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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

Libertarian National Committee Chairman Nicholas Sarwark, seen with his wife, Valerie, and their children, is running for mayor of Phoenix. (Sarwark for Phoenix)

Inside the Beltway: Libertarians gear up for 2018, poised to woo millennials

A recent NBC News poll revealed that 71 percent of millennials - now considered to be the nation's largest potential voting bloc - pine for a third political party. There are an estimated 75 million Americans aged 18-34; their beliefs, sentiments and motivations continue to fascinate and occasionally confound the demographic researchers - but not necessarily those who actually belong to a third party.

December 7, 2017
For those who still haven't come to terms with the 2016 election, now there is the Hillary Clinton Tree Topper. (Women to Look Up To)

Inside the Beltway: ‘Resistmas’: the Hillary Clinton Christmas tree topper

And the legend goes on, or something like that. Now on sale, it's the Hillary Clinton Tree Topper, which features a very life-like plaster figurine of Mrs. Clinton with feathery angel wings and pristine white pantsuit, meant to go on the top of the Christmas tree. Actually, the Hillary Topper is ideal for the "Resistmas" tree. Yes, the Democratic holiday lexicon now includes the handy term "Resistmas" for those who still have not come to terms with the 2016 election.

December 6, 2017
The spectacular Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute houses the 40thh president's Air Force One and assorted official vehicles. (Image from Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute.)

Ronald Reagan presidential library safe from Los Angeles wildfires for now

Fast-moving wildfires that have raged in areas around Los Angeles and Ventura County in California in the last 72 hours have not reached the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute -- a spectacular library and memorial site in Simi Valley dedicated to the 40th president.

December 6, 2017
Ice cream moguls Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield hope to protest GOP tax reform by stamping political messages on paper money. (StampStampede.org)

Inside the Beltway: Ice cream moguls take on GOP tax reform

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield — founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream — have long backed the progressive cause, most recently supporting Sen. Bernard Sanders' quest for the White House and creating "Bernie's Yearning," a special flavor that was heavy on mint and chocolate. Now the Vermont-based ice cream guys are taking on Republican tax reform, working in concert with Our Revolution, a nonprofit that emerged from Mr. Sanders' 2016 campaign for president.

December 5, 2017
President Trump's tweets are winning accolades from those who have worked closely with him, including former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka. Mr. Trump's tweets get an average of 98,000 likes. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Inside the Beltway: ‘God bless Trump and his Twitter feed’

The news media continues to be irked and frustrated by President Trump's strategic tweets, which effectively bypass the press and take his terse, compelling messages directly to millions of loyal, fiercely engaged Twitter followers — who in turn blast the tweets to the world. Talkwalker.com, a global data research firm, analyzed every Trump tweet since Election Night 2016 to find that each one averages 98,000 likes or retweets. So no wonder the press is irate and critical.

December 4, 2017
Despite the multiple sexual misconduct allegations against Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore, he's leading in the polls in Alabama. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: 96% of Roy Moore voters support Donald Trump

The upcoming special election in Alabama yields intriguing insights. A meticulous new CBS News poll of voters in the state reveals that 71 percent of Alabama Republicans say the allegations of sexual misconduct against Roy Moore are false. Of this group, 92 percent believe "Democrats are behind the charges" which surfaced in mid-November claiming Mr. Moore allegedly pursued underage girls during the 1970s. And 88 percent of GOP voters say that "newspapers and the media" are behind the allegations.

December 3, 2017
A new documentary series on Ronald Reagan is planned at the USA Network, and it includes his daughter Patti Davis, as executive producer. (Associated Press)

New Ronald Reagan TV series names his daughter Patti Davis as executive producer

The 40th president of the United States is a popular subject. There have been 64 documentary film and biographical TV projects based on the life of Ronald Reagan in recent years according to a tally by TV Guide. Another one is in the planning stages, but this one has a defining characteristic. Its is the first to include authorized input from a family member.

December 2, 2017
President Trump boards Air Force One on Wednesday, poised to travel to Missouri and speak to local citizens about the tax reform effort. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Donald Trump declared ‘Man of the Year’ by The American Spectator

Time magazine won't reveal the identity of it 2017 "Person of the Year" for another five days. Those who are currently up for the title include Pope Francis, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, Russian President Vladimir Putin, "The Dreamers," Colin Kaepernick, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, special counsel Robert Mueller, and the social media "Me Too" movement — just to name a few on the expansive list. There has been much back-and-forth in the media about President Trump and the magazine's honorary designation, which has been around since 1927 when the title was won by aviator Charles Lindbergh.

November 30, 2017
Co-anchors Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb after revelations went public that NBC News had fired host Matt Lauer. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Sexual misconduct and the media swamp

Accusations of sexual misconduct continue to rock the mighty realms of entertainment, media and politics — sparking blockbuster stories, melodrama, swift judgments and yes, some authentic introspection among Americans.

November 29, 2017
Monica Lewinsky in 1998, at the height of media coverage following her involvement with President Clinton, which resulted in his impeachment. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Monica mocks ‘The Monica Lewinsky Scandal’

CNN's sister network HLN has produced a new special on former President Bill Clinton, and the title tells all: "The Monica Lewinsky Scandal." Those who recall the tumultuous events that went public on the Drudge Report on Jan. 19, 1998, will be familiar with the guests on the program. Monica Lewinsky herself has taken notice.

November 28, 2017
President Trump speaks to reporters before leaving the White House on Tuesday for a Thanksgiving trip to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Inside the Beltway: Public now wary of ‘unhinged’ liberal press

Relentless, hostile media coverage of President Trump and his administration could be reaching the saturation point. The public appears weary, wary and quite possibly ready to move on — hungry, perhaps, for credible news coverage over biased caterwaul.

November 26, 2017
Black Friday shoppers in search of amazing sales, door buster deals, and limited-time-offers on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/AP Images for Macy's Inc.)

Shopping gets complicated: 12 percent of Americans shop while drunk

Retail therapy -- shopping as a kind of culture and recreational activity -- has gotten complicated. In a survey released last year, RetailMeNot.com, an online discount coupon distributor, found that a quarter of Americans report they are "sleep deprived" while out shopping, while 12 percent say the shop while drunk.

November 24, 2017
According to a Politico/Morning Consult survey, 59 percent of American voters say that sexual harassment is a problem in Hollywood. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Voters say sexual harassment worst in Hollywood, D.C. and media

American voters are under the distinct impression that sexual harassment is rampant in Hollywood and the entertainment industry: three fourths of them say it's "a problem" in that glittering domain. A sizable 59 percent of that group, in fact, consider sexual harassment "a big problem." A mere 4 percent said it wasn't an issue.

November 23, 2017
President-elect Donald Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump arrive for a patriotic concert at the Lincoln Memorial, three days before he was inaugurated. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Trump’s abundant faith shines in his Thanksgiving message

"On Thanksgiving Day, as we have for nearly four centuries, Americans give thanks to almighty God for our abundant blessings. We gather with the people we love to show gratitude for our freedom, for our friends and families, and for the prosperous nation we call home," President Trump says in his Thanksgiving Day Proclamation.

November 22, 2017
An interest group composed of Vietnam-era veterans, historians and authors is formally challenging the accuracy of Ken Burn's epic documentary on the Vietnam War. Their letter hasn't received a reply. (Department of Defense)

Inside the Beltway: Vietnam veterans challenge Ken Burns

They just aren't comfortable with "The Vietnam War," the ambitious documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns, which debuted last month with much fanfare and is still being featured on many PBS stations. Vietnam Veterans for Factual History — a Texas-based interest group which includes military veterans, historians and authors in its membership — is challenging both the content and tone of the 10-episode, 18-hour epic.

November 21, 2017