Ben Wolfgang

Julia Pierson resigns as Secret Service director

Secret Service Director Julia A. Pierson resigned Wednesday amid intense pressure from lawmakers on Capitol Hill who feared the president and his family were being endangered by security lapses — highlighted by an intruder forcing his way into the White House last month.

Netanyahu presses Obama on nuclear Iran

Amid reports the White House may soften its stance toward Iran's nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a stern message to President Obama on Wednesday and stressed that the American leader must take a hard line going forward.

Sen. Al Franken, Mike McFadden clash on health care, foreign policy

Nuclear liability laws strain U.S.-India energy policy

President Obama and his Indian counterpart pledged Tuesday to cooperate on nuclear energy, but specialists say Indian liability laws have made progress virtually impossible and have rendered moot a landmark 2008 agreement between the two countries.

Obama ‘impressed’ by Indian prime minister’s commitment to economic growth

President Obama said Tuesday that he was "impressed" with new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to lifting his people out of poverty and deepening ties with the U.S.

White House says Secret Service should release more information about fence jumper

The Obama administration said Tuesday it expects the Secret Service to release more information about how an armed man was able to scale the White House fence and enter the building before being apprehended earlier this month.

India’s Narendra Modi pressed to address intellectual property reforms

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that his nation is "open for business," but some U.S. industry leaders remain troubled by India's policy toward intellectual property rights and question whether the new leader, making his first visit to Washington this week, will follow through on his promise to address the problem.

Obama headlines closed-door Democratic party fundraiser

President Obama on Monday afternoon spoke at a closed-door Democratic party fundraiser at the Capital Hilton hotel in downtown Washington.

White House walks back Obama’s intel estimates of Islamic State

President Obama didn't intend to throw the U.S. intelligence community under the bus when he said Sunday night that American officials "underestimated" the power of the Islamic State, White House officials said Monday.

Obama: ‘I recognize the contradiction’ of policy toward Syria, Islamic State

One year after nearly ordering airstrikes against the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad, President Obama said Sunday he's aware U.S. policy now is somewhat contradictory, as the American air campaign against the Islamic State in Syria will directly benefit an Assad regime that continues to murder its own people in a bloody civil war.

Obama says Democrats will keep Senate once people know the facts

President Obama said Sunday that those who believe Democrats will suffer in November because of this administration's track record on the economy are mistaken and that he willing to "put my record against any leader around the world."

Obama says U.S. ‘leading the world’ in Islamic State fight; GOP says strategy still absent

President Obama on Saturday made the case that America is at the forefront in confronting all major global challenges, offering incomparable leadership on everything from the fight against Islamist terrorists to climate change.

EPA chief pushes green energy agenda, ignores high electricity costs that result

Gina McCarthy argued Thursday that her home state of Massachusetts is proof you can cut greenhouse gas emissions while fostering economic prosperity, but the Environmental Protection Agency administrator failed to mention the apparent trade-off for consumers: dramatically higher electricity prices.

At U.N., Obama calls out China, India on carbon emissions

President Obama on Tuesday cast the U.S. — and, by extension, himself — as the leader of a vital global mission to combat climate change and chastised nations such as China and India which so far have not followed in his footsteps.

Joe Biden’s White House hopes need a Hillary Clinton mistake

Joseph R. Biden's 2016 presidential ambitions already look like they have been swallowed whole by the Hillary Rodham Clinton juggernaut, but political analysts say the vice president still has a narrow path to victory — one that depends on either out-politicking the former first lady in crucial states such as Iowa or praying she makes a grave mistake.

Obama, Biden will launch campaign to prevent sexual assault on campuses

The White House on Friday will launch a public awareness campaign to prevent sexual assault on college and university campuses.

In Iowa, Biden preaches economic populism

Ahead of a possible 2016 White House bid, Vice President Joseph R. Biden visited Iowa on Wednesday and struck a passionate, populist note, blasting U.S. corporations and the wealthy who he argues are able to dodge taxes and reap greater profits at the expense of the middle class.

Durbin: Immigration reform bill would’ve helped contain Ebola outbreak

The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate on Tuesday seemed to blame House Republicans' opposition to a comprehensive immigration reform bill for the lack of trained doctors in African nations now struggling to contain a deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus.

One year after Navy Yard shooting, Obama continues call for gun control

A year after 12 people were shot and killed at the Washington Navy Yard, President Obama said Tuesday the U.S. must pursue "common-sense reforms" to firearms laws and indicated he's not ready to admit defeat in his fight for gun control.

Obama strikes greenhouse gas deal with Pepsi, Kroger, Red Bull and other major companies

The Obama administration on Tuesday said it has reached a deal with major American companies such as Pepsi, Kroger, Honeywell and others to help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, part of the president's larger effort to fight climate change.