Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Harris campaign hits Trump with ‘chicken’ label over no third debate
The Democratic National Committee plans to greet former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on Monday with billboards declaring him a "chicken" for declining to debate Vice President Kamala Harris a second time. Published September 23, 2024
Biden yields spotlight to first lady in long-awaited Cabinet meeting
President Biden held his first Cabinet meeting in almost a year and immediately turned the session over to a special guest -- his wife, first lady Jill Biden. Published September 20, 2024
Trump allies push Nebraska to return to winner-take-all system before election
Former President Donald Trump's backers want Nebraska to abandon the hybrid model it has used to award electoral votes the past three decades, saying Cornhuskers should speak with one voice. Published September 20, 2024
‘No tax on tips’ is a political winner, but it could face a tough path to reality
Both presidential campaigns are courting waiters, bartenders and hotel housekeepers with a plan to erase federal taxes on tips, but getting the plan into law won't be easy and could have unintended consequences. Published September 20, 2024
GOP nominee Mark Robinson vows to stay in N.C. governor’s race in wake of ‘salacious’ report
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson vowed to stay in the governor's race against state Attorney General Josh Stein on Thursday after a bombshell report said he posted derogatory slurs and referred to himself as a "Black Nazi" on a pornographic website's forum. Published September 19, 2024
Zelenskyy set to meet Biden, Harris at White House to outline victory plan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold separate meetings with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 26 at the White House, the administration said Thursday. Published September 19, 2024
Federal probes, seized phones and resignations rock New York’s ‘Nightlife Mayor’
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was hailed as a national model for Democrats when he ran and won in 2021 on a platform that married liberal politics with pragmatism and appealed to a diverse coalition. Now, he is just trying to persevere. Published September 17, 2024
White House says it had no forewarning of exploding pager operation in Lebanon
The White House said Tuesday it had no involvement in an operation that caused thousands of pagers held by Hezbollah members in Lebanon to explode simultaneously. Published September 17, 2024
All eyes on Carolina: Tarheels could determine presidency
North Carolina and its 16 electoral votes could determine who enters the White House in a raucous race that's been neck-and-neck for weeks and will come down to a handful of states. Published September 16, 2024
Outside U.S., voters must show ID, proof of eligibility; Democrats decry such laws as undemocratic
Developed countries and even emerging countries such as Mexico require some form of personal documentation during the voting process. In the U.S., however, GOP efforts this year to pass the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship to register to vote is a nonstarter with Democrats. Published September 13, 2024
Travelin’ man: Rick Steves endorses Harris for president
Globe-trotting television host Rick Steves wants you to keep on travelin' -- and vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. Mr. Steves, known for his PBS travel series in Europe, became the latest celebrity to endorse the Democrat in a video filmed and posted on X from France. Published September 13, 2024
Education Dept., hoping to avoid another disaster, to test FAFSA form in fall
The Biden administration faces a huge test this fall as high school seniors and their families wait to see if the college financial aid form is functional or a debacle like last year's form. Published September 11, 2024
Larry Hogan makes stopping school shootings top issue in high-stakes Senate race
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says he will fight for a federal law requiring armed officers in every high school if elected to the Senate. Published September 11, 2024
You heard correctly: Kamala Harris owns a gun
Vice President Kamala Harris surprised many viewers during Tuesday's presidential debate when she mentioned, almost in passing, this tidbit: She's a gun owner. Published September 11, 2024
Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina in stable condition after ‘stroke-like’ incident
Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina collapsed during an event in Washington late Tuesday and had to be taken to the hospital with stroke-like symptoms, his family said. Published September 11, 2024
‘Shake It Off’: Trump dismisses Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris
Former President Donald Trump is dismissing pop star Taylor Swift's decision to back Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she is a "very liberal person" and her endorsement wasn't a surprise. Published September 11, 2024
Trump says he can end Russian war in Ukraine
Former Donald Trump on Tuesday side-stepped a question on whether he wants Ukraine to win the war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion in early 2022. Published September 10, 2024
Trump says Biden ‘hates’ Harris after being forced out of race
Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday said President Biden is still sore over being ousted from the race and is secretly bitter about Vice President Kamala Harris, despite endorsing her to top the Democratic ticket. Published September 10, 2024
Harris tries to walk back fracking ban position, endorses oil production
Vice President Kamala Harris insisted Tuesday she does not want to ban fracking for natural gas, saying the U.S. needs a broad portfolio of energy sources. Published September 10, 2024
Trump vows China, not U.S. consumers, will pay more under blanket tariffs
Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday the Chinese will be the only ones paying higher prices under his proposed tariff system, rejecting claims U.S. consumers will end up paying more if he imposes across-the-board levies on imports from countries that undercut American industries. Published September 10, 2024
