POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Richard Porter was the fourth person Gov. Bruce Rauner approached to run for governor. The Chicago attorney who also serves as an Illinois RNC National Committeeman told POLITICO it wasn’t so gauche as to be an outright ask. “I would have described it as more of an aside in a strategy conversation focused more on how he could win (rather) than an offer,” Porter said of their telephone call. Rauner also approached state Sen. Karen McConnaughay, Cubs owner Todd Ricketts and then-GOP attorney general candidate Erika Harold. Rauner “was in to win,” Porter said. “He was never a quitter. To the contrary. He was always focused on finding the best path to winning. And if that meant he should fall on his sword, then he was willing to do that — and give millions of his money away to boot. I think Rauner’s comments on this have been misunderstood.” Porter’s referring to political watchers who say Rauner’s courting of others was a desperate act by a candidate who thought he’d lose. But Porter says Rauner just wanted to be assured of a win. – Shia Kapos
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/20/rauners-4th-pick-polls-show-its-mendoza-v-preckwinkle-cubs-shout-out-at-44th-ward-forum-367406
— PROGRAMMING NOTE: Illinois Playbook will not publish from Dec. 24 to Jan 1. It will be back in your inbox Jan. 2. (DIERSEN: We are in a 12-hour news cycle. Ever-increasingly, people are busy, and they do not have time to read news and commentary articles that are more than 12 hours old. Overwhelmingly, since 2015, news and commentary articles linked in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have been less than 12 hours old. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have gone out each and every morning and each and every evening since 2015. They went out every morning 2005-2015. Those emails have included links to more than 320,600 news and commentary articles.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/20/rauners-4th-pick-polls-show-its-mendoza-v-preckwinkle-cubs-shout-out-at-44th-ward-forum-367406
ABC7
— With Senate passage, bill to prevent shutdown goes to House – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/with-senate-passage-bill-to-prevent-shutdown-goes-to-house/4935197/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: More than 500 priests accused of sexual abuse not yet publicly identified by Catholic church, Illinois attorney general finds – Elvia Malagon
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-illinois-attorney-general-catholic-priest-abuse-20181219-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In an editorial unethically made to look like a news article, anti-Trumps promote illegal immigration.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-ice-protest-portage-st-1220-story.html
— FRONT PAGE WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: In an editorial unethically made to look like a news article, LGBTQ promoters promote LGBTQ activity.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-barrington-rainbow-flag-theft-20181219-story.html
— It was always about the wall – Victor Davis Hanson
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/sns-201812191031–tms–vdhansonctnvh-a20181220-20181220-column.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— FRONT PAGE WITH BIG COLOR PHOTOS OF MADIGAN AND CUPICH: State AG: Church underreported number of priests with sex misconduct allegations – Robert Herguth
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/illinois-attorney-general-says-catholic-church-seriously-underreported-number-priests-sexual-misconduct-allegations/
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE WITH BIG COLOR PHOTOS OF MADIGAN AND CUPICH: Lisa Madigan: 500 more sex allegations against Illinois priests ‘have not been adequately investigated’ – Michelle Boorstein
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181219/lisa-madigan-500-more-sex-allegations-against-illinois-priests-have-not-been-adequately-investigated
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— AG: Catholic Church withheld names of more than 500 Illinois priests accused of abuse – Brenden Moore
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181219/ag-catholic-church-withheld-names-of-more-than-500-illinois-priests-accused-of-abuse
— Short-term senator gets committee leadership pay – Bernard Schoenburg
https://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20181219/bernard-schoenburg-short-term-senator-gets-committee-leadership-pay
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Republican state senator appointed to the legislature to fill a 45-day gap is getting not only his base pay, but $1,270 extra to be minority spokesperson on a committee that hasn’t met since months before he took office and has no meetings planned. Sen. YADAV “NICK” NATHWANI of Glen Ellyn was sworn in Nov. 26 after being appointed to the vacancy left with the resignation of former Sen. CHRIS NYBO, R-Elmhurst, who lost the Nov. 6 election to Democrat SUZY GLOWIAK of Western Springs in the 24th Senate District. In addition to filling out Nybo’s term, Nathwani is listed as minority spokesman of the Senate’s financial institutions committee. That committee hasn’t met since May 23. Nathwani will be out of office when Glowiak is sworn in on Jan. 9. Base pay for legislators is $67,836 annually, and committee chairs and minority spokespeople get an extra $10,327 annually. For his 45 days, Nathwani will thus get about $8,360 in base pay and about $1,270 in pay for his committee position. I asked JASON GERWIG, spokesman for Senate GOP Leader BILL BRADY, R-Bloomington, if it was right for Brady to name Nathwani to the leadership post for such a short stint in the Senate and when the committee is apparently not meeting. “Unfortunately, we don’t control the scheduling process of when committees meet,” Gerwig responded. “Maybe if we get a fair map that’ll change someday.” Gerwig noted that Nathwani served the last three days of the veto session and will be there for session on Jan. 7 and 8, before the swearing in on Jan. 9 of the new General Assembly. A message left for at Nathwani’s Senate office went unanswered. He is chief financial officer of Professional Paving & Concrete Co. in Glen Ellyn, a Milton Township trustee and vice-chair of the Milton Township GOP. Nathwani came on my radar due to a something published on the Chicago Tribune website headlined: “From the community: New Senator seeks input from residents.” The author of the piece, which quotes Nathwani encouraging constituents to “reach out to me during this time to discuss the state and local issues important to them,” was listed only as “Community Contributor tbryers.” That would be TIM BRYERS of Elmhurst, who is on the Senate GOP communications staff. He said he is a community contributor to the Tribune, and said in this case, he posted a news release. He said other communications people, as well as representatives of local community groups, use that and similar sites to get out community information. The Trib website says that community contributors are registered users of TribLocal.com and Chicagotribune.com who have photos, articles, announcements and local events to share. The site is not for advertisers. Bryers also said that with many newspapers having fewer reporters than in the past, such openings for outside digital content allows information to get to the public. The Tribune used to have two reporters based in Springfield and there was one in recent years, but since MONIQUE GARCIA left in August to join a public affairs firm, nobody from the Trib is based in the capital city. MARISA KOLLIAS, spokeswoman for the Tribune, had no comment on the status of the Springfield opening, but did say the Tribune “is committed to state government coverage.” As to having a news release from a state staffer published on the Trib website as community news, Kollias had no comment.)
JOURNAL GAZETTE TIMES COURIER
— How to Properly Use Internships to Find Employees – Daniel B. Kline (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did not want me to transfer, but failing that, they wanted me to transfer as a GS-4 Step 1 (currently $32,978/year) Intern, that is, to suffer a $58,902/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned the fact a) that I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880/year, b) that much of what IRS Revenue Officers do is similar to what GAO Analysts do, c) that I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, d) that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and e) that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years of federal seniority, 30 days of unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days.)
https://jg-tc.com/business/investment/personal-finance/how-to-properly-use-internships-to-find-employees/article_bfd5f85b-d90a-5388-9b5a-59eff7f7c2a1.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/piece-pot-money-and-weed-illinois#stream/0
— Judge Who Invalidated Obamacare Has Been A ‘Go-To Judge’ For Republicans, Critics Say
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/judge-who-invalidated-obamacare-has-been-go-judge-republicans-critics-say#stream/0
BOLINGBROOK PATCH
— Bolingbrook Hate Crime Convict Back In Will County’s Jail Rachel Tuszynski of Bolingbrook is back in the Will County Jail again. -John Ferak
https://patch.com/illinois/bolingbrook/woman-guilty-hate-crime-mayor-claars-house-jail-again
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— The Land of Lincoln is losing 313 residents per day to other states. – Bryce Hill and Robert Teresi
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-population-loss-worsens-for-5th-straight-year/
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— “Trans” Madness: De-Sexing the World – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/trans-madness-de-sexing-the-world/
CAPITOL FAX
— The 2018 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best elected statewide official goes to Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/question-of-the-day-golden-horseshoe-awards-78/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Although her office doesn’t have any specific duties outside of being 2nd in line and doing what the governor wants, Sanguinetti and her staff have done a lot on the issue of local government consolidation, reducing LLC fees (she took the lead on that before Rauner), rural education and healthcare, and aggressively working to fight against and recommend the best policies that help those suffering from opioids. She may not get most attention due to the position or administration, but the Lt. Gov has done good work she can be proud of during her 4 years of service. Sanguinetti only received one nomination, but it was so strong that it convinced me.)
— Richard Porter was fourth person Rauner asked to run in his place
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/richard-porter-was-fourth-person-rauner-asked-to-run-in-his-place/
— AG Madigan finds 500 additional allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests and clergy
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/ag-madigan-finds-500-additional-allegations-of-child-sexual-abuse-by-catholic-priests-and-clergy/
WASHINGTON TIMES
— It was always about the wall – Victor Davis Hanson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/19/for-democrats-a-successful-border-wall-means-bad-p/
— Trump’s push on prison reform called ‘goodwill’ to minorities President scores win that eluded Barack Obama in reducing long mandatory minimum sentences – S.A. Miller
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/19/first-step-act-prison-reform-called-trump-goodwill/
AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Immigration Is Making U.S. Poorer and Dirtier – Pedro Gonzalez
(FROM THE ARTICLE: As a matter of fact, immigration is making our country poorer—save for those who profit from cheap labor—for one simple reason: we are absorbing masses of poor people who remain concentrated in lower-skilled, low-paying jobs. Many of those poor, whether they arrive illegally or by chain migration, happen to be minorities, and in particular Latinos. Latinos experience the third-highest rate of poverty behind blacks and Native Americans—but as the second-largest ethnic group in the United States, they constitute a greater number of poor than blacks and Native Americans combined (10.8 million, 9 million, 700,000, respectively), according to the Center for American Progress. So, yes, immigration is bringing in disproportionate numbers of poor people and making America poorer.)
AMERICAN THINKER
— Why We’re Divided – Jeffrey Folks
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/why_were_divided.html
NEWSMAX
— White House Rips Asylum Ruling as ‘Judicial Activism’ – Jason Devaney
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/asylum-liberal-activism-immigration-law-open-borders/2018/12/19/id/895209/
BREITBART
— Gutless President in Wall-Less Country – Ann Coulter
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/coulter-gutless-president-in-wall-less-country/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Paul Ryan promotes open borders, that is, Paul Ryan promotes the end of America.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/paul-ryan-immigration-rules-should-offer-jobs-to-anyone/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Retiring Paul Ryan today lamented his failure to deliver a global supply of migrant labor to businesses and investors — regardless of ordinary Americans’ desire for decent wages. Ryan’s failure was ensured by Donald Trump’s 2016 election — and so Trump’s “Hire American” policy is now allowing Americans’ wages to rise amid a shortage of blue-collar workers and protests by business leaders. Ryan’s lament came as his final efforts to outsource more Americans jobs to foreign workers were discarded in the confused negotiations over Congress’s failure to pass a 2019 budget for the Department of Homeland Security. That defeat for Ryan was missed by media coverage over funding for the border wall.)
DAILY CALLER
— LAURA INGRAHAM, JIM JORDAN CRITICIZE TRUMP, REPUBLICANS ON BORDER WALL RETREAT – Scott Morefield
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/laura-ingraham-jim-jordan-border-wall/
— TUCKER ADDRESSES AND CLARIFIES IMMIGRATION COMMENT BACKLASH – Mike Brest
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/tucker-dershowitz-immigration-backlash-tijuana/
— CNN’S 2014 JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR RESIGNS AFTER ADMITTING TO FALSIFYING STORIES – Mike Brest
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/cnn-journalist-der-spiegel-resigns/
LIFE SITE NEWS
— Pro-life law firm asks Illinois Supreme Court to stop taxpayer funding of abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pro-life-law-firm-asks-illinois-supreme-court-to-stop-taxpayer-funding-of-a
PJ MEDIA
— Merry Christmas, Mexico! Here’s Five Billion Dollars! – MEGAN FOX
https://pjmedia.com/trending/merry-christmas-mexico-heres-five-billion-dollars/
COLLEGE FIX
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who promote LGBTQ activity crow about their successes.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/christian-college-group-formally-endorses-lgbt-protections-in-federal-law/
THE HILL
— White House slams judge’s ruling on Trump asylum policy: ‘The latest example of judicial activism’ – EMILY BIRNBAUM
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/422207-white-house-slams-judges-ruling-on-trump-asylum-policy-the-latest
HUFFINGTON POST
— Paul Ryan Played Dumb On Donald Trump All The Way To The End The departing GOP House speaker leaves a legacy of willful ignorance. – Hayley Miller
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paul-ryan-donald-trump-legacy_us_5c17d212e4b05d7e5d84cf99
POLITICO
— Ryan’s legacy can’t escape Trump The retiring House speaker touted a series of accomplishments in his farewell address, but Trump will loom over his tenure. – RACHAEL BADE and JOHN BRESNAHAN
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/19/paul-ryan-legacy-trump-congress-1070782
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Indeed, when Trump won the presidential election, the hard-line Freedom Caucus stood at the ready to push Ryan out of office for jabbing Trump on the campaign trail. The only reason Trump kept him around was because Vice President Mike Pence and other pro-Ryan Republicans argued in favor of having a true legislative tactician and wonk shepherding his priorities through a convoluted Congress. Had Ryan forcefully criticized Trump during his presidency, the leader of the party might have come after him, Ryan’s allies say. “That’s the toughest job in American politics,” said former Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), an Illinois Republican who lost in the midterm election.)
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: Catholic Church in Illinois Withheld Names of at Least 500 Priests Accused of Abuse, Attorney General Says – Laurie Goodstein and Monica Davey
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/illinois-attorney-general-catholic-church-priest-abuse.html
— Senate Passes Stopgap Spending Bill That Would Avert Shutdown – Emily Cochrane
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/politics/government-shutdown-threat.html
— ‘The Effects Cannot Be Overstated’: When Tech Invaded Media Jim Rutenberg reflects on the convergence of technology with media, and how that has changed his consumption habits and coverage.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/technology/personaltech/media-tech-effects.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Trump administration reaches deal that will force asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as cases are processed, DHS’s Nielsen says – Nick Miroff and Nick Miroff
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dhs-secretary-kirstjen-nielsen-to-face-questions-from-lawmakers/2018/12/20/f7d2ffea-0460-11e9-8186-4ec26a485713_story.html
THE WIRE
— Caravans – the New Face of Migration to the US, With No End in Sight Thousands of mostly Honduran migrants have become a symbol of US President Donald Trump’s tough policies on immigration. – Reuters
https://thewire.in/world/caravans-the-new-face-of-migration-to-the-us-with-no-end-in-sight
FLORIDA WATCHDOG
— Proposed 2019 E-Verify bills likely to revive bitter feud among Republicans – John Haughey (DIERSEN: Obviously, those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that oppose E-Verify illegally benefit from illegally employing illegals.)
https://www.watchdog.org/florida/proposed-e-verify-bills-likely-to-revive-bitter-feud-among/article_a593c45c-03b2-11e9-84b3-f7729c3b20b8.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Women Who Love Trump His approval among female Republicans is 93%—higher than among GOP men. – Daniel Henninger
https://www.wsj.com/articles/women-who-love-trump-11545264804
— The Lamest Lame Duck Trump’s shutdown folly has cost the GOP any last-ditch victories. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-lamest-lame-duck-11545265379
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page editorial unethically made to look like a news article, anti-Trumps and those who want cheap labor argue for open borders for Hispanic women.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/it-is-better-not-to-have-a-daughter-here-latin-americas-violence-turns-against-women-11545237843
BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats shout at women that Republicans cause all the problems that women have in the workplace.
https://www.business.com/articles/workplace-culture-gender-equality/
INC.
— The Top 50 Best Places to Live in America Right Now. Quality of life, affordability, and ease of living were all taken into account. – Betsy Mikel (DIERSEN: Wheaton is ranked 27th.)
https://www.inc.com/betsy-mikel/the-top-50-best-places-to-live-in-america-right-now-spoiler-not-a-single-big-city-made-list.html
http://time.com/money/collection/2018-best-places-to-live/5361480/wheaton-illinois/