Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
U.S. threatens sanctions to curb violence in South Sudan
President Obama on Thursday signed an executive order giving his administration power to impose economic sanctions on those deemed responsible for ongoing violence in South Sudan. Published April 3, 2014
Obama warns Dems against midterm ‘hibernation’
President Obama told fellow Democrats on Wednesday night that his party often goes into "hibernation" during midterm election season, but said they must gain seats in Congress this year. Published April 3, 2014
After Fort Hood, White House says more must be done to help troubled veterans
While stressing it's too early to speculate on the cause of Wednesday's deadly shooting at Fort Hood, the White House said there is "work that remains to be done" to ensure the nation's veterans have the care and treatment they need. Published April 3, 2014
White House: Cuba Internet program no secret
The White House on Thursday denied that the U.S. government secretly built a covert social network in Cuba designed to push citizens there toward dissent. Published April 3, 2014
Obama shifts focus back to minimum wage increase in Michigan visit
Trying to put Obamacare's problems behind him, President Obama renewed his election-year push for an increase in the minimum wage Wednesday and the White House urged fellow Democrats to latch on to the issue for their own political gain. Published April 2, 2014
Ukraine crisis prompts fundamental reassessment of U.S.-Russia relationship
White House officials said Friday that Russia's ongoing military incursion into Ukraine has prompted a fundamental reassessment of the U.S. relationship with Moscow. Published March 21, 2014
Biden to visit New Hampshire
Vice President Joseph R. Biden continues to fuel rumors he's gearing up for a 2016 presidential run. Published March 21, 2014
Obama sets new sanctions against Russia for Crimea takeover
Escalating a tense standoff with Moscow, President Obama announced a new round of sanctions Thursday against 20 top Russians for their role in the takeover of Ukraine's Crimea region and threatened further economic punishment if Russian President Vladimir Putin invades other regions of Ukraine. Published March 20, 2014
U.S., allies have all but kicked Russia out of the Group of Eight
Russia's relatively brief foray into the world's most exclusive club of rich nations has been undone in just a few weeks, and Moscow increasingly finds itself in Cold War-style isolation. Published March 19, 2014
Critics say White House climate-change site waste of money
The White House on Wednesday rolled out an ambitious climate-change website and vowed to tap into the federal government's vast trove of weather data to better educate Americans — but critics say the effort is little more than fear-mongering and represents a waste of taxpayer money. Published March 19, 2014
White House nabs NBA’s Shane Battier to sell athletes on Obamacare
Having already targeted Hispanics, blacks and moms, the White House is using the kickoff of March Madness as a way to argue Obamacare will help cover sports injuries — an effort to reach out to the young, active adults critical to the overall success of the health care reform law. Published March 18, 2014
White House lumps Russia in with Syria, N. Korea
It's not a new "axis of evil," but the White House on Monday placed Russia alongside some of the world's most notorious regimes because of its recent actions in Ukraine. Published March 17, 2014
Mockery greets Obama’s new sanctions against Russian officials after Crimea action
President Obama on Monday slapped Russia with the kinds of economic sanctions not seen since the Cold War, but the administration's supposed hard line was met with mockery and a "collective shrug" in Moscow, Kiev and Washington. Published March 17, 2014
Obama, Abbas to meet Monday morning regarding peace talks
President Obama will sit down with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House on Monday morning, a key meeting that comes just weeks before a U.S.-imposed April deadline to complete a framework for peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. Published March 17, 2014
New ‘gainful employment’ proposal sparks criticism
The Obama administration is facing a torrent of criticism over its new "gainful employment" rule, a sweeping regulation designed to crack down on for-profit colleges, while protecting taxpayer money from being wasted. Published March 16, 2014
Trust me: Obama promises new overtime rules will be ‘easier for everyone’
Some analysts say the White House's proposed changes to workplace overtime rules could cost jobs and carry other negative consequences, but President Obama on Saturday promised that the new system will be "easier for everyone." Published March 15, 2014
Obama to sign bill cutting taxpayer money for party conventions
The measure, which passed both the House and Senate this week, would redirect the about $18 million in public funds each convention received in 2012 to the National Institutes of Health for grants to pediatric research. Published March 14, 2014
Irish PM meets with Obama, pushes U.S. immigration reform
Three days before St. Patrick's Day, President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden welcomed the prime minister of Ireland to Washington. Published March 14, 2014
Obama administration takes another crack at for-profit colleges
The Obama administration is trying again to crack down on for-profit and career colleges. Published March 14, 2014
Obama pitches to middle class with overtime pay action
From proposals aimed at poor Americans to accusing the GOP of a "war on women," President Obama and fellow Democrats want to cordon off key blocs of voters ahead of the midterm elections, and they expanded that effort Thursday to middle-class workers by targeting overtime pay. Published March 13, 2014
