#CollegeSigningDay: Our Forever First Lady

Thank you to everyone who supported #CollegeSigningDay. I’m so proud of each and every one of these students! pic.twitter.com/wzP1WUNmJI

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 2, 2018

Congrats, Destiny! College will open so many doors for you. Keep reaching higher and never give up! #BetterMakeRoom #CollegeSigningDay https://t.co/ViMYV80oyC

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 2, 2018

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So excited for you! https://t.co/s0OsriuC8G

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 2, 2018

Happy #CollegeSigningDay! So excited to be in Philly to celebrate all the young people making the commitment to higher education. pic.twitter.com/xWJz46dXXN

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 2, 2018

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Just hugged my auntie in my head @MichelleObama ...I'm in a very good place right now.

— Zendaya (@Zendaya) May 2, 2018

Was an honor to join @MichelleObama along with other star athletes and entertainers to celebrate graduating seniors who’ve all chosen the path to higher education! 🙌🏾 #Collegesigningday pic.twitter.com/bEO7dksOUW

— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) May 3, 2018

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Going to Wesleyan changed my life.
I'm proud of all of you making that commitment to college.
Show me your pride, youths of tomorrow! Tell me where you're going.#BetterMakeRoom #CollegeSigningDay pic.twitter.com/H0R5FiIaWS

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 2, 2018

Here's a special #CollegeSigningDay message from @MichelleObama! #BetterMakeRoom 🎓 pic.twitter.com/W6GHf3dST2

— Better Make Room 🎓 (@BetterMakeRoom) May 2, 2018

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Dancing and Celebrating #CollegeSigningDay With @MichelleObama. Forever My First Lady! ❤️#ReachHigher @BetterMakeRoom pic.twitter.com/UMXGQkz8Yr

— Ciara (@ciara) May 2, 2018

so excited to be performing for such an amazing cause today 💞💞@michelleobama is doing great work recognizing students for graduating from high school and committing to further their education through @BetterMakeRoom and im honored to be involved 🌟 pic.twitter.com/56RThxgcYG

— camila (@Camila_Cabello) May 2, 2018

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Can't stop dancing and celebrating YOU!!!!! Congratulations to those who have committed to furthering their education & who are reaching higher! The world is making room for YOU!!! @MichelleObama @ciara @KELLYROWLAND ❤️❤️💕💕💕@bettermakeroom #thankfulthankful pic.twitter.com/VCqRMgEhyv

— Bailee Madison (@BaileeMadison) May 2, 2018

Dance Party! Michelle Obama, Karlie Kloss, Bradley Cooper and Other Celebs Celebrate #CollegeSigningDay https://t.co/toBuN6KpgZ

— People (@people) May 2, 2018

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Loved being a part of #CollegeSigningDay with this inspiring group of people! pic.twitter.com/eAeKTKMrSG

— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (he/him/his) (@jessetyler) May 2, 2018

I think I can speak for all of Philadelphia when I say that we are very grateful that @MichelleObama is here for #CollegeSigningDay! Few people have demonstrated a stronger commitment to education and the well-being of our students! https://t.co/UFl97TMHPr

— Mayor Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) May 2, 2018

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Hanging out with Anthony Mackie backstage at @MichelleObama’s @ReachHigher #CollegeSigningDay event! Casual. No big deal. 😭 https://t.co/NlsuX0XPAQ pic.twitter.com/geL7t28Qtp

— Anne Munition (@AnneMunition) May 2, 2018

Wishing a happy #CollegeSigningDay to the class of 2022! I'm proud to be a @Penn graduate, where I learned skills that shaped my future. I know college will do the same for you. #BetterMakeRoom pic.twitter.com/pm5qrUz4Vt

— John Legend (@johnlegend) May 2, 2018

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Backstage with the band (& @kellyrowland 😜) #collegesigningday #bettermakeroom pic.twitter.com/CXrQMyiJES

— Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) May 2, 2018

Thanks everyone for supporting #CollegeSigningDay! We’re so proud to celebrate all of the young people making a commitment to get a higher education. #BetterMakeRoom pic.twitter.com/VfFGStu34J

— Better Make Room 🎓 (@BetterMakeRoom) May 2, 2018

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Forever My First Lady ❤️. @MichelleObama pic.twitter.com/qGNACM6ulm

— Ciara (@ciara) May 2, 2018

Thank you @MichelleObama and @BetterMakeRoom for having me! #CollegeSigningDay pic.twitter.com/fOmyAtWOdD

— KELENDRIA ROWLAND (@KELLYROWLAND) May 2, 2018

Mensch

Obama Hailed as a 'Mensch' After Moving Speech at NYC Synagogue: 'Be Kind. Be Useful. Be Fearless' https://t.co/FJ26IbBlRx

— People (@people) January 25, 2018

Prambanan Temple

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Visiting Yogyakarta

The First Family visit the Borobudur temple in Yogyakarta. President Obama lived in Yogyakarta as a child.

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Rafting And A Temple Visit

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The First Family visiting the Tirta Empul Temple in Bali

Early Bird Chat: The President’s Day Two In Laos

President Barack Obama tours the Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) visitor center in Vientiane, Laos

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President Barack Obama arriving in Luang Prabang

President Barack Obama holds a YSEALI town hall at Souphanouvong University Auditorium in Luang Prabang

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President Barack Obama greets monks as he tours the Wat Xieng Thong Buddhist Temple in Luang Prabang

President Barack Obama shops for gifts in Luang Prabang

President Barack Obama chats with people along the Mekong River

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President Barack Obama chats with the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah at the gala dinner during the second day of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos

The Affordable Care Act Comes To Texas

President Barack Obama waves upon arriving at Dallas Love Field in Texas

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C-SPAN has video of the event here

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President Barack Obama shakes hands with supporters after arriving at Dallas Love Field

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President Barack Obama smiles as he is introduced to speak about Affordable Health Care to volunteers at the Temple Emanu-El

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President Barack Obama speaks about Affordable Health Care to volunteers at the Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas

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President Barack Obama walks as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents

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Rise and Shine

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)

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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

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https://twitter.com/NerdyWonka/status/389765767727550465

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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

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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

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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)

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https://twitter.com/jonfavs/status/390095854209875968

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“They Drove Our Economy into a Ditch”

Yet another TOD post that has been reblogged by Jueseppi B, despite requests that he make his own effort to support PBO rather than copying others simply to drive up his reblog’s traffic. He doesn’t take kindly to being challenged, as another woman found out: explicit. Genuine bloggers are welcome to use anything they ever see at TOD. Thanks

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ABC: The private equity firm founded by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made use of arcane techniques in several of its Cayman Islands-based funds to avoid U.S. taxes, according to a trove of Bain Capital’s private audit and finance records made public on the website Gawker today.

The audited financial statements of one of the Cayman Islands funds make note of the use of “blocker” entities, which are used to help retirement accounts and nonprofit entities avoid some taxes. Financial statements for another fund note that it “intends to conduct its operations so it will … not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax …”

Those details emerge on the statements of two funds in which Romney still holds a sizeable investment, according to the financial disclosure statements he filed when he announced his bid for president.

More here

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Cagle

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First lady Michelle Obama greets Sikh temple secretary of the board of trustees Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, left, and Oak Creek, Wis. Mayor Stephen Scaffidi, before talking to victims of the August 5th shooting in Oak Creek, Wis.

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Cagle