Richard Lardner’s Recent Stories
Health Apr 01
Company at heart of Johnson & Johnson vaccine woes has series of citationsThe company at the center of quality problems that led Johnson & Johnson to discard a batch of its coronavirus vaccine has a string of citations from U.S. health officials for quality control problems.
Politics Nov 25
With U.S. in COVID-19 panic, Georgia Sen. Perdue saw stock opportunityRepublican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia carried out a series of well-timed stock transactions at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nation Nov 01
Trump admin funds plasma company based in owner’s condoWhen the Trump administration gave a well-connected Republican donor seed money to test a possible COVID-19-fighting blood plasma technology, it noted the company’s “manufacturing facilities” in Charleston, South Carolina. Instead, the company exists within the luxury condo of its majority…
Economy Apr 14
Cities, counties fear losing out on U.S. virus rescue fundingThe $2.2 trillion federal rescue package could fail to deliver badly needed financial aid to thousands of smaller cities and counties where a majority of Americans live, according to documents and interviews with local officials.
Health Mar 09
Juul Labs sought to court state officials as teen vaping surgedThe Associated Press uncovered the influence campaign by reviewing Juul's political donations and obtaining internal emails, meeting minutes and company records through open records requests to more than a dozen state attorneys general offices.
Politics Jan 12
As trial nears, Trump keeps discredited Ukraine theory aliveThe theory took root in vague form well before Donald Trump laid claim to the White House in 2016. The candidate’s close confidant tweeted about it. His campaign chairman apparently spoke about it with people close to him. What if,…
Nation Dec 17
Bill to raise tobacco age has unlikely allies: Altria, JuulCongress is moving to pass the biggest new sales restrictions on tobacco products in more than a decade, with support from two unlikely backers: Marlboro-cigarette maker Altria and vaping giant Juul Labs.
Politics Nov 11
After push from Perry, backers got huge gas deal in UkraineIn a meeting during a trip to Ukraine, Energy Secretary Rick Perry handed the new Ukrainian president a list of people he recommended as energy advisers. One of the four names was his longtime political backer Michael Bleyzer.
Politics Oct 07
Trump allies pursued business deals in UkrainePeople with ties to Trump and his administration have pursued business deals in Ukraine that went far beyond advancing the president's personal political interests.
Politics Oct 07
New whistleblower may give House Democrats fresh informationA second individual has emerged who could corroborate the original whistleblower's complaint gripped Washington and potentially heightened the stakes for Trump.