msnbc.com: The White House

U.S. sets climate target ahead of summit

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:42:59 GMT

President Obama will attend the U.N. climate summit next month in Denmark, taking with him a pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020, the White House says.

Barack Obama - White House - Copenhagen - United States - Politics

Obama to speak Tuesday on Afghanistan policy

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:48:32 GMT

President Barack Obama will address the nation on his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan Tuesday night from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Barack Obama - War in Afghanistan - Afghanistan - United States Military Academy - United States

Records show White House health care talks

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:40:31 GMT

Visitor records obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press show that top aides to President Barack Obama have met often with lobbyists and Democratic political strategists.

Barack Obama - White House - Health care - United States - Politics

The history of presidential turkey pardons

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:31:29 GMT

Which president started the tradition?

Pardon - United States - Government - Elections - Presidential

NYT: Medical debt spurs more bankruptcies

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:41:05 GMT

Lawyers and court officials say that medical debt is leading to more bankruptcies.

Bankruptcy - Debt - Business - Financial Services - Financial Planning

Obama's first pardon: A turkey called 'Courage'

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:48:54 GMT

After 10 months in office, President Barack Obama granted his first pardon — to "Courage," a turkey spared the Thanksgiving table.

Thanksgiving - President - United States - Holidays - Barack Obama

Analysis: Obama not a ‘gut player’ on war

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:56:09 GMT

President George W. Bush once boasted, "I'm not a textbook player, I'm a gut player." The new tenant of the Oval Office takes a strikingly different approach.

George W. Bush - Oval Office - United States - Presidents - History

Stars are out at White House state dinner

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:47:16 GMT

The first state dinner of the Obama White House had it all: Oscar-winning entertainers, Hollywood moguls, a knockout guest chef and even a wardrobe malfunction.

White House - State dinner - Hollywood Los Angeles California - Barack Obama - Obama White House

Obama vows to ‘finish the job’ in Afghanistan

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:02:18 GMT

The president is expected to make his case to the nation in a Tuesday night speech for tens of thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

Afghanistan - White House - Barack Obama - United States - Asia

Obama administration won't sign landmine ban

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:29:16 GMT

The Obama administration has decided not to sign an international convention banning land mines.

Land mine - Presidency of Barack Obama - Barack Obama - United States - Obama administration

Obama hails 'defining partnership' with India

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:19:51 GMT

Hailing the U.S.-India relationship as one of the "defining partnerships" in the world, President Barack Obama announces that he has accepted an invitation to visit India next year.

Barack Obama - Prime Minister of India - United States - Society and Culture - India

Is Obama's star dimming as U.S. stock drops?

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:45:30 GMT

Don't let the fancy state dinner fool you — the U.S. and the White House aren’t “the place to be” any more. Howard Fineman explains what it mean for the administration and the country.

White House - State dinner - United States - Government - U.S

Analyst: India needs reassurance it's a priority

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:02:03 GMT

R. Nicholas Burns, former under secretary of state for political affairs in the State Department, tells CFR.org that Obama must reassure the Indian government that India is a priority for the United States.

United States - India - Government of India - R. Nicholas Burns - Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

Obama to honor young inventors at science fair

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:32:28 GMT

President Barack Obama says he will have a national science fair next year to honor young inventors with the same gusto that college and professional athletes celebrate their victories at the White House.

Barack Obama - White House - United States - Politics - Society and Culture

NYT: U.S. faces surge in interest payments

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:01:41 GMT

The government is financing its more than trillion-dollar-a-year borrowing with i.o.u.’s on terms that seem too good to be true — a happy situation that may not last much longer.

New York Times - Government - Business - U.S - Investing

Obama reviewing options to spur jobs

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:17:18 GMT

The White House said on Monday it was reviewing options to spur economic activity and job creation, but stressed any action would be taken in the context of the fiscal challenges facing the country.

White House - Job creation program - United States - Economics - Employment

Newsweek: The science of Obama's skin color

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:53:45 GMT

A new study has found that the more you agree with Obama, the lighter his skin tone seems; the less you agree, the darker it becomes. The lead researcher talks about how political affinities influence perception and how politicians and the press could take advantage of these findings.

Politics - Human skin color - Newsweek - Health - Barack Obama

theGrio: Liberals prefer a lighter-skinned Obama

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:43:50 GMT

When given a choice between a photo of a lighter-skinned version of Barack Obama versus a darker-skinned version, most voters who consider themselves Democrats last year selected the lighter version.

Barack Obama - Democratic - United States - Politics - Society and Culture

India's PM arrives for state visit to U.S.

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:18:44 GMT

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Washington for a visit to be highlighted by an official state dinner at the White House with President Barack Obama.

White House - Barack Obama - Prime minister - United States - Washington

Senate Democrats at odds over health care bill

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:56:07 GMT

The dispute among Democrats foretells of a rowdy floor debate next month on legislation that would extend health care coverage to roughly 31 million Americans.

Barack Obama - Health care - United States Senate - Senate - United States

Obama stresses Asia, jobs in weekly address

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:17:19 GMT

In his weekly Saturday address, President Obama says his trip through Asia could help create thousands of job and open new markets for American goods in the future.

United States - Asia - Barack Obama - United States presidential address - Society and Culture

Billboard links Obama with jihadists

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:22:56 GMT

A billboard showing President Barack Obama wearing a turban has sparked a lot of attention at the suburban Denver used car dealership that put it up.

Barack Obama - Denver - Used car - United States - Politics

GOP blasts ‘bait and switch’ health bill

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:04:41 GMT

Republican senators and governors assail the Democrats' newly minted health care legislation as a collection of tax increases, Medicare cuts and new burdens for deficit-ridden states.

Republican - Democratic - Health care - Politics - Health

Senate girds for historic debate on health bill

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:37:29 GMT

Congressional budget crunchers Thursday said the Democrats' latest health care plan would hold down federal red ink for at least a 20-year stretch, an assessment that boosted the bill's advocates as the Senate moved gingerly toward a historic debate.

Health care - Democratic - United States Senate - Senate - Health

Obama answers questions from Cuban blogger

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:38:35 GMT

President Barack Obama has answered questions submitted by a celebrated Cuban blogger, saying he isn't interested in "talking for the sake of talking" with Raul Castro.

Raúl Castro - Barack Obama - Cuba - Fidel Castro - Society and Culture

White House staying mum on state dinner

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:53:13 GMT

It's the hottest ticket in town. Just don't ask the White House who got them.

White House - State dinner - United States - Government - Executive Office of the President

Obama, Hu stress cooperation

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:08:31 GMT

President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao promised to try and tackle a slew of global issues, but emerged from their summit with scant progress beyond goodwill.

Barack Obama - China - United States - Society and Culture - Politics

Obama meets with his half-brother in China

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:58:35 GMT

U.S. President Barack Obama took time out of his busy diplomatic schedule in China to meet with his half-brother, who lives in the southern part of the country -- but only for five minutes.

Barack Obama - China - United States - Sibling - Politics

NY police car in accident ahead of Biden motorcade

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:51 GMT

A police car working ahead of Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade was involved in a minor traffic accident Tuesday evening, but it wasn't part of the procession and the vice president was unhurt.

Joe Biden - United States - Traffic collision - Motorcade - Police car

Obama prods China to take role on climate

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:28:45 GMT

President Barack Obama declares that the U.S. and the Chinese carry a "burden of leadership" as he meets with President Hu Jintao to confront climate change and other problems.

Barack Obama - People's Republic of China - United States - China - Society and Culture

Obama’s bow in Japan sparks some criticism

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:30:25 GMT

Some American conservative commentators are seizing on President Barack Obama's deep bow to Japan's emperor during the weekend, accusing him of groveling to a foreign leader.

Barack Obama - Japan - Conservatism in the United States - United States - Society and Culture

Another Obama nominee faces tax troubles

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:28:30 GMT

President Barack Obama's choice for a top job with the Treasury Department was late paying real estate taxes, making a total of five presidential nominees who have run into similar troubles.

Barack Obama - United States Department of the Treasury - Real estate - United States - Politics

Mutual financial reliance binds U.S., China

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:17:02 GMT

The U.S. and Chinese economies have become intertwined, locked in a kind of co-dependency that neither side thinks is particularly healthy, but which neither will move to break.

Chinese people - China - Asia - United States - Government

Chinese-Americans reflect on Obama’s trip

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:21:05 GMT

As President Barack Obama visits China seeking to balance a seesawing relationship, Chinese-Americans embody the challenges facing the giants of East and West.

Barack Obama - China - United States - Chinese American - Society and Culture

In visit to China, Obama walks a tightrope

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:18:06 GMT

President Barack Obama is walking a tightrope on his first trip to China, seeking to enlist help in tackling urgent global problems while weighing when and how — or if — he should raise traditional human rights concerns.

Shanghai - Barack Obama - China - People's Republic of China - United States

Carter defends handling of Iran hostage crisis

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:43:46 GMT

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said Monday he had no regrets about his handling of the Iran hostage crisis more than 30 years ago.

Jimmy Carter - Iran - Iran hostage crisis - United States - Middle East

NYT: Obama eyes cost of Afghan decision

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:23:09 GMT

President Obama's decision about sending more troops to Afghanistan has substantial budget implications that are adding pressure to limit the commitment, officials say.

Afghanistan - Barack Obama - New York Times - Asia - Society and Culture

Obama, Medvedev see progress on nuke pact

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:18:53 GMT

President Barack Obama on Sunday said the United States and Russia would have a replacement treaty on reducing nuclear arms in place by the end of the year.

United States - Barack Obama - Nuclear weapon - Politics - President Barack Obama

Clinton ready to have coffee with Palin

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:57:07 GMT

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says she would be happy to talk to Sarah Palin over coffee.

Hillary Rodham Clinton - United States Secretary of State - United States - Government - Hillary Clinton

Obama: Congress should wait on Fort Hood

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:29:59 GMT

In his weekly Saturday address, President Obama urges Congress to hold off on investigating the Fort Hood rampage until federal and military authorities have completed their probes.

Fort Hood - Barack Obama - United States - United States Congress - Congress

Obama hints at Pacific Rim trade pact

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:08:41 GMT

President Obama raises hopes for a Asia-Pacific free-trade region by announcing that the U.S. will seek to join a smaller group seen as a precursor to a broader Pacific Rim agreement.

North Korea - Barack Obama - Nuclear weapon - Japan - United States