Ben Wolfgang

Obama vows retribution against Islamic State for Kayla Mueller death

President Obama on Tuesday vowed that the U.S. will "bring to justice" those responsible for the death of American aid worker Kayla Mueller, who was killed last week while held captive by Islamic State terrorists.

Obama, Angela Merkel at odds over arming Ukraine against Russia

President Obama on Monday left open the door to providing lethal arms to Ukrainian forces battling pro-Russian rebels — a move that not only would signal greater U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict but also may create a deep rift with key European allies.

Obama to Germany: Give us ‘benefit of the doubt’ on NSA snooping

President Obama told the German people Monday to give the U.S. "the benefit of the doubt" on American spying and surveillance efforts.

Obama considering lethal aid to Ukraine; move could cause rift between U.S., allies

President Obama said Monday he's considering providing Ukraine with lethal military arms to battle pro-Russian separatists, a potential move that would both ratchet up tension between Ukraine and Russia and also could create a rift between the U.S. and its European allies.

Michelle Obama: Eating healthy will keep government out of your life

First lady Michelle Obama believes Americans can keep the federal government from meddling with their lives by eating healthy foods and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Obama issues veto threats at historic pace in effort to fend off ‘lame duck’ label

President Obama is issuing veto threats at a historic pace, records show, a clear signal to the Republican-controlled Congress that the White House is eager for battle on a variety of fronts.

Obama pulls funding for top clean-coal project

The same administration that lost hundreds of millions of dollars on ill-fated green-energy investments now says it wants to "protect taxpayer interests" by pulling $1 billion in federal funding from a leading clean-coal project in Illinois.

Congress presses Cabinet nominees on Obama policies

President Obama's two top Cabinet nominees likely would've had smoother sailing through the Senate were they not weighed down by Mr. Obama's own controversial policies, ranging from his executive action on immigration to what critics say is a disjointed approach to the war on terrorism.

Obama budgets push for big government, unprecedented spending for years to come

If President Obama had his way in earlier budgets, the federal government would be 20 percent bigger than it is today — a measure of the expansive liberal direction he and his inner circle have tried to lead Congress over the past six years.

Obama: ‘We can afford’ $74B spending increase; national debt at $18 trillion

Despite a national debt over $18 trillion, President Obama said Saturday the nation can afford the major spending increases he'll put forward in his fiscal year 2016 budget, due out Monday.

Obama signs executive order aimed at reducing flood damage from climate change

President Obama on Friday signed an executive director requiring all roads, buildings and other pieces of infrastructure paid for with federal money to be built in areas with less risk of flooding.

White House insists terrorists in Bowe Bergdahl swap pose no threat

The Obama administration insisted Friday that the Taliban terrorists swapped for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl do not pose a threat to the U.S.

White House: GOP hopefuls should listen to Romney on middle class, poverty

Before Mitt Romney announced Friday he wouldn't run for president in 2016, he had indicated fighting poverty would be a centerpiece of his would-be campaign — and the White House wants other Republicans to follow the former Massachusetts governor's lead.

Obama budget to include $215M investment for medical innovations

Pledging that the U.S. will lead the next revolution in medicine, President Obama on Friday laid out a key component of his fiscal year 2016 budget — a $215 million government investment into "precision medicine."

Obama won’t meet Raul Castro’s demands, but doesn’t regret Cuba move

The Obama administration has no intention of meeting Cuban President Raul Castro's various preconditions for normalizing diplomatic relations with the U.S., officials said Thursday.

Obama’s budget will call for end of sequestration, tax hikes

Kicking off the next big budget battle with a bang, President Obama on Thursday will propose rolling back the roughly $1 trillion in automatic sequestration cuts that began in 2013 and will call for a dramatic boost in domestic spending paid for in part with tax hikes.

Drone makers say they can regulate skies better than government

President Obama is calling for more regulations on the growing number of drones in U.S. skies, but industry leaders say it's doubtful more rules would've prevented a small unmanned craft from crashing onto the White House lawn earlier this week.

White House: ‘529’ tax plan good policy, but we’re abandoning it anyway

The Obama administration says it still supports a plan to tax the popular "529" college savings plans but is giving up on the idea because it has become a distraction from other priorities.

White House, Democrats invoke Bill O’Reilly in pushing AG nominee

Michelle Obama’s attire in Saudi Arabia acceptable, White House says

White House officials on Wednesday defended first lady Michelle Obama's decision not to wear a head scarf in Saudi Arabia this week, saying her attire is consistent with what other American women have worn while in the kingdom.