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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

Reporters raise their hands to ask a question of Deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders during an off-camera press briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Inside the Beltway: Media fixated by the daily Trump bombshell du jour

The news media has been on a never-ending quest to build a case for the impeachment of President Trump for many months. The current edition is centered on Donald Trump Jr. following a New York Times story published this week titled simply "Trump's son met with Russian lawyer after being promised damaging information on Clinton." The account, written by three reporters, is too detailed and baroque to go into here. Suffice it to say, the story launched a now-familiar press feeding frenzy.

July 11, 2017
FILE - In this June 30, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Trump pressed Congress on Monday, July 10, 2017, to get health care done before leaving for its long August recess, even as Republican senators say the GOP effort so far to repeal and replace the nation's health law is probably dead. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Inside the Beltway: Obstruction of Trump nominees is unprecedented, just 23% confirmed

Senate Democrats are now resorting to "petty" but historically unprecedented methods to obstruct President Trump's efforts to run the nation and take America forward. There are some annoying numbers to consider from studies compiled by the White House and the Republican National Committee, based on multiple sources from the press, pollsters and researchers.

July 10, 2017
First lady Melania Trump was commended for her diplomatic skills and grace on the global stage this week by members of the press. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Melania Trump shines on global stage with her diplomatic skills, grace

The news media continues to snipe at the White House. But there's some Trump triumph as well. First lady Melania Trump is earning accolades for her grace on the global stage this week. Yes, an admiring press chronicles every fabulous ensemble she wears down to the last fashion detail. But they also are applauding Mrs. Trump's demeanor and diplomatic skills during her second overseas tour.

July 6, 2017
Sharyl Attkisson with President Trump on the set of "Full Measure." She has authored a book "The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote." (Sinclair Broadcasting)

Inside the Beltway: Sharyl Attkisson reveals the ghastly world of political smears, fake news

Though it often seems random and nonsensical, the world of negative politics and conniving news media is actually a strategic and calculating place. A new book explains much. On sale now, from investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson: "The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote," from Harper Collins Publishers.

July 4, 2017
President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and son Barron on the South Lawn of the White House as the Fourth of July long holiday weekend got underway. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Trump wins the media war, battle by battle

There is a reason why the mainstream news media and the Democratic Party are in an uproar: They've been left out of the political equation by a player who understands the game better than they do. And that player is President Trump, who has conducted a masterful war against his media foes over the last 72 hours, launching a series of strategic tweets that deemed the hostile press not only "fake" but "fraudulent."

July 2, 2017
Polls and analyses were already reporting that there was media bias against the presidential hopeful, and the findings have continued. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Media bias against Trump is entrenched, vicious, persistent

Pollsters have confirmed for many months that there is a clear media bias against President Trump. They also reveal that the American public is growing weary of the endless negative coverage, which masks authentic progress the president and his administration have made. Citizens are ready for some good news. And the press? Not so much. Outrage and Trump bashing have been good for ratings and readership. But tirades also allow journalists to vent about a president who pushes back against their criticism, in what they deem an "unpresidential" way.

June 29, 2017
Analyst Mike Ciandella noted this week that Obamacare was presented as 'reform' by the media, but Trump's health care bill wasn't. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Media Mission: Protect Obamacare, bash Trumpcare

It's not a bad idea to parse out strategic language deployed by news organizations intent on undermining President Trump. It is a helpful skill. Coverage these days is clever — skewing content in subtle ways, nudging along a negative narrative about the Trump administration which sounds viable to much of the public.

June 28, 2017
In this May 20, 2017, file photo, U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz waves after addressing the Utah GOP Convention in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Fox News hires Rep. Jason Chaffetz as a contributor

Fox News Channel has signed soon-to-be former Rep. Jason Chaffetz to be a contributor, offering political analysis for the leading cable news provider, as well as for its sister channel the Fox Business Network. The Utah Republican's new gig begins on Saturday.

June 28, 2017
Talk radio host Lars Larson interviews then-Sen. Jeff Sessions during the 2016 "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" broadcast event organized by the Federation for Immigration Reform. (Lars Larson)

Inside the Beltway: 60 talk radio heavyweights take on illegal immigration

It could get noisy. Beginning Wednesday, more than 60 talk radio hosts from around the country will converge on the nation's capital for the 11th annual "Hold Their Feet to the Fire," a broadcast event sponsored by the Federation for American Immigration Reform -- or FAIR for short.

June 27, 2017
In this June 19, 2013, file photo, former FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mueller was appointed in the spring of 2017 as special counsel to oversee investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Media obsession: 55 percent of broadcast news coverage of Trump centered on Russia probe

"A Media Research Center study of every broadcast network evening newscast in the five weeks since the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller on May 17 found a whopping 353 minutes of airtime devoted to the Russia probe, or 55 percent of all coverage of the Trump presidency during those weeks," wrote Rich Noyes, a senior analyst for the conservative press watchdog.

June 27, 2017
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. speaks to reporters during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Nancy alert: Democratic voters crave ‘new leaders’

"Some Democrats are saying it's time for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to go, arguing that losses in this year's special congressional elections show that their party needs new, younger leadership. Most Democrats agree," says a new Rasmussen Reports survey, which finds that 58 percent of all likely Democratic voters say the party needs new blood.

June 26, 2017