Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
DirecTV says it would welcome back Newsmax under the right terms
DirecTV says it is disappointed that it no longer carries Newsmax and that its rift with Newsmax stemmed from a financial spat, rejecting claims it dropped the conservative news outlet for political reasons. Published February 7, 2023
White House says Bono, Paul Pelosi and Ukraine’s ambassador are among SOTU guests
First lady Jill Biden on Tuesday said her guest list at the State of the Union will include Bono, Paul Pelosi and the mother and stepfather of Tyre Nichols, the Memphis man who died after he was beaten by police following a traffic stop. Published February 7, 2023
House GOP to disapprove D.C. plans for illegal immigrant voting, weaker crime penalties
The House GOP is poised to formally rebuke D.C. officials this week by voting on resolutions that reject city plans to allow illegal immigrants to vote in local elections and weaken maximum penalties for crimes like carjacking. Published February 6, 2023
NYC Mayor Adams says COVID-19 vaccination to be optional for city workers
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that COVID-19 vaccination will be optional for city workers as of Feb. 10, arguing the mandate "served its purpose" by increasing uptake during the worst of the pandemic. Published February 6, 2023
Migrants taking buses from NYC to Canada on taxpayers’ dime
Some migrants are reportedly ditching New York City for Canada with help from New York taxpayers and the National Guard. Published February 6, 2023
Defense officials report previous balloon sightings to Congress
The Defense Department says previous Chinese spy balloons have been spotted close to U.S. airspace, including near Texas, Florida, Hawaii and Guam. Published February 6, 2023
Biden directs USAID, agencies to assist Turkey and Syria after earthquakes
President Biden has directed the federal government to assess how the U.S. can help those most affected by massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Published February 6, 2023
‘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
