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Ben Wolfgang

Ben Wolfgang

bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com

Ben Wolfgang is a National Security Correspondent for The Washington Times. His reporting is regularly featured in the daily Threat Status newsletter.
Previously, he covered energy and the environment, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016, and also spent two years as a White House correspondent during the Obama administration.
Before coming to The Times in 2011, Ben worked as political reporter at The Republican-Herald in Pottsville, Pa.
He can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Ben Wolfgang

This July 8, 2013, file photo provided by Surete du Quebec, shows debris from a runaway train in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, Canada. (AP Photo/Surete du Quebec, The Canadian Press, File)

U.S., Canada beef up rail car safety

In response to a rash of recent crashes, U.S. and Canadian officials Friday announced new safety standards for rail cars transporting flammable liquids, including crude oil.

May 1, 2015
Some of Mr. Obama's most ardent supporters say they simply cannot go along with the administration's increasingly ambitious program to combat global warming. (Associated Press)

Obama climate change agenda rejected by blacks, Hispanics over concerns about poor

The very same voters who helped put Barack Obama in the White House increasingly are turning against the president's climate change agenda, with influential black and Hispanic leaders warning that stiff regulations to limit carbon emissions will have a devastating effect on the poor and will further stifle economic opportunity for minorities.

April 30, 2015
Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan, left, with  Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Muñoz, talks about President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2016 Budget, during a news conference in the White House complex in Washington, Monday, Feb. 2, 2015.  Obama sent Congress a record $4 trillion budget Monday that would boost taxes on higher-income Americans and corporations and eliminate tight federal spending caps to shower more money on both domestic and military programs. It would provide middle-class tax relief and fund an ambitious public works effort to rebuild aging roads and bridges. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

House Republican budgets ripped by Obama over spending limits

With House Republicans set to move two key appropriations bills this week, the White House has come out swinging with a public relations offensive picking apart the Republican budget line by line — an indication that President Obama will take a tougher stance on spending this time and could be cracking the door to another government shutdown fight.

April 27, 2015
President Obama's job approval rating of 46.4 percent puts him in the company of President Reagan, whose approval rating also hovered around 46 percent at the same point in his presidency. (Associated Press)

Obama equals Ronald Reagan popularity as economy, gas prices boost job approval

President Obama has reached Reagan-like levels of popularity in the twilight of his tenure, but analysts say his bounce can be attributed largely to the fact that he is fading into the political background as the next presidential race kicks into high gear and as Congress claims a surprising number of concrete legislative accomplishments.

April 26, 2015
President Barack Obama pauses while speaking at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI) 10th anniversary at ODNI headquarters in McLean, Va., Friday, April 24, 2015. The president told members of the intelligence community that he appreciates their service and understands they don't take their work lightly. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

White House weighs new panel to oversee U.S. hostage situations

A day after President Obama apologized for the death of an American citizen during a Pakistan drone strike in January, the administration says it may form a so-called "fusion cell" that would oversee all communication with the families of hostages being held overseas.

April 24, 2015
President Obama pauses as he speaks in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, Thursday, April 16, 2015, during a Champions of Change event highlighting issues important to working families. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ** FILE **

Obama picks a fight with Florida Republicans on climate change

As he heads to the Everglades to mark Earth Day, President Obama is picking a fight with Florida Gov. Rick Scott on climate change — part of a broader White House effort to use the issue to help Democrats and hurt Republicans ahead of the 2016 elections.

April 22, 2015
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks in Washington in this March 23, 2015, file photo. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

White House ignores Clinton Foundation questions

The White House on Monday refused to even acknowledge accusations that donors to the Clinton Foundation received preferential treatment from the Obama administration while Hillary Rodham Clinton ran the State Department.

April 20, 2015