January 16, 2026 Evening Edition

WHITE HOUSE
— Minnesota’s “Sanctuary” Defiance Has Consequences
https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/01/minnesotas-sanctuary-defiance-has-consequences/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois Republican governor hopefuls target JB Pritzker as Rick Heidner apologizes for past Democratic donations
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/gop-governor-candidate-forum-washington-ill/
— Upstart Illinois Republican governor candidate Rick Heidner spent nearly $250,000 to get name on ballot
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/illinois-gop-gov-candidate-rick-heidner-spent-nearly-250000-to-get-his-name-on-the-primary-ballot/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/upstart-illinois-republican-governor-candidate-224400024.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote crime and criminals.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/jb-pritzker-clean-slate-act/
— Justice Department investigating whether Minnesota’s Tim Walz and Jacob Frey impeded immigration enforcement
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/justice-department-investigating-minnesota-walz-frey-immigration/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Kamala Harris tells Chicago audience to ‘bear down’ and resist Trump agenda. Speaking at the annual Martin Luther King Interfaith Breakfast, the 2024 Democratic nominee for president said the country should follow Dr. King’s belief that “to love your country is to fight for your country.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/01/16/kamala-harris-mlk-breakfast-chicago
— Federal judge who challenged Bovino will supervise state’s new case against Trump’s deportation blitz. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis will continue to play a key role as local officials battle the Trump administration at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in 2026. Federal officials have warned that “Operation Midway Blitz” is not over, and U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino recently posted “we’re gonna be here for years” on social media.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/01/15/federal-judge-sara-ellis-challenged-bovino-supervise-states-new-case-against-operation-midway-blitz

DAILY HERALD
— DuPage board members press for answers about county clerk investigation
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260116/local-politics/dupage-county-board-members-press-for-answers-about-county-clerk-investigation/
— Upcoming debates set for 8th Congressional District primaries. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate debates.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260116/us-congress-politics/upcoming-debates-set-for-8th-congressional-district-primaries/

CBS2
— ICE’s detainee population reaches new record high of 73,000, as crackdown widens
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/ices-detainee-population-record-high-of-73000/
— Public employees owe Chicago $23.5 million in debt for parking tickets, water bills, other fees
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-city-employees-debt-unpaid-fines-fees-tickets/

FOX32
— Trump’s supporters offer mixed reviews of president in latest poll
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/trumps-supporters-mixed-reviews-president-latest-poll

RIVER BENDER
— Duckworth Pushes To Slash ICE Funding
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/duckworth-pushes-to-slash-ice-funding-and-block-gop-cuts-to-lead-removal-programs-89913.cfm

FOX ILLINOIS
— Noem urges Americans to carry proof of citizenship as ICE raids intensify
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/noem-urges-americans-to-carry-proof-of-citizenship-as-ice-raids-intensify-dhs-minneapolis-minnesota-portland-oregon-shootings-renee-nicole-good-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-federal-agents-officers-illegal-migrants

CITIES 92.9
— A newly introduced bill that would bar former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from working in state and local law enforcement in Illinois is sparking intense debate, with supporters calling it a necessary accountability measure and critics warning it could worsen police shortages and undermine public safety. DD: Potential federal employees should know that federal employees are despised/hated and that the longer that you are a federal employee, the more impossible it is to get a job outside the federal government.
https://www.cities929.com/2026/01/16/ice-hiring-ban-bill-reignites-safe-t-act-fight-at-illinois-capitol/

CHICAGO READER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://chicagoreader.com/music/concert-preview/ground-control-touring-abortion-access-benefit/

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/01/16/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-450/
— Dem Party and state Dem leaders ask to move 2028 Illinois primary to an earlier date
https://capitolfax.com/2026/01/16/dem-party-and-state-dem-leaders-ask-to-move-2028-illinois-primary-to-an-earlier-date/
— Heidner makes unusual admission, Bailey says he no longer favors 401K plans for government retirees
https://capitolfax.com/2026/01/16/heidner-makes-unusual-admission-bailey-says-he-no-longer-favors-401k-plans-for-government-retirees/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— GOP gubernatorial forum set for Monday. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_61b61d32-e5f1-4cd9-ae73-bf4256b3cfd9.html

WIREPOINTS
— Video of Illinois Republican candidates for Illinois governor debate. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate debates.
https://wirepoints.org/video-of-illinois-republican-candidates-for-illinois-governor-debate/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— MAGA is not Republican. And that’s a problem for the congressional GOP.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/15/maga-republican/
— Plunging birth rates threaten to change the makeup of U.S.  DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) destroy the traditional marriage and family and b) promote abortion.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/16/editorial-plunging-birth-rates-threaten-change-makeup-us/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Democrats — the party of lawbreaking
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/magazine/magazine-letter-from-the-editor/4420818/democrats-party-of-lawbreaking-ice-minnesota/

BREITBART
— Trump and the Department of Homeland Security are trying to start a civil war for “white supremacy,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters as Democrats escalate their rhetoric to prevent the enforcement of federal law in Democrat-controlled Minnesota. DD: Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War against Republicans. Illegals are soldiers in their Democrat Army.
https://www.breitbart.com/crime/2026/01/16/gov-newsom-donald-trump-wants-civil-war-for-white-supremacy/amp/

FOX NEWS
— Democrats push anti-ICE bills nationwide after deadly Minneapolis shooting
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-push-anti-ice-bills-nationwide-after-deadly-minneapolis-shooting.print

REASON
— The Waning of Racial Preferences at American Law Schools, 2021-2025.
https://reason.com/volokh/2026/01/16/the-waning-of-racial-preferences-at-american-law-schools-2021-2025-by-my-ucla-colleague-rick-sander/

TOWNHALL
— Fraud and the ‘Fundamental Transformation’ of America
https://townhall.com/columnists/laurahollis/2026/01/16/fraud-and-the-fundamental-transformation-of-america-n2669590
— New York’s Mamdani Doubles Down on Race-Based Government Policy
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/01/16/mamdani-racial-equity-n2669591

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CNN
— DD: The mainstream news media exists to drive Trump’s approval rating down.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/16/politics/trump-economy-first-year-cnn-poll
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hated against White Americans.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-us-government-seems-to-have-a-clear-message-for-white-nationalists/ar-AA1UgVLT%3Fcvid%3D6969e171b48c4ef38c5ca788a77f0ccc

MSN
— Bosses are firing people in their 40s. DD: While I worked for the federal government, retirement age was 55 if you were a Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran and if you had not made Senior Executive Service, currently $197,200/year. In 1993, to get rid of their employees sooner who were the aforesaid, my Democrat GAO superiors “offered” those who had 25 or more years of federal service like me a $25,000 buyout and early retirement. I had 25 years of federal service and I was 45 years old. The buyout expired in 1994 and the early retirement in 1997. I survived until I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/bosses-are-firing-people-in-their-40s-left-and-right-and-honestly-we-get-it/ar-AA1U83Sy

NEW YORK TIMES
— Illinois Governor Election 2026: Latest Polls
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/illinois-governor-election-polls-2026.html

PHILADELPHIA TRIBUNE
— DD: To promote diversity is to get rid of Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/college-racial-diversity-drops-again-as-trump-ramps-up-scrutiny/article_8dd837a0-1611-4119-828a-569201285586.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Threatens to Hit Countries That Oppose His Greenland Takeover With Tariffs. The president said the U.S. needs to take control of the territory to protect U.S. national security.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-tariffs-greenland-23394b83?st=Vw3ugM&mod=djemwhatsnews

FOIRBES
— DD: The mainstream news media exists to drive Trump’s approval rating down.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/01/15/trumps-approval-rating-largely-unchanged-in-first-year-but-immigration-ratings-have-plummeted/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for the high cost of healthcare.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/omerawan/2026/01/16/president-trump-unveils-new-great-healthcare-plan-here-are-the-unanswered-questions-and-uncertainties/

FORTUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Venezuela and its citizens.
https://fortune.com/2026/01/16/how-many-venezuelan-immigrants-in-united-states-america/

NPR
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for the high cost of healthcare.
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/15/nx-s1-5678654/trump-great-healthcare-plan-video-announcement-aca-premiums

POLITICO
— Push for greater ICE training grows on some Republicans. DD: The first 6 months that I worked for IRS in 1971 was in Revenue Officer training.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/15/ice-training-republicans-shootings-00732583

INSIDE RADIO
— Salem Media Chicago Extends Dan Proft Through 2027.
https://www.insideradio.com/free/salem-media-chicago-extends-dan-proft-through-2027/article_93cb9338-b2bb-41ce-bdf3-361b80529d63.html

ROLLING STONE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly replace voters who have demographics that vote for Republicans with voters who have Demographics that vote for Democrats.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/how-kamala-harris-lost-2024-catalist-1235344875/

SPLC
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Republicans, and especially against Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. How successful have Democrat leaders been doing that in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/hate-crimes-explained/

NEWS ONE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Republicans, and especially against Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. How successful have Democrat leaders been doing that in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://newsone.com/6774313/trump-undermined-civil-rights-ahead-of-mlk-day/

DAILY KOS
— Blacklist ICE agents from future government work. DD: Potential federal employees should know that federal employees are despised/hated and that the longer that you are a federal employee, the more impossible it is to get a job outside the federal government.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/15/2363464/-Great-idea-Blacklist-ICE-agents-from-future-government-work

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.