archive

Monday, March 26, 2012

It's All Politics

GOP Seizes On Obama Open-Mic Comment To Russian Leader

President Obama unwittingly made some not-so-private comments to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at a Seoul, South Korea security summit.

March 26, 2012 Republicans sought to capitalize on President Obama's candid moment, caught on an open mic, with Russian president Dmitri Medvedev, by accusing the president of having all sorts of secret plans he intends to roll out after the election.

Summary

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

It's All Politics

Obama's Manufacturing Push Meets Skepticism From Experts

President Obama extolled U.S. manufacturing at Master Lock in Milwaukee as some experts said a return to the nation's industrial past may not be the best path forward.

February 15, 2012 Obama has proposed using the tax code to create incentives for manufacturers to create jobs in the U.S. rather than abroad. Rick Santorum, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, has also proposed tax-based incentives for manufacturers. But it's worth noting that some economists see risks in politicians and other policymakers making such a big fuss over manufacturing.

Summary

Friday, January 20, 2012

It's All Politics

Obama Briefly Becomes Soul-Singer-In-Chief

January 20, 2012 Obama showed he can stay on message while having fun. With an election less than a year away, and before an an audience filled with members of the most loyal part of his political base, African-Americans, "Let's Stay Together" was clearly a message he wanted to send to those voters, as were its opening line. "I'm, I'm so in love with you..."

Summary

Monday, December 12, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama On '60 Minutes' Confident He Can Win 'Choice' Election

December 12, 2011 When "60 Minutes" journalist Steve Kroft in an interview with Obama aired Sunday asserted that Obama was being "judged on your performance," Obama said he was actually being compared against the ideal, a comparison he knows he can't win. He'd rather be compared to the actual flesh and blood Republicans and their agenda.

Summary

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama's Lost Teleprompter: Why Ridicule Him For Using It Anyway?

President Obama shakes hands in Bettendorf, Iowa, June 28, 2011, his teleprompter in the foreground.

October 18, 2011 The truck carrying President Obama's teleprompter and other equipment was stolen from the hotel parking lot in North Carolina where it was parked. It later turned up at another hotel. Weird. Obviously, this is creating some joy among the president's critics who point to his use of a device that all modern presidents have relied on as some sort of character flaw.

Summary

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Two-Way

Obama To Heckler: 'I Agree Jesus Christ Is The Lord'

The man who interrupted President Obama during a fundraiser Monday in Los Angeles is removed from the audience.

September 27, 2011 The young man who interrupted the president's fundraiser in Los Angeles, though, also shouted that "Barack Obama is the Antichrist!" See the video.

Summary

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama Treats White House Staffers To Lunch; Reward For Debt-Ceiling Work

President Obama took some White House staffers to lunch at a nearby eatery.

August 3, 2011 President Obama took a number of White House aides to lunch Wednesday to thank them for all the long nights as well as missed vacations, family dinners, you name it, required to achieve a debt-ceiling deal that pleases absolutely no one.

Summary

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

It's All Politics

Now History, Debt-Ceiling Fight Left Much Wreckage In Its Wake

President Obama walks back to the Oval  Office after speaking about the Senate's passage of debt-ceiling legislation, at the White House on Tuesday.

August 2, 2011 With the debt-ceiling legislation signed into law Tuesday afternoon, the nation no longer needs to worry about defaultmageddon, at least not until early 2013. That's when the U.S. Treasury once again runs out of room to borrow again. Even though there wasn't a default this time, the partisan fight did plenty of damage. Among the casualties: Obama and lawmakers' images.

Summary

Monday, July 25, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama To Make Prime-Time Debt-Ceiling Speech To Nation

July 25, 2011 In case you were wondering if and when President Obama would make a prime time speech from the White House to argue his case on the debt ceiling, wonder no more. The White House announced the president is scheduled to speak to the nation at 9 pm eastern time Monday from the East Room.

Summary

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

It's All Politics

Luckily For Obama, Election Day Isn't This Week

June 7, 2011 The percentage of voters who said the nation was on the wrong track was 66 percent versus 32 percent who said it was moving in the right direction. At a similar point in the presidency of George H.W. Bush in June 1991, the wrong track, right track was 57 percent versus 39 percent.

Summary

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama's Post-Bin Laden Polls Improve But Economy Still Hurts Him

President Obama and his team basked in the success of their bin Laden mission, Tuesday, May 3, 2011.

May 3, 2011 Polling had good news and bad news for President Obama. Getting bin Laden gave him the expected bump in the polls. But the bad news is that Election Day is still 19 months away. And the boost he's received isn't overwhelming. Moreover, he still gets poor marks for the economy.

Summary

Monday, May 02, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama's Political Fortunes Could Shift With Bin Laden's Death

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama leave the White House East Room after a Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony, May 2, 2011.

May 2, 2011 President Obama's success in ordering up the killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden gave the president a much needed boost at a time when his political fortunes appeared to be sagging.

Summary

Friday, April 29, 2011

It's All Politics

South's Tornado Tragedy Joins Political Foes For Now

President Obama with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, Sen. Richard Shelby (center rear) and other officials, April 29, 2011.

April 29, 2011 Natural disasters are no respecters of political parties or any of the other numerous ways humans use to separate themselves from each other. That seems to get largely ignored until calamities strike. Then, state officials who usually pan feds as intrusive welcome help from Washington.

Summary

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama Plays Offense And Defense On Energy

President Obama talks energy security, Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at Georgetown University.

March 30, 2011 President Obama was on the offensive and defensive in his Georgetown University energy speech. He vowed to sharply reduce oil imports.

Summary

Monday, March 14, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama, Defying His GOP Image, Calls For More State Control In Education

President Obama at a White House news conference, on March 11, 2011.

March 14, 2011 President Obama's push for more state and local power in education reform could help him counter GOP charges that he's a big government liberal who believes that Washington knows best.

Summary

NPR thanks our sponsors

Become an NPR Sponsor

Podcast + RSS Feeds

Podcast RSS

  • President Obama