Ben Wolfgang

Feeling pressure from the left, Obama backs off of Social Security cuts in budget

Bowing to pressure from its left flank, the White House revealed Thursday that it won't again propose Social Security cuts when President Obama releases his budget early next month, saying Republicans squandered chances for a deal last year.

Nebraska law that allowed Keystone XL struck down

A Nebraska judge threw a major hurdle in front of the Keystone XL oil pipeline Wednesday, setting into motion yet another review of the $7 billion project and pushing President Obama’s eventual final decision even further down the road.

White House hosts Clooney, Murray and Damon for “Monuments Men” screening

Obama orders up new mileage standards for big rigs

President Obama's visit to suburban Maryland on Tuesday to announce new fuel-efficiency standards for trucks was anything but efficient, as the commander-in-chief took a 15-vehicle caravan on an hour-long round trip just to deliver a 17-minute speech at a local Safeway distribution center.

Catching up to Clinton no easy feat for 2016 rivals

In a 2016 presidential contest that can be summed up as Hillary Rodham Clinton versus everybody else, early signs show the race isn't even close.

Obama eyes $10.10 minimum wage; GOP focuses on those with zero insurance after Obamacare

Saturday brought more evidence of how differently President Obama and congressional Republicans will approach this crucial election year, with the White House turning attention to its economic and income-equality agenda while the GOP remains focused on the health-care reform law and its fallout across the country.

Obama offers $1B loan to Jordan for refugees: It’s important to be ‘supportive of the kingdom’

President Obama announced late Friday night that the U.S. will provide a $1 billion loan guarantee to Jordan, money meant to help the nation deal with the flood of refugees that have crossed over from Syria to escape a bloody civil war.

In drought-ravaged California, Obama sounds alarm on climate change

Mr. Obama and many Democrats, along with their supporters in the environmental community, have held up extreme weather events such as California's drought, Hurricane Sandy and others as proof that global warming is wreaking havoc all across the planet.

Obama on ‘House of Cards:’ No spoilers

President Obama has more power than anyone in America, but he wants to watch one of his favorite TV shows just like everybody else. On Twitter late Thursday, the president noted that season two of the hit Netflix series “House of Cards” premiers Friday and added a request. “No spoilers, please,” Mr. Obama said.

‘Community’ star McHale to headline correspondents dinner

Joel McHale, star of the NBC series "Community," will headline this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner, joining the long list of comedians and entertainers who have poked fun at the president and the news media at the annual event.

Obama to launch $1 billion ‘climate resilience’ fund

As part of a broader effort to fight global warming, President Obama will propose in his 2015 budget a new $1 billion "climate resilience" fund, the White House said.

Biden to attend socialist Chilean president’s inauguration

Michelle Bachelet — who, like President Obama and Mr. Biden, has focused much of her attention on the income gap between the rich and poor — was elected Chile's leader for the second time in December. She previously served as president from 2006 to 2010.

Obama names Chu to head arts endowment

President Obama on Wednesday named his choice to lead the National Endowment for the Arts, which has been without a chairman for more than a year.

Some details still fuzzy on Obama’s minimum wage for federal contractors

President Obama will sign an executive order Wednesday raising the minimum wage for all federal contractors, but questions still surround how many workers will benefit from the move and how departments and agencies can comply without budget increases.

Netanyahu to again visit Washington

For the second time in six months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington and meet with President Obama.

Obama raises minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for federal contractors

President Obama's latest executive action boosted the minimum wage for federal contractors, but the White House struggled to answer specific questions about how many employees will be affected and how government agencies can implement the pay raise without busting their budgets.

Vice presidents stick together: Biden seated alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus at state dinner

The nation's most entertaining vice president crossed paths with her real-world counterpart again on Tuesday as actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of the HBO series "Veep," sat beside the nation's actual second-in-command during a state dinner at the White House.

Obamas welcome French President Hollande to celebrity-studded state dinner

The rich and powerful from across the nation descended on the White House Tuesday night for an extravagant state dinner honoring French President Francois Hollande, who was one of the only guests to arrive without a date.

Obama, Hollande not picking favorites

President Obama on Tuesday dodged a question about whether France has taken Britain's place as America's closest ally.

Obama, Hollande hit Moscow over Syria

President Obama and French counterpart Francois Hollande Tuesday had harsh words for Russia, saying the nation is partly to blame for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria.