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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

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump rebukes Mamdani’s new plan to ‘tax the rich’

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's new "tax the rich" plan drew condemnation from President Trump, a Queens native, who slammed the policy that would affect his business.

April 17, 2026

The seal is seen at the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Washington, June 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

VA officials tell Congress ‘unconventional’ purchases help veterans

Lawmakers sounded the alarm about the Department of Veterans Affairs spending tens of thousands of dollars on seemingly unusual items such as custom-raised flower beds, but VA officials told Congress Thursday that it helps veterans achieve independence.

April 16, 2026

The U.S. Capitol photographed Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) ** FILE **

House thwarts war powers resolution against war in Iran

The House narrowly rejected a war powers resolution to rein in President Trump's military authority in Iran in a 214-213 vote on Thursday.

April 16, 2026

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks during the Take Back Your Health Tour event at the state Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Democrats: Who are you calling ‘soft on fraud’?

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday challenged the believability of a House Democrat who accused him and the Trump administration of being "soft on fraud."

April 16, 2026

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appears before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)

House Democrats blame RFK Jr.’s vaccine skepticism for measles deaths

Democrats dogged Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his anti-vaccine rhetoric during Thursday's House Ways and Means Committee hearing, pinning the blame on him for the measles outbreak.

April 16, 2026

Fairfax County coroners, with two bodies in the van, prepare to leave the home of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, in Annandale, Va., Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills wife, self inside their home, police say

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife early Thursday before taking his own life inside their Annandale home, police said.

April 16, 2026

Police tape. (File photo credit: Gorodenkoff via Shutterstock.)

Man, woman found dead in apparent murder suicide in Annandale, Virginia, home

Two people were found dead early Thursday in an Annandale, Virginia, home following what the Fairfax County Police Department described as a domestic incident.

April 16, 2026

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., listens during a news conference after a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill,Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Democrats’ war powers resolution dies in Senate, more expected

Senate Democrats' war powers vote failed Wednesday after Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer vowed to flood the floor with such measures until the war in Iran ends or the upper chamber limits President Trump's military authority in Iran.

April 15, 2026

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a news conference at Belvedere Middle School in Los Angeles on Oct. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) ** FILE **

California Gov. Newsom sets date for special election to finish out Swalwell’s term

A special election to finish out the remainder of Eric Swalwell's term in Congress will take place this summer following his resignation in the wake of multiple sexual misconduct allegations, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday.

April 15, 2026

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Trump vows to fire Powell from the Fed if he stays on past end of his chairman’s term

President Trump said he will fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell if he does not leave the central bank after his successor is installed.

April 15, 2026

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference after a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Democrats vow to flood Senate floor with war powers resolutions ‘every week’

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer is leading Democrats to bring multiple war powers resolutions to the floor in an attempt to force President Trump to seek congressional approval for further military action in Iran.

April 14, 2026

Lonna Drewes reacts during a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to detail allegations of sexual misconduct by Rep. Eric Swalwell, after Swalwell exited the California governor's race and said he'll resign his seat in Congress. The AP typically does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they identify themselves publicly. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

‘I did not want to live anymore’: A fifth woman accuses Eric Swalwell of sex attack

Former Rep. Eric Swalwell was hit with another sexual assault allegation.

April 14, 2026

Anti-ICE sentiment is expressed on a traffic sign, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Biddeford, Maine.(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Portland resident sues federal immigration agents for alleged race-based arrest

A Portland, Maine, man is suing the federal immigration agents who arrested him in January, arguing that he was racially profiled and wrongfully detained during a deportation surge.

April 14, 2026

President Donald Trump speaks outside the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Trump unveils 4,500-seat details for ‘UFC Freedom 250’

President Trump plans to build a 4,500-seat venue for the widely anticipated Ultimate Fighting Championship cage match at the front of the White House this summer.

April 14, 2026

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., listens as President Donald Trump speaks during an event on energy production in the East Room of the White House, April 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Sen. Jim Justice’s family sues to keep control of The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia

Republican Sen. Jim Justice and his family are suing to keep control of The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia after a hotel-affiliated investor bought hundreds of millions of dollars of the family businesses' debt.

April 14, 2026

Kevin Warsh, speaking to the media about his report on transparency at the Bank of England, in London, Dec. 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool, File)

Fed nominee Kevin Warsh’s disclosed wealth surpasses $100 million

Kevin Warsh's newly submitted financial disclosures show assets of well over $100 million, exceeding all recent Federal Reserve chairs, as his nomination hearing to lead the central bank is expected to take place next week.

April 14, 2026

California gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-CA appears at a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Swalwell suspends California gubernatorial bid amid sexual assault allegations

Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor Sunday night, bowing to mounting pressure from Democratic leaders after a wave of sexual assault and misconduct allegations from multiple women threatened to end his political career.

April 12, 2026

California gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-CA appears at a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Rep. Eric Swalwell refuses to quit California governor’s race as sexual assault allegations mount

Rep. Eric Swalwell's bid for the California governor's mansion and perhaps his entire political future are on life support after a wave of sexual assault and misconduct allegations from multiple women.

April 12, 2026

Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington, where the East Wing once stood. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Trump’s White House ballroom construction can continue, for now

A federal court of appeals is allowing construction to proceed for President Trump's $400 million White House ballroom, temporarily extending a lower court order.

April 11, 2026

DHS calls furloughed employees back to work amid shutdown

Furloughed Department of Homeland Security staff are being called back to work in the thick of the partial government shutdown.

April 11, 2026