1) On Friday, President Obama gave a speech outlining major changes to this program. What program?
c) The NSA’s metadata collection program
Among other things, Pres. Obama no longer wants the NSA to maintain a database of collected phone records, though he left open the possibility of such a database being maintained by an outside entity.
2) Last weekend, President Obama signed into a law a budget for fiscal year 2014. How much spending is included in the budget?
d) $1.1 trillion
The bill, the result of multiple compromises between Congressional Democrats and Congressional Republicans, funds the federal government through September 2014.
https://rt.com/business/obama-signed-government-budget-811/
3) A report released last week by a Senate committee was critical of the government’s handling of what issue?
b) The bombings at the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya
Four Americans died in the attack which occurred on September 11, 2012.
https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304149404579322552751142002
4) On Thursday, the execution of convicted murderer Dennis McGuire took approximately 25 minutes because the state used a new “cocktail” of drugs that did not perform as expected. In what state was he executed?
c) Ohio
McGuire was convicted of raping and murdering a pregnant woman in 1989. Ohio was forced to use a new combination of drugs because many of the drugs previously used by states have been taken off the market by the pharmaceutical companies that make them. Executions by lethal injection usually take less than five minutes.
5) A judge in this conservative state struck down the state’s ban on gay marriage last week, holding that it violated the 14th amendment’s requirement of equal protection. What state?
c) Oklahoma
A federal judge in Utah reached the same conclusion last month.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/14/federal-judge-strikes-down-okla-same-sex-marriage-ban/
6) This African country recently banned both gay marriage and participation in “gay clubs, societies or organizations.” What country?
d) Nigeria
Some Western countries have threatened to discontinue foreign aid to Nigeria to protest the passage of the law.
7) American journalist David Satter was kicked out of this country last week after writing stories critical of its government. What country?
b) Russia
Satter was highly critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many Russian journalists who have been critical of Putin have died under suspicious circumstances.
https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/world/europe/russia-journalist-expelled/
8) Voters in this country went to the polls last week and overwhelmingly approved a new constitution. What country?
b) Egypt
Voters approved a constitution in 2011, but the Egyptian military took power from the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated civilian government last summer. The military plans to give up power now that a new constitution has been approved. People advocating a no vote on the constitution were arrested prior to the election.
9) The “first lady” of this country was hospitalized last week after rumors surfaced of an affair between the president of this country and a well-known actress. What country?
c) France
The “first lady”, Valeria Trierwiler, and the president, Francois Hollande, are not married, but she is his long time partner and has generally been recognized as the first lady. President Hollande is allegedly having an “affair” with actress Julie Gayet. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10566797/Frances-First-Girlfriend-Valerie-Trierweiler-hospitalised-after-learning-of-Hollande-affair-claims.html
10) Who won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or award, given to the world’s best soccer player?
d) Cristiano Ronaldo
Before this year, Lionel Messi had won the award four times in a row.