Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Obama orders up new mileage standards for big rigs
President Obama's visit to suburban Maryland on Tuesday to announce new fuel-efficiency standards for trucks was anything but efficient, as the commander-in-chief took a 15-vehicle caravan on an hour-long round trip just to deliver a 17-minute speech at a local Safeway distribution center. Published February 18, 2014
Catching up to Clinton no easy feat for 2016 rivals
In a 2016 presidential contest that can be summed up as Hillary Rodham Clinton versus everybody else, early signs show the race isn't even close. Published February 16, 2014
Obama eyes $10.10 minimum wage; GOP focuses on those with zero insurance after Obamacare
Saturday brought more evidence of how differently President Obama and congressional Republicans will approach this crucial election year, with the White House turning attention to its economic and income-equality agenda while the GOP remains focused on the health-care reform law and its fallout across the country. Published February 15, 2014
Obama offers $1B loan to Jordan for refugees: It’s important to be ‘supportive of the kingdom’
President Obama announced late Friday night that the U.S. will provide a $1 billion loan guarantee to Jordan, money meant to help the nation deal with the flood of refugees that have crossed over from Syria to escape a bloody civil war. Published February 15, 2014
In drought-ravaged California, Obama sounds alarm on climate change
Mr. Obama and many Democrats, along with their supporters in the environmental community, have held up extreme weather events such as California's drought, Hurricane Sandy and others as proof that global warming is wreaking havoc all across the planet. Published February 14, 2014
Obama on ‘House of Cards:’ No spoilers
President Obama has more power than anyone in America, but he wants to watch one of his favorite TV shows just like everybody else. On Twitter late Thursday, the president noted that season two of the hit Netflix series “House of Cards” premiers Friday and added a request. “No spoilers, please,” Mr. Obama said. Published February 14, 2014
‘Community’ star McHale to headline correspondents dinner
Joel McHale, star of the NBC series "Community," will headline this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner, joining the long list of comedians and entertainers who have poked fun at the president and the news media at the annual event. Published February 14, 2014
Obama to launch $1 billion ‘climate resilience’ fund
As part of a broader effort to fight global warming, President Obama will propose in his 2015 budget a new $1 billion "climate resilience" fund, the White House said. Published February 14, 2014
Biden to attend socialist Chilean president’s inauguration
Michelle Bachelet — who, like President Obama and Mr. Biden, has focused much of her attention on the income gap between the rich and poor — was elected Chile's leader for the second time in December. She previously served as president from 2006 to 2010. Published February 13, 2014
Obama names Chu to head arts endowment
President Obama on Wednesday named his choice to lead the National Endowment for the Arts, which has been without a chairman for more than a year. Published February 12, 2014
Some details still fuzzy on Obama’s minimum wage for federal contractors
President Obama will sign an executive order Wednesday raising the minimum wage for all federal contractors, but questions still surround how many workers will benefit from the move and how departments and agencies can comply without budget increases. Published February 12, 2014
Netanyahu to again visit Washington
For the second time in six months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington and meet with President Obama. Published February 12, 2014
Obama raises minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for federal contractors
President Obama's latest executive action boosted the minimum wage for federal contractors, but the White House struggled to answer specific questions about how many employees will be affected and how government agencies can implement the pay raise without busting their budgets. Published February 12, 2014
Vice presidents stick together: Biden seated alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus at state dinner
The nation's most entertaining vice president crossed paths with her real-world counterpart again on Tuesday as actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of the HBO series "Veep," sat beside the nation's actual second-in-command during a state dinner at the White House. Published February 11, 2014
Obamas welcome French President Hollande to celebrity-studded state dinner
The rich and powerful from across the nation descended on the White House Tuesday night for an extravagant state dinner honoring French President Francois Hollande, who was one of the only guests to arrive without a date. Published February 11, 2014
Obama, Hollande not picking favorites
President Obama on Tuesday dodged a question about whether France has taken Britain's place as America's closest ally. Published February 11, 2014
Obama, Hollande hit Moscow over Syria
President Obama and French counterpart Francois Hollande Tuesday had harsh words for Russia, saying the nation is partly to blame for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria. Published February 11, 2014
Obama praises French aid in hot spots
President Obama on Tuesday lauded French President Francois Hollande for taking a more active role on the world stage, helping facilitate agreements with Iran and Syria and confronting extremists in other spots around the globe. Published February 11, 2014
White House: GOP hypocritical on Obamacare
A top White House official on Tuesday accused Republicans of hypocrisy for their criticism of the most recent Obamacare delay. Published February 11, 2014
Hollande, Obama renew nations’ historical bond at Jefferson’s Monticello
More than a decade after Congress served up "freedom fries" as a not-so-subtle dig at French unwillingness to fight in Iraq, analysts say there has been a "role reversal" on the global stage as France leads the way in international hot spots while the U.S. sometimes assumes the unusual role of reluctant superpower. Published February 10, 2014
