Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Gray wolf delisting as endangered species sparks dogfight
Trying to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list has been like prying a pack of the predators off a fat elk carcass: messy, more than a little risky and with no guarantee of success. Published March 2, 2020
Coronavirus deaths in U.S. increase fears of long-term impact
The coronavirus is creeping through the U.S., with Washington State reporting the nation's first two deaths and infections at a nursing home as President Trump tightened the borders to project calm amid an outbreak with sweeping human, financial and political stakes. Published March 1, 2020
Joe Biden blames coronavirus spread on Trump ‘incompetence’
It's hard to pinpoint exactly how or where it started, but the political blame-game over the coronavirus has proven highly contagious, spreading rapidly among Democrats and Republicans as it infects the 2020 election discourse. Published March 1, 2020
Marco Rubio rips China for failing to share vital coronavirus information
Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, slammed Sunday the Communist Party of China for failing to share information about the coronavirus, placing "protecting their global image" ahead of containing the public-health emergency. Published March 1, 2020
Jerome Adams, surgeon general: ‘STOP BUYING MASKS!’ for coronavirus
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams has issued an order to Americans worried about the coronavirus: Stop buying masks. Published March 1, 2020
Bernie Sanders raises whopping $46.5 million in February
Sen. Bernie Sanders announced Sunday that he raised a whopping $46.5 million in February, the best fundraising month of his campaign, solidifying his position as the 2020 Democratic presidential frontrunner entering Super Tuesday. Published March 1, 2020
Mike Pence: U.S. rolling out 15,000 coronavirus test kits
Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that 15,000 testing kits for the coronavirus have been rolled out to health-care facilities as the nation mobilizes to test, treat and contain the virus with the potential to spiral into an epidemic. Published March 1, 2020
Joe Biden: Bernie Sanders winning nomination would make electing Democrats ‘much tougher’
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden said Sunday that it would be "much tougher" for Democratic candidates to win in November if Sen. Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic presidential nomination. Published March 1, 2020
Mike Pence: More U.S. coronavirus deaths ‘possible,’ but risk ‘remains low’ for most
Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that the risk from the coronavirus for most Americans "remains low," but acknowledged that more could also die after a Washington state man became the virus's first U.S. fatality. Published March 1, 2020
Donald Trump urges Michael Bloomberg to stiff campaign consultants
President Trump on Sunday urged Michael R. Bloomberg not to pay his campaign consultants, saying they "led you down a very dark and lonely path," as the former New York City mayor's campaign spending eclipsed $500 million. Published March 1, 2020
Jorge and Betty Rivas, Sammy’s Mexican Grill owners, hit with backlash over Trump rally appearance
The immigrant owners of a Mexican food grill defended Sunday their support for President Trump after receiving threats and negative restaurant reviews for attending his Phoenix rally. Published March 1, 2020
Donald Trump mocks Tom Steyer as campaign ends
President Trump had a parting shot Sunday for Tom Steyer after the San Francisco hedge-fund billionaire dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary race. Published March 1, 2020
Crickets from green groups as Trump makes U.S. ‘global leader in emissions reductions’
International Energy Agency data released earlier this month showing that U.S. emissions dropped by 2.9% last tear failed to make an impression with Democrats, environmentalists and climate activists, who either shrugged off the data or argued that Mr. Trump's climate-denialism was somehow thwarted. Published February 29, 2020
House Democrats block for 80th time born-alive bill requiring care for botched-abortion survivors
For the 80th time, House Republicans sought to require doctors to provide medical care for newborns who survive botched abortions, and for the 80th time, House Democrats defeated the measure, days after Senate Democrats blocked a similar effort. Published February 28, 2020
Democrats’ fracking ban would cost $7 trillion, industry warns
Fracking is a dirty word as far as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is concerned, but those in the oil-and-gas industry warn that life without hydraulic fracturing would be far grubbier. Published February 27, 2020
Virginia punts on National Popular Vote, will reconsider after November election
Virginia may still join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, but it probably won't happen before the November election. Published February 27, 2020
Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar shun pro-Israel AIPAC conference
Progressives cheered Wednesday as Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar joined the list of Democratic presidential primary contenders opting to skip next week's American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, the biggest pro-Israel event of the year. Published February 26, 2020
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal would cost $75K per household in first year: Study
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's proposed Green New Deal would cost the average household nearly $75,000 in the first year in key swing states, driving the U.S. economy into a "steep economic depression," according to a study released Wednesday. Published February 26, 2020
ABC’s David Wright suspended after saying he’s a ‘socialist’ in Project Veritas sting
Veteran ABC News correspondent David Wright was suspended Wednesday after he was caught in a Project Veritas undercover sting declaring that he was a socialist and referring to President Trump as "this f**ing president." Published February 26, 2020
Donald Trump denied credit as U.S. emissions decline
Under President Trump, the United States led the world in reducing carbon-dioxide emissions in 2019, but don't expect Greta Thunberg to give him a hug any time soon. Published February 25, 2020
