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Andrew M. Slavitt, the former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has been trolling Republicans over health care on Twitter, posting hundreds of tweets each week that attack their proposals as meanspirited and wrong.

Kathleen Sebelius, Mr. Obamas first secretary of health and human services, will soon embark on a monthlong bus tour designed to pressure members of Congress to oppose the health care laws repeal.

And a few blocks from the Capitol, a political war room run by Leslie Dach, one of Mr. Obamas top health care officials, is coordinating a nationwide anti-repeal campaign by liberal think tanks, local resistance groups, sympathetic governors, medical and insurance lobbyists, Democratic activists, polling experts and academics.

Conceived in the hours after Mr. Trump was elected in November, the group, called Protect Our Care, is at the heart of the effort to oppose a repeal. It hosts strategy calls at 8:30 and 9:45 every morning to develop talking points, plan TV ads and discuss the latest vote counts from the House and Senate.

The most important thing is that people understand what repeal means for them, Mr. Dach said. And what repeal means is millions losing their insurance, costs going up, not down, and anxiety coming back in their lives.

The Obama aides have helped direct about $6 million toward television ads by Save My Care, a separate group in Washington.

The aides insist they are just one part of a broader liberal network that has been organically animated by anger about the Republican efforts to repeal the health care law. But they bring years of experience to the political fight, and their efforts have not gone unnoticed.

In late February, Mr. Trump accused his predecessor of being the hidden hand behind town hall meetings where angry citizens accused lawmakers of trying to take away their health care. I think that President Obama is probably behind it, because his people are certainly behind it, Mr. Trump told Fox News at the time.

In fact, the former president has made only a few public comments on the repeal effort, once using Facebook to denounce the fundamental meanness at the core of this legislation. His current advisers say Mr. Obama has had little direct involvement in managing the day-to-day campaign, though he is regularly briefed on the subject.

His former aides have taken a more active role.

Anita Dunn, Mr. Obamas onetime communications director, is helping to spread the anti-repeal message, placing opinion articles in newspapers and distributing letters, including one from a group representing 7,000 Catholic nuns who oppose repealing the health law.

Meaghan R. Smith, who served as the communications director at the Department of Health and Human Services under Mr. Obama, and Lori Lodes, who was the spokeswoman at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, have become the de facto press secretaries for the effort, working to influence stories written by political and health care reporters.

And Kristie Canegallo, who was Mr. Obamas deputy chief of staff for policy implementation, is directing frequent strategy sessions with the opposition leadership. She has essentially reprised her White House role as the logistics person responsible for ensuring that a sprawling bureaucracy stayed on task as the health care law went into effect.

Ms. Canegallos conference calls have continued almost nonstop, even while she was on vacation in Australia, according to one participant.

Weve had a simple goal from the beginning, which is to stop the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, to protect Medicaid, Mr. Dach said in an interview this week.

Part of that strategy involved a public effort to broadly portray the Republican repeal effort as a threat to peoples existing health care choices.

Mr. Slavitts tweets are revered among Obama alumni for their sharp edges. Last week, when the Congressional Budget Office released its latest estimate of the effects of the Republican bill, Mr. Slavitt did not mince words.

NEW CBO is out & a disaster, he tweeted. 22 million people lose coverage & insurance markets die.

Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to Mr. Obama; Tommy Vietor, one of his national security spokesmen; and Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, his speechwriters; have used their popular podcast, Pod Save America, to regularly rail against the Republican repeal effort.

Among the episode titles: Kill Bill Vol. 2.

But the campaign against repeal is also more targeted, aimed directly at a handful of Republican senators who have expressed concern about the effects that scrapping the Affordable Care Act could have on their poorest constituents.

In an opinion article about the Republican repeal effort, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. warned that it would lead to a massive cut in Medicaid and have a dramatic impact on budgets. Aimed at Senator Dean Heller, a Nevada Republican, the article appeared in The Reno Gazette-Journal.

After Mr. Heller and Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Republican of West Virginia, voted on Tuesday to open debate on repealing the health law, Save My Care released television ads on Wednesday chiding both of them.

Senator Capito just broke her promise by casting the deciding vote to repeal our health care, the narrator says. Because of Capito, over 100,000 West Virginians could lose their insurance.

That vote marked a setback in the battle to save Mr. Obamas legacy. But in the hours since, the opposition campaign has celebrated a bit. Votes on several variations of repeal legislation failed to pass the Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Still, the former aides to Mr. Obama said they did not intend to drop their guard. When a repeal bill failed to pass in the House in March, they relaxed their efforts, only to see the legislation roar back to life a few weeks later.

The lesson here is eternal vigilance, Ms. Dunn said. We all prematurely celebrated after the first House vote. Until we can control one body, we cant afford to walk away.

Excerpt from:
Former Obama Aides Lead Opposition to Health Care Repeal - New York Times

As the process for repealing and replacing Obamacare incrementally advances through Congress, its namesake remains largely absent from the give-and-take of the debate.

President Barack Obama has weighed into the health care fray only occasionallyand always from a distanceeven as his eponymous signature piece of domestic legislation comes under heightened threat.

It is not for lack of want. Aides and advisers say that the former president is, like all Democrats, troubled by ability of Republican leadership to keep repeal efforts alive. One official said he did not expect GOP lawmakers to get even this far. But he is wary of engaging in a highly visible way, even in this critical hour, for fear that it would backfire politically.

We are acutely aware that opponents of the Affordable Care Act would like no better foil than him, said one Obama advisor. We dont want to make this any harder than it is. Allowing opponents to make this about Obamas legacy undermines the debate about the actual impact of the law.

For now, Hill Democrats say theyre comfortable with Obama at a distance. Though the party has been unable to stop repeal-and-replace efforts at critical juncturesthe most recent coming in the form of a narrowly-lost vote to start debate in the Senatethe prospect of turning the debate into a Obama-v-Trump narrative is viewed as counterproductive.

I think [Obama] faces a dilemma of potentially becoming the issue and he wants to avoid that distraction, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) told The Daily Beast, off to the side of a Capitol Hill rally featuring individuals whose health care is dependent on Obamacare-related coverage. He may be at the emotional breaking point but I think he is intensely rational and deliberative and he has thought through what would happen if he became the image of this fight and he has decided it is better that the image be the kind of people we have here.

There have been two components to date to Obamas post-presidential involvement in the repeal and replace debateone public, the other private. When the Senate introduced its health care legislation in late June, he blasted the fundamental meanness at the core of this legislation in a Facebook post. Since then, hes been quiet.

Behind the scenes, the 44th president has kept close tabs on the debate, discussing legislative strategy with Democratic members of Congress and hosting occasional conference calls with administration alums who are involved on the issue. Should the legislation make it through the Senate and into conference committee with the House, associates say his presence may grow. Obama is already slated to hit the campaign trail this fall for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam, during which health care reform will undoubtedly come up. There is also talk of getting Obama more involved in fundraising efforts for health care advocacy organizations.

But there are no plans to have the former president go much beyond there, whether by delivering a major speech or giving interviews on the topic. Lawmakers say there would be only marginal utility to doing so since, as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) put it, the public already knows the presidents views.

I think what is most important is that people who are here, people who are organizing across this country, are being heard, Gillibrand added. They are going to make a difference.

But there is also a larger fear; mainly, that Obamas involvement would reactivate his political opponents and green light on-the-fence Republicans to side with party leadership. The goal for Democrats, at this juncture, is simply to get more lawmakers to vote no. With the party fully united against repeal-and-replace legislation, its not entirely clear how the former president can help with that. Its not inconceivable that he may hurt.

I am more than willing to criticize Obama for floating above it all- just not this time, said Jim Manley, a longtime advisor to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). [A]nything he says Trump will just uses as a way to distract from his efforts to take away health care for millions of Americans.

More here:
Obama Stays Silent on Health Care Debate. Here's Why. - Daily Beast

While transfer speculation swirls around him, Neymar keeps scoring goals, this time against Manchester United in the ICC.

LANDOVER, Md. -- Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu met with former President of the United States Barack Obama at half-time of the Catalan club's International Champions Cup 1-0 win against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Obama was present as a special guest at the FedEx Field to witness Barca win their second successive match in the U.S., with Neymar scoring the only goal of the game in the first half.

In a statement, Barca said that Obama was very "cordial" during the meeting, in which he talked with Bartomeu about the possibility of working with the club's Foundation in the future.

"During Mr Obama's encounter with Mr Bartomeu, the two talked about the work the FC Barcelona Foundation is carrying out in the United States," the statement explained.

"In addition, they also talked about the FCBEscoles project and the women's football team the club will be fielding in the country. The two also discussed the possibility of a future project involving both the Foundation and Mr Obama."

James Costos, who was appointed as the club's new strategic advisor in the United States earlier this month, organised the meeting.

Costos previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra from 2013 to 2017 and has also worked as a corporate and executive manager in the retail and entertainment industry, most notably at HBO.

Neymar's goal against United was his third in two games, following his brace in the 2-1 win against Juventus at the weekend.

Barca have one final ICC game left in the States before returning to Spain ahead of the new season, against Clasico rivals Real Madrid in Miami on Saturday.

Link:
President Obama meets Barcelona president at Man United match - ESPN FC

In her first public appearance since leaving the White House, the former first lady was asked which shards of glass had cut her the deepest.

There were no video cameras allowed at the event, but CNN has verified the remarks the Post reported with the Women's Foundation of Colorado.

Tuesday's speech at the Pepsi Center in Denver was part of the Women's Foundation of Colorado's 30th anniversary fundraising celebration.

Seated in a comfortable armchair in a talk-show format, Obama was met with cheers when she made brief remarks about the current administration and "boos" after saying she wouldn't be running for public office.

"Michelle is a rarity in today's society," said Mattye Crowley, one of the event's 8,300 attendees. "We have witnessed for over eight years people picked and tormented her every move, and she stayed true to herself."

The former first lady told the audience how best to empower girls from a young age. She said a large portion of that responsibility falls on education.

"If we want girls in STEM, we need to rethink how we deliver education," Obama told the crowd, using the acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. "Teachers, a kind word can mean the world to a young girl."

While serving as first lady, she launched several campaigns aimed at education.

"Reach Higher" inspires students to complete education past high school, and "Let Girls Learn" helps facilitate educational opportunities for young girls in developing countries.

They may have left the White House, but the Obamas aren't going away anytime soon.

"Public service and engagement will be a part of my life and my husband's life forever," Obama said.

She stayed away from current politics, but did mention the campaign slogan of her husband, former President Barack Obama.

"It was never 'yes he can'; it was 'yes we can,'" Obama said. "When we put so much on a person, on a leader, we absolve ourselves of doing anything else. We're all on a journey together -- we are all figuring this out. We all want someone who will fix things, but we're going to have to fix it together."

Some final words of wisdom from Obama? Surround yourself with other powerful people, don't be afraid to fail and protect what you love.

"What is going on within us [women] that we don't feel worthy enough to protect the things we value?" she said.

See more here:
Michelle Obama rises above racist jabs to empower women - CNN International

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would ban transgender people from the U.S. military, an action appealing to some in his conservative political base but sowing confusion about the fate of thousands of transgender service members.

Trump's surprise announcement, in a series of Twitter posts, drew condemnation from rights groups and some lawmakers in both parties as discrimination with purely political motives. But it was praised by conservative activists and some Republicans.

Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the administration has not yet decided whether transgender service members already in the military would be immediately thrown out, saying the White House and Pentagon would have to work that out.

The action, reversing Democratic former President Barack Obama's policy, halted years of efforts to eliminate barriers to military service based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," Trump tweeted, without naming any of the generals or experts.

"Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail," added Trump, who as a presidential candidate last year vowed to fight for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

Sanders said Trump had "extensive discussions with his national security team" and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was informed after the president made the decision on Tuesday.

"This was about military readiness," Sanders told a briefing. "This was about unit cohesion. This was about resources within the military, and nothing more."

Some White House officials were caught by surprise. A senior administration official said Trump had been determined to act for a while, but the question was the timing, with advisers split on whether to conduct reviews before announcing the move.

The Pentagon earlier referred questions about Trump's decision to the White House.

The announcement at least temporarily changed the subject in Washington with Trump's administration mired in investigations into his presidential campaign's contacts with Russia and struggling to win approval of any major legislation.

It was not the first time Trump has targeted transgender people since taking office in January. In February, he rescinded protections for transgender students put in place by Obama that had let them use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity.

Senate Armed Forces Committee Chairman John McCain - the most prominent veteran in Congress, who was a Navy pilot and prisoner of war during the Vietnam War - called Trump's announcement unclear and inappropriate until an ongoing Pentagon study on the issue is completed and reviewed by Mattis, the military leadership and lawmakers.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council advocacy group, was among those praising Trump, saying that "our troops shouldn't be forced to endure hours of transgender 'sensitivity' classes and politically correct distractions."

Obama's Pentagon last year announced it was ending its ban on transgender people serving openly, calling the prohibition outdated. The Defense Department had been expected to start allowing transgender people to begin enlisting this year. But Mattis on June 30 approved a six-month delay in allowing transgender recruits to join the military.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Joshua Block said Trump had rejected the "basic humanity" of transgender service members.

"There are no cost or military readiness drawbacks associated with allowing trans people to fight for their country," Block said. "The president is trying to score cheap political points on the backs of military personnel who have put their lives on the line for their country."

Obama's defense secretary, Ash Carter, last year cited a study by the RAND Corporation think tank saying there were about 2,500 transgender active-duty service members and 1,500 reserve transgender service members.

"To choose service members on other grounds than military qualifications is social policy and has no place in our military," Carter said on Wednesday, noting there were already transgender individuals serving "capably and honorably."

The House of Representatives' top Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, noted that a Pentagon-commissioned study determined the cost of providing medically necessary transition-related care involving transgender service members would amount to one-100th of 1 percent of the military's healthcare budget. The study put the cost at $2.4 million to $8.4 million a year of the more than $50 billion the Defense Department spends on healthcare.

"Once again, President Trump has shown his conduct is driven not by honor, decency, or national security, but by raw prejudice," Pelosi said.

Sarah Warbelow of the Human Rights Campaign advocacy group said Trump's action amounted to "discrimination on the basis of sex and identity," and was open to legal challenge under the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law.

U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican whose son is transgender, said on Twitter: "No American, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be prohibited from honor + privilege of serving our nation."

Chelsea Manning, the transgender Army soldier who served seven years in prison for leaking classified data, said Trump's action "sounds like cowardice." Transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner defended "patriotic transgender Americans" in the military and asked Trump on Twitter, "What happened to your promise to fight for them?"

But Vicky Hartzler, a Republican congresswoman, praised Trump for changing Obama's "costly and damaging policy."

The U.S. military's ban on gays serving openly in the armed forces ended under Obama in 2011 after Congress passed legislation in 2010 reversing a law dubbed "don't ask, don't tell" that had forced the ouster of thousands of service members and others to hide their sexual orientation.

The Pentagon under Obama also opened all combat roles in the military to women.

The U.S. military at times has been in the vanguard of social progress. Trump's action came on the 69th anniversary of Democratic President Harry Truman racially integrating the armed forces, years before the 1950s and 1960s civil rights battles.

Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Phil Stewart in Washington; Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Lawrence Hurley and Susan Heavey in Washington, and Daniel Trotta, Andrew Seaman, Joseph Ax and Jonathan Allen in New York; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Jonathan Oatis

Read more:
Trump to ban transgender military personnel, reversing Obama - Reuters