On This Day: Students show their excitement at meeting President Obama during his visit to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School in New Orleans, La., Oct. 15, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
****
Today (All Times Eastern):
11:40: President Obama conducts regional television interviews
12:30: Jay Carney briefs the press
2:10: President Obama awards Captain William Swenson, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor; VP Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama also attend
****
Who's done more for Veterans than anyone in 30 yrs? Pres. Obama
Yet Republicans flew a Confederate flag at the WH
exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/347908532…
—
Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) October 14, 2025****
USA Today: Obama’s Day: A Medal Ceremony, A Senate Deal
As the Senate works on a deal to re-open the government and raise the debt ceiling, President Obama on Tuesday honors military heroism.
In the afternoon, the commander-in-chief presents the Medal of Honor to William Swenson, a former active duty Army Captain who exhibited “conspicuous gallantry” during a battle in Afghanistan.
Swenson is being honored “for his courageous actions while serving as an Embedded Trainer and Mentor of the Afghan National Security Forces … on September 8, 2009,” says the White House schedule.
…. The president will also give interviews to anchors from three local television stations….
More here
****
****
Steve Benen: The Electoral Consequences Of The Shutdown
Democrats generally consider Rep. Lee Terry (R) of Nebraska to be one of the House Republicans’ most vulnerable incumbents, and they very nearly defeated him last year. For 2014, state and national Democratic officials — including Vice President Biden himself — reached out to a popular Omaha city councilman, Pete Festersen, and urged him to seek the seat.
Festersen declined, citing his two young children. But last week, something interesting happened: the councilman changed his mind. Everything you’ve heard of late about 2014 is true. Polls show Republican support collapsing, but the midterm elections are still a year away, and it’s too early to make firm predictions.
But this story out of Omaha offers an important reminder about the consequences of the Republican Party’s ongoing disaster — they haven’t ensured electoral setbacks next year, but they’ve certainly laid the groundwork for defeat.
More here
****
****
Think Progress: Countdown To Catastrophe: The Latest Updates On The Shutdown And The Debt Ceiling
The government would be funded through January 15th. The debt ceiling would be extended through February 7th. The budget cuts known as sequestration remain in place, and January 15 remains deadline for an additional $21 billion in cuts. Federal agencies get flexibility in how they make the cuts required under sequestration. A committee would be established to have further talks on budget cuts. The committee would need to present a proposal by December 13th. A reinsurance tax that is part of Obamacare would be delayed. Recipients of subsidies for their insurance under the exchanges established by Obamacare would be subject to income verification
After a meeting with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) last night, it seems that House Republicans are set to reject the deal Reid and McConnell came up with.
More here (It’s a live blog)
****
Why can't we just skip to the part where Boehner realizes he can't pass anything and gives the floor to Pelosi?
—
Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) October 15, 2025****
White House.gov