Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Donald Trump cheers as holiday shoppers set spending records
There was plenty of good cheer at America's shopping malls this holiday season as consumers unleashed their wallets and set spending records, buoying retailers and raising confidence levels for more economic gains in 2018. Published December 28, 2017
Anita Hill as Hollywood sex harassment commission choice controversial
Casting Anita Hill to lead a commission on sexual harassment in Hollywood may have seemed like an inspired choice, but it turns out the feminist icon hasn't always been a champion of women preyed upon by powerful men. Published December 27, 2017
Jeff Sessions orders examination of Bundy case after mistrial over prosecution bungling
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has stepped into the Bundy prosecution after Wednesday's mistrial, ordering a third-party examination of the case in light of the latest government snafu. Published December 21, 2017
Judge declares mistrial in Cliven Bundy case, faults federal prosecutors for withholding evidence
Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy has long maintained that the federal government is persecuting him, and Wednesday's mistrial over prosecutorial misconduct did nothing to dispel that notion. Published December 20, 2017
Record snow on Alaska mountain linked to climate change
A study released Tuesday in the journal Scientific Reports found that snowfall on the highest peak in the Alaska Range has more than doubled since the start of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-19th century, which researchers attribute to climate change. Published December 19, 2017
Watergate nostalgia in vogue as Trump foes seek to link him to Nixon
If you missed the Senate Watergate hearings in 1973, fear not: A massive wave of nostalgia for the scandal that brought down a Republican president has engulfed foes of President Trump as they seek to draw parallels to his administration. Published December 18, 2017
Students stand, turn back on Betsy DeVos at University of Baltimore graduation speech
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was met Monday by several dozen students and at least one faculty member who stood and turned their back to her during her fall commencement speech at the University of Baltimore. Published December 18, 2017
White House officials tamp down speculation about firing special counsel Robert Mueller
There was plenty of chatter Sunday outside the White House about whether President Trump will fire special counsel Robert Mueller, but apparently nothing of the sort on the inside. Published December 17, 2017
Bernie Sanders: Corporate taxes would ‘absolutely’ go back up if Democrats win Senate in 2018
Sen. Bernard Sanders said Sunday that corporate taxes would "absolutely" go back up if Democrats retake the Senate in 2018. Published December 17, 2017
John Cornyn, Texas Republican senator, hits Democrats griping about tax bill
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn pushed back Sunday against Democrats griping about the tax reform bill, saying they have refused to participate despite being invited to do so by Republicans. Published December 17, 2017
Steve Mnuchin, Treasury secretary, has ‘no doubt’ tax reform will pass this week
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Sunday that he had "no doubt" the tax reform bill would arrive on President Trump's desk by Christmas. Published December 17, 2017
Doug Jones, Alabama senator-elect, says he’ll consider voting on some issues with Senate Republicans
Sen.-elect Doug Jones insisted Sunday that he will break with Democrats and vote with Senate Republicans whenever he thinks it's in the best interest of the people of Alabama. Published December 17, 2017
NFL posts highest unfavorable rating of any major sport for third straight month
The NFL registered the highest unfavorable rating of any major U.S. sport for the third straight month in a newly released survey, a hit attributed in part to the ongoing protests during the national anthem. Published December 16, 2017
Democratic attorneys general vow to sue FCC over net-neutrality repeal
Democratic attorneys general wasted no time Thursday in vowing to sue the Federal Communications Commission over its decision to repeal the Obama-era net neutrality rule. Published December 14, 2017
FCC votes down Obama-era ‘net neutrality’ rules
Not even a bomb threat and impromptu evacuation could stop the Federal Communications Commission from voting Thursday to repeal net neutrality, setting up another legal battle between the Trump administration and Democratic attorneys general. Published December 14, 2017
House GOP deflates administrative state by moving to allow bikes in wilderness areas
House Republicans put the brakes on the federal bureaucracy Wednesday by advancing a bill to allow bicycles and wheelchairs in federal wilderness areas for the first time in 40 years. Published December 14, 2017
Left launches late effort to derail FCC’s net neutrality repeal
Progressives mounted a last-ditch effort Wednesday to derail the Federal Communications Commission's anticipated repeal of net neutrality, a wonky policy issue that has spun up the left like nothing since conservatives at Berkeley. Published December 13, 2017
‘Call Me By Your Name,’ adult-teen love film, raises hackles
Hollywood has been rocked for months by reports of sexual misconduct, but evidently there is no bad time to release a major motion picture about a gauzy romance between an adult man and a teenage boy. Published December 12, 2017
Colin Kaepernick visits Rikers Island inmates; NYC union leader furious
A top New York union leader blasted city officials for allowing former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to meet with inmates Tuesday at Rikers Island, predicting the visit would only encourage violence against corrections officers. Published December 12, 2017
Judge warns of possible mistrial in Cliven Bundy standoff case
A Nevada federal judge raised the possibility of a mistrial Monday in the 2014 standoff at the Bundy ranch, citing the failure of prosecutors to provide the defense in a timely fashion with a slew of documents. Published December 11, 2017
