Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Giuliani rips ‘mentally impaired’ Biden over Afghan chaos ahead of 20th anniversary of 9/11
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said Sunday he is "very upset" on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks because the Taliban is back in charge in Afghanistan, faulting President Biden in harsh terms on the sidelines of an event honoring a 9/11 nonprofit. Published September 5, 2021
Gov. Phil Murphy: All N.J. storm deaths due to flooding, not tornadoes
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday that all 25 deaths in his state from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida were due to flooding, and everyone hit by tornadoes managed to survive. Published September 3, 2021
Dr. Fauci: Three-dose program could become standard for COVID-19 vaccine
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday he would not be surprised to see a three-dose regimen of the COVID-19 vaccine be considered the norm for protecting the population against the virus, citing positive data on boosters from Israel and its potential durability. Published September 2, 2021
Death toll climbs after Northeast lashed by remnants of Hurricane Ida
Mid-Atlantic states spent Thursday mourning the dead and cleaning up debris-strewn downtowns, flooded basements and downed trees after the remnants of Hurricane Ida thrashed the region. Published September 2, 2021
Heavy U.S. rains renew focus on climate change, infrastructure package
The New York City region awoke Thursday to debris-strewn downtowns, soggy basements and crippled transit after a "historic" overnight downpour from the remnants of Hurricane Ida killed at least eight people. Published September 2, 2021
Maderna? Misspelled COVID-19 vaccine card leads to charges in Hawaii
A 24-year-old Illinois woman was arrested and charged with suspicion of falsifying a vaccine document in a bid to avoid quarantine rules in Hawaii as detecting COVID-19 fraud becomes a new focus for law enforcement. Published September 1, 2021
Biden focused on ‘perception’ of Afghan forces in final call with Ghani: Report
President Biden told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in late July that Afghanistan had a "perception" problem that should be manipulated for the public, suggesting Mr. Biden was aware of Afghan forces' weaknesses even as he assured Americans they could defend their nation against the Taliban. Published September 1, 2021
North Korea reportedly rejects COVID-19 vaccine doses from Chinese drugmaker
North Korea reportedly rejected 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese drugmaker Sinovac BioTech Ltd., claiming they should go to countries facing bigger problems from the coronavirus. Published September 1, 2021
White House announces plan to build 100K affordable homes
The White House said Wednesday it will use existing federal funds to build and provide 100,000 homes to low- and middle-income buyers and nonprofits over the next three years to bolster supply that is often snapped up by deep-pocketed investors. Published September 1, 2021
White House defends COVID booster plan amid staff upheaval, CDC skepticism
The White House defended its COVID-19 vaccine booster shot campaign Tuesday after outside advisers complained of limited data on the need for third doses and senior Food and Drug Administration officials abruptly retired amid criticism of President Biden's decision to trumpet the plan before regulators had signed off on it. Published August 31, 2021
Nearly 90 retired military figures call for Austin, Milley to resign over chaotic evacuation
Nearly 90 retired generals and other military figures told Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark A. Milley to resign Tuesday for "negligence in performing their duties" ahead of the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan. Published August 31, 2021
Taliban fighters celebrate at Kabul airport; helicopters, supplies left behind
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers celebrated Tuesday on the tarmac at the Kabul airport that had served as a global focal point until the last U.S. planes flew out around midnight. Published August 31, 2021
Biden pledges support to Gulf Coast ‘as long as it takes for you to recover’
President Biden said Monday the federal government is doing what it can to support search-and-rescue efforts, restore power and cellphone service and clear roads after Hurricane Ida ripped through Louisiana as a Category 4 storm before moving into neighboring states. Published August 30, 2021
White House: U.S. combing lists, rooting out remaining Americans in Afghanistan
The White House said it thinks a "small number" of Americans remain in Afghanistan and want to leave, but it was unable to provide a concrete figure as a Tuesday deadline nears to leave the Taliban-ruled country. Published August 30, 2021
Approval of Biden’s handling of Afghanistan plummets, poll shows
Americans give President Biden poor remarks on his handling of Afghanistan and more than eight in 10 want U.S. troops to stay until all Americans have been evacuated from the volatile nation -- even as the president sticks to his Tuesday deadline for getting out, according to a poll released Monday. Published August 30, 2021
EU sets restrictions on U.S. travelers, cites coronavirus transmission
The European Union told member states Monday that they should restrict nonessential travel from unvaccinated Americans due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in the U.S. Published August 30, 2021
U.S. military shoots down rockets aimed at Kabul airport; Biden updated on situation overnight
The White House on Monday said President Biden was briefed overnight about an attempted rocket attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Published August 30, 2021
Intelligence report on COVID-19 origins inconclusive
A long-awaited intelligence report on the beginnings of the coronavirus pandemic is inconclusive, with agencies unable to reach a firm consensus as they found that both a natural origin and a Wuhan lab accident remain plausible. Published August 27, 2021
Emails reveal Biden’s dog Major repeatedly bit Secret Service agents
The White House on Friday said President Biden's dog, Major, remains in Delaware for "additional training" as it was forced to address reports that the German shepherd attacked more people than previously disclosed. Published August 27, 2021
FEMA sending ‘surge team’ to Louisiana ahead of Hurricane Ida
The White House said Friday it is dispatching a "surge response" team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help Louisiana respond to Hurricane Ida as it careens across the Gulf of Mexico toward New Orleans and the surrounding coast. Published August 27, 2021
