The White House today hailed NBA center Jason Collins for his public declaration that that he's gay, calling his decision an "example of the progress that has been made" in the U.S.

Collins made the announcement in a Sports Illustrated column, writing that he didn't set out to become the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport: "If I had my way, someone else would have already done this," he wrote. "Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said he hadn't talked with President Obama about the development, but said the White House views it "as another example of the progress that has been made and the evolution that has been taking place in this country."

Carney said the White House would "commend him for his courage and support him in this effort and hope that his fans and his team support him going forward."

Collins cited Obama in the column, writing that "the more people who speak out, the better, gay or straight. It starts with President Obama's mentioning the 1969 Stonewall riots, which launched the gay rights movement, during his second inaugural address."

First Lady Michelle Obama tweeted congrats Monday afternoon: "So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back! -mo"

President Barack Obama said on the Today Show Wednesday morning that he understood why his wife accidently called herself a busy single mom.

“You know, as somebody who has stumbled over my lines many times, I tend to cut my wife or anybody some slack when it comes to just a slip to the tongue,” Obama told TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie. “But there's no doubt that there've been times where Michelle probably felt like a single mom.”

In an interview taped before the Boston Marathon bombings, Obama answered questions about gun control, immigration and life with First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11.

The president said he and his wife have threatened to get their own tatoos as a way to discourage their daughters from doing just that.

“What we’ve said to the girls is, ‘If you guys ever decided you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will get the exact same tattoo in the same place. And we'll go on YouTube and show it off as a family tattoo,’” Obama said. “And our thinking is that might dissuade them from thinking that somehow that's a good way to rebel.”

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President Obama released his 2012 federal income tax return today, with he and first lady Michelle Obama filing jointly and reporting adjusted gross income of $608,611. The Obamas paid $112,214 in total tax.

They reported donating $150,034 – or about 24.6 percent of their adjusted gross income – to 33 charities. The largest reported gift to charity was $103,871 to the Fisher House Foundation. The contributions included $5,000 to the Palm Beach County Law Enforcement Foundation: A motorcycle officer escorting Obama's presidential motorcade was struck by a truck and killed last September.

Obama's effective federal income tax rate is 18.4 percent and Press Secretary Jay Carney noted Obama has proposed policies like the Buffett Rule to require the wealthiest Americans to pay more. Under Obama's proposal, Carney said -- including limits on the value of tax preferences for high-income households -- Obama would pay more in taxes "while ensuring we cut taxes for the middle class and those trying to get in it."

The first couple also released their Illinois income tax return and reported paying $29,450 in state income tax.

The Bidens also released their 2012 federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns for  Delaware and Virginia.

They filed joint federal and combined Delaware income tax returns. Jill Biden filed a separate non-resident tax return for the state of Virginia -- where she teaches. Together, they reported adjusted gross income of $385,072. The Bidens paid $87,851 in total federal tax for 2012. They paid $13,531 in Delaware income tax and $3,593 in Virginia income tax. The Bidens contributed $7,190 to charity in 2012 -- the Weekly Standard pointed out that's 1.87 percent of their income. But the Standard says its a bump up from 2011 when they donated less than 1.5 percent.

Is Michelle Obama going to get more involved in policy in her second term?

On Wednesday, the first lady will visit her hometown of Chicago to push gun control legislation pending in the Senate.

But White House spokesman Jay Carney cautioned reporters from reading too much into that, saying her husband and his team are leading efforts on curb gun violence in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. shooting. 

"The legislative effort, the working with Congress, the political effort, if you will, is being undertaken and led by the president," Carney said. "The attempt to convince senators directly that they should not filibuster these bills is being led by and undertaken by the president and his team."

How unusual is this?

"I urge you to listen to what the first lady has to say and -- and assess it, once you have," Carney said.

First Lady Michelle Obama stumbled over her words yesterday. Was it just a gaffe?

In an interview Thursday talking about the challenges of eating healthy for busy parents she described herself as a "busy single monther" to her daughters.

Oops. 

“Believe me, as a busy single mother - or I shouldn’t say single - as a busy mother, sometimes when you’ve got a husband who is president it can feel a little single. But he’s there,” she said on an interview with WCAX in Burlington, Vermont.

Obama was joined by school children Thursday in the White House kitchen garden as she continued her effort to combat childhood obesity.

“As a busy working mom, and before I was in the White House, I was in that position as well. Working, driving kids to practice, not having enough time to shop or cook. Not having the energy. Resources weren’t the issue, but time and energy is key,” she said.

President Barack Obama and First lady Michelle Obama had dinner with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the White House last week.

The four dined together last Friday, according to th White House.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest confirmed the dinner Friday but said it was "private" and he could not reveal any further details. He denied that the former president advised Obama to meet with congressional Republicans, and said Obama's engagement began earlier than that.

The event was not listed on Obama's public schedule.

First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance at the Oscars Sunday night, introduced by Jack Nicholson and beamed in live from the Diplomatic Room at the White House.

Wearing the Naeem Khan dress she wore to the governors' dinner, FLOTUS made the unannounced appearance to name the nominees for Best Picture and pull out the envelope for Argo.

The Academy Awards approached Obama about being part of the ceremony, said Obama's spokeswoman Kristina Schake, and "as a movie lover, she was honored to present the award and celebrate the artists who inspire us all - especially our young people - with their passion, skill and imagination."

Obama, who had dinner with the nation's governors earlier Sunday, told the governors today: "You noticed, I stayed up a little later, a little bit longer than I anticipated, but it was well worth it."

White House photographer Pete Souza tweeted out photographs of the event:

President Obama heads to Florida later today for Presidents Day weekend -- relaxing with friends, and likely hitting the golf links.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest today wouldn't confirm a Golf Digest report that Obama's "golfing weekend" at The Floridian in Palm City would include a lesson from golf pros Butch Harmon -- Tiger Wood's former instructor -- and his son Claude III. Golf Digest reported the two were flying in from their school in Henderson, Nevada "to work with President Obama, who inquired through an aide if they would be on property during his stay." For more on Obama's love of golf, click here.

Earnest said he didn't yet have the details, but added that Obama was looking forward to spending the weekend with friends and "I'm sure they'll take advantage of the opportunity to play some golf."

He also said that first lady Michelle Obama and first daughters, Sasha and Malia, will take a separate spring break trip and go skiing. Earnest said the ski trip is a "pretty annual" affair for the trio: they skiied in Aspen, Colo. in 2012 and in Vail before that.

The vice president was heading west as well: the White House said Joe Biden and his family were heading to Snowmass, Colo. for the weekend on Friday.

Here are the guests who will be seated in First Lady Michelle Obama's box Tuesday night for the State of the Union Address, according to the White House:

Sergeant Sheena Adams (Vista, CA)

Team Advisor & Lead Instructor, Female Engagement Team

A native of Kauai, Hawaii, Sergeant Adams joined the Marine Corps in 2003 and attended recruit training in Parris Island, S.C.  In 2010, Sergeant Adams joined the Female Engagement Team (FET) and was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from September 2010 to April 2011 in direct support of 1st Battalion 8th Marines in Musa Qal’eh District.  Sergeant Adams received her Combat Action Ribbon and Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal (second award) after successful completion of the deployment.  In September 2011, Sergeant Adams returned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Advisor Training Cell, as Team Advisor/Liaison and lead FET instructor, where she re-engineered the Period of Instruction for future FETs.

President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and First Dog Bo spent 30 minutes today surprising visitors on public tours of the White House.

The first lady blew the whistle on the surprise with a tweet from her new @FLOTUS handle: "Shhhh! Barack, Bo & I are about to surprise folks on @WhiteHouse tours! tours! I love doing this. Watch here:wh.gov/live - mo."

The livestream picks up the visitors beaming as they spot the first couple. Most appeared to be supporters, with Obama telling several, "We wouldn't be here without you."

The first couple surprised guests attending public tours after the inauguration in 2009, and the White House says four years later, that nearly 3 million visitors have walked through the gates, including for tours, guests at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll events, Fall and Spring Garden Tours, guests at State or Official Arrival Ceremonies and White House Kitchen Garden school group tours.