White House news

• White House releases draft bill to protect consumer data privacy

  27-02-2015 23:58
  
  By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House released draft legislation on Friday that would give consumers more control over how the trail of data they leave behind them on the internet is used, stored and sold. The 24-page "discussion draft" on data privacy immediately sparked sharp reaction from the technology industry, which said the proposal would hurt innovation, and also from privacy advocacy groups that said it did not go far enough. President Barack Obama has made cyber sec
  
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• CEA: Government Must Not Stifle Innovation While Protecting Privacy

  27-02-2015 23:18
  
  The following statement is attributed to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association ® on the White House proposal to enact the Consumer Privacy Bill of
  
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• Obama On Nimoy Death: ‘I Loved Spock’

  27-02-2015 23:09
  
  The passing of the Star Trek actor today has left one fan in particular proclaiming his devotion to the cool, calm and collected Vulcan. President Barack Obama publicly noted the death of Leonard Nimoy on Friday. "Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy." —President Obama #LLAP — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 27, 2015 Besides the tweet, the White House released a long statement as well on the 83-year old Nimoy's death and the effect the actor…
  
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• Obama On Leonard Nimoy: “I Loved Spock”

  27-02-2015 23:09
  
  The death the Star Trek actor today has left one fan in particular proclaiming his devotion to the cool, calm and collected Vulcan. President Barack Obama publicly noted the death of Leonard Nimoy on Friday: "Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy." —President Obama #LLAP — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 27, 2015 Besides the tweet, the White House also released a long statement from the president about Nimoy's death and the effect the actor…
  
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• Justice Department unveils official portrait of Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.

  27-02-2015 23:00
  
  Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. prepared to say goodbye to the Justice Department on Friday during the unveiling of his official portrait, saying he was proud of his accomplishments in six years as the nation's top lawyer.
  
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• Aretha Franklin fist-bumps Obama at ceremony for Attorney General Eric Holder

  27-02-2015 23:00
  
  President Obama cried and soul legend Aretha Franklin gave a surprise performance as Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. bid farewell to the Justice Department on Friday after a 39-year career, including the past six as the nation's top lawyer.
  
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• Obama pitches privacy bill, Democrats say it falls short

  27-02-2015 22:32
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid "rapid growth" in the collection of data on Americans, the White House on Friday proposed legislation that calls on businesses to do more to help consumers protect their personal information.
  
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• President Obama on Leonard Nimoy: ‘I loved Spock’

  27-02-2015 21:55
  
  President Obama released a statement on Friday marking the death of actor Leonard Nimoy, best known for portraying Spock on "Star Trek."
  "Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy," Obama said.
  
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• Obama, Afghan leader to meet in late March at WHouse

  27-02-2015 21:54
  
  President Barack Obama will receive his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani at the White House on March 24 as Washington weighs slowing down the withdrawal of US forces from the country. The two presidents will discuss security issues, economic development and US support for a reconciliation process, White House secretary Josh Earnest said Friday. It will be the two leaders' first White House meeting since Afghanistan's presidential elections last year. Afghanistan's chief executive A
  
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• U.S. Congress pursues stopgap funding to avert security agency shutdown

  27-02-2015 20:57
  
  By David Lawder and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Republicans on Friday hoped to avoid a partial shutdown of the U.S. domestic security agency by finding votes to pass a three-week-long stopgap funding bill, which the White House said President Barack Obama would sign if it came to his desk. A short-term bill would only postpone the threat of the Department of Homeland Security curtailing operations, moving lawmakers no closer to a permanent solution to their impasse, which
  
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• Obama to meet with European Council president Tusk

  27-02-2015 20:43
  
  US President Barack Obama will meet next month with the president of the European Council for talks on Russia and the crisis in Ukraine, among other issues, the White House said Friday. Donald Tusk, the council president and former Polish prime minister, will visit with Obama at the White House on March 9, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.
  
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• Obama struggles with Wall Street to woo Democrats over broker rules

  27-02-2015 20:30
  
  By Sarah N. Lynch and Suzanne Barlyn WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is battling Wall Street to win the support of dozens of Democrat lawmakers over rules that could rein in brokers who handle trillions of dollars in retirement accounts. President Barack Obama on Monday called on the Department of Labor to write new rules for brokers that seek to reduce conflicts of interest and "hidden fees" the White House says cost Americans $17 billion from their retirement plans ev
  
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• Obama struggles with Wall St. to woo Democrats over broker rules

  27-02-2015 20:24
  
  By Sarah N. Lynch and Suzanne Barlyn WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is battling Wall Street to win the support of dozens of Democrat lawmakers over rules that could rein in brokers who handle trillions of dollars in retirement accounts. President Barack Obama on Monday called on the Department of Labor to write new rules for brokers that seek to reduce conflicts of interest and "hidden fees" the White House says cost Americans $17 billion from their retirement plans every year.�
  
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• White House "hopeful" on coalition for Iran nuclear talks amid Netanyahu visit

  27-02-2015 20:16
  
  WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday the United States is hopeful that it can hold together the coalition of countries working toward an agreement with Iran on its nuclear capabilities. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the administration does not see Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming visit to Washington as bad for the negotiations. Netanyahu is opposed to the nuclear talks with Iran and has been invited by Republicans who share his view to addre
  
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• Obama would sign short-term security funding bill -White House

  27-02-2015 19:54
  
  The White House said on Friday that President Barack Obama would not let the Department of Homeland Security shut down and would sign a short-term bill to fund the department if offered. The White House ...
  
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• Obama to host new Afghan leaders at White House on March 24

  27-02-2015 19:54
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama will host the leaders of Afghanistan's new unity government for their first White House visit next month.
  
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• Obama to host Afghan President Ghani at White House in March

  27-02-2015 19:50
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will host Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan's chief executive officer Abdullah Abdullah and other members of the Afghan government for meetings at the White House on March 24, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. (Reporting by Julia Edwards; Editing by Susan Heavey)
  
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• Conservative economist to lead research at U.S. Congress

  27-02-2015 19:22
  
  By Susan Heavey and Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans lawmakers on Friday appointed a former White House economist with a conservative pedigree to head Congress's traditionally nonpartisan research body for budget policy. Keith Hall, who served as chief economist on former President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, will take the reins at the Congressional Budget Office in April. The CBO plays a central role in U.S. lawmaking by serving as an official scorekeeper in bud
  
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• White House drafts privacy bill, consumers push for more

  27-02-2015 18:11
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House this week circulated legislation aimed at encouraging U.S. businesses to do more to protect consumer privacy. But privacy advocates were pushing back even before its release, saying it does nothing to hold businesses accountable for misusing a consumer's personal information.
  
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• Eric Holder Wants To Lower Federal Hate Crime Standards; Suggests Kids Read Malcolm X

  27-02-2015 17:55
  
  Attorney General Eric Holder sounded a lot like MSNBC host and civil rights activist Al Sharpton in an interview published on Friday in which he called for lower thresholds for prosecuting federal hate crimes. Holder’s surprising suggestion came during a revealing interview with Politico’s Mike Allen as he prepares to leave the top Justice Department position. Those comments echo Sharpton, who has become President Obama’s go-to civil rights activist and visits the White House frequently. T
  
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• White House drafts privacy bill, angers consumer advocates

  27-02-2015 17:45
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has drafted a bill to encourage U.S. businesses to do more to protect consumer privacy. But privacy advocates are pushing back even before its release because they say it does nothing to hold businesses accountable for misusing a consumer's personal information.
  
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• House of Cards Season 3 Review, Part 1 (Episodes 1-4): The United States of Underwood

  27-02-2015 17:02
  
  House of Cards S03E01, S03E02, S03E03, and S03E04: "Chapter 27," "Chapter 28," "Chapter 29," and "Chapter 30" Alas, there's just no good way to review Netflix shows when full seasons are released at once and we're all watching at a different pace. For House of Cards Season 3, I'll be checking in on the show a couple of times—once here at the beginning and again in a couple weeks when I've completed the entire season. The following rev
  
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• What’s next, if anything, for Debbie Wasserman Schultz?

  27-02-2015 17:00
  
  Debbie Wasserman Schultz's time as a party leader just seems to be getting worse. This headline from The New Republic, pretty much captures where she is in her political career at this moment:
  
  It wasn't always like this.  On paper, Wasserman Schultz has a great political resume.  She has been in Congress for a decade, never having lost a race.  She chaired the Democratic National Committee during a tough presidential re-election fight, raking in big money and connecting with key parts of he
  
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• Obama to host European Council president next month

  27-02-2015 16:29
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will host European Council President Donald Tusk at the White House next month.
  
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• Obama, European Council's Tusk to meet March 9 - White House

  27-02-2015 16:16
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and European Council President Donald Tusk will meet at the White House on March 9 to discuss the Ukraine crisis and the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, the White House said on Friday. Obama and Tusk also are expected to discuss the global economy, talks toward a U.S.-European trade deal, energy security and climate change, the White House said in a statement. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Susan Heavey)
  
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• Obama staying out of the GOP crossfire in shutdown fight

  27-02-2015 16:08
  
  All week, Republicans have threatened to shut down the Department of Homeland Security. Each time, the White House has dared them to go ahead and try.
  As the midnight Friday deadline has ticked closer, President Obama has shown no signs of panic that the standoff on Capitol Hill could deny funding to the agency charged with keeping America safe. His public schedule Friday features a meeting with Liberia’s president, lunch with a group of African American boys and an appearance at the unveili
  
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• Ex-White House economist Hall to lead CBO, U.S. lawmakers say

  27-02-2015 15:17
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former White House economist and Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner Keith Hall will replace Doug Elmendorf as head of the Congressional Budget Office, U.S. lawmakers said in a statement on Friday. Hall, who has served as chief economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers, will direct the CBO until early 2019, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Senator Mike Enzi and House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price said in a statement. ...
  
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• US exports hit record $2.35 tn in 2014: White House

  27-02-2015 12:10
  
  Washington, Feb 27 (IANS/EFE) US exports registered a record $2.35 trillion last year, with Texas, California, Washington and Illinois the major exporting states, the White House announced. The US government authorities highlighted the importance of trade agreements currently being worked out with the European Union and the Pacific Rim nations. Canada, Mexico and China are the major international markets for the US, and the leading exporting states were Texas ($289 billion), California ($174 bil
  
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• Boehner and McConnell aren’t friends, and it shows

  27-02-2015 12:00
  
  House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) know each other very well. They aren’t close personal friends — no one can recall the last meal they had together — but they talk strategy and tactics on a regular basis.
  
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• After eight years together, Boehner and McConnell still find disputes on strategy

  27-02-2015 12:00
  
  House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) know each other very well. They aren’t close personal friends — no one can recall the last meal they had together — but they talk strategy and tactics on a regular basis.
  
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• President Barack Obama Conducts StoryCorps Interview of White House Mentee Noah McQueen On One-Year Anniversary Of The My Brother's Keeper Initiative

  27-02-2015 11:00
  
  NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- StoryCorps, the oral history project that provides people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share and preserve their stories, will release an historic interview conducted at the White House last week. President Barack Obama speaks with Noah McQueen, a mentee in the White House Mentorship Program, which is designed to make a concrete impact on a group of young people by providing them with mentoring and exposure to new opp
  
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• Ex-Obama Spokesman Snapped Up By Amazon

  27-02-2015 10:06
  
  Jay Carney, the man who spoke on behalf of President Barack Obama for more than three years, has been snapped up by Amazon. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos bought the financially ailing Washington Post in 2013, now he's locked down another big name from the US capital. The 49-year-old former White House press secretary becomes vice president for global corporate affairs, a role which reports directly to Mr Bezos. Amazon is currently wrangling with federal regulations on the use of drones to deliver
  
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• 'Fixers' keep Cuba rolling through embargo

  27-02-2015 08:39
  
  After half a century lacking basic goods, many Cubans have become experts at fixing devices and cars long past their prime. Cuba's "fixers" are ubiquitous on the street corners of the communist-run island, offering to repair items ranging from classic American cars to umbrellas, mattresses and appliances. The embargo is the thorniest issue dividing the United States and Cuba as the Cold War foes embark on the historic rapprochement announced in December by US President Barack Obam
  
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• Despite spat with US, Israeli leader fighting Iran nuke deal

  27-02-2015 08:02
  
  JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Washington next week on a last-gasp effort to seal what he hopes will become his signature achievement: preventing Iran from attaining a nuclear weapon. But the centerpiece of the visit, a much-hyped speech to Congress arguing against the international community's emerging nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic, has been overshadowed by a damaging battle with the White House and electoral intrigue back home.
  
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• 7 Reasons We're Excited 'House of Cards' Is Back for Seasons 3!

  27-02-2015 07:27
  
  It's time to stock up on your favorite snacks and hunker down for a weekend-long binge-watching session of House of Card’s third season. The latest 13 episodes of the searing political drama hit Netflix on Friday and before you go completely off-the-grid, here are seven reasons we are so excited the Underwoods are back! 7. It's Frank Underwood's world and we're just living in it. Frank ( Kevin Spacey) is Washington's most formidable power broker and exercises it at all costs. He's as charming
  
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• ‘House of Cards’ Season 3 Review: It’s the White House Not the Fun House

  27-02-2015 02:55
  
  “House of Cards” first couple Frank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire (Robin Wright) Underwood find that making it to the top of the mountain can be lonely and that the fall can be deadly on the third season of the “Netflix” drama.
  
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• Here’s what CPAC actually looks like

  27-02-2015 02:15
  The annual Conservative Political Action Conference is at the National Harbor, as conservative students and activists hear from 2016 hopefuls. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the sights and sounds of CPAC 2015.
  
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• Obama to attend Selma 50th anniversary

  27-02-2015 01:52
  
  President Barack Obama will travel next week to an Alabama town famous for a march that was forcibly broken up by police 50 years ago in a seminal moment for black civil rights in the United States. "Next week, the world will turn its eyes to Selma again," said Obama, the first black president of the United States, who will visit with his wife Michelle and two daughters to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery. The first family w
  
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• White House hopeful Walker: Union battles prepared him to take on Islamic State

  27-02-2015 01:39
  
  By Andy Sullivan NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (Reuters) - Potential Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker told grassroots conservatives on Thursday that his battle with labor unions as Wisconsin's governor had given him the mettle needed to take on militant groups like Islamic State. ""We need a leader who will stand up and say we will take the fight to them and not wait until they take the fight to American soil," Walker told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CP
  
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• Obama pushes Trans-Pacific Partnership in TV interviews

  27-02-2015 01:07
  
  President Obama promoted his trade agenda in a series of local television interviews Thursday as his administration announced a series of small-scale initiatives aimed at boosting exports in rural communities.
  
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• Obama pushes Trans-Pacific Partnership in flurry of local calls

  27-02-2015 01:07
  
  President Obama promoted his trade agenda in a series of local television interviews Thursday as his administration announced a series of small-scale initiatives aimed at boosting exports in rural communities.
  
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• House of Cards Season 3: Can Frank Climb Higher Than the White House?

  27-02-2015 00:33
  
  Netflix subscribers have binge-watched with delight as House of Cards' power-hungry Frank Underwood clawed (and murdered) his way up the political ladder. But after manipulating his way into the Oval Office at the end of Season 2, Frank and his wife Claire seem to be struggling to find the next ... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com House of Cards Kevin Spacey Robin Wright Beau Willimon
  
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• White House hopeful Scott Walker says union battles prepared him to take on Islamic State

  27-02-2015 00:22
  
  By Andy Sullivan NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (Reuters) - Potential Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker told grassroots conservatives on Thursday that his battle with labor unions as Wisconsin's governor had given him the mettle needed to take on militant groups like Islamic State. "We need a leader who will stand up and say we will take the fight to them and not wait until they take the fight to American soil," Walker told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). A
  
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• Bobby Jindal tells congressional Republicans to “grow a spine”

  27-02-2015 00:14
  
  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference Thursday, excoriated fellow Republicans in Congress for failing to do enough to repeal President Obama's health-care law or stop Obama's plan to delay deportations for some young undocumented immigrants.
  
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