Jennifer Harper

Inside the Beltway: Pontiff and president — the ultimate selfie

It is a cultural moment, and a public relations opportunity: President Obama and Pope Francis meet face to face Thursday, a phenomenon that is being heralded as a red carpet event by press and pundits.

They can’t toss the phone: Americans now suffer from ‘compulsive gadget hoarding’

Inside the Beltway: The six-million dollar traveling president

President Obama is currently on an overseas excursion that takes him to five foreign nations in five days. That adds up to about 29 hours of flying time aboard the magnificent but pricey Air Force One, which now costs $228,288 an hour to operate, up from about $179,750 in recent years. So say the meticulous watchdogs at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, who figure the total of this particular jaunt to be $6,620,352.

Run, Ted run: The grassroots effort to draft Ted Cruz for president is underway

It was inevitable. As was the case with Ben Carson, a grassroots effort to draft Sen. Ted Cruz has been launched by those eager to see the Texas Republican and his plainspoken policy prepare for and enter the 2016 White House race.

Inside the Beltway: Republican power dynamics — it’s complicated

Who's in charge of the elite Republican powerhouse, where strategy, money and mettle drive a party to victory? There's no master commander, but rather an ever-changing cast of political titans who bring their personal prowess to the table.

Inside the Beltway: Is Clint Eastwood on a ‘moral quest’ for America?

Some in the academic realm say the veteran actor is on a noble quest because he "embodies America's moral quest" and the nation's "search for meaning and purpose."

Democrats insist the Grand Old Party is just the Same Old Party

A cautionary tale: Just 24 hours after the Republican National Committee's launched its ebullient 2014 comeback tour, the Democratic National Committee was all over it. Like a big dog. Republican claims of a productive, reinvented party were pulled to pieces by their insta-critics. "The Grand Old Party Is the Same Old Party," the Democrats' designated rapid response team declared in a new report.

Inside the Beltway: Run, Ted, run: Shifting out of cruise

It was inevitable. As was the case with Ben Carson, a grass-roots effort to draft Sen. Ted Cruz has been launched by those eager to see the Texas Republican and his plainspoken, but stringent policies enter the 2016 White House race. The early-bird political action committee founded by one Raz Shafer — a former Cruz staffer — is on message and offers a succinct challenge to conservative voters.

Libertarians strut their stuff: ‘We pay for our own conventions’

While the major political parties strike a threatening pose and hiss at one another, the Libertarians have already organized a national convention set for late June in Columbus, Ohio - ironically a city under heavy consideration as a site for the 2016 Republican National Convention. Their motto for the event: "Character Matters."

Inside the Beltway: Virginia Republicans at the ready

The Republican Party of Virginia is a feisty lot, indeed. After the organization discovered a certain governor's aggressive and well-organized fundraising plans, these GOPers are ready to rumble.

Following the news becomes a sport: Welcome to the ‘personal news cycle’

Americans like their news the way they like their coffee: fixed just so, at a certain temperature and strength, and at certain times. And they like the news. No, really. The nation has not been overwhelmed by too much news. Sixty percent of us, in fact, say it's now easier to keep up with the news than it was five years ago. And an amazing 90 percent actually revealed they "enjoy" keeping up with the news, and use at least four or five sources to find it.

Inside the Beltway: Republicans on the march

The Grand Old Party has been trying to reinvent and rebrand itself for a year, readying for combat in the 2014 midterms and beyond. The herculean effort is working. The Republican National Committee has made smart new hires in the social media and digital news realm, all tasked with lean and nimble outreaches to an increasingly anxious electorate.

Inside the Beltway: And the password is panic

Observers are calmly standing back and taking in the dramatic tableau unfolding in front of them. The Democratic Party is edging toward panic mode, a revelation now emanating from both critics and the mainstream media in radioactive waves.

O’Done with It: Irish Americans protest ‘negative stereotyping’ as bawdy drunks

They're done with images of tipsy colleens and belligerent leprechauns. Some Irish Americans have grown weary of "negative stereotyping" in popular culture that consistently depicts their demographic as bawdy drunks and hooligans. Now they've done something about it. The Ancient Order of Hibernians - the nation's largest Irish Catholic fraternal organization - have launched what they deem an "anti-defamation" action.

Inside the Beltway: Can Pope Francis soothe a savage Congress?

He closed the brief letter like this: "With every good wish to Your Holiness, I am, Sincerely Yours, John Boehner." The recipient was Pope Francis, the author House Speaker John Boehner, who has asked the pontiff to address a joint session of Congress in the future. The simple but formal gesture promoted more than 1,000 press mentions in the space of an hour when it was released on Thursday; the topic was subject to interpretation.

Reason No. 1 to behave: Nine-out-of 10 Americans condemn their rude politicians

Elected officials with lousy matters thrill journalists who see politics as a spectator sport. But the voting public appears to condemn incivility, and blames politicians for setting a poor example.

Inside the Beltway: Oh behave — the public condemns political incivility

Boorish bombast and churlish behavior in elected officials? Heavens. Such demonstrations thrill journalists who see politics as a spectator sport. But the voting public appears to condemn incivility, and blames politicians for setting a poor example.

Inside the Beltway: A new interest in Rahm Emanuel for 2016?

The recent Conservative Political Action Conference provides a forum for big names. But it's also a platform for the murmurs and asides from political strategists who've been everywhere and done everything, and like to speculate. Such is the case when the potential presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton was parsed by a pair of insiders.

88 percent of Americans agree: No U.S. ground troops to Ukraine

Both Republicans and Democrats are on the same page when it comes to U.S. involvement. Hefty majorities want no U.S. troops, weapons or money going to Ukraine. But sanctions on Russia? That's OK

Inside the Beltway: Weather or not to wake Congress on climate change

Chatter about climate change over a nice cup of coffee? Indeed, Senate Democrats have organized a cozy all-night talkathon that will last Monday night into Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol, meant to "wake up Congress to the danger of climate change."