A new year is upon us and it seems appropriate to comment on how the past twelve months have sliced and shanked their way through the par of the course. From the dreary days of January, we learned of salacious details and conspicuous rumors out of the White House from Michael Wolffs book “Fire and Fury.” In March, my family and friends joined me on a Carnival cruise that we playfully refer to as a hoedown, a hootenanny, and the Fight for Fifteen. As April began, the federal government started a dubious policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border. President Trump rescinded that directive in late June, but that decision continues to cause distress and raise concerns. As Labor Day rounded the corner, America payed Her respects to a fallen soldier and senator, John McCain. This fall, midterm elections were in full force. Historic levels of incumbent retirements provided an opening for Democrats to snag more House seats and gain a majority, ending a 8 year losing streak. November also witnessed the most destructive wildfires in the history of California, leaving thousands of families shattered and whole communities tattered. Finally, after a volatile stock market responded to a benevolent president and a record number of cabinet-level turnovers, the month of December has been the worst on Wall Street since the Great Depression.

Coming up; the 116th Congress will begin its first session. The British Parliament is set to vote on the Brexit package on January 11th. And I will reside in the city of Flint, Michigan USA.

Cheers to the New Year,

Daniel J. Neebes