Feb 02 Obama to reconsider providing lethal aid to Ukraine By Julie Pace, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is reconsidering sending lethal assistance to Ukraine, a senior administration official said Monday, but continues to have concerns about the effectiveness of that step and the risks of a proxy war between the U.S. and… Continue reading
Feb 02 President Obama sends Congress record $4 trillion budget plan By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama sent Congress a record $4 trillion budget Monday that would boost taxes on higher-income Americans and corporations, pushing past tight federal spending caps to fund an ambitious public works program and provide middle-class tax relief. Continue reading
Feb 01 Obama weighs in on 'Deflategate' in Super Bowl pregame interview By Nedra Pickler, Associated Press President Barack Obama on Sunday said the NFL should consider how referees can control game footballs instead of individual teams and he defended his aggressive stance with congressional Republicans during a live interview during NBC's Super Bowl pregame show. Continue reading
Jan 29 Democrats begin to do some soul searching By Domenico Montanaro, Rachel Wellford, Simone Pathe House Democrats begin their annual issues retreat Thursday in Philadelphia. With all the focus on Republicans, their newfound governing majorities in Congress, and the divisions within their ranks between establishment and tea party members, it’s worth pointing out that Democrats… Continue reading
Jan 28 Senate begins hearings for attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch By Erica Werner, Eric Tucker, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's attorney general nominee, Loretta Lynch, faces Senate questioners Wednesday as she seeks to become the first black woman to hold the nation's top law enforcement job. Continue reading
Jan 27 Watch 1:50 Obama avoids criticizing treatment of Saudi blogger during visit By PBS News Hour On a visit to meet Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz, President Obama advocated for tolerance and free speech but did not discuss a Saudi blogger's punishment of 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam. Judy Woodruff reports. Continue watching
Jan 27 Obama to request hefty budget boost for the Pentagon By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press President Barack Obama will ask Congress for a hefty, almost 8 percent boost for the Pentagon, including $5.3 billion to equip and train Iraqi soldiers and moderate Syrian rebels to fight Islamic State militants in the Middle East. Continue reading
Jan 27 Obama floats offering first-ever drilling lease in Atlantic By Dina Cappiello, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Obama administration floated a plan Tuesday that for the first time would open up a broad swath of the Atlantic Coast to drilling, even as it moved to restrict drilling in environmentally-sensitive areas off Alaska. Continue reading
Jan 27 Obama says U.S. must catch up to ensure drones are safe By Josh Lederman, Calvin Woodward, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The United States has fallen behind technological advancements that have made small drones readily available and must update its laws to ensure safety, President Barack Obama said Tuesday, in his first public comments about a drone that crashed… Continue reading
Jan 27 Obama defends U.S. ties as he pays respects in Saudi Arabia By Julie Pace, Associated Press RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Barack Obama defended the U.S. government's willingness to cooperate closely with Saudi Arabia on national security despite deep concerns over human rights abuses, as he led an array of current and former American statesmen in… Continue reading