The week in review…

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“Good morning. My name is Hannah Nelson, I’m sixteen years old, and I’m from Belfast,” was how the student chosen as the warm up speaker for Michelle Obama introduced herself to 2,000 invited guests at the Waterfront Hall.

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The Wall

Stern: Artist Yadegar Asisi was pleased with the visit of the President’s family to see his panorama at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin.

“That was quite an honor,” said Asisi whose artwork conveys an impression of the wall.

While the elder daughter Malia had asked many questions, Sasha had long been quiet and thoughtful. “Then she said: ‘It is very sad’ – from the heart.”

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Read more about Asisi’s work here

Rise and Shine

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama leaving Germany, June 19

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Today:

President Obama has no public events scheduled

9:45 AM: VP Biden delivers remarks at Esperanza’s 2013 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast

4:15 PM: VP Biden travels to Las Vegas to deliver remarks to the League of United Latin American Citizens Youth and Young Adults Awards Banquet

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Home

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“Mr Sunshine” 😎

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Bild is kind of the German equivalent of The (British) Sun, but you can’t but smile at some of their front pages. I mean, ‘Kiss me Angie”? is their take from yesterday? 😆

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I assumed “Eine Bombige Rede” meant ‘get out the naughty mats’, but no, it’s less important than that, something to do with nuclear disarmament

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NYT: President Obama is preparing a major policy push on climate change, including, for the first time, limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing power plants, as well as expanded renewable energy development on public lands and an accelerated effort on energy efficiency in buildings and equipment, senior officials said Wednesday.

Heather Zichal, the White House coordinator for energy and climate change, said the president would announce the new policy initiatives in the coming weeks. Another official said a presidential address outlining the new policy could come as early as next week.

More here

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oh look, Obama’s approval rating up since March in Pew poll. boy, that’s really making Beltway headlines today….; http://t.co/4MZN5urV2i

— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) June 20, 2013

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Germany’s fascination w/ PBO

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Political change inspires pop culture. A visitor views the artwork ‘Obama’ by Vik Munoz from Ben Brown Fine Arts gallery at the Art Cologne fair in Cologne April, 2013.

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At the Rose Monday street parade in Cologne, a caricature on a float depicts the US president as ‘Captain America.’ The Rose Monday parade is the pinnacle of Carneval, the German version of Mardi Gras, and often features colorful floats poking fun at German politicians.

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Europe ♥ The Obamas!

A recap of a most fantastic three days. First, the Obamas departed America for Europe

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Then they arrived in Belfast

President Obama, the First Lady and their daughters Sasha and Malia are greeted by Joan Christie, the Queen’s official representative in Northern Ireland, upon their arrival at Belfast International Airport

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Then Pres. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama delivered fantastic remarks!

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Germany Welcomes The Obamas!

First Lady Michelle Obama, U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer attend the dinner given in honour of President Obama at the Orangerie of Schloss Charlottenburg palace on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

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Those who love motorcade videos – pretty much everyone on TOD!

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More from Germany…..

At the Brandenburg Gate

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In case you missed the speech:

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“President, I worked with George Bush, I knew George Bush …. you’re no George Bush. Thank ****.”

Here’s something you probably won’t see on American TV, reception Pres. Obama got when he arrived at Brandenburg Gate http://t.co/gJgyifgRHI

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) June 19, 2013

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First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia and Sasha visit the Berlin Wall memorial at Bernauer Strasse

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President Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama arrive for dinner with Chancellor Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer

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On a scale of 0-10, how good was UT’s coverage today? We’re talking 11, right? Endless, endless, endless thanks, UT! See all the posts below for her mighty work – and click here for every post on the Germany trip

More from Germany later.

Germany Loves President Obama!

@PeteSouza: President and First Lady pose with children of embassy workers in Berlin

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President Barack Obama, German Chancelor Angela Merkel, and German Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit wave on the Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

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President Barack Obama speaks on the Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

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The First Family Honors The Past

First Lady Michelle Obama visits the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe with her husband’s half sister, Auma Obama, her daughter Sasha, Uwe Neumaerker, director of the foundation for the memorial, and her daughter Malia

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Another short video here

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Auma Obama, President Barack Obama’s half sister and First Lady Michelle Obama enter the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

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Rise and Shine

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President Obama with German President Joachim Gauck at Bellevue Palace, Berlin

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President Barack Obama attends a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Chancellery on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

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Reuters: President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he still wanted to close Guantanamo Bay prison but said the plan had been tougher to achieve than he had hoped due to resistance from Congress. “We cannot have a permanent outpost in which they are being held even as we are ending a war in Afghanistan that triggered the capture of some of these detainees in the first place,” Obama said at a joint news conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“We must not be so driven by fear that we change the fabric of society in ways we don’t intend and we do not want for the future. I think closing Guantanamo is an example of us getting out of that perpetual war mentality,” Obama said. He added that the United States was not using Germany as a launching point for unmanned drones as part of efforts to combat terrorism.

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First Lady Michelle Obama visits the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe with her husband’s half sister, Auma Obama, her daughter Sasha, Uwe Neumaerker, director of the foundation for the memorial, and Obama’s daughter Malia

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Daily Presidential Schedule (All Times Eastern)

9:00AM: Pres. Obama delivers remarks at the Brandenburg Gate. Watch Here: C-SPAN 3  White House

10:05 AM: Signs the Golden Book of Berlin

10:15AM: Meets with Peer Steinbeck of the Social Democratic Party

12:45 PM: The President and First Lady arrive at Schloss Charlottenburg and are welcomed by Chancellor Merkel and her husband, Professor Joachim Sauer

2:0 PM: Attend dinner with Chancellor Merkel and Professor Sauer

During the day, First Lady Michelle Obama will visit the Asisi World of the Panoramas and the Berlin Wall Memorial

3:55 PM: The President and First Family depart Germany

12:40 AM: Arrive the White House

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If you want to view all the posts on Germany so far, go here here here here

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