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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

Journalists had many observations to make about four U.S. presidents and their spouses sitting in the same pew at the funeral of George H.W. Bush. The news coverage of the event quickly drifted into drama. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Four presidents in the ‘awkward pew’

Journalists could not stop speculating about the subtle occurrences that transpired in just a few moments during the state funeral service for George H.W. Bush. There in the front row, and very much on-camera was a rare gathering: President Trump was on the aisle seat, with first lady Melania Trump to his left; then came former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton and former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter.

December 5, 2018
(Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Voters doubt Mueller can ‘trap’ Trump

For those who are keeping count, the proverbial "Mueller investigation" began on May 17, 2017, when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, "the No. 2 Justice Department official, appoints former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia," according to a helpful Reuters timeline of the big doings. If we do all the math, that means that on Dec. 17, the investigation will have gone on for 19 months.

December 4, 2018
Some claim that then-business tycoon Donald Trump was inspired to run for president after Jesse Ventura's run for Minnesota governor. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Jesse Ventura mulls a White House run

Forty Democrats are mulling a run for the White House according to some counts, many fueled by their disbelief that President Trump not only won the 2016 election, but that he's still in office. Yes, well. It's going to be a noisy lead-up to 2020 — and now we have one more name to add, and he is among the first of the independent hopefuls.

December 3, 2018
Stormy Daniels returns to Washington, D.C. for a one-night-only show at a nightclub. (The Cloakroom)

Stormy Daniels returns to Washington for a one-night show at local club

Stormy Daniels has been in the news this week for drama surrounding complicated legal matters. The adult film star soon might make the news again when she arrives in the nation's capital for another reason. "A Storm is coming back to Washington, D.C for one night only," noted a new announcement from the Cloakroom, a downtown club.

November 30, 2018
Host Rush Limbaugh says the media has destroyed the conservative "brand" and offers a way to neutralize the negative effects. (Rush Limbaugh) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Critics out to destroy the conservative ‘brand’

Like President Trump, the conservative brand - the identity, traits and causes of those who espouse this ideology - has been under attack by the news media, along with liberal pundits and educators, Hollywood, progressive strategists and PR shops. This relentless team has created a negative shorthand about conservatives that suggests they are heartless, archaic, racist, etc. - and it has reinforced the rigid polarization between Americans.

November 29, 2018
President Trump's approval ratings are inching up. A poll finds his favorability at 48 percent among all voters, and higher among fans. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Warmer still: Trump favorability at 48%

President Trump's tenacity in the political and policy arena appears to be paying off. A new American Barometer survey from The Hill released Wednesday finds that 48 percent of American voters now approve of Mr. Trump. The approval is highest among rural voters: 66 percent give the president a cordial nod. Also among the higher numbers: 53 percent of men and Midwestern voters approve, along with 51 percent of baby boomers and 50 percent of Gen X-ers, those over 65 and those who are 35 to 49 years old, respectively.

November 28, 2018
Jesse Kelly — a combat veteran, talk radio host, former congressional candidate and columnist — was banned from Twitter. Following a "conservative revolt," the platform reinstated him within 48 hours. (Jesse Kelly)

Inside the Beltway: Jesse Kelly, Twitter and a conservative revolt

"Conservatives can't even sneeze without lefties accusing them of fomenting violence. But when lefties do it? It's just speaking truth to power or something. Take Rob Reiner, for instance. He doesn't seem to be at risk of any pushback from liberals for a tweet about Donald Trump," notes Twitchy.com, which monitors the Twitter realm for signs of liberal bias, outrage and other matters.

November 27, 2018
A large proportion of the news media live in New York City, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles says a new Pew Research Center study. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Trump suggests U.S. launch a ‘Worldwide Network’ to counter CNN

President Trump can be very canny when dealing with a hostile news media or opinion-mongers, and often wins skirmishes with just a provocative tweet or two. Mr. Trump's campaign, meanwhile, continues to conduct its own opinion polls, and the White House regularly vets news coverage, clearly citing beneficial stories, information and helpful data. It could go a step further, though.

November 26, 2018
Democrat Mike Espy challenges an answer from rival appointed Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith during a recent debate. President Trump will be in Mississippi on Monday to support Ms. Hyde-Smith's campaign. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Espy and Hyde-Smith: Never a dull moment

President Trump departs for Mississippi on Monday, bound for a jumbo campaign rally for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in an election run-off against Democrat Mike Espy, a former representative U.S. representative and Clinton-era agriculture secretary.

November 25, 2018