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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

President Barack Obama gestures while speaking about increasing the minimum wage, Wednesday, April 30, 2014, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Earlier, Senate Republicans blocked an election-year Democratic bill that would boost the federal minimum wage, handing a defeat to the president on a vote that is sure to reverberate in this year's congressional elections. (AP Photo)

Pushing minimum wage, Obama revives message of ‘change’

After a Republican filibuster stalled a minimum-wage hike Wednesday, President Obama declared that the GOP can't stand in the way of "change" any longer and implored voters to boot from office any lawmaker who doesn't back raising wages, extending unemployment insurance and other Democratic wish-list items.

April 30, 2014
FILE - In this March 1, 2014, file photo, Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., officially announces his candidacy for the U.S. Senate at Denver Lumber Company in Denver. Gardner will run against Democratic Sen. Mark Udall. The Senate race in Colorado has shot toward the top of the nation’s most competitive contests this midterm election year, giving the Democratic incumbent a tougher battle than he expected and Republicans a new pickup opportunity in their drive to win the chamber’s majority.  Udall responded to Gardner’s surprise challenge by quickly trying to define his opponent as an extremist.  (AP Photo/Chris Schneider, File)

House panel approves bill to speed up U.S. gas exports

A House panel Wednesday approved a bill to fast-track U.S. natural-gas exports as a way to lessen Russian influence over Ukraine and Europe, but the measure is exposing divisions within the Democratic Party and parts of America's business community.

April 30, 2014

Obama secures defense deal with Philippines, blasts his foreign policy critics

After securing a defense agreement with the Philippines that represents one of the most tangible accomplishments of his weeklong Asia trip, President Obama on Monday attacked his foreign policy critics for not understanding the lessons of history and said direct U.S. military involvement in places such as Ukraine and Syria isn't the answer.

April 28, 2014
U.S. President Barack Obama attends a welcome ceremony at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, Friday, April 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Kim Hong-Ji, Pool)

Obama reassures allies: I can juggle many foreign crises

With North Korea set to test a nuclear weapon, Middle East peace negotiations all but dead and Russian troops massed on the Ukrainian border, President Obama on Friday reassured Americans and global allies that he can "worry about a bunch of different problems at once" and his administration is capable of dealing with the array of foreign crises that have popped up in recent days.

April 25, 2014
White House press secretary Jay Carney speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, April 21, 2014. Carney was asked about the tensions between Ukraine and Russia and the recent attacks in Yemen. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

White House denies role in latest Keystone delay

The State Department alone decided to delay the Keystone XL pipeline approval process yet again, and President Obama had no hand in the decision, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday.

April 21, 2014
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden waves as he arrives at Borispol airport outside Kiev, Ukraine on Monday April 21, 2014. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday launched a high-profile visit to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to Ukraine and push for urgent implementation of an international agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions even as violence continues. Biden planned to meet Tuesday with government leaders who took over after pro-Russia Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February following months of protests. The White House said President Barack Obama and Biden agreed he should make the two-day visit to the capital city to send a high-level signal of support for reform efforts being pushed the new government. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)

Biden to emphasize security, energy in Kiev

With violence still flaring in eastern Ukraine, Vice President Joseph R. Biden touched down in Kiev on Monday and will discuss a new aid package from the U.S., according to White House officials.

April 21, 2014
Within hours of Chelsea Clinton's announcement last week that she is pregnant, pundits, columnists and reporters began pontificating on what type of impact being a grandmother will have on Hillary Rodham Clinton's possible presidential campaign, should she run for president in 2016. (Associated Press)

What will a grandchild mean for Hillary?

It's America's version of the royal baby watch, but Chelsea Clinton's announcement last week that she's pregnant ended up taking a back seat to her mother's political ambitions.

April 20, 2014
Within hours of Chelsea Clinton's announcement last week that she is pregnant, pundits, columnists and reporters began pontificating on what type of impact being a grandmother will have on Hillary Rodham Clinton's possible presidential campaign, should she run for president in 2016. (Associated Press)

What will a grandchild mean for Hillary Clinton?

It's America's version of the royal baby watch, but Chelsea Clinton's announcement last week that she's pregnant ended up taking a back seat to her mother's political ambitions. Within hours of the revelation, pundits, columnists and reporters pontificated on what being a grandmother will mean for Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign, should she decide to run for president in 2016.

April 20, 2014
First lady Michelle Obama, left, walks with President Barack Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia, both partially obscured, from the White House to a motorcade to attend Easter services on Sunday, April 20, 2014, in Washington. The first family attended services at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Obamas head to church on Easter morning

After skipping church on Christmas, President Obama and his family attended Easter morning services at Washington's 19th Street Baptist Church on Sunday.

April 20, 2014
Inside out: Joseph R. Biden faces a similar hurdle as other sitting vice presidents campaigning for higher office: being seen as a candidate with no ideas of his own. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Joe Biden’s biggest gaffe: VP blowing his 2016 head start

It has been clear for some time that Joseph R. Biden is far behind Hillary Rodham Clinton among potential Democratic presidential candidates, but recent polling data suggest the vice president may not even be his party's second choice.

April 17, 2014
Immigration policy has plagued President Obama, as he spent the last five years trying to strike a difficult balance on the issue between conservatives in Congress and immigrant-rights advocates. (Associated Press Photographs)

Obama conciliatory on immigration

President Obama sounded a more conciliatory note on immigration Thursday, a day after he issued a statement criticizing House Republicans for "extreme" votes on the issue and angering a top GOP lawmaker who said it further poisoned chances for a bill to get done this year.

April 17, 2014