Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon inches toward Senate confirmation
A Senate panel on Thursday advanced former professional wrestling executive Linda McMcMahon's nomination to lead the Department of Education. Published February 20, 2025
HHS cancels the CDC’s ‘Wild to Mild’ flu vaccine campaign: Report
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly canceling a flu-vaccine campaign that depicted wild animals and encouraged Americans to tame the illness through immunization. Published February 20, 2025
Trump hypes USA to beat ‘51st state’ Canada in hockey final
President Trump is stirring the pot before a major hockey clash Thursday between the U.S. and Canada, using the occasion to revive his offer of making America's northern neighbor the 51st state. Published February 20, 2025
Trump’s Transportation Department moves to kill congestion pricing in Manhattan
The Trump administration said Wednesday it is canceling federal approval of New York City's controversial congestion-pricing program that charged vehicles a toll for entering busy parts of Manhattan. Published February 19, 2025
Trump’s Labor pick says she supports blue-collar workers, state flexibility on labor rules
Lori Chavez-DeRemer testified at her confirmation hearing Wednesday she is "uniquely prepared" to lead the Department of Labor because her dual support from industry and labor reflects the broad coalition of business leaders, blue-collar Americans and workers of color who powered President Trump's election victory. Published February 19, 2025
Trump approval slips due to economic approach, poll shows
President Trump's approval rating is starting to slip as people express doubts about his ability to address economic concerns, including inflation, according to a new poll. Published February 19, 2025
Trump signs executive order targeting COVID-19 vaccine mandates
President Trump signed an executive order Friday that halts federal funding for schools and universities that require students to be vaccinated against coronavirus. Published February 14, 2025
Government staff cuts reach CDC, prompting outcry from Georgia Democratic senator
The Trump administration is reportedly slashing the workforce at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation's premier disease-fighting agency, by nearly 1,300 positions. Published February 14, 2025
Vance chastises Europe over threat from ‘within,’ rails against censorship, migrant flood
Vice President J.D. Vance scolded European leaders on Friday for failing to address unchecked migration or uphold free speech principles and democratic values. Published February 14, 2025
New HHS chief RFK Jr. says he will address physical and ‘spiritual’ health crisis
Newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says many Americans confront both a "health crisis" and a "spiritual" one, crises that leave them disconnected from others and fuel alcoholism, suicide and drug addiction. Published February 14, 2025
RFK Jr. gets final approval to ‘go wild,’ vows to ‘solve the childhood chronic disease epidemic’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after his confirmation Thursday, giving him license to "go wild" on health and putting the last of President Trump's contentious nominees in place so his Cabinet can reset the federal government. Published February 13, 2025
Trump aims trade fight at Europe, U.K. and India: ‘This should have been done years ago’
President Trump signed an order Thursday that calls for reciprocal tariffs on friendly and rival nations alike, saying too many places are taking advantage of duty-free treatment in the U.S. even as they tax American goods that flow across their borders. Published February 13, 2025
Senate confirms Brooke Rollins as agriculture chief
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Brooke Rollins, a longtime policy aide to President Trump with a farm-town background, to lead the Agriculture Department. Published February 13, 2025
RFK Jr. overcomes odds, is confirmed as HHS secretary
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, sweeping aside concerns about his past vaccine skepticism to let him "go wild" on health under President Trump. Published February 13, 2025
White House defends decision to block AP reporter, likens ‘Gulf of Mexico’ usage to lying
The White House is defending its barring of an Associated Press reporter from an Oval Office event over the wire service's refusal to use the Gulf of America title. Published February 12, 2025
RFK Jr. cruises toward confirmation after clearing early Senate vote
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cleared a Senate test vote on Wednesday, placing him on the path to confirmation as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after a difficult vetting process that focused on his vaccine views. Published February 12, 2025
Senate panel advances Jamieson Greer as U.S. trade rep
The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday advanced Jamieson Greer's nomination to serve as U.S. trade representative, a role of outsized significance, given President Trump's penchant for using tariffs as a bargaining tool with foreign nations. Published February 12, 2025
Trump presses for lower interest rates even as U.S. inflation edges up to 3% in January
President Trump said Wednesday he thinks interest rates should come down, injecting himself into the debate around Federal Reserve decisions just as the government was reporting that U.S. inflation for January remained well above the Fed's preferred target. Published February 12, 2025
Kremlin expects the return of a Russian prisoner for releasing Marc Fogel
The Kremlin said Wednesday it expects a Russian citizen detained in the U.S. to be returned as part of the deal that secured American teacher Marc Fogel's release. Published February 12, 2025
Ford Motor Co. says tariff threats are causing ‘chaos’ in industry
Foreign officials outlined broad plans to retaliate over U.S.-imposed tariffs on key metals and Ford Motor's chief executive on Tuesday said levies -- both real and proposed -- are causing "chaos" as the world grapples with President Trump's shock-and-awe trade policy. Published February 11, 2025
