Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Inside the Beltway: 45% of Americans approve of arming teachers
President Trump consistently offers staunch support for arming teachers or other school personnel to protect the young people under their charge. One major poll has found that while the majority of Americans are uncomfortable with the idea, a "sizable minority" approves of it. Published February 26, 2018
Levi Sanders, son of Bernie Sanders, eyes a run for Congress in New Hampshire
Meet Levi Sanders, son of Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont independent and self-described socialist. It is very likely that Mr. Sanders the younger is going to run for Congress in New Hampshire. Published February 26, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Aggressive ‘NRA boycott’ expands and organizes
Boycott NRA, a newly formed activist group, has launched a public petition calling for commercial concerns to cut ties with the National Rifle Association. The cause already has topped 30,000 signatures, and it is one of about a dozen similar petitions launched on Change.org, which provides a free online platform for public pleas and causes — to the tune of 1,000 petitions a day. Published February 25, 2018
Inside the Beltway: CNN gets aggressive over ratings
CNN's recent town hall on guns in America was a tense broadcast event that sparked controversy and ignored industry ethics meant to preserve decorum and fairness on the airwaves. Things change. The two-hour program boldly breached barriers between entertainment, news and reality TV. But it also garnered big ratings for CNN, attracting an audience of 3 million - about three times the number of viewers the network would typically attract during that time period. Published February 22, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Rush Limbaugh: Democrats ‘seized’ Parkland shooting to advance their agenda
Survivors of the Florida student shooting continue to be a presence in the news media, and their outreach has swiftly increased in size, scope and sophistication — now rife with strategic social media, crafted slogans and complex organization. Published February 21, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Mark Levin to debut on Fox News, with ‘Fox Nation’ to follow
Fox News remains the kingpin network. It is must-see TV for President Trump, and often is cited as an important influence on policy and the daily political narrative. Published February 20, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Start your engines: CPAC arrives Wednesday
The Conservative Political Action Conference - CPAC - rumbles to life in 24 hours. Doors open Wednesday for activism training and assorted receptions that herald a mammoth event which cheers up conservatives, whether they attend or not. Published February 19, 2018
Inside the Beltway: ‘You are either with us or against us’
Students who witnessed the school shooting last week in Parkland, Florida, have already organized a "March for Our Lives" in Washington next month which has quickly gained traction after the young organizers appeared on multiple Sunday talk shows to make their case - particularly to unnamed lawmakers. Published February 18, 2018
Mitt Romney’s chances of winning U.S. Senate seat slim, says historical analysis
Mitt Romney has declared his intention to run for the U.S. Senate seat in Utah. But what are his chances of winning, historically speaking? Not so good according to a unique analysis from Eric Ostermeier, a University of Minnesota political professor who gauged the odds for former presidential hopefuls who run for the lesser office. A dozen have tried, but only three succeeded. Published February 16, 2018
Inside the Beltway: ‘The Faith of Donald J. Trump’ charts president’s distinctive beliefs
The book has a straightforward title: "The Faith of Donald J. Trump." Authors David Brody and Scott Lamb also are straightforward and unapologetic about their intent to chronicle the spiritual voyage of the 45th president, which appears to be both authentic and distinctive. Published February 15, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Democrats in search of a brand
Maybe the Democratic Party is worried about their money and their message. Maybe an identity crisis is in progress as the midterm elections loom. Whatever the cause, many Americans appear to be associating Democrats with obstruction and fury rather than productivity and good will. Rivals are noticing this trend, and are only too happy to craft a message around it. Published February 14, 2018
Trump bump: Small business ‘optimism index’ breaks a 45-year record
Main Street continues to flourish under the Trump administration. The National Federation of Independent Business reports that optimism is at a 45-year high among America's small businesses. The "Small Business Optimism Index" -- a monthly gauge of sentiment among the owners -- broke the record for the measurement, established 45 years ago. Published February 14, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Media: ‘Stop worrying about normalizing Trump’
One critic continues to question much of the positive, often fawning press coverage of the North Korean presence at the U.S. Olympics. But he also wonders why this same news media does not give a similar courtesy to President Trump. Published February 13, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Extraterrestrials are on the radar again
Weary of budget arguments and partisan discord? Consider talk of extraterrestrials, a topic which comes and goes in politics — a distraction or a joke to some, a serious concern or curiosity for others. Published February 12, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Gingrich schools the public in ‘Understanding Trump’
Much of the current political discourse consists of incendiary bursts of outrage and indignation from Democrats over the Trump White House, every syllable amplified by the news media, happy to cover the fireworks as they come and go. But there is another dynamic at work as well. Politics is also a long march with enduring themes - which is where books come in. Published February 11, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Democrats once loved a military parade
Parade rest? No, make that parade unrest - and plenty of it. There continues to be lots of complaints against President Trump's proposal to stage a military parade to honor American troops. Published February 8, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Trump’s political savvy, showmanship now considered ‘unique asset’
Whether his critics like it or not, President Trump has a knack for creating productive political spectacle that can engage the voting public on a grand scale. Mr. Trump is also a master of media tactics — not surprising, since he was a famous commodity on reality TV for years and is deft at producing buzz-worthy tweets and lasting narratives. Journalists, in act, simply can't get enough of Mr. Trump, even if he infuriates them. The president is flexible — comfortable on late-night TV, the global stage, a jumbo rally or among the faithful. Mr. Trump, in fact, will address the 66th Annual National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. Published February 7, 2018
Activists call for massive mobilization in Washington to counter ‘Trump’s war parade’
Anti-war activists have now joined in the protests against President Trump's plans for a military parade in the nation's capital later this year. Published February 7, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Media blames Trump for stock market woes
It was a foregone conclusion that news coverage would blame President Trump for the stock market plunge — but never credit him for its record-breaking rise. There's some history here. Many journalists ignored the spectacular stock market climb after Mr. Trump took office, as one record after another was shattered and Americans cautiously grinned over their 401(k) plans. Published February 6, 2018
Inside the Beltway: Tuesday marks the 107th birthday of Ronald Reagan, and his enduring legacy
That Gipper cachet has not ebbed. On Tuesday, fans of Ronald Reagan around the nation will mark what would have been his 107th birthday. There are big doings at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, of course. The Camp Pendleton Marine Division Band will be on hand, plus a color guard, chaplain, and a brass quintet. There's a 21-gun salute plus a hearty, old-school birthday lunch with a menu featuring roast chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans almondine and chocolate birthday cake with vanilla ice cream. Published February 5, 2018
