Author: Josh Lederman
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Trump accuses Obama of being the ‘founder of ISIS’
SUNRISE, Fla. — Donald Trump is now accusing President Barack Obama of founding the Islamic State group that is wreaking havoc from the Middle East to European cities. “In many respects, you know, they honor President Obama,” Trump said Wednesday during a raucous campaign rally outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “He is the founder of ISIS.”…
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Trump ignites new firestorm: Gun backers might stop Clinton
WILMINGTON, N.C. — Donald Trump ignited a fresh political firestorm Tuesday by declaring gun rights supporters might still find a way to stop Hillary Clinton, even if she should defeat him and then name anti-gun Supreme Court justices. Democrats pounced, accusing him of openly encouraging violence against his opponent. The Republican presidential nominee has been…
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Obama denies $400M payment to Iran was ransom
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama vigorously denied on Thursday that a $400 million cash payment to Iran was ransom to secure the release of four Americans jailed in Tehran. He defended the transaction as evidence that the nuclear accord with Iran has allowed for progress on other matters. “This wasn’t some nefarious deal,” Obama said…
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Obama shortens terms for 214 prisoners; 67 had life sentence
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Wednesday cut short the sentences of 214 federal inmates, including 67 life sentences, in what the White House called the largest batch of commutations on a single day in more than a century. Almost all the prisoners were serving time for nonviolent crimes related to cocaine, methamphetamine or other…
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Citing cyber ‘revolution,’ Obama issues attack response plan
WASHINGTON — The White House warned Tuesday of a “revolution” of computer-generated threats to the U.S. stoked by growing cyber aggression by traditional U.S. foes like Russia and North Korea, and issued a color-coded response plan for the federal government to use after major cyberattacks. Lisa Monaco, President Barack Obama’s homeland security and counterterrorism adviser,…
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Obama embraces Orlando families, appeals for gun controls
ORLANDO, Fla. — Embracing grieving Orlando families and appealing anew for national action, President Barack Obama claimed a threat to all Americans’ security Thursday as a strong reason to tighten U.S. gun laws. Counterterror campaigns overseas, he declared, can never prevent all “lone wolf” attacks like the one that killed 49 people in Orlando. Speaking…
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Granting Medal of Valor, Obama says US must listen to police
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama called on the nation Monday to support and listen to its law enforcement officers as he bestowed the Medal of Valor on 13 officers who risked their lives to save others. In a ceremony in the East Room, Obama draped the purple-and-gold ribbons around the necks of officers who intervened…
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Rebuking Trump, Obama tells graduates walls won’t solve ills
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — President Barack Obama on Sunday urged college graduates to shun those who want to confront a rapidly changing world by building walls around the United States or by embracing ignorance, as he delivered a sharp and barely concealed critique of Donald Trump. Obama used his commencement speech at Rutgers University to illustrate…
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Obama shortens prison sentences for 61 drug offenders
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentences of 61 drug offenders on Wednesday including more than a third serving life sentences, working to give new energy to calls for overhauling the U.S. criminal justice system. All of the inmates are serving time for drug possession, intent to sell or related crimes. Most are…
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Hello, Buenos Aires: The Obamas do the tango
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Less than 24 hours in Buenos Aires, and Barack Obama is already doing the tango. The president and first lady Michelle Obama were attending a state dinner in the Argentine capital Wednesday evening when they were pulled abruptly onto the dance floor on by a pair of tango dancers hired to…