February 5, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Elgin HS students stage walkout to protest ICE. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/04/elgin-high-students-walkout-protest-ice/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/opinion-immigration-crime-statistics-public-safety/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ahead of midterms, Illinois’ GOP members of Congress question the state’s ‘election integrity.’  In a letter sent to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Reps. Mike Bost, Mary Miller and Darin LaHood urged the state to provide more information about how voting records are vetted. DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/02/04/illinois-voter-rolls-challenge-republicans-bost-miller-lahood-state-board-of-elections-trump

NBC5
— As Trump promises ‘softer touch’ on immigration, Chicago residents stay wary. There is some concern in Chicago that agents leaving Minneapolis could be redeployed, including back to Illinois. DD: Any hint of a “softer touch” reopens the floodgates.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/as-trump-promises-softer-touch-on-immigration-chicago-residents-stay-wary/3886839/

FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump taking steps toward installing a Columbus statue near the White House. DD: How strongly anti-Italian are the Democrats in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-taking-steps-toward-installing-a-columbus-statue-near-the-white-house/article_601745f2-a8ce-5179-be61-e7bc90cba9b6.html

WEEK
— Trump proposal to ‘nationalize’ elections sparks debate. DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/02/05/trump-proposal-nationalize-elections-sparks-local-debate/?outputType=amp

WAND TV
— Democrats demand ‘dramatic changes’ for ICE, including masks, cameras and judicial warrants. Democrats are threatening to block funding for the Homeland Security Department when it expires in two weeks unless there are “dramatic changes” and “real accountability” for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies who are carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign of federal immigration enforcement. DD: Democrats want to stop deportation of their illegals. But failing that, they want to cripple, disable, hinder, impede, hamstring, and undermine ICE.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/what-democrats-are-demanding-in-the-fight-over-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-funding/article_269f32b5-2ab4-51c7-9434-93e6c26bf320.html
— Illinois bill could ban ICE agents from working as state, local police. DD: Have you been banned? By their wasting my career, by their taking many big adverse actions against me, and by their forcing me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997, my Democrat superiors in the federal government banned me from getting any kind of employment appropriate for someone with my work experience, education, professional certifications, and professional license.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/statehouse/illinois-bill-could-ban-ice-agents-from-working-as-state-local-police/article_f91d9a48-14ad-49d0-958d-573344840d4a.html

DAILY ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War against Republicans. Illegals are their soldiers in their Democrat Army.
https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/university-news/student-organizations/2026/02/03/illini-democrats-illini-republicans-ice-statement/

DOWNERS GROVE PATCH
— Loaded Gun Found Stashed Under Child’s Car Seat During Traffic Stop In Naperville. A Downers Grove man is being held in DuPage County Jail after Tuesday night’s incident.
https://patch.com/illinois/downersgrove/loaded-gun-found-stashed-under-childs-car-seat-during-traffic-stop-naperville

HINDSDALE PATCH
— Hinsdale-Based Conservative Group Concerned Parents of Illinois Denounced At Meeting. It was called a hate group that hurts youth and the LGBTQ community. DD: My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) and TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois were hate groups. I served as an ICRC officer 2003-2007 and as the TAPROOT chairman 2005-2012. My critics/opponents succeeded in having their operatives and their dupes destroy ICRC in 2007 and TAPROOT in 2012. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who continue have their operatives and their dupes take big adverse actions against me. I would focus on those who had their operatives and their dupes a) end my membership on the Illinois Republican Party Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, b) end my role as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, and c) gerrymander my precinct in 2015.
https://patch.com/illinois/hinsdale/hinsdale-based-conservative-group-denounced-meeting

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— In IL-09, friendly forum turns fierce
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/02/05/in-il-09-friendly-forum-turns-fierce-00766712

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— A proposal backed by Illinois Democrats to expand voter registration opportunities for high school students is raising concerns among some parents and education advocates, who argue the measure could add strain to already overburdened schools and open the door to partisan influence.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_a3232f6f-2a97-4346-8084-b284ed21d740.html

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far? If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a Crete-Monee High School student 1962-1966, the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was an UIC student 1966-1968 and 1971 and/or a NIU student 1969-1970, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time Loyola student 1972-1976, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time DePaul student 1976-1980, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired me in 1980 or promoted me in 1986. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats reveal 10-point list of demands for ICE reforms. Topping the list are bans on ICE officers wearing masks to hide their identities, and new rules barring immigration arrests near hospitals, schools, churches, courts, child-care facilities and other “sensitive locations.” The 10-point list also calls for new limits on use of force, and would explicitly give state and local authorities a veto over “large-scale” immigration operations. DD: Democrats want to stop deportation of their illegals. But failing that, they want to cripple, disable, hinder, impede, hamstring, and undermine ICE.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/4/democrats-reveal-ice-reform-demands-continue-funding-homeland/

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Some Crying Kids Are Way Cooler Than Others. This week’s illegal immigrant poster boy is 5-year-old Liam Ramos.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/some-crying-kids-are-way-cooler-than-others/

BLAZE
— The West’s forbidden truth: Ethnic cleansing is now official policy. DD: Ever-increasingly, Democrat and RINO leaders replace those who have demographics that vote for Republicans with those who have demographics that vote for Democrats.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-wests-forbidden-truth-ethnic-cleansing-is-now-official-policy

BREITBART
— Left-Wing Teachers Across the Country Are Forcing Kids to Protest ICE
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/02/04/left-wing-teachers-across-the-country-are-forcing-kids-to-protest-ice/

CENTER SQUARE
— Federal Way council pres & teacher urging students to walk out in ICE protest
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_c62e2923-4eba-4972-a631-e3b2344ccc2f.html

FOX NEWS
— Greg Abbott threatens arrests for violent student protesters, funding cuts for schools allowing walkouts. Texas governor says schools allowing ‘disruptive walkouts’ should be treated as ‘co-conspirators’ after Kyle incident.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/greg-abbott-threatens-arrests-violent-student-protesters-funding-cuts-schools-allowing-walkouts

FOX NEWS RADIO
— Sanctuary City Cooperation & The President’s ‘Softer Touch’ Immigration Approach. DD: Any hint of a “softer touch” reopens the floodgates.
https://radio.foxnews.com/2026/02/05/sanctuary-city-cooperation-the-presidents-softer-touch-immigration-approach/

PJ MEDIA
— Shocking Cost of Migrant Crime
https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2026/02/04/estimating-the-cost-of-illegal-alien-crimes-n4949119
— Texas Sues County for Using Taxpayer Cash to Pay Illegal Aliens’ Lawyers
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/02/04/texas-sues-county-for-using-taxpayer-cash-to-pay-illegal-aliens-lawyers-n4949122

TOWNHALL
— Democrats’ Demands for DHS Funding Are Here—They Would Destroy ICE As We Know It.  DD: Democrats want to stop deportation of their illegals. But failing that, they want to cripple, disable, hinder, impede, hamstring, and undermine ICE.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/02/04/democrats-demands-for-dhs-funding-are-herethey-would-destroy-ice-as-we-know-it-n2670714
— Immigration Enforcement Should Not Be Limited to the ‘Worst of the Worst’
https://townhall.com/columnists/dalewilcox/2026/02/05/immigration-enforcement-should-not-be-limited-to-the-worst-of-the-worst-n2670707

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Trump says he does not believe his team is good at public relations on immigration
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5723686-trump-administration-immigration-handling-public-relations/amp/
— Trump says Good, Pretti were ‘not angels’ but their actions didn’t justify fatal shootings
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5723664-good-pretti-shooting-trump/amp/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Good and Pretti to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5723685-public-skepticism-trump-ice-pretti-good-poll/amp/

NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/arts/music/super-bowl-bad-bunny-puerto-rico-nfl.html
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/business/eeoc-nike-white-employee-discrimination.html
— Educators Sue to Keep Immigration Agents From Schools and Bus Stops. The lawsuit is challenging a Trump administration policy allowing federal agents near locations such as schools, churches and hospitals. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly fill their schools, churches, and hospitals with their illegals.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/us/minnesota-educators-immigration-agents-lawsuit-schools-bus-stops.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/us/ice-lawsuits-states.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/us/politics/border-patrol-history-aggression.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use children to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/us/minneapolis-children-ice-schools.html

USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/02/05/super-bowl-bad-bunny-turning-point-usa-halftime-show/88509842007/

CBS NEWS
— Hundreds of Ann Arbor high school students walk out in protest of ICE. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/ann-arbor-high-school-students-walk-out-ice-operations/

ABC SAN FRANCISCO
— Thousands of East Bay high school students walk out to protest ICE enforcement. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://abc7news.com/post/thousands-east-bay-high-school-students-walk-protest-ice-enforcement/18544017/

INDY STAR
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2026/02/05/organizing-ice-walkouts-meet-indianapolis-students-risking-writeups/88365956007/
https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/local/hamilton-county/noblesville/2026/02/05/noblesville-high-school-students-walkout-in-protest-of-ice/88478191007/

MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE
— Local leaders demand faster ICE withdrawal from Minnesota. DD: Any hint of a withdrawal reopens the floodgates.
https://www.startribune.com/ice-raids-minnesota/601546426

FOX AUSTIN
— Texas student walkouts. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-student-walkouts-elgin-isd-protest-ice-operations

HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA
— Texas state leaders target school walkouts. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2026/02/04/542549/ice-protest-houston-school-tea/

KXXV
— Texas Education Agency says students, schools could face serious consequences for walkouts. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/texas-education-agency-releases-new-guidelines-on-student-ice-walkouts

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Negotiators Say Talks to Restore ACA Subsidies Likely Dead. New, higher health-insurance bills are kicking in for many households. DD: Because I am a retired federal employee, the federal government pays 72% of my and my wife’s healthcare insurance premiums. The 28% that we pay just increased from $600/month to $700/month.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/negotiators-say-talks-to-restore-aca-subsidies-likely-dead-a9c710b4

MONEY WISE
— DD: My Democrat GAO superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal systems a) to delay my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13 and b) to force me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.  My Democrat IRS superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal systems to never promote me beyond GS-12. My Democrat Post Office superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal systems to force me to resign when I was 20 in 1969.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/employers-set-to-give-peanut-butter-raises-in-place-of-merit-based-pay-bumps-in-2026-here-s-what-it-means-for-your-paycheck-and-budget/ar-AA1VEjYO

HRD MAGAZINE
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.hcamag.com/us/news/general/nike-investigated-for-discrimination-against-white-people/564287
https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/diversity-inclusion/dei-goes-dark-employers-retreat-from-transparency-not-inclusion/564336

AFSCME
— Black History Month.  DD: My Black Democrat GAO subordinate who my Democrat GAO superiors replaced me with led the office’s Black History Month events. He had less work experience than I had. He had less education than I had. He had one professional certification while I had six. He had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.afscme.org/blog/what-a-century-of-black-history-month-teaches-us-about-todays-fight-for-working-people

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.