When Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled 30 years into the future, we could only imagine the innovations we take for granted today -- new ideas and technologies that have completely changed the way we live, learn, and work.

Back then, if you’d have told me that I’d go from talking on a cell phone to talking cell biology, I would never have believed you. But today, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is helping to spearhead research collaborations to speed a future in which we can treat, cure, and even prevent brain diseases like Parkinson's.

So what’s possible in another 30 years? Call me an optimist, but I believe that by 2045 we’ll find the cures we seek -- especially because of all the smart, passionate people working to make it happen. Doctors and researchers around the world are developing new tools to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases, to tailor treatments -- for all illnesses -- through precision medicine, and to make life better for millions of people. This truly is the stuff of the future.

Today, on “Back to the Future Day,” I challenge you to imagine the world you want to live in thirty years from now. The White House is hosting a series of online conversations with innovators across the country all day long. Check it out and add your voice here.

We can't all be brain scientists, but all of us can get involved. One reason Parkinson’s research has come so far in the past 15 years is that people and families living with the disease have stepped up as advocates and innovators themselves, working to build the future we all want.

Together, we’ll make neurological illness a thing of the past.

And if we all eventually get hoverboards, well -- that's a bonus.

We’ve come a long way since 1985.

• Cell biology politic President Technologies
• At 10/21/2015 10:30:00 p.m.
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And one thing he said is certainly ringing in the minds of Americans across the country right now, no matter their politics: "We are the only advanced country in the world that sees these shootings every few months." As the details surrounding today's tragedy continue to unfold, this is something every American should watch. Watch now.   This email was sent to hmedina197@gmail.com. Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

The President just delivered a statement on today's shooting in Oregon.

• Barack Obama politic President
• At 10/01/2015 11:35:00 p.m.
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As the White House Social Secretary, it's my job to help plan and execute all the White House's official social events. Which makes me pretty busy right about now -- because tonight, the President and the First Lady are welcoming His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, and Madame Peng Liyuan to the White House for a State Dinner. State Dinners are one of the most formal, involved events that we host here at the White House. And for the next couple hours, the Social Office team and the many other folks across the White House will be finalizing and double-checking everything -- from the floral arrangements and decor, to the menu, to the guest list. The calligraphers will be finishing up the cards for the place settings. We'll be working out final seating arrangements. We'll make sure Ne-Yo (the entertainment for the evening) is ready and rehearsed. We'll be working to handle last-minute dietary restrictions. We want you give you a sense of what goes into planning one of these things. Follow along with our day here. All day long, we'll be showing you snapshots of what goes into preparing for a State dinner, from the perspectives of a variety of staff from across the building. It's always a beautiful moment when all of the planning and hard work comes together, and this is it. We're looking forward to sharing it with you. Stay tuned (and wish us luck) -- Deesha Deesha Dyer Social Secretary The White House

Preparing for tonight's State Dinner

• Barack Obama politic President White House
• At 9/25/2015 08:48:00 p.m.
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I was four years into my service in the Marine Corps, and as is the case with most of our young enlisted military members, I had enormous responsibilities for a twenty-two year-old. Grateful for the opportunity to serve, and thankful for the experiences the Marine Corps gave to me, I left active duty in 2006, excited at the prospect of new cities, new jobs, and the chance to go to college.

The Marine Corps gave me excellent job skills, world-class leadership training, and a ton of willpower and ambition. Still, academia was somewhat intimidating. Trading a base for a campus, and military leaders for professors felt like a huge step. To make the transition a bit easier I moved back to my home state of Florida, and found Valencia Community College -- where I was able to use my GI Bill education benefits to attend for free.

I found diverse classrooms full of people with varying backgrounds and experiences -- from kids straight out of high school to seasoned professionals pursuing a career change. I fit right in. Community colleges were made for people like me; they're designed to take persons from all walks of life and help them embark on their next adventure. People like Dr. Brooks and Professor Zuromski made me love learning and sparked a hunger for knowledge I didn’t know I had.

More Americans should have this opportunity. Today, the President is announcing a campaign called “Heads Up,” and the idea is simple: Let’s make two years of community college free for anyone willing to work for it.

Watch the President announce it -- and ask Americans to join the movement.

At Valencia, I wasn’t just in the classroom -- I was leading fellow students in groups like Model UN, where I studied diplomacy and foreign affairs. I was an editor for The Phoenix, Valencia’s annual literary magazine, where I honed my writing skills and learned the value of creative expression. While I was there I also earned my place in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. It was all a valuable part of my academic, personal, and professional growth.

Valencia Community College also prepared me to tackle classes at one of America’s oldest and most rigorous academic institutions -- Columbia University, where I finished my undergraduate degree. I majored in philosophy, a discipline I wasn’t exposed to until I took Professor Wallman’s amazing Intro to Philosophy class at Valencia. Not only did community college make Columbia possible for me, it gave me the tools to experience it to its fullest measure.

Today I work at The White House as an Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement. I have the privilege of being the President’s liaison to military service members, veterans, and their families. I can’t express in one message how grateful I am to have been given this opportunity, and how fulfilling it is to work with, and for, a group as deserving as they are.

It’s hard for me to fully grasp the incredible things that have happened in my life in the eight years since I first stepped foot on a community college campus, but I feel confident that taking that step made it all possible.

More people should have that chance. That’s what the President thinks, and I agree.

Watch him launch a new campaign to make community college free for anyone willing to work for it, and call on Americans to join the movement.

Up until now I’ve shared my story with a largely military and veteran audience, encouraging those with the ambition to take advantage of their education benefits because you never know where it’s going to lead. I’m sharing my story with you now because we have the chance to make sure that everyone has the opportunity I did. We should do what we can to ensure everyone in America who wishes, has the chance to go to community college for free.

Thanks for listening.

Sincerely,

Ryan Robinson
Associate Director of Public Affairs
The White House

I spent more than half of 2005 in Iraq.

• College High school Irak Jobs Marine Corps Military politic President Professor
• At 9/13/2015 03:29:00 p.m.
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Here's something a lot of people don't realize:

Just five years before we moved into the White House, Michelle and I were still paying off our student loans.

Which means that, as a student, I knew how it felt both to dream of a fine education and to worry about paying for it. Decades later, as President, I know that our country can't afford for talented young Americans to miss out on a higher education.

College is one of the most important investments students can make in their future. It's also one of the most important investments our country can make in our workforce -- as every one of us is acutely aware, equipping Americans with the knowledge and skills they need to compete and win in our global economy will continue to be the key to our resurgence.

That's why we're continuing to work to make the dream of college real for more of America's students.

And we're making progress. We've increased investments in college scholarships like Pell Grants and the American Opportunity Tax Credit. We're making student loans more affordable by cutting interest rates and capping payments at 10 percent of income. We're promoting competition and innovation to bring costs down for students and their families.

I’m proud of that progress. But our bright young people considering college need to hear from each other, too. And so, as everyone heads back to school over the next several days, you'll be hearing from your fellow Americans -- at various stages in their own educations -- about what's worked for them. They'll share their own advice with you, and your kids.

Meanwhile, senior officials from across the Administration will be hitting the road to discuss our plans to create more affordable, quality choices for students -- such as community colleges and apprenticeships -- and to give students the time and information they need to make good choices.

Tomorrow, I'll travel with my favorite community college professor -- Dr. Jill Biden -- to Macomb County Community College, where I first laid out my community college plan six years ago. While in Michigan, I'll make an announcement about apprenticeships, a crucial tool we're using to rebuild an American workforce that is the envy of the world. And I'll talk about the progress around the country in making community college free, and what more we need to do to make it available for more students.

Next Monday, I'll meet up with Secretary Duncan -- who will be traveling the country in a bus all week long -- at a high school in Des Moines, Iowa where I'm looking forward to having a conversation with juniors and seniors gearing up for college as well as with their parents who, in many cases, are trying to figure out how to pay for it. And on Thursday, September 17th, as part of her Reach Higherinitiative, Michelle will head to a local community college to check out their career and technical programs.

You'll be able to follow along with all of it right here.

The students I hear from every day remind me that if we can come together around the idea that every American -- no matter where they grew up, or how much money their parents have -- deserves a quality education and a shot at success, then we can build a future as remarkable as our past.

Stay tuned -- you'll be hearing from us (and one another) again soon.

President Barack Obama

What We're Doing for the Next Few Days

• Barack Obama Education politic President White House
• At 9/08/2015 11:21:00 p.m.
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I'm proud and happy I got to do it -- because some pretty extraordinary people live up there.

I visited Dillingham -- a small, vibrant coastal city that sits on Nushagak Bay, at the heart of the Bristol Bay salmon-fishing district. I had the opportunity to stand on a beach and watch subsistence fisherman pull their catches up out of the water. If you've eaten wild salmon, there's a good chance it came from here -- and having sampled some pretty outstanding salmon jerky, I can attest that it's delicious.

It was fascinating to see fishing skill that has been built up over hundreds of years at work -- and a reminder that the beautiful waters of this region have come to house a massive economic engine. The region provides 40 percent of America's wild-caught seafood, and helps support a $2 billion commercial fishing industry whose jobs extend beyond Alaska's borders. That's why we took action last December to shut off oil and gas exploration in this area indefinitely -- and why I'll continue to support efforts to protect this community as long as I'm President.

I was proud to take action last year to protect Bristol Bay and honored to meet folks today who depend on it. And don't miss the salmon jerky if you come visit.

At Dillingham Middle School, I got to watch (and dance with) a group of young people performing a traditional Yup'ik dance -- a cultural tradition which spans millennia. And I rode with Robin, a lifelong Dillingham resident, who described to me how the frozen tundra of his youth has transformed into scrub forest in just a few decades as a result of a warming climate.

From there, it was on to Kotzebue -- a town of about 3,000 26 miles above the Arctic Circle. The town's main roadways, the community's blood line, runs right above the Kotzebue Sound, making it very vulnerable to coastal erosion and the intense arctic storms that can raise the water levels much higher than normal high tides. After speaking to folks at the local high school, I got a chance to take a look at the Kotzebue Shore Avenue Project -- made of thousands of feet of roadway, sheet pile, and armor stone -- which has protected the roadway and was paid for, in part, with federal transportation funds. It's a reminder of exactly why we fight so hard for infrastructure spending. It's for communities like these.

From there it was back to Anchorage, and we'll be departing for the mainland in the next few hours.

It's hard to believe this trip is already coming to a close. Over the course of the past three days, from the decks of Coast Guard cutters and the edges of ice fields, I've had the opportunity to see some wild and beautiful things in Alaska -- and I've enjoyed sharing them with the rest of the country.

But a very serious reality lies within those breathtaking sights: And that's the fact that this state's climate is changing before our eyes.

A couple of days ago, I stood on rock where, just ten years ago, there was a glacier. Yesterday, I flew over Kivalina Island, an Arctic town that's already losing land to the sea from erosion and further threatened by sea-level rise. I've seen shores that have been left battered by storm surges that used to be contained by ice. And now, that ice is gone.

This is Kivalina Island, an Arctic town that's already receding into the ocean because of rising sea levels. For many Alaskans, it’s no longer a question of if they have to relocate – but when. There aren’t many other places in America that have to deal with questions of relocation right now. But there will be. What’s happening here is America’s wake-up call.

When it comes to climate change, I believe there's such a thing as being too late. And that moment is almost here.

The Alaskans I met with these past three days know that better than anybody.

And so as I close out this travelogue, it's my hope that decades and decades from now, when this generation has long since left the planet, we will have acted decisively. We will have left those generations with a planet they can continue to thrive on.

We will have lived up to our own words -- that our best days are still ahead.

President Barack Obama

On the final day of my trip to Alaska, I understand that I became the first president to travel above the Arctic Circle.

• Alaska Barack Obama politic President
• At 9/06/2015 12:39:00 p.m.
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The President is touring through Alaska this week, meeting with residents of the state and seeing the effects of climate change on the ground. He's sharing what he sees along the way. Read his entry from yesterday below, and follow along with the trip here.

---

Hi, everyone — checking in on day two. Right off the bat, I’ll note that I’ve got to come back here once I’m done being President.

You just can’t see Alaska in three days.

I spent the day hiking through Exit Glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park — where the mountains collide with the ocean and fields of ice. When the team handed over the camera, I did my best to do this place justice:

Visitors from around the world come here to see its Harding Icefield — one of the largest ice fields in the United States — covering hundreds of square miles. As the climate warms, glaciers are shrinking more and more rapidly — and throughout the park, there are signs marking where the glacier line used to be.

This is as good of a signpost as any when it comes to the impacts of climate change.

I also had the chance to tour the area by boat and experience the beauty and wildlife of Resurrection Bay. It was spectacular to see the horizon of ice and snow, but it’s melting. And if we don’t act, this simply won’t be here for future generations to enjoy.

Glaciers in Alaska, and the greater Arctic, are shrinking and it’s changing the way Alaskans live. And considering the Arctic’s unique role in influencing the global climate, it will accelerate changes to the way that we all live. Since 1979, the summer sea ice in the Arctic has decreased by more than 40%, a decrease that has dramatically accelerated over the past two decades.

One new study estimates that Alaska’s glaciers alone lose about 75 gigatons — that’s 75 billion tons — of ice each year. What does a gigaton look like? To put that in perspective, one scientist described a gigaton of ice as a block the size of the National Mall in Washington — from Congress all the way to the Lincoln Memorial, four times as tall as the Washington Monument. Now imagine 75 of those ice blocks. That’s what Alaska’s glaciers alone lose…each year.

And the pace of melting is only getting faster.

It’s now twice what it was between 1950 and 2000 — twice as fast as it was just a little over a decade ago. And it’s one of the reasons why sea levels rose by about eight inches over the last century, and why they’re projected to rise another one to four feet this century.

If we do nothing, temperatures in Alaska are projected to rise between six and 12 degrees by the end of the century, triggering more melting, more fires, more thawing of the permafrost, a negative feedback loop, a cycle — warming leading to more warming — that we do not want to be a part of.

The fact is that climate is changing faster than our efforts to address it. That must change — and we’re not acting fast enough.

Alaska: Day 2

• Alaska Glaciers politic President Barack Obama United States
• At 9/03/2015 09:34:00 a.m.
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The U.S. and our international partners have secured the strongest nuclear arrangement ever negotiated. Thanks to the nuclear deal -- formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- the world can verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
It's an historic deal. It's vital to our national security and that of our allies, like Israel. It's also very detailed and can seem a bit complicated. So if you're looking to dive deep into the details, here are five things you should explore to better understand why this deal will ensure Iran's nuclear program will remain exclusively peaceful moving forward.
Watch This: President Obama's speech at American University
Fifty-two years ago, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at American University on the importance of peace in the nuclear age. This week, President Obama returned there to do the same. He outlined exactly what's in the Iran deal and what's at stake should Congress reject it.
Take a look -- it's worth the watch:

Print This: A packet of everything on the Iran deal
Looking for a deep dive into the specifics of the JCPOA? Want to know what security officials, nuclear scientists, and other experts have to say about it?
Peruse this packet of information on the details of the Iran deal online, or print it and take it with you.

Share This: A few FAQs on the Iran deal
As the President has said, there's a lot of misinformation and falsehoods out there about what exactly is in the deal and how it will work.
Check out WhiteHouse.gov/Iran-Deal to get the answers you're looking for -- and a lot more on how this deal blocks all of Iran's pathways to a bomb.

Read This: The enhanced text of the Iran deal
You can read all 159 pages of the Iran deal with comments from the people who negotiated it and who will implement it.
Find it on Medium -- then share it with everyone who wants to dig into the specifics of the way the deal provides unprecedented transparency to monitor Iran's nuclear fuel cycle, the robust verification regime, and more.

Follow This: @TheIranDeal
Want updates on the Iran deal in realtime?
Follow @TheIranDeal for live fact-checks, news updates, and exclusive insights on the significance of this historic deal -- along with the next steps we need to take to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and avoid another conflict in the Middle East.

As Congress moves through its 60-day review period of the deal, stay tuned for more updates on this important diplomatic achievement.

5 things you need to understand the Iran deal:

• Barack Obama Congress politic President
• At 8/11/2015 12:46:00 a.m.
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El magnate y político estadounidense Donald Trump lanzó duras críticas a los inmigrantes mexicanos que llegan a Estados Unidos y propuso levantar un "gran muro" en la frontera entre los dos países y que "México lo pague".

Las críticas fueron lanzadas en un discurso de 45 minutos que pronunció en la torre del centro de Manhattan que lleva su nombre, en la que anunció su intención de competir para la candidatura presidencia republicana en los comicios del 2016.

Su discurso, de 45 minutos, rescató el sentimiento nacionalista de un país que, según dijo, se ha convertido en el "basurero de todos los problemas de los demás".

Criticó el radicalismo islámico, el avance económico de países como China y Japón y también señaló que México está "ahogando económicamente" a Estados Unidos.

"México manda a su gente, pero no manda lo mejor. Está enviando a gente con un montón de problemas (...). Están trayendo drogas, el crimen, a los violadores. Asumo que hay algunos que son buenos", afirmó el magnate.

Aseguro  que, si llega a la Casa Blanca, construirá un "gran, gran muro" en la frontera sur. "Y haré que México lo pague", agregó, y señaló que como magnate inmobiliario, nadie levanta "mejores muros" que los suyos y los construye "muy baratos".

"México no es nuestro amigo", insistió, y dijo que sus impresiones sobre los inmigrantes se basan en los comentarios que ha recibido en la policía fronteriza.

"Un país sin fronteras, simplemente no es un país", insistió.

México solo envia a Estados Unidos, violadores y narcotraficantes: Donald Trump

• Candidatos Donald Trump politic Presidente Republicano
• At 6/18/2015 12:55:00 a.m.
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ADDISON, Texas -- Former Texas governor Rick Perry says it's time to "reset" the relationship between citizen and government.

He formally announced just before noon Thursday that he'll make a second bid for the White House.

The campaign's new website went up early in the day, saying that Perry offers "tested leadership" and "proven results," particularly in job creation.

For Perry, the 2016 campaign is a re-do of a 2012 bid that went poorly as he tumbled from flavor-of-the-month front-runner after a series of gaffes.

Perry told supporters in Addison, Texas: "We have the power" to project American strength and grow the economy.

He went on: "That is exactly why today I am running for the presidency."

His entry brings to 11 the number of major candidates vying for the GOP prize so far.

He spoke in an airport hangar, in the company of veterans and a hulking cargo plane like one he flew in the Air Force. He's one of the few veterans in the 2016 campaign.

But Perry starts in a more distant position than before.

Perry, who served as Texas governor for 14 years, stressed his experience, saying in a campaign video: "It's going to be a show-me, don't-tell-me, election."

Though he left office on Jan. 20, Perry has unfinished business back home in Austin. He was indicted last year on felony counts of abusing his power as governor by threatening to veto funding for a district attorney unless she resigned because of a drunk-driving arrest. Perry has denounced the case as a political witch hunt, and conservatives have rallied to his cause.

Perry, 65,begins the race with a slate of deep-pocket donors such as billionaire Red McCombs, founder of Clear Channel, who have bankrolled his Texas campaigns. He has hoped to draw voter support from leading the booming Texas economy the past 14 years. But the state lost 25,000 jobs in March and oil projects have stalled in the wake of plunging oil prices, though the state's 4.2% unemployment remains well below the national average of 5.4%.

Perry has been forceful in denouncing President Obama's leadership, particularly when it comes to dealing with Iran and its nuclear ambitions and the threat from the Islamic State. "To deny the fundamental religious nature of the threat and to downplay the seriousness of it is naive," Perry said about ISIL during his remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

The question is whether Perry can erase doubts raised about his readiness for the White House after his 2012 bid. Once touted as Mitt Romney's biggest threat, the longest-serving governor in Texas history made a series of self-inflicted campaign mistakes that showed he was ill-prepared for the rigors of a national campaign.

Even before Perry uttered "oops" in a nationally televised debate when he couldn't remember the name of the third federal agency he wanted to eliminate, the Texan's campaign was in shambles because of his inability to rebut Romney's attacks on his record.

Perry finished fifth in the Iowa caucuses and limped into New Hampshire. He quit just days before the South Carolina primary and endorsed former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who briefly gave Romney a scare but also ended up losing the Republican nomination.

"It was the weakest Republican field in history, and they kicked my butt," Perry said in a self-deprecating speech at the 2012 Gridiron Club dinner.

While Perry has more than 14 years of executive experience in Texas to run on, he also comes into the 2016 race competing for the support of social and fiscal conservatives aligned with the Tea Party — his natural base — with likely rivals such as Scott Walker, Rubio and Cruz.

He's spent time repairing his tattered image in the hopes of fulfilling his vow to be much better prepared in his second presidential go-round. Perry's reviews from his trips to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have generally been good.

Last year, Perry remained on the national stage as a forceful critic of Obama's border security strategy. He deployed National Guard troops to the Texas border with Mexico to stem the tide of drug smugglers and unaccompanied children from Central American countries.

The deployment of the National Guard was in contrast to the stances Perry took in the 2012 campaign, in which he defended the Texas law he signed as governor granting college tuition to children of undocumented immigrants. Perry was branded in 2012 as "soft" on immigration by conservative rivals such as Rick Santorum, and slammed Romney and other critics of the in-state tuition policy by saying "I don't think you have a heart."

Freed by his decision not run for another term as Texas governor, Perry schooled himself in foreign policy, economics and other issues that dominate presidential campaigns by bringing in outside advisers for tutorials.

Perry, frequently dismissed by Texas Democrats as a lightweight, told MSNBC that running for president "is not an IQ test" but an examination of someone's resolve, philosophy and life experiences. Given his 2012 presidential campaign, however, Perry conceded that he's got little wiggle room in the 2016 election cycle.

Rick Perry announced his 2016 presidential

• Candidate politic Presidency President Rick Perr White House
• At 6/04/2015 03:41:00 p.m.
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I'm currently down in Florida with the President, who just got his annual briefing on the upcoming hurricane season, and steps the federal government, states, and families are taking to prepare.

Here's what he's doing next: talking to you.

Starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, the President will take your questions on climate live from the National Hurricane Center. (And yes, I can attest that it's really him.)

So if you've got a question on the impacts of climate change and what we're doing to address it, tweet it using the hashtag #AskPOTUS.

Not on Twitter? Follow along here.

In the meantime, we've put together a special "People's Hurricane Briefing" just for you.

You can give that a read here.

Today: @POTUS is taking your questions

• Barack Obama politic President White House
• At 5/29/2015 08:06:00 a.m.
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Camden has faced one of the highest violent crime rates in America. But recently, they've taken concrete, innovative steps to change that: creating more economic opportunity, improving trust between residents and their police department, making police officers' jobs safer, and reducing crime in the process. Today, the President will highlight some of those efforts, and show how other cities can make progress on building safer, stronger communities. Tune in at 3:10 p.m. Eastern to watch the President's remarks -- and tell us other steps you think we can take to expand opportunity for more Americans. As a country, we're at our best when everyone has the opportunity to get ahead. That's why the President is focused on restoring economic security to more American families, strengthening our neighborhoods, and making sure our young people have the chance to reach their full potential. And over the next few weeks, members of the President’s Cabinet will be traveling across America to spotlight other cities that are working to make their communities better. From Secretary Arne Duncan's upcoming trip to Philadelphia, to Attorney General Loretta Lynch's travel to Cincinnati as part of her national Community Policing tour, Cabinet members are highlighting regions where local leaders are improving the quality of life in their communities -- on issues from health care to education to transparency in policing. Our Administration is deeply engaged with these communities and others across the country -- communities that are showing what can be achieved when people from all walks of life come together to expand opportunity for all Americans. Watch what the President has to say this afternoon, and share your ideas with us on how we can continue expanding opportunity.

The President is going to Camden, New Jersey today. Here's why:

• Barack Obama politic President Obama Whait House
• At 5/19/2015 11:07:00 a.m.
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Juan Karita/APMexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto wipes sweat from his brow during a signing ceremony among the Pacific Alliance at the Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru.

Mexican ruling party lawmakers fear President Enrique Pena Nieto's lurch into scandal, weak economic record and struggle to tame corruption could hurt them in upcoming elections, raising pressure on him to take bold steps or shake up the cabinet.

Pena Nieto's approval rating has slumped to as low as 25 percent since events began to spiral out of control with the September abduction and apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers by corrupt police and a drug gang in southwest Mexico.

Slow to respond to the crisis, Pena Nieto never visited the scene. He was then caught in a separate row over conflicts of interest when it emerged that he, his wife, and his finance minister had all bought or used homes built by a firm that has won millions of dollars in government contracts on his watch.

"It shouldn't have happened," Patricio Flores, a lawmaker in the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), said tersely of the homes scandal even as he tried to deflect blame from Pena Nieto. "It's a fact that it's helped other parties."

In public, PRI officials are reluctant to criticize their president, who insists he has broken no laws.

But privately, many are exasperated at his handling of the crisis, which has hit support for the party ahead of mid-term legislative elections in June.

Around two dozen PRI lawmakers and government officials consulted by Reuters said Pena Nieto needs to make a move to reassert his leadership, if necessary by removing trusted aides from his cabinet.

Pena Nieto and his PRI lawmakers in Congress started well, working with the opposition to pass a string of reforms to overhaul the economy, culminating in an energy overhaul that ended Mexico's 75-year-old oil and gas monopoly.

But Pena Nieto's ability to implement those reforms and make Mexico's economy more competitive will suffer if he cannot restore his credibility.

"We can't carry on as before or we're going to lose the presidency," said one PRI federal lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity, with an eye on the next presidential election in 2018.

As recently as November, the PRI was way ahead of its closest rival, the center-right National Action Party (PAN), according to polling firm Buendia & Laredo.

It said the PRI then had 42 percent support, with the PAN back on 23 percent. By mid-February, the PRI had slipped to 30 percent while the PAN had risen to 26 percent.

PRI lawmakers say their party would still have a comfortable lead were it not for the government blunders. The scandal over the homes rankles particularly.

"It was a schoolboy error," said a veteran PRI politician. "Never has a president been this isolated."

G20 Australia/Patrick Hamilton/APPresident of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera Hurtado arrive at Brisbane Airport ahead of the G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia.

CABINET

Officials say cabinet changes will come, and Pena Nieto made a start last Friday, pushing out Attorney General Jesus Murillo.

Murillo had become a target of public frustration over the government's failure to clear up the case of the 43 students abducted by local police then handed over to cartel henchmen in the city of Iguala. Only one set of remains has been identified.

"We have a serious problem perception-wise nationally about levels of government corruption," said PRI lawmaker Francisco Arroyo, deputy speaker of the lower house.

Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong is also under pressure over security lapses and for failing to contain months of protests by teachers. Still, in his favor, security forces have in the past week arrested two drug lords, Servando Gomez of the Knights Templar cartel and Zetas leader Omar Trevino.

Both Osorio Chong and Finance Minister Luis Videgaray, whose stewardship of the economy has fallen short of expectations, have clouded Pena Nieto's judgment by painting too rosy a picture of the situation, one senior government official said.

"They should both go," another PRI federal lawmaker said.

Many PRI lawmakers see a replacement for Osorio Chong in Manlio Fabio Beltrones, the party's leader in the lower house and driving force of the legislative successes.

Beltrones is out of a job when the current Congress ends this summer, and he is also eyeing the PRI party leadership.

"The president still has the authority," said one PRI lawmaker. "But Beltrones has surpassed him in leadership."

REUTERS/Henry RomeroMexican President Nieto gives a speech during his proposal for energy reforms in Mexico City on August 12th.

CORRUPTION

Pena Nieto could make up ground if he can persuade voters he is serious about tackling corruption.

But he was ridiculed last month when he announced an investigation into whether the homes linking him to the government contractor constituted a conflict of interest.

Immediately afterwards, the official named to lead the probe said the homes would not be part of it.

After killing off an earlier anti-corruption bill, the lower house last week finally approved a new initiative. It still needs Senate backing.

Two former PRI state governors are already wanted in the United States on corruption charges, though they are not facing trial in Mexico. Two high-ranking government officials said they doubted Pena Nieto planned a major crackdown.

"Everyone is too interconnected," a senior PRI official said. "If you have a corrupt former governor, the guy (governor) who's in power now is there because of what the one before did for him."

Asked how Pena Nieto should respond to the challenges, and if more cabinet changes were needed, his spokesman Eduardo Sanchez pointed to government efforts to pass anti-corruption measures and said it would be speculation to comment further.

Mexico's president is becoming a liability to his party

• Congress Corruption Mexico Pena Nieto politic President PRI
• At 5/08/2015 11:08:00 a.m.
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Every Friday, our video team releases a compilation of the best moments from the previous week here. I narrate each installment, but you have better things to do than listen to the sound of my voice.

Each episode is full of behind-the-scenes snippets of the President, scenes from his travels on the road, and special footage of guests that visit the White House.

We call it "West Wing Week." Take a look -- it just might become a favorite Friday tradition.

This week's episode -- or, "I think that works!" -- features scenes from the President's visit with the Japanese Prime Minister, the White House Correspondents' Dinner, an interview with the Wall Street Journal, a "virtual field trip," and more.

(If nothing else, make sure you jump to 50 seconds in for some hilarious behind-the-scenes footage of the President with "Luther," his anger translator.)

Another fun fact: If you want to get a sense of what the President's up to on a given day, we post his schedule online daily. You can check that out here.

Here's something you may not realize we do here at the White House:

• Barack Obama politic President
• At 5/02/2015 02:46:00 p.m.
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When I entered Ms. Hefty's fifth-grade class at Punahou School in the fall of 1971, I was just a kid with a funny name in a new school, feeling a little out of place, hoping to fit in like anyone else.

The first time she called on me, I wished she hadn't. In fact, I wished I were just about anywhere else but at that desk, in that room of children staring at me.

But over the course of that year, Ms. Hefty taught me that I had something to say -- not in spite of my differences, but because of them. She made every single student in that class feel special.

And she reinforced that essential value of empathy that my mother and my grandparents had taught me. That is something that I carry with me every day as President.

This is the simple and undeniable power of a good teacher. This is a story that every single kid in this country, regardless of background or station in life, should be able to tell. Sharing stories like these helps underline the vital importance of fighting for that reality.

This week, we're starting that conversation, and I want you to add your voice to it.

Today, I'll honor Shanna Peeples as the 2015 National Teacher of the Year -- and I'd like you to share which teacher, like Ms. Hefty, helped shape your education.You can do that here, or by using the hashtag #ThankATeacher online.

Tomorrow, I'll travel to a local library that serves as a hub of learning in the Anacostia community of Washington, D.C. America's librarians, like our teachers, connect us to books and learning resources that help us dream big. They help ensure that we continue learning throughout our lifetime. And that's something that more kids ought to be able to access.

So while I'm at the library, I'll announce new efforts to provide popular books to millions of underprivileged children and young adults around the country and connect more students to their local libraries -- because we know that reading just 20 minutes a day can make a tremendous difference in a student's success. Online, I want you to join the conversation by sharing which book was critical to making you who you are today using the hashtag #BooksForAll. (We all have one.)

And on Friday, as I work on the commencement address I'll deliver at South Dakota's Lake Area Technical Institute next Friday, I want you to share with me how far community college has taken you. For a number of folks on our staff here, it’s taken them all the way to the White House.

This week, we're focusing on those fundamental people, places, and stories that made us who we are today. So whether it's a teacher who inspired you, a book that changed you, or a college that shaped you -- I want to hear from you. We'll be responding to and sharing your responses all week long.

I'm looking forward to hearing your stories.

My fifth-grade teacher

• Barack Obama politic President Whait House
• At 4/29/2015 11:13:00 p.m.
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KRight now, across America, people are working on big ideas. Game-changing ideas. Ideas that might sound unbelievable right now, but could become an indispensable product or service in a matter of years.

But they might not ever get a chance to make that idea into a reality. Here's why:

So many Americans have the grit and creativity of a world-class entrepreneur, but they lack the resources -- mentorship, networking, funding, training -- to bring their big ideas to fruition.

We've got to change that reality. As we work to keep our lead as the best place on the planet to start and scale big, innovative ideas, we've got to make sure more startup hotbeds emerge in every corner of America, and that those underrepresented in entrepreneurship are being tapped to fully contribute their entrepreneurial talents.

So we're looking to spur some big changes. Last week, for instance, we hosted the first-ever Tech Meetup at the White House to bring together community organizations and innovators who host weekly and monthly local innovation gatherings.

That's why we're so excited about the first-ever White House Demo Day, focused on inclusive entrepreneurship.

At a typical "Demo Day," entrepreneurs make pitches to prospective funders. Ours is a little different. We're inviting a diverse group of entrepreneurs from all across the country -- including those underrepresented in entrepreneurship like women and people of color -- to come here and talk about their big ideas and share the stories of their individual innovation journeys to date. These are the folks whose stories show exactly why we need to grow the pie to make sure there's opportunity for everyone in our innovation economy.

We hope you will be one of them.

Apply to be a part of our first-ever Demo Day here at the White House, or nominate someone you know to come participate. But do it soon, because the deadline for submissions is April 24.

Our teams are combing through the incredible submissions so far as we speak. We can't wait to hear your story, and we hope to see you here soon.

Thanks,

Megan Smith and Doug Rand
Office of Science and Technology Policy
The White House

Across America, people are working on big ideas

• Barack Obama House White politic President
• At 4/21/2015 03:44:00 p.m.
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Across the country, there are doctors working to convince people to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. It's known as "conversion therapy," but it could also be called brainwashing, or reprogramming.

Loving and compassionate parents and ministers who are trying to do the right thing are doing just the opposite. They are influenced by bad science, not grounded in fact. This so-called "conversion therapy" is harmful.

A couple of days ago, the White House came out in support of efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy. And as a transgender woman, this is especially personal to me.

No one should be forced to be someone they're not. Everyone should be valued for their authentic, true self -- who they are -- regardless of the gender with which they identify, or who they love.

I recently talked with a few other people in the Administration about why conversion therapy is so dangerous, and why it was so important for the White House to take a strong stance against the practice.

Here's what we have to say:

This isn't just a transgender issue or an LGBT issue -- it’s an American issue. Our nation was founded on the ideals of equality and acceptance for everyone, and forcing an individual to be someone they aren't goes directly against what this country stands for.

If we're going to grow as a society, we must move beyond the way things are, to the way things should be.

That's why I'm glad our Administration is standing up and making it clear that conversion therapy is unacceptable. Our society should allow every child and every person the freedom to be whoever they aspire to be.

And we've already seen the tragic effects of this therapy. Countless people have taken their own lives because they feel they can't fit into the standards that society demands. Others, although they haven't lost their lives, have been forced to live unfulfilled lives and to repress their feelings in the process -- feelings that come out in other ways that we can't always anticipate.

We can be better than this. We are better than this. We owe it to ourselves, and to all of the children growing up in this country, to work toward a society where everyone is accepted and treated equally.

I hope you'll take the time to listen to what we said, and learn more about why the White House came out in support of banning conversion therapy.

Why conversion therapy hurts all of us:

• Barack Obama politic President White House
• At 4/11/2015 01:59:00 a.m.
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