Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Russian journalists demand the release of Evan Gershkovich in open letter
Roughly 200 Russian journalists and activists have signed a letter calling for the release of a Wall Street Journal detained in Russia on unsubstantiated charges of espionage. Published April 6, 2023
Jill Biden picks ‘EGGucation’ theme for Easter Egg Roll
First lady Jill Biden has chosen an education theme for this year's White House Easter Egg Roll on the day after Easter. Published April 6, 2023
WH refuses to weigh in on Trump’s legal battle despite post-appearance frenzy
The White House on Wednesday refused to be sucked into the all-encompassing news about former President Donald Trump's historic criminal court appearance, saying President Biden is focused on implementing infrastructure projects and other agenda items. Published April 5, 2023
J&J proposes $8.9 billion deal to settle claims about its talc-based powder
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is offering to pay $8.9 billion over 25 years to settle claims that its talc-based baby powder may cause cancer, relying on a bankruptcy maneuver to try and move on from the lawsuits. Published April 5, 2023
Taiwan’s Tsai invokes Reagan at high-stakes meeting with McCarthy
Taiwan's president invoked the Cold War-era legacy of former President Reagan during her highly anticipated meeting with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday, warning that "democracy is under threat" and underscoring the need to keep "the beacon of freedom shining." Published April 5, 2023
Biden heading to Belfast next week, marking the Good Friday agreement anniversary and economy
President Biden will travel to Northern Ireland and Ireland next week to support Belfast's economic plans and mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement that ended much of the violence known as "the Troubles," the White House said Wednesday. Published April 5, 2023
Trump pleads not guilty at arraignment to 34 felony counts; first former president to be arrested
Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday in front of a New York state judge to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records as he became the first ex-president in history to be arrested, in a prosecution hotly challenged by Mr. Trump and his lawyers as a partisan probe. Published April 4, 2023
Courthouse spectacle magnifies America’s political fissure as pro-Trump, anti-Trump forces clash
A wild mix of reporters, activists and tourists converged Tuesday near the Manhattan Supreme Court to take in the history of former President Trump's arraignment and booking. Published April 4, 2023
Trump arrives in New York to face criminal charges: ‘America was not supposed to be this way!’
Former President Donald Trump on Monday bolstered his legal team with a white-collar criminal defense lawyer and traveled to Manhattan, where heavy security precautions were erected ahead of his court arraignment and booking as the first ex-president to be charged with crimes. Published April 3, 2023
Biggest show in Big Apple: Circus around Trump indictment kicks off with songs, devil-clad woman
The Big Apple has seen a lot of things, but it's never taken in what's on tap for Tuesday: A former president getting booked and arraigned on a criminal indictment related to hush payments to a porn star. Published April 3, 2023
How the U.S. tossed in the towel and fell behind Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic
The U.S. failed to evaluate the harm of lost learning versus the coronavirus when it closed schools during the pandemic and fell behind Europe in getting children back into the classroom even as leaders tried to reopen bars and gyms, experts told House investigators this week. Published April 1, 2023
State Department trying to get personnel to imprisoned WSJ reporter in Russia
The White House on Friday said the State Department is working to get a counselor to the Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained in Russia this week on espionage charges, sparking a furious reaction in the U.S. Published March 31, 2023
MTG says she will protest Trump’s indictment in NYC
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia on Friday said she will go to New York to protest former President Donald Trump's indictment on charges tied to a probe into hush payments for porn star Stormy Daniels. Published March 31, 2023
Trump lawyer says indictment is ‘rule of law dying’
An attorney for ex-President Donald Trump says the upcoming arraignment in New York is going to be unusual but doesn't expect to see his client in handcuffs. Published March 31, 2023
Trump’s 2024 GOP rivals react carefully to indictment, condemn N.Y. prosecutor
The emerging field for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 responded to the indictment of former President Donald Trump by attacking the liberal prosecutor in charge of the investigation while declining to delve into whether the ex-president did something wrong. Published March 31, 2023
Russian spy charges for U.S. reporter spark outrage
Russian authorities arrested a Wall Street Journal reporter Thursday on allegations of espionage, sparking a furious reaction in Washington, adding fresh tension to already icy U.S.-Russian relations and stoking fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin has fully embraced a new strategy as retaliation for Western opposition to his war in Ukraine. Published March 30, 2023
Washington is getting antsy about ‘tranq,’ a nasty drug complicating fentanyl crisis
Congress is sounding the alarm over "tranq," an animal sedative that is being mixed with fentanyl with alarming frequency and worsening the U.S. overdose crisis. Published March 30, 2023
Federal judge in Texas blocks Obamacare preventive-care mandates nationwide
A federal judge in Texas on Thursday struck down a part of Obamacare that requires insurers to cover cancer screenings and other preventive services for free. Published March 30, 2023
WSJ reporter arrested in Russia on charges of espionage
Russia's security agency said Thursday it had arrested a Wall Street Journal reporter on allegations of espionage, charges the newspaper denied. Published March 30, 2023
Sen. John Fetterman set to return to Capitol week of April 17
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is scheduled to return to the Senate the week of April 17 after weeks of treatment for depression. Published March 30, 2023
