Barack Obama

Read the latest post-presidency news about President Barack Obama on Newser.com

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Obama Proves He's No Scrooge

The president is giving federal employees a half-day on Christmas Eve

(Newser) - Presumably after being visited by three spirits who managed to do it all in one night, President Obama signed an executive order on Friday giving all federal employees a half-day on Christmas Eve, the Hill reports. And government employees will still be paid for those four hours off, to boot....

'Our Hippest President' Picks His Favorite Song of 2015

It's a good week to be Kendrick Lamar

(Newser) - Proving that he knows what the kids are listening to these days, President Barack Obama tells People magazine his favorite song of the year is Kendrick Lamar's How Much a Dollar Cost. "If there was any doubt Obama was our hippest president, let it be immediately dispelled,"...

Obama Said 'Close to Nothing,' and Nothing New

The buzzword is 'reassure,' and most agree Obama didn't do it

(Newser) - On Sunday night, President Obama addressed the nation from the Oval Office for the third time in his presidency. What the pundits are saying about the rare event:
  • At Politico , Edward-Isaac Dovere has pretty much nothing positive to say about a speech that "said close to nothing" and did
...

Obama: Climate Change Affects Military, Too

He calls it an 'economic and security imperative'

(Newser) - Why are world leaders gathering near Paris for climate talks when there's a war going on in Syria? "Because this one trend, climate change, affects all trends," President Obama said at a news conference on Tuesday, reports the New York Times . "This is an economic and...

Coldplay Album Samples ... the President

Clip of Obama's 'Amazing Grace' to be included on album

(Newser) - Coldplay's new album is out next month , and it has a pretty high-profile guest star: President Obama. Chris Martin says he's sampled the president's rendition of "Amazing Grace," which Obama sang during his eulogy for the pastor killed in the Charleston church massacre earlier this...

Obama: No Ground Troops to Fight ISIS' 'Face of Evil'

President says we'll keep calm and carry on with current airstrike strategy

(Newser) - Friday's terror attacks in Paris rocked the world, but President Obama appeared steadfast Monday in his overall strategy to go after the Islamic State. In a presser held after Turkey's G20 summit, Obama said that even though ISIS is "the face of evil" and that Paris' attacks...

Americans Are Making Less Money Under Obama

And why that might not actually help any of the GOP presidential candidates

(Newser) - Politico has an interesting article on what it's calling "the Democrats' wage problem," a major takeaway of which is that the average American income has actually gone down during Obama's years as president. The median household income in 2014 was more than $1,600 lower...

Medal of Honor Goes to Soldier Who Tackled Bomber

President Obama also informs audience he's not the lead singer of Korn

(Newser) - President Barack Obama said Thursday that a young Army captain who is the newest Medal of Honor recipient had the instincts and courage to tackle a suicide bomber in Afghanistan during a moment of selfless bravery, saving the lives of many comrades. Florent Groberg is the 10th living service member...

Look Who Finally Joined Facebook

Yep, it's Barack Obama

(Newser) - President Obama just joined Facebook Monday, and his page already has almost 90,000 likes (and counting—quickly). As CNN and The Verge note, this page is Obama's own personal page, as opposed to his campaign page (run by Organizing for Action) and the official White House page (run...

White House Doesn't Want Clinton-Obama Emails Released

Will seek to block their release, per presidential precedent

(Newser) - President Obama and Hillary Clinton did exchange emails via Clinton's private email server, but the White House is seeking to block their release. The White House press secretary said back in March that Clinton and Obama "did have the occasion to email one another" while Clinton was secretary...

Obama Inspires Addict to Hand Over His Drugs

After hearing president's speech, man decides to get drug-free for his mom

(Newser) - Drug overdoses, particularly due to opioids, are one of the few public health issues that has "substantially worsened" during Obama's time in office, the New York Times reports. But the president may have helped at least one person turn his life around following a speech Oct. 21 in...

Obama Has Some Political Advice for Kanye West

President suggests the rapper could fill House speaker position

(Newser) - President Obama had a few tips for Kanye West—who in August claimed he would be running for president in 2020—while opening for the rapper during a fundraiser Saturday in San Francisco, the New York Times reports. "In case Kanye’s serious about this whole POTUS thing—or...

Obama May Use Power to Change a Gun-Control Rule

He's weighing new rules for high-volume private dealers: report

(Newser) - President Obama's next executive action may be to expand background checks for some gun buyers—based on whom they're buying from. Obama, who reacted with emotion to the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College and will visit Roseburg, Ore., on Friday, is "seriously considering" new rules that...

Obama on Oregon Shooting: 'I Will Politicize It'

'Our inaction is a political decision that we are making'

(Newser) - President Barack Obama says opponents of gun control laws know how to stir up fear and scare politicians. At a news conference Friday, Obama lamented the inability to pass stricter gun laws even after incidents such as the shooting Thursday at an Oregon community college that killed nine people. He...

Arne Duncan Stepping Down as Education Secretary

And the president doesn't plan to officially nominate a replacement

(Newser) - At the end of the year, Arne Duncan is stepping down as Education Secretary after seven years. According to a letter to staff that was obtained by the AP and confirmed by a White House official, Duncan is going back to Chicago to be with his family. Duncan, 50, has...

An Emotional Obama Responds to Today's School Shooting

He's now made 15 statements on mass shootings since taking office

(Newser) - A visibly frustrated President Barack Obama said Thursday that thoughts and prayers are no longer enough as Americans respond to another deadly school shooting , and he challenged voters wanting to deal with the problem to vote for elected officials who will do something. Obama addressed the nation from the White...

McCain Blames Russian Airstrikes on Obama

As do other Republicans

(Newser) - Russia launched airstrikes against Syria Wednesday, and John McCain was quick to blame it on Obama. "It did not have to be this way—but this is the inevitable consequence of hollow words, red lines crossed, tarnished moral influence, leading from behind, and a total lack of American leadership"...

Pope Francis Arrives in US
 Pope Francis Arrives in US 
Sep 22, 2015 3:24 PM CDT

Pope Francis Arrives in US

And he's getting a 'rock-star welcome'

(Newser) - Pope Francis is getting a rock-star welcome as he arrives for his first visit to the US. Crowds at Andrews Air Force Base cheered as the pope's plane touched down. Shortly after, President Barack Obama walked from the air base's terminal to the plane, where the American flag...

Vatican Isn't Happy With White House Guest List

Gay Episcopal bishop and activist nun reportedly among the sore points

(Newser) - The Vatican is worried President Obama's guest list for Pope Francis' upcoming visit to the White House is a little too "off-brand," the Wall Street Journal reports. Among the thousands of guests invited to Wednesday's event are the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, a nun dedicated...

Obama Nominee Would Be 1st Openly Gay Service Chief

President nominates Eric Fanning for Army secretary

(Newser) - President Barack Obama is nominating longtime Pentagon official Eric Fanning to be the Army's new secretary. If confirmed, Fanning would be the nation's first openly gay leader of a military service. Obama says Fanning brings years of experience and leadership to the role. He says in a statement...

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