Ari Shapiro http://wncw.org en Obama U: What Graduation Speeches Say About The President http://wncw.org/post/obama-u-what-graduation-speeches-say-about-president <p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzC135ql_wA</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPHJnHXEDq8</p> Fri, 17 May 2013 21:29:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 21212 at http://wncw.org Obama U: What Graduation Speeches Say About The President AP Case Adds To Obama Team's Tough Record On Leaks http://wncw.org/post/ap-case-adds-obama-teams-tough-record-leaks President Obama had a reputation when he took office as a liberal former constitutional lawyer who had condemned Bush-era national security policies.<p>But he has proven to be even tougher than President George W. Bush on prosecuting national security leaks. Fri, 17 May 2013 07:03:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 21172 at http://wncw.org AP Case Adds To Obama Team's Tough Record On Leaks Democrats Invoke Boston, West To Defend Government's Role http://wncw.org/post/democrats-invoke-boston-west-defend-governments-role President Obama has spoken at two memorial services in just over a week — one for victims of the Boston Marathon attack and one for those who died in the chemical plant explosions in West, Texas. In both speeches, he focused on victims and survivors.<p>But other Democrats are using these events to talk about another subject: the role of government.<p>The day after the Boston explosions, while thousands of investigators were searching for evidence, retired Rep. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:47:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 20354 at http://wncw.org Democrats Invoke Boston, West To Defend Government's Role How Obama's Response To Terrorism Has Shifted http://wncw.org/post/how-obamas-response-terrorism-has-shifted President Obama's time in office has not been defined by terrorism as President George W. Bush's was. Yet incidents like the one in Boston have been a regular, painful through line of his presidency.<p>When a new administration walks into the White House, nobody provides a handbook on how to respond to a terrorist attack. So the Obama administration has been on a steady learning curve.<p>When an underwear bomber tried to bring down an airplane on Christmas Day 2009, the White House was basically silent for two days. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:09:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 20245 at http://wncw.org How Obama's Response To Terrorism Has Shifted 'We Have To Do More': Michelle Obama's Next Four Years http://wncw.org/post/we-have-do-more-michelle-obamas-next-four-years This week marked a new step in Michelle Obama's evolution as first lady. In her hometown of Chicago, she delivered one of the most emotional speeches of her career — about kids dying from gun violence.<p>"I'm not talking about something that's happening in a war zone halfway around the world," she said. "I am talking about what's happening in the city that we call home."<p>Michelle Obama almost never ventures into the top political controversy of the day. Instead, she has spent her time in the White House focusing mostly on child nutrition and military families. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:44:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 19828 at http://wncw.org 'We Have To Do More': Michelle Obama's Next Four Years Will The Future GOP Be More Libertarian? http://wncw.org/post/will-future-gop-be-more-libertarian Republicans don't often make high-profile speeches at Howard University, one of the country's most prominent historically black schools. But on Wednesday, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul will talk to Howard students about how his party can be more inclusive.<p>Paul believes one answer is libertarianism — and party leaders are starting to think he might be on to something.<p>When Paul's father, former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, ran for president in 2007, the Republican establishment treated him a bit like the wacky uncle in the family. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:43:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 19684 at http://wncw.org Will The Future GOP Be More Libertarian? Why Politicians Want Children To Be Seen And Heard http://wncw.org/post/why-politicians-want-children-be-seen-and-heard <p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkvN7GCcTVk</p> Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:21:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 19592 at http://wncw.org Why Politicians Want Children To Be Seen And Heard Gay Marriage And The Evolving Language Of Love http://wncw.org/post/gay-marriage-and-evolving-language-love In 1982, advice columnist <a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1907&dat=19820423&id=vWMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pdkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1629,1115282" target="_blank">Dear Abby published a letter</a> from someone who'd just moved from a conservative Midwestern town to bohemian Portland, Ore.<p>Suddenly the advice seeker was interacting with gay couples and wanted to know: Should a letter be addressed to "Mr. John Doe and Friend?'"<p>Is it proper to say, "This is so-and-so and his lover"?<p>The writer went on: "'Would it be proper to introduce a gay couple as, 'Mr. Sat, 30 Mar 2013 10:11:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 19333 at http://wncw.org Gay Marriage And The Evolving Language Of Love Republicans Launch Mission To Turn Up Their Digital Game http://wncw.org/post/republicans-launch-mission-turn-their-digital-game The Republican and Democratic parties have been in a digital arms race for years. And this week, Republicans frankly admitted that they are losing.<p>Now, the GOP has ambitious plans to improve its game.<p><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/130960510/Growth-Opportunity-Project" target="_blank">Monday's report</a> from the Republican National Committee puts it bluntly: "Republicans must catch up on how we utilize technology in our campaigns. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:32:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 19066 at http://wncw.org Republicans Launch Mission To Turn Up Their Digital Game As Gay Marriage Heads To Court, A Look Back At The Bumpy Ride http://wncw.org/post/gay-marriage-heads-court-look-back-bumpy-ride Gays and lesbians have adopted the phrase "it gets better" as a kind of slogan to assure young people that life won't always be so tough.<p>Looking back, life has gotten dramatically better for LGBT people in the United States in a very short period of time. The modern gay rights movement began less than 50 years ago. Today, supporters of same-sex marriage outnumber opponents.<p>Now, the Supreme Court is about to hear two big cases that could shift the landscape for gay rights again.<p>Gay rights groups are more wound up than they have been in years. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:04:00 +0000 Ari Shapiro 18971 at http://wncw.org As Gay Marriage Heads To Court, A Look Back At The Bumpy Ride