Jennifer Harper

Inside the Beltway: Four lawmakers take on ‘cyber jihad’

A quartet of congressmen applauded Twitter for recently shutting down 2,000 accounts established by "foreign terrorist organizations" that are using an American-based social media company, they say, to fundraise, spread propaganda and recruit members.

March 15, 2015

Next up on Armstrong Williams ‘Right Side Forum’ - states’ rights

"The Right Side Forum," an hour-long news and talk show hosted by columnist Armstrong Williams, looks into the complicated world of states' rights during its next broadcast. The show, which debuted in January, airs live on Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. on News Channel 8 in the Washington, D.C. area, and repeats again at 6:30 p.m.

March 13, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal, Rick Santorum take on global jihad

It's not all about Iowa and New Hampshire. An event of note Saturday: The daylong South Carolina National Security Action Summit has drawn Republican presidential contenders and wise folk with much institutional knowledge — all with a mission on their minds.

March 12, 2015

Plastic surgery for men up by 43 percent as they compete in job market

The vanity business appears is flourishing. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery announced Thursday that Americans spent over $12 billion on assorted procedures in 2014. One sector is on the increase. "More men are turning to aesthetic cosmetic procedures, with dramatic increases seen in both surgical and nonsurgical options over the past 5 years and a 43 percent increase overall," the organization stated.

March 12, 2015

Billionaires? The world has 1,826 of them - and 541 live in America

There’s lots of billionaires out there — 1,826, to be exact, according to recent painstaking research of Forbes magazine. Mote than a third prefer the urbane and urban life, and the Big Apple is the town of choice. The publication says that with 78 resident billionaires, New York City has the largest uber-rich population on the planet. But wait, there’s more.

March 12, 2015

John Bolton back in action, endorsing three ‘national security’ candidates

The man who endorsed 87 "national security" candidates and donated close to $500,000 during the 2014 midterms is back in action. Former United Nations ambassador John Bolton announced Thursday that he was backing Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana in his gubernatorial quest in the state; Rep. Ron DeSantis, the incumbent Congressman from Florida's 6th district, and Dr. Paul Chabot, candidate for Congress in California's 31st district.

March 12, 2015

Scott Walker earns intense GOP approval: 79 percent of Republicans call him a ‘strong leader’

Republicans definitely have distinct good feelings about Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as the wrangling continues between the GOP presidential hopefuls. Yes, Mr. Walker is making all the required campaign stops and grassroots visits in New Hampshire, Iowa and other key states - while his reputation and image win over many Republican hearts and minds.

March 12, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Hollywood heavyweights have Hillary fatigue

Predictably, it's time to fire up Air Force One and point the magnificent-but-pricey aircraft toward the West Coast. President Obama is due in Los Angeles Thursday to appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" before attending a private fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee, where the admission is $33,400 a couple.

March 11, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Watchdog group turns up $17 million tab for Air Force One

Behold, the White House announces: "On Thursday, March 12, the President will travel to the Los Angeles area where he will tape an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' and attend a DNC event." Just to catch up, President Obama also went on a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Atlanta on Tuesday. Judicial Watch continues to send timely Freedom of Information Act requests to the U.S. Air Force, seeking hard data on how much such jaunts cost, what with Air Force One costing $206,337 an hour to operate.

March 10, 2015

Hillary Clinton next likely Democratic nominee say 75 percent of U.S. voters

Hillary Clinton appears to be an inevitable political fixture on the campaign trail, despite her recent challenges over her official emails and other matters. Among all U.S. voters, three fourths still think Clinton is the next likely Democratic presidential nominee; only 18 percent disagree according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Tuesday.

March 10, 2015

TV news: Half of American voters say it’s ‘less trustworthy’ now than in Cronkite era

Viewers appear wary of TV news: almost half of American voters — 48 percent — say network TV news is "less trustworthy than in the days of Walter Cronkite," according to a new poll released Monday by Quinnipiac University. More than half of Republicans — 56 percent — agree, along with 52 percent of independents and 36 percent of Democrats. Another 35 percent overall say TV news is about as trustworthy as it was back in the Cronkite era, when news was read without much embellishment. Twenty eight percent of Republicans, 34 percent of independents and 46 percent of Democrats agree.

March 10, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Rand Paul, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand announce marijuana legislation

It has been described as "sweeping bipartisan legislation," and here it is: Sens. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, plus Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York gather at high noon Tuesday in the U.S Senate to announce the "Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act" — legislation that will end federal prohibition of medical marijuana, allowing patients, physicians and retailers to participate in associated programs "without fear of prosecution." Advocacy groups are poised as a complicated situation unfolds with the "Carers" act.

March 9, 2015

Get busy: Cardiologists say ‘purpose in life’ reduces death by all causes by 23 percent

Have a sense of purpose in life? It may protect your heart and lower the risk of death, heart disease or stroke says a new study from physicians in the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

March 9, 2015

Kevin Spacey to produce presidential docu-drama series for CNN

His fictional presidential character Frank Underwood is a fixture on Netflix. Now, actor and producer Kevin Spacey takes his political perspective to CNN where he'll produce what the network calls "a thrilling, six-part mini docu-series." Mr. Spacey will be joined by co-producer Dana Brunetti and Trigger Street Productions - both involved in the making of "House of Cards." Also in the creative mix: Raw, a film and TV production company with previous which has worked for the BBC, Discovery Channel and A & E, among others.

March 9, 2015

Hillary Clinton emails: Half of voters serious say they raise’ serious national security concerns’

A new Rasmussen Reports poll of likely voters finds that half - 49 percent - of likely U.S. voters 'believe Clinton’s use of a private, non-government e-mail provider for issues at the highest levels of the U.S. government raises serious national security concerns." The poll was released Monday morning.

March 9, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Hillary Clinton’s troubles costing her politically - the poll numbers are in

Happy for something to do, press and pundits are mulling over Hillary Rodham Clinton's private email system that was in use during her time as Secretary of State, trying to ferret out the future implications for 2016 and the Democratic Party in general. But here and now, the situation is affecting voters. Poll numbers are in.

March 8, 2015

HBO casts Alec Baldwin to play the mayor of New York City

There were rumors that veteran actor Alex Baldwin had enough political ambition to run for the mayor of New York City. This is close enough. HBO has cast Mr. Baldwin to actually play the Big Apple mayor. He'll take on the role of "Joe Byrne, a billionaire real estate developer philanthropist, and celebrated socialite/tabloid fixture, who is unexpectedly rocketed into NYC politics when tragedy strikes the incumbent mayor and he is drafted to replace him," notes Mike Fleming, a reporter for Deadline Hollywood.

March 7, 2015

NH Republicans launch ‘Politics and Pies’ at the old Snowshoe Club in Concord

Only in the Granite State, perhaps. Move over "Politics and Eggs," an event that has attracted big name candidates to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics for two decades. Please welcome "Politics and Pies," a feisty reply organized by the Concord Republican Committee in the state capital. The inaugural meeting on Sunday afternoon will take place at the Snowshoe Club a few miles outside of town — a rustic, red-shingled cottage founded in 1892 as a men's gathering spot. Their first guest is Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

March 7, 2015

Walker, Bush, Cruz, Trump head for the first ever Iowa farming summit

The heartland still rules - and so does the farm. A dozen GOP presidential hopefuls are headed for the first ever Iowa Agriculture Summit on Saturday at the bodacious Iowa fairgrounds near Des Moines - and intended as a showcase for agribusiness and livestock markets. Ready to weigh in on ethanol, cattle and row crops: Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, Rep. Lindsey Graham, Gov. Scott Walker, Jeb Bush, Rick Perry, Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump, Rick Santorum, George Pataki and Jim Gilmore. All must do their homework. There will be a discerning audience that also includes Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, Rep. Steve King and Gov. Terry Branstad - and a thousand savvy locals.

March 6, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Al Gore lands on presidential radar following Hillary’s woes

Just call it Goretopia: While Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses multiple political challenges, the press continues to spiral off into speculation. Who is the Democratic standard bearer should she decide against running for president?

March 5, 2015