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
Should Mt. McKinley Be Renamed Denali? 35 Tweets on the Pros, Cons, and Obama’s Use of Executive Power
President Obama announced Sunday he is issuing an executive order to rename Mount McKinley, reinstating its original native Alaskan name, Denali. The White House said the renaming of North America’s highest mountain peak honors the “sacred status” of Denali to Alaskan natives who hold it as a “site of significant cultural importance.” The mountain has spoken…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
Obama’s New Climate Rules Will Hurt Poor, Minority Americans the Most
“We know that low-income, minority communities would be hardest hit.” That’s Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy, speaking about the higher energy prices that would result from the Obama administration’s recently announced climate regulations on power plants. The Clean Power Plan, which will require drastic cuts in 47 states’ carbon dioxide emissions—consequently shifting America’s energy…Nicolas Loris -
- Opinion
Obama’s Iran Policy: Trust, Don’t Verify
Initially, I thought the news was beyond parody. The Associated Press last week ran a story headlined “U.N. to let Iran inspect nuke work site.” I soon realized that this revelation—a secret side agreement under which Iran is to police its own suspected nuclear weapons facilities—was too ludicrous not to parody. The host of a radio talk show asked…Clifford May -
- Opinion
4 Misleading Claims Obama Made About Iran Deal In New Remarks
President Obama addressed the nation in a continued effort to reverse Americans’ declining support for the Iran deal. In the past few days alone, more than 900 rabbis have voiced their opposition to the deal. In addition, a group of almost 200 retired generals and admirals have signed a letter urging Congress to reject the…Michaela Dodge -
- Opinion
Cartoon: President Obama’s Guide to American ‘Crazies’
Nile Gardiner wrote earlier this week on the president's comments: Just back from his annual summer vacation at Martha’s Vineyard, President Barack Obama has returned to disparaging his political adversaries and anyone who happens to disagree with him on policy. According to a report in Politico, the president has taken to describing opponents of the…Glenn Foden -
- Opinion
4 Reasons Obama’s New Methane Emission Regulations Don’t Make Sense
The Obama administration is proposing new regulations to reduce methane emissions for the oil and gas industry 40 percent to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025. Here are four things you need to know. 1. Methane emissions are not harmful. Methane emissions in the United States present no human health or environmental threat. Indeed,…Nicolas Loris -
- Opinion
Why Obama’s Wrong: Iran Deal Would Make War More Likely
Let’s cut to the chase: Does the Iran deal make war more or less likely? “No deal means a greater chance of more war in the Middle East,” President Obama says. His critics disagree. They think it will make war more likely. So which is it? Let’s break it down. First, the Iran agreement does…Kim Holmes -
- Opinion
Obama Administration’s Claim That Iran Deal Will Prevent War Isn’t True
Do you think opposition to the Obama administration’s deal with Iran is strictly a partisan issue? Hardly. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York recently joined half a dozen Democrats in the House of Representatives who have voiced doubts about the agreement. Who can blame them? It flunks the most basic litmus test imaginable. After all,…Ed Feulner -
- Opinion
Cartoon: Obama Is Kicking the Iran Problem Down the Road
Michaela Dodge and Cameron Swathwood wrote earlier this week on the failures of the president's Iran deal: Under the terms of the recently finalized nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), Iran will now have less oversight and restrictions on its nuclear program than the White House will admit. The Obama administration, striving to…Glenn Foden -
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Jeb Bush: Obama’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Foreign Policy Allows Enemies to Act With ‘Impunity’
ATLANTA, Ga. – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush criticized the “Alice in Wonderland” foreign policy of the Obama administration during a speech to conservative activists today. “It’s all backwards and upside down,” Bush said. He said the Chinese, the Russians and ISIS all act with “impunity” because “they no longer fear us.” “We have to…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Sorry, Obama: We Can’t Have an ISIS Strategy Without a Syria Strategy
Tired of the bantering about the deeply-flawed Iran nuclear deal? No worries—there are plenty of other scary scenarios to mull over during your morning coffee beyond the ayatollahs splitting atoms. For instance, what’s our plan for when the regime of Syria’s Bashar Assad falls? Yes, I said “falls.” If you haven’t noticed, things are looking…Peter Brookes -
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Obama’s Legacy Is Propping Up Dictatorships, Not Democracies
By praising Ethiopia’s repressive regime for being “democratically elected” last week, President Obama was driving home once again something that should be abundantly clear by now: His administration marks a radical departure from previous ones when it comes to democracy promotion. On the contrary, the Obama legacy will be one of propping up dictatorial regimes…Mike Gonzalez -
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Leading Jewish Democrat Breaks With Obama to Oppose Iran Deal
Sen. Chuck Schumer, one of the most influential Jewish Democrats in Congress, came out in opposition to President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran last night. “Advocates on both sides have strong cases for their point of view that cannot simply be dismissed,” Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a post on the site Medium. “This has made…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
One Year Later: Why Obama’s ISIS Strategy Has Failed
On August 8, 2014, the U.S. began an air campaign against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. One year later, we have little to show for our efforts. ISIS is the first terror group to form a financially independent regime, as well as the first to provide civil services to civilians in its territory….Carl Best -
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Climate Scientists Question Significance of Obama’s New Carbon Rule
Days after the Obama administration finalized plans to reduce carbon emissions, some climate scientists have criticized the administration for failing to detail how the regulations will lower global temperatures. These critics suggest the administration used the plan more to inspire global climate action, rather than using it as a concrete step to make the earth…Alex Anderson -
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22 Tweets Reacting to Obama Comparing GOP To Iranians Chanting ‘Death to America’
President Obama compared congressional Republicans who reject his nuclear deal to Iranian hardliners who chant “death to America” during a speech selling the agreement with Tehran at American University Wednesday. POTUS:”It’s those hardliners chanting Death to America who have been most opposed to the deal…making common cause w/the Republican Caucus” — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
8 Things Obama Got Wrong on the Iran Deal
On Wednesday, President Obama continued his push to sell the Iran deal to an increasingly skeptical American public. Unfortunately for the White House, Obama’s charm offensive won’t solve the major flaws in the Iran deal. The president stated, “Between now and the congressional vote in September, you are going to hear a lot of arguments…Michaela Dodge -
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9 Lines You Need to Read From Obama’s Latest Iran Nuclear Pitch
President Obama took a quick trip across D.C. Wednesday to sell his Iran nuclear deal in a speech at American University regarding what he called “the most consequential foreign-policy debate that our country has had since the invasion of Iraq.” Here are nine of the most striking lines from his pitch: 1. “Congressional rejection of…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
Obama Administration Claims Some Middle Eastern Countries Showing Support for Iran Deal. Here’s the Real Story.
The Obama administration has made a big deal over Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent meeting with representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a loose intergovernmental alliance of the Persian Gulf states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The White House has spun the visit as a diplomatic triumph and…Luke Coffey -
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Obama’s Plan to Combat Climate Change, Explained in Under 90 Seconds
In an effort to address climate change, the Obama administration has finalized a new rule designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s largest energy sources. The Clean Power Plan is the first set of national standards to cut carbon emissions, affecting new and existing power plants. The policy could force hundreds of coal-fired…Alex Anderson