Tom Howell Jr.

Fed confronts ‘hardest’ decision on interest rates in final meeting of the year

The Federal Reserve faces a tough decision when it convenes Tuesday for a two-day meeting to determine whether to cut interest rates for a third consecutive time or hold off due to concerns about inflation.

December 5, 2025

Job cuts surpass 1.1M in 2025, highest level since COVID pandemic

Companies have cut more than 1 million jobs so far this year, a consulting firm said Thursday, citing restructuring, artificial intelligence and economic factors such as tariffs as the key drivers of layoffs.

December 4, 2025

Village People, Andrea Bocelli to perform at Trump-tinged World Cup draw, FIFA says

The Village People will close out the World Cup draw Friday in Washington, FIFA said in a lineup announcement that confirms President Trump's impact on the globe's biggest sporting event.

December 3, 2025

U.S. private payrolls saw an unexpected decline of 32,000 in November

Private employers shed 32,000 jobs in November, driven by a sharp decline among small businesses, the payroll company ADP reported Wednesday.

December 3, 2025

Trump to name Fed chair successor ‘early next year’; someone willing to cut rates early and often

President Trump said Tuesday that he plans to wait until early 2026 to name his pick to lead the Federal Reserve.

December 2, 2025

Costco sues Trump to lock in tariff refunds ahead of Supreme Court decision

Costco Wholesale Corp. is suing the Trump administration in an attempt to secure refunds if the Supreme Court invalidates President Trump's use of a 1977 law to impose unilateral levies on dozens of trading partners.

December 2, 2025

Trump team defends 2nd strike on drug boat as lawmakers worry about war crime

President Trump huddled with his national security team Monday evening at the White House amid a growing firestorm about a deadly "follow-on strike" by U.S. forces on a Venezuelan boat suspected of carrying drugs through international waters on Sept. 2.

December 1, 2025

Results of Trump’s MRI ‘perfectly normal,’ White House physician says

A White House physician said Monday that he ordered magnetic resonance imaging of President Trump as a routine check to ensure he is in good cardiovascular and abdominal health.

December 1, 2025

Manufacturing sags for ninth straight month, index says

U.S. manufacturing contracted for a ninth consecutive month, according to a closely watched index released on Monday that showed mixed signals about the economy and heaped pressure on President Trump to deliver on his "made-in-America" promises.

December 1, 2025

White House says commander, not Pete Hegseth, gave ‘second strike’ order on Venezuelan boat

The White House on Monday said Adm. Frank M. "Mitch" Bradley was responsible for the deadly and controversial second strike on a Venezuelan boat suspected of carrying drugs through international waters on Sept. 2.

December 1, 2025

‘Home Is Where the Heart Is’: First lady Melania Trump unveils Christmas decor theme

First lady Melania Trump unveiled on Monday the White House's Christmas decor.

December 1, 2025

Trump says he’s settled on a Federal Reserve chair pick and will announce it soon

President Trump says he knows who he will appoint to lead the Federal Reserve.

December 1, 2025

Trump defends Hegseth over reports of a second strike on alleged drug boat

President Trump on Sunday downplayed reports that his defense secretary ordered military members to strike a suspected drug boat a second time after an initial strike failed to kill two crewmen.

November 30, 2025

Trump does not plan to send troops into Venezuela, Sen. Markwayne Mullin says

Sen. Markwayne Mullin said Sunday that President Trump does not plan to attack Venezuela.

November 30, 2025

Suspect in Guardsmen shooting may have been radicalized after settling in U.S., Trump officials say

Top Trump administration officials said Sunday that the Afghan refugee accused of shooting two National Guard members before Thanksgiving in the nation's capital likely had been radicalized in the U.S. after entering the country in 2021.

November 30, 2025

Economic doomsayers rebuffed by robust post-Thanksgiving sales, White House chief economist says

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Sunday that retailers enjoyed a "blockbuster" sales weekend after Thanksgiving despite narratives about economic pessimism under President Trump.

November 30, 2025

Homeland Security Secretary Noem: All vetting of Guard shooting suspect took place under Biden

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday the Biden administration is squarely to blame for any vetting failures that occurred in resettling the Afghan refugee accused of shooting two National Guardsmen in Washington before Thanksgiving.

November 30, 2025

Second National Guardsman shot in D.C. ambush is ‘hanging on,’ West Virginia congressman says

Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia said the family of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe is pleading for prayers as the National Guardsman fights to survive an ambush attack in Washington on the day before Thanksgiving.

November 30, 2025

Mark Kelly rips ‘unqualified’ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid video probe

Sen. Mark Kelly said Sunday that President Trump "doesn't understand the Constitution" and that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be fired for his handling of multiple issues.

November 30, 2025

Patriotic vibes and tariff fears fuel uptick in ‘Made in USA’ shopping this holiday season

Shoppers are more likely to buy American-made products than last season, a top U.S. manufacturing group says, pointing to President Trump's tariffs and patriotic fervor as the main drivers.

November 27, 2025