Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Colleges, universities see decline in public confidence
Soaring tuition costs, degrees of dubious value and nonstop student activism have combined to bring public confidence in the ivory tower tumbling down. Published March 15, 2018
Netflix now plans to carry news, poised to shape current affairs for 118 million subscribers
Hybrid media keeps emerging. First there was news that Facebook pines to partner with major broadcasters, seeking to supply news updates for one billion devoted users. Then NBC News began adding its content to SnapChat. Now comes another revelation. Netflix is developing its own news show. Published March 15, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Democrats on the verge of identity crisis
Jubilant Democrats and much of the news media have proclaimed that Democrat Conor Lamb's microscopic victory over Republican Rick Saccone is a glorious symbol. Though Mr. Lamb received a mere 641 votes more than his opponent in the Pennsylvania race, his fans insist it is an automatic bellwether signaling the inevitable defeat of the GOP in the midterms and beyond — a predictable narrative. Published March 14, 2018
86% of university presidents cite negative effects of ‘liberal political bias on campus’: Poll
Public confidence in academia has eroded in recent years, and the leaders on those college campuses acknowledge it. The cost and quality of a college education is an important factor. The presidents also cite the impact of liberal bias on the business of higher learning. Published March 14, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Legal marijuana industry praises Trump tax cuts
Those who track the positive financial outcomes of President Trump's tax reform can consider a potential new category to their list: legal marijuana. Published March 13, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Big, beautiful wall awaits President Trump in California, along with protesters
When President Trump arrives in California on Tuesday, the protest groups will be waiting for him with the usual outcry of indignation and outrage. Published March 12, 2018
Inside the Beltway: MAGA Direct: Trump trumps the media again
MAGA lives on. President Trump has dropped "Make America Great Again" — aka MAGA — as a campaign motto, opting instead for "Keep America Great." The ever canny president, however, has reinvented "MAGA" with a greater purpose. That would be "MAGA Direct," another slap at the hostile press from Mr. Trump. Published March 11, 2018
Michael Savage has decided not to run for the U.S. Senate in California
Talk radio kingpin Michael Savage recently told his 7 million listeners that he felt a strong calling to run for the U.S. Senate seat in California. The popular host followed up with a statement spelling out his intended platform and issues of importance as a potential lawmaker. But no more. Mr. Savage has changed his mind. Published March 9, 2018
Trump is right: Fake news is relentless and pervasive worldwide, say MIT researchers
President Trump is not the only one to fret about the reach and influence of fake news. Published March 9, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Bulletproof vests now listed under ‘office expenses’ for Congress
Capitol Hill culture changes, and quietly. House lawmakers can now use taxpayer funds to buy bulletproof vests or reinforce their own personal security under a resolution approved this week by the House Administration Committee. Published March 8, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Parents don’t want their kids to grow up to be president
That big group included one Vermin Supreme -- who wore a trademark boot on his head and promised each voter a cute pony -- plus representatives of the Bull Moose, Mother Earth and Anti-Hypocrisy Parties. Published March 7, 2018
Inside the Beltway: 500 gun control marches each get a $5,000 boost to cover expenses
Gone are the often spontaneous political rallies of yore, when hippies and their ilk simply hit the streets for a cause. The upcoming March For Our Lives rallies planned around the nation in response to the Parkland school shooting last month are meticulously organized, bear carefully calibrated messages and boast vigorous social media. Published March 6, 2018
Upcoming ‘March for our Lives’ events to receive $5,000 per march to cover expenses
The upcoming "March for our Lives" rallies planned in response to the Parkland student shootings last month are getting financial help from a well-organized activist group -- at the rate of $5,000 for each event. Published March 6, 2018
Trump coverage still 90% negative, says new study
It has been a pattern since President Trump was inaugurated well over a year ago. Coverage of the White House on the "Big Three" broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS and NBC -- remains 91 percent negative, according to a new study by the Media Research Center, which has been tracking the phenomenon since Mr. Trump took office. Published March 6, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Texas test case: Democrats gallop to the polls
Midterm fever has appeared out of nowhere. The Texas primaries are Tuesday, and analysts are already reading the proverbial tea leaves to determine the implications for the rest of the nation. The possible take away message: as Democrats fantasize of "flipping" seats in GOP strongholds in Texas and elsewhere, Republicans must light a fire under their own voters, or else. Published March 5, 2018
Inside the Beltway: The president wants to know: Do you ‘publicly admit’ support for Trump?
President Trump's fans have long been subject to hostility, contempt and personal attacks from the news media, assorted Democrats, entertainers and political rivals. It's almost unprecedented. Mr. Trump himself is addressing that phenomenon in "Listening to America," a comprehensive, 32-question voter survey being circulated by his 2020 reelection campaign. Published March 4, 2018
Inside the Beltway: LibertyCon draws Young Libertarians — ‘Don’t Tread on anyone’
Third party alternatives come into focus this weekend. LibertyCon begins in the nation's capital Friday and continues through the weekend, drawing 1,500 mostly young and motivated Libertarians. Published March 1, 2018
Smartphone vanity: Selfies actually make your nose look big says plastic surgeon
Does this smartphone make my nose look big? It might, according to researchers at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School who point out that most people are unaware that close-up selfies often produce a distorted image: 30 percent wider according to a new analysis. Published March 1, 2018
Inside the Beltway:’Senator’ Michael Savage elaborates on possible run
Talk radio kingpin Michael Savage says he has a week to make up his mind about a big career change. Should he run for the U.S. Senate seat in California, to oppose Sen. Dianne Feinstein, now seeking her fifth term in office? Published February 28, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Adam Schiff’s strategy includes the power of 227 TV appearances
"Rep. Adam Schiff has used the House's Russia investigation as his big break, becoming a near-constant presence on cable TV to raise his profile," reports a Republican National Committee analysis, which based this conclusion on news coverage from Politico, CNN, C-SPAN, and other sources, including Nexis. Here is what they found. Published February 27, 2018