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Jennifer Harper

Jennifer Harper

A graduate of Syracuse University, Jennifer Harper writes the daily Inside the Beltway column and provides additional coverage of breaking national news, plus long-term trends in politics, media issues, public opinion, popular culture, Hollywood foibles and “eureka” moments in health and science.

She has been a frequent broadcast commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, C-SPAN, Voice of America, Citadel Broadcasting, Talk Radio Network and other news organizations. Born in Elizabeth, N.J., Ms. Harper grew up in Texas and arrived in Washington in time for Watergate -- and has been tracking the political and media landscape ever since.

She is an active member of the American Federation of TV Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild. She has won 14 journalism awards during her years at The Washington Times.

To read Jennifer Harper's Inside the Beltway columns, click here. Contact her at jharper@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Jennifer Harper

Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions listens to reporters at a news conference in mid-October at the Justice Department in Washington. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: News media interprets the fate of Jeff Sessions

Midterms, what midterms? The big election is in the rear-view mirror. Talk of the blue wave or the red wave has faded. Chatter about President Trump's encounter with CNN reporter Jim Acosta at a White House press conference has dulled to a din. All have been swept off the popular press radar with the long-awaited exit of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday, replaced for now by Matthew G. Whitaker, his chief of staff. Published November 7, 2018

The American Conservative Union is taking its message overseas. For the second year in a row, the organization has organized an outreach in Japan — J-CPAC., a strategic offshoot of its influential Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the annual gathering of some 13,000 enthusiasts who reaffirm that conservative values are alive and resilient. (Photo courtesy of American Conservative Union)

J-CPAC: American Conservative Union takes its message to Japan

The American Conservative Union is taking its message overseas. For the second year in a row, the organization has organized an outreach in Japan - affectionately called J-CPAC. It's a strategic offshoot of its influential Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the annual gathering of some 13,000 enthusiasts who reaffirm that conservative values are alive, well and resilient. Published November 7, 2018

Voters fill out ballots at a polling place at Lake Shore Elementary School, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Pasadena, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Democrats angrier, more worried than Republicans on election day, poll finds

More than four-in-10 voters, 43 percent, say they feel "angry" about the midterm elections according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll. Democrats are angrier than Republicans, however, and this "anger gap along partisan lines" could influence the final midterm results according to Tyler Sinclair, Morning Consult's vice president. Published November 6, 2018

After months of arguments and media coverage, it's finally showtime. The midterm elections have arrived. The nation braces for the results. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Red-hot economy could trump the blue wave

Step aside, now, it's showtime. The media has gone into overdrive as the nation braces for the midterm elections — now billed as on par with a presidential bout. The Democratic Party and its army of strategists and sympathetic journalists have ramped up alarm and melodrama as a get-out-the-vote tool — assuring their flock that a blue wave is the only way to wash President Trump out of office and save America — or words to that effect. Published November 5, 2018

Central American migrants, part of the caravan hoping to reach the U.S. border, wait to get a ride on a truck, in Isla, Veracruz state, Mexico, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

More than a quarter of Americans think caravan should be ‘turned away’: Poll

An Economist/YouGov poll has new insight about American attitudes towards the massive Honduran immigrant "caravan" approaches the U.S. southern border. "More than a quarter of Americans think everyone in the caravan should be turned away at the border," reported Kathy Francovic, a YouGov analyst. Published November 5, 2018

Midterm jitters? Predictions about the outcome of the midterms are few and far between, while polls appear to be all over the map. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Midterm malaise: Pollsters, pundits sweat it out

Polls and op-eds have arrived nonstop as the midterm elections close in. The genuine countdown is on. Yet despite the onslaught of survey numbers and deep thoughts, the findings are inconclusive. Grand predictions and confident consensus among pollsters and pundits about the outcome of the elections are scarce. And no wonder. They remember what happened in 2016 when things went awry and President Trump won the White House despite their expert opinions and intricate surveys. Published November 4, 2018

Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama will produce programming based on "The Fifth Risk," which criticizes the president. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Obamas to produce Netflix series on ‘haphazard’ Trump administration

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have returned to the public stage. The pair are campaigning for midterm candidates. They have a multimillion-dollar book deal. They founded Higher Ground Productions, a company that came in handy in May when the Obamas signed up to produce original programming for video streaming service Netflix and its audience of 125 million subscribers in 190 countries. Published November 1, 2018

Democratic primary voters line up outside a polling place in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) ** FILE **

47% of Americans ‘feel like a stranger in their own country’: Survey

The sense that the nation's culture and way of life have dramatically changed is reflected in a PRRI "American Values" survey that gauged both political opinions and "cultural alienation." It found that 47 percent of Americans now say that things have changed so much, they "feel like a stranger in their own country." Published November 1, 2018

Broadcasters now appear intent on creating a negative grand finale as the midterm elections loom, blasting President Trump and the GOP. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Broadcast news coverage of Republican Party now 88% negative

The broadcast news media has not been kind to President Trump since he was elected. Consistent studies from the Media Research Center showed that, on average, 90 percent of the coverage of Mr. Trump has been hostile. Broadcasters now appear intent on creating a negative grand finale as the midterm elections loom, lashing out at the GOP as well. Published October 31, 2018

The idea that Election Day should be an official holiday intrigues many. In support, Blue Point Brewing offers a batch of "Voters Day Off" beer. (Blue Point Brewing)

Inside the Beltway: Election Day: The next national holiday?

Imagine that Election Day became the next big holiday. Hallmark Cards Inc. would probably like the idea, along with retailers, restaurants and jittery Americans who appear eager to celebrate assorted observances and festivals. Published October 30, 2018

The "exhausted majority" has been identified as the midterms approach, referring to those people who are weary of a divided nation. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: ‘Exhausted majority’ trudges to midterms

Even talk-radio kingpin Rush Limbaugh has declared that he's just about had it with the current political discourse -- which seems to have mutated into a ceaseless negative force fueled by anxious politicians and a blame-minded press. He is not alone. There is a name for this phenomenon: "Exhaustive majority." Published October 29, 2018

Over 29 million Hispanics are eligible to vote says Pew Research. But is the Hispanic vote a given for Democrats? Some analysts say no. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Democrats don’t have a lock on Hispanic vote

The Democratic Party may be a little too confident about its support among certain demographic groups. Some say the Hispanic vote is not necessarily a lock for the party -- and should the Democrats lose this support, it could make a dent. Over 29 million Hispanics are eligible to vote in 2018, according to the Pew Research Center. Published October 28, 2018

In a video published online in May, Brandon Straka advised disenchanted or disappointed Democrats and liberals should simply "walk away" from the Democratic Party. His quest has now hit the public radar. (Brandon Straka/Walkawaymarch.com)

#WALKAWAY from Democrats political push hits public radar with D.C. march

The founder of this political movement came forward with his proposal five months ago. In a video published online in May, Brandon Straka advised disenchanted or disappointed Democrats and liberals should simply "walk away" from the Democratic Party, which he said had embraced left-leaning values and forgotten its calling. He simply called his new activism #WalkAway, making use of the power of the social media hashtag. Mr. Straka's quest has now hit the public radar. Published October 28, 2018

In this May 11, 2018, file photo, Gov. Jerry Brown discusses his revised 2018-19 state budget at a Capitol news conference in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California Gov. Jerry Brown takes over management of the iconic ‘Doomsday Clock’

California Gov. Jerry Brown has taken over management of a grim but iconic symbol of potential destruction: The "Doomsday Clock." The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has announced that "California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr." has joined the nonprofit organization and will act as executive chairman. Published October 27, 2018

Fox Nation, an on-demand subscription-based service featuring the network's top stars and primary content, goes live next month. The network previews the event on Sunday, when subscriptions will be available for "Founding Members." (Fox News)

Fox News set to preview exclusive new ‘Fox Nation’ on-demand subscription service

The Fox News universe is about to a lot bigger. Next month, the nation's leading cable news network will debut "Fox Nation" -- a new on-demand subscription-based service -- featuring both long- and short form programming and star power such as Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham and Brit Hume, among others. Published October 25, 2018