Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Raul Castro demands raise doubts, but Obama optimistic for U.S.-Cuba relations
Twenty-four hours before coming face to face with Cuban President Raul Castro, President Obama on Thursday continued to extend an olive branch from Washington to Havana — but analysts say there are real questions about whether Mr. Castro truly is interested in friendly relations with the U.S. Published April 9, 2015
Obama blasts war on drugs: ‘It’s been very unproductive’
Published April 9, 2015
Fewer children crossing border, but challenges remain
Nearly a year after the flood of unaccompanied children streaming across the U.S. border reached crisis proportions, President Obama this week heads to a key summit in Panama amid concerns the administration hasn't done enough to address the root causes of the problem. Published April 8, 2015
Obama phones key senator to sell Iran deal
President Obama continues trying to sell a preliminary nuclear deal with Iran to skeptical lawmakers on Capitol Hill, many of whom back legislation that would give Congress final authority over whether the agreement is implemented. Published April 8, 2015
White House: South Carolina shooting video ‘awfully hard to watch’
The White House said Wednesday video footage showing a white South Carolina police officer appearing to shoot a black suspect in the back multiple times is "awfully hard to watch" and demonstrates why officers should wear body cameras. Published April 8, 2015
Jeremy Bernard, White House social secretary, stepping down
Jeremy Bernard, the first male to serve as White House social secretary, will step down next month after four years on the job, the Obama administration said Wednesday. Published April 8, 2015
Obama’s new climate effort stresses health impacts
With his top aides hailing him as the "greenest president" in history, President Obama on Tuesday launched a new effort to highlight the impacts of climate change on Americans' health, the latest attempt to justify this administration's unprecedented environmental agenda. Published April 7, 2015
Obama, Cuba President Raul Castro set to meet for first time since diplomatic thaw
Four months after announcing a historic diplomatic thaw with Cuba, and with key questions about the future of the two nations' relationship still unanswered, President Obama will come face-to-face with the leader of the communist island later this week at a top-level summit in Panama. Published April 7, 2015
Russian cyberhack not confirmed by White House
White House officials Tuesday would not confirm a CNN report saying Russian hackers were behind a high-profile cyberattack on the State Department and the White House. Published April 7, 2015
Obama: Scott Walker needs to ‘bone up’ on foreign policy
President Obama is tipping the Democrats' hand on which Republican they fear most in 2016 — by taking a foreign policy potshot at Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Published April 7, 2015
Obama says nuclear deal can’t make Iran recognize Israel
President Obama said Monday it would be a "fundamental misjudgment" to try and force Iran to recognize Israel's right to exist, or to make such a demand as part of broader negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. Published April 6, 2015
‘The deal’s not done’ — key questions remain in Iran deal, White House says
Despite President Obama's lofty rhetoric last week that he'd reached a "historic" nuclear understanding with Iran, the White House Monday tamped down expectations that a final deal is in sight, saying the two sides are still far apart on key sticking points. Published April 6, 2015
Obamas turn Easter egg roll into birthday party for ‘Let’s Move!’
Children attending Monday's annual White House Easter Egg Roll also found themselves part of an impromptu birthday celebration for first lady Michelle Obama's signature "Let's Move!" initiative. Published April 6, 2015
Benjamin Netanyahu, Republicans take aim at Obama Iran nuclear deal
Fallout from the Obama administration's preliminary nuclear deal with Iran stretched from Capitol Hill to Jerusalem on Easter Sunday, with lawmakers vowing to push ahead with legislation that would give them, not the president, the final say on whether the agreement crosses the finish line. Published April 5, 2015
Lindsey Graham: Hillary Clinton, Republicans could have gotten a better Iran nuclear deal
Sen. Lindsey Graham said Hillary Rodham Clinton, along with a host of potential GOP presidential candidates, could have secured a better nuclear deal with Iran than the agreement President Obama has achieved. Published April 5, 2015
Obamas attend Easter services at Alexandria’s Alfred Street Baptist Church
President Obama and the first family on Sunday attended Easter services at the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Published April 5, 2015
Dianne Feinstein says Benjamin Netanyahu should ‘contain himself’ on Iran nuclear deal
Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Sunday took a shot at Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israeli prime minister should stop publicly criticizing the Iran nuclear deal. Published April 5, 2015
Netanyahu: Iran nuclear deal lets Tehran build ‘terror machine’ in Middle East
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday blasted the Iran nuclear deal struck between Iran, saying it endangers Israel and will enable Tehran to build a "terror machine" capable of conquering the Middle East. Published April 5, 2015
Bob Corker pushes bill for Congress to OK nuclear deal with Iran
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said Sunday that he intends to move forward with legislation requiring Congress to sign off on the Iran nuclear deal. Published April 5, 2015
Republican governors unwittingly recruited by biofuels lobby
Texas governors have not been fans of the federal government's renewable fuels mandate, so it was a surprise to Gov. Greg Abbott when he discovered this week the Governors' Biofuels Coalition has been listing him as a key member of the group. Published April 2, 2015
