reportedly is in the neighborhood of $200,000 a speech, it might be difficult to sell yourself as the populist champion of the working class. Published May 25, 2014
Cabinet shuffle: Donovan to OMB, Castro to HUD
President Obama on Friday called on the Senate to quickly confirm his new picks to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Office of Management and Budget. Published May 23, 2014
