Category: Barack Obama

Opposition to Trump, HB2 beef up “Moral March on Raleigh”

A massive crowd attended Saturday’s annual civil rights rally in North Carolina’s capital, beefed up by protesters energized in opposition to President Donald Trump and to a state law limiting LGBT rights and which public bathrooms transgender people can use. Organizers of the “Moral March on Raleigh,” led by the state chapter of the NAACP , has largely focused on state government during its 11 years of existence, more recently against the conservative-leaning agenda Republicans have implemented.

Opposition to Trump, HB2 beef up “Moral March on Raleigh”

A massive crowd attended Saturday’s annual civil rights rally in North Carolina’s capital, beefed up by protesters energized in opposition to President Donald Trump and to a state law limiting LGBT rights and which public bathrooms transgender people can use. Organizers of the “Moral March on Raleigh,” led by the state chapter of the NAACP , has largely focused on state government during its 11 years of existence, more recently against the conservative-leaning agenda Republicans have implemented.

Not so radical: Trump foreign policy quickly loses its sharp edge

When President Donald Trump took a phone call from the leader of Taiwan in December and asserted that the United States might no longer be bound by the “One China” policy, his defenders hailed it as a show of strength – the latest delicate issue on which Trump was willing to challenge decades of diplomatic orthodoxy. On Thursday evening, Trump fell back into line.

Not so radical: Trump foreign policy quickly loses its sharp edge

When President Donald Trump took a phone call from the leader of Taiwan in December and asserted that the United States might no longer be bound by the “One China” policy, his defenders hailed it as a show of strength – the latest delicate issue on which Trump was willing to challenge decades of diplomatic orthodoxy. On Thursday evening, Trump fell back into line.

Mar-a-Lago stirs protests, spurs ethics debate

He has described the sprawling Mar-a-Lago property as the Winter White House and has spent two weekends there so far this month. But it’s also become a magnet for anti-Trump protesters and the subject of an ethics debate over his invitation to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to join him this weekend – with Trump pledging to pay for the accommodations.

Trumpa s Florida estate stirs protests, spurs ethics debate

He has described the sprawling Mar-a-Lago property as the Winter White House and has spent two weekends there this month. But it’s also become a magnet for anti-Trump protesters and the subject of an ethics debate over his invitation to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to join him this weekend – with Trump pledging to pay for the accommodations.

Column: Will the U.S. lose Turkey?

In April 2009, President Barack Obama spoke before the Turkish Grand National Assembly, hailing the country’s “strong, vibrant, secular democracy” and noting that Turkey is a “resolute” and “critical” American ally. Since then, much has changed in both countries, and little has been positive with respect to Turkish democracy and U.S.-Turkish relations.

Obamas gear up for speaking gigs and book deals

Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama announced Friday they have picked the prestigious agency that represents Bill Clinton, Mia Farrow and others to handle their post-White House speaking gigs. The Harry Walker Agency will represent both Obamas for speaking appearances, said Kevin Lewis, a spokesman for the former president.

Office of Obama offers internships

A screenshot of an email GW student Rhett Nuenighoff received on Monday, Feb. 6 advertising an internship for the Obamas. A screenshot of an email GW student Rhett Nuenighoff received on Monday, Feb. 6 advertising an internship for the Obamas.

Official: Flynn not ‘certain’ on sanctions talk with Russia

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s national security adviser addressed U.S. sanctions against Russia in his conversations with the country’s ambassador while President Barack Obama was still in office, a new report said, contradicting previous claims that the issue was not discussed. A Trump administration official told The Associated Press that Michael Flynn “can’t be certain” that sanctions did not come up in his discussions with the Russian ambassador.

Anger erupts at Republican town halls

More than seven years after angry anti-Obamacare town halls erupted across the country, raw emotions are boiling over again — this time, as the Republican Party under President Donald Trump gears up to dismantle Barack Obama’s legacy. On Thursday night, two Republican members of Congress — Reps.

Is US-Iran relationship heading back into the deep freeze?

Iran will today celebrate the 38th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, an event that still defines the country and its place in the world, as it seeks to assert itself against a more confrontational US administration. After decades in isolation, the Shia theocracy has enjoyed a thawing relationship with the West in the past few years.

Democrats seek investigation into national security adviser

Congressional Democrats on Friday called for an investigation into whether White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn discussed U.S. sanctions in phone calls with Russia’s ambassador while President Barack Obama was still in office, conversations that may have broken U.S. law aimed at barring private citizens from conducting diplomacy. The White House said President Donald Trump had “full confidence” in Flynn, a show of support coming as the administration scrambled to manage the fallout from reports that Flynn addressed U.S. sanctions against Russia in a phone call late last year.

Fudge: Misdirected Anger At Obama Led To Trump’s Win

Democratic Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge alleged that fear-mongering, not President Donald Trump’s economic message won him the election. Fudge said Democrats have been losing blue-collar voters over time and Trump managed to tap into their anxieties, which she feels gave him an edge with that demographic.

FILE — From left: Syrian refugees Abdulmajeed and his wife Baraa,…

From left: Syrian refugees Abdulmajeed and his wife Baraa, who were allowed to enter the country after a federal judge blocked key parts of President Trump’s immigration ban, walk with her father, who met them at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Feb. 7, 2017. A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday unanimously upheld a temporary suspension of President Donald Trump’s order that restricted travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.

REPORT: Trump Apparently Didn’t Know About Nuclear Arms Treaty, Still Told Putin It Was Bad

Per U.S. officials with knowledge of the call, after Putin brought up New START and possibly extending it, the president paused the call so he could ask his aides about what it was before proceeding to slam it, lumping it in with other “bad deals” that President Barack Obama had negotiated. The treaty, which was signed in 2010, gives both countries until February 2018 to reduce the number of strategic nuclear warheads deployed down to 1,550.

Bribe Bully Beg Borrow Steal

On February 10, 2016, the Indiana-based furnace company Carrier announced that it would close two factories in the U.S.-one in Indianapolis and one in Huntington-and shift production to Mexico. Just three days later, presidential longshot Donald Trump bragged on Twitter: “I am the only one who can fix this.

Trump gets negative job rating, Snyder improving

Even though candidate Donald Trump won Michigan last November, he’s off to a rough start winning the job performance approval of Michiganders early in his presidency. Just three weeks into being America’s commander-in-chief, 48% of the 600 people polled statewide have an unfavorable opinion of President Trump, versus 39% who have a favorable impression of the former New York businessman.

Trump speaks with Afghan leader, U.S. commander calls for more troops

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Afghan counterpart discussed security in a phone call on Thursday, officials said, hours after the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said thousands more troops were needed to break a stalemate with the Taliban. Trump and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also spoke about opportunities to strengthen ties, counterterrorism cooperation and economic development, the White House said in a statement.

Dakota Access pipeline construction expected to get go-ahead

This Sept. 29, 2016, file photo, shows a section of the Dakota Access Pipeline under construction near the town of St. Anthony in Morton County, N.D. The Army has notified Congress Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, that it will allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, completing the four-state project to move North Dakota oil to Illinois.

Bipartisan US lawmakers urge Trump to sanction Venezuela

In this Nov. 14, 2016 file photo, a billboard along the highway near Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, features an ant drawing and the Spanish slogan, “Freedom from bachaqueros.” Venezuelans call people who make a living illegally reselling food “bachaqueros,” after the leaf-cutter ants that haul food through the jungles.

Our Opinion: No one forget

Donald Trump is president in part because many Americans disliked his predecessor’s habit of refusing to recognize the exceptional nature of our government and the American people. Too often, former President Barack Obama cited our nation’s challenges – and there are many – in equating us with other, much more deeply flawed countries.

House Speaker Ryan Says Obamacare Replacement Bill to Pass This Year

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Republican leader said on Tuesday that legislation to replace former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law will be completed this year, trying to assuage concerns that the party is retreating from its campaign promise to dismantle Obamacare. “We are going to be done legislating with respect to healthcare and Obamacare this year,” House Speaker Paul Ryan told a news briefing.

GOP Senior Statesmen Making Push for a Carbon Tax

A group of Republican senior statesmen are pushing for a carbon tax to combat the effects of climate change , and hoping to sell their plan to the White House. Former Secretary of State Jim Baker is leading the effort, which also includes former Secretary of State George Shultz.

Army to allow completion of Dakota Access oil pipeline

This Sept. 29, 2016, file photo, shows a section of the Dakota Access Pipeline under construction near the town of St. Anthony in Morton County, N.D. The Army has notified Congress Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, that it will allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, completing the four-state project to move North Dakota oil to Illinois.

Obamas join Richard Branson for private island getaway

Former President Barack Obama , and his wife, Michelle, have spent some time vacationing with Richard Branson since leaving the White House. The Virgin Group founder put up a blog post with pictures and video of the ex-president kitesurfing off one of Branson’s private islands in the British Virgin Islands.