Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Sen. Joni Ernst pushes for bipartisan task force to probe COVID-19 origins
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said Wednesday she wants to launch a bipartisan "9/11 Commission-style" task force that will investigate the origins of COVID-19 and help the U.S. prepare for a future pandemic. Published May 10, 2023
Psychosis, suicidal thoughts, scream-vomiting: Alarm sounded about high-potency THC products
Weed is getting more potent as states rush to legalize it, raising fears that marijuana with little resemblance to Woodstock-era grass is causing psychosis, suicidal thoughts and a parade of other health problems despite the mainstream dogma that pot is harmless. Published May 10, 2023
Feds arrest Rep. George Santos, allege he siphoned political funds and lied on House forms
Rep. George Santos, the disgraced New York Republican who fabricated most of his life story to get elected, was arrested Wednesday and charged with multiple offenses related to an alleged scheme to use political donations for designer clothing and personal debts. Published May 10, 2023
Harlan Crow rebuffs Senate tax inquiry into ties to Justice Thomas
Republican megadonor Harlan Crow has "serious concerns" about the breadth of a Democratic senator's inquiry into lavish trips and other gifts Mr. Crow gave Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Published May 10, 2023
AOC, others question whether CNN should proceed with Trump town hall
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is backing calls to cancel a CNN town hall with former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, given a civil verdict that found him liable of sexual abuse and defamation against former magazine writer E. Jean Carroll. Published May 10, 2023
Democratic AGs lean into gas stove issue, urge rules and warn people about health risks
Blue-state attorneys general are prodding the Consumer Product Safety Commission to increase warnings about potential health dangers from gas stoves and explore new regulations. Published May 9, 2023
N.Y. judge bars Trump from sharing hush money case evidence on social media
A New York state judge barred former President Donald Trump from posting some evidence in his hush money case on social media. Published May 9, 2023
Trump-supporting Florida Republicans decry leaked DeSantis tapes as low class
Two Florida Republicans who will support former President Donald Trump in 2024 say they are upset by the leak of 2018 debate-prep tapes that show Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis mulling how to express disagreement with Mr. Trump without angering his base. Published May 8, 2023
Biden faces significant hurdles as he launches 2024 bid, survey shows
President Biden faces headwinds as he mounts his reelection bid, with approval ratings slumping below 40% and concerns about inflation and his mental acuity, according to new polling. Published May 8, 2023
Republican rivals start to pick apart Trump’s record
Republican swooning over former President Donald Trump's policies is starting to break. Published May 5, 2023
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to depart next month, citing pandemic transition
Dr. Rochelle Walensky will depart as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the end of June, citing the imminent end of the COVID-19 public health emergency as a "tremendous transition for our country" after two years of rolling closures, battles against variants and subsequent efforts to overhaul the agency and regain public trust. Published May 5, 2023
Grassley, Whitehouse to Chinese Embassy: You can’t duck responsibility for role in fentanyl supply
A bipartisan Senate duo is formally urging China to crack down on the export of chemicals that Mexican cartels use to manufacture fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid fueling the U.S. overdose crisis. Published May 5, 2023
First lady Jill Biden arrives in London for Charles’ coronation
First lady Jill Biden stopped by 10 Downing Street in London on Friday to meet the prime minister's wife and kick off a busy round of events around the weekend coronation of King Charles III. Published May 5, 2023
Sidelined 89-year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she will return to Senate
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California says she plans to return to the Senate but did not offer a firm date for her return. Published May 5, 2023
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Md. says he will consider a Senate bid
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland says he will spend this month considering whether he will run for the Senate seat opened up by retiring Sen. Ben Cardin. Published May 5, 2023
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky praises agency employee killed in Atlanta shooting
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened Capitol Hill testimony Thursday by recognizing Amy St. Pierre, an agency employee who was killed in a mass shooting in Atlanta one day earlier. Published May 4, 2023
NIH to Congress: Study link between increased cannabis use and psychosis, suicidal thoughts
A key National Institutes of Health official told Capitol Hill lawmakers they are right to be concerned about the potential link between increased use of recreational marijuana and psychosis. Published May 4, 2023
Rep. David Trone announces Senate bid in Maryland
Rep. David Trone says he is running for the Senate seat in Maryland being vacated by retiring Sen. Ben Cardin. Published May 4, 2023
Former NJ Gov. Chris Christie will decide on 2024 run in two weeks
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he will decide within two weeks whether to join the 2024 presidential field and accused ex-President Donald Trump of being too afraid to debate his GOP rivals. Published May 4, 2023
China remains a key player in the fentanyl supply chain, officials tell Congress
Mexican cartels are fueling the overdose crisis in America but China remains a key player in the supply chain, serving as the exclusive supplier of machines that cartels use to press fentanyl into pill form and as the primary launderer of drug profits, border officials and investigators told Congress on Wednesday. Published May 3, 2023
