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December 22 Morning Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Federal shutdown begins; lawmakers fail to reach deal but ‘still talking’ – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/government-shutdown-border-wall-funding-deadline/
— Should the Dan Ryan Expressway be the Barack Obama Expressway? – Alexandra Arriaga (DIERSEN: Have you driven the Dan Ryan? I did 1966-1968 when I commuted to/from my parents’ home in Crete and classes at UIC, first in my 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint and then in my 1968 Oldsmobile 442.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/dan-ryan-expressway-renamed-barack-obama-expressway-bill-daley/

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Bartonville National Guard unit to deploy to Afghanistan – Andy Kravetz
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20181221/bartonville-national-guard-unit-to-deploy-to-afghanistan

JOURNAL COURIER
— Nearly all counties reportedly dodging work rules for food stamps – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: The overwhelming reason why hypocritical Republican-haters move to DuPage County is to take advantage of the a) low unemployment, b) prosperity, and c) safety that Republicans created there. What do you say to those hypocritical Republican-haters?)
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Nearly-all-counties-reportedly-dodging-work-rules-13485900.php
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Last month state officials said they requested a waiver from the federal work requirements for able-bodied adults without kids to get food stamps. The request was for all Illinois counties except DuPage. “All counties in Illinois are included in the waiver request with the exception of DuPage County due to low unemployment rates,” Illinois Department of Human Services spokeswoman Meghan Powers said. More than 1.7 million people in Illinois enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits in August, about 13.2 percent of the state’s population.)

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Jack Franks’ 2000 Campaign Manager Revealed as Researcher for Joe Tirio Smear Pieces
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/21/jack-franks-2000-campaign-manager-revealed-as-researcher-for-je-tirio-smear-pieces/

TOWNHALL
— Trump is Proving to Be One Tough Hombre at the Border – Nicholas Waddy
https://townhall.com/columnists/nicholaswaddy/2018/12/22/trump-is-proving-to-be-one-tough-hombre-at-the-border-n2537955
— I’m Not A Liar: Tempers Flare As DHS Secretary And House Dems Duke It Out Over Trump’s Immigration Agenda – Matt Vespa
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2018/12/21/im-not-a-liar-fireworks-fly-as-dhs-secretary-and-house-dems-duke-it-out-over-tr-n2537891

DAILY CALLER
— TRUDEAU BLAMES TRUMP FOR CANADA’S ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRISIS – David Krayden
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/21/trudeau-blames-trump-for-canadas-illegal-immigrant-crisis/
— HOW THE POLITICAL BLAME GAME WORKED IN 2013 SHUTDOWN VERSUS NOW – Evie Fordham (DIERSEN: Of course, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government always blamed Republicans for all negatives. In the organizations that you are/were a member of, who determines/determined which members get/got blamed for negatives? I should write a book about scapegoaters in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. Of course, they always blame/blamed me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all negatives.)
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/21/government-shutdown-2018-2013/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Democrats keep being wrong and keep demanding we believe them – Jack Hellner
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/democrats_keep_being_wrong_and_keep_demanding_we_believe_them.html

WORLD NET DAILY
— SENATOR BLOCKS VOTE ON EEOC COMMISSIONER WITH ‘RADICAL VIEWS ON MARRIAGE’ Opposes lesbian member of agency that handles discrimination complaints (DIERSEN: How has EEOC impacted you? What did you want when you were young? I wanted a successful career in the automotive industry. EEOC ended all that in 1971 when I was 22 when Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. That made me unemployed because Firestone had fired me for accepting that offer. I had to get a job fast because I had a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother. Because of the aforesaid, I accepted a job offer from IRS.)
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/senator-blocks-vote-on-eeoc-commissioner-with-radical-views-on-marriage/

— THERE IS SIMPLY NO REASONING WITH FOOLS Joseph Farah tells of run-in with news ‘guardian’ questioning his life’s work
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/there-is-simply-no-reasoning-with-fools/

FEDERALIST
— How Academia’s Unhealthy Obsession With Diversity Creates Social Unrest A new book by Heather Mac Donald, ‘The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture,’ provides evidence and underlines the causes behind campus radicalism to Judge Kavanaugh’s witchhunt. – Sumantra Maitra
https://thefederalist.com/2018/12/21/how-academias-unhealthy-obsession-with-diversity-creates-social-unrest/
— MSNBC Rolls Out Sexist, Anti-Christian Smears Against Female Trump Employees Because these women happen to work for the Trump administration, MSNBC hosts think it’s fair game to mock them in ways they’d scream about if applied to liberal women. – Kelsey Harkness
https://thefederalist.com/2018/12/21/msnbc-rolls-sexist-anti-christian-smears-female-trump-employees/

CANADA FREE PRESS
— With Liberty And Justice For Some There is no doubt that Democrats, liberals, progressives, and socialists will fight until they either achieve their purpose, are defeated, or self-destruct. But, if they win, they will win a broken country. – Ray DiLorenzo
https://canadafreepress.com/article/with-liberty-and-justice-for-some

THE HILL
— Shutdown begins as lawmakers wrestle over Trump’s border wall – JULIEGRACE BRUFKE AND MIKE LILLIS
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/422572-shutdown-set-to-begin-as-lawmakers-wrestle-over-trumps-border-wall

ABC NEWS
— The US Federal Government has shut down for the third time in a year, so what happens next? (DIERSEN: Are/were you an essential employee? If I sought any kind of government or political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would shout that I was a non-essential federal employee who worked for non-essential federal agencies.)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-22/what-happens-with-the-latest-us-federal-government-shutdown/10664104

NBC NEWS
— A Trump-approved government shutdown is a fitting end to Paul Ryan’s disappointing, hypocritical tenure Throughout his career, neither Ryan’s words nor his results have lined up with his self-image. – Seth Hanlon (DIERSEN: Does what you say and do line up with your self-image? What do you say to activists, to candidates, to elected officials, to party leaders, to major donors, and to political consultants in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican, but who focus on destroying religious, conservative, and Republican individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries?)
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-approved-government-shutdown-fitting-end-paul-ryan-s-disappointing-ncna951176
— As scandals mount, advertisers begin to question Facebook’s value One ad agency chief has said enough is enough, while others are questioning how much consumers trust the social network. – Claire Atkinson
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/scandals-mount-advertisers-begin-question-facebook-s-value-n951131

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump Stokes Fears in Pre-Shutdown Video” by declaring “We Need a Great Barrier.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/us/politics/trump-video-border-wall-shutdown.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Reliable Allies Refuse to Defend a President Content With Chaos.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/us/politics/donald-trump-syria-government-shutdown.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Tump-haters promote Trump-haters.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/opinion/mattis-resignation-foreign-policy-syria.html
— Where Government Is a Dirty Word, but Its Checks Pay the Bills The residents of Harlan County, Ky., depend heavily on federal assistance. That hasn’t deterred, and may explain, their swing to Republican voting. – Eduardo Porter (DIERSEN: From what I see, in Illinois, overwhelmingly, a) those who depend on federal assistance and b) those who promote federal assistance vote for Democrats.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/business/economy/harlan-county-republican-welfare.html
— ‘Dead Skunk’ Stench From Marijuana Farms Outrages Californians – Thomas Fuller
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/california-marijuana-stink.html

NEW YORK POST
— Shutdown leaves hundreds of thousands of federal workers in limbo for Christmas – Marisa Schultz and Bob Fredericks (DIERSEN: Do you know anyone who works/worked for the federal government? I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years – almost 3 years for the Post Office 1966-1969, almost 9 years for IRS 1971-1980, and almost 18 years for GAO 1980-1997.)
https://nypost.com/2018/12/22/shutdown-leaves-hundreds-of-thousands-of-federal-workers-in-limbo-for-christmas/

WASHINGTON POST
— Major parts of the federal government begin shutting down for an indefinite closure – Erica Werner and Damian Paletta and John Wagner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-leans-on-mcconnell-to-pass-spending-bill-with-border-funding-in-senate/2018/12/21/31bb453a-0517-11e9-b5df-5d3874f1ac36_story.html
— Who will Americans blame if the government shuts down? – Scott Clement and Emily Guskin (DIERSEN: Of course, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government always blamed Republicans for all negatives. In the organizations that you are/were a member of, who determines/determined which members get/got blamed for negatives? I should write a book about scapegoaters who determine/determined which members get/got blamed for negatives in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. Of course, they always blame/blamed me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all negatives.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/21/who-will-americans-blame-if-government-shuts-down/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— U.S. Government Shuts Down Over Border Wall Funding Negotiations between White House officials, congressional leaders to continue Saturday – Natalie Andrews and Kristina Peterson
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-pledges-long-government-shutdown-without-border-wall-funding-11545398044
— ‘The Great War in America’ Review: A Country at War With Itself A great many Americans felt that the war ‘over there’ had little to do with them. Others actively favored opposing sides. – Roger Lowenstein (DIERSEN: My grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-great-war-in-america-review-a-country-at-war-with-itself-11545428594
— China Gets Its Message to Americans but Doesn’t Want to Reciprocate Beijing enjoys a big megaphone in America even as it blocks U.S. media outlets, hinders independent scholars and limits U.S. public diplomacy – Orville Schell and Larry Diamond (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents side with China, with Mexico, and with other foreign countries against America.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-gets-its-message-to-americans-but-doesnt-want-to-reciprocate-11545407490

FORBES
— How To Measure The ROI Of Diversity Programs – Janice Gassam (DIERSEN: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion a) to hire, to retain, and to promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females, b) to not hire Republicans, and c) to get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2018/12/21/how-to-measure-the-roi-of-diversity-programs/#4566a78624e7
— Facebook Just Keeps On Falling. What Comes Next? – Enrique Dans
https://www.forbes.com/sites/enriquedans/2018/12/21/facebook-just-keeps-on-falling-what-comes-next/#6c5cf17d1bde

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters crow about their success in making Evangelicals anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.

https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2018-12-22/surge-at-us-border-pushes-some-evangelicals-to-help-asylum-seekers

GUARDIAN
— It’s the demographics, stupid: party loyalties are shifting as 2020 looms – Lloyd Green (DIERSEN: Those who vote for Democrats are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/22/2020-election-republican-democrat-demographics-party-loyalties

December 20 Evening Edition

DONALD TRUMP
— Democrats, it is time to come together and put the SAFETY of the AMERICAN PEOPLE before POLITICS. Border security must become a #1 priority!
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075870519046610945

ABC7
— Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to step down after clashes with Trump – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/defense-secretary-mattis-leaving-after-clashes-with-trump/4938018/
— Trump defends move to risk government shutdown – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-defends-move-to-risk-government-shutdown/4935197/
— Trump pushing rule making work mandatory for food stamps – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-proposes-rule-requiring-job-for-food-stamps/4937976/
— GoFundMe for Trump’s border wall has raised more than $6M
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/gofundme-for-trumps-border-wall-has-raised-more-than-$6m/4935637/

NBC5
— NBC 5 Sues for Documents From Federal Raids on Ald. Burke’s Offices The lawsuit follows the denial of a request to release search warrants and subpoenas – Carol Marin and Don Moseley
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/nbc-5-goes-to-court-seeking-documents-from-federal-raid-on-ald-burke-503246421.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Pritzker names three heavy-hitting deputy governors but mum on salaries – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/pritzker-announces-heavy-hitters-deputy-governor-positions/
— U.S. says asylum-seeking migrants to wait in Mexico – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/asylum-migrants-mexico-us-border/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— The abuse scandal: Next steps for Madigan and the church – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-sexual-abuse-catholic-priests-chicago-archdiocese-20181220-story.html
— Trump administration moves to tighten work requirements for food stamps – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-food-stamps-snap-work-requirements-20181220-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Pritzker should set goal of making tollway more patronage-proof – Editorial (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes promote patronage and reject the decision in Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_v._Republican_Party_of_Illinois and http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/us/seeking-return-to-ways-of-patronage-in-politics.html). My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors treated me like I was part of a plot to stop them from hiring, retaining, and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females. They knew that my wife had helped elect Jim Thompson. They were fully aware of the arguments that Thompson and Jim Edgar made in Rutan that government employers should be allowed to engage in political affiliation discrimination.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181220/editorial-pritzker-should-set-goal-of-making-tollway-more-patronage-proof
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Today, we share our ideas for true tollway reform: Reduce political hiring. Patronage hiring is permitted in too many jobs, which are called “Rutan-exempt” in Illinois legal shorthand. That allowed the tollway to flood the agency with highly-paid top Republican insiders. More of these jobs needs to be designated as patronage free so they go to the most qualified, not the most connected.)

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Pritzker assembles strong team to make Illinois a winner – Editorial
https://www.rrstar.com/opinion/20181220/our-view-pritzker-assembles-strong-team-to-make-illinois-winner

FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump tells GOP leaders he won’t sign bill to avoid shutdown – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/speaker-ryan-says-trump-will-not-sign-bill-to-keep-government-open
— Mattis leaving as Pentagon chief after clashes with Trump – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-announces-defense-secretary-mattis-to-retire-in-february

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Algonquin Township Road District Levy Drama – Cal Skinner
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/20/algonquin-township-road-district-levy-drama/
— Algonquin Township Board to Undo Damage Done by Previous Refusals to Approve Road District Levy
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/20/algonquin-township-board-to-undo-damage-done-by-refusal-to-approve-road-district-levy/
— Appellate Court Denies Jack Franks’ Ally’s Printer’s Appeal to Stop Illinois Integrity Fund Identification Process
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/20/appellate-court-denies-jack-franks-allys-printers-appeal-to-stop-illinois-integrity-identification-process/

CAPITOL FAX
— Reader comments closed until January 7th (DIERSEN: We are in a 12-hour news cycle. Ever-increasingly, people are busy, and they do not have time to read news and commentary articles that are more than 12 hours old. Overwhelmingly, since 2015, news and commentary articles linked in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have been less than 12 hours old. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have gone out each and every morning and each and every evening since 2015. They went out every morning 2005-2015. Those emails have included links to more than 320,600 news and commentary articles.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/20/reader-comments-closed-until-january-7th/

FOX NEWS
— Gutierrez: Trump’s Border Wall Would Have Gotten Jesus Killed as Herod Intended
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/12/20/luis-gutierrez-slams-nielsen-says-trump-border-wall-would-kill-jesus

BREITBART
— Luis Gutierrez: Trump Would Have Killed Jesus with Inhumane Border Policies – Pam Key
https://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/12/20/luis-gutierrez-trump-would-have-killed-jesus-with-inhumane-border-policies/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump’s veto threat pays off: House approves $5.7B for border wall – Susan Ferrechio
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/trumps-veto-threat-pays-off-house-approves-5-7b-for-border-wall

DAILY CALLER
— E-VERIFY — THE IMMIGRATION SOLUTION CONGRESS IS LOOKING FOR – Ken Blackwell
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/20/e-verify-solution-to-immigration/
— TRUMP MOVES TOWARDS SHUTDOWN OVER WALL FUNDING – Saagar Enjeti
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/20/trump-shutdown-wall/
— GOFUNDME FOR TRUMP’S BORDER WALL SURPASSES $5 MILLION IN LESS THAN FOUR DAYS – Jason Hopkins
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/20/border-wall-gofundme-millions/

EAGLE ACTION REPORT
— Rand Paul: ‘The Deep State Needs More Oversight’ – Sean Moran (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes promote patronage and reject the decision in Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_v._Republican_Party_of_Illinois and http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/us/seeking-return-to-ways-of-patronage-in-politics.html). My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors treated me like I was a member of the deep state, that I was part of a plot to stop them from hiring, retaining, and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females. They knew that my wife had helped elect Jim Thompson. They were fully aware of the arguments that Thompson and Jim Edgar made in Rutan that government employers should be allowed to engage in political affiliation discrimination.)
https://eagleactionreport.com/articles/rand-paul-the-deep-state-needs-more-oversight
— Will We Ever Get A Wall? – Derek Hunter
https://eagleactionreport.com/articles/will-we-ever-get-a-wall

CAMPUS REFORM
— 5 most politically biased courses of 2018 – Grace Gottschling
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=11665

NEW AMERICAN
— Immigrationists Try to Wreck Tucker Carlson as Illegals Wreck Our Land – Selwyn Duke
https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/30971-immigrationists-try-to-wreck-tucker-carlson-as-illegals-wreck-our-land

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Mexico Is Building Its Wall — and the U.S. Is Paying for It – KEVIN D. WILLIAMSON
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/12/mexico-border-security-us-foreign-aid-good-idea/

CNN
— GUTIERREZ CALLS TRUMP OFFICIAL KIRSTJEN NIELSEN ‘LIAR,’ STORMS OUT
https://www.wthitv.com/content/national/503264361.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Planned Parenthood Is Accused of Mistreating Pregnant Employees – Natalie Kitroeff and Jessica Silver-Greenberg
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/business/planned-parenthood-pregnant-employee-discrimination-women.html
— For American Workers, 4 Key Retirement Issues to Watch in 2019 – Mark Miller
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/business/retirement-pensions-social-security-2019.html

December 19 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE: How Chicago became a key hub in El Chapo’s massive U.S. drug operation: Chicago twin testifies in historic trial – Jeff Coen
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-el-chapo-trial-chicago-drug-dealer-testifies-20181217-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Some who are anti-religious promote devil worship.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-satanic-temple-statue-springfield-dupage-meeting-prayer-1219-20181218-story.html
— Get used to it, America: We’re no longer No. 1 – Noah Smith (DIERSEN: Anti-Americans and America-haters vote for Democrats.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-china-economy-growing-fast-trade-war-trump-1219-20181218-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE IN THE NAPERVILLE SUN: Voters to choose in contested races for districts 203 and 204, College of DuPage boards – Suzanne Baker
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-candidate-filing-last-day-st-1219-story.html
— Elon Musk unveils underground tunnel, offers bumpy rides to VIPs – AP (DIERSEN: Have you driven in “soul-destroying traffic?” I did 1966-1968 when I commuted to/from my parents’ home in Crete and classes at UIC, first in a 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint and then in a 1968 Oldsmobile 442.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-elon-musk-boring-tunnel-debuts-20181218-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Elon Musk unveiled his underground transportation tunnel on Tuesday, allowing reporters and invited guests to take some of the first rides in the revolutionary albeit bumpy subterranean tube — the tech entrepreneur’s answer to what he calls “soul-destroying traffic.”)

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— The political war for your right to health care – Phil Kadner (DIERSEN: If I sought a government or a political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would demonize, denigrate, and condemn the fact because I am a federal retiree, my wife and I pay only $6,000/year for $24,000/year worth of health, dental, and vision insurance.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/affordable-care-act-obamacare-medicare-for-all/

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: Rules Committee: Where thousands of Illinois bills go to die – Jake Griffin
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181219/rules-committee-where-thousands-of-illinois-bills-go-to-die
— Lawlor re-emerges after rehab stint and quitting politics – Jake Griffin
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181218/lawlor-re-emerges-after-rehab-stint-and-quitting-politics
— Hot races taking shape in several DuPage school districts – Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181218/hot-races-taking-shape-in-several-dupage-school-districts
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Wheaton Warrenville 200 Of three board members with expiring terms, only Chris Crabtree, a former District 200 teacher who won her first term in 2015, is vying to keep her seat. Incumbents Jim Vroman and Jim Gambiani did not file to seek re-election. But newcomers Susan Booton of Wheaton, Dave Long of Winfield, Harold Lonks of Winfield and Mary Yeboah of Wheaton all entered the race, setting a field of five candidates for three seats. . .College of DuPage Four candidates are seeking two 6-year terms on the College of DuPage board. Incumbents Alan Bennett and Joe Wozniak are not seeking re-election, leaving newcomers Annette Corrigan of Wheaton, Marc Incrocci of Darien, Dan Bailey of Wheaton and Maureen Dunne of Naperville to compete for the seats.)

WBBM 780
— Illinois Opponents Of Gas Tax Hike Invoke ‘Yellow Vest’ Imagery – CRAIG DELLIMORE
https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/illinois-opponents-gas-tax-hike-invoke-yellow-vest-imagery

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Nearly 187,000 use automatic voter registration – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: Did you register for the draft? I did in 1966 when I was 18 years old. I was classified 1-A notwithstanding the fact that my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20, I had partial red/green color blindness, and I had Osgood-Schlatter disease (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease).)
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181218/nearly-187000-use-automatic-voter-registration

HERALD NEWS
— Townships, what are they good for? Government bodies provide services despite some negative headlines – ALEX ORTIZ
https://www.theherald-news.com/2018/12/17/townships-what-are-they-good-for/amykuv2/

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Their numbers growing, Latinos gain clout in new Congress – AP (DIERSEN: How much clout do those who share your demographics have a) in the world, b) in America, c) in Illinois, d) in your county, e) in your township/ward, f) in your municipality, and in your precinct? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, and in my precinct are overjoyed that those who share my demographics are doomed. I should write a book about those who share my demographics who demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who share my demographics to curry favor with individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Their-numbers-growing-Latinos-gain-clout-in-new-13467581.php

NPR ILLINOIS
— Abortion Foes Take Public Funding Fight Back To Illinois Supreme Court – BRIAN MACKEY
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/abortion-foes-take-public-funding-fight-back-illinois-supreme-court#stream/0

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Republicans raise alarm over apparent attempt to sideline Madigan’s 19-year-old challenger Krupa – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: What had you done by the time you were 19 years old that demonstrated your potential? According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, by the time I turned 19 years old in 1967, I had demonstrated nothing. They would stress that I had done yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; and delivered mail since 1966. They would stress that I had requested and obtained draft deferments. They would not stress that UIC had accepted me in 1966, that I had bought a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966, or that I had bought a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967.)
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511684787-republicans-raise-alarm-over-apparent-attempt-to-sideline-madigan-s-19-year-old-challenger-krupa

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Federal government shutdown could affect 6,200 employees in Illinois – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: I was a federal employee in Illinois 1966-1969 and 1071-1997.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/federal-government-shutdown-could-affect-employees-in-illinois/article_4ea98834-02f9-11e9-8c89-73b300f53810.html

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Free Exercise of Religion on Display in the Capitol
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/podcast/the-free-exercise-of-religion-on-display-in-the-state-capitol-spotlight-125/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Spiritual Warfare: Standing Strong – David E. Smith
https://illinoisfamily.org/faith/spiritual-warfare-standing-strong/
— Religious Freedom is on Display in State Government
https://illinoisfamily.org/video/religious-freedom-is-on-display-in-state-government/

CAPITOL FAX
— Fight for change, but don’t succumb to cynicism in the meantime (DIERSEN: What change do you fight for? I fight for getting the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), the DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) to back candidates who can and will defend and advance a) the IRP platform, including its traditional family, right to life, immigration, and Second Amendment planks, b) the Republican Party platform, including its illegal drugs and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks, and c) the MTRCC resolution against video gambling. Previously, I fought for TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and the Illinois Center Right Coalition to do the aforesaid.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/fight-for-change-but-dont-succumb-to-cynicism-in-the-meantime/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— VERY TROUBLING: Trump businesses shun E-Verify system, hire illegal immigrants Only 5 out of 565 companies sign up for service – Stephen Dinan and S.A. Miller
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-washington-times-daily/20181207/281479277493400
— Democrats say wealthier households need tax break Plan to roll back state and local limits – David Sherfinski (DIERSEN: According to anti-Republicans, you are wealthy if you itemize your deductions and you pay more than $10,000 a year in SALT taxes.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-washington-times-weekly/20181210/281517932200391

WORLD NET DAILY
— BOYCOTT-HIT CHICK-FIL-A FLYING HIGH IN FAST-FOOD RANKINGS ‘They are doing in 6 days what other chains can’t do in 7’ (DIERSEN: Should I write a book a) about those individuals, those organizations, those companies, and those governments that are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) about why they are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/boycott-hit-chick-fil-a-flying-high-in-fast-food-rankings/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Hall of shame: Advertisers sign up for boycott of Tucker Carlson for telling the truth on illegal immigration – Thomas Lifson (DIERSEN: Should I write a book a) about those individuals, those organizations, those companies, and those governments that are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) about why they are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/hall_of_shame_advertisers_sign_up_for_boycott_of_tucker_carlson_for_telling_the_truth_on_illegal_immigration.html

TPM
— Fox News Slams Carlson Boycott: We Won’t Be Silenced By ‘Agenda Driven Intimidation’ – Nicole Lafond (DIERSEN: Should I write a book a) about those individuals, those organizations, those companies, and those governments that are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) about why they are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fox-responds-carlson-wont-be-silenced-agenda-intimidation

CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— IHOP Boycotts Tucker Carlson But Not Saudi Arabia – Peter Hasson (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about those individuals, those organizations, those companies, and those governments that are boycotting me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/ihop-boycotts-tucker-carlson-but-not-saudi-arabia/

BREITBART
— State Department Pledges $10 Billion to Develop Central America, Southern Mexico – Penny Starr
https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/12/18/state-department-pledges-10-billion-to-develop-central-america-southern-mexico/

LIFEZETTE
— Many Border Migrants ‘Are Not Legitimate Asylum Seekers’ – Kathryn Blackhurst
https://www.lifezette.com/2018/12/many-border-migrants-are-not-legitimate-asylum-seekers-says-homan/

ROLL CALL
— Here Are the House Members Who Have Skipped Votes This Lame-Duck Session Most of the absentees are members who lost re-election, ran for another office or are retiring – Lindsey McPherson
https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/members-whove-skipping-votes-lame-duck-session
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Peter Roskam, R-Ill., who lost his re-election bid, missed 10.)

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants Internal documents show that the social network gave Microsoft, Amazon, Spotify and others far greater access to people’s data than it has disclosed. – Gabriel J.X. Dance, Michael LaForgia and Nicholas Confessore
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/technology/facebook-privacy.html
— FRONT PAGE: Addicted to Vaped Nicotine, Teenagers Have No Clear Path to Quitting – Jan Hoffman
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/health/vaping-nicotine-teenagers.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— ‘A Feudal Regime’: How Gangs Extort Mexico Extortion is becoming more pervasive across Mexico and Central America, where organized crime groups are regulators of a corrupt underground ecosystem – Santiago Pérez (DIERSEN: Of course, anti-Trumps use this to justify granting mass asylum requests.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-feudal-regime-how-gangs-extort-mexico-11545215400
— Teen Vaping Has Created Addicts With Few Treatment Options Concentrated doses of nicotine prompt higher rates of addiction than cigarettes. With few treatment options for teens, the FDA plans public hearings. – Betsy McKay
https://www.wsj.com/articles/surge-in-teen-vaping-gives-rise-to-nicotine-addiction-11545142195

BLOOMBERG
— Americans Earning Over $200,000 Are Flocking to These Neighborhoods Everyone knows wealth is concentrating. This is where the rich are going.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-12-18/these-are-the-neighborhoods-attracting-america-s-richest

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Cook County, Illinois Cook County, which includes the county seat of Chicago, is home to the No. 1 and No. 7 fastest-growing concentrations of $200,000-plus households. No. 1 is, ironically, the area around where the Cabrini-Green public housing projects once stood. Cabrini-Green was notorious for violent crime, poverty and de facto racial segregation until its demolition beginning in the 1990s at the behest of the Chicago Housing Authority. Even back then, authorities fretted that redevelopment plans might displace low-income families. They were right to be worried. Two decades later, the area’s concentration of $200,000-plus households has skyrocketed from zero to 39 percent. For some of the longtime residents who remain, the neighborhood’s transformation has been isolating. . .About 20 miles to the north, Cook County has another top 10 neighborhood: the Glen, in the suburb of Glenview. Converted from what used to be Naval Air Station Glenview, the planned community has hundreds of families living in condos, town houses and single-family homes that go for as much as $2.5 million each, according to realtor Margaret Ludemann.)

USA TODAY
— ‘Unscrupulous politicians’ blamed for worst year on record for journalist killings – Kim Hjelmgaard (DIERSEN: I should write a book about politicians and others who have demonstrated the most hated of me.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/12/18/more-journalists-killed-2018-than-any-other-year-record-driven-unscrupulous-politicians/2346797002/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The hatred of journalists that is voiced, and sometimes very openly proclaimed, by unscrupulous politicians, religious leaders and businessmen has tragic consequences on the ground and has been reflected in this disturbing increase in violations against journalists,” said Reporters Without Borders’ Secretary-General Christophe Deloire. “Amplified by social networks, which bear heavy responsibility in this regard, these expressions of hatred legitimize violence, thereby undermining journalism, and democracy itself, a bit more every day,” he said.)
— Retail workers tested positive for drugs at the highest rate last year, Quest study shows – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/12/19/drug-testing-workplace-retail-had-highest-rate-positives-tests/2315373002/

AUSTIN STATESMAN
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Texas marijuana advocates set sights on 2019 legislative session – Bob Sechler (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who does not want Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) member Bob Grogan to appoint me to the 2020 IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee, like IRP SCC member Ron Smith appointed me to in 2008? ANSWER: Those who reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and/or Second Amendment planks in the 2016 IRP Platform. Those who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.statesman.com/news/20181213/texas-marijuana-advocates-set-sights-on-2019-legislative-session
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The 2018 platform of the state’s Republican Party is among their evidence. It includes a plank calling for civil, instead of criminal, penalties for possessing small amounts of pot, as well as one calling for expansion of the Compassionate Use Act “to allow doctors to determine the appropriate use of cannabis to certified patients.” In addition, Gov. Greg Abbott for the first time recently voiced support for reducing penalties for some pot possession — albeit not all the way to a mere civil offense. Abbott, a Republican, said during his successful re-election campaign against Democrat Lupe Valdez that he’s open “to talking to the Legislature about … reducing the penalty for possession of 2 ounces or less from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor” because he doesn’t want to see “jails stockpiled with people who have possession of a small amount of marijuana.”)

PACIFIC STANDARD
— A LEGISLATIVE BATTLE LOOMS OVER ARIZONA’S REPRESSIVE LGBT EDUCATION LAWS It is one of seven states with laws that prohibit the promotion of homosexuality and that expressly forbid teachers of health and sexuality education from discussing LGBT issues in a positive light—if at all. – RIKER PASTERKIEWICZ & SABIA PRESCOTT (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who does not want Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) member Bob Grogan to appoint me to the 2020 IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee, like IRP SCC member Ron Smith appointed me to in 2008? ANSWER: Those who reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and/or Second Amendment planks in the 2016 IRP Platform. Those who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://psmag.com/education/the-education-legislation-battle-coming-to-arizona

NEW YORKER
— The Search for Anti-Conservative Bias on Google – Sue Halpern
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-search-for-anti-conservative-bias-on-google

CATO
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.cato.org/blog/new-cato-report-border-wall-wont-stop-drug-smuggling-marijuana-legalization-has

SOCIALIST WORKER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Socialist workers say “HEY TRUMP, DON’T HOLD US HOSTAGE FOR THE RACIST WALL.”
https://socialistworker.org/2018/12/19/hey-trump-dont-hold-us-hostage-for-the-racist-wall

December 18 Evening Edition

ABC7
— State Rep. Ives throws support behind aldermanic candidate David Krupa
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/state-rep-ives-throws-support-behind-aldermanic-candidate-david-krupa-/4924256/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: During an election board hearing last Monday, Krupa and his attorney said only 187 of the people who signed a revocation affidavit actually signed his nominating petitions, meaning 2,600 were fraudulent. “I think they’re intimidated by someone who hasn’t backed down to them. Their whole game is do anything possible to make the person intimidated enough to back away either by their support or bully them out,” Krupa said Saturday. He also addressed an old order of protection against him from a previous relationship. Krupa said allegations made in the order were false and filed by the girl’s family and the order has been vacated. Krupa believes the order resurfacing was an attempt to mislead voters away from his campaign efforts.)

NBC5
— The $100,000 Question – How One Check Can Produce Millions for Politicians While it is all legal, critics argue the $100,000 rule is just another example of how the campaign finance law in Illinois can benefit the politically powerful and wealthy. – Carol Marin and Don Moseley
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/how-one-check-can-produce-millions-for-politicians-503070041.html

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Shutdown talk recedes after White House eases border wall threat – AP (DIERSEN: The border wall is a threat to those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/white-house-says-trump-is-willing-to-work-with-congress-to-avert-a-partial-shutdown

WLS AM
— Ives unloads on Rauner, Madigan and a possible gas tax hike. – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/12/18/ives-unloads-on-rauner-madigan-and-a-possible-gas-tax-hike/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Jeanne Ives trying to raise money for 19-year-old challenging Madigan lieutenant – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/jeanne-ives-marty-kevin-quinn-david-krupa-michael-madigan-13th-ward-ballot-petition-challenges-alaina-hampton-2019-election/
— Watchdog to oversee complaints involving lawmakers –– after four year gap – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/watchdog-to-oversee-complaints-involving-lawmakers-after-four-year-gap/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Lake County: Aaron Lawlor on addiction, mental health problems: ‘I have found belonging, purpose, inspiration and accountability’ – Frank Abderholden
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lawlor-talks-addiction-st-1218-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “I was a gay Republican in the suburbs for heaven’s sake, and if you look up self-loathing in the dictionary it should read ‘gay Republican,’” he said, eliciting laughs from the crowd. “So the story I told was that I was a lonely, alcohol- and drug-addicted, HIV positive, gay, elected official, Republican in the suburbs,” he said. “I was an egomaniac with a raging inferiority complex.”)
— Elk Grove Village says $300K sponsorship of Bahamas Bowl has already paid off, though some residents are skeptical – John Keilman
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-bahamas-bowl-college-football-elk-grove-village-makers-wanted-20181213-story.html
— Illinois lawmakers to get new top watchdog with ‘strong background in sexual harassment’ – Mike Riopell
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-legislature-watchdog-sexual-harassment-20181218-story.html
— Trump relents on $5 billion for border wall, but shutdown still possible after Democrats reject new GOP offer – Erica Werner, Damian Paletta and John Wagner
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-border-wall-government-shutdown-20181218-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Opportunity is here to set a new tone for the tollway – Editorial
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181218/editorial-opportunity-his-here-to-set-a-new-tone-for-the-tollway
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: The tollway, managed by a board of supervisors appointed by the governor, has long been criticized as a body with too much patronage and too little responsiveness to the hundreds of thousands of us who travel its roadways every day. The tollway’s defenders are not helped by the types of activities our transportation expert Marni Pyke has uncovered. These include a $157 million contract that went to a company that has contributed to two board members’ charities and employs the daughter of the tollway board chairman; the hiring of the Republican House minority leader’s sister-in-law for an engineering management position even though she had no engineering experience; hiring three public relations companies for various projects despite having its own in-house PR team; and including among those three deals a $6.6 million subcontract with a communications company whose CEO is married to a GOP Chicago lawmaker. Tollway leaders suggest each of these cases is isolated by specific circumstances, and they repeated them at a state Senate hearing in Chicago last summer. What they don’t seem to understand is that at some point an accumulation of isolated circumstances adds up to a trend. And the trend that appears to be developing here is that Republican political connections helped get jobs and contracts for those doing business with a tollway board put in place by a Republican governor. The absolute worst response that could follow is that a year from now Pyke finds herself reporting on how Democratic political connections are helping get jobs and contracts for those doing business with a tollway board put in place by a Democratic governor.)
— After Senate reports, Facebook and Twitter face wave of criticism – Hamza Shaban and Taylor Telford
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181218/after-senate-reports-facebook-and-twitter-face-wave-of-criticism

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Former judge, Menard Co. state’s attorney named legislative inspector general
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181218/former-judge-menard-co-states-attorney-named-legislative-inspector-general

WJBC
— Illinois political pundit Rich Miller says Gov. Rauner will not be missed – Dave Dahl
http://www.wjbc.com/2018/12/17/illinois-political-pundit-says-gov-rauner-will-not-be-missed/

JEANNE IVES
— Representatives Allen Skillicorn and Jeanne Ives hold yellow jacket rally to oppose gas increase
http://www.jeanneives.org/2018/12/representatives-allen-skillicorn-and.html

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Anti-abortion group asks Illinois Supreme Court to nullify abortion law – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/anti-abortion-group-asks-illinois-supreme-court-to-nullify-abortion/article_349d988c-0316-11e9-b8f2-535e02574892.html
— Committee nominates retired judge for legislative watchdog post – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/committee-nominates-retired-judge-for-legislative-watchdog-post/article_cf7fe302-0314-11e9-8542-6bcff78b3342.html
— Illinois law enforcement groups eye teen marijuana use trends – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/illinois-law-enforcement-groups-eye-teen-marijuana-use-trends/article_7b6b3e7c-02ee-11e9-afbc-7b610697160c.html

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
— PRESIDENT URGED TO DECLARE ‘WAR ON WASTE,’ GOVERNMENT SPENDING – Jeff Reynolds (DIERSEN: The federal government wasted me and wasted my federal career. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the federal government would not have done that. It would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 years old. The federal government uses Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) to get rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who it does not promote to GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/president-urged-to-declare-war-on-waste-government-spending
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Andrzejewski says it was difficult to pick just 100 examples of government waste to highlight. “Examples of waste could fill every page of every newspaper in the country,” Andrzejewski said.)

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives backs Krupa even after allegations emerge
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/ives-backs-krupa-even-after-allegations-emerge/
— Representatives Allen Skillicorn and Jeanne Ives hold yellow jacket rally to oppose gas increase
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/18/live-coverage-133/

BREITBART
— Nancy Pelosi: Democrats Will Act ‘Boldly’ to Criminalize Private Gun Sales – AWR Hawkins
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/18/nancy-pelosi-democrats-will-act-boldly-to-criminalize-private-gun-sales/
— Tucker Carlson Defiant After Losing Three More Advertisers to Left-Wing Blacklisting Campaign (DIERSEN: Which individuals, organizations, companies, and governments blacklist you? I should write a book about those individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that blacklist me and why they do that.)
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2018/12/18/tucker-carlson-defiant-after-losing-three-more-advertisers-to-left-wing-blacklisting-campaign/

BLAZE
— More than a dozen advertisers quit Tucker Carlson show over immigration comment — here’s his defiant response – Carlos Garcia
https://www.theblaze.com/news/more-than-a-dozen-advertisers-quit-tucker-carlson-show-over-immigration-comment-heres-his-defiant-response

CNBC
— Democrats are going to attack the GOP tax law from several angles, including SALT caps and breaks for corporations – Ylan Mui
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/18/democrats-are-going-to-attack-trump-gop-tax-law.html

CBS NEWS
— How does federal judges’ health insurance stack up? – WALECIA KONRAD
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-does-federal-judges-health-insurance-stack-up/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Like the vast majority of federal employees of all ranks, the government’s judges have the option of enrolling in plans offered by the Federal Employee Health Benefits system. It includes hundreds of plan choices throughout the U.S. — far more than even the largest private employers. Many plan options also have broad networks of providers, often nationwide. So finding coverage for specialists and out-of-network services isn’t as tough a problem for judges as it can be in the often narrow networks ACA enrollees rely on. And federal employees have the option of keeping their coverage into retirement, unlike many private employer plans. Still, the insurance isn’t as comprehensive as one might imagine a federal judge or Supreme Court justice would get. Unlike the so-called Cadillac plans that top corporate executives often enjoy that fully cover a host of health care expenses, the federal plans have deductibles, premium costs, co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses. Like any employer offering health insurance, the federal government pays a good portion of employees’ premiums. Except for some negotiated union contracts with postal workers, the feds generally pay about 72 percent of premium costs. But that’s less than the average 80 percent that private sector employers kick in. Even judges pay premiums That means judges who opt into the system pay premiums, just like the rest of us. They may even pay a bit more than the average private-sector employee. In addition, depending on what type of plan judges pick, like private-sector employees they may have high deductibles or high co-insurance for certain services. As in the marketplaces, it’s all about what plan they choose.)

FORBES
— Who Wants To Be A Millionaire On Mayor Bill De Blasio’s New York City Workforce? – Adam Andrzejewski
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2018/12/18/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-on-mayor-bill-de-blasios-new-york-city-workforce/#2cd8e1376a99

NEWSWEEK
— Trump Caves on Border Wall Funding – RAMSEY TOUCHBERRY
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-government-shutdown-republicans-confused-1263050

— HOW RICH ARE THE RICH? FAR MORE THAN YOU THINK – GIL B. MANZON JR.
https://www.newsweek.com/how-rich-tax-poverty-inequality-trump-chris-rock-1263157

ATLANTIC
— COVER STORY: The Real Roots of American Rage The untold story of how anger became the dominant emotion in our politics and personal lives—and what we can do about it. – CHARLES DUHIGG (DIERSEN: Members of Group A promote anger against members of Group B. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/charles-duhigg-american-anger/576424/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Is the Federal Workforce Reaching Its Breaking Point? – Howard Risher
https://www.govexec.com/excellence/management-matters/2018/12/federal-workforce-reaching-its-breaking-point/153616/

December 18 Morning Edition

ABC7
— New Laws 2019: Illinois laws that take effect January 1
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/new-laws-2019-illinois-laws-that-start-january-1/4918510/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— New Senator Yadav “Nick” Nathwani seeks input from residents
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elmhurst/community/chi-ugc-article-new-senator-seeks-input-from-residents-2018-12-17-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-selle-marijuana-st-1218-story.html
— Paging all prosecutors to Chicago’s 13th Ward – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-madigan-quinn-chicago-alderman-13th-ward-corrupt-20181217-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Take commuter tax off the table – Editorial
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181218/editorial-take-commuter-tax-off-the-table

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/manufacturing/when-baggie-just-wont-do-packaging-age-legal-pot

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Illinois among the most financially unprepared states in U.S. – Rachel Droze (DIERSEN: Should all candidates for government and political offices be required to prove that they are financially prepared for their retirement? According to some financial advisors, if you are not on track to have at least $1,000,000 when you retire, you are not financially prepared. SEE: https://www.fool.com/retirement/2018/10/14/why-1-million-may-not-be-enough-to-retire-comforta.aspx)
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/report-illinois-among-the-most-financially-unprepared-states-in-us

WGEM
— Quincy aldermen vote to raise property taxes
https://wgem.com/2018/12/17/quincy-aldermen-vote-to-raise-property-taxes/

WREX
— Rockford approves new commission to battle discrimination (DIERSEN: The more of the following demographics that you have, the more that Democrats demonize you, denigrate you, and condemn you as being a discriminator: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://wrex.com/category/2018/12/17/rockford-approves-new-commission-to-battle-discrimination/

KANE COUNTY CONNECTS
— REFERENDUMS, MAYORAL, SCHOOL BOARD CONTESTS TAKE SHAPE FOR APRIL 2 ELECTION
http://kanecountyconnects.com/2018/12/referendums-mayoral-school-board-contests-take-shape-for-april-2-election/

ONE ILLINOIS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.oneillinois.com/stories/2018/12/17/legal-cannabis

CITY CLUB OF CHICAGO
— VIDEO: Christmas with Rich Miller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE7-GzPEW4Q

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Jeanne Ives is back. The conservative state lawmaker who lost the 2018 primary race to Gov. Bruce Rauner, is now championing David Krupa—the kid candidate in the 13th Ward aldermanic race. That’s right. Ives has emailed supporters asking that they donate to the 19-year-old running against veteran alderman Marty Quinn, a friend and ally of House Speaker Mike Madigan. Ives sees this as a David v. Goliath race after learning Quinn supporters filed some 3,000 affidavits to revoke signatures for Krupa—even though he only collected 1,700 names. “I am sending this to my entire statewide email list and beyond. And I am asking all of you to send this guy $10 to keep his fight going against the Madigan Machine,” Ives says in her email. She links to stories in the Tribune, which feature Krupa as a little guy trying to beat the establishment. Ives’ email doesn’t mention yesterday’s POLITICO story detailing Krupa’s backstory. A year ago, he had an order of protection against him to stay away from his former girlfriend. – SHIA KAPOS and ADRIENNE HURST
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/18/mendozas-plan-for-underused-schools-ives-rallies-for-kid-candidate-preckwinkle-to-donate-burke-monies-366110

WIREPOINTS
— Flashback to 1994 reveals Edgar’s ramp up of Illinois pension crisis – Ted Dabrowski
https://www.wirepoints.com/flashback-to-1994-reveals-ramp-up-of-illinois-pension-crisis/
— “Illinois true retirement costs would consume 50% of the budget. In most states, it’s 15%” – Ted Dabrowski
https://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-true-retirement-costs-would-consume-50-of-the-budget-in-most-states-its-15-ted-on-wjpf/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Treasurer of McHenry County Republican Party Resigns
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/17/treasurer-of-mchenry-county-republican-party-resigns/
— Pam Althoff Wins Township Officials of Illinois President’s Award
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/16/pam-althoff-wins-township-officials-of-illinois-presidents-award/

ILLINOIS CONSERVATIVE UNION
— Conservatives Letter to Santa
http://www.ilpac.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/121618-Release_Santa-Letter.pdf

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Judge’s ruling could make government shutdown even more costly – Stephen Dinan and David Sherfinski (DIERSEN: Of course, since 1966 when I was 18 years old and became a federal employee, I have been demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being a nonessential, worthless, and overpaid federal employee. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/17/government-shutdown-threatens-federal-employees-ho/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: More than 400,000 essential government employees could be forced to stay on the job throughout a government shutdown — even if they’d already planned to take holiday vacations. A quirk of federal law says paid leave is considered government spending, and since no unauthorized spending can happen during a funding lapse, no one can take vacation. The silver lining, though, is that government workers could be eligible for double pay should the shutdown last long enough to make them miss a paycheck, thanks to a federal judge’s ruling earlier this decade. Those are just some of the factors in what could be one of the weirder government shutdowns in memory.)

BREITBART
— Democrat Reps., Lawyers Escort Caravan Migrants Across the Border – Neil Munro
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/18/democrat-reps-lawyers-escort-migrants-across-the-border/
— Democrats Funded ‘Wall’ Under Bush, Obama–Refuse Same Barrier to Trump – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/17/democrats-funded-wall-under-bush-obama-refuse-same-barrier-to-trump/
— Business Group: Labor Shortages in Trump’s Economy Boost Blue-Collar Voters – Neil Munro
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/17/business-group-labor-shortages-in-trumps-economy-boost-blue-collar-voters/

TOWNHALL
— Mexico Has a Plan to Deter Illegal Aliens From Flocking to the United States. Here’s What It Entails. – Beth Baumann
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2018/12/17/mexico-has-a-plan-to-deter-illegal-aliens-from-flocking-to-the-united-states-her-n2537660

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— VISA/MASTERCARD AND THE ASSAULT ON CIVIL RIGHTS – Wallace Nunn
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/272269/visamastercard-and-assault-civil-rights-wallace-nunn

CNS NEWS
— ICE: 158,581 Illegals Arrested in FY2018; Those Arrested Had 1,641 Homicide Convictions, 1,294 Kidnap Convictions – Michael W. Chapman
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/ice-2018-158581-illegal-aliens-arrested-including-1294-kidnappers

ACCURACY IN ACADEMIA
— OUTRAGEOUS: University of Illinois Department Calls Abolishing ICE – Malcolm A. Kline
https://www.academia.org/university-of-illinois-department-calls-abolishing-ice/

WORLD NET DAILY
— 10 REASONS OBAMA WAS THE WORST PRESIDENT — EVER – Larry Tomczak
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/10-reasons-obama-was-the-worst-president-ever/
— NEW YORK AG HOPES TO DESTROY TRUMP Mychal Massie claims Letitia James doing the bidding of her ‘white handlers’
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/new-york-ag-hopes-to-destroy-trump/

COLLEGE FIX
— University of Southern California trustees bless decision to dump business dean for ‘lack of diversity’ – GREG PIPER (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors were always in danger of being dumped a) if they did not hire, retain, and promote enough young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) if they did not get rid of enough of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.thecollegefix.com/usc-trustees-bless-decision-to-dump-business-dean-for-lack-of-diversity/

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Inmate says his religion entitles him to smoke marijuana in prison
https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/inmate-says-his-religion-entitles-him-to-smoke-marijuana-in-prison

CBS NEWS
— How I tried and failed to quit Google – DAN PATTERSON
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-i-tried-and-failed-to-quit-google/

CNN
— The real problem with the American auto industry – Chris Isidore
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/17/economy/us-auto-plant-glut/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: SUVs are suddenly popular Consumers’ changing tastes have also contributed to the supply glut. The relatively sudden shift in car buyers’ preferences from traditional sedans to SUVs and trucks has left some of the plants building cars with way more capacity than they need to satisfy demand. Some SUV plants are actually straining for capacity. Some auto plants have changed from cars to SUVs or trucks. Ford took a plant that had made the Ford Focus and put it to use building the new Ranger pickup. Ford is also is cutting 1,150 jobs at some underutilized plants and shifting most of the workers to plants building SUVs. Chrysler is reportedly planning to take a closed engine plant in Detroit and reopen it to build the Jeep Cherokee. But shifting a plant from cars to trucks is an expensive process. The growing popularity of SUVs isn’t enough to fill all of the unused capacity at car-making plants. And it will take some time for electric cars and self-driving vehicles to pick up the slack. That’s why GM is planning to close plants and Ford is cutting shifts and jobs at one of its few remaining American plants that makes cars.)

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Russian 2016 Influence Operation Targeted African-Americans on Social Media – Scott Shane and Sheera Frenkel
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/us/politics/russia-2016-influence-campaign.html
— Facebook Blocks Netanyahu’s Son, Saying His Posts ‘Included Hate Speech’ – Isabel Kershner
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/world/middleeast/yair-netanyahu-facebook-hate-speech.html
— Voter Suppression and Racial Targeting: In Facebook’s and Twitter’s Words – Tiffany Hsu
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/business/russia-voter-suppression-facebook-twitter.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Study Shows Big Rise in Teen Vaping This Year – Jan Hoffman
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/health/ecigarettes-teens-nicotine-.html

USA TODAY
— More teens vape, but binge drinking and opioid use are down – Ken Alltucker
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2018/12/17/teen-vaping-rises-drug-use-drinking-and-opioid-use-all-decline/2301914002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— De Blasio Sees Too Many Asians A lawsuit accuses New York’s mayor of using racial discrimination to promote ‘diversity.’ – William McGurn
https://www.wsj.com/articles/de-blasio-sees-too-many-asians-11545090940

FORTUNE
— NAACP Joins Growing List of Civil Rights Groups Criticizing Facebook – Bloomberg
http://fortune.com/2018/12/18/facebook-naacp-russian-hacking/

NEW YORK POST
— Behind Andrew Cuomo’s sharp left turn – Editorial
https://nypost.com/2018/12/17/behind-andrew-cuomos-sharp-left-turn/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Benefits (and Risks) of the Mental-Health Day More workplaces are allowing time off for employees facing stress, anxiety or depression, but not all bosses are understanding of their workers’ needs – Sue Shellenbarger (DIERSEN: Of course, to get rid of me, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did everything that they could to promote stress, anxiety, depression, lack of self-confidence, etc. in me. I should write a book about them. At GAO, they succeeded in forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, giving me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranking me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, not promoting me beyond GS-13, getting rid of my mentor in 1987, keeping me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forcing me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. At IRS, they succeeded in not promoting me beyond GS-12, disallowing my education deductions in 1978, getting rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowing my partial day per diem claims in 1974. At the Post Office, they succeeded in forcing me resign in 1969 and disallowing my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-benefits-and-risks-of-the-mental-health-day-11545060850

INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY
— California Companies Flee Business-Hostile State In Droves – Editorial
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/california-companies-leave-taxes/

FED SMITH
— Best Places to Work: What the Partnership’s New Rankings Tell Us – Jeff Neal (DIERSEN: One would expect that the federal government would be ranked very highly by its employees who are Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran because the federal government gets rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/12/17/best-places-work-partnerships-new-rankings-tell-us/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Best Places to Work Index is based on the percentage of positive responses to three questions that address workplace satisfaction: 1) I recommend my organization as a good place to work. 2) Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your job? 3) Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your organization?)

INDEPENDENT
— TWITTER IS ‘TOXIC PLACE’ FOR WOMEN, FINDS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT A study by Amnesty International found black women were 84 per cent more likely to be mentioned in an abusive tweet than white women – Katie O’Malley
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/women/twitter-women-sexist-amnesty-international-diane-abbott-report-a8688426.html

December 17 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump tweets support for Patti Blagojevich, doesn’t mention clemency – Rick Pearson
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-trump-blagojevich-tweet-20181216-story.html
— Wage gap even worse than we had thought – Jill Schlesinger (DIERSEN: If I had not been denied my 7th Amendment rights in Diersen v. GAO, I would have presented a jury with many examples in which GAO paid its female employees more than it paid its male employees who had more job-related work experience, education, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/jillonmoney/tca-wage-gap-even-worse-than-we-had-thought-20181211-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: I know you probably want good news for the holiday season, but women workers — and the guys who root for them — it’s high time to argue for an end-of-year bonus or salary increase, because you are coming up short. According to a report from the Institute for Women’s Policy, the gender wage gap is even worse than previously thought. Unlike Census Bureau data that examines the current state of wage disparity in a given year, this report looked at a 15-year time period (from 2001 through 2015) to better gauge the gender wage gap that exists. The extended time period captures something called “work force attachment,” which takes into account when people leave the workforce voluntarily or involuntarily. (The study followed the same people over the time period.) While men were also penalized for time out of the workforce, women’s earnings losses for time out were almost always greater than men’s. With a longer lens, the gender wage gap balloons from the often-cited 20 percent to a jaw-dropping 51 percent. Did you catch that? Women made 49 cents for every dollar a man made.)
— To improve savings plan, imagine your retirement – Eileen Ambrose
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/kiplinger/tca-to-improve-savings-imagine-your-retirement-20181207-story.html
— Blue collar labor shortage means ‘lower income workers are doing better’ – Bloomberg
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-too-few-blue-collar-workers-20181217-story.html
— 25 best places to work – Peter Economy (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the federal government would be a better place to work if it got rid of its employees who were Republican, and especially those who were White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/inc/tca-glassdoor-reveals-25-best-places-to-work-20181206-story.html
— White House closer to partial shutdown with wall demand – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-border-wall-funding-shutdown-20181217-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— If you want to play with the big boys and girls, you’ve got to be one – Laura Washington
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/laura-washington-chicago-mayoral-election-petition-challenges/

WGN TV
— President Trump tweets support for Patti Blagojevich as husband seeks clemency
https://wgntv.com/2018/12/16/president-trump-tweets-support-for-patti-blagojevich-as-ex-governor-seeks-clemency/

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE OF UNDERWOOD: Suburban congressional newbies adjust to life in Washington – Marni Pyke (DIERSEN: Has Hultgren announced if he is going to run against Underwood in 2020? Has Roskam announced if he is going to run against Casten in 2020? In 1974, my Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I got promoted to a GS-12 (currently, $81,071/year) Revenue Officer position in the Loop and bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building so that I could walk to work and to graduate business classes at Loyola. In 1990, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I got to pick a better office in the new 200 West Adams building that GAO moved into because of the almost 12 years of federal seniority that I gained working for the Post Office 1966-1969 and for IRS 1971-1980.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181217/suburban-congressional-newbies-adjust-to-life-in-washington
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Sean Casten is finalizing the purchase of a studio condo. . .The two suburbanites also participated in a tradition: entering a lottery for dibs on the best offices on Capitol Hill. Casten drew No. 80, putting him among the last to pick. “If you want to come over in the fall and see the (metal) rebar change colors, there’s a great view,” he said of his utilitarian space in the Cannon House Office Building. Underwood did a little better. She selected 70 and is ensconced in the Longworth House Office Building.)

NORTHWEST HERALD
— McHenry County GOP Treasurer Rachael Lawrence resigns – ED KOMENDA
https://www.nwherald.com/2018/12/15/mchenry-county-gop-treasurer-rachael-lawrence-resigns/a6edqg2/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Catholic group prays for removal of Satanic Temple display in Capitol – Crystal Thomas
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181216/catholic-group-prays-for-removal-of-satanic-temple-display-in-capitol

JOURNAL COURIER
— Legislation would make road district consolidation easier – Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Legislation-would-make-road-district-13471232.php

TIMES
— Illinois will roll out several new laws in 2019
https://www.mywebtimes.com/2018/12/15/illinois-will-roll-out-several-new-laws-in-2019/aelx6dw/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Now there’s a new chapter in the race as Krupa is having to answer for abusive behavior spelled out in a court filing. In 2017, he was accused of abuse by his former high school girlfriend. An emergency order of protection was granted in June 2017 and extended for nine months after Juliet Schmidt filed her complaint, according to court documents sent to POLITICO. The filing in the Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Violence division describes Krupa as a “controlling” boyfriend who “isolated” Schmidt from her friends, whom he referred to as “liberal faggots.” The document details incessant text messages and an incident in which he chased Schmidt in his car while she was walking. “It was emotionally abusive,” Schmidt told POLITICO in an interview Sunday. “It wasn’t healthy for me to continue the relationship. He had a lot of issues of control. I could see him taking advantage of that in political office.” In seeking the order of protection, Schmidt wrote, “I am afraid that David Krupa will continue to physically abuse me, harass me, interfere with my personal liberty and stalk me. Therefore, I fear for the safety of myself.” The order of protection ran nine months and ended when neither Schmidt nor Krupa could agree on a hearing date, Schmidt said. The judge didn’t rule on the case and Schmidt left Chicago to attend college out of state. Krupa has denied the allegations. In a TV interview and with POLITICO, he accused Schmidt of being manipulated by Madigan because she had interned for the Madigan-Quinn service offices in 2016. Schmidt says the summer office internship isn’t connected to her court filing. In an interesting twist, POLITICO has learned Krupa also worked for Madigan-Quinn at one point. “I picked up garbage at a public park” in the summer of 2015, he said. “It was for a month. It was a minimum wage job and I don’t care about it.” But he did try to get rehired in 2016. He didn’t get the job, he says, because Madigan took retribution for Krupa’s father saying he wouldn’t vote for the House speaker. Krupa sees it as another effort by Madigan to “strong-arm” voters. – Shia Kapos
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/17/krupas-other-challenge-trump-tweets-about-blago-next-gigs-for-roskam-lisa-madigan-365577
— Attorney Gen. Lisa Madigan, who didn’t seek re-election, and U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, who lost his race, have been named fellows for the University of Chicago Institute of Politics for the upcoming winter quarter. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, accused that chamber of being dysfunctional in her final Senate speech last week, also is part of the fellows group. Institute of Politics founder and director David Axelrod said fellows will interact with students looking to gain insight and experiences “at every level of government.” Two party leaders from other states as well as Chicago journalist Laura Washington also are among the group. – Shia Kapos
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/12/17/krupas-other-challenge-trump-tweets-about-blago-next-gigs-for-roskam-lisa-madigan-365577

JEANNE IVES
— Meet David Krupa and help him take out Mike Madigan’s General!
https://mailchi.mp/b6cf78490c1b/meet-the-college-kid-taking-on-madigan-he-deserves-our-support

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives : Rauner’s lack of interest cheated GOP voters – Hoang Tran
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511677926-ives-rauner-s-lack-of-interest-cheated-gop-voters

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THE TECHNOLOGY OF TOTALITARIANISM
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/the-technology-of-totalitarianism.html

— WHY YOU SHOULD BE A NATIONALIST
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/why-you-should-be-a-nationalist.html

CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— Did Trump Sign An Executive Order To Prevent Illegal Immigrants From Getting Welfare? – Emily Larsen
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/did-trump-sign-an-executive-order-to-prevent-illegal-immigrants-from-getting-welfare/

TOWNHALL
— Pat Buchanan: We Are Not a Democracy—And the World Needs to Learn From Us – Arthur Schaper
https://townhall.com/columnists/arthurschaper/2018/12/17/mr-buchanan-we-are-not-a-democracyand-the-world-needs-to-learn-from-us-n2537569

PJ MEDIA
— Trump Aide Miller Says They Will Do ‘Whatever Is Necessary’ to Build Wall – RICK MORAN
https://pjmedia.com/trending/trump-aide-miller-says-they-will-do-whatever-is-necessary-to-build-wall/

AMERICAN THINKER
— The Immigration Ultimatum – John S. Allen
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/the_immigration_ultimatum.html
— Gun Confiscation Begins in New Jersey – Daniel John Sobieski
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/gun_confiscation_begins_in_new_jersey.html

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The Globalist Mindset: They Hate You – Victor Davis Hanson
https://www.amgreatness.com/2018/12/16/the-globalist-mindset-they-hate-you/

DAILY CALLER
— PITTSBURGH MAYOR DECLARES INTENT TO BAN GUNS IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/16/pittsburgh-mayor-declares-intent-to-ban-guns-in-violation-of-state-law/

WORLD NET DAILY
— THE ORWELLIAN LEXICON OF THE LEFT Lowell Ponte challenges Christians not to surrender to forces of darkness
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/the-orwellian-lexicon-of-the-left/

NEWSMAX
— WSJ: Blue-Collar Vote Remains Up for Grabs in 2020 – Eric Mack (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes look down on if not despise blue-collar workers.)
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/bluecollar-voters-2020-republican/2018/12/16/id/894665/

GOPUSA
— Democrats blame Trump for death of child brought 2,000 miles by father
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61158
— The Imbalanced Scales of Justice (DIERSEN: I should write a book about judges who by their rulings make it clear that they reject laws that prohibit political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61140

BREITBART
— Pope Francis Lauds U.N. ‘Global Compact’ for Immigration – Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2018/12/17/pope-francis-lauds-u-n-global-compact-for-immigration/

ABC NEWS
— Black conservatives to GOP: Reach out to black voters – BEATRICE PETERSON (DIERSEN: What are your demographics? How strongly does the GOP reach out to those who share your demographics? Democrats want the GOP to dump voters, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
)https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/black-conservatives-gop-reach-black-voters/story?id=59430955

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: A Shutdown Looms. Can the G.O.P. Get Lawmakers to Show Up to Vote? – Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Emily Cochrane (DIERSEN: Has Hultgren announced if he is going to run against Underwood in 2020? Has Roskam announced if he is going to run against Casten in 2020?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/us/politics/congress-trump-shutdown.html
— The Secret to Winning in 2020 – David Leonhardt (DIERSEN: From what I see, to win on April 2, 2019 and November 3, 2020, RINO political consultants in Illinois will advise Republican candidates in Illinois to hint/imply/argue/shout that they are not only anti-Trump, but that they are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. These RINO political consultants will advise Republican candidates in Illinois a) to not read Diersen’s emails, b) to not return phone calls from Diersen, c) to not seek or take any advice from Diersen, d) to stop Diersen from learning about their press conferences, fundraisers, and other activities, e) to stop Diersen from promoting or attending their press conferences and fundraisers, f) to stop Diersen from asking questions or speaking with anyone at their press conferences and fundraisers, and g) to stop Diersen from reporting on their press conferences, fundraisers, and other activities.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/opinion/democrats-2020-election-economic-populism.html
— More Powerful Than a Russian Troll Army: The National Enquirer – Jim Rutenberg
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/business/media/national-enquirer-trump-mistresses.html
— ‘They’re Not Fact-Checking’: How Lies on College Applications Can Slip Through the Net – Anemona Hartocollis (DIERSEN: In 1978, my Democrat IRS superiors charged me with lying on my 1972 Loyola application and on my 1976 DePaul application. IRS encourages its Revenue Officers to take business, accounting, and law courses. But according to my Democrat IRS superiors, the real reason why I wanted to take graduate business courses at Loyola and graduate accounting courses at DePaul was TO GET A JOB IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/us/college-admission-applications.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: In China, ‘Re-education’ Leads to Forced Labor – Chris Buckley and Austin Ramzy (DIERSEN: In America, Democrats want to re-educate you to be anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/world/asia/xinjiang-china-forced-labor-camps-uighurs.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump administration disputes falling federal employee engagement findings Criticism of leadership criticized – Joe Davidson (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, virtually all my superiors and supervisors were Democrats. They did not want me to be “engaged,” they wanted to get rid of me. They wanted to give my job to a Democrat, to a minority, to a female, to someone younger than me, and/or to a veteran. They were furious when I did things that demonstrated my “engagement” including my earning a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/17/trump-administration-disputes-falling-federal-employee-engagement-findings/

NEW YORK POST
— Don’t trust the government to make Big Tech behave – F.H. Buckley
https://nypost.com/2018/12/17/dont-trust-the-government-to-make-big-tech-behave/

USA TODAY
— Obamacare unconstitutional? That’s a cruel mistake, not ‘great news for America’ – Andy Slavitt (DIERSEN: If sought a government or a political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would demonize, denigrate, and condemn the fact because I am a federal retiree, my wife and I pay only $6,000/year for $24,000/year worth of health, dental, and vision insurance.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/12/16/trump-ensures-2020-another-health-care-debacle-republicans-column/2330158002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— U.S. Homelessness Edges Higher Again After Seven Years of Declines Lack of affordable housing fuels the problem in major cities, though L.A. makes progress – Laura Kusisto and Nour Malas (DIERSEN: Since 1972, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I should help the homeless a) because I bought a new town home in 1972 when I was 24 years old, because I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building in 1974, and because I bought a one bedroom condo in that building in 1976 and b) because my wife and I bought 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton in 1978 and because we had 915 Cove Court built in Wheaton in 1984.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-homelessness-edges-higher-again-after-seven-years-of-declines-11545022860
— Blue-Collar Voters Are Up for Grabs in 2020 Compounding the problem for Republicans may be a slowing automobile industry – Dante Chinni (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes look down on if not despise blue-collar workers.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/blue-collar-voters-are-up-for-grabs-in-2020-11544976000
— Tips on Deciding Which Tax-Filing Status Is Best for You Do you file jointly or separately? There may be some powerful reasons to do the latter. – Tom Herman (DIERSEN: My wife and I have paid the marriage penalty big time since we got married 40 years ago in in 1978.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tips-on-deciding-which-tax-filing-status-is-best-for-you-11545015960
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Marriage bonus or penalty: Getting married this month, or postponing the official ceremony until next year, might have a surprising impact on your taxes in certain cases. For example, some two-income couples who get married this year and are in the top brackets may wind up owing more in combined federal income tax than they would if they had each remained single—commonly known as the marriage penalty tax. But in other cases, a married couple winds up paying less total tax than if each spouse had remained single. Lawmakers have taken steps to reduce or eliminate the marriage penalty in certain cases and to increase the amount of the bonus in many others. But these issues haven’t disappeared entirely.)
— Four Simple Changes to Bring Social Security Into the 21st Century The program was devised for a totally different era and now it’s time to update – Alicia H. Munnell (DIERSEN: My Social Security is dramatically reduced because I get a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension. My CSRS pension is dramatically reduced a) because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and b) because they succeeded in getting me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/four-simple-changes-to-bring-social-security-into-the-21st-century-11545016080

BLOOMBERG
— Nearly 156 People Leave Chicago Daily: Demographic Trends – Alexandre Tanzi and Wei Lu (DIERSEN: How many of these 156 a day a) move to Republican areas to take advantage of the prosperity and safety that Republicans created there and b) bring with them their hatred of Republicans, and especially their hatred of Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/chicago-exodus-sees-city-shrink-by-156-daily-demographic-trends#gs.AUOw7HU

DAILY BEAST
— Log Cabin Republicans Plan to ‘Push’ Trump on LGBT Rights Jerri Ann Henry, the new executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, ‘would take a meeting’ to work on LGBT-related policy with President Trump, if he would meet with her. – Samantha Allen
https://www.thedailybeast.com/log-cabin-republicans-plan-to-push-trump-on-lgbt-rights

December 16 Evening Edition

NBC5
— Trump Tweets Sympathy for Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Trump urged his Twitter followers to watch a recent Fox News interview with Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, and called the situation “very sad.”
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Trump-tweets-sympathy-for-ex-illinois-gov-rod-blagojevich-502885381.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— White House digs in on border wall demand, risking shutdown – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/white-house-border-wall-government-shutdown/
— Sen. Durbin: ‘The Republicans have no alternative to the Affordable Care Act’ – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/sen-durbin-the-republicans-have-no-alternative-to-the-affordable-care-act/

DAILY HERALD
— How tech workers are fueling a new employee activism movement – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors hinted/implied/argued/shouted that their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran wanted them to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20181215/how-tech-workers-are-fueling-a-new-employee-activism-movement

WILL
— In Trying To Replace Himself On Ballot, Critics Say Rauner ‘Cheated Republicans’ – BRIAN MACKEY
https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/in-trying-to-replace-himself-on-ballot-critics-say-rauner-cheated-republica

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Morrison, Ives urge rebuilding GOP after Rauner confesses election apathy – Robert Hadley
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511682716-morrison-ives-urge-rebuilding-gop-after-rauner-confesses-election-apathy
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The next step for the Illinois GOP should be to call for a leadership overhaul at the top, both Morrison and Ives suggested. “Sean Morrison holds a very important position as state central committeeman, so it’s within his power to put in new leadership at the head of IL GOP, and that’s what needs to be done,” Ives said in a telephone interview with the Prairie State Wire. On his web page, Morrison said the governor’s “betrayal and deception” were grounds for a shakeup, and he pledged to call a meeting of the GOP’s central committee to begin “rebuilding the party.”)

DAILY CALLER
— WE WATCH CNN’S TERRIBLE MEDIA SHOW SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO – Betsy Rothstein
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/16/cnn-terrible-media-show/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Time to finish the Wall – Editorial
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/16/editorial-time-to-finish-the-wall/
— Democrats defy Trump shutdown threat: ‘He is not going to get the wall in any form’ – Alex Swoyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/16/chuck-schumer-democrats-defy-trump-government-shut/

BREITBART
— Washington Post Op-Ed: Girl’s Death Shows Americans Are a Threat to Migrants – Neil Munro
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2018/12/16/washpost-op-ed-americans-threat-migrants/

NEWS BUSTERS
— Atlantic Mag Compares Trump to Sexist Dictators, Saw ‘Red-Faced Diatribes’ for Kavanaugh – Clay Waters
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/clay-waters/2018/12/16/atlantic-mag-compares-trump-sexist-dictators-saw-red-faced-diatribes

NEWSMAX
— WSJ: Shut Out Migrants Taking Jobs, Claiming Asylum in Mexico – Eric Mack
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/migrants-asylum-manufacturing-nafta/2018/12/16/id/894651/

CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— Did Paul Ryan Propose Raising The Retirement Age To 70? – Brad Sylvester
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/did-paul-ryan-propose-raising-the-retirement-age-to-70/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ryan announced earlier this year that he will be retiring from Congress once his term is complete. He will receive an annual pension of about $85,000, according to Business Insider. Republican Bryan Steil was elected in November to fill Ryan’s seat in Wisconsin’s first congressional district for the 116th Congress. Ryan told CBS’s John Dickerson on “Face The Nation” that he plans to use his retirement to “hunt, fish, mountain climb and ski” with his family and hinted that he may remain active in political advocacy.)

THE HILL
— Vicente Fox blasts Trump over migrant girl’s death – JUSTIN WISE
https://thehill.com/latino/421622-vicente-fox-blasts-trump-over-migrant-girls-death

— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, under the Democrats, society demonizes, denigrates, and condemns Whites, and especially Whites who are not successful. Are/were you successful? In the federal government, if you are White, you are NOT SUCCESSFUL unless you make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. Extremely few White federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/421509-the-myth-of-white-supremacy

ABC NEWS
— Sen. Dick Durbin: Obamacare ruling ‘once again puts Republicans in Washington on the spot’ – KRIS SCHNEIDER
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sen-dick-durbin-obamacare-ruling-puts-republicans-washington/story?id=59839455
— Donald Trump slams Saturday Night Live after sketch imagining world without him as President
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-17/donald-trump-slams-saturday-night-live-after-comedy-sketch/10626034

WASHINGTON POST
— New report on Russian disinformation, prepared for the Senate, shows the operation’s scale and sweep The report, a draft of which was obtained by The Washington Post, is the first to study the millions of posts provided by major technology firms to the Senate Intelligence Committee – Craig Timberg and Tony Romm (DIERSEN: If true, the Russian efforts failed miserably in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, and in my precinct.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/12/16/new-report-russian-disinformation-prepared-senate-shows-operations-scale-sweep/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— With Migrants Stalled at U.S. Doorstep, Mexico Offers a Fresh Start Border city aims to fill thousands of manufacturing roles with Central American migrants and asylum seekers unable to enter U.S. – Santiago Pérez
https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-migrants-stalled-at-u-s-doorstep-mexico-offers-a-fresh-start-11544972421

MOTLEY FOOL
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/12/16/5-things-that-really-matter-when-investing-in-mari.aspx

LGBTQ NATION
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, you are demonized, denigrated, and condemned if you do not promote LGBTQ activity.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/12/president-anti-lgbtq-hate-group-tired-people-calling-hater/

December 16 Morning Edition

NBC5
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Investigations Look at Trump’s Life From All Angles. Five people in Trump’s orbit have pleaded guilty to charges in the continuing Mueller probe.”
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Investigations-Look-At-Trumps-Life-From-All-Angles-502870181.html

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— White House prepares for government shutdown as GOP lawmakers struggle for alternative – Erica Werner, Damian Paletta, Lisa Rein
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-government-shutdown-spending-white-house-border-wall-20181215-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump has led a lot of organizations. Nearly all of them are now under investigation.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-oganization-investigations-20181215-story.html
— Sears gets Bankruptcy Court approval for up to $25.3 million in bonuses to top employees – Lauren Zumbach (DIERSEN: Working for GAO during the 1980s and 1990s was very similar to working for Sears today. Starting in 1989, to retain its employees who were Democrat, minority, female, and/or young, GAO used the extreme subjectivity in its pay-for-performance system to give bonuses to its employees who were Democrat, minority, female, and/or young.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sears-bonuses-bankruptcy-court-1215-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection in October, said it needs to able to offer the extra cash to encourage key employees to stick with the company as it attempts to restructure, according to court filings. . .“Under these circumstances, it would be understandable if many key employees are asking themselves whether they should be seeking other opportunities,” Sears said in a court filing last month. However, the retailer “cannot afford this uncertainty — however understandable it may be,” according to the filing. The company has already “suffered significant employee attrition” in the past month, including the departure of the chief operating officer of its Sears Home Services business and five other employees who would have been eligible for bonuses, Sears said in a separate court filing this week.)
— ‘Saturday Night Live’: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and Alec Baldwin return for ‘It’s A Wonderful Trump’ – Danielle Turchiano
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-snl-it-s-a-wonderful-trump-20181216-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Petition challenges: Where 11 mayoral hopefuls stand in fight to stay on ballot – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/petition-challenges-11-chicago-mayoral-candidates-fight-to-stay-on-ballot/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Investigations look at Trump’s life from all angles.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/donald-trump-investigation-personal-life/

DAILY HERALD
— Kasich would prefer competing for presidency as a Republican – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20181213/news/312139823
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: What are “favorable demographics?” Does your school district have “favorable demographics?”
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181215/butler-elementary-district-53-uses-teamwork-personalization-to-achieve-growth

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Rauner baffles to the end – Doug Finke
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20181215/statehouse-insider-rauner-baffles-to-end

BELLVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— In a year Republicans did well in Southern Illinois, why does the St. Clair County GOP struggle? – JOSEPH BUSTOS
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article222944235.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Brennan said, however, she got “zero” help from the St. Clair County Republican Central Committee in her unsuccessful run for the county board. . .However, some Republicans point to issues within the local party itself as to why the GOP couldn’t gain ground in the county. Sources with ties to the party said most of the local efforts went toward pushing for the re-election efforts of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost and Gov. Bruce Rauner, which left little to no resources to help with the local races. Ed Cockrell is among the local Republican County Board candidates to say the local party didn’t help local candidates, such as with raising money or sending out mailers. . .Duane Henson, a Republican who ran for county clerk, and has served as a precinct committeeman, said some worked harder than him, and he worked harder than other candidates, but candidates who ran countywide all did about the same. “At the end of the day, we were all a couple thousand votes of each other,” said Henson, who chose to self fund his campaign. Henson wouldn’t comment on the leadership of the party. He did say he also has heard the suggestion of putting efforts into smaller races to develop candidates. “You focus on the smaller races and if you could get into some of the school boards and so forth and make some effective changes there, then you could get your message out and work your way up, (but) that takes several election cycles,” Henson said. Henson said there was brainstorming sessions among the candidates during the campaign and the party organized participation in parades leading up to the election. “Could we be better organized? Sure. I think there’s always room for improvement.” Party leaders however, are looking to see what can be done better the next go-around. “I know they’re doing a lot of analysis, some people who are a little higher up in party that me, have been discussing … what’s our path moving forward, what can we do different, what have we done wrong? You do that after anything,” Henson said.)

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://qconline.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-make-illinois-pot-law-model-for-nation/article_e4c6ca64-fbc4-5ebb-9c90-bba0cfbb7cb0.html

WAND TV
— Illinois cities receive $13.7M to reduce lead in homes – Jessica Dobson
http://www.wandtv.com/story/39650575/illinois-cities-receive-137m-to-reduce-lead-in-homes

NPR ILLINOIS
— High On The Highway: Challenges With Marijuana DUIs – MADELYN BECK
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/high-highway-challenges-marijuana-duis#stream/0

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Investigations undermine Trump presidency: ‘It weakens your friends and emboldens your enemies’- AP (DIERSEN: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors opened investigations of my expense vouchers in 1974 and my income tax returns in 1978. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/16/donald-trump-investigations-undermine-presidency/
— ‘Democrat spin machines’: Trump says one-sided news coverage should be tested in courts – Alex Swoyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/16/donald-trump-says-one-sided-news-coverage-should-b/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Rudy Giuliani: Any Trump payoffs to women were aimed at protecting his children and marriage – Caitlin Yilek
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/rudy-giuliani-any-trump-payoffs-to-women-were-aimed-at-protecting-his-children-and-marriage

BREITBART
— Bill: Lawmakers Must Pay Sexual Misconduct Settlements Out-of-Pocket – Penny Starr
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/15/bill-lawmakers-must-pay-sexual-misconduct-settlements-out-of-pocket/

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— PARENTS WHO TAKE CHILDREN THROUGH THE DESERT, NOT THE BORDER PATROL, ENDANGER THEIR LIVES – Daniel Greenfield
https://www.frontpagemag.com/point/272253/parents-who-take-children-through-desert-not-daniel-greenfield

AMERICAN THINKER
— Stop Equating Every Immigration Situation with the Holocaust! – Rabbi Aryeh Spero
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/stop_equating_every_immigration_situation_with_the_holocaust.html

THE HILL
— Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine): Nothing wrong with Republicans challenging Trump in 2020 – ALICIA COHN
https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/421576-gop-senator-nothing-wrong-with-republicans-challenging-trump-in

CNN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “His worst nightmare: Trump’s life under a legal microscope.”
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/15/politics/donald-trump-robert-mueller-investigations-russia/index.html

ABC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Investigations look at Trump’s life from all angles.”
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/part-trumps-life-investigation-59842548

NEW YORK TIMES
— Mulvaney Called Trump a ‘Terrible Human Being’ in 2016 – Maggie Haberman
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/15/us/politics/mulvaney-trump-terrible-human-being.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Americans are divided according to political party on their views of the economy and the Trump presidency, a new WSJ/NBC News poll found. – Aaron Zitner
https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-have-mixed-feelings-about-economy-trump-presidency-wsj-nbc-news-poll-finds-11544968800
— Fight Over Voter Data Roils Democrats Ahead of Election The party is trying to catch up with Republican efforts to collect and store voter data – Julie Bykowicz
https://www.wsj.com/articles/fight-over-voter-data-roils-democrats-ahead-of-election-11544899956

CLARION LEDGER
— Family breakdown explains social unrest – Star Parker
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2018/12/16/family-breakdown-explains-social-unrest/2302739002/

TUCSON DAILY STAR
— Immigration Attitudes: Americans’ deep political divide creates fraught territory – Perla Trevizo
https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/americans-deep-political-divide-creates-fraught-territory/article_e3b280a2-fd6d-11e8-8fe0-57a88b1a7958.html

FOX 8
— South Carolina pastor defends decision to buy wife $200,000 Lamborghini SUV, says ‘not a penny’ was used from church (DIERSEN: If you might buy a new SUV, what might you buy? I might buy a new Jeep Cherokee Limited FWD ($30,950) with V6 ($1,745), Luxury Group ($1,195), Floor Matts ($220), Block Heater ($115), and Destination Charge ($1,495).)
https://myfox8.com/2018/12/14/south-carolina-pastor-defends-decision-to-buy-wife-200000-lamborghini-says-not-a-penny-was-used-from-church/

ATLANTIC
— America Needs to Restore Dignity of Work – Marco Rubio (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes look down on wage earners. I was a lowly wage earner 1964-1997. I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/12/help-working-class-voters-us-must-value-work/578032/

MOTLEY FOOL
— 2 in 5 Americans Spend More Money in Retirement Than Expected In doing so, they risk running out of savings down the line. – Maurie Backman
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2018/12/15/2-in-5-americans-spend-more-money-in-retirement-th.aspx
(FROM THE ARTICLE: We’re often told to expect our expenses to go down in retirement, and generally speaking, retirees do spend less than their nonretired counterparts. While the average working American over 40 spends $2,993 a month on discretionary expenses, the average retiree spends just $2,008, according to data from Global Atlantic Financial Group. That said, nearly two out of five retirees are spending more money during their golden years than expected, so they risk prematurely depleting their nest eggs and struggling to keep up with expenses in the future. If you’d rather not land in a similar boat once it’s your turn to retire, the solution is simple: Understand what sort of lifestyle your savings will buy you in the future, and save more before retiring if it isn’t enough.)

ROLLING STONE
— Paul Ryan Wants More Immigrants, as Long as They Look Like Him Ryan has championed a bill that would allow more Irish immigrants to come to America – PETER WADE
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/paul-ryan-irish-immigration-769807/

DAILY MAIL
— Paul Ryan under fire for rushing out more than 10,000 visas to Irish nationals before leaving office when refugees and asylum seekers are being detained and rejected from the border – MICHAEL NAM
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6500413/Paul-Ryan-attacked-rushing-10-000-visas-Irish-nationals-leaving-office.html

December 14 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Illinois Republicans stunned after Gov. Rauner admits to recruiting 4 others to run in November gubernatorial race – Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-gop-stunned-after-rauner-admits-to-recruiting-4-others-to-run-for-governor/4900233/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, a leading state Republican, is now calling for an emergency meeting of the State Central Committee to address what the Rauner revelation, which he and others are calling a deeply troubling matter. In a statement, he said: “I personally asked the Governor on two separate occasions before the Primary if he was committed to his re-election. Both times, to my face, he made clear that he was all in – not only for himself but for all statewide candidates…this private surrender by Bruce Rauner shows a lack of loyalty, integrity, and character.” Rauner is being accused of betraying the party. “Stunned and even more disappointed, I didn’t think I could be more disappointed or betrayed because I think that the Governor really betrayed everybody in the party and by extension everyone in the state,” said Chris Robling, a Republican strategist. Sources said that Rauner approached his attorney general candidate Erika Harold the day after the state fair in August, less than three months before the election, and asked her to take his place on the ballot. “It appears in this case he wasn’t really into it and he got more and more out of it the longer the campaign went on,” Robling said. Rauner had also asked then-state Sen. Karen McConnaughay to do the same in April. McConnaughay said first lady Diana Rauner approached her with a similar request the year before. The fallout has Republicans frustrated and angry. “What happened at the top of the ticket brought us down across the whole state, we lost a whole lot of state legislative seats because of what he did and that’s what really hurts, because now Madigan has a super majority and we can’t stop him,” said Chris Cleveland, chairman of the Chicago Republican Party. The chairman of the state Republican Party Tim Schneider said in a statement that “Neither myself nor the staff at the Illinois Republican Party had any knowledge of the discussions Governor Rauner had regarding his candidacy.” Other Republicans are not only shocked by what the governor did, but that he publicly admitted it.)

DAILY HERALD
— McConnaughay told Rauner he couldn’t pick his own replacement on ballot – Jake Griffin (DIERSEN: What if Rauner had withdrawn and Ives had been selected to fill the vacancy? The Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) fills vacancies by weighted vote when candidates withdraw in statewide races. In the 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate race, I attended all the IRP SCC meetings that were open to the press that resulted in the IRP SCC selecting Alan Keyes to replace Jack Ryan who had withdrawn. I unsuccessfully urged the IRP SCC to select Jim Oberweis because Oberweis had received the second most votes in the primary. Steve Rauschenberger had received the third most votes and Andy McKenna the fourth most. SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_United_States_Senate_election_in_Illinois At that time, I was the GOPUSA Illinois Editor, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Vice-Chairman, a Republican Precinct Committeeman, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181214/mcconnaughay-told-rauner-he-couldnt-pick-his-own-replacement-on-ballot
— New DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek drops lawsuit to get records from election commission – Robert Sanchez
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181214/new-dupage-county-clerk-drops-lawsuit-to-get-records-from-election-commission
— District 304 board approves five-year contract with teacher raises totaling 19.6 percent – Justin Kmitch (DIERSEN: While I worked for GAO 1986-1997 as a GS-13 Analyst, in today’s dollars, because of step increases, my salary increased from $96,403 to $125,325, or by 30%. During that time, became a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, a Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and a Forensic Accountant in 1997. In 1997, after taking graduate courses since 1992, I earned a masters’ degree in financial markets and trading from IIT. I worked on audits of a) IRS 1986-1988, b) Department of Defense and Railroad Retirement Board in 1989, and c) federal financial industry regulators 1990-1997.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181214/district-304-board-approves-five-year-contract-with-teacher-raises-totaling-196-percent
– Wheaton middle schooler charged with false threat to the school – Justin Kmitch
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181213/wheaton-middle-schooler-charged-with-false-threat-to-the-school
— Chicago man held on $500,000 bail in Wheaton carjacking – Justin Kmitch
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181214/chicago-man-held-on-500000-bail-in-wheaton-carjacking

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Sensing defeat, Rauner admits seeking other candidates to replace him on ballot – Alexandra Arriaga
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sensing-defeat-rauner-admits-seeking-other-candidates-to-replace-him-on-ballot/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Indeed, officials said if Rauner had relinquished the nomination, the GOP state central committee would have had eight days to name a replacement, according to State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich. “Obviously, he could have recommended a preferred replacement, but the decision would have had to be made by the Republican state central committee,” Dietrich said. McConnaughey said Rauner’s tactic was similar to his style of governing. “He tried to end his career as governor the same way he got into it — always this idea he would strong-arm it,” she said. “He never respected the fact that there’s a process to governing. Never accepted responsibility for mistakes he made, always [House Speaker Michael] Madigan or someone else’s fault.” She added: “The Republicans could have and should have had a better candidate. He didn’t bring the kind of energy to the race that was necessary.” During the interview, Rauner also blamed President Trump as a “contributing factor” in his 16-point loss to Pritzker. He believes his chances to stay in office would have been better if Democrat Hillary Clinton had won.)

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Under the Dome Podcast: Rauner tried to drop out of governors race
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181214/under-dome-podcast-rauner-tried-to-drop-out-of-governors-race

WGLT
— Barickman: Rauner Bailout Attempt Tried To Cheat Voters – CHARLIE SCHLENKER
http://www.wglt.org/post/barickman-rauner-bailout-attempt-tried-cheat-voters#stream/0
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Barickman said the report just makes you scratch your head and shake it negatively. “First of all, it’s not the way the process works. Incumbent governors don’t get to select their replacement,” said Barickman. Rauner reportedly asked four different people to take the job of running for governor as late as August. “It’s disingenuous at best. Most importantly it cheats Republican voters from their opportunity to have a say in this. And that’s their voice that gets shut out,” said Barickman. Barickman said this shows Rauner’s failure to understand the political and legislative processes.)

WSPY NEWS
— Karen McConnaughay, Former St. Charles Sen., Kane Board Chair Among 4 That Rauner Sought to Replace Himself With Projecting Re-Election Loss
http://www.wspynews.com/news/local/former-st-charles-sen-kane-board-chair-among-that-rauner/article_ea118366-ffa8-11e8-8a84-bfe47379964b.html
— McConnaughay on Declining Rauner Request for Gubernatorial Run: ‘Process is Everything in Government, Politics’
http://www.wspynews.com/news/local/mcconnaughay-on-declining-rauner-request-for-gubernatorial-run-process-is/article_ea118366-ffa8-11e8-8a84-bfe47379964b.html

SUBURBAN CHICAGOLAND
— Sean Morrison slams Governor Rauner for abandoning GOP
https://suburbanchicagoland.com/2018/12/14/sean-morrison-slams-governor-rauner-for-abandoning-gop/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Cook County Commissioner and County GOP Chairman Sean Morrison issued the following statement: To learn yesterday that Bruce Rauner secretly tried to abdicate his candidacy – on several occasions – is an affront to everyone in the Illinois Republican Party and the entire State of Illinois. It is an egregious betrayal of trust that countless members of the Republican Party placed in him, and that 1.7 Million residents of Illinois had when they cast their vote for him in November. I personally asked the Governor on two separate occasions before the Primary if he was committed to his re-election. Both times, to my face, he made clear that he was all in – not only for himself but for all Statewide candidates. We now know, by his own admission, that he deceived me and others. Evidently, the deception didn’t end there. After the primary, Bruce explicitly promised a statewide absentee ballot and early voting program to boost Republican turnout. Was the program ever implemented? No. And his answer to questions about this program’s failure was nothing more than continued excuses. . .As a Republican elected official and a member of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, this kind of betrayal and deception is totally unacceptable and has no place within our party. For this reason, I will call for an emergency meeting of the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee to address this deeply troubling matter and to immediately forge a plan forward to rebuild our party as one that will fight for the working families of Illinois and will challenge Illinois Democratic Party policies that have forced our state into economic peril.)

WINNETKA PATCH
— Gov. Rauner Says He Tried To Drop Out Of Race, Handpick Successor The outgoing governor said he tried to recruit four Republicans to replace him on the ballot but they all rejected him. – Jonah Meadows
https://patch.com/illinois/winnetka/gov-rauner-says-he-tried-drop-out-race-handpick-successor

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Rauner ‘tried to get out of being the governor,’ sought replacements post-primary – Greg Bishop & Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/opponents-slam-rauner-following-revelation-he-sought-others-to-take/article_4e5136ca-ffca-11e8-a62a-37ef9654d541.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: While such a move would have been unusual, the Illinois State Board of Elections said it’s possible to replace a candidate on the ballot if they want to step down, as Rauner indicated earlier this week he wanted to do. “If Rauner had relinquished the nomination, the GOP state central committee would have had eight days following his withdrawal to name a replacement,” ISBE spokesman Matt Dietrich said. “And this would need to happen at least 15 days before the general election for Rauner’s name to be removed and replaced with the new candidate’s name.” State Rep. Jeanne Ives, who lost to Rauner in the March primary by 2.8 percent, said there was talk about a switch in some GOP circles. She said radio host Dan Proft, a former Republican candidate for governor, had mentioned it. She also said she’d be surprised if party officials didn’t know Rauner had considered leaving the race. “They knew that Rauner was not in for the fight,” said Ives, R-Wheaton. “There’s no doubt in my mind that they knew he asked others to run. [Schneider] can say what he wants to all day long, I do not believe him.” McConnaughay said she didn’t know if GOP officials were aware Rauner wanted someone else to take over in the race against Pritzker. “I only know what I know and I’m not interested in engaging in conspiracy theories, I’ll leave that to Representative Ives,” McConnaughay said. Ives called for Schneider to step down as the party’s leader. She said the GOP leadership “has failed to provide a necessary contrast to the horrible policies of the Democrats and their corrupt dealings.”)

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— COOK COUNTY GOP CHAIRMAN RESPONDS TO RAUNER’S POST-ELECTION COMMENTS; CALLS FOR EMERGENCY IL GOP MEETING
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/cook-county-gop-chairman-responds-to-rauners-post-election-comments-calls-for-emergency-il-gop-meeti.html

— RAUNER REVEALS HE DIDN’T WANT TO RUN AGAIN IN 2018, BEGGED FOUR OTHERS TO TAKE HIS PLACE
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/rauner-reveals-he-didnt-want-to-run-again-in-2018-begged-four-others-to-take-his-place.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Morrison wants emergency meeting of ILGOP – McConnaughay explains – Schneider responds *** Rauner says he tried to drop out of race after primary
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/14/rauner-says-he-tried-to-drop-out-of-race-after-primary/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider: Neither myself nor the staff at the Illinois Republican Party had any knowledge of the discussions Governor Rauner had regarding his candidacy.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago’s next mayor is key to political fate of South Suburban Airport – Ted Slowik
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-slowik-south-suburban-airport-st-1216-story.html

WLS AM
— Pritzker: Emanuel’s pension plan is not “viable” – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/12/14/pritzker-emanuels-pension-plan-is-not-viable/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Attorney for Jack Franks’ Ally’s Printer Refuses to Follow Court Order to Reveal Identities of Originators of Smear Mail, But Admits She Now Represents “s/he/the[m]”
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/14/attorney-for-jack-franks-allys-printer-refuses-to-follow-court-order-to-reveal-identities-of-originators-of-smear-mail/
— Capitol Fax Picks McSweeney as GOP State Rep. of the Year
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/13/capitol-fax-picks-mcsweeney-as-gop-state-rep-of-the-year/

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— State Board of Elections asked to investigate Underwood’s voting history – W.J. Kennedy
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511669527-state-board-of-elections-asked-to-investigate-underwood-s-voting-history

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives predicts rise in Geneva property taxes to meet teacher demands – Robert Hadley
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511669612-ives-predicts-rise-in-geneva-property-taxes-to-meet-teacher-demands

NEW YORK TIMES
— As Labor Market Tightens, Women Are Moving Into Male-Dominated Jobs Widening opportunities do not automatically translate into better pay or a decline in gender discrimination. – Jed Kolko and Claire Cain Miller (DIERSEN: As all of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes will attest to, all the jobs that I had were BAD jobs, jobs that were so BAD that qualified Democrats, qualified minorities, qualified women, qualified younger people, and qualified veterans did not want them. I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997. GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/upshot/as-labor-market-tightens-women-are-moving-into-male-dominated-jobs.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Trump routinely says things that aren’t true. Few Americans believe him.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/politics/political-knowledge-poll-trump-falsehoods/

FORBES
— The Federal Employee Pay Penalty: 31% Less Than State and Local Government Workers. Really? – Andrew Biggs (DIERSEN: Are/were you accused of being overpaid? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always accused me of being overpaid. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbiggs/2018/12/14/the-federal-employee-pay-penalty-31-less-than-state-and-local-government-workers-really/#449726c562e5

INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY
— 86% Of Government Spending Is Now On Autopilot
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/federal-spending-budget-deficits/

December 13 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Bruce Rauner considered not running for reelection, tried to recruit other candidates – Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/rauner-considered-not-running-for-reelection-tried-to-recruit-other-candidates/4893696/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “This election cycle, I knew it was gonna be very difficult, I knew that early in 2017. Very, very difficult to win, this election cycle and over the course of the election I actually went to two women and two men who I knew well, two who were successful in elected office two who were very successful in business and in law, and asked them to run for governor,” he said. Rauner said all four, whose names he would not reveal, turned him down.)

WLS AM
— A diplomatic JB Pritzker meets President Trump – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/12/13/a-diplomatic-jb-pritzker-meets-president-trump/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Financial secrecy: 10 of 16 top Chicago mayoral candidates refuse to release full tax returns – Bill Ruthhart
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chicago-mayor-candidates-tax-returns-20181207-story.html
— Teen quits Walmart job over the store’s intercom: ‘Attention all shoppers … nobody should work here — ever’- Michael Brice-Saddler (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors took adverse actions against me like they wanted me to sue them. They wanted current and potential GAO employees to see how they waste the careers of and get rid of their employees who complain about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination. They forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-walmart-video-teen-quitting-intercom-20181213-story.html
— Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker meets with President Trump, other new governors in Washington – Mike Riopell
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-pritzker-trump-governors-meeting-20181213-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— New Dem lawmaker: I’m being ‘threatened’ not to vote against Madigan – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mike-madigan-anne-stava-murray-democrat-speaker-legislature-springfield

— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater promotes hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/steinberg-adlai-stevenson-trump-president-twitter/

DAILY HERALD
— DuPage County panel to examine adult businesses – Robert Sanchez
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181213/dupage-county-panel-to-examine-adult-businesses
— Trump claims ‘money we save’ from trade deal means ‘Mexico is paying’ for border wall – John Wagner and Damian Paletta
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181213/trump-claims-money-we-save-from-trade-deal-means-mexico-is-paying-for-border-wall

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Gov.-elect JB Pritzker meets president at White House – Mike Riopell
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20181213/gov-elect-jb-pritzker-meets-president-at-white-house

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— State’s huge public-pension problem growing larger – Jim Dey
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/2018-12-12/jim-dey-states-huge-public-pension-problem-growing-larger.html

CHANGE
— Keep Prayer of all faiths at our DuPage County Board Meetings – Janice Anderson
https://www.change.org/p/dan-cronin-keep-prayer-of-all-faiths-at-our-dupage-county-board-meetings

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— House honors Breen for four years of service – Kyla Asbury
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511668776-house-honors-breen-for-four-years-of-service
— Ives: ‘We need to tamp things down’ – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511668805-ives-we-need-to-tamp-things-down

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/cannabis-industry-expert-big-could-bigger-for-marijuana/article_5087bcda-fe48-11e8-ba79-dfcd2997f4c6.html

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Marijuana: What Will You Do About It? – Kathy Valente
https://illinoisfamily.org/marijuana-2/what-will-you-do-about-it/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Absolute hypocrites’: Trump uses Democrats’ own words in border security pitch – Victor Morton
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/13/trump-uses-obama-hillary-clinton-chuck-schumer-quo/

GOPUSA
— State panel on Parkland shooting concludes teachers need guns; schools need security
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61018

CONSERVATIVE HQ

— Conservatives Launch All Out Battle For Trump Border Wall
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/29303

RUSH LIMBAUGH
— Why Democrats Will Never Fund the Wall
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2018/12/13/why-democrats-will-never-fund-the-wall/
— Will Trump’s Base Get Tired of Defending Him?
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2018/12/13/will-trumps-base-get-tired-of-defending-him/
— Did You Hear What the Pope Said About Migrants?
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2018/12/13/did-you-hear-what-the-pope-said-about-migrants/

SEAN HANNITY
— PARTY’S OVER: President Trump Cancels Media’s White House Christmas Party
https://www.hannity.com/media-room/partys-over-president-trump-cancels-medias-white-house-christmas-party/

BREITBART
— RNC Chair McDaniel Calls on Democrats to Work with GOP on ‘Border Crisis’ – Jeff Poor
https://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/12/13/rnc-chair-mcdaniel-calls-on-democrats-to-work-with-gop-on-border-crisis/

WORLD NET DAILY
— WALL ‘SINGLE GREATEST OBSTRUCTION TO THE FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’ Limbaugh: ‘They do not want a wall. They will not support a wall’
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/wall-single-greatest-obstruction-to-the-future-of-the-democrat-party/
— ISRAEL’S SOUTHERN WALL CUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION TO ZERO Former mayor in Jewish state concludes ‘it works’
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/israels-southern-wall-cut-illegal-immigration-to-zero/

TOWNHALL
— The DOJ Inspector General Found 19,000 ‘Lost’ Strzok and Page Texts – Katie Pavlich (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors and supervisors in the federal government knew that they should not put in writing things that would get them in trouble.)
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2018/12/13/breaking-doj-ig-report-strzok-and-page-n2537436

NEWS BUSTERS
— The Fury of the Establishment – Cal Thomas (DIERSEN: Who is the establishment in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? What do they think of you? How do they treat you?)
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/cal-thomas/2018/12/13/fury-establishment
— April Ryan: ‘This Border Wall Thing Is About Controlling the Browning of America’ – Ryan Foley
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/ryan-foley/2018/12/13/april-ryan-border-wall-thing-about-controlling-browning-america

CNS NEWS
— Poll: Majority of Democrats Want Their Party to Become Less Liberal – Emily Ward
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/emily-ward/poll-majority-democrats-want-their-party-become-less-liberal

NEWSMAX
— Top Dems Voted for Border Barrier Before They Were Against It – Deroy Murdock
https://www.newsmax.com/murdock/pelosi-schumer-saudi-arabia-sfa/2018/12/13/id/894302/

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— MEXICO TO FIGHT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY CLOSING GUATEMALA BORDER – Daniel Greenfield
https://www.frontpagemag.com/point/272232/mexico-fight-illegal-immigration-closing-guatemala-daniel-greenfield

DAILY SIGNAL
— Why Our Country Needs the Wall, and Now – Ted Budd
https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/12/13/why-our-country-needs-the-wall-and-now/

DAILY WIRE
— BORDER CONTROL: Mexico Cracks Down On Illegal Immigration By Shutting Border With Guatemala – EMILY ZANOTTI
https://www.dailywire.com/news/39333/border-control-mexico-cracks-down-illegal-emily-zanotti
— Columbia Student ‘Under Investigation’ For Praising White People Responds To Backlash “I was theatrically and sarcastically demonstrating that whites are not allowed to embrace their cultural achievements.” – AMANDA PRESTIGIACOMO
https://www.dailywire.com/news/39324/watch-columbia-student-under-investigation-amanda-prestigiacomo

DAILY CALLER
— WHITE HOUSE CANCELS CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR PRESS – Benny Johnson (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, anti-conservative governments, political organizations, and politicians have never invited me to parties that they have thrown for the press. They pander to and curry favor with the anti-conservative new media by a) failing/refusing to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory lists, b) barring me from their press conferences, c) telling me to not speak with anyone at their press conferences, d) telling me to not ask any questions at their press conferences, e) telling me to not report anything about their press conferences, f) throwing me out of their press conferences, and g) having their operatives and their dupes leave threatening messages on my phone answering machine.)
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/13/white-house-cancels-party-for-press/

COMMUNITY DIGITAL NEWS
— Trump cancels the underserved White House Press Corps Christmas Party – Jacquie Kubin
https://www.commdiginews.com/politics-2/trump-cancels-undeserved-white-house-press-corps-christmas-party-110307/

NEW AMERICAN
— Migrants Attempt Extortion: Give Us $50K, and We’ll Leave – R. Cort Kirkwood
https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/30910-migrants-attempt-extortion-give-us-50k-and-we-ll-leave

THE HILL
— Alleged Russian agent Butina pleads guilty to engaging in conspiracy against U.S. – LYDIA WHEELER AND JOHN BOWDEN (DIERSEN: Far too many in America talk and/or act like they are agents for Mexico and/or for other foreign countries who work against the U.S.)
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/421216-butina-pleads-guilty-to-acting-as-unregistered-russian-agent

— Trump’s own undocumented help highlights plight of many immigrants – RAUL REYES (DIERSEN: All illegals use false identifications.)
https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/421012-trumps-own-undocumented-help-highlights-plight-of-many-immigrants

ROLL CALL
— With Minority Looming, Could More Republicans Be Headed for the Exits? After the 2006 Democratic wave, 23 Republicans retired – Bridget Bowman (DIERSEN: Demographically (political affiliation, liberal/conservative, race, gender, age, religion, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, income, net worth, etc.), in what ways are/were you a minority a) in the organizations that you are/were a member of, b) where you live/lived, and c) where you work/worked? Everyone wants to be in the majority.)
https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/minority-looming-republicans-head-exits

REUTERS
— U.S. weekly jobless claims drop to near 49-year low
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy/us-weekly-jobless-claims-near-49-year-low-import-prices-fall-idUSKBN1OC1UV

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers crow about their success in making seniors stoners.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/health/seniors-marijuana-cannabis-pain.html

WASHINGTON POST
— How tech workers are fueling a new employee activism movement – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: What percent of tech workers are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/12/13/how-tech-workers-are-fueling-new-employee-activism-movement/
— Russian Maria Butina pleads guilty in case to forge Kremlin bond with U.S. conservatives – Spencer S. Hsu and Tom Jackman (DIERSEN: Far too many in America talk and/or act like they are agents for Mexico and/or for other foreign countries who work against the U.S.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/russian-maria-butina-pleads-guilty-in-effort-to-forge-kremlin-bond-with-us-conservatives/2018/12/13/c27f2d26-fe4f-11e8-ad40-cdfd0e0dd65a_story.html

BUSINESS INSIDER
— Trump’s most disparaging nicknames of 2018 – Eliza Relman
https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-most-disparaging-nicknames-of-2018-2018-12