Pres. Obama announces 'My Brother's Keeper' initiative to help young minority men
(CNN) – In a moving and honest message Thursday, President Barack Obama challenged young minority men to make good choices.
"Part of our message in this initiative is 'no excuses'. Government and private sector and philanthropy and all the faith communities, we have the responsibility to provide you the tools you need," he said at a White House event.
"We need to help you knock down some of the barriers that you experience," he continued. "That's what we are here for but you have responsibilities too."
The message was part of his new initiative called "My Brother's Keeper," where leading foundations and businesses will donate at least $200 million over five years towards programs aimed at minority youth of color.
Transcript: Obama announces 'My Brother's Keeper'
"This is as important as any issue that I work on. It's an issue that goes to the very heart of why I ran for President because if America stands for anything, it stands for the opportunity for everybody – the notion of no matter who you are or where you came from of the circumstances under which you were born – if you work hard, if you take responsibility then you can make it in this country," he said.
Greg Abbott: There's "no plans" to campaign again with Ted Nugent
Rocker Ted Nugent's controversial comments about the president came to light while he was campaigning with Texas Gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott.
Until now, Abbott has been fairly silent about Nugent.
CNN's Ed Lavandera caught up with the Texas Attorney General.
"I think what he said was wrong," Abbott says. "I think he was wrong to say it, I think he was right to apologize for it, and I think that I agree with his position for him to clean up his language, and raise the elevation of political rhetoric."
Supreme Court secretly recorded by protester
For the first time ever, video has been shot from inside the Supreme Court while the court was in session.
The video was taken as part of a planned protest by a group supporting campaign finance reform. It's unclear how the protesters got the camera inside the court.
Supreme Court secretly recorded on camera
No electronic devices have ever been permitted in the court's public sessions, and all spectators and members of the media are screened.
At the end of the video, a protester stands up, interrupts the court and is escorted out by security.
Supreme Court spectator interrupts justices
There are only two known pictures of the court in session. Both were taken by still cameras that were smuggled inside the chamber.
OutFront: CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin.
Russia military moving closer to Ukraine border: "This is not a win-win for Vladimir Putin," Hayden says
Vladamir Putin is beating the war drum.
Less than a week after the Olympic games, the Russian president is mobilizing his forces and preparing to crack down on the former Soviet State of Ukraine.
Russian fighter jets were dispatched to patrol the country's borders Thursday, and nearly 150,000 troops have been mobilized into military exercises near the region.
Russian troop movements near Ukraine raise concerns, U.S. official says
Russia says it will respect the "territorial integrity of Ukraine," but there is no question the show of force is a clear message to the U.S. it has no intention of letting Ukraine go.
CNN's Erin Burnett asked former NSA and CIA director General Michael Hayden what this means to the U.S. and Russia.
Russian president Vladimir Putin "is going to play hard ball over a long period of time because a Ukraine outside of his orbit and firmly in the western camp is probably unacceptable to him," Hayden said.
Documents: Christie staff jokes about causing rabbi traffic problems
Newly released documents are raising more questions about the scandal surrounding New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's administration.
According to the previously redacted documents, David Wildstein, then a top executive at the Port Authority, sent a photo of a New Jersey rabbi to Bridget Anne Kelley, then a top aide to Christie.
Documents: Christie appointees joke about rabbi and traffic problems
Along with the photo, he sent her a note that read, "he has officially pissed me off."
Kelly responded: "clearly," and "we cannot cause traffic problems in front of his house can we?"
Wildstein: "Flights to Tel Aviv all mysteriously delayed."
Six days earlier, Kelly sent the now-infamous email to Wildstein saying:
"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee"
And that's what apparently set the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge and this scandal in motion.
OutFront: Political Analyst Steve Adubato.
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