February 11, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— DuPage County lawmakers to vote whether to remove Henry Hyde’s name from courthouse
https://abc7chicago.com/post/dupage-county-lawmakers-vote-remove-late-congressman-henry-hydes-name-courthouse/15892352/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The DuPage County GOP Chair Kevin Coyne disagrees with removing Hyde’s name. “Henry Hyde was a titanic political figure in DuPage County for many, many years, He did a lot of wonderful things for our country and for our state over 30 plus years in Congress. He was a bipartisan gentleman, had a lot of support, a lot of friends on the other side of the aisle. He strikes me as the kind of official that we should be looking to model ourselves after.” The DuPage County Board will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m. If the resolution passes, the Hyde family will be given a plaque.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Orland Park resolution states police will work with ICE on immigration matters, opposes state law on issue (COMMENT: What positions do the leaders of your county, township, and municipality have on enforcement of immigration laws?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/10/orland-park-police-immigration/
— US judge keeps Trump plan to push out federal employees on hold (COMMENT: Democrats run the federal government. When federal agencies have to push out their employees, they first push out those who are Republican and then those who are White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. But I nevertheless survived for almost 18 years 1980-1997 as a GAO employee while Republicans ever-increasingly used budget cuts to push out the agency’s employees. The following helped me survive. I earned job-related professional certifications in 1997 (forensic accounting), 1996 (financial services auditing), 1994 (government financial management), 1990 (fraud examination), 1981 (internal auditing), and 1979 (accounting). I earned a job-related professional license in 1981 (CPA). I earned job-related master’s degrees in 1997 (financial markets and trading), 1980 (accounting), and 1976 (business).)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/10/trump-plan-push-out-federal-workers/
— Illinois and 21 other states file lawsuit challenging ‘devastating’ cuts to federal health research funding
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/10/illinois-challengs-research-funding-cuts/
— Judge finds Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending (COMMENT: How dependent on federal spending are those in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct? The more financial, health, and other problems that you have, the more dependent that you are on federal spending. Pritzker ever-increasingly a) attracts voters to Illinois who have problems and b) drives voters out of Illinois who do not have problems.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/10/trump-federal-spending/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell became the first judge to find that the administration had not obeyed a court order. Federal money for things like early childhood education, pollution reduction and HIV prevention research has remained tied up even after his Jan. 31 order to blocking a planned halt on federal spending, he found.)
— Chicago has not been immune from air traffic controller shortages in recent years (COMMENT: I worked for GAO on an audit of FAA that involved air traffic controller staffing in the early 1980s.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/11/chicago-air-traffic-controller-shortages/
— Chicago says it hopes to open city-owned market instead of city-owned grocery store
https://www.yahoo.com/news/chicago-says-hopes-open-city-110000368.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump’s pardon of Blagojevich insults Illinoisans who are fed up with corruption. And can President Trump find no one with a clean record to represent Americans as ambassadors? Crime pays, it seems, in Trump’s orbit — including the Jan. 6 rioters he pardoned. (COMMENT: What is in your record that your critics/opponents use against you? My critics/opponents stress the adverse actions that they had their operatives and their dupes take against me.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2025/02/10/rod-blagojevich-donald-tump-presidential-pardon-corruption-joe-biden-hunter-chicago-illinois
— Trump says Palestinians won’t have right to return to Gaza under his US ‘ownership’ plan
https://chicago.suntimes.com/war-in-gaza/2025/02/10/trump-gaza-develop-plan-palestinians-no-right-to-return-united-states-us-ownership

DAILY HERALD
— Democrats ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250210/news/illinois-had-record-2-billion-in-legal-marijuana-sales-in-2024/
— FRONT PAGE: Illinois politicians react to Blagojevich pardon
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250210/nation-and-world-politics/it-sets-a-real-bad-example-illinois-politicians-react-to-blagojevich-pardon/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Republican Party state central committee member Aaron Del Mar of Palatine didn’t object to Trump ending Blagojevich’s prison sentence early with a commutation five years ago but drew the line at wiping the disgraced politician’s slate clean with a pardon. “I think it sets a real bad example, especially since the jury is still out on the former speaker of the House,” Del Mar said, referring to Michael Madigan’s federal corruption trial. “It says that only certain people are going to be held accountable.” . . . “The former governor has served his time, and it’s time to move on,” said Zay, a former chair of the DuPage County Republican Party. While Zay thinks Blagojevich has worn out his welcome with Illinois voters, he said an ambassadorship “would be interesting.”)

WGN9
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion. Why are there so many unwanted pregnancies?
https://wgnradio.com/health/ap-what-to-know-about-proposals-to-ban-abortion-pills-and-punish-women-who-seek-abortion/

FOX32
— Illinois leaders slam Trump’s decision to pardon Blagojevich
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/blago-reaction-illinois-leaders
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran: “I strongly disagree with President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Illinois taxpayers have and continue to be burdened with the cost of public corruption, and this pardon sends the wrong message.”)

WTTW
— How Trump’s Plan to Shrink the Federal Workforce Could Impact Illinois (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, Republicans shrank GAO’s work force in Illinois dramatically. My Democrat GAO superiors punished me severely for that.)
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/10/how-trump-s-plan-shrink-federal-workforce-could-impact-illinois

WGN RADIO
— Democrats say that “With firings and lax enforcement, Trump moving to dismantle government’s public integrity guardrails.”
https://wgnradio.com/news/political-news/ap-with-firings-and-lax-enforcement-trump-moving-to-dismantle-governments-public-integrity-guardrails/
— Judge orders fired head of whistleblower agency reinstated while fight continues over Trump removal (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, I ever-increasingly blew the whistle on their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination. They ever-increasingly punished me for that. My critics/opponents side with the Democrats. They promote political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.)
https://wgnradio.com/news/political-news/ap-head-of-agency-that-protects-whistleblowers-sues-trump-over-firing/
— Democrats say “News influencers favored Trump over Harris during campaign.” Since 2000, my critics/opponents have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned as being a failed and far too-conservative would-be news influencer.  Since 2000, they have blamed me and blamed my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for all the general election losses that Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered. According to my critics/opponents, those candidates lost general elections because voters want Democrat-Lite candidates and I paint candidates as being far more conservative than they want to be painted.)
https://wgnradio.com/news/technology-news/ap-news-influencers-favored-trump-over-harris-during-campaign-study-finds/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://wgnradio.com/news/national/ap-migrants-stranded-in-mexico-try-to-restart-life-after-trump-eliminates-legal-pathway-to-us/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion. Why are there so many unwanted pregnancies?
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/health-news/ap-what-to-know-about-proposals-to-ban-abortion-pills-and-punish-women-who-seek-abortion/

WIFR
— Trump’s Blagojevich pardon earns bipartisan disappointment from Illinois lawmakers
https://www.wifr.com/2025/02/11/trumps-blagojevich-pardon-earns-bipartisan-disappointment-illinois-lawmakers/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “This is a decision I would not have come to, so it is something I would disagree with President Trump on,” argues Syverson. The Republican hopes Trump sees an improved Blagojevich; he worries the official forgiveness sends the wrong message. “Maybe he’s learned his ways, but he was guilty of what he did and there should be consequences for that,” comments Syverson. . .Syverson says he trusts Trump’s judgment with any further decision. “Hopefully, he [Blagojevich] will use this, and his history has been a learning lesson and that he’ll be able to make good,” exclaims the state senator. Before signing the official forgiveness, Trump characterized Blagojevich’s treatment as a “terrible injustice.” The President declared it time the former governor had a “normal life.”)

NPR ILLINOIS
— Democrat leaders use against Trump those who Trump pardoned
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-10/presidents-pardons-of-insurrectionists-stoke-worries-in-springfields-jewish-community

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/11/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-454/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— One big example of why Illinois badly needs a DOGE of its own
https://wirepoints.org/one-big-example-of-why-illinois-badly-needs-a-doge-of-its-own-wirepoints/

JEFF BERKOWITZ
— IL GOP House Leader Tony McCombie joins Trump’s fight w/criminal aliens
https://jeffberkowitz208.substack.com/p/il-gop-house-leader-tony-mccombie

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois lawmakers plan to short pensions by $5.1B in July
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-lawmakers-plan-to-short-pensions-by-5-1b-in-july/
— Unfunded mandates keep property taxes high
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/unfunded-mandates-keep-property-taxes-high/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Google axes DEI, progressive-backed markers from its calendar
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/10/google-calendar-axes-dei-labels-black-history-mont/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump adopts Biden’s legal playbook to challenge sanctuary cities
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/3315568/trump-adopts-biden-legal-playbook-challenge-sanctuary-cities/

NEW YORK POST
— Trump’s all-out assault on woke is tearing down the left’s cultural sway
https://nypost.com/2025/02/10/opinion/trumps-war-on-woke-is-tearing-down-the-lefts-cultural-sway/
— Anti-woke activist targets Jamie Dimon’s JPMorgan for DEI battle
https://nypost.com/2025/02/10/us-news/anti-woke-activist-targets-jamie-dimons-jpmorgan-for-dei-battle/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Trump is just the tip of the iceberg
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/02/trump_is_just_the_tip_of_the_iceberg.html

BREITBART
— Democrats Help Illegal Migrants Avoid Legal Repatriation
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/02/10/democrats-help-illegal-migrants-avoid-legal-repatriation/
— On Monday, White County Resident Circuit Judge T. Scott Webb ruled against a requirement that Illinois residents must obtain a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card in order to possess a gun in the home for self-defense.
https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2025/02/10/circuit-court-judge-strikes-down-illinois-foid-card-requirement-guns-home/

COLLEGE FIX
— Trump fires ‘woke’ advisory board leaders at military academies
https://www.thecollegefix.com/trump-fires-woke-advisory-board-leaders-at-military-academies/

DAILY WIRE
— Trump Wasn’t Joking: Some IRS Workers To Help With Deportation. Trump said last month that he might send IRS workers “to the border.” (COMMENT: While I worked for IRS in 1971, I was assigned for 2 weeks to Nixon project to fight inflation.)
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-wasnt-joking-some-irs-workers-to-help-with-deportation-report-says

FEDERALIST
— Naval Academy Launches Review Of School Clubs To Ensure Compliance With Trump’s DEI Prohibition
https://thefederalist.com/2025/02/10/naval-academy-launches-review-of-school-clubs-to-ensure-compliance-with-trumps-dei-prohibition/

FOX NEWS
— Pritzker has a long history of not following the law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8cksnIscE0
— Trump’s Department of Homeland Security looking to deputize IRS agents for immigration enforcement. DHS Secretary Noem requests IRS agents be provided to help ICE. (COMMENT: Fox 3 years, I worked for GAO on audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division at the GS-13 Step 1-3 Levels, currently $117,807-$125,661/year.)
https://www.foxnews.com/us/trumps-dhs-deputize-irs-agents-immigration-enforcement
— Trump pardons former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich: ‘He was set up’
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6368623514112

LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— NYC teachers’ union defies Trump, coaches teachers to advise illegals how to handle ICE
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/nyc-teachers-union-defies-trump-administration-coaches-teachers-to-advise-illegals-how-to-handle-ice

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— CBS News Poll Shows Overwhelming Positive Approval of Trump
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/02/cbs-news-poll-shows-overwhelming-positive-approval-of-trump/

POINTS & FIGURES
— Secession Is a Good Idea
https://jeffreycarter.substack.com/p/secession-is-a-good-idea

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC NEWS
— FEMA halts migrant housing funds in NY after Musk’s criticism
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/fema-halting-payments-migrant-housing-new-york-after-118670265

CBS NEWS
—  Blagojevich expresses gratitude for pardon by President Trump
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/former-gov-rod-blagojevich-expresses-gratitude-for-pardon-by-president-trump/

MSNBC
— The closer one looks at Trump’s Blagojevich pardon, the worse it appears. The message to politicians convicted or accused of corruption couldn’t be clearer: You have a friend in the Oval Office.
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/closer-one-looks-trumps-blagojevich-pardon-worse-appears-rcna191638

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump’s Blueprint for Bending the Media Has Nixon Written All Over It (COMMENT: My critics/opponents destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, d) who refuse to coverup their wrongdoing, and/or e) who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/business/media/trump-nixon-media-press.html
— Democrat and RINO employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/business/trump-dei-employers.html
— White House Undermines Watchdog for Consumers (COMMENT: My critics/opponents are a) pro-seller and b) anti-buyer.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/business/vought-cfpb-musk-trump.html
— DOGE Is Corrosive to Our Democracy (COMMENT: If Gingrich had reformed GAO instead of gutting it, there would be no need for DOGE.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/opinion/treasure-secretaries-doge-musk.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump pardons Rod Blagojevich, who tried to sell Obama’s vacated Senate seat. The former Illinois governor was convicted on multiple charges of corruption in 2011. He served eight years in prison before Trump commuted his sentence in 2020.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/02/10/trump-pardon-rod-blagojevich-illinois-governor/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Democrats and RINOs stand up for Democrats and for RINOs.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/democrats-stand-up-for-the-bureaucrats-protest-dodge-government-policy-d9b18071

MARKETPLACE
— Trump’s purge of federal workers and its historical parallels (COMMENT: The Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997 gave purge lists to all of their new managers of their Chicago office. Of course, I was at the top of all of those lists because I am conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and my ancestors had been in America since 1844.)
https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart/trumps-purge-of-federal-workers-and-its-historical-parallels/

POLITICO
— Trump is slashing agencies long hated by the GOP. The next cuts might be harder. “You gotta light things on fire that burn the brightest and have the most distinctive smell of waste fraud and abuse,” said one White House ally. (COMMENT: One reason why I took a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO was to escape hatred against IRS employees.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/11/trump-musk-vought-future-cut-targets-00203444
— ‘JD gets the game’: Vance embraces role as social media provocateur. Vance’s approach to social media isn’t new. But his perch in the presidential line of succession is.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/10/jd-vance-donald-trump-online-trolling-00203429

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.