President Obama: Latest News - Page 50

20 People Held in Secret
CIA Prisons Still Missing

PROPUBLICA REPORTS

Feb 13, 2013 10:56 AM CST

20 People Held in Secret CIA Prisons Still Missing

Despite 2009 order to close 'black sites,' many unaccounted for

(Newser) - In 2009 President Obama ordered the CIA's "black site" prisons closed. That same year, ProPublica reported that more than 30 people who had been held in them were unaccounted for. In a look at what's happened since, ProPublica reports that at least 20 prisoners remain missing. A...

Obama's
SOTU Had
'Retro Flavor'

REACTION ROUNDUP

Feb 13, 2013 7:49 AM CST

Obama's SOTU Had 'Retro Flavor'

But lefty goals that could have been backed by JFK, FDR might not get far: pundits

(Newser) - Pundits agree: President Obama's speech last night marked a firm push for progressive goals, shedding much of the bipartisan focus we've heard from him in recent years. A sampling of what analysts are saying:

The speech had a "retro flavor—'Democrat Classic,'" writes Glenn

...

Obama Wants to Raise
Minimum Wage to $9

state of the union

Feb 12, 2013 9:20 PM CST

Obama Wants to Raise Minimum Wage to $9

He also wants preschool available to all kids, tougher gun laws

(Newser) - We knew much of what he was going to say in advance—a focus on gun violence, job creation to create a "thriving middle class," and a quicker drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan , for starters—but President Obama still had a speech to give. Some highlights and...

Obama:
Middle-Class
Jobs Must Be
Our 'North Star'

speech excerpts

Feb 12, 2013 5:36 PM CST

Obama: Middle-Class Jobs Must Be Our 'North Star'

In excerpts, he says initiatives won't increase the deficit a 'single dime'

(Newser) - It's not clear how specific President Obama will get in laying out initiatives to create jobs in his State of the Union Address, but excerpts released by the White House make clear he intends to make the concept a key talking point—and he insists it won't increase...

Exec Orders
on Cybersecurity
Due Tomorrow

Feb 12, 2013 11:56 AM CST

Exec Orders on Cybersecurity Due Tomorrow

But White House still wants Congress to act

(Newser) - President Obama's hotly rumored executive orders to beef up cybersecurity for companies operating America's critical infrastructure are coming tomorrow morning, sources tell the Hill . Obama is expected to mention cybersecurity briefly in tonight's State of the Union address, as he did in last year's; but, with...

North Korea
Performs 3rd
Nuke Test

UPDATED

Feb 12, 2013 7:58 AM CST

North Korea Performs 3rd Nuke Test

Obama: Time for 'swift action'

(Newser) - In open defiance of the UN, North Korea has executed its third nuclear test, prompting global condemnation among leaders from the US to Russia to Japan. The latest test involved a "miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously" in 2006 and 2009, the country said....

SOTU Guests:
Ted Nugent,
Mohawk Guy

Feb 12, 2013 7:37 AM CST

SOTU Guests: Ted Nugent, Mohawk Guy

A look at who will be attending tonight's State of the Union address

(Newser) - Who will be sitting in the audience when President Obama gives his State of the Union address tonight? Well, not everyone will be a fan:

Ted Nugent will be there as a guest of Rep. Steve Stockman, Talking Points Memo reports. Nugent wants to "counter the scams and lies

...

Medal of Honor Winner
Has 'Mixed Emotions'

Feb 11, 2013 3:50 PM CST

Medal of Honor Winner Has 'Mixed Emotions'

Clint Romesha accepts decoration in White House ceremony

(Newser) - In an emotional White House ceremony, President Obama today awarded an Afghanistan veteran with the nation's highest military honor, CNN reports. Retired Army Staff Sgt. Clint Romesha accepted the Medal of Honor with his lower lip shaking and eyes moist, saying he was "conflicted" by the medal Obama...

Obama Administration
Loses Yet Another Woman

Feb 11, 2013 11:29 AM CST

Obama Administration Loses Yet Another Woman

Karen Mills led Small Business Administration since 2009

(Newser) - The Obama administration is losing yet another Cabinet-level woman. Karen Mills, the head of the Small Business Administration, announced today that she'll be leaving the post she has held since 2009, reports Politico . The president issued a statement thanking Mills for cutting through red tape and making life easier...

Afghanistan
Vet to Receive
Medal of Honor

Feb 11, 2013 7:38 AM CST

Afghanistan Vet to Receive Medal of Honor

Clinton Romesha will join Michelle Obama at State of the Union

(Newser) - Today, President Obama will award Clinton Romesha the Medal of Honor, making the former Army staff sergeant just "the fourth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan," the White House notes, per USA Today . Romesha was among 53 soldiers at...

Obama Eyes
Nuke Cuts in
Tough State
of the Union

Feb 11, 2013 7:36 AM CST

Obama Eyes Nuke Cuts in Tough State of the Union

Obama set for 'aggressive' speech: Glenn Thrush

(Newser) - Tomorrow's State of the Union is shaping up to be a much tougher speech than we've seen in previous editions from President Obama, writes Glenn Thrush at Politico , calling it "less a presidential olive branch than a congressional cattle prod." Obama doesn't expect Congress to...

Obama Mulls
Exec Orders
on Gay Rights,
Environment

Feb 11, 2013 2:47 AM CST

Obama Mulls Exec Orders on Gay Rights, Environment

Could also take action on mortgage refinancing

(Newser) - If Congress won't move on President Obama's agenda, he may take further action—on mortgage refinancing, gay rights, and other issues—on his own. The process could begin this week with new cybersecurity rules for private firms in certain industries, including transportation, the Washington Post reports. Later, he...

Hillary
More Popular
Than Obama

Quinnipiac poll

Feb 8, 2013 2:41 PM CST

Hillary More Popular Than Obama

... and everyone else in politics for that matter, says Quinnipiac

(Newser) - A new survey by Quinnipiac University is hopeful news for those pulling for Hillary Clinton in 2016. It shows her to be the nation's most popular politician, with a 61-34 favorable/unfavorable rating. That beats President Obama (51-46), Joe Biden (46-41), and John Kerry (43-33). The numbers fall short of...

This Interview Was Disgusting

Peggy Noonan

Feb 8, 2013 1:46 PM CST

This Interview Was Disgusting

Peggy Noonan was not a fan of Steve Kroft's sitdown with Obama and Clinton

(Newser) - Peggy Noonan was a huge fan of Dodge's " So God Made a Farmer " Super Bowl ad—it "spoke respectfully and even reverently of others," was expressly religious, and above all contained the "clear, clean" oration of Paul Harvey, a broadcaster with unabashed values but...

Catholic Bishops on New Contraception Deal: Still No

Feb 8, 2013 6:55 AM CST

Catholic Bishops on New Contraception Deal: Still No

But they take a more moderate tone on proffered compromise

(Newser) - With Catholic bishops opposed to an ObamaCare mandate on contraception, the White House recently moved to change the rule —but the new package hasn't satisfied the religious leaders, the New York Times reports. The deal would allow women employed by a religiously-affiliated employer, such as a Catholic hospital,...

Obama to Give Congress Classified Drone Info

Feb 6, 2013 6:59 PM CST

Obama to Give Congress Classified Drone Info

White House to hand over rationale on when it's OK to target Americans

(Newser) - President Obama has directed the Justice Department to give Congress' intelligence committees access to classified legal advice providing the government's rationale for drone strikes against American citizens working with al-Qaeda abroad, a senior administration official said today. A drumbeat of demands to see the document has swelled on Capitol...

State of the
Union to Target
Emissions Cuts

Feb 6, 2013 9:19 AM CST

State of the Union to Target Emissions Cuts

EPA could move to limit existing plants' greenhouse gases

(Newser) - President Obama's 2013 State of the Union address will follow up on his inaugural call to arms against climate change, insiders say. Though the specifics aren't clear yet, it's likely Obama will discuss limiting existing power plants' emissions—a plan that could depend on his use of...

Obama to Visit Israel
This Spring

Feb 5, 2013 2:16 PM CST

Obama to Visit Israel This Spring

It will be his first trip there as president

(Newser) - President Obama will visit Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan in the spring, marking his first visit since becoming president. Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the visit by phone in late January, when Obama congratulated Netanyahu on his success in Israel's election. The White House has...

Obama's Memo on Killing
US Citizens Is a Disgrace

OPINION

Feb 5, 2013 1:59 PM CST

Obama's Memo on Killing US Citizens Is a Disgrace

Glenn Greenwald: No free society should sanction this

(Newser) - The Obama administration's rationale for when it's OK to kill US citizens is fundamentally un-American, writes Glenn Greenwald at the Guardian . For example, the Justice Department memo says the US is justified in going after terrorists—based on the assertions of US officials supposedly in the know about...

Obama Calls
for Brief
Sequester
Dodge