Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Melania Trump’s favorability ratings soars by double digits to 52 percent
"The more Americans learn about first lady Melania Trump, the more they like her," reports a new CNN poll, which finds that 52 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of Mrs. Trump -- an increase from 36 percent before President Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20. Published March 9, 2017
Inside the Beltway: Obamacare 2,300 pages, Trumpcare 46 pages
Consider health care heritage: Once there was the Healthcare Security Act of 1993, otherwise known as Hillarycare. It went bye-bye when Republicans took over the House and Senate a year later. Next came Obamacare -- the 2,300-page Affordable Health Care Act that required a $200 million public relations campaign to get it rolling -- this according to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed against the Department of Health and Human Services by Judicial Watch in 2011. Published March 8, 2017
74% of financial wizards applaud Donald Trump for his positive effect on stock market: Poll
They may not agree with him, but they love his effect on the investment climate. A unique new survey of hedge fund managers, brokers and other financial wizards finds that 74 percent give President Trump high marks for his positive effect on the stock market. Published March 8, 2017
Inside the Beltway: Keep it simple and you’ll win, Mr. President
The political landscape grows ever more murky with questionable media coverage and partisan trickery meant to upstage President Trump's bona fide accomplishments. How can he counter such tactics and maintain the positive momentum he gained following his well-received speech before Congress? Ford O'Connell, an adjunct professor at George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, has a suggestion. Published March 7, 2017
Broadcasters obsess over Trump’s wiretap tweets, ignore NYT evidence of actual surveillance: Study
A new study from the conservative Media Research Center found that broadcasters staged a "freak out" following President Trump's series of tweets accusing former President Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower in New York City. But ABC, CBS and NBC virtually ignored a New York Times news account that surveillance of Mr. Trump was actually a possibility. Published March 7, 2017
Inside the Beltway: Insta-protest: Critics erupt over ‘Muslim ban’
They're still not happy. Furious is more like it. President Trump's revised, temporary ban on refugee travel from six Middle Eastern nations continues to draw an immediate outcry from his very well-organized critics. Published March 6, 2017
U.S. losing its national identity, 71 percent of Americans say
There was an underlying sense of foreboding among Republican voters during the 2016 election. Many said they no longer recognized America, or complained that they "wanted their country back." Now we have some numbers. Published March 5, 2017
Rush Limbaugh, press watchdogs attack fake news and media trickery
Biased news media and Democratic operatives are skilled at crafting a powerful, coordinated narrative against President Trump and his administration. But the jig may be up soon. Too many meticulous press watchdogs are pushing back with straightforward analysis. Published March 2, 2017
Press coverage of Trump in first month of office: 88 percent ‘hostile,’ says new study
There was no press honeymoon for President Trump during his first month in office. A meticulous new study by the Media Research Center finds that 88 percent of the broadcast news coverage of Mr. Trump and his team was "hostile" during the first 30 days of office. Published March 2, 2017
Inside the Beltway: Trump factor: Talk radio learns from the master
"Love him or hate him, we in talk radio can learn a great deal from Donald Trump. Since he blasted onto the political scene, he's been a ratings juggernaut. Even the news media have to admit this guy is ratings gold. The assumption in talk radio is that being rah-rah Trump equals big ratings. That would be completely missing the point. The Trump factor is not whether you support him or oppose him. It's what you learn from him," says Phil Valentine, a syndicated radio host heard on the Westwood One Network, writing in Talkers, an industry publication. Published March 1, 2017
Fox News pulled in largest audience for Trump speech
President Trump drew a very respectable national audience during his speech before Congress on Tuesday night: 43 million viewers tuned in, according to early Nielsen Media Research numbers. Fox News emerged as the network of record as the most-watched channel in all of television with 10.8 million viewers, outpacing rivals in both the cable and broadcast realms. Published March 1, 2017
Inside the Beltway: Voters to Democrats: Cooperate with Trump
The "i word" -- impeachment -- has already surfaced in the Democratic dialogue as the party rails against President Trump, its noisy message amplified by the mainstream media. In the words of Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, everybody is "fired up." Published February 28, 2017
Donald Trump should go for the ‘nitty gritty’ in address to Congress
President Trump meets Congress for the first time on Tuesday night, and much of the news media hopes it will prove to be a difficult rendezvous, and one witnessed by a nationwide audience. Published February 27, 2017
Donald Trump’s decision to skip White House Correspondents Dinner wins praise
President Trump is winning some accolades for his decision not to attend the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, just over eight weeks away. The jumbo gala attracts over 2,600 "correspondents" -- including celebrities, lobbyists, PR mavens, military brass and other high-profile folk. Squealing fans and spectators wait for sightings; there is considerable coverage of the event's red carpet walk. Published February 26, 2017
Mayor asks police to ‘create a more positive place for expression’ for anti-Trump demonstrators
Portland mayor Ted Wheeler says 'the culture of protest" is on the nation, and calls upon police to create a better "space for expression" for the demonstrators. Published February 23, 2017
Inside the Beltway: The power of CPAC drowns out the news media
News coverage of the Conservative Political Action Conference -- CPAC -- is often dismissive, sarcastic or just plain negative, dwelling on controversy and even creating it. Such coverage will get drowned out when this bodacious event roars to life on Thursday, drawing some 13,000 attendees who are thoughtful, enthusiastic and politically engaged. There's some real passion here, and refreshing sincerity. Published February 22, 2017
Message to weepy Democrats: ‘Post-election stress disorder’ nowhere near PTSD
We have heard much about Democratic depression and despair over Hillary Clinton's loss during the 2016 election. There's been weeping and sighing; former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean himself warned of youthful angst over President Trump and his administration, telling MSNBC that "young people were traumatized by Trump." Published February 21, 2017
Trump keeps William Henry Harrison’s record safe for shortest presidential term
President Trump passes a noteworthy milestone on Tuesday. He begins his 33rd day in office -- which means he is no longer the shortest-serving president in history -- a title his critics likely wish he had obtained. The shortest-serving president on record was William Henry Harrison, who was in the White House for 32 days before he died of pneumonia, brought on by a severe chill on his Inauguration Day in 1841. Published February 20, 2017
Inside the Beltway: Long-lost Abe Lincoln letter priced at $80K
Just in time for Presidents Day: A previously unknown, newly discovered letter written by Abraham Lincoln a year before his death has been found buried in a family safety deposit box. Its value? That would be $80,000, according to the Raab Collection, a dealer in important historical documents. Published February 19, 2017
Loyal forever: They love Trump in the heartland no matter what the media does
The press may hate him. But the grassroots are still fiercely loyal to President Trump no matter what the news media does. He has the untiring support of heartland voters who rallied behind him with gusto, then went to the polls to vote the man into office. Mr. Trump revisits that territory on Saturday when he journeys to an airplane hangar in Melbourne, Florida, for a jumbo public rally -- a familiar feature of his relentless campaign for the White House. Published February 16, 2017
