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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 Trump has a moment with reporters and photographers in the Oval Office of the White House. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Extreme media narrative emerges: Donald Trump’s ‘insane’

Press coverage of President Trump appears to be mutating from simply hostile to downright extreme as he approaches his one-year anniversary in office with some substantial victories to his credit. The new narrative du jour among pundits and analysts now questions the president's sanity, with coverage peppered with outrage, sarcasm - and maybe some panic. Journalists can't overlook the emerging optimism among Americans who prefer to grin over their 401K plans rather than fret over charges of "Russian collusion" against the Trump campaign.

January 3, 2018
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel says the GOP has been gearing up for the midterm elections. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Game on: Republicans primed for 2018

Three days into 2018, and the news media already is pushing the narrative that the Republican Party will lose control of Congress in November. The midterm elections are already over, the Democratic Party will regain control of Capitol Hill, and that's that.

January 2, 2018
President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence ad Republican leadership from House and Senate have a jovial moment following the final passage of tax reform legislation. The GOP also enjoyed a record-breaking year for fundraising. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: $121 million in the treasure chest: GOP’s record-breaking year

The Republican Party has argued, pouted, postured and made threatening gestures at one another and the White House for many days. Despite the strife, the GOP has never had a better year for fundraising. After months of record-breaking donations, there is now $121.4 million in the GOP treasure chest — and zero debt. Management is pleased. Steve Wynn, finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, says the broad support for the GOP began the day President Trump was inaugurated and has continued ever since.

December 21, 2017
Interest in UFOs is on the radar for the press, the public and politicians this week following a New York Times story published this week, which revealed a previously unknown Pentagon UFO research project. (NASA)

Inside the Beltway: The press gets frisky with Pentagon UFOs, expert calls for ‘rational discussion’

There hasn't been such a fuss about UFOs since Hillary Clinton chatted about the subject on the 2016 campaign trail, vowing she would "get to the bottom" of questions about unidentified flying objects, the presence of ETs on Earth and Area 51. Her comments created an instant sensation in the news media, inspiring 350 stories from global news organizations and another 200 broadcast reports — this according to the Paradigm Research Group, an activist organization that tracks otherworldly topics in politics and the media and demands the U.S. government "disclose" official information about UFOs.

December 20, 2017
The press had pondered the possibility of a "shadow government" against President Trump even before he was even inaugurated. Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump are seen here at an inaugural gala. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Trump still targeted by the deep roots of the deep state

Talk of a "deep state" or "shadow presidency" at work against President Trump surfaced before he was even inaugurated. And it continues. On Tuesday, Rep. Jim Jordan said he believes a powerful plan had been in place to prevent Mr. Trump from reaching the White House, citing the ongoing Russia collusion investigation and other factors.

December 19, 2017
Special counsel Robert Mueller (Associated Press) **FILE**

Inside the Beltway: Harvard University poll: Robert Mueller has ‘conflict of interest’

Despite the intricacies of the Russian collusion investigation, voters have some clear opinions about the situation, according to a wide-ranging Harvard Center for American Political Studies-Harris survey — which weighs in at 204 pages. It is a long poll, and a telling one: A majority of American voters say special counsel Robert Mueller has a "conflict of interest" in the investigation.

December 14, 2017
A gavel is shown against a backdrop of law books in this undated stock photo. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Legal blog departs Washington Post for libertarian publication

The once rigid edifice of traditional media continues to evolve, driven by changing attitudes of both news consumers and those who actually produce the original content. Media hybrids are emerging, attuned to people rather than news conglomerates, perhaps. Case in point: An influential Washington Post blogger has bid farewell to that news organization. The Volokh Conspiracy — a legal and policy blog launched 15 years ago by UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh — has moved to Reason Magazine, published by the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation, a bastion of libertarian principles, including individual liberty, free markets and the rule of law.

December 13, 2017
In this undated file photo, screen capture from Fox News Channel's "Hannity" program. (Fox News) **FILE**

Inside the Beltway: Fox News has record-breaking ratings, thanks loyal viewers

Fox News has fierce, faithful viewers, and their affection has paid off. Despite personnel changes and assorted challenges, Fox News has enjoyed its highest-rated year since it was founded 21 years ago. The network is beating its news competition — along with everyone else in the competitive cable realm.

December 12, 2017
President Trump during a recent encounter with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, surrounded by microphones and cameras. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: ‘We finally have a Republican leader with enough guts’

Tracking the ups, downs, stumbles and evasive maneuvers of the hostile news media as they cover President Trump and his administration has become a challenge, even for veteran observers. The Media Research Center already has revealed in an extensive six-month study that 91 percent of the coverage has been negative toward Mr. Trump during his short time in office. Astute analysts often explain the wily tricks behind negative Trump-related news stories that appear to be factual but aren't. The blare of biased coverage continues, however.

December 11, 2017
President Trump greets enthusiastic fans at a rally in Pensacola, Florida on Friday. Mr. Trump continues to push back against the news media. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: The blundering news media gets worse

President Trump continues to push back at the hostile news media with great vigor, prompting his critics to squawk and chafe — but to no avail. The presidential tweet has become a strategic fixture in the war between White House and press corps, and an effective one at that.

December 10, 2017