Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Donald Trump says he doesn’t owe an apology to Sen. John McCain, who ‘let us down’
Donald Trump said Sunday he doesn't owe Sen. John McCain an apology for saying over the weekend that the senator, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for six years, isn't a true war hero. Published July 19, 2015
John Kerry, secretary of state: ‘Anywhere, anytime’ never on table in Iran nuclear deal
The Obama administration pushed back hard Sunday against the idea that it conceded key ground in the recent nuclear deal with Iran, denying that the U.S. and its international partners ever pursued unfettered, 24/7 access to the Islamic republic's nuclear sites. Published July 19, 2015
Inside federal prison, Obama urges justice system reform
After meeting with inmates and becoming the first sitting president to visit a federal prison, President Obama said Thursday young people who make mistakes and use drugs should not be sentenced to decades behind bars. Published July 16, 2015
Obama targets coal industry with new water regulations
In the latest clash between the Obama administration and the U.S. coal industry, the Interior Department on Thursday released stringent new regulations requiring companies to monitor water quality and plant trees and vegetation in the area around mining sites. Published July 16, 2015
Obama pushed to act on prison reforms
In demanding the nation overhaul its criminal justice system, President Obama has zeroed in on an issue ripe for true bipartisan action, but he's also given himself an immense political challenge as activists now expect him to deliver tangible results quickly. Published July 15, 2015
Obama: We can’t revoke Bill Cosby’s medal of freedom
Barack Obama said Wednesday that he can't revoke Bill Cosby's Medal of Freedom, but the president did have harsh words for the legendary actor and comedian, stopping just short of accusing him of rape. Published July 15, 2015
Obama calls for overhaul of prison system, end of mandatory minimum sentences
President Obama on Tuesday laid out a sweeping plan for criminal justice reform in America, calling for the end of mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, a review of solitary confinement in prisons and a host of other steps. Published July 14, 2015
White House: No firm timetable on Iran talks
The White House said Monday that there's no firm timetable on reaching a final nuclear agreement with Iran, and Secretary of State John Kerry and other U.S. officials will remain in Vienna as long as negotiations remain constructive. Published July 13, 2015
Obama commutes sentences for 46 drug offenders
President Obama on Monday commuted the sentences of 46 men and women convicted of nonviolent drug crimes, saying the cases exemplify why Congress must make permanent changes to the criminal justice system. Published July 13, 2015
Obama: We must protect Social Security, expand retirement benefits for older Americans
President Obama on Monday said the U.S. must find "creative ways" to keep Social Security strong, and also directed his Labor Department to craft new rules that ultimately could give millions of older Americans easier access to private retirement savings plans. Published July 13, 2015
Obama green energy spending distorts solar power markets, risks creating ‘bubble’
President Obama has engaged in unprecedented spending on wind and solar power, and argues they're key to getting the U.S. off of fossil fuels, but recent studies have raised new questions about just how much the so-called green energy sources will cost taxpayers. Published July 12, 2015
Republicans slam Obama’s latest ‘land grab’
Top Republicans are accusing President Obama of another "surreptitious land grab" after the administration claimed more than 1 million acres in California, Texas and Nevada to designate as national monuments. Published July 10, 2015
Oil export ban support pits Obama against organized labor, allies in Congress
President Obama this week has found himself at odds with allies in Congress and in organized labor over lifting the 40-year ban on U.S. crude oil exports, with the White House still blocking efforts to ship American fuel abroad despite growing support for the idea and mounting evidence that exports will drive down domestic gasoline prices. Published July 9, 2015
White House puts onus of failure on Iran with nuclear talks at a standstill
As international negotiations over Iran's nuclear program continue with no new signs of a breakthrough and with critics saying the U.S. should give up, the Obama administration on Wednesday put the burden for completing a historic deal squarely on the shoulders of Tehran. Published July 8, 2015
White House: Not sure if we can strip Bill Cosby of medal of freedom
President Obama's top spokesman said Wednesday he's not sure if the administration legally can strip Bill Cosby of his presidential medal of freedom. Published July 8, 2015
Unemployment rate drop obscures troubling decline in Americans seeking work
The Obama administration once again is touting new data showing job growth and another drop in the nation's unemployment rate, but beneath the surface lies a more bleak picture of the U.S. economy, as more and more Americans disappear from the labor force. Published July 7, 2015
John Roberts, Supreme Court chief justice, may be beyond reconciliation with conservatives
Now an outcast among conservatives, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. may get the chance to redeem himself in the coming months with his stand on affirmative action, the power of labor unions and other key cases, but some on the right say it's too late for him to salvage his credibility with them. Published July 5, 2015
Keystone pipeline divides Congress as deadline nears
With a decision looming, both sides of the Keystone XL pipeline debate are making last-ditch appeals to President Obama, with opponents saying the project fails the White House's climate test and supporters arguing it's a no-brainer that will spur U.S. energy independence and economic growth. Published July 1, 2015
White House drops photo, social media ban during public tours
Visitors to the White House now can photograph, blog, tweet and otherwise document their trip. Published July 1, 2015
Obama climate change agenda faces legal, political resistance
With Barack Obama's legacy on health care seemingly secure after last week's landmark Supreme Court decision, the president's ambitious environmental agenda will come into sharper focus -- but a host of legal challenges and growing defiance across the country threaten his efforts to fight climate change. Published June 30, 2015
