Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
‘Freedom’s victory’ — Obama commemorates 70th anniversary of D-Day
Telling World War II veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago that they exemplified the "powerful manifestation of America's commitment to human freedom," President Obama on Friday commemorated the D-Day invasion and paid a moving tribute to those who lost their lives in the fight to liberate Europe. Published June 6, 2014
Lawmakers say fear for Bergdahl’s life is no excuse for Obama’s secrecy
Obama administration officials said Thursday that they feared the Islamic militants holding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl would kill him if word of their deal to exchange him for five Taliban fighters leaked — offering the latest justification in the face of growing political controversy over why President Obama sidestepped Congress to make the trade Saturday. Published June 5, 2014
G-7 commits to adopting ‘global’ climate change agreement
President Obama on Thursday doubled down on his quest to save the world from climate change, urging every nation to "do its share" to reduce carbon emissions and follow the highly controversial path the White House is forging here in the U.S. Published June 5, 2014
Biden, McCain to head U.S. team at Ukraine inauguration
Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona and other U.S. officials will travel to Kiev on Saturday to attend the inauguration of Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko, the White House announced Thursday. Published June 5, 2014
Obama opens door for ‘businesslike’ meeting with Putin
Saying he's always had a "businesslike" relationship with Vladimir Putin, President Obama on Thursday opened the door to meet with the Russian leader when the two men visit Normandy to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landing. Published June 5, 2014
Obama stays out of dispute with French bank
President Obama said Thursday that he's staying out of a dispute with France's largest bank as the Justice Department mulls huge fines against the institution, stating he will rely on the media to keep him informed of new developments. Published June 5, 2014
Still no plans for Obama-Putin meeting this week, White House says
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany all plan to meet with President Vladimir Putin later this week at events marking the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landing, but the White House says President Obama has no plans to talk with the Russian leader. Published June 4, 2014
Obama: Russia’s ‘dark tactics’ in Ukraine won’t stand
President Obama on Wednesday took direct aim at Russia and said the "dark tactics" employed by Moscow against Ukraine will not stand in the 21st century. Published June 4, 2014
Obama uses gray area for Bowe Bergdahl decision
For a commander in chief who's always been somewhat ill at ease with the ambiguities of the war on terror, this weekend's "prisoner swap" with the Taliban was the latest instance of President Obama trying to figure out when to treat it like a traditional war, and when to deem it a 21st-century conflict that breaks many of the rules of regular warfare. Published June 3, 2014
Obama fires back in defending Bergdahl trade — ‘We seized that opportunity’
President Obama said Tuesday he had an obligation to secure the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, regardless of the circumstances surrounding Sgt. Bergdahl's capture by the Taliban five years ago and despite claims he's a "deserter" who walked away from his unit. Published June 3, 2014
New EPA carbon limits further natural gas boom at expense of coal
In dealing a major blow to U.S. coal on Monday, President Obama very well may have tipped the scales in favor of domestic natural gas even more. Published June 2, 2014
Carbon rules not tough enough, some environmentalists say
The Obama administration on Monday unveiled sweeping new regulations to limit carbon emissions, but some in the environmental community say the plan is not aggressive enough. Published June 2, 2014
EPA tells states: Cut carbon pollution by 30 percent over next 15 years
The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed unprecedented regulations to cut carbon pollution from power plants by 30 percent over the next 15 years, saddling states with the responsibility of figuring out how to meet President Obama's ambitious and highly controversial climate change goals. Published June 2, 2014
Democrats use Pope Francis to sell EPA carbon rule
A Democratic senator said Monday that President Obama's controversial new carbon pollution rule is part of a "moral duty" to protect the Earth — a goal shared by Pope Francis. Published June 2, 2014
EPA eyeing 30 percent emissions cut for power plants
Having failed to ram a key piece of his climate agenda through Congress in 2010, President Obama on Monday will endorse far-reaching new restrictions on carbon pollution widely expected to push states to embrace cap-and-trade-style systems. Published June 1, 2014
Obama: New carbon emissions rules will not ‘kill jobs and crush the economy’
Two days before his administration releases controversial new rules limiting carbon emissions from power plants, President Obama on Saturday defended the looming regulations and said they're a necessary step in the larger fight against climate change. Published May 31, 2014
Shinseki apologizes, gets summoned to White House for ominous meeting
President Obama has called Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to the Oval Office, the White House said Friday, raising more questions about whether the embattled secretary will offer his resignation. Published May 30, 2014
Obama had secret lunch with Hillary Clinton on Thursday
Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the White House on Thursday and had lunch with President Obama — a meeting that was not part of the president's daily schedule and was only acknowledged by the White House after People magazine revealed it in a tweet. Published May 29, 2014
White House touts energy record ahead of new coal regs
Less than a week before releasing far-reaching new restrictions on coal-fired power plants, the White House and its environmentalist allies on Thursday launched a preemptive attack against critics of its energy policy. Published May 29, 2014
Obama: I may have had concussions
President Obama said Thursday that he may have suffered concussions while playing youth football. Published May 29, 2014