Jennifer Harper

Reagan historian on the GOP debate: Donald Trump ran from the fight

Not everyone has accolades for the billionaire candidate, who has on occasion been compared to Ronald Reagan.

Inside the Beltway: Donald Trump practices ‘Art of the Deal’ on the media

Radio host and fellow media titan Rush Limbaugh advises the curious to consult Donald Trump's bestsellers on how he controls the media.

John Bolton says fundraising on track to draw $21 million for national security candidates

Sign of the times? Former UN ambassador John Bolton reports that 66,000 donors sent in $7 million last year to the political action committees he founded, and that the outreach is on track to raise $21 million for the 2016 election cycle.

Obama, Bernie Sanders plan a private meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday

On the docket for Wednesday, late morning: A private meeting at the White House between President Obama and Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders. There are sparse details and only neutral comments from those who might know the details. Speculation has intensified, however.

Inside the Beltway: Behold the Trump Burger

Take a half-pound of ham, a third-pound of beef, grilled onions, homemade bread, and what have you got? It's the Trump Burger, now offered at the historic Northside Cafe, located in Winterset, Iowa -- about 15 miles southwest of Des Moines, and the birthplace of John Wayne. The 139-year-old eatery confirmed Tuesday that the new entree is a huge hit. "Customers just love the Trump Burger," a spokeswoman tells Inside the Beltway.

National Park Service carefully plows away 61,875 tons of snow from National Mall monuments

It's not like shoveling the walk. There's all that vulnerable marble and history to think of. The National Park Service took special care when crews went to the aid of the monuments, roadways and sidewalks along the National Mall, hidden under snow during the blizzard that recently paralyzed the city. The crews plowed and shoveled away 61,875 tons of the white stuff. The federal agency has shared its secrets of success.

Historic Iowa cafe now offering the Trump Burger boasting beef, onions and lots of ham

Take a half-pound of ham, a third-pound of beef, a generous cushion of grilled onions upon homemade bread and what have you got? It's the Trump Burger, now offered at the historic Northside Cafe, located in Winterset, Iowa - about 15 miles southwest of Des Moines and the birthplace of John Wayne.,

Inside the Beltway: Ted Cruz’s Iowa campaign blitz could ‘shock the political world’

It is an old-fashioned, bodacious campaign blitz. Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz has multiple events in 26 Iowa cities and towns through week's end at a critical time: the next official GOP debate in Des Moines is Thursday, the Iowa caucuses are just six days away. Mr. Cruz is embracing the blitz and has plenty muscle.

Ben & Jerry’s creates ice cream flavor to honor Bernie Sanders: ‘Bernie’s Yearning’

They were there when Sen. Bernie Sanders announced his candidacy for president last year. And they're back to campaign for the Democratic hopeful in their own style. Ben & Jerry's ice cream founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield have gone to Iowa to talk up the 74-year-old, self-described socialist among voters at multiple events. Mr Cohen in particular took it upon himself to make an extremely limited edition ice cream flavor after the candidate - "Bernie's Yearning."

Cash of the titans: Michael Bloomberg is worth $26 billion more than Donald Trump

There has been speculation since August that former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is mulling a run for the White House as an independent, billed by some journalists as an "attractive" choice for those confused or repelled by current presidential choices.

Inside the Beltway: Changing the image: Jeb Bush ditches his glasses, gets presidential

Score one for Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush, who previously vowed he would never take off his "stinking glasses" despite criticism from critics. Has his focus changed? An appearance on ABC News on Sunday revealed the new and improved Jeb, minus glasses, wearing an impeccable dark gray suit and flag pin, hair precisely trimmed, his demeanor calm and direct.

The blizzard media: Major news organizations turn to tales of comfort food

There's talk of chili and cornbread, pasta with meat sauce, coffee cake, grits, grilled cheese sandwiches and wine - lots of wine. As the eastern half of the nation faces down a formidable blizzard, major news organizations are homing in on what's keeping the population together.

Space telescope captures stunning image of ‘dazzling diamonds’ - the brightest stars in the galaxy

Earthlings may be coping with blizzards and theatrical political campaigns at the moment. But far away - very far away - the brightest stars in the galaxy shine with a brilliance that even awes astronomers. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured just such an image, in a star cluster named Trumpler 14, some 8,000 light years away.

Inside the Beltway: Hillary Clinton taps celebrity pals for help

The upcoming Iowa caucuses have drawn keen attention from Hillary Clinton, who is now tapping the talents of famous folks to impress voters in the Hawkeye State -- perhaps due to all those headlines chronicling the "Sanders Surge." Indeed, her rival Sen. Bernard Sanders has gained momentum in multiple polls; he's winning in a recent CNN poll of Iowa voters for example, while a YouGov survey finds that the majority of Americans deem him "electable."

March for Life goes forth despite incoming blizzard, pro-lifers soldier on

The nation's capital is ready to hunker down as a major blizzard looms; grocery stores are wall-to-wall with those seeking provisions and the alarmist media is in full cry. The pro-lifers, however, solider on. They are ready to rally on the National Mall on Friday at high noon, just as the storm is predicted to begin.

Inside the Beltway: A demand to the media from a big alliance: Cover March for Life

The mainstream media has long been finicky about covering the annual March for Life, which draws several hundred thousand people to the National Mall to reaffirm their pro-life beliefs, parse politics and recall the late Nellie Gray, the "tireless advocate for the unborn" who founded the event in 1974.

Inside the Beltway Weekly, Jan. 25, 2016

Inside the Beltway: Lawmaker seeks ‘Responsible Journalism Registry’ to rein in shoddy coverage

The news media appear to be psychotic, drunk on spin and hungry for buzz -- reeling across a chaotic landscape inhabited by old-school newshounds and gleeful upstarts alike. Is it time to rein in the free-for-all? One Republican thinks so. On Tuesday South Carolina state Rep. Michael A. Pitts introduced a bill to establish what he calls a "Responsible Journalism Registry Law."

Abortion poll finds 81% Americans, 66% pro-choice advocates support restrictions on procedure

Inside the Beltway: Fringe candidate ‘Vermin Supreme’ banned from New Hampshire candidate forum

Tuesday is a big moment for 28 serious presidential hopefuls from 16 different states who gather for the New Hampshire Institute of Politics' lesser-known candidate forum, an event the academic institution has organized during every presidential election since 1972.