Dave Boyer

Michelle Obama, in final speech, praises immigrants

In her final speech, first lady Michelle Obama delivered some indirect barbs at President-elect Donald Trump Friday by saying diversity in the U.S. "is not a threat to who we are."

January 6, 2017

Obamas throw themselves a big White House farewell party

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama threw themselves a big A-list party Friday night -- their last White House blowout before leaving office.

January 6, 2017

Obama calls Facebook live torture video ‘hate crime’

President Obama said Thursday that the Facebook live torture video that has been dominating news and social media in Chicago is "despicable" and suggested it was a hate crime.

January 5, 2017

Obama transfers four more Gitmo detainees

Continuing a push in defiance of President-elect Donald Trump, President Obama has transferred four more terrorism detainees out of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, lowering the prison population to 55.

January 5, 2017

Obama briefed on intel report of Russian hacking in election

President Obama was briefed Thursday afternoon on an intelligence report that blames Russia and President Vladimir Putin for launching cyberattacks to influence the U.S. presidential election.

January 5, 2017

Donald Trump has no plans to revamp CIA: Sean Spicer

The spokesman for President-elect Donald Trump refuted Thursday a report that the Republican plans to revamp U.S. intelligence agencies in the wake of Obama administration claims that Russian hackers helped Mr. Trump to win the election.

January 5, 2017

Obama issuing record number of ‘midnight’ regulations: Study

President Obama has issued 145 "midnight" regulations with a cost of more than $21 billion since the election of Donald Trump, the most by a lame-duck president in a generation, a study has found.

January 5, 2017

Obama pens law review essay on reducing prison population

President Obama published an essay in the Harvard Law Review Thursday to highlight his efforts at criminal justice reform, saying he's the first president since Jimmy Carter to leave office with fewer inmates in federal prison than when he was inaugurated.

January 5, 2017

Obama regrets lack of gun control and immigration reform, touts accomplishments elsewhere

President Obama said Thursday that he's leaving the country in great shape for President-elect Donald Trump, and his few regrets include his inability to enact gun control and immigration reform.

January 5, 2017

Obama warns against war motivated by ‘politics’

As he prepares to turn over his duties as commander-in-chief to Donald Trump, President Obama said Wednesday that the U.S. must never wage war based on political motivations.

January 4, 2017

Eric Holder hired by Calif. Dems to battle Trump administration

California legislators have hired former Obama Attorney General Eric Holder to prepare for legal fights with the incoming Donald Trump administration on issues such as sanctuary cities.

January 4, 2017

Obama pledges ‘seamless’ transfer of military power to Donald Trump

President Obama held his last meeting with his military chiefs Wednesday, pledging their cooperation with President-elect Donald Trump for a "seamless" handoff as the U.S. continues counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State and other enemies.

January 4, 2017

Obamacare showdown coming as Mike Pence spars with president over revoking health policy

In another clash of transition priorities, President Obama and Vice President-elect Mike Pence will make dueling pitches to Congress Wednesday over the fate of Obamacare, with the Republican urging lawmakers to roll back regulations the incoming administration contends are smothering businesses.

January 3, 2017

Donald Trump crackdown looms for Cuba as repression continues after Obama outreach

President Obama's historic move to normalize relations with Cuba hasn't slowed repression by the Castro regime, and the incoming Trump administration is likely to take a tougher stand on restricting tourism, recovering stolen U.S. assets and demanding human rights reforms by Havana, analysts say.

January 2, 2017

Trump says he wants to be ‘sure’ about Russian hacking

President-elect Donald Trump said on New Year's Eve that he wants U.S. intelligence agencies "to be sure" about allegations of Russian cyber attacks in the presidential election, and said hacking is so common that the only safe way to send messages is by courier.

December 31, 2016

Obama sets a record for red tape in 2016

On the last business day of the year, President Obama set a record Friday with a total of 97,110 pages of new rules and regulations published in 2016 in the Federal Register.

December 30, 2016

Camp David ‘a perfect match’ for Donald Trump after Obama snub

Of all the perks of the presidency that Barack Obama will miss as he leaves the White House, it's a good bet that Camp David won't rank high on the list.

December 29, 2016

Obama orders sanctions in response to Russia’s election hacking

The Obama administration hit Russia with sanctions Thursday and expelled 35 Russian intelligence agents over suspected cyberattacks aimed at influencing the U.S. presidential election, a move that highlighted another rift between President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump, who urged the administration to move on from the episode.

December 29, 2016

Donald Trump blasts Obama ‘roadblocks’ as transfer of power turns increasingly hostile

The presidential transition hit a new low Wednesday, with President-elect Donald Trump openly criticizing President Obama for bungling U.S. relations with Israel and erecting other "roadblocks" to a smooth transfer of power in Washington.

December 28, 2016

Trump urges Israel to ‘stay strong,’ blasts Obama for U.N. vote

President-elect Donald Trump criticized President Obama's treatment of Israel Wednesday, urging Israel to "stay strong" until he takes office next month and accusing the president of erecting "roadblocks" to a smooth transition.

December 28, 2016