Jennifer Harper

World War II heroes of the OSS move closer to a Congressional Gold Medal

The innovative clandestine warriors of the World War II era are ever closer to well-deserved recognition. The Senate has unanimously passed bipartisan legislation that would award the Congressional Gold Medal to veterans of the Office of Strategic Services -- the OSS, the forerunner of the CIA and special operations forces.

The American Conservative Union announces that ‘rookie’ Marco Rubio will not appear at CPAC

The American Conservative Union, the force behind the annual Conservative Political Action Conference -- CPAC -- made a sudden announcement Tuesday afternoon. Sen. Marco Rubio would not be among the speakers at the annual event, a must for politicians, pundits, authors and activists who want to resonate with conservative voters.

Final score for Big Mountain Jesus: A 61-year-old war memorial to remain on Montana ski slope

Looks like a monumental court case is finally over. "A beloved World War II memorial, dubbed Big Mountain Jesus by locals, will remain standing on a popular Montana ski slope," declares the Becket Fund, a nonprofit, public interest law firm.

Inside the Beltway: Donald Trump won’t participate in Megyn Kelly’s Fox News candidate forum

It is a very high-profile dress rehearsal. Just 24 hours before the 10th Republican presidential debate in Houston, Fox News host Megyn Kelly will conduct a two-hour voter summit titled "The Kelly File: Face to Face with Candidates."

With Jeb gone, media declares ‘Bush dynasty’ over but son George P. Bush could prove them wrong

After Jeb Bush suspended his bid for president Saturday, there was much gleeful chatter that the "Bush dynasty" was finally over. Kaput. Goodbye. In the 24 hours that followed, NBC's "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd advised his audience, "the Bush dynasty comes to an official end." Vanity Fair published a lengthy "Requiem for the Bush dynasty," while The Atlantic ran "An elegy for the Jeb Bush Campaign." The Guardian put it this way: "Ding, dong, the dynasty is dead: So long to Jeb Bush and the family" while the New Republic declared, "And so the Bush dynasty comes to an end." But the news organizations overlook one factor.

Inside the Beltway: John Sununu: Kasich’s the conservative candidate who can get things done

Things bode well for Republican hopeful Gov. John Kasich, according to those who laud his practical political experience, monitor the polls and compare the candidate's public record with those of his rivals.

White House ink: 58% of Americans OK with a president who has a visible tattoo, 23% regret their own

Tattoos have become such a cultural fixture that pollsters now track the trends of those who favor the ink. The Harris Poll, in fact, interviewed 3,300 people about their tattoo sentiments to find that three in ten Americans have tattoos - and there's no partisan divide here. Equal numbers of Republicans, Democrats and independents - about 28 percent of them - have one or more tattoos.

The Right Side Forum with Armstrong Williams features former DC Mayor Vincent Gray

Political commentator and nationally syndicated columnist Armstrong Williams sits down in a one on one never seen before interview with Former D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray. On this exclusive edition of The Right Side Forum with Armstrong Williams, Vincent C. Gray - an American politician who was the sixth elected Mayor of the District of Columbia - speaks about his political experiences and his mental state when being faced with gut punching obstacles. Armstrong will also offer a tribute to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Inside the Beltway: Ted Cruz would have ‘someone like John Bolton’ in his potential cabinet

Many voters now seek a president who can keep them safe in a dangerous world. This is not lost on the 2016 candidates, who include compelling, protective promises in their campaign narratives.

Inside the Beltway Weekly Feb. 22, 2016

Mark Levin to host daily TV show emphasizing patriotism, liberty and ‘true conservatism’

Conservative talk radio kingpin Mark Levin has just signed a contract to continue his nationwide broadcast for another nine years. He's upping the ante. Mr. Levin will launch his own TV show early next month. Produced daily, five days a week, the new programming will be commercial-free and emphasize liberty-minded "pro-American and patriotic values" that liberty and true conservatism.

John Kerry meets with Hollywood moguls seeking ideas to counter the terrorist ‘narrative’

They convened earlier this week in a swank office with gold painted walls, lavender seating and a giant "Phantom of the Opera" poster on the wall. That would be Secretary of State John Kerry and a dozen major Hollywood studio heavyweights. The elite group assembled to talk "perspectives and ideas of how to counter Daesh narrative" Mr. Kerry revealed in a minimal tweet on Wednesday, using the lesser known acronym for Islamic State.

Inside the Beltway: Mark Levin hosts his own convention, draws impressive conservative line-up

It is a first: The inaugural Conservative Convention on Thursday has drawn Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz and Ben Carson as featured speakers -- along with a sizable group of media-savvy, outspoken conservatives with much on their minds. The evening event in South Carolina is hosted by talk radio kingpin Mark Levin and columnist Michelle Malkin -- both senior editors for the Conservative Review, an online news and commentary site with keen interest in the pros and cons of GOP candidates, presidential in particular.

Patriotic bird-watching: Live Eagle Cam peeks at bald eagle pair nesting in the nation’s capital

The nation's capital appears to be in chaos at times. But that hasn't stopped a pair of magnificent bald eagles from setting up housekeeping in a tulip poplar tree in the U.S. National Arboretum on the northeast edge of town. Their big, bristling nest measures five-by-six-feet, and it marks the first time eagles have nested in the immediate area since 1947.

Inside the Beltway: Trump vs. Cruz: Biggest age gap between presidential rivals in 150 years

There is a good chance GOP primary voters will face a choice between candidates who are among the oldest and youngest nominees in party history, says Eric Ostermeier, a University of Minnesota political professor and a meticulous historical researcher. He refers to front-runner Donald Trump and close rival Sen. Ted Cruz. The age gap between them is the largest between GOP candidates in over 150 years.

Inside the Beltway: 67% of Americans say it’s important for U.S. to be No. 1 in military might

The Census Bureau recently released statistics showing how much America has changed in the last five decades, revealing that the active-duty military population has dropped from 3.4 million then to 1.3 million now. The diminished military has not been lost on the public: A new Gallup poll finds 49 percent of Americans say the U.S. is the top military power on the planet -- down from 59 percent only a year ago.

Presidential signatures, letters and documents still fetch lofty prices

Let us consider presidential ephemera -- the letters, autographs and documents from the nation's highest office. Much of it ends up in academic institutions, goernment run facilities or official libraries. Those that don't are up for grabs, at a certain price, of course. For sale from the Raab Collection, a premier auction house based in Pennsylvania: Lofty presidential whatnot boasting amazing penmanship, some with equally lofty price tags.

Inside the Beltway: Hillary Clinton holds 19 fundraisers in 96 hours in nine states

Campaign fundraising rises to new heights Monday when Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's campaign embarks on an unprecedented and astonishing money-making jag through nine states.

The Right Side Forum with Armstrong Williams looks at Valentine’s Day

The Right Side Forum, an hour-long conservative live news and talk show hosted by columnist Armstrong Williams, will feature a Valentine's Day-themed show this week. His guests are Willie Jolley, CEO of Willie Jolley Worldwide and Dee Jolley, COO Willie Jolley Worldwide; plus George Vradenburg, chairman and co-founder, USAgainstAlzheimers, and Trish Vradenburg, vice-chair and co-founder, USAgainstAlzheimers.

Inside the Beltway: The real socialist party ponders Bernie Sanders

As a presidential hopeful, Sen. Bernard Sanders unapologetically describes himself as a "democratic socialist," prompting much discussion among press and public about the candidate's political pedigree. But wait. Mr. Sanders has also attracted the attention of some other socialists, like the New York-based Socialist Party USA, where the motto is, "Let's build a future worthy of our dreams." They too have a presidential candidate in mind for 2016. That would be Emidio "Mimi" Soltysik, who has a thought or two about Mr. Sanders.