January

Watch: President Obama Delivers his Final State of the Union Address

February

Watch: "What's the secret to still dancing at 106?"

March

Watch: West Wing Week 3/25/16 or, “¡Hola, Cuba!”

Watch: President Obama and the First Family Take a Walk in Old Havana

April

Watch: President Obama Explores America's Newest National Monument

May

Watch: President Obama Meets With His Kid Science Advisors

June

Watch: President Obama meets "Little Miss Flint"

July

Watch: Celebrating the 26th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

August

Watch: President Obama visits Midway Atoll

September

Watch: Dear President Obama: "We Will Give Him a Family"

October

Watch: A Peek Inside SXSL: A Festival at the White House

November

Watch: President Obama in Athens, Greece

December

Watch: First Family Attends The Christmas Tree Lighting

Check out some of our favorite videos from the past eight years.

This summer, the world was shocked by a photo of a young Syrian boy, sitting silently in an ambulance after an air strike on Aleppo, covered in blood and dust. The boy, Omran, became an iconic image of the toll the conflict in Syria is taking on its people and the ongoing refugee crisis it has created. 

In a politically caustic environment, it is not surprising that some have reacted with fear and suspicion to the idea of welcoming refugees to our shores. But not Alex. Alex is six years old and lives just outside of New York City with his mom, dad, and little sister Catherine. When Alex saw what had happened to Omran, he sat down at his kitchen table and wrote President Obama a letter. "Can you please go get him and bring him to [my home]," he asked. "We'll be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons. We will give him a family and he will be our brother." 

In the Leaders Summit on Refugees this week, President Obama shared that letter with the world leaders that had gathered together to discuss what they could do to solve the global refugee crisis. 

The humanity that a young child can display, who hasn’t learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of where they’re from, or how they look, or how they pray, and who just understands the notion of treating somebody that is like him with compassion, with kindness -- we can all learn from Alex.

The President also shared his story on Facebook. 

You can read the full letter here: 

Transcript: 

Dear President Obama, 

Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria? Can you please go get him and bring him to [my home]? Park in the driveway or on the street and we will be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons. We will give him a family and he will be our brother. Catherine, my little sister, will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him. In my school, I have a friend from Syria, Omar, and I will introduce him to Omar. We can all play together. We can invite him to birthday parties and he will teach us another language. We can teach him English too, just like my friend Aoto from Japan.

Please tell him that his brother will be Alex who is a very kind boy, just like him. Since he won't bring toys and doesn't have toys Catherine will share her big blue stripy white bunny. And I will share my bike and I will teach him how to ride it. I will teach him additions and subtractions in math. And he [can] smell Catherine's lip gloss penguin which is green. She doesn't let anyone touch it. 

Thank you very much! I can't wait for you to come!

Alex

6 years old 

Watch: 

On his approach to countries with which we share a difficult history: 

“If you look at what we've done in Cuba and Myanmar and Laos and Vietnam, these are countries that were historic enemies and it grows out of the vestiges of the Cold War. But a new generation of people all around the world are ready to turn the chapter, and we have to meet them and work with them."

On why it was important to visit Laos: 

"When we are able to come here, show respect for their culture, recognize our history and point towards a future in which we can work together, we will actually have more influence. We'll be able to promote our ideals more effectively. And we'll also learn from these countries."

On what our engagement with countries like Laos means for our future:

"For so long the United States has been so big, so powerful that we felt that we could afford not to know about a country like Laos. But the world has shrunk, it's interconnected -- and if we want to deal with issues from climate change to wildlife trafficking, to dealing with terrorism, we need the cooperation of everybody. That's part of what we've been able to accomplish, I think over the last seven, eight years is open up places that previously were closed and engage people in ways that will pay huge dividends in the future."

Friday, February 12th

• ​On Friday, the President doubled the number of acres he's protected while in office by announcing three new national monuments in the American west, conserving 1.8 million acres of the California desert. He got an aerial view of the newly protected lands from Air Force One before landing in Palm Springs.

Saturday, February 13th

• On Saturday, the President marked the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Monday, February 15th

• ​On Monday, the President hosted the first day of the ASEAN summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN summit -- at the historic Sunnylands Center in Palm Springs.

Tuesday, February 16th

• The meetings continued Tuesday, culminating in the President holding a press conference to highlight the positive progress achieved at the summit.

Wednesday, February 17th

• On Wednesday, the President invited to the Oval Office his former National Security Advisor, Tom Donilon, and IBM's former CEO Sam Palmisano, to discuss their respective appointments as Chair  and Vice Chair of the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity.

Thursday, February 18th

• On Thursday, the President's hometown hockey team brought the Stanley Cup to the White House. The Chicago Blackhawks joined the President in the East Room to celebrate their 2015 championship.

Stay engaged with us online -- and on our newest social media platform -- Snapchat!

Saturday

• Over the weekend, the White House – like much of the northeast – was covered in snow.

Monday

• On Monday, Concepcion Picciotto passed away. Concepcion protested outside the White House for more than three decades, becoming the longest-running act of political protest in the U.S. Her peace vigil remains outside the White House grounds.

Tuesday

• On Tuesday,  the President hosted House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid in the Oval Office.

Wednesday

• On Wednesday, the President held a series of interviews with local reporters from around the country -- mainly to discuss health insurance, and the rapidly approaching deadline to get covered by January 31st!
• Later, the President spoke at the Embassy of Israel. Wednesday marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 71st anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

Thursday

• On Thursday, the President attended the House Democratic Issues Conference in Baltimore.

Stay engaged with us online -- and on our newest social media platform -- Snapchat!

Friday, January 15th

• ​On Friday afternoon, the President went live from the East room with three popular YouTube creators.

Sunday, January 17th

• ​On Sunday, the President took to the podium to discuss the international agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Monday, January 18th

• ​On Monday, the President and the First Lady headed to Leckie Elementary School to participate in a community service project -- alongside some bright young Leckie Lions.

Tuesday, January 19th

• On Tuesday, the President welcomed to the White House Prime Minister Turnbull of Australia  -- his first trip to Washington since assuming office.

Wednesday, January 20th

• On Wednesday, the President headed to Detroit, Michigan to highlight the city's resurgence. The President got a taste of the city while eating lunch with Detroit's Mayor and local business leaders at the Jolly Pumpkin. And he stopped by the shop next door, Shinola. Then, he motored to the 2016 North American International Auto Show where he saw the new electric Chevy Bolt and shared it with you all on Facebook Live.

Thursday, January 21st

• On Thursday, the President hosted a reception for the nation’s mayors to further expand the partnerships between cities and the federal government.

Stay engaged with us online -- and on our newest social media platform -- Snapchat!

Sunday, January 3rd

• ​On Sunday, the First Family landed on the South Lawn after some family time in the Aloha State over the holidays.

Monday, January 4th

• ​Monday morning kicked off a new year at the White House. And it was time to hit the ground running to prep for next week's SOTU -- that's short for the State of the Union. The President made a video about his SOTU Address, for all of you on facebook.

Tuesday, January 5th

• ​On Tuesday, the President took to the podium in the East Room to announce a series of commonsense executive actions designed to keep guns out of the wrong hands through background checks, increase mental health treatment and reporting to the background check system, and help shape the future of gun safety technology.

Wednesday, January 6th

• On Wednesday and throughout SOTU prep week, White House senior staff reached out to special guests to ask them to sit in the Presidential box to watch the State of the Union Address.

Thursday, January 7th

• On Thursday evening, the President joined CNN's Anderson Cooper at George Mason University, where they hosted a live town hall event on reducing gun violence in America.

So stay engaged with us online -- and remember to catch the President's final State of the Union Address live on Whitehouse.gov on January 12th.

Saturday, December 12

• On Saturday evening, the President delivered a statement from the Cabinet Room on the historic global agreement reached by the U.S. and nearly 200 nations to combat climate change, otherwise known as the Paris Agreement.

Monday, December 14

• The work week kicked off with an official visit to the Pentagon. Alongside the Vice President, the President convened a National Security Council meeting on the counter-ISIL campaign. Afterward, he spoke to the media on the need to intensify our coalition efforts against ISIL to degrade and ultimately destroy that terrorist organization.

Tuesday, December 15

• Tuesday morning was time for a trip to the National Archives — where the President got to do one of his favorite things: attend a naturalization ceremony. New American citizens representing 25 different countries took the oath, and did so within reach of the actual document that makes that ceremony possible, the U.S. Constitution.
• Later, the People's House served as a stop for Eden's Make-a-Wish scavenger hunt. Eden is battling brain cancer, and First Dogs Bo and Sunny gave her a special clue to help her fulfill the wish she made — to meet and ride a unicorn.

Wednesday, December 16

• On Wednesday, the President invited three-term Mayor of the Big Apple, Michael Bloomberg, into the Oval Office, where they discussed efforts to curb gun violence in America.

Thursday, December 17

• On Thursday, in advance of the holidays, the President traveled to the National Counterterrorism Center for a threat briefing and to review efforts — across our entire government — to prevent attacks and protect our homeland.

Don't forget to stay engaged with us online — on the White House social media platform you enjoy the most. And from your West Wing Week correspondents, we wish you safe and happy holidays!

Friday, December 4

• On Friday, the President met with former Representative Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly to talk about reducing gun violence.

Sunday, December 6

• On Sunday, the President and First Lady welcomed to the White House the Kennedy Center Honorees — 5 distinguished individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the arts.
• At 8:01 PM, the President delivered an address to the nation from the Oval Office on his top priority: keeping the American people safe. He laid out the key elements of our strategy to combat terrorism abroad and at home.
• Meanwhile, the Vice President landed in Ukraine shortly before midnight for a two-day visit.

Monday, December 7

• On Monday morning, the Vice President met with Ukrainian officials and civil society leaders for a "reformers roundtable" to discuss efforts to combat corruption in Ukraine.
• Later, the Vice President visited the Memorial to the Heavenly Hundred — a display honoring the 100 Ukrainian civilians killed during the protests of February 2014.
• Then, he stepped into a private meeting with President Poroshenko.
• In between a busy schedule of bilateral meetings, the Vice President had a meeting of a different sort — with some cute kids who's parents work at the Embassy in Kiev.
• And later, he met with Prime Minister Yatsenyuk.

Tuesday, December 8

• On Tuesday, the Vice President addressed the Ukrainian Parliament on tackling corruption, building a strong democracy, and addressing Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Wednesday, December 9

• Back in the United States on Wednesday, the President visited Capitol Hill to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that outlawed slavery.
• That afternoon, the President invited Israeli President Rivlin to the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting. And later, the two Presidents both attended the annual Hanukkah reception — with a special musical performance by the Maccabeats.

Thursday, December 10

• On Thursday morning, the President signed the Every Student Succeeds Act, which enshrines much needed reforms to our education system, especially addressing the problem of over-testing our students.

Stay engaged with us online, and remember, you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at WhiteHouse.gov.

Friday, November 27

• On Friday, the First Lady, along with Bo and Sunny, welcomed the White House Christmas Tree — a Fraser fir, standing a full 18.5 feet tall in the Blue Room. Meanwhile, hundreds of volunteers prepared the White House for the holiday season.

Saturday, November 28

• On Small Business Saturday, the President and his daughters did some holiday shopping at a local bookstore, Upshur Street Books. And for a quick treat on the way home, they stopped by a local favorite — Pleasant Pops, for popsicles.

• On Sunday morning, the President boarded Air Force One en route to Paris, where he would attend a summit of leaders from nearly 200 nations who had gathered to address the threat of climate change. He landed after midnight — and went straight to the Bataclan, the concert venue where the most lives were lost during the terrible Paris terrorist attacks.

Monday, November 30

• On Monday morning, the President and his delegation drove to Le Bourget — where he spent a busy day with world leaders working on a deal to address climate change on a global scale. There, he also held two bilateral meetings. First, with President Xi Jinping of China, and later with Prime Minister Modi of India. He also addressed the Opening Session on the need to confront climate change.
• Later, in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium, the President announced Mission Innovation — a public and private sector project to invest in clean energy research and development.
• Following in the European tradition, the President attended a late dinner — hosted by President Hollande of France, in Paris' historic Marais neighborhood.

Tuesday, December 1

• Tuesday's agenda was filled with more meetings. First, with President Erdogan of Turkey and his delegation at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Paris. Then, the President got to meet with Embassy staff and their children.
• And later, the US hosted a meeting with leaders of small island nations — countries that are seeing firsthand the effects of climate change, and must already prepare for the consequences.
• Then it was lights, camera, action as the President sat down for an interview with French journalist Laura Haim.
• The President's final event of the day before flying home was a news conference where he answered questions about the Turkish border with Syria, our campaign to degrade and destroy ISIL, and both the threat and opportunity posed by climate change.
• Then it was time for the President and his staff to go home — leaving behind a delegation to continue the work with other nations to finalize the details of the climate deal.

Thursday, December 3

• On Thursday morning, the President delivered a statement about the senseless shooting in San Bernardino, California.
• Later, the President participated in one of his favorite quarterly activities — meeting with the season's class of interns — where he gets to put on his mentor hat and answer some questions.
• That evening, the First Family kicked off the holiday season with the lighting ceremony for the National Christmas Tree on the White House Ellipse.

Stay engaged with us on social media and remember, you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at WhiteHouse.gov.

Friday, November 20th

• On Friday, the President wrapped up his trip to Manila with a meet and greet with Embassy staff and their families.
• Then, he was wheels up to Kuala Lumpur — the last stop on his 3-country trip to Asia. There, he participated in a town hall with young Southeast Asian leaders.
• Later, the President held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Saturday, November 21st

• On Saturday, the President started the day by talking trade to leaders from the largest markets for U.S. exports — at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.
• Later, he went to the Dignity for Children Foundation, a school and training center for more than 1,000 students, many of them refugees. The President spoke powerfully about how America is at its best when we give a chance to refugees who have risked everything to live a life free of persecution.

Sunday, November 22nd

• On Sunday, before a day of meetings, the President greeted the staff and families of the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia. Then, world leaders and their delegates filled the halls of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the East Asia Summit.
• And later, the President sat down with the Prime Minister of Singapore for a bilateral meeting.
• The President concluded his trip with a news conference, where he answered some questions about ISIL.
• After a week of whirlwind meetings, the President and his delegation bid adieu to Asia and headed home — crossing multiple time zones and arriving in the wee hours of Monday morning.

Tuesday, November 24th

• On Tuesday, the President welcomed President François Hollande of France to the White House to discuss international efforts to combat ISIL. They joined reporters in the East Room for a news conference.
• And that afternoon, the President honored 17 distinguished Americans, who were honored with the highest civilian honor — the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Wednesday, November 26th

• On Wednesday, the President convened a meeting with his National Security Team to discuss efforts to protect the homeland over the holidays.
• That afternoon, the President welcomed some impressive student entrepreneurs in the Oval Office.
• And later, the President continued the tradition of pardoning a turkey — freeing "Honest" and "Abe" from a Thanksgiving dinner table.
• Following the turkey pardon, the First Family volunteered at Friendship Place, their own "service before supper" tradition.

Stay engaged with us online at WhiteHouse.gov, and check us out on social media. And from your West Wing Week correspondents... have a safe Thanksgiving, stuffed with turkey and gravy.

Friday, November 13th

• On Friday, the President expressed our solidarity with the French people, after terrorists attacked their capital city.

Sunday, November 15th

• The dialogue on our efforts to combat ISIL continued through the weekend, when the President crossed the Atlantic on his way to Turkey, the first stop on his 10 day trip to Asia.
• One 10-hour flight later, the President arrived at the ripe hour of 6:56 AM, where he began a full day of meetings with world leaders. First he met with the host country’s President Erdoğan. Then, he took a family photo with the G-20 leaders, and later held a bilateral meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

Monday, November 16th

• On Monday, the President continued his whirlwind of meetings. He kicked it off with a meet and greet with local embassy staff, and then onto the G-20 summit.
• In the afternoon he met with four European leaders from the UK, Germany, Italy, and France. And later, the President held a news conference where he answered questions about the terror attacks in Paris, and how the United States and the 65 members of the coalition we lead will further intensify our efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.

Tuesday, November 17th

• On Tuesday, the President flew another 11 hours to reach the Philippines. Soon after Air Force One touched down in Manila, the President was off to the Port of Manila to inspect a ship that once was part of our coast guard until we provided it to the Philippine Navy to shore up maritime security in the South China Sea.
• Then the President held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Australia.

Wednesday, November 18th

• Wednesday kicked off another meeting and press conference — this time with the host country’s President Aquino. Later, the President spoke with enthusiastic business leaders in the Asia Pacific that are dedicated to making an impact and the global challenge to combat climate change.
• That afternoon, the President and other APEC leaders took a family photo before a meeting about the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a new trade agreement that will level the playing field for American workers and American businesses.
• The President capped off a busy day with a group photo before sitting down to dinner and a cultural performance.

Thursday, November 19th

• On his final day in Manila, the President headed into his last round of meetings with APEC world leaders to discuss regional integration and the global economy.
• He followed that up with two one-on-one meetings. The first with Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and then Prime Minister Shinzō Abe of Japan.

It’s been a busy cross-continental week, so stay engaged with us online, and remember, you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at WhiteHouse.gov. And stay tuned next week when the President’s journey in Asia concludes in Kuala Lumpur.

Friday, November 6th

• On Friday, the President announced that the U.S. will not approve construction on the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline.

Monday, November 9th

• On Monday, the President welcomed Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel to the White House.
• Later that day, Facebook got a new user! Make sure you "like" the page of "President Obama" to hear from him directly on important issues facing our country — and some just-for-fun stuff, too.

Tuesday, November 10th

• On Tuesday, the President welcomed to the Oval Office the American Laureates of the 2015 Nobel Prizes — four Americans who have excelled in Medicine, Chemistry, and Economics.

Wednesday, November 11th

• On Veterans Day, the President visited Arlington National Cemetery to honor those who have served our country.
• Meanwhile, the First Lady and Dr. Biden hosted a Veterans Day luncheon, as part of their Joining Forces initiative.

Thursday, November 12th

• On Thursday, the President awarded Captain Florent Grober of Maryland the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry — when he tackled a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2012.

Tune in next week for a special West Wing Week: Asia Travels Edition, as the President embarks on a 10-day trip to Turkey, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

And remember, you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at WhiteHouse.gov.

Friday, October 30th

• On Halloween, the White House was transformed into an Enchanted Forest. The President and First Lady welcomed hundreds of trick-or-treaters to the South Lawn. They handed out candy to a diverse group of witches, ghosts, minions, and a little lady Pope!

Monday, November 2nd

• On Monday morning, the President signed the bipartisan Budget Act in the Oval Office.
• Later, the President headed to Newark, New Jersey. There, he met with local leaders at Integrity House in Newark, a non-profit that recognizes the importance of prisoner re-entry and tackles all aspects of re-integration, including transitional housing, job training, substance treatment and recovery.
• Then, he spoke at Rutgers University about the need for comprehensive criminal justice reform — and announced new actions to re-integrate formerly-incarcerated individuals back into their communities.

Tuesday, November 3rd

• On Tuesday, the First Lady joined by Conan O'Brian visited a military base in Qatar to show her support for the 11,000 troops stationed there.
• The next day, the First Lady spoke at the World Innovation Summit for Education — or WISE — in Doha, Qatar. And she took a tour of the WISE Summit Learning Labs.

Wednesday, November 4th

• On Wednesday, the President hopped on a phone call with Secretary Burwell to discuss Open Enrollment, during which folks can enroll in a health insurance plan. The period ends on January 31st — so get covered today on HealthCare.gov.

Thursday, November 5th

• In the wee hours of Thursday morning, the text of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement was released. You can read the whole agreement online.
• On Thursday afternoon, the President was talking healthcare with local reporters from cities across the country — cities that are are all part of a new Healthy Communities Challenge.
• And later, the President, otherwise known as President Barack Black Eagle, spoke at the Tribal Nations Conference — and took part in a discussion with Native youth about challenges facing Native American communities.

Stay engaged with us online, and remember, you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at WH.gov/video.

Friday, October 23

• On Friday, the kids of White House staffers were treated to a spooky trick-or-treat in the halls of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Monday, October 26

• On Monday, the President took a stroll on a crisp fall day to the Metropolitan Club, a couple blocks north of the White House.
• Later the President welcomed President Joko Widodo of Indonesia for his first White House visit as President.

Tuesday, October 27

• On Tuesday, the President hosted the world champion U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, who made America proud during the World Cup in Vancouver last July. Those women have inspired a lot of young girls along the way.
• The President then headed to his old stomping grounds — Chicago. There, he addressed the International Association of Chiefs of Police — the largest gathering of law enforcement leaders in the world. He thanked police for the important work they do, and addressed the need for criminal justice reform.
• And later that night, the President rooted for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA season opener — to the thrill and surprise of a packed arena.

Wednesday, October 28

• On Wednesday, the First Lady and Dr. Biden joined forces with Prince Harry to meet wounded service members at Fort Belvoir in Virginia — and to promote the Invictus Games, an international event for injured military personnel. They toured studios and met with vets who are channeling their experiences into powerful art and music. Then, they watched a wheelchair basketball game.
• Later, the President sat down with the royal guest in the Oval Office.

Stay engaged with us online, where you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at WhiteHouse.gov. And tune in next week for a Halloween extravaganza episode!

Friday, October 16

• On Friday, the President met with President Park of South Korea in the Oval Office — and then held a news conference in the East Room.

Monday, October 19

• On Monday, the First Lady launched the Better Make Room campaign, as part of her Reach Higher initiative to encourage young people to pursue a higher education. Visit BetterMakeRoom.org to learn more.
• Meanwhile, in the West Wing, the President hosted a roundtable with CEOs, and announced that 81 of the largest companies in the world have pledged to take steps to reduce carbon pollution. The conversation continued into the afternoon, as business leaders discussed their commitments to curb their carbon footprints. And later, the Vice President joined the discussion.
• Later, the President made a phone call that was out of this world.
• That evening, in the spirit of space exploration, the White House welcomed students and scientists to the South Lawn for the second White House Astronomy Night.

Tuesday, October 20

• On Tuesday, the President met with the 2014 Enrico Fermi Award Recipients — to celebrate their achievements in physics and energy research.

Wednesday, October 21

• On Wednesday, the President joined the Vice President, who made an important announcement in the Rose Garden.
• Later, the President traveled to Charleston, West Virginia, to meet with members of the community and hear first-hand how the prescription drug abuse and heroin epidemic is ravaging local communities — not just in West Virginia, but all across the country.
• Meanwhile, the First Lady traveled to Akron, Ohio, alongside favorite son Lebron James. They joined a fired-up crowd to talk about her recently-launched Better Make Room campaign.

Thursday, October 22

• On Thursday, the President hosted Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan at the White House.
• Later, the President answered questions about criminal justice reform in a conversation that was hosted here at the White House by The Marshall Project.
• That evening, the President vetoed a bill passed by Republicans in Congress that would rely on an accounting gimmick to fund our armed forces.

Stay engaged with us online, and remember: you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at whitehouse.gov.

Friday, October 9

• On Friday morning, the President boarded Air Force One — bound for Oregon. There, the President met with the grieving families of those killed in the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg.

Sunday, October 10

• On Sunday, in honor of International Day of the Girl, the First Lady released her first-ever Spotify playlist, featuring an impressive array of female artists. Join the First Lady, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Janelle Monae and so many others by sharing a photo of yourself using the hashtag #62MillionGirls to highlight the millions of girls around the world who aren't in school.
• Also over the weekend, The New York Review of Books released a podcast of a conversation between the President and beloved American novelist, Marilynne Robinson. Check out a behind-the-scenes look at their conversation.

Wednesday, October 14

• On Wednesday, the First Lady and world-class musicians and artists sat down with middle-school students for a hands-on workshop.
• The White House has a tradition of hosting musicians and artists for occasional jam sessions, drawing talent from all musical genres to celebrate the varied musical traditions of America. On Wednesday night, the White House hosted "In Performance: A Celebration of American Creativity," featuring Buddy Guy, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Audra McDonald, Keb’ Mo’, Smokey Robinson, Trombone Shorty, Esperanza Spalding, Brian Stokes Mitchell, James Taylor, and Usher, with special readings and remarks from Carol Burnett. Catch the airing of the full show in January on PBS, but you can also check out about past performances online.

Thursday, October 15

• On Thursday morning, the President took to a lectern in the Roosevelt Room of the White House to discuss our strategy in Afghanistan.
• That afternoon, the President celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month and the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics — with a special guest, the Buena Vista Social Club Orchestra.

Remember to stay engaged with us online, where you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos of these events. And thanks so much for checking out this edition of West Wing Week.

Tonight, at 7:25 pm ET, catch the latest “In Performance: A Celebration of American Creativity” — this time, featuring Buddy Guy, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Audra McDonald, Keb’ Mo’, Smokey Robinson, Trombone Shorty, Esperanza Spalding, Brian Stokes Mitchell, James Taylor, and Usher, with special readings and remarks from Carol Burnett.

Catch the airing of the full show in January on PBS. Check out some of our favorite backstage moments from the In Performance series below:

Backstage with Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks 

Celebrating the Gospel Tradition

Backstage with John Legend

Backstage with Dierks Bentley

Memphis Soul featuring Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite

And that was the spirit of their music — the sound of Soulsville, U.S.A., a music that, at its core, is about the pain of being alone, the power of human connection, and the importance of treating each other right. After all, this is the music that asked us to try a little tenderness. It’s the music that put Mr. Big Stuff in his place. (Laughter.) And it’s the music that challenged us to accept new ways of thinking with four timeless words: “Can you dig it?” —President Obama; May 2, 2013

Backstage with Keb' Mo'

This is music with humble beginnings — roots in slavery and segregation, a society that rarely treated black Americans with the dignity and respect that they deserved. The blues bore witness to these hard times. And like so many of the men and women who sang them, the blues refused to be limited by the circumstances of their birth. —President Obama; February 27, 2012

President Obama spontaneously sings “Sweet Home Chicago”

Check out more musical moments at WH.gov/performances.

Friday, October 2

• On Friday, the President got a briefing from FEMA administrator Craig Fugate on preparations underway for Hurricane Joaquin.
• That afternoon, the President announced that Education Secretary Arne Duncan, one of the President's longest-serving Cabinet members, was preparing to step down at the end of the year.

Saturday, October 3

• On Saturday, the First Couple celebrated their 23rd Wedding Anniversary!

Sunday, October 4

• On Sunday, the President flew over the Potomac to Emmitsburg, Maryland. There, the President paid tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives this year while serving their fellow Americans.

Monday, October 5

• On Monday morning, the President announced a historic agreement reached among 12 nations that make up the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The deal will help American businesses sell more goods stamped "Made in America" to some of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Tuesday, October 6

• On Tuesday, the President spent the day talking about his trade agreement. First, at the Department of Agriculture, President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with business leaders to talk about how cutting 18,000 different import taxes will help American workers and our economy.
• The President and Secretary Vilsack then sat down to phone into a radio show hosted by Tom Steever of Brownfield Ag News to answer questions about how the trade agreement will help American farmers. President Obama also sat down for two interviews — one with Kai Ryssdal of Marketplace, and the second with Steve Kroft of CBS's 60 Minutes.
• The afternoon was filled with peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, and greens as the First Lady joined local students in the White House garden to harvest some of fall's produce and learn some healthy kitchen habits.

Wednesday, October 7

• On Wednesday afternoon, the President participated in the Worker's Voice Summit — to energize a new generation of Americans to recognize the power of their voice at work. He also participated in a conversation using the Coworker.org platform.

Thursday, October 8

• On Thursday, the President released a video thanking Americans for stepping up to help Syrian families fleeing violence in their war-torn country. Find out how you can help at AidRefugees.gov.
• On Thursday evening, the President spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 38th Anniversary Awards Gala — to celebrate the achievements of the Latino community in the United States.

Stay engaged with us online, and you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos of these events at whitehouse.gov.

Friday, September 25

• On Friday, the President welcomed President Xi of China to the White House during the Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn — the second one this week!
• President Obama and President Xi held a bilateral meeting and a press conference where they reaffirmed the critical role that our countries play in cutting carbon pollution and fighting climate change.
• Meanwhile, the First Ladies took a walk on the wild side at the Smithsonian National Zoo. There, they visited the panda house, and named the new panda cub!
• Later that afternoon, the President headed to Fort Myer to bid adieu to General Martin Dempsey, who is retiring as the Chairman of the Join Chiefs of Staff.
• That night, the President and First Lady dressed up for the Official State Dinner to welcome Chinese President Xi and First Lady Peng.

Saturday, September 26

• On Saturday, the First Lady attended the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park. There, she started a conversation online to highlight the 62 million girls worldwide who are not in school and don't have access to education. Check out the website at 62milliongirls.com.

Sunday, September 27

• On Sunday, the President was wheels down in New York City at 12:03pm. The next few days were a whirlwind of meetings with world leaders and speeches to those gathered in the big apple for the United Nations General Assembly.

Monday, September 28

• In the morning, the President addressed the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
• Later that afternoon, the President had meetings with Prime Minister modi of India and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Peacekeeping Summit, and lastly the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

Tuesday, September 29

• On Tuesday, the President had more meetings — including bilats with the President of Cuba and the President of Kazakhstan. He also chaired the Leaders' Summit on Countering ISIL and Countering Violent Extremism.

Wednesday, September 30

• On Wednesday, the President made his way across West Executive Drive to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building — where he spoke to Democratic State Legislators.

Stay engaged with us online, and you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos of these events at whitehouse.gov.

Friday, September 18th

• On Friday, the President met with his science and technology advisers in the Roosevelt Room.
• Later that afternoon, the President welcomed an audience of moviegoers to a screening of “Fixing the System” – a VICE Media documentary on criminal justice reform, featuring the President’s visit to a federal prison back in July. Catch the documentary on September 27th on HBO.

Saturday, September 19th

• On Saturday, the President and First Lady celebrated the Congressional Black Caucus – an organization representing the black members of the U.S. Congress – at its annual awards dinner.

Monday, September 20th

• On Monday, preparations were in full swing for the Papal Arrival Ceremony, taking place later in the week.

Tuesday, September 21st

• On Tuesday, His Holiness Pope Francis arrived at Joint Base Andrews in “Shepherd One” to a friendly welcoming committee, including the President, First Lady, Vice President, Dr. Biden, and their families.

Wednesday, September 22nd

• On Wednesday, Washington, DC, opened its arms to Pope Francis. After months of preparation, the White House hosted an Arrival Ceremony for the Pope and 11,000 guests on the South Lawn. His arrival marks the Holy Father’s first visit to the U.S.

Thursday, September 23rd

• On Thursday, the President gave awards to public servants from the Department of Health and Human Services, for their significant contributions in the fight to contain the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
• Later that evening, the President welcomed the President of China to the White House – the night before the official State Arrival Ceremony, which you can catch in next week’s episode.

Stay engaged with us online and on Periscope. Remember, you can find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at whitehouse.gov.

Thanks so much for checking out this “Pope and Change” edition of your West Wing Week.

Friday, September 11th

• On Friday, the President, First Lady, and White House staff observed a moment of silence at 8:46 AM — the time the first airplane struck the World Trade Center on September 11th, 14 years ago.
• Later that day, the President spent time with the patriotic service men and women serving their country around the world at a troop town hall at Fort Meade in Maryland.

Monday, September 14th

• On Monday, the President traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, joining Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's annual Back-to-School bus tour. They answered questions from high school students, teachers, and parents.
• The President also sat down with thought-leader Marilynne Robinson, a Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist who lives in Iowa. Stay tuned for the complete conversation.

Tuesday, September 15th

• On Tuesday, the President hosted the 2015 NCAA Women's Basketball Champion, University of Connecticut Huskies.
• Later that afternoon, the President hosted the King and Queen of Spain.

Wednesday, September 16th

• On Wednesday at 11:11am, the President drove a couple miles east to the Business Roundtable Headquarters to answer some questions about the economy and the budget.
• Meanwhile, Dr. Biden hosted the first meeting of the College Promise Advisory Board. The board brings together leaders to share best practices and ideas to make community college free for responsible students around the country.

Thursday, September 17th

• On Thursday, the President met with three young Americans who responded heroically to a dangerous situation on a train in Paris last month.

Stay engaged with us online, and find out more about any of these topics and see complete videos at WH.gov.

Friday, September 4

• On Friday, the President welcomed His Majesty King Salman of Saudi Arabia to the White House.

Monday, September 7

• On Monday, the Greater Boston Labor Council welcomed the President to their Labor Day Breakfast. There, the President announced a new Executive Order that directs companies with federal contracts to offer paid sick leave to their employees.
• Before heading home, the President made a pit stop to the oldest continuously operated restaurant and oyster house in the nation—dating back to 1716—Union Oyster House.

Tuesday, September 8

• On Tuesday, the President welcomed the Duke Blue Devils Men's Basketball team to celebrate their 2015 NCAA Championship victory.

Wednesday, September 9

• On Wednesday, Dr. Jill Biden accompanied the President to Macomb, Michigan, home of robotics students and experts. They toured the Macomb Community College's Michigan Technical Education Center and then spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of 1,000 about expanding educational opportunities to all Americans.

Thursday, September 10

• On Thursday, the President and First Lady teamed up to award the 2014 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to experts in the arts.

And in case you missed it last week, check out behind-the-scenes footage of the President's historic trip to Alaska at WH.gov/Alaska.