Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Biden says he is in constant contact with allies over unfolding Russian situation
President Biden said Monday he was briefed "hour by hour" on the weekend revolt by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia and it is too early to tell where the situation will lead as Russian President Vladimir Putin contends with the fallout. Published June 26, 2023
GOP lawmakers fault COVID-19 lab report, want more released under bipartisan law
A senior House Republican says a new report on possible links between the coronavirus outbreak and the virology lab in Wuhan, China, is insufficient and he wants the Biden administration to release underlying intelligence instead of topline findings. Published June 26, 2023
Ron DeSantis in Texas hits Biden, Trump for the border crisis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pledging to "build the wall" and stop the steady flow of migrants across the southern border in a twin swipe at President Biden and his chief GOP rival, former President Donald Trump. Published June 26, 2023
Biden to outline $40B to increase ‘must-have’ internet access
President Biden will announce Monday a plan to distribute more than $40 billion to expand high-speed internet access throughout the country. Published June 26, 2023
Intel report on coronavirus cannot find direct evidence of lab leak
The U.S. director of national intelligence released an unclassified report, late Friday, on potential links between COVID-19 and a major lab in central China, as required by law, but it does not solve the mystery of whether the virus escaped from a lab or slipped to humans from an animal. Published June 23, 2023
Biden urges crowd to channel anger over Dobbs decision into 2024 action
President Biden said the GOP is in for a world of hurt in the 2024 election cycle, betting that women and angry voters are set to punish Republicans over restrictions on abortion that flowed from the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the broad right to abortion one year ago. Published June 23, 2023
WH: President uninvolved in Hunter Biden’s deal with Chinese businessman, despite claims in message
The White House said President Biden was not involved in a business transaction between his son Hunter and a Chinese businessman, as presidential aides tried to address questions about a WhatsApp message in which the younger Biden invoked his famous father in a coercive manner. Published June 23, 2023
White House says it is keeping families of Titanic explorers in their thoughts, prayers
The White House is offering its sympathies to the families of the five people believed dead after the sudden implosion of the Titan submersible during a dive to examine the wreckage of the Titanic. Published June 23, 2023
Sen. Tim Scott releases ads marking first anniversary of Dobbs decision
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a Republican 2024 presidential candidate, is marking the first anniversary of the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade by running digital ads that take aim at Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for saying abortion bans would be "very damaging" for the economy. Published June 23, 2023
Kamala Harris hails ‘Samosa Caucus’ at luncheon with PM Modi of India
Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday extolled Indian Americans' impact on every part of U.S. life, from corporate C-suites to Hollywood studios and university labs. Published June 23, 2023
Biden hails reopening of I-95 in Philadelphia, points to personal ties and federal efforts
President Biden marked the reopening of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia on Friday by hailing the "grit and determination" of workers who responded to the fire-related collapse and by taking credit for federal efforts to rebuild the highway. Published June 23, 2023
Five House members from Pennsylvania endorse Trump despite his federal indictment
Former President Donald Trump secured 2024 endorsements from more than half of Pennsylvania's Republican delegation in the House on Friday, adding to his roster of Capitol Hill supporters despite a federal indictment in the classified documents case. Published June 23, 2023
Biden will sign an order that calls for broader access to contraception
President Biden will sign an executive order Friday ordering agencies to find ways to expand access to contraception. The policy move coincides with the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that overturned the broad right to abortion in Roe v. Wade. Published June 23, 2023
India’s Modi praises U.S. democracy in address to Congress
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the foundations of American democracy in an address to a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, emphasizing the importance of the partnership between the world's two biggest democracies on a day of summitry that mixed geopolitics and commercial opportunity. Published June 22, 2023
Indian PM Modi defends human rights record, says democracy ‘runs in our veins’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismissed concerns about his record on human rights and treatment of religious minorities on Thursday, saying at the White House that he supports democratic values and there is "no discrimination" based on race or creed. Published June 22, 2023
Family members backed the $500K bond for Rep. George Santos
Rep. George Santos' father and aunt guaranteed the $500,000 bond needed to keep the New York Republican out of jail pending his trial on federal charges, according to court papers unsealed Thursday. Published June 22, 2023
AOC, Muslim lawmakers to boycott PM Modi’s speech to Congress
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York says she will boycott Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech to Congress on Thursday, citing his treatment of religious minorities and the press. Published June 22, 2023
Special counsel Jack Smith starts turning over evidence to Trump team
Special counsel Jack Smith is starting to turn over evidence to former President Donald Trump and his lawyers in the classified documents case, according to court filings that say the batch includes multiple recordings of interviews with Mr. Trump. Published June 22, 2023
Senate panel advances bill targeting fentanyl money trail
A Senate panel unanimously advanced Wednesday a bill that targets every part of the illicit fentanyl chain, from Chinese chemical suppliers to Mexican cartels that ship the deadly drugs to U.S. towns, marking bipartisan progress on the problem and giving a 2024 presidential contender a win on a major GOP issue. Published June 21, 2023
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester launches Senate bid
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester announced Wednesday she is running for the Senate seat in Delaware being vacated by Sen. Tom Carper, a Democrat who decided not to run again. Published June 21, 2023
