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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

Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on nominations on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ** FILE **

Renewable fuel standard promoting ethanol shunned by environmental groups

The Renewable Fuel Standard that boosted ethanol use has fallen out of favor so badly that environmentalists now see themselves on the same side of the debate as Republicans such as Sen. Ted Cruz, arguing that the entire program is deeply flawed and must be completely overhauled.

March 15, 2018
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., talks with a staffer on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, after passage of a procedural vote aimed at reopening the government. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Joe Manchin walking tight rope in West Virginia for midterm elections

The Senate's most conservative Democrat is a top target for the GOP in this year's midterm elections, but some analysts say Joe Manchin's ability to walk a tight rope in his deep red state — combined with an increasingly bitter Republican primary that could damage the eventual winner, as the candidates bash each other on opioids and other issues — should make him the favorite to win another term.

March 4, 2018
"This morning, we had a very positive and productive meeting on fixing the broken [ethanol] system. I commend President Trump for bringing the two sides together and for leaning in hard to find a win-win solution that benefits both Iowa farmers and blue-collar refinery workers," said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican. (Associated Press/File)

Ted Cruz pulls Donald Trump away from ethanol

Key senators left a White House meeting Tuesday with no concrete resolution on the future of federal ethanol policy, but critics of the Renewable Fuel Standard suggested that they are slowly pulling President Trump to a deal that will benefit the oil industry.

February 27, 2018
"This morning, we had a very positive and productive meeting on fixing the broken [ethanol] system. I commend President Trump for bringing the two sides together and for leaning in hard to find a win-win solution that benefits both Iowa farmers and blue-collar refinery workers," said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican. (Associated Press/File)

Ted Cruz hails ‘productive meeting’ with Trump about reforming federal Renewable Fuel Standard

Key senators left a White House meeting Tuesday with no concrete resolution on the future of federal ethanol policy, but critics of the Renewable Fuel Standard suggested they're slowly pulling President Trump to their side and expect to reach a deal that benefits their allies in the oil industry in the coming weeks. "We made real progress, and, with the president's leadership, I believe we are close to solving the problem," said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican.

February 27, 2018
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel speaks before a CNN town hall broadcast, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, at the BB&T Center, in Sunrise, Fla. (Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) ** FILE **

Scot Peterson vs. school gunman raises debate

On one hand, Scot Peterson has been branded a coward by President Trump, and leading Florida officials and even his own former boss say they are disgusted by his inaction.

February 25, 2018
Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, is the chief sponsor of the Fix NICS bill to add federal agency records and press states to ensure their records are part of the national background check system for gun sales. (Associated Press/File)

Gun control debate greets Congress after Florida shooting

Congress appears to be settling on the outlines of consensus for action on stricter gun controls, with moves to strengthen the background check system and to restrict sales of bump stocks the most likely areas of bipartisan action.

February 25, 2018
In this April 12, 2016, file photo, Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., speaks to reporters outside his office on Capitol Hill, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Pat Toomey resurrects background checks bill

Sen. Pat Toomey on Sunday said he intends to give his expanded background checks legislation "another shot" in the wake of a massacre at a Florida high school earlier this month.

February 25, 2018
This Feb. 18, 2015 image taken from video provided by Broward County Public Schools shows school resource officer Scot Peterson during a school board meeting of Broward County, Fla. During the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, Peterson took up a position viewing the western entrance of the building for more than four minutes after the shooting started, but "he never went in," Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said at a news conference. Peterson, was suspended without pay and placed under investigation, then chose to resign, Israel said (Broward County Public Schools via AP)

Scot Peterson blasted for not entering Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during shooting

Scot Peterson, the former Broward County sheriff's deputy who failed to confront a gunman inside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the Feb. 14 massacre, came under fire from all sides Sunday as a victim's father labeled him a "coward," the state's governor said the entire state is "disgusted" by his handling of the situation and even Mr. Peterson's former boss said the failure to act makes him "sick."

February 25, 2018
Florida Governor Rick Scott lays out his school safety proposal during a press conference at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, Feb 23, 2018. Scott proposed banning the sale of firearms to anyone younger than 21 as part of a plan to prevent gun violence. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)

Rick Scott on Trump plan to arm teachers: ‘I disagree with him’

As he pushes his own comprehensive package to address gun violence and school safety, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday pushed back hard against President Trump's suggestion that some teachers be allowed to have their own firearms in the classroom.

February 25, 2018
This undated image provided by Tesla Motors shows the Tesla Model 3 sedan. The electric car company’s newest vehicle, the Model 3, which set to go to its first 30 customers Friday, July 28, 2017, is half the cost of previous models. Its $35,000 starting price and 215-mile range could bring hundreds of thousands of customers into Tesla’s fold, taking it from a niche luxury brand to the mainstream. (Courtesy of Tesla Motors via AP)

Ethanol, oil industries find common enemy in electric cars

Even as they're locked in a bitter, high-stakes battle over the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, the ethanol and oil industries each say they need to put aside differences and work together to prepare for an existential threat to both of their futures: electric cars.

February 22, 2018