Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Raffi Freedman-Gurspan becomes White House first transgender official
The Obama administration made history Tuesday by hiring the first openly transgender official in White House history. Published August 18, 2015
EPA to limit emissions from oil, gas drilling sites
President Obama on Tuesday took yet another step in his ambitious climate-change agenda, hitting the oil and gas industry with a set of unprecedented regulations aimed at limiting methane emissions. Published August 18, 2015
Bernie Sanders’ popularity surges in Iowa, New Hampshire as ‘fiery authenticity’ resonates
To say Sen. Bernard Sanders has struck a chord with Democratic voters in Iowa and New Hampshire would be an understatement, and local party leaders in those key early primary states believe the Vermont senator and self-described socialist's appeal is growing stronger each day. Published August 16, 2015
Obama administration plans more regulations — this time on garbage, landfills
Having already imposed new regulations on automobiles, planes, power plants and oil-and-gas drilling sites, the Obama administration on Friday turned its attention to garbage, proposing new rules to limit emissions from solid waste landfills. Published August 14, 2015
O’Malley dismisses Clinton email scandal: ‘Her lawyers can answer those questions’
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley on Thursday dismissed the controversy swirling around Hillary Clinton's private email server, saying he'll instead focus on key issues such as the economy and college affordability. Published August 13, 2015
Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator, ‘deeply sorry’ for wastewater spill
EPA administrator Gina McCarthy broke her silence Tuesday on the agency's wastewater spill from Colorado's Gold King Mine by saying she was "deeply sorry," but that wasn't enough to stave off a demand for congressional oversight into the accident and the agency's fumbled reaction. Published August 11, 2015
Airline carbon emissions limit urged by environmentalists
As the Obama administration moves ahead with regulations limiting emissions from aircraft, environmentalists are urging the federal government to take a hard line on the airline industry as part of the broader effort to combat climate change. Published August 11, 2015
Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator: Gold King Mine spill ‘pains me to no end’
In her first public comments since Environmental Protection Agency crews unleashed toxic mine sludge into the Animas River, agency Administrator Gina McCarthy said Tuesday the incident "pains me to no end" and she pledged that the federal government will do whatever it takes to restore water quality in the region. Published August 11, 2015
Gold King Mine spill exposes Obama hypocrisy, threatens EPA credibility, critics say
The political fallout from last week's toxic spill at Colorado's Gold King Mine intensified Monday, with critics saying the incident has exposed clear hypocrisy within the Obama administration while threatening the credibility of the Environmental Protection Agency at a crucial moment. Published August 10, 2015
Joe Biden’s two failed presidential bids could haunt vice president
As Vice President Joseph R. Biden spends this week vacationing in South Carolina and mulling whether to get into the presidential race, he's got to be thinking about the humiliating beatings he took in his two previous bids for the top job. Published August 9, 2015
White House downplays Chuck Schumer’s opposition to Iran deal
The White House on Friday described Sen. Chuck Schumer's opposition to the nuclear deal with Iran as "disappointing but not surprising," and officials say they're still confident Congress ultimately will approve the agreement. Published August 7, 2015
Josh Earnest: I fell asleep during the Republican debate
The Republican presidential primary debate Thursday night put White House press secretary Josh Earnest to sleep -- literally. Published August 7, 2015
Obama’s Clean Power Plan faces opposition from black, Hispanic leaders
The White House's carbon emissions regulations have opened a major rift between President Obama and some black and Hispanic leaders who fear the climate change policies will drive up poverty in low-income areas, kill jobs and raise electricity rates for families that can least afford it. Published August 6, 2015
White House not sold on moving election day to weekend
President Obama on Thursday pushed more Americans to vote and blasted voter ID laws that he says keep some from the polls, but the White House wouldn't support calls to move election day to the weekend in order to increase access. Published August 6, 2015
Obama won’t apologize for likening Republicans to Iranian hardliners
President Obama will not apologize for comparing some Republicans in Congress to hardliners in Iran, the White House said Thursday. Published August 6, 2015
Obama has no ‘rooting interest’ in Republican primary debate
President Obama will follow coverage of Thursday's Republican presidential primary debates but has no "rooting interest" in the outcome, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday. Published August 6, 2015
Obama decries voter ID laws, chastises Americans who don’t vote
President Obama on Thursday blasted state efforts to enact voter ID laws, called on Congress to strengthen the landmark Voting Rights Act, and said Americans who stay home on election day "dishonor" those who fought for civil rights. Published August 6, 2015
Obama admin grants green groups unprecedented power in crafting climate policy: Senate report
The Obama administration gave leading environmental activists unprecedented access and influence as the Environmental Protection Agency crafted rules limiting carbon emissions from power plants, a Senate committee charged Tuesday in a report that raises new questions about the president's climate change agenda. Published August 4, 2015
West Virginia attorney general to sue Obama admin over carbon rules
Just hours after they were released, President Obama's controversial power-plant rules already are facing legal challenges. Published August 3, 2015
Obama blasts ‘lazy’ critics of carbon rules
President Obama on Monday strongly defended his plan to limit carbon emissions from power plants and said critics of the proposal are "lazy" and unwilling to do what's necessary to save the planet. Published August 3, 2015
