FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly use the Pope’s oldest brother against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/religion/2025/05/12/pope-leo-brother-louis-prevost-magna-facebook-nancy-pelosi
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Which Democrat leaders want Pritzker to run for President. Which want him to instead run for Governor again?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-governor/2025/05/13/gov-jb-pritzker-reelection-third-term-president
— The Catholic church’s social service arm in Chicago uses lobbying firm that also represents abortion provider. Catholic Charities uses Cozen O’Connor for state government lobbying. So does Rush University Medical Center, which performs abortions, and CVS Health, whose pharmacies dispense prescriptions that end pregnancies.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/05/12/catholic-charities-lobbyist-abortion-provider-chicago-cardinal-blase-cupich-rush-university-cozen-oconnor
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/12/editorial-jb-pritzker-house-republicans-sanctuary-states/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasing push more pot.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/12/mundelein-cannabis-store-proposal/
— Illinois homeowners insurance premiums up 50% over three years
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/01/illinois-homeowners-insurance-premiums/
— Depression, isolation and substance use all are up. Are Illinois teens OK? Back in the good old days, back when I was in high school in the 1960s, I could be optimistic about earning a college degree even though no one saw me as being college material. Neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school. I could not run because I had a bone disease, my vision could not be corrected to 20/20, and I had partial red/green color blindness. During my junior and senior years, I spent my weekday evenings and Saturdays and full-time during the summer in between washing dishes for the minimum wage. My ACT score was only 24. I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my graduating class. Nevertheless, I got accepted by UIC.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/13/teens-depression-drinking-drugs-technology/
— The school board president is trying to nix the superintendent requirement. Why does it matter? While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, they ever-increasingly lowered their hiring, retention, and promotion requirements to hire, retain, and promote more Democrats who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless a) my job-related bachelor’s degree, b) my three job-related master’s degrees, c) my six job-related professional certifications, and d) my job-related professional license. I should write about that.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/12/cps-superintendent-explainer/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/13/opinion-pete-hegseth-naval-academy-books-removed/
ABC7
— Harvey residents seek investigation into mayor’s office after alderwoman arrested during meeting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUDlrc5TVOg
— Trump defends Qatar jumbo jet offer, says would be ‘stupid’ to turn away free plane
https://abc7chicago.com/post/president-donald-trump-defends-qatar-jumbo-jet-offer-says-would-stupid-turn-away-free-plane/16393995/
NBC5
— ‘We will not hide’: Little Village committed to Mexican Independence Day parade. The recent wave of rising political tensions is not stopping the community from hosting its annual event.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/we-will-not-hide-little-village-committed-to-mexican-independence-day-parade/3743882/
WGN9
— Little Village Mexican Independence Day Parade to proceed despite ICE concerns
https://wgntv.com/news/little-village-mexican-day-parade-2025-chamber-commitment/
— Illinois ranks 36th out of the 50 states. Under the Democrats, for those in Illinois, the more of the following that they are, the bleaker that their future is: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Anticipate/expect that the more of the aforesaid that those in Illinois are, the sooner that they will leave Illinois.
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/where-illinois-ranks-among-best-states-in-country-in-list-by-u-s-news-world-report/
FOX32
— House GOP unveils spending bill that includes massive Medicaid cuts. What percent are on Medicaid in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct? Why are they on Medicaid?
https://www.fox32chicago.com/money/house-republicans-medicaid-cuts
— Illinois teens say they drink nearly twice as much as U.S. average. I have never been a drinker. I discourage drinking. If I had been a drinker, with all my limitations, I would not have been able to earn an ACT score of 24, graduate in the upper 20% of my high school class, earn a bachelor’s degree, earn three master’s degrees, earn six professional certifications, earn a professional license, etc.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/illinois-teens-say-they-drink-nearly-twice-as-much-as-us-average-survey-finds/ar-AA1EztEo
— Controversy swirls over Trump Qatar trip, gifted plane
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1640122
WGN RADIO
— Alder pulls back the curtain on Mayor Johnson’s patronage scheme
https://wgnradio.com/wgn-plus/thechicagoway/chicago-way-w-john-kass-alder-pulls-back-the-curtain-on-mayor-johnsons-patronage-scheme/
SOUTHERN
— Trump defends Qatar jumbo jet offer, says it would be ‘stupid’ to turn away free plane
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/05/12/trump-defends-qatar-jumbo-jet-offer-says-it-would-be-stupid-to-turn-away-free-plane/
— Trump administration defends white South African refugee program amid group’s US arrival. Anticipate/expect that the next Democrat or RINO U.S. President will send them back.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/05/12/trump-administration-defends-white-south-african-refugee-program-amid-groups-us-arrival/
STATELINE
— States are telling sheriffs whether they can — or can’t — work with ICE. Cooperation between sheriffs and ICE lies at the heart of Trump’s immigration policy. Federal law trumps state law. What is your county sheriff’s position on this?
https://stateline.org/2025/05/13/states-are-telling-sheriffs-whether-they-can-or-cant-work-with-ice/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-bill-odor-cannabis-probable-cause/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Ethics experts worry about the implications of Trump accepting Qatar’s luxury plane
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-05-12/ethics-experts-worry-about-the-implications-of-trump-accepting-qatars-luxury-plane
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— IRS Ramps Up Collections. I worked for IRS’s Collection Division for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $99,069-$112,280/year. I should write about those who continue to use that against me the most.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/business/press-releases/accesswire/1026164/clear-start-tax-warns-taxpayers-irs-ramps-up-collections-amid-office-closures-and-funding-push/
WQAD
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight budget cuts
https://www.wqad.com/article/tech/science/environment/trumps-cuts-federal-climate-research-illinois-impact/526-c4365134-ca06-46a4-8081-e522120ad75c
WHEATON PATCH
— Expansion Sought By St. Michael Church To Accommodate More Students. The church and school is seeking zoning approval to expand its property to better serve its more than 500 students.
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/expansion-sought-st-michael-church-accommodate-more-students
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— On the GOP side. Congressman Darin LaHood “said he had been talking with Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the majority leader, and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chairman of the Senate GOP campaign committee, about entering the race.” And former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he’s weighing a run, too.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/05/13/tensions-rise-dominoes-fall-00343872
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/05/13/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-511/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/05/12/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-303/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— DOJ asks for preliminary injunction against Illinois over E-Verify obstruction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqubx_uurNI
— Funding proposal for higher education schools in Illinois meeting opposition
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_7ce0769e-4548-484f-9ec7-4c8064712e65.html
WIREPOINTS
— Tax cuts, Gov. Pritzker?
https://wirepoints.org/tax-cuts-gov-pritzker-wirepoints/
— The Bally’s ripoff
https://wirepoints.org/the-ballys-ripoff-wirepoints/
— Illinois politicians will always find new ways to take your money.
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-politicians-will-always-find-new-ways-to-take-your-money-wirepoints-on-wls-ramblin-ray-show/
— Politics Is Threatening to Erode the Quality of the Chicago Fire Department
https://wirepoints.org/paul-vallas-politics-is-threatening-to-erode-the-quality-of-the-chicago-fire-department-chicago-contrarian/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “In both hiring and promotion, the Chicago Fire Department has embraced a DEI-driven agenda that has led to political grandstanding and the dangerous erosion of standards. There is growing pressure on the Fire Academy to carry minority candidates who do not meet basic physical requirements. This is not only irresponsible — it is dangerous.”)
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Eighteen, But Not All Incumbent Black Members of Congress Endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/13/eighteen-but-not-all-incumbent-black-members-of-congress-endorse-robin-kelly-for-u-s-senate/
— Fox River Valley State Senator Positioning Himself to Lead the Way to Higher RTA Taxes
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/12/fox-river-valley-state-senator-positioning-himself-to-lead-the-way-to-higher-rta-taxes/
— Parkinson’s Found Higher Near Golf Courses
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/12/parkinsons-found-higher-near-golf-courses/
— Why Are County’s Proposed Zoning Signs So Small?
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/12/why-are-countys-proposed-zoning-signs-so-small/
— Kat Gets Major Boost from Chicago Tribune
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/12/kat-gets-major-boost-from-chicago-tribune/
— Moraine Hills State Racks Up 774,000 Visitors
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/11/moraine-hills-state-parks-racks-up-774000-visitors/
— Prison Rape Returns to the News
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/11/prison-rape-returns-to-the-news/
— Left Out of the Chicago Tribune’s Retrospective Look at the Thompson Center
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/11/left-out-of-the-chicago-tribunes-retrospective-look-at-the-thompson-center/
— Man Arrested in Marengo with Cock Fighting Paraphernalia & Six Roosters
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/10/man-arrested-in-marengo-with-cock-fighting-paraphernalia/
— Blacks Doing Worst in Chicago
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/10/blacks-doing-worst-in-chicago/
— Jack Franks’ Finest Hour
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/05/10/jack-franks-finest-hour/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— SEIU Illinois spends just 3% of members’ money representing workers. NTEU spent lots of time and money representing me in Diersen v. IRS. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-180010.11-0
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/seiu-illinois-spends-just-3-of-members-money-representing-workers/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— JD Vance will be the nominee in 2028
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/daily-memo/3408875/jd-vance-republican-nominee-2028-jim-banks/
NEW YORK POST
— Qatar’s ‘Palace in the Sky’ jet is NOT a ‘free gift’ — and Trump shouldn’t accept it as one
https://nypost.com/2025/05/12/opinion/no-pres-trump-qatars-palace-in-the-sky-jet-isnt-a-free-gift-and-you-shouldnt-accept-it-as-one/
AMAC
— Democrats Normalizing Violence
https://amac.us/newsline/society/democrats-normalizing-violence/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Al Sharpton disapproves of South African refugees fleeing black violence
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/05/12/al-sharpton-disapproves-of-south-african-refugees-fleeing-black-violence-1542752/
CHRISTIAN POST
— Episcopal Church ends partnership with US gov’t over white Afrikaners resettlement dispute
https://www.christianpost.com/news/episcopal-church-cuts-ties-with-us-govt-over-white-afrikaners.html
DAILY CALLER
— House GOP Plans To Strip Billions From States That Give Illegal Migrants Free Healthcare. Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://dailycaller.com/2025/05/12/house-gop-plan-would-strip-billions-from-states-that-give-illegal-migrants-free-healthcare/
— House GOP Floats Proposal To Ensure Non-Citizens Do Not Receive Tax-Funded Food Stamps
https://dailycaller.com/2025/05/12/exclusive-house-gop-floats-proposal-to-ensure-non-citizens-do-not-receive-tax-funded-food-stamps/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Trump Administration Is Exposing the Hubris of Institutional DEI
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/05/12/trump-administration-exposing-hubris-institutional-dei/
FEDERALIST
— Medical School Accreditor Suspends ‘Diversity’ Requirements After Trump Executive Order
https://thefederalist.com/2025/05/13/medical-school-accreditor-suspends-diversity-requirements-after-trump-executive-order/
FOX NEWS
— Democrats’ bizarre affection for illegal aliens. President Trump was elected president last year by Americans furious that Joe Biden had allowed millions of people to storm across our border illegally
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/liz-peek-democrats-bizarre-affection-illegal-aliens
NATIONAL REVIEW
— Top Medical School Accreditor Suspends Diversity Requirements After Trump Executive Order
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/top-medical-school-accreditor-suspends-diversity-requirements-after-trump-executive-order/
ONE AMERICA NEWS
— Trump Admin Rapidly Increasing Weekly Deportation Flights
https://www.oann.com/newsroom/trump-admin-rapidly-increasing-weekly-deportation-flights/
PIERS MORGAN
— ‘My brother the pope is not woke,’ says Louis Prevost
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML2M9icrrKw
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— GOP to increases the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap from $10,000 to $30,000
https://thehill.com/newsletters/business-economy/5296471-house-gop-unveils-sweeping-tax-plans/
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Hate filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://apnews.com/article/democracy-trump-voice-america-usaid-state-department-f5959e4d3b8d21f22a8c88bfc89842b8
ABC NEWS
— Pope rejects ‘war of words,’ applauds journalists
https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/pope-leo-xiv-live-updates-pope-delivers-anti/?id=121703106
CBS NEWS
— White South Africans arrive in U.S. after Trump administration grants refugee status. Anticipate/expect that the next Democrat or RINO U.S. President will send them back.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-south-africans-afrikaners-arrive-us-trump-administration/
NEWSWEEK
— New Bill Could Ban Pornography Across US
https://www.newsweek.com/pornography-ban-us-bill-2071409
NEW YORK TIMES
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly drive Trump’s approval rating down.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/donald-trump-approval-rating-polls.html
— Auction to Dine With Trump Creates Foreign Influence Opportunity. When the bidding stops Monday, the top buyers of a Trump family crypto coin will win a tour of the White House.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/trump-crypto-coin-auction.html
— Trump Declares High-Speed Internet Program ‘Racist’ and ‘Unconstitutional’ Trump denounced the Biden-era Digital Equity Act as “woke handouts based on race,” raging in a social media post against a broad effort to improve high-speed internet access.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/us/politics/trump-biden-digital-equity-act.html
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly side with Harvard against Trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/us/harvard-trump-court-case-negotiation.html
— Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly use the Pope against Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/opinion/pope-leo-american-catholic.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/world/asia/pope-leo-voice-platform.html
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight budget cuts.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/republicans-budget-cuts-medicaid.html
USA TODAY
— $7,500 EV tax credit hasn’t gone away — at least not yet. Eligibility requirements for cars include an MSRP under $55,000. Therefore, my 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T Plus is not eligible.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2025/05/10/ev-federal-tax-credit-2025/83537061007/
— To his classmates in Chicago, Pope Leo was the right pick. How were you viewed when you were in high school? No one saw me as being college material. Neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school. I could not run because I had a bone disease, my vision could not be corrected to 20/20, and I had partial red/green color blindness. During my junior and senior years, I spent my weekday evenings and Saturdays and full-time during the summer in between washing dishes for the minimum wage. My ACT score was only 24. I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my graduating class. Nevertheless, I got accepted by UIC.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/05/10/pope-leo-xiv-chicago-classmates-st-mary-assumption/83523767007/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/04/guatemalan-mother-immigration-fast-track-deportation/83443273007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The GOP Surrenders on Medicaid. The House bill shrinks from a fight over able-bodied men on the dole.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/medicaid-reform-house-republicans-budget-bill-gop-entitlements-8201c7e5
— Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly use the Pope against Trump.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/an-american-pope-in-the-era-of-trump-prevost-leo-xiv-83d2488b
— Jonathan Clements gave people financial advice. Money Magazine did not select me to be the subject of its February 1978 “One person’s finances” article ( https://gopillinois.com/documents/ ) to give me financial advice. It selected me because it intended to and it did a) paint me as being grossly overpaid, b) foist negative government employee stereotypes on me, and c) get IRS to disallow my education deductions. I should write about that.
https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/the-wsjs-jonathan-clements-wants-to-leave-a-living-legacy-19f1738d
NEBRASKA EXAMINER
— How have you dealt with those who defame you? So far, my policy has been to forgive them. But I am reconsidering that. I am considering writing about them. Possibly suing them. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me lately.
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/18/jury-deliberating-whether-2020-nebraska-gop-campaign-mailer-defamed-legislative-candidate/
SILVER SPRING PATCH
— Free Virtual Workshop for our 50+ Displaced Federal Employees/Contractors
https://patch.com/maryland/silverspring/calendar/event/20250515/97765a5d-61fe-406f-af78-329c6a802c6e/free-virtual-workshop-for-our-50-displaced-federal-employees-contractors
INSURANCE BUSINESS
— Illinois lawmakers question fairness of insurance rates. State targets ZIP codes, credit scores, and age in insurance rate study.
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/illinois-lawmakers-question-fairness-of-insurance-rates-532122.aspx
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Supporters of the measure say it responds to long-standing complaints from consumers who believe non-driving-related variables unfairly increase their premiums. According to Wandreeka McBride, chief of staff to Rep. Rita Mayfield, the bill reflects concerns raised by residents who feel burdened by pricing tied to financial or demographic data. “These practices can disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color, leading to higher premiums for individuals who may already face economic challenges. Further regulation may be necessary to ensure that underwriting practices are both fair and transparent,” McBride told AM Best.)
— Illinois bill against auto insurance ‘bias’ gets major backing. Insurance industry, on the other hand, expresses strong opposition.
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/auto-motor/bill-against-auto-insurance-bias-gets-major-backing-478834.aspx
BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
— Is There Any Way to Resuscitate the Seventh Amendment Right to Jury Trial? Law professor Suja Thomas discusses why precious few cases ever make it to a jury and how this trend could be reversed. Have you been denied due process? I have. Four times courts denied my 7th Amendment rights. I should write about that.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/there-any-way-resuscitate-seventh-amendment-right-jury-trial
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Amendment VII: In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. The American Bar Association commissioned a four-year study in 2016 to examine why there are so few federal civil jury trials in the United States. According to its findings, “The percentage of federal lawsuits decided by jury trial dropped from 5.5 percent in 1962 to 0.8 percent in 2013. The percentage of federal criminal cases decided by jury trial dropped from 8.2 percent in 1962 to 3.6 percent by 2013.” The reasons for the decline aren’t hard to discern: jury trials are less predictable, slower, and more expensive for civil litigants. While lawyers and judges say the benefits of jury trials outweigh their costs, they aren’t the ones spending the money to litigate their civil claims. No responsible attorney should ever promise a client that they will win at trial or recommend that a client not at least try to negotiate in good faith to reach a settlement short of trial. Yet there still must be a role for the jury in our legal system. There still must be a way for a litigant to get a jury of peers to render judgment in a dispute. The framers of the Constitution understood this, or at least tried to. One of the least controversial components of the Bill of Rights is the Seventh Amendment’s guarantee of a right to a federal civil jury trial.)
NEWS PRESS
— Have you been denied due process? I have. Four times courts denied my 7th Amendment rights. I should write about that.
https://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2025/05/11/due-process-under-threat-for-everyone-including-citizens-opinion/83509311007/
WESTLAW
— What adverse actions have been taken against you? My Democrat Post Office superiors disallowed my sick leave requests and forced me to resign. My Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my travel vouchers and education deductions and never promoted me beyond GS-12. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take a $23,472 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS, delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old. The aforesaid is more significant a) because I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, b) because I earned three job-related master’s degrees, c) because I earned six job-related professional certifications, and d) because I earned a job-related professional license. The aforesaid is more significant a) because I complained about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination and b) because I became an active member in a class action lawsuit when I was 40 that charged my GAO superiors with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. My Democrat superiors would not have taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://today.westlaw.com/Document/Ic77f069f2f5d11f0b346bf2b04662841/View/FullText.html
