Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Drugmakers urge appeals court to stay Texas ruling on abortion pill
Dozens of drugmakers and pharmaceutical executives are urging a federal appeals court to stay a ruling that invalidated the two-decades-old approval of an abortion drug, saying a Texas judge allowed personal conclusions and cherry-picked anecdotes to supplant scientific reasoning. Published April 12, 2023
Sen. Tim Scott launches 2024 presidential exploratory committee
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina launched a 2024 exploratory committee on Wednesday, putting him on the path to an official campaign and showdown with former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary. Published April 12, 2023
Gershkovich family says they appreciate Biden call, State Dept. designation on wrongful arrest
The family of Evan Gershkovich says it is encouraged by the State Department's determination that The Wall Street Journal reporter is "wrongfully detained" in Russia and that it appreciates a recent call with President Biden. Published April 12, 2023
White House designates ‘tranq’-fentanyl combo an emerging drug threat
The White House drug czar told Congress on Wednesday that he is designating the combination of fentanyl and "tranq" as an emerging threat, underscoring the level of alarm around a vicious drug mixture that causes skin abscesses and amputations and is worsening the deadly overdose crisis. Published April 12, 2023
White House says it will ramp up sanctions on fentanyl traffickers
The White House said Tuesday it plans to crack down on illicit fentanyl traffickers by ramping up sanctions on anyone who uses the U.S. financial system to push the deadly synthetic opioid. Published April 11, 2023
Blue states stockpile abortion pills because of court battle
Blue states are stockpiling abortion pills in case the drugs become unavailable due to an unfolding legal fight over one version, mifepristone. Published April 11, 2023
Biden team eyeing $5B to develop the next generation of COVID vaccines, treatments
The Biden administration plans to invest $5 billion in a program to develop the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, including nasal sprays that could thwart transmission and shots that protect against a range of coronaviruses. Published April 11, 2023
Biden signs bill ending the COVID-19 public health emergency
President Biden on Monday signed a bill that formally ends the public health emergency on COVID-19. Published April 10, 2023
DOJ seeks a stay of Texas abortion pill ruling
The Department of Justice asked an appeals court Monday to freeze an "extraordinary and unprecedented" ruling that said the Food and Drug Administration's approval of an abortion drug, mifepristone, was unlawful. Published April 10, 2023
Calls for feds to ignore court order blocking abortion drug are not based in reality, experts say
The Biden administration can't simply ignore a Texas ruling blocking the approval of mifepristone, an abortion pill, according to legal experts who said that's just overheated rhetoric and there is no clear precedent for telling the courts to take a hike. Published April 10, 2023
Biden hails springtime renewal and a nation ‘made up of possibilities’ at Easter egg roll
President Biden told Easter revelers on Monday to treat spring as a time when "new seeds are planted" and the future is "filled with unlimited possibilities," capping the holiday weekend with a hopeful message as he plots his own political future. Published April 10, 2023
Biden says he plans to run in 2024, just not ready for a formal announcement
President Biden on Monday said he plans on running in 2024, but he isn't ready to make the official announcement. Published April 10, 2023
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to make his first visit to South Carolina, a critical 2024 primary state
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to make his first public visit to South Carolina, a critical 2024 primary state, later this month. Published April 10, 2023
Sen. Bob Casey announces reelection bid in Pennsylvania; a boost for Dems facing daunting 2024
Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania will seek reelection in 2024, giving Democrats a boost in a key battleground state as they try to hold a narrow majority. Published April 10, 2023
Former AG William Barr: Mar-a-Lago docs probe a ‘serious potential case’
Former Attorney General William P. Barr says the New York indictment against former President Donald Trump is flimsy and "opaque," but he does think the investigation into classified documents stored at Mar-a-Lago poses a problem for his former boss. Published April 10, 2023
Schumer, McConnell link arms to condemn Russian arrest of WSJ reporter Gershkovich
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and his Republican rival, Mitch McConnell, issued a joint statement Friday condemning the arrest and "wrongful detention" of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia. Published April 7, 2023
N.Y. courts reviewing security, assessing threats amid Trump case
The New York courts pulled off a historic court appearance by former President Donald Trump this week without major incident, but now it faces another challenge: bolstering security as it works through a series of death threats against the judge and others. Published April 7, 2023
AOC calls for Justice Thomas to be ‘impeached’ after a report on lavish trips
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York says Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas should be taken off the bench following an investigative report that found the justice accepted millions of dollars worth of luxury trips from a GOP donor. Published April 7, 2023
Inflation tops Americans’ concerns, but drug use and Social Security worries surging: Gallup
Inflation remains the top issue of concern for Americans, but the public is getting increasingly worried about other topics in the news cycle, notably the fentanyl-fueled drug crisis and the solvency of Social Security. Published April 6, 2023
Nikki Haley touts $11 million in fundraising in first six weeks
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has raised more than $11 million since launching her 2024 presidential campaign in mid-February. Published April 6, 2023
