April 21, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— DD: Under the Democrats, everyone in America will soon be a) handing out welfare and/or b) receiving welfare.
https://abc7chicago.com/story/illinois-snap-benefits-150k-households-may-lose-federal-food-assistance-beginning-1/18928211/

FOX32
— As marijuana use widens, vets are treating more pets for cannabis poisoning
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/marijuana-pets-cannabis-poisoning

WGN9
— Darren Bailey’s running mate Aaron Del Mar on campaign’s Chicago reach out, possible Trump endorsement
https://wgntv.com/news/politics/wgn-the-point-politics-chicago-illinois/darren-baileys-running-mate-aaron-del-mar-on-campaigns-chicago-reach-out-possible-trump-endorsement/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFOvIIg3tAo

WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly side with Iran.
https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/04/20/how-the-war-in-iran-is-affecting-chicago-colleges-from-canceled-research-to-uncertain-post-grad-plans

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE: Some Chicago Public Schools parents push back against May Day agreement
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/20/cps-parents-push-against-may-day/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight school vouchers. For Democrat leaders, public schools exist to crank out good little Democrats.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/21/opinion-federal-tax-credit-scholarship-program-school-vouchers-illinois/

DAILY HERALD
— Probe of DuPage clerk’s bidding practices ends without charges
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260420/news/probe-of-dupage-clerks-bidding-practices-ends-without-charges/
— Bailey campaign unfazed by $14 million funding gap with Pritzker
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260420/illinois-state-politics/bailey-campaign-unfazed-by-14-million-funding-gap-with-pritzker/
— College of DuPage generates $1.3 billion annual economic impact, supporting nearly 15,000 jobs
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260420/submitted-content/college-of-dupage-generates-1-3-billion-annual-economic-impact-supporting-nearly-15000-jobs/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: ‘Telling a much bigger story:’ Renovated McCormick House reveals more about legendary newspaper publisher
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260420/news/telling-a-much-bigger-story-renovated-mccormick-house-reveals-more-about-legendary-newspaper-publ/
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE: Naperville weighs funding options for India Day. DD: Starting in 2005, I served as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks. Democrat and RINOs\ leaders ended that in 2021.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260420/festivals-and-fairs/very-important-to-this-town-naperville-weighs-funding-options-for-india-day/
— Geneva businesses come together to organize Swedish Days parade. DD: Starting in 2005, I served as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks. Democrat and RINO leaders ended that in 2021.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260420/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-saving-a-summer-tradition-geneva-businesses-come-together-to-organize-swedish/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260420/nation-and-world-politics/judge-tosses-lawsuit-over-trumps-push-to-deploy-national-guard-to-chicago/

WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.wbez.org/say-more-with-mary-dixon-patrick-smith/2026/04/20/chicago-weed-culture-six-years-on-from-legalization

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— DD: The mainstream news media exists to drive Trump’s approval rating down.
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/politics/government/2026/04/20/what-is-trumps-approval-rating-in-illinois-see-latest-april-polls-pope-leo/89699070007/

CHAMBANA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://chambanatoday.com/news/298892-pritzker-administration-awards-31-8-million-in-cannabis-equity-loans/

DEPAULIA
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ and pot.
https://depauliaonline.com/83867/ladepaulia/chicagos-first-lgbtq-dispensary-plans-to-expand-after-celebrating-two-year-anniversary/

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Hernandez reelected chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/hernandez-reelected-chair-of-the-democratic-party-of-illinois/

ILLINOIS PATCH
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/pritzker-announces-nearly-32m-cannabis-loans-4-20

ELMHURST PATCH
— DuPage Official Wears Government Name Pin To Democratic Fundraiser
https://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/dupage-official-wears-government-name-pin-democratic-fundraiser

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Ken Griffin isn’t in Illinois anymore to write a $54 million check opposing a proposed tax increase on millionaires as he did in 2020. But don’t mistake his absence for a lack of opposition.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/04/21/bracing-for-a-tax-fight-deja-vu-00882276

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/04/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-507/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CHICAGO CONTRARIAN
— Vallas: Reparations? Let’s Start with the Chicago Teachers Union.
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/reparations-chicago-teachers-union

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— QUESTION: What should potential federal employees be advised of? ANSWER: Federal employees who are the following do not have Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, 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. Potential federal employees should read all the filings in Diersen v. GAO. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf  When Democrats get back into power, they will reverse everything that Trump has done. If I had Civil Service protections, my Democrat Post Office superiors would not have been able to disallow my sick leave requests in 1968 and 1969 and to force me to resign in 1969. If I had Civil Service protections, my Democrat IRS superiors would not have been able to disallow my travel vouchers in 1974, to disallow my education deductions in 1978, and to stop me from being promoted to GS-13. If I had Civil Service protections, my Democrat GAO superiors would not have been able a) to force me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, b) to delay my promotions and to stop me from being promoted to GS-14, c) to keep me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for them, d) to always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and e) to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois income growth lags U.S. under Pritzker
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-income-growth-lags-u-s-under-pritzker/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Disastrous Dignity act will transform U.S. into nationwide sanctuary system for illegals. Humanitarian campuses and deportation limits encourage more border crossings and long-term migration.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/20/disastrous-dignity-act-transform-us-nationwide-sanctuary-system/
— Illegal immigrants becoming ‘more evasive’ as they try to defeat Trump’s tougher border
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/20/illegal-immigrants-becoming-evasive-try-defeat-trumps-tougher-border/

NEW YORK POST
— Israel set to host Middle East’s largest pride festival. DD: To promote LGBTQ is to destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/20/world-news/israel-set-to-host-middle-easts-largest-pride-festival/
— Over 250 journalists demand reporters ‘forcefully’ protest Trump at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
https://nypost.com/2026/04/20/us-news/over-250-journalists-demand-reporters-forcefully-protest-trump-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A group of over 250 journalists implored members of the Beltway press corps to “forcefully demonstrate opposition” to President Trump at the ritzy White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. Trump, 79, is set to attend the swanky dinner for the first time in his presidency. But the group of 250 reporters is demanding that the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) ensure he doesn’t feel welcome. “We believe the White House Correspondents Association should take stronger action by issuing — from the podium — a forceful defense of freedom of the press and condemnation of those who threaten that freedom, followed by a standing toast to the First Amendment,” the letter to members of the WHCA said. “Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press.” The WHCA, which represents the White House press corps, is organizing the annual dinner and has clashed with Trump repeatedly over the past year. Early last year, the White House press team began meddling in the pool rotation, in which outlets take turns getting special access to the president to share their notes and footage with everyone else. Historically, the WHCA has set the pool rotation. Notably, the White House has left the WHCA in charge of determining outlet seat locations in the press briefing room. Prominent veteran journalists such as former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, infamous for erroneous reporting on President George W. Bush’s military service, and former ABC News anchor Sam Donaldson signed the missive. Groups such as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Coalition for Women in Journalism, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and more signed it as well. The letter aired a litany of grievances against Trump, such as his defamation suits against various outlets, alleged favoritism toward conservative media, and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s offensive tactics. Another complaint was Trump’s decision to pardon Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters, which the letter claims sends a “message that attacks on the press will be forgiven.” They also noted in the letter that many journalists attending the ritzy dinner on Saturday intend to wear lapel pins or pocket handkerchiefs emblazoned with the words of the First Amendment as a more low-key protest. The call for protests comes amid polling pegging trust in the media at all-time lows, particularly among Republican voters. Last year, Gallup found that only 28% of the public has a great or fair amount of trust in mass media. Last year, the WHCA was pressured to cancel comedian Amber Ruffin, whom it tapped to headline the feted dinner after she publicly called the Trump administration a “bunch of murderers,” and complained about being asked to tone down her material. This year, the WHCA has tapped mentalist Oz Pearlman as the night’s main entertainment instead of a traditional comedian. The last time Trump attended a White House Correspondents’ Dinner was 2011, when then-President Barack Obama mercilessly roasted him for peddling conspiracy theories about Obama’s birth certificate. “Because the Press was extraordinarily bad to me, FAKE NEWS ALL, right from the beginning of my First Term, I boycotted the event, and never went as Honoree,” Trump explained on Truth Social last month. “However, I look forward to being with everyone this year. Hopefully, it will be something very Special.” The Post contacted the WHCA for comment. The White House referred The Post to Trump’s Truth Social post last month when asked for comment about the letter.)

BLAZE
— How Republicans have failed to defund sanctuary cities for a generation
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/how-republicans-have-failed-to-defund-sanctuary-cities-for-a-generation

BREITBART
— Supreme Court to hear Catholic schools bid to reject gay parents’ kids.
https://www.breitbart.com/news/supreme-court-to-hear-catholic-schools-bid-to-reject-gay-parents-kids/amp/
— Democrats Don’t Care About Collateral Damage of Illegal Immigration
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/20/exclusive-rep-mike-collins-democrats-like-jon-ossoff-dont-care-about-collateral-damage-of-illegal-immigration/amp/
— Nearly 1/3 Registered Voters Say All Illegal Immigrants Should Be Deported
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/20/poll-nearly-one-third-registered-voters-illegal-immigrants-deported/amp/
— Rising Republican Opposition to Legal Mass Migration
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/04/20/poll-show-gop-opposition-to-legal-migration/amp/

CHRISTIAN POST
— Taxpayers funding illegal immigrants’ sex-change surgeries, cross-sex hormones in California
https://www.christianpost.com/news/california-pays-for-illegal-aliens-sex-change-surgeries-report.html

DAILY CALLER
— Universities Hide Their Illegal DEI Agenda
https://dailycaller.com/2026/04/20/im-a-georgetown-student-heres-how-my-university-hides-its-illegal-dei-agenda/

DAILY SIGNAL
— Can Colorado Exclude Catholics From ‘Universal’ Preschool Program? Supreme Court Weighs In
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/04/20/supreme-court-takes-up-case-catholics-excluded-universal-preschool-program-over-lgbtq-stance/

FREE PRESS
— Colleges Will Never Give Up Racial Preferences
https://www.thefp.com/p/will-colleges-ever-give-up-racial

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Elite Schools Insist It’s About “Belonging”—Critics Say It’s Discrimination All Over Again
https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/elite-schools-insist-its-about-belonging-critics-say-its-discrimination-all

NRA-ILA
— Running Out of Targets: New York Bills Go After Air, Pellet and BB Guns. DD: On their road to abolishing the Second Amendment, anticipate/expect that Democrats, RINOs, and Democrat plants will ever-increasingly diminish Second Amendment rights.
https://www.nraila.org/articles/20260420/running-out-of-targets-new-york-bills-go-after-air-pellet-and-bb-guns

POST MILLENNIAL
— Chicago Teachers Union gives students May 1 off for ‘Day of Civic Action’ and leftist indoctrination. DD: Anticipate/expect that ever-increasingly, Chicago school students will ever-increasingly hate those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, heterosexual, married, veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://thepostmillennial.com/chicago-teachers-union-gives-students-may-1-off-for-day-of-civic-action-and-leftist-indoctrination

TOWNHALL
— Brandon Johnson Plays the Race Card Over Restaurant Worker Wages. DD: I washed dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights 1964-1966. I was the only White male that ever had that job, all the others were minorities and/or females.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/04/20/brandon-johnson-restaurants-slavery-reparations-n2674746

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame those who have demographics that vote for Republicans for the problems that those who have demographics that vote for Democrats have.
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5668530-trump-blames-others-failures/
— Even in red Idaho, woke media propaganda is alive and well
https://thehill.com/opinion/5836233-conservative-idaho-gender-identity-laws/

MSN
— Baptist College stirs controversy in approving LGBTQ+ event to counter Turning Point USA rally
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/baptist-college-stirs-controversy-in-approving-lgbtq-event-to-counter-turning-point-usa-rally/ar-AA20NP8O
— American taxpayers forced to fund sex changes and breast implants for illegal migrants
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/american-taxpayers-forced-to-fund-sex-changes-and-breast-implants-for-illegal-migrants/ar-AA214Non

NEW YORK TIMES
— Students deciding this week whether to attend graduate school in the fall are navigating the end of a 20-year era of student loan policy. DD: I paid for the tuition and books for the 16 courses for my 1976 Loyola MBA with money I earned working for IRS 1972-1976.  I paid for the tuition and books for the 12 courses for my 1980 DePaul master’s degree in accounting with money I earned working for IRS 1976-1980 and for GAO in 1980. I paid for the tuition and books for the 14 courses for my 1997 IIT master’s degree in financial markets and trading with money I earned working for GAO 1992-1997.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/upshot/student-debt-graduate-school.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly a) promote their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/04/19/trump-states-laws-immigration-business/
— DD: As I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, I ever-increasingly learned that federal employees who are the following do not have Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/14/justice-department-firings-face-act-blanche/9bc88dfe-381b-11f1-90c4-9772c7fabc03_story.html

USA TODAY
— DD: Should political parties have the power to stop candidates from running as members of their party? Candidates can always run as Independents or form their own political party.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/04/01/podium-guy-adam-johnson-jan-6-running-for-office/89401432007/
— LGBTQ+ vs religious rights: Supreme Court takes big case on preschools. The Catholic Church wants to participate in Colorado’s tuition-free preschool program without admitting students from LGBTQ+ families.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/20/supreme-court-lgbtq-catholic-preschools-colorado/89436798007/

NORTH SHORE LEADER
— DD: Democrat elected officials defend and advance the Democrat Party platform. RINO and Democrat plant elected officials do not defend or advance the Republican Party platform.
https://www.thenorthshoreleader.com/single-post/op-ed-school-board-candidates-should-run-under-a-party-label

WFMD
— Nonprofit network takes hundreds of millions in federal funds while pushing ‘wokeness’
https://www.wfmd.com/2026/04/21/nonprofit-network-takes-hundreds-of-millions-in-federal-funds-while-pushing-wokeness-advocacy-group-warns/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Dershowitz: Why I’m Becoming a Republican. I first registered as a Democrat in 1959. The party’s hostility to Israel is too much.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/alan-dershowitz-why-im-becoming-a-republican-86c19b66

FORBES
— DD: To hire, retain, and promote more young minorities and more young females, Democrat and RINO employers ever-increasingly replace objective criteria with subjective criteria. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2025/03/12/objective-hiring-pitfalls-to-avoid/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelletravis/2025/02/11/how-to-reduce-hiring-bias-against-women-study-finds-key-role-for-hr/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2024/05/12/5-strategies-to-hire-more-diverse-talent/

HR DAILY ADVISOR
— DD: To hire, retain, and promote more young minorities and more young females, Democrat and RINO employers ever-increasingly replace objective criteria with subjective criteria. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://hrdailyadvisor.hci.org/2022/02/15/the-pervasiveness-of-subjective-hiring/

MONEY
— DD: To hire, retain, and promote more young minorities and more young females, Democrat and RINO employers ever-increasingly replace objective criteria with subjective criteria. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://money.com/how-to-reduce-bias-in-hiring-process/

BLOOMBERG LAW
— DD: As I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, I ever-increasingly learned that federal employees who are the following do not have Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/civil-service-board-punting-on-complaints-citing-conflicts

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK & FED WEEK
— DD: As I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, I ever-increasingly learned that federal employees who are the following do not have Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce-rightsgovernance/2026/04/senate-democrats-warn-of-serious-consequences-from-decision-upholding-doj-firings/
https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/court-urged-to-reverse-mspb-decision-limiting-employee-appeal-rights/

POLITICO
— Mamdani and his wife made less than $145,000 last year. DD: In today’s dollars, I my GAO salary was $154,682/year in 1997. My critics/opponents have used that to hint/imply/argue/shout a) that I was grossly overpaid and/or b) that I was an abject failure.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/16/mamdani-and-his-wife-made-less-than-145-000-last-year-tax-filings-show-00877729

CALO NEWS
— DD: Unless the current trend is reversed, no one in America will be able to get an education, get a job, or do anything else unless they speak, read, and write Spanish.
https://www.calonews.com/featured-topics/health/more-people-in-healthcare-are-learning-spanish-the-demand-is-still-higher/article_91583ca6-ab08-4d62-869c-3ec8e0ad314b.html

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

HR NEWS & PEOPLE MATTERS
— DD: To hire, retain, and promote more young minorities and more young females, Democrat and RINO employers ever-increasingly replace objective criteria with subjective criteria. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://hrnews.co.uk/6-ways-to-reduce-bias-in-skills-based-hiring-2025-guide/
https://sea.peoplemattersglobal.com/article/employee-engagement/can-you-fire-an-employee-over-culture-fit-issues-42625

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.