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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

There are 14 organizations planning to protest President Trump's rally in Phoenix on Tuesday. However, two groups will be there to support him. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Bikers for Donald Trump on duty in Phoenix

At last count, there are 14 organizations planning to protest against President Trump's rally in Phoenix on Tuesday, this according to a tally by the Phoenix Sun Times, a news organization that has attempted to track them all. The groups also have urged their members to request free tickets to the rally, then not attend — to lend the impression that there are empty seats in the humongous arena. Meanwhile, two groups will be on hand in support of the president.

August 21, 2017
Not everyone is critical of President Trump's recent public remarks about Charlottesville and other matters. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Jerry Falwell Jr. stands up for Donald Trump

Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. endorsed then-candidate Donald Trump in early 2016 — and continues to stand by him, even as the president navigates much criticism over his handling of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, along with a political scenario electrified by a hostile media, conflicting reports and strong public emotions.

August 20, 2017
The opening introductory frame of a United News newsreel from World War II, which provided regular 20-minute news reports for Americans on the home front. These reports helped keep Americans informed. (National Archives)

Inside the Beltway: Both Donald Trump and voters confront a hostile media

News coverage often seems like a skittish, random collection of outrage, commentary, fleeting news, stray facts, speculation, conflicting information, whining and suggestive headlines these days. The public — along with politicians and even journalists themselves are hard pressed to navigate the technology-fueled tumble of information, a trend that is flourishing during a time when Americans crave and deserve clarity, solutions and wisdom.

August 17, 2017
Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh expressed confusion regarding President Trump's association with the Ku Klux Klan and the election. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Rush Limbaugh does the math

The news media continues to hammer on controversy surrounding President Trump in the aftermath of Charlottesville plus turmoil over Confederate statuary in public places, Mr. Trump's comments about the situation, and the identity of those who support and elected him. Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has addressed the resulting confusion, particularly the president's association with particular groups.

August 16, 2017
A page from Elvis Presley's personal Bible reveals his hand-written note in the margin. (Image courtesy of Museum of the Bible; image reproduced with permission of the Bible's owner)

“Sing for the glory of God’: Museum highlights Elvis Presley’s personal Bible

Many fans around the nation will observe the 40th anniversary of the death of music icon Elvis Presley with concerts, look-a-like contests and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. The Museum of the Bible, however, is offering an online look at Presley's personal Bible, complete with his handwritten notes in the margins.

August 16, 2017

Inside the Beltway: ‘This is about controlling the historical narrative’

The past events in Charlottesville have become a cultural and political force — a catalyst for America's latest identity crisis in uneasy times, and one magnified by incessant media coverage. The violence and turmoil four days ago has sparked related rallies, somber commentary, ceaseless criticism of President Trump and continued protests against Confederate-era statuary in public places. Like many observers, Laura Ingraham, talk radio host and founder of Lifezette.com, is wondering how far the critics will go for their cause. Statue removal is not the main motive of the marchers and activists, she says.

August 15, 2017
President Trump's campaign committee has produced and released its first campaign ad, which is presumably aimed at the 2020 election. (DonaldJtrump.com)

Inside the Beltway: First campaign ad surfaces: Donald Trump’s quest for 2020 now underway

It's never too early to get underway. President Trump has a robust re-election committee, and it has released what it bills in no uncertain terms as a "campaign ad." Donald J. Trump for President Inc. remains ready to rumble, and continues to counter the din of the hostile press, career politicians and assorted rivals. The pushback is direct and to the point.

August 13, 2017
Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers joined up with Japanese and South Korean fighter jets for a 10-hour "solidarity" mission over Japan on Monday. The Pacific Air Forces Twitter account is using #ironclad. (U.S. Air Force)

Inside the Beltway: Media still dithering over ‘fire and fury’

The news media is comfortable using anonymous sources, suggestive headlines and expletives once considered offensive in their daily coverage. But the press does not appear to know what to do with terse language. In the wake of President Trump's "fire and fury" remark about the North Korea threat, the news media has followed up with a lot of fire and fury of its own, framing the remarks as reckless and dangerous. It was a "rhetorical grenade," according to The Washington Post; "inflammatory words" at The New York Times; and just plain "trash talk," according to the Daily Mail.

August 9, 2017
David Letterman has conducted 20 interviews with business man-turned-president Donald Trump; The pair talk it up here in 1988. (NBC)

Inside the Beltway: David Letterman’s Donald Trump obsession

Retired late night kingpin David Letterman has a new gig on Netflix, poised to host a half dozen talk shows for the online giant — this after a previous 33-year run on NBC and CBS which yielded 6,000 shows. Though news organizations are already suggesting guests for Mr. Letterman's new project, the host himself has a wish list.

August 8, 2017
President Trump arrives in Bedminster, New Jersey where he is now spending a short working vacation, and earning some praise from at least one local resident. (AP Photo)

Inside the Beltway: Trump is ‘a welcome boost’ to Bedminster

The news media's latest narrative against President Trump now suggests Mr. Trump's biggest fans are weary, peeved or unsure about the man they elected. These stories cite select polls which indicate that support for Mr. Trump has dropped by such-and-such percentage points and that fervor has faded -- or words to that effect.

August 7, 2017
The numbers are clear: There's a glow on Main Street and a soaring stock market seven months into the Trump administration. (Photo of Main Street in Chesterton, Indiana, by Chris Light)

Inside the Beltway: Numbers don’t lie: Donald Trump’s doing fine

President Trump faces nonstop criticism and a hostile news media which advances one narrative after another, building their case against him with mostly anonymous sources, suggestive headlines and clever speculation. But he carries on. The result? Among other things, the economy has improved, there's a glow on Main Street and the stock market continues to soar to record highs despite rumor mongering and unproven innuendo from the "resistance."

August 6, 2017
Libertarians have entered the health care fray, vowing to "repeal and deregulate" to create a system better than Trumpcare or Obamacare. (Libertarian Party)

Inside the Beltway: Libertarian health care: Repeal and deregulate

The health care clash continues, pitting Republican against Democrat. A third combatant has entered the fray, however: The Libertarians now are weighing in on the challenge to create a workable, healthy health care system out of the loose ends and leftovers of Trumpcare and Obamacare.

August 3, 2017
The Capitol will not be a very busy place in the next months, says a watchdog. There are 12 days of work scheduled through September. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Do-nothing? Congress plans to work only 12 days in the next two months

Lawmakers may think no one is looking as they exit the nation's capital for impending vacation, campaigning, fundraising or the proverbial family time. But someone is watching. And counting. Jim Hoft, founder of GatewayPundit.com, dragged out the current congressional calendar to discover that lawmakers have only 12 days of work scheduled through the end of September.

August 2, 2017
A screenshot of President Donald Trump's Twitter account. (Twitter)

Inside the Beltway: Twitter master Trump strikes again

Between his long-standing personal Twitter account and his official White House Twitter account, President Trump has many millions of followers. Each of his tweets is often "liked" more than 100,000 times and retweeted, on rough average, 20,000 times. That is a lot of buzz. Mr. Trump has tweeted 953 times since taking office on @POTUS, his official tweet source. He also has tweeted 35,400 times on @realDonaldTrump — the personal account he has held since 2009.

August 1, 2017