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Jennifer Harper

Jennifer Harper

jharper@washingtontimes.com

Jennifer Harper wrote the daily Inside the Beltway column for The Washington Times.

Articles by Jennifer Harper

Shoppers survey the fresh fruit and vegetables at a grocery store in Glenview, Ill. A unique new poll conducted by Conventions of States Action and the Trafalger Group released October 3, 2022 has revealed that inflation at the grocery store has indeed affected voters. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Rising food prices swaying the midterm vote

Many shoppers have grim expressions on their faces as they confront the ever-increasing prices of their favorite food items. Consider that the overall price of food rose by 8.3% in the last year, according to the latest consumer price index. But can that pricey bacon and eggs or fresh produce sway the election?

October 3, 2022
House Budget Committee Republican Leader Jason Smith has been tracking where the spending for the $2 trillion American Rescue Plan has gone. (Associated Press)

Where the money went

President Biden's $2 trillion American Rescue Plan was introduced some 500 days ago -- on Feb. 19, 2021, to be exact. That anniversary prompted Rep. Jason Smith, the top Republican on the House Budget Committee, to take a close peek at where the money actually went since that day.

October 2, 2022
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee for the state's U.S. Senate seat, speaks during a rally in Erie, Pa., Aug. 12, 2022. Fetterman has made abortion rights a prominent theme in the suburbs to invigorate female voters after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

The 10 Senate races to watch on Election Night

Some political bouts warrant more attention than others. "Control of the U.S. Senate will end up a much closer margin than some polls or analysts are predicting. Among the ten most competitive races in the country, there are probably just five where Senate control hangs in the balance," predicts Nate Ashworth, founder of ElectionCentral.com, a news site.

September 28, 2022
Some traditional symbols of the medical field: A stethoscope and some information cards. (File photo credit: Garsya via Shutterstock) ** FILE **

Student-debt cancellation prompts demands on medical debt too

Some believe the White House and the Democratic Party are in the mood to be generous, just in time for the midterm elections. We already know that President Biden has canceled some student loan debt. But what about the lofty medical bills that plague many people?

September 27, 2022
The seal of the Central Intelligence Agency is seen in the lobby the headquarters building in Langley, Va., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

The historical CIA goes on display for 75th anniversary

The Central Intelligence Agency has a very significant history. Its predecessor -- the Office of Strategic Services -- rumbled to life during World War II, populated by innovative, savvy, and fearless men and women who undermined and defeated some formidable foes of the day.

September 25, 2022
A fallout shelter sign hangs on a building on East 9th Street in New York on Jan. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) **FILE**

Media goes nuclear in reports on Putin’s threats

These are not the kind of headlines anyone wants to see. They are out there however, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's warning Wednesday that he might resort to nuclear weapons as the situation with Ukraine grows dire. Here's just a few from the last 24 hours:

September 21, 2022
A group of immigrants gather outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Thursday Sept. 15, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday flew two planes of immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, escalating a tactic by Republican governors to draw attention to what they consider to be the Biden administration's failed border policies. (Ron Schloerb/The Cape Cod Times via AP)

The Martha’s Vineyard migrants and a sudden case of snobbery

The sudden arrival of 50 migrants in Martha's Vineyard in recent days caused an uncomfortable rustling among locals who were not so keen on the idea. The migrants were quickly transported to a military facility on nearby Cape Cod.

September 19, 2022
President Gerald Ford dances with Queen Elizabeth during a state dinner at the White House held in her honor July 7, 1976 (Image 6923701 courtesy of National Archives/Gerald R. Ford Library; Ricardo Thomas, White House photographer)

The queen’s favorite songs ranged from hymns to Fred Astaire

The world formally bids a respectful and affectionate farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday during her state funeral -- forecast to draw a record-breaking worldwide audience of 4.1 billion, according to Wired.com, an industry source. In the meantime, Inside the Beltway adds this addendum to the mix -- a list of Her Majesty's 10 favorite songs, as compiled by the BBC in 2016.

September 18, 2022
A forthcoming new book titled "Radio's Greatest of All Time" recounts the life of talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, as seen by his wife Katherine Limbaugh and brother David Limbaugh. In this Feb. 4, 2020, file photo, the late host Limbaugh reacts as first lady Melania Trump, and wife Kathryn, during then-President Donald Trump 's State of the Union address. (AP Photo)

New book pays tribute to Rush Limbaugh

Those who miss their daily talk-radio date with the late Rush Limbaugh have something to look forward to. A new book soon will arrive titled "Radio's Greatest of All Time" which presents a collection of his most iconic on-air moments, speeches and personal audio recordings -- as curated by his widow Kathryn Adams Limbaugh and his brother, David Limbaugh.

September 15, 2022
A mature marijuana plant begins to bloom under artificial lights at Loving Kindness Farms in Gardena, Calif., on May 20, 2019. A campaign to legalize recreational marijuana gathered enough signatures to make it on Missouri's November ballot, the secretary of state announced Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) **FILE**

The grass grows greener

Time has marched on since the ancient days of the hippie generation -- back in the 1960s when the young and restless gathered in secret spots to smoke marijuana -- illegal at the time.

September 14, 2022
Some close observers say the Republican Party is in dire need of overhauling its public message or risk losing voter support. (AP Photo)

Many hesitate about GOP in midterms over ‘feckless’ message

The Republican Party needs to ramp up its election outreach or lose voter support, at least according to a very succinct survey. Indeed, the proverbial Grand Old Party may not be so grand right now. The GOP's popular appeal is not resonating with voters as the clock relentlessly ticks towards Election Day.

September 13, 2022
In this Friday, April 13, 2018 photo, Shelby Smith, owner of Gym-N-Eat Crickets holds dry roasted crickets at her family farm in Ames, Iowa. After harvesting the crickets, Smith dry-roasts them and either seasons them to eat whole or grinds them into a protein powder. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Des Moines Register via AP)

The great food reset

Marc Morano -- founder of the watchdog site Climate Depot -- points out that the global press is abuzz with news that snack chips made from crickets are now available. Print and broadcast coverage is now featuring school children crunching away on the uh, chips -- accompanied by supportive commentary from reporters and academic experts.

September 11, 2022
First lady Melania Trump, center, reads Christmas cards written by children of military families, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, during a Toys for Tots event at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Melania Trump’s editorial on her foster-children initiative

A certain former first lady has been busy these days. Melania Trump has penned an op-ed for Fox News headlined "Education is the key to innovation and individual exceptionalism," which details her efforts to help foster children and draw attention to the state of education in the U.S.

September 8, 2022
Governor Gavin Newsom talks to reporters during a press conference at the construction site of a water desalination plant in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

California’s heated discussion

It was not so long ago that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi caught some criticism for the size of her luxury refrigerator -- a $24,0000 stainless steel Sub-Zero model full of fancy ice cream brands. She displayed them in the middle of a COVID-19 lockdown on April 21, 2020, during an appearance on "The Late Late Show with James Corden." Progressives and Republicans alike faulted her for the insensitive display of pricey goodies inside a pricey refrigerator during dire times.

September 7, 2022