FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Trump slaps additional 50% tariff on certain Canadian goods.
https://abc7chicago.com/story/trump-slaps-additional-50-tariff-certain-canadian-goods/19545803/
FOX32
— The 117th NAACP National Convention is underway at McCormick Place.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-2rc416w94qkzvszx
WGN9
— Where are Darren Bailey and the Illinois GOP?
https://wgntv.com/politics-3/where-is-darren-bailey-and-the-illinois-gop/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A sexual harassment scandal. Crime concerns. There is no shortage of issues Illinois republicans could pounce on; but other than fanning the flames on social media and issuing press releases, they’ve been fairly quiet. Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey hasn’t held a press conference in more than a month in the Chicago region. His team posted a picture of a meet-and-greet at a Pilsen restaurant last week that featured 12 people in the frame. We’re a little more than three months before the election. “I do think people are making these points; but they’re making them in the silos,” said Richard Porter, a former Republican National Committeeman from Illinois. “I think there’s a mistake people make. We’re online so much. You’re connecting with people all over the state and it’s really cool; but I think the thing we need to realize is the algorithm drives us to meet the people that think the way we think. “They’re not introducing us to people who are undecided or unaware of what our issues are.” The stealth approach to campaigning is also surprising given that Bailey’s opponent — billionaire incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker — has a campaign war chest of more than $25 million compared to Bailey’s less than $1 million raised. Traditionally, candidates who are low on money clamor for the publicity of photo ops and interviews with local media. Bailey’s campaign said the farmer-turned-politician is currently focusing on energizing supporters downstate and will spend ample time in the Chicago region soon. The campaign contends voters aren’t yet paying attention to the November race. Bailey lost to Pritzker by nearly 13 points in 2022. Analysts said his past strategy of focusing on downstate voters and appealing to Trump supporters, put simply, couldn’t overcome the democratic vote in Northeast Illinois. They suggested that he needs to win over swing suburban voters. Previously, Bailey said he got the message this time around. He made it known that he and his wife were renting a condo in Chicago. He showed up to make an appeal to city voters during the public comments section of a City Council meeting in May, where he apologized for previously referring to Chicago as a “hellhole.” Bailey has also downplayed his previous support of Trump and acknowledged his pro-life beliefs won’t change state abortion laws. His running mate, Aaron Del Mar, is from Cook County and frequently makes media appearances. Bailey has said he would work to repeal the SAFE-T Act if elected governor. However, it’s unclear how he would do that, given Democrats hold super-majorities in both chambers of the legislature. He’s also repeatedly criticized Democrats — and judges — for being too lenient on people accused of committing crimes. But Bailey hasn’t driven that message home — and distinguished GOP and democratic strategies — with news conferences and photo ops at crime scenes. Porter sees that as a missed opportunity: “There is, on the left, there is sometimes an excusing for this violence that we on the right reject,” Porter told WGN-TV. “The people who are the subject of the violence, they don’t want to — they share the view — they’re available to us [as voters] to understand crime has to stop. We should not have a laissez-faire attitude toward criminals.”)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— A Northwestern University professor files a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation for his pro-Palestinian activism and on-campus speech. DD: All my ancestors immigrated from what is now Germany during the 1840s and 1850s. In their defense, my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI and my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/20/northwestern-university-professor-files-federal-lawsuit/
DAILY HERALD
— DuPage County Fair kicks off July 23. DD: Democrats and RINOs despise/hate farms, farming, and farmers. Just look at how Democrats and RINOs are treating Bailey. My great grandparents on my father’s side were farmers. My grandparents on my mother’s side were farmers. During the 1950s, I spent lots of time at their farm in Grant Park along the Indiana border.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260720/entertainment/dupage-county-fair-kicks-off-july-23-with-first-4-h-alumni-day/
— DD: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, soon, everyone will be a) handing out welfare and/or b) receiving welfare.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260720/news/hunger-doesnt-look-just-one-way-how-loaves-fishes-helps-families-get-back-on-solid-ground/
— DD: Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents are/were entrepreneurs. Overwhelmingly, they look down on wage earners like I was 1964-1997.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260720/business/kane-county-area-leaders-relaunch-entrepreneurship-center-for-those-impacted-by-criminal-legal-syste/
— Facing 30% toll hike, truckers warn of fallout for the industry, consumers and roads. DD: While I worked for IRS’s Collection Division during the early 1970s, some of the delinquent taxes I collected were delinquent Federal Highway Use Taxes.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260719/transportation/facing-30-toll-hike-truckers-warn-of-fallout-for-the-industry-consumers-and-roads/
WGN RADIO
— When education becomes indoctrination. DD: I avoided liberal indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://wgnradio.com/wgn-plus/thechicagoway/chicago-way-w-john-kass-when-education-becomes-indoctrination/
CHICAGO DEFENDER
— Family reunions. DD: Since 1847, all my ancestors were Missouri Synod Lutherans. But family reunions on both my father’s and mother’s sides died in the 1960s because Wisconsin Synod Lutherans defeated Missouri Synod Lutherans in Crete and in Grant Park. That had a tremendous impact on me. To stay with the Missouri Synod, my parents took me out eight grade at Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete in 1961 and transferred me to a newly formed very small eight grade at Hope Lutheran in Park Forest.
https://chicagocrusader.com/dr-ione-d-vargus-family-reunions-matter/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DD: Democrat leaders encourage assaults against ICE officers.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/law/ccb-operation-midway-blitz-andrew-boutros-nyt-20260720/
VANDALIA RADIO
— Big Crowd comes out to meet & greet Republican candidate for Governor at “Bailey Fest 2”
https://www.vandaliaradio.com/2026/07/20/big-crowd-comes-out-to-meet-greet-republican-candidate-for-governor-at-bailey-fest-2/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Top of IL GOP ticket: Pocketbook issues, not social issues. Del Mar: Bailey and I know what it’s like to be working Illinoisans. DD: The more that you follow conservative principles, the fewer pocketbook issues that you will have. The more that you follow liberal principles, the more pocketbook issues that you will have.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-top-of-il-gop-ticket-pocketbook-issues-not-social-issues/
— GOP secretary of state hopeful wants to bring customer service back. Diane Harris says Alexi Giannoulias’ campaign war chest does not scare her.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-gop-secretary-of-state-hopeful-wants-to-bring-customer-service-back/
— Illinois Secretary of State candidate Diane Harris. Harris has been a Joliet-area politician and small business owner.
https://capitolcitynow.com/podcasts/illinois-secretary-of-state-candidate-diane-harris/
AUDACY
— DD: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, soon, everyone will be a) handing out welfare and/or b) receiving welfare.
https://www.audacy.com/wxrt/news/local/block-party-slated-for-naperville
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-559/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WIREPOINTS
— Another Fox In The Hen House: The Chicago Teachers Union’s New Media Bargaining Guild.
https://wirepoints.org/fox-enters-hen-house-the-chicago-teachers-unions-new-media-bargaining-guild-wirepoints/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Republicans flood Congress with bills to confront Supreme Court on birthright citizenship.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/20/republicans-flood-congress-bills-confront-supreme-court-birthright/
— Trump signs order to make U.S. supply chains more secure, less reliant on foreign nations.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/20/donald-trump-signs-order-make-us-supply-chains-secure-less-reliant/
— Money, policy wed Democrats to anti-American socialists. The Democratic Party, DSA are increasingly inseparable.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/20/money-policy-wed-democrats-anti-american-socialists/
— Democratic Socialists of America declare war on the Constitution. Platform reveals a movement hostile to America’s founding design.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/20/democratic-socialists-america-declare-war-constitution/
NEW YORK POST
— No to ‘reparations’ in California, a ‘free state’ since 1850.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/20/opinion/no-to-cash-reparations-in-california-a-free-state-since-1850/
FEDERALIST
— Democrats Can’t Explain Their Hatred Of Voter ID. Unfortunately, Republicans Won’t Make Them.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/20/democrats-cant-explain-their-hatred-of-voter-id-unfortunately-republicans-wont-make-them/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
MSN
— Pritzker baselessly claims Republicans ‘cheat’ in elections.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/jb-pritzker-baselessly-claims-republicans-cheat-in-elections/ar-AA28iVLz
NEW YORK TIMES
— Failed Immigration Cases Leave Chicago Prosecutor’s Office Reeling. Prosecutors have fled the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago, angry about the cases they’ve been told to bring against protesters and immigrants. DD: I dealt with the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago extensively 2000-2005 while I pursued Diersen v. GAO pro se. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf I should write about that.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/19/us/immigration-chicago-prosecutors.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago is among the most prestigious in the country, known for winning ambitious cases against everyone from Al Capone to the former Illinois governor Rod R. Blagojevich.)
FROM OTHER SOURCES
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
— 40 Under 40. DD: Thanks to my parents and thanks to my teachers, I was able to accomplish the following by the time I was 40: Get promoted by GAO to GS-13, currently $118,984/year when I was 38. Become a licensed CPA when I was 32. Pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32. Earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul when I was 31. Pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. Earn an MBA from Loyola when I was 27.
https://www.autonews.com/awards/retail-40-under-40/
