Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Sen. Mike Lee: Leaked abortion opinion draft would bolster democracy, not erode it
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade and leave abortion laws to the states should be viewed as a boost to democracy because it forces the people to decide the policy matter instead of justices. Published May 9, 2022
Trump responds to ‘figurehead’ Mark Esper: I had to run the military myself
Former President Donald Trump is calling Mark T. Esper "weak and totally ineffective" as his defense secretary promotes a memoir that claims Mr. Trump wanted to shoot racial justice protesters in the legs and fire missiles into Mexico to stop drug cartels. Published May 9, 2022
G-7 leaders condemn committee vote for Hong Kong leader, a Beijing loyalist
Leaders of the Group of Seven nations aired "grave concern" Monday over the process that resulted in the election of Beijing loyalist John Lee as Hong Kong's new chief executive. Published May 9, 2022
N.Y. Gov. Hochul to isolate after positive COVID test
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul tested positive for the coronavirus Sunday as the U.S. battles fast-moving omicron lineages that were first detected in central New York. Published May 9, 2022
Biden announces push to cap internet costs for 48M households
The Biden administration said Monday it has partnered with 20 leading providers to cap internet service at $30 per month for an estimated 48 million households, characterizing high-speed access as essential to life in the 21st century. Published May 9, 2022
CDC scrambling to understand cause of over 100 hepatitis cases in kids
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is casting a "broad net" to understand why the U.S. and other countries are seeing a cluster of mysterious hepatitis cases in children that have resulted in five American deaths since October. Published May 6, 2022
Texas Gov. Abbott: Time to revisit requiring public schools to educate illegal immigrants
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants to take a second look at a 1982 court ruling that required public schools to educate all children, including illegal immigrants. Published May 6, 2022
Louisiana GOP lawmakers advance stringent pro-life bill
State GOP lawmakers in Louisiana advanced a bill this week that would classify abortion as homicide and allow for prosecution of women who seek the procedure instead of just providers. Published May 6, 2022
New White House press secretary lives with CNN correspondent, raising conflict questions
The partner of President Biden's historic pick to become White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, is a CNN correspondent, raising new questions about the personal nexus between cable outlets and the political sphere. Published May 6, 2022
Chief Justice Roberts: Leak of abortion draft opinion ‘absolutely appalling’
Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on Thursday called the leak of a draft opinion on abortion "absolutely appalling" during his first public appearance since the unusual breach sparked a political firestorm. Published May 6, 2022
Russia assaults Mariupol steel plant for a second day
Russia's ground assault on a steel plant in Mariupol stretched to a second day Friday despite Moscow's claims it only wanted to seal off holdout fighters in the southeastern Ukrainian city, British intelligence officials said. Published May 6, 2022
FDA moves to curtail use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it is limiting the use of the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson to adults who cannot access another version or might face a medical issue if they take another type. Published May 5, 2022
WHO: 15M excess deaths tied to COVID-19 in first two years
Nearly 15 million more people died worldwide in 2020 and 2021 than would normally be expected, the World Health Organization said Thursday in an analysis of excess deaths that are linked to the COVID-19 crisis and its ripple effects. Published May 5, 2022
Pa. GOP Senate contender Kathy Barnette: I am the ‘byproduct of a rape’
Republican senatorial candidate Kathy Barnette late Wednesday said she is the "byproduct of a rape" as contenders for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat sparred over their pro-life stances. Published May 5, 2022
Tall fencing goes up around Supreme Court amid fallout from draft opinion on abortion
Workers erected a large fence around the Supreme Court building late Wednesday, and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. canceled a public appearance as fallout from a leaked draft opinion on abortion continued to ripple from Washington. Published May 5, 2022
WHO reports third Ebola case in Congo
As the world is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday identified a third case of another deadly virus in their country: Ebola. Published May 5, 2022
Russian forces breach Mariupol steelwork plant: Reports
Russian forces launched another assault Thursday on holdout fighters at the Azovstal steelwork plant in Mariupol, a city that is key to President Vladimir Putin's push to put southeastern Ukraine under his control. Published May 5, 2022
Biden will wear a mask, attend only a portion of the correspondents’ dinner
President Biden will show up for part of the White House Correspondents Association dinner late Saturday but won't attend the meal portion of the event, and will probably wear a mask during most of the comedy roast and presentation of scholarships. Published April 29, 2022
FDA sets fast-paced June schedule to approve COVID vaccines for kids under 5
A COVID-19 vaccine for the youngest children could be available by June as federal regulators line up a late-spring sprint to expand protection to all Americans. Published April 29, 2022
WH comms chief tests positive for COVID-19, says she recently met masked with Biden
The White House communications director, Kate Bedingfield, said Friday she tested positive for COVID-19 and met with President Biden as recently as Wednesday. Published April 29, 2022
