Denis McDonough

Ayatollah: ‘Their Goal Is Opposite to Ours’

This weekend, as the Obama administration continued to stress the importance of reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, Iran’s Supreme Leader continued to tweet—in English, no less—that Iran would never abide by a deal to the benefit of the United States.

AFP PHOTO / HO/ IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER'S WEBSITE

Obama’s Chief of Staff Fires up J Street: Israel’s ‘Occupation Must End’

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonoough earned raucous cheers from the left-wing activists gathered at J Street’s fifth annual conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday when he attacked Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. “An occupation that has lasted almost 50 years must end,” he said. J Street was founded to disrupt the close U.S.-Israel alliance and to serve as an alternative to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the powerful pro-Israel group.

McDonough (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

James Baker Advising Jeb Bush, Keynoting J Street Conference

Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III is to deliver the keynote at this weekend’s J Street conference, a gathering of left-wing activists opposed to the Israeli government and to recently re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Baker, who served under President George H.W. Bush, is also advising Jeb Bush in his presidential effort, according to a report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Baker is considered hostile to Israel and is controversial among Jewish voters.

James A. Baker III (Reuters)

WH Plans to Stay ‘One Step Ahead’ of al-Qaeda with Summit

Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” White House chief of staff Denis McDonough said they plan to “stay one step ahead,” of al Qaeda in Yemen with a three-day summit “on countering violent extremism.” McDonough said, “Obviously we made clear

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White House Investigating Outing of CIA Station Chief

White House chief of staff Denis McDonough has asked White House counsel, Neil Eggleston, to investigate how the name of the CIA’s top spy in Afghanistan ended up being disclosed to reporters by the White House. The officer’s name was mistakenly included in

Angry Dems Grill WH Chief of Staff over Obamacare Failures

Meeting Thursday with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Democratic Senators blasted the Obama administration’s handling of the Obamacare rollout, according to The Hill. “There’s a lot of frustration, everywhere,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said. One Democratic Senator said

Angry Dems Grill WH Chief of Staff over Obamacare Failures