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Mary McCue Bell

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Mary McCue Bell

mbell@washingtontimes.com

Mary McCue Bell is a Breaking News Political Reporter for The Washington Times. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Journalism in writing and reporting and a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Previously, she was a congressional reporter and assistant city editor at the Columbia Missourian, and is a former Washington Correspondent for the Missouri News Network. Ms. Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Mary McCue Bell

Vintage clocks are displayed at Electric Time Company, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Medfield, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Clock’s ticking: House set to vote on making daylight saving time permanent

Yet another attempt to make daylight saving time the year-round standard in the U.S. is heading to the House floor.

July 13, 2026

FILE - Elon Musk uses his phone during a state dinner for President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday May 14, 2026, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Poll: Americans split on capitalism, skeptical of democracy

Americans' views on capitalism are split but lean negative, according to a new survey. Just over half of Americans, 51%, believe capitalism is functioning "not too well" or "not at all well," while 48% say it is functioning "very well" or "somewhat well."

July 11, 2026

FILE - Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., speaks at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 19, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File)

Rep. Khanna says armed Israeli settlers detained him in West Bank

Rep. Ro Khanna said he was detained by Israeli settlers during his Wednesday trip to the West Bank.

July 11, 2026

People march during a rally in support of the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants before it expires on February 3, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

U.S. extends work permits for immigrants with temporary protected status

Hundreds of thousands of immigrants with temporary protected status from seven countries, including Haiti and Syria, had their work authorization extended Friday, hours before expiration.

July 11, 2026

First lady Melania Trump speaks about Trump Accounts for children in foster care at the Department of Treasury, Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

All 50 states join federal initiative to close foster home shortage

All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have joined a federal initiative to balance the ratio of licensed foster homes and children in foster care.

July 11, 2026

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, US Sen. Richard Blumenthal, centre, and D-Conn. and US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) pose for a photo in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Russia sanctions bill no longer deadlocked after Senate-White House agreement

A bill sanctioning Russia reached a critical agreement between the White House and a bipartisan coalition of senators, paving the way forward for its formal introduction, a bipartisan group of senators said Friday.

July 11, 2026

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., speaks during the confirmation hearing for Kash Patel at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) ** FILE **

GOP senators seek DOJ fraud data ahead of push to codify enforcement unit

Half a dozen GOP lawmakers are requesting data to build a case for making the National Fraud Enforcement Division permanent and expanding its legal authority.

July 10, 2026

Trailers sit outside a proposed ICE detention center in a small community in western Maryland known as a destination for weekend bicyclists and Civil War history buffs in Williamsport, Md., Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) **FILE**

Justice Department sues Maryland over sanctuary policies

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Maryland over its newly expanded sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants, claiming it violates federal law.

July 10, 2026

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

HHS urges hospitals to take ‘Make Hospital Food Healthier’ pledge

The Make America Healthy Again agenda is gaining a sub-movement: Make Hospital Food Healthier, an initiative calling on hospitals to revamp their food service.

July 9, 2026

House lawmakers urge federal agencies to brace for AI election integrity threats

A bipartisan duo is calling on federal agencies to coordinate efforts to thwart potential election threats from artificial intelligence, such as chatbots giving voters inaccurate information.

July 9, 2026

A JetBlue passenger jet, front, taxis at Palm Beach International Airport, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Palm Beach Pete gets fake Florida Division of Elections letter telling him to quit mayoral campaign

A Jeffrey Epstein look-alike running for mayor in Palm Beach, Florida, has received a phony letter from the state elections office advising him to withdraw from the race, The Washington Times has learned.

July 9, 2026

In this May 7, 2015 photo, Dan Kleban, a co-owner of the Maine Beer Company, poses in the company's tasting room in Freeport, Maine. Maine Beer Co. has grown over six years from a one-barrel nanobrewery to producing more than 9,000 barrels this year. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Maine beer company founder wants to replace Graham Platner as Democrats’ Senate nominee

Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban said Wednesday that he's all in to replace scandal-plagued Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner, who has yet to drop out of the race.

July 8, 2026

U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought testifies during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the rescissions package on Capitol Hill, June 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, file)

DOGE shuts down with tally of budget savings in dispute

President Trump's cost-cutting initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency, officially closed its doors on Independence Day, and the administration does not plan to issue a final report on the effort.

July 8, 2026

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky speaks to attendees at the South Carolina Democratic Party's Blue Palmetto Dinner on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Columbia S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) ** FILE **

Kentucky governor requests update on McConnell’s health, questions ability to serve

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear asked Sen. Mitch McConnell's office Wednesday for an update on the health of the 84-year-old lawmaker who was admitted to a hospital more than three weeks ago.

July 8, 2026

In this Monday, Sept. 3, 2018, file photo, a U.S. flag flies on the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Bipartisan housing bill set to become law Friday, with or without Trump’s signature

The bipartisan housing bill that President Trump has refused to sign will go into effect by the end of the week -- with or without his signature.

July 8, 2026

A view of the U.S. Capitol dome on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Hill staffers want to readdress sexual misconduct reporting protocol

Staffers are pushing congressional leaders to overhaul sexual misconduct allegation protocol amid multiple claims against current lawmakers and hopeful candidates.

July 7, 2026

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives for a hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Senate Republicans say McConnell is ‘fully engaged’ amid health questions

Senate GOP leaders said Tuesday that they have spoken with Sen. Mitch McConnell and vouched for his competency, challenging widespread speculation about the extent of the Kentucky Republican's failing health.

July 7, 2026

The American Flag flies next to a One9 Fuel Stop sign displaying gas prices for diesel and unleaded gas in Wilmington, Ohio, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Trump team pushes state AGs to investigate high gas prices

The Trump administration wants state attorneys general to join federal investigators in probing alleged antitrust and consumer protection violations causing high gas prices.

July 7, 2026

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., chair of the Senate Republican Steering Committee, speaks to reporters as he arrives for a closed-door meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to prepare for a meeting with President Donald Trump Wednesday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ** FILE **

Sen. Rick Scott wants pharmaceutical tariff carve-out reversed over China’s forced labor

Sen. Rick Scott is lobbying the Trump administration to reverse forced-labor tariff carve-outs for pharmaceuticals, proposing placing duties on drugs linked to China's use of Uyghur forced labor.

July 7, 2026

Protesters hold posters of communist figures as they march towards the Malacanang presidential palace during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Communist Party USA denies that Democrats aiming for Congress are communists

Communist Party USA chairman says no current or hopeful Democratic candidates are communists.

July 4, 2026