Tag Archives: Barack Obama

The Associated Press reports: Former President Barack Obama has congratulated Tom Perez on his election to lead the Democratic Party and commended his decision to ask runner-up Keith Ellison to be his deputy. Obama said in a statement that he knows “Perez will unite us under that banner of opportunity, and lay the groundwork for a new generation of Democratic …

Perhaps obviously, this doesn’t rule out other actions reportedly under consideration. The New York Times reports: The White House said on Monday that President Trump would leave in place a 2014 Obama administration order that created new workplace protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. In a statement issued in response to growing questions about whether Mr. Trump would …

Politico reports: Former President Barack Obama’s office released a statement Monday supporting the protests going on around the country, and speaking out against discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion, saying “American values are at stake.” Kevin Lewis, spokesman for Obama in his post-presidency, said that Obama — who has been threading the balance between the tradition of …

Entertainment Weekly reports: On the day his presidency is handed over to Donald Trump, Barack Obama is getting one last “Thanks, Obama.” Following her own personal tribute, Ellen DeGeneres reached out to famous LGBT faces for help compiling a heartwarming video of thank yous set to Katy Perry’s “Roar,” which she played on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Friday morning. “President …

The Hill reports: Barack Obama on Friday afternoon tweeted once again from his personal Twitter, marking the official social media transition from president. He followed it with another tweet about the Obama Foundation, which he plans to launch in Chicago and run during his post-presidential life. Despite switching back to his personal twitter, Obama will still have a far reach …

The Hill reports: President Obama on Friday tweeted out his final goodbyes to the American public in the waning hours before Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the U.S. As he departed from the White House, Obama stopped to leave a note on the president’s desk for Trump. The gesture is a time-honored tradition that …

TIME recaps: To commemorate President Barack Obama’s final day in office, Ellen DeGeneres spent a few minutes of Thursday’s episode of The Ellen Show saying goodbye to him and First Lady Michelle Obama. DeGeneres began the segment by thanking POTUS for everything he accomplished during his White House tenure, including legalizing gay marriage.”I want to personally thank him for changing …

In the last week we’ve had a farewell speech, a final weekly YouTube address, and a final press conference. This afternoon we get President Obama’s official goodbye letter. From the White House press office: My fellow Americans, It’s a long-standing tradition for the sitting president of the United States to leave a parting letter in the Oval Office for the …

NBC News reports: President Obama will officially bid farewell to the Fourth Estate on Wednesday when he holds the final press conference of his presidency. It will be the 165th time Obama faces the White House press corps in this kind of forum, according to the American Presidency Project. Like his predecessors, Obama left dealing with the White House press …

The New York Times reports: President Obama on Tuesday largely commuted the remaining prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the army intelligence analyst convicted of an enormous 2010 leak that revealed American military and diplomatic activities across the world, disrupted the administration, and made WikiLeaks, the recipient of those disclosures, famous. The decision by Mr. Obama rescued Ms. Manning, who twice …

A partial transcript: Our success depends on our participation, regardless of which way the pendulum of power swings. It falls on each of us to be guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task we’ve been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours. Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud …

The International Business Times reports: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is willing to be extradited to the US in exchange for the release of the imprisoned military whistleblower Chelsea Manning, Wikileaks has tweeted on 12 January. “If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case”, the tweet read. Wikileaks has made similar pledges …

Politico reports: President Barack Obama is ending a longstanding immigration policy that allows any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident, a senior administration official said Thursday. The repeal of the “wet foot, dry foot” policy is effective immediately, according the official. The decision follows months of negotiations focused in part on getting …

Oh yes, you will need tissues. Via Talking Points Memo: President Barack Obama surprised an emotional Joe Biden Thursday with a farewell tribute where he presented the vice president with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Obama gave the entire Biden clan a glowing tribute, including his children, grandchildren and wife, Jill Biden. He described Biden and Jill as “an all-American …

From laughter at Trump to sorrow and deep abiding thanks to President Obama, whose farewell speech begins at 9PM Eastern. ABC News reports on what to expect: In a farewell address to the American people Tuesday night, President Obama is expected to reaffirm his belief in the ability of ordinary Americans to bring about positive change in country, according to …

The Daily Mail reports: Thousands waited for hours in single-digit temperatures to try to snag a ticket to President Barack Obama’s farewell speech in Chicago. People began lining up well before sunrise for Saturday’s 8 am ticket distribution, saying they want to show their appreciation and soak in the final moments of his history-making presidency. The lines stretched for blocks …

Comedian Trae Crowder has gone viral with his message of appreciation to President Obama – “the unparalleled expert in pissing off shitty white people.” This clip below has made it onto YouTube’s trending list, so of course Trump fans are pouring into the comments to spew abuse. Watch below.

The Washington Post reports: The U.S. economy added 156,000 new jobs in December, according to government data issued Friday. The final issued by the Labor Department during President Obama’s administration showed the unemployment rate at 4.7 percent, slightly up from 4.6 percent the previous month. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected American companies to add 180,000 jobs in the month. …

The Chicago Tribune reports: Ten days before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office, President Barack Obama will say goodbye from the same city that launched his political career. The presidential farewell will take place on the evening of Jan. 10 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. In an email expected to be sent out Monday morning, Obama said he was taking his …

Apparently they are disregarding Wikileaks’ advice to hole-up in their compound until Trump is sworn in. The Daily Mail reports: The Russian government will send a plane to ferry its diplomats out of the U.S., after President Obama expelled them in a new round of sanctions against the country for its alleged meddling in the presidential election. On Thursday, the …