Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Trump ramps up attacks on Fed chair as ‘major loser,’ stocks fall again
President Trump escalated his attacks on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell Monday, dubbing him a "major loser" who is dragging his feet on lowering interest rates. Published April 21, 2025
China says it will punish countries that use U.S. trade talks to ostracize Beijing
China on Monday threatened to retaliate against any nation that agreed to isolate Beijing as part of trade negotiations with the Trump administration. Published April 21, 2025
Pope Francis, who died after a cerebral stroke led to heart failure, is mourned worldwide
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday after a cerebral stroke led to heart failure, a seismic and emotional development for the Catholic Church, political leaders and culture writ large. Published April 21, 2025
Trump White House launches web page on COVID-19 lab leak
The Trump White House is leaning heavily into the lab-leak theory on the origins of COVID-19 with a web page that outlines evidence of a spillover from a virology center in Wuhan, China, instead of nature. Published April 18, 2025
Trump says U.S. might have to ‘take a pass’ on Ukraine-Russia peace talks
President Trump said Friday he needs to hear "very shortly" from Russia and Ukraine about whether they are ready to broker a peace deal or else the U.S. will "take a pass." Published April 18, 2025
Into the woods: Trump says U.S. should rely on its own lumber
The U.S. construction market consumes at least 50 billion board feet of lumber annually, but domestic production meets only 70% of that demand. The U.S. closes the gap by importing the rest, mainly from Canada. Published April 18, 2025
Trump threatens to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell: ‘Not happy with him’
President Trump on Thursday said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will be "out of there" if he decides to fire him from his post, striking a harsh tone with the central bank at home while he struck an upbeat note about trade deals with the European Union and China. Published April 17, 2025
Trump confident he can strike China deal
President Trump on Thursday said he's hopeful the U.S. will strike a trade deal with China despite an impasse between the world's largest economies over tit-for-tat tariffs. Published April 17, 2025
Trump says Fed Chair Powell’s ‘termination cannot come fast enough’
President Trump on Thursday told the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates and even called for the "termination" of Chair Jerome Powell. Published April 17, 2025
Trump, U.S. officials meet with first-in-line Japan on tariff relief
President Trump said Wednesday he met with a delegation from Japan to negotiate "trade fairness" as nations try to avoid the reimposition of hefty U.S. tariffs. Published April 16, 2025
HHS says one in 31 children have autism; Kennedy vows to get answers by fall
Autism is "running rampant" in the U.S., with an estimated one in 31 children experiencing the disorder compared to one in 36 two years earlier, the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday. Published April 16, 2025
California to sue over Trump’s trade plan
California is suing to stop President Trump's sweeping tariffs, making it the first state to take the White House to court over its aggressive trade plan. Published April 16, 2025
White House: China needs to make the first move in trade talks
The White House said Tuesday that China must act first in devising a trade deal with the U.S., arguing the Asian superpower is dependent on American consumers and their spending power. Published April 15, 2025
Indiana makes major ‘Make America Healthy Again’ push with candy, soda overhaul
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued nine executive orders Tuesday that would overhaul food-stamp benefits, scrutinize food dyes and increase access to locally grown food, firmly aligning the state with the Trump administration's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. Published April 15, 2025
Tariff lawsuit from small businesses accuses Trump of usurping Congress’ power
A group of small businesses is suing President Trump over his "Liberation Day" tariff plan, saying the White House usurped Congress' power when it claimed that trade deficits with other countries amounted to an emergency under a 1977 law. Published April 15, 2025
Trump sees early wins from tariffs, pledges to be ‘flexible’ on duties on cars, electronics
President Trump said he will not back off his sweeping tariff plan but will be "flexible" in how he taxes imported electronics and car parts, cheering Wall Street investors. Published April 14, 2025
China’s blockade means rare earth minerals vital to U.S. military, microchips just got rarer
China is blocking -- or at least slow-walking -- the export of rare earth minerals used in military equipment, cars and other materials, adding a serious wrinkle to the emerging trade war between the U.S. and China. Published April 14, 2025
‘Coming soon’: Trump readies electronics tariff for Chinese goods
President Trump said to expect a tariff framework for computers, smartphones and semiconductors "very soon," a sign the carveout from China tariffs for certain electronics will not last long. Published April 14, 2025
Trump open to trade talks with China, but first move is unclear
President Trump wants to strike a trade deal with China to stop tit-for-tat tariffs, the White House said Friday, though it offered no sign the U.S. planned to make the first move. Published April 11, 2025
Trade rep: U.S. supply chain needs to ‘accelerate’ move away from China
President Trump's top trade official says China's decision to increase tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125% is "not terribly surprising but certainly unfortunate" as the administration pushes to negotiate with other nations while isolating Beijing. Published April 11, 2025
