The Obama Diary

President Barack Obama takes the stage to deliver remarks on housing and home ownership at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Ariz., Aug. 6, 2013. Photo by Pete Souza

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All Times Eastern

12:30PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest

2:10PM: President Obama holds a video conference to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Congressman John Lewis and Attorney General Loretta Lynch will join him. It will be live streamed at WhiteHouse.gov/VotingRightsAct

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The U.S. has begun conducting air strikes over Syria from a base in southern Turkey wapo.st/1MP3RZR

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Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 05, 2025

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Missy Ryan: U.S. Conducts First Islamic State Strike Launched From Turkish Soil

The United States has begun conducting airstrikes over Syria from a base in southern Turkey, the Pentagon said Wednesday, opening a new front in the Obama administration’s air war against the Islamic State. Capt. Jeff Davis, a Defense Department spokesman, told reporters at the Pentagon that a U.S. drone had hit an Islamic State target in Syria on Tuesday. He declined to say exactly where the strike took place or whether it was successful. The beginning of combat flights from Incirlik Air Base is a sign of deepening U.S.-Turkish cooperation against militants in Syria, where the expansion of the Islamic State poses a growing threat to Turkey and the West.

More here

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What has changed in the year since Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson — and what hasn't? wapo.st/1OQVmvK http://t.co/rtpVX1NIf0

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Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 05, 2025

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Christopher Ingraham: Americans Say Racism Is A Bigger Problem Today Than At Any Point In The Past 20 Years

Half of Americans — exactly 50 percent — say racism is a “big problem” in this country, according to a fascinating new Pew poll released today. That’s up an astonishing 17 points since the last time pollsters asked this question in 2010. And it represents the highest level of concern about racism in this country in at least 20 years. So what’s changed? In a word: Ferguson.

And of course, everything that’s followed since. The Pew numbers reflect some of this. Americans are divided on the extent of the racism problem in this country. 73 percent of blacks call it a big problem, compared to 44 percent of whites. Democrats (61 percent) are also considerably more likely to see a major problem than Republicans (41 percent).

More here

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Poll shows why #BlackLivesMatter activists should be proud huff.to/1MPT8OA

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HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) August 06, 2025

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Simon McCormack: Poll Shows Why Black Lives Matter Activists Should Be Proud

Nearly one year after Michael Brown was shot dead by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, a new poll shows a growing number of people believe there’s much to be done before black lives will be valued as much as others. Fifty-nine percent of Americans now believe changes are needed to give African-Americans equal rights, according to a Pew Research Center poll released on Wednesday. That’s up from 46 percent in a Pew poll just last year, before Brown was killed by officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, setting off a series of demonstrations and fueling the Black Lives Matter movement.

The poll saw increases in the number of blacks, whites and Hispanics who felt more changes were needed. In 2014, only 39 percent of whites said more needed to be done. In 2015, that number jumped to 53 percent. For blacks, the numbers increased from 79 percent to 86 percent, and for Hispanics, 54 percent to 70 percent. The Pew poll comes after a year of heightened Black Lives Matter activism, including numerous rallies, die-ins and acts of civil disobedience.

More here

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President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2014. Photo by Pete Souza

First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush participate in a symposium on advancement for women and girls in Africa, with U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit spouses at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2014. Photo by Amanda Lucidon

President Barack Obama walks with Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the South Lawn of the White House upon returning from the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

First Lady Michelle Obama watches a performance during a symposium program on advancement for women and girls in Africa, with U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit spouses at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2014. Seated with her, from left, are: Constancia Mangue de Obiang, First Lady of Equatorial Guinea; former First Lady Laura Bush; Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, First Lady of the Gabonese Republic; and Tina Tchen, Chief of Staff to the First Lady. Photo by Amanda Lucidon

President Barack Obama joins Jay Leno for a taping of the “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in Burbank, Calif., Aug. 6, 2013. Photo by Pete Souza

President Barack Obama autographs a banner following his remarks on the economy at Gelberg Signs in Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2010. Photo by Pete Souza)