March 5, 2025

WHITE HOUSE
— Democrats Showed Whose Side They’re On — And it’s Not the American People
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/03/democrats-showed-whose-side-theyre-on-and-its-not-the-american-people/

ILLINOIS GOP
— ILGOP Responds to President Trump’s Address To Joint Session Of Congress: Following President Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress in his second term as president, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement: “Tonight, President Trump addressed millions of Americans around the country and outlined his administration’s first 43 days in office – common sense solutions, securing our border, stopping government waste and abuse, and putting America First. The next four years will be full of prosperity as we get our country back on track and the Illinois Republican Party will continue to work with President Trump to help Illinois families and Make America Great Again.”
https://illinois.gop/ilgop-responds-to-president-trumps-address-to-joint-session-of-congress/

EPOCH TIMES
— 12 Takeaways From Trump’s First Major Policy Speech to Congress. Trump touted his administration’s achievements in its first 42 days, and promised greater prosperity and security for the nation.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/12-takeaways-from-trumps-first-major-policy-speech-to-congress-5820120
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1. Tax Cuts Promised for All Americans. . .2. Border Closed, Deportations Underway. . .3. Trump Touts ‘Common Sense Revolution’. . .including rooting out “woke” ideas from the government and federally-funded programs. He referenced an executive order signed early in his second term declaring that the federal government recognizes only two sexes, based on biological sex at conception and not “gender ideology.” Trump highlighted his executive order stripping federal funding for schools that allow males to compete in female sports. One order declared that it is the official policy of the United States that Title IX applies to women and not men who identify as transgender females. The first gallery guest introduced by Trump was Payton McNabb, a female athlete who suffered injuries while playing volleyball against a male player. Trump also referenced merit-based hiring—rather than hiring to meet diversity quotas—as part of his “common sense revolution” agenda. . .4. Tariffs Explained, ‘A Little Disturbance’. . .5. DOGE Findings Highlighted. . .6. Promises Balanced Budget. . .7. Victims Spotlighted. . .8. Direct Appeal to Greenlanders. . .9. Letter From Zelenskyy. . .10. New Shipbuilding Office. . .11. Arrest of Top Terrorist Responsible for Abbey Gate. . .12. Democrats Respond)

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Democrat leaders spin Trump’s speech against  him
https://abc7chicago.com/post/key-takeaways-pres-trumps-speech-congress/15979123/
https://abc7chicago.com/live-updates/trump-joint-session-of-congress-live-updates/15977198/entry/15978756/
— Democrat leaders fact check Trump’s speech. During the last 11 years that I worked for GAO at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $117,807-$153,151/year, I often worked as a fact-checker.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/fact-checking-trumps-speech-congress/15978671/
— A disjointed response from the Democrats
https://abc7chicago.com/live-updates/trump-joint-session-of-congress-live-updates/15977198/entry/15978647/
— Chicago-area protests held as Trump delivers address to Congress; local politicians weigh in
https://abc7chicago.com/post/donald-trump-speech-today-federal-plaza-chicago-protest-among-several-held-area-response-address-congress/15978909/
— Trump administration ends reimbursements for Illinois food programs. USDA funds are part of nearly $2 billion being withheld from Illinois, Pritzker says. (COMMENT: To what extent are those in your country, township, municipality, school district, and precinct dependent on federal food programs?)
https://abc7chicago.com/post/donald-trump-administration-ends-reimbursements-program-designed-help-farmers-supply-fresh-food-illinois-banks/15978548/
— Stocks tumble after Trump tariffs take effect
https://abc7chicago.com/live-updates/trump-joint-session-of-congress-live-updates/15977198/entry/15978114/

CBS2
— CTU holding rallies, walk-ins in Chicago for “Protect our Kids” day of action
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-teachers-rally-protect-our-kids/

FOX32
— Illinois politicos react to Trump’s first speech to Congress in 2nd term
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/trump-speech-reax-illinois
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEBpaq1CGhg
— Chicago activists push for immigrant rights amid scrutiny of sanctuary cities. As Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson prepares to face questioning from members of Congress over the city’s sanctuary laws, local activists argued for the importance of the city upholding immigrants’ rights.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1602832
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use tariffs against Trump
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1603216
— Krishnamoorthi expects ‘attack on Chicago’ at Johnson hearing
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-congressman-expects-attack-chicago-johnson-hearing

WTTW
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration
https://news.wttw.com/2025/03/04/illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-trump-administration-birthright-citizenship-and

WBEZ
— Democrats and RINOs ever-increasingly use DEI to destroy Republicans.
https://www.wbez.org/education/2025/03/05/dei-isnt-just-lawful-its-mission-critical

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: After nearly four-month break, gun arrests outside Naperville Topgolf resume with three busts in four weeks
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/04/naperville-police-topgolf-gun-firearm-arrest/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Trump’s Justice Department files to join legal challenge to Illinois nonprofit diversity law
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/trump-justice-department-join-challenge-illinois-dei-law

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Trump says he’ll cut funds to colleges for ‘illegal’ protests, arrest and deport agitators
https://www.rrstar.com/story/news/local/2025/03/05/rockford-activists-say-trump-lacks-authority-over-on-campus-protests/81380530007/

SOUTHERN
— Who do you blame for high grocery prices and why?
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/03/05/in-democratic-response-slotkin-says-trump-has-no-credible-plan-to-lower-grocery-prices/

FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump touts success of immigration crackdown, pushes Congress to pass funding
https://foxillinois.com/news/connect-to-congress/president-donald-trump-touts-success-of-immigration-crackdown-pushes-congress-to-pass-funding-migrants-asylum-border-wall-deportations-ice-dhs-title-42

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump says he is ‘just getting started,’ as he faces vocal protests from Democrats
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-03-04/trump-says-he-is-just-getting-started-as-he-faces-vocal-protests-from-democrats

WIFR
— Illinois representatives react to Trump’s joint address to congress
https://www.wifr.com/2025/03/05/illinois-representatives-react-trumps-joint-address-congress/

WCIA
— Democrats ever-increasingly push pot in Danville
https://www.wcia.com/news/vermilion-county/seven-point-dispensary-to-expand-in-danville-after-approval-of-consumption-lounge/

NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— You want privacy with that? (COMMENT: I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, including almost 9 years for IRS and 3 years for GAO on audits of IRS. Federal employees who are Republican should anticipate/expect that their Democrat superiors will get your tax information and use it against you. My Democrat IRS superiors used my tax information to disallow my education deductions. My Democrat GAO superiors used my and my wife’s tax information to paint me as being undeservedly filthy rich.)
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/wnij-news/2025-03-05/perspective-you-want-privacy-with-that
(FROM THE ARTICLE: We’re well into a particularly dreaded time of year. Ah, yes. It’s time to pay 2024 taxes. According to a 2023 report from an ad hoc Congressional committee, “Big Tax Prep has recklessly shared tens of millions of taxpayers’ sensitive personal and financial data…for years in what appears to represent a violation of taxpayer privacy laws.” That’s pretty scathing. Think about this: the instant you open that commercial tax package and start uploading your data, you may be risking the loss of your financial privacy. It has me thinking about going back to the twentieth century and filing on paper! Fortunately, Congress and the Internal Revenue Service are rolling out a remedy. This year, it’s now possible for taxpayers in twenty-five states (including Illinois and Wisconsin) to file directly with the IRS – for free. The process will forever be (dare I say) taxing. But at least we’re getting some privacy protections with the new IRS Direct File program. I suppose we can call that……progress.)

AXIOS CHICAGO
— What percent of those in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct are dependent om Medicaid?
https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/03/05/house-budget-medicaid-cuts-illinois

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— ICE Says It Will Reveal Who Was Arrested In Chicago ‘As Soon As Possible’ — Which Might Be Never
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/03/04/ice-says-it-will-reveal-who-was-arrested-in-chicago-as-soon-as-possible-which-might-be-never/

STATE OF ILLINOIS
— Pritzker Acts to Support Federal Workers. State of Illinois will host two career fairs in March for former federal employees in Edwardsville and Chicago.  (COMMENT: I have been a former federal employee for more than 27 years. Illinois has never indicated that it might want to hire me. It has never helped me find a job appropriate for my work experience, education, professional certifications, and professional license. For that matter, neither has DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, or Wheaton Warrenville School District 200.)
https://www.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/illinois/iisnewsattachments/30997-030525-cms-march-job-fairs-press-release.pdf.pdf

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Trump: ‘Wokeness is trouble’
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/03/05/trump-wokeness-is-trouble-00213050

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/03/05/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-467/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— We shouldn’t be proud to have 3.6 million Illinoisans on Medicaid, it means we’re an economic failure
https://wirepoints.org/we-shouldnt-be-proud-to-have-3-6-million-illinoisans-on-medicaid-it-means-economic-failure-wirepoints-on-chicago-tonight/
— So-called voter education group — League of Women Voters — says don’t attend, engage or watch State of Union speech
https://wirepoints.org/so-called-voter-education-group-league-of-women-voters-says-dont-attend-engage-or-watch-state-of-union-speech-wirepoints-quickpoint/
— Be ready for Mayor Johnson to wiggle out of every question he’s asked
https://wirepoints.org/be-ready-for-mayor-johnson-to-weasel-out-of-every-question-hes-asked-wirepoints-on-am-560-chicagos-morning-answer/

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Early childhood agency proposes budget, questioned about ‘White Fragility’
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_9012a9d8-f94a-11ef-af4e-2b0663225ced.html

COOK COUNTY RECORD
— IL high court questions if GOP gerrymandering suit is ‘timely;’ GOP: ‘Unquestionably’ so
https://cookcountyrecord.com/stories/670216205-il-high-court-questions-if-gop-gerrymandering-suit-is-timely-gop-unquestionably-so

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What discourages you from helping elect Republican candidates? For me, it includes my seeing far too many of them who I have helped elect since 2000 a) dump planks in the Republican Party platform if not work against those planks and/or b) blame me and blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for their defeats. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Democrats and RINOs are woke. To be woke is to work against Americans who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Wokeness/wokeism is Affirmative Action, DEI, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. Since the 1960s, Democrats and RINOs have ever-increasingly used the aforesaid to get rid of me. If my Democrat superiors in the federal government had not used the aforesaid against me, I would have made Senior Executive Service, currently $195,200/year, long before I was 40 years old. I say that because a) I earned job-related master’s degree when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) I earned job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) I became a licensed CPA when I was 32. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32. None of my coworkers had accomplishments anywhere near the aforesaid. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— If my parents had not sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran Grade Schools, I would not have been able to a) get an ACT score of 24, graduate in the upper 20% of my class, or c) get accepted by UIC. To teach wokeness/wokeism is to demonize, denigrate, and condemn students who are White, male, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— League of Women Voters Advised “DO NOT ATTEND, ENGAGE, OR WATCH THE STATE OF THE UNION”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/05/league-of-women-voters-advises-do-not-attend-engage-or-watch-the-state-of-the-union/
— CBS Turns Burton’s Bridge Brushfire into a Climate Change Story, Three Stations Use Alex Vucha’s Stunning Photos
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/05/cbs-turns-burtons-bridge-brushfire-into-a-climate-change-story-three-stations-use-alex-vuchas-stunning-photos/
— LaHood Comments on President’s Speech
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/05/lahood-comments-on-presidents-speech/
— Two Subjects Trump Did Not Talk About
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/05/two-subjects-trump-did-not-talk-about/
— The Wrath of God’
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox?compose=DmwnWrRsqXnvpzZnJQcwnDnbnqTbbgzdsqPDLMrJsHxshZzzctVLVhdPLBfmpLqXfKkqpTvmnlwB
— Legislative Reaction to Data Centers’ Electricity Sucking
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/04/legislative-reaction-to-data-centers-electricity-sucking/
— Dems’ Illegal Alien Health Care Lives Down to Republican Expectations
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/03/dems-illegal-alien-health-care-lives-down-to-republican-expectations/
— No Car? How To Get Around in McHenry County
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/03/no-car/
— Illinois Still Has Second Highest Property Taxes
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/03/illinois-still-has-second-highest-property-taxes/
— Pritzker Urged to Ban Chinese Communist Party DeepSeek Software on State Devices
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/03/pritzker-urged-to-ban-chinese-communist-party-deepseek-software-on-state-devices/
— Lakewood’s Golfing Elected Officials In for a Surprise When They Read This
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/03/lakewoods-golfing-elected-officials-in-for-a-surprise-when-they-read-this/
— Barack’s Crumbling Tower of Babble
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/02/baracks-crumbling-tower-of-babble/
— Darin LaHood Interviewed on WGN Radio, Blames Putin for Starting the War
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/03/01/darin-lahood-interviewed-on-wgn-radio-blames-putin-for-starting-the-way/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Teachers unions don’t want teachers evaluated on how well students are learning
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/teachers-unions-dont-want-teachers-evaluated-on-how-well-students-are-learning/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump promises that U.S. ‘will be woke no longer’ (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs are woke. To be woke is to work against Americans who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Since the 1960s, Democrats and RINOs have ever-increasingly used wokeness/wokeism to get rid of me.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/4/donald-trump-promises-us-woke-longer/
— Speaker Johnson says Democratic Rep. Al Green faces censure for disrupting Trump speech
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/5/speaker-mike-johnson-says-democratic-rep-al-green-faces-censure/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump brings back sanity, rebukes the LGBT lobby
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/equality-not-elitism/3336980/trump-brings-back-sanity-rebukes-lgbt-lobby/#google_vignette

NEW YORK POST
— Trump hails his whirlwind, six-week ‘common sense revolution’ — as downbeat Dems protest address to Congress
https://nypost.com/2025/03/04/us-news/trump-hails-whirlwind-six-weeks-as-common-sense-revolution-as-dems-heckle-and-protest-address-to-congress/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Trump Is On The Verge Of Ending The EPA’s Tyranny
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/03/trump_is_on_the_verge_of_ending_the_epa_s_tyranny.html

BREITBART
— Trump Touts Getting Wokeness Out of the Military, Recruiting Numbers Up
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/03/04/trump-touts-getting-wokeness-out-of-the-military-recruiting-numbers-up/
— Trump: Deporting Biden’s Migrants Is ‘Great Liberation of America’
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/03/05/trump-deporting-bidens-migrants-is-great-liberation-of-america/
— Trump: We Needed a ‘New President,’ Not ‘New Legislation’ to Secure Border
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/03/04/trump-needed-new-president-not-new-legislation-secure-border/
— Trump Shutting Down Biden’s Texas-Based Soft Sided Migrant Detention Centers
https://www.breitbart.com/border/2025/03/04/exclusive-trump-shutting-down-bidens-texas-based-soft-sided-migrant-detention-centers-says-source/

DAILY CALLER
— Trump Overpowers Democrat Protests With Verbal Highlight Reel Of First Six Weeks In Office
https://dailycaller.com/2025/03/04/donald-trump-address-joint-session-congress-al-green-protest/

DAILY SIGNAL
— 13 Winners and Losers From Trump’s Address to Congress
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/03/04/winners-losers-trumps-address-to-congress/

DAILY WIRE
— Trump: It Is Time For America To ‘Wage War On The Cartels’
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-it-is-time-for-america-to-wage-war-on-the-cartels
— Trump Will Use ‘Full Might’ Of Government To Crush Cartels
https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-homan-tells-daily-wire-trump-will-use-full-might-of-government-to-crush-cartels

FOX NEWS
— Chicago alderman says Mayor Brandon Johnson can’t defend sanctuary city policies: ‘Lamb to the slaughter’  The Chicago mayor has promised to defend the sanctuary city’s policies on illegal immigrants.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/chicago-alderman-says-mayor-brandon-johnson-cant-defend-sanctuary-city-policies-lamb-slaughter
— Trump takes on ‘toxic ideologies’ in schools and gender surgeries in children: ‘Wokeness is trouble’
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6369618651112
— Trump proclaims that ‘wokeness is dead,’ calls to permanently ban sex changes for minors. Trump said that wokeness is ‘out of our society.’
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-proclaims-wokeness-dead-calls-permanently-ban-sex-changes-minors
— Trump promises ‘this will be our greatest era’ in joint address to Congress
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-promises-this-our-greatest-era-joint-address-congress

NEWSMAX
— Democrats Backing Largest Tax Hike in History
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/kevin-hern-democrats-joe-biden/2025/03/04/id/1201402/
— Dem Mayors in Congress Talking Sanctuary Cities Protecting Criminal Illegals
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/democrat-sanctuary-city/2025/03/05/id/1201461/

PJ MEDIA
— Trump Honors Girls Murdered by Illegals, Dems Refuse to Applaud
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/03/05/trump-tells-story-of-angel-laken-murdered-by-illegal-n4937580

TOWNHALL
— Under President Trump, America’s Borders Are Secure Again
https://townhall.com/columnists/congressmanandybiggs/2025/03/05/under-president-trump-americas-borders-are-secure-again-n2653226

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Trump vows to press ahead on reshaping America in speech to Congress as Democrats register dissent
https://apnews.com/article/trump-speech-congress-immigration-tariffs-guests-93f6107ede260854f90c65c4bde60de8

REUTERS
— Trump touts relentless start to term in speech to Congress, drawing catcalls from Democrats
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-address-congress-after-upending-us-foreign-domestic-policies-2025-03-04/

NBC NEWS
— Key takeaways from Trump’s speech to Congress: A focus on culture wars and GOP unity, as Democrats protest. Trump defended his tariffs, bashed “wokeness” and outlined his tax agenda as Democrats heckled him, while some in the party chose between audible and silent protests.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-speech-highlights-takeaways-congress-address-rcna193844

NEW YORK TIMES
— Full Transcript of President Trump’s Speech to Congress. In a speech to Congress in his first weeks in office, the president laid out his vision to remake U.S. policy on the military, trade, immigration and foreign aid.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/us/politics/transcript-trump-speech-congress.html
— Congressional Speech Highlights: Trump Asserts Term Is Off to a ‘Swift and Unrelenting’ Start. President Trump highlighted the many actions his administration has taken in the past six weeks, including drastic cuts to the federal work force and the eradication of diversity initiatives.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/04/us/trump-speech-congress
— What Republican Men Think About Trump and Masculinity
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/upshot/trump-men-masculinity-gender.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Defiant Trump signals full speed ahead on divisive policies. Trump addressed a divided nation in a speech marked by acrimony, as a Texas Democrat was escorted from the chamber within the first few moments and as Trump taunted Democrats in the room.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/04/trump-speech-to-congress/
— Republicans applaud Trump address to Congress; Democrats blast it as divisive
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/05/trump-presidency-news-speech/

USA TODAY
— Elon Musk gets high praise and a shoutout in Trump’s joint address: ‘He didn’t need this’
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/04/elon-musk-gets-shoutout-by-trump-in-joint-address/81155034007/
— Trump puts tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, China. Where does the tariff money go? (COMMENT: I am importing a 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T from Canada. How will tariffs impact that?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/03/05/where-does-tariff-money-go/81375235007/
— Democrats and RINOs use DEI to destroy Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/03/04/trump-dei-backlash-explained/81170427007/
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE: Trust in Trump’: President’s supporters dismiss alarm bells from critics (COMMENT: What discourages you from helping elect Republican candidates? For me, it includes my seeing far too many who I have helped elect since 2000 a) dump planks in the Republican Party platform if not work against those planks and/or b) blame me and blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for their defeats.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/04/trump-trust-joint-address-congress/78245523007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Touts Rapid Action on Border, Budget and Economy
The State-of-the-Union-style address gave the president a chance to sell his agenda to the American public six weeks into his second term
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/donald-trump-speech-congress-32b8bda1
— Trump’s Tariffs Whack Trump Voters. Whatever happened to GOP concern for the working class?
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-working-class-voters-dc140dbc

BLOOMBERG
— Democrat leaders say “Trump “delivered the biggest speech of his presidency yet, hitting on partisan talking points favored by his conservative base, while largely sidestepping the effects of his sweeping tariff proposals on consumers.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-05/tariff-defense-democrats-protest-takeaways-from-trump-s-speech
— Democrat leaders say “How Trump Is Fueling the Backlash Against DEI.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-04/dei-trump-s-executive-orders-targeting-diversity-policies-are-fueling-backlash

POLITICO
— Trump celebrates disruption and defies backlash. “The people elected me to do the job, and I’m doing it.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/04/trump-joint-address-speech-what-happened-00212916

PBS
— Trump says his administration is getting ‘wokeness out of our schools’ (COMMENT: If my parents had not sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran Grade Schools, I would not have been able to a) get an ACT score of 24, graduate in the upper 20% of my class, or c) get accepted by UIC. To teach wokeness/wokeism is to demonize, denigrate, and condemn students who are White, male, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGVXBniEsz8


NDTV
— “Permanently Ban Sex Change, End This Lie”: Trump Rages Against ‘Wokeness’ Trump also said he had “removed the poison of critical race theory” from public schools, referring to a framework identifying racial bias as inherent in parts of Western society.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/donald-trump-us-congress-speech-us-2-gender-policy-ban-sex-change-permanently-ban-sex-change-end-this-lie-trump-rages-against-wokeness-7851999

March 4, 2025 Evening Edition

WHITE HOUSE
— Excerpts from President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress
https://www.whitehouse.gov/news/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Hundreds gather in Daley Plaza Tuesday to protest Trump in ‘pro-democracy’ rally
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/04/hundreds-gather-daley-plaza-protest/
— Effort to house Gompers Park homeless moving forward
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/04/gompers-park-homeless-mayor-brandon-johnson/
— Trudeau slams Trump’s tariffs, says US is appeasing Putin while launching a trade war against Canada
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/04/trudeau-trump-tariffs-putin/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump administration puts several major Chicago federal buildings up for sale. The properties listed for sale Tuesday include two iconic high-rise towers in the Loop: the Kluczynski and Metcalfe federal buildings.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/donald-trump/2025/03/04/donald-trump-general-services-administration-sale-chicago-federal-buildings
— Lead Madigan prosecutor leaving U.S. attorney’s office after more than two decades. It’s unclear what prompted the departure of Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu. The news comes in the early days of President Donald Trump’s new administration, but also less than three weeks after a jury found Madigan guilty of a bribery conspiracy and other crimes.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-corruption-trials/2025/03/04/lead-madigan-prosecutor-leaving-u-s-attorney-office

DAILY HERALD
— Demonstrators across 50 states look to unify a disparate opposition to Trump and his sweeping agenda
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250304/nation-and-world-politics/demonstrators-across-50-states-look-to-unify-a-disparate-opposition-to-trump-and-his-sweeping-agenda/
— Trump’s trade war draws swift retaliation as Mexico, Canada and China impose tariffs on the US
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250304/business/us-tariffs-take-effect-mexico-canada-and-china-retaliate-with-their-own-tariffs-on-the-us/

NBC5
— After taking down Mike Madigan, top Chicago prosecutor is taking Trump buyout. Amar Bhachu is considered a tough-as-nails questioner and an advocate for ethics, justice and cleaning up Chicago’s halls of power.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/after-taking-down-mike-madigan-top-chicago-prosecutor-is-taking-trump-buyout/3688730/

CBS2
— Questions remain about immigration enforcement in Chicago
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/trump-speech-congress-immigration-enforcement-chicago/

WGN9
— Chicago’s history as a sanctuary city spans 40 years, 7 presidents and 5 mayors
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/chicagos-history-as-a-sanctuary-city-spans-40-years-7-presidents-and-5-mayors/
—  Quigley, Schakowsky, Casten did not attend President Trump’s joint address to Congress Tuesday evening.
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/illinois-representatives-to-skip-president-trumps-address-to-congress/

FOX32
— IRS could cut up to half of its 90,000-person workforce
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/irs-workforce-cuts-trump-administration
— ACLU of Illinois: Hearing on sanctuary cities is about ‘much more than immigration policy’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/aclu-illinois-hearing-sanctuary-cities-is-about-much-more-than-immigration-policy
— LaHood: Congress will vote on DOGE cuts
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-republican-doge-cuts

WBEZ
— Venezuelans in Chicago face Trump’s decision to end protected status. Many intend to stay in the U.S. But uncertainty from losing the status is putting pressure on business owners and straining relationships.
https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2025/03/04/venezuelans-in-chicago-face-trumps-decision-to-end-protected-status

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Trump seeks to put 443 federal properties up for sale — including 11 in Chicago
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/trump-seeks-put-443-federal-properties-sale

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— The IRS is drafting plans to cut as much as half of its 90,000-person workforce
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/ap-the-irs-is-drafting-plans-to-cut-as-much-as-half-of-its-90000-person-workforce-ap-sources-say/

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Trump administration ends reimbursements for Illinois food programs. USDA funds are part of nearly $2 billion being withheld from Illinois, Pritzker says. (COMMENT: To what extent are those in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct dependent on food programs?)
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/trump-administration-ends-reimbursements-for-illinois-food-programs/

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/03/04/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-260/
— A month later, ICE still won’t reveal who it arrested in Chicago
https://capitolfax.com/2025/03/04/a-month-later-ice-still-won%e2%80%99t-reveal-who-it-arrested-in-chicago/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Illinois legislators differ on Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canada, Mexico
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_e0dba010-f939-11ef-b6d1-e365c30349d5.html
— Illinois Republicans pleased redistricting lawsuit moving forward
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_5ff3f8f4-f93d-11ef-a1ed-532e1f5769a9.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Republicans cheer, Democrats stand still as Trump walks in for joint address to Congress
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/4/republicans-cheer-democrats-stand-still-trump-walks-joint-address/
— White House says fired veterans among federal workers are ‘perhaps’ not fit for the jobs (COMMENT: If I was still working for the federal government, my many superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who were veterans would be beyond furious. They would kill me figuratively if not literally.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/4/white-house-says-fired-veterans-among-federal-workers-perhaps-fit/
— Trump’s personnel office walks back order to fire probationary employees
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/4/trumps-personnel-office-walks-back-order-fire-probationary-employees/

NEW YORK POST
— United Auto Workers union praises Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico
https://nypost.com/2025/03/04/us-news/united-auto-workers-union-praises-trumps-tariffs-on-canada-and-mexico/

FOX NEWS
— Illinois educators turn our kids into political pawns in war against Trump. Rooftop Revelations: It was no surprise when I learned that the Illinois State Superintendent told districts to defy Trump’s orders to dismantle DEI.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/illinois-educators-turn-our-kids-political-pawns-war-against-trump
— Activist gives illegal migrants heads up about ICE raids
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6369572924112

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Trump’s Early Success at the Border Exposes Biden Lies
https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/03/trumps-early-success-at-the-border-exposes-biden-lies/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ASSOCIATED P{RESS
— Trump touts Elon Musk and DOGE in joint address to Congress
https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-address-congress-updates

ABC NEWS
— Republicans target 4 ‘sanctuary’ cities as Trump pushes mass deportations (COMMENT: The list includes Chicago.)
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/republicans-target-4-sanctuary-cities-trump-pushes-mass-119421896

NBC NEWS
— Trump addresses Congress as his policy overhaul tests the economy and key alliances. The Russia-Ukraine war and U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China are likely to be among the focuses of President Donald Trump’s speech, which began at 9:20 p.m. ET.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-administration-speech-congress-live-updates-rcna194006

NBC WASHINGTON
— Democrat and RINO leaders stress difficulties in deporting their illegals.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/immigration-courts-clogged-for-years-as-trump-vows-to-deport-millions-more/3858328/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Chinese Company to Single Workers: Get Married or Get Out (COMMENT: According to my Democrat GAO superiors, if my wife and I had children, I would not have been able to a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, c) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and become a licensed CPA in 1981, d) earn additional job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and e) earn a master’s degree in finance in 1997. None of my Democrat GAO superiors had anything close to the number of job-related degrees, professional certifications, and professional license that I had. They all decried the time and money needed to raise children. According to them, my not having children gave me a tremendous unfair advantage over them.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/world/asia/china-marriage-companies-childbirth.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The ideal worker at the Chinese chemical manufacturer, according to the internal memo, is hardworking, virtuous and loyal. And — perhaps most important — willing to have children for the good of the country. That was the message that the company, Shandong Shuntian Chemical Group, sent to unmarried employees recently, in a notice that spread widely on social media. It instructed them to start families by Sept. 30, or else. “If you cannot get married and start a family within three quarters, the company will terminate your labor contract,” the memo said.)

KHOU
— Congressman Al Green from Houston removed from Trump’s speech to joint session of Congress. The president was addressing Congress when Green disrupted the speech.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/al-green-trump-speech-removed/285-5ef5f2c9-76e7-471d-adcf-2db10c1041ef

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress. The president sets his agenda for Ukraine, inflation, deportations and other issues, including the shrinking of the federal government.
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-speech-congress-joint-session

March 4, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC5
— Pritzker SLAMS Trump, drops hints for 2028 run as Democrats look for leadership (COMMENT: Pritzker is far to the left of Harris.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRRuZ2qaXtA
— Census Bureau under Trump seeks permission to delete questions about gender identity. Trump has targeted transgender and nonbinary people with a series of executive orders since he returned to office.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/census-bureau-under-trump-seeks-permission-delete-questions-gender-identity/3687917/
— Stocks tank as Trump says tariffs will start Tuesday
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/daily-open-stocks-tank-as-trump-says-tariffs-will-start-tuesday/3687825/
— Trump dashes hopes for last-minute Canada and Mexico deal ahead of 25% tariffs
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/trump-dashes-hope-for-last-minute-canada-and-mexico-deal-ahead-of-25-tariffs/3687449/
— Trump promises ‘big’ impacts ahead of joint address to Congress. The president took to Truth Social to offer a preview of the speech, which will take place Tuesday.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/trump-joint-address-to-congress-president-offers-preview/3687572/

WGN9
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote concerns about tariffs
https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/chicago-small-business-owners-concerned-over-trumps-tariffs-on-mexican-imports/

WTTW
— Chicago’s Sanctuary City Protections Face Crucible Moment as Mayor Brandon Johnson Set to Testify Before Congress
https://news.wttw.com/2025/03/04/chicago-s-sanctuary-city-protections-face-crucible-moment-mayor-brandon-johnson-set

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Here are some goods in the crosshairs of Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/03/tariff-goods-mexico-canada-china-2/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, ever-increasingly, more and more and more people will be on Medicaid. Beyond overwhelmingly, those on Medicaid vote for Democrats.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2025/03/03/medicaid-cuts-republicans-health-care-doom-millions-illinois-pritzker

DAILY HERALD
— Des Plaines council cutting city clerk’s oversight of staff
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250303/local-politics/des-plaines-council-cutting-city-clerks-oversight-of-staff/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— As Trump tariffs move from threat to reality, these Chicago industries brace for the impact
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/trump-tariffs-hit-chicago-manufacturing-pharma-tech

SOUTHERN
— Trump will face dozens of fired bureaucrats at joint address Tuesday (COMMENT:  My Democrat GAO superiors fired me in 1997, that is, they forced me to retire. What if my U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde and my U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald had invited me to Congressional addresses? My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that Hyde, Fitzgerald, and Hastert sided with GAO against me.)
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/03/04/trump-will-face-dozens-of-fired-bureaucrats-at-joint-address-tuesday/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrats bringing fired federal workers to Trump speech
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/democrats-bringing-fired-federal-workers-to-trump-speech/

WGLT
— Musk moves to cancel leases for federal offices across Illinois (COMMENT: Outstandingly, the last 8 years that I worked for GAO 1990-1997 were in new space in the new 200 West Adams building in the Loop.)
https://www.wglt.org/illinois/2025-03-03/elon-musks-doge-moves-to-cancel-leases-for-federal-offices-across-illinois

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/03/04/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-466/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— The cost of illegal migrant healthcare… it’s billions instead of millions. But that’s typical of Illinois budgeting.
https://wirepoints.org/the-cost-of-illegal-migrant-healthcare-its-billions-instead-of-millions-but-thats-typical-of-illinois-budgeting-wirepoints-joins-tom-miller-of-wjpf-carbondale/
— Mayor Emanuel suddenly cares about Chicago’s “streets, schools and finances?” Here’s his record.
https://wirepoints.org/mayor-emanuel-suddenly-cares-about-chicagos-streets-schools-and-finances-heres-his-record-wirepoints/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Trump got elected by promising to defend and advance the Republican Party platform if elected. What does that platform say about Ukraine, about tariffs, about spending cuts, about firing federal employees, about Canada, about Greenland, about etc.? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— If I had sought to be on Musk’s DOGE team, I would have stressed that a) I worked for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $117,807-$153,151/year, b) I 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, c) I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance, d) I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting, and e) I became a licensed CPA when I was 32 years old. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, many of my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrat veterans, and at times, most, if not virtually all of them were. My Democrat superiors stressed to them that I avoided the Vietnam War draft. They stressed to them if I had not avoided the Vietnam War draft, I would not have been able to a) buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23, 25, and 29. b) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35, c) earn a bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and master’s degrees when I was 27 and 31, d) pass on my first attempt the CPA examination when I was 30 and the Certified Internal Auditor examination when I was 32, e) become a licensed CPA when I was 32, or f) get married when I was 29. My Democrat superiors succeeded in getting my Democrat superiors and supervisors to who were veterans to take many big adverse actions against me. I should write about that. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Why did America lose the Vietnam War?  SEE: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22lost+the+Vietnam+war%22  According to my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government, America lost the Vietnam War because far too many Republicans like me who not only did not enlist, but who avoided the draft. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— My Democrat GAO superiors fired me in 1997, that is, they forced me to retire. What if my U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde and my U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald had invited me to Congressional addresses? My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that Hyde, Fitzgerald, and Hastert sided with GAO against me. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— If you work for the federal government, your superiors and supervisors know everything about you, including your and your spouse’s income, assets, liabilities, dependents, etc. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates always painted themselves as be grossly underpaid and suffering tremendous financial hardships. Most commonly, they stressed the tremendous cost of raising their children. They were filled with envy and they were furious that my wife had a good job and that we gave up trying to have children, that we did not adopt, and that we did not become foster parents. I should write about that. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Overwhelmingly, Republicans view federal employees negatively. Why is that? Virtually all federal employees are Democrats, and many of them are minority, female, and/or veteran. I am Republican, White, male, and non-veteran, but nevertheless, I survived as a federal employee for almost 30 years and I have been a federal retiree for more than 27 years. To demonize me, denigrate me, and condemn me, my Republican critics/opponents stress that I was a federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and that I have been a federal retiree since 1997. They especially stress that I was an IRS employee 1971-1980. I should write about why Republicans view federal employees negatively. I would stress how my Democrat superiors treated me. I would stress the many big adverse actions that my Democrat superiors took against me that they never would never had taken against me if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and or veteran. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— According to my critics/opponents who are not past, present, or future government employees, government is the employer of last resort, that is, government employees are those who are so bad that they cannot get a job in the private sector. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who could not get a government job if they tried to because they lack qualifications, because they cannot pass a background investigation, or because of even worse things. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Refocusing U.S. military: Why identity politics has no place in national defense. Defending our nation is not meant to be a social club.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/3/refocusing-us-military-identity-politics-place-national-defense/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Why Illinois and the U.S. are broke
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/03/why_illinois_and_the_u_s_are_broke.html

BREITBART
— Trump Warns U.S. Against Becoming ‘Like Europe’ With Mass Migration (COMMENT: Democrat and RINO leaders are ever-increasingly replacing those in America who vote for Republicans with those who vote for Democrats.)
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/03/03/trump-warns-u-s-against-becoming-like-europe-with-mass-migration/

FEDERALIST
— Trump’s Success Proves Democrats And Weak Republicans Were Holding Border Security Hostage
https://thefederalist.com/2025/03/03/trumps-success-proves-democrats-and-weak-republicans-were-holding-border-security-hostage/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

AOL
— Many federal employees are veterans. They’re terrified. (COMMENT: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, many of my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrat veterans, and at times, most, if not virtually all of them were. My Democrat superiors stressed to them that I avoided the Vietnam War draft. They stressed to them if I had not avoided the Vietnam War draft, I would not have been able to a) buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23, 25, and 29. b) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35, c) earn a bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and master’s degrees when I was 27 and 31, d) pass on my first attempt the CPA examination when I was 30 and the Certified Internal Auditor examination when I was 32, e) become a licensed CPA when I was 32, or f) get married when I was 29. My Democrat superiors succeeded in getting my Democrat superiors and supervisors to who were veterans to take many big adverse actions against me. I should write about that.)
https://www.aol.com/trumps-sweeping-doge-driven-cuts-093002133.html
— Musk Claims To Know The Net Worths Of Federal Employees – But How? (COMMENT: If you work for the federal government, your superiors and supervisors know everything about you, including your and your spouse’s income, assets, liabilities, dependents, etc. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates always painted themselves as be grossly underpaid and suffering tremendous financial hardships. Most commonly, they stressed the tremendous cost of raising their children. They were filled with envy and they were furious that my wife had a good job and that we gave up trying to have children, that we did not adopt, and that we did not become foster parents.)
https://www.aol.com/musk-claims-know-net-worths-223621481.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “We do find it sort of rather odd that, you know, there are quite a few people in the bureaucracy who have, ostensibly, a salary of a few hundred thousand dollars but somehow managed to accrue tens of millions of dollars in net worth,” he said. In reality, only 3% of the 2.4 million federal employees make more than $200,000 a year, while half make between $50,000 and $110,000 a year, according to government figures. Further, workers who have made six figures for a number of years could easily be worth seven figures, particularly those in their 50s or 60s who have been saving for retirement for decades and have considerable equity in their homes. But Musk’s assertion raises the more fundamental question about how he would know the financial situations of federal employees.)

NEW YORK TIMES
— China Retaliates Against Trump Tariffs With Levies on U.S. Food
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/04/us/tariffs-us-canada-mexico-china
— The People Carrying Out Musk’s Plans at DOGE (COMMENT: If I had sought to be on Musk’s DOGE team, I would have stressed that a) I worked for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $117,807-$153,151/year, b) I 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, c) I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance, d) I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting, and e) I became a licensed CPA when I was 32 years old.)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/02/27/us/politics/doge-staff-list.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The New York Times identified more than 50 people within the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, a group formed by Elon Musk that in a short few weeks has radically upended federal agencies. Few members have formal Washington experience. Many are software engineers. All seem to have a clear mandate: Shrink and disrupt the federal government. Mr. Musk’s team has taken aim at more than 20 agencies while gaining access to sensitive government data systems. But the full extent of its reach or ambitions is unclear. Much of the team’s operations are opaque, and most of its personnel have not been disclosed by the Trump administration, and it is unclear exactly how large the operation is. Through executive order, President Trump moved the team from the Office of Management and Budget, where it had been housed as the United States Digital Service since its founding, into the White House — a transition that effectively shielded its work from open records laws that could give the public insight into its operations. The list below includes some of Mr. Musk’s allies; engineers — many of whom are young men — with backgrounds in artificial intelligence; former employees; and others who have helped the operation. Several have recently deleted their social media accounts after their names appeared in news reports.)
— Departures Are Draining Agencies of Expertise. Trump’s effort to remake the government is a direct challenge to a decades-long effort to build a civil service stocked with experts. Critics say it will backfire. (COMMENT: My coworkers who my Democrat GAO superiors did not force to retire were Democrats who a) had less work experience than I had, b) had less education than I had, c) had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or were a) minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/02/us/politics/federal-workers-scientists-firings-trump.html
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly discourage assimilation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/us/politics/trump-english-official-language.html
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ in the military.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/us/transgender-military-ban-trump-hegseth.html
— Struggling With Errors, DOGE Deletes Billions More From List of Savings. For the second time in a week, Elon Musk’s government overhaul effort updated its “wall of receipts” to remove mistakes that inflated its success.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/us/politics/doge-musk-contracts-wall.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump’s speech to Congress has the ingredients for an explosive event. The president addresses restless lawmakers Tuesday after six weeks of working aggressively to slash their power.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/04/trump-speech-second-term-congress/
— No one knows what will finally stop Trump. So Black leaders are trying everything. Resistance to the president should include lawsuits, boycotts, marches — and not forgetting history.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/03/03/trump-opposition-black-leaders/

USA TODAY
— How DOGE’s email to federal employees was ripped from private sector playbook
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/24/musk-doge-federal-layoffs-private-sector-inspiration/79075752007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump’s Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Take Effect, With Added Duties on China. Beijing hits back with retaliatory tariffs and other measures after U.S. imposes additional 10% duties on China.
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-stock-market-today-03-04-2025
— Trump Takes the Dumbest Tariff Plunge. He says the 25% levies on Mexico and Canada will begin Tuesday. Stocks fall.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-takes-the-dumbest-tariff-plunge-5da57946
— Just When We Need Them, the Media’s Credibility Hits Bottom. Journalists harrumph at Trump’s actions, but no one cares anymore. I say that with no satisfaction.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/just-when-we-need-them-the-medias-credibility-hits-bottom-79b11b8f

BARRON’S
— Trump’s Tariffs Will Send Inflation Higher, Hurt Exporters
https://www.barrons.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-030425/card/trump-s-tariffs-will-send-inflation-higher-hurt-exporters-e4sxiO7RcFzoVmD88EBN

TIME
— These Are the Guests Democrats and Republicans Are Bringing to Trump’s Speech Tonight (COMMENT: My Democrat GAO superiors fired me in 1997, that is, they forced me to retire. What if my U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde and my U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald had invited me to Congressional addresses? My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that Hyde, Fitzgerald, and Hastert sided with GAO against me.)
https://time.com/7264128/trump-joint-session-congress-2025-guests-democrats-republicans-schumer-johnson/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Fired federal workers. Medicaid recipients who could lose their healthcare under proposed budget cuts. A small business owner who may be affected by new tariffs. These are some of the people who will attend President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night, brought as guests by Democratic lawmakers seeking to highlight the human cost of the administration’s sweeping policy changes. For decades, lawmakers have used invited guests to put a human face on policy debates, underscoring the real-world consequences of decisions made in Washington. This year, as Trump touts what he calls a “historic transformation” of the federal government, Democrats are countering with stories of disruption and hardship—stories they hope will resonate beyond the chamber’s walls.)

NATION
— Your Government Owes You a Job. The federal government can easily afford a job guarantee program, becoming our employer of last resort. (COMMENT: According to my critics/opponents who are not past, present, or future government employees, government is the employer of last resort, that is, government employees are those who are so bad that they cannot get a job in the private sector. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who could not get a government job if they tried to because they lack qualifications, because they cannot pass a background investigation, or because of even worse things.)
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/your-government-owes-you-job/

HUFFINGTON POST
— Ever-increasingly, since 1965, Democrats and RINOs have ever-increasingly used Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.aol.com/trump-revokes-workplace-discrimination-rules-203613130.html

AXIOS
— Some Dems plot to disrupt Trump’s speech to Congress
https://www.axios.com/2025/03/04/trump-congress-address-democrats-disrupt-plan

GOOGLE AI
— Why did America lose the Vietnam War? According to my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government, America lost the Vietnam War because far too many Republicans like me who not only did not enlist, but who avoided the draft.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22lost+the+Vietnam+war%22

INDEPENDENT
— U.S. forecast to enter recession after Trump crashes markets with tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-news-tariffs-canada-mexico-zelensky-musk-updates-b2708278.html

February 28, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC5
— Democrats plan to boycott major corporations during ‘Economic Blackout’ protest. The one-day event is designed to bring attention to dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s push to eliminate DEI initiatives at U.S. companies. (COMMENT: Democrat and RINO leaders use DEI to get rid of Republicans.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicagoans-plan-to-boycott-major-corporations-during-economic-blackout-protest/3685163/

WGN9
— DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announces GOP run for Illinois governor
https://wgntv.com/news/dupage-county/dupage-county-sheriff-james-mendrick-announces-gop-run-for-illinois-governor/

WBEZ
— Illinois Democrats have bold words for Trump. What action can they take? The U.S. Constitution gives federal law authority over conflicting state law, but state lawmakers have some means to push back.
https://www.wbez.org/springfield/2025/02/28/illinois-democrats-have-bold-words-for-trump-what-action-can-they-take

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage children to be sexually active LGBTQers.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/28/opinion-transgender-children-sports-donald-trump/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— How Trump is taking an ax to federal government in Chicago and the State of Illinois (COMMENT: I should write about how Republican-led budget cuts took an ax to GAO’s Chicago office while I worked for it 1980-1997.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9VN4HU489g

DAILY HERALD
— Amy Erkenswick: 2025 candidate for Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 board
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250226/local-politics/amy-erkenswick-2025-candidate-for-wheaton-warrenville-unit-district-200-board/
— Brooke Gennaro: 2025 candidate for Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 board
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250226/local-politics/brooke-gennaro-2025-candidate-for-wheaton-warrenville-unit-district-200-board/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois and Chicago economies on shaky ground
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/illinois-and-chicago-economies-shaky-moodys-cogfa-report

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote Duckworth.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2025/02/27/tammy-duckworth-is-usa-today-women-of-the-year-honoree-for-illinois/77679604007/

SOUTHERN
— Education Department launches ‘END DEI’ website (COMMENT: My critics/opponents have always used DEI to get rid of Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, married, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.)
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/02/27/dei-needs-to-go-education-department-launches-end-dei-website/

JOURNAL COURIER
— To get more votes from voters who have less money than others, Democrat and RINO candidates ever-increasingly promise to use government to give more money to those voters who have less money than others. Those voters are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, unmarried, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Democrat and RINO candidates ever-increasingly shout at the aforesaid voters that Republicans cause all their financial and other problems.
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/more-americans-of-all-political-stripes-support-20191490.php

HERALD REVIEW
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote Edgar.
https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/article_b8cdf40f-05fb-582d-8af6-f00a62210b23.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump poised to sign order making English the official US language
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-poised-to-sign-order-making-english-the-official-us-language-reports-suggest

WAND TV
— DOGE cuts 2400 VAs jobs, Illinois veterans lose access to services (COMMENT: I should write about the tremendous damage caused by Republican-led gutting of GAO. If Republicans had reformed GAO instead of gutting it, there would be no need for DOGE.)
https://www.wandtv.com/news/doge-cuts-2400-vas-jobs-illinois-veterans-lose-access-to-services/article_b7e54534-f575-11ef-9fd1-57a21ce38ff1.html

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Legislation aims to help first-time homebuyers. Bill would create tax deductible accounts to save for down payment.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/legislation-aims-to-help-first-time-homebuyers/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— The sheriff who wants to be governor
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/02/28/the-sheriff-who-wants-to-be-governor-00206652
(FROM THE ARTICLE: AND SO IT BEGINS: DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick took the low-key approach to roll out his announcement that he’s running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2026. It was a message on Facebook. And it created plenty of buzz. Mendrick’s been receiving calls and emails ever since, including donation offers. It’s still in the works. Mendrick doesn’t even have a campaign manager yet. His wife, a psychiatric nurse, filled the role in his two bids for sheriff, “but this will be too big for her to do alone so we’re going to figure all that out this weekend,” he said in an interview with your Playbook host. Mendrick doesn’t have Ken Griffin or Dan Proft working behind the scenes for him. And didn’t even think to call Republican Chair Kathy Salvi before he made his announcement. “I did not plan on running for sure,” Mendrick said. He made the surprise move after choosing not to leave Illinois because he didn’t like how it’s being run. He’s now staying put in Woodridge after his 25-year-old son said he wasn’t budging. Mendrick and his wife also have a 22-year-old son with autism and are active in the disability community, he said. His campaign should be taken seriously, according to a GOP insider we talked to. Mendrick has been a police officer since 1996, following in the footsteps of his father. He’s been sheriff since 2018. Now, instead of retiring outright, he’s going to enter the state’s biggest political ring: the governor’s race. It doesn’t scare him. Mendrick currently oversees the county-wide correctional facility, where he says he sees first-hand how crime and immigration has challenged the state. Mendrick is focused on the SAFE-T Act. He disagrees with letting potential offenders out on bail instead of letting them clean up their addictions and get mental health assistance in jail. “I do believe that we’re doing God’s work,” he said. The sheriff opposes the state’s TRUST Act, which makes Illinois a sanctuary state. He calls it an “unfunded mandate” that prompts new immigrants from all over the country to move to Illinois, putting a strain on services. As for the state budget, Mendrick says, “I very much believe everything should be done within our economic footprint. You should never go outside what you can afford.” His politics: “I’m a Republican with a lot of conservative values,” Mendrick said, adding he doesn’t want to be labeled in a political way, though his social media posts suggest he leans far right. “It’s hard to be a slave to the politics,” he said. “It’s just about doing the right thing.” Mendrick is the first Republican officially in the race, but there will be others. Aaron Del Mar, a 2022 lieutenant governor candidate, is mulling a bid. Also mulling: Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has yet to announce whether he’ll run for a third term in 2026 — and/or if he’ll make a run for president in 2028.)

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/28/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-464/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Johnson responds to congressional probe
https://www.aol.com/news/illinois-quick-hits-johnson-responds-214000056.html

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois’ own auditors admit they don’t know where all the state’s money goes (COMMENT: I should write about my critics/opponents who have ignored/dismissed/belittled/badmouthed my auditing experience the most. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt. I became a licensed CPA and a certified fraud examiner, financial services auditor, and forensic accountant. I earned a master’s degree in accounting. I worked for GAO as an Analyst for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $117,807-$153,151/year.  I 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. I would focus on my critics/opponents in the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois.)
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-own-auditors-admit-they-dont-know-where-all-the-states-money-goes-wirepoints-on-with-jeff-daly-of-wzus-decatur-radio/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
—  Democrat and RINO leaders use DEI to get rid of Republicans. My critics/opponents have always used DEI to get rid of Republicans like me who are conservative, White, male, older, married, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. To get more votes from voters who have problems, Democrat and RINO candidates ever-increasingly promise to use government to give them more preference and more money. Those voters are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, unmarried, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Democrat and RINO candidates ever-increasingly shout at the aforesaid voters that Republicans cause all their problems. I should write more about the aforesaid. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What do you attribute your financial success to? I attribute my financial success to following conservative principles. I earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and a job-related professional license (CPA). But my critics/opponents attribute my financial success to my benefitting from discrimination against those who share their demographics. My critics/opponents are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, unmarried, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— I should write about my critics/opponents who have ignored/dismissed/belittled/badmouthed my auditing experience the most. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt. I became a licensed CPA and a certified fraud examiner, financial services auditor, and forensic accountant. I earned a master’s degree in accounting. I worked for GAO as an Analyst for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $117,807-$153,151/year. I 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. I would focus on my critics/opponents in the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— The more planks in the Republican Party platform that candidates on ballots in my precinct promise to defend and advance if elected, the more that I do to help elect them. According to my critics/opponents, the more that I do to help elect those candidates, the fewer votes that they get. My critics/opponents reject some, many, most, if not virtually all the planks in the Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Jeanne Ives, Who Backed DeSantis for President, Now Throws Support Behind DuPage County Sheriff Mendrick for Governor
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2025/02/sources-jeanne-ives-who-backed-desantis-for-president-now-throws-support-behind-dupage-county-sheriff-mendrick-for-governor.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Multiple sources also confirmed with this publication early this morning that Republican State Central Committee member Jeanne Ives – also a DuPage County resident, is supporting Mendrick’s candidacy and also serving in a behind-the-scenes advisory role. Ives is also rumored to be eying a run for governor or Lt. Governor.)

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

NEW YORK POST
— Experts break down how Trump’s illegal immigrant registry will help ICE round up millions – and why migrants may register
https://nypost.com/2025/02/27/us-news/how-trumps-illegal-immigrant-registry-will-make-it-easier-for-ice-to-round-up-millions-more-migrants/

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Morning Greatness: ICE Arrested More Than 20,000 Illegal Aliens in Trump’s First Month
https://amgreatness.com/2025/02/28/morning-greatness-ice-arrested-more-than-20000-illegal-aliens-in-trumps-first-month/

COLLEGE FIX
— Professor sues University of. Illinois for discriminating against him as a White male. (COMMENT: If I had been a minority or a female, my Democrat superiors in the federal government would not have taken the adverse actions against me that they did. They would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service before I was 40 years old. None of my coworkers who they promoted over me did what I did. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a professional license.)
https://www.thecollegefix.com/professor-sues-u-illinois-claims-it-discriminated-against-him-as-a-white-male/

DAILY SIGNAL
— ICE Arrests of Illegal Aliens Up 627% Under Trump
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/02/27/ice-arrests-illegal-aliens-increase-627-under-trump/

FOX NEWS
— Blue state governor’s ‘gross mismanagement’ cost taxpayers $1.6B for illegal immigrant healthcare. Illinois GOP’s Senate leader wants to see state’s liberal governor be more ‘cooperative’ with Trump migrant crackdown.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blue-state-govs-gross-mismanagement-cost-taxpayers-1-6b-illegal-immigrant-healthcare-audit

LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— Trump administration set to launch mandatory registration program for illegal aliens
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/trump-administration-set-to-launch-mandatory-registration-program-for-illegal-aliens

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC NEWS
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise illegals and b) blame Republicans for all the problems that illegals have.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/confinement-unbearable-migrants-describe-held-guantanamo/story?id=119270282

NEW YORK TIMES
— What to Know About Filing Taxes as the I.R.S. Sheds Workers (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.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/business/irs-tax-refund.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump officials start gutting civil rights offices, as part of DOGE’s plan. Legal experts said that unwinding a civil rights-era bulwark designed to safeguard employees’ rights removes a crucial check on institutional power. (COMMENT: Democrats run the federal government. Ever-increasingly, since the 1960s, they have used Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/02/28/doge-trump-civil-rights-office-closing-eeoc/
— Federal workers could get a second email Saturday. It might require a response. A new strategy might compel employees to respond with bulleted lists of what they did in the past week.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/28/federal-workers-second-email-elon-musk/
— Transgender troops will be removed from U.S. military, Pentagon says
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/27/transgender-ban-us-service-members-military-pentagon/

USA TODAY
— Commendations, cash awards, positive reviews. Then they were fired for poor performance. (COMMENT: Democrats run the federal government. The job performance appraisal systems that they use are extremely subjective. My Democrat superiors took many big adverse actions against me. To justify that, they used the aforesaid subjectivity and hinted/implied that I was a poor performer. But my doing the following frustrated that. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree and three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-relate professional license.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/27/federal-employees-firing-letters-claim-poor-work/80269905007/
— US household income growth is slowing, posing risks for consumer spending and economy. (COMMENT: Because my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997, in today’s dollars, my income has been $86,371/year (56%) less since then.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/24/income-growth-slowing-economy/79339787007/
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE OF TRUMP: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at Blacks that Republicans cause all the problems that Blacks have.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/27/dei-backlash-erase-black-executives-gains/78475480007/

NBC PHILADELPHIA
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise illegals and b) blame Republicans for all the problems that illegals have.
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/panama-costa-rica-turning-black-hole-migrants-deportees-from-us/4121338/

CBS19
— Senator Cruz reintroduces act to abolish sanctuary cities in Texas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAWBQGmUWVg

ECONOMIST
— Democrats run the mainstream new media
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/02/27/america-has-never-had-state-media-like-it-does-today

February 27, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Pritzker calls for release of $2B in federal funding halted by President Donald Trump administration
https://abc7chicago.com/post/gov-jb-pritzker-democratic-members-illinois-congressional-delegation-demanding-2b-federal-funding-halted-trump-admin/15957989/
— Federal workers rally at Chicago VA hospital in protest of mass layoffs by Trump administration
https://abc7chicago.com/post/federal-workers-rally-chicago-jesse-brown-va-west-side-protest-mass-layoffs-president-donald-trumps-administration/15957573/
— Immigration officials say everyone living in the US illegally must register.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/immigration-officials-say-everyone-living-us-illegally-register-what-does-mean/15957638/
— Apple to fix iPhone dictation glitch that suggests replacing the word ‘racist’ with ‘Trump’
https://abc7chicago.com/post/apple-fix-iphone-dictation-glitch-suggests-replacing-word-racist-trump/15956769/
— ‘Radical agreement’ in SCOTUS discrimination case. The Supreme Court seemed to find common ground in a high-profile case brought by a straight woman alleging “reverse” job discrimination in favor of gay people.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/supreme-court-finds-radical-agreement-employment-discrimination-case/15957259/
— Pritzker announces medical debt relief for 170,000 more Illinoisans under state program (COMMENT: What has helped you avoid medical debt? One thing that helped me endure my Democrat superiors’ tremendous efforts to waste my career and to get rid of me was the federal government paying 72% of my health care insurance premiums since I was 18 years old in 1966 and my wife’s premiums since we got married in 1978.)
https://abc7chicago.com/post/gov-jb-pritzker-announces-medical-debt-relief-170000-more-illinois-state-program/15957129/
— Acero Schools officials say immigration agents detained adult outside schools in Gage Park. Vigil held ahead of Chicago Public Schools Board meeting on taking control of some Acero charter schools.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-acero-schools-officials-say-immigration-agents-detained-adult-outside-soto-high-school-idar-elementary-gage-park/15958346/

WGN9
— Illinois lawmakers’ bill would decriminalize prostitution, create sex workers’ bill of rights (COMMENT: Democrats promote vices. Anticipate/expect that Democrats would promote prostitution just as strongly as they promote pot.)
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/illinois-lawmakers-bill-would-decriminalize-prostitution-create-sex-workers-bill-of-rights/

FOX32
— Blagojevich compares his case to Trump’s in FOX 32 interview, says ‘corrupt’ prosecutors should be in jail
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/blagojevich-compares-case-trump-fox-32-interview-corrupt-prosecutors-jail
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1599885
— Trump holds first full cabinet meeting, what was discussed
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1599706
— Trump instructs federal agencies to plan for massive layoffs
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1599560

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Gov. JB Pritzker accuses Donald Trump of being a king, but he has acted like one himself – David E Smith
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/26/letters-022625/
— Extreme gerrymandering is as bad – Ray LaHood and James Nowlan
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/27/opinion-gerrymandering-us-house-fair-maps/
— Hundreds protest Musk at Libertyville Tesla dealership: ‘What Elon has done to the brand is just make it feel dirty’
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/26/hundreds-protest-musk-at-libertyville-tesla-dealership-what-elon-has-done-to-the-brand-is-just-make-it-feel-dirty/
— Audit finds thousands were improperly enrolled in state health care program for noncitizens, while costs were vastly underestimated
https://www.yahoo.com/news/audit-finds-thousands-were-improperly-234600903.html
— Local HUD workers terminated in recent Trump administration cuts
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/26/local-hud-workers-terminated-in-recent-trump-administration-cuts/
— Pritzker and state’s Democratic delegation in Washington say White House withholding $1.9 billion in federal funding
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/26/pritzker-omb-freeze-letter/
— Trauma on trauma: Immigration agents detain Acero charter schools parent on eve of school board vote to shutter some locations
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/26/ice-detains-school-parent/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chicago immigrant advocates plan ‘full week of civil disobediences’ kicking off on May Day. The “week of action” will start with a mega march on May 1 from Union Park to Federal Plaza and end with a “day without margaritas and guacamole” on Cinco de Mayo, May 5. There will also be work stoppages on May 2 and 3.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/02/26/chicago-immigrant-advocates-week-civil-disobediences-may-day
— Trump’s control of press pool, ban of AP clearly aim to drown free speech. The White House’s ongoing beef with the Associated Press and its takeover to control reporters covering President Trump are a slap in the face to Americans who rely on a free press and the First Amendment.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2025/02/26/white-house-ban-associated-press-freedom-pool-donald-trump-gulf-of-mexico-america-first-amendment
— Elon Musk, a one-man show of conflict of interest. Musk’s role at DOGE has him in charge of what happens next at the very agencies that can make his businesses thrive or suffer. If that sounds like a bad idea, that’s because it definitely is.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2025/02/26/elon-musk-doge-conflicts-of-interest-federal-agencies-doge-s-e-cupp
— Trump, feds blame private jet pilot for near-collision with Southwest jet at Midway. A Southwest Airlines jet attempting to land at Midway on Tuesday morning nearly crashed with a Flexjet jet that had crossed into its landing path. Federal officials are investigating the incident. A preliminary report could take 30 days.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2025/02/26/trumo-ntsb-private-jet-pilot-near-collision-southwest-midway
— Pritzker warns of Medicaid cuts, pushes White House to release $1.88B in funds. Gov. JB Pritzker traveled to Washington Tuesday to push for the release of $1.8 billion in frozen federal funds to the state of Illinois — and to further sound the alarm on a pending GOP budget cut to Medicaid that will strip coverage for more than 700,000 Illinois residents.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/02/26/jb-pritzker-donald-trump-frozen-federal-funds-illinois-medicaid-cuts

DAILY HERALD
— Trump administration sets the stage for large-scale federal worker layoffs in a new memo
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250226/nation-and-world-politics/the-trump-administration-sets-the-stage-for-large-scale-federal-worker-layoffs-in-a-new-memo-2/

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Tens of thousands gather for Hindu festival at Nepal temple, with many lighting up marijuana joints
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/tens-of-thousands-gather-for-hindu-festival-at-nepal-temple-with-many-lighting-up-marijuana/article_2d1037c0-2de7-5699-a3aa-f9c66d668d41.html

SOUTHERN
— Republicans pushing forward on Medicaid changes, despite potential political fallout
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/02/27/republicans-pushing-forward-on-medicaid-changes-despite-potential-political-fallout/

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
— Chicago organizations gather outside Trump Tower on Inauguration Day to protest new administration
https://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/watch-chicago-organizations-gather-outside-trump-tower-on-inauguration-day-to-protest-new-administration/

EFFINGHAM DAILY NEWS
— Illinois schools continuing DEI initiatives despite federal funding threats
https://www.effinghamdailynews.com/news/local_news/illinois-schools-continuing-dei-initiatives-despite-federal-funding-threats/article_a7b56614-f48d-11ef-9b9a-2786de45574a.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Registry revival: Trump targets undocumented immigrants in sweeping new enforcement push
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/migrants-could-soon-face-fines-and-prison-time-for-failing-to-register-with-government-illegal-immigration-us-mexico-border-asylum-executive-order-immigration-and-nationality-act

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Pentagon orders new purge of social media sites to dump diversity, inclusion mentions by March 5
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-pentagon-orders-new-purge-of-social-media-sites-to-dump-diversity-inclusion-mentions-by-march-5/
— Democrats push pot in Pekin
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/new-cannabis-dispensary-proposed-to-go-in-historic-downtown-pekin-building/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Christianity declines among U.S. adults while ‘religiously unaffiliated’ grows
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-26/christianity-declines-among-u-s-adults-while-religiously-unaffiliated-grows-study-says
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-27/how-trumps-crackdown-plays-into-misperceptions-about-immigrants-and-crime

ILLINOIS TIMES
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters glorify and praise those who say that they can “work with” the hate-filled Trump-hating Pritzker.  Pritzker destroys those who do not share his hatred against Trump.
https://www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion/gop-says-they-can-work-with-dems-19816396

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/27/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-463/
— Isabel’s afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/26/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-256/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— About that “balanced” budget in Illinois
https://wirepoints.org/and-about-that-balanced-budget-in-illinois-wirepoints-quickpoint/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— The Washington Post wants to hear from recently fired federal employees. Does the Washington Post what to hear my story?  My Democrat GAO superiors fired me, that is, they forced me to retire when was 49 years old in 1997. To justify that, they used massive Republican-led budget cuts and up-or-out, that is, they’re not having promoted me beyond GS-13. But they wanted to retaliate against me because I had been an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation since 1988. Previously, they had a) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, b) delayed my promotions, c) kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for them, and d) forced me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS in 1980. By doing the aforesaid, my Democrat GAO superiors 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
— While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, to deal with Republican-led budget cuts, they first got rid of their employees who were Republican and then their employees who were conservative, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. Because I was all of the aforesaid, I never would have survived for the 18 years if I had not a) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, b) earned additional job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, c) became a licensed CPA in 1981, and d) earned job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— With Bryon Daniels Announcing Candidacy for Florida Governor, Three Past Illinois Congressional Candidates Being Mentioned
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/26/with-bryon-daniels-announcing-candidacy-for-florida-governor-three-past-illinois-congressional-candidates-being-mentioned/
— FOID Retrieval Action in Cary
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/26/foid-retrieval-action-in-cary/
— Ness Reports on Springfield
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/26/ness-reports-on-springfield/
— Illinois Paying for Kaplan Test Preparation Courses for University Students and Those at Five Junior Colleges
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/26/illinois-paying-for-kaplan-test-preparation-courses/
— LaHood Playing Key Role in Selection of Next U.S. Attorney
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/26/lahood-playing-key-role-in-selection-of-next-u-s-attorney/
— Former Algonquin Township Trustee Ed Zimel Reflects on Randy Funk’s Defeat, Posts Victory Celebration Photos
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/26/ed-zimel-reflects-on-randy-funks-defeat-posts-victory-celebration-photos/
— Nail-Biter in Grafton Township Trustee Contest
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/26/nail-biter-in-grafton-township-trustee-contest/
– Pritzker Two-Step 3 AM Tax Hike Predicted
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox?compose=GTvVlcSBpRTKlGmDwHHjfpWkJTSNnwFZNWcqZdGStTcRNvBHZSlhfHFFDjMlLWXSDsbdLWldLzhQg
— Anonymous Letter in Support of Leda Bobera-Drain’s Re-Election Campaign Day Before Voting Did Not Lead to Victory
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/02/26/anonymous-letter-in-support-of-leda-bobera-drains-re-election-campaign-day-before-voting-did-not-lead-to-victory/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ICE tallies 20,000 arrests in one month
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/26/ice-tallies-20000-arrests-one-month/
— Trump memo orders ‘large-scale’ federal layoffs in sweeping agency cuts
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/26/memo-calls-large-scale-cuts-federal-agencies/

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Will Trump’s Second Musk Bet Pay Off?  DOGE could reform the government, or it could just aggravate voters.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/will-trumps-second-musk-bet-pay-off/

AMERICAN DECENCY
— Has the Glory of the Lord Departed from Wheaton?
https://americandecency.org/2025/has-the-glory-of-the-lord-departed-from-wheaton/

AMERICAN WIRE
— Michael Moore says deported illegals could cure cancer, stop killer asteroid, but Dem lawmaker reminds people that they are food picking slaves
https://americanwirenews.com/michael-moore-says-deported-illegals-could-cure-cancer-stop-killer-asteroid-but-dem-lawmaker-reminds-people-that-they-are-food-picking-slaves/

BLAZE
— Illegal aliens are criminals, not victims (COMMENT: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise illegals.)
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/illegal-aliens-are-criminals-not-victims

BREITBART
— Illegals Will Have Chance to Register Within 30 Days of Arrival and Be Removed, Will Have Chance to Come Back Later
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/02/26/noem-illegals-will-have-chance-to-register-within-30-days-of-arrival-and-be-removed-will-have-chance-to-come-back-later/
— Migration Arrests Rise Sevenfold Under Trump
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/02/26/migration-arrests-rise-sevenfold-under-trump/
— Michael Moore: Trump Might Be Deporting Illegals Who Could ‘Cure Cancer’ or Stop an Asteroid (COMMENT: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise illegals.)
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2025/02/26/michael-moore-trump-might-be-deporting-illegals-who-could-cure-cancer-or-stop-an-asteroid/
— Pentagon Orders the Removal of DEI from All Official Online Content
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/26/exclusive-pentagon-orders-removal-dei-all-official-online-content/

FOX NEWS
— The war on woke has ‘certainly’ not been won yet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FlFq4SoiU

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Wokeness in Medicine Lingers
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/wokeness-in-medicine-lingers/

PJ MEDIA
— Trump Revokes Biden’s Concessions to Commie Venezuela
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/02/26/trump-revokes-bidens-concessions-to-commie-venezuela-n4937356

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— USAID Has Done America Extreme Harm Overseas
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/26/former_usaid_coo_the_agency_has_done_america_extreme_harm_overseas_its_a_multibillion-dollar_money_pot.html
— Pritzker’s Not a Nazi Either – Richard Porter (COMMENT: In my opinion, Pritzker is ever-increasingly treating Republicans like Hitler treated Jews. That explains why more and more and more Republicans are giving up on Illinois. That explains why more and more and more Republicans are fleeing Illinois.)
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/02/26/pritzkers_not_a_nazi_either_152419.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Trump suggests pilot’s license be suspended in close call at Chicago airport
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/trump-suggests-pilot-s-license-be-suspended-in-close-call-at-chicago-airport/ar-AA1zQfGk
— Trump hosts event honoring Black History Month  (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs ever-increasingly promote Black History Month. When I was 49 years old in 1997, my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire and replaced me with their Black History Month coordinator. 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 no professional license like the one I had.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/watch-live-trump-hosts-event-honoring-black-history-month/ar-AA1zsYRv

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Democratic governors pitch state jobs to federal workers cut by Trump
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democratic-governors-pitch-state-jobs-to-federal-workers-cut-by-trump/ar-AA1zR4Yr
— Trump administration sets the stage for large-scale federal worker layoffs
https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-2-27-2025

ABC NEWS
— As Trump’s deadline to eliminate DEI nears, few schools openly rush to make changes
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/trumps-deadline-eliminate-dei-nears-schools-openly-rush-119240446
— A Project 2025 author Russell Vought carries out his vision for mass federal layoffs. The Trump administration’s demand that federal agencies plan to radically downsize is driven by a key figure in the conservative movement who has long planned this move. (COMMENT: Vought is a Wheaton College graduate.)
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/project-2025-author-carries-vision-mass-federal-layoffs-119229770

NBC NEWS
— Trump administration creates registry for immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Everyone who is in the U.S. illegally must register, give fingerprints and provide an address, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-administration-registry-immigrants-illegal-undocumented-rcna193818

CBS NEWS
— Federal agencies told to submit “reorganization plans,” prepare for mass firings
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-personnel-budget-memo-reorganization-plans/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Administration, Breaking With Musk’s Directive, Says Replying to His Email Is Voluntary. The response to Elon Musk’s “What did you do last week?” email to federal employees suggests that there may be limits to how far he can push the government’s work force.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/us/politics/elon-musk-email-federal-workers.html
— The Next Phase of Trump’s Large-Scale Work Force Cuts Is Underway. Workers at a handful of agencies have begun receiving notifications that they are part of the “reduction in force” directed by the president, after a wave of firings that targeted probationary workers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/us/politics/trump-musk-doge-cuts-federal-workers.html
— Trump Administration Escalates Layoffs of Federal Workers. Federal officials circulated a memo asking agency leaders to plan even more job reductions after thousands of federal workers were fired in recent weeks.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/us/politics/trump-doge-federal-worker-layoffs-memo.html
— Trump Said E.P.A. Would Lose 65 Percent of Staff. Then, a Correction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/climate/trump-epa-layoffs.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Elon Musk’s business empire is built on $38 billion in government funding. Government infusions at key moments helped Tesla and SpaceX flourish, boosting Musk’s wealth.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2025/elon-musk-business-government-contracts-funding/
—  Musk attends Trump’s first Cabinet meeting of new term
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/26/trump-presidency-news/
— Are you a federal employee who was fired after a glowing review? Tell The Post. The Washington Post wants to hear from federal employees who were recently fired after receiving a glowing performance review. Tell us your story through this form.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/02/26/submissions-federal-dismissals/

USA TODAY
— Democrat and RINO employers ever-increasingly use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/27/dei-backlash-erase-black-executives-gains/78475480007/

FORBES
— Here’s Where Trump’s Government Layoffs Reportedly Are—Social Security Administration, FEMA, IRS And More
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/02/26/heres-where-trumps-government-layoffs-reportedly-are-social-security-administration-fema-irs-and-more/

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
— Democrat and RINO employers ever-increasingly use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://hbr.org/2025/02/how-to-assess-the-new-legal-risks-of-your-dei-policies

BUSINESS INSIDER
— Federal workers react to Trump administration’s new plan for restructuring, staff cuts: ‘They’ll have to fire me.’
https://www.businessinsider.com/doge-office-new-staff-cuts-federal-workers-responde-2025-2

FED SMITH
— RIFs Are Coming: What Federal Employees Need to Know About the Upcoming Workforce Optimization Initiative. The Trump administration is directing agencies to plan for large scale reorganizations and RIFs. Details of the plans have emerged. (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, to deal with Republican-led budget cuts, they first got rid of their employees who were Republican and then their employees who were conservative, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. Because I was all of the aforesaid, I never would have survived for the 18 years if I had not a) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, b) earned additional job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, c) became a licensed CPA in 1981, and d) earned job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2025/02/26/rifs-are-coming-what-federal-employees-need-to-know-about-upcoming-workforce-optimization/

POLITICO
— Elon Musk’s bad rep among Dems threatens EV sales push in statehouses. Tesla’s campaigns to sell its electric vehicles directly to consumers, bypassing traditional dealerships, face more challenges in Democratic statehouses as Musk’s national clout grows.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/27/elon-musk-tesla-ev-sales-00206194

PEW RESEARCH CENTER
— All those in the mainstream news media are LGBTQ and/or promote LGBTQ.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/02/26/most-lgbtq-adults-expect-trumps-policies-to-affect-gay-lesbian-bisexual-and-trans-people-negatively/

FINANCIAL TIMES
— Democrat and RINO employers ever-increasingly use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.ft.com/content/87cdf51c-c8e6-439c-aef6-91cb8faed78a

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 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 15, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC NEWS
— Cracks in a Sanctuary City: How immigration agents are making arrests based on local police data
https://abc7chicago.com/post/cracks-sanctuary-city-how-ice-immigration-agents-are-making-arrests-based-local-police-data-despite-illinois-trust-act/15908159/
— Elgin moves to ban sale of THC products  (COMMENT: Pot sellers oppose THC products because THC products compete against pot.)
https://abc7chicago.com/post/elgin-thc-ban-push-city-council-grants-preliminary-approval-edibles/15905902/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/15/chicago-immigration-court-hearing/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/14/daughters-target-ceo-dei-efforts/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Ex-Speaker Michael Madigan’s $158,000/year state pension suspended following conviction (COMMENT: Are you in line to get a pension? Are you getting a pension? I got in line for a Civil Service Retirement System pension when I was 18 years old in 1966. Even though it is dramatically reduced because my Democrat superiors wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997, it is $66,780/year. My critics/opponents have always been furious that I get the aforesaid pension. In my defense, I worked for the Post Office for almost 3 years 1966-1969, IRS for almost 9 years 1971-1980, and GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970; job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997; job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997; and a job-related professional license in 1981.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/13/michael-madigans-state-pension-suspended/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Anger, chaos, confusion as federal workers face mass layoffs. As layoff notices were sent out agency by agency, federal employees from Michigan to Florida were left reeling from being told that their services were no longer needed. (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, Republicans shrank the agency from more than 6,000 employee to less than 3,000 employees. My Democrat GAO superiors punished me severely for that.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/donald-trump/2025/02/14/federal-workers-mass-layoffs-trump-musk-doge
— Letter: Mayor Johnson acts like a dictator
https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2025/02/14/mayor-brandon-johnson-dictator-president-trump-elon-musk-economy-canada-rfk-jr-doge-coders
— Corrupt voters elect corrupt candidates.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/02/14/illinois-lawmakers-use-your-power-to-rein-in-political-corruption

DAILY HERALD
— Barrington Hills trustee Darby Hills to fill McConchie’s seat representing Illinois’ 26th Senate District
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250214/illinois-state-politics/barrington-hills-trustee-to-fill-mcconchies-seat-representing-illinois-26th-senate-district/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Hills’ background includes experience as an arbitrator, mediator and Cook County assistant state’s attorney, focusing her efforts on child welfare. She also worked as a labor and employment attorney at Jackson Lewis LLP on behalf of corporations. “Darby’s dedication to children and families, along with her experience as a prosecutor and local leader, make her an invaluable addition to our team,” said Senate Republican Leader John Curran of Downers Grove. “She brings a deeply personal perspective to the fight for Illinois’ most vulnerable children — one that will drive real change in Springfield.” As a village trustee, Hills has advocated for keeping taxes low, responsible budgeting, and accountable government. In Springfield, she will work to create a pro-business environment that supports local job creators and strengthens Illinois’ economy, according to the release.)
— Judge orders Democrat on ballot for York Township supervisor (COMMENT: In your precinct, which offices are on the April 1 ballot, who are the candidates, and which ones are Republican?)
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250214/local-politics/judge-orders-democrat-on-ballot-for-york-supervisor/

SHAW LOCAL
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly use Trump’s tariffs to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.shawlocal.com/illinois-valley/2025/02/15/we-might-just-have-to-weather-the-storm-how-trump-tariffs-could-affect-the-illinois-valley/

RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD LANDMARK
— How to vote in Brookfield and Riverside’s local elections. Voters will decide the makeup of local governing agencies, including village, school and library boards. (COMMENT: What is your Republican Precinct Committeeman going to do to help elect Republican candidates on the April 1 ballot in your precinct? I am going to hand-deliver their campaign literature and a marked copy of the sample ballot to the 400 residences in my precinct that have at least one registered Republican or Independent voter. But according to my critics/opponents in the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and Illinois Republican Party (IRP), that will cause those candidates to lose many votes a) because I am “too conservative” b) because I do not share their hatred against Trump, c) because my demographics are terrible, d) because MTRO, DCRCC, and IRP leaders have taken so many big adverse actions against me, and e) because Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois have taken so may big adverse actions against me.)
https://www.rblandmark.com/2025/02/14/how-to-vote-brookfield-riverside-local-elections/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Anticipate/expect that Democrat and RINO leaders will ever-increasingly say that everything that Trump says and does causes chaos.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-14/trump-firings-cause-chaos-at-agency-responsible-for-americas-nuclear-weapons
— Democrat and RINO employers ever-increasingly use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-02-14/trump-has-gone-after-dei-programs-but-dei-consultants-say-demand-was-already-dropping

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— 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 in 1980 because I had already survived my probationary period when I worked for IRS.)
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/ap-trump-administration-lays-off-probationary-government-workers-warns-others-of-large-cuts-to-come/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois’ government-anointed electric bus maker is a bigger fiasco than we knew
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-government-anointed-electric-bus-maker-is-a-bigger-fiasco-than-we-knew-wirepoints/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly use against Trump a) everything that he says and does, b) everything that he has said and done, and c) his demographics. My critics/opponents ever-increasingly use against me a) my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters since 2000, b) my demographics, and c) what I did as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks 2005-2021, as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, as the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, as a member of the Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2008, as an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, as the Milton Township coordinator for Pat O’Malley’s Republican gubernatorial primary campaign in 2002, and as the plaintiff in lawsuits that I have filed. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

NEW YORK POST
— Obama, Biden endangered flights by rejecting whites for air-traffic controller jobs
https://nypost.com/2025/02/14/opinion/obama-biden-endangered-flights-by-nixing-whites-as-air-traffic-controllers/
— Hey, Congress: Make government great again — by turning Trump’s reforms into law
https://nypost.com/2025/02/14/opinion/hey-congress-make-government-great-again-by-turning-trumps-reforms-into-law/

AMERICAN WIRE NEWS
— Homan sets DOJ probe of AOC in motion over webinar on how illegals can avoid ICE
https://americanwirenews.com/border-czar-homan-sets-doj-probe-of-aoc-in-motion-over-webinar-on-how-illegals-can-avoid-ice/

BREITBART
— FBI Points Out It Sent ‘Thousands of Agents’ to Help Deport Illegals
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/02/14/fbi-points-out-it-sent-thousands-of-agents-to-help-deport-illegals/

DAILY CALLER
— US Army Says It Will ‘No Longer’ Accept Transgender Applicants, Support Sex-Change Procedures
https://dailycaller.com/2025/02/14/us-army-no-longer-accept-transgender-applicants-bans-sex-change-prodcedures/

DAILY SIGNAL
— F-minus: a tale of two cities’ school districts
https://readlion.com/f-minus-a-tale-of-two-cities-school-districts/

DAILY WIRE
— U.S. Army Bans Transgender-Identifying Individuals From Joining, Halting All Trans Medical Procedures. Trump and Hegseth are crushing wokeness in the military.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-army-bans-transgender-identifying-individuals-from-joining-halting-all-trans-medical-procedures

LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— Elon Musk prescribes LIFE IN PRISON for people who conducted transgender operations on minors! “Children cannot consent. That is why there are laws protecting minors. Those who perpetrated this evil should be in prison for life.”
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/email-letters/let-rev-bm-1776pac-2025-02-13

NEWSMAX
— Slavery Reparations Advocates Are Real Racists
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/owens-slavery-reparations/2025/02/14/id/1199188/

WESTERN JOURNAL
— White House’s Valentine’s Day Card for Would-Be Illegal Aliens Goes Viral
https://www.westernjournal.com/white-houses-valentines-day-card-illegal-aliens-goes-viral/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC NEWS
— Latino Republicans walk tightrope between supporting Trump and advocating for ‘law-abiding’ immigrants. Florida Republicans sent letters to Trump officials over deportation worries for some immigrants but did not oppose the policies, “which in Washington is equivalent to a wink and a nod,” one strategist said. (COMMENT: To come into a country illegally and/or to stay in a country illegally demonstrates gross disrespect for the rule of law and for that country. Of course, illegals argue that Democrats and RINOs invited them to come in illegally and to stay illegally.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-immigrants-republicans-latino-voter-concerns-deportation-rcna192029

CBS NEWS
— Protests at Stonewall National Monument after “LGBTQ” changed to “LGB” on government website
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/stonewall-national-monument-protest-trans-queer-references-removed/

REUTERS & NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY
— Nearly 10,000 fired as Trump, Musk step up assault on US agencies & Deregulation by Firings’: Breaking Down the Cuts to Financial Oversight & Trump, Musk escalate purge as thousands fired across federal workforce (COMMENT: Have you been fired? I was fired as a) a member of the Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, b) the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day Parades and Fireworks in 2021, c) the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois in 2012, d) a member of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affair Committee in 2011, e) the webmaster for the Milton Township Republican Organization in 2010 and 2004, f) a member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee in 2007, g) a director of the American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter in 2004, h) a GAO employee in 1997, i) a Firestone Store employee in 1971, and j) a Post Office Employee in 1969. I should write about those who orchestrated the aforesaid firings and why they did that.)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/thousands-fired-trump-musk-take-ax-us-government-offices-2025-02-14/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/business/trump-deregulation-firing.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/14/trump-musk-purge-thousands-federal-workers-fired/78606349007/

YAHOO NEWS
— Anticipate/expect that Democrat and RINO leaders will ever-increasingly say that voters regret voting for Trump. I should write a book about those unsuccessful Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct since 2000 who blame me and my blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters the most for their defeats. I would focus on those candidates who blame what I did as a) the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks 2005-2021, b) the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, c) the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, and d) an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/maga-farmers-teachers-latest-groups-170840726.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Vance Tells Europeans to Stop Shunning Parties Deemed Extreme (COMMENT I should write about leaders of the following who demonized TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and Illinois Center Right Coalition as being extreme: Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization. I would focus on the aforesaid who had their operatives and their dupes destroy the aforesaid organizations.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/world/europe/vance-europe-immigration-ukraine.html
— Layoffs Expand at Federal Agencies, Part of Trump Purge. Mass firings have rocked multiple agencies as President Trump and Elon Musk ramp up plans to drastically slash and reshape the federal work force.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/us/politics/energy-department-layoffs.html
— Democrats become government employees and stay government employees to advance the Democrat Party platform, pure and simple.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/nyregion/adams-prosecutor-danielle-sassoon-profile.html
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote mote illegal immigration.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/opinion/immigration-republicans-democrats-crisis.html
— Trump Cracks Down on Diversity Initiatives Celebrated in His First Term
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/us/politics/trump-diversity-education-department.html
— Trump Wields U.S. Power With Unclear Economic Consequences. The president sees the U.S. economy as a powerful lever against other countries but there are risks to that approach.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/trump-economy-threats.html
— State Dept. Suspends Plan to Buy Armored Teslas. Vehicles made by Elon Musk’s company were on a purchase list issued before Donald Trump was inaugurated and before Mr. Musk became one of the president’s top advisers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/us/politics/state-dept-armored-teslas.html

WASHINGTON POST
— My critics/opponents despise/hate cars, and especially American nameplate cars, and more especially muscle cars, and even more especially Corvettes. I have owned my 1972 Corvette since I was 23 years old in 1971.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/01/27/debunking-the-myth-of-the-american-love-affair-with-cars/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Corey B. Brooks: Trump’s Colorblind Message Energizes Black Americans. Self-reliance, stable families and education will lift neighborhoods like mine to untold heights.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trumps-colorblind-message-energizes-black-americans-upward-mobility-913b5206
— How Zoning Ruined the Housing Market in Blue-State America (COMMENT: My DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton is extremely diverse in terms of household income and home values.)
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/how-zoning-ruined-the-housing-market-in-blue-state-america-3fa94568
— Trump Somehow Lowers the Temperature in Washington. Democrats still attack him, but they’ve reverted from catastrophizing to ordinary partisan rhetoric. (COMMENT: As I hand-deliver campaign literature and a copy of the sample ballot for the April 1 election to the 400 residences in my precinct that have at least one Republican or one Independent voter, I will assess the progress that Democrats and RINOs are having promoting more hatred against Trump.)
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-somehow-lowers-the-temperature-in-washington-political-rhetoric-second-term-bee3c094
— DOGE’s Federal Job Cuts Threaten Republican Districts Too. The workers Elon Musk seeks to cut are everywhere, including in politically red areas. (COMMENT: Democrats run the federal government. To deal with budget cuts, they first get rid of their employees who are Republican, and then their employees who are White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or who have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/federal-workers-doge-job-cuts-maps-988416ec

ATLANTIC
— Democrat and RINO leaders falsely claim that government employees cannot be fired for their political views. If had been a Democrat, my Democrat superiors would not have wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997 notwithstanding my being White, male, old, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and my ancestors have been in America since 1844.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/employee-firing-first-amendment/681702/

NAACP
— To get more votes from Blacks, anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly promote reparations. To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans cause all the problems that Blacks have, and especially Republicans like me who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I should write a book about that. I would focus on the success that my Democrat GAO superiors had turning my Black subordinate against me 1990-1997. They stressed to him that I was all of the aforesaid, and that in addition, I lived in Crete 1948-1972 and in Wheaton since 1978. They stressed to him that his pre-GAO work experience was more directly related to our group’s financial industry audit work than mine was. They dismissed, belittled, and badmouthed a) what I had learned completing 14 graduate courses in financial markets and trading at IIT 1992-1997 and b) my having become a Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996.
https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-praises-reintroduction-historic-reparations-bill-during-black-history-month

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 13, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Sanctuary cities pose an unacceptable risk to public safety
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/13/opinion-sanctuary-cities-public-safety/
— Democrats try to move on after ex-Speaker Michael Madigan’s conviction as GOP calls for greater state ethics reforms
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/12/democrats-try-to-move-on-after-ex-speaker-michael-madigans-conviction-as-gop-calls-for-greater-state-ethics-reforms/

DAILY HERALD
— Hayes endorses Tinaglia to succeed him as Arlington Heights mayor (COMMENT: Since 2004, my critics/opponents have stressed that Jim Rasins did not endorse me for Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) Treasurer when he did not run again in 2004. They stressed that I had known Rasins since the 1980s and that I had worked hard to help elect him DuPage County Auditor in 2000 and to help reelect him in 2004. They knew that I had recruited Rasins to speak at an Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Chicago Chapter event in the 1990s. They ignored, dismissed, belittled, and badmouthed my qualifications. I had served as the AGA Chicago Chapter Treasurer 1983-1986. I had served as the Illinois Center Right Coalition Treasurer since 2003. I had worked for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $117-807-$153,151/year: I had worked for IRS 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 had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I had earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. I had passed the Certified Internal Auditor Examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981. I had become a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Government Financial Manager in 1994, Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and Forensic Accountant in 1997. Since 2004, my MTRO critics/opponents have stressed that I got only 13 votes in that MTRO Treasurer election while my opponent got 69 votes. They I should write about my MTRO critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have taken the most/biggest adverse actions against me.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250212/news/hayes-endorses-tinaglia-to-succeed-him-as-arlington-heights-mayor/

ABC7
— Some new-arrival Venezuelan migrants in Chicago face threat of deportation. President Trump moves up timeline to April to revoke temporary protected status.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-immigration-news-new-arrival-venezuelan-migrants-face-threat-deportation-no-temporary-protected-status/15899205/

NBC5
— Trump administration considering using defense funding to ramp up deportations. The administration has been unhappy with the current pace of immigrant arrests and deportations, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement budget has been a factor.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/trump-administration-considering-using-defense-funding-to-ramp-up-deportations/3672999/?os=io..ref%3Dapp&ref=app

WGN9
— Durkin talks Madigan verdict
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elsCv9KLiF4

WTTW
— Trump Says He Wants the Department of Education Closed ‘Immediately.’ What That Could Mean for Illinois
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/12/trump-says-he-wants-department-education-closed-immediately-what-could-mean-illinois

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— What to know about the federal workforce under Trump. Since President Donald Trump began his second term last month, he has focused on dramatically reducing the federal workforce at a breakneck pace.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/ap-what-to-know-about-the-federal-workforce-under-trump/
— Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to discriminate against Christians, and especially against Christians who are Protestant.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-given-christianitys-dominance-in-us-trump-raises-eyebrows-with-anti-christian-bias-initiative/

WAND TV
— Migrants with work permits could become firefighters under new plan in Illinois
https://www.wandtv.com/community/migrants-with-work-permits-could-become-firefighters-under-new-plan-in-illinois/article_bd88074c-e97c-11ef-b76b-d77fe5a5d046.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/13/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-455/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— At the University of Michigan, DEI Now Hides in Office of ‘Community Culture’
https://freebeacon.com/campus/exclusive-at-the-university-of-michigan-dei-now-hides-in-office-of-community-culture/

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Trump Should Cancel the Diversity Visa Program. Ending the green card lottery needs to be a top immigration priority for the president.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/trump-should-cancel-the-diversity-visa-program/

BLAZE
— Trump tears down the woke iron curtain.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/trump-tears-down-the-woke-iron-curtain

BREITBART
— Former GAO Head David Walker: DOGE Should Look at COVID Payments, Wouldn’t Surprise Me if There Was a Trillion in Fraud, Abuse
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/02/12/fmr-gao-head-doge-should-look-at-covid-payments-wouldnt-surprise-me-if-there-was-a-trillion-in-fraud-abuse/
— New York isn’t alone when it comes to granting driver’s licenses to immigrants without legal status (COMMENT: The list includes Illinois.)
https://www.breitbart.com/news/new-york-isnt-alone-when-it-comes-to-granting-drivers-licenses-to-immigrants-without-legal-status/

EPOCH TIMES
— Trump Says Putin Agreed to Start Negotiations to End Ukraine War. Trump also discussed the plans with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy is due to meet with Vice President Vance on Feb. 14.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/trump-announces-productive-call-with-putin-on-russia-ukraine-peace-talks-5808724

MEGYN KELLY
— Massachusetts City Flouts Trump Executive Orders, Votes to Become a ‘Sanctuary City’ for Trans People
https://www.megynkelly.com/2025/02/12/worcester-massachusetts-votes-to-become-sanctuary-city-for-trans-people/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5141877-trump-musk-advocacy-campaign/

REUTERS
— US judge clears the way for tens of thousands of federal workers to take Trump buyout
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-allows-trump-proceed-with-government-employee-buyout-2025-02-12/

MSNBC
— Trump and Musk were wrong about government employees – they actually want to work (COMMENT: I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980 because GAO’s mission is to fight fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government. The importance of that mission a) enabled me to withstand for almost 18 years tremendous efforts by my Democrat GAO superiors to waste my career and to get rid of me and b) motivated me to complete the requirements for master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination in my first attempt in 1981, become a licensed CPA in 1981, become a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Government Financial Manager in 1994, Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and Forensic Accountant in 1997 and to earn a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-and-musk-were-wrong-about-government-employees-they-actually-want-to-work/vi-AA1yWCyV

NEW YORK TIMES
— The federal employees Trump has purged, so far (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.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/02/11/us/politics/trump-musk-doge-federal-workers.html
— Democrat teachers promote DEI
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/nyregion/trump-dei-executive-orders-schools.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump closes down federal worker buyout offer after judge lifts hold (COMMENT: What is your position on buyouts and early retirement offers? In 1993, the Democrats who ran GAO “offered” $25,000 buyouts and early retirement to get rid of their employees who were Republican, older, White, male, non-veteran, GS-13, and/or had 25 years or more of federal service. I was “eligible,” that is, I was “targeted” because I was all of the aforesaid. They succeeded in forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old just before their “offer” expired. If I had not succumbed, I would not have been eligible for regular retirement until 2003. Their forcing me to retire wasted what I had learned a) working for GAO for 18 years and for IRS for 9 years, b) earning three job-related master’s degrees (finance-1997, accounting-1980, and business-1976), c) six job-related professional certifications (forensic accounting-1997, financial services auditing-1996, government financial management-1994, fraud examination-1990, internal auditing-1981, and accounting-1979) and d) earning a job-related professional license (CPA-1981).)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/02/12/trump-federal-worker-buyout-court-hearing/
— Trump wants to substantially cut the federal workforce. Here’s what it looks like. While federal hiring has increased in recent years, federal workers, as a share of all Americans workers, remains at a historic low.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/12/federal-workers-trump-doge-cuts/

FORBES
— Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/aparnarae/2025/02/13/the-state-of-dei-practitioners-navigate-a-shifting-landscape/

NPR
— Trump ignites political firestorm in South Africa over Afrikaner asylum status offer (COMMENT: Because Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to discriminate against Whites in America big time, it makes no sense for Whites to immigrate to America.)
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/13/nx-s1-5294345/trump-ignites-political-firestorm-in-south-africa-over-afrikaner-asylum-status-offer

HUFFINGTON POST
— Trump Ordered A Federal Hiring Freeze. Previous Ones Backfired. GAO found that earlier hiring freezes actually made government services less efficient. (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO for almost 18 years, the agency was almost always under Republican-imposed hiring freezes and/or promotion freezes.)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-federal-hiring-freeze_n_678fe14de4b02903dff7d61f

GAO
— U.S. Comptroller General (COMMENT: Who does Trump want the next U.S. Comptroller General to be and why?)
https://www.gao.gov/about/comptroller-general
(FROM THE POSTING: Gene L. Dodaro became the eighth Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on December 22, 2010, when he was confirmed by the United States Senate. He was nominated by President Obama in September of 2010 from a list of candidates selected by a bipartisan, bicameral congressional commission. He had been serving as Acting Comptroller General since March of 2008. . . The Comptroller General of the United States heads the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an agency within the legislative branch of the federal government. The Comptroller General is appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate. When a vacancy occurs in the office of the Comptroller General, the Congress establishes a bipartisan, bicameral commission to recommend individuals to the President. The Comptroller General’s term of office is set statutorily at 15 years and they are not eligible for reappointment.)

INDIA TODAY
— Indians seeking asylum in US grew 470% in 5 years
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/indians-seeking-asylum-in-us-grew-470-in-5-years-study/ar-AA1yU0hE