Tom Howell Jr.

Iran asserts full claim to Strait of Hormuz, calls U.S. war ‘miscalculated’

Iranian officials taunted the U.S. and claimed full control and management of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, contradicting President Trump's contention the U.S. is directing oil traffic through the waterway at the heart of the Middle East dispute.

August 13, 2026

Iran says Trump is relying on ‘fake intelligence,’ makes new demands over Strait of Hormuz

Iranian officials on Thursday said the U.S. "miscalculated" in waging war on their country and demanded payment for environmental damage in the Strait of Hormuz.

August 13, 2026

Karoline Leavitt is leaving the White House, Trump says

President Trump said Wednesday his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of August to spend more time with her young children.

August 12, 2026

U.S. officials tout success of economic pressure on Iran even as Strait of Hormuz remains closed

Trump administration officials on Wednesday said economic pressure on Iran is working and will eventually force the regime to agree to a peace deal, even as commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains low.

August 12, 2026

Trump says Iran is teetering from his blockade: ‘Praise be to Allah’

President Trump said Wednesday that Iran is reeling from his pivot from military might to economic pressure, so he plans to maintain the U.S. naval blockade on the country's ports for the foreseeable future.

August 12, 2026

Drugmakers, health insurers battle over coupons for high-cost medicine

Patients with cancer, HIV, cystic fibrosis or conditions with high-cost medications often use coupons from drug manufacturers to help them pay for the drugs. That assistance runs out, however, and patients learn that the money was not counted toward their insurance deductible.

August 12, 2026

Consumer prices rose modestly in July, easing pressure on Federal Reserve

Inflation rose slightly in July as expected, a reading that could make the Federal Reserve less eager to hike interest rates.

August 12, 2026

Trump grapples with cycle of violence, diplomacy and economic pressure as Iran war nears sixth month

President Trump predicted in March that his military "excursion" into Iran would last several weeks. Instead, he's been trapped in a doom loop of violence and negotiations for nearly half the year, hamstrung by an aversion to deploying U.S. ground troops and the tenacity of a regime that's been on a war footing for decades.

August 11, 2026

Pakistani official sees signs of ‘some sort’ of peace deal forming in Middle East

A Pakistani official said parties inched closer to an elusive peace between the U.S. and Iran on Tuesday, the latest murmur of progress as mediators scrounge for common ground on the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war.

August 11, 2026

Hard-liners strengthen grip on power in Tehran, want concessions from Trump before reopening strait

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Monday handed more power to political hard-liners as he staffed key positions in Iran's security and intelligence establishment, potentially dimming peace prospects as Tehran reaffirmed demands for U.S. concessions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

August 10, 2026

Trump rebukes Iran’s demand for war damages, says Tehran should compensate its victims

President Trump on Monday said Iran's demand for compensation over war damage is an "interesting idea" that he will turn into a counter-demand for payment from Tehran for thousands of people killed in regime-sponsored acts of Middle East terror and protest crackdowns.

August 10, 2026

RFK Jr. announces tightening of regulation that lets food makers decide if additives are safe

The Trump administration said Monday it will require companies to notify federal regulators whenever they determine a food additive is "generally safe" for consumption.

August 10, 2026

Trump taps longtime aide to be White House counsel

President Trump said Sunday he will promote his staff secretary, Will Scharf, to the role of White House counsel.

August 9, 2026

Iran declares no direct talks with U.S. unless demands met, as regional issues threaten peace

Iran reiterated Sunday that it is not holding direct negotiations with the U.S. and that it would not restart diplomatic talks until Washington agrees to certain conditions and stops violating the terms of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

August 9, 2026

Trump needs to find a way out of Iran war, even if it is a ‘bad deal,’ Dem Sen. Chris Murphy says

Sen. Chris Murphy said Sunday he would support a "bad deal" to end the U.S. war against Iran because Americans are suffering from the conflict and the price to reopen the Strait of Hormuz "increases by the day."

August 9, 2026

Sen. Bill Cassidy says there are ‘positive things’ to say about newly minted AG Blanche

Sen. Bill Cassidy said Sunday he is optimistic that Todd Blanche will serve admirably as U.S. attorney general after his swing vote salvaged his embattled nomination.

August 9, 2026

El-Sayed stresses Democratic unity in Michigan Senate race, aims to hold Trump ‘accountable’

Michigan's Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, pivoted fully into general-election mode Sunday, arguing the Democratic Party has its differences but stands united in its desire to combat the "moral rot" at the Trump administration and corporate interests.

August 9, 2026

U.S. shed 23K jobs in July in an unexpected loss, government says

The U.S. shed 23,000 jobs in July, the government said in a surprising monthly report after steady gains earlier this year.

August 7, 2026

U.S. chock-full of munitions, Trump says, pushing back on claims of shortfall

The White House lashed out Thursday against "leakers" who said the U.S. is running short on munitions, hoping to maintain pressure on Iran as it negotiates the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

August 6, 2026

Trump vows to punish ‘leakers’ who said U.S. munitions are running short

President Trump insisted Thursday that the U.S. has ample military firepower and said he wants to prosecute "leakers" who told the media that supplies are running short.

August 6, 2026