Jennifer Harper

Inside the Beltway: What’s behind Ben Carson’s appeal

The political marketplace is often a shrill, cluttered place. But when likely presidential hopeful Ben Carson speaks, people pause. They heed his words. Why is that? "There's a calmness, a humbleness about him. He has the ability to listen. Americans haven't really seen these qualities on the public stage before," Terry Giles tells Inside the Beltway.

March 4, 2015

Jesus Christ aloft: Hot air balloon to feature massive, smiling portrait of Christ

The sky should get interesting some time around Easter when an 80-foot hot air balloon rises over the landscape of western New York in early April, bearing a smiling portrait of Jesus Christ familiar to many as "The Risen Christ by the Sea," a painting by artist Jack Jewell.

March 4, 2015

While Brian Williams waits out suspension, NBC News veteran Lester Holt ups the ratings

The substitute has bested the regular. NBC News veteran anchorman Lester Holt has upped the ratings at his network while substituting for Brian Williams, currently waiting out his six-month suspension from the job. Nielsen numbers reveal that Mr. Holt draws 10.1 million viewers each night — a rare milestone, and one that rival networks have not reached in eight seasons, according to AdAge. Mr. Holt has also increased the much coveted 25-54-year-old viewing audience by 6 percent, and NBC now leads CBS ad ABC.

March 4, 2015

Inside the Beltway: First ever Iowa farm summit draws a dozen presidential kingpins

The heartland still rules. Three cheers and a cautious moo for the first-ever Iowa Agriculture Summit, scheduled for Saturday at the bodacious Iowa fairgrounds near Des Moines — and intended as a showcase for policy, farmlands, bioscience, livestock markets and more. The list of confirmed speakers for the event is also quite bodacious.

March 3, 2015

The world’s first trillionaire already in the making: Report

Analysts predict that the world's first trillionaire will emerge on the planet — and it may be sooner than we think. This is someone who is worth at least this much: $1,000,000,000,000. The world may appear to be in chaos, but the wealthy charge on, "despite plunging oil prices and a weakened euro," reports Forbes magazine, which has identified a record 1,826 billionaires. Combined, they have a net worth of $7.05 trillion, which would pay less than half of the current federal debt. But no matter. The list includes 290 newcomers, 71 of whom hail from China.

March 3, 2015

John Boehner to give Benjamin Netanyahu a bust of Winston Churchill

Mr. Boehner will personally present Mr. Netanyahu with a bust of Winston Churchill. This is, after all, the prime minister's third time before both House an Senate; he also appeared in 1996 and 2011. Churchill is the only other dignitary to be triple hitter.

March 2, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Restless Republicans want more conservative candidates

"Democrats tend to be happy with the ideology of their current candidates, but Republicans want GOP candidates to become more conservative," reports Peter Moore, an analyst for YouGov polls, which has the handy numbers to prove it.

March 2, 2015

Irish-Americans: President Obama issues proclamation recognizing “Emerald Isle’ heritage

Along with official proclamations recognizing March as a month dedicated to women's history, the American Red Cross, reading, colon cancer awareness and consumer protection, President Obama also has issued a recognition for Irish-Americans.

March 2, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Benjamin Netanyahu, Hillary Clinton in Washington at same time

In 24 hours, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will step before a joint session of Congress to have his say about Israel, its security and its place on the planet. But wait. Of political note: Hillary Rodham Clinton will also be in town on Tuesday for the 30th anniversary of Emily's List, the pro-choice group which has thus far raised $400 million for Democratic women candidates. Mrs. Clinton will receive the "We Are Emily" award at a major hotel. The pair, essentially, will be about 20 blocks apart; the press will have much to speculate upon.

March 1, 2015

Conservative Book Club site steers readers to the right publications

Those weary of politically correct book lists and elitist commentary have a new destination. The Conservative Book Club — founded 51 years ago — has a spiffy new online presence devoted to book reviews, news, and previews about hundreds of conservative-themed books and authors. Yes, there’s a Top-10 list - the top three this week are "Killing Patton: The Strange Death of WWII's Most Audacious General" by Bill O'Reilly; "God, Guns, Grits and Gravy" by Mike Huckabee; and Rush Revere and the American Revolution by Rush Limbaugh.

February 28, 2015

Republicans trusted more than Democrats to handle terrorism, taxes, economy

Which party can best handle the most pivotal issues of the day? Here are the numbers - without embellishment - from a new Pew Research Center poll - beginning with this: 51 percent say the Republican Party can best handle the threat of terrorism; 31 percent cite the Democratic Party.

February 27, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Jeb Bush: Hawk or dove? Americans are undecided

A pivotal moment at the Conservative Action Political Conference comes Friday when Jeb Bush steps before an audience who are still trying place him in the presidential spectrum. Yes, he has name recognition, a posh political pedigree and is a quick study. The 6-foot-3 Mr. Bush is not easy to intimidate. But in a world bristling with lone wolves, restless nations and asymmetric warfare, is he hawk or dove? The public is not sure, says William Jordan, assistant editor of the YouGov Poll.

February 26, 2015

Phil Robertson, Hollywood conservatives have some victories in Tinseltown

The liberal hold on Hollywood is loosening. A persistent conservative mindset is emerging in the entertainment industry, replacing glitter with some red, white and blue as studios discover that Americans like America, and they pine for fare that uplifts the nation.

February 26, 2015

Voters say Congress should pass legislation - even if Obama frowns upon it: Poll

Voters want Congress to be Congress, and they're not particularly keen on White House over each. A new poll conducted after President Obama vetoed the bipartisan Keystone XL pipeline bill reveals this: Voters "want Congress to keep doing what it wants even if the president doesn't like it."

February 26, 2015

Inside the Beltway: CPAC begins with Ben Carson, Mia Love, Scott Walker

Jumbotrons, spotlights, patriotic colors, soaring music, American flags and a cast of some 200 celebrated speakers who stride across the broad stage every 20 minutes. And so it begins: the 72 hours of conservative togetherness that is CPAC — the Conservative Action Political Conference — awakens with a prayer, a presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance at 8 a.m. sharp Thursday.

February 25, 2015

Conservative, Christian media gets presidential showcase

In a hybrid partnership with CNN, three of the dozen sanctioned GOP debates also will be aired by the Salem Media Group, the nation's largest provider of Christian and family-themed content with conservative values.

February 25, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Conservative Salem Media Group gets a presidential showcase

The Republican presidential primary debates are getting significant new input from the conservative realm. In a hybrid partnership with CNN, three of the dozen sanctioned GOP debates also will be aired by the Salem Media Group, the nation's largest provider of Christian and family-themed content with conservative values.

February 24, 2015

Poll: 62 percent of Republican voters don’t believe President Obama ‘loves’ America

Analysts, critics and pundits continue to wonder if President Obama "loves" America, a question recently suggested by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Here comes the poll, this a Rasmussen Reports survey of 800 voters released Tuesday. Fifty one percent of the respondents disagree with the idea. But there are those who don't. "Voters overwhelmingly say they love this country, but one-out-of-three doesn't believe President Obama feels that way," the poll states.

February 24, 2015

Inside the Beltway: The libertarian mind commands some notice

A big chunk of American voters now say they are "independents," according to a recent Gallup poll — 43 percent, in fact, with Democratic and Republican leaners trailing along behind. Just in time for those independents, and people curious about third-party candidates, here comes "The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom," to be introduced at the Cato Institute on Tuesday in the nation's capital.

February 23, 2015

Academy Awards audience down 16 percent - the lowest ratings in six years

Viewer turnout was tepid for the 87th Academy Awards despite the fact that host Neil Patrick Harris sang, joked and shed his clothes as a surprise side show. The early ratings, in fact, were the lowest in six years. Nielsen reports that 36.6 million viewers tuned in to see the big doings. Last year, 43.7 million did the same - this is a substantial 16 percent drop.

February 23, 2015