What to Expect from President Obama’s Farewell Address

In an email announcing the speech to supporters last week, Obama said the speech would be "a chance to say thank you for this amazing journey and to offer some thoughts on where we all go from here." In giving a final speech, Obama is continuing in a tradition first started by the President George Washington in 1796 and continued by many outgoing presidents since.

Trump wants former Sen. Dan Coats to be intelligence chief

President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday named retired Sen. Dan Coats as national intelligence director, saying the former member of the Senate Intelligence Committee was the right person to lead the new administration's "ceaseless vigilance against those who seek to do us harm." Trump's announcement came one day after release of a declassified government report on Russian efforts to influence the presidential election.

Most U.S. adults question Trump’s abilities to handle presidential duties

WASHINGTON -- A majority of U.S. adults had little or no confidence that President-elect Donald Trump would be able to prevent a major scandal in his administration, use military force wisely or handle an international crisis, according to a Gallup poll . Trump already had historically low approval ratings for an incoming president.

Bolton blasts Obama as ‘vindictive’ for abstaining from UN vote

John Bolton, an adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, blasted President Obama Sunday as "vindictive," a week after the U.S. abstained from voting on a UN resolution declaring Israeli settlements in occupied territories illegal. "President Obama has very negative views on the state of Israel.

Letter: U.S. veto an insult to Israel

Letter: U.S. veto an insult to Israel President Obama did not just "rebuke" Israel, but metaphorically spit in the face of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Check out this story on northjersey.com: http://northjersy.news/2iKOS85 When the United States abstained on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, President Barack Obama did not just "rebuke" Israel, but metaphorically spit in the face of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israelis and supporters of Israel everywhere.

Report: 8 years of Obama vacations cost at least $85 million

As America's first family enjoys its eighth and final vacation in Hawaii, new estimates put the price tag of the Obamas' annual trip at $3.5 million or more. In total, the cost of the first family's personal or largely personal travel during the last eight years comes to $85 million - though that is likely to climb to $90 million after additional records are released, according to the conservative group Judicial Watch based on federal government records.

Obama library gears up

After turning over the White House next month to a successor who aims to scuttle some of his key initiatives, President Barack Obama and his foundation will begin seeking out donors to lead their fund drive for a presidential library and museum on Chicago's South Side. Obama's library planners have declined to provide a cost estimate, but the George W. Bush library and endowment cost more than $500 million.

Obama’s courageous, appropriate farewell shot at the Israeli settlements

The United States last week abstained vetoing a United Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal under international law. Our country has a duty and obligation to support a resilient peace in the Middle East even if it has a sincere disagreement with its close ally Israel.

President-elect Trump could make over 100 judicial appointments

Mr. Trump will inherit an estimated 103 such vacancies throughout federal and district courts, allowing him and his Republican allies to reshape the judiciary with dozens of lifetime appointments. President Barack Obama only inherited 54 such vacancies from his predecessor, President George W. Bush.

With nearly a 2.9 million-vote margin, Clinton the most successful loser in U.S. presidential history

Hillary Clinton received nearly 2.9 million more votes than President-elect Donald Trump, giving her the largest popular vote margin of any losing presidential candidate. Certified results in all 50 states and the District of Columbia show Clinton winning nearly 65,844,610 votes - 48 per cent - to Trump's 62,979,636 votes - 46 per cent - according to an analysis by The Associated Press.

Clinton wins popular vote by nearly 2.9 million

Hillary Clinton received nearly 2.9 million more votes than President-elect Donald Trump, giving her the largest popular vote margin of any losing presidential candidate. Certified results in all 50 states and the District of Columbia show Clinton winning nearly 65,844,610 million votes - 48 percent __ to Trump's 62,979,636 million votes __ 46 percent - according to an analysis by The Associated Press.

Continue reading Exxon’s Rex Tillerson brings the Trump and Bush worlds together

Now, they're finding common cause with Trump over his pick to lead the State Department: Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who has long orbited their same political, philanthropic and business worlds. Former President George W. Bush, who has largely avoided politics since leaving office in 2009, heaped praise on Tillerson in a recent phone call to Sen. Bob Corker, the Tennessee lawmaker who will oversee the secretary of state confirmation hearings.

The oilman who brought Trump and the Bush world together

Throughout the presidential campaign, the Bush family and many of its Republican allies turned their backs on Donald Trump. Now, they're finding common cause with Trump over his pick to lead the State Department: Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who has long orbited their same political, philanthropic and business worlds.

Meet Debra Wong Yang, who could be Trump’s SEC chairman

The next top cop on Wall Street could be Debra Wong Yang, a former federal prosecutor who is currently a star lawyer who has defended the likes of Uber and Chris Christie. Yang is being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to become chairman/Gibson Dunn Law practice via CNN The next top cop on Wall Street could be Debra Wong Yang, a former federal prosecutor who is currently a star lawyer who has defended the likes of Uber and Chris Christie.