POLITICO ILLINOIS
— The Illinois GOP has a new operator. DD: Under Grogan, what will change? Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. Past and present anti-conservative leaders of the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) want me to stop sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters because I emphasize the following conservative planks in the Republican Party platform: personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving). Failing that, they want to stop everyone from reading my newsletters. Failing that, they want to stop me from emphasizing those planks. Under Grogan, what will change? How will anti-conservative IRP, DCRCC, and MTRO leaders treat my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and treat me?
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/27/the-illinois-gop-has-a-new-operator-00937440
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Bob Grogan has spent so many years around Illinois Republican politics that he jokes he used to be “the youngest person in the room” at party meetings. Now, at 58, the former DuPage County auditor is stepping into leadership of a state GOP that is less competitive in the suburbs that once powered Republican success statewide. Culture wars: Grogan isn’t interested in being a culture-war bomb thrower. He says he’s more drawn to the mechanics of politics — recruiting volunteers, knocking on doors and figuring out what makes a campaign work. “I’m an optimizer. I’m a problem solver,” Grogan told your Playbook host in an interview after he was elected the new chair of the Illinois Republican Party. “I’m a collector of best practices.” That managerial mindset helped Grogan defeat outgoing Chair Kathy Salvi in a closed-door vote of the Republican State Central Committee. He now inherits a party that has become an afterthought, with Democrats controlling every statewide office and dominating the suburbs that once were the backbone of Illinois Republicanism. Reality bites: Grogan doesn’t deny the depth of the problem. But he also isn’t particularly interested in ideological navel-gazing. Instead, he talks about spending smarter, recruiting better candidates and wooing suburban moderates who increasingly view the GOP as out of step. “We cannot purge our way to 51 percent. You can’t grow the church by excommunicating all the sinners,” he said, referring to Republicans who lean left on social issues. Grogan describes himself as conservative, and he rejects the idea that every disagreement inside the party should become a loyalty test. Asked whether he saw himself as more aligned with former Sen. Mark Kirk’s moderate wing or the activist Dan Proft’s conservative faction, Grogan laughed, saying, “I’m a Bob Grogan Republican.” The Trump factor: Even his relationship to President Donald Trump is nuanced. Grogan says Republicans would be foolish to “run away” from Trump, but he also seems keenly aware that suburban voters have grown wary of him and largely want to tune out the endless partisan infighting. “There’s very little that I can say to change anybody’s mind because everyone at this point in life has probably had 10,000 hours of input as to Donald Trump,” he said. Get real: Instead, Grogan insists Illinois Republicans need to focus on what he calls “the actual issues in front of people,” including crime, affordability, taxes and frustrations with local government. He also thinks Republicans too often talk at voters instead of listening to them. On listening: “One of the things I’ve often criticized my own brethren [for] is, we see somebody and we tell them what they should be worried about, as opposed to listening [to] what they’re worried about,” he said. Call me: When we spoke a few days after his election, Grogan and GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey hadn’t yet spoken, but he has since said they have made plans to campaign together. The two were on opposite sides of the March 17 primary as Grogan backed Ted Dabrowski, who got trounced by Bailey 54 percent to 29 percent, with third-place finisher James Mendrick receiving 10 percent of the vote. Stand by his man: Grogan assured us that he’s behind Bailey’s campaign, saying the electorate is tired of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker: “There’s fatigue out there.”)
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Crowds prompt large police response at Chicago’s 57th Street Beach amid teen takeover plans. A chaotic scene also unfolded near North Avenue Beach on Monday night. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://abc7chicago.com/post/teen-takeover-chicago-news-crowds-prompt-large-police-response-57th-street-beach-hyde-park-amid-trend-plans/19171065/
— Trump wraps up 3-hour medical visit to Walter Reed and declares ‘Everything checked out PERFECTLY.’ It will be his fourth publicly disclosed medical exam since returning to office.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/president-donald-trump-see-doctors-annual-physical-walter-reed-medical-center-what-public-finds-is/19173662/
NBC5
— Debate intensifies over tackling Illinois’ housing shortage. Senate Democrats introduced a plan that is separate from Gov. JB Pritzker’s BUILD plan. DD: Since 1984, my critics/opponents have wanted public housing to be built on the north border of my precinct on the south side of Roosevelt Road.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/debate-intensifies-over-tackling-illinois-housing-shortage/3940714/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: However, suburban mayors continue to raise alarm bells about how the plan would change neighborhoods. Their biggest concern is that small apartment buildings between 4 and 8 units could be built on lots designed for single-family homes. Some mayors even have taken the step to adopt resolutions explaining their opposition. “Your neighbor next door can leave town, sell that property, and have a multi-family, four-unit, six-units complex built right next to your single-family home. We just don’t think that’s right,” said Wheaton Mayor Phil Suess. More than 500 new units of housing are on their way to Wheaton. Suess believes the construction is a sign his city’s affordable housing plans are working. So, he doesn’t believe Springfield needs to get involved. “Things are working well. We’re achieving a lot of the points that are referenced in the BUILD Act, and we’re doing it without mandated legislation,” Suess explained.)
CBS2
— 53 people arrested, 9 weapons seized during large teen gathering in Hyde Park. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/3-shot-teen-gathering-hyde-park-memorial-day-weekend/
WGN9
— Millennial job seekers trimming resumes to avoid ageism. DD: The more of the follow that you are, the more that you will face ageism: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://wgntv.com/news/trending/resume-botox-millennial-job-seekers-trimming-resumes-to-avoid-ageism/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— It’s time to get tougher on teen takeovers after chaotic Memorial Day weekend. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/26/editorial-teen-takeovers-brandon-johnson-chaos-memorial-day-weekend/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use the Pope to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/pope-leo-xiv/2026/05/26/pope-leo-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-vatican-visit
WBEZ
— The job market is brutal. DD: Anticipate/expect that employers will hang out signs that say that those who are the following need not apply: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/05/26/how-recent-chicago-college-graduates-are-navigating-a-brutal-job-market
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DuPage auditor takes Grogan on onus of state GOP leadership. DD: Serving as the chairman of a political organization is a thankless job; they are always blamed for their party’s losses. I survived for 7 years as the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois 2005-2012. During that time, I invited speakers for all 78 of the organization’s monthly meetings, August picnics, and December Christmas parties. I should list all those who spoke at those events and what they emphasized. My critics/opponents always demonized, denigrated, and condemned those speakers and what they emphasized. To end my TAPROOT chairmanship and to destroy TAPROOT in 2012, my critics/opponents had their TAPROOT officers and their TAPROOT directors charge me with gross incompetence. They argued/shouted that anyone could do a better job of heading TAPROOT than I did. Previously, I survived for 4 years as a member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) Steering Committee (SC) 2003-2007. My critics/opponents had my fellow ICRC SC members end my ICRC SC membership and destroy ICRC in 2007. In 2006, they unsuccessfully tried to get ICRC to censure me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on IRP SCC members since 1999.
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-dupage-auditor-takes-on-onus-of-state-gop-leadership/article_8fe70a48-ac5d-435a-a4de-b882fdeab8c0.html
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrat leaders say that Trump is getting the Republican Party that he wants, but ask can he win in the midterms?
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-trump-is-getting-the-republican-party-that-he-wants-but-can-he-win-in-the-midterms/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Illinois lawmakers roll out broad cannabis industry overhaul. DD: Illinois Democrats ever-increasing crow about their success in pushing pot, that is, their success in destroying Illinois.
https://www.nprillinois.org/economy-business/2026-05-26/illinois-lawmakers-roll-out-broad-cannabis-industry-overhaul
— American men leaving the workforce at historic rates. DD: Anticipate/expect that employers will hang out signs that say that those who are the following need not apply: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-05-26/why-are-american-men-leaving-the-workforce-at-historic-rates
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Former Republican strategist Collin Corbett files to run for governor as independent. Says he’s dissatisfied with direction of Republican Party. DD: How many votes will Corbett take from conservative Bailey? Since at least 1976, the Illinois Republican Party has moved further to the left, that is, the more that it has become anti-conservative.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/former-republican-strategist-collin-corbett-files-to-run-for-governor-as-independent/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Pritzker says suspension of state gas tax possible, blames Trump for having to consider it.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-pritzker-says-suspension-of-state-gas-tax-possible-blames-trump-for-consideration/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/26/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-532/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Bill to let felons vote from prison draws criticism from Republicans. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote criminals and crime.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_cac9ebd9-4ee3-4563-9922-f96045ce9bd8.html
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/27/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-745/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Supreme Court refuses Florida’s complaint against states that issue truck licenses to migrants. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/26/supreme-court-refuses-floridas-complaint-states-issue-truck-licenses/
— Americans whining over gas prices ignore Iran’s greater threat. Stopping a nuclear threat should matter more than cheaper fill-ups.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/26/americans-whining-gas-prices-ignore-irans-greater-threat/
— ‘Wild West’: 81% of online abortion companies violate FDA’s 10-week gestational limit.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/26/wild-west-81-online-abortion-companies-violate-fdas-10-week/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Supreme Court denies Florida’s lawsuit over CDLs issued to illegal immigrants. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/supreme-court/4581678/supreme-court-denies-florida-lawsuit-cdls-illegal-immigrants/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Harvard Gives $90,000-a-Year Fellowships to Four Anti-Israel Activists
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/harvard-gives-90000-a-year-fellowships-3c5
NEW YORK POST
— Trump blasts ‘terrible’ Dem Chicago leaders after driver allegedly plows into 5 cops during ‘teen takeover’
https://nypost.com/2026/05/27/us-news/trump-blasts-terrible-dem-chicago-leaders-after-driver-allegedly-plows-into-5-cops-during-teen-takeover/
DAILY CALLER
— Justice Thomas Baffled SCOTUS Won’t Hear Case Against Blue States Handing Truck Licenses To Illegals Like Candy. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/26/thomas-scotus-case-blue-states-handing-truck-licenses-illegals/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Fairfax GOP Stands Up to State Party on Abortion and Gender. The GOP in Fairfax County was getting pressure from the state GOP to not fight Democrats on abortion and gender issues. They responded “No!” DD: I should write about pressure from RINO leaders in Illinois to get Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders in Illinois to officially dump the following planks in the Republican Party platform: personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving).
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/26/fairfax-gop-stands-abortion-gender/
— Thomas Slams Court for Refusing to Hear Florida’s Case Against California on Illegal Alien Drivers
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/26/thomas-slams-court-refusing-hear-floridas-case-against-california-illegal-alien-drivers/
— Law School Threatened Disciplinary Action Against Students Who Opted Out of DEI Training
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/26/law-school-threatened-students-who-opted-out-of-dei-training/
DAILY WIRE
— Democrat’s Financial Ties To Gender Mutilation Of Kids
https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-lawmaker-linked-to-woke-distillery-that-pushes-trans-ideology-on-kids
EEOC
— Northwestern Medicine to Pay $325,000 to Resolve EEOC Discrimination Charges. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if my Firestone Store boss had not fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile, an offer that Oldsmobile withdrew saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/northwestern-medicine-pay-325000-resolve-eeoc-religious-discrimination-charges
FEDERALIST
— Thomas, Alito Blast SCOTUS For Ducking Case On Illegal-Alien Truck Drivers ‘Causing Fatal Accidents’
https://thefederalist.com/2026/05/26/thomas-alito-blast-scotus-for-ducking-case-on-illegal-alien-truck-drivers-causing-fatal-accidents/
FOX NEWS
— Teenagers run Chicago with ‘mob violence’ says former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6396698010112
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Trump: Chicago mayor, Illinois governor should ask for help after ‘teen takeover.’ DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5895958-teen-car-ramming-chicago-police/
— ICE ordered to ramp up cases against attorneys accused of filing false asylum claims. DD: All those who promote illegal immigration should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
https://thehill.com/homenews/5895886-homeland-security-targets-asylum-fraud/
CBS NEWS
— DD: Democrat leaders will forever use George Floyd to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/video/george-floyd-remembered-6-years-later-as-family-says-more-change-is-needed/
NBC NEWS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-transgender-healthcare-gender-veterans-federal-employees-rcna346425
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family. If my parents had not had a traditional marriage, I would not have been able to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-05-26/1950s-marriage-family-nostalgia-economic-inequality
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/11-reasons-why-more-women-are-walking-away-from-men-and-marriage/ss-AA1YvbfS
STATELINE
— Trump administration targets attorneys who file fraudulent asylum claims. DD: All those who promote illegal immigration should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
https://stateline.org/2026/05/26/trump-administration-targets-attorneys-who-file-fraudulent-asylum-claims/
FORBES
— Meritocracy. My critics/opponents reject meritocracy. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adiaharveywingfield/2026/05/26/want-to-make-your-company-a-meritocracy-dont-mention-it/
BUSINESS INSIDER
— DD: My critics/opponents are woke. According to them, I owe all my successes in my life to my benefiting from discrimination against those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://www.businessinsider.com/habits-billionaire-success-jpmorgan-2025-12
CHICAGO BOOTH REVIEW
— Meritocracy. My critics/opponents reject meritocracy. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/virtues-rough-meritocracy
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
— Nearly half of states have legalized recreational marijuana use. DD: Democrats ever-increasing crow about their success in pushing pot, that is, their success in destroying America.
https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/nearly-half-of-states-have-legalized-recreational-marijuana-use/
BROOKINGS
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly shout at those who are the following that Republicans cause all their problems: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-demographics-of-racial-inequality-in-the-united-states/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
MEAWW
— Trump slams ‘terrible’ Chicago Dem leaders after driver plows into 5 cops at ‘teen takeover.’ Trump demands intervention after 18-year-old drove into multiple officers before crashing.
https://news.meaww.com/trump-slams-terrible-chicago-dem-leaders-after-driver-plows-into-5-cops-at-teen-takeover
ONE NEWS NOW
— Pritzker GOES NUCLEAR On Trump During Explosive Press Meet.
https://www.onenewspage.com/video/20260527/17768876/Wannabe-Dictator-Illinois-Gov-Pritzker-GOES-NUCLEAR.htm
IFS
— Wealthy parents have wealthy children. DD: My critics/opponents had wealthy parents. I should write about those whose parents were the wealthiest. I had to work my way through college. That harmed my GPA. I spent far too many hours washing dishes and delivering mail instead of studying.
https://ifs.org.uk/publications/why-do-wealthy-parents-have-wealthy-children-0
