Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Republican rivals start to pick apart Trump’s record
Republican swooning over former President Donald Trump's policies is starting to break. Published May 5, 2023
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to depart next month, citing pandemic transition
Dr. Rochelle Walensky will depart as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the end of June, citing the imminent end of the COVID-19 public health emergency as a "tremendous transition for our country" after two years of rolling closures, battles against variants and subsequent efforts to overhaul the agency and regain public trust. Published May 5, 2023
Grassley, Whitehouse to Chinese Embassy: You can’t duck responsibility for role in fentanyl supply
A bipartisan Senate duo is formally urging China to crack down on the export of chemicals that Mexican cartels use to manufacture fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid fueling the U.S. overdose crisis. Published May 5, 2023
First lady Jill Biden arrives in London for Charles’ coronation
First lady Jill Biden stopped by 10 Downing Street in London on Friday to meet the prime minister's wife and kick off a busy round of events around the weekend coronation of King Charles III. Published May 5, 2023
Sidelined 89-year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she will return to Senate
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California says she plans to return to the Senate but did not offer a firm date for her return. Published May 5, 2023
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Md. says he will consider a Senate bid
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland says he will spend this month considering whether he will run for the Senate seat opened up by retiring Sen. Ben Cardin. Published May 5, 2023
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky praises agency employee killed in Atlanta shooting
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened Capitol Hill testimony Thursday by recognizing Amy St. Pierre, an agency employee who was killed in a mass shooting in Atlanta one day earlier. Published May 4, 2023
NIH to Congress: Study link between increased cannabis use and psychosis, suicidal thoughts
A key National Institutes of Health official told Capitol Hill lawmakers they are right to be concerned about the potential link between increased use of recreational marijuana and psychosis. Published May 4, 2023
Rep. David Trone announces Senate bid in Maryland
Rep. David Trone says he is running for the Senate seat in Maryland being vacated by retiring Sen. Ben Cardin. Published May 4, 2023
Former NJ Gov. Chris Christie will decide on 2024 run in two weeks
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he will decide within two weeks whether to join the 2024 presidential field and accused ex-President Donald Trump of being too afraid to debate his GOP rivals. Published May 4, 2023
China remains a key player in the fentanyl supply chain, officials tell Congress
Mexican cartels are fueling the overdose crisis in America but China remains a key player in the supply chain, serving as the exclusive supplier of machines that cartels use to press fentanyl into pill form and as the primary launderer of drug profits, border officials and investigators told Congress on Wednesday. Published May 3, 2023
CDC investigates COVID-19 outbreak at its own conference
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking a COVID-19 outbreak of nearly three dozen cases tied to its own conference last week. Published May 3, 2023
Schumer’s notes hint at return date for Sen. Feinstein
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer hasn't said when Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California will return to Capitol Hill, but a photographer captured notes that suggested she could come back by next week. Published May 3, 2023
Ex-Gov. Larry Hogan rejects Maryland Senate run, says job doesn’t interest him
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says he will not run for the U.S. Senate after Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin announced his retirement this week. Published May 3, 2023
Rep. Colin Allred launches challenge against Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas
Democratic Rep. Colin Allred announced Wednesday a 2024 bid against Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas that leans heavily into the Republican incumbent's actions on Jan. 6, 2021. Published May 3, 2023
DOJ announces takedown of fentanyl trafficking ring in dark shadows of the web
The Department of Justice said Tuesday it arrested nearly 300 people and seized unprecedented amounts of drugs and cash as part of a global takedown on fentanyl traffickers that focused on the darknet corners of the web. Published May 2, 2023
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott rejects Chicago mayor’s plea to stop busing migrants
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will continue to bus migrants to Chicago despite pleas from departing Mayor Lori Lightfoot to stop the practice. Published May 2, 2023
Sen. Chris Murphy says Congress should approve nearly $1B for fentanyl fight
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut says Congress should spend nearly $1 billion in the next fiscal year to combat fentanyl trafficking because the overdose crisis "is unlike anything we have faced before." Published May 2, 2023
Va. Gov. Glenn Youngkin says he’s not running for president in 2024
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin says he won't launch a campaign for the 2024 presidential nomination this year and will focus on putting the state Legislature fully in Republican hands. Published May 2, 2023
White House says Biden will end vaccine rules on federal employees, international air travelers
President Biden plans to end COVID-19 vaccination requirements on May 11 for federal employees, contractors and international travelers who visit by air. Published May 1, 2023
