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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opinion
Ben Sasse Channels ‘Braveheart’ in Message to Obama on Supreme Court Nominee
Standing outside the U.S. Supreme Court with the American flag flying at half-staff, Sen. Ben Sasse challenges President Obama to nominate a justice who will repudiate the executive unilateralism of his presidency. The video, taped this week, was released Thursday as the nation mourns the death of Justice Antonin Scalia and awaits Obama’s nomination of… -
news
What Will Obama Achieve With His Cuba Visit?
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be making a historic trip to Havana, Cuba, March 21-22, the White House announced Thursday. Next month, I'll travel to Cuba to advance our progress and efforts that can improve the lives of the Cuban people. — President Obama (@POTUS44) February 18, 2016 “President Obama’s decision… -
opinion
It’s Time to Throw Out Obama’s Spending Levels
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., met with the Republican conference last week to make a pitch on the shape of this year’s House budget. Ryan’s proposal would include $30 billion in new spending authority above the Budget Control Act (BCA)’s post-sequester levels for discretionary programs in 2017. Ryan told his colleagues that the new spending… -
opinion
Obama the Obstructionist
What a shock. Now that he’s at the White House—and facing GOP opposition to appointing a new Supreme Court justice in the mere months before a new president is elected—President Barack Obama seems to have changed his tune a decade after serving as a U.S. senator. As we detail in the above video, Obama used… -
opinion
Obama’s Disappointing Nominee for US Ambassador to Mexico
President Barack Obama has nominated Roberta Jacobson, the current assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, to be the next U.S. ambassador to Mexico in spite of bipartisan objections. As the Senate prepares to take up her confirmation, there are a few key considerations that members should evaluate before casting their votes: Under Jacobson's direction,… -
news
Obama Says No to ‘Moderate’ Supreme Court Nominee
President Barack Obama said he isn’t looking to nominate a moderate to the Supreme Court. At a press conference Tuesday following the U.S.-ASEAN summit in California, reporter Jeff Mason of the Reuters news agency asked Obama to clarify the ideological leanings of his likely judicial nominee. A White House transcript records the exchange between Mason and Obama after the Association… -
opinion
Next President, Not Obama, Should Pick Scalia’s Successor
The unfortunate passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has opened a vacancy on our nation’s highest court. Whoever fills that vacancy, the American people deserve a nominee chosen by the next president, not by an administration with one foot out the door. The Constitution is very clear that the president has the power to… -
news
Senate in Turmoil Over Whether Obama Should Fill Scalia’s Seat
Lawmakers from both parties exchanged salvos Sunday over who should fill the Supreme Court seat vacated Saturday by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. After news of Scalia’s death, Senate Republicans quickly dug in, promising to block President Obama’s nominee to replace him. Led by Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., they pledged to keep… -
news
Republicans, Obama Already Clashing Over Scalia’s Replacement
The fight over who should fill Antonin Scalia’s seat on the Supreme Court broke out quickly after the justice’s death Saturday. Both parties wasted little time marking the battle lines for a clash that could continue until President Barack Obama leaves office. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made his position clear just hours after the… -
opinion
Cartoon: Obama’s Crippling Mountain of Debt
Kim Holmes wrote earlier this week on the president's budget plan. President Barack Obama’s $4.1 trillion budget plan is out. Alas, it’s more of the same. It calls for raising taxes but does nothing to rein in the nation’s out-of-control debt, which is estimated to exceed $19 trillion. You would think that Obama knew better…. -
news
Did the Senate Just Confirm the Last Obama Judge?
A bipartisan agreement reached in December to advance five of President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees was fulfilled Thursday when the Senate voted unanimously, 93-0, to confirm Leonard Strand as a federal district judge in Iowa. Seven senators didn’t cast vote, including five Republicans. Strand’s confirmation is the last piece of a package deal brokered by… -
news
House Conservatives: Budget Using Boehner-Obama Spending Levels Is Unacceptable
House conservatives are closing ranks as the next battle over the federal budget looms. They’re pushing Republican leadership for a budget that lowers the top-line spending number and reflects conservative policy priorities. They want what Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., called “a budget that Republicans support.” First they’ll have to scrap the numbers negotiated by outgoing House… -
opinion
There’s an Alternative to the Boehner-Obama Budget Deal (and It’ll Save Billions)
President Barack Obama released his final budget this week. It’s a budget that embraces the spending agreement Obama negotiated with outgoing House Speaker John Boehner last year. Republicans in Congress will make the next move. And it’s important that Congress not bless the Boehner-Obama spending agreement in its budget. The Boehner-Obama budget-buster passed Congress with only 79… -
opinion
Obama Should Call ISIS’ Actions Against Christians ‘Genocide’
The European Parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution referring to the Islamic State (ISIS)’s killing of religious minorities under its control as “genocide” in the Middle East. Now, it is the United States’ turn to act. In its resolution, the parliament recognized that “religious and ethnic minorities, such as Christian (Chaldean/Syriac/Assyrian, Melkite, and Armenian), Yazidi, Turkmens, Shabak,… -
opinion
The Delusion Behind Obama’s Budget
President Barack Obama’s $4.1 trillion budget plan is out. Alas, it’s more of the same. It calls for raising taxes but does nothing to rein in the nation’s out-of-control debt, which is estimated to exceed $19 trillion. You would think that Obama knew better. The dangers are plain to see. Without some check on social… -
opinion
Supreme Court Halts Obama’s Aggressive Climate Agenda
In a major setback to the Obama administration’s climate agenda, the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Clean Power Plan from taking effect until the legal challenges from states and industry groups fully play out. Twenty-five states, four state agencies, and dozens of industry groups challenged the Clean… -
news
Here’s Why Republicans Are Mocking Obama’s Final Budget Proposal
President Obama’s final budget proposal, which increases government spending by $4.15 trillion, got a chilly reception Tuesday in Congress. Many Republicans already are dismissing the spending plan outright. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., snarkily tweeted a survey asking what the mountain pictured on the cover of Obama’s budget proposal symbolized. Options: debt, regulations, taxes, or all of… -
news
Obama’s Budget, Explained in 30 Seconds
The Daily Signal recaps the $4.1 trillion budget proposal President Barack Obama sent Congress on Tuesday for fiscal year 2017. Learn about some of the major details inside, including a $2.6 trillion tax hike with a component that would raise the price of gas by 22 cents per gallon. >>> Why Republicans Are Mocking Obama’s… -
opinion
What Obama Got Wrong in 2017 Budget
President Barack Obama released his 2017 Fiscal Year Budget to Congress. Here is what Heritage Foundation researchers had to say about Obama’s budget: Energy Education Health Care Regulation and Spending Trade Agriculture Taxes Defense Energy Obama’s ‘Oil Fee’ Is a Regressive Gas Tax President Obama’s budget calls for a $10-per-barrel tax on oil, to pay for mass transit,… -
news
Why GOP Chairmen Decided to Snub Obama’s Budget Chief
Budget chairmen in the House and Senate have chosen to dismiss President Obama’s new budget plan before seeing it, saying they would concentrate instead on reforming the process and reining in spending. House Budget Chairman Tom Price, R-Ga., and Senate Budget Chairman Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., last week announced that neither of their committees would call White House Budget…