Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
China reacts angrily to new Trump tariff, says U.S. addiction is driving fentanyl problem
China is reacting angrily to President Trump's pledge to impose an additional 10% tariff on its products, saying fentanyl is America's "own problem." Published February 28, 2025
Senate panel advances fentanyl scheduling bill, pushing long-debated change toward law
A Senate panel advanced legislation Thursday that would permanently put fentanyl and its chemical cousins on the Schedule I list of controlled substances, instead of leaving it there temporarily. Published February 27, 2025
Labor Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer advances out of Senate committee
A Senate panel advanced President Trump's nominee for labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, on Thursday. Published February 27, 2025
FDA cancels panel meeting to discuss flu strain
The Food and Drug Administration has canceled a routine advisory meeting to discuss the makeup of the flu vaccine for this fall. Published February 27, 2025
Trump says tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go into effect March 4
President Trump says planned tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go into effect on Tuesday because too much fentanyl is pouring across U.S. borders. Published February 27, 2025
Trump: Europe should expect a 25% tariff, ‘generally speaking’
President Trump said Wednesday he expects to impose a 25% tariff on products from the European Union, blasting the bloc as unfair to the U.S. Published February 26, 2025
Senate confirms Jamieson Greer as Trump’s trade representative
The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Jamieson Greer as U.S. trade representative, a key post, given President Trump's penchant for tariffs and tough negotiations with foreign adversaries and allies alike. Published February 26, 2025
USDA details 5-part plan to fight avian flu, lower egg prices
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday said President Trump is launching a five-part plan to prevent bird flu in poultry flocks and bring down egg prices. Published February 26, 2025
Trump posts AI clip imagining ‘Trump Gaza’
President Trump posted an AI-generated video on Wednesday that reimagines the war-torn Gaza strip as "Trump Gaza" with beautiful shorelines, bearded belly dancers and Dubai-style skyscrapers. Published February 26, 2025
Over 20 staffers quit DOGE, citing qualms about services
More than 20 civil service staffers working on Elon Musk's government efficiency project resigned Tuesday over fears that slash-and-burn tactics are dismantling "critical public services," according to a new report. Published February 25, 2025
Consumer confidence drops this month, potentially signaling a slowing economy
Consumer confidence turned negative in February due to concerns about persistent inflation and other economic uncertainties, a key index reported Tuesday. Published February 25, 2025
Musk forges ahead with DOGE demand for list of federal workers’ tasks
Elon Musk says he is giving federal employees a second chance to respond to his demand for a list of recent accomplishments and that failure to respond could result in termination. Published February 25, 2025
Personnel office tells agency chiefs that employee response to Musk-inspired email ‘voluntary’
The Office of Personnel Management notified federal department chiefs Monday that employees' response to an email prompted by Elon Musk about their weekly work product is voluntary, and failure to do so will not be considered a resignation. Published February 24, 2025
Federal workers sue over DOGE demand for accomplishments
A lawsuit filed Monday accuses Elon Musk of violating federal law by demanding to know what government employees accomplished or risk being terminated, as agency workers were left wondering if they should comply or hold off. Published February 24, 2025
China accuses U.S. of ‘weaponizing’ business and trade with Trump-signed investment restriction
Beijing lashed out Monday at President Trump's order curtailing Chinese investment in critical U.S. sectors, saying it will hurt America's interests and undermine its "international credibility." Published February 24, 2025
Apple announces $500 billion in the U.S. as Trump takes victory lap
Tech behemoth Apple said Monday it will spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. Published February 24, 2025
Trump rips Zelenskyy in radio interview, tells governors of ‘good talks with Putin’
President Trump attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday as ineffective and said it's not important for the Kyiv leader to be at meetings with Russian officials to negotiate an end to the war. Published February 21, 2025
Treasury Secretary Bessent trades tariff complaints with Chinese counterpart
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng aired gripes about each other's policy moves in a Friday call, underscoring trade tensions. Published February 21, 2025
Dr. Oz pledges to ditch medical stocks if confirmed to lead federal insurance agency
Mehmet Oz is pledging to divest from a broad portfolio of health care stocks if he is confirmed as President Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Published February 21, 2025
Senate confirms Kash Patel as FBI director
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Kash Patel as FBI director, handing President Trump's outspoken nominee a green light to overhaul the bureau that conservatives say had been "weaponized" against them. Published February 20, 2025
