Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
House panel says IRS failed to audit Trump in first two years of presidency
Democrats on the House tax-writing committee are faulting the IRS for failing to conduct a mandatory audit of President Donald Trump's tax returns during the first two years of his term. Published December 21, 2022
U.S. braces for winter blast from Washington state to Northeast
Bitter cold. Life-threatening wind chills. Lake-enhanced snowfall. Published December 21, 2022
Massive omnibus package delivers health wins for both parties
The new government spending bill would allow states to begin reevaluating who is eligible for Medicaid insurance as of April, untethering enrollment from the COVID-19 public health emergency in a win for GOP lawmakers and governors. Published December 20, 2022
China braces for hundreds of millions of COVID infections after U-turn on policies
China is bracing for a tsunami of infections after it reversed its zero-COVID policy, with some health officials estimating that 800 million could be infected over the coming months. Published December 20, 2022
Biden story about awarding Purple Heart to uncle sparks confusion
President Biden told a veterans' town hall that he used his status as vice president to award his uncle a long-overdue Purple Heart medal for his service in World War II. Published December 19, 2022
GOP governors to Biden: Coronavirus emergency designation is costing us money
In a Monday letter, 25 GOP governors pointed to Mr. Biden's assertion in September that the "pandemic is over" even as the public health emergency (PHE) nears its third year. Published December 19, 2022
Trump trading cards appear to rely on stock images, clothing offers
Former President Donald Trump's new trading cards -- billed as collectible "non-fungible tokens" ahead of Christmas -- appear to rely on widely available photos on the internet, including images from Amazon and Walmart. Published December 19, 2022
NYC braces for big influx of migrants as Title 42 ends
New York City accepted two buses carrying migrants on Sunday and is expecting 10 to 15 more buses in the coming days as it grapples with an expected influx of asylum seekers due to the lifting of pandemic measures that turned people away at the southern U.S. border. Published December 19, 2022
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
