Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Partisans are bracing for a new health care war as Supreme Court makeup shifts
Conservatives yearn for a Supreme Court ruling against Obamacare next year that President Trump says will clear the way for a "far better" replacement. Published October 4, 2020
Trump thanks the world for its outpouring of love
President Trump late Saturday thanked his doctors and the world for its well-wishes as he remains hospitalized due to complications from the coronavirus, saying he plans to "be back soon" and wants to "finish up the campaign the way it was started." Published October 3, 2020
White House doctor: Trump has no fever, is in good spirits and active
A Navy physician said Saturday that President Trump is "doing very well," does not require oxygen and his fever is gone but said the president was "72 hours into" his diagnosis, sparking confusion about the timeline of the coronavirus infection and forcing the White House to clarify he meant the third day of the medical saga that is gripping the world. Published October 3, 2020
Trump being sent to Walter Reed for evaluation
President Trump was being hospitalized Friday night at Walter Reed Military Medical Center Friday for an expected stay of several days after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Published October 2, 2020
Trump gets ‘antibody cocktail’ treatment for coronavirus
President Trump's coronavirus test was confirmed by a sensitive genetic test and he's been treated with synthetic antibodies, his doctor said Friday. Published October 2, 2020
Mark Meadows: Donald Trump still ‘on the job’
President Trump has mild symptoms from COVID-19 but will remain "on the job," White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Friday. Published October 2, 2020
Donald Trump, Melania test positive for coronavirus
President Trump said early Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus and have begun to quarantine, an announcement that immediately halted campaign travel in the midst of his reelection campaign and raised questions about the impact on the administration. Published October 2, 2020
Federal government no longer controlling key COVID-19 drug
Hospitals can order a coronavirus treatment directly from its maker and distributor instead of relying on the government as a go-between, the Trump administration announced Thursday, saying supply of the drug exceeds demand. Published October 1, 2020
White House defends Wisconsin rallies, as COVID-19 cases spike
The White House on Thursday defended President Trump's decision to hold Wisconsin rallies this weekend even though the state is seeing an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases. Published October 1, 2020
Scott Atlas, Trump coronavirus adviser, won’t cave to criticism
President Trump's embattled coronavirus adviser, Dr. Scott Atlas, isn't backing down under intense criticism that his guidance runs counter to established science. Published September 30, 2020
Biden: Trump ‘wouldn’t know a suburb unless he took a wrong turn’
President Trump on Tuesday said the "suburbs would be gone" if Joseph R. Biden took over the White House, prompting the Democratic nominee to retort the president "wouldn't know a suburb unless he took a wrong turn." Published September 29, 2020
Trump says Biden would have left U.S. ‘wide open’ to virus, defends recovery and response
President Trump blamed the "fake news" for the poor reviews of his response to the coronavirus that's killed 200,000 and said Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden wouldn't "have it in his blood" to respond to such a crisis. Published September 29, 2020
Trump-Biden trade barbs over Obamacare in opening of presidential debate
The 2020 presidential debate opened with fireworks over Obamacare, with President Trump ducking a question on a "comprehensive replacement" by pointing to half-measures and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden insisting he wants to expand the law instead of upending private insurance. Published September 29, 2020
Obamacare strike down by Supreme Court would tee up new health care war
Even if President Trump wins reelection, handicappers say, Republicans are unlikely to regain the House majority and might even lose Senate control. That would set the stage for another chapter in the Obamacare wars. Published September 29, 2020
White House details shipments of 150M rapid virus tests
The U.S. will ship 6.5 million rapid coronavirus tests to governors this week, the administration said Monday, dubbing it a "game-changer" that will help states protect first responders and open schools safely as the federal government rolls out the 150 million easy-to-use tests it purchased from Abbott Laboratories during the GOP convention. Published September 28, 2020
Trump says Obamacare ‘essentially gone’ after ending mandate
President Trump said Sunday he feels like he's gotten rid of Obamacare because the individual mandate penalty for shirking insurance was zeroed out by the GOP-controlled Congress three years ago. Published September 27, 2020
Trump touts Second Amendment protection at Newport News, Virginia, rally
President Trump leaned hard into Second Amendment rhetoric during a rally in Virginia late Friday, arguing Joseph R. Biden will wage the most aggressive war on gun rights in U.S. history. Published September 25, 2020
Trump’s Medicare ‘discount cards’ spark confusion, complaints
The Trump administration will begin sending $200 discount cards to Medicare recipients "soon as mechanically possible" but not all of them will be dispatched by Election Day, administration officials said Friday. Published September 25, 2020
Donald Trump bets on trade while Joe Biden struggles for direction
President Trump is leaning into the issue ahead of Election Day, betting that his signature focus will help lock down Upper Midwest states that delivered a White House victory to him four years ago. Published September 24, 2020
Trump signs executive order preserving preexisting condition coverage
President Trump signed an executive order Thursday that says it is the "policy of the United States" that health insurers cannot deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions, even if the Supreme Court strikes down the same protections in Obamacare. Published September 24, 2020
