Iran Threatens Gulf Infrastructure as U.S.-Israel War Enters Critical 48-Hour Window 
Cuba Rejects U.S. Demands to Remove President Diaz-Canel Amid Ongoing Negotiations 
U.S. Prosecutors Scrutinize Colombian President Petro in Drug Trafficking Probes 
Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks Resume in Florida Amid Ongoing Russia-Ukraine War 
Trump's Shifting War Goals Against Iran: A Timeline of Contradictions 
Federal Judge Blocks Pentagon's Restrictive Press Access Policy 
Trump Signals End of U.S. Military Campaign Against Iran as Markets Rally 
Palestinian Activist Leqaa Kordia Released from U.S. Immigration Detention After Judge's Order 
U.S. Officials Express Optimism Over New CDC Director Selection Amid Vaccine Policy Turmoil 
U.S.-Iran War Escalates: Marines Deploy, Strait of Hormuz Closure Drives Global Oil Crisis 
Cuba-U.S. Military Tensions: Havana Warns It Is Ready to Defend Itself Against Potential American Aggression 
Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks in Florida Target Ceasefire Framework and Defense Cooperation 
Trump Presses Japan to Support Iran War Effort, Cites Pearl Harbor in Surprise Defense 
Israel Defies Trump's Warning, Launches New Strikes on Iran Amid Growing Global Energy Crisis 
Trump Administration Quietly Approves $7 Billion in Unannounced Weapons Sales to UAE 
Trump Links DHS Funding to Voter ID Legislation 
Even after leaving office in 2017, former President Barack Obama continues to be an influential figure that many look to and admire. Obama has been announced as a recipient of an accolade by PEN America.
Obama recently published his memoir titled, “A Promised Land,” filled with stories and insights from his time in the White House and even after leaving office. PEN America announced this week that the former president will be a recipient of its second Voice of Influence Award for his written works. Obama will be honored at the event on December 8, which will be held online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the event, the former president alongside historian and former PEN America President Ron Chernow will be discussing freedom of expression and the importance of truth in today’s world.
“As an organization of writers, we have always seen President Obama not just as a leader, but as one of us: an author. His probing and evocative narratives helped introduce the world to his unique background, and the power of his life experience as a prompt toward a more pluralistic and encompassing society,” said PEN America CEO Suzanne Nozel in a statement.
“A Promised Land” is the third book that Obama has penned. Prior to his memoir, the former president also wrote “The Audacity of Hope” and “Dreams from My Father.” Obama is the second recipient of its award, following filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who received the award in 2019.
Obama has been promoting his memoir in various tv interviews and on radio appearances. This week, the former president appeared on the radio program the Breakfast Club on Wednesday. He talked about the messaging made by the Republican party that brought the recent elections to a close fight between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Obama said that the messaging brought by the Republicans was essentially about how white males are the victims.
“What’s always interesting to me is the degree to which you’ve seen created by Republican politics the sense that white males are the victims,” said Obama. “They are the ones who are under attack -- which obviously doesn’t jive with both history and data and economics. But that’s a sincere belief, that’s been internalized, that’s a story that’s being told and how you unwind that is going to be not something that is done right away.”
