Barack Obama News
Read news, analysis, and commentary on Barack Obama, his administration’s legacy, and his continuing impact on national debates.
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news
Thanks to a GOP Senator, Obama’s ‘Far Left’ Pick Confirmed to Head Library of Congress
Conservative critics of President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the Library of Congress were blindsided Wednesday when a key Republican engineered her lopsided confirmation by the Senate despite concerns she is, in the words of one opponent, “an unqualified, far-left progressive.” The Senate voted 74-18 to confirm Carla D. Hayden, who leads Baltimore's public library… -
news
As Obama Speaks in Dallas, Police Groups Question His Support
As President Barack Obama visited Dallas on Tuesday to speak at the memorial service for five slain police officers there, some law enforcement advocates faulted his legacy on the issue as negative. “Because these are not isolated incidents. They’re symptomatic of a broader set of racial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system,” @Potus… -
opinion
I’m a Mom. Here’s What I’m Doing to Fight Obama’s Transgender Agenda.
Because I'm passionate about our country, I dedicated years of my life to government service. Later, that same passion led me to focus on raising my three young children to become the finest citizens they can be, becoming a stay-at-home mom. Nevertheless, I have jumped back into the world of politics and policy far earlier… -
news
House Conservatives Don’t Want a ‘Lame Duck’ Obama to Have Say on Government Funding
Resigned to the strong possibility that the House will need to fund the government through a continuing resolution after this fiscal year, conservatives are warning party leaders of what it would take for them to support such a stopgap measure. With the much-hyped regular order appropriations process looking stalled—if not finished—before it really started, conservatives… -
news
Experts Doubt Obama’s Final Troop Cut in Afghanistan Helps His Successor
President Barack Obama said he won’t withdraw nearly half the remaining U.S. troops in Afghanistan, much less completely withdraw as he originally intended, so the next president will have a stronger hand in a country where American forces have battled the Taliban and al-Qaeda for nearly 15 years. “Today’s decision best positions my successor to… -
news
Obama Administration Refuses to Enforce ‘Right of Conscience,’ Legal Group Says
The Obama administration refuses to enforce federal law that protects Americans’ freedom of conscience, a Christian legal aid group says. In 2014, California began mandating that employee health plans cover elective abortions. A state agency is refusing to exempt churches from the mandate, said Casey Mattox, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom. “Churches should never… -
opinion
Obama Makes Clear It’s Better to Be America’s Adversary Than Ally
Rarely has the stark contrast between being an adversary of America and being an American friend been more in evidence than in the news this week from the western Pacific. With the inauguration of Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan saw the fourth democratic transition in the island’s leadership since the end of martial law in the 1990s…. -
opinion
Obama Administration’s Goal Is to Undermine Brexit Vote
Before Britain’s historic vote to leave the European Union last Thursday, the Obama administration was eager to pressure the British people to stay in. They lost, but they can’t stop playing their games. On Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival, was asked if Britain’s decision could be “walked back,”… -
news
Governor to Obama in Food Stamp Fight: ‘Wake Up and Smell the Energy Drinks’
Maine Gov. Paul LePage may have considered a proposal to prohibit food stamp recipients from using their benefits to buy candy and sodas to be a sweet one, but the Obama administration disagrees. The friction between the Republican governor and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reignited a debate after the Obama administration denied LePage’s… -
news
Obama Says He Won’t Let Defeat on Amnesty Deter Other Executive Actions
President Barack Obama said the Supreme Court decision halting his executive actions to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants won’t discourage him from making other such moves without going through Congress. “It does not have any impact from our perspective on the host of other issues we are working on because each one of these issues… -
opinion
Obama’s Amnesty Plan Effectively Struck Down
In a 4-4 split vote, the Supreme Court has affirmed the judgment of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the preliminary injunction issued by federal district court Judge Andrew Hanen in the case brought by Texas and 25 other states challenging the Obama administration’s attempt to give legal status and work authorizations to… -
opinion
Obama’s 229 Major Regulations Cost $108 Billion Each Year
The Obama administration is responsible for thousands of new regulations—including a historic number of major regulations. As the costs of these regulations add up, they place more of a burden on economic freedom in America. In 2015, 43 new major regulations went into effect, increasing regulatory costs by more than $22 billion. In 2015, 43… -
news
Obama Pushes Congress on Zika Money, but Questions Loom on Administration’s Response
Even as Congress seems to be moving closer to a resolution on funding a means to stop the spread of the Zika virus, the Obama administration is demanding more immediate action. Yet, some critics say it is the administration, including President Barack Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, that have failed to… -
opinion
Congressional Letter Urges Obama to Rethink Brexit
Britain’s referendum on its membership of the European Union—which might lead to its exit (known as Brexit)—will take place on June 23. After a pause following the tragic murder of Jo Cox, a Labour Party member of the British Parliament, the campaign resumed on Sunday, with the polls still too close to call. But a… -
opinion
3 Economic Facts That Counter Obama’s Recovery Narrative
President Barack Obama needs a reality check. Earlier this month in Indiana, he accused his critics of ignoring the “facts” and purporting “myths” about his economic record. But if Republicans are truly ignoring the facts, Obama should consider it a blessing. A quick look at the facts will show that Obama’s economic performance has been… -
news
Obama Celebrates an LGBT Legacy That Seemed Unlikely When He Took Office
Changes in the definition of marriage, open service in the military, and an expanded hate crimes law are some of the advancements for LGBT Americans that have become a key part of President Barack Obama’s legacy. “I am grateful for all that you’ve done to work with us to accomplish some amazing transformations over these… -
news
Obama Pushes ‘Equal Pay Pledge,’ as Women Experience Economic ‘Hardship’
With women’s labor force participation at its lowest rate since 1988, the Obama administration held its White House United State of Women conference in the District of Columbia on Tuesday, pushing policies that some experts say will not help—and could economically hurt—women. “A lot of women are leaving the workforce and there is a lot… -
opinion
Women in the Draft: The Obama Legacy Grows
The Senate’s reauthorization of the National Defense Authorization Act includes language that would require women to register for the Selective Service—a step the House version of the bill was unwilling to take. Since Secretary of Defense Ash Carter opened all military specialties to women, overriding the best military advice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff… -
opinion
How Obama Has Made It Harder for Companies to Hire
Government data released on Wednesday shows the number of private-sector job openings was at an all-time high in April. Companies, however, hired the fewest number of people on a seasonally adjusted basis in nine months. Why the disparity? The JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) data the government released show there were 5,289,000 private-sector… -
opinion
Mandatory Minimums Questioned as Obama Commutes Sentences
President Barack Obama has publicly opined that mandatory minimum sentences ranging from 20 years to life in prison for drug offenses do not “fit the crime.” He has acted on that belief by commuting dozens of drug offenders’ sentences as Congress debates reform to various aspects of mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Sherman Chester is built…