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Weekly Wrap Up: "The Departed," Pizza, Pool, and Fireworks

Summary: 
This week, President Obama sat down with everyday Americans who wrote him from around the country; he grabbed some pizza and shot some pool in Denver; he chowed down on some BBQ in Austin; and we celebrated Independence Day at the White House. Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap up.

This week, President Obama sat down with everyday Americans who wrote him from around the country; he grabbed some pizza and shot some pool in Denver; he chowed down on some BBQ in Austin; and we celebrated Independence Day at the White House. 

Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap up.


POTUS Channels "The Departed"

Yesterday, President Obama capped off a three-day road trip with a visit to Austin, Texas, where he sat down for coffee with a letter writer, delivered a speech on the economy, and grabbed lunch at a local BBQ joint.

In his speech at the historic Paramount Theatre, the President took a line from "The Departed" to describe Republicans in Congress:

There’s a great movie called “The Departed” -- a little violent for kids. But there’s a scene in the movie where Mark Wahlberg -- they’re on a stakeout and somehow the guy loses the guy that they’re tracking. And Wahlberg is all upset and yelling at the guy. And the guy looks up and he says, “Well, who are you?” And Wahlberg says, “I’m the guy doing my job. You must be the other guy.” Sometimes, I feel like saying to these guys, I’m the guy doing my job, you must be the other guy.

We're Making Progress

The President's pen and phone have been busy this year.

In his State of the Union address, he vowed to make 2014 a "year of action." And he's made good on that promise.

Learn more about the President's actions this year.

Already this year, the President has taken more than 40 executive actions to help working families across the country succeed, and move this country forward.

Find out how the President is working to ensure opportunity for all Americans.


"Don't get cynical. Don't do it."

On a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in Denver's Cheesman Park, President Obama delivered remarks about the economy, the progress that his Administration has made, and how Republican obstructionism is making it more difficult for Americans achieve their full potential.

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The President said that as a country we're making progress:

Today, our businesses have added nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months. Construction and housing are rebounding. Our auto industry is booming. Manufacturing is adding jobs for the first time since the ‘90s. The unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest point since September of 2008 -- the fastest one-year drop in nearly 30 years.

We are better off today by almost every economic measure than we were when President Obama took office. But the President reiterated that there's still work to do.


POTUS, Pizza, and Pool in Denver

On Tuesday, President Obama made his first stop on a three-day tour of Colorado and Texas. The President ate pizza with five Coloradans who wrote him, strolled through the streets of Denver, and ended up at a local brewery to shoot some pool with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. See the trip on Instagram.

The next day, the President did a little bragging on the outcome of the game: "You should not ask him who won. No, no, really, don't ask Governor Hickenlooper who won at pool."


Fourth of July at the White House

New American citizens, lots of burgers, Pitbull, and fireworks. It was quite a Fourth of July at the White House.

Celebrate Independence Day all over again, and check out what you missed.


As always, to see even more of this week's events, be sure to watch the latest episode of West Wing Week:

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