Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Obama phones Texas hospital workers at center of Ebola outbreak
President Obama on Wednesday called health care workers at Texas Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, the facility at the center of the U.S. Ebola outbreak. Published October 22, 2014
More safeguards needed to protect personal tax information: federal audit
A federal audit released Tuesday found that the Internal Revenue Service should institute greater "management oversight and internal controls" to prevent the disclosure of personal tax information following reports that the tax records of a Republican Senate candidate were illegally accessed in 2010. Published October 21, 2014
White House censors Obama’s mention of ‘unpaid bills’ in Chicago
President Obama on Monday joked about having "unpaid bills" still sitting around his Chicago home, but the admission was left out of an official White House transcript of the event. Published October 21, 2014
EPA weighs new move to regulate drinking water
In what some specialists are calling the latest step in a "regulatory evolution," the Environmental Protection Agency said it may expand its authority over drinking water supplies by singling out the element strontium. Published October 20, 2014
Martin O’Malley faces steep climb to 2016 presidential bid
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has steadily climbed the political ladder over the past 15 years, but the next rung presents a seemingly insurmountable challenge as he likely positions himself as a liberal alternative to Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary. Published October 19, 2014
Obama to Maryland voters: Get your ‘cousin Pookie’ off the couch and to the polls
President Obama urged Maryland voters Sunday to get their "cousin Pookie" and other family members off the couch and to the polls on Nov. 4 to elect Anthony Brown as the state's next governor. Published October 19, 2014
White House: We didn’t want ‘an Ebola expert’ to be the Ebola czar
To manage the government's response to the Ebola outbreak, the Obama administration says it wasn't looking for someone who is an expert on Ebola. Published October 17, 2014
Obama launches initiative to cut identity theft
Calling identity theft a "heartbreaking" crime that robs Americans of their financial security, President Obama on Friday signed an executive order to put in place new protections for consumers who receive government benefits. Published October 17, 2014
Obama open to Ebola czar, but rebuffs travel ban as ‘not the way to go’
President Obama said Thursday it "may make sense to have one person" coordinating the government's response to the Ebola outbreak, indicating the administration may appoint a so-called czar to oversee all federal efforts. Published October 16, 2014
Leisure-prone Obama gets belatedly serious on Ebola
From golfing to raising piles of cash for the Democratic party, President Obama's itinerary often remains unchanged even in the face of crisis or tragedy, but the commander in chief took a much different tack this week as fears over Ebola mount. Published October 16, 2014
Top White House official secretly visited Iraq
A top White House official spent the past four days in Iraq meeting with Iraqi and United Nations officials about the fight against the Islamic State, administration officials announced Thursday. Published October 16, 2014
On Ebola, White House calls on media to help calm public
The Obama administration said Thursday it's relying on the news media to help tamp down public anxiety over Ebola. Published October 16, 2014
Obama cancels second day of travel due to Ebola outbreak
President Obama has canceled planned events and will remain in Washington for the second day in a row to oversee the government's response to the Ebola outbreak, the White House said late Wednesday night. Published October 16, 2014
Obama strategy, legal authority for Islamic State offensive in question
The U.S. military offensive against the Islamic State finally has an official name, but the larger strategy and legal justification behind the operation remain as murky as ever, more than 60 days after President Obama informed Congress of the campaign. Published October 15, 2014
Obama says Feds to become ‘much more aggressive’ about Ebola
With the public increasingly worried about the spread of Ebola, President Obama pledged Wednesday that his administration will take a "much more aggressive" stance toward the outbreak. Published October 15, 2014
Obama cancels Wednesday trips, calls Cabinet meeting on Ebola outbreak
President Obama has canceled trips Wednesday to New Jersey and Connecticut and instead will hold a Cabinet meeting on the administration's response to the Ebola outbreak. Published October 15, 2014
‘We are succeeding’ in fight against Islamic State: White House
The Obama administration claimed Tuesday that the U.S is succeeding in the fight against the Islamic State even as the militant Islamist group continues to make key gains in both Iraq and Syria. Published October 14, 2014
Obama won’t visit Barack Obama Elementary, despite students’ pleas
Students and parents have practically begged President Obama to visit an elementary school named in his honor, but their calls thus far have been unsuccessful. Published October 14, 2014
Elizabeth Warren endorsement could be critical in 2016 presidential election
As they gear up for a White House bid, Hillary Rodham Clinton and other Democratic presidential hopefuls may be looking over their left shoulder for a key stamp of approval from the party's new progressive standard-bearer. Published October 13, 2014
Michelle Obama says ‘I’m losing it’ at Iowa rally after flubbing Bruce Braley’s name multiple times
First lady Michelle Obama on Friday night urged Democrats to send "Bruce Bailey" to the U.S. Senate in November, repeatedly botching the name of the party's candidate in Iowa before eventually being corrected by the audience. Published October 11, 2014