Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Drones over America: Virginia, five other states picked for drone testing sites
In a move long awaiting by the booming commercial drone industry, the federal government Monday finally chose six "test sites" where vital research into drones will be conducted. Published December 30, 2013
Snowden adviser says he would love to return to U.S. if conditions are right
With the Obama administration's surveillance and data-collection efforts in the spotlight like never before, the man who exposed the depth of those programs is open to returning to the U.S. under the "right conditions." Published December 29, 2013
Snowden’s legal adviser says leaker would ‘love’ to return to America
With the Obama administration's surveillance and data-collection efforts in the spotlight like never before, the man who exposed the depth of those programs is open to returning to the U.S. under the "right conditions." Published December 29, 2013
NY Times’ whitewash of Benghazi attack aids Hillary Clinton in 2016
An extensive report in Sunday's New York Times casts doubt on Republican claims that al Qaeda played a key role in last year's deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. Published December 29, 2013
Obama, as president of the ‘Great Satan,’ likely won’t make a personal visit to Iran
On Iran, don't expect President Obama to have his "Nixon to China" moment. Published December 26, 2013
Obama may be able to avoid environmental debate, Keystone pipeline decision
After five years of delays, it has become increasingly clear that President Obama doesn't want to make a decision on the massive Keystone XL oil sands pipeline. It turns out he may not have to. Published December 25, 2013
U.N. to nearly double peace-keepers in South Sudan as violence explodes
The carnage in South Sudan has reached new heights, international officials say, after at least three mass graves were discovered Tuesday in the war-torn African nation, the brief existence of which is now threatened by growing political and ethnic conflict. Published December 24, 2013
Civil rights leaders slam Obama on judicial picks
The Obama administration is under fire from powerful House Democrats and some in the civil rights community for its recent picks to fill four judicial vacancies on Georgia's Northern District federal bench. Published December 23, 2013
Obama’s Hawaii getaway includes golf, basketball, meal at ‘Iron Chef’ restaurant
President Obama may have escaped Washington for a lengthy holiday vacation, but his weekend still was dominated by two of the commander in chief's favorite activities: golf and basketball. Published December 23, 2013
Obama sends 45 service members to South Sudan
Amid growing chaos in South Sudan, President Obama has deployed military forces to that country to protect the U.S. embassy and other American assets, he told congressional leaders in a letter Thursday night. Published December 19, 2013
White House says it’s open to 45 of panel’s proposed 46 NSA changes
A long-awaited review of U.S. mass surveillance and data-collection programs produced a laundry list of recommendations for how the Obama administration should clean up its intelligence-gathering efforts to better protect sensitive information and the privacy of American citizens. Published December 19, 2013
President gets budget win — but only by staying out of negotiations
President Obama wasn't in the room when negotiators hammered out the details of the landmark budget agreement that cleared Congress on Wednesday, but his fingerprints are all over the deal. Published December 18, 2013
‘There’s something about moms:’ White House enlists mothers to sell Obamacare
To sell Obamacare, the president and first lady on Wednesday told a group of eight mothers that they must talk about the benefits of the law "in the grocery store" and elsewhere in their day-to-day lives. Published December 18, 2013
White House hints Olympic envoys a shot at Putin over gay rights
With a wink and a nod, the White House on Wednesday admitted it's sending a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin by choosing openly gay athletes to represent the U.S. at February's Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony in Sochi. Published December 18, 2013
Under pressure, White House to unveil key surveillance report
In a change of course, the White House on Wednesday afternoon will publicly release an internal report on government surveillance efforts, a highly anticipated document that also will include recommendations for how the federal government can best balance its intelligence-gathering efforts with Americans' right to privacy. Published December 18, 2013
Top Democrats reject court ruling over NSA spying on Americans
Top Democrats pushed back Tuesday against a federal judge's ruling that the NSA's phone-records collection program violates privacy rights, asking for higher courts to quickly get involved and bring legal certainty to the murky world of intelligence gathering. Published December 17, 2013
White House announces delegation for winter Olympics
With less than two months before the games begin, the Obama administration on Tuesday revealed the roster of the American delegation to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Published December 17, 2013
Apple, Google, Facebook tell Obama: Rein in government snooping
The nation's leading technology companies took their concerns over government surveillance directly to the source Tuesday, pressing President Obama to rein in what is widely viewed as excessive and intrusive data-collection and snooping. Published December 17, 2013
Obama envious of ‘House of Cards’
President Obama, while talking to a Netflix executive, says he wishes Washington were as "ruthlessly efficient" as portrayed on network's show "House of Cards." Published December 17, 2013
Obama administration refuses to negotiate on debt ceiling increase
Despite the recent bipartisan breakthrough on the budget, the White House insisted Monday it will not negotiate with congressional Republicans on the next debt ceiling increase and will demand an unconditional increase before the government hits its borrowing limit early next year. Published December 16, 2013
