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President Obama Shares a Spotify Mixtape

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:35 PST

Tech-savvy President Obama is known for his proficiency in navigating the world of social networks. Both the White House and president have been on Twitter for years. He recently joined Instagram (@barackobama) and held a post-State of the Union Hangout on Google+. The president's latest tech move is for the musically-minded; he (well, his reelection staff) released a 2012 campaign Spotify playlist.

The 28-song digital mixtape is a combination of staff choices and a few of the commander in chief's personal favorites. With songs from Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, and U2 among others, it's a playlist with a message of how the staff wants to look at the election season. After the president's soulful rendition of Al Green, it's likely "Let's Stay Together" was one of his selections.

Obama Compromises on Contraception

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:20:55 PST

Despite the fact that 99 percent of women who have ever had sex - religious or not - have used contraception, the Obama administration's decision to make birth control free under all employer health insurance packages has caused a controversy. Today, the White House announced that it will make a change to its new policy to accommodate religious institutions, such as Catholic hospitals and universities, who do not want to cover prescriptions like the pill. Under the compromise, religious employers would not have to offer free birth control. Rather, insurance companies themselves would have to provide free contraception to workers at religiously sponsored institutions if the worker requests it.

The original policy, similar to laws that already exist in states like California and Oregon, would have required groups affiliated with religious institutions, like hospitals, charities, and universities, to provide insurance plans that cover birth control for free. Churches themselves would be exempt. But some religions, like the Catholic Church, oppose all forms of birth control, and leaders, especially the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, put pressure on the White House to change course, threatening to make this a major campaign issue.

So far, it looks like the compromise has pleased both sides. Planned Parenthood's President Cecile Richards said it "does not compromise a woman's ability to access this critical birth control benefits," and Sister Carol Keehan, the president of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, says she is "pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated."

John Krasinski Impersonates Emily Blunt's Reaction to Meeting Obama

Tara Sharp — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:25:00 PST

On Conan last night, John Krasinski told an embarrassing (and hilarious) story of when he and wife Emily Blunt first met President Obama at the Kennedy Center Honors in December. He poked fun at Emily's super-giggly reaction to Obama's kind words, and then admitted his own reaction wasn't exactly cool and collected. Watch the cute clip now!

Brilliant or Baffling: Obama Offers to Look Over an Unemployed Engineer's Résumé

Emily Co — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:09:57 PST

President Obama recently hosted a Google+ Hangout, in which several viewers got to directly ask the head of state questions in a virtual forum. Jennifer Wedel, who was against some of Obama's job policies, cited her husband as an casualty - he hasn't been able to find a steady job for three years and has trouble finding work as a semiconductor engineer. The president offered to take a look at his résumé and apparently followed through, according to Wedel. Her husband has already been contacted by recruiters after the White House deputy chief of staff, Alyssa Mastromonaco, sent the résumé out to contacts in the area where the couple lives. What do you think of Obama's move - was it nice of him to offer or is it just baffling?

Michelle and Barack Obama's Cutest Couple Moments of 2011

Annie Scudder — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:26:23 PST

Michelle and Barack Obama are a couple you can believe in. While dressed up for fancy state dinners, downing beers in a pub in Ireland, or checking out a local college basketball game, the Obamas look like a couple of in-love kids having fun with each other. Whatever your politics, Americans must admit we have one adorable first couple. See the president and first lady's sweetest shots of the year now.

The Obama Girls Are Treated to an Evening With a Teen Idol

Annie Scudder — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:56:56 PST

Here's one perk of going through your potentially awkward tween years in the national spotlight: you get to mingle with one of the world's most popular teen idols. Last night, Sasha and Malia were the envy of American girls everywhere, as they accepted hugs and high fives from Justin Bieber at the annual Christmas in Washington concert. Jennifer Hudson, Cee Lo Green, and Conan O'Brien were on hand too, singing songs at the concert that benefits the Children's National Medical Center. But it looked like the whole first family caught a case of Bieber fever, as the pop star got some love from the president and first lady. All three Obama girls, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha, looked chic for the evening. See how the first daughters are growing up now with pictures from last night's concert!

Anne Hathaway, SJP, and the Blunts Celebrate Meryl Streep and the Kennedy Center Honorees

Allie Merriam — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:23:57 PST

This year's Kennedy Center Honorees were in the company of many celebrities on Saturday night in Washington DC. Meryl Streep was one of the five people receiving the nation's highest arts honor, along with Yo-Yo Ma, Neil Diamond, saxophonist Sonny Rollins, and singer Barbara Cook. The President and First Lady, who wore a custom Vera Wang, joined Matthew Broderick, a Theyskens’s Theory-clad Sarah Jessica Parker, John Krasinski, and Emily Blunt for the party. Emily stood out in a bold Notte by Marchesa number, while her sister, Felicity Blunt, wore black to accompany fiancé Stanley Tucci.

Stanley, Emily, and Anne Hathaway completed a Devil Wears Prada foursome with Meryl! Anne brought along her husband-to-be Adam Shulman. She wore a simple black Giambattista Valli that let her new rock shine. Anne's engagement ring made its debut last week, when she and Adam went public with their happy news.

Write a Letter to Obama and He May Send You a Check

Emily Co — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:05:14 PDT

It sounds pretty incredible but President Obama actually reads some of the letters people write to him, according to the Washington Post. Apparently, the head of state reads 10 out of the 20,000 letters sent to him daily and says it's a great way to feel connected to people as well as a good reminder of why he decided to run for presidency. The Post says:

"A few times during his presidency, Obama admitted, he had written a personal check or made a phone call on the writer’s behalf, believing that it was his only way to ensure a fast result. 'It’s not something I should advertise, but it has happened' he told me. Many other times, he had forwarded letters to government agencies or Cabinet secretaries after attaching a standard, handwritten note that read: 'Can you please take care of this?'

'Some of these letters you read and you say, Gosh, I really want to help this person, and I may not have the tools to help them right now,’ the president said. 'And then you start thinking about the fact that for every one person that wrote describing their story, there might be another hundred thousand going through the same thing. So there are times when I’m reading the letters and I feel pained that I can’t do more, faster, to make a difference in their lives.' "

Most of the letters are written by people in very dire financial circumstances. If you're interested in what people are saying, read some samples of the letters here.

Whether you want to voice your appreciation or frustration, here's the address you can send your letter to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Remember to put a stamp on it before you mail it off!

Michelle and Barack Have a State Dinner Date Night

Annie Scudder — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:40:50 PDT

Michelle and Barack Obama gave South Korean president Lee Myung-bak and First Lady Kim Yoon-ok a warm welcome to the White House on a rainy evening last night. For the double-date night, Michelle wore a purple creation by Korean-American designer Doo-Ri Chung. The menu, a festive "Fall harvest," included squash and honey from the White House garden and Korean and American pears in the dessert. The Obamas are becoming pros at hosting official galas, as this is their fifth state dinner. Since he became president, Barack and his wife have welcomed dignitaries from Germany, China, Mexico, and India. See sweet photos from the latest now!

Tax Hikes For the Rich Is Not "Class Warfare," Says Obama

Emily Co — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:43:54 PDT

The White House is proposing a new tax rate for the wealthy - those earning more than $1 million will have to pay, at the very least, the same percentage of taxes as middle-income Americans are paying. It's called the Buffett Rule, and it's part of the debt reduction plan President Obama proposed today, which aims to reduce the federal deficit by $3 trillion in the next 10 years.

However, there are naysayers who are calling this move "class warfare." In his defense, Obama said, "This is not class warfare, it's math . . . I reject the idea that asking a hedge fund manager to pay the same tax rate as a plumber or teacher is class warfare." The president goes on to say that the country can no longer "afford special lower rates for the wealthy" and that the millionaires need to be paying their fair share. "Warren Buffett's secretary shouldn't pay a higher tax rate than Warren Buffett," Obama said.

Weigh in with your thoughts below: is this class warfare or a fair move?