Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
GOP slams good-credit penalty for homebuyers, demands reversal of higher-rate rule
Senate Republicans are taking aim at a "shortsighted" Biden rule that would force homebuyers with good credit scores to pay higher mortgage rates and fees to subsidize people with riskier credit ratings who are also in the market to buy houses. Published April 26, 2023
California Gov. Gavin Newsom backs Biden, officially silencing murmurs about 2024 bid
California Gov. Gavin Newsom swiftly endorsed President Biden for reelection, putting to rest any talk of him being an alternative for Democrats in 2024. Published April 26, 2023
Trump says he might skip the GOP debates, claiming bias
Former President Donald Trump is hinting that he might skip primary debates against Republican rivals this year. Published April 26, 2023
Biden, Yoon say scientists identified remains of Korean War hero after 73 years
President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday said the remains of Army Cpl. Luther H. Story, a Georgia man killed in the Korean War and honored for his valor, have been identified after 73 years of searching. Published April 26, 2023
VP Harris tours NASA flight center in Md. with South Korean leader, kicking off state visit
Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday hailed the 70-year alliance between the U.S. and South Korea as the "linchpin of security" in the Indo-Pacific and said the partnership will reach new heights with an agreement on space exploration and lunar research. Published April 25, 2023
Rep. Ronny Jackson revives demand for cognitive test as Biden launches 2024 bid
Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas is circulating a letter that says President Biden should take a cognitive test or drop out of the 2024 election. Published April 25, 2023
Biden launches 2024 bid, as voters weigh record against his age
President Biden, the oldest serving president at 80, formally announced Tuesday that he would seek a second term, arguing that he saved the country from the brink of Republican authoritarianism and asking voters to help him "finish the job." Published April 25, 2023
Biden tees up reelection bid facing lagging approval ratings, staff upheaval and wariness over age
President Biden is poised to announce his reelection campaign Tuesday, despite low approval ratings and a string of polls showing most Americans and half of Democrats do not think he should run again, signaling a potential enthusiasm gap for the oldest president in history. Published April 24, 2023
Seven in 10 Americans say Biden shouldn’t run again, poll shows
President Biden is poised to announce his reelection campaign, but 7 in 10 Americans, including half of Democrats, do not want him to run for a second term, a new poll finds. Published April 24, 2023
Biden meets with ‘Tennessee Three’ in Oval Office, discusses tighter gun laws
President Biden on Monday met with the "Tennessee Three" who faced expulsion by state House Republicans in Nashville for protesting in the wake of a mass shooting at a Christian school, capping the Democratic trio's rise from obscurity and giving them a platform to call for tighter gun laws. Published April 24, 2023
Twin Marburg virus outbreaks in Africa have global community on guard against further spread
The Marburg virus is the newest health scare on the global stage, with officials in the U.S. and other countries warning doctors to look out for the deadly disease that is circulating in two African countries. Published April 21, 2023
Pro-life group excoriates Trump for saying abortion limits should be left to states
A powerful pro-life group is scolding former President Donald Trump for telling a major newspaper that abortion access is an issue that should be decided at the state level. Published April 21, 2023
Second GOP primary debate will be held at Reagan library, RNC says
The Republican Party plans to hold its second presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. Published April 21, 2023
Lax marijuana laws tied to jump in youth hospitalizations, while profits fail to flow to minorities
Marijuana legislation is tied to a 25% increase in cannabis-use disorder among teens, and the share of 12th graders who vaped pot products nearly doubled from 2017 to 2021, according to a new report. Published April 20, 2023
Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say Sen. Feinstein should resign: Poll
Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California should resign as she faces a lengthy absence from Washington due to a health issue, according to a new poll. Published April 20, 2023
House passes bill rejecting D.C. police overhaul in second rebuke of city government
The House on Wednesday ignored President Biden's veto threat and voted to rescind a D.C. police overhaul that city leaders pushed in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Published April 19, 2023
NIH chief says he can’t confirm whether coronavirus slipped from Wuhan lab
Lawrence Tabak, the acting director of the National Institutes of Health, told Congress on Wednesday he has "no idea" if a lab leak caused the coronavirus pandemic and said he thinks a transfer from the animal kingdom is the likeliest theory. Published April 19, 2023
Ex-N.J. Gov. Chris Christie slams DeSantis’ handling of Disney as not ‘conservative’
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is taking a swipe at Ron DeSantis, saying the Florida governor isn't dealing with Disney like a "conservative" in a potential preview of sniping in the 2024 presidential primary. Published April 19, 2023
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to visit Israel in first trip abroad
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said his first foreign trip will be to Israel to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its statehood. Published April 19, 2023
Evidence mounts Wuhan lab spawned COVID-19 outbreak, leak occurred earlier than first suspected
Two leaks from Chinese labs in fall 2019 are the most likely sources of the coronavirus pandemic, a Senate report concluded after an 18-month probe into how COVID-19 reached humans -- a thorny question that's stumped two administrations and fueled rancor between Washington and Beijing. Published April 18, 2023
