February 21, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Democrat leaders do not want America to be the leader of the free world.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/21/opinion-america-first-nato-ukraine-pete-hegseth/
— According to Democrat leaders Russia has won the Cold War and it all Trump’s fault.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/20/column-russia-wins-cold-war-ukraine-nato-shackelford/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump’s anti-DEI stance has Illinois companies tight-lipped or reversing diversity policies. The Sun-Times reviewed the policies of 15 major Illinois-based public companies and found some changed their policies and others won’t discuss them amid what experts blame on fears of being sued.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/work/2025/02/21/trump-dei-stance-illinois-raoul-mcdonalds-kraft-john-deere-reversing-diversity-policies
— Anticipate/expect that soon, Illinois Democrats will legalize prostitution and offer associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.Ds. in prostitution. What about licensing?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/02/21/sex-workers-criminal-charges-exploit-survivor-model-traffickers-pimps-sex-buyers-marian-hatcher

NBC5
— What does DOGE’s IRS shake-up mean for tax season? (COMMENT: I was involved in IRS’s 1974 tax season big time. Have you ever phoned IRS with a tax question? If you did during the 1974 filing season, the IRS employee who answered your call was one of my subordinates. Back then, as a 25-year-old GS-11 (currently $82,655/year) IRS Revenue Officer, I supervised all of the IRS employees, which included a rotating staff of about 90 IRS Revenue Agent trainees, in IRS’s new downtown Chicago office who answered taxpayer questions using IRS’s new tollfree CentiPhone system. Because of my job performance, the IRS manager who had given me that developmental opportunity and who had promoted me in 1972 and 1973 promoted me to GS-12 (currently $99,069/year) in 1974.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/doge-irs-shake-up-tax-season/3679235/

WTTW
— Mass Deportations a Cause of Concern for Illinois Restaurant Industry (COMMENT: Have you ever had to compete against immigrants? What percent of restaurant employees are immigrants? I washed dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the S.S. Kresge in Chicago Heights 1964-1966. If there had been as many immigrants back then as there are now, they would have gotten that job as well as all the jobs that I had 1964-1970. The money that I earned and saved washing dishes enabled me to buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in May of 1966. I used that car to get to/from my parents’ home in Crete and a) jobs cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, and pumping gasoline during the summer of 1966, b) delivering mail during 1966 and 1967, and c) classes at UIC 1966 and1967. I sold that car in late 1967 and bought a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 that I used delivering mail 1967 and1968 and getting to/from classes at UIC. I sold that car in late 1968 and bought a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE that I used delivering mail 1968 and 1969, getting to/from classes at NIU, and working on the Chrysler assemble line in Belvidere in 1970.)
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/20/mass-deportations-cause-concern-illinois-restaurant-industry

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Anticipate/expect that Pritzker will ever-increasingly call Trump and the 2.4 million in Illinois who voted for Trump Nazis. To call someone a Nazi in America today is like calling someone a Jew in Germany during the 1920s, 19390s, and 1940s. Anticipate/expect that Pritzker will focus on those in the 2.4 million who share the most demographics with Trump but not with Pritzker, that is, those who are Protestant and/or German American.
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-pritzker-says-no-to-new-taxes-cellphones-in-school-and-nazis/article_f7117e3a-eefe-11ef-868c-63cea336ecf0.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Rand Paul gives post-election endorsement to Trump: ‘I was wrong’ (COMMENT: Will the hate-filled Trump-hating Republican major donors, candidates, elected officials, and party leaders in your county, township, municipality, and school district do the same?)
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/rand-paul-gives-post-election-endorsement-to-trump-i-was-wrong-white-house-2024-presidential-election-politics
— White House avoids question on who Trump blames for Russia’s invasion
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/white-house-avoids-question-on-who-trump-blames-for-russias-invasion-united-states-ukraine-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-peter-doocy-dmitry-medvedev-putin-senate-intelligence-committee-negotiations-war-freedom-democracy

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Ukrainians rally around their president after Trump seeks to denigrate him
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/world/ap-ukrainians-rally-around-their-president-after-trump-seeks-to-denigrate-him/
— IRS lays off 6,700 employees, torpedoing Democratic enforcement boost (COMMENT: I worked for IRS 1971-1980 and I worked for GAO on audits of IRS’s enforcement efforts 1986-1988.)
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/irs-lays-off-6700-employees-torpedoing-democratic-enforcement-boost/

NPR ILLINOIS
— EV’s and the Trump Administration (COMMENT: I have ordered a 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T EV. If you know anyone who shares my interest in that car, please ask them to contact me.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2025-02-20/statewide-evs-and-the-trump-administration

ILLINOIS TIMES
— Don Tracy clears his name. Illinois executive inspector general previously cited him for prohibited political activity.
https://www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion/don-tracy-clears-his-name-19783942

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Illinois Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight Trump
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/02/21/illinois-ag-kwame-raoul-says-it-costs-to-fight-trump-00205408

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/21/64866/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

JOHN KASS
— Unanchoring Babies
https://johnkassnews.com/unanchoring-babies/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Anticipate/expect that Pritzker will ever-increasingly call Trump and the 2.4 million in Illinois who voted for Trump Nazis. To call someone a Nazi in America today is like calling someone a Jew in Germany during the 1920s, 19390s, and 1940s. Anticipate/expect that Pritzker will focus on those in the 2.4 million who share the most demographics with Trump but not with Pritzker, that is, those who are Protestant and/or German American. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— The mainstream news media ever-increasingly carries out Democrat Party orders to negatively spin and to demonize, denigrate, and condemn everything that Trump says and does. I base that on what I see spending 10-15 hours each and every day putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters together and sending them out. I should write about that. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— I was involved in IRS’s 1974 tax season big time. Have you ever phoned IRS with a tax question? If you did during the 1974 filing season, the IRS employee who answered your call was one of my subordinates. Back then, as a 25-year-old GS-11 (currently $82,655/year) IRS Revenue Officer, I supervised all of the IRS employees, which included a rotating staff of about 90 IRS Revenue Agent trainees, in IRS’s new downtown Chicago office who answered taxpayer questions using IRS’s new tollfree CentiPhone system. Because of my job performance, the IRS manager who had given me that developmental opportunity and who had promoted me in 1972 and 1973 promoted me to GS-12 (currently $99,069/year) in 1974.- Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Have you ever had to compete against immigrants? What percent of restaurant employees are immigrants? I washed dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the S.S. Kresge in Chicago Heights 1964-1966. If there had been as many immigrants back then as there are now, they would have gotten that job as well as all the jobs that I had 1964-1970. The money that I earned and saved washing dishes enabled me to buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in May of 1966. I used that car to get to/from my parents’ home in Crete and a) jobs cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, and pumping gasoline during the summer of 1966, b) delivering mail during 1966 and 1967, and c) classes at UIC 1966 and1967. I sold that car in late 1967 and bought a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 that I used delivering mail 1967 and1968 and getting to/from classes at UIC. I sold that car in late 1968 and bought a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE that I used delivering mail 1968 and 1969, getting to/from classes at NIU, and working on the Chrysler assemble line in Belvidere in 1970. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Have you been discriminated against? According to my critics/opponents, no one has ever discriminated against me for any reason. Have you had adverse employment actions taken against you? According to my Democrat superiors in the federal government, all the adverse employment actions that they took against me were justified. In my defense, 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. In my defense, my Democrat superiors never cited any performance problems or employee complaints against me to justify any of the adverse actions that they took against me. In my defense. all my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who had less work experience than I had, had less education than I had, had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time. In my defense, my Democrat GAO superiors have never denied a) that I complained about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination or b) that I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation when I was 40 years old in 1988. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What pretexts have been used against you to justify adverse actions against you? When I was 20 years old in 1969, to force me to resign, my Democrat Post Office superiors falsely argued that I would not be available to work enough part-time hours. Starting in 1974, to not promote me to GS-13, my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors used up-or-out to falsely hint/imply/argue/shout that I was too old to be promoted to GS-13. In 1974, to disallow my travel vouchers, my Democrat IRS superiors falsely charged me with living inside their commuting area. In 1978, to disallow my education deductions, they falsely argued that the courses that I took did not relate to my job duties, did not maintain or improve my job skills, qualified me for a new trade or business, and were taken by me to get a job in the private sector. In 1980, to justify forcing me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, my Democrat GAO superiors falsely argued that the work that I did for IRS was not similar to the work that I would do for GAO and that my earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, that my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, and that my almost completing the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul were not enough. To keep me off audits of IRS, they falsely badmouthed what I had learned about IRS by working for it for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $99,069-$112,280/year and stressed the adverse actions that my Democrat IRS superiors had taken against me and falsely hinted/implied/argued/shouted that because of that, I could not be objective, that I would take revenge against my former IRS superiors. To delay my promotions, to not promote me beyond GS-13, and to always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay for performance, they falsely used the tremendous subjectivity in their performance appraisal system. In 1997, to force me to take their early retirement “offer,” they falsely denied that they told me that if I did not retire, they would demote me, they would give me adverse transfers, and/or they would take even bigger adverse actions against me. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— The Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office hired me in 1966 because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. I had passed the postal employment examination, I had earned a diploma from Crete-Monee High School, and I was taking classes at UIC. Virtually all my superiors, supervisors, and coworkers were Democrat veterans. My Democrat Post Office superiors despised/hated Republicans, and especially draft avoiding Republicans like me. They disallowed my sick leave requests in 1968 and 1969 and they forced me to resign in 1969 falsely claiming that I was not available to work enough part-time hours. I was available each and every a) Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, b) holiday, and c) day that NIU was not in session. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout at Blacks that Republicans cause all the problems that Blacks have. According to my critics/opponents, all the federal jobs and promotions that I got should have been given to Blacks instead of me. The Post Office hired me when I was 18 years old in 1966. IRS hired me in 1971 and promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. GAO hired me in 1980 and promoted me in 1986. GAO forced me to retire in 1997 and gave my job and my preferred corner office to my Black subordinate. He had less work experience than I had, less education than I had, one professional certification while I had six, and had no professional license like the one I had. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Are you involved in politics? If so, what do your critics/opponents use against you? My critics/opponents in Republican politics use a) my promoting the individual responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform, b) my promoting direct election of Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee members, c) my supporting Pat O’Malley in the Illinois Republican gubernatorial primary in 2002, d) my serving on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee 2003-2007, e) my serving as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, and f) my serving as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and firework 2005-2021. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

FOX NEWS
— Frustrated Chicago residents fed up with spending on illegal immigrants, call for Republican leadership. The group ‘Chicago Flips Red’ has been active in pushing for the GOP to take over the traditionally blue city.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/frustrated-chicago-residents-fed-up-spending-illegal-immigrants-call-republican-leadership

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— 5 takeaways from Musk’s CPAC talk
https://www.wjtv.com/news/5-takeaways-from-musks-cpac-talk/amp/

WASHINGTON POST
— Democrat and RINO leaders do not want anyone to be deported.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/21/panama-costa-rica-migrants-trump/

USA TODAY
— Trump evolved CPAC beyond conservatism. Is there still room for Reagan Republicans? CPAC has become a parade of prancing personalities, all trying to one-up each other in toadyism to Trump, where provocation is everything and actual policy of governing is, at best, an afterthought.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/02/21/cpac-conservative-conference-trump-republican-party/79313361007/
— Anticipate/expect that the more demographics that you share with Trump, and especially if you are Protestant and/or German American, the more that Democrats and RINOs will call you an extremist and even worse things.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/21/extremist-murders-2025-increase-on-the-rise/78385408007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— An Escape Route From Illinois. Indiana takes the first step toward welcoming Land of Pritzker counties that want to secede.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/indiana-illinois-secession-boundary-adjustment-commission-todd-huston-j-b-pritzker-a3c18977
— Trump Is Planning to Take Control of the Postal Service. President seeks to disband governing board and put Postal Service under the Commerce Department. (COMMENT: The Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office hired me in 1966 because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. I had passed the postal employment examination, I had earned a diploma from Crete-Monee High School, and I was taking classes at UIC. Virtually all my superiors, supervisors, and coworkers were Democrat veterans. My Democrat Post Office superiors despised/hated Republicans, and especially draft avoiding Republicans like me. They disallowed my sick leave requests in 1968 and 1969 and they forced me to resign in 1969 falsely claiming that I was not available to work enough part-time hours. I was available each and every a) Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, b) holiday, and c) day that NIU was not in session.)
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-is-planning-to-take-control-of-the-postal-service-officials-say-e9188e7c
— FRONT PAGE: IRS Begins to Fire 6,000 Workers, Threatening Tax-Season Delays. Some collections and audits are likely to be paused, and one-on-one personal service is set to be more limited.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/irs-workers-fired-tax-season-doge-102fbecb

BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT
— Ambitious MAGA Republicans Hunt for Trump Bump as Others Skip CPAC
https://news.bgov.com/bloomberg-government-news/ambitious-maga-republicans-hunt-for-trump-bump-as-others-skip-cpac

POLITICO
— Trump holds Black History Month celebration amid his administration’s war on DEI. Famed golfer Tiger Woods attended the event. (COMMENT: To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout at Blacks that Republicans cause all the problems that Blacks have. According to my critics/opponents, all the federal jobs and promotions that I got should have been given to Blacks instead of me. The Post Office hired me when I was 18 years old in 1966. IRS hired me in 1971 and promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. GAO hired me in 1980 and promoted me in 1986. GAO forced me to retire in 1997 and gave my job and my preferred corner office to my Black subordinate. He had less work experience than I had, less education than I had, one professional certification while I had six, and had no professional license like the one I had.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/20/trump-black-history-month-dei-021434
— The Trump administration has defended its cuts at the Federal Aviation Administration by saying safety-critical employees weren’t affected. Experts disagree. (COMMENT: During the early 1980s, I worked for GAO on an audit of FAA that involved air traffic control staffing.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/20/faa-firings-aviation-safety-experts-00205160

NPR
— A far-right influencer is getting invitations to travel with Trump Cabinet members (COMMENT: My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that I am a failed would-be far right influencer. They stress the many big adverse actions that they had their operatives and their dupes take against. I should write about my critics/opponents and their operatives and dupes.)
https://www.wesa.fm/2025-02-21/a-far-right-influencer-is-getting-invitations-to-travel-with-trump-cabinet-members

ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS
— Who in the Democratic party Is calling who a Nazi? if any use of Holocaust imagery was justified, it was President Trump’s description of Jewish hostages released from Hamas terrorist captivity last week, certainly not Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s parallels between Trump’s political agenda and the rise of Nazi Germany.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404252

AL JAZEERA
— Are White Afrikaners at risk in South Africa? Not really, most say. As Trump offers to take in Afrikaner refugees, many say right-wing lobbyists have spread misinformation and fear. (COMMENT: Have you been discriminated against? According to my critics/opponents, no one has ever discriminated against me for any reason. Have you had adverse employment actions taken against you? According to my Democrat superiors in the federal government, all the adverse employment actions that they took against me were justified. In my defense, 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. In my defense, my Democrat superiors never cited any performance problems or employee complaints against me to justify any of the adverse actions that they took against me. In my defense. all my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who had less work experience than I had, had less education than I had, had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time. In my defense, my Democrat GAO superiors have never denied a) that I complained about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination or b) that I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation when I was 40 years old in 1988.)
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/2/21/are-white-afrikaners-at-risk-in-south-africa-not-really-most-say

February 20, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Republicans shocked by Gov. Pritzker’s attacks on Trump administration, Nazi Germany references
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jts1KaE_rj0

WTTW
— Pritzker Compares Trump Administration’s Approach to Nazi Germany During State Budget Address
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/19/pritzker-compares-trump-administration-s-approach-nazi-germany-during-state-budget

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— What Central Illinois lawmakers liked, and didn’t like, in Pritzker budget plan (FROM THE ARTICLE: Multiple Republicans walked out of the joint session in the House chamber.”)
https://pantagraph.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/what-central-illinois-lawmakers-liked-and-didnt-like-in-pritzker-budget-plan/article_a48aeb5e-ef23-11ef-b7ba-2f418a049d96.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Near the end of his address, Pritzker compared the actions taken by the Trump Administration in recent weeks to the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. “The authoritarian playbook is laid bare here,” Pritzker said. “They point to a group of people who don’t look like you and tell you to blame them for your problems.” What comes next, he asked, “after we’ve discriminated against, deported or disparaged all the immigrants and the gay and lesbian and transgender people, the developmentally disabled, the women and the minorities, once we’ve ostracized our neighbors and betrayed our friends after that, when the problems we started with are still there staring us in the face — what comes next?’” Before Pritzker could finish making his point, multiple Republicans walked out of the joint session in the House chamber, including state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville. “That rhetoric was out of place, and (did) not need to be talked and spoken,” Halbrook, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, said. “It was completely wrong.” Fellow caucus member Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Teutopolis, had more heated criticism. “Parts of the governor’s own party want to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth,” Niemerg said. “And to call Trump and Republicans Nazis is dangerous political grandstanding and will only incite the violence he claims to condemn. But this is about JB Pritzker’s misguided aspirations to be the next president.”)

WAND TV
— GOP criticize Governor for ‘Nazi comparison’ (COMMENT: To harm me, my critics/opponents, including those who are Protestant and/or German American, have always stressed that I am Protestant and German American. I should write about my critics/opponents who are Protestant and/or German American and who have taken the biggest/most adverse actions against me to curry favor with non-Protestants and/or with non-German Americans.)
https://www.wandtv.com/news/statehouse/il-democrats-celebrate-pritzkers-budget-gop-criticize-governor-for-nazi-comparison/article_7b08d028-ef16-11ef-ba5b-efc1d3148209.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pritzker ended his speech by criticizing the Trump administration and comparing it to when the Nazis attacked marginalized communities. “To sit there and basically be called Nazis, not only Trump but the Republican party, it was disgusting,” House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) said.)

NBC5
— To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote reparations. Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout at Blacks that Republicans cause all the problems that Blacks have.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/top-videos-home/former-educator-historian-makes-push-for-reparations/3678446/
— President Trump signs executive order to make IVF more affordable (COMMENT: During the 1980s, my Democrat GAO superiors used against me big time my and my wife giving up trying to have children without trying IVF even though they knew full-well that both of us had big fertility problems and that because of that, our doctor had advised against trying IVF. They stressed that IVF was covered by our health insurance and they punished me big time for our not trying IVF. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if my wife and I had children, I would not have been able to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, or pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981. I should write about my Democrat GAO superiors. I would focus on those who complained the most about the time and money they spent raising their children.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/top-videos-home/president-trump-signs-executive-order-to-make-ivf-more-affordable/3678347/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— City Council proposal would return Columbus statues to Grant, Arrigo parks. Condemning what he calls “selective censorship,” Ald. Anthony Napolitano also is criticizing the city’s refusal to remove from the city-owned Cultural Center a puppet display titled “U.S.-Israel War Machine.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2025/02/19/columbus-statues-grant-arrigo-park-cultural-center-public-art-gaza-monuments-project-report
— When politics seep into schools, learning becomes harder (COMMENT: Democrat teachers focus on turning their students into good little Democrats.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/02/20/schools-politics-culture-wars-learning-becomes-harder-students-want-comfort-jerald-mcnair

WBEZ
— Chicago’s most marginalized students have almost no shot of getting into CPS’ elite schools (COMMENT: According to Democrat and RINO leaders, a) the more of the following that you are, the more marginalized that you are: liberal/moderate, Democrat, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, unmarried, poor, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or if your ancestors have not been in America for a long time and b) the more of the following that you are, the more of an oppressor that you are: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wbez.org/education/2024/07/09/chicagos-most-marginalized-students-have-almost-no-shot-of-getting-into-cps-elite-schools

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad. My critics/opponents ever-increasingly blame me for all of their problems, your problems, my problems, and everyone’s problems. They mainly blame me for all the losses that Republican candidate candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered. I should write about my critics/opponents and those candidates and the many big adverse actions that they have had their operatives and dupes take against me.
thing that is bad.
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/politics/pritzker-calls-55-2b-budget-responsible-and-balanced-warns-trump-policies-could-upend-it/article_3415cc6c-ef33-11ef-ab69-bf48b8db64d3.html

STATELINE
— IRS plans to lay off 7,000 probationary workers beginning Thursday (COMMENT: I worked for IRS 1971-1980.)
https://www.mystateline.com/news/national/ap-irs-plans-to-lay-off-7000-probationary-workers-beginning-thursday-ap-source-says/

WSIL TV
— Democrats ever-increasingly crow about their success in making children and everyone else sexually active LGBTQers. How much success have Democrats had doing that in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.wsiltv.com/news/health/population-identifying-as-lgbtq-in-the-us-has-nearly-doubled-since-2020-poll-finds/article_db540a40-8c28-5949-a7a8-4a96dd9d4432.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Senate Republicans voice rare dissent after Trump blames Ukraine for Russia’s invasion
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/senate-republicans-voice-rare-dissent-after-trump-blames-ukraine-for-russias-invasion-zelenskyy-american-russian-officials-putin-bipartisan-backlast-chuck-schumer-war

CHICAGO DEFENDER
— Pritzker ‘proud’ to join lawsuit against Trump over federal spending freezes (COMMENT: To get more votes from those who need/want/demand government assistance, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use government to give them more money. How dependent on government spending are those in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?)
https://chicagocrusader.com/pritzker-proud-to-join-lawsuit-against-trump-over-federal-spending-freezes/

BARRINGTON HILLS OBSERVER
— Do Over Scheduled for Meeting to Replace State Senator Dan McConchie
https://barringtonhillsobserver.com/2025/02/20/do-over-scheduled-for-meeting-to-replace-state-senator-dan-mcconchie/

NORTHERN STAR
— Democrats run Illinois. They ever-increasingly use the power that they have to drive Republicans out of Illinois who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://northernstar.info/123108/news/pritzker-talks-budget-rise-of-american-authoritarianism-at-state-of-the-state-address/

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— City Crews Tear Down Tents At Gompers Park Encampment On One Of Coldest Mornings Of The Year. The Park District said the city was removing “smoke stack components and propane tanks used to heat five, illegal structures” in the park. The rest of the encampment would be spared, they said.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/02/19/city-crews-tear-down-tents-at-gompers-park-encampment-on-one-of-the-coldest-mornings-of-the-year/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Democrats love Pritzker’s promotion of hate against Trump, that is, Democrats hate Trump. How much success has Pritzker had promoting hate against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/02/20/pritzker-packs-a-punch-00205092
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pritzker used the word “idiot” to describe Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk, and he compared the actions unfolding in Washington to Nazi Germany. The governor isn’t apologizing: He had a whole passage about the Nazis trying to march in Skokie. “I do not invoke the specter of Nazis lightly.” Pritzker said in his speech in the Illinois House chamber, adding he’s “watching with a foreboding dread what is happening in our country right now.” In a powerful passage, Pritzker added: “After we’ve discriminated against, deported or disparaged all the immigrants and the gay and lesbian and transgender people, the developmentally disabled, the women and the minorities — once we’ve ostracized our neighbors and betrayed our friends — After that, when the problems we started with are still there staring us in the face — what comes next?” The whole speech is here. Critics see Pritzker’s address as an effort to fuel his political aspirations, though the governor has denied that even saying so in his speech: “I am not speaking up in service to my ambitions — but in deference to my obligations.” Simply put, the governor told reporters later, he is “passionate” about his belief in the Constitution and sees the Trump administration’s efforts to sidestep that as an attack on Democracy. He’s not going to keep quiet about Trump. . .Latino Caucus lawmakers felt stung learning Pritzker wants to eliminate a healthcare benefit for noncitizen immigrants younger than 65. It’s a program that had huge support from Democrats when it was passed. And members of the Black Caucus wished they had heard the governor mention Black History Month or the importance of the Black community in his speech, noting the governor’s sweeping mention of diversity and equity was fine but not enough.)

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-459/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— Pritzker says he is fighting against Nazis in astounding speech
https://wirepoints.org/jb-pritzker-says-he-is-fighting-against-nazis-in-astounding-speech-wirepoints/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It was supposed to be the annual State of the State and Budget Address, but the most notable segment by far in Gov. J.B Pritzker’s Wednesday speech was what he said about Americans he opposes. That message was deliberate and unequivocal: “I do not invoke the specter of Nazis lightly,” he said after talking about his work building the Holocaust Museum and an earlier Nazi march. “I’m watching with a foreboding dread what is happening in our country right now,” Pritzker said, citing President Trump blaming a recent plane crash on diversity hiring and the Missouri Attorney General’s reverse discrimination lawsuit against Starbucks. “The authoritarian playbook is laid bare,” he said. “They point to a group of people who don’t look like you and tell you to blame them for your problems.” Pritzker continued. “I just have one question. What comes next? All the atrocities of human history lurk in the answer to that question. And if we don’t want to repeat history – then for God’s sake in this moment we better be strong enough to learn from it…. If you think I’m overreacting and sounding the alarm too soon, consider this: It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic.” Note that Pritzker’s words weren’t only about Donald Trump. The looming and sinister “they” are the Nazi threat, Pritzker said. The Missouri attorney general is an example. It’s not the first time Pritzker has made such an astonishing charge about so many Americans. Last year, he said all Republican Trump supporters are fascist. “Illinois Democrats have done more in the last five years to push back on the wave of authoritarian, anti-democratic MAGA Republican nonsense than in any other place in the country,” Pritzker said. “Leave it to us to raise the tallest flag in the fight against modern American fascism.” The full text of the relevant part of Pritzker’s speech is below. It’s difficult to imagine words more inflammatory and irresponsible than Pritzker’s. “Nazi” is perhaps the worst conceivable insult, they being tyrannical monsters who slaughtered some 20 million people during World War II and its run-up. How are Pritzker’s words not incitement to violence? To those convinced by Pritzker’s words, would it not be morally right, or even morally imperative, to use violence or even kill those who are bringing Nazism to America? Pritzker’s accusation applies to around half of America, with support growing. A recent CBS poll, for example, found Trump’s job approval rating at 53%. Support is much stronger, as that poll showed, for Trump policies to which Pritzker is most hostile, namely, those  on illegal immigration, deportations and DEI policies (diversity, equity and inclusion). Among other consequences of words as outrageous as Pritzker’s is his loss of credibility on matters that Trump can be reasonably criticized for. There’s no shortage of those. Most Americans, for example, don’t like Trump’s tariff policies, and even Trump’s Republican base doesn’t like his idea for America taking ownership of Gaza. On those and many other matters, Pritzker’s bombast about Nazism dooms him to irrelevance. All hope of constructive input is forfeited. The Trump Administration will laugh him off or perhaps impose reprisals on Illinois. Finally, does Pritzker not know that invoking the Holocaust and comparisons to Nazism must be used sparingly to preserve their impact when true risks arise? Who does Pritzker think benefits from insults like the ones he made? Presumably, he thinks it will help him in the next presidential race, but good luck with that. His speech will help nobody. Not him, his faction of the Democratic Party, the State of Illinois or the United States. Hatred and division help nobody. They are Nazis, he told us.)
— This wasn’t the budget speech that ordinary Illinoisans want to hear. They want tax relief, not more spending.
https://wirepoints.org/this-wasnt-the-budget-speech-that-ordinary-illinoisans-want-to-hear-they-want-tax-relief-not-more-spending-wirepoints-on-the-illinois-radio-network/
— Pritzker declares Lake Michigan is now “Lake Illinois.” The responses are perfect.
https://wirepoints.org/gov-pritzker-declares-lake-michigan-is-now-lake-illinois-the-responses-are-perfect-not-the-bee/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— State Election Board Vindicates Illinois Review in 6-0 Vote as Mayor Pekau Allies Fail to Silence Conservative Voice
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2025/02/state-election-board-vindicates-illinois-review-in-6-0-vote-as-mayor-pekau-allies-fail-to-silence-conservative-voice.html

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Pritzker’s magic beans: Growing a record-setting $55B Illinois budget
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzkers-magic-beans-growing-a-record-setting-55b-illinois-budget/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— How much success has Pritzker had promoting hatred against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct? I anticipate/expect to get a measure of Pritzker’s success when I hand-deliver Republican campaign literature and sample ballots to the 400 residences in my precinct that have at least one Republican or Independent voter for the April 1 election. Anticipate/expect that ever-increasingly, the more demographics that you share with Trump, the more that Pritzker will do to destroy you. Trump is conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, married, Protestant, German American, and his ancestors have been in America for a long time. Anticipate/expect that Pritzker will ever-increasingly focus on destroying those who do not share his demographics with Trump, especially those who are Protestant and/or German American. It is called religious discrimination and national origin discrimination. Are you Protestant? I am. I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran. Are you German American? I am. If you are, what do you stress in defense of your national origin? I stress that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI, that my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII, and that my father would have fought the Germans in WWII if he had not been 4-F. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Are you Protestant? Are you German American? To harm me, my critics/opponents, including those who are Protestant and/or German American, have always stressed that I am Protestant and German American. I should write about my critics/opponents who are Protestant and/or German American and who have taken the biggest/most adverse actions against me to curry favor with non-Protestants and/or with non-German Americans. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What is your position on IVF? During the 1980s, my Democrat GAO superiors used against me big time my and my wife giving up trying to have children without trying IVF even though they knew full-well that both of us had big fertility problems and that because of that, our doctor had advised against trying IVF. They stressed that IVF was covered by our health insurance and they punished me big time for our not trying IVF. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if my wife and I had children, I would not have been able to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, or pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981. I should write about my Democrat GAO superiors. I would focus on those who complained the most about the time and money they spent raising their children. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad. My critics/opponents ever-increasingly blame me for all of their problems, your problems, my problems, and everyone’s problems. They mainly blame me for all the losses that Republican candidate candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered. I should write about my critics/opponents and those candidates and the many big adverse actions that they have had their operatives and dupes take against me. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— To get more votes from those who need/want/demand government assistance, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use government to give them more money. How dependent on government spending are those in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Democrats run Illinois. They ever-increasingly use the power that they have to drive Republicans out of Illinois who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. – Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Democrat leaders like Duckworth ever-increasingly do everything that they can to turn veterans against Republicans. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, many, most, and at times, virtually all of my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrat veterans. To turn them against me, my Democrat superiors stressed to them that I avoided the Vietnam War draft. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if had not avoided the Vietnam War draft, I would not have been able to a) earn a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21, a master’s degree in business when I was 27, pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, earn a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, and pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32; b) buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23, 25, and 29; c) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35; and d) get married when I was 29. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Did you enlist? I did not. Worse yet, I avoided the Vietnam War draft. Since 1966, my critics/opponents have used that against me. They stress a) that I am a conservative Republican, b) that I was 1-A for the draft, and c) I would not have been sent into combat anyway because I could not run because I had a bone disease, my vision could not be corrected to 20/20, and I had partial red/green color blindness. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What is your position on age discrimination? My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors used up-or-out, that is, they used age discrimination big time to get rid of their Republican employees. They wrote off their Republican employees as being too old to be promoted if they had not made GS-13 (currently $117,807/year) by age 25, GS-14 ($139,211/year) by age 30, GS-15 ($163,749/year) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($195,200/year) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines. I should write about that. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What are your demographics? According to Democrat and RINO leaders, a) the more of the following that you are, the more marginalized that you are: liberal/moderate, Democrat, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, unmarried, poor, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or if your ancestors have not been in America for a long time and b) the more of the following that you are, the more of an oppressor that you are: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— CPAC attendees ecstatic about conservatives’ big wins in the new Trump-era
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/20/cpac-attendees-ecstatic-conservatives-big-wins-new-trump-era/

EPOOCH TIMES
— Trump Loves Idea of Sending Taxpayers Checks Funded by DOGE Savings. The proposal was first floated by businessman James Fishback, who called it a ‘DOGE dividend.’ (COMMENT: To justify its budget requests, GAO always stresses that its audits save the federal government far more tax dollars than its budget requests. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-107438 )
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-considers-returning-20-percent-of-doge-related-savings-to-americans-5813167
(FROM GAO’s FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST: In fiscal year 2023, GAO’s work yielded $70.4 billion in financial benefits. Our average return on investment for the past 6 years is $133 for every $1 invested in GAO. In this testimony before the House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Appropriations, U.S. Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro discusses GAO’s FY 2025 budget request. Our budget request will enable GAO to continue to meet key areas of importance to the nation and Congress including national security, fraud prevention, science and technology, cybersecurity, and health care costs. These resources will also support GAO’s IT modernization and space optimization efforts.)

FOX NEWS
— Trump signs executive order ending use of taxpayer money to ‘incentivize or support’ illegal immigration. A White House fact sheet said the executive order is to ensure taxes are used to ‘protect the interests of American citizens, not illegal aliens.’
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-signs-executive-order-ending-use-taxpayer-money-incentivize-support-illegal-immigration?lid=q4376bhn4ot7

NEWSMAX
— Democrats Criticize Trump IVF Order as ‘PR Stunt’ (COMMENT: During the 1980s, my Democrat GAO superiors used against me big time my and my wife giving up trying to have children without trying IVF even though they knew full-well that both of us had big fertility problems and that because of that, our doctor had advised against trying IVF. They stressed that IVF was covered by our health insurance and they punished me big time for our not trying IVF. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if my wife and I had children, I would not have been able to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, or pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981. I should write about my Democrat GAO superiors. I would focus on those who complained the most about the time and money they spent raising their children.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/trump-ivf-pr/2025/02/19/id/1199750/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— To these Black retirees, the federal civil service now under attack was a path to the middle class (COMMENT: According to my critics/opponents, all the federal jobs and promotions that I got should have been given to Blacks instead of me. The Post Office hired me when I was 18 years old in 1966. IRS hired me in 1971 and promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. GAO hired me in 1980 and promoted me in 1986. GAO forced me to retire in 1997 and gave my job and my preferred corner office to my Black subordinate. He had less work experience than I had, less education than I had, one professional certification while I had six, and had no professional license like the one I had.)
https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-civil-service-race-black-americans-64980891924f179c7395ed7443107ce5

USA TODAY
— Are you a fired federal employee? Here are resources to help you get back on your feet. (COMMENT: My Democrat GAO superiors not only wasted my career, took many adverse actions against me, and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997, they did everything that they could to stop me from getting a job appropriate for my work experience, professional certifications, and professional license. Their success in doing that drove me into Republican politics. I became a Republican Precinct Committeeman in 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor in 2000, an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member in 2001, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member in 2003, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman in 2005, the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2005, etc.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2025/02/17/what-to-do-lost-federal-government-job-resources/78976164007/

SACRAMENTO BEE
— Number of studio apartments has doubled in Sacramento region in last decade. ‘We do sacrifice’ (COMMENT: I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building when I was 25 years old in 1974. I lived in it weekdays until 1976 when I traded it in to the building’s developer for a one bedroom condo. During that time, I waked to/from my IRS job in Loop and graduate evening business courses at Loyola. I spent weekends in my townhome in University Park that I had bought in 1972.)
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article298981875.html

STARS AND STRIPES
— ‘On the backs of veterans’: Senators rail against federal workforce purge as vets hit hard by cuts (COMMENT: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, many, most, and at times, virtually all of my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrat veterans. To turn them against me, my Democrat superiors stressed to them that I avoided the Vietnam War draft. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if had not avoided the Vietnam War draft, I would not have been able to a) earn a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21, a master’s degree in business when I was 27, pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, earn a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, and pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32; b) buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23, 25, and 29; c) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35; and d) get married when I was 29.)
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-02-19/veterans-federal-firings-trump-musk-16888063.html

C-SPAN
— VP Vance & Republicans Deliver Remarks at CPAC
https://www.c-span.org/event/public-affairs-event/vp-vance-republicans-deliver-remarks-at-cpac/431061
— Democrats run Illinois. They ever-increasingly use the power that they have to drive Republicans out of Illinois who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.c-span.org/clip/state-legislature/illinois-governor-pritzker-warns-against-threats-to-american-democracy-in-state-of-the-state-address/5154061

NBC NEWS
— Democrats run Illinois. They ever-increasingly use the power that they have to drive Republicans out of Illinois who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-warns-against-authoritarianism-in-address-232454725674

BARRON’S
— CPAC: American Conservatives Gather To Savor Trump’s Triumph
https://www.barrons.com/news/american-conservatives-gather-to-savor-trump-s-triumph-468d4b89

360 LAW
— Chicago’s Art Institute School Hit With Age Bias Claims (COMMENT: My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors used up-or-out, that is, they used age discrimination big time to get rid of their Republican employees. They wrote off their Republican employees as being too old to be promoted if they had not made GS-13 (currently $117,807/year) by age 25, GS-14 ($139,211/year) by age 30, GS-15 ($163,749/year) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($195,200/year) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines. I should write about that.)
https://www.law360.com/employment-authority/wage-hour/articles/2299888/chicago-s-art-institute-school-hit-with-age-bias-claims

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
— Amnesty International sides with countries that send their citizens into America to destroy America.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/02/the-right-to-seek-asylum-does-not-exist-at-u-s-mexico-border/

COMPASS
— FOR SALE: 1000 Delles Road, Wheaton – $889,000
https://www.compass.com/listing/1000-delles-road-wheaton-il-60189/1776211843058275473/
— FOR SALE: 1044 Golf Lane, Wheaton – $1.075,000
https://www.compass.com/listing/1044-golf-lane-wheaton-il-60189/1258102091755862113/
— FOR SALE: 1011 Penny Lane, Wheaton – $1,139,000
https://www.compass.com/listing/1011-penny-lane-wheaton-il-60189/1779055728122503841/

February 19, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC5
— Fired federal workers protest Trump administration cuts as others speak out in support (COMMENT: If you were me, what position would you take on federal employees. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years (Post Office-3, IRS-9, and GAO-18), virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats. Extremely few sided with me. Virtually none came to my defense. Many helped my Democrat superiors waste my career and take adverse actions against me including forcing me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. Overwhelmingly, they promoted Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, they promoted race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and/or national origin discrimination.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SsrWEuGTRs

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Libertyville Township has unrelated O’Connors facing off for supervisor; ‘We were just blessed with the same last name’ (COMMENT: What offices are on the April 1 ballot in your precinct? Who are the candidates? How much do you know about them? How have those candidates treated your Republican Precinct Committeeman?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/18/libertyville-township-has-unrelated-oconnors-facing-off-for-supervisor-we-were-just-blessed-with-the-same-last-name/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump’s Friday firings leave EPA Chicago office down dozens of scientists, staff  (COMMENT: Republican-led budget cuts during the 1980s and 1990s left GAO’s Chicago office down dozens of auditors. I was one of those auditors that my Democrat GAO superiors forced into early retirement.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/environment/2025/02/18/trump-fires-epa-chicago-scientists-staff-environmental-protection-agency
— Democrats oppose anything and everything that discourages voter fraud.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/02/18/safeguard-american-voter-eligibility-illinois-citizenship-passport-birth-certificate-becky-simon

NPR ILLINOIS
— She worked for years to get a federal job. Within a month, she was fired (COMMENT: The Democrats who ran GAO in 1980, IRS in 1971, and the Post Office in 1966 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job.  My passing the postal employment examination and earning a high school diploma qualified me for the Post Office job. My passing the Federal Service Entrance Examination and earning a bachelor’s degree in management qualified me the IRS job. My earning an MBA, passing the CPA examination on my first attempt, and almost completing the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting qualified me for the GAO job.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-19/she-worked-for-years-to-get-a-federal-job-within-a-month-she-was-fired
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A dream job. Rose is the daughter of immigrants and grew up on the East Coast. For her entire professional life, she had wanted to work in the government. She’d done a few internships around Washington, D.C., before taking a job as a consultant. In that role, she’d worked alongside federal workers on environmental cleanup and clean energy projects. Working with those federal employees inspired her to pursue a job as a civil servant. But, she says, she soon learned that “getting a job in the federal government is a science in itself.” Initially, she was rejected from several positions. Undaunted, Rose steeped herself in the language of the U.S. government. She taught herself an endless list of acronyms and bought a book on how to build a résumé that would make her more attractive to federal work. Then late last year, she got what she thought was going to be her big break. She had interviewed at the Department of Energy for a job helping to oversee a portfolio of renewable energy projects. She says the hiring process was a monthslong ordeal, during which, she jokes, she told them everything except “what my blood type is.” In December, she got the call from human resources telling her she’d landed the role. “I was with a friend at the time,” she says. “And I just kept saying over and over, ‘I got the job! I got the job!'” It was going to be a turning point in her life: “It really felt like … my career is beginning, because this is the job I want,” she recalls.)

WOKV
— ‘Now I have a voice’: Jacksonville sheriff joins statewide illegal immigration crackdown
https://www.wokv.com/news/local/now-i-have-voice-jacksonville-sheriff-joins-statewide-illegal-immigration-crackdown/AGNOWOCVPNBXHMIWPMNIJGNBRQ/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump imposes his vision on America
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-trump-imposes-his-vision-on-america-in-departure-from-first-term-stumbles/

WAND TV
— Rep. Will Davis (D- East Hazel Crest), who chairs the House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee, calls for more Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, for more race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that all the problems that minorities and females have are caused by Republicans.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/statehouse/rep-blaine-wilhour-argues-illinois-should-stop-focusing-on-equity-in-education-funding/article_b0c6b2da-ee4d-11ef-ade8-67c4623f0b02.html

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Anticipate/expect that ever-increasingly, hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will blame for everything that is bad.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/02/19/pritzkers-budget-reveal-00204837

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/19/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-458/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois has spent billions and billions on illegal immigrants…and that’s just the money we can see publicly
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-has-spent-billions-and-billions-on-illegal-immigrants-and-thats-just-the-money-we-can-see-publicly-wirepoints-on-am-560-chicagos-morning-answer/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Morning Greatness: Most Americans Say Foreign Aid Is Wasted on Corruption
https://amgreatness.com/2025/02/18/morning-greatness-most-americans-say-foreign-aid-is-wasted-on-corruption/
— Support for President Trump’s Tariffs on China: A Strategic Move Towards Equitable Global Relations. Trump’s tariffs on China target fentanyl, economic espionage, and human rights abuses, signaling a hardline stance on trade and national security.
https://amgreatness.com/2025/02/19/support-for-president-trumps-tariffs-on-china-a-strategic-move-towards-equitable-global-relations/

BREITBART
— Fmr. GAO Head David Walker: DOGE Opponents Aren’t ‘Providing Any Support’ for Claims It’s Breaking Law
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/02/19/fmr-gao-head-doge-opponents-arent-providing-any-support-for-claims-its-breaking-law/

CENTER SQUARE
— IRS tax gap grows to $600 billion as DOGE looks for savings (COMMENT: I worked for GAO for 3 years on audits of IRS’s efforts to close the tax gap.)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_ecd0de72-ee0c-11ef-848d-ebb54839938d.html

CHRISTIAN POST
— Wheaton College alumni flood petition for leadership change amid ‘pernicious drift’
https://www.christianpost.com/news/wheaton-college-alumni-flood-petition-to-change-leadership.html

COLLEGE FIX
— Trump finds nearly $1 billion in Education Department waste
https://www.thecollegefix.com/trump-finds-nearly-1-billion-in-education-department-waste/

DAVID ARMANO
— These federal employees have no idea how private sector workers view them. Wow, they live in a world of their own with guaranteed job security, unions and legal armies ready to do battle on their behalf. A completely different set of rules. (COMMENT: If you were me, what position would you take on federal employees. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years (Post Office-3, IRS-9, and GAO-18), virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats. Extremely few sided with me. Virtually none came to my defense. Many helped my Democrat superiors waste my career and take adverse actions against me including forcing me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. Overwhelmingly, they promoted Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, they promoted race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and/or national origin discrimination.)
https://x.com/armano/status/1892047499755409808?mx=2

EPOCH TIMES
— Trump Terminates Biden-Era US Attorneys in DOJ Overhaul. The president stated that the move was necessary to restore a ‘fair justice system’ in the country. (COMMENT: My critics/opponents have always stressed that my Republican U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald appointed U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald who sided with my Democrat GAO superiors in Diersen v. GAO. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors is to promote Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, to promote race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-terminates-biden-era-us-attorneys-in-doj-overhaul-5812443

FOX NEWS
— Deportation flights are ‘the most profoundly impactful tactic’ to deter illegal immigration (COMMENT: Anticipate/expect that many, most, if not virtually all of those who are deported will return.)
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6369027551112

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CNN
— Trump administration terminates privacy officials at agency overseeing government hiring and firing
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/18/politics/opm-privacy-team-fired/index.html

NEWSWEEK
— Musk Says Some DOGE Workers Are Federal Employees
https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-doge-employees-hannity-interview-2033017

NBC NEWS
— Despite DOGE, Trump’s agenda calls for adding trillions of dollars to U.S debt. Budget experts say Trump’s tax and spending priorities would increase red ink, even as he boasts of balancing the budget. “I don’t think their rhetoric matches reality,” says one.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/doge/doge-trumps-agenda-calls-adding-trillions-dollars-us-debt-rcna191665

CBS NEWS
— Tension between sanctuary cities and federal immigration crackdown
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/tension-between-sanctuary-cities-and-federal-immigration-crackdown/

MSN
— Boeing’s new Air Force One delayed until 2029 or later
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/boeing-s-new-air-force-one-delayed-until-2029-or-later-official-says/ar-AA1zeNrN

WASHINGTON POST
— U.S. Catholic bishops sue Trump administration over blocked refugee funds. The suit says the impact of the administration’s action is “devastating” for the Church and the refugees it serves. (COMMENT: According to Democrat leaders, sooner or later, everyone outside of America who is one of the following a) is a refugee, b) will be a refugee, and c) should be admitted as a refugee: minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, disabled, poor, non-Protestant, non-German American.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/02/18/catholic-bishops-sue-trump-refugee-funds/
— FEMA is losing scores of employees. What does that mean for disaster recovery? Cuts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency could affect people across the country who are struggling to rebuild and prepare for disasters. (COMMENT: I should write about the tremendous negative impacts of Republican gutting of GAO during the 1980s and 1990s.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/02/18/fema-layoffs-disaster-response/
— Trump and Musk praise each other, promise ‘hundreds of billions’ in cuts during Fox interview
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/18/trump-presidency-news/
— Youngkin promises help for federal workers but defends Trump job cuts. In his first extended remarks on the Trump cuts, Youngkin acknowledges many are anxious but says the process is needed and that state help is coming. (COMMENT: In Diersen v. GAO, virtually everyone sided with the Democrats who ran GAO. Those who sided with GAO were many, most, if not virtually all of the following: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, LGBTQ, veteran, disabled, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/02/18/virginia-youngkin-trump-federal-jobs/
— Why people aren’t having kids (COMMENT: My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors used my and my wife’s giving up trying to have children to justify the big adverse actions that they took against me. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I had lied about our efforts to have children. They stressed that we did not try IVF knowing full-well that our doctors said it would not be successful. They shouted that we could have adopted or become foster parents but did not.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/02/18/fertility-decline-women-kids-claudia-goldin/

USA TODAY
— Trump’s mass firing of probationary employees illegal, not performance-based, lawyers say (COMMENT: After I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors were furious that they could not use their probationary procedures to fire me because I had served my probationary period while I worked for IRS.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/18/trump-mass-firings-federal-workers-illegal/79070972007/
— Barron Trump is ‘future of conservative movement’ say College Republicans
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/19/barron-trump-nyu-conservative-republican/79104907007/
— Trump said he was the ‘father of IVF.’ After his executive order, these voters are rejoicing.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/02/19/ivf-trump-insurance-executive-order-reactions/78405547007/

UNION JOURNAL
— Trump Has Used $10.7 Million in Taxpayer Funds for Golf Expenses
https://www.theunionjournal.com/donald-trump-has-used-10-7-million-in-taxpayer-funds-for-golf-expenses/

BLOOMBERG
— Trump Accelerates Mass Firing of Federal Workers
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-02-18/trump-accelerates-mass-firing-of-federal-workers-evening-briefing

FAST COMPANY
— How federal workers are mobilizing against Trump, Musk, and DOGE. In response to sudden firings, government workers from across departments are starting a protest movement to fight back—and are targeting Tesla dealerships.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91280631/how-federal-workers-are-mobilizing-against-trump-musk-and-doge

WORLD AND WAY
— Wheaton College Clash Over Russell Vought Escalates, Exposing Evangelical Fault Lines
https://wordandway.org/2025/02/19/wheaton-college-clash-over-russell-vought-escalates-exposing-evangelical-fault-lines/

INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— Democrat and RINO leaders use DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/02/19/higher-ed-groups-push-back-trumps-dei-threats

GOVERNMENT EXCUTIVE
— Thousands join class actions as fired feds weigh options to challenge Trump’s moves. Former federal probationary employees are hopeful they can prove their dismissals were not actually performance based, as their agencies claim. (COMMENT: After I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors were furious that they could not use their probationary procedures to fire me because I had served my probationary period while I worked for IRS.)
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/02/thousands-join-class-actions-fired-feds-weigh-options-challenge-trumps-moves/403087/

FED MANAGER
— Federal Agencies Start Mass Layoffs, Probationary Employees Targeted (COMMENT: After I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors were furious that they could not use their probationary procedures to fire me because I had served my probationary period while I worked for IRS.)
https://www.fedmanager.com/news/federal-agencies-start-mass-layoffs-probationary-employees-targeted

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Fired probationary employees bring class-wide complaint to OSC (COMMENT: After I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors were furious that they could not use their probationary procedures to fire me because I had served my probationary period while I worked for IRS.)
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce-rightsgovernance/2025/02/fired-probationary-employees-bring-class-wide-complaint-to-osc/

FED WEEK
— Federal Workplace Likely to Be Topic in Hearing on New GAO High-Risk List (COMMENT: At that hearing, Republicans should stress that GAO wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old. My Democrat GAO superiors wasted what I had learned a) working for GAO for almost 18 years and for IRS for almost 9 years before that, b) earning six job-related professional certifications, c) earning a job-related professional license, and d) earning three job-related master’s degrees. Who does Trump want the next head of GAO to be, that is, who does Trump want the next Comptroller General to be?)
https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/federal-workplace-likely-to-be-topic-in-hearing-on-new-gao-high-risk-list/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Democrats likely will use the hearing to point out that among GAO’s concerns in all such reports since they started in 2001 is what GAO calls “strategic management of human capital.” Main issues cited have included persistent shortages of federal employees with needed skills in areas such as cybersecurity and other IT functions, the STEM fields in general, acquisition, HR, and others—along with the need for better planning and building up capacity for the workforce of the future. The prior report said that shortages of employees were “undermining agencies’ abilities to meet their missions.” Closing those gaps “will require demonstrated improvements in agencies’ capacity to perform workforce planning, foster employee engagement, train staff effectively, and recruit and retain the appropriate number of staff with the necessary skills,” it said.)

AFGE
— AFGE Condemns Trump’s Mass Firing of Federal Employees
https://www.afge.org/article/afge-condemns-trumps-mass-firing-of-federal-employees/

NARFE
— NARFE Members Denounce Fed Firings During Nationwide Protests. Act Now: Protect Federal Earned Federal Retirement and Health Benefits from Budget Cuts. Urge Congress to Stand Up for Public Servants, Rule of Law. (COMMENT: I have been a NARFE member since I was 40 years old in 1988.)
https://www.narfe.org/advocacy/legislative-action-center/?_zs=NUifm&_zl=k7OF3

REDDIT
— Some federal workers are ‘getting wealthy at taxpayer expense,’ says Elon Musk, whose companies have received at least $20 billion from the government. (COMMENT: I was a federal employee for almost 30 years. My critic/opponents have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being overpaid.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/50501/comments/1isvn9q/some_federal_workers_are_getting_wealthy_at/?rdt=63007

INSTAGRAM
— 3rd of federal workers are veterans. The federal government is largely a jobs program for them.(COMMENT: My Democrat superiors who took adverse actions against me were veterans and/or used their subordinates who were veterans to do that. I should write about that. Of course, they stressed that I avoided the Vietnam War draft.)
https://www.instagram.com/thetnholler/p/DGPScQstOrO/

February 18, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CBS2
— Durbin, congresspeople highlight what they say would be detrimental effects of federal spending cuts (COMMENT: To what extent is your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct dependent on federal spending?)
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/durbin-congresspeople-detrimental-effects-federal-spending-cuts/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote their protests against Trump.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/protesters-rally-in-chicago-against-president-trumps-policies/

WGN9
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote their protests against Trump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFkVQUBlIoY
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/chicago-presidents-day-trump-musk-protests/
— Illinois Congressional Democrats rail against Trump, Musk cuts (COMMENT: To what extent is your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct dependent on federal spending?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luDPZki4H5Q

FOX32
— Illinois Dem lawmakers push back against Trump budget cuts (COMMENT: To what extent is your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct dependent on federal spending?)
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1594717

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/18/opinion-illinois-fighting-unconcstitutional-actions-donald-trump/
— Homer Township Reset slate challenges Freedom Caucus incumbents in Republican Primary
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/17/homer-township-republican-primary/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote their protests against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/02/17/protesters-march-donald-trump-nationwide-presidents-day-demonstration
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2025/02/17/trump-presidency-republicans-maga-mean-federal-layoffs-debt-conservatives-new-party-usaid

NPR ILLINOIS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote their protests against Trump.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-17/thousands-of-people-protest-in-washington-d-c-and-across-the-u-s-on-presidents-day

WCIA
— Central Illinois federal workers face unemployment, uncertainty (COMMENT: Because of Republican-led budget cuts, all during the almost 18 years that I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, I faced Democrat retaliation, that is, I faced political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. I should write about that.)
https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-county/there-were-people-crying-central-illinois-federal-workers-face-unemployment-uncertainty/

WAND TV
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/planned-parenthood-of-illinois-expands-medication-abortion-access-through-app/article_206323fe-edf3-11ef-ab84-1f11aa00a2cd.html

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— TROLLING TRUMP: The Illinois Democratic Party has been trolling President Donald Trump by projecting digital phrases onto the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago’s River North neighborhood and a stream of online messaging.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/02/18/richard-irvin-returns-to-the-ring-00204650

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/18/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-457/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— How much success have the Democrat and RINO leaders of your county, township, municipality, and school district had promoting fear, anger, and hatred against Trump and against those who voted for Trump? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— I should write about the tremendous negative impacts from Republican gutting GAO instead of Republican reforming of GAO. If Republicans had reformed GAO, the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997 would not have been able to a) force me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, b) delay my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13, c) always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, or d) force me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— GAO is supposed to fight waste in the federal government. But Democrats run the federal government and Democrats run GAO. I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997. Because I have always been a Republican, they did not want me fight waste. To get rid of me, they. a) forced me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, b) delayed my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13, c) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and d) forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. They wasted what I had learned a) working for GAO for almost 18 years and for IRS for almost 9 years, b) earning three job-related master’s degrees, c) earning six job-related professional certifications, and d) earning a job-related professional license. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— According to my critics/opponents, the courts in Diersen v. GAO decided that employers can fire their employees a) because they oppose political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination and/or b) because they have performance problems. According to my critics/opponents, both of the aforesaid applied to me a) because I was an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged my employer with reverse discrimination and age discrimination and b) because my employer never promoted me beyond GS-13 and always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance. According to them, I had to have performance problems because they took those adverse actions against me even though I had three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. But in fact, they took those adverse actions against me a) because I opposed their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination and b) because I was an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination and age discrimination. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What do your critics/opponents stress about you to turn people against you? My critics/opponents stress that I am conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, my ancestors have been in America since 1844, I was a federal employee for almost 30 years and almost 9 of which working for IRS, I have been a federal retiree for more than 27 years, I have been married for almost 47 years, I have more education than they have, I have six professional certifications and a professional license, I have more real estate, vehicles, and/or money than they have, I have better health than they have, etc. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What do your critics/opponents stress to promote envy against you? Mine stress that I have been a federal retiree for more than 27 years, that I have been married for almost 47 years, that I have more education than they have, that I have six professional certifications and a professional license, that I have more real estate, vehicles, and/or money than they have, that I have better health than they have, etc.
http://www.gopillinois.com

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Congressman Robert C. McClory’s Significant Law
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/17/congressman-robert-c-mcclorys-significant-law/
— Crystal Lake Grade School District Has 20% Fewer Students Than in 2008, But More Staff
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/17/crystal-lake-grade-school-district-has-20-fewer-students-than-in-2008-but-more-staff/
— The Censures of Randy Funk – Part 1
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/17/the-censures-of-randy-funk-part-1/
— The Contract with Peter Bensinger I Would Not Sign in the Thompson Administration
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/17/the-contract-with-peter-bensinger-i-would-not-sign-in-the-thompson-administration/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

U.S. Department of HOMELAND SECURITY
— Secretary Kristi Noem announced a nationwide and international multimillion-dollar ad campaign warning illegal aliens to leave our country now or face deportation with the inability to return to the United States. The international ads warn criminal illegal aliens not to come to America and break its laws or they will be hunted down and deported. (COMMENT: Of course, Democrats and RINOs oppose/reject the aforesaid.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hezXQvjzCkQ

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Time to go: DHS tells illegal immigrants to ‘self-deport and stay out’  Secretary Kristi Noem vows ‘We will hunt you down’
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/17/dhs-tells-illegal-immigrants-self-deport-stay/

NEW YORK POST
— AOC’s harmful migrant assistance (COMMENT: It is criminal to help people commit crimes.)
https://nypost.com/2025/02/17/opinion/aocs-harmful-migrant-assistance-letters/
— Eric Adams is a hostage to New Yorkers’ will — not to Donald Trump
https://nypost.com/2025/02/17/opinion/memo-to-eric-adams-critics-hes-a-hostage-to-nyers-will-not-donald-trump/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Buttigieg insinuates that Trump’s IG firing spree has something to do with promoting ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ (COMMENT: When the Democrats who ran GAO’s Chicago Office forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997, the Democrats who ran IG offices in Chicago could have offered to hire me, but they did not. I should write about those who they hired instead of me.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/02/buttigieg_insinuates_that_trump_s_ig_firing_spree_has_something_to_do_with_promoting_waste_fraud_and_abuse.html

BREITBART
— Supreme Court Path for President Trump on Birthright Citizenship
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/17/scotus-path-birthright-citizenship-trump/
— Kristi Noem Warns Migrants Against Entering U.S. Illegally: ‘You Will Be Caught’
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/17/kristi-noem-warns-migrants-entering-u-s-illegally-will-be-caught/

FOX BUSINESS
— DOGE critics are in favor of government waste  (COMMENT: GAO is supposed to fight waste in the federal government. But Democrats run the federal government and Democrats run GAO. I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997. Because I have always been a Republican, they did not want me fight waste. To get rid of me, they. a) forced me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, b) delayed my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13, c) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and d) forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. They wasted what I had learned a) working for GAO for almost 18 years and for IRS for almost 9 years, b) earning three job-related master’s degrees, c) earning six job-related professional certifications, and d) earning a job-related professional license.)
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6368973252112

FOX NEWS
— Homan takes victory lap after illegal immigrant crossings plummet during Trump admin: ‘He is delivering’  Homan said it’s the lowest he’s seen since President Reagan was in office.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/homan-victory-lap-after-illegal-immigrant-crossings-plummet-during-trump-admin-delivering

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Dear DOGE – Why Is The U.S. Government Funding “Media Literacy” Informers And Indoctrination?  DHS, Defense, and State are all involved. I know, I took the trainings. Do Secretaries Noem, Hegseth, and Rubio know?
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/02/dear-doge-why-is-the-u-s-government-funding-media-literacy-informers-and-indoctrination/

NEWSMAX
— Some Shelters Close as Migrant Flow Slows
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/migrant-shelters-closing-border/2025/02/17/id/1199406/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC NEWS
— Supreme Court could decide who Trump is allowed to fire (COMMENT: According to my critics/opponents, the courts in Diersen v. GAO decided that employers can fire their employees a) because they oppose political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination and/or b) because they have performance problems. According to my critics/opponents, both of the aforesaid applied to me a) because I was an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged my employer with reverse discrimination and age discrimination and b) because my employer never promoted me beyond GS-13 and always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance (PFP). According to them, I had to have performance problems because they took those adverse actions against me even though I had three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. But in fact, they took those adverse actions against me a) because I opposed their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination and b) because I was an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination and age discrimination.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq2hVZ_zz94

MSN
— Hegseth reports that IRS has audited him and says he owes $33,558.16. (COMMENT: I should write about why my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pete-hegseth-shares-back-taxes-self-own-while-blasting-biden-irs-for-audit/ar-AA1zfqGt
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Fox News host until being nominated by Donald Trump to lead the Defense Department, Hegseth’s annual salary at the media company was north of $2 million, according to a financial disclosure report he filed as part of the confirmation process. Additionally, he earned $900,000 in speaking engagement fees over the last two years, according to the report. As Secretary of Defense, Hegseth will be paid $246,000 per year. The Trump administration is expected to soon announce substantial layoffs at the IRS. Furthermore, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is looking to gain access to the IRS’s highly-classified system for housing taxpayers’ financial information.)

ASSOCIATED PRESS & MSNBC & NEWSWEEK & LOS ANGELES & ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER & NBC BOSTON & ABC DENVER & BUSINESS TIMES
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote their protests against Trump.
https://apnews.com/article/president-donald-trump-protest-c8796556fbf20e796f42167f61c3d942
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLJLFiB6bb8
https://www.newsweek.com/photos-show-trump-musk-50501-protests-across-us-2032448
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-17/presidents-day-rally-long-beach
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/02/17/on-presidents-day-in-irvine-demonstrators-rally-against-president-trump-and-elon-musk/
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/politics/presidents-day-brings-protests-against-trumps-policies/3634753/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKbNe3qG8MQ
https://www.btimesonline.com/articles/172879/20250218/no-kings-on-presidents-day-rallies-target-trump-policies-musk-s-influence.htm

NEW YORK TIMES
— What do your critics/opponents stress to promote envy against you? Mine stress that I have been a federal retiree for more than 27 years, that I have been married for almost 47 years, that I have more education than they have, that I have six professional certifications and a professional license, that I have more real estate, vehicles, and/or money than they have, that I have better health than they have, etc.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/03/learning/do-you-ever-feel-envious-of-others.html
— Democrats Fear They Are Missing the Moment to Remake the Party. As President Trump steamrolls over their priorities, Democrats say they could miss the opportunity to learn lessons from their defeat and undertake needed reform. (COMMENT: From what I see, the Democrat Party will forever promote dependency on government charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the Second Amendment, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. By doing the aforesaid, the Democrat Party wants to get more votes from those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, are in America illegally, boozers, gamblers, stoners, and criminals.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/us/politics/democrats-trump-future.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Trump Targets a Growing List of Those He Sees as Disloyal. In his first month in office, the president has carried out a campaign of retribution that has little analogue in history. (COMMENT: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty and destroy those like me who they cannot manipulate or dominate, who refuse to glorify and praise them, who refuse to pander to them, who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, who refuse to coverup their wrongdoing, and/or who refuse to give them money.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/us/politics/trump-retribution-list.html

USA TODAY
— Federal government has wasted trillions. Trump and Musk are saying, ‘Enough!’
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/02/17/trump-musk-doge-government-waste-national-debt/78518870007/

WEEK
— How much did Germany pay as WWI reparations? Here’s why Donald Trump’s proposed $500 billion offer for Ukraine is even worse. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked his officials to reject Donald Trump administration’s $500 billion deal, saying it does not give adequate security guarantees for Kyiv.
https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2025/02/18/how-much-did-germany-pay-as-wwi-reparations-here-s-why-donald-trump-s-proposed-500-billion-offer-for-ukraine-is-even-worse.html

WBAL TV
— Employees across federal agencies detail impacts of layoffs, DOGE action (COMMENT: I should write about the tremendous negative impacts of Republicans gutting GAO instead of reforming GAO. If Republicans had reformed GAO, the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997 would not have been able to a) force me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, b) delay my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13, c) always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, or d) force me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.)
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/federal-employees-layoffs-impacts-doge-executive-orders/63821109

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Media Claim to Find No Fraud in Government. Then again, they also told us Biden was sharp as a tack and nothing was amiss at the border.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-media-claim-to-find-no-fraud-in-government-waste-abuse-agencies-8ed673b2
— 6 Ways to Fix the Job-Application Nightmare. Companies are needlessly hurting their reputations among potential employees. Here’s what they can do to improve the process—and attract better talent. (COMMENT: I did not apply to be an IRS employee. IRS offered me a job because I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination.)
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/job-search-applications-fixes-476ed638
— America’s Trumpiest City Council Is Thriving—in Newsom’s California. Huntington Beach has become a laboratory for Trump-style local governance; ‘non-sanctuary city’ status and a MAGA plaque at the library. (COMMENT: How strongly do the Republican leaders of the following support Trump: a) your state senate and house districts, county, township, municipality, and school board and b) the Illinois Republican Party and your Republican county and township/ward party organizations?)
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/americas-trumpiest-city-council-is-thrivingin-newsoms-california-e671f21c

INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— Anticipate/expect that Democrat and RINO leaders will ever-increasingly use DEI to get rid of Republicans
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/race-ethnicity/2025/02/18/after-trumps-diversity-threats-what-should-colleges-do

February 17, 2025

ABC7
— Trump mug shot hung just outside Oval Office
https://abc7chicago.com/post/president-donald-trumps-mug-shot-fulton-county-jail-georgia-hung-outside-oval-office-photos-show/15916528/
— Trump tours Boeing plane to highlight aircraft maker’s delay in delivering a new Air Force One
https://abc7chicago.com/post/donald-trump-tours-boeing-747-plane-highlight-aircraft-makers-delay-delivering-new-air-force-presidential/15915490/
— Fired federal workers speak out on recent terminations: ‘we’re under attack by billionaires’ (COMMENT: I did more than speak out when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. I filed Diersen v. GAO. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf  My critics/opponents side with GAO in that lawsuit, that is, they promote political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
https://abc7chicago.com/post/federal-layoffs-fired-workers-speak-recent-terminations-were-attack-billionaires/15915591/


WTTW
— An Illinois DOGE?
Rep. John Cabello’s (R-Rockford) Proposal Would Create New Department
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/17/illinois-doge-republican-state-lawmaker-s-proposal-would-create-new-department

WBBM
— LaHood trusts Trump’s implementation of the Republican Party platform. To what extent do the Republican leaders in your county, township, municipality, and school district share LaHood’s trust? Which planks in the Republican Party platform do the aforesaid leaders accept or reject?
https://www.audacy.com/wbbm780/news/local/congressman-lahood-trusts-trump-administration-musk

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Democrats ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/17/cook-county-health-planned-parenthood-partnership-englewood/
— Trump’s moves to end foreign aid agency hit close to home in Illinois
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/17/ctc-l-trump-usaid-spending-illinois/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Chicago area federal workers on edge as Trump guts agencies: ‘It’s devastating’  More than 48,000 federal workers in and around Chicago have been on edge for weeks as President Donald Trump aims to drastically reduce the federal workforce. (COMMENT: Virtually all federal employees are Democrats. If I was still a federal employee, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates would have killed me by now figuratively if not literally. When Republicans gutted GAO in the 1990s, my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/donald-trump/2025/02/16/federal-workers-chicago-trump-buyouts-layoffs
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/la-voz/work-permit-immigration-eligibility-chicago

DAILY HERALD
— As federal workers and aid recipients reel, Trump’s team is unmoved (COMMENT: I reeled big time when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old. I filed Diersen v. GAO. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf )
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250215/nation-and-world-politics/as-federal-workers-and-aid-recipients-reel-trumps-team-is-unmoved/
— Illinois leaders: Stop pushing for big government, start helping small businesses
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250215/business/illinois-leaders-stop-pushing-for-big-government-start-helping-small-businesses/

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Daytona 500 resumes after lengthy rain delay; Trump on hand for start of NASCAR’s biggest race. The Daytona 500 has resumed after two weather delay totaling more than 3 1/2 hours, and with President Donald Trump set to watch the rest of the race in Florida, after he earlier led drivers on two laps around the track in his heavily armored presidential limousine known in Washington as “The Beast.”
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/daytona-500-resumes-after-lengthy-rain-delay-trump-on-hand-for-start-of-nascars-biggest/article_cbec048e-62f3-5f04-b0d8-22239f18aa2e.html

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to let the firing of whistleblower agency head proceed (COMMEMT: I was a whistleblower. I ever-increasingly blew the whistle on political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination in the federal government. The Bush administration wanted me to suffer the retaliation that I did for my doing that.)
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/trump-administration-wants-the-supreme-court-to-20170946.php

NPR ILLINOIS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more protests against Trump.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-16/protests-are-set-to-take-place-on-presidents-day-heres-why

WCIA
— Presidents dominate their DOJs. My critics/opponents stress that while Bush was president, his DOJ sided with the Democrats against me in Diersen v. GAO, that is, that Bush wanted political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.wcia.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-justice-departments-independence-is-threatened-as-trumps-team-asserts-power-over-cases-and-staff/

WAND TV
— Trump attends the Daytona 500 and says the spirit of NASCAR will ‘fuel America’s Golden Age’  President Donald Trump says the spirit of NASCAR will “fuel America’s Golden Age.”
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/trump-attends-the-daytona-500-and-says-the-spirit-of-nascar-will-fuel-americas-golden/article_68c448c7-3894-5da3-ab9c-45a47a8dabd3.html
— Local federal employees in Illinois among those who’ve been fired nationally  (COMMENT: During the 1980s and 1990s, I was among those Republican GAO employees who the Democrats who ran GAO punished for Republican-led budget cuts. They forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997 because of Republican-led budget cuts.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8_KiZcXA1Q

FOX ILLINOIS
— Rubio backs Israel’s Gaza strategy as ceasefire faces uncertainty amid Hamas tensions
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/rubio-in-israel-says-hamas-must-be-eradicated-casting-further-doubt-on-gazas-shaky-cease

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What if the federal government had to look like America? It certainly does not now. Virtually all federal employees are Democrats. But Republican Trump got 50% of the vote. What if 50% of federal employee had to be Republican? The Democrats who ran GAO in 1980, IRS in 1971, and the Post Office in 1966 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. Because I am a Republican, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974 if I had not been taking graduate evening business courses. Virtually none of my coworkers had done that. Because I am a Republican, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have promoted me in 1986 if I had not earned an MBA in 1976, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, and passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981. None of my coworkers had done anything close to that. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What discourages Republicans from seeking federal jobs? Virtually all federal employees are Democrats. Democrat superiors and supervisors in the federal government give preference to their employees who are Democrat, and especially to those who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran, that is, they discriminate against their employees who are Republican, and especially against those who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. What could Trump do about the aforesaid? He could use me as an example. If I had been a Democrat, the federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service before I was 40 years old. But because I was a Republican, the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997 even though I had a) earned job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997, b) earned job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and c) earned a job-related professional license in 1981. Trump could force the return of meritocracy in the federal government. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less work experience than I had, had less education than I had, had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois shouldn’t dismiss Indiana’s overture to snap up “separatist” downstate counties
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-shouldnt-dismiss-indianas-overture-to-snap-up-separatist-downstate-counties-wirepoints/

JOHN BIVER
— USAID, DOGE and the state of Illinois 2025
https://johnbiver.com/usaid-doge-and-the-state-of-illinois-2025/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Is McHenry County Administrator’s Pending 5.3% Raise a Signal That All Non-Union Employees Will Receive the Same?
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/16/is-mchenry-county-administrators-pending-5-3-raise-a-signal-that-all-non-union-employees-will-receive-the-same/
— Inside View of State Senate Appointment Process in Which Darby Hills Selected to Replace Dan McConchie
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/16/inside-view-of-state-senate-appointment-process-in-which-darby-hills-selected-to-replace-dan-mcconchie/
— Ness Attacked on Facebook by Americans for Prosperity
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/15/ness-attacked-on-facebook-by-americans-for-prosperity/
— Mike Buehler’s 2025 State of the County Address
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/15/mike-buehlers-state-of-the-county-address/
— Trump as a “Disruptor”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/15/trump-as-a-disruptor/
— Kane County GOP Campaigns Against Democrats’ Sales Tax Hike Referendum
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/15/kane-county-gop-campaigns-against-democrats-sales-tax-hike-referendum/
— Schakowsky Wonders if MANufacturers Discriminate against Women
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/15/schakowsky-wonders-if-manufacturers-discriminate-against-women/
— Crystal Lake Grade School Offers Mental Health/Suicide Prevention Advice
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/15/crystal-lake-grade-school-offers-mental-health-suicide-prevention-advice/
— Keicher Takes on TIFs
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/15/keicher-takes-on-tifs/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats hunt for Trump vulnerability, zero in on inflation
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/16/democrats-looking-trump-vulnerability-zero-inflati/
— Trump’s record-breaking start rattles Washington, rankles rivals, but earns raves from voters
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/16/trump-record-breaking-start-rattles-district-rankl/
— Time for ‘Never Trumpers’ to admit they were wrong about Donald Trump
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/16/time-never-trumpers-admit-wrong-donald-trump/
— Trump moves to counter hatred of Christians and Jews. Left claims it doesn’t exist. (COMMENT: I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran. While was a federal employee for almost 30 years, virtually none of my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Protestants.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/16/trump-moves-counter-hatred-christians-jews/
— Dems fighting Trump’s cuts represent states receiving $231 billion in federal funds
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/15/dem-task-force-stop-trump-bureaucracy-overhaul-rep/

NEW YORK POST
— Trump attends Daytona 500, drives lap around track in motorcade while delivering message
https://nypost.com/2025/02/16/sports/trump-attends-daytona-500-drives-lap-around-track-in-motorcade/

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Mass Deportations Are an American Tradition. Past presidents showed that removing millions of illegal aliens is achievable.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/mass-deportations-are-an-american-tradition/

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Trump Speed. President Trump is not moving at light speed. He’s not moving at warp speed. He is moving even faster… he is moving at Trump speed. And the left doesn’t know what to do.
https://amgreatness.com/2025/02/17/trump-speed/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Trump is Closing the Border. Now What About Legal Immigration?
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/02/trump_is_closing_the_border_now_what_about_legal_immigration.html

BREITBART
— House Republicans Budget Billions for Trump Border and Immigration Enforcement
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/17/budget/
— Trump’s Deputies Shrink Democrats’ Labor and Sex Trafficking Programs
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/16/trumps-deputies-shrink-federal-labor-sex-trafficking-uac-program/

DAILY CALLER
— Reince Priebus Tells Dem Panelists Their Party Is On ‘Wrong Side Of Normal’
https://dailycaller.com/2025/02/16/reince-priebus-democrats-wrong-normal-party-abc-news/

FOX NEWS
— Sanctuary policies protect criminal illegal aliens
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6368926559112
— Sanctuary cities are illegal and unconstitutional
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6368939017112
— Mayors, local officials could face arrest if they don’t comply with Trump’s mass deportations (COMMENT: Are the leaders of your county, township, municipality, and school district obstructing or helping with deportation of illegals?)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mayors-local-officials-could-face-arrest-if-they-don-t-comply-with-trump-s-mass-deportations/ar-AA1xJrhA
— Trump applauds ‘guts’ of NASCAR drivers ahead of Daytona 500, sends them special message. Trump took a lap in The Beast ahead of the start of the race.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trump-applauds-guts-nascar-drivers-ahead-daytona-500-sends-them-special-message?lid=5eki2yd47qmi
— Trump admin aims for killing blow to independence of ‘Deep State’ agencies (COMMENT: After I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980, I soon learned that GAO was much more partisan, that is, anti-Republican, than IRS was.)
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/donald-trump-supreme-court-independent-agencies-deep-state-justice-department-dick-durbin

REAL CLEAR POLICY
— Trump’s Opening Move Against Migrant Sex Trafficking
https://www.realclearpolicy.com/2025/02/17/trumps_opening_move_against_migrant_sex_trafficking_1091841.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Trump’s plan is to implement the Republican Party platform.
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5146280-trump-executive-orders-government-efficiency/

CBS NEWS
— Trump administration wants Supreme Court to permit firing of whistleblower agency head (COMMENT: I was a whistleblower. I ever-increasingly blew the whistle on political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination in the federal government. Because of that, my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. Because of that, I filed Diersen v. GAO. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf  But Bush sided with my Democrat GAO superiors in that lawsuit. My critics/opponents have always stressed that. My critics/opponents promote political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-supreme-court-permit-firing-whistleblower-agency-head/

NEW YORK TIMES
— First Test of Trump’s Power to Fire Officials Reaches Supreme Court. The court’s conservative majority may be receptive to the argument that presidents have unlimited power to remove leaders of independent agencies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/trump-supreme-court-special-counsel.html
— Democrats say “Trump Targets an Ideal Born of a President’s Murder. The act of violence almost 150 years ago effectively gave birth to the civil service, that class of nonpartisan experts who cannot be hired or fired for political reasons.” (COMMENT: Constructively, the Democrats who run the federal government have abolished Civil Service protections for federal employees who are Republican, and especially for those who are White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I should write a book about the aforesaid.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/us/politics/trump-civil-service-history.html

USA TODAY
— ‘It’s a lie’: Federal workers incensed by performance language in termination letters (COMMENT: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that real reason why my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997 was performance problems. They ignore/dismiss/belittle/badmouth a) my earning job-related master’s degrees in 1997, 1980, and 1976, b) my earning job-related professional certifications in 1997, 1996, 1994, 1990, 1981, and 1979, and c) my earning a job-related professional license in 1981.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/17/fired-federal-workers-performance-language-doge/78886104007/

BOSTON HERALD
— Trump’s Department of Education gives schools 2 weeks to ditch DEI…or else
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/02/17/trumps-department-of-education-gives-schools-2-weeks-to-ditch-dei-or-else/

BALTIMORE SUN
— America is in the midst of a rightward shift (COMENT: Are the leaders of the Illinois Republican Party and your Republican county and township/ward party organizations shifting to the right?)
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/02/17/america-is-in-the-midst-of-a-rightward-shift-editorial/

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
— With 1.4 million undocumented people, Southern California will change as deportations ramp up (COMMENT: How many illegals are there in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?)
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/02/16/with-1-4-million-undocumented-people-southern-california-will-change-as-deportations-ramp-up/

T. ROWE PRICE
— You’re age 35, 50, or 60: How much should you have saved for retirement by now?  It’s important to make steady progress toward saving for retirement, no matter what your age. (COMMENT: Saving for our retirement was always a priority for my wife and I. While we were both working, we spent money like only one of us had a paycheck. We always put the maximums into tax-deferred accounts. Our retirement savings are much greater because we gave up trying to have children. Sadly, my critics/opponents use the aforesaid against me. We have less retirement savings because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. We have more money because of inheritances.)
https://www.troweprice.com/personal-investing/resources/insights/youre-age-35-50-or-60-how-much-should-you-have-by-now.html

ATLANTIC
— The Coming Democratic Baby Bust. Birth rates on the left fell in the last Trump presidency. It seems likely to happen again.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/02/democrat-baby-bust-trump-population-decline/681619/

NARFE
— Musk’s Meddling in Government Operations: A Threat to Federal Employees and National Security
https://www.narfe.org/blog/2025/02/11/elon-musks-meddling-in-government-operations-a-threat-to-federal-employees-and-national-security/
— The Importance of Smart-Sizing Federal Agencies (COMMENT: If Gingrich had reformed GAO instead of gutting it in the1980s and 1990s, there would be no need for DOGE today.)
https://www.narfe.org/blog/2025/02/11/the-importance-of-smart-sizing-federal-agencies-a-letter-from-narfe/
— Emerging Threats to the Federal Community
https://www.narfe.org/advocacy/emerging-threats/

SOUTH AFRICAN
— According to Democrat and RINO leaders, all the citizens of all the countries in the world are qualified to seek asylum in America, and especially those who are marginalized/oppressed, that is, those who are minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, poor, disabled, non-Protestant, non-German American, lack education and/or job skills, boozers, gamblers, stoners, criminals, etc.
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/confusion-qualifies-us-asylum-in-2025/

February 14, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Trump administration begins mass layoffs across multiple federal agencies (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, the agency ever-increasingly shrank because of Republican-led budget cuts. My Democrat GAO superiors ever-increasingly punished me for that. I was one of the last Republicans who GAO hired. GAO audits IRS. The Democrats who ran GAO in 1980 let me transfer from IRS when I was 31 years old, but only if I took a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. My qualifications included having a) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, c) earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and d) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $99,069-$112,280/year. To further punish me for Republican-led budget cuts, my Democrat GAO superiors a) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.)
https://abc7chicago.com/post/trump-administration-begins-mass-layoffs-multiple-federal-agencies-sources/15903559/

NBC5
— Local businesses concerned about DEI rollbacks as Illinois AG releases guidance (COMMENT: Democrat and RINO employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/top-videos-home/local-businesses-concerned-about-dei-rollbacks-as-illinois-ag-releases-guidance/3674153/

FOX32
— Trump’s Illinois approval rating: New poll sheds light on president’s favorability (COMMENT: How strongly do the following approve of Trump: a) the leaders of the Illinois Republican Party and your Republican county, township, and ward party organizations, b) the Republican leaders of your county, township, municipality, and school district, c) the Republican candidates on the April 1 ballot in your precinct, and d) your Republican Precinct Committeeman?)
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/trump-illinois-approval-rating-new-poll
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Donald Trump’s approval rating in Illinois stands at 45%, slightly higher than his election day numbers. Trump’s support grew in suburban Cook County and the collar counties but remained steady in Chicago. The poll highlights a gender gap and varied opinions on Trump’s early policy moves.)
— Durbin slams RFK Jr. as ‘unqualified, unfit, and dangerous’ after health secretary confirmation
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-senator-slams-rfk-jr-unqualified-unfit-dangerous-health-secretary

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Brandon Johnson, brooking no diversity of opinion, summons his inner Donald Trump. Chicago’s mayor is taking precisely the wrong lessons from his administrative failures
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/14/editorial-brandon-johnson-donald-trump-loyalty/
— Democrats ever-increasingly use DEI to get rid of Republicans
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/14/opinion-dei-trump-administration-free-speech/
— Reader: Illinois should follow President Donald Trump’s example and cut the waste (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs oppose cutting government waste because Democrats and RINOs benefit from government waste. Democrats and RINOs do not want Republicans like me to fight government waste. GAO fights government waste. I would not have survived as a GAO Analyst for almost 18 years 1980-1997 if I had not a) earned master’s degrees in business in 1976, in accounting in 1980, and in finance in 1997, b) passed on my first attempt the CPA examination in 1979 and the Certified Internal Auditor examination in 1981, c) became a licensed CPA in 1981, d) became a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Government Financial Manager in 1994, Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and Forensic Accountant in 1997, and e) worked for IRS for almost 9 years 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $99,069-$112,280/year.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/13/letters-021325/
— Mayor Johnson’s public food market idea leaves us hungry for details
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/13/editorial-mayor-johnsons-public-market-idea-leaves-us-hungry-for-details/
— What to know about the federal workforce under President Trump (COMMENT: GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized in 1997, I might still be a GAO employee.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/13/president-trump-federal-workforce-explainer/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The civilian federal workforce, not including military personnel and postal workers, comprises about 2.4 million people. While a chunk of federal workers, about 20%, are in Washington, D.C., and the neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia, more than 80% are distributed outside the region. . .Civil servants are the vast majority of federal workers. They’re generally hired through an application process and have strong protections once in their positions. Political appointees, who number roughly 4,000, serve at the discretion of the president and can be dismissed at will by the chief executive. . .“Civil servants tend to be in their jobs as careers, some of them for decades,” said Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who worked in President Bill Clinton’s Democratic administration when about 426,000 federal jobs were cut over more than eight years in a deliberative effort aimed at reinventing government. . .It’s not easy to fire the vast majority of federal workers — they have considerable job security with a long legal history. Federal employees who are not political appointees have strong protections designed to prevent political whims from clearing out the workforce. The protections have grown over time, under leadership of both major political parties. “The president definitely has his work cut out for him,” said Donald Kettl, a professor emeritus and former dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Federal workers are entitled to due process, which means they can challenge disciplinary actions through a formal process. They have to be notified of the allegations against them and allowed to respond and present their side. “You have to build a record to fire somebody, and that doesn’t often happen,” Kamarck said. . .Federal workers have union representation, but, unlike those of many industries, they do not have the power to strike. Federal workers also can’t bargain over pay, because salaries are set in law. Federal unions can bargain over working conditions and basic protections for their members. Recently, unions have battled over remote working conditions, which they’ve successfully bargained for in the past and Trump is working to sharply reduce. “There also are some limits about what they can bargain over, so, for example, they can’t bargain over what the policy of their agency is,” Super said. “That’s a matter for the political process to work out, but they can bargain for things that affect workers on their jobs and their well-being.”)
— Trump administration begins sweeping layoffs with probationary workers, warns of larger cuts to come (COMMENT: My Democrat GAO superiors and supervisors were furious that they could not use probationary employee procedures to get rid of me because I had already survived my probationary period when I worked for IRS.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/13/trump-administration-lays-off-probationary-workers/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump, pensions, health care among pressure points as Gov. JB Pritzker crafts state budget. Uncertainty in federal funding under President Donald Trump’s administration has made a tough state budget season even more difficult for Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats who control Springfield.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/2025/02/14/jb-pritzker-budget-proposal-donald-trump
— Aviation, COPA chiefs out after Johnson vows to purge disloyal staff (COMMENT: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty and destroy those like me who they cannot manipulate or dominate, who refuse to glorify and praise them, who refuse to pander to them, who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, who refuse to coverup their wrongdoing, and/or who refuse to give them money.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2025/02/13/aviation-commissioner-retiring-jamie-rhee-ohare-midway-mayor-brandon-johnson-clean-house

DAILY HERALD
— EDITORIAL: Removing Henry Hyde’s name from Wheaton courthouse feels petty. Because it is.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250213/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-removing-henry-hydes-name-from-wheaton-courthouse-feels-petty-because-it-is/
— Elgin moves to ban sale of THC products (COMMENT: Money spent on THC products, booze, gambling, prostitution, and other vices is money not spent on pot.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250213/news/elgin-moves-to-ban-sale-of-thc-products/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use illegals and students to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250213/news/this-is-a-safe-environment-amid-fears-of-deportation-sweeps-schools-work-to-protect-students/

CARROLL COUNTY NEWS
— Early voting begins for April 1 election (COMMENT: What offices are on the April 1 ballot in your precinct? Who are the candidates? Which ones are Republican?)
https://www.mycarrollcountynews.com/news/article_b1cc4bac-ea21-11ef-a282-2ff1c3444292.html

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— The more demographics that voters have who vote for Republicans, the more that Democrats and RINOs discriminate against those voters. Demographics that vote for Republicans include: conservative, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-given-christianitys-dominance-in-us-trump-raises-eyebrows-with-anti-christian-bias-initiative/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump administration was set to purchase $400 million worth of armored Teslas
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-12/trump-administration-was-set-to-purchase-400-million-worth-of-armored-teslas
— Trump hired Musk as a special federal employee. Here is what that means. (COMMENT: I was just a regular federal employee. But notwithstanding tremendous efforts by my Democrat superiors to waste my career and to get rid of me, I survived for almost 18 years and got promoted to GS-13 Step 10, currently $153,151 year.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-13/trump-hired-musk-as-a-special-government-employee-heres-what-that-means
— Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, homelessness will ever-increasingly increase.
https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2025-02-13/statewide-counting-the-unhoused
— A federal worker tried to take Trump’s ‘Fork’ resignation offer. Here’s what happened
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-14/a-federal-worker-tried-to-take-trumps-fork-resignation-offer-heres-what-happened
— Immigration poll shows growing support for restrictions, but deep divisions remain (COMMENT: Democrats want immigrants because immigrants vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because RINOs want cheap labor.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-14/immigration-poll-shows-growing-support-for-restrictions-but-deep-divisions-remain

NPR ILLINOIS & WEEK
— As Chicago strengthens immigrant protections, downstate officials split on sanctuary laws (COMMENT: Ever-increasingly, according to Democrat leaders, those who are the following are discriminated against by Republicans and protected by Democrats: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, unmarried, LGBTQ, non-rich, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, in America illegally, boozers, gamblers, stoners, criminals, etc.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2025-02-13/as-chicago-strengthens-immigrant-protections-downstate-officials-split-on-sanctuary-laws
https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/02/13/chicago-strengthens-immigrant-protections-downstate-officials-split-sanctuary-laws/

WAND TV
— Attorney General Raoul joins coalition proving DEI guidance for businesses (COMMENT: To promote DEI is to promote discrimination.)
https://www.wandtv.com/news/attorney-general-raoul-joins-coalition-proving-guidance-for-businesses-on-diversity-and-inclusion/article_7d3937ce-ea3f-11ef-8955-0341fccb6b8c.html

RUSS STEWART
— DEMOCRATS BESEECH SEN. DURBIN: TIME TO STEP ASIDE IN 2026
http://www.russstewart.com/articles/2025/01-29-25.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/14/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-456/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/13/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-248/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Ever-increasing, when push comes to shove, Democrats and RINOs make it clear that they are anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-Protestant, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

WIREPOINTS
— Chicago Public Schools is so corrupted, both morally and financially, that it begs for an intervention like DOGE
https://wirepoints.org/chicago-public-schools-is-so-corrupted-both-morally-and-financially-that-it-begs-for-an-intervention-like-doge-wirepoints-on-wls-ramblin-ray-show/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Illinois State Corporate Tax Rate Second Highest in the Nation, How the Personal Property Tax Made It So and How It Could Have Been (and Still Could Be) Different?
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/illinois-state-corporate-tax-rate-second-highest-in-the-nation-how-the-personal-property-tax-made-it-so-and-how-it-could-have-been-and-still-could-be-different/
— Crystal Lake Grade School District Follows Cary’s Lead on Possible Contacts with ICE
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/crystal-lake-grade-school-district-follows-carys-lead-on-possible-contacts-with-ice/
— DuPage Appearance of Lara Trump Sponsored by McHenry County GOPAC
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/dupage-appearance-of-lara-trump-sponsored-by-mchenry-county-gopac/
— Movie Tentatively Titled “The Lottery” Being Shot in McHenry County
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/movie-tentatively-titled-the-lottery-being-shot-in-mchenry-county/
— Reick Explains Attack on Home Schooling, Plus Private Schools
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/reick-explains-attack-on-home-schooling-plus-private-schools/
— Salvi Name Still Potent in Northwest Suburbs, But Joe Salvi No Longer Seeking the Senate Appointment
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/salvi-name-still-potent-in-northwest-suburbs/
— Madigan Loses $13,170 Monthly Pension
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/madigan-loses-13170-monthly-pension/
— Three McHenry County Nursing Homes Fined by Illinois Public Health Department
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/three-mchenry-county-nursing-homes-fined-by-illinois-public-health-department/
— Chinese Companies Indicted for Trade Secret Theft from Aurora Company
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/chinese-companies-indicted-for-trade-secret-theft-from-aurora/
— $1.5 Million Food Stamp, that is, SNAP Fraud
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/13/1-5-million-food-stamp-that-is-snap-fraud/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump’s spending pause exposes extreme reach of federal government. Uncle Sam pays for up to 40% of states’ expenses. (COMMENT: To what extent are those in the following dependent on government spending: your county, your township, your municipality, your school district, and your precinct?)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/13/trump-spending-pause-exposes-extreme-reach-federal/

NEW YOR POST
— AOC shares tips on how illegal immigrants can evade ICE: ‘Do not open your door’
https://nypost.com/2025/02/13/us-news/aoc-shares-tips-on-how-illegal-immigrants-can-evade-ice-do-not-open-your-door/

BREITBART
— Former GAO Head David Walker: What DOGE Is Doing ‘Needs to Be Done,’ But Needs More Transparency (COMMENT: Who does Trump want the next head of GAO to be? Walker headed GAO 1998-2008. Walker could have, but he did not a) rescind GAO’s forcing me to retire in 1997 or b) settle Diersen v. GAO. Therefore, Walker further promoted patronage, political affiliation, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination in GAO.)
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/02/12/fmr-gao-head-what-doge-is-doing-needs-to-be-done-but-needs-more-transparency/
— New York ‘Doing Everything They Should Do’ by Tipping Off Illegals
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/02/13/hispanic-caucus-chair-new-york-doing-everything-they-should-do-by-tipping-off-illegals/
— New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D): ‘We Need’ Illegals Who Haven’t Committed Further Crimes, ‘That Is Part of Who We Are’ (COMMENT: To come into a country illegally and/or to stay in a country illegally is to demonstrate gross disrespect for the rule of law and for that country. Of course, illegals say that under Biden’s policies, they came into America “legally” and/or that they are staying in America “legally.”)
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/02/14/adams-we-need-illegals-who-havent-committed-further-crimes-that-is-part-of-who-we-are/
— Hegseth: Woke Generals ‘Will Have a Different Job in Due Time’
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/13/exclusive-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-woke-generals-have-different-job/

EPOCH TIMES
— IRS to Be Audited by DOGE. IRS collects trillions in taxes. (COMMENT: Democrat and RINO leaders do not want Republicans to audit IRS. I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO on audits of the Democrats who ran IRS for 3 years 1986-1988 while I was at the GS-13 Step 1-3 Levels, currently $117,807-$125,661/year. I had worked for the Democrats who ran IRS for almost 9 years 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $99,069-$112,280/year. I agreed to take a $23,472/year pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer, that is, a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10, because the Republican GAO Staff Manager (Bill) who had arranged the transfer promised me that he would assign me to audits of IRS and that he would rapidly promote me back to GS-12 Step 5 and then to GS-13. But my Democrat GAO superiors immediately replaced Bill with a nasty/vicious Democrat Staff Manager (Dave) who despised Republicans and especially Republicans who shared my demographics. Dave kept me off audits of IRS, gave me bad job assignments and unfair performance expectations and appraisals, and delayed my promotions back to GS-12 Step 5. But then, in 1985, Dave had to have major heart surgery and go on extended sick leave because of his heavy drinking. That enabled Bill to assign me to audits of IRS and to promote me to GS-13 in 1986. But then, Dave came back from sick leave and a) forced Bill to retire in 1987, b) threw me off audits of IRS in late 1988, c) gave me an extremely bad job assignment and unfair performance expectations and appraisal in 1989, and d) ranked me at the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance (PFP) purposes in 1989. But thankfully,  Dave’s efforts to get rid of me moderated because my Congressman Henry Hyde came to my defense. But Dave nevertheless succeeded in a) keeping me off audits of IRS for the rest of my GAO career, b) always ranking me in the bottom of my coworkers for PFP, and c) forcing me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. If Dave had not taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me that he did, I would have always been assigned to audits of IRS and I would have been promoted to GS-13 sooner and then to GS-14, currently $139,211-$180,974/year, and then to GS-15, currently $163,749-$195,200/year, and then to Senior Executive Service, currently $195,200/year.)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/irs-to-be-audited-by-doge-trump-says-5809719
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The IRS will be audited by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), President Donald Trump said on Feb. 13. “The Internal Revenue Service will be looked at like everybody else,” Trump told reporters at the White House in Washington. He said that just about every federal agency will be examined by DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk. “They’re doing a hell of a job. It’s an amazing job they’re doing,” Trump said. “I call it the force of super-geniuses, but it’s building, and you know they go up, and they talk to some of the people about certain deals, and they get all tongue-tied because these people get it. They’re very smart people. We need smart people.” The IRS declined to comment on the remarks. Trump was responding to a question about how DOGE reportedly arrived at the IRS on Thursday and whether he wanted to close the IRS. Trump said he did not expect the IRS, which is currently processing 2024 taxes, to be shuttered. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said on social media platform X, owned by Musk, that his office has heard that DOGE is at the IRS. “That means Musk’s henchmen are in a position to dig through a trove of data about every taxpayer in America. And if your refund is delayed, they could very well be the reason,” Wyden said. After DOGE accessed U.S. Department of Treasury payment systems earlier in the year, a group of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives wrote to the acting IRS commissioner asking what confidential information DOGE had requested from the IRS and how many taxpayers had had their confidential information accessed by DOGE. Separately on Thursday, senior IRS executives were instructed to identify all contracts that were nonessential for termination, according to an internal email. The email said that the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages most government contracts, is demanding they review consulting contracts under their purview and determine whether they can be justified. The GSA deems a contract nonessential if it “merely generates a report, research, coaching, or an artifact,” the email says. “Consistent with the goals and directives of the Trump administration to eliminate waste, reduce spending, and increase efficiency, GSA has taken the first steps in a government-wide initiative to eliminate non-essential consulting contracts.” The GSA did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.)

FEDERALIST
— Advocating For Asylum Seekers Made Me Less Sympathetic To Illegal Migrants
https://thefederalist.com/2025/02/14/advocating-for-asylum-seekers-made-me-less-sympathetic-to-illegal-migrants/

NATIONAL REVIEW
— AOC Webinar Teaches Illegal Immigrants How to Avoid ICE Deportation
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/aoc-webinar-teaches-illegal-immigrants-how-to-avoid-ice-deportation/

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Homan: “AOC Is Going To Be In Trouble Now” For Delivering Webinar On How Illegals Can Evade ICE Apprehension
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/13/tom_homan_aoc_is_going_to_be_in_trouble_now_for_delivering_webinar_on_how_illegals_can_evade_ice_apprehension.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CNN
— RAHM EMANUEL JOINS CNN
https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2025/02/13/rahm-emanuel-joins-cnn-as-senior-political-and-global-affairs-commentator/

REUTERS
— Thousands fired in US government as Trump, Musk purge federal workers (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, the agency ever-increasingly shrank because of Republican-led budget cuts. My Democrat GAO superiors ever-increasingly punished me for that. I was one of the last Republicans who GAO hired. GAO audits IRS. The Democrats who ran GAO in 1980 let me transfer from IRS when I was 31 years old, but only if I took a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. My qualifications included having a) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, c) earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and d) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $99,069-$112,280/year. To further punish me for Republican-led budget cuts, my Democrat GAO superiors a) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mass-firings-federal-workers-begin-trump-musk-purge-us-government-2025-02-13/

CBS NEWS
— U.S. is deporting African and Asian migrants to Panama in diplomatic breakthrough
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-deportations-panama-african-asian-migrants/

NEW YORK TMES
— Democrats say “Trump Wants to Destroy All Academia, Not Just the Woke Parts.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/opinion/trump-college-academia-woke.html

USA TODAY
— Musk, Trump degrade federal workers as they put them out of work. It’s sadistic. (COMMENT: What is your opinion of federal employees? From what I see, employers and just about everyone else have a negative opinion of past, present, and future federal employees. I was a federal employee for almost 30 years. I have been a federal retiree for more than 27 years.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/02/12/elon-musk-donald-trump-federal-workers-jobs-cruelty/78428472007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump’s EEOC Firing Will Likely Prevail in Court. The justices’ precedents imply that he has the power to dismiss officials of ‘independent’ agencies. (COMMENT: How has EEOC impacted you? I became an IRS Revenue Officer when I was 22 years old in 1971 because my Firestone Store boss had rudely fired me. He did that because I had told him that I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile. But Oldsmobile withdrew that job offer saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.)
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/youre-fired-trump-says-the-justices-will-likely-agree-officials-dismissed-supreme-court-precedent-9b40b529
— Trump Layoffs Push Federal Workers Into Tough Job Hunt. Companies have pulled back on white-collar hiring, limiting options for government workers. (COMMENT: What is your opinion of federal employees? From what I see, employers and just about everyone else have a negative opinion of past, present, and future federal employees. I was a federal employee for almost 30 years. I have been a federal retiree for more than 27 years.)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/federal-workers-jobs-doge-37b761cd
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Trump administration’s effort to slash the federal workforce is pushing employees into a challenging job market, where their age and lack of corporate experience can hold them back. Federal workers are also facing an environment where hiring for white-collar jobs has slowed. Despite the availability of state and local government jobs, many of these positions take place outside offices and aren’t a good match for federal workers’ experience.)

FORBES
— Jamie Dimon Reportedly Says He’ll Cut Some ‘Stupid’ DEI Costs At JPMorgan Chase (COMMENT: If Affirmative Action and DEI had been implemented earlier/faster, Dimon would have made to where he is now.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/02/13/jamie-dimon-reportedly-says-hell-cut-some-stupid-dei-costs-at-jpmorgan-chase-here-are-all-the-companies-rolling-back-dei/

FORTUNE
— Democrat and RINO employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://fortune.com/2025/02/14/companies-rolling-back-changing-dei-meta-target-fortune-500-diversity-equity-inclusion-policies/

HUFFINGTON POST
— Ever-increasingly, since the 1960s, the Democrats who run the federal government have used Affirmative Action and DEI a) to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, and/or younger and b) to get rid of their Republican employees who are White, male, and/or older.
https://www.aol.com/trump-trying-federal-workforce-whiter-003612069.html

ECONOMIC TIMES & NDTV
— “Will Take Back Verified Illegals”: PM Modi On Illegal Immigrants | PM Modi’s US Visit (COMMENT: How many of those who are in America illegally share you national origin?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqg2zhKkSUo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSm7bjhqMMA

INDIA TODAY
— Impact of US immigration raids on Indians: What visa applicants need to know. Many Indians planning to relocate to the United States have been left anxious after Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegals. As deportation of undocumented immigrants continues, here’s how people applying for work visas can avoid complications.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/impact-of-us-immigration-raids-on-indians-what-visa-applicants-need-to-know-2679998-2025-02-14

GUARDIAN
— Trump administration sparks outcry as it continues to gut federal workforce. Major union as well as federal worker advocacy group condemn moves to fire probationary employees as thousands told to leave.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/feb/14/trump-musk-federal-government-layoffs-jd-vance-ukraine-latest

February 11, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— DuPage County lawmakers to vote whether to remove Henry Hyde’s name from courthouse
https://abc7chicago.com/post/dupage-county-lawmakers-vote-remove-late-congressman-henry-hydes-name-courthouse/15892352/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The DuPage County GOP Chair Kevin Coyne disagrees with removing Hyde’s name. “Henry Hyde was a titanic political figure in DuPage County for many, many years, He did a lot of wonderful things for our country and for our state over 30 plus years in Congress. He was a bipartisan gentleman, had a lot of support, a lot of friends on the other side of the aisle. He strikes me as the kind of official that we should be looking to model ourselves after.” The DuPage County Board will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m. If the resolution passes, the Hyde family will be given a plaque.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Orland Park resolution states police will work with ICE on immigration matters, opposes state law on issue (COMMENT: What positions do the leaders of your county, township, and municipality have on enforcement of immigration laws?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/10/orland-park-police-immigration/
— US judge keeps Trump plan to push out federal employees on hold (COMMENT: Democrats run the federal government. When federal agencies have to push out their employees, they first push out those who are Republican and then those who are White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. But I nevertheless survived for almost 18 years 1980-1997 as a GAO employee while Republicans ever-increasingly used budget cuts to push out the agency’s employees. The following helped me survive. I earned job-related professional certifications in 1997 (forensic accounting), 1996 (financial services auditing), 1994 (government financial management), 1990 (fraud examination), 1981 (internal auditing), and 1979 (accounting). I earned a job-related professional license in 1981 (CPA). I earned job-related master’s degrees in 1997 (financial markets and trading), 1980 (accounting), and 1976 (business).)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/10/trump-plan-push-out-federal-workers/
— Illinois and 21 other states file lawsuit challenging ‘devastating’ cuts to federal health research funding
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/10/illinois-challengs-research-funding-cuts/
— Judge finds Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending (COMMENT: How dependent on federal spending are those in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct? The more financial, health, and other problems that you have, the more dependent that you are on federal spending. Pritzker ever-increasingly a) attracts voters to Illinois who have problems and b) drives voters out of Illinois who do not have problems.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/10/trump-federal-spending/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell became the first judge to find that the administration had not obeyed a court order. Federal money for things like early childhood education, pollution reduction and HIV prevention research has remained tied up even after his Jan. 31 order to blocking a planned halt on federal spending, he found.)
— Chicago has not been immune from air traffic controller shortages in recent years (COMMENT: I worked for GAO on an audit of FAA that involved air traffic controller staffing in the early 1980s.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/11/chicago-air-traffic-controller-shortages/
— Chicago says it hopes to open city-owned market instead of city-owned grocery store
https://www.yahoo.com/news/chicago-says-hopes-open-city-110000368.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump’s pardon of Blagojevich insults Illinoisans who are fed up with corruption. And can President Trump find no one with a clean record to represent Americans as ambassadors? Crime pays, it seems, in Trump’s orbit — including the Jan. 6 rioters he pardoned. (COMMENT: What is in your record that your critics/opponents use against you? My critics/opponents stress the adverse actions that they had their operatives and their dupes take against me.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2025/02/10/rod-blagojevich-donald-tump-presidential-pardon-corruption-joe-biden-hunter-chicago-illinois
— Trump says Palestinians won’t have right to return to Gaza under his US ‘ownership’ plan
https://chicago.suntimes.com/war-in-gaza/2025/02/10/trump-gaza-develop-plan-palestinians-no-right-to-return-united-states-us-ownership

DAILY HERALD
— Democrats ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250210/news/illinois-had-record-2-billion-in-legal-marijuana-sales-in-2024/
— FRONT PAGE: Illinois politicians react to Blagojevich pardon
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250210/nation-and-world-politics/it-sets-a-real-bad-example-illinois-politicians-react-to-blagojevich-pardon/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Republican Party state central committee member Aaron Del Mar of Palatine didn’t object to Trump ending Blagojevich’s prison sentence early with a commutation five years ago but drew the line at wiping the disgraced politician’s slate clean with a pardon. “I think it sets a real bad example, especially since the jury is still out on the former speaker of the House,” Del Mar said, referring to Michael Madigan’s federal corruption trial. “It says that only certain people are going to be held accountable.” . . . “The former governor has served his time, and it’s time to move on,” said Zay, a former chair of the DuPage County Republican Party. While Zay thinks Blagojevich has worn out his welcome with Illinois voters, he said an ambassadorship “would be interesting.”)

WGN9
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion. Why are there so many unwanted pregnancies?
https://wgnradio.com/health/ap-what-to-know-about-proposals-to-ban-abortion-pills-and-punish-women-who-seek-abortion/

FOX32
— Illinois leaders slam Trump’s decision to pardon Blagojevich
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/blago-reaction-illinois-leaders
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran: “I strongly disagree with President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Illinois taxpayers have and continue to be burdened with the cost of public corruption, and this pardon sends the wrong message.”)

WTTW
— How Trump’s Plan to Shrink the Federal Workforce Could Impact Illinois (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, Republicans shrank GAO’s work force in Illinois dramatically. My Democrat GAO superiors punished me severely for that.)
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/10/how-trump-s-plan-shrink-federal-workforce-could-impact-illinois

WGN RADIO
— Democrats say that “With firings and lax enforcement, Trump moving to dismantle government’s public integrity guardrails.”
https://wgnradio.com/news/political-news/ap-with-firings-and-lax-enforcement-trump-moving-to-dismantle-governments-public-integrity-guardrails/
— Judge orders fired head of whistleblower agency reinstated while fight continues over Trump removal (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, I ever-increasingly blew the whistle on their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination. They ever-increasingly punished me for that. My critics/opponents side with the Democrats. They promote political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.)
https://wgnradio.com/news/political-news/ap-head-of-agency-that-protects-whistleblowers-sues-trump-over-firing/
— Democrats say “News influencers favored Trump over Harris during campaign.” Since 2000, my critics/opponents have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned as being a failed and far too-conservative would-be news influencer.  Since 2000, they have blamed me and blamed my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for all the general election losses that Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered. According to my critics/opponents, those candidates lost general elections because voters want Democrat-Lite candidates and I paint candidates as being far more conservative than they want to be painted.)
https://wgnradio.com/news/technology-news/ap-news-influencers-favored-trump-over-harris-during-campaign-study-finds/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://wgnradio.com/news/national/ap-migrants-stranded-in-mexico-try-to-restart-life-after-trump-eliminates-legal-pathway-to-us/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion. Why are there so many unwanted pregnancies?
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/health-news/ap-what-to-know-about-proposals-to-ban-abortion-pills-and-punish-women-who-seek-abortion/

WIFR
— Trump’s Blagojevich pardon earns bipartisan disappointment from Illinois lawmakers
https://www.wifr.com/2025/02/11/trumps-blagojevich-pardon-earns-bipartisan-disappointment-illinois-lawmakers/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “This is a decision I would not have come to, so it is something I would disagree with President Trump on,” argues Syverson. The Republican hopes Trump sees an improved Blagojevich; he worries the official forgiveness sends the wrong message. “Maybe he’s learned his ways, but he was guilty of what he did and there should be consequences for that,” comments Syverson. . .Syverson says he trusts Trump’s judgment with any further decision. “Hopefully, he [Blagojevich] will use this, and his history has been a learning lesson and that he’ll be able to make good,” exclaims the state senator. Before signing the official forgiveness, Trump characterized Blagojevich’s treatment as a “terrible injustice.” The President declared it time the former governor had a “normal life.”)

NPR ILLINOIS
— Democrat leaders use against Trump those who Trump pardoned
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-10/presidents-pardons-of-insurrectionists-stoke-worries-in-springfields-jewish-community

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/11/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-454/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— One big example of why Illinois badly needs a DOGE of its own
https://wirepoints.org/one-big-example-of-why-illinois-badly-needs-a-doge-of-its-own-wirepoints/

JEFF BERKOWITZ
— IL GOP House Leader Tony McCombie joins Trump’s fight w/criminal aliens
https://jeffberkowitz208.substack.com/p/il-gop-house-leader-tony-mccombie

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois lawmakers plan to short pensions by $5.1B in July
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-lawmakers-plan-to-short-pensions-by-5-1b-in-july/
— Unfunded mandates keep property taxes high
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/unfunded-mandates-keep-property-taxes-high/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Google axes DEI, progressive-backed markers from its calendar
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/10/google-calendar-axes-dei-labels-black-history-mont/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump adopts Biden’s legal playbook to challenge sanctuary cities
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/3315568/trump-adopts-biden-legal-playbook-challenge-sanctuary-cities/

NEW YORK POST
— Trump’s all-out assault on woke is tearing down the left’s cultural sway
https://nypost.com/2025/02/10/opinion/trumps-war-on-woke-is-tearing-down-the-lefts-cultural-sway/
— Anti-woke activist targets Jamie Dimon’s JPMorgan for DEI battle
https://nypost.com/2025/02/10/us-news/anti-woke-activist-targets-jamie-dimons-jpmorgan-for-dei-battle/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Trump is just the tip of the iceberg
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/02/trump_is_just_the_tip_of_the_iceberg.html

BREITBART
— Democrats Help Illegal Migrants Avoid Legal Repatriation
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/02/10/democrats-help-illegal-migrants-avoid-legal-repatriation/
— On Monday, White County Resident Circuit Judge T. Scott Webb ruled against a requirement that Illinois residents must obtain a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card in order to possess a gun in the home for self-defense.
https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2025/02/10/circuit-court-judge-strikes-down-illinois-foid-card-requirement-guns-home/

COLLEGE FIX
— Trump fires ‘woke’ advisory board leaders at military academies
https://www.thecollegefix.com/trump-fires-woke-advisory-board-leaders-at-military-academies/

DAILY WIRE
— Trump Wasn’t Joking: Some IRS Workers To Help With Deportation. Trump said last month that he might send IRS workers “to the border.” (COMMENT: While I worked for IRS in 1971, I was assigned for 2 weeks to Nixon project to fight inflation.)
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-wasnt-joking-some-irs-workers-to-help-with-deportation-report-says

FEDERALIST
— Naval Academy Launches Review Of School Clubs To Ensure Compliance With Trump’s DEI Prohibition
https://thefederalist.com/2025/02/10/naval-academy-launches-review-of-school-clubs-to-ensure-compliance-with-trumps-dei-prohibition/

FOX NEWS
— Pritzker has a long history of not following the law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8cksnIscE0
— Trump’s Department of Homeland Security looking to deputize IRS agents for immigration enforcement. DHS Secretary Noem requests IRS agents be provided to help ICE. (COMMENT: Fox 3 years, I worked for GAO on audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division at the GS-13 Step 1-3 Levels, currently $117,807-$125,661/year.)
https://www.foxnews.com/us/trumps-dhs-deputize-irs-agents-immigration-enforcement
— Trump pardons former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich: ‘He was set up’
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6368623514112

LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— NYC teachers’ union defies Trump, coaches teachers to advise illegals how to handle ICE
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/nyc-teachers-union-defies-trump-administration-coaches-teachers-to-advise-illegals-how-to-handle-ice

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— CBS News Poll Shows Overwhelming Positive Approval of Trump
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/02/cbs-news-poll-shows-overwhelming-positive-approval-of-trump/

POINTS & FIGURES
— Secession Is a Good Idea
https://jeffreycarter.substack.com/p/secession-is-a-good-idea

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC NEWS
— FEMA halts migrant housing funds in NY after Musk’s criticism
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/fema-halting-payments-migrant-housing-new-york-after-118670265

CBS NEWS
—  Blagojevich expresses gratitude for pardon by President Trump
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/former-gov-rod-blagojevich-expresses-gratitude-for-pardon-by-president-trump/

MSNBC
— The closer one looks at Trump’s Blagojevich pardon, the worse it appears. The message to politicians convicted or accused of corruption couldn’t be clearer: You have a friend in the Oval Office.
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/closer-one-looks-trumps-blagojevich-pardon-worse-appears-rcna191638

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump’s Blueprint for Bending the Media Has Nixon Written All Over It (COMMENT: My critics/opponents destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, d) who refuse to coverup their wrongdoing, and/or e) who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/business/media/trump-nixon-media-press.html
— Democrat and RINO employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/business/trump-dei-employers.html
— White House Undermines Watchdog for Consumers (COMMENT: My critics/opponents are a) pro-seller and b) anti-buyer.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/business/vought-cfpb-musk-trump.html
— DOGE Is Corrosive to Our Democracy (COMMENT: If Gingrich had reformed GAO instead of gutting it, there would be no need for DOGE.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/opinion/treasure-secretaries-doge-musk.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump pardons Rod Blagojevich, who tried to sell Obama’s vacated Senate seat. The former Illinois governor was convicted on multiple charges of corruption in 2011. He served eight years in prison before Trump commuted his sentence in 2020.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/02/10/trump-pardon-rod-blagojevich-illinois-governor/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Democrats and RINOs stand up for Democrats and for RINOs.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/democrats-stand-up-for-the-bureaucrats-protest-dodge-government-policy-d9b18071

MARKETPLACE
— Trump’s purge of federal workers and its historical parallels (COMMENT: The Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997 gave purge lists to all of their new managers of their Chicago office. Of course, I was at the top of all of those lists because I am conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and my ancestors had been in America since 1844.)
https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart/trumps-purge-of-federal-workers-and-its-historical-parallels/

POLITICO
— Trump is slashing agencies long hated by the GOP. The next cuts might be harder. “You gotta light things on fire that burn the brightest and have the most distinctive smell of waste fraud and abuse,” said one White House ally. (COMMENT: One reason why I took a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO was to escape hatred against IRS employees.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/11/trump-musk-vought-future-cut-targets-00203444
— ‘JD gets the game’: Vance embraces role as social media provocateur. Vance’s approach to social media isn’t new. But his perch in the presidential line of succession is.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/10/jd-vance-donald-trump-online-trolling-00203429

February 8, 2025 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Aurora mayoral candidates share their views on city issues at forum (COMMENT: What are the issues in your township, municipality, and school district?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/aurora-mayoral-candidates-share-their-views-on-city-issues-at-forum/
— Donald Trump orders freeze of aid to South Africa citing country’s land expropriation law
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/07/trump-freeze-aid-south-africa/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/community-leaders-speak-out-under-little-village-arch-hundreds-rally-for-day-of-love-and-resistance/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/nonprofit-warns-of-vigilantism-against-migrants-after-skokie-family-receives-deportation-threats/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/02/07/trump-immigration-executive-order-refugees-resettlement-united-nations-stop-work-order
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republicans.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2025/02/07/illinois-jb-pritzker-revenue-squeeze-trump-congressional-gop-cut-medicaid-expansion-rich-miller

DAILY HEARLD
— Democrats far outspent GOP rivals in suburban U.S. House races — none more than Raja Krishnamoorthi (COMMENT: What discourages you from giving money to Republican candidates? For me, it includes my having less money. In today’s dollars, my federal pension a) is only 44% of what my GAO salary was in 1997 and b) less than what my IRS salary was in 1972. Further, my Social Security is dramatically less because I get a federal pension. Further, far too many unsuccessful Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct since 2000 who I did much to help elect blame me and blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for their defeats.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250208/us-congress-politics/democrats-far-outspent-gop-rivals-in-suburban-u-s-house-races-none-more-than-raja-krishnamoorthi/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican candidates in northeast Illinois struggle to compete financially with their rivals across the aisle. Of the eight Republican congressional candidates who ran in the suburbs last year, the 10th District’s Jim Carris of Lake Forest spent the most — nearly $681,000. The campaign spending totals for four others — Rice in the 8th District plus James Marter in the 14th, Jerry Evans in the 11th and Niki Conforti in the 6th — were lower in the six-figure range. Ramirez’s GOP challenger in the 3rd District, John Booras, spent less than $40,000 on his campaign; the 9th District’s Seth Cohen spent less than $8,000 on his race. Postelection and year-end reports weren’t available for 5th District GOP candidate Tommy Hanson.)
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly use DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250208/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-in-defense-of-dei-the-phrase-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-may-sound-unga/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250207/nation-and-world-politics/latino-evangelical-churches-gear-up-to-face-possible-immigration-enforcement-in-churches/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois revs up more EV incentives amid uncertain fate of federal rebates
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/illinois-revs-more-ev-incentives-amid-federal-uncertainties
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more gambling.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/economy/illinois-generates-17-billion-casino-tax-revenue

ABC7
— Trump announces plans to gut the Kennedy Center board, appoint himself chairman
https://abc7chicago.com/post/kennedy-center-president-donald-trump-says-hes-firing-board-trustees-members-naming-himself-chairman/15882171/
— Trump official’s directive tying transportation grants to birth rates could hinder blue states
https://abc7chicago.com/post/us-birth-rates-state-donald-trump-transportation-secretary-sean-duffy-circulates-memo-tying-grants-marriage/15881663/
— Chicago Auto Show 2025: Doors open for Day 1 at McCormick Place
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-auto-show-2025-doors-open-saturday-morning-mccormick-place/15881013/

WGN TV
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/little-village-protest-trump-deportations/
— Illinois faces funding cut-off for electric vehicle charging stations; Pritzker vows to fight back
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/illinois-ev-funding-cuts/

FOX32
— Time magazine cover puts Elon Musk behind Trump’s desk
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/time-magazine-elon-musk-trump-desk

WTTW
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/06/illinois-farm-workers-consumers-alert-amid-mass-deportation-threats

WBEZ
— Lurie Children’s Hospital pauses gender care surgeries for those younger than 19. The move comes after President Donald Trump’s executive order that said the federal government would not support these procedures.
https://www.wbez.org/2025/02/07/lurie-childrens-hospital-pauses-gender-care-surgeries-for-those-younger-than-19

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/trump-policies-on-gender-affirming-care-and-passports-for-transgender-people-challenged-in-court/article_a7b7c426-ae4e-58d7-934b-d7c89861987a.html

SOUTHERN
— Here are all the agencies that Elon Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle so far
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/02/08/here-are-all-the-agencies-that-elon-musk-and-doge-have-been-trying-to-dismantle-so-far/

EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump
https://www.theintelligencer.com/news/article/donald-trump-protest-edwardsville-il-20154122.php

WIFR
— Democrat leaders get high school students to promote more illegal immigration
https://www.wifr.com/gallery/2025/02/08/jefferson-high-schoolers-protest-trumps-immigration-policies/

EFFINGHAM RADIO
— IL House Leader McCombie Demands Transparency And Accountability On Immigration
https://www.effinghamradio.com/2025/02/08/il-house-leader-mccombie-demands-transparency-and-accountability-on-immigration/

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/07/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-245/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Anticipate/expect that ever-increasingly, Democrat leaders will use their mainstream news media a)  to promote the Democrat Party platform, that is, to promote dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, diminishment of Second Amendment rights, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, race and gender based preference giving, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination, b) to demonize, denigrate, and condemn the Republican Party platform, c) to elect Democrat candidates, and d) to defeat Republican candidates. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Crystal Laker Trevor Keegan in Super Bowl
mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/08/crystal-laker-trevor-keegan-in-super-bowl/
— Blago Being Talked about as Trump Pick for Ambassador to Serbia
https://wwwhttps://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/blago-being-talked-about-as-trump-pick-for-ambassador-to-serbia/
— Lakemoor Refuses Comment on $40 Million Illegal Search and Seizure Hemp Suit
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/lakemoor-refuses-comment-on-40-million-illegal-search-and-seizure-hemp-suit/
— Pritzker Flips on No New Taxes
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/pritzker-flips-on-no-new-taxes/
— Tariffs and How Value Added Taxes Are “Backdoor Tariffs”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/tariffs-and-how-value-added-taxes-are-backdoor-tariffs/
— Correcting County Administrator Pete Austin’s Salary Information — Seeking 5.3% Raise
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/correcting-county-administrator-pete-austins-salary-information/
— Major “Sin” Tax Brings in $1.5 Billion
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/major-sin-tax-brings-in-1-5-billion/
— Schakowsky on Trump’s Early Days as President
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/08/schakowsky-on-trumps-early-days-as-president/
— Pritzker Purports to Re-Name Lake Michigan “Lake Illinois”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/08/pritzker-purports-to-re-name-lake-michigan-lake-illinois/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump says DOGE will look into more federal agencies (COMMENTL Will DOGE look into GAO?
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/7/trump-says-doge-look-federal-agencies/
— Alaska lawmakers officially oppose Trump’s push to change Denali to Mount McKinley
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/8/alaska-lawmakers-officially-oppose-trump-push-chan/
— Russia is using Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to create a migration crisis. The axis of evil is sending masses of illegal immigrants to flood the southwest border.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/6/russia-using-cuba-nicaragua-venezuela-create-migra/

NEW YORK POST
— Trump ordered Secret Service to provide ‘every bit of information’ on would-be assassins
https://nypost.com/2025/02/08/us-news/trump-ordered-secret-service-to-provide-every-bit-of-information-on-would-be-assassins/

BAPTIST NEWS
— Remember that time Wheaton College congratulated Russell Vought?
https://baptistnews.com/article/remember-that-time-wheaton-college-congratulated-russell-vought/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Want to know how controversial it was for Russell Vought to be confirmed by the Senate as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget? Just ask Wheaton College, where Vought earned a bachelor’s degree. On Friday, Feb. 7, the Christian college posted a note on its Facebook page with Vought’s photo saying, “Wheaton College congratulates and prays for 1998 graduate Russell Vought regarding his senatorial confirmation to serve as the White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget!” Then the alumni base of the Illinois school began to vent their disdain for Vought and their disbelief that their alma mater would highlight someone responsible for creating Project 2025 and saying he wants to make federal employees so miserable they all quit — among other things. By Saturday morning, the post was removed from Facebook.)

DAILY WIRE
— Wheaton College Caves to Woke Mob, Apologizes For Congratulating Alum In Trump Admin. Wheaton College posted, and then retracted, a message congratulating Russ Vought on his confirmation to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/christian-college-caves-to-woke-mob-apologizes-for-congratulating-alum-in-trump-admin

FOX NEWS
— Hegseth to look into ‘what went wrong’ in Afghanistan and pledges accountability, slams diversity motto. ‘We will find strength in unity,’ not diversity, Hegseth says.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-look-what-went-wrong-afghanistan-pledges-accountability-slams-diversity-motto
— Teachers express fears as Trump strips federal funding for schools teaching CRT. ‘Every teacher I’ve talked to is completely freaked out by it,’ one retired teacher told The Boston Globe.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/teachers-express-fears-trump-strips-federal-funding-schools-teaching-crt

NEWSMAX
— Time for Homan to Decisively Act on Defiant Illegals
https://www.newsmax.com/reagan/homan-cbs-ice/2025/02/08/id/1198327/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CBS NEWS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transgender-rights-lawsuits-challenge-trump-policies/

WASHINGTON POST
— Attacks on Catholics, Lutherans suggest new Trump approach on religion. Allies of the president are leveling attacks on religious groups, including Catholics and Lutherans, and questioning their efforts to help migrants.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/02/08/catholic-lutheran-vance-flynn-musk-trump/
— Trump says some white South Africans are oppressed, could be resettled in the US. They say no thanks. Groups representing some of South Africa’s white minority have responded to a plan by U.S. President Donald Trump to offer them refugee status and resettlement in the United States by saying: thanks, but no thanks.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/08/trump-south-africa-afrikaners/ac037124-e633-11ef-ab83-bb30e4340014_story.html

REASON
— America’s enemies want mass immigration.
https://reason.com/volokh/2025/02/08/trumps-cruel-assault-on-legal-immigration/

February 8, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Pritzker responds to ‘garbage’ DOJ lawsuit over sanctuary city policies
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-responds-garbage-doj-lawsuit-sanctuary-city-policies/15877508/
— Blagojevich may take role as U.S. ambassador to Serbia
https://abc7chicago.com/post/former-illinois-governor-rod-blagojevich-may-take-role-trump-administration-us-ambassador-serbia-politico-report/15879085/

FOX32
— Blagojevich may be considered for Trump Administration role
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/rod-blagojevich-may-be-considered-trump-administration-role-report-says

WTTW
— ‘Get out of the way’: Salvi calls on Pritzker to work with Trump administration
https://www.audacy.com/wbbm780/news/local/illinois-gop-chair-salvi-tells-pritzker-to-work-with-trump

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/a-chicagoans-journey-through-incarceration-deportation-and-the-fight-for-a-new-path/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Pritzker trolls Trump with faux Illinois annexation of Green Bay, renaming of Lake Michigan. Pritzker took Trump’s stated desire to take over Greenland as a cue to sarcastically announce “Illinois will now be annexing Green Bay to protect itself against enemies, foreign and domestic.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/02/07/pritzker-lake-illinois-green-bay-video-trump
— Trump says he’s firing Kennedy Center board members, naming himself chairman. Trump also indicated he would be dictating programming at one of the nation’s premier cultural institutions, writing on his social media website that the current board members “do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/donald-trump/2025/02/07/trump-firing-kennedy-center-board-trustees-members-naming-himself-chairman
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/02/05/chicago-immigration-lyons-elgin-trump-ice-raids-border-wall-immigration-know-your-rights

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250207/news/conant-high-students-walk-out-to-protest-deportations/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Pritzker takes aim at Team Trump over immigration — and Lake Illinois
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/pritzker-goes-trump-bondi-over-immigration-lawsuit

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Pritzker pokes fun at Trump, jokes he’s renaming Lake Michigan
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/state/2025/02/07/poking-fun-at-trump-pritzker-moves-to-annex-green-bay/78340045007/

STATELINE
— Illinois bill would remove student performance from teacher reviews (COMMENT: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly attract marginalized students to Illinois.)
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-bill-would-remove-how-students-perform-from-teacher-reviews/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump is signing up local law officers to help with immigration enforcement (COMMENT: Hopefully, the leaders of your county and municipal law enforcement agencies have signed up to help with immigration enforcement.)
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/ap-trump-is-signing-up-local-law-officers-to-help-with-immigration-enforcement/

WAND TV
— Trump is signing up local law officers to help with immigration enforcement. Republican lawmakers in about dozen states are advancing proposals that could aid President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/trump-is-signing-up-local-law-officers-to-help-with-immigration-enforcement/article_a672a2e8-4544-5594-835c-92b4afc3ee43.html

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump supporters welcome the first steps in his immigration crackdown
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-07/trump-supporters-welcome-the-first-steps-in-his-immigration-crackdown

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/07/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-245/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— Update on discrimination lawsuits against Bally’s Chicago and City of Chicago
https://wirepoints.org/update-on-discrimination-lawsuits-against-ballys-chicago-and-city-of-chicago-wirepoints/

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Advocate warns ‘lack of community care’ around Obama library in Chicago
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_50582248-e327-11ef-a170-33f03845bdc0.html

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Answers Sought for Northeastern Illinois Transportation Survey
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/answers-sought-for-transportation-survey/
— Campaign Committees with State Board of Elections Fines Preventing Candidates from Running for Office Until Payment Made
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/campaign-committees-with-state-board-of-elections-fines-preventing-candidates-from-running-for-office-until-payment-made/
— Two Running Write-In Campaigns for Marengo Township Trustee
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/07/two-running-write-in-campaigns-for-marengo-township-trustee/
— Pritzker Celebrates Pot Sales
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/06/pritzker-celebrates-pot-sales/
— McLaughlin Seeks to Emulate Other State’s Emulation of Trump’s DOGE
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/06/mclaughlin-seeks-to-emulate-other-states-emulation-of-trumps-doge/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— From what I see, to win elections going forward, Democrat leaders have decided to double down on promoting a) hatred against Trump and b) dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, diminishment of Second Amendment rights, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, race and gender based preference giving, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— According to the White House, 65,000 federal employees have accepted buyout offers. What is your position on buyouts and early retirement offers? In 1993, when I was 45 years old, the Democrats who ran GAO “offered” $25,000 buyouts and early retirement to get rid of their older White male non-veteran employees who they had not promoted to GS-15, currently $163,749-$180,974/year. I was eligible because I had 25 years of federal service – 13 with GAO, 9 with IRS, and 3 with the Post Office. They succeeded in forcing me to retire in 1997 just before their “offer” expired. If I had not succumbed, I would not have been eligible for regular retirement until 2003. Things that I did that helped me survive 1993-1997 include a) earning a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997, b) becoming a Certified Forensic Accountant in 1997, Financial Services Auditor in 1996, Government Financial Manager in 1994, Fraud Examiner in 1990, Internal Auditor and licensed CPA in 1981, and CPA in 1979, and c) earning master’s degrees in accounting from DePaul in 1980 and in business from Loyola in 1976. If I was still working for GAO, that is, if my Democrat GAO superiors had not forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, a) I would not have gotten $1.8 million in Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension payments since 1997 in today’s dollars and b) I would have paid into the CSRS $286,262 (7% of my salary) in today’s dollar.)
— Trump has pledged to remove corrupt FBI agents. To remove me, my Democrat GAO superiors did not hint/imply/argue/shout that I was corrupt. But constructively, they hinted/implied/argued/shouted that because I opposed their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination, I was a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things. They had trouble hinting/implying/arguing/shouting that I was incompetent because I had a) become a licensed CPA, b) passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt, c) earned four more job-related professional certifications, and d) earned three job-related master’s degrees. I should write about the aforesaid. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— David Hogg has become the Democratic National Committee’s First Gen Z Vice Chair. If the following would establish a Vice Chair position for Baby Boomers, I would apply for it: Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization. I would also apply for Vice Chair positions for conservatives, Whites, males, Protestants, German Americans, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Are you or someone who you know interested in buying our Iron Gate Motor Condo in Naperville? If so, please let me know. My wife and I are considering buying a more expensive unit there. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump calls for ‘balanced budget’ after proposing tax cuts costing at least $5 trillion
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/7/donald-trump-calls-balanced-budget-proposing-tax-c/
— Immigrants took nearly 90% of new jobs since 2020 (COMMENT: If there had been as many immigrants when I was young as there are now, they would have gotten the jobs that I got.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/7/immigrants-took-nearly-90-new-jobs-since-2020/
— Breaking free from the addiction to government schools. The state has only its best interests at heart.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/6/breaking-free-addiction-government-schools/
— Trump says he will name himself Kennedy Center board chair and impose programming changes
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/7/trump-says-name-kennedy-center-board-chair-impose-/
— Justice Department takes fight to sanctuary cities
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/7/trump-launches-multi-front-attack-sanctuary-polici/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Radical LGBT activists lash out over Trump protecting women’s sports
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/3314702/lgbt-activists-lash-out-trump-women-sports/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Top Biden EV Bus Maker Nears Bankruptcy, Leaving School Districts and Tens of Millions of Taxpayer Dollars in Limbo. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin tells the Free Beacon he is ‘committed to delivering’ answers on green spending.
https://freebeacon.com/energy/bidens-favorite-ev-bus-maker-is-nearing-bankruptcy-and-producing-no-buses-leaving-tens-of-millions-of-taxpayer-dollars-in-limbo/

NEW YORK POST
— Trump appoints himself Kennedy Center chair, fires board members and blasts past drag shows ‘targeting’ children
https://nypost.com/2025/02/07/us-news/trump-to-purge-kennedy-center-board-of-trustees-and-make-himself-chairman/
— Here’s what’s really driving Donald Trump’s tariff threats
https://nypost.com/2025/02/07/opinion/heres-whats-really-driving-donald-trumps-tariff-threats/

BREITBART
— Newsom Signs $50 Million to Fight Trump — After Asking for Federal Aid for Fires
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/07/newsom-signs-50-million-to-fight-trump-after-asking-for-federal-aid-for-fires/

DAILY WIRE
— ICE Arrests 11,000 Illegal Aliens In First 18 Days Of Trump Administration. The Trump administration is working to expand ICE’s detention capacity.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/ice-arrests-11000-illegal-aliens-in-first-18-days-of-trump-administration

EPOCH TIMES
— Trump Revokes Biden’s Security Clearance, Bars Him From Intelligence Briefings. Biden had previously revoked Trump’s access to intelligence briefings after he took office, following the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-revokes-joe-bidens-security-clearance-bars-him-from-receiving-intelligence-briefings-5806401

FOX NEWS
— Frustrated Chicagoans back ICE deportations, applaud DOJ lawsuit targeting sanctuary policies. Vashon Tuncle tells ‘Ingraham Angle’ Trump, Homan have growing support from residents to crack down on migrants.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/frustrated-chicagoans-back-ice-deportations-applaud-doj-lawsuit-targeting-sanctuary-policies
— How Trump is uprooting radical ’60s foundations of poisonous DEI and CRT programs. There had been America haters in the past, but the ’60s was the decade when these ideas took root. (COMMENT: Since the 1960s, my critics/opponents have used Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of me.)
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/how-trump-uprooting-radical-60s-foundations-poisonous-dei-crt-programs
— Bondi sends warning to sanctuary cities: ‘Comply or you’re next’
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6368429031112

MRC TV
— Woke Bishop Who Lectured Trump Got Tens of Millions of Taxpayers Dollars to ‘Resettle’ Migrants
https://www.mrctv.org/blog/nick-kangadis/woke-bishop-who-lectured-trump-got-tens-millions-taxpayers-dollars-resettle

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CNN
— Trump’s administration is switching positions in a major Supreme Court case on transgender rights, backing away from the Biden administration’s opposition to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. (COMMENT: Under Bush, his DOJ backed the Democrats who ran GAO in Diersen v. GAO, that is, Bush backed political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination. The Democrats who ran GAO would not have and could not have forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997 if I had been a Democrat, minority, and/or female.)
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/07/politics/supreme-court-lgbtq-skrmetti-switch/index.html

REUTERS
— Trump administration for now not naming January 6 FBI agents, president wants some fired  (COMMENT: My Democrat GAO superiors fired me, that is, they forced me to retire, when I was 49 years old in 1997. My critics/opponents have always sided with my Democrat GAO superiors.)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-justice-department-receives-names-january-6-fbi-agents-2025-02-07/

NBC NEWS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use courts to block Trump’s agenda
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-sweeping-agenda-hitting-legal-roadblocks-rcna191081
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/democratic-states-sue-trump-administration-order-halt-funding-gender-a-rcna191257

CBS NEWS
— Trolling Trump, Pritzker jokingly renames Lake Michigan, annexes Green Bay
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/jb-pritzker-donald-trump-joke-lake-michigan-lake-illinois-annex-green-bay/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Will Trump Be the President of Vice? (COMMENT: My critics/opponents promote vices big time. They are beyond furious that I stopped video gambling and the sale of pot in Wheaton.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/opinion/donald-trump-vice-voters.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: While never a traditional Republican, Mr. Trump, in a second term, looks likely to go further than in his first in dumping many traditional Republican policies. In particular, Mr. Trump seems willing, even eager, to embrace vice. In his recent campaign, Mr. Trump embraced a strategy of social moderation. Not only did he loudly signal his opposition to hard-line anti-abortion policies, but he also endorsed marijuana legalization in Florida and was aligned with the Biden administration’s move to give pot a less restrictive legal status. And he embraced the crypto craze, starting his own cryptocurrency company. Mr. Trump’s moderation on pot, crypto — which some social conservatives see as closer to gambling than a serious investment — and other vices appears to have been part of a calculated effort to turn out young men, who, surveys suggest, helped propel him to victory. Pushing forward with liberalization in these areas could help establish vice voters as part of the new, post-Trump Republican coalition. But it would also have dangerous social consequences — consequences that could help fuel an already growing backlash against both Mr. Trump and addictive, harmful goods of all kinds. Mr. Trump’s cabinet picks indicate he could give these voters what they want. Take the issue of drugs. Mr. Kennedy, chosen to be the nation’s top health official, has supported federally legalizing marijuana. So has Matt Gaetz, Mr. Trump’s first, failed pick to be attorney general — and even with Mr. Gaetz’s name withdrawn, it signaled something striking, given that the attorney general can, after consulting with the health and human services secretary, reclassify controlled substances.)
— As Ground Shifts, ‘Flailing’ Democrats Struggle to Find Footing in Diversity Fight. President Trump’s aggressive moves against transgender rights and diversity, equity and inclusion programs have left the Democratic Party casting about for a strategy for how to respond.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/us/politics/democrats-dei-trump.html
— Trump’s New Line of Attack Against the Media Gains Momentum. First Amendment experts say Mr. Trump’s lawsuits, based on an unproven legal theory, lack merit. But more could be on the way.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/business/media/trump-media-lawsuits.html
— Beyond overwhelmingly, mainstream journalists and reporters are Democrats who a) promote the Democrat Party platform and help elect Democrat candidates and b) demonize, denigrate, and condemn the Republican Party platform and do everything they can to defeat Republican candidates.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/business/media/trump-musk-attack-journalists.html
— Hegseth Uses His First Town Hall to Attack Diversity (COMMENT: To promote diversity is to promote discrimination against, if not hatred against, those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/us/politics/hegseth-pentagon-town-hall.html
— Democrats ever-increasingly reject a) Trump’s election, b) the rule of law, and c) America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/opinion/trump-power-surrender.html
— Musk Wields Scythe on Federal Work Force, With Trump’s Full Blessing. The president defended Elon Musk’s role in seeking to slash budgets and cut payrolls as the young aides burrowing into federal agencies came under scrutiny. (COMMENT: My critics/opponents had no problem with my Democrat superiors wasting my career and forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. In fact, they were and continue be overjoyed about it.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/us/politics/trump-musk-doge-pentagon.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/02/07/trump-transgender-care-lawsuit/
— Democrat and RINO leaders use DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/07/trump-dei-federal-government-discrimination/

USA TODAY
— Federal employees on Trump’s buyout offer: ‘The bridge is burned.’ (COMMENT: I succumbed to my Democrat GAO superiors’ threats and took their early retirement “offer” when I was 49 years old in 1997. If I had not done that, I would not have been eligible for regular retirement for 6 years. They made it all too clear to me that if I tried to work for those 6 years, they would make my life a living hell. The least of which would be demotions and adverse transfers,)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/08/why-federal-employees-accept-trumps-buyout/78295456007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Secession From Illinois Is in the Air. Multiple counties want to leave, and Indiana says come on over.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/illinois-counties-secession-vote-indiana-j-b-pritzker-todd-huston-5a93d624
— Politico Draws DOGE’s Ire, Signaling a Shakeout for Media with Major Government Customers. Elon Musk’s cost-cutting project flags more than $8 million in spending on the political publication. (COMMENT: GOPUSA ILLINOIS subscriptions are worth at least $5,000/year. But I send GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters to anyone who wants them free of charge, without any advertising, and with no donation requests.)
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/politico-draws-doges-ire-signaling-a-shakeout-for-media-with-major-government-customers-8b4db480

FORTUNE
— America’s enemies ever-increasingly use Affirmative Action and DEI to destroy America’s military.
https://fortune.com/well/2025/02/08/american-troops-fear-anxiety-trump-transgender-military-ban/

FORBES
— Bondi Targets DEI At Private Companies And Universities On Day One (COMMENT: Democrat and RINO employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/02/06/ag-pam-bondi-targets-dei-at-private-companies-and-universities-on-day-one/
— Black History Month 2025: Moving Forward With Purpose And Impact (COMMENT: Democrat leaders promote Black History Month. My subordinate who my Democrat GAO superiors replaced me with was Black and had always led the office’s Black History Month events. He had less work experience than I had. He had less education than I had. He had one professional certification while I had six. He had no professional license like the one I had.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonemorris/2025/02/07/black-history-month-2025-moving-forward-with-purpose-and-impact/

CLUB ALFA
— Dodge Charger Daytona wins 2025 MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award (COMMENT: I have ordered a 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T EV.)
https://www.clubalfa.it/en/dodge-charger-daytona-and-ram-1500-win-the-2025-motorweek-drivers-choice-awards-16296
(FROM THE ARTICLE: John Davis, creator and host of MotorWeek, emphasized the uniqueness of the Charger Daytona: “This is the first time an all-electric model has won the Best Sport Coupe award. Dodge has kept its promise: buyers don’t have to compromise just because the classic HEMI V-8 has been replaced by electric propulsion.” Davis then added: “From the external design to the interior layout, to the virtual sounds that perfectly accompany its extraordinary acceleration, it almost feels like you can still hear the pushrod rhythm under the long, flat ’60s-style hood. The Charger Daytona is first and foremost an all-wheel-drive muscle car, and then an EV.”)

STELLANTIS
— All-new Dodge Charger Daytona Claims 2025 MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/all-new-dodge-charger-daytona-ram-1500-claim-2025-motorweek-drivers-choice-awards-302369687.html
(FROM THE PRESS RELEASE: The all-new Dodge Charger Daytona, the next generation of Dodge muscle, is available now at dealerships and represents the start of a multi-energy Dodge Charger lineup. . .”The Dodge Charger Daytona is our choice as Best Sport Coupe of the year, the first time an all-electric model has risen to that honor,” said John Davis, creator and host, MotorWeek. “From the outset, Dodge promised that buyers would not have to accept any compromises just because their hallmark muscle car traded in its classic HEMI® V-8 for electric propulsion. Indeed, from its exterior styling and interior layout, to its amazingly fitting virtual sounds audibly underscoring its rocket-like acceleration, you would be hard pressed not to think there was a chorus of pushrods still pulsating under the Charger’s long, wide, flat, ’60s era hood. When all is said and done, the Dodge Charger Daytona is an all-wheel-drive muscle car first and an EV second.)

RESTAURANT BUSINESS
— How restaurants are pushing back on Trump deportation sweeps (COMMENT: What percent of restaurant employees are illegals?)
https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/workforce/how-restaurants-are-pushing-back-trump-deportation-sweeps

WBZA
— Millions of retirees celebrated after former President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law. This new legislation aims to increase Social Security benefits for over 3.2 million retirees and spouses by eliminating two controversial provisions. However, retirees expecting an immediate financial boost just learned there’s an unexpected delay in receiving their benefits. (COMMENT: My Social Security is dramatically less because I get a Civil Service Retirement System pension.)
https://wbza.co.in/new-social-security-law-increases-benefits-for-3-2-million-retirees/#google_vignette

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CACUS
— Congressional Equality Caucus, Democratic Women’s Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Black Caucus charge Trump with undermining civil rights protections and enforcement for workers (COMMENT: My Democrat GAO superiors would not have and could not have forced me to retire when I was 49 year old in 1997 if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, veteran, and/or union member.)
https://cbc.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2774

HUFFINGTON POST
— David Hogg Becomes Democratic National Committee’s First Gen Z Vice Chair (COMMENT: If the following would establish a Vice Chair position for Baby Boomers, I would apply for it: Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization. I would also apply for Vice Chair positions for conservatives, Whites, males, Protestants, German Americans, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.aol.com/david-hogg-becomes-democratic-national-223229994.html

PBS
— Trump says he’ll fire some FBI agents ‘very surgically’ (COMMENT: My Democrat GAO superiors fired me, that is, they forced me to retire, when I was 49 years old in 1997. My critics/opponents have always sided with my Democrat GAO superiors.)
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-hell-fire-some-fbi-agents-very-surgically

NEW YORKER
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/immigration-enforcement-and-the-fears-of-the-undocumented-in-chicago
— Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/trumps-boogeyman-dei

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Trump Joins a Global War on ‘Gender Ideology’
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/magazine/gender-ideology-trump-orban.html

WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
— White House claims 65,000 federal workers have accepted buyout offers. (COMMENT: What is your position on buyouts and early retirement offers? In 1993, when I was 45 years old, the Democrats who ran GAO “offered” $25,000 buyouts and early retirement to get rid of their older White male non-veteran employees who they had not promoted to GS-15, currently $163,749-$180,974/year. I was eligible because I had 25 years of federal service – 13 with GAO, 9 with IRS, and 3 with the Post Office. They succeeded in forcing me to retire in 1997 just before their “offer” expired. If I had not succumbed, I would not have been eligible for regular retirement until 2003. Things that I did that helped me survive 1993-1997 include a) earning a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997, b) becoming a Certified Forensic Accountant in 1997, Financial Services Auditor in 1996, Government Financial Manager in 1994, Fraud Examiner in 1990, Internal Auditor and licensed CPA in 1981, and CPA in 1979, and c) earning master’s degrees in accounting from DePaul in 1980 and in business from Loyola in 1976. If I was still working for GAO, that is, if my Democrat GAO superiors had not forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, a) I would not have gotten $1.8 million in Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension payments since 1997 in today’s dollars and b) I would have paid into the CSRS $286,262 (7% of my salary) in today’s dollar.)
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/02/08/hutq-f08.html

INDEPENDENT
— ‘We love Japan:’ Watch Trump welcome Japanese prime minister to White House
https://www.aol.com/love-japan-watch-trump-welcome-175225618.html

DAILY MAIL
— Trump pledges to ‘surgically’ remove ‘corrupt’ FBI agents including those on January 6 investigations (COMMENT: To remove me, my Democrat GAO superiors did not hint/imply/argue/shout that I was corrupt. But constructively, they hinted/implied/argued/shouted that because I opposed their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination, I was a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things. They had trouble hinting/implying/arguing/shouting that I was incompetent because I had a) become a licensed CPA, b) passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt, c) earned four more job-related professional certifications, and d) earned three job-related master’s degrees. I should write about the aforesaid.)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14374021/donald-trump-fbi-agents-january-6.html

February 6, 2025

Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly organize, promote, and report on more demonstrations against Trump. How successful have Democrat leaders been organizing, promoting, and reporting on protests against Trump in your county, township, municipality, and school district?

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Chicago-area experts question US right to make Gaza Strip ‘Riviera of the Middle East’
https://abc7chicago.com/post/trump-gaza-news-heading-springfield-advocate-palestinians-pres-says-he-wants-turn-strip-riviera/15869210/

NBC5
— Rallies against Trump administration held in Chicago, numerous other cities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EE5dLjYfZA
— Google scraps diversity ‘aspirations,’ citing role as federal contractor (COMMENT: Google has always steered everyone to websites a) that promote the Democrat Party platform and b) that demonize, denigrate, and condemn the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/google-scraps-diversity-aspirations-citing-role-as-federal-contractor/3666768/

CBS2
— Palestinian Americans in Chicago area decry Trump’s plan for U.S. to “take over the Gaza Strip”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/palestinian-americans-in-chicago-area-decry-trump-s-plan-for-u-s-to-take-over-the-gaza-strip/ar-AA1yucJ8
— Palestinian Americans in Chicago not pleased with President Trump’s Gaza takeover plan
https://www.yahoo.com/news/palestinian-americans-chicago-not-pleased-013600282.html

WGN9
— Hundreds rally against Trump administration’s Middle East, immigration policies
https://www.aol.com/hundreds-rally-against-trump-administration-225347771.html

FOX32
— Trump tariffs could hit Illinois hard, state treasurer warns
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/trump-tariffs-illinois

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Hundreds of patients skip appointments at Chicago health clinic amid deportation fears. At CommunityHealth, which serves a large immigrant population, prescriptions for diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions have been left on shelves since President Donald Trump took office.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2025/02/05/chicago-health-clinic-patient-deportation-fear

DAILY HERALD
— Salvi: JB Pritzker’s ego could cost Illinois
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250206/columns/jb-pritzkers-ego-could-cost-illinois/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Photos of Illinois protestors against actions of President Trump, Elon Musk
https://www.sj-r.com/picture-gallery/news/2025/02/05/hundreds-of-protestors-rally-at-illinois-capitol-against-trump-musk-see-photos/78260501007/

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Protestors demonstrate against Trump policies outside Illinois Capitol
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/protestors-demonstrate-against-trump-policies-outside-illinois-capitol/video_241eda7c-9746-51d7-be96-80a0d75c5146.html
— Fear, anger, hope shown at ICE protest by students on ISU campus
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/government-politics/protest-isu-immigration-ice-students-bloomington-normal/article_a5c3fb6a-e3fb-11ef-919b-6b706dd71e8a.html

STATELINE
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use their illegals to promote more hatred against Republicans. Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War against Republicans. Illegals are soldiers in the Democrat Army.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-schools-communities-on-edge-with-rumors-of-ice-raids/

WAND TV
— State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Berwyn) said President Donald Trump is enacting an ethnic cleansing after Trump called all Palestinians to leave Gaza. “Let’s call that what it is, ethnic cleansing,” Rashid said.
https://www.wandtv.com/community/donald-trump-is-calling-for-ethnic-cleansing-says-illinois-house-democrat/article_7629d996-e406-11ef-bf60-3f2a156d1588.html

WCIA
— Protesters converge on Illinois Capitol as tensions over Trump actions rise in the chamber
https://www.wcia.com/news/protesters-converge-on-illinois-capitol-as-tensions-over-trump-actions-rise-in-the-chamber/

WGLT
— Advocates ask Illinois lawmakers to increase funding for the unhoused in new budget (COMMENT: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, homelessness will ever-increasingly increase.)
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-02-04/advocates-ask-illinois-lawmakers-to-increase-funding-for-the-unhoused-in-new-budget

NPR ILLINOIS
— New attorney general moves to align DOJ with Trump’s priorities. (COMMENT: In Diersen v. GAO, Bush’s DOJ was aligned with GAO’s priorities of using Affirmative Action, DEI, up-or-out, and budget cuts to waste the careers of and to get rid of its Republican employees like me who were White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-05/new-attorney-general-moves-to-align-justice-department-with-trumps-priorities
— While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, they always glorified and praised those inside and outside of the federal government who promoted the Democrat Party platform.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-05/nsa-museum-covered-plaques-honoring-women-and-people-of-color-provoking-an-uproar

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Rand Paul knocks Trump Gaza takeover plan
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/rand-paul-knocks-trump-gaza-takeover-plan-i-thought-we-voted-for-america-first/

CWB CHICAGO
— Bystanders slam gate on cops, cheerlead suspects during cross-town chase
https://cwbchicago.com/2025/02/bystanders-slam-gate-cops-cheerlead-suspects-during-cross-town-chase-video.html

CHALKBEAT CHICAGO
— Illinois lawmakers advance measure to untangle student test scores from teacher evaluations (COMMENT: My Democrat GAO superiors assigned me to supervise all their most problematic employees.)
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/02/05/illinois-lawmakers-propose-change-to-teacher-evaluation-requirements/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Battle lines in Springfield over Trump
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/02/06/battle-lines-in-springfield-over-trump-00202827

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/06/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-451/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Chicago violent crime numbers up, arrests down across city
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_a5a16d6c-e3d7-11ef-aa02-4b09cee8328e.html

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— If Trump had been elected earlier with his new priorities, how might that have impacted you? If Trump had been elected earlier with his new priorities, my critics/opponents in the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party (IRP) might not have been able to a) remove me from the IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, b) end my service as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, and c) take other adverse actions against me. If Trump had been elected earlier with his new priorities, my Democrat GAO superiors might not have been able to a) force me to take their early retirement “offer” when I was 49 years old in 1997, b) always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay for performance purposes, c) not promote me beyond GS-13 and delay my promotions, d) keep me off audits of IRS, and e) force me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. If Trump had been elected earlier with his new priorities, my Democrat IRS superiors might not have been able to a) not promote me beyond GS-12, b) disallow my education deductions in 1978, and c) disallow my travel vouchers in 1974. If Trump had been elected earlier with his new priorities, my Democrat Post Office superiors might not have been able to a) force me to resign in 1969 and b) disallow my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Non-Parental Relatives Caring for Children to Receive Same State Benefits as Foster Parents
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/05/non-parental-relatives-caring-for-children-to-receive-same-state-benefits-as-foster-parents/
— County Offers Paperless Permit Application
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/05/county-offers-paperless-permit-application/
— McHenry County Republicans Announce Darin Bailey as Lincoln Day Speaker on April 5th
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/05/mchenry-county-republicans-announce-darin-bailey-as-lincoln-day-speaker-on-april-5th/

ILLINOIS POLCY INSTITUTE
— Illinois 10th worst state for getting ahead. (COMMENT: Back in the good old days, I was able earn a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license even though neither of my parents attended college, my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, and my mother never attended high school.)
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/ranking-illinois-10th-worst-state-for-getting-ahead/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Tom Cotton credits bump in Army recruits to ‘Trump effect’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/3311440/tom-cotton-credits-bump-army-recruits-trump-effect/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Colombia’s President Petro calls cocaine no different from whiskey, claims only gringo prejudice gives it a bad rap
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/02/colombia_s_president_petro_calls_cocaine_no_different_from_whiskey_claims_only_gringo_prejudice_gives_it_a_bad_rap.html

FOX NEWS
— Detaining illegal immigrants at Guantanamo could result in legal challenges, slow deportations, experts say. The Trump administration this week began flying illegal immigrants to a military installation on the island.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/detaining-illegal-immigrants-guantanamo-result-legal-challenges-slow-deportations-experts-say

TOWNHALL
— Mexico Begins Sending Troops to Southern Border After Trump Threatens Tariffs
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2025/02/05/mexico-begins-sending-troops-to-southern-border-n2651711
— DEI Woke Uniparty Deep State Collusion
https://townhall.com/columnists/alanjosephbauer/2025/02/06/dei-woke-uniparty-deep-state-collusion-n2651705#google_vignette

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CBS NEWS
— ICE releases some migrant detainees as its detention facilities reach 109% capacity
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-releases-some-migrant-detainees-detention-facilities-reach-109-percent-capacity/

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Opposition lawmakers protest alleged mistreatment of Indian deportees by US
https://apnews.com/article/indian-illegal-immigration-protest-parliament-deportation-trump-90ae7999040196e3ce25dd3fa8e29137

NEWSWEEK
— 50501 Movement Fuels Anti-Trump Rallies Across the US
https://www.newsweek.com/anti-donald-trump-protests-50501-project-2025-live-updates-2026503

CNBC
— Have taken a pay cut? GAO audits IRS. In 1980, when I was 31 years old, my GAO superiors forced me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, that is, I had to take a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10. They used that to shout at everyone that GAO considered the following to be worthless my having: a) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently$99,069-$112,280/year, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, c) almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, and d) earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/14/one-third-of-job-switchers-took-a-pay-cut-for-better-work-life-balance.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/us/politics/trump-trans-athletes-executive-order.html
— Right-Wing Group Publishes ‘D.E.I. Watch List’ Targeting Federal Workers. The American Accountability Foundation list included names and photos of more than 50 people, many in programs aimed at improving the health of people of color. (COMMENT: Because of my bad demographics and because I complained about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination, my Democrat superiors in the federal government always had me on their purge lists.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/us/politics/dei-watchlist-federal-health-workers-cdc-nih.html
— As Trump Attacks D.E.I., Some on the Left Approve
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/business/economy/trump-dei-democrats-left-unions.html
— The Trump Crisis Deepens
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/opinion/trump-power-constitution.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/02/05/transgender-students-trump-executive-order/

USA TODAY
— ‘People are feeling galvanized’: Anti-Trump protesters rally in cities across US
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/05/anti-trump-protests-50-states-updates/78239472007/
— Fear and uncertainty in federal workforce as Trump deadline arrives
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/06/trump-federal-workforce-fork-buyout-deadline-musk/78057990007/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Disabled federal workers fear for their jobs after Trump remarks (COMMENT: Their employees who my Democrat GAO superiors assigned me to supervise were Democrats and were many, most, if not virtually all of the following: minority, female, veteran, disabled, and/or had performance problems.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/05/disabled-federal-employees-dei-trump/77976332007/

THE SUN
— What were you doing 50 years ago? I was working for IRS in the Loop, taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola, living in my studio condo in downtown Chicago weekdays, living in my town home in University Park weekends, and owning a 1972 Corvette and a 1962 Chevy Bel Air.
https://news.thesunontheweb.com/articles/50-years-ago-220/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DEI and Disparate Impact. The next step in restoring meritocracy is to reject the theory that proportionate outcomes equal fairness.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/dei-and-disparate-impact-next-step-toward-meritocracy-is-rejecting-this-theory-b65485ed
— Trump Considers Labeling Migrants a Measles, Tuberculosis Risk. Advisers have searched for disease threats that would merit emergency health law invoked during Trump’s first term for Covid-19 risk.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-asylum-seekers-measles-tuberculosis-risk-0e71a539

KIPLINGER
— Social Security Fairness Act Checklist: Six Things to Know. This Social Security Fairness Act checklist explains what public sector retirees can expect from SSFA, including how much more money they might receive. (COMMENT: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) has dramatically reduced my Social Security since 2010.)
https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/social-security/social-security-fairness-act-checklist

PLAN ADVISER
— Potential Implementation Delays Face Social Security Fairness Act. Under the SSA’s current budget, the agency expects it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits. (COMMENT: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) has dramatically reduced my Social Security since 2010.)
https://www.planadviser.com/potential-implementation-delays-face-social-security-fairness-act/

NATIONAL LAW REVIEW
— Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://natlawreview.com/article/employment-law-week-how-will-trumps-federal-changes-impact-employers-podcast-video

LEXOLOGY
— Requirements of the New Illinois Pay Transparency Amendment (COMMENT: Federal salaries have always been extremely transparent. GAO audits IRS. In 1980, when I was 31 years old, my IRS and GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates shouted at everyone that GAO had forced me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, that is, that I had to take a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10. They used that to shout at everyone that GAO considered the following to be worthless: a) 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 $99,069-$112,280/year, b) my having passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, c) my having almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, and d) my having earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976.)
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=2cd9088a-1c7c-45d4-adec-57a619e1b71b

NPR
— Democrat leaders charge ICE with arresting “scores of migrants in the U.S. who have no criminal records.”
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/04/nx-s1-5282379/trumps-mass-deportation-arrests-of-non-criminal-immigrants-no-criminal-record

POLITICO
— Musk aims to hobble federal workers ahead of ‘buyout’ deadline. Countless staffers in the government are now grappling with what to do. (COMMENT: I was a federal worker for almost 30 years.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/06/federal-workers-musk-buyout-fears-00202768

AXIOS
— Thousands across the U.S. protest Trump and Musk’s policies
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/05/photos-protest-trump-admin-50501

CANADIAN PRESS
— Protests against Trump and Project 2025 are planned in cities across the US
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/protesters-in-cities-across-the-us-rally-against-trump-s-policies-project-2025-and-elon-musk/ar-AA1yr7tC

DAILY MAIL
— Anti-Donald Trump and Elon Musk protests pop up across the country
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/anti-donald-trump-and-elon-musk-protests-pop-up-across-the-country/vi-AA1yu5Nv

GUARDIAN
— US military aircraft transports 104 deported people to India. Plane departed Texas and landed in Amritsar as Washington prepares to welcome Indian PM Narendra Modi.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/05/military-flight-india-immigration
— JANUARY 30, 2019 FLASKBACK: ‘How do they expect to run without us?’ Tesla accused of axing key staff to cut costs. Electric car firm slashed 7% of workforce this month and ex-employees say more experienced staff were targeted. (COMMEMT: When the Democrats who ran GAO in 1997 forced me to retire, they flushed down their toilets the experience that I had gained a) working for GAO since 1980, b) working for IRS 1971-1980, c) earning master’s degrees in 1997 (finance), 1980 (accounting), and 1976 (business), d) earning job-related professional certifications in 1997 (forensic accounting), 1996 (financial services auditing), 1994 (government financial management), 1990 (fraud examination), 1981 (internal auditing), and 1979 (accounting), and e) earning a job-related professional license in 1981 (CPA).)
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/30/tesla-factory-elon-musk-layoffs-company

ECONOMIC TIMES
— ‘Deport Elon, DOGE is not legit’: Protests erupt across US against Trump, Tesla CEO and Project 2025
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/us-news-protests-against-trump-elon-musk-deport-elon-doge-is-not-legit-protests-erupt-across-us-against-trump-tesla-ceo-and-project-2025-usaid/articleshow/117978132.cms

BUSINESS STANDARD
— ‘Stop attack on democracy’: Protesters rally against Trump, Musk across US
https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/us-protests-against-trump-immigration-rights-transgender-gaza-2025-125020600688_1.html

TIMES OF INDIA
— Why the rich risk being illegals in America
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/why-the-rich-risk-being-illegals-in-america/