Month: May 2020

ABC7
— Chicago woman, 22, dies after several weeks on ventilator due to COVID-19, family says
https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-coronavirus-illinois-deaths-victims/6148108/
— 46 shot, 4 fatally, in Chicago weekend shootings
https://abc7chicago.com/46-shot-4-fatally-in-chicago-weekend-shootings/6147150/

NBC5
— Rockford Area Church Defies Illinois Stay-at-Home Order A small church in Lena that had filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Prtizker’s stay-at-home order, defied that order Sunday by holding a service with dozens of parishioners.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/rockford-area-church-defies-illinois-stay-at-home-order/2265873/
— Cook County Deputy Dies of Coronavirus Complications Illinois reported 63 coronavirus related deaths on Sunday, bringing the statewide death toll to 2,618
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cook-county-deputy-dies-of-coronavirus-complications/2265895/

WGN TV
— Small-town church challenges capacity limits imposed by Illinois’ stay-at-home order – Erik Runge
https://wgntv.com/news/coronavirus/small-town-church-challenges-capacity-limits-imposed-by-illinois-stay-at-home-order/
— ‘You are risking first responders’ lives’: Police shut down parties amid coronavirus pandemic – Judy Wang, Mike Lowe
https://wgntv.com/news/coronavirus/you-are-risking-first-responders-lives-cpd-shuts-down-multiple-parties-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Governor: ‘No other way’ to curb coronavirus than to stay the course on stay-at-home restrictions – PATRICK M. O’CONNELL
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-illinois-coronavirus-20200504-gujfsmltijhkvbxp2gdrupqpz4-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— U.S. district judge rules Pritzker’s stay-at-home order constitutional Judge John Lee of the U.S. District Court denied The Beloved Church of Lena’s motion for a temporary restraining order that would’ve allowed them to host services with 80 people. – Ben Pope
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/3/21245936/stay-at-home-order-constitutional-us-district-court-john-lee-beloved-church-lena-illinois
— Cook County medical examiner confirms 37 more COVID-19 deaths The county death toll is 1,816.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/3/21246042/cook-county-medical-examiner-confirms-37-coronavirus-covid-19-deaths

DAILY HERALD
— As deadline for referendum on independent redistricting passes, advocates refocus – Elena Ferrarin (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who want redistricting to give more preference to members of protected groups? Protected groups include: Trump-haters, illegals, non-citizens, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, RINOs, moderates, liberals, globalists, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, females, young people, LGBTQers, non-Protestants, non-German Americans, drinkers, gamblers, stoners, those who have criminal records, those who have less money than others, those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, etc.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200504/as-deadline-for-referendum-on-independent-redistricting-passes-advocates-refocus
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In the coming session, state legislators can improve transparency for remapping by requiring the process to follow the Open Meetings Act, honoring the Freedom of Information Act, and requiring a certain number of hearings and consideration of public input, Doubek said. The legislature also could establish an independent advisory commission that would draw maps for approval by state legislators, she said. Moving forward is largely up to Illinois’ legislative leaders, Doubek said. There’s also the concern that the shortened legislative session because of COVID-19 will limit action to issues like the budget and the pandemic, she said. “We still need as much support for pushing these improvements as much as possible,” she said.)

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— CONFIDENCE LOST A deadly virus has taken aim at America’s swagger and can-do spirit, and the road back to normal for the economy runs through deep-seated fear. – Tim Jones
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crain-forum-covid-19/forum-covid-19-confidence-lost
— Why an Illinois bankruptcy might not turn out the way you think Beware the collateral damage. – STEVEN R. STRAHLER
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/news/why-illinois-bankruptcy-might-not-turn-out-way-you-think
— Where will Chicago’s economy be when we’re on the other side? This city is a transportation, meeting and innovation hub. Will that be an advantage in a post-COVID world? – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/where-will-chicagos-economy-be-when-were-other-side

WTTW
— Could the Stay-at-Home Order Go Past May? – Amanda Vinicky (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, it looks like it will.)
https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/02/could-stay-home-order-go-past-may

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— It’s time to re-open our state – BILL BRADY
https://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/columnists/bill-brady-its-time-to-re-open-our-state/article_94188c35-1dc3-5777-9338-c686c62785ca.html
— Trump says coronavirus death toll could reach 100,000 – LAURA KING
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/national/watch-now-trump-says-coronavirus-death-toll-could-reach-100-000/article_23630c90-1080-5002-ab31-f5fe78ed84c5.html

DAILY NORTHWESTERN
— Here’s how Illinois elected officials are pushing for coronavirus legislation – Isabelle Sarraf
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2020/05/03/city/heres-how-illinois-elected-officials-are-pushing-for-coronavirus-legislation/

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Nursing home employees speak out while facilities fight for legal protection nationwide – Jakob Emerson
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/nursing-home-employees-speak-out-while-facilities-fight-for-legal-protection-nationwide

WIREPOINTS
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Indifference to Illegality of Illinois Stay-at-Home Order is Frightening – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/indifference-to-illegality-of-illinois-stay-at-home-order-is-frightening/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— OPEN ILLINOIS’ ECONOMY: RECESSIONS AND DEPRESSIONS KILL
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/open-illinois-economy-recessions-and-depressions-kill.html
— GOVERNOR PRITZKER SHOULD COLLECT AND PUBLISH CRITICAL ANTIBODY TESTING
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/governor-pritzker-should-collect-and-publish-critical-antibody-testing.html
— ILLINOIS HAS RELEASED ALMOST 4,000 PRISONERS, INCLUDING 64 MURDERERS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/illinois-has-released-almost-4000-prisoners-including-64-murderers.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Mike Pence: ‘I should have worn a mask when I visited the Mayo Clinic’ – Dave Boyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/mike-pence-says-he-should-have-worn-mask-mayo-clin/

FOX NEWS
— Trump on media ‘hostility’: ‘If I was kind to them, I’d be walked off the stage’ – Yael Halon (DIERSEN: I have been the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000. I should write a book about how activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, campaign managers, their operatives, and their dupes have treated me since 2000. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican. I would focus on those who pander to the Democrat news media. To curry favor with the Democrat news media, they refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. They make it very clear that they do not want me to know about, attend, ask questions at, speak with other reporters at, or report on their press conferences and other events. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all their problems, for all your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems.)
https://www.foxnews.com/media/president-trump-media-hostility-coronavirus-briefings

FEDERALIST
— Chicago Residents Tear Down Fences To Get Into Locked Down City Parks This is what freedom looks like, tearing down fences but still staying safe. Chicago residents proved they can be trusted with that freedom. – James Huenink
https://thefederalist.com/2020/04/30/chicago-residents-tear-down-fences-to-get-into-locked-down-city-parks/

DAILY SIGNAL
— The End of ‘Believe All Women’ – Katrina Trinko
https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/05/03/the-end-of-believe-all-women-2/

DAILY WIRE
— When Will Our Dystopian Dance With The Lockdowns End? – Sharif Khan
https://www.dailywire.com/news/khan-when-will-our-dystopian-dance-with-the-lockdowns-end

THE HILL
— COVID-19’s class divide creates new political risks – ALEXANDER BOLTON (DIERSEN: Will Democrats demand that the federal government, states, counties, townships, municipalities, school districts, etc. impose “COVID-19 taxes” on Republicans? The more of the following that Republicans are, the more COVID-19 taxes that they would have to pay: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and/or if their ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/495886-covid-19s-class-divide-creates-new-political-risks
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The COVID-19 outbreak ravaging the United States is exacerbating the nation’s class divide, closing small businesses and bankrupting households while many in the nation’s elite emerge relatively unscathed. The disparity was highlighted in April when stock markets enjoyed a banner month even as 22 million people were added to the unemployment rolls. It is a divide that has political ramifications for both parties, but especially so for Republicans, who hold the White House and the Senate majority. . .The disease itself has hit poor and minority communities disproportionately. One study showed 80 percent of hospitalized coronavirus patients in Georgia were black. Darrell West, director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, said the last time a national crisis so highlighted wealth disparities in the United States was the Great Depression, when unemployment hit a peak of 24.9 percent.)

POLITICO
— Trump uses virtual town hall as an appeal for reelection – NOLAN D. MCCASKILL
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/03/trump-fox-news-townhall-233235

CNN
— World Press Freedom Day in the ‘coronavirus crackdown’ – Brian Stelter (DIERSEN: Who has cracked down on you? I should write a book about how activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, campaign managers, their operatives, and their dupes have cracked down on me since 2000. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican. I would focus on those who pander to the Democrat news media. To curry favor with the Democrat news media, they refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. They make it very clear that they do not want me to know about, attend, ask questions at, speak with other reporters at, or report on their press conferences and other events. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all their problems, for all your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems.)
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/03/media/world-press-freedom-day-pandemic-trump-biden/index.html

NBC NEWS
— Democrats to hold in-person convention “I’m optimistic that we can do so because we’ve put it off for five weeks,” Perez said of the Democratic National Convention’s delay until mid-August. – Allan Smith
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/dnc-chair-tom-perez-says-he-still-expects-democrats-hold-n1198981

CNBC
— Putting the economy back together again: What the future holds for Americans – Jeff Cox (DIERSEN: Of course, Democrats want Republicans who have suffered less financial harm to pay the price. Democrats will target Republicans who have pensions, Social Security, Medicare, retirement savings, health insurance, homes, vehicles, etc.)
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/03/how-to-put-the-american-economy-back-together-after-coronavirus.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Masks Become a Flash Point in the Virus Culture Wars As people resume going out in public in the middle of a pandemic, to wear or not to wear a face mask has become a personal statement and sometimes a political one. – Rick Rojas (DIERSEN: Trump-haters want wearing a mask to mean that you hate Trump.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/coronavirus-masks-protests.html
— News Media Outlets Have Been Ravaged by the Pandemic Roughly 36,000 workers at news companies in the U.S. have been laid off, been furloughed or had their pay reduced. Some publications that rely on ads have shut down. – Marc Tracy (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been beyond furious that I have the time and the money needed to put GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and to send them out free of charge and without any advertising. Since 2004, those emails have gone out each and every morning, and since 2015, each and every evening too. Since 2004, they have included links to almost 366,500 articles and information on many upcoming events.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/business/media/news-media-coronavirus-jobs.html
— How a New Breed of Union Activists Is Changing the Rules (and Newsrooms) Cheered on by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others, a new generation is making gains on everything from layoff protections to gender-neutral pronouns. Can they help save the industry? – Ben Smith
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/business/media/coronavirus-union-newsrooms.html
— Covid-19’s Race and Class Warfare This crisis is exposing the savagery of American democracy. – Charles Blow (DIERSEN: What to say to voters who want to use democracy to get rid of the following once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/opinion/coronavirus-race-class.html
— Trump Nominee Is Among Judges Opposed to Banning Membership in Conservative Group Judge Justin Walker joined a bevy of judges, many appointees of the president, in railing against an ethics proposal on the Federalist Society. – Rebecca R. Ruiz and Ben Protess (DIERSEN: How soon will municipalities, townships, counties, states, countries, political organizations, etc. officially bar members of conservative organizations, like me, from seeking or holding any kind of office? I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, etc.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/politics/judges-federalist-society.html

WASHINGTON POST
— J. Crew files for bankruptcy, the first national retail casualty of the coronavirus pandemic – Abha Bhattarai (DIERSEN: How soon will efforts to fight coronavirus a) bankrupt every individual, b) bankrupt every organization, c) bankrupt every company, d) bankrupt every government, and d) bankrupt every country in the world?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/04/jcrew-bankruptcy-chapter-11-coronavirus/

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— L.A. Times guild accepts 20% reduction in pay, hours amid coronavirus – MEG JAMES (DIERSEN: How soon will those who are not getting a pension and those who are not getting Social Security demand that pensions and Social Security be cut and that the money be given to those who have lost income because of coronavirus?)
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-05-01/la-times-guild-members-20-percent-pay-reduction-coronavirus

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— NYC aims to provide up to 1 million meals per day, Mayor de Blasio says – Shant Shahrigian (DIERSEN: How soon will efforts to fight coronavirus a) bankrupt every individual, b) bankrupt every organization, c) bankrupt every company, d) bankrupt every government, and d) bankrupt every country in the world?)
https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-new-your-city-1-million-meals-20200503-hffclsbgwjh7njozc4k6kkswqm-story.html

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “What Republicans don’t get: Donald Trump is our biggest obstacle to coronavirus recovery Trump puts his own interests above the well-being of the country and limits the coronavirus response by his addictions to adulation and political gain.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/05/04/oust-trump-contain-coronavirus-pandemic-reopen-america-column/3051791001/
— Severe coronavirus is more likely if you neglect your health. Preventive care is key. Many of our sickest coronavirus patients have undiagnosed chronic conditions. Don’t neglect your health. See a doctor regularly and get problems treated. – Dr. Thomas Ken Lew (DIERSEN: Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout a) that no one neglects their health or abuses their health and b) all health problems are caused by Republicans, and especially by Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/05/04/sickest-coronavirus-patients-untreated-chronic-conditions-column/3036840001/
— Get me out of here! Americans flee crowded cities amid COVID-19, consider permanent moves – Jessica Menton
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/05/01/coronavirus-americans-flee-cities-suburbs/3045025001/
— Real men wear masks, Mike Pence. You and President Trump should, too. Health authorities say people may not know they have the coronavirus and should wear masks to protect others. To do otherwise is just plain selfish. – Melinda Henneberger (DIERSEN: Trump-haters want wearing a mask to mean that you hate Trump.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/29/coronavirus-mike-pence-skips-mask-fails-leadership-test-column/3046955001/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: Coronavirus spares one neighborhood but ravages the next. Race and class spell the difference. Coronavirus rates vary dramatically from one neighborhood to another, based in part on race and income, a USA TODAY analysis of ZIP code data shows. – Grace Hauck, Mark Nichols, Miriam Marini and Andrew Pantazi (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters hint/imply/argue/shout that Trump-supporters cause coronavirus.)
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2020/05/02/coronavirus-impact-black-minority-white-neighborhoods-chicago-detroit/3042630001/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Companies Skip Convention Donations Amid Coronavirus, Partisan Tensions Fundraisers from each party say they are operating in a difficult environment – John McCormick and Emily Glazer (DIERSEN: What discourages you from contributing money to candidates? For me, the reasons include a) my having been treated rudely by them, by their staff members, by their volunteers, and/or by their supporters; b) my concluding that if elected, they would not defend or advance the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform; c) my concluding that if elected, they might very well promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and/or retaliation for opposing the aforesaid; d) my concluding that they are running as an anti-Trump candidate, will run as an anti-Trump candidate, or would be an anti-Trump elected official if elected; e) their having big skeletons in their closets; and/or f) their having said and/or done things that show that they are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-non poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-skip-convention-donations-amid-coronavirus-partisan-tensions-11588424401

MOTLEY FOOL
— How Sick Will Social Security Be After the Coronavirus? A recent report admits to having out-of-date information on Social Security’s financial health. – Dan Caplinger
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2020/05/03/how-sick-will-social-security-be-after-coronavirus.aspx

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Stephen Miller Has Long Wanted a Public Health Reason to Close the Border: Report – Matt Stieb
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/05/how-stephen-miller-used-the-coronavirus-to-close-the-border.html

AMERICAN PROSPECT
— FROM THE ARTICLE: “the number of unionized workers in internet publishing has grown twenty-fold since 2010.”
https://prospect.org/labor/when-journalists-become-workers/

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
— Covid-19, and Our Tribal Identities When Our Moral Psychology Turns on Itself – Hector A Garcia Psy.D.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/alpha-god/202004/covid-19-and-our-tribal-identities
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Surely the powerful in any democratic nation manipulate voters to vote in the interests of the powerful. But the point here is not only that ignorance of our evolved psychology makes us more vulnerable to others who use it to manipulate, or even harm us. It is that such ignorance makes us vulnerable to ourselves.)

EDITOR & PUBLISHER
— As the Coronavirus Wipes Out Ad Dollars, Will the News Industry Recover? – Nu Yang (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been beyond furious that I have the time and the money needed to put GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and to send them out free of charge and without any advertising. Since 2004, those emails have gone out each and every morning, and since 2015, each and every evening too. Since 2004, they have included links to almost 366,500 articles and information on many upcoming events.)
https://www.editorandpublisher.com/feature/fallout-as-the-coronavirus-wipes-out-ad-dollars-will-the-news-industry-recover/

DAILY MAIL
— Trump says China made a ‘horrible mistake’ and tried to cover-up coronavirus outbreak, hours after Mike Pompeo claimed there was ‘enormous evidence’ that COVID-19 escaped a Wuhan lab – MARLENE LENTHANG
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8283411/Trump-says-China-horrible-mistake-covered-coronavirus-outbreak.html