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Jennifer Harper

Jennifer Harper

A graduate of Syracuse University, Jennifer Harper writes the daily Inside the Beltway column and provides additional coverage of breaking national news, plus long-term trends in politics, media issues, public opinion, popular culture, Hollywood foibles and “eureka” moments in health and science.

She has been a frequent broadcast commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, C-SPAN, Voice of America, Citadel Broadcasting, Talk Radio Network and other news organizations. Born in Elizabeth, N.J., Ms. Harper grew up in Texas and arrived in Washington in time for Watergate -- and has been tracking the political and media landscape ever since.

She is an active member of the American Federation of TV Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild. She has won 14 journalism awards during her years at The Washington Times.

To read Jennifer Harper's Inside the Beltway columns, click here. Contact her at jharper@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Jennifer Harper

Sun shines on the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Year-end spending bill called ‘a grab bag of theft’

Some close observers are not impressed by the gigantic $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that rocketed through Capitol Hill this week. "It's a grab bag of theft. But it's what they do here," declared nationally syndicated radio host Chris Plante. Published December 22, 2022

Migrants form a line to receive warm food donated by residents in downtown El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Texas border cities were preparing Sunday for a surge of as many as 5,000 new migrants a day across the U.S.-Mexico border as pandemic-era immigration restrictions expire this week, setting in motion plans for providing emergency housing, food and other essentials. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

Headlines from El Paso as border crisis looms

How are things in El Paso, Texas? It could be considered a "ground zero" of sorts for the illegal immigration crisis -- which is expected to escalate if and when Title 42 is lifted. This law limits immigration to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases in the U.S. Published December 20, 2022

The U.S. Capitol is seen here at dawn, complete with reflecting pool. (AP Photo)

Poll asks Republicans to define the ‘good Republican’

Is there such a thing as the ideal Republican -- the "good" Republican? One pollster was determined to find out. "Small government, America First, liberty and freedom, religious values, personal responsibility. These are just some of the ways Republican voters describe what it means to be a good Republican," stated a new analysis from Monmouth University, which indeed polled 563 Republicans to get their take on the subject. Published December 19, 2022

A lone shopper pushes a cart past a display for Christmas sales in a Costco warehouse late Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Lone Tree, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

What we most dread about Christmas gift giving

The National Retail Federation projects that holiday spending could reach $960.4 billion, with 91% of consumers celebrating the season. Well, good. There is another aspect to consider however. Gift giving can miss the mark. Politically-themed gifts in particular made a list of the most "unwelcome" presents this year -- despite clever embellishments, such as the coffee mug which reads "All I want for Christmas is a new president." Published December 18, 2022

The 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is lit after a ceremony on the West Front Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. This year's tree is a white fir from the Six Rivers National Forest in California. The tradition of decorating the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree dates back to 1964. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Christmas songs inspire bipartisan agreement

In a year of discord and disagreement, there's at least one thing that Republicans and Democrats agree on at the moment. Both sides think "Silent Night" is the best Christmas song of all. Yes, there's a poll which asked respondents to name their favorite seasonal tunes, of both the sacred and commercial varieties. Published December 15, 2022

This image released by NBC shows Rachel Maddow, former host of  "The Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC, who now has a Hollywood project underway, according to industry reports.  (MSNBC via AP)

Maddow’s first Hollywood venture based on ‘Great Sedition Trial’

Longtime MSNBC host Rachel Maddow -- who retired from her prime-time perch earlier this year vowing to "work on special projects" -- seems to have begun that quest. And it appears to be a big deal -- a very big and complex deal even by Hollywood standards. Published December 14, 2022

A new faith based organization now vows to support former President Donald Trump should he run for president in 2024. (image courtesy of Pastors for Trump)

‘Pastors for Trump’ arrives in time for 2024 campaign

Some have not given up on the political future of former President Donald Trump. Pastors for Trump has arrived, founded by Jackson Lahmeyer, lead pastor at Sheridan Church in Tulsa and a former candidate for U.S. senator in Oklahoma. He has a very specific mission. Published December 13, 2022

The number of veterans serving in Congress is approaching a "record low" according to a new Pew Research Center study.  (AP Photo)

Veterans still scarce in Congress, despite slight upward tick

How many military veterans are now members of Congress? The answer: Not many. "The new Congress will have a few more veterans, but their share of lawmakers is still near a record low," reported Pew Research Center analyst Drew DeSilver. Published December 12, 2022

An 18-foot high Douglas fir adorns the Blue Room at the White House on Dec. 2, 2009. The first known Christmas tree at the White House was in the tenure of Benjamin Harrison. (Associated Press)

‘How Biden stole Christmas’ … with all those higher prices

So it wasn't the Grinch that ran off with one of the nation's favorite holidays? It was a U.S. president? One analyst believes this is true. Isabelle Morales, who covers spending and regulatory reform for Americans for Tax Reform, offers much evidence in an essay titled 'How Biden Stole Christmas: Americans brace for the most expensive Christmas to date." Published December 11, 2022

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., waves at supporters as she arrives to speak ahead of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Republicans plan bodacious party for weekend

This is truly a grand old party. In keeping with the season, the New York Young Republicans will host a bodacious get-together this weekend at an undisclosed location in Manhattan. Published December 8, 2022

A U.S Navy photograph documenting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which initiated US participation in World War II. Navy's caption: The battleship USS Arizona is sinking after being hit by Japanese air attack on Dec. 7,1941. (U.S. Navy)

Yes, Remember Pearl Harbor, even 81 years later

Wednesday marks the 81st anniversary of the surprise morning attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, that led to the formal entry of the U.S. into World War II. Published December 6, 2022

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Herschel Walker speaks during a campaign stop in Cumming, Ga., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The press reacts to Herschel Walker and the Georgia election

The news media is closely following Herschel Walker's quest for the U.S. Senate seat in Georgia as voters in the Peach State head for the polls Tuesday. The press has waited for many weeks to witness Mr. Walker's challenge to Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat. Published December 5, 2022

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence stand on stage during the first day of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Mike Pence comments on running on Trump ticket again

Here's yet another possibility to consider when considering Republican potential candidate matchups in the 2024 presidential election, an intriguing idea set forth in a conversation between "Fox News Sunday" anchor Shannon Bream and former Vice President Mike Pence. Published December 4, 2022

In this Sept. 25, 2021, file photo Senate candidate Herschel Walker speaks during former President Donald Trump's Save America rally in Perry, Ga. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, File)

Herschel Walker, Raphael Warnock and an unequal press

The "progressive pundit class" has shortchanged Herschel Walker, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. His opponent -- Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat -- had a more positive experience. So says Newsbusters.org in a meticulous new analysis. Published December 1, 2022

Stickers for voters in Iowa's Primary Election sit on a table at the Polk County Central Senior Center, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Socialists on the rise, winning 90% of their races

Socialist candidates in federal and statewide elections were "overwhelmingly successful" in their bids for elected office this year. "In total, 132 socialist candidates were tracked -- 78 at the state level and 54 at the federal level. Our analysis found 120 of these far-left candidates were victorious (a 90.9 percent victory rate)," advised a new analysis conducted by the Heartland Institute. Published November 29, 2022

President Joe Biden talks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Merriam Webster names ‘gaslighting’ as Word of the Year

It is an annual occurrence of note. Merriam-Webster Dictionary has proclaimed that "gaslighting" is its 2022 Word of the Year, basing its judgment on the number of times a certain word is looked up by the public. Published November 28, 2022

Former President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 in Palm Beach, Fla. The Supreme Court has cleared the way for the handover of former President Donald Trump's tax returns to a congressional committee after a three-year legal fight. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Donald Trump tells supporters how he sees 2024

So has the 2024 presidential election already begun? For some it has. Here's a new public message sent out by former President Donald Trump's campaign, clearly seeking to rev up some unity and corral those votes. Published November 27, 2022