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Obama to meet with chief critics, defenders of NSA spying

By SUSAN CRABTREE | 01/07/14 03:48 PM

President Obama plans to huddle with top congressional critics and defenders of the National Security Agency's surveillance programs this Thursday as he finalizes changes to the nation's controversial spying policies...

Robert Gates rips Obama, Joe Biden in new book

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/07/14 03:21 PM

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a new memoir says that President Obama lost faith in his blueprint for Afghanistan, part of a blistering critique of the Obama administration from the one-time leader of the...

White House won't 'dignify' Dennis Rodman's 'outburst' on North Korea

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/07/14 01:29 PM

The White House on Tuesday dismissed former National Basketball Association player Dennis Rodman's latest trip to North Korea for an exhibition game. “Mr. Rodman is on a private trip,” White House press secretary...

Obama pressures Republicans to extend unemployment benefits

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/07/14 12:37 PM

President Obama on Tuesday called on Republicans to extend unemployment benefits to 1.3 million Americans for three months, looking to build momentum for the federal aid after the measure cleared a major hurdle in the...

New record: Feds issued 56 regs for every new law, 3,659 in 2013

By PAUL BEDARD | 01/07/14 11:19 AM

The Obama administration made up for the lack of laws passed in Congress last year, issuing a whopping 3,659 rules regulations, crushing claims that Washington isn't doing anything. Only 65 public laws were signed by...

White House: Obamacare is going to be like that crazy Colts playoff game

By CHARLIE SPIERING | 01/07/14 10:40 AM

Political consultant Phil Schiliro admitted that the implementation of the law stumbled out of the gate, but compared the botched rollout of Obamacare to the Indianapolis Colts' playoff game last Sunday against the Kansas...

US marks 4 straight years of slowing health costs

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 01/07/14 10:22 AM

WASHINGTON — Even as his health care law divided the nation, President Obama's first term saw historically low growth in health costs, government experts said in a new report Monday. The White House called it...

Critics: Obama did little to prevent al Qaeda resurgence in Iraq

By SUSAN CRABTREE | 01/07/14 08:50 AM

A resurgence of violence and advances by al Qaeda fighters in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon is providing new evidence undermining White House claims that the terrorist group is on the run and prompting fresh scrutiny of...

CMS: Growth in health costs remains low, but Obamacare impact 'limited'

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 01/06/14 05:09 PM

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday said that health care spending rose slowly for the fourth straight year, but said that Obamacare had only a “limited impact.” Health spending grew at an...

Jay Carney: No 'magic number' for Obamacare enrollments

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/06/14 02:58 PM

White House press secretary Jay Carney on Monday downplayed initial projections that 7 million Americans would enroll in Obamacare by the end of March, even though administration figures previously touted the figure....

White House: Iraqis must handle growing violence 'themselves'

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/06/14 02:44 PM

The White House on Monday said it was up to the Iraqis to handle growing violence in their country, as al Qaeda-connected groups gain ground throughout the Middle East. “This is something for the Iraqis to take the...

White House week ahead: Vacation over, Obama tries to hit reset button

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/06/14 08:50 AM

As his 2014 State of the Union address approaches, Obama this week will focus on what aides are framing as a central theme of 2014: combating income inequality.

Obama eyes modest momentum on Capitol Hill in 2014

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 01/06/14 07:06 AM

President Obama gets back to work this week eager to test whether a budget deal passed in the waning days of 2013 can spark momentum on Capitol Hill. He also faces legacy-defining decisions on the future of government...

Obama adviser Gene Sperling pushes for unemployment benefits extension without offsets

By JOSEPH LAWLER | 01/05/14 02:02 PM

Gene Sperling, the director of President Obama's National Economic Council, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Monday "is the day that 1.3 million Americans go to their mailbox and find that the check that they'd been...

Zogby Report Card: Even the weather looks brighter for Obama

By PAUL BEDARD | 01/04/14 09:30 AM

Pollster John Zogby reports in our White House report card that President Obama’s had a good week being out of sight on vacation in Hawaii. "The president is in Hawaii and has gotten decent weather so far. How bad...

Obama: Make jobless benefits 'first order of business'

By JEREMY BARR | 01/04/14 06:57 AM

President Obama on Saturday urged Congress to make extending benefits for the long-term unemployed its “first order of business” as lawmakers returned from the holiday recess. “For decades, Republicans and...

FISA court renews phone metadata program

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/03/14 05:13 PM

The Obama administration announced Friday that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court had renewed its authority to operate a controversial telephone metadata collection program. The Office of the Director of...

DOJ appeals federal court ruling against NSA surveillance

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 01/03/14 03:47 PM

The Justice Department on Friday appealed a federal judge's ruling that found the National Security Agency's surveillance and collection of phone metadata unconstitutional. In its notice of appeal filing, the DOJ called...

Obama to meet with those who lost unemployment benefits

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/03/14 03:31 PM

President Obama on Tuesday will meet with Americans who lost unemployment benefits at the start of the year, as the White House ramps up pressure on Republicans to extend the federal aid for three months. Labor...

Hospitals defend billing practices amid Obamacare confusion

By SUSAN CRABTREE | 01/03/14 03:28 PM

Hospitals are defending their practice of holding patients accountable for paying their medical bills in the face of confusion over Obamacare coverage in the the new year. The problem-riddled rollout of healthcare.gov...

White House moves to 'strengthen' federal background checks

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 01/03/14 01:42 PM

The White House on Friday announced two new executive actions it said would “strengthen the federal background check system and keep guns out of the wrong hands.” The moves are the latest steps by the Obama...

New year brings back old challenges for Obama

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/03/14 11:43 AM

President Obama sees 2014 as a “breakthrough year” for his agenda, but a number of unresolved challenges threaten to undermine his bid to turn the corner on the worst stretch of his presidency. Whether the president...

DOJ: Nuns have 'no legal basis' to contest birth control mandate

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/03/14 11:34 AM

The Justice Department on Friday urged Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to stop blocking the Obamacare mandate forcing organizations to provide insurance plans that include contraceptives, arguing that a religious...

Dems' progressive push: Banner year or pipe dream?

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/03/14 04:54 AM

Talk of a resurgent brand of progressive politics has hit a fever pitch and some in the Democratic base are pressing President Obama to follow the lead of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. After being sworn in by...

Benjamin Netanyahu strikes pessimistic note as John Kerry arrives for more peace talks

By SUSAN CRABTREE | 01/02/14 02:11 PM

Kerry's latest trip is aimed at producing a “framework agreement” between Israel and the Palestinians that will lay the groundwork for a more permanent peace accord. Netanyahu, though, raised serious new doubts about...

Health overhaul benefits take effect with new year

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 01/02/14 10:00 AM

After a troubled rollout, President Obama's health care overhaul now faces its most personal test: How will it work as people seek care under its new mandates?

White House calls for passage of jobless benefits

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 01/02/14 09:02 AM

HONOLULU — The White House is calling on Congress to make its first legislation of the new year the restoration of unemployment insurance for Americans whose benefits have expired. More than 1 million Americans lost...

Obama wishes Barbara Bush a 'speedy recovery'

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 01/01/14 04:12 PM

President Obama on Wednesday wished former first lady Barbara Bush a “speedy recovery” after she was hospitalized for a respiratory condition. “[First lady] Michelle [Obama] and I send our best wishes to Mrs. Bush...

White House: Jobless benefits should be 'first new legislation' of 2014

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 01/01/14 03:54 PM

The White House on Wednesday marked the new year by urging Congress to make extending unemployment benefits its top priority when lawmakers return to Washington. “This New Year’s Day, there is likely less joy and...

Vladimir Putin sends new year's greeting to Obama

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 01/01/14 01:09 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent new year's greetings to President Obama, and urged closer ties between their two nations despite a tumultuous 2013. “In his message to President of the United States of America...

White House: Birth control mandate strikes right 'balance'

By BRIAN HUGHES | 01/01/14 12:28 PM

The White House on Wednesday insisted that Obamacare's contraception mandate struck the right “balance” after Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor blocked provisions of the health law forcing organizations with...

Obamacare delays create New Year's confusion

By SUSAN CRABTREE | 01/01/14 11:58 AM

New Year's Day marks the official start of Obamacare coverage, but the problem-riddled rollout of the online federal exchanges is having another unintended consequence: Some who signed up won't be able to go to the doctor...

New OFA video touts Obamacare stories as law takes effect

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 01/01/14 11:09 AM

Organizing for Action, the nonprofit group backing President Obama's initiatives, unveiled a new video touting the launch of Obamacare on Wednesday as the health care law finally took effect.

Administration says 2.1 million enrolled in Obamacare but won't say how many paid

By BRIAN HUGHES | 12/31/13 04:49 PM

The Obama administration announced Tuesday that 2.1 million people had enrolled in health plans ahead of the start of new Obamacare exchanges in 2014, but officials could not say how many Americans had actually paid for...

Obama administration transfers three detainees from Gitmo

By SUSAN CRABTREE | 12/31/13 01:05 PM

The three men, Yusef Abbas, Saidullah Khalik and Hajiakbar Abdul Ghuper, were cleared by a federal judge for transfer in 2008 but have languished in the prison as the administration tried to find a country to accept them.

Michelle Obama adds to support for ABC's Robin Roberts

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 12/31/13 09:11 AM

Michelle Obama is leading an outpouring of support for Robin Roberts after the "Good Morning America" news anchor's first public acknowledgement of her 10-year, same-sex relationship with massage therapist Amber Laign.

Energy Department rejects 'social cost of carbon' challenge

By ZACK COLMAN | 12/31/13 05:46 AM

The Obama administration will not revisit a new rule based on its revised "social cost of carbon" estimate, setting the table for a potential legal challenge from industry groups.

Official in charge of healthcare.gov rollout is retiring

By BRIAN HUGHES | 12/30/13 04:47 PM

The official responsible for overseeing the problem-plagued healthcare.gov website is retiring on Tuesday. In an email to colleagues, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services chief Marilyn Tavenner said that...

White House promotes Michelle Obama's 'selfie' with dog Bo

By PAUL BEDARD | 12/30/13 04:42 PM

Maybe this is where President Obama got the idea to take a controversial “selfie” at Nelson Mandela's funeral. It turns out that the first lady, Michelle Obama, was months ahead of him in the art of taking...

Pampered press: Obama reporters diss McDonald's in choosing Starbucks

By PAUL BEDARD | 12/30/13 02:32 PM

President Obama's vacation press corps has standards, and they don't seem to include McDonald's fast-food restaurants. Tasked to follow the president to Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay for his morning workout,...

White House wants 'closer cooperation' with Russia on Olympic security

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 12/30/13 01:15 PM

The Obama administration on Monday condemned two suicide bombings in Russia which killed dozens and said it hoped for “closer cooperation” between Washington and Moscow to prevent terror attacks during the upcoming...

US struggles to keep pace in delivering broadband service

| 12/30/13 10:38 AM

(www.nytimes.com) The United States is falling dangerously behind in offering high-speed, affordable broadband service, according to technology experts and recent studies.

Obama's presidency beset by fits, starts in year 5

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 12/30/13 09:29 AM

His second inaugural address over, Obama paused as he strode from the podium last January, turning back for one last glance across the expanse of the National Mall, where a supportive throng stood in the winter chill to...

Obama's presidency beset by fits, starts in year 5

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 12/29/13 05:56 PM

Obama had campaigned for re-election on the hope that a second term would bring with it a new spirit of compromise after years of partisan rancor on Capitol Hill. Instead, great expectations disappeared in fumbles and...

White House: Northern Ireland peace talks at vital point

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 12/29/13 11:25 AM

WASHINGTON — The White House is urging leaders involved in peace talks over Northern Ireland to compromise because negotiations have failed to produce an agreement. White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden says the...

Obamacare enrollment tops 1 million

By MEGHASHYAM MALI | 12/29/13 10:26 AM

The Obama administration on Sunday touted a holiday surge in enrollment for the health law's new insurance exchanges and said more than 1.1 million consumers are now signed up. “More than 1.1 million people enrolled...

Obamacare faces key tests in 2014

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 12/28/13 03:24 PM

The new year brings the big test of President Obama's beleaguered health care law: Will it work?

White House presses Congress to extend unemployment benefits for three months

By BRIAN HUGHES | 12/27/13 05:26 PM

The White House on the eve of unemployment benefits expiring for 1.3 million Americans called on lawmakers to extend the federal aid for three months once they return to Washington. “As the president has repeatedly...

Environmental groups: White House throwing EPA under bus on fracking

By ZACK COLMAN | 12/27/13 02:30 PM

Environmental groups say the White House is siding with the natural gas industry over its own Environmental Protection Agency following a report this week from the EPA's internal watchdog about an investigation of...

Federal judge calls NSA phone surveillance programs legal

By BRIAN HUGHES | 12/27/13 01:44 PM

A federal judge in New York City on Friday ruled that the National Security Agency's massive phone surveillance network is legal, giving the Obama administration a judicial victory at a time when it's trying to defend the...