January 1, Democrat Congressman to Switch Parties Over Impeachment

This Day in History | 2011

The United States officially declares an end to the Iraq war that started with the invasion of 2003. Although U.S. troops and combat operations continue to this day. 

Good Morning Middle Americans, 

In the latest sign that the Democrat’s impeachment efforts are failing, one Democrat is considering giving up on his party.  The news comes after a series of bad poll numbers and a damning report by Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz which shows the FBI and intelligence community made numerous missteps during the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation of the 2016 presidential campaign. 

Also today, the Military says it’s investigating some hand signals thrown up by cadets at  the Army-Navy game’s pre-game show on ESPN. A lot of people say this is much-ado about nothing, but nevertheless, the Military Academy at West Point says it will investigate. 

Finally, the Hallmark Channel has caused a stir all because they pulled a gay marriage themed ad from their airwaves, proving some people will find controversy where none should exist. 

Read all about it 

– Fraser Dixon 

Democratic Impeachment Holdout Jeff Van Drew Planning to Switch Parties

(Politico) – Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a moderate Democrat who is strongly opposed to impeaching President Donald Trump, is expected to switch parties and become a Republican, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

Van Drew is one of two Democrats who voted against opening the impeachment inquiry into Trump and has remained against the effort, even as the House prepares to vote to impeach the president next week. Van Drew’s decision comes after a meeting with Trump on Friday.

Van Drew’s congressional, campaign staff and other members of the New Jersey delegation were informed he was planning to switch parties on Saturday, according to Democratic sources. The question now was when, not if, Van Drew was joining the Republican Party, according to several Democrats with knowledge of the ongoing conversations.

As of Saturday afternoon, it was still unclear if Van Drew would make the announcement before the House votes on impeachment, which is expected Wednesday.

Find out more about Rep. Van Drews plans to switch parties here

Military Investigates Possible White Power Signs Flashed by Students During Army-Navy Game

(NBC News) – Military officials said they are looking into an incident Saturday in which students flashed what appeared to be white supremacist hand signs during televised activities before the Army-Navy football game.

Pregame festivities aired by ESPN showed cadets on both sides of the rivalry — two West Point cadets and one Naval Academy midshipman — making gestures as a camera focused on a sideline report from journalist Rece Davis.

At least one of the gestures resembled a white supremacist symbol described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as “the thumb and forefinger joined together in a circle, the remaining three fingers splayed out behind.”

“West Point is looking into it and we do not know the intent of the cadets,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Ophardt, director of public affairs, in an email.

Cmdr. Alana Garas of the Naval Academy said in an email, “We are aware and will be looking into it.”

Read more about the military’s investigation here

Under Pressure, Hallmark Pulls Gay-Themed Wedding Ads

(AP) –  Under pressure from a conservative advocacy group, The Hallmark Channel has pulled ads for a wedding-planning website that featured two brides kissing at the altar.

The family-friendly network, which is in the midst of its heavily watched holiday programming, removed the ads because the controversy was a distraction, a spokesperson said in an interview Saturday.

“The debate surrounding these commercials on all sides was distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value,” said a statement provided by Molly Biwer, senior vice president for public affairs and communications at Hallmark.

In an interview, she added: “The Hallmark brand is never going to be divisive. We don’t want to generate controversy, we’ve tried very hard to stay out of it … we just felt it was in the best interest of the brand to pull them and not continue to generate controversy.”

There was immediate criticism on Twitter. Ellen DeGeneres asked Hallmark: “Isn’t it almost 2020? What are you thinking? Please explain. We’re all ears.”

Learn more about the controversy here