On This Day: President Obama smiles at a young child while campaigning at the historic Walkerton Tavern & Gardens in Glen Allen, Va., near Richmond, July 14, 2012
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Today (all times Eastern)
1:0: Josh Earnest briefs the press
2:0: The President participates in an ambassador credentialing ceremony
8:55: The President and First Lady host an Iftar Dinner at the White House
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The Week Ahead
Tuesday: The President will deliver remarks on the economy at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia.
Wednesday: The President will attend meetings at the White House.
Thursday: The President will travel to New York City area to attend a DNC roundtable. Further details on the President’s travel to New York will be made available in the coming days.
Friday: The President will attend meetings at the White House.
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USA Today: Obama’s day: Roads, bridges, and ambassadors
President Obama and his team will spend Monday promoting road and bridge projects, and welcoming new foreign ambassadors to the United States.
The president and first lady Michelle Obama end the day by hosting an Iftar dinner to celebrate Ramadan.
Earlier in the day, the Obama administration will release a new report from the Council of Economic Advisers and National Economic Council on the general economic benefits of road and bridge projects.
Infrastructure will be a theme for Obama throughout the week, as he seeks to pressure Congress into extending the Highway Trust Fund before it expires at the end of the summer.
More here
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E.J. Dionne: Bordering on heartless
…. instead of dealing with this problem in a thoughtful way reflecting shared responsibility across party lines, President Obama’s critics quickly turned to the business of seeking political gain. Last week, the only issue that seemed to matter was whether Obama visited the border.
It’s not just partisan politics, either. It should bother religious people that politicians pay a lot of attention when conservative church leaders speak out against contraception and gay rights but hardly any when religious voices suggest that these children deserve empathy and care.
There are those in our clergy who could usefully consider whether they speak a lot louder when they’re talking about sexuality than when they’re preaching about love….
Full post here
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BBC: Israel’s Gaza campaign in seventh day, amid rocket fire
Israeli air strikes on Gaza and rocket fire on Israel have continued as Israel’s operation against Palestinian militants entered its seventh day.
Palestinian officials say 172 people in Gaza have been killed since the offensive began last Tuesday.
Israel says nearly 1,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza in that time. It said it shot down a Palestinian drone near Ashdod on Monday morning.
Thousands of people fled their homes in northern Gaza after an Israeli warning. The Israeli military dropped leaflets over the town of Beit Lahiya, warning of impending attacks.
Israel has massed thousands of troops on the border with Gaza amid warnings it is prepared to launch a ground invasion.
More here
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Cyd Zeigler: Dan and I debated whether to post this on Facebook. Ultimately we decided to share what we believe is yet another incredible symbol of hope for our community from a President who has been the most powerful partner we have ever had in the White House.
When we received this letter in the mail last night, we were overwhelmed. It’s not every day you get a letter from the President. This wasn’t just another copy with a fake signature – the ink bled through the paper. For just a few brief seconds, our relationship was the focus of the desperately busy lives of the President and First Lady. To two regular guys from humble families, that’s insane.
While we certainly know the President has done so much for LGBT equality, it hit us both then – in our bedroom staring at this letter – how much our equality means to President Obama…
More here
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On This Day
Dubuque, July 14, 2007
Senator Obama speaks to attendees at the 99th annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at the Duke Energy Center July 14, 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio
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President Obama departs Marine One after landing at Andrews Air Force Base for a trip to Warren, Michigan and St. Louis, Mo. on July 14, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama watches the confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor in the outer Oval Office on July 14, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama greets supporters after delivering remarks on community colleges at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan on July 14, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama signs baseballs in the umpires room before the start of the MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama warms up with St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols before the start of the MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009. President Obama later threw the first pitch to Pujols (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama talks with Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki in the American League locker room before the start of the MLB All-Star Game, July 14, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama joins Fox Sports announcers Joe Buck, right, and Tim McCarver, left, in the broadcast booth at the MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama holds a campaign rally in a downpour at the historic Walkerton Tavern & Gardens in Glen Allen, Va., near Richmond, Va., Saturday, July 14, 2012
Glen Ellen, July 14, 2012
Glen Ellen, July 14, 2012
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MooooOOOOoooorning! A bit short of news-collecting time again, so it would be terrrrrriffic if you could post the missing links in the comments – thank you!
The Obama Diary 
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