FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC5
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad including bad weather.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/as-dc-aims-to-cut-weather-forecasting-illinois-takes-nations-tornado-warning-lead/3974563/
WGN9
— GOP candidate for Lt. Governor Aaron Del Mar defends abortion comments: ‘I was expressing my personal feelings’
https://wgntv.com/news/politics/wgn-the-point-politics-chicago-illinois/gop-candidate-for-lt-governor-defends-abortion-comments-i-was-expressing-my-personal-feelings/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— ‘Steel Across America’ tour brings 9/11 memorial to Chicago ahead of 25th anniversary. DD: I organized Wheaton’s 2003 and 2004 9/11 ceremonies.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/12/september-11-memorial-chicago-steel-across-america/
— As police response times grow, people are taking defense into their own hands. DD: What is the police response time where you live?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/06/03/opinion-chicago-911-response-time-firearms-concealed-carry/
DAILY HERALD
— College of DuPage to commemorate 25th anniversary of 9/11. DD: I organized Wheaton’s 2003 and 2004 9/11 ceremonies.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260812/submitted-content/college-of-dupage-to-commemorate-25th-anniversary-of-9-11/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Ford to shift Lincoln production from China, potentially boosting Chicago plant.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/manufacturing-logistics/ccb-ford-china-lincoln-chicago-20260812/
WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/08/12/colleges-scramble-after-court-strikes-down-in-state-tuition-for-illinois-undocumented-students
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Springfield food pantries struggle as SNAP cuts hit. DD: Democrat leaders want as many people as possible on SNAP because people on SNAP vote for Democrats.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/local/2026/08/13/snap-cuts-strain-springfield-food-pantries/91235814007/
FOX ILLINOIS
— David Crowley’s razor-thin Wisconsin primary win sets up match against Trump pick.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/david-crowleys-razor-thin-wisconsin-primary-win-sets-up-match-against-trump-pick/article_63a00f27-53cd-5816-8c09-23a5d94f37be.html
— Republicans see Minnesota fraud scandal as a chance to go on offense in a blue state.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/republicans-see-minnesota-fraud-scandal-as-a-chance-to-go-on-offense-in-a-blue/article_1900df0e-d605-5312-a4fe-de1b007a9afd.html
GLEN ELLYN PATCH
— College of DuPage to Commemorate 25th Anniversary of 9/11. The ceremony will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York. DD: I organized Wheaton’s 2003 and 2004 9/11 ceremonies.
https://patch.com/illinois/glenellyn/amp/34631685/college-of-dupage-to-commemorate-25th-anniversary-of-9-11
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/13/bustos-puts-her-network-to-work-01035668
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/12/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-577/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOHN KASS
— Vallas: CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION’S SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS A SCAM
https://johnkassnews.com/chicago-teachers-unions-sustainable-community-schools-is-a-scam/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats cannot escape their overeducated socialist wing. Voters remain wary of a party increasingly shaped by entitled collectivists. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/democrats-cannot-escape-overeducated-socialist-wing/
— Far-left momentum meets resistance as energized Democrats search for winning formula.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/far-left-momentum-meets-resistance-energized-democrats-search-winning/
— Lindell refuses to concede in Minnesota’s GOP gubernatorial primary.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/mypillow-founder-mike-lindell-refuses-concede-minnesotas-gop/
— H-2A visa program should not become an amnesty, a permanent foreign-labor pipeline. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit. I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivering mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997. Many, if not most, if not virtually all of my peers would not have stooped to take the aforesaid bad jobs that I took.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/h-2a-visa-program-not-become-amnesty-permanent-foreign-labor-pipeline/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Despite President Trump’s strong focus on immigration enforcement and protecting American workers, a bill to provide amnesty for illegal aliens and to broaden the use of work visas was recently introduced by the House Agriculture Committee chairman. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 (H.R. 9535), which has more than 50 co-sponsors including 47 Republicans, dramatically expands the scope of the H-2A program. This would allow employers to more easily replace Americans with foreign workers and would suppress wage growth while reducing incentives to recruit domestic labor, improve working conditions, or invest in productivity-enhancing technology. Supporters portray the bill as a response to labor shortages. But when workers are scarce, wages rise. Employers improve conditions. Businesses innovate and automate. The purpose of a market economy though is not to guarantee employers access to labor at a price they prefer; it is to allow supply and demand to determine wages and encourage productivity growth. H.R. 9535 violates this healthy market dynamic. The bill broadens eligible work to include not only traditional agricultural jobs, but also packing, processing, transportation, aquaculture, logging, equine-related activities, and even portions of meat and poultry processing. It also redefines “temporary” work to include contracts lasting up to 349 days, regardless of the employer’s underlying need.)
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— How ‘pro-union conservatism’ is a win for the radical Left. DD: I was a union member for almost 12 years.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/4681478/pro-union-conservatism-win-for-radical-left-josh-hawley-labor-terms-mobilization/
— Mike Lindell lost because of immigration amnesty proposal despite Trump backing.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/4685105/mike-lindell-loss-immigration-amnesty-steve-bannon/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— DEI Fellowship Pledging To Recruit ‘Underserved’ Legal Talent Accepted Most Privileged Students in US.
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/dei-fellowship-pledging-to-recruit
NEW YORK POST
— How Democrats’ DEI kept homebuyers in the dark about crime and schools. DD: When Democrats move in, poverty and crime increase.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/opinion/how-democrats-dei-kept-homebuyers-in-the-dark-about-crime-schools/
— Vanity Fair profile on Usha Vance claims she ‘built JD’ Vance. DD: My outstanding wife helped me a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, b) afford to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31, c) earn a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, d) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, e) become a licensed CPA when I was 32, f) earn four more professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48, g) get promoted when I was 38, h) earn a master’s degree in finance when I was 48, and i) afford to take a $86,042/year (56%) loss in income in today’s dollars to retire in 1997. But before we got married, I had a) gotten promoted when I was 23, 24, and 25, b) earned an MBA when I was 27, c) earned $100,066/year in today’s dollars, and d) almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/us-news/vanity-fair-profile-on-usha-vance-claims-she-built-jd-vance/
AMAC
— Air Traffic Control Hiring Surges Under Trump. A campaign targeting video gamers hired over 2,000 controllers and hit 94% of its goal, offering pay above $155,000 after three years of training. DD: 3 years after I started working for IRS in 1971, I was earning $100,000/year in today’s dollars. According to my critics/opponents, I was grossly overpaid. I did not earn $155,000/year in today’s dollars until after I had a) worked for GAO for almost 18 years, b) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, c) earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), d) I earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and e) I earned a job-related professional license (CPA).
https://amac.us/newsline/air-traffic-control-hiring-surges-under-trump
BLAZE
— Here’s the unfiltered truth about the ‘moderate’ who beat the America-hating socialist in Wisconsin.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/heres-the-unfiltered-truth-about-the-moderate-who-beat-the-america-hating-socialist-in-wisconsin
BREITBART
— Pro-migration activists have funded some 20,000 lawsuits to release roughly 17,300 illegal migrants — including many criminals — mostly with the aid of judges nominated by President Joe Biden.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/12/pro-amnesty-groups-fund-wall-of-20000-lawsuits-to-block-migrant-deportations/
— Lindell Loses Minnesota Primary After Embracing Amnesty.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/12/mike-lindell-loses-minnesota-primary-after-embracing-amnesty/
— The Radical Left Has Control of the Democratic Party.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/12/exclusive-rep-jim-jordan-the-radical-left-has-control-of-the-democrat-party/
DAILY WIRE
— Why Socialism Is Winning With America’s Youth. DD: Socialists hint/imply/argue/shout at youth and at everyone else that all you need to do to advance under socialism is to be a socialist. Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout at youth and at everyone else that all you need to do to advance under Democrats is to be a Democrat. I worked for the Democrats who ran the Post Office, IRS, and GAO for almost 30 years. None of my Democrat coworkers came close to doing what I did to advance. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management). I earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance). I earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting). I earned a job-related professional license (CPA). But because my coworkers were Democrats, they were promoted them over me. They all a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-socialism-is-winning-with-americas-youth
— Democrats’ ‘Moderate’ Wisconsin Nominee Has His Own Woke Skeletons In The Closet. DD: All my critics/opponents are woke to some degree, that is, they all reject some, many, most, virtually all, if not all conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform..
https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-moderate-wisconsin-nominee-has-his-own-woke-skeletons-in-the-closet
FOX BUSINESS
— Jonathan Turley warns of ‘DRESS UP’ socialism schtick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrqx_4QGXoo
FOX NEWS
— Biden-era directive for diplomats to peddle DEI on foreign governments scrapped by State Department. Trump administration says diplomats should advocate national interests, not ‘woke political dogmas,’ on the world stage.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-era-directive-diplomats-peddle-dei-foreign-governments-scrapped-state-department?lid=1ejfrqce3s10
— Hong’s defeat doesn’t mean we’re ‘out of the woods’ from the socialist threat.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403305979112
— Internal fight exists between ‘regular’ Democrats and ‘crazy’ socialists.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403291974112
— This is not the end of the socialist surge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnW24OghUSQ
NRCC
— Socialists Hijack the Democrat Party, America Is Next.
https://www.nrcc.org/2026/08/12/socialists-hijack-the-democrat-party-america-is-next/
NEWSMAX
— Why Socialist Hong Lost in Wisconsin.
https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/david-crowley-francesca-hong-wisconsin/2026/08/12/id/1265932/
TOWNHALL
— Democrats Blame Capitalism for America’s Problems. But America Isn’t As Capitalist As You Think. DD: Democrat and RINO employers put hiring, retaining, and promoting Democrats and RINOs ahead of making profits.
https://townhall.com/news/dmitri-bolt/2026/08/12/is-it-socialism-or-capitalism-that-has-failed-the-united-states-n2681127
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC NEWS
— One year in, the National Guard continues to patrol Washington, D.C. Taxpayers have spent at least $600 million on the federal deployment in the nation’s capital. President Donald Trump has declared victory, while residents call it an unnecessary “occupation.” DD: The Democrat Party platform promotes poverty and crime.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/one-year-national-guard-continues-patrol-washington-dc-rcna591956
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Homeland Security Intensifies Pursuit of Noncitizens on Voter Rolls. Immigrants who said they inadvertently registered to vote while obtaining or renewing driver’s licenses are increasingly facing deportation under the Trump administration.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/politics/noncitizens-vote-crackdown.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Islam.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/11/us/politics/muslim-voters-candidates.html
USA TODAY
— America’s 10 best colleges. DD: According to my critics/opponents, degrees from non-Ivy League colleges are worthless, that is, my 1970 degree from NIU, 1976 degree from Loyola, my 1980 degree from DePaul, and my 1997 degree from IIT are worthless.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/08/09/best-colleges-ranking-linkedin/91215754007/
— A pay cut for a steady job? Economic anxiety fuels forever jobs. DD: Who do you know who voluntarily took a pay cut to get promoted? I voluntarily took a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980. I did that to get promoted to GS-13. My Democrat IRS superiors had made it very clear that they would never promote me to GS-13 because I refused to become a Democrat. They had gotten rid of the IRS manager who had promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. They had disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25. They had disallowed my education deductions when I was 29. GAO ultimately did promote me to GS-13, but not until I was 38. By then, I had become a licensed CPA when I was 32, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, and earned an MBA when I was 27. The Democrats who ran GAO would never have promoted me to GS-13 if the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer had not gotten back into power. They forced him to retire when I was 38.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personal-finance/2026/08/11/steady-job-pay-cut/91247904007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Rove: Seven Steps to Defeat Dems and the DSA. Far-left candidates give an opening to the GOP in the midterms. Can they use it wisely?
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/seven-steps-to-defeat-dems-and-the-dsa-d113b12b
— The Badger State Says No to Socialism.
https://www.wsj.com/video/series/potomac-watch-strassel/wsj-opinion-the-badger-state-says-no-to-socialism/7A61C74D-F7F4-43B0-B5D7-B588C82EBEFB
— Welfare Benefits and the ‘Disincentive Desert.’ How Americans become ensnared in the system. DD: Democrat leaders want as many people on welfare as possible because people on welfare vote for Democrats.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/poverty-welfare-benefits-work-incentives-22850530
FORBES
— Our First Socialist President.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jameskglassman/2026/08/12/our-first-socialist-president/
WASHINTON REPORTER
— Catalina Lauf ahead in final days of Florida House primary.
https://washingtonreporter.news/exclusive-catalina-lauf-ahead-in-final-days-of-house-primary-poll-shows/
LOS ANGELES SENTINEL
— DD: To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://lasentinel.net/the-american-dream-is-being-repossessed.html
HIGHER EDUCATION
— College costs for families up 10% from last year. DD: My critics/opponents ignore/dismiss/belittle my working my way through college because college costs were less back then.
https://www.highereddive.com/news/college-costs-for-families-up-10-from-last-year-poll-finds/827623/
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
— The Privilege Spectrum. DD: According to my critics/opponents, a) those who are White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time are advantaged and b) those who are minority, female, younger, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time are disadvantaged. But not only that, that a) those who are advantaged cause all the problems that those who are disadvantaged have.
https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/high-road/buffalo/privilege-spectrum
FEDWEEK
— Shared Hiring Certificates DD: I never applied to work for IRS. IRS offered me a job when I was 22 in 1971 because I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970.
https://www.fedweek.com/careers/shared-hiring-certificates-what-you-need-to-know/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A “shared certificate” is a list of job candidates who have already applied to a federal job announcement, been assessed against the job’s qualifications, and been found eligible for hire but who were not selected by the original hiring agency. Agencies that ran the original hiring action can share that certificate of eligible candidates (known as a “cert”) with other federal agencies looking to fill a similar position without those agencies having to post their own announcement.)
— Within Grade Increases and Who Gets Them. DD: My critics/opponents have always been furious that I got within grade increases while I worked for the Post Office, IRS, and GAO. In today’s dollars, my Post Office salary increased from $19.57/hour to $20.87/hour 1966-1969. My IRS salary increased from $100,059/year to $113,402/year 1974-1980. My GAO salary increased from $118,984/year to $154,682/year 1986-1997.
https://www.fedweek.com/ask/federal-pay/within-grade-increases/
MY FEDERAL RETIREMET
— 2027 CSRS / Social Security COLA Estimate DD: My critics/opponents were furious that I got COLAs while I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and that I have continued to get COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997.
https://www.myfederalretirement.com/cola-estimate/
https://www.myfederalretirement.com/fers-csrs-cola-watch/
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
— What the data says about food stamps in the U.S.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/11/14/what-the-data-says-about-food-stamps-in-the-us/
Tag: abortion
August 12, 2016
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois and Chicago campaigns defy conventional monied wisdom.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/12/column-illinois-chicago-campagins-defy-convention-washington/
— Backlash against Meta’s smart glasses grows. DD: Republican Precinct Committeemen should consider wearing them to document threats against them when they hand-deliver sample ballots, campaign literature, and voter guides in their precinct.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/11/meta-smart-glasses/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The social media giant dominates the market for smart glasses, which allow people to capture photos and videos, listen to music, take phone calls and ask questions to an artificial intelligence assistant. Some people are using the glasses — which look like a pair of regular spectacles — to record people without their knowledge and publish the videos on social media. The users secretly videotape and share what happens when they try to pick up women. Now, a growing number of people are worried they could be covertly recorded at the gym or even during sex. The backlash has prompted Meta to update its glasses to address privacy concerns, and some places have banned them, adding to the angst surrounding technology that’s rapidly evolving. It’s too early to tell whether the criticism will dent sales of smart glasses, said Jitesh Ubrani, a director at the market research company IDC.)
— If you’re not wealthy, you’re making concessions on big-ticket purchases. Consumers are OK with not getting the fancy car. Homes? That’s a bigger problem.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/12/jd-power-zillow-auto-cars-homebuyers-housing-rich/
DAILY HERALD
— The persecution of Anthony Fauci, a public servant. DD: I should write about federal employees who have had big adverse actions taken against them, what those adverse actions were, who took those adverse actions against them, and those who could/should have come to their defense but did not, and why.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260812/syndicated-columnists/the-persecution-of-a-public-servant/
FOX32
— USDA: SNAP enrollment drops by 5.3 million following new work rules – State-by-state breakdown. DD: Democrat leaders want as many people as possible on SNAP because people on SNAP vote for Democrats.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/snap-fewer-recipients-after-new-rules-implemented
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Tracy labels Iran war costs ‘required sacrifices.’
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/11/don-tracy-calls-iran-war-costs-required-sacrifices/91263175007/
EVANSTON NOW
— Uihlein family giving $35M to NU football.
https://evanstonnow.com/uihlein-family-giving-35m-to-nu-football/
FOX ILLINOIS
— DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, their top priority was hiring, retaining, and promoting Democrats who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/researchers-advocates-rail-against-governments-efforts-to-end-workforce-data-collection/article_36c0db76-e1b3-51f4-9ca6-0c160b2045d6.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump-backed Mike Lindell loses primary for Minnesota governor to Lisa Demuth.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-08-11/trump-backed-mike-lindell-loses-primary-for-minnesota-governor-to-lisa-demuth
WGLT
— New Illinois law empowering sexual assault survivors runs into shortage of female officers.
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-08-11/new-illinois-law-empowering-sexual-assault-survivors-runs-into-shortage-of-female-officers
WFMD
— Chicago’s South Side is drowning in excuses, dependency and decay.
https://www.wfmd.com/2026/04/28/chicagos-south-side-is-drowning-in-excuses-dependency-and-decay/
RACE AND EQUITY PROJECT
— Nowhere to go: Chicago teens on ‘takeovers,’ curfews, and lost community spaces. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers? When you were a teen, what did you do when you were not in school? I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivered mail 1966-1969.
https://www.raceandequityproject.org/article/chicago-teen-takeover-police-hyde-park-community-spaces
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— DNC plans a Chicago bootcamp.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/12/dnc-plans-a-chicago-bootcamp-01034396
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/12/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-789/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/11/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-576/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOHN KASS
— Democrat Socialist of America: The Threat is Real.
https://johnkassnews.com/democrat-socialist-of-america-the-threat-is-real/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— 10 Criminal Complaints Filed Against Federal Agents Over Operation Midway Blitz as DHS Calls Effort a ‘Political Stunt’
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/08/10-criminal-complaints-filed-against-federal-agents-over-operation-midway-blitz-as-dhs-calls-effort-a-political-stunt.html
— Why Are the Courts Clogged? Ask the Democrats Who Created the Crisis.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/08/why-are-the-courts-clogged-ask-the-democrats-who-created-the-crisis.html
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Pritzker record: He added $300 million last year to Chicago pension woes.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzker-added-300-million-last-year-to-chicago-pension-woes/
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Double-Dipping, Something Illinois Legislators Won’t Stop. DD: My critics/opponents have always been furious a) that I earned both Civil Service Retirement System and Social Security credits a) while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969 and b) for IRS and Firestone Stores 1971-1972.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/11/double-dipping-something-illinois-legislators-wont-stop/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Under socialism, all you need to do to advance is be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is be a Democrat. If I had listened to socialists, I would have become a Democrat. That would have discouraged me from doing what I did to advance. To advance, a) I worked my way through college, b) I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management), c) I earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), d) I earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and e) I earned a job-related professional license (CPA). All of my coworkers who my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors promoted over were Democrats. None of them came close to doing what I did to advance. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Who do your critics/opponents blame problems on? My critics/opponent blame problems on conservatives who are White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, have more money than they do, and/or have more professional credentials than they do. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Men (not) at work: Social instability looms as men shun the labor force. DD: Since the 1960s, Democrat and RINO employers have ever-increasingly focused on hiring, retaining, and promoting women, and especially women who are minority and/or younger.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/men-not-work-social-instability-looms-men-shun-labor-force-analysts/
— Blame colleges for the socialist conquest. They recruit and tolerate Jew-hating professors, students.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/11/blame-colleges-socialist-conquest/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Abdul El-Sayed Proclaimed ‘Obligation’ To Follow Sharia Law Until the Day He Dies.
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/abdul-el-sayed-proclaimed-obligation
NEW YORK SUN
— Abdul El-Sayed’s Success Is Owed to Western Values and American Meritocracy That He Seeks To Abolish. He is one of the luckiest people to ever live, and an extremist by choice.
https://www.nysun.com/article/abdul-el-sayeds-success-is-owed-to-western-values-and-american-meritocracy-that-he-seeks-to-abolish
AMERICAN THINKER
— Learn to listen, listen to learn. Leftists today aren’t interested in respectful exchanges of viewpoints, or in offering rationales for their own ideas. Socialism is but a step toward communist oppression. Among the dangers it promotes is the abolition of popular dissent. DD: Under socialism, all you need to do to advance is be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is be a Democrat. If I had listened to socialists, I would have become a Democrat. That would have discouraged me from doing what I did to advance. To advance, a) I worked my way through college, b) I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management), c) I earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), d) I earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and e) I earned a job-related professional license (CPA). All of my coworkers who my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors promoted over me were Democrats. None of them came close to doing what I did to advance.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/learn-to-listen-listen-to-learn/
— The Diversity Blindspot. The Arday illusion: academia’s shameful infatuation with the diversity poster boy.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/the-diversity-blindspot/
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY
— The Upward Mobility Act is a Step Forward on Welfare Reform. DD: The Democrat Party platform a) discourages personal responsibility and b) promotes dependency on government.
https://americansforprosperity.org/policy-corner/the-upward-mobility-act-is-a-step-forward-on-welfare-reform/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Trump administration has lost nearly 17,000 immigration rulings. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/08/11/report-trump-administration-has-lost-nearly-17000-immigration-rulings-1654342/
BLAZE
— DEI’s favorite trick: Failure proves discrimination. DD: Democrats shout at those who fail that Republicans caused their failures.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/deis-favorite-trick-failure-proves-discrimination
BREITBART
— Pritzker: Trump ‘Put People in Harm’s Way to Save Himself’
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/11/pritzker-trump-put-people-in-harms-way-to-save-himself/amp/
CAMPUS REFORM
— University of Illinois Chicago offers clinicians $5K stipend, abortion training fellowship. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/university-illinois-chicago-offers-clinicians-5k-stipend-abortion-training-fellowship/30380
CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES
— The Biggest Myth About H-1B Is That It’s ‘Broken.’ DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://cis.org/Miano/Biggest-Myth-About-H1B-Its-Broken
DAILY WIRE
— David Crowley Stuns Socialist Frontrunner In Wisconsin Dem Governor Primary. The result marked a dramatic reversal from pre-election polling.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/david-crowley-stuns-socialist-frontrunner-in-wisconsin-dem-governor-primary
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
— What’s Wrong with Personal Responsibility? DD: The Democrat Party platform a) discourages personal responsibility and b) promotes dependency on government.
https://www.aei.org/commentary/whats-wrong-with-personal-responsibility/
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
— A License to Kill on American Highways. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.fairus.org/opinion/license-kill-american-highways
FEDERATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
— Why States Should Ban Universal Basic Income Schemes. DD: The Democrat Party platform a) discourages personal responsibility and b) promotes dependency on government.
https://thefga.org/research/why-states-should-ban-universal-basic-income-schemes/
FOX BUSINESS
— A working-class party without workers. Why are leading Democrats welcoming socialists into their big tent.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/larry-kudlow-working-class-party-without-workers
— Socialists are going to give the GOP the Senate.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403227460112
FOX NEWS
— Democrat establishment strikes back as socialist candidate downed in battleground primary. Milwaukee County Executive backed by Gov. Tony Evers will face Republican nominee Tom Tiffany in the general election.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/wisconsin-governor-primary-crowley-hong
— Socialists are preparing to come for EVERYTHING you have. DD: The more that you have, the more that you should fight socialism. Anticipate/expect that the less that people have, the more that they will fight for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcEeda5C8Ug
— Socialism has failed everywhere it has been tried.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403230468112
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Why the U.S. Has a Culture of Dependency. DD: The Democrat Party platform a) discourages personal responsibility and b) promotes dependency on government.
https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/commentary/why-the-us-has-culture-dependency
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— FAA’s Gamer Recruitment Campaign Scores Over 2,000+ Air Traffic Controller Candidates. Hopefully, the rest of the FAA’s air traffic control enhancement plan will prove as successful.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/08/faas-gamer-recruitment-campaign-scores-over-2000-air-traffic-controller-candidates/
MINDING THE CAMPUS
— America’s Universities Are Still Shutting Out Conservative Faculty. Campuses are ideologically imbalanced, hostile to dissent, and unwilling to reform. Secretary McMahon’s call for accountability is much needed.
https://mindingthecampus.org/2026/08/11/americas-universities-are-still-shutting-out-conservative-faculty/
PJ MEDIA
— DSA on Illegals: ‘You Don’t Have to Have Papers to Have Power.’ DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2026/08/11/dsa-on-illegals-you-dont-have-to-have-papers-to-have-power-n4956025
— Can Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ride the socialist wave to lead Democrats in 2028 amid party shifts?
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/08/11/is-there-one-democrat-who-can-ride-the-socialist-wave-to-2028-n4956039
REASON
— Americans Grow Increasingly Dependent on Government Payments. Many citizens of the land of the free are hooked on government checks. DD: The Democrat Party platform a) discourages personal responsibility and b) promotes dependency on government.
https://reason.com/2024/10/04/americans-grow-increasingly-dependent-on-government-payments/
TOWNHALL
— Democratic Socialists Are Officially Part of the Democratic Party.
https://townhall.com/columnists/jtyoung/2026/08/12/democratic-socialists-are-officially-part-of-the-democratic-party-n2681026
U.S. HOUSE
— More Americans Dependent on Welfare Checks, at the Expense of Work. DD: The Democrat Party platform a) discourages personal responsibility and b) promotes dependency on government.
https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2025/01/08/new-report-shows-more-americans-dependent-on-welfare-checks-at-the-expense-of-work/
— Growth of the Welfare State. DD: The Democrat Party platform a) discourages personal responsibility and b) promotes dependency on government.
https://oversight.house.gov/release/grothman-opens-second-hearing-on-examining-the-growth-of-the-welfare-state/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC NEWS
— Charlotte police chief proposes expanding curfew to combat ‘teen takeovers.’ DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers? When you were a teen, what did you do when you were not in school? I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivered mail 1966-1969.
https://abcnews.com/US/charlotte-police-chief-proposes-expanding-curfew-combat-teen/story?id=135544849
NEW YORK TIMES
— If you’re single and unemployed, it may make sense to prioritize job hunting. But that doesn’t have to mean putting your life on pause. DD: I met my outstanding wife at a Presbyterian singles event. She is Catholic and I am Missouri Synod Lutheran. What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/11/business/dating-unemployed.html
— Optimizing your life. Instead of focusing solely on retirement savings balance, workers should figure out how they want to spend their time. DD: I spent a tremendous amount of my time and my money a) working my way through college, b) earning a job-related bachelor’s degree (management), c) earning three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), d) earning six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and e) earning a job-related professional license (CPA). My wife and I focused on saving money for child raising expenses, but when our fertility problems ended that, we focused on saving for our retirement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/business/retirement-plan.html
WASHINGTON POST
— How today’s generation is turning homebuying on its head. DD: Extremely few of my peers did what I did. I bought a new townhome when I was 24 in 1972. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and the down payment would have been about $36,000. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. The down payment came from what I had earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $93,200. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/brand-connect/nar/how-todays-generation-is-turning-home-buying-on-its-head/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump vs. Socialism: Which Do Voters Revile More? The midterms were the Democrats’ to lose. With candidates like Abdul El-Sayed, they just might.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-vs-socialism-which-do-voters-revile-more-2d0d0d10
— The GAO Precedent for Fed Independence. DD: GAO is not independent. GAO is non nonpartisan. Virtually all, if not all GAO employees are Democrats. When I was 31 in 1980, I was one of the last Republicans GAO hired. GAO wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. GAO would not have done that if I had been A democrat, minority, female, or veteran.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-gao-precedent-for-fed-independence-b7b37cc4
— AOC for President? Don’t Rule It Out. As Democrats flirt with socialism, she’s a serious candidate.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/aoc-for-president-dont-rule-it-out-084f5619
FORBES
— Millennials Want Workplace Diversity. Why Don’t They Ask For It? DD: To promote diversity is to dump meritocracy.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adiaharveywingfield/2026/08/12/millennials-want-workplace-diversity-why-dont-they-ask-for-it/
FLORIDA POLITICS
— Kat Cammack, Greg Steube line up behind Catalina Lauf in contentious CD 19 Primary.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/812950-kat-cammack-greg-steube-line-up-behind-catalina-lauf-in-contentious-cd-19-primary/
FLORIDA CAPITOLIST
— Early turnout builds ahead of Florida primary. Catalina Lauf is the founder of Defense of Freedom PAC and has two previous runs for congress in Illinois. Jim Oberweis previously served in the Illinois Senate from 2013 to 2021 and has several unsuccessful runs under his belt in Illinois.
https://thecapitolist.com/early-turnout-builds-ahead-of-florida-primary/
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTION
— DD: To promote Affirmative Action and DEI is to dump meritocracy.
https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/diversity-inclusion/us-boardrooms-are-rapidly-dropping-diversity-rules-hr-cant-ignore-the-fallout/585762
EDUCATION NEWS
— Merit or seniority? Teachers question TSC promotion scoring. Teachers are calling for greater emphasis on merit, competence and measurable performance in TSC promotions. DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors promoted over me were Democrats a) who had less education than I had, b) who had less work experience than I had, c) who had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) who had no professional license like the one I had.
https://educationnews.co.ke/merit-or-seniority-teachers-question-tsc-promotion-scoring/
EDUCATION NEXT
— DD: The Democrat Party platform a) discourages personal responsibility and b) promotes dependency on government.
https://www.educationnext.org/whats-wrong-with-personal-responsibility/
JD SUPRA
— Illinois’ Menopause Equity and Care Act Expands Employment Protections.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/illinois-menopause-equity-and-care-act-9912689/
August 10, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: To get more votes, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more dependency on government.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/10/head-start-proposed-rule-change-trump-illinois/
— DD: To get more votes, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for everything that is bad including bad weather.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/10/editorial-climate-migration-could-be-a-big-boost-for-chicago/
STARVED ROCK MEDIA
— Bailey rides in Mendota parade; addresses audience at Civic Center.
https://www.starvedrock.media/wlpo/bailey-rides-in-mendota-parade-addresses-audience-at-civic-center/article_f2e39a97-e1c2-45d5-b15f-647ccd520c30.html
SHAW LOCAL
— Wheaton: Three-bedroom home goes for $1.43 million.
https://www.shawlocal.com/real-estate/2026/08/09/wheaton-three-bedroom-home-goes-for-143-million/
NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Mike Lindell touts Trump ties in race for governor of Minnesota, where Trump has lost. DD: What losses have you suffered? I am no longer a) the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks, b) the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, c) an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, and d) the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster.
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/2026-08-10/mike-lindell-touts-trump-ties-in-race-for-governor-of-minnesota-where-trump-has-lost
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: To get more votes, Democrats ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/problem-in-america-sports-betting-marijuana-use-soars/
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: To get more votes, Democrats ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-08-09/theres-a-birth-control-backlash-online-can-it-explain-the-rise-in-abortions
25 NEWS NOW
— DD: To get more votes, Democrats ever-increasingly promote more pot.
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/08/09/hospital-visits-condition-linked-frequent-marijuana-use-rise-cdc-study-says/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Illinois Democrats are watching Michigan for clues about where their party is headed — and keeping a close eye on tomorrow’s Wisconsin primary, too.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/10/the-democratic-crystal-ball-01030324
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/10/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-787/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— What’s Happening to Illinois Ex-Pat Congressional Candidates Running Again in Southwestern Florida. Both Jim Oberweis and Catalina Lauf in Serious Contention as Fundraising Success Draws Attacks from Leading Candidate.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/09/whats-happening-to-illinois-congressional-candidates-running-again-in-southwestern-florida/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Pritzker’s third-term bid for Illinois governor would be barred in 37 states.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzkers-third-term-bid-for-illinois-governor-would-be-barred-in-37-states/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— What does ‘Woke 1’ mean, and where does the phrase come from? What to know.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/4680628/what-does-woke-1-mean-what-to-know/
NEW YORK POST
— Resentful lefties are making a new push for reparations. DD: Affirmative Action and DEI are reparations.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/09/opinion/lefties-pushing-for-reparations-dont-get-american-history/
— A Sacramento dispensary has become the first in the state approved to let customers purchase cannabis products through self-checkout kiosks — a retail twist that would have sounded like a futuristic fever dream just a few years ago. DD: In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton. DD: My critics/opponents want to buy pot in Wheaton, they want to make money selling pot in Wheaton, and/or they want Wheaton to get tax revenue from the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/05/business/california-dispensary-launches-cannabis-self-checkout-kiosks/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Correctly calling them commies.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/correctly-calling-them-commies/
BREITBART
— Six Shot, 1 Stabbed, Overnight in Gun-Controlled Chicago.
https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2026/08/09/six-shot-1-stabbed-overnight-in-gun-controlled-chicago/
FEDERALIST
— Socialists’ Demands To Abolish Police And Prisons Will Mean More Dead Americans.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/10/socialists-demands-to-abolish-police-and-prisons-will-mean-more-dead-americans/
FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION
— Equality of Opportunity, Not Equality of Outcome, Is What Made America Great.
https://fee.org/articles/equality-of-opportunity-not-outcome-is-what-made-america-awesome/
FOX NEWS
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shrugs off past ‘defund the police’ comments, joking ‘Woke 1 was crazy.’ The democratic socialist distanced herself from DSA national positions while defending her past comments.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-shrugs-off-past-defund-police-comments-joking-woke-1-crazy
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403126649112
— DHS reports over 1.4M illegal alien departures since January 2025.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403126744112
— DD: Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders should know the arguments against socialism and should articulate them.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403125245112
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/young-conservatives-reveal-whats-top-mind-gop-democrats-battle-hopeless-gen-z-voters
— We have to be the ‘firewall’ that stops the spread of socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_m_spwkYUI
PJ MEDIA
— DD: Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders should know the arguments against socialism and should articulate them.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/08/09/are-democrats-underestimating-their-socialism-problem-n4955958
POST MILLENNIAL
— More than 1,200 illegal immigrants arrested in Atlanta immigration sweep.
https://thepostmillennial.com/more-than-1200-illegal-immigrants-arrested-in-atlanta-immigration-sweep
REAL CLEAR EDUCATION
— Colleges Train Future Teachers to Push Woke Agenda.
https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2026/08/09/colleges_train_future_teachers_to_push_woke_agenda_1199368.html
REASON
— The GOP Is Becoming Anti-Conservative. DD: To get more votes, the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization are increasingly Democrat Lite if not anti-conservative.
https://reason.com/podcast/2026/03/04/jonah-goldberg-the-gop-is-becoming-anti-conservative/
TOWNHALL
— Prepare for the DSA Revolution.
https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2026/08/10/prepare-for-the-dsa-revolution-n2680947
WASHINGTON REPORTER
— Catalina Lauf on her campaign to keep Florida’s 19th District in GOP hands.
https://washingtonreporter.news/interview-catalia-lauf-on-her-campaign-to-keep-floridas-19th-district-in-gop-hands/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— The damaging effects of shifting from equal opportunity to ‘equal outcomes.’ DD: My critics/opponents promote equal outcome, that is, they reject equal opportunity.
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/529262-the-damaging-effects-of-shifting-from-equal-opportunity-to-equal-outcomes/
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Insults, Expletives and Fat-Shaming: Vance Trolls Critics on the Right and Left. The vice president has dispensed with the decorum and restraint of his predecessors to directly take on opponents and journalists on social media with sometimes profane and often personal jabs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/us/politics/jd-vance-insults.html
— If You’re Struggling to Pay Day-to-Day Bills, There’s Help. DD: When my wife and I got married, in anticipation of our having children, we lived on just one of our salaries and we saved as much as we could.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/07/your-money/debt-bills.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: To get more votes, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/09/democratic-party-socialist-trend-signals-old-style-politics-return/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Viva la DSA Revolution! Abolishing the Senate and getting rid of the presidency are only a few things on the list.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/viva-la-dsa-revolution-c1df0d6e
— DD: Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders should know the arguments against socialism and should articulate them.
https://www.wsj.com/video/series/journal-editorial-report/wsj-opinion-the-gop-search-for-a-socialist-attack-line/88F24B47-1F15-47C6-BDDF-18BE9356DAF8
— Francesca Hong, the Socialists’ Next Hope. Forget the tweets. The frontrunner in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin Governor wants a 17% income tax and ‘public groceries.’
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/francesca-hong-the-socialists-next-hope-9dc2f3c2
FORTUNE
— Backstabbing is the new office norm: Gen Z and millennials are blame-shifting, snitching, and setting others up to fail—but so are managers. DD: Far too many of my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were backstabbers.
https://fortune.com/article/gen-z-millennials-backstabbing-get-ahead-career-new-office-norm-rto-research/
FORBES
— Ten Signs Your Coworkers Are Jealous Of You. DD: My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were filled with envy. They were ever-increasingly furious at my and my wife’s ever-increasing income and net worth. To turn my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates against me, my Democrat superiors stressed a) the new cars that I bought when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., b) the real estate that I bought when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35, c) the collector cars that I bought when I was 40 and 45, d) the college degrees that I earned when I was 21, 27, 31, and 48, e) the professional certifications that I earned when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, f) the professional license that I earned when I was 32, g) the vacations that my wife and I took, h) etc.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2018/01/09/ten-signs-your-coworkers-are-jealous-of-you/
FORBES & ENTRENEUR
— So Why Did Someone Else Get Promoted? DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors promoted over me did little or nothing to get promoted. They got promoted because they were Democrats, minorities, females, and/or veterans. To get promoted, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management), three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and a job-related professional license (CPA). All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymolinsky/2026/04/01/youre-crushing-your-goals-so-why-did-someone-else-get-promoted/
https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/why-am-i-not-getting-promoted-3-frustrating-reasons-high-performers-get-passed-over
FAST COMPANY
— Why being good at your job isn’t enough to get promoted anymore. DD: To get promoted, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government destroyed their superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who were Republican, White, male, older, nonveteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91541422/why-being-good-at-your-job-isnt-enough-to-get-promoted-anymore
BUSINESS INSIDER
— Get promoted in 2026: 7 steps to take right now. DD: To get promoted, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government destroyed their superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who were Republican, White, male, older, nonveteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time.
https://www.businessinsider.com/things-do-january-want-promotion-december-2026-1
YAHOO
— Losing a job in your 50s can derail even the best-laid retirement plans. DD: My retirement income and savings are dramatically less because my Democrat superiors wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/articles/forced-retirement-51-losing-job-223139843.html
— Taking a gigantic pay cut. DD: Who do you know who has suffered a gigantic loss of income? My wife and I could afford my taking a $86,042/year (56%) loss of income in today’s dollars when I was 49 in 1997 because I succumbed to my Democrat GAO superiors who forced me to their early retirement “offer.” We could afford taking that gigantic loss of income a) because of my wife’s salary and benefits, b) because we had no children, c) because we had no debts, d) because we already had substantial retirement savings, and e) because our 72% health insurance premium subsidy continued.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/taking-gigantic-pay-cut-better-203423435.html
MINNEAPOLIS FED
— The broken rungs on the U.S. job ladder. DD: Who do you know who voluntarily took a pay cut to get promoted? I voluntarily took a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980. I did that to get promoted to GS-13. My Democrat IRS superiors had made it clear that they would never promote me to GS-13 because I refused to become a Democrat. They had gotten rid of the IRS manager who had promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. They had disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25. They had disallowed my education deductions when I was 29. GAO ultimately did promote me to GS-13, but not until I was 38. By then, I had become a licensed CPA when I was 32, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, and earned an MBA when I was 27. The Democrats who ran GAO would never have promoted me to GS-13 if the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer had not gotten back into power. They forced him to retire when I was 38.
https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2026/what-explains-the-broken-rungs-on-the-us-job-ladder
NEW YORKER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/tps-haitian-new-york-sanctuary-city-mamdani-trump.html
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
AUSTRALIAN
— Anti-conservative rhetoric fueled the Charlie Kirk tragedy.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/a-beacon-for-crazy-people-how-anticonservative-rhetoric-fuelled-the-charlie-kirk-tragedy/video/0e749bb7d97521124c913a8e43b5eefb
TELEGRAPH
— The diversity industry jettisoned ‘equality of opportunity’ for ‘equality of outcome.’ DD: My critics/opponents promote equal outcome, that is, they reject equal opportunity.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/13/equity-equality-act-public-services-nhs-police/
— Reform would end student loans for ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees.
https://www.aol.com/articles/reform-end-student-loans-mickey-063000000.html
GUARDIAN
— Millions in China cram for civil service exam and the hope of a job for life. Amid troubled economic times, many in China are shifting back towards the certainty of a career in the public sector. DD: I would not have spent almost 30 years of my life working in the public sector if my high school friend had not asked me to join him to take the postal employment test in 1966. Because I passed, I was a part-time postal employee while I attended UIC 1966-1968 and NIU in 1969. I graduated from NIU in 1970 and accepted the only job offer that I got, to be the Retail Sales Manager in a Firestone Store, a job that not really require a college degree. Potential employers saw me as being draft bait. They did not believe that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother would be approved. I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile in 1971, but Oldsmobile withdrew that offer saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. My Firestone Store boss rudely fired me because I had accepted that offer. Because I had to have a job, I accepted a job offer that I got from IRS. I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination while I was a NIU student as a backup because public sector employees are viewed negatively.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/28/china-civil-service-exam-age-limit-changed
August 8, 2026
If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— GAO: DOGE’s claim of $110B in savings was vastly inflated and riddled with errors. DOGE couldn’t verify 96% of reported grant savings, a review found. DD: If Gingrich had reformed GAO instead of gutting it, there would have been no need for DOGE and my Democrat GAO superiors would not have been able to take the many big adverse actions against me that they did.
https://abc7chicago.com/story/doges-claim-110b-savings-was-vastly-inflated-riddled-errors-gao/19641452/
WGN9
— Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s media tour in the wake of the Harry Benton scandal did little to restore top House Republican Tony McCombie’s confidence in the Illinois House leader.
https://wgntv.com/news/politics/wgn-the-point-politics-chicago-illinois/illinois-house-gop-leader-not-swayed-by-speaker-welchs-apology-tour/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Darren Bailey’s running mate Aaron Del Mar maintains abortion is ‘sin against God.’ Del Mar railed against Illinois’ abortion laws during a six-minute speech in Springfield this week, and said Gov. JB Pritzker is “willing to murder millions of babies.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/08/07/aaron-del-mar-darren-bailey-abortion
https://www.wbez.org/politics/2026/08/07/aaron-del-mar-darren-bailey-abortion
SHAW LOCAL
— Joliet GOP candidate for secretary of state Diane Harris hopes to capitalize on Giannoulias’ run for Chicago mayor. ‘Is this what the voters are voting him in on – to be secretary of state for three months? ‘
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/08/08/joliet-gop-candidate-for-secretary-of-state-hopes-to-capitalize-on-giannoulias-run-for-chicago-mayor/
NORTHWEST HERALD
— McHenry Outdoor Theater to host private cannabis-themed event. 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.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/2026/08/08/mchenry-outdoor-theater-to-host-private-cannabis-themed-event/
ROYS REPORT
— Wheaton College hid a predator for decades. Now his victims are speaking out.
https://roysreport.com/wheaton-college-hid-a-predator-for-decades-now-his-victims-are-speaking-out/comment-page-1/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/07/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-574/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Republicans Should Stop Preaching to the Choir. Stop Waiting to Win and Start Learning How.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/08/republicans-should-stop-preaching-to-the-choir/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Socialism destroys motivation. Being a socialist is like being a Democrat. Under socialism, all you need to do to advance is to be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is be a Democrat. To advance, none of my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO coworkers came close to doing what I did. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management), three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and a job-related professional license (CPA). All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) no professional license like the one I had. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. What are the Republican candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct doing a) to defend and advance conservative principles and the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform and b) to oppose liberal principles including the following planks in the Democrat Party’s platform: promotion of dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, vices, diminishment of Second Amendment rights, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, wokeness/wokeism, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— The Muslim Brotherhood: A Clear and Present Danger.
https://illinoisfamily.org/islam-sharia/the-muslim-brotherhood-a-clear-and-present-danger/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Republicans must counter the lies of socialists with inspiration and truth. DD: Capitalism is what made America great. If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/6/republicans-must-counter-lies-socialists-inspiration-truth/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Universities are fueling the radicalism in American politics.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4679553/universities-fueling-radicalism-american-politics/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Electric Vehicle Exec Identified as CCP Member Has Given $450K to Democrats This Campaign Season—Including $71K for Senate Nominees Juliana Stratton, Roy Cooper. Stratton, running to replace retiring Sen Dick Durbin, welcomed CCP-tied firm to Illinois as lieutenant governor.
https://freebeacon.com/china/electric-vehicle-exec-identified-as-ccp-member-has-given-450k-to-democrats-this-campaign-season-including-71k-for-senate-nominees-juliana-stratton-roy-cooper/
NEW YORK POST
— NY 3rd-5th graders fail basic reading tests with more than half not even proficient. DD: My parents sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools 1953-1962. My parents and teachers promoted personal responsibility. That put me on track 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://nypost.com/2026/08/07/us-news/more-than-half-of-ny-3rd-5th-graders-fail-reading-proficiency-tests-data/
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
— States Can Strengthen Families and Fight Welfare Dependence and Fraud. DD: What are the Republican candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct doing to fight dependency on welfare?
https://www.aei.org/commentary/states-can-strengthen-families-and-fight-welfare-dependence-and-fraud/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Democratic socialists seek to cripple American AI. Democratic Socialists of America have organized a national campaign this summer against AI and data centers under the “Ecosocialism Transition Committee.” DD: If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/democratic-socialists-seek-to-cripple-american-ai/
COLLEGE FIX
— Duke Law School illegally discriminated against white, Asian applicants, DOJ finds.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/duke-law-school-illegally-discriminated-against-white-asian-applicants-doj-finds/
FOX BUSINESS
— Kellyanne Conway: The GOP needs to show why socialism is bad, not just say it. DD: If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403016350112
FOX NEWS
— DNC is in shambles amid rise of socialism. DD: If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403035978112
— Socialism leads to a failed, third-world state. DD: If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403030022112
— Democrats have capitulated to socialism. DD: If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403023974112
NATIONAL REVIEW
— The Unwelcome Return of Sentimental Socialism.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/08/the-unwelcome-return-of-sentimental-socialism/
— Who Really Speaks for the Working Class?
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/who-really-speaks-for-the-working-class/
NEWSMAX
— GOP to Cast Midterm Convention as Case Against Socialism.
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/gop-midterm-convention-dallas/2026/08/07/id/1265428/
NEW AMERICAN
— Democratic Socialists of America Now Controlled by Communists. DD: If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://thenewamerican.com/us/politics/ex-dsa-member-democratic-socialists-of-america-now-controlled-by-communists/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— Trump’s firings of federal officials set stage for next test of presidential power. DD: Diersen v. GAO ( https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf ) reaffirmed the federal government’s power to fire not only its employees because they are active members in class action lawsuits that charge its agencies with political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, or retaliation, but also because they are Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-firings-federal-workers-presidential-power/
AOL
— It’s not them; it’s you: Why you’re failing at online dating. DD: I met my outstanding wife at a Presbyterian singles event. She is Catholic and I am Missouri Synod Lutheran. What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.aol.com/articles/not-them-why-failing-online-115630000.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Fact-Checking Trump. DD: I often served as a fact checker while I worked for GAO 1986-1997 at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/us/politics/trump-iran-war-toll-oil-fact-check.html
— Republicans Cannot Possibly Let Congressman Max Miller Go On. DD: Have you wanted to run for a government office? Since I was 49 years old in 1997, my DuPage County critics/opponents have falsely hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I wanted to run for DuPage County Auditor. To discourage/stop me from considering doing that, they have taken many big adverse actions against me. I should write about my DuPage County critics/opponents and the many big adverse actions that they have taken against me. Of course, they ignore/dismiss/belittle/badmouth what did to help elect and to reelect Jim Rasins DuPage County Auditor in 2000 and 2004 and Bob Grogan in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. My critics/opponents base their false accusations against me on my being highly qualified for the office. I became a licensed CPA. I passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt. I earned professional certifications in fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I worked for IRS for almost 9 years as a Revenue Officer, the last 5 1/2 years at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year and I worked for GAO for almost 18 years as an Analyst, the last 11 years of at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year. I have master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I first visited the DuPage County Auditor’s office in 1986 when I became the Membership Director for the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Chicago Chapter (CC). I remember recruiting Rasins to speak at an AGA CC event.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/07/opinion/max-miller-moreno-ohio-congressman.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Democrats are calculating a left turn. The math is inescapable. Recent primary results could steer presidential hopefuls in the wrong direction for 2028. DD: If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/07/2028-democratic-contenders-should-not-misread-primary-results/
— George F. Will: DSA socialism is Peter Pan politics for sandbox revolutionaries.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/07/dsa-zohran-mamdani-infantilism-todays-socialism/
— The federal government has just radically changed the way it measures higher education outcomes. Now for the first time, all programs that participate in the federal student loan program will be held accountable for the earnings of their graduates. DD: After earning a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, earning a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, becoming a licensed CPA in 1981, earning four more job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and earning a master’s degree in finance from IIT in 1997, my IRS salary was salary in today’s dollars $56,409/year in 1971, $68,999/year in 1972, $83,482/year in 1973, $100,059/year in 1974, and $113,402/year in 1980 and my GAO salary was $89,703/year in 1980, $108,533/year in 1981, $118,984/year in 1986, and $154,682/year in 1997.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/ripple/2026/07/16/measuring-competencies-modern-economy/
NORTH STATE JOURNAL
— The inadequacy of opposing socialism. DD: If elected, sooner or later, all the Democrat candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct will replace capitalism with socialism, that is, they will destroy your municipality, your township, your county, Illinois, and America.
https://nsjonline.com/article/2026/08/joecks-the-inadequacy-of-opposing-socialism/
OGLETREE DEAKINS
— Indiana’s New FAIRNESS Act Bars Employers From Employing Undocumented Immigrants. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://ogletree.com/insights-resources/blog-posts/indianas-new-fairness-act-bars-employers-from-employing-undocumented-immigrants/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Fewer Workers Keep Unemployment Low. DD: After my Democrat GAO forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, I soon gave up searching for a job appropriate for someone with my work experience, education, professional certification and professional license because my Democrat GAO superiors had damaged me so much.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-report-unemployment-rate-labor-force-70e22c6c
24/7 WALL STREET
— 56% of Workers Plan to Retire at 65 or Later. The Average American Is Out at 62, and Not by Choice. DD: I should write about forced retirement.
https://www.aol.com/articles/56-workers-plan-retire-65-160832000.html
— Retired School Principal Discovers Pension and 403(b) Together Just Triggered a Medicare Hike. DD: My wife and I pay much more for Medicare because of IRMAA.
https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/07/retired-school-principal-discovers-pension-and-403b-together-just-triggered-a-medicare-hike/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Social Security Fairness Act restored full benefits for millions of public workers but can push retirees past the $109,000 IRMAA threshold. Crossing the IRMAA cliff by even $1 raises Part B premiums from $203 to $284 monthly, plus a $15 Part D surcharge. Roth conversions and Qualified Charitable Distributions up to $105,000 annually are the two tools to shrink MAGI before RMDs begin at 73.)
MONEY & MARKETS
— Private Sector vs. Public Sector. DD: I worked in the private sector for 10 years, then in the public sector for 30 years, and concurrently in both for 2 years. According to my critics/opponents, the public sector grossly overpaid me. In today’s dollars, when I was a postal employee for almost 3 years 1966-1969 and then an IRS employee for almost 9 years 1971-1980, my salary increased from $19.57/hour to $113,402/year. In my defense, during that time, I earned a bachelor’s degree in management, I earned an MBA, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, and I almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting. In today’s dollars, my IRS salary was $56,409/year when I was 22 in 1971, $68,999/year when I was 23, $83,482/year when I was 24, $100,059/year when I was 25, and $113,402/year when I was 31. In today’s dollars, my GAO salary was $89,703/year when I was 31, $108,533/year when I was 32, $118,984/year when I was 38, and $154,682/year when I was 49. I earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32. I earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48. I earned a master’s degree in finance when I was 48. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran my Democrat superiors would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service, currently $197,200/year, long before I was 40.
https://moneyandmarkets.com/private-sector-jobs-support-58-percent-of-population/
BLOOMBERG LAW
— Civil Service Protections Benefit the Public, Not Just the Feds. DD: Democrats run the federal government. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. I am none of the aforesaid. To get rid of me, my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors punished me a) for my not becoming a Democrat, b) for my avoiding the Vietnam War draft, c) for my complaining about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, and d) for my being an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with the aforesaid. Federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Unions provide some protection. But GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized when I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors might not have been able to take the many big adverse actions against me that they did including forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/legal-exchange-insights-and-commentary/civil-service-protections-benefit-the-public-not-just-the-feds
CENTER FOR RETIREMENT RESEARCH
— Married Women are Upwardly Mobile. Singles – not so Much. DD: Things that continue to impress me about my outstanding wife include that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions, and then for MacNeal Hospital, and then for Central DuPage Hospital. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://crr.bc.edu/married-women-are-upwardly-mobile-singles-not-so-much/
BALLS AND STRIKES
— Upwardly Mobile Black People. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors certainly made my Black subordinate upwardly mobile when I was 49 in 1997. They forced me to retire and gave him my job and my preferred corner office. He had less education than I had. He had less work experience than I had. He had one professional certification while I had six. He had no professional license like the one I had.
https://ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics/disparate-impact-trump-going-away-except-in-this-one-situation-haha/
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Veterans’ preference, merit hiring and the federal government’s obligation to follow the law. DD: Because I was not a veteran, but more significantly, because I avoided the Vietnam War draft, my Democrat Post Office, Firestone Store, IRS, and GAO superiors used the veterans’ preference to waste my career and to get rid of me. I should write about my many Democrat superiors and supervisors who took many big adverse actions against me. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me and who were Democrat veterans a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I had.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/commentary/2026/08/veterans-preference-merit-hiring-and-the-federal-governments-obligation-to-follow-the-law/
AFGE
— Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Illinois’ Juliana Stratton for Election to U.S. Senate. DD: I was a union member for almost 12 years. If had been Democrat or a veteran, the National Treasury Employees Union would have come to my defense when my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions in 1978.
https://www.afge.org/publication/largest-federal-employee-union-endorses-illinois-juliana-stratton-for-election-to-us-senate/
FROM OTHER SOURCES
EXP REALTY
— FOR SALE IN MY PRECINCT: 25W451 Plamondon Road, Wheaton: $3,300,000
https://leeernst.exprealty.com/details.php?mls=103&mlsid=12664021
(FROM THE LISTING: A once-in-a-generation opportunity to own one of Wheaton’s most prestigious and architecturally significant estates. Tucked away on an ultra-exclusive private lane and backing directly to the legendary Chicago Golf Club-the oldest 18-hole golf course in North America-this remarkable residence offers a setting that simply cannot be replicated. Few homes anywhere can claim a backyard bordering such a historic and revered golf course.)
August 4, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Chicago mayoral contenders trade early jabs as 2027 race begins to take shape. Some mayoral candidates are also seeking reelection in their current positions.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/voters-react-illinois-secretary-state-alexi-giannoulias-joins-crowded-race-chicago-mayor/19619412/
NBC5
— Nearly 20% of Illinois federal student loan holders now in default. DD: What percent of those who took out student loans had no intent of paying those loans back? I never sought a student loan or got a student loan. I worked my way through college. Because of that, my GPA suffered. That harmed my job searches. Students who took out student loan should be expected to have much higher GPAs than those who had to work their way through college.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/nearly-20-of-illinois-federal-student-loan-holders-now-in-default/3970188/
CBS2
— Chicago’s own Mamdani? Behind DSA’s fight to elect socialists to City Council first.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-mamdani-effect-dsa-election-socialism/
WTTW
— Who Is Running, or Thinking About Running, to Become Chicago’s Next Mayor. DD: If you ran for an office, which of your qualifications would you stress? I would stress a) my having worked for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year, b) my having worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, c) my having become a licensed CPA and a certified public accountant, internal auditor, fraud examiner, government financial manager, financial services auditor, and forensic accountant, and d) my having earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/06/30/who-running-or-thinking-about-running-become-chicago-s-next-mayor
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The former cardiologist and whistleblower launched a bid for Chicago mayor July 7. Nee began her career as a nurse and later became an interventional cardiologist. While working at Hines VA Hospital, Nee spoke out about failures in patient care that put veterans at risk. The Humboldt Park native said her priorities include making Chicago affordable for working families; trusted leadership for a safer city; and fiscal responsibility that protects the next generation from inherited debt. “I think the qualifications start with being a lifelong Chicagoan,” Nee said. “The other qualifications, though, have followed me on the journey from nurse to physician to whistleblower, breast cancer survivor, going into corporate, health equity and now really wanting to lead the city. I think it’s a combination of all of those things that you learn to navigate difficult situations but also learn where your leverage is and who your stakeholders are to get things solved for people.”)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— More Americans are saying no to alcohol.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/03/editorial-more-americans-are-saying-no-to-alcohol-so-too-is-new-federal-guidance/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DD: Democrats and RINOs ever-increasingly use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/commentary/ccb-baird-diversity-oped-20260803/
— Illinois ranks second to last in U.S. on building new housing. DD: It is not zoned residential, but new car condos are being built west of Iron Gate Motor Condos in Naperville. SEE: https://www.irongatemotorcondos.com/
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/residential/ccb-illinois-homebuilding-ranking-20260804/
ILLINOIS VALLEY
— Republican gubernatorial candidate Bailey coming to Mendota Sweet Corn Fest. La Salle County GOP hosting campaign event, America 250 celebration Aug. 9.
https://www.shawlocal.com/illinois-valley/2026/08/03/republican-gubernatorial-candidate-bailey-coming-to-mendota-sweet-corn-fest/
BLACK CHRONICLE
— Burr Ridge mayor OK to sue rival’s consultant over campaign tax claims.
https://blackchronicle.com/politics/burr-ridge-mayor-ok-to-sue-rivals-consultant-over-campaign-tax-claims/
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— The Chicago Mayor’s Race Is Heating Up. Here’s Who Is Running So Far. Mayor Brandon Johnson hasn’t formally said if he’s running for a second term, but a dozen candidates have already launched campaigns ahead of 2027’s election.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/03/who-is-running-for-chicago-mayor/
IPM NEWS
— GOP U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy talks abortion, ICE shootings, and Iran war on 21st Show.
https://ipmnewsroom.org/gop-u-s-senate-candidate-don-tracy-talks-abortion-ice-shootings-and-iran-war-on-21st-show/
COD COURIER
— Rising Transportation Costs Create New Challenges for College of DuPage Commuters. Higher gas prices are creating financial challenges for College of DuPage (COD) students who rely on commuting to campus. DD: With money I earned washing dishes and delivering mail, I bought new cars in 1966, 1967, and 1968 to commute to classes at UIC and NIU from my parents’ home in Crete.
https://codcourier.org/rising-transportation-costs-create-new-challenges-for-college-of-dupage-commuters/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/04/illinois-dems-michigan-mission-01023014
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/03/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-569/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Rivals question Giannoulias’ dual runs for office.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_048862ef-f6b3-4790-a5f0-a37a0a3bce58.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Judge blocks New York’s anti-ICE mask law but preserves law barring cooperation on ICE arrests.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/4/judge-blocks-new-yorks-anti-ice-mask-law-preserves-law-barring/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Obama, the red Trojan horse: How the ‘change’ president mainstreamed Marxism.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4672366/communism-rise-america-obama/
— Highly credentialed, underemployed, and furious: Meet the DSA. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance. Democrats and RINOs have always ignored/dismissed/belittled my credentials. I earned a job-related (management) bachelor’s degree, three job-related (business, accounting, and finance) master’s degrees, six job-related (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting) professional certifications, and a job-related (CPA) professional license. I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service, currently $197,200/year, long before I was 40 years old.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4672701/credentialed-underemployed-underpaid-furious-dsa-urban-areas-minority-within-minority/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to a 2021 DSA survey, the median respondent is 33. More than 80% of members over 25 hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Median household income falls between $60,000 and $80,000, while 45% earn under $60,000, more than double the comparable share among college graduates nationally. These are not traditional blue-collar workers. Many are teachers, scholars, nonprofit employees, or technology workers. They followed higher education’s script and found the promised rewards had diminished. The DSA does not measure homeownership, but ownership rates are likely below already-depressed national averages for young adults, concentrated as members are concentrated in some of the U.S.’s most expensive metropolitan areas. The survey’s broader demographic profile is revealing. Seventy-seven percent identify as white alone, down from 96% in 2013. Sixty-four percent are male, 27% female, and 10% non-binary. Thirty-two percent identify as LGBT. Sixty percent describe themselves as agnostic or atheist. Only 21% belong to a union, down from 31% in 2013, and just 5% have military service, concentrated in the organization’s oldest members.)
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Extremist Michigan Imam Urges Followers To Turn Out for Abdul El-Sayed: ‘Deal the Zionist a Blow’
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/extremist-michigan-imam-urges-followers
NEW YORK POST
— Anti-American socialists trying to hijack the Democrat Party.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/03/us-news/dem-rep-josh-gottheimer-rips-anti-american-socialists-trying-to-hijack-party/
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
— States Can Strengthen Families and Fight Welfare Dependence and Fraud.
https://www.aei.org/commentary/states-can-strengthen-families-and-fight-welfare-dependence-and-fraud/
BREITBART
— American Manufacturing Expands At Fastest Pace Since 2022.
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/08/03/american-manufacturing-expands-at-fastest-pace-since-2022/amp/
DAILY CALLER
— State-Run Visa Scheme Offering Amnesty To Illegals.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/08/03/john-curtis-state-visa-bill-amnesty-illegal-immigrants/
FOX BUSINESS
— This is what socialism is really about.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6402734779112
FOX NEWS
— Americans are going to realize how ‘destructive’ socialism is.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402735785112
BREITBART
— Trump’s DHS Arresting Average of 1,500 Illegals Every Day in U.S.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/03/report-trumps-dhs-arresting-average-of-1500-illegal-aliens-every-day-in-u-s/amp/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC NEWS
— 2 DOGE staffers say ‘no’ regrets for people losing income, didn’t reduce the deficit: Depositions. The DOGE employees defended the effort to cut “useless agencies.” DD: If Gingrich had reformed GAO, there would have been no need for DOGE. If Gingrich had reformed GAO, my Democrat GAO superiors would not have been able a) to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, b) to always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, c) delay my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13, d) to keep me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 13 years that I worked for GAO, and e) to force me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.
https://abcnews.com/Politics/2-doge-staffers-regrets-people-losing-income-reduce/story?id=131050170
— Hegseth blocks promotion of several Navy officers to 1-star rank. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, b) blocked my promotion to GS-14, c) delayed my promotion to GS-13, and d) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars, a demotion from GS-12 Step 5 down to GS-9 Step 10, to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors blocked my promotion to GS-13. My Democrat Post Office superiors blocked my promotion to GS-5 and forced me to resign when I was 20 in 1966.
https://abcnews.com/Politics/hegseth-blocks-promotion-navy-officers-1-star-rank/story?id=133498412
CBS NEWS
— Democrats in Congress demand training, vetting information on ICE agent who killed immigrant in Maine. DD: IRS would not have hired me to be a Revenue Officer when I was 22 in 1971 if I had not had a bachelor’s degree in business and had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. The first 6 months I worked for IRS was in classroom training.
https://www.wwaytv3.com/democrats-in-congress-demand-training-vetting-information-on-ice-agent-who-killed-immigrant-in-maine/
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/politics/democratic-socialists-midterms-democrats-republicans.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/08/03/ice-begins-outfitting-haitian-immigrants-with-ankle-monitors-attorneys-say/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/03/amid-democratic-socialist-surge-dsa-asks-itself-whats-next/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— How Democratic Socialists Are Shaking Up the Midterms.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/how-democratic-socialists-are-shaking-up-the-midterms-c3e5e6c2
— Trump Has Discussed Ousting Jeanine Pirro After Reflecting Pool U-Turn. The U.S. attorney in D.C. and longtime ally of the president had dropped criminal charges over damage to the pool. DD: Who has ousted you from what? I should write about my critics/opponents who had their operatives and their dupes oust me a) as an Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee member in in 2024, b) as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, c) as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman in 2012, d) as an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member in 2007, e) as the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster in 2010 and 2004, f) as a GAO employee in 1997, and g) as a Post Office employee in 1969.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-says-jeanine-pirro-folded-like-an-umbrella-in-reflecting-pool-case-89a06be2
FORTUNE
— DD: Were you overpaid? According to my critics/opponents, I was always grossly overpaid. They have always been furious that while I was a union member when I was a postal employee for almost 3 years 1966-1969 and then an IRS employee for almost 9 years 1971-1980, my salary increased from $19.57/hour to $113,402/year in today’s dollars. In my defense, during that time, I earned a bachelor’s degree in business, I earned an MBA, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, and I almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting. In today’s dollars, my IRS salary was $56,409/year when I was 22 in 1971, $68,999/year when I was 23, $83,482/year when I was 24, $100,059/year when I was 25, and $113,402/year when I was 31. In today’s dollars, my GAO salary was $89,703/year when I was 31, $118,984/year when I was 38, and $154,682/year when I was 49. I earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32. I earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48. I earned a master’s degree in finance when I was 48. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, disabled, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. I am none of the aforesaid.
https://fortune.com/2026/08/03/one-bad-pay-decision-can-cost-a-company-more-than-10000-per-employee-new-research-finds/
FORBES
— Empty Suit Syndrome. DD: In its February 1978 4-page article on me ( https://gopillinois.com/documents/ ), Money Magazine hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I was grossly overpaid, that is, that IRS had promoted me far too fast. IRS had a) hired me when I was 22 in 1971 as a GS-7 Revenue Officer (currently $56,409/year), b) promoted me to GS-9 (currently $68,999/year) when I was 23, c) promoted me to GS-11 (currently $83,482/year) when I was 24, d) promoted me to GS-12 (currently $100,059/year) when I was 25, and e) promoted me to GS-12 Step 4 (currently $110,066/year) when I was 29. Constructively, Money Magazine ignored/dismissed/belittled the fact that I had a) earned a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21, b) passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination when I was 21, c) earned an MBA when I was 27, and d) completed seven graduate evening accounting courses. Money Magazine would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2021/09/22/empty-suit-syndrome-why-it-is-wise-to-challenge-vertical-career-growth/
BLOOMBERG LAW
— Chicago Democratic Socialist Sues to Make Congressional Ballot.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/chicago-democratic-socialist-sues-to-make-congressional-ballot
JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTANCY
— If you possess the skill, smarts, and persistence to become a licensed CPA, that should be something to celebrate and declare in your business dealings. The CPA license is a powerful, proven differentiator — a mark of public trust, professional rigor, and long-term career value. DD: Ever since I became a licensed CPA when I was 32 in 1981, my critic/opponents have ignored, dismissed, and belittled that.
https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2025/may/display-that-cpa/
NAPLES DAILY NEWS
— Meet Congressional District 19 hopeful Jim Oberweis ahead of election.
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/04/florida-election-congress-district-19-candidate-oberweis/90938556007/
LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL
— The inadequacy of opposing socialism.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/opinion-columns/victor-joecks/victor-joecks-the-inadequacy-of-opposing-socialism-3858119/
CATHOLIC REVIEW
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that Jesus condemns the concepts of countries, borders, and laws.
https://catholicreview.org/america-at-250-we-must-remember-we-are-still-a-nation-of-immigrants/
NPR
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5910714
CIVIC MEDIA
— DD: According to past and present leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right coalition, etc., I have always been too conservative, I am too conservative, and I always be too conservative. They reject some, many, most, if not virtually all conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they reject its personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. They are really anti-conservative if not conservative-haters. I should write about those who have taken the most/biggest adverse actions against me.
https://civicmedia.us/news/2026/08/03/how-wisconsins-sore-loser-law-protects-the-two-party-system
AXIOS & PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
— Blind loyalty. DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They 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. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of government, political, financial, and/or religious clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me lately.
https://www.axios.com/2026/06/26/trump-senate-republicans-blind-loyalty
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202504/eyes-wide-shut-the-temptation-of-blind-loyalty
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
INDIAN EXPRESS
— What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/a-strong-woman-is-not-marriage-material-neena-gupta-reveals-that-95-of-men-want-women-who-are-helpless-10462475/
August 3, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS2
— FRESH Illinois program provides food benefits to those who lost SNAP. DD: According to Google AI, “able-bodied” means an adult is physically and mentally fit for work, is aged 18 through 64, and does not have a dependent child under age 14 in their household. You are automatically exempt from these strict rules if you meet any of the following conditions: You receive federal or state disability benefits (like SSI or SSDI). A doctor or medical professional verifies that you are physically or mentally unable to work. You are pregnant. You live with a child under 14, even if that child isn’t yours or isn’t on your SNAP case. You are experiencing homelessness, are a veteran, or are a young adult aging out of foster care.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/fresh-illinois-program-food-benefits-those-who-lost-snap/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A new Illinois program launched this weekend, providing food benefits to people who lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits because of federal changes. The Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger, or FRESH, program kicked off on Saturday. State lawmakers put aside $70 million in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the program. On May 1, as many as 150,000 Illinois SNAP participants were set to lose their benefits due to new, stricter eligibility rules in the Trump Administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill requires all able-bodied adults 64 or younger to meet new work requirements to keep their food stamp benefits by either working, volunteering, or going to school for at least 80 hours a month. The new requirements apply to people ages 18 to 64, including veterans and unhoused people. Now, households that lost their SNAP benefits have been automatically enrolled to get to receive a $400 payment from the state.)
WGN9
— Chicago church holds lakefront baptisms to reach young adults after summer of teen takeovers. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://wgntv.com/news/features/chicago-church-holds-lakefront-baptisms-to-reach-young-adults/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEzeUWpiJg
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Joining mayor’s race, Giannoulias casts himself as a coalition builder, says Johnson ‘has not met the moment.’ Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias enters the race as a presumed frontrunner, with a political target on his back after raising $22 million from business leaders and building trade unions.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/08/02/alexi-giannoulias-chicago-mayor-candidate-2027-february-election-secretary-of-state
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES & WBEZ
— Many women with high-risk pregnancies can’t get abortions in their home states. Illinois welcomes them. More people travel to Illinois than to any other state for an abortion. A program helps the small percentage who need care in a hospital.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/08/03/many-women-with-high-risk-pregnancies-cant-get-abortions-in-their-home-states-illinois-welcomes-them
https://www.wbez.org/health-medicine/2026/08/03/many-women-with-high-risk-pregnancies-cant-get-abortions-in-their-home-states-illinois-welcomes-them
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Special interests have dropped more than $4 million on suburban congressional races.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260802/us-congress-politics/special-interests-have-dropped-more-than-4-million-on-suburban-congressional-races/
— Residents submit nearly 9,000 signatures seeking Aurora recall referendum.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260802/local-politics/residents-submit-nearly-9000-signatures-seeking-aurora-recall-referendum/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is running for mayor.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-alexi-giannoulias-mayoral-campaign-20260802/
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to stop voter fraud.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/03/illinois-pushes-back-on-federal-voter-roll-threats/91098671007/
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Illinois launches new program to provide food benefits to people who lost SNAP. DD: According to Google AI, “able-bodied” means an adult is physically and mentally fit for work, is aged 18 through 64, and does not have a dependent child under age 14 in their household. You are automatically exempt from these strict rules if you meet any of the following conditions: You receive federal or state disability benefits (like SSI or SSDI). A doctor or medical professional verifies that you are physically or mentally unable to work. You are pregnant. You live with a child under 14, even if that child isn’t yours or isn’t on your SNAP case. You are experiencing homelessness, are a veteran, or are a young adult aging out of foster care.
https://pantagraph.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_f6368e6b-604d-5f5a-89b6-a6f2c5de1bd9.html
CHICAGO CRUSADER
— Just 14 percent of Chicago voters want Mayor Johnson to run again.
https://chicagocrusader.com/poll-says-just-14-percent-of-chicago-voters-want-mayor-johnson-to-run-again-2/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Trust in public health institutions is eroding.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-08-02/trust-in-public-health-institutions-is-eroding-what-can-officials-do
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Democrat leaders say Senate Republicans see Trump as a growing political liability.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/senate-republicans-see-trump-as-a-growing-political-liability/
HINSDALE PATCH
— Bailey Campaign Tied To Hinsdale Woman Who Bashed Blacks, ‘Mexican Parades.’ The lieutenant governor candidate says the woman would have been his running mate had he sought the top job.
https://patch.com/illinois/hinsdale/bailey-campaign-tied-hinsdale-woman-who-bashed-blacks-mexican-parades
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Hinsdale woman who has criticized Black people, Muslims, the LGBTQ community and “Mexican parades” could have been the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. Kristina McCloy, who founded the conservative Concerned Parents of Illinois, introduced Republican lieutenant governor candidate Aaron Del Mar during a campaign launch event last fall in Oak Brook. It was for Del Mar and GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey, who chose Del Mar. During the event, McCloy, a former Republican Downers Grove Township trustee, introduced Del Mar. After reaching the podium, Del Mar called McCloy “a woman of integrity, courage and deep conviction.” “Kristina stood ready to run alongside me when I was preparing to launch my own campaign for governor,” Del Mar said, adding that he shares her values. Afterward, McCloy said it was a pleasure to speak at the Bailey-Del Mar event. “When Aaron Del Mar explored a run for governor, he asked me to be his running mate, and I was truly honored,” she wrote on the Concerned Parents social media page. More than a week ago, Patch asked McCloy about her past statements and her ties to the Bailey campaign. In response, McCloy said she had retained legal counsel in the matter. She also sent a link to a piece in the conservative DuPage County Policy Journal that she published after she received the Patch inquiry. In it, McCloy lays out a case that she says shows that the local Patch reporter is biased against conservatives. Del Mar and the Bailey campaign did not return messages for comment over the last week. ‘Mexican parades’ In 2024, McCloy asserted on the Concerned Parents’ Facebook page that schools are hiding the issue of African American children attacking white children. “Black children on white children attacks are frequently trending on social media,” McCloy said. “Schools, parents and towns have been downplaying and even hiding it.” She said some are scared to be at the forefront of the issue for fear of being labeled a racist. Lately, she has been criticizing Greg Hart, who became Hinsdale’s village president last year. He is a former Republican member of the DuPage County Board. On her Concerned Parents social media page, McCloy criticized Hart for “participation in LGBTQ community events, Mexican parades, Muslim events, public support for (Black Lives Matter), publicly complimenting the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), and thanking Joe Biden for his service.” ‘Illegal aliens’ In a DuPage Policy Journal piece, she also said Hart has not been aggressive enough in opposing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s housing proposal, known as the BUILD Act, which would reduce local zoning powers. (Hart said on social media that he has let legislators and regional leaders know that Hinsdale opposes less local control. That effort has included his visiting Springfield, he said.) McCloy said Pritzker’s proposal would open the door to “increased Section 8 affordable housing” and more crime. As for crime, she said a Hinsdale robbery suspect did not speak English and lives in an area with a lot of Section 8 housing full of “illegal aliens.” Also in the DuPage Policy Journal, she denounced Hinsdale Republican Kari Galassi, a District 3 member of the DuPage County Board. She said Galassi backed giving money for Section 8 housing, the social services arm of the Islamic Circle of North America and “illegal alien assistance.” McCloy also posted a photo of Galassi wearing a headscarf while attending a Muslim community event, an appearance that McCloy said brought Galassi accusations of political pandering. On social media, McCloy posted a meme saying that no foreign-born people should hold powerful elected positions in the United States. She was referring to a President Joe Biden-appointed federal judge, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago. As it turns out, President Donald Trump appointed at least one foreign-born judge, James Ho, who is from Taiwan. At one point, Ho was under consideration for the Supreme Court. ‘Won’t apologize’ Recently, Village President Greg Hart responded on social media to McCloy’s criticism. He said he would work with Republicans, Democrats and independents whenever it advances Hinsdale. “I won’t apologize for believing our community should be welcoming, safe and full of opportunity for every law-abiding resident,” he said. Hart also pointed to McCloy’s passage about Mexican parades, Muslim events, LGBTQ functions and the NAACP. “In reading this op-ed, it seems like the views of the Concerned Parents founder belong in 1826,” he said. “I’ll keep governing in 2026.” In a social media response, Galassi said McCloy, whom she did not name, was criticizing her service for something she considers a strength – working with people of different perspectives to get things done. She said she invited McCloy to meet for “a respectful conversation to discuss our differences.” “Unfortunately, those invitations have been repeatedly denied,” Galassi said. ‘Certified young racist’ Among those responding to Galassi was Hinsdale conservative Jeff Waters, a member of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board. “That commentary is gum on your shoes, Kari – long on criticism and short on solutions,” Waters said. “Keep being you, KG. Since you stepped up to serve your friends and neighbors, the community has benefited greatly. Those who throw stones without ever picking up a shovel contribute zero, zilch, nada. And that’s no mystery to anyone.” In June, Zoe Marsh-Leigh, who is an African American conservative from Chicago, called McCloy “a certified young racist.” She applied the same label to Del Mar. She pointed to Patch’s 2024 story about McCloy’s warning of black children attacking white ones. “Black Chicago, we’re going to have to sit this out until Del Mar voluntarily withdraws,” Marsh-Leigh said on social media. Marsh-Leigh is a co-founder of Chicago Flips Red, which supports GOP candidates.)
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Giannoulias makes it official
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/03/giannoulias-makes-it-official-01021972
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/03/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-783/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Pritzker’s Worship Of Fauci Led To The Covid Bafoonery In IL.
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/08/02/pritzkers-worship-of-fauci-led-to-the-covid-bafoonery-in-il
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Grocery store closures reignite debate over taxpayer-funded food access
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_00a0a83a-e71f-4103-8530-caf85e502c9e.html
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Stacy Davis Gates: The scandal-plagued leadership of a teachers union president
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/stacy-davis-gates-the-scandal-plagued-leadership-of-a-teachers-union-president/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Republicans should make Democrats own the radical agenda they refuse to reject. Voters deserve to know what the Democratic Party’s ‘big tent’ now includes. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for a Democrat is to vote for socialism.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/2/republicans-make-democrats-radical-agenda-refuse-reject/
— A federal appeals court has given the go-ahead for an Oregon school system to fire a social worker who displayed books defending the idea that there are only two sexes. DD: Democrats ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/1/court-says-school-employee-punished-displaying-books/
— Democrats’ anti-ICE fervor eclipses Laken Riley’s murder by illegal immigrant, the law named for her.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/2/democrats-anti-ice-fervor-eclipses-laken-rileys-murder-illegal/
WASHINGTO.N EXAMINER
— Bernie Sanders says he’s confident socialists can win in purple states
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4672307/bernie-sanders-confident-socialist-win-purple-states/
NEW YORK POST
— Asylum-fraud crackdown is another key step in fixing the US immigration system. DD: What percent claim asylum falsely?
https://nypost.com/2026/08/02/opinion/asylum-fraud-crackdown-is-another-key-step-in-fixing-the-us-immigration-system/
— California Democrats need more spine to stop the socialists.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/02/opinion/california-democrats-need-more-spine-to-stop-the-socialists/
— Members of Mamdani’s DSA pledge to ‘support’ and ‘defend’ China: ‘Survival of Chinese socialism is a crucial matter’
https://www.aol.com/articles/members-mamdani-dsa-pledge-support-224305000.html
AMERICAN THINKER
— Boomer-era Democrats’ growing concerns about the socialist monster they created do not resonate with the young people they’ve trained to love socialism and communism. DD: What generation are you? What percent of them are Democrats?
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/older-dems-ok-boomer-problem-with-communism-in-their-party/
BLAZE
— Credentialed jobs are treated as precious, low-wage jobs are kept cheap, and working-class Americans are expected to disappear from the equation entirely. The left suddenly fears that artificial intelligence will replace American workers. It showed far less concern when illegal immigration undercut wages and jobs. The double standard reveals a larger economic vision: protection for the credentialed class, cheap labor at the bottom, and little concern for the working Americans caught between them. DD: If I had not earned an MBA when I was 27 in 1976 and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired when I was 31 because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran. If had not earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32, earned four more professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48, and earned a master’s degree in finance when I was 48, my Democrat GAO superiors would have gotten rid of me much sooner than they did because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/americas-two-tier-economy-is-working-exactly-as-planned
BREITBART
— Donna Brazile to Dems: Don’t Get Caught in This ‘Socialist Wave’
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/02/donna-brazile-democratic-party-cant-get-caught-in-this-socialist-wave/amp/
FOX BUSINESS
— The rise of ‘Gen Z affordability socialism,’ why younger voters are embracing government intervention to address the cost-of-living crisis. DD: When you were young, what did you do to afford things? I did not seek government intervention. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970; job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997; job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997; and a job-related professional license in 1981. I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivering mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aCddPoh6WQ
FOX NEWS
— Socialism’s war on success. DD: Under socialism, to be successful, all you need to do is be a socialist. Under Democrats, to be successful, all you need to do is be a Democrat. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, disabled, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I had and/or were a) minority, b) female, c) younger, d) veteran, e) non-Protestant, f) non-German American, and/or g) had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.aol.com/articles/socialisms-war-success-champion-running-090055000.html
— Entire Squad endorses Abdul El-Sayed days before Michigan Democratic Senate primary.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/squad-endorses-abdul-el-sayed-days-before-michigan-democratic-senate-primary.amp
— Trump targets Biden-era billion-dollar Smithsonian budgets amid anti-‘woke’ push.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-targets-biden-era-billion-dollar-smithsonian-budgets-amid-anti-woke-push
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
— Candidate Vulnerability Assessment
https://leadershipinstitute.org/event/701VL00000xvu8MYAQ
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Identify the Problem Before Your Opponent Does. Every candidate enters a race with potential vulnerabilities. These may include previous statements, professional history, financial records, social media activity, personal relationships, policy positions, or inconsistencies in the candidate’s public record. Campaigns often devote significant time and resources to researching their opponents while failing to conduct the same level of research on their own candidate. This can leave a campaign unprepared when a reporter, opponent, activist, or social media account uncovers damaging information. Join Tom Jones and the Leadership Institute’s Advanced School of Politics for a one-hour online workshop exploring how campaigns can identify, evaluate, and prepare for candidate vulnerabilities before they become public crises. This workshop will provide a practical introduction to internal candidate research and help participants understand how successful campaigns uncover potential problems early, determine the seriousness of each issue, and prepare accurate and defensible responses.)
NEWSMAX
— Mamdani’s Grocery Plan Is Socialist.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/fernando-mateo-mamdani-nyc/2026/08/02/id/1264806/
— ICE Detentions Hit Trump 2nd-Term High.
https://www.newsmax.com/us/ice-migrants-detention/2026/08/02/id/1264826/
PJ MEDIA
— How Noncitizen Voters Sway Presidential Election Results.
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/08/02/presler-shows-how-noncitizen-voters-can-sway-presidential-election-results-n4955729
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— The Election Questions Democrats Won’t Answer.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/08/03/the_election_questions_democrats_wont_answer_154384.amp.html
TOWNHALL
— All the Democrats Are Marxists.
https://townhall.com/columnists/allenwest/2026/08/03/dont-be-fooled-all-the-democrats-are-marxists-n2680492
— Democrats Want to Close the Prisons, Except Not for People Like You.
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2026/08/03/democrats-want-to-close-the-prisons-except-not-for-people-like-you-n2680504
— For people who scream about wanting affordability, Democrats have yet to deliver on any of it. They have made education, housing, and healthcare costs skyrocket thanks to government intervention under the guise of “lowering costs.” DD: When you were young, what did you do to afford things? I did not seek government intervention. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970; job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997; job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997; and a job-related professional license in 1981. I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivering mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997.
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/08/02/sun-vip-ny-dems-nuke-affordability-10-percent-discount-on-self-checkout-n2680469
— The Trump Administration Just Prosecuted Another Case of Election Fraud.
https://townhall.com/news/josephchalfant/2026/08/02/the-trump-administration-just-prosecuted-another-case-of-election-fraud-n2680527
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— ICE detentions set Trump-era high in July, as immigration crackdown widens. DD: How many illegals are Democrats harboring in Illinois, in your county, in your township, in your municipality, in your school district, and in your precinct?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-detentions-trump-high-july-2026-immigration-crackdown-widens/
NEW YORK TIMES
— ‘Comradely’ Talks and a ‘Deer Leader’ Mascot: Scenes From the D.S.A. Summit. At a national meeting of the Democratic Socialists of America, nervous energy and a sprawling tableau of sometimes-competing interests were on display.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/us/politics/democratic-socialists-america-convention.html
— What the Crackup of the Heritage Foundation Says About the Post-Trump Right. The bastion of American conservatism best known for Project 2025 has been consumed by an ideological — and generational — civil war.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/magazine/heritage-foundation-trump-republicans.html
WASHINGTON POST
— A democratic socialist in the White House? Activists are thinking big. The Democratic Socialists of America summit was abuzz about whether to endorse a presidential candidate, potentially Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for a Democrat is to vote for socialism.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/02/democratic-socialists-are-already-eyeing-2028-with-aoc-mind/
USA TODAY
— Democratic Socialists of America propose radical overhaul of US govt. The Democratic Socialists of America want to fight for working-class Americans by offering free healthcare and abolishing the U.S. Senate. What else does their “Workers Deserve More” platform say? DD: For non-Republicans, government exists to take opportunities, money, and everything else away from Republicans and to give it all to non-Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/02/democratic-socialists-america-platform/91092595007/
— What Trump’s asylum change means for people seeking protection.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/08/03/what-trumps-new-asylum-policy-means-for-migrants-the-excerpt/91125161007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Team Feuds Over Whether Reflecting Pool Was Hit by Vandals or Botched Work. President criticizes Jeanine Pirro, his appointee as U.S. attorney, for dropping vandalism charge.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/trump-team-feuds-over-whether-reflecting-pool-was-hit-by-vandals-or-botched-work-4c02ed6b
— Will Michigan’s Democrats Choose Socialism? Abdul El-Sayed looks headed for a victory.
https://www.wsj.com/video/series/journal-editorial-report/wsj-opinion-will-michigan-democrats-choose-socialism/21F80F90-77B4-4882-8196-656E2F5ABE43
— Socialist Chic and the ‘Medicare for All’ Sham. What Abdul El-Sayed proposes is a single-payer system nothing like the program for the elderly.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/socialist-chic-and-the-medicare-for-all-sham-ceb05ab4
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Who watches the watchdogs? GAO finds flaws in inspector general oversight system. President Donald Trump has fired nearly 20 IGs, and his administration last year put a hold on funding for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. DD: While I worked for GAO for almost 18 years and served on the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter Executive Committee for 13 years, I had lots of interactions with IG employees. I worked for GAO on an audit of EPA’s IG office in 1985.
https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2026/06/who-watches-watchdogs-gao-finds-flaws-inspector-general-oversight-system/414195/
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
— How College Impacts Salary and Future Earning Potential. DD: If I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in business, Firestone Stores would not have hired me when I was 21 in 1970. If I had not passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination, IRS would not have hired me when I was 22. If I have not been taking graduate evening business courses, IRS would not have promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. If I had not earned an MBA when I was 27 and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, GAO would not have hired me when I was 31. If I had not I earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31 and passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32, GAO would not have promoted me when I was 38.
https://www.umassglobal.edu/blog-news/how-college-impacts-salary-and-future-earning-potential
PHILLY VOICE
— With school out, Philly teens say they need more places to build community and stay safe. Young people feel overpoliced and misunderstood when gathering in public and say they want more spaces dedicated just for them. DD: When you were a teen, what did you do when you were not in school? I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivered mail 1966-1969.
https://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-teens-public-gatherings-third-spaces-school-summer/
July 30, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— DeKalb Man, Naperville woman accused of breaking into Naperville home, fatally shooting dog.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/dekalb-man-andre-bridges-naperville-woman-nicole-smith-accused-animal-cruelty-alleged-capistrano-court-home-invasion/19598802/
CBS2
— Community helps food pantry in Wheaton affected by storms, power outages. Two coolers, three standing coolers and a walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer, all filled with food, had to be thrown away after the center lost power for 14 hours. DD: I bought a whole house backup generator in 2011. I should write about my Wheaton critics/opponents who have demonized/denigrated/condemned my decision the most.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/community-helps-food-pantry-in-wheaton-affected-by-storms-power-outages/
WGN9
— Illinois vote-by-mail applications open August 5
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/illinois-vote-by-mail-applications-open-august-5/
FOX32
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/marijuana-daily-than-alcohol-cigarettes-federal-survey
WTTW
— Mayor Johnson Signs Executive Order Designed to Ban Purchases From Gun Dealers That Flout Laws.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/07/29/mayor-johnson-signs-executive-order-designed-ban-purchases-gun-dealers-flout-laws
— Chicago Can’t Keep Trying to Poison Its Way Out of Rat Problem.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/07/29/chicago-can-t-keep-trying-poison-its-way-out-rat-problem-watchdog-report
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/29/ice-venezuelan-brothers-kidney-transplant/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/30/courthouse-immigration-families/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/29/forest-park-cemetery-workers-arrested-during-operation-midway-blitz-seek-damages/
— What do Democratic socialists want? We took a look at their platform. DD: What do conservatives want? They want Republicans to defend and advance conservative principles. Failing that, to oppose liberal principles including the promotion of dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, vices, diminishment of Second Amendment rights, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, wokeness/wokeism, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/30/editorial-what-do-democratic-socialists-want-we-took-a-look-at-their-platform/
— Former gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner buys $5.2M Barrington mansion from Motorola Solutions CEO.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/29/rick-heidner-motorola-solutions/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Latino high schools hit especially hard by teacher cuts in CPS budget heading for vote.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/07/29/latino-high-schools-hit-especially-hard-by-teacher-cuts-in-cps-budget-heading-for-vote
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Community rallies to help Wheaton pantry that lost three tons of food after storm. DD: I bought a whole house backup generator in 2011. I should write about my Wheaton critics/opponents who have demonized/denigrated/condemned my decision the most.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260729/news/so-caring-community-rallies-to-help-wheaton-pantry-that-lost-three-tons-of-food-after-storm/
CHALKBEAT
— As more teen boys turn to sports betting, financial literacy teachers rush to show gambling’s real odds. DD: Democrats ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2026/07/29/sports-betting-among-teens-rises-as-teachers-warn-of-gambling-in-schools/
AXIOS CHICAGO
— THC drinks debut at Lollapalooza before Illinois regulates hemp market. DD: Democrats ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/07/30/thc-drinks-lollapalooza-illinois-hemp-pritzker-johnson-rythm-seniorita
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/30/hanah-jubehs-political-pivot-01015959
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/30/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-781/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/29/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-566/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WIREPOINTS
— Pritzker Followed Fauci’s Guidance Blindly: The Illinois COVID Failures Nobody Owns.
https://wirepoints.org/from-faucis-mouth-to-pritzkers-rules-illinois-pandemic-blunders-wirepoints/
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Don Tracy: Washington Post Debunks Stratton’s Healthcare Tax Myth
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/30/juliana-strattons-position-on-medicare-for-all-criticized-by-washington-post-taxes-for-all/
— After announcing yesterday that his wife is pregnant with their second child, conceived naturally after their first child was born via IVF, Independent candidate for Illinois Governor Collin Corbett is raising awareness about the importance of fertility treatments for Illinois families while taking aim at his Republican opponent, Darren Bailey, for his extreme record against IVF.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/29/corbett-calls-bailey-extremist-on-idv-relates-personal-experience/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Illegal immigrant population surged to all-time high of 15.8 million under Biden.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/4667790/illegal-immigrant-population-surged-all-time-high-15-8-million-biden-study-says/
NEW YORK POST
— ICE is now busting migrants who overstayed visas when they check into airports — reversing a Biden policy.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/ice-arresting-visa-overstayers-at-us-airports-as-trump-admin-ramps-up-immigration-enforcement/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Demographics, debt, and destiny. DD: To get more votes from those who are the following, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, poor, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/demographics-debt-and-destiny/
— Communism had little natural appeal to a people formed by Judeo-Christian values; it could only take root in soil that had already been prepared to receive it.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/the-sudden-long-goodbye/
— How the 1964 Civil Rights Act Eviscerated the American Constitution. James Madison would be horrified. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders use the 1964 Civil Rights Act to get rid of those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/07/how-the-1964-civil-rights-act-eviscerated-the-american-constitution/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Trial lawyers quietly using woke lawfare to hamper American businesses.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/07/29/exclusive-trial-lawyers-quietly-using-woke-lawfare-to-hamper-american-businesses-1652683/
BLAZE
— As personal responsibility withers, governmental control increases. DD: To get more votes from those who are the following, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, poor, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-most-seductive-lie-in-politics
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Personal responsibility used to be something that most Americans believed in. Most Americans still do, but pretty much nobody in our political class does, because the most seductive line in American politics is: “It’s not your fault.”)
COLLEGE FIX
— Columbia to offer new minor based on ‘what it means to live in a ‘just’ society.’ DD: According to Democrats, justice means taking opportunities, money, and everything else away from Republicans and giving it all to Democrats. My Democrat GAO superiors took my GAO job away from me and gave it to my Black Democrat subordinate.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/columbia-to-offer-new-minor-based-on-what-it-means-to-live-in-a-just-society/
DAILY WIRE
— The rise in “adultism” training that teaches children that their parents are the oppressors.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-teacher-training-trend-has-parents-in-its-crosshairs
— History Already Told Us How This Radical Alliance Ends. Islamists and Marxists have long been united in their pursuit to destroy the West.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/history-already-told-us-how-this-radical-alliance-ends
— Obama To Headline Dem Gerrymandering Fundraiser In Posh Martha’s Vineyard. The Massachusetts island is a popular getaway locale for Democratic political figures and donors.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/obama-to-headline-dem-gerrymandering-fundraiser-in-posh-marthas-vineyard
FEDERALIST
— NeverTrumpers Are Banking On Iran War To Drive MAGA Into Extinction.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/29/nevertrumpers-are-banking-on-iran-war-to-drive-maga-into-extinction/
— Counting Noncitizens In The Census Undermines American Democracy.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/29/counting-noncitizens-in-the-census-undermines-american-democracy/
FOX NEWS
— Trump taps veterans to fix illegal alien trucking problem plaguing US roadways. The program expands CDL eligibility for veterans while removing over 24,000 licenses under English proficiency rules. DD: I often drove postal trucks while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-taps-veterans-fix-illegal-alien-trucking-problem-plaguing-us-roadways
— Controversial teacher training targets parental authority as oppression.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/controversial-teacher-training-targets-parental-150037673.html
LEGAL NEWSLINE
— Chicago PD can’t curb class action over race-based traffic stops.
https://www.legalnewsline.com/cook-county-record/chicago-pd-can-t-curb-class-action-over-race-based-traffic-stops/article_85db0c61-4fdf-4268-b606-ccd64458ac27.html
NEWSMAX
— ICE Plans 5,500 New Detention Beds.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ice-detention-centers-illegal-immigration/2026/07/29/id/1264484/
PJ MEDIA
— White House Streamlines the Deportation Process. Leftists Are Not Taking It Well.
https://pjmedia.com/tim-o-brien/2026/07/29/white-house-streamlines-the-deportation-process-leftists-are-not-taking-it-well-n4955562
TOWNHALL
— One Standard for Government Failure.
https://townhall.com/columnists/joe-abraham/2026/07/29/one-standard-for-government-failure-n2680309
— The New York Times Is Very Upset About ICE Enforcing Immigration Laws at Airports.
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/07/29/ice-detaining-people-at-airports-nyt-n2680314
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Deportation helps make affordability possible.
https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/5995665-immigration-drives-housing-costs/
— DD: Democrats and RINOs have joined up with America’s enemies to destroy America.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/opinion-fix-birthright-citizenship-declare-170000303.html
— DD: How has EEOC impacted you? EEOC had a tremendous impact on me. When I was 22 in 1971, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile. But Oldsmobile withdrew that job offer because it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. Because I had accepted that offer, my Firestone Store boss rudely fired me. Because of that, I accepted a job offer from IRS.
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5994270-trump-anti-dei-campaign/amp/
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote communism.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-07-29/republicans-want-to-turn-clock-back-to-red-baiting-fifties
— DD: What harmed your ACT score and your high school GPA? Instead of studying, I spent far too many hours (28 hours a week during the school years and 40 hours a week during the summer in between) washing dishes in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights while I was a Crete-Monee High School student 1964-1966.
https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/opinion/story/2026-07-29/apodaca-unwelcomereturn-of-sat-bias
MIAMI HERALD
— Best ACT Prep Courses. DD: What harmed your ACT score and your high school GPA? Instead of studying, I spent far too many hours (28 hours a week during the school years and 40 hours a week during the summer in between) washing dishes in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights while I was a Crete-Monee High School student 1964-1966.
https://www.miamiherald.com/careers-education/best-act-prep-courses/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE: A Small Band of Socialists Is Sowing Panic in the Democratic Party. Once a fringe wing, the movement is wielding surprising political power, capitalizing on popular discontent. Mainstream Democrats see a ‘fundamental threat.’
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/democratic-socialists-mamdani-midterms-party-ca2ddf9a
— Democratic Socialists’ Rise Rattles Mainstream Democrats
https://www.wsj.com/world/democratic-socialists-rise-rattles-mainstream-democrats-e7ed7ee1
— Rove: Who’s Afraid of the DSA? Mark Kelly and Tim Kaine can’t find the courage to oppose their party’s radicals.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/whos-afraid-of-the-dsa-db539ece
— The ‘Downward Mobility’ of Struggling Young Baby Boomers. Staples of middle-class life now seem like luxuries. DD: While I am much more successful financially than what my father was, he was much less successful financially than what his father was, and his father was much less successful financially than what his father was.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-downward-mobility-of-struggling-young-baby-boomers-b82cab21
— Mamdani’s Class Enemies List. He publishes the names and addresses of his new pied-a-terre tax targets. DD: In Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on me ( https://gopillinois.com/documents/ ), to paint be as being grossly overpaid, it called my Outer Drive East condo a pied-a-terre because I owned a townhome in University Park at the time. I owned that townhome because I could not sell it unless took a big loss.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/zohran-mamdani-pied-a-terre-tax-list-ali-najmi-ed22425b
— ‘Restorative Justice’ Brings Violent Schools. Why would anyone think you could discipline bullies by inviting them to talk about their feelings?
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/restorative-justice-brings-violent-schools-e6a55a39
NATIONAL LAW REVIEW
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders use disparate impact to get rid of those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://natlawreview.com/article/disparate-impact-name-only-what-federal-agencies-shift-intentional-discrimination
HR DRIVE
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers have used, are using, and will forever use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.hrdive.com/news/pulling-back-from-dei-increases-legal-risk-women/826430/
FROM OTHER SOURCES
WRITERS COLLEGE
— Writing from Personal Experience. DD: To promote conservative principles, I cite my personal experiences. I urge all conservatives to do that. My following conservative principles enabled me to a) earn a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21, job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and a job-related professional license when I was 32, b) buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29. etc. and collector cars when I was 40 and 45, c) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, etc., d) get married when I was 29, e) etc.
https://www.thewriterscollege.com/writing-from-personal-experience-tips-and-techniques/
July 29, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rep. Fred Crespo: Did Illinois’ Speaker of the House normalize sexual harassment?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/29/opinion-illinois-house-speaker-sexual-harassment-emanuel-chris-welch/
— Milwaukee makes a bid for laid off Chicago Public Schools teachers. DD: While Republicans dramatically downsized GAO while I worked for it 1980-1997, employers did not bid for the GAO employees who were dumped. Those employees were overwhelmingly White, male, and/or older.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/28/milwaukee-seeks-cps-teachers/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/28/operation-midway-blitz-lawsuit/
— JB Pritzker and Rahm Emanuel are on a collision course in the 2028 presidential race.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/29/column-jb-pritzker-rahm-emanuel-2028-presidential-race-washington/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: As Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch navigates a new crisis, an older scandal remains unresolved.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/07/28/illinois-house-speaker-emanuel-chris-welch-harry-benton-michael-j-madigan-sexual-harassment-inquiry
DAILY HERALD
— Schaumburg Township Republican Organization to hold annual picnic Aug. 2.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260728/local-politics/schaumburg-township-republican-organization-to-hold-annual-picnic-aug-2/
— Second arrest made in Wheaton carjacking.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260728/crime/second-arrest-made-in-wheaton-carjacking/
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE: Around 170,000 ComEd customers remained without power Tuesday. As of 2:15 p.m., there were still 29,870 customers without power in DuPage County. DD: I bought a whole house backup generator in 2011. I should write about my Wheaton critics/opponents who have demonized/denigrated/condemned my decision the most.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260728/news/dupage-was-hit-hard-tornado-confirmed-in-glen-ellyn-straight-line-winds-strike-carol-stream-dow/
— The practical struggle for relevance: Campaign finance picture shows the challenge of being taken seriously.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260727/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-the-practical-struggle-for-relevance-campaign-finance-picture-shows-the-chall/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Our Russell Lissau’s campaign finance update for the November election last Sunday painted a grim picture for Republican candidates at the state and federal level in Illinois. Even more important is the grim picture it forebodes for American politics broadly. First, consider the immediate circumstance. As Lissau reported, Democratic candidates are overwhelmingly better fortified financially than Republicans, with many of their coffers swelling with $1 million or more. For the GOP, only one candidate reports having saved more than $100,000. In such a setting, Republican candidates cannot hope to keep pace with their opposition in getting their message out to voters through public appearances, online and broadcast advertising or other avenues. As a result, in the manner of a vicious circle, potential donors are holding onto their money, which only deepens the candidates’ predicament. College of DuPage political science professor Melissa Mouritsen described the situation in chilling terms. “This little cash so late in the game,” she said, “means few are taking them seriously.” It is troubling enough when a candidate in even one race is so irrelevant that he or she is not taken seriously. When the condition applies to a large body of candidates or even an entire party, that is a disturbing commentary on the state of our politics and the health of our democracy. Nor does the situation involve simply a lack of money. To an even greater extent, it involves the ability of some candidates to amass too much money, often from sources with much to gain from political favor. In such cases, the vicious cycle works in reverse, steadily expanding the war chests of candidates with an already decisive edge. Even before the 2010 Citizens United decision threw open the doors to unrestricted political donors and donations, many political observers fretted about the influence of money in politics. Sixteen years later, the situation is reaching a state of crisis. This crisis is exacerbated by another political factor — this one, too, enabled by a compliant Supreme Court seemingly indifferent to the quality of American self-government. It is the remaking of political boundaries that allows a party in power to tilt voting outcomes in its favor, commonly known as gerrymandering. To be sure, the Trump-shackled Republican Party suffers from certain self-inflicted ailments related to failures on traditional issues like guns and butter. But even discounting those, gerrymandering and all-but-unrestricted campaign fundraising have combined to put Republicans in Illinois in a life-or-death struggle for relevancy. This is not exactly a surprising or new observation, and its opposite is abundantly present in states like Republican-entrenched Florida, South Carolina and many more. But what is surprising is that more candidates of both parties are not rebelling against the conditions that so threaten the health of our political system. The solutions to gerrymandering and financial inequity among campaigns are not simple, and likely demand the difficult and complicated intercession of constitutional amendments. So, it is understandable that politicians avoid the complex, ugly work of producing systemic change and instead shift their messaging toward topics that involve people’s lives more directly and immediately. But it also should be obvious, as Republicans in Illinois offer ample evidence, that getting those messages out — not to mention getting them across — is growing more difficult by the year. At some point, and we urge candidates to make it soon, we’ve got to begin building more prominent messages about the fundamental scaffolding required to take seriously discussions of those direct and immediate issues.)
STATELINE
— Undocumented immigration population reached as high as 15.8M, report finds. Numbers from 2024 may have dropped under Trump administration policies. DD: How many millions of their illegals are Democrats harboring in Illinois, in your county, in your township, in your municipality, in your school district, and in your precinct?
https://stateline.org/2026/07/29/undocumented-immigration-population-reached-as-high-as-15-8m-report-finds/
WAND TV
— Republicans decry a new Democratic Socialists of America platform as Dem primaries split the party. A new platform from the progressive Democratic Socialists of America is sparking Republican attacks.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/republicans-decry-a-new-democratic-socialists-of-america-platform-as-dem-primaries-split-the-party/article_7c4bd890-debf-5618-99c4-52b366e74066.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: To get more votes from those who have less money, Democrat candidates ever-increasingly promise to ever-increasingly use government a) to take more money from those who have more money and b) give that money to those who have less money. It is called redistribution of wealth.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-07-29/to-win-over-working-class-voters-democrats-need-to-stop-talking-about-democracy
WGLT
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.wglt.org/2026-07-28/how-cannabis-effects-our-sleep-and-our-dreams
PEOPLE’S RESOURCE CENTER WHEATON
— Urgent Need: 3 tons of food lost at PRC Wheaton. The power on our Wheaton Campus is restored. We are replenishing what we lost with donations of avocados, clementines, corn, bell peppers, onions, and watermelon. DD: I bought a whole house backup generator in 2011. I should write about my Wheaton critics/opponents who have demonized/denigrated/condemned my decision the most.
https://www.facebook.com/peoplesresourcecenter/posts/the-power-on-our-wheaton-campus-is-restored-however-due-to-yesterdays-power-outa/1460225049475009/
ILLINOIS PATCH
— Over 214,000 Still Without Power Across Chicago Area After Monday’s Severe Weather. ComEd said that 80 percent of outages should be restored by noon on Wednesday. Damage/tornado surveys are happening Tuesday. DD: I bought a whole house backup generator in 2011. I should write about my Wheaton critics/opponents who have demonized/denigrated/condemned my decision the most.
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/over-214-000-still-without-power-across-chicago-area-after-mondays-severe-weather
CWB CHICAGO
— Migrant detained after allegedly dragging CPD officer with car, biting cop during arrest.
https://cwbchicago.com/2026/07/migrant-detained-after-allegedly-dragging-cpd-officer-with-car-biting-cop-during-arrest.html
WINDY CITY TIMES
— The unapologetic queer history at the new Obama Presidential Center.
https://windycitytimes.com/2026/07/28/opinion-the-unapologetic-queer-history-at-the-new-obama-presidential-center/
PRITZKER
— Dangerous Darren Bailey. He’s too extreme for Illinois. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I am too extreme for my precinct, for Wheaton, for Milton Township, for DuPage County, and for Illinois. I challenge my critics/opponents to put their charges against me in writing and to give me an opportunity to respond.
https://www.dangerousdarrenbailey.com/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Petition season fuels mayoral suspense.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/29/petition-season-fuels-mayoral-suspense-01014573
CAPITOL FAX
— Illinois NOW: ‘We should be able to trust that men in leadership, who claim to want to protect women, will actually do so’
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/28/illinois-now-we-should-be-able-to-trust-that-men-in-leadership-who-claim-to-want-to-protect-women-will-actually-do-so/
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/29/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-780/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/28/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-565/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CHICAGO CONTRARIAN
— The Red Dawn of Realism: Why Brandon Johnson’s Base Is Fleeing Chicago’s Progressive Circus.
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/red-dawn-realism-brandon-johnson-chicago-progressive-circus
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Tracy rips Stratton for liberal policies, not committing to debate.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_fc3a8aec-95de-47e7-ac47-255b9e423dc6.html
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Two Assistant State’s Attorneys Represent Private Client Using Courthouse Recourses– “Felonious Official Misconduct” Claimed in Suit
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/22/two-assistant-states-attorneys-represent-private-client-using-courthouse-recourses-felonious-official-misconduct-claimed-in-suit/
— Corbett Offers Video of Tuesday Night Questions from Listeners and His Answers
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/22/corbett-offers-video-of-tuesday-night-questions-from-listeners-and-his-answers/
— Ultra-Low-Temperature Cryogenic Systems Announce Facility in Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park — 21 New Jobs
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/23/ultra-low-temperature-cryogenic-systems-announce-facilty-in-illinois-quantum-and-microelectronics-park/
— In Public Comment, Kelly Liebman Keeps Pressure on County Board on Home Rule
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/23/in-public-comment-kelly-liebman-keeps-pressure-on-county-board-on-home-rule/
— Corbett Comments on State Police Killing Mother in St. Clair County
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/23/corbett-comments-on-state-police-killing-mother-in-st-clair-county/
— Feds Take Down Woman Who Embezzled from a Sports Team Booster Club
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/23/feds-take-down-woman-who-embezzled-from-a-sports-team-booster-club/
— What’s Happening to Illinois Ex-Pats Running for Congress in Florida?
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/23/whats-happening-to-illinois-ex-pats-running-for-congress-in-florida/
— TSA Screening Will Be Faster as New Imaging Process Is Implemented
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/24/tsa-screening-will-be-faster-as-new-imaging-process-is-implemented/
— Don Tracy, GOP Candidate for the U.S. Senate Releases Video
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/24/don-tracy-gop-candidate-for-the-u-s-senate-releases-video/
— Building Solar Farms Could Require Much Less Manpower
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/24/building-solar-farms-could-require-much-less-manpower/
— Female Highland Park Coyote Sentence to Nine Years for Forcing Illegal Aliens into Indentured Servants
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/24/female-highland-park-coyote-sentence-to-nine-years-for-forcing-illegal-aliens-into-indentured-servants/
— Bailey Finally Addresses Issue Suburbanites Can Relate To: Tolls
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/24/bailey-finally-addresses-issue-suburbanites-can-relate-to-tolls/
— District 300 Tax Hikers Vote 7-0 to Ask Voters for Permission to Borrow
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/24/district-300-tax-hikers-vote-7-0-to-ask-voters-for-permission-to-borrow/
— Woodstock Man One of Six Arrested and Kept in Jail for Running Brothels
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/24/woodstock-man-one-of-six-arrested-and-kept-i-jail-for-running-brothels/
— A Pension System Better Than State and local Government Employees
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/25/a-pension-system-better-than-state-and-local-government-employees/
— GOP Leader Calls for Common Sense at the Federal Drug Administration
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/25/gop-leader-calls-common-sense-at-the-federal-drug-administration/
— Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Don Tracy Criticizes Opponent’s Party’s Tax and Salary Hikes
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/25/republican-u-s-senate-candidate-don-tracy-criticizes-opponents-partys-tax-and-salary-hikes/
— Credit Will Be Given to Park Grant Requests That Seek Inclusive Designs That Go Beyond Minimum Accessibility Standards
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/25/credit-will-be-given-to-park-grant-requests-that-seek-inclusive-designs-that-go-beyond-minimum-accessibility-standards/
— Video of Apparition in McHenry County
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/26/video-of-apparition-in-mchenry-county/
— The Second Amendment Explained by Man Who Signed All Four Founding Documents
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/26/the-second-amendment-explained-by-man-who-signed-all-four-founding-documents/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Abortion pills don’t empower women. They empower abusive men.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4665054/abortion-pills-empower-abusive-men-pressure-deception-into-pill-popping/
1819 NEWS
— Tuberville bashes Mamdani’s plan for government-run grocery stores, says customer base will be illegal aliens.
https://1819news.com/news/item/tuberville-bashes-mamdanis-plan-for-government-run-grocery-stores-argues-customer-base-will-be-illegal-aliens
AMERICAN ENTERPISE INSTITUTE
— Lessons from the 1996 Welfare Reform Law Approaching Its 30th Anniversary. DD: Because voters who receive welfare vote for Democrats, Democrat leaders put as many voters on welfare as they can. What did you do to avoid being on welfare? I did yard work 1962-1964, delivered newspapers 1962-1966, washed dishes 1964-1966, cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966, delivered mail 1966-1969, worked on an automotive assemble line in 1970, sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971, pumped more gasoline 1971-1972, collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980, and audited federal agencies 1980-1997. I worked my way through college and earned 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.aei.org/commentary/lessons-from-the-1996-welfare-reform-law-approaching-its-30th-anniversary/
BREITBART
— Retiring GOP Rep. Don Bacon says “hate” and ‘stupidity” are motivating the citizens who oppose his support of a cheap labor bill for the rural economy– even as multiple other GOP representatives are quietly quitting the amnesty push. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/07/28/hate-stupidity-rep-bacon-slams-citizen-opposition-to-visa-workforce-bill/amp/
— Democrat-run Chicago Blames Trump for 7 More Grocery Store Closings.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/07/28/nolte-democrat-run-chicago-blames-trump-for-7-more-grocery-store-closings/
COLLEGE FIX
— Professors push ‘antiracism’ therapy to train ‘white allies’ at psychology conference. DD: I should write about my White critics/opponents who promote hatred against Whites to curry favor with non-Whites. I should write about my male critics/opponents who promote hatred against males to curry favor with females. I should write about my older critics/opponents who promote hatred against older people to curry favor with younger people. I should write about my “heterosexual” critics/opponents who promote hatred against heterosexuals to curry favor with LGBTQers. I should write about my “conservative” critics/opponents who promote hatred against conservatives to curry favor with liberals and moderates. I should write about my “Republican” critics/opponents who promote hatred against Republicans curry favor with non-Republicans. I would focus on the aforesaid who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/professors-push-antiracism-therapy-to-train-white-allies-at-psychology-conference/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Mamdani’s Tax List Reveals the Dark Side of Socialist Class Warfare.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/28/mamdani-tax-list-socialist-class-warfare/
FOX NEWS
— The welfare state broke Black families. Work can help restore the dream. Rooftop Revelations: Mothers on Chicago’s South Side are completing electrician training and passing the police exam to escape dependency.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/welfare-state-broke-black-families-work-restore-dream
FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
— Fake and Stolen Identities Lead to Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Welfare Programs.
https://thefga.org/research/fake-stolen-identities-welfare-programs/
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— University at Buffalo Dental Orientation Includes DEI-Focused Required Training.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/07/university-at-buffalo-dental-orientation-includes-dei-focused-required-training/amp/
— NYC Democrat Socialists Say They’re Coming For The School Kids. “They are emboldened by their win in the New York City Mayor’s race, and they’re going straight for the children.”
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/07/nyc-democrat-socialists-say-theyre-coming-for-the-school-kids/
NEWSMAX
— Dems Open 12-Point Lead on Healthcare. DD: The federal government paying 72% of my healthcare insurance since 1966 and then also paying 72% of my wife’s healthcare insurance since 1978 helped me endure tremendous efforts by my Democrat superiors in the federal government to waste my career and to get rid of me. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/healthcare-rasmussen-democrats/2026/07/28/id/1264290/
TOWNHALL
— Here’s Chicago’s Latest Solution to Crime on the Subway.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/07/29/chicagos-solution-to-crime-on-the-subway-n2680286
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Corporate boardroom diversity sinks to lowest in more than a decade. DD: The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. All my coworkers who they promoted over me were Democrats who were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. They all a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I had. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://thehill.com/business/5995257-corporate-boardroom-diversity-sinks-to-lowest-in-more-than-a-decade-analysis/
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— The Trump administration wants soldiers to consider becoming truck drivers when they leave the military to help replace the tens of thousands of immigrant drivers who lost their licenses in a crackdown this year. A new campaign launched Friday will promote programs that let veterans who recently drove large military vehicles skip the required skills test for a commercial driver’s license. Other soldiers can attend a commercial driving school during their last six months of active duty. The GI Bill will also pay for 100% of commercial driver’s license training and for some people even pay a housing allowance while they are in school. DD: I often drove postal trucks while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969.
https://www.wftv.com/news/business/white-house-wants/ZBOS2L2IPI7NDPRNHPDJEKBWXU/
ABC NEWS
— Trump lobs insults at political opponents, press during rescheduled White House correspondents’ dinner. DD: My critics/opponents have their operatives and dupes lob insults at me. I should write about the biggest insults lobed at me at Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, and Illinois Center Right Coalition events since 2000.
https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-attend-rescheduled-white-house-correspondents-dinner-friday/story?id=135027808
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: A California Beach City Struggles to Cope With Rowdy Outsiders. More than 400 people were arrested in Newport Beach on the July 4 weekend after a social media “takeover” got out of hand. Now the city is trying to figure out how to stop it from happening again. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/us/newport-beach-california-teen-takeover.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Whom will Democrats nominate in 2028? The scales just tilted. The DNC’s primary schedule is set to favor the establishment. South Carolina leads the way.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/07/28/dnc-proposes-2028-primary-schedule-that-could-hurt-socialists/
— DD: Because voters who receive welfare vote for Democrats, Democrat leaders put as many voters on welfare as they can. What did you do to avoid being on welfare? I did yard work 1962-1964, delivered newspapers 1962-1966, washed dishes 1964-1966, cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966, delivered mail 1966-1969, worked on an automotive assemble line in 1970, sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971, pumped more gasoline 1971-1972, collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980, and audited federal agencies 1980-1997. I worked my way through college and earned 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.washingtonpost.com/ripple/2026/07/27/clinton-welfare-trump-big-beautiful-bill/
USA TODAY
— Trump says the northern border is weak.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/07/29/trump-us-canada-border-what-its-like/90832679007/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2026/07/22/ice-killing-maine-texas-dhs-records-misconduct/90959563007/
— Almost anyone can be an ICE agent now. That’s a problem. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement hiring push lowers the bar for recruits, including reduced training, slower background checks and lower physical abilities. DD: IRS would not have hired me to be a Revenue Officer when I was 22 in 1971 if I had not had a bachelor’s degree in business and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. The first 6 months I worked for IRS was in classroom training.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2025/12/03/ice-hiring-border-patrol-jobs-immigration-agents/87483770007/
SEATTLE WEEKLY
— When newspapers go, partisanship grows and lies are believed. DD: Do you help fill voids? I do. I put together and send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters every morning and often in the evening too. Those newsletters help fill tremendous voids in government and political news and commentary reporting from a conservative perspective in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton. My critics/opponents reject many conservative principles and many planks in the Republican Party platform, most commonly, its personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. They are anti-conservative if not conservative-haters. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of government, political, financial, and/or religious clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois.
https://www.seattleweekly.com/2026/07/28/when-newspapers-go-partisanship-grows-and-lies-are-believed-the-free-press-initiative/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Has a Point About the Smithsonian. Its American history museum has become an instrument of left-wing culture warriors.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-has-a-point-about-the-smithsonian-ac436cc4
— The Welfare State That Ate Britain. The new Prime Minister learns he has narrow fiscal running room. DD: Because voters who receive welfare vote for Democrats, Democrat leaders put as many voters on welfare as they can. What did you do to avoid being on welfare? I did yard work 1962-1964, delivered newspapers 1962-1966, washed dishes 1964-1966, cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966, delivered mail 1966-1969, worked on an automotive assemble line in 1970, sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971, pumped more gasoline 1971-1972, collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980, and audited federal agencies 1980-1997. I worked my way through college and earned 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.wsj.com/opinion/u-k-welfare-state-treasury-disability-payments-andy-burnham-d09c9fa7
— Supersizing Your Retirement Account. DD: IRS and GAO employees have to file financial disclosure reports with their superiors annually. As I worked for the Democrats who ran IRS 1971-1980 and GAO 1980-1997, they were ever-increasingly envious/furious at what I and then what my wife and I had saved for our retirement.
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/the-everyday-guide-to-supersizing-your-retirement-account-8e914e8e
BLOOMBERG LAW
— Professors Notch Court Wins Over States Banning ‘Woke’ Teaching. DD: To promote wokeness/wokeism is to promote more hatred against Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. My critics/opponents promote wokeness/wokeism.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/professors-notch-court-wins-over-states-banning-woke-teaching
PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
— Merit Systems Protection Board 101: Individual cases, including agency elimination, restructuring, probationary employees and more. DD: Federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Unions provide some protection. But GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized when I transferred from IRS in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors might not have been able to take the many big adverse actions against me that they did including forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://ourpublicservice.org/know-the-facts/blog/merit-systems-protection-board-mspb-cases-agency-elimination-restructuring-probationary-employees
MORNING POLITICS
— Senate Confirms Jay Clayton as Intelligence Chief on Party-Line Vote. The former SEC chair and Manhattan prosecutor takes over 18 spy agencies with no career intelligence background. DD: Democrats do not want Republicans to audit Democrats. The Democrat GAO Audits the Democrat IRS. To force me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors outrageously, disgustingly, and unethically ignored/dismissed/belittled/badmouthed a) what I had learned working for IRS’s Collection Division for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, b) my having passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, c) my earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and d) the fact that much of what I did for IRS was similar to what I would do for GAO. They kept me off audits of IRS’s Collection Division for all of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO but did let me work on audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division for 3 years. They would not have wasted my knowledge of IRS if I had been a Democrat, female, or veteran.
https://www.morningpolitics.com/articles/senate-confirms-jay-clayton-as-intelligence-chief-on-party-line-vote
FED SMITH
— TSP Millionaires Hit New Record as Markets Rebound in Q2. A record 224,420 federal employees and retirees now hold $1 million or more in their TSP. Here is how the numbers shifted in 2026. DD: My Civil Service Retirement System pension and my retirement savings are dramatically less because my Democrat superiors wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/07/27/tsp-millionaires-hit-new-record-as-markets-rebound-in-q2/
AARP
— What to Do If You Can’t Afford Your Health Insurance. DD: The federal government paying 72% of my health insurance since 1966 and then also paying 72% of my wife’s health insurance since 1978 helped me endure tremendous efforts by my Democrat superiors in the federal government to waste my career and to get rid of me. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://www.aarp.org/health/healthcare/cant-afford-health-insurance/
MANHATTAN INSTITUTE
— New York City’s Migrant Crisis A Case Study of Welfare Magnet Effects. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been attracting welfare recipients to your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct? I should write about their success in attracting welfare recipients to DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville School District 200, and my precinct.
https://manhattan.institute/article/new-york-citys-migrant-crisis-a-case-study-of-welfare-magnet-effects
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
— Why It’s So Hard to Catch a Master Manipulator. DD: My critics/opponents have their operatives and their dupes 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. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of government, political, financial, and/or religious clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-at-any-age/202412/its-remarkably-hard-to-catch-the-master-manipulator
LGBTQ NATION
— Gen Z adults are staying away from churches because of Trump.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/07/gen-z-adults-are-staying-away-from-churches-because-of/
FROM OTHER SOURCES
CONSUMER REPORTS
— How to Buy a New Car. DD: I have bought many new cars since I was 17 in 1966.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/buying-a-car/how-to-buy-a-car-in-todays-challenging-market-a7648220054/
July 26, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— How lighthearted social media trend of ‘teen takeovers’ took serious turn in Chicago and across US. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://abc7chicago.com/post/teen-takeover-chicago-news-how-social-media-trend-took-serious-turn/19575868/
CBS2
— Teen takeover crowds Green Line ‘L’ terminal in Chicago’s Englewood community. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/teen-takeover-green-line-l-terminal-chicago-englewood-community/
WGN9
— Trump’s crusade against mail-in voting loses in federal court.
https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/president-trumps-crusade-against-mail-in-voting-loses-in-federal-court/
FOX32
— Illinois giving undocumented immigrants in-state tuition rate is unconstitutional.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-immigrants-tuition-ruling
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/24/chicago-immigration-court-removal-orders-analysis/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/25/hundreds-march-to-trump-tower-vigil-for-ice-killings/
— Illinois Democrats’ single-party rule and diminished GOP may shield Springfield from Benton scandal reforms.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/26/harry-benton-election-impact/
WGN RADIO
— Matt Dietrich, Spokesperson for the Illinois Board of Elections on that the Illinois Board of Elections does to ensure that noncitizens aren’t able to register to vote.
https://wgnradio.com/john-williams/how-secure-are-elections-in-illinois/
HERALD WHIG
— Lieutenant governor candidate Aaron Del Mar calls for grace.
https://whig.com/2026/07/25/lieutenant-governor-candidate-calls-for-grace/
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— These 9 Illinois communities say they’re interested in new nuclear facilities.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/these-9-illinois-communities-say-theyre-interested-in-new-nuclear-facilities/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The DSA’s dumbed-down definition of working class is designed to deceive. DD: I was a member of the working class 1964-1997, that is, I was a wage earner 1964-1997. My critics/opponents look down on the working class, that is, they look down on wage earners.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/4657193/dsa-dumbed-down-definition-working-class-designed-to-deceive/
NEW YORK POST
— Socialists are on the march.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/real-estate/detroit-developer-cites-tax-hikes-as-reason-big-blue-cities-like-nyc-are-struggling-socialists-are-on-the-march/
— Team Trump is wisely pushing for most illegal migrants to go home voluntarily.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/opinion/team-trump-is-wisely-pushing-for-most-illegal-migrants-to-go-home-voluntarily/
— NYC promotes nearly 100% of students in grades 3-8 despite 40% of them failing standardized tests.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/us-news/city-promotes-nearly-100-of-students-in-grades-3-8/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Bombshell Biden memo: More illegals means more illegal voters.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/bombshell-biden-memo-more-illegals-means-more-illegal-voters/
— Texas to stop teaching capitalism? Texas parents have a new fight on their hands: keeping ‘anti-racism’ out of their children’s personal finance classes.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/texas-to-stop-teaching-capitalism/
— America’s Current Socialist Trend Could End Badly.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/07/america-s-current-socialist-trend-could-end-badly/
— Red better than blue. At least from an economics perspective.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/red-better-than-blue/
BLAZE
— The socialists are coming for the Senate.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-socialists-are-coming-for-the-senate
BREITBART
— Trump to Mamdani: Stop Destroying My Home Town.
https://www.breitbart.com/crime/2026/07/25/pinkerton-trump-to-mamdani-stop-destroying-my-home-town/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Capitalism Improves Human Lives, Socialism Does the Opposite. DD: Under socialism, to advance, all you need to do is be a socialist. Under Democrats, to advance, all you need to do is be a Democrat. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, disabled, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/01/capitalism-improves-human-lives-socialism-does-the-opposite/
DAILY WIRE
— How Democratic Socialism Went Mainstream.
https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ben-shapiro-show-explains-the-dsa
FOX NEWS
— Majority of Democratic voters support socialism. DD: How soon, if not already, will Democratic Socialists take over the DNC, the Illinois Democratic Party, your Democratic county party, and your Democratic township party?
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402114830112
— Court checks Pritzker as Trump administration scores another immigration win. The ruling invalidates the RISE Act and Illinois DREAM Act, marking another win for Trump’s immigration agenda.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/court-checks-pritzker-trump-administration-scores-another-immigration-win
— Democrats concede NJ voter-roll failure was ‘horrible’ — but reject broader fraud fears. Senators and representatives called for election integrity reforms including paper trails and software reviews
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-concede-nj-voter-roll-failure-horrible-reject-broader-fraud-fears
— Fight for Democratic Party’s future moves to Midwest as socialism gains traction. DD: How soon, if not already, will Democratic Socialists take over the DNC, the Illinois Democratic Party, your Democratic county party, and your Democratic township party?
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402121162112
— Cuban immigrant warns against rising socialism in US primaries.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402120321112
— AOC’s 2028 chances spark concerns about Democratic socialists’ rise.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402121973112?spark_wn=1
— Platner to be replaced with socialist Troy Jackson.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402114775112
— Far-left victories rip mask off Democrats as top conservative sounds alarm party is ‘way beyond socialism.’ The House Freedom Caucus chairman argues DSA-backed primary wins will make voters nervous ahead of midterm elections.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/far-left-victories-rip-mask-off-democrats-top-conservative-sounds-alarm-party-way-beyond-socialism
— The Democratic establishment fights back against the socialists.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4663234/democratic-establishment-fights-back-against-socialists/
— Economic democracy: The DSA’s plan to punish the productive and reward the lazy. DD: Virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats. Extremely few of my Post Office coworkers earned a job-related bachelor’s degree like I did. Few of my IRS and GAO coworkers earned job-related master’s degrees and professional certifications like I did. None of my coworkers earned a job-related professional license like I did. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4659903/dsas-plan-to-punish-productive-and-reward-lazy/
— Fetterman: Socialism should be the UNACCEPTABLE view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GueGDcRLX5s
— Democrats are in big trouble because Black and brown voters don’t want socialism.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/democrats-big-trouble-black-brown-voters-dont-want-socialism
LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— The Anti-ICE Campaign Is BLM 2.0.
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/the-anti-ice-campaign-is-blm-2-0
MILITARY
— White House Wants Veterans to Replace Immigrant Truckers Who Lost Their Licenses in Crackdown. DD: I often drove postal trucks while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969.
https://www.military.com/white-house-wants-veterans-to-replace-immigrant-truckers-who-lost-their-licenses-in-crackdown
POST MILLENNIAL
— Federal judge strikes down Illinois sanctuary policy granting illegal immigrants in-state tuition, financial aid.
https://thepostmillennial.com/federal-judge-strikes-down-illinois-sanctuary-policy-granting-illegal-immigrants-in-state-tuition-financial-aid.
— Alaska sends over 3,000 letters asking voters to prove citizenship. DD: It seems that to prove that you were born in America and/or that either of your parents were American citizens is to prove that you are an American citizen.
https://thepostmillennial.com/alaska-sends-over-3000-letters-asking-voters-to-prove-citizenship
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Karl Rove: Dem Socialism a Gift to GOP.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/07/25/karl_rove_dem_socialism_a_gift_to_gop_706151.html
TOWNHALL
— Democratic Socialists Are Obsessed With Abortion.
https://townhall.com/columnists/derekhunter/2026/07/26/democratic-socialists-are-obsessed-with-abortion-n2680134
— Communism—the Religion of Hate.
https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2026/07/26/communismthe-religion-of-hate-n2680127
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Mamdani’s ‘fair share’ myth joins a growing corpus of socialist fables. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I was always grossly overpaid. In my defense, I worked my way through college and I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5989614-socialist-mythology-wealthy-taxpayers/
AOL
— The Minimum Salary You Need To Feel Financially Stable in Every State in 2026. DD: In Illinois, it is $83,000/year. I did not start earning $83,000/year in today’s dollars until I was 24 in 1973. By then, I had earned a bachelor’s degree in business from NIU, worked for IRS for 2 years, bought a new 1972 Corvette, bought a new townhome in University Park, and completed six graduate evening business courses at Loyola.
https://www.aol.com/articles/minimum-salary-feel-financially-stable-180011000.html
CNN
— GAO: More Amazon workers are turning to SNAP and Medicaid to make ends meet. DD: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I passed that postal employment test when I was 17 in 1966. I passed the Federal Entrance Examination when I was 21. I earned a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21. I earned an MBA when I was 27. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. I earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32. I became a licensed CPA when I was 32. I earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48. I earned a master’s degree in finance when I was 48.
https://www.wxow.com/news/top-stories/more-amazon-and-gig-workers-are-turning-to-snap-and-medicaid-to-make-ends-meet/article_a5034c35-42e9-521b-b91a-e6281fd08371.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Employed but still in need of assistance. GAO, which also looked at 2024 Census data, found that nearly 14 million adults who worked at some point that year were enrolled in Medicaid, and 10.6 million adults lived in households that received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the formal name for food stamps. They mostly worked full-time schedules, and a majority worked in one of five occupations, including transportation and food preparation and serving. In 2020, about 12 million wage-earning adults were covered by Medicaid, and 9 million received food stamps, according to the earlier GAO report, which looked at Census data from the prior year. To qualify for food stamps, applicants must earn less than 130% of the federal poverty level, or about $42,000 a year for a family of four. (Some states have higher income limits.) Medicaid recipients can earn no more than 138% of the federal poverty limit, or about $22,000 for an individual, though some states that did not expand the program to low-income adults have lower income thresholds.)
NEW YORK TIMES
— Democratic Socialists Are Winning Big. Now They Want Action. The Democratic Socialists of America, after a string of election victories in New York, is eager to tax the rich and enact anti-Israel policies. DD: How soon, if not already, will Democratic Socialists take over the DNC, the Illinois Democratic Party, your Democratic county party, and your Democratic township party?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/nyregion/dsa-tax-rich-hochul-mamdani.html
— Gen Z-ers Don’t See the Point of Ambition. DD: How ambitious were your peers? Virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats. Extremely few of my Post Office coworkers earned a job-related bachelor’s degree like I did. Few of my IRS and GAO coworkers earned job-related master’s degrees and professional certifications like I did. None of my coworkers earned a job-related professional license like I did. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/opinion/gen-z-ambition-millennials-career.html
USA TODAY
— What the Supreme Court’s test for gun rules could mean for AR-15 bans. After appearing to loosen a restrictive test for gun regulations two years ago, the Supreme Court tacked back to the right this term. An even bigger Second Amendment case is up next.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/26/supreme-courts-historical-test-guns-ar-15/91012945007/
— Student debt has grads becoming socialists. It’s not the answer.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/07/26/college-degree-jobs-money-socialism/91014847007/
— New cars cost nearly $50K. Here are 5 affordable car brands under $40K. DD: Back in the good old days, that is, during the 1960s and 1970s. I was able to earn enough money to buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, and 29.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/shopping/new-cars/2026/07/14/best-affordable-cars-under-40k/90915827007/
NEW YORK SUN
— Third World-ism Emerging as the Ultimate Driver of the Democratic Socialist Agenda. The far left aspires to fulfill President Obama’s goal of ‘fundamentally transforming’ America.
https://www.nysun.com/article/third-world-ism-emerging-as-the-ultimate-driver-of-the-democratic-socialist-agenda
— Silence of America’s Surging Socialists Speaks Volumes as Nicaragua’s Ortega Ends Democracy.
https://www.nysun.com/article/silence-of-americas-surging-socialists-speaks-volumes-as-nicaraguas-ortega-ends-democracy
DALLAS EXPRESS
— Just 12% Of U.S. Adults Call Four-Year Schools Affordable. DD: Back in the good old days, even though no one thought I was college material, I took college preparatory courses, I got an ACT score of 24, I graduated in the upper 20% of my high school class, I got accepted by UIC, I worked my way through college by working for the Park Forest Post Office part-time during the school years and full-time during the summers, and I graduated debt-free from NIU in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in business and owning a 1969 Dodge Charger SE. I could not have done that if my parents had not provided me with room and board while I took classes at UIC 1966-1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969 to keep my Post Office job, and the summer of 1969.
https://dallasexpress.com/education/college-costs-under-fire-just-12-of-u-s-adults-call-four-year-schools-affordable/
TAMPA FREE PRESS
— Wealthy Elites, Not The Working Class, Are Driving Socialist Push.
https://www.tampafp.com/victor-davis-hanson-wealthy-elites-not-the-working-class-are-driving-socialist-push/
YONKERS TIMES
— Should the United States Have a $25 Minimum Wage? DD: I did not start earning $25/hour in today’s dollar s until after I had earned a bachelor’s degree in business and had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination.
https://yonkerstimes.com/should-the-united-states-have-a-25-minimum-wage/
COMMON DREAMS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/aoc-on-communism
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
— ‘Teen takeovers’ started as a social media trend. But now the phenomenon has taken a sinister turn. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/teen-takeovers-social-media-trend-us-police-chicago-b3021501.html
July 25, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Oak Park officials deny advisory referendum on ending single family housing zoning.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/24/oak-park-zoning-referendum-vote/
— Wheaton man busted in Naperville on meth, other drug charges.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/24/naperville-meth-drugs-man-charged-fleeing/
MUSCATINE JOURNAL
— Illinois Lt. Gov. candidate Aaron Del Mar wants to talk affordability, not abortion. DD: Because Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family, people ever-increasingly cannot afford things.
https://muscatinejournal.com/news/local/government-politics/article_08e1000f-5065-57e6-a97d-3112235b231b.html
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/24/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-563/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— How Our Republic Is Destroyed.
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/07/how-our-republic-is-destroyed/
— Federal Lawmakers Want to End Federal Welfare Benefits for Non-Citizens.
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/07/federal-lawmakers-want-to-end-federal-welfare-benefits-for-non-citizens/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— The Quiet Killer of Illinois Conservatism.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/07/opinion-the-quiet-killer-of-illinois-conservatism.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Socialism moves from protest to power in American cities. What happens when DSA-aligned lawmakers actually have to govern.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/24/watch-susan-ferrechio-answers-questions-socialist-policies-reshaping/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ICE arrests under Trump top 602,000, DHS says, but some are skeptical.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/4661389/ice-arrests-trump-top-602k-some-are-skeptical/
— Mike Lindell urged to withdraw ‘absurd’ illegal immigration amnesty proposal.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/4661937/mike-lindell-urged-withdraw-illegal-immigration-amnesty-proposal/
— How many illegal immigrant votes is too many?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4660341/how-many-illegal-immigrant-votes-too-many-new-jersey-noncitizen-voting/
— Socialism is a ‘pie in the sky treatment’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/4662090/socialism-democratic-socialist-america-platform-byron-york/
— Genuinely Un-American: Socialists are telling us who they are — and we should believe them.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/magazine/4659723/genuinely-un-american-socialists-are-telling-us-who-they-are-and-we-should-believe-them/
— Black Democrats emerge as bulwark against socialist takeover.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4661824/black-democrats-bulwark-socialist-takeover/
— DSA endorsement tracker: Here are the socialists running for office across America.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/4657182/dsa-endorsement-tracker-socialists-running-for-office-across-america/
— DD: To get more votes from non-Whites, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Whites.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4660592/white-supremacy-culture-framework-subverts-american-values/
CITY JOURNAL
— DD: Ever-increasingly, since the 1960s, Democrat and RINO leaders have ever-increasingly forced everyone to give more preference to minorities and to females, that is, to ever-increasingly discriminate against Whites and males. I am a White male born in 1948. If I had been born later, I doubt that I would have been able to work my way through college and 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.city-journal.org/article/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-race-reporting
FOX BUSINESS
— Trump warns of socialism as Mamdani targets NYC’s wealthy homeowners.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6402023966112
— How the Republican Party can make the case for capitalism. DD: Under socialism, all you need to do to succeed is be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to succeed is be a Democrat. Under RINOs, all you need to do to succeed is be a RINO. I never was and never will be a socialist, Democrat, or RINO.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6402054837112
FOX NEWS
— Democratic socialists are outnumbering the centrist and moderates in the Democratic Party.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402044327112
— Rahm Emanuel warns ‘Bernie bros’ could sink Democrats by saddling moderates with socialist agenda.
https://noticias.foxnews.com/media/rahm-emanuel-warns-bernie-bros-could-sink-democrats-saddling-moderates-socialist-agenda
PJ MEDIA
— Biden Regime Had Planned to Bring Millions More Illegal Migrants Into the Country.
https://pjmedia.com/robert-spencer/2026/07/24/biden-regime-had-planned-to-bring-millions-more-illegal-migrants-into-the-country-n4955430
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Democrats brush off fears within party about threat of democratic socialists.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5987225-democrats-democratic-socialists-midterms/
CNN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/ar-AA28yb43
NEWSWEEK
— Dare To Dream: Explore The American Dream Index. Don’t listen to the pessimists. The American Dream is thriving in places you might not expect—you just need to know where to look. Type in your ZIP code to find out, and explore all our interactives here. DD: I pursued the American Dream from 60417 (Crete) 1948-1972, then from 60484 (University Park) 1972-1976, then from 60601 (downtown Chicago) 1976-1978, and then from 60187/60189 (Wheaton) since 1978.
https://www.newsweek.com/dare-to-dream-explore-the-american-dream-index-12054194
NEW YORK TIMES
— He Got Fired From FEMA. His Return Could Mark a New Era for Disasters. Cameron Hamilton defended the agency last year when President Trump talked about eliminating it. Emergency managers hope for more stability if he’s confirmed as administrator.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/climate/cameron-hamilton-fema-trump.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Socialism’s Slippery Definitions. The hard left is whatever it needs to be at the moment.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/socialisms-slippery-definitions-51c11441
— Socialism Is Whatever You Want It to Be. Definitions are available on an as-needed basis.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/socialism-is-whatever-you-want-it-to-be-17f746d3
BLOOMBERG
— DD: To get citizens of foreign countries to come to America illegally and to stay in America illegally, Democrat and RINO leader give them big public benefits.
https://www.bloomberg.com/sessions/2026-07-28/live-q-amp-a-is-the-american-dream-fading-for-international-students
BLOOMBERG LAW
— EEOC, Texas Car Dealers Reach $925,000 Deal. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? EEOC had a tremendous impact on me. When I was 22 in 1971, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile. But Oldsmobile withdrew that job offer because it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. Because I had accepted that offer, my Firestone Store boss rudely fired me. Because of that, I accepted a job offer from IRS.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/eeoc-texas-car-dealers-reach-925-000-deal-in-harassment-case
BUSINESS
— Competition in the Workplace. DD: Virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats. Extremely few of my Post Office coworkers earned a job-related bachelor’s degree like I did. Very few of my IRS and GAO coworkers earned job-related master’s degrees and professional certifications like I did. None of my coworkers earned a job-related professional license like I did.
https://www.business.com/articles/gal-rimon-workplace-competition/
PBS
— American Dream and How It’s Changed Over Time. DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? I worked my way through college and earned 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.pbs.org/video/new-documentary-explores-the-american-dream-and-how-its-changed-over-time-nob9id/
BROOKINGS
— DD: To get citizens of foreign countries to come to America illegally and to stay in America illegally, Democrat and RINO leader give them big public benefits.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-growing-effort-to-restrict-immigrants-access-to-public-benefits/
— DD: To get more votes from non-Whites, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/sat-math-scores-mirror-and-maintain-racial-inequity/
NEA
— The Racist Beginnings of Standardized Testing. DD: My critics/opponents have always attributed my success in passing standardized tests to my benefitting tremendously from tremendous discrimination against those who share their demographics. I passed all the tests needed to earn a) a job-related bachelor’s degree, b) three job-related master’s degrees, c) six job-related professional certifications, and d) a job-related professional license. The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980 hired me because I had earned a high school diploma and had passed the postal employment test and they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. I would not have survived as a federal employee for almost 30 years if I had not a) passed that postal employment test when I was 17 in 1966, b) passed the Federal Entrance Examination when I was 21, c) earned a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21, d) earned an MBA when I was 27, e) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, f) earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, g) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, h) became a licensed CPA when I was 32, i) earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48, and j) earned a master’s degree in finance when I was 48. Overwhelmingly those who took and passed tests with me were White males.
https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/racist-beginnings-standardized-testing