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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

Image from Associated Press

New poll reveals pro-life leanings among majority of Americans, including Democrats

A majority of Americans -- 56 percent -- consider abortion to be "morally wrong" while 52 percent agree that an abortion "does a woman more harm than good." More than three quarters of Americans would limit abortion to -- at most -- the first three months of pregnancy, a percentage which has remained consistent for the past decade, according to a new Marist Poll.

January 18, 2018
Then presidential candidate Donald Trump at a 2016 campaign rally in Pennsylvania, facing an enthusiastic audience. Grass-roots voters appear to remain in his corner, according to a new survey from Zogby Analytics. NASCAR fans give Mr. Trump a 64 percent approval rating. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Grass-roots voters still stand by Trump

It would be a dream come true for Democrats if grass-roots voters were to abandon President Trump. That does not appear to be happening. Mr. Trump's favorability numbers, in fact, are pretty darn good, according to a new Zogby Analytics survey which finds that the president now has a 46 percent approval rating among all likely voters — just shy of a majority.

January 17, 2018
Kyle Busch (18) leads the pack into turn one in the first lap of the NASCAR Cup Series 300 auto race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Trump earns his highest approval rating among NASCAR fans, poll finds

A new Zogby Analytics survey has promising news for the White House, revealing that President Trump now has a 46 percent approval rating among likely voters -- just short of a majority. But Mr. Trump's biggest fans can be found among some familiar demographics, suggesting that many heartland voters still stand behind him.

January 17, 2018
An aggressive press has been around for a while. Here, then-presidential hopeful Donald Trump faces a wall of journalists on the 2016 campaign trail. The relationship hasn't improved at all. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Hostile media marks a year of attacking Trump

President Trump is about to mark a year in office. Remember that first day? When petulant celebrities refused to appear at his inauguration festivities, marching bands and performance groups from the heartland stepped up to provide jubilant support. At that moment, however, the news media also stepped up to wage a negative campaign against the new president that has been unprecedented in its scope and drama.

January 16, 2018
Talk show host Rush Limbaugh argued on his show that the media reaction to President Trump's controversial expletive remarks about certain countries is manufactured. He called the anchors "actors." (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Missile scare in Hawaii provides a teachable moment

The news media had a field day with the Hawaii missile attack scare, using the incident to alarm the public, and as a handy way to bash President Trump and his administration, among other things. It was a dress rehearsal for a reality the nation has lived with for decades, and a teachable moment.

January 15, 2018
The pace and tone of news coverage of political matters appears to have escalated into a chaotic rush of confusing information. Not necessarily helpful when the worried public craves clarity and candor. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Democrats live outrage to outrage in the Trump era

Yes, the pace and tone of news coverage of political matters appears to have escalated into a chaotic rush of shrill, confusing information — often supporting specific buzz words and hostile narratives, and void of decorum. This is not necessarily helpful in an age when the worried public craves clarity and candor from press and politicians alike. Yeah, well. That's the marketplace at the moment.

January 14, 2018
The Pew Research Center surveyed people in 38 nations and found that 35 of them condemn political bias in the news media. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Media bias condemned by people in 35 nations, Pew poll finds

Americans who lament political bias in the news media are not alone. Everyone else around the planet appears to condemn the practice, according to a jumbo-sized Pew Research Center poll that tallied the opinions of people in 38 nations - spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America.

January 11, 2018
Many Americans have become wary of the news. Amazingly, the old-school reporter tops the list of those the public still trusts as a source. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: A third of Americans trust ‘nobody’ in the news

The era of fake news, relentless 24/7 coverage and shrill social media has taken a toll on Americans. Many have become wary of the news itself, and very selective about whom they believe. Amazingly, the old-school reporter tops the list of those the public still trusts as a news source. But not by much.

January 10, 2018
In this Jan. 4, 2016, file photo, a U.S. Border Patrol agent drives near the U.S.-Mexico border fence in Santa Teresa, N.M. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)

Trump’s border wall cost is 0.0338 percent of federal spending, says new analysis

President Trump has proposed spending $18 billion over the next decade to construct a new and improved border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. While some lawmakers have criticized the both the amount of money and the plan, a new analysis reveals the expenditure is relatively small compared to other federal spending.

January 10, 2018
A petition has been launched to persuade veteran actor and political provocateur James Woods to run for California governor this year. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: James Woods: Next California governor?

"James Woods, governor of California? Why not? The Golden State has a long history of electing leaders from the deep end of thespian pool. From Ronald Reagan to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Californian voters actually seem to enjoy casting ballots for Republican actors," reads a petition launched Tuesday, which indeed is calling upon the politically attuned and aggressive Mr. Woods to throw his hat in the ring.

January 9, 2018
A typical gym like this features built-in entertainment offerings on its equipment. Life Time Athletics, a national fitness chain, has now banned cable news from the mix at its 128 centers. (AP Photo by Gerry Broome)

Fitness chain bans all cable news from its gyms for health reasons

No more talking heads and breaking news on the treadmill. Life Time Athletics, a national fitness chain with 128 locations in the U.S. and Canada, has banned all cable news channels from its in-gym entertainment offerings. CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News are no longer part of the mix. Non-news competition like ESPN and HGTV are still welcome, however.

January 8, 2018
President Trump speaks during a recent rally in Pensacola, Florida. Despite negative press reports, most of Americans agree that the president is 'in charge," a new Rasmussen Reports survey finds. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Voters agree Trump actually controls the national agenda

"Love him or hate him, voters agree President Trump is charting the course for the country, and no one else is even close," says a new Rasmussen Reports survey which finds that 42 percent of all likely voters believe the president "sets the agenda" in the nation's capital, no matter what the squawking press may report.

January 7, 2018
Muslims at a 2017 prayer service celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. (Pew Research Center)

U.S. Muslim population continues to grow: Report

"New estimates show U.S. Muslim population continues to grow," Besheer Mohamed, a senior researcher with the Pew Research Center, reported on Wednesday -- 3.45 million Muslims live in America, based on the pollster's current research and U.S. Census data.

January 4, 2018