Tag: cannabis

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey apologized to Chicago during public comments.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-city-council-review-parking-meter-deal-fair-wage-ordinance/19137482/
— DD: Democrat leader ever-increasingly push more LGBTQ in Downers Grove.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/downers-grove-continue-pride-month-fest-june-plans-despite-city-council-meeting-debate/19138041/

NBC5
— Darren Bailey apologizes to Chicago residents for calling city ‘hellhole.’  Gov. Pritzker continues to link Bailey with President Trump, who endorsed the GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2022.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/darren-bailey-apologizes-to-chicago-residents-for-calling-city-hellhole/3938712/

CBS2
— Brawl breaks out at graduation ceremony for Thornwood High School in South Holland
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/thornwood-high-school-graduation-brawl-south-holland/
— CPD Supt. Larry Snelling says parents should play bigger role in stopping “teen takeovers”
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cpd-larry-snelling-parents-teen-takeovers/

FOX32
— Darren Bailey makes pitch to Chicago at City Council meeting: ‘I owe you an apology’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/darren-bailey-makes-pitch-directly-chicago-city-council-meeting

WTTW
— City Council Votes 28-21 to Rid CPD of Officers With Ties to Extremist Groups
https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/20/city-council-votes-28-21-rid-cpd-officers-ties-extremist-groups

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/broadview-six-trial-oak-park-trustee/
— City Council measure bans Chicago police with ties to Proud Boys, other extremist groups. DD: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued that TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) were extremist groups. I was the TAPROOT chairman 2005-2012 and an ICRC Steering Committee member 2003-2007.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/20/city-council-measure-chicago-police-proud-boys-extremist-groups/
—  University of Chicago nukes tuition for the middle class and achieves a degree of affordability. DD: In today’s dollars, my father never earned more than $50,000/year.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/editorial-university-of-chicago-nukes-tuition-for-the-middle-class-and-achieves-a-degree-of-affordability/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: When the University of Chicago announced this month that students whose families earn less than $250,000 will no longer pay tuition starting next year, they were taking a big gamble.)
— Stomping on IRS audits is an egregious abuse of power by President Donald Trump. DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact that a) my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/editorial-donald-trump-justice-department-lawsuit-settlement-lawfare-fund-irs/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chicago’s immigrant workforce. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealth parents. I had to work my way through college.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/21/work-permits-immigrant-workforce-rules-backlogs
— City Council votes to ban cops tied to far-right groups. The ordinance prohibits officers from engaging in “extremist activities,” defined as any attempt to overthrow the U.S. government through violence or “unconstitutional means.” It also bans actively participating in extremist groups, such as by fundraising, recruiting or displaying tattoos supportive of extremist groups. DD: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued that TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) were extremist groups. I was the TAPROOT chairman 2005-2012 and an ICRC Steering Committee member 2003-2007.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/05/20/council-ordinance-passes-ban-cops-police-extremist-groups-january-6-proud-boys-oath-keepers-cpd
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/05/21/republicans-maga-reagan-trump-voters-americans-s-e-cupp
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/05/21/ice-officer-christian-castro-minnesota-venezuelan-immigration-jacob-sullum
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/20/operation-midway-blitz-federal-civil-rights-commission-chicago-testimony-immigration-deportation
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/20/broadview-ice-protest-april-perry-kat-abughazaleh-trump

STATELINE
— Illinois bill would require women’s bathrooms, menstrual products at construction sites. DD: All of my employers would have hired women instead of me if they could have.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-bill-would-require-womens-bathrooms-menstrual-products-at-construction-sites/

ILLINOIS TIMES
— Local cannabis businesses receive state funding. Almost $32 million in forgivable loans awarded to cannabis businesses across the state. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.illinoistimes.com/news/local-cannabis-businesses-receive-state-funding/

PRITZKER
— We Can Bring Back Starter Homes. DD: In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for my starter home in University Park in 1972. Sadly, according to Zillow, it is worth only $84,500 today. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/  When I bought it, in today’s dollars, my salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year.
https://jbpritzker.substack.com/p/we-can-bring-back-starter-homes

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Making a play for first U.S. primary
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/21/making-a-play-for-first-u-s-primary-00931430
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: State Sen. Seth Lewis has been named “Legislator of the Year” by DuPage Animal Friends. Lewis was recognized for his “commitment to protecting animals and supporting and sponsoring policies that promote their humane treatment,” according to the organization.)

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/21/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-742/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-529/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

10th REPUBLICAN NEWSLETTER
— It’s Been a Big Week DD: As a Republican Precinct Committeeman (RPC) since 1999, I urge all Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee members to send monthly newsletters to the RPCs in their district.
https://mailchi.mp/ee555d3f7a0d/the-new-il-10th-republican-newsletter-14206814
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: In case you’ve been under a rock, abandoned social media, or already moved to Florida, you likely already know the results of the State Central Committee’s vote for a State Party Chair. There were four candidates who applied for the position. Of those four, three presented themselves to be interviewed by the whole Committee this past Monday. After fielding questions, and discussion by the Committee, former DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan was elected to be the Chairman. While the vote was taken in Executive Session (“ES”), the results were out into the social media sphere before I even arrived home from Springfield. This was probably inevitable, though I’m disappointed that someone broached ES confidentiality. There is a purpose to ES, and divulging the actual vote is a clear breach of that purpose. What annoyed me even more is that I moved the SCC to put us into ES for the interviews and the vote. I thought it was appropriate and important for me to do so. Let me explain why. First, while I didn’t know my fellow State Committeemen’s questions, some of mine were very challenging, and required answers that the SCC needed to hear but that the majority of the public (particularly our opposition Democrats) should not be privy to. I wanted to be able to ask tough questions, and have each candidate explain their positions and strategies. Along with those questions and answers, I wanted the SCC to be able to have very honest discussions about the candidates and the issues presented. Second, I asked the SCC (though I was tepidly turned down early on) that we vote in ES, verify the tallies and report out an unanimously backed winner. I asked this for two reasons: I didn’t want people to be involuntarily tarred with a very difficult vote if they didn’t vote for the winner, when the result of the vote is all that really matters. I have been answering questions about my vote to inquiries, but I didn’t want to presume the same for all the SCC Committee members. Also, I wanted whoever the new Chair was to have the full “backing” of the SCC and not have a divided vote dogging them as they begin the hard work of chairing the Party. I wanted a united SCC to back the new Chair, and dispense with discussions of the vote itself, divisions in the Party, and related issues, so that we could move forward with the stuff that really matters. I completely understand that people disagree with me on the second point of ES as to reporting out the vote – that’s fair. But for Chair, I thought it important to have an honest discussion about difficult matters, and also back whoever the winner was as a unified group without further distractions. I guess it doesn’t really matter in the end, because the voting result got broadcast to the world pretty quickly. That disappointed me. I hope the next time the SCC takes ES seriously – it may be a personnel matter, or something of a personal nature that requires confidentiality, and I would hate to think that the purpose of ES is optional for some members. Other officers were also elected, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. I was elected Secretary of the SCC, and I look forward to being an officer on the Executive Board. If there is a very bright side to things, I am happy to report to you all that the SCC Committeemen – despite having differing views (and votes) on Chair and other officers – all played very nice in the sandbox. Everyone got along, and it’s already clear that many on the SCC bring a broad level of skill, experience, and deliberation to the group. It’s also very clear to me that people want to get along, and they are motivated to be the best volunteers they can to help the State Party succeed. From reports of prior Committeemen, even from those who are holdovers from the prior SCC, the culture and attitude of those on the current SCC is a remarkable breath of fresh air to the prospects of working together to get things done. I am excited to roll up our sleeves and do the work. I offer congratulations to our new Chair, Bob Grogan, and I’ll do whatever I can to help him see the State Party prosper. I also offer immense gratitude to Kathy Salvi, for putting her (and her family’s) life on hold and doing everything she could to help turn Illinois around. The Party Chair a volunteer position that requires more out of a Chair than a full-time job; it’s a position that costs the Chair tremendous time, significant money, and requires a thick skin for all the abuse. Chair Salvi did all of that with grace and hard work, and for that she is owed a debt of gratitude from all of us. It’s been a long week. A busy week. A good week. And now it’s time to get to work.)

MEMOIR CALL
— Fred Bucholz, Wheaton IL, Obituary, Death: The Former DuPage County Recorder Dies
https://memoircall.info/fred-bucholz-wheaton-il-obituary-death-the-dupage-county-recorder-dies/

ILLINOIS FREEDOM CAUCUS
— Illinois Is Registering Non Citizens To Vote. We are calling on President Trump and The DOJ to investigate the State!
https://illinoisfreedomcaucus.substack.com/p/illinois-is-registering-non-citizens

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_d75ee016-0232-455f-a088-18a3862ac942.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Employers are automating jobs instead of hiring native workers. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealth parents. I had to work my way through college.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/20/study-finds-no-evidence-citizens-taking-jobs-vacated-trump/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ‘America’s worst mayor’ Tiffany Henyard wins Georgia primary after switching parties
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/4577623/tiffany-henyard-wins-fulton-county-republican-primary/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Zohran Mamdani Cozies Up to Holocaust Denying Queens Sheikh Who Called Jewish Death Toll ‘Exaggerated.’ Plus, Graham Platner disparaged Army soldiers in deleted Reddit posts: ‘Full of fat, lazy trash who would rather not be in uniform.’
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/zohran-mamdani-cozies-up-to-holocaust

BREITBART
— Trump Restricts Banks’ Support for Migrants, Foreign Criminals
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/05/20/trump-restricts-banks-support-for-migrants-foreign-criminals/amp/

CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES
— Big Banks and the U.S. Treasury Have Been Enabling Illegal Immigration for Two Decades
https://cis.org/Fishman/Big-Banks-and-US-Treasury-Have-Been-Enabling-Illegal-Immigration-Two-Decades-0

DAILY WIRE
— Pritzker Tries Telling Trump What He Can Say And Can’t Say
https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-tries-telling-trump-what-he-can-say-and-cant-say
— Every Soros Prosecutor Endangers American Lives. This is a deliberate, left-wing effort to remake America’s criminal justice system.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-cotton-every-soros-prosecutor-endangers-american-lives

FEDERALIST
— RINO Crash Out Over Trump’s Paxton Endorsement Shows How Much The GOP Hates Its Voters
https://thefederalist.com/2026/05/20/rino-crash-out-over-trumps-paxton-endorsement-shows-how-much-the-gop-hates-its-voters/

TOWNHALL
— Trump Orders Banks to Look at Citizenship Status
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/05/20/trump-eo-illegal-aliens-banks-n2676399
— If Voter Fraud Doesn’t Happen, Why Is Spanberger Blocking Feds From Polling Places?
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/05/20/spanberger-voting-ice-n2676393
— Supporters of the Dignity Act Are Playing the Religious Card, and It’s Backfiring Big Time
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/05/20/salazar-dignity-act-needed-to-prevent-deportation-of-christians-n2676389

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

MSN
— Musk ‘repeats’ his vow. He says woke killed his son and he wants to destroy it.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-repeats-his-vow-says-it-killed-my-son-i-want-to-destroy/ar-AA23ssOY
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/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, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/insight/gop-lawmaker-warns-trump-s-revenge-politics-risk-midterm-losses/gm-GM7369D1ED

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/trumps-higher-education-crackdown-visa-revocations-dei-bans-lawsuits-and-funding-cuts

NEW YORK TIMES
— House Passes Legislation Aiming To Bring Down Housing Prices.  DD: In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for my starter home in University Park in 1972. Sadly, according to Zillow, it is worth only $84,500 today. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/  When I bought it, in today’s dollars, my salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/us/politics/housing-bill-house-senate-trump.html
— DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who have blamed me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters the most for losses suffered by Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct since 2000. I would focus on past and present a) leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) Republican political consultants, fundraisers, major doners, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, e) conservative leaders, and f) religious leaders.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/us/politics/republicans-elections-trump.html
— G.O.P. Candidates, Looking to Soften Their Image, Turn to Their Wives. DD: Anticipate/expect that if a Republican candidate, elected official, and/or party leader spouse rejects a plank in the Republican Party platform, sooner or later, that Republican candidate, elected official, and/or party leader will also reject that plank.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/27/us/politics/republican-candidates-wives-ads.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders racially gerrymander to defeat Republicans.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/20/supreme-court-do-nothing-philosophy-threatens-voting-rights/

USA TODAY
— Feds to fine migrants $18,000 to recoup deportation costs
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/21/trump-administration-18000-migrant-fine-deportations/90175178007/
— DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government always crowed about their success in promoting their Democrat employees who were minority, female, and/or younger, that is, they always crowed about their success in discriminating against their Republican employees who were White, male, and/or older.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/05/20/trump-eeoc-to-eliminate-job-discrimination-data/90145345007/

BOSTON GLOBE
— Starter homes becoming ‘thing of the past.’  DD: In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for my starter home in University Park in 1972. Sadly, according to Zillow, it is worth only $84,500 today. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/  When I bought it, in today’s dollars, my salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/20/real-estate/starter-home-boston-first-time-homebuyers/?s_campaign=spoint:newsletter

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Republican Lawmakers Increasingly Frustrated With Trump Targeting Critics. DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/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, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-ballroom-gop-senators-725af4d4
— Woke Isn’t Dead, or Even Resting. Defund and dismantle all you want, but the work continues.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/woke-isnt-dead-or-even-resting-77a6448f
— Rove: Gerrymandering Isn’t Enough for the GOP. Republicans could still lose the House in the fall—unless Trump is restrained.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/gerrymandering-isnt-enough-for-the-gop-3ca53b73
— FRONT PAGE: America’s Toxic Divide Reaches the Jury Room. Trial lawyers and jury consultants say an erosion of trust in the justice system, more rigid viewpoints and starker political divides have made pitched juror battles more common. DD: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, anticipate/expect that ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the less likely that you can get a fair trial: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/jury-strife-increase-political-division-27383925

FORTUNE
— Trump’s EEOC chair is suing The New York Times because ‘we should bring it on behalf of white workers too.’  DD: How has EEOC impacted you? I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if my Firestone Store boss had not fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile, an offer that Oldsmobile withdrew saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/why-trump-eeoc-suing-new-york-times-discrimination-against-white-man/
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/bernice-king-mlk-dei-workplace-innovation-summit/

HERALD NEWS
— Older Americans Month. DD: How has age discrimination impacted you? Ever-increasingly, starting when I was 25 years old in 1974, my Democrat superiors in the federal government used my age against me. They used “up-or-out” to get rid of me because they had not promoted me to GS-13 by the time was 25. I finally made GS-13 at GAO when I was 38. But I would not have been able to do that if I had not a) earned an MBA when I was 27, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, c) earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, d) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32, and e) if the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer from IRS had not finally gotten back into power and promoted me when I was 38.
https://www.news-herald.com/2026/05/16/older-americans-month-provides-important-recognition-editorial/

PBS NEWS
— Candidate Spouses Serve as Partners on Campaign Trail. DD: Anticipate/expect that if a Republican candidate, elected official, and/or party leader spouse rejects a plank in the Republican Party platform, sooner or later, that Republican candidate, elected official, and/or party leader will also reject that plank.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/candidate-spouses-serve-as-partners-on-campaign-trail

POLITICO
— Tax world gawks at Trump audit agreement: ‘Never seen anything like this.’  DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact that a) my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/20/tax-world-gawks-at-trump-audit-agreement-never-seen-anything-like-this-00929576

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
— Firestone technician says he was fired after EEOC complaint, alleges pay gap. He says Firestone forced his transfer, skipped his raises, and pushed him out after he spoke up. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if my Firestone Store boss had not fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile, an offer that Oldsmobile withdrew saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/employment-law/firestone-technician-says-he-was-fired-after-eeoc-complaint-alleges-pay-gap/576038