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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

According to a new survey from Gallup, two-thirds of the American public says that their living circumstances are getting better. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Standard of living soars says new Gallup poll

"Americans' ratings of their standard of living are on pace to be the best in Gallup's 10-year tracking history," writes Jim Norman, a Gallup analyst who reveals that two-thirds of the public now says their living circumstances are getting better, 80 percent of the nation say they are "satisfied" with their current standard of living, and the pollster's complex but revealing "well-being index" now stands at 54, a record high.

September 12, 2017
The national debt continues to accumulate, and now tops $20 trillion. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Inside the Beltway: Nostalgia: national debt was $9 trillion in 2007

There once was a bumper sticker which read "Don't tell Obama what comes after a trillion." For the curious, a quadrillion comes after a trillion, and it has 15 zeroes after it — a useful thing when charting the expansion of the national debt, which has reached $20 trillion according to meticulous Terence P. Jeffrey, editor-in chief of CNSNews.com, who spotted the phenomenon on Friday at the Treasury Department's website.

September 11, 2017
President Trump meets with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in the Oval Office on Wednesday. They discussed DACA. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: ‘Chuck and Nancy’ take over the media radar

Behold, it's "Chuck and Nancy," a simple phrase which became an instant political barometer the moment it was uttered. Indeed, President Trump referred to Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as "Chuck and Nancy" to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, primarily for their potential role in the future of DACA.

September 6, 2017
A new study from the Rand Corp. reveals that starting school after 8:30 a.m. would save the U.S. billions of dollars over the next decade. (RAND Corporation)

Inside the Beltway: A later start to the school day would save billions

It is a morning ritual across much of America. Parents struggle in the gray of dawn to get kids off to school, fatigued students doze at their desks and teachers ponder a weary class as that first bell rings. Should early-bird start times be scuttled at the nation's schools?

September 4, 2017
The scene was Sept. 27, 1994 — when Newt Gingrich released the "Contract with America" that defined Republican values and ideas; a new authorized biography, "Citizen Newt" will tell Mr. Gingrich's story. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Newt Gingrich, historic conservative with a new biography

As a political brand, Newt Gingrich has had authentic staying power over the decades — fearlessly navigating the news media, Capitol Hill and the crisis du jour with finesse and institutional knowledge. But who the heck is he? The answer might be found in a new authorized biography of Mr. Gingrich, published in an era when some forces seek to rewrite history — particularly Republican and conservative history.

August 28, 2017
A deep-fried, bacon-wrapped whole turkey leg is often on the menu at the nation's state fairs. (Minnesota State Fair)

Inside the Beltway: State Fair Food in deep-fried review includes duck bacon, wild boar BLT

August and September is prime time for bodacious food — deep-fried and often on a stick — as featured in the nation's state fairs. Sampling such fare is a primary obligation for politicians, election year or not. Indulging in fair food is a sure fire way to appear as a folksy candidate in touch with constituents. But alas, such encounters are not without peril for political hopefuls, often caught by press photographers in an inopportune moment with a funnel cake. So without further ado, here's just a small sampling of fair fare.

August 27, 2017
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has Indian heritage. She is one of several examples of prominent people of color in the Republican Party. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Democrats ‘learned nothing’ from 2016

There is a long history of judgment by the Democratic Party. Erick Erickson, founder of Red State.com and The Resurgent blog, points out that Democrats began pushing the idea that "a vote for the GOP was a vote for racism" since 2000, methodically expanding the narrative through the next seven midterm and general elections. The trend continues.

August 24, 2017
The polar bear population is doing just fine say experts, who say "fat" bears also are losing their status as a symbol of climate warming. (Dept. of Fish and Wildlife/AP photo)

Fat and happy polar bears no longer a climate change icon say experts

"What is causing the death of the polar bear as a climate change icon? Fat bears are part of it, but mostly it's the fact that polar bear numbers haven't declined as predicted," writes Susan Crockford, a Canadian zoologist who specializes in polar bear populations, and author of the Polar Bear Science blog.

August 24, 2017