Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
‘Biden economic plan is working,’ touts president amid blowout jobs number
A defiant President Biden crowed Friday over "strikingly good news" in a jobs report that showed U.S. employers added 517,000 jobs in January. Published February 3, 2023
House Dems say they’re worried about Capitol security for SOTU
Fourteen House Democrats say they're worried for the safety of President Biden and dignitaries in the Capitol for the State of the Union address Tuesday. Published February 3, 2023
Daines demands Pentagon briefing on balloon spotted over Montana
Sen. Steve Daines of Montana wants a full briefing from the Pentagon on a Chinese balloon that was spotted high over his state this week. Published February 3, 2023
FBI is expected to search Mike Pence’s Indiana home, D.C. office; ex-VP cooperating
The FBI is poised to search former Vice President Mike Pence's house in Indiana and an office in Washington amid growing concern about classified records being mixed with former leaders' papers. Published February 3, 2023
Speaker McCarthy breaks with MTG over Ashli Babbitt killing, defends officer
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is defending the officer who fired his gun during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, breaking with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's assertion that Ashli Babbitt was murdered. Published February 3, 2023
Rep. Andrew Clyde formally objects to DC crime overhaul with weaker penalties
Rep. Andrew Clyde said Thursday he filed a measure to "save our nation's capital from itself" by blocking a D.C. crime overhaul that would decrease maximum penalties for certain gun crimes and offenses such as carjacking and robbery. Published February 2, 2023
White House says Russian, Belarusian athletes should not compete under flags at Paris 2024 Olympics
The White House said Thursday it supports a crackdown on Russian and Belarusian officials' participation in global sports and that athletes from those countries who compete in the 2024 Summer Games should not be allowed to display their national symbols. Published February 2, 2023
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes sales-tax exemption for gas stoves
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing to exempt gas-powered stoves and other appliances from the state sales tax as part of his latest budget. Published February 2, 2023
Biden will complete his physical on Feb. 16, White House says
President Biden will complete his annual physical on Feb. 16 and make the results available to the public, the White House has confirmed, setting a date after previously suggesting it would be completed weeks earlier. Published February 2, 2023
Vindicated: Trump celebrates CJR report on Russiagate
Former President Donald Trump is crowing over a Columbia Journalism Review probe that found "serious flaws" in the media's coverage of the 2016 Trump campaign's alleged ties to Russia. Published February 2, 2023
Senators probe DirecTV’s decision to drop Newsmax
Senate Republican told DirecTV and its parent companies Wednesday to explain why it dropped the Newsmax channel from its lineup and whether the decision was politically motivated. Published February 1, 2023
Sinaloa, Jalisco cartels in Mexico are the greatest drug threat in U.S. history, DEA official says
Two Mexican cartels have foot soldiers in every U.S. state and "pose the greatest criminal drug threat the United States has ever faced," a top Drug Enforcement Administration official told a House panel Wednesday as lawmakers debated ways to stop the fentanyl crisis killing tens of thousands of Americans per year. Published February 1, 2023
Senate Republicans move to block D.C. plan for illegal immigrants voting in local elections
Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas filed a resolution Wednesday seeking to block the D.C. government from implementing a plan that allows illegal immigrants to vote in local elections. Published February 1, 2023
‘I’ve learned my lesson’: Santos says he won’t lie anymore
Rep. George Santos of New York says he "learned his lesson" and will be more truthful after revelations that he made up parts of his resume. Published February 1, 2023
Shipping bill for Mar-a-Lago boxes cost taxpayers $5,000, says National Archives
Documents that were improperly stored at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home weighed 500 pounds and cost the U.S. government $5,000 to ship to the National Archives, according to new documents. Published February 1, 2023
Biden wants Congress to crack down on companies’ ‘junk fees’
President Biden will announce Wednesday a push to cap credit card late fees and urge Congress to rein in "junk fees" tied to travel, concerts and other industries, the White House said. Published January 31, 2023
Florida poised to become 26th state that allows permitless carry of guns
Florida lawmakers are pushing legislation that would let citizens carry a concealed gun without having to get a government-issued permit. Published January 31, 2023
More people cite government as the nation’s top problem: Gallup
More Americans are citing the government and poor leadership as the nation's top problem, topping a list that includes inflation, immigration and race relations, according to a new poll. Published January 31, 2023
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appoints state border czar, citing Biden’s absence
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is tapping the state's first border czar to respond to the surge of migrants across the border. Published January 31, 2023
China tells House Speaker McCarthy not to visit Taiwan
China is urging House Speaker Kevin McCarthy not to visit Taiwan this spring in a repeat of tensions over then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit last year. Published January 31, 2023
