Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Pro-life group excoriates Trump for saying abortion limits should be left to states
A powerful pro-life group is scolding former President Donald Trump for telling a major newspaper that abortion access is an issue that should be decided at the state level. Published April 21, 2023
Second GOP primary debate will be held at Reagan library, RNC says
The Republican Party plans to hold its second presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. Published April 21, 2023
Lax marijuana laws tied to jump in youth hospitalizations, while profits fail to flow to minorities
Marijuana legislation is tied to a 25% increase in cannabis-use disorder among teens, and the share of 12th graders who vaped pot products nearly doubled from 2017 to 2021, according to a new report. Published April 20, 2023
Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say Sen. Feinstein should resign: Poll
Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California should resign as she faces a lengthy absence from Washington due to a health issue, according to a new poll. Published April 20, 2023
House passes bill rejecting D.C. police overhaul in second rebuke of city government
The House on Wednesday ignored President Biden's veto threat and voted to rescind a D.C. police overhaul that city leaders pushed in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Published April 19, 2023
NIH chief says he can’t confirm whether coronavirus slipped from Wuhan lab
Lawrence Tabak, the acting director of the National Institutes of Health, told Congress on Wednesday he has "no idea" if a lab leak caused the coronavirus pandemic and said he thinks a transfer from the animal kingdom is the likeliest theory. Published April 19, 2023
Ex-N.J. Gov. Chris Christie slams DeSantis’ handling of Disney as not ‘conservative’
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is taking a swipe at Ron DeSantis, saying the Florida governor isn't dealing with Disney like a "conservative" in a potential preview of sniping in the 2024 presidential primary. Published April 19, 2023
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to visit Israel in first trip abroad
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said his first foreign trip will be to Israel to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its statehood. Published April 19, 2023
Evidence mounts Wuhan lab spawned COVID-19 outbreak, leak occurred earlier than first suspected
Two leaks from Chinese labs in fall 2019 are the most likely sources of the coronavirus pandemic, a Senate report concluded after an 18-month probe into how COVID-19 reached humans -- a thorny question that's stumped two administrations and fueled rancor between Washington and Beijing. Published April 18, 2023
Evidence of virus lab leak is convincing, says ex-intel director
A Trump-era Cabinet official on Tuesday said the intelligence community should be more aggressive in concluding the coronavirus leaked from a Chinese lab, telling Congress the bank of evidence indicating a spillover from nature is "nearly empty and tenuous." Published April 18, 2023
Sen. John Fetterman returns to the Hill after treatment for depression
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has returned to Capitol Hill after weeks of treatment for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Published April 18, 2023
Biden calls Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old who was shot after going to wrong house
President Biden spoke late Monday to Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old who was shot in Missouri after ringing the doorbell at the wrong house. Published April 18, 2023
Biden threatens to veto measure targeting D.C. police overhaul
The White House said Monday that President Biden would veto a GOP-driven resolution to rescind a D.C. police overhaul that passed in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Published April 17, 2023
Moderna, Merck say vaccine-drug combo shows promise against melanoma
Drugmakers Moderna and Merck say a messenger-RNA vaccine candidate showed promise in thwarting melanoma when used in combination with another drug, Keytruda, in a mid-stage trial. Published April 17, 2023
Trial between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News delayed by one day
The trial for Dominion Voting Systems' defamation lawsuit against Fox News has been delayed one day, and now is set to begin Tuesday. Published April 17, 2023
Va. Gov. Glenn Youngkin focused on Richmond races, not 2024 bid
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a rising star in the GOP, is leaning away from a 2024 presidential bid and focusing on flipping the state Legislature into the red column. Published April 17, 2023
Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tenn. endorses Trump for 2024
Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said Monday she is endorsing former President Donald Trump for the presidential nomination as lawmakers rush to pick sides in the 2024 race. Published April 17, 2023
U.S., Canada, Mexico launch new efforts to battle fentanyl
The U.S., Canada and Mexico have pledged enhanced coordination measures to combat the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which the countries have jointly recognized as the foremost drug threat in North America. Published April 14, 2023
Justice announces major fentanyl charges against Mexican cartel leaders
The Justice Department has charged over two dozen members of the Mexico-based Sinaloa cartel, including top leaders, for their alleged roles in the illicit fentanyl supply chain after a lengthy and sprawling investigation into a problem that is killing tens of thousands of Americans and remains a thorn in the White House's side. Published April 14, 2023
Babylon Bee, others file suit over new social media law in California
The Babylon Bee, a conservative satire website, is suing California over a social-media law that requires periodic reporting about content categories, terms of service and how the platforms deal with hate speech, so-called disinformation and harassment. Published April 14, 2023