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Jennifer Harper

Jennifer Harper

jharper@washingtontimes.com

Jennifer Harper wrote the daily Inside the Beltway column for The Washington Times.

Articles by Jennifer Harper

President Reagan meets the official White House turkey on Nov. 21, 1981. As is tradition, the bird was pardoned shortly thereafter. (National Archives)

Inside the Beltway: Historic eats: White House Thanksgivings of yore

What have presidents dined on over the years at Thanksgiving? The White House Historical Society has traced the menus back to Nov. 26, 1789, when George Washington issued a proclamation for a "public thanksgiving," then dined upon turkey, Chesapeake Bay oysters, Potomac rockfish and assorted pies. From that auspicious beginning comes many a menu, and a few interesting moments. A brief selection from the society's records:

November 21, 2018
Migrants traveling with a caravan hoping to reach the U.S. border, wait in line to board buses in La Concha, Mexico, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Buses and trucks are carrying some migrants into the state of Sinaloa along the Gulf of California and further northward into the border state of Sonora. The bulk of the main caravan appeared to be about 1,100 miles from the border, but was moving hundreds of miles per day. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Majority of Americans say caravan poses a ‘threat’ to the U.S.: Poll

There is some conditional sympathy among Americans for the thousands of "caravan" members who have begun to arrive at the U.S. border. A new survey, however, finds that the public also believes the caravan poses a threat to the U.S. -- with some wide partisan divides on many issues.

November 20, 2018
According to a survey, 48 percent of Americans say the media is unfair and biased against President Trump and the Republican Party. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: The public now says only 9% of Trump news coverage is ‘fair’

It is a very persistent phenomenon: the media is biased and hostile toward President Trump. Multiple complex studies from the Media Research Center have confirmed that 90 percent of broadcast news coverage of Mr. Trump and his administration has been negative since the president took office almost two years ago. Now comes confirmation of blatant bias across the entire news media from another source.

November 19, 2018
President Trump visited California and worked with Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, setting an example of cooperation. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: ‘I watched the president unite people’

Multiple polls have revealed that Americans are tired of political discord and partisan attacks, which started when President Trump ran for office, and continue as he approaches his second anniversary in office. The public associates this rigid negativity with the "do-nothing Congress" and gridlock. Civility - which often proves more efficient and productive than combat in fostering compromise - is rare indeed.

November 18, 2018
Is the nation so divided that it should be split up into separate red, blue and neutral federations? One analyst parses the possibilities. (NASA)

Inside the Beltway: Analyst envisions America split into Red Federation and Blue Federation

Amid red states, blue states, social strife and political polarization, one analyst now suggests that the United States jettison the "united" part and become a couple of separate nations. This extreme measure likely would disappoint millions of people around the planet who still perceive America as the shining beacon of yore, truly a "united" United States. Plenty of Americans would weep over the thought as well. But it's out there.

November 15, 2018
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, for a short trip to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and then on to Huntington, W.Va., and Indianapolis for campaign rallies. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Do you believe the media disdains conservatives? Trump campaign conducts its own poll

President Trump has conducted his own public opinion polls since he first ran for the White House, using his campaign site to launch the research, gauging public public opinion on a variety of topics. The current controversy over CNN reporter Jim Acosta and his loss of press credentials has prompted a new survey, this time centered on the news media.

November 15, 2018
According to a poll taken just a day after the midterm races, 47 percent of U.S. voters believe President Trump will be re-elected in 2020. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Democratic nightmare: Voters warming to Trump

Despite non-stop challenges from political rivals and a hostile news media, President Trump can consider some promising poll numbers of particular interest to conservatives, Republicans and faithful Trump fans. The numbers, though not necessarily bell-ringers, suggest the public is warming to the Trump way of doing things.

November 14, 2018
Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, has said she won't support House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi to be speaker. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Ocasio-Cortez and youthful ‘resistance’ hits old guard Democrats

Democrats have issued glamorous calls for "resistance" ever since President Trump took office. But wait. That resistance has now surfaced within the party itself and the unthinkable has happened: a charismatic array of new faces on Capitol Hill appear to be pushing back against the establishment, particularly House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. It is an unforeseen by-product. Things change.

November 13, 2018
Michell Obama's book "Becoming" will be released Tuesday, to be followed by an international tour, and translations in 30 languages. (Penguin Random House/Crown Publishing Group)

Inside the Beltway: Michelle Obama makes global debut with new memoir, tour

There will be much ado about former first lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday. Her new 448-page memoir "Becoming" arrives from Crown Publishing Group and Penguin Random House, and yes, the book is already No. 1 on Amazon among all books, along with four subcategories. It will be published in 30 languages. And then the real blitz begins. Mrs. Obama will embark on a 10-city national tour, beginning in Chicago with an event hosted by Oprah Winfrey at the United Arena, which seats 23,000 people. The event is sold out, as are the next two dates at major arenas in Inglewood, California, and in Washington, D.C. An appearance in London next month is also sold out.

November 12, 2018
Opposing sides in Maine: A Trump supporter confronts a Hillary Clinton backer, shortly after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Political discussions vex majority of Americans

Thanksgiving dinner signals the beginning of the holiday get-together season when family and friends are supposed to dine together and enjoy shared moments. Yes, well. That ideal outcome has been sullied in recent years after the occasion was politicized - primarily by certain Democrats who urged the public to consider the festive meal an opportunity to talk up Obamacare and other issues.

November 11, 2018
The White House press corps vies for a chance to question President Trump on Wednesday prior to a sparring match between Mr. Trump and CNN reporter Jim Acosta. The incident received national attention. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: The Acosta effect rattles press and public

An indecorous encounter between president and reporter continues to rattle the journalism community, a troubled place to begin with. President Trump and CNN reporter Jim Acosta sparred on camera during a White House press conference, followed by charge that Mr. Acosta later became physical with a White House intern — a charge he denies. The action was over in moments — but it was enough to spark caustic reactions, soul-searching, complaints and cautions for hours on end.

November 8, 2018