Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Biden slams Trump, GOP allies over disaster relief claims on cusp of Milton landfall
A stern President Biden lashed out at former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies Wednesday as he led a major hurricane response weeks before Election Day, accusing his predecessor of spreading false information about the federal response to hurricanes in the Southeast. Published October 9, 2024
FEMA chief says rumors about land seizure are ‘demoralizing’ and ‘damaging’ storm relief
No program takes away a storm victim's land or requires them to forfeit their homes for failure to repay relief funds, President Biden's emergency manager said Wednesday, hoping to dispel rumors around the response to Hurricane Helene. Published October 9, 2024
FEMA vows to be ready for ‘difficult day’
President Biden's emergency manager on Wednesday declared that "FEMA is ready" to deal with the onslaught of Hurricane Milton even as it assists North Carolina towns reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Published October 9, 2024
HHS outlines efforts to alleviate IV fluid shortage
President Biden's health secretary told medical leaders on Wednesday that he is working to fill major gaps in the supply of intravenous fluids after a critical factory in North Carolina shut down because of Hurricane Helene. Published October 9, 2024
Profane Biden slams Netanyahu, Putin, faults Obama for Crimea debacle: Woodward book
President Biden's relationship with Israel remains strong, the White House insisted Tuesday, downplaying excerpts from a forthcoming book by journalist Bob Woodward that says Mr. Biden expressed his mounting frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in profane terms. Published October 8, 2024
Biden delays overseas trip in order to monitor response to hurricanes
President Biden is postponing his trip to Germany and Angola because of the dual challenges of cleaning up Hurricane Helene's devastation and preparing for Hurricane Milton, according to the White House. Published October 8, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warns post-hurricane looters they might get shot
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is warning people not to loot homes and businesses after Hurricane Milton passes through the state. Published October 8, 2024
Harris campaign dispatches first lady Jill Biden on nationwide tour
First lady Jill Biden will travel to five swing states through Oct. 15 to get out the vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, the campaign said Tuesday. Published October 8, 2024
Biden, Harris get double-barreled disaster test with Helene closely followed by Hurricane Milton
The Biden-Harris administration is eyeing landfall of a devastating hurricane in Florida even as it weathers accusations that its search-and-rescue efforts in North Carolina are falling short and forcing citizens and aid groups to fill gaps in the recovery from Hurricane Helene. Published October 8, 2024
DeSantis says he isn’t ducking calls from Harris before Hurricane Milton
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday denied that he intentionally ducked a call from Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall later this week. Published October 7, 2024
It’s not just the mountains: Areas near Charlotte and S.C. reeling from downed power lines, flooding
Hurricane Helene washed away mountain towns during its treacherous path through western North Carolina, but other parts of the state are reeling, too, despite the lack of media attention. Published October 7, 2024
NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ team rocked by another resignation
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Monday he will "stay focused" on his job as another one of his top officials, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, resigned amid the swirl of scandal around the administration. Published October 7, 2024
Abortion supplants Obamacare in campaign; Trump unable to replace health law
Abortion has replaced Obamacare as the top health care issue in the presidential campaign, underscoring the fallout from former President Donald Trump's failure to replace the Democrats' signature health law and success in overturning Roe v. Wade. Published October 7, 2024
Biden, Harris plead for peace in Israel and Gaza on Oct. 7 anniversary
Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday honored the victims of the "brutal and sickening" Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on southern Israel while recognizing the "scale of death and destruction" in Gaza since the raids one year ago. Published October 7, 2024
President Biden crashes White House press briefing to crow about the economy
President Biden made a surprise visit to the White House briefing room Friday to hail positive economic news on multiple fronts, including the end of a dockworkers' strike and positive job numbers. Published October 4, 2024
Elon Musk headlines huge VIP guest list for Trump’s return to Butler, Pa.
Former President Donald Trump says business mogul Elon Musk and the family of shooting victim Corey Comperatore will join him for a weekend rally marking a defiant return to Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman tried to assassinate the GOP nominee in July. Published October 4, 2024
Trump to deliver keynote address at NRA event in Georgia
Former President Donald Trump will deliver the keynote address at a major event hosted by the National Rifle Association of America in Georgia on Oct. 22, the organization said Friday. Published October 4, 2024
Melania Trump wades into raging debate with strong endorsement of abortion rights
Former first lady Melania Trump says there is "no room for compromise" when it comes to women's freedom and their bodies, wading into the hot-button topic of abortion about a month before Election Day. Published October 3, 2024
Biden, Harris scramble to Helene-ravaged states to blunt jabs about phoning it in
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris raced to the Southeast on Wednesday to survey the storm damage from Hurricane Helene and curb criticism that they dropped the ball in responding to the storm, which has killed at least 189 people. Published October 2, 2024
Biden promises feds will pay for 100% of N.C. recovery costs
President Biden said Wednesday the federal government will cover 100% of the cost of debris removal and emergency measures for six months as North Carolina recovers from Hurricane Helene, granting a request from Gov. Roy Cooper after a helicopter survey of the damage. Published October 2, 2024
