The Obama Diary

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka during a call in the Oval Office, Aug. 21, 2013. Listening from left are: Rob Nabors, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy; Alyssa Mastromonaco, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations; and Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. Photo by Pete Souza

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President Obama to address U.S. Jewish community on Iran deal dlvr.it/Bw2Y02 http://t.co/OQLLWcTp4R

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Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) August 21, 2025

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Greg Sargent: Paul Volcker: It Would Be ‘A Sad Day’ If Congress Blocks Iran Deal

In recent days, opponents of the Iran nuclear accord have argued that if Congress blocks it, the major powers that negotiated the agreement can simply go back and crank up sanctions to put more pressure on Iran to agree to a better deal. That argument, however, has been met with push-back from some prominent financial experts, such as Henry Paulson, the Treasury Secretary under George W. Bush, and Jacob Lew, who occupies that post under the current president. They have argued that the other powers won’t reimpose sanctions,

leading the sanctions regime against Iran to unravel and leaving the U.S. isolated — all without getting the inspection and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program that the deal would secure. And here’s another prominent financial figure who is also dismissing the “go back and get a better deal” argument: Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve under presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Volcker has been widely credited with curbing inflation at the time and helping launch the much-vaunted Reagan recovery. “I think this arrangement ought to be approved,” Volcker told me in a phone interview today. “I think it would be a sad day if it’s not.”

More here

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Paul Volcker: It would be ‘a sad day’ if Congress blocks Iran deal - The Washington Post washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-lin…

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Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione) August 20, 2025

On Nuclear Deal, Not All Israelis Are With Netanyahu nyti.ms/1MGDx5p

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Chemi Shalev (@ChemiShalev) August 21, 2025

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Bravo!

No but really these are all September covers. These are all black women. This is a big deal. http://t.co/14AWLr5ftE

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sabby dunn. (@sabrinadunn) August 19, 2025

Congrats to the @USArmy's first female Rangers, #USMAgrads Kristen Griest ('11) and Shaye Have ('12)! #ArmyStrong http://t.co/AbS6j9jomD

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U.S Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) August 20, 2025

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Soon-to-be Army Ranger hopes to prove women in military are capable of doing same jobs men do cbsn.ws/1MGPZSG http://t.co/YHFgwfTWcq

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CBS News (@CBSNews) August 20, 2025

Carter was early supporter of civil rights in South. Love this story from 1954 (pg 113-114, Give Us the Ballot) http://t.co/o9XyGZj4l1

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Ari Berman (@AriBerman) August 20, 2025

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Can AIPAC make any Dem in tough district/state feel pressure? Rep. McNerney, whose 2014 race took 5 days to call, supports Iran deal.

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Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) August 20, 2025

Best breakdown you'll read showing Iran deal opponents failing, via @karoun & @byamberphillips washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost…

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Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) August 20, 2025

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President Barack Obama talks with Chris Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy & Coordinator for Health Reform, left, following a meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, right, regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), in the Situation Room of the White House, Aug. 21, 2013. Photo by Pete Souza