Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
U.S. is almost ‘out of Schlitz’ when it comes to helping Ukraine, White House says
The White House said Thursday it can no longer assure Ukraine that the U.S. will provide more security aid, given the deadlock in negotiations with Congress. Published December 7, 2023
White House says it will grab patents if companies set exorbitant prices for taxpayer-funded drugs
The Biden administration on Thursday said it will take control of patents for drugs that were developed with public funding but are priced too high, setting up another clash with the pharmaceutical industry. Published December 7, 2023
White House: Calls for Jewish genocide are ‘vile,’ says Biden offered moral clarity
The White House said Wednesday that calls for genocide against Jews are "vile" and "unacceptable," hoping to put some daylight between President Biden and university presidents who gave noncommittal answers at a Capitol Hill hearing on antisemitism. Published December 6, 2023
GOP senators file bill to reinstate pilots ousted by vaccine mandate
A pair of Senate Republicans filed legislation that would reinstate airline pilots who were fired for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Published December 6, 2023
Holiday spending spikes despite sluggish outlays earlier in year: Gallup
Americans estimate they'll spend an average of $975 on holiday gifts this season, an increase of over $100 from last year that's driven by middle-income households, according to Gallup. Published December 6, 2023
DeSantis sets aside $1 million for possible litigation over FSU snub
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said he has $1 million ready for any lawsuits around the decision to keep Florida State University out of the college football playoff, leaping headlong into a sports debate that's collided with the 2024 presidential race. Published December 5, 2023
Sen. Rick Scott demands transparency over FSU football championship snub
Sen. Rick Scott is so angry about Florida State University's snub from the College Football Playoff that he wants formal answers from the selection committee. Published December 5, 2023
Winnowing field of four candidates to take the stage for GOP debate in Alabama
The fourth GOP primary debate on Wednesday is shaping up as a four-candidate affair, at best, as actual voting looms several weeks away and low-polling candidates accept reality to bow out of the race. Published December 4, 2023
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum suspends GOP presidential run
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced Monday he is suspending his campaign for president, making him the latest candidate to bow out ahead of actual voting in Iowa and New Hampshire. Published December 4, 2023
White House monitoring outbreaks in China but sees nothing out of the ordinary
The White House says it is monitoring the surge in respiratory illness in China but there is no indication of a link between people seeking care in U.S. emergency departments and the outbreak in Beijing and surrounding regions. Published December 4, 2023
Senators urge Biden to stop travel with China, say Beijing can’t be trusted on ‘mysterious illness’
Five senators want President Biden to stop travel between the U.S. and China until Americans learn more about the surge in respiratory illness that is flooding hospitals in Beijing and northern China. Published December 1, 2023
DeSantis says debate with Newsom shed light on Democrats’ model for the nation
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he debated California Gov. Gavin Newsom to "expose" the political left's agenda for the country, hoping that his prime-time performance against a prominent Democrat fuels his effort to catch former President Donald Trump in the GOP presidential race. Published December 1, 2023
VP Harris to discuss post-conflict Gaza during Dubai climate talks
Vice President Kamala Harris will speak to Middle East partners about ways to unify the Gaza Strip and West Bank "under one entity" for Palestinians on the sidelines of a weekend climate summit in Dubai, according to the White House. Published December 1, 2023
Nations put eyes on China amid outbreaks of child pneumonia
The global surge in lung-related problems is sounding alarm bells on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers told America's top disease fighter on Thursday to look into the issue and keep Beijing honest after the communist government obfuscated the source of the last global health nightmare. Published November 30, 2023
CDC director: Sources in China say new outbreaks are from known pathogens
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is evidence the uptick in respiratory disease in China is being fueled by the flu, a common bacteria and other known threats and not a new pathogen like the coronavirus that struck Wuhan in late 2019 and caused global havoc. Published November 30, 2023
VP Kamala Harris to attend Dubai climate talks on Biden’s behalf
Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to the United Arab Emirates this weekend to attend a high-level climate conference, the White House said. Published November 29, 2023
Trump doubles down on health care reform plan: ‘Obamacare sucks’
Former President Donald Trump is digging in on his plan to replace President Barack Obama's health law with a "better" program, even as Democrats relish a revival of the Obamacare wars. Published November 29, 2023
Senate panel advances Martin O’Malley as Social Security administrator
The Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday to forward former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley toward commissioner of the Social Security Administration, nudging President Biden's pick to a confirmation vote before the full Senate. Published November 28, 2023
Clintons, Michelle Obama with Bidens on flight to Rosalynn Carter service
President Biden on Tuesday invited a heavy roster of VIPs to fly on Air Force One for the trip to a tribute service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter in Georgia. Published November 28, 2023
North Carolina governor uses Medicaid expansion to slam Trump
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned Tuesday that any effort to repeal Obamacare would dash his hard-won push to expand Medicaid coverage to 600,000 people in his state -- a program set to launch Friday. Published November 28, 2023
