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Tom Howell Jr.

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Tom Howell Jr.

thowell@washingtontimes.com

Tom Howell Jr. covers politics and the White House for The Washington Times. He can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

The seal of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seen before an FCC meeting to vote on net neutrality, Dec. 14, 2017, in Washington. In a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, the FCC, the agency that regulates U.S. telecommunications, said it is considering a rule that could stop domestic abusers from tracking their partners through vehicles that are connected wirelessly. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Trump cheers GOP effort to expand spectrum, the invisible highway fueling wireless networks

Senate Republicans are using President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act to establish a robust pipeline of wireless spectrum, an obscure but critical part of U.S. efforts to meet consumer demand and compete with China on 6G networks and artificial intelligence.

June 25, 2025

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell arrives for a hearing of the House Committee on Financial Services on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Powell says Fed ‘can’t ignore’ inflation potential under shifting tariffs

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told Congress on Tuesday the central bank is rebuffing President Trump's strident calls to cut interest rates because it has a responsibility to keep inflation in check in the face of tariff-related price increases.

June 24, 2025

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump urges Congress to dial up heat on ‘hardheaded’ Fed Chair Powell

President Trump told Congress to give Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell a tough grilling when he appears Tuesday before a House panel to testify on the central bank's monetary policy report.

June 24, 2025

Trader Ryan Falvey works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Wall Street, oil markets take Iran turmoil in stride — for now

President Trump warned oil-producing nations on Monday to keep prices down and ordered his team to increase domestic production immediately, as the world braced for economic fallout from the U.S. bombing of Iran's nuclear sites.

June 23, 2025

An array of pumpjacks operate near the site of a new oil and gas well being drilled April 8, 2022, in Midland, Texas. (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP, File)

‘I’m watching’: Trump warns against oil price increases

President Trump warned oil-producing nations on Monday to keep prices down and ordered his team to increase domestic production immediately, as the world braced for possible retaliation from Iran over the U.S. bombing of its nuclear sites.

June 23, 2025

In this photo released on Monday, June 23, 2025, by Iranian army press service, Iran's army commander-in-chief Gen. Amir Hatami, center, accompanied by high ranked army commanders, speaks in a video call with top commanders of the army, in Zolfaghar central headquarters, Iran, as portraits of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, left, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hang on the wall. (Iranian Army Press Service via AP)

Regime change? White House says Iranian people control their destiny

The White House said Monday the people of Iran will determine who leads them, but President Trump raised a "good question" about whether they will choose to take control away from leaders who cannot "Make Iran Great Again."

June 23, 2025

A roll of police tape is left on the windshield of a Los Angeles County sheriff's vehicle in the parking lot of its training academy in Whittier, Calif., Nov. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

L.A. County Sheriff’s Department apologizes for odd tweet about Iran bombings

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is apologizing for a social media post that referred to the "victims" of the U.S. bombing in Iran.

June 23, 2025

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump calls Jerome Powell ‘dumb’ and ‘destructive’ after Fed decision

President Trump on Thursday labeled Fed Chairman Jerome Powell an "American disgrace" after the central bank refused to cut interest rates one day earlier.

June 19, 2025

A worker stands watch as a train loaded with containers leaves the Chongqing Railway Container Terminal Station, in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

China responds angrily to trade criticisms from EU, other G7 countries

Chinese officials are rejecting trade complaints from the Group of Seven nations who say Beijing violates trade rules by subsidizing its industries and flooding the world with an oversupply of cheap goods.

June 19, 2025

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell walks off following a news conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Federal Reserve in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Fed ignores Trump’s plea for an interest-rate cut, keeps rates unchanged

The Federal Reserve kept benchmark interest rates steady on Wednesday, defying President Trump's call for a large cut to juice the economy.

June 18, 2025

President Donald Trump salutes as a flag is raised on a newly installed flag pole on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Workers install Trump’s big, beautiful flagpole at White House

President Trump saluted Wednesday as workers raised an enormous U.S. flag on one of two 100-foot flagpoles he had installed on the White House grounds as a personal gift to the nation.

June 18, 2025

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, right, stands before speaking at the 75th anniversary conference of the Federal Reserve Board's International Finance Division at the Federal Reserve in Washington, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump slams Jerome Powell as a ‘stupid person’ ahead of Fed decision on interest rates

President Trump slammed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell ahead of an expected decision Wednesday to leave interest rates where they are instead of agreeing to the president's demand for a cut.

June 18, 2025

President Donald Trump, left, speaks with Dale Haney, head White House grounds keeper, right, and others, about a new flagpole on the North Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump’s ‘most magnificent poles’ with U.S. flags to debut at White House

President Trump said Wednesday the White House will raise American flags on two poles he had planted as a personal gift to the nation.

June 18, 2025

Bottles containing a variety of colored liquids sit on a shelf in a lab at Sensient Technologies Corp., a color additive manufacturing company, in St. Louis., on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

MAHA effect: Kraft Heinz to eliminate food dyes from well-known products by 2027

The Kraft Heinz food company said Tuesday it will remove artificial dyes from all its foods by 2027, as Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressures companies to move away from additives.

June 17, 2025

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, from left, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Donald Trump, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz participate in a session of the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump slams ‘publicity seeking’ French President Macron for comments about Iran-Israel conflict

President Trump said early Tuesday in a social media post that French President Emmanuel Macron "always gets it wrong," blasting the European leader for suggesting the U.S. is pursuing a ceasefire in the Israel-Iran conflict.

June 17, 2025

President Donald Trump meets with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump, Starmer use G7 summit to finalize trade deal announced in May

President Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday finalized key parts of the trade deal-in-principle their countries announced in early May.

June 16, 2025

President Donald Trump walks during the official welcome of the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump optimistic about trade talks with partner nations rankled by specter of steep tariffs

President Trump said Monday he is optimistic he can strike a trade deal with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as the leaders of major economies sought tariff relief from the U.S. at the Group of Seven summit.

June 16, 2025

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Calgary International Airport, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Calgary, Canada, ahead of the G7 Summit. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Trump says U.S., Canada can ‘work out’ trade differences as G7 begins

President Trump said Monday he is optimistic he can strike a trade deal with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as the leaders sat down at a meeting of major economies.

June 16, 2025

Signs advising drivers of congestion pricing tolls are displayed near the exit of the Lincoln Tunnel in New York on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) **FILE**

N.Y., N.J. Republicans urge Trump to finish off Manhattan congestion pricing plan

New York City-area Republicans are calling on President Trump to kill the congestion-pricing plan in midtown Manhattan "once and for all" as a battle over the controversial program winds its way through court.

June 16, 2025

An officer shows Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem bags of Fentanyl as she tours the San Ysidro Port of Entry, March 16, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Congress sends bill restricting fentanyl to Trump

The House passed a bill Thursday that would put illicit fentanyl and its chemical cousins on the most restrictive list of drugs, clearing the way for President Trump's signature on legislation that bedeviled Congress for years.

June 12, 2025