Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Trump backs McCarthy for speaker, warns of ‘doomsday’ if GOP doesn’t come together
Former President Donald Trump says House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy deserves a shot to serve as speaker in the new Congress, as the California Republican lobbies for sufficient support before a vote in January. Published December 19, 2022
More parents want measles vaccine optional as COVID vax fatigue spreads to other shots
More than a third of parents say vaccinating children against measles, mumps and rubella should be a personal choice and not a requirement for school attendance, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation poll. Published December 16, 2022
Trump lashes out over polls showing him trailing in GOP matchup with Gov. DeSantis
Former President Donald Trump is lashing out at once-friendly media outlets for reporting on polls that show him trailing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a hypothetical 2024 primary. Published December 16, 2022
Steve Bannon is fed up after Trump’s ‘major announcement’ turned into trading card promo
Former White House adviser and podcaster Steve Bannon says he's losing patience with former President Donald Trump and his team at Mar-a-Lago after the ex-president teased a "major announcement" only to announce $99 trading cards with grandiose images of Mr. Trump. Published December 16, 2022
Trump files defamation suit against Pulitzer board over Russia stories
Former President Donald Trump is challenging the Pulitzer Prize Board in court over its decision to award a 2018 national reporting prize to The New York Times and The Washington Post for stories about Russian interference in the 2020 election. Published December 15, 2022
Biden relaunches federal COVID-19 testing website for ‘limited’ shipments to homes
Biden administration officials said COVIDTests.gov will reopen Thursday for a "limited round" in which each household can order up to four tests. Published December 15, 2022
MTG says ‘five families’ of GOP factions meeting in McCarthy’s office
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says a group known as the "five families" meets regularly in House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy's office to discuss strategy before the GOP retakes control of Congress in the new year. Published December 14, 2022
GOP lawmakers say Sam Brinton episode raises questions about hiring, vetting
Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming wants the Department of Energy to launch an internal review of its security clearance process after the firing of Sam Brinton, a nonbinary nuclear waste official who faces charges of stealing airport luggage. Published December 14, 2022
China stumbles, struggles with shift away from zero-COVID policy
China said Wednesday it would no longer track asymptomatic coronavirus cases as the country tries to navigate a sudden shift from its zero-COVID policies and major cities report an uptick in infections. Published December 14, 2022
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown commutes sentences of 17 death row inmates
Departing Gov. Kate Brown is using her clemency powers to commute the capital punishment sentences of Oregon's 17 death row inmates to life imprisonment. Published December 13, 2022
West Texas buckling under influx of migrants near El Paso
Border authorities in West Texas are grappling with one of the largest influxes of migrants in recent memory after more than 1,000 people crossed the border over the weekend. Published December 13, 2022
Fauci: Not worried about Musk tweets, but they do raise personal risk
Dr. Anthony Fauci says he doesn't pay a lot of attention to Elon Musk and his musings, but he does feel the Twitter CEO is putting his safety at risk. Published December 13, 2022
GOP support for Trump slipping alongside legal peril, other woes: Poll
Republican voters like former President Donald Trump's policies, but six in 10 would prefer a different leader to carry them out, according to a Tuesday poll that shows Mr. Trump's stock dwindling ahead of the 2024 election cycle. Published December 13, 2022
Biden officials meet virtually with Whelan’s sister to ‘brainstorm’ on freeing him from Russia
Senior officials at the White House and State Department met virtually with Paul Whelan's sister on Monday to brainstorm ways to spring the former U.S. Marine from custody in Russia, the White House said. Published December 12, 2022
Biden hails military families, tells kids to ‘be brave’ when parents are deployed at Christmas
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Monday helped the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve pack up toys for distribution to needy families before Christmas, praising the giving spirit of America's youngest generation and the military families who they said represent the "very spine of our nation." Published December 12, 2022
NYPD officers leaving at high rate, citing better pay and conditions elsewhere
New York City police officers are departing in droves, drawn away by better salaries and working conditions in areas as far as Colorado. Published December 12, 2022
Sec. Buttigieg insists use of private planes more efficient, saves money, for some DOT travel
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reportedly taken at least 18 flights on taxpayer-funded private planes since taking office despite his push to curb carbon emissions and criticism of his predecessors for using private travel. Published December 12, 2022
Trump says he turned down prisoner swap involving Viktor Bout, Paul Whelan
Former President Donald Trump is claiming he turned down a deal to release ex-U.S. Marine Paul Whelan in return for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had been serving a lengthy federal prison sentence in Illinois. Published December 12, 2022
Biden, Democrats frustrated by Kyrsten Sinema’s political curveball
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's announcement she is ditching the Democratic Party has sparked controversy across the nation. Published December 10, 2022
Sen. Rand Paul: Looming antitrust action is a threat to free markets
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is taking a victory lap after standing in the way of legislation that would increase fees on large company mergers, saying "antitrust zealots" are getting in the way of free market activity even as they hoard federal power. Published December 9, 2022
