September 19, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Illinois marks 3-year anniversary of cash bail elimination amid debate over its impact.
https://abc7chicago.com/amp/post/safe-act-illinois-marks-3-year-anniversary-cash-bail-elimination-amid-debate-impact/19847701/

NBC5
— Trump says he’s banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. The president posted to his Truth Social account that he had banned the news organizations “as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” and threatened to ban other outlets. DD: The mainstream news media spins everything against Trump.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/trump-says-hes-banning-cnn-ms-now-and-politico-from-white-house/3990871/
— Forbes released their list of richest Americans for 2026. 18 of them are from Illinois. At the top of Forbes’ list, with a net worth of $908 billion was Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who lives in Texas.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/forbes-released-their-list-of-richest-americans-for-2026-18-of-them-are-from-illinois/3990815/

CBS2
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/durbin-blames-trump-for-rising-gas-prices-record-diesel-prices-he-is-personally-responsible/

WGN9
— Illinois could bill gunmakers for costs of gun violence. DD: What about billing criminals and their protectors/promoters for the cost of gun violence?
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/illinois-could-bill-gunmakers-for-costs-of-gun-violence/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Oak Park organizer pushes for right of recall question on April ballot.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/18/oak-park-organizer-recall-question-april-ballot/

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot. In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260918/news/bartlett-panel-still-considering-two-marijuana-dispensaries-across-street-from-each-other/

RIVER BENDER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly side with Iran against America.
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/duckworth-durbin-senate-democrats-call-on-hegseth-to-report-total-costs-of-iran-war-96838.cfm?

SHAW LOCAL
— Illinois food pantries get millions in grants as demand for food grows. DD: Soon, under the Democrats who run Illinois, everyone in Illinois will be a) handing out welfare and/or b) receiving welfare.
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/09/18/illinois-food-pantries-get-millions-in-grants-as-demand-for-food-grows/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump pushes his $5,000 ‘dividend’ pledge if GOP wins midterms. Republican candidates, not as much.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-trump-pushes-his-5000-dividend-pledge-if-gop-wins-midterms-republican-candidates-not-as-much/

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/09/18/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-598/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What is your Republican Precinct Committeeman going to do to get out the vote? I am going to hand-deliver DuPage GOP-provided envelopes to the 660 registered Republican and Independent voters in 400 residences in my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton. The envelopes will have DuPage County Election Division-provided mailing labels and contain a copy of the sample ballot, a Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO)-provided outstanding Voter Guide, and campaign literature from the Republican candidates who provided their literature to the MTRO. I want to start stuffing the envelopes ASAP. The 18 candidates on the ballot in my precinct are: Tracy, Bailey/Del Mar, Fioretti, Harris, Drew, Soloman, Oakley, Lewis, Vrankovich, Grasso, Noonan, Schiappa, Henry, Eckhoff, Michaud, Schultz, Quirk, and Helland. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Why do your critics/opponents get involved in Republican politics? My critics/opponents get involved in Republican politics to get the Republican party to officially dump its 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) planks in its platform. I should write about my critics/opponents in the following who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me since 2000 because I promote the aforesaid planks: Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— A “Declaration for Life” Introduced in the U.S. Senate.
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/09/a-declaration-for-life-introduced-in-the-u-s-senate/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Dabrowski Skips the Fight for Bailey — Campaigning During General Election to Build His Own Brand Instead. DD: It would be great if Dabrowski and Mendrick would help elect Bailey.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/09/dabrowski-skips-the-fight-for-bailey-campaigning-during-general-election-to-build-his-own-brand-instead.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

BLAZE
— DD: Socialists side with Mexico and Mexicans against America.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/democrat-mexico-online-backlash

FOX NEWS
— Democratic socialists want to ‘strip’ America apart.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6405280122112
— Socialist Claire Valdez faces calls for federal probe after Mexico ‘fight’ pledge. DD: Socialists side with Mexico and Mexicans against America.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/socialist-claire-valdez-faces-calls-federal-probe-mexico-fight-pledge

DAILY SIGNAL
— Documentary Shows How Mass Muslim Migration Takes Advantage of America.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/09/18/documentary-shows-how-mass-muslim-migration-takes-advantage-of-america/

JUDICIAL WATCH
— Judicial Watch Uncovers Anti-Charlie Kirk Emails at Utah University.
https://www.judicialwatch.org/judicial-watch-uncovers-anti-charlie-kirk-emails-at-utah-university/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— DD: According to Democrat leaders, everything is bad and they blame Trump for everything that is bad.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6098451-donald-trump-us-economy-affordability-voters-survey/

NBC NEWS
— DD: What did you do to afford things? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/which-party-will-win-on-affordability-270089285661

YAHOO & WFMD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in promoting socialism.
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/poll-young-adults-nearly-split-152600357.html
https://www.wfmd.com/2026/09/18/young-swing-state-voters-cozy-up-to-democratic-socialists-say-party-establishment-must-learn-from-dsa-wins/

REUTERS
— Amazon raises minimum hourly pay by $1 to $20 for US operations workers. DD: In today’s dollars, I started earning $19.57/hour working part-time for the Park Forest Post Office when I was 18 in 1966. I had earned a high school diploma and passed the postal employment test.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/amazon-raises-minimum-hourly-pay-by-1-20-us-operations-workers-2026-09-16/

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Trump Says He Has Banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico From White House. The president cited reporting from the outlets that he deemed “fake news.” It was unclear how such a ban would be enforced or defended in court. DD: I have served as the GOPUSA Illinois reporter since 2000. I should write about the times when the following banned me from their events: a) Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization leaders, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, and c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct. Those who banned me destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify or praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/business/media/trump-cnn-ms-now-politico-white-house-ban.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/18/lawsuits-eliminate-in-state-tuition-dreamers-are-cruel/

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— A border surge reshaped America. Now, data show who 4.5 million migrants were and where they went. DD: How many illegals are there in Illinois, your county, your township, your municipality, your school district, and your precinct?
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-09-17/new-data-show-who-4-5-million-migrants-were-where-they-went
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A decade-long border surge brought 4.5 million migrants from more than 150 countries, dramatically expanding America’s immigrant population and remaking communities from New York and Miami to Midwestern factory towns. Many newcomers are bypassing traditional gateways for smaller cities and suburbs, drawn to emerging enclaves from Cincinnati and Knoxville to Utah’s booming communities, even as Florida remains the top destination for some nationalities. The data reveal a sharp rise in women and children crossing the border and show Chinese migrants concentrating in Los Angeles and New York, while Trump’s revived deportation machine targets some migrant hubs, spares others. An unprecedented surge in border crossings over the last decade reshaped America: Millions of people from more than 150 countries arrived, bringing the U.S. immigrant population to its highest levels.)

FOX56
— Mortgage rates near 7%, raising affordability concerns for homebuyers. DD: Mortgage rates were 17% when I took out a mortgage to buy a new townhome in University Park in 1972. They were 11% when I took out a mortgage to buy a studio condo in downtown Chicago in 1974. They were 9% when I took out a mortgage to buy a one bedroom condo in downtown Chicago in 1976. They were 9% when my wife and I took out a mortgage to buy a home in Wheaton in 1978. They were 14% when my wife and I took out a mortgage to have a home built in Wheaton 1984.
https://fox56.com/news/local/mortgage-rates-near-7-raising-affordability-concerns-for-homebuyers

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Republicans in Tough Races Are Tip-Toeing Away From Trump. Some in the GOP are breaking with the president on data centers, immigration and other issues.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/republicans-in-tough-races-are-tip-toeing-away-from-trump-374ddd4f
— Socialist governments control production and allocate resources without regard to individual contribution. DD: I contributed far more than my Democrat coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me. None of my Democrat  coworkers did what I did. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/socialism-and-entitlements-1eab1428
— Law Firms Have a Big Problem: Senior Partners Aren’t Retiring. DD: Democrats run the federal government. They force their Republican employees who are White, male, and/or non-veteran to retire as soon as they are eligible. I am all of the foresaid. I became eligible for early retirement when I was 45 in 1993. They succeeded forcing me to take their expiring early retirement “offer” when I was 49 in 1997. I would not have been eligible for regular retirement until I was 55 in 2003. I would not have survived those 4 years if I had not earned three job-related master’s degrees (1976, 1980, and 1997), six job-related professional certifications (1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997), and earned a job-related professional license (1981).
https://www.wsj.com/business/law-firms-retirement-incentives-packages-1e9bccbd

FORBES
— U.S. Army Sergeants To Receive Merit-Based Promotions Under New Policy. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, they ever-increasingly lowered standards to hire, retain, and promote more Democrats who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional licenses, and my job-related professional license. All my coworkers who they promoted over me were Democrats a) who were minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran and/or b) who 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.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2026/09/18/us-army-sergeants-to-receive-merit-based-promotions-under-new-policy/

POLITICO
— Trump says he’s banning media outlets, including POLITICO, from White House. CNN and MS NOW are the other two outlets Trump announced can no longer send journalists into the White House. DD: The mainstream news media spins everything against Trump.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/18/trump-white-house-media-ban-politico-01084438

FROM OTHER SOURCES

CAR BUZZ
— Car Affordability Is Crumbling, And The Fed Just Piled On More Cost. DD: Back in the good old days, I bought a new 1972 Corvette for $6,000 in 1971. I took out a $3,000 car loan at 12% interest. Most of the rest came from an insurance settlement for the theft of my 1969 Dodge Charger SE. My IRS salary was $8,600/year.
https://carbuzz.com/car-affordability-federal-reserve-interest-rate-september-2026/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

TIMES
— The DSA is hosting date nights to ‘put the social into socialist.’ DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. How did you meet your spouse?  I met my outstanding wife at a Presbyterian singles social event. I am Missouri Synod Lutheran and she is Catholic.
https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/democratic-socialists-of-america-date-nights-03r2djm0v

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.