FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Illinois lieutenant governor race: Christian Mitchell, Aaron Del Mar vie for a No. 2 job with big stakes.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/27/illinois-christian-mitchell/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to fight voter fraud.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2026/10/27/illinois-voting-trump-election-day-attorney-general-kwame-raoul
SHAW LOCAL
— Good-not-great turnout expected on Election Day. Pritzker-Bailey 2.0 might draw less interest than in 2022.
https://www.shawlocal.com/illinois-valley/2026/10/27/good-not-great-turnout-expected-on-election-day/
ABC7
— Trump offers $1M reward for voter fraud tips that result in conviction. It is not clear where the money for this reward would come from.
https://abc7chicago.com/story/trump-offers-1m-reward-voter-fraud-tips-result-conviction/19982613/
— Judge rules Trump DOJ ‘unlawfully’ fired Maurene Comey. DD: In Diersen v. GAO, constructively, the court ruled that federal officials can fire their employees a) who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and b) who charge their superiors with reverse discrimination and/or age discrimination.
https://abc7chicago.com/story/judge-reinstates-maurene-comey-ruling-firing-unlawful/19981351/
DAILY HERALD
— Endorsement: Noonan for DuPage County sheriff.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261026/endorsements/endorsement-noonan-for-dupage-county-sheriff/
— Sponsors of the East Dundee Oktoberfest will have their money returned in response to Village President Dan Pearson turning the event into an impromptu Republican political rally. DD: In 2021, my critics/opponents had their operatives and their dupes end my role as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks, a role that I had since 2005.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261026/local-politics/east-dundee-to-return-sponsor-money-after-oktoberfest-controversy/
WGN9
— Illinois home prices increased 30% over 5 years. An average home cost roughly $230,000 in 2021, but is now around $300,000. The study also found that five-year annual mortgage costs for a typical home increased around $11,444, and buyers would need to earn nearly $40,000 more in annual salary to afford such a home at today’s prices. DD: Of course, Democrat leaders blame Trump for that.
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/how-much-have-home-prices-increased-in-illinois-over-5-years/
TAYLORVILLE DAILY NEWS
— Polls, Predictions Point to Democrat Wins in Illinois Elections.
https://www.taylorvilledailynews.com/polls-predictions-point-to-democrat-wins-in-illinois-elections/
FOX ILLINOIS
— 6 citizens sue Trump, saying media ban deprives them of news as audience stakeholders. A new lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s media ban stakes a claim for the public itself. DD: But the mainstream news media is not independent. It is the mouthpiece for the Democrat Party.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/6-citizens-sue-trump-saying-media-ban-deprives-them-of-news-as-audience-stakeholders/article_ed2885f1-2d79-541e-a772-a59e5b5886d3.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In the increasingly bitter legal standoff between President Donald Trump and media outlets whose reporting he dislikes, a new and crucial third party has emerged: citizens who watch and read the news and need it to do their jobs. A lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of six such citizens — effectively representing the audiences for the news media — argues that it’s not only the rights of news organizations that are violated when Trump bans them from White House premises. Even more fundamentally, the lawsuit argues, such bans violate the public’s right to independent reporting about its president and government.)
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Nicki Minaj’s role in Trump’s political circle divides fans.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/nicki-minajs-role-in-trumps-political-circle-divides-fans/amp/
COD COURIER
— College of DuPage Student Leader Removed from Office After Alleged Repeated Use of Racial Slurs. Student Leadership Council’s Operation Officer, Luke (Luka) Volarevic apologizes and takes accountability of his actions as he is removed from office.
https://codcourier.org/college-of-dupage-student-leader-removed-from-office-after-alleged-repeated-use-of-racial-slurs/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/10/27/illinois-dems-take-their-show-on-the-road-01135731
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: Uihleins, you bet: Republican mega-donors Dick and Elizabeth Uihlein are opening their wallets for a handful of Illinois races after backing Ted Dabrowski’s unsuccessful run for governor. The couple has given $190,000 to state Rep. Martin McLaughlin, who is facing a rematch with Democrat Maria Peterson after narrowly defeating her in 2024. The Uihleins have also donated $100,000 to House Minority Leader Tony McCombie’s campaign and $6,900 to Bailey earlier in the summer. Tracy digs deep: Republican U.S. Senate nominee Don Tracy has lent his campaign another $1.5 million, according to his latest Federal Election Commission report. That’s on top of the $2 million the former Illinois Republican Party chair lent his campaign in August 2025, as the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau reported. Democrat Juliana Stratton, meanwhile, has $1.6 million in the bank and no campaign debt. . .Dan Wagner has been tapped as Chicago senior adviser at Michael Frerich’s Illinois Treasurer’s Office. He has spent the past 22 years in various roles at The Inland Real Estate Group, working closely with the late Daniel Goodwin, who founded the company.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/10/26/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-622/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. Under socialism, that is, under Democrats, government will take more and more and more away from Republicans and give it to Democrats. When I was 49 in 1997, my Democrat GAO superiors took my job away from me and gave it to my Democrat subordinate. He had less education than I had. He had less work experience than I had. He had one professional certification while I had six. He had no professional license like the one I had. What are you doing to protect what you have? What can I do to protect my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my Social Security, my retirement savings, etc.? What can my wife do to protect her Social Security, her retirement savings, etc.? What can we do to protect our real estate, vehicles, etc.? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Retirement. According to Google AI: “Retirees remain deeply active and vital contributing members of society by shifting their contributions from traditional paid employment to social, economic, civic, and familial support structures. A person’s value and capacity to contribute do not disappear when they stop collecting a paycheck. Instead, retirement often unlocks the free time, experience, and stability required to anchor critical community frameworks.” When I was 49 in 1997, my Democrat GAO superiors forced me retire and made it impossible for me to get a paid job appropriate for my work experience, education, professional certifications, and professional license. Consequently, since 2000, I have ever-increasingly focused on putting together and sending out my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. In them, I promote conservative principles and the Republican Party platform. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
ILLINOIS RIGHT TO LIFE
— Cardinal Cupich accuses pro-life Catholics of antisemitism. Here’s our response.
https://secure.illinoisrighttolife.org/cardinal-cupich-petition
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Microsoft offers buyouts to 60,000 employees in AI push. DD: In 1993, when I was 45 years old, to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran, the Democrats who ran GAO “offered” $25,000 buyouts until September 30, 1994 and early retirement until September 30, 1997 to all their employees like me who had 25 or more years of federal service. They stressed the tremendous budget cuts that Gingrich had imposed on GAO. They succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” on September 30, 1997. I was not eligible to take regular retirement until I was 55 in 2003. They made it clear that if I refused to take their early retirement “offer,” they would make those 6 years an ever-increasing living hell for me. The following helped me survive until September 30, 1997: a) I became a Certified Government Financial manager in 1994, a Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and a Forensic Accountant in 1997 and b) I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/26/microsoft-offers-buyouts-60000-employees-ai-push/
— Why does the Democratic Party give Islam special treatment? Left attacks Christianity at home while excusing political movements that reject many of their stated values. DD: Democrats are pro-Islam and anti-Christian.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/25/democratic-party-give-islam-special-treatment/
— Multiculturalism divides what a common culture once united. Europe’s unrest revives old warnings about assimilation, civic identity and the glue that holds nations together. DD: America-haters use multiculturalism to destroy America.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/25/multiculturalism-divides-common-culture-united/
— Humanities dissertations increasingly critical of Western culture. DD: Democrats are ever-increasingly anti-American.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/21/humanities-phd-dissertations-decline-identity-politics-surges-study/
— Perceived importance of college hits 48-year low. DD: How important has college been for you? If I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1970, Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970 and IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had not been taking graduate evening business courses, IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not earned an MBA and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, GAO would not have hired me in 1980. If I had not earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980 and passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981, GAO would not have promoted me in 1986. If I had not earned job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997 and earned a master’s degree in finance in 1997, GAO would have forced me to retire soon that it did.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/1/perceived-importance-college-hits-48-year-low-gallup-poll/
— Slotkin threatens young Republicans to keep them out of politics. Senator from Michigan says future investigations should make prospective Trump staffers think twice. DD: If I had been active in Republican politics when I was in high school, the Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966 would not have hired me. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was earning my bachelor’s degree, the Democrats who ran IRS in 1971 would not have hired me. I had been active in Republican politics when I was earning my master’s degrees, the Democrats who ran GAO in 1980 would not have hired me.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/25/editorial-slotkin-threatens-young-republicans-keep-politics/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: No one will ever accuse Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Michigan Democrat, of subtlety or finesse. Behaving like a Depression-era thug — “Nice little career you got here. It would be a shame if something happened to it.” — Ms. Slotkin made a clumsy attempt to intimidate young Republicans. Speaking at the University of Chicago on Oct. 13, Ms. Slotkin, a frequently described moderate who endorsed apparent Brotherhood bro Abdul El-Sayed, called for prosecuting members of the Trump administration on unspecified charges. This is reminiscent of Lavrentiy Beria, the head of Josef Stalin’s secret police, who is reported to have once said, “Show me the man, and I’ll show you the crime.” It gets worse. Ms. Slotkin confessed that these prosecutions are intended to keep young people out of Republican politics. “I want them to be like, ’Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don’t want, and so let me avoid participating in that.’” Translation: By persecuting Trump officials, we will scare off young people from working in the Trump White House. Ms. Slotkin’s threat was just the latest instance of Democratic strong-arm tactics. The Obama and Biden administrations were infamous for intimidation and the weaponization of justice. President Obama sent the IRS after the tea parties. The Biden administration used the Justice Department against critics of his COVID-19 policy, opponents of the transgender agenda and pro-life demonstrators. The FBI put out an internal memo warning that traditional Catholics were a domestic terrorism threat. People had their personal information, including credit card records, seized. Opponents of the administration were debanked. Some lost their jobs for participating in perfectly legal demonstrations. As a lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, the FBI raided President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and seized records that the president had offered to surrender voluntarily. The Biden administration tried repeatedly to put the once and future president in prison. Britain has taken this political thuggery even further. There, a social media post considered provocative can get you a visit from the police and even a jail term for expressing unpopular views. Ms. Slotkin’s ham-handed attempts at intimidation will not work. Anyone who has the guts to be a Republican on a college campus today will not be scared off by vague threats of retribution for working for the most conservative president in our lifetime.)
— Why 30 million American men are single — and why that number keeps growing. DD: What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a townhome in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/7/analysts-see-social-economic-changes-pushing-men-not-marry/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump administration goes after 60 Minutes for framing of Texas deportation case. DD: The mainstream news media is not independent. It is the mouthpiece for the Democrat Party.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/4779455/trump-administration-60-minutes-framing-texas-deportation-case/
NEW YORK POST
— LA set to mirror NY with socialist supreme leader. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://nypost.com/2026/10/26/opinion/la-set-to-mirror-ny-with-socialist-supreme-leader/
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— The Left Wants America to Look Like France. The Hexagon is reaping the consequences of socialism and mass migration. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-left-wants-america-to-look-like-france/
BLAZE
— DD: All my critics/opponents have been woke, are woke, and will forever be woke. To woke is to be anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-married people, anti-non-poor people, anti-Protestant, anti-German American, and/or anti those who have ancestors who had been in America for a long time.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/the-auron-macintyre-show/woke-went-broke-but-that-doesn-t-mean-it-failed
COLLEGE FIX
— Professors dispute notion America’s founding was based on slavery in new book. DD: All my ancestors immigrated from what is now Germany during the 1840s and 1850s. In their defense, they always lived in northeast Illinois.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/professors-challenge-popular-notion-americas-founding-was-based-on-slavery-in-new-book/
DAILY CITIZEN
— Communist Group Hosts ‘Marxist School’ in Chicago. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/communist-group-rca-hosts-marxist-school-in-chicago/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Nearly 180 attendees attended sessions on topics including: Leading workers in general strikes that “challenge the ruling classes’ right to rule.” Understanding history through the lens of class struggles, rather than “a series of random dates, facts and ‘great men,’” as “bourgeois historians” do. The importance of revolution, instead of reformation, because true change does not come from “taking hold of the bourgeois state for our own ends.” The anti-immigration tactics of “the ruling class.” The excellence of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which “was the first time the working class overthrew capitalism and held onto power in the face of bourgeois counterrevolution.”)
DAILY WIRE
— How Comrade Zoomers Are Re-Branding The American Dream Into A National Nightmare. Gen Z has opted out of normalcy as the most pro-socialist generation in history. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-comrade-zoomers-are-re-branding-the-american-dream-into-a-national-nightmare
— ’60 Minutes’ Featured Deported Illegal’s Sob Story. His Asylum Application Adds A Twist. He had been living in the United States for 25 years. DD: The mainstream news media is not independent. It is the mouthpiece for the Democrat Party.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/60-minutes-featured-deported-illegals-sob-story-his-asylum-application-adds-a-twist
FOX NEWS
— Deported migrant who ’60 Minutes’ painted as sympathetic family man claimed he was gay on asylum application. Malian national Moussa Diawara claimed 25 years ago he was a homosexual facing persecution, but is now a married father of two. DD: The mainstream news media is not independent. It is the mouthpiece for the Democrat Party.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/deported-migrant-60-minutes-painted-sympathetic-family-man-claimed-gay-asylum-application
HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
— Socialism Will Ruin the Economy, Stupid. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://heartland.org/opinion/socialism-will-ruin-the-economy-stupid/
HOT AIR
— France and the Dead End of Socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2026/10/26/france-and-the-dead-end-of-socialism-n3820360
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEW YORK TIMES & REUTERS & AP & THE HILL
— FRNOT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: The mainstream news media ever-increasingly blames all problems on Trump, and by extension, on all those who share Trump’s demographics: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/25/us/politics/trumps-election-alaska.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/27/opinion/editorials/inflation-war-corruption-trump-editorial.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bipartisan-majority-americans-blame-trump-policies-rising-costs-reutersipsos-2026-10-09/
https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-approval-trump-midterms-8d5809758a31b29c73f4351a8008147c
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6138619-reuters-poll-economic-approval/
— FRONT PAGE: Old Enough for a Driver’s License? They’re in No Rush. Gen Z teenagers are no longer racing toward this rite of passage. What’s the hurry, with so much of their lives happening online? DD: When I turned 16 In 1964, my getting a driver’s license was a top priority for me. I got one right away and then bought with money I had earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers a 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air to commute to/from my parents’ home in Crete and my dish washing job in Chicago Heights. With the money I earned washing dishes, I bought a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint, a poor man’s GTO, in May of 1966 to commute to/from my parents’ home in Crete and classes at UIC.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/style/drivers-license-gen-z-teens-learners-permit.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Islam.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/us/politics/trump-muslim-voters-feel-used.html
YAHOO
— Vacations. DD: My Democrat Post Office (1966-1969), IRS (1971-1980), and GAO (1980-1997) superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were filled with envy. They were furious when I took vacations in 1969 (Daytona Beach), 1970 (Daytona Beach), 1971 (Bahamas), 1973 (Hawaii), 1974 (Mexico), 1975 (Jamaca), 1976 (Bahamas), and 1978-1992 (four short vacations every year at and around luxury resorts in connection with my wife’s business trips). They painted themselves as be grossly underpaid. They decried the high cost of raising their children. They decided their wives having little or no income. Those who were veterans decried how their service set them back financially.
https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/how-much-vacation-can-you-really-afford-what-a-financial-advisor-says-113927296.html
CNBC
— Caregiving for adult relatives can cost thousands. AARP survey finds support could matter to midterm voters. DD: From 2009 until she died when she was 91 in 2022, I had total responsibility for my outstanding aunt Eunice S. Diersen who had Alzheimer’s. She never married. She lived frugally. She helped my parents raise me in Crete. She had saved about $650,000 for her retirement.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/26/family-caregiving-costs-2026-midterm-elections.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Obama Goes Socialist. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/barack-obama-angie-nixon-cheesecake-factory-bf1303ce
FORBES
— America faces communism. Voters must defend America against Democratic Socialists. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j7JzvyIyGw
— Mentors Your Career Needs. DD: My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors got rid of the GAO manager who arranged my transfer from IRS in 1980 and was finally able to assign me to audits of IRS and to promote me in 1986.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymolinsky/2026/04/20/there-are-5-mentors-your-career-needs-how-many-do-you-have/
CIVIC MEDIA
— The 2026 midterms will also decide who runs elections in 29 states. DD: Democrats are moral relativists. They believe that their ends justify their means.
https://civicmedia.us/news/2026/10/26/the-2026-midterms-will-also-decide-who-runs-elections-in-29-states
REALTOR
— New York City renters looking to live in Manhattan now face a daunting financial threshold: a household income of at least $215,000 per year to afford the typical apartment rent. The latest New York City Rent Report found that Manhattan’s median asking rent surged to $5,375 per month in the third quarter of 2026—an 8.3% increase from a year earlier. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I was always grossly overpaid. In today’s dollars, my salary was $154,682/year in 1997. In my defense, I had earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970. I had earned job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997. I had earned job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. And I had earned a job-related professional license in 1981.
https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/manhattan-renters-now-215k-afford-081900172.html
— Is the Housing Affordability Crisis Becoming a Generational Wealth Fight? DD: Back in the good old days, that is, back when I was 24 in 1972, I was able to buy a new townhome. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ But if I was 24 today, I would not be able to do that. The jobs that I got back then are now ever-increasingly being given to noncitizens, to minorities, and to females. Back then, if they could have, all my employers would have hired noncitizens, minorities, and females instead of me.
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/housing-affordability-generational-wealth-2026-midterms/
GALLUP
— Democrats Say They Have Advantage on Party Image and Issues. DD: The mainstream news media is not independent. It is the mouthpiece for the Democrat Party.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/715523/democrats-advantage-party-image-issues.aspx
WIKIPEDIA
— List of party switchers in the United States. DD: Anticipate/expect that ever-increasingly, my Republican critics/opponents will switch to Democrat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_party_switchers_in_the_United_States
JACOBIN
— A bout of unemployment may find you blaming yourself for your condition. Jobless workers: resist the siren song of self-castigation. DD: When you graduated from college, what harmed your job search? When I graduated from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21 in 1970, potential employers saw me as being draft bait. They did not believe that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother would be approved. Further, potential employers were under tremendous pressure to hire minorities and females. Consequently, I accepted the only job offer that I got, to be the Retail Sales Manager in a Firestone Store, a job that did not really require a college degree. Because my future there was bleak, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile in 1971. But Oldsmobile withdrew that offer saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. My Firestone Store boss rudely fired me because I had accepted that offer. Because I had to have a job, I accepted a job offer that I got from IRS to be a Revenue Officer. I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination while I was a NIU student as a backup because I knew that private sector employers look down on federal employees and I had been a federal employee for almost 3 years.
https://jacobin.com/2026/07/unemployment-mental-health-blame-safety-net
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In 2025, employers laid off 1.2 million workers. It’s the highest number of layoffs since the start of the pandemic and nearly the same as seen during 2008. This puts the first year of Donald Trump’s second term on par with the first year of the global financial crisis in the scale of its disastrous impact on the US workforce. The greatness to which Trump is returning the country seems to be that of the Great Recession. But rest assured, 2026 is proving to be more hopeful, as long as you don’t need to work to make a living. This is the miracle of the “jobless recovery,” and I am one of its many victims. Last fall, I was laid off from a staff position in higher education along with the rest of my team due to budget cuts. Seven months and one hundred applications later, I still do not have a job, and my unemployment benefits have expired. It’s a distressing situation. It’s also not exceptional. The number of workers who have been unemployed for twenty-seven weeks or longer, a category known as “long-term unemployment,” has grown to nearly two million and now constitutes 25 percent of the total unemployed population. Many workers are giving up on finding a job altogether. In June, the unemployment rate actually went down, but only because seven hundred thousand unemployed workers stopped searching and are no longer included in the official count. The crisis has been worse for black workers, who are disproportionately represented among the unemployed.)
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
JNS
— The unholy alliance between socialists and Islamists. Iran wants you dead; the socialists want your stuff; they are allies; and you should care. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.jns.org/opinion/daniel-winston/the-unholy-alliance-between-socialists-and-islamists
NEWS24
— Anarchy used as a tool to pave the way for socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.news24.com.au/world/global-affairs/anarchy-used-as-a-tool-to-pave-the-way-for-socialism/video/7f084b1833def4d7a3410dceb83b8944
— Europe protesters are ‘pro-socialism’ and ‘pro-communism.’ DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.news24.com.au/world/global-affairs/europe-protesters-are-prosocialism-and-procommunism/video/e89242fbecd5cb36498f52213dc9ecba
— ‘Closest you’ll get to socialism’: France spends 60 per cent of GDP on the public. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.news24.com.au/world/europe/closest-youll-get-to-socialism-france-spends-60-per-cent-of-gdp-on-the-public/video/f9962935be64e7bc287641cd5724458b
WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
— Workers Struggle. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. What made you struggle at work? For me, it was my refusal to be a Democrat. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. For them, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats, and especially Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. If I had been a Democrat, even though I was not a minority, female, or veteran, my Democrat superiors would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 in 1988. To get promoted, none of my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO coworkers came close to doing what I did. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970. I earned job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997. I earned job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. I earned a job-related professional license in 1981. All my Democrat coworkers had to do to get promoted was to be a Democrat. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats a) who had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) who were minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2026/10/27/umey-o27.html
Tag: gay
October 14, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Pritzker and Bailey clash early in their only debate before November election.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-governor-debate-tonight-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-clash-early-before-november-2026-election-day/19936744/
FOX32
— Harris leads Democrats; Vance tops GOP in 2028 primary front-runner poll. The FocalData poll also found that President Donald Trump’s approval rating stands at 33%.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/harris-leads-democrats-vance-tops-gop-2028-primary-front-runner-poll
WGN9
— Candidates for Illinois Governor face off in forum.
https://wgntv.com/news/politics/candidates-for-illinois-governor-face-off-in-forum/
— ‘American dream’ now costs $5.3M. DD: My wife and I have more money now because we gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, we did not become foster parents, because of my wife’s income, because we always tried to live on just one of our paychecks and saved as much as we could for our retirement, because the federal government has paid 72% of my healthcare insurance premiums since 1966 and my wife’s since 1978, because we have never owned pets, because we have not gone on vacations for decades, and because of recent inheritances. We have less money now because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 and because I spent lots of money on tuition and books earning three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://wgntv.com/business/american-dream-now-costs-5-3m-report-says/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The cost, which is reportedly up by 4% from last year, includes owning a home, buying new cars, raising two children and sending them to college, retiring comfortably, paying for health care, having a wedding, owning pets and taking a yearly vacation. A new Gallup poll found that 69% of Americans still believe they will achieve the American dream, but a single paycheck reportedly won’t come close to covering it. The Investopedia report says the cost of owning a home, buying new cars and paying for retirement expenses make up nearly 70% of the total. The report shows that owning a home now costs $1,275,782, which is up from $1,184,493 last year. . .According to the report, raising two children and sending them to college now costs $953,763, compared to $876,092 in 2025.)
WTTW
— Pritzker, Bailey Square Off in Contentious Discussion Over Taxes, Trump and Bears.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/10/13/pritzker-bailey-square-contentious-discussion-over-taxes-trump-and-bears
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— In lone debate for Illinois governor, Bailey gets testy as Pritzker links challenger to Trump.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/13/in-lone-debate-for-illinois-governor-bailey-gets-testy-as-pritzker-links-challenger-to-trump/
— Years later, migrants bused into Oak Park area still living in limbo. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and paise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/13/oak-park-migrant-ministry-update/
— Illinois House endorsements.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/
— Democrat Daniel Biss aims to keep party’s hold on Illinois’ 9th District vs. GOP’s John Elleson, who raises $0.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/14/illinois-9th-district-race/
— David Dewar vies for Democratic Rep. Mary Gill’s seat in 35th District.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/14/david-dewar-vies-for-democratic-rep-mary-gills-seat-in-35th-district/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 6 takeaways from the only gubernatorial debate between Gov. Pritzker and Darren Bailey. Pritzker and Bailey sparred over President Donald Trump, the Chicago Bears, data centers and more.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/13/watch-illinois-gov-debate-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-takeaways
— DD: To get more votes from those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, unmarried, LGBTQ, non-rich, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or in America illegally, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at the aforesaid that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/10/13/johan-sebastian-duran-guerrero-ice-immigration-white-supremacy-religious-intolerance-klan-ben-jealous
— Democrat Juliana Stratton faces Don Tracy, former GOP chair, in Senate battle for Dick Durbin’s seat. Although the numbers are in Stratton’s favor in blue Illinois, she says she’s not taking anything for granted. Tracy says he’s running to “bring a voice and bring hope” to Republicans in the state.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/14/democrat-juliana-stratton-republican-don-tracy-us-senate-race-dick-durbin-seat
DAILY HERALD
— Illinois Senate and House endorsements.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261014/endorsements/our-choices-for-legislative-races-in-senate-districts-21-42-house-districts-5354/
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261014/endorsements/endorsement-cochran-for-house-district-55-mussman-for-house-district-56/
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261014/endorsements/endorsements-ellman-for-senate-dist-21-gupta-for-house-dist-41-delarosa-for-house-dist-42/
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261013/endorsements/daily-herald-endorsements-morrison-for-senate-dist-29-katz-muhl-for-house-dist-47/
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261013/endorsements/endorsement-syed-for-illinois-senate-dist-26-levin-for-illinois-house-dist-51-mclaughlin-for-il/
WBEZ & NPR ILLINOIS
— 6 takeaways from the only gubernatorial debate between Gov. Pritzker and Darren Bailey. Pritzker and Bailey sparred over President Donald Trump, the Chicago Bears, data centers and more.
https://www.wbez.org/government-politics/elections/2026/10/13/watch-illinois-gov-debate-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-takeaways
https://www.nprillinois.org/government-politics/2026-10-14/6-takeaways-from-the-only-gubernatorial-debate-between-gov-pritzker-and-darren-bailey
FOX ILLINOIS
— Judge extends order blocking Trump from banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters from White House. DD: I should write about those Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders in DuPage County who have invited the Democrat news media to their events but who have blocked me. They were obvious attempts to shout that they were not conservative and to curry favor with the Democrat news media.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/judge-extends-order-blocking-trump-from-banning-cnn-ms-now-and-politico-reporters-from-white/article_bac1ff2a-e519-5578-9d56-9f51339da800.html
CHICAGO CRUSADER
— 70% of consumers struggle with multiple affordability issues. DD: What are you doing to deal with inflation? My wife and I are spending more of our retirement savings.
https://chicagocrusader.com/70-of-consumers-struggle-with-multiple-affordability-issues-2/
FOX ILLINOIS
— New White House press secretary’s debut: Brief, limited questions and some harsh reviews. The new press secretary for Donald Trump’s White House stepped to the podium.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/new-white-house-press-secretarys-debut-brief-limited-questions-and-some-harsh-reviews/article_abf6b2b6-5988-5f7e-8055-2fb8f1727228.html
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Pritzker and Bailey pour it on
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/10/14/pritzker-and-bailey-pour-it-on-01117286
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/10/13/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-613/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/
WIREPOINTS
https://wirepoints.org/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Cook County to vote on non-binding ‘millionaires tax’ question.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/cook-county-millionaires-tax/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee accused two activist organizations of suborning jury nullification, saying they conduct training sessions to help city residents get onto trial juries and vote to acquit the people being prosecuted. DD: In Diersen v. GAO, I was denied my 7th Amendment right to a jury trial because no one believed that a jury would rule in my favor because of my bad demographics: former federal employee, conservative, Republican, White, male, older, draft avoider, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and my ancestors have been in America since 1844.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/13/house-probing-dc-groups-training-residents-carry-jury-nullification/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Vance knows what socialism is. He just won’t admit he likes it. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4764257/vance-knows-what-socialism-is-he-wont-admit-he-likes-it/
BLAZE
— Shocking number of undergrads say the US deserved 9/11.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/shocking-number-of-undergrads-say-the-us-deserved-911-poll
DAILY CALLER
— Democrat Senator Ed Markey Goes Fishing For DEI Interns. DD: To get rid of me, all my subordinates who my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors assigned me to supervise were Democrats who were minority, female, veteran, disabled, and/or had performance problems. They did everything that they could to turn them against me.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/13/ed-markey-dei-interns-bipoc-lgbtq/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey searched Tuesday for interns who are non-white, gay or part of another “underrepresented” group. Markey encouraged those who were “BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working class [or] veterans” to apply for an internship at his office in Boston, Massachusetts, which raised concerns about whether he violated discrimination laws. “I’m hiring motivated and eager interns for the Spring 2027 semester in my Boston office,” Markey said. “BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working class, veterans, and other underrepresented candidates with Massachusetts ties are encouraged to apply. Applications are due Monday, November 9th.”)
DAILY SIGNAL
— Democratic Party Is Undergoing Socialist Rebranding. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/10/13/democrat-party-socialist-rebranding/
— Trump Hate Fuels Left’s Shift to Socialism and Jihad. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/10/13/hate-for-trump-socialism-jihad/
— New Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Surprises Reporters in Debut at Podium.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/10/13/new-press-secretary-makes-debut/
FEDERALIST
— Democrats Push Medicare For Illegals After Claiming Medicare For Illegals Was A GOP Hoax. DD: I collected delinquent Medicare tax for IRS 1971-1980. I paid into Medicare while I was a GAO employee 1983-1997.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/10/13/dems-push-medicare-for-illegals-after-claiming-medicare-for-illegals-was-a-gop-hoax/
— It Took Too Long To Investigate Credible Allegations Against Ilhan Omar.
https://thefederalist.com/videos/hemingway-it-took-too-long-to-investigate-credible-allegations-against-ilhan-omar/
FOX BUSINESS
— Far-left socialism has become a core principle of the Democratic Party. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBLFlZsF6lQ
— Moderate Democrats have become ‘CAPTIVE’ to socialist behavior. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HnIRyvb9Wg
FOX NEWS
— Socialism is the path to ruin. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406754669112
— Socialism looks appealing when schools refuse to teach its horrific, real-world cost. DD: DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. I escaped Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance. That enabled me to earn six professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and a professional license (CPA).
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/socialism-looks-appealing-when-schools-refuse-teach-horrific-real-world-cost
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— African American-Only Scholarships at College of DuPage Challenged By Equal Protection Project.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/10/african-american-only-scholarships-at-college-of-dupage-challenged-by-equal-protection-project/
NATIONAL REVIEW
— Who Is Ilhan Omar?
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/10/who-is-ilhan-omar/
REAL CLEAR INVESTIGATIONS
— Waste of the Day: $100K Pensions On The Rise. DD: My critics/opponents who are not getting a pension or are not in line to get a pension are furious that I get a $68,640/year Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension. They ignore/dismiss/belittle that I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years to get that pension and that I paid 7% of my salary into the CSRS.
https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2026/10/12/waste_of_the_day_100k_pensions_on_the_rise_1211020.html
TOWNHALL
— Democrats Introduce Bill to Abolish ICE and Border Patrol Ahead of Midterm Elections. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://townhall.com/news/josephchalfant/2026/10/13/democrats-introduce-bill-to-abolish-ice-and-border-patrol-ahead-of-midterm-elections-n2684612
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
MS NOW
— Katie Zacharia’s first press conference proved there’s no meritocracy in Trump’s White House. An embarrassing debut by Trump’s new press secretary showed how MAGA die-hards get promoted despite being unqualified for their jobs. DD: My critics/opponents want to control the flow of information. They destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify or praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on the big adverse actions that they had their operatives and their dupes take against me.
https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-debut
(FROM THE ARTICLE: At her inaugural briefing as President Donald Trump’s new press secretary Tuesday morning, Katie Zacharia answered a handful of questions. But she raised many more. Among them: Why all the unnatural pauses while reading out loud from a binder? What’s with the weird hand gesture where she taps her fingertips together? Is she the first press secretary in history to publicly mix up the president with their own spouse? Why did she flee the briefing room after just 14 minutes, only eight of them spent taking questions? Zacharia appears to have extensive experience at being unqualified for her job. According to the investigative journalism newsletter Popular Information, she has repeatedly described herself as a lawyer despite there being no evidence she ever passed the bar exam. (Later today, when asked which state she passed the bar in, Zacharia replied, “When I moved to China.” I have no idea what that means.) Yet those of us with low expectations were shocked by how poorly she performed. Conservative media was less harsh, but only slightly. “She’s emphasizing the wrong words when she’s communicating what she has to say,” said a body-language expert quoted in the New York Post. “And she needs some basic training.” In a way, I can empathize. I started working in the Obama White House when I was 24. I needed some basic training, too. But I was hired for a junior role, while press secretary is one of the White House’s most senior positions. We can argue about whether promoting Trump’s agenda is helpful or harmful to the American people, or whether appointing someone who spread Pizzagate and QAnon conspiracy theories to speak on the administration’s behalf is a good idea. One thing I suspect nearly all Americans agree on, however, is this: If you’re going to serve as the press secretary for the White House, you shouldn’t be bad at the most basic parts of your job. Trump used to make exactly that point. In 2015, he promised that if he were elected president, he would “surround myself only with the best and most serious people.” It would be easy to conclude that — like two-dollar-a-gallon gas or no new wars in the Middle East — Trump’s pledge to hire the best people is just another broken promise. But the truth might be more complicated — and in a way, more dangerous for the country. Perhaps the problem isn’t that Trump and MAGA don’t really care about meritocracy. It’s that they have a different definition of merit than the rest of us do. Just look at the president’s statement announcing Zacharia’s hiring as press secretary. He pointed to her “unblemished record of support” and the fact that she has “been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning.” He ended his statement on Truth Social, whose parent company Zacharia once advised, by saying, “She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!” These are not what most of us would consider to be professional qualifications. I assume the New York Giants appreciate their biggest fans. So, I’m sure, does Marvel Studios or the members of the K-pop group BTS. But that doesn’t mean they’re invited to play quarterback, star as Peter Parker in the next Spider-Man or perform “Swim” on the next world tour. Even Trump’s strongest supporters don’t make hiring decisions this way. Elon Musk clearly gets an ego boost from his legion of social media groupies. But when he hires for his companies or political operations, he tends to choose people he thinks will be effective, not just supportive. Trumpworld functions differently. It’s a mistake to ask whether Trump thinks his new press secretary is qualified or merely sycophantic. For Trump, sycophancy is a form of qualification. At times, the anti-meritocracy in the White House has worked out well for the president‘s opponents. Trump’s own team concluded that former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s public appearances helped sink the president’s approval ratings on immigration. The weaponization of federal law enforcement against the president’s enemies is terrifying — which makes it a form of relief that FBI Director Kash Patel spends at least some of his time chugging beers with hockey players when he could beleading politicized investigations instead. But competence matters. And incompetence at the highest levels of government hurts all Americans, regardless of who they vote for. When the president makes it clear that his staff members’ most important job is soothing his fragile ego, it’s no surprise that they drop the ball in other areas, such as figuring out how to bring down prices or avoid a deadly and expensive quagmire in the Middle East. Rallying in Ohio, Trump admitted that his public relations could use some work. But his real problem runs far deeper than that. Ironically, it’s one that MAGA has spent an enormous amount of time warning us about: the possibility that the government will hire people based on their identity, without regard to their ability to do the job. “DEI is dead at DoD,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in one of his earliest speeches. “We’re building a merit-based culture that promotes and rewards individual initiative, excellence and hard work.” But as Zacharia’s embarrassing first briefing demonstrates yet again, DEI, as the Trump administration itself defines it, isn’t dead. It’s flourishing beyond anything any Democratic administration has ever attempted. All that’s changed is the identity being promoted. In the Trump White House, you don’t get hired because you’re the most qualified. You get hired because you’re the most MAGA. The results of this approach are in — and they’re exactly what Trump and his allies spent years promising they would avoid.)
CBS NEWS
— Millions of Americans have already voted early. Voters nationwide have cast 3.6 million early ballots with 21 days to go until the November elections.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/millions-americans-have-already-voted-early-midterms/
DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
NEWSWEEK
— Ready To Join the American Socialist Revolution? Take Our Quiz and Find Out. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. I escaped Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance. That enabled me to earn six professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and a professional license (CPA).
https://www.newsweek.com/ready-to-join-the-american-socialist-revolution-take-our-quiz-and-find-out-12557895
— How much wealth do you need to thrive? Here’s the breakdown, according to new research. DD: My retirement income and savings are dramatically less because my Democrat superiors wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/essential-wealth-needed-thrive-by-age/
NEW YORK TIMES
— How to Help a Relative Who Has Alzheimer’s. DD: From 2009 until she died when she was 91 in 2022, I had total responsibility for my aunt Eunice S. Diersen who had Alzheimer’s. She helped my parents raise me in Crete.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/opinion/alzheimers-elderly-parent.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Crew of Virtually Unknown Donors Powering the Rise of the New Left. Millions of dollars are flowing to help Democratic socialists and other progressives. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/the-crew-of-virtually-unknown-donors-powering-the-rise-of-the-new-left-191fcc85
MONEYWISE
— Just over 1 in 4 US households meet this new wealth benchmark.
https://www.aol.com/articles/just-over-1-4-us-143000000.html
SCRIPPS NEWS
— Retirement spending dilemma: Why millions fear running out of money. DD: What are you doing to deal with inflation? My wife and I are spending more of our retirement savings.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/life/money/retirement-spending-dilemma-why-millions-fear-running-out-of-money
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— DD: To get rid of me, all my subordinates who my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors assigned me to supervise were Democrats who were minority, female, veteran, disabled, and/or had performance problems. They did everything that they could to turn them against me.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/commentary/2026/10/for-disabled-veterans-getting-hired-is-hard-getting-accommodated-is-harder/
FED WEEK
— Federal Human Resources (HR) professionals are under exceptional strain. They are central to the Federal merit system. As agencies implement rapid reforms, retaining experienced HR specialists is both a workforce challenge and a merit system priority. HR Specialists are Essential to Merit. DD: I passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970. My 1970 bachelor’s degree from NIU was in HR. My area of concentration for my 1976 MBA from Loyola was HR. Democrats ran HR for the federal government back then. Their top priority was hiring, retaining, and promoting Democrats who were minority, female, and/or veteran. They had no use for me a) because I was a Republican, White, male, and non-veteran and b) because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://www.fedweek.com/issue-briefs/federal-hr-is-under-exceptional-strain-says-mspb/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
NEWS24
— France’s riots trigger a chilling warning for America as socialist ideology comes under fire. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkmS5jZQmSM
— Trump fires ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after reports of misconduct. DD: Have you been accused of misconduct? I have. My Democrat Post Office superiors disallowed my sick leave requests in 1968 and 1969 and forced me to resign in 1969. My Firestone Store boss rudely fired me in 1971. My Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and never promoted me beyond GS-12. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for them, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my misconduct was the real reason why my aforesaid superiors took the aforesaid adverse actions against me. In my defense, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970, job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997, job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and a job-related professional license in 1981. In my defense, my aforesaid superiors were Democrats who were always under tremendous pressure to meet their Affirmative Action quotas and to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. In my defense, many, most, virtually all, and at limes, all of my aforesaid superiors disapproved of my being conservative, Republican, White, male, older, Vietnam War draft avoider, Protestant, German American, and/or my ancestors having been in America since 1844. In my defense, they disapproved of my having more education, more professional certifications, and/or a professional license that they did not have. In my defense, they disapproved of the success that I had buying new cars, buying real estate, and saving for my retirement. In my defense, they disapproved of my getting married in 1978 and my benefitting from my wife’s savings and income.
https://www.news24.com.au/politics/us-politics/donald-trump-fires-ambassador-to-greece-kimberly-guilfoyle-after-reports-of-misconduct-these-allegations-are-false/news-story/95bbd1b747ab682fcaab98413e7e6a8e
October 5, 2026
DUPAGE GOP
— Statewide Candidate Rally. Monday, October 5 at 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Bloomingdale Golf Club, 181 N. Glen Ellyn Road, Bloomingdale. DD: The statewide candidates are: Don Tracy for U.S. Senate ( https://dontracyforil.com/ ), Darren Bailey for Governor and Aaron Del Mar for Lt. Governor ( https://baileyforillinois.com/ ), Bob Fioretti for Attorney General ( https://www.bobforillinois.com/ ), Diane Harris for Secretary of State ( https://harrisforsos.com/ ), Bryan Drew for Comptroller ( https://www.drewforillinois.com/ ), and Max Solomon for Treasurer ( https://maxsolomon.info/ ).
https://dupagegop.com/candidatemeetandgreet/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Former Illinois House GOP leader Jim Durkin endorses Democrat JB Pritzker over Republican Darren Bailey. DD: Every vote that the anti-conservative Pritzker gets will give Pritzker and all the other Democrat candidates a bigger mandate. My critics/opponents side with Durkin and Pritzker. At their core, my critics/opponents are either anti-conservative or lack what it takes to defend and promote conservative principles.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/05/durkin-pritzker-endorsement/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Accentuating the schisms that have helped make Republicans the superminority political party in Illinois, former Illinois House GOP leader Jim Durkin said he is endorsing Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker for a third term over Republican nominee Darren Bailey in the Nov. 3 general election. “His campaign is going nowhere, and he’s on a foolish escapade,” Durkin said of Bailey, adding that the Republican governor nominee has “a delusional egomaniacal view of the world.” Durkin’s refusal to support Bailey’s second consecutive bid against Pritzker is not surprising. But his public endorsement of the Democrat, in a video the governor’s campaign is scheduled to release Monday, marks a major break for Durkin, who still considers himself a Republican. “I’ve worked with Pritzker, and I don’t agree with JB on a lot of things. But the fact is, he and I have worked together,” Durkin said. He cited Pritzker’s investment in infrastructure, the credit upgrades to steady the state’s finances and the governor’s support for “commonsense gun reforms.” “I look at something that he (Pritzker) has done and this is nothing that Darren Bailey could ever, in his wildest dreams, if he was governor, would he ever be able to accomplish,” Durkin said. “We’ve got to shed Darren Bailey from the party and, I’m speaking for myself, but I am not going to throw away or waste a vote for governor this November, and that’s why I’m voting for JB Pritzker.” In a statement, Pritzker returned the praise, saying that while the two didn’t always see eye to eye, “I never doubted his devotion to the people of our great state.” “He was a partner in rebuilding Illinois’ infrastructure and strengthening our fiscal foundation — and an opponent of MAGA extremists driven only by their infatuation with Donald Trump,” Pritzker said. “Leader Durkin has the heart of a public servant, and I am honored to have his support in this campaign.” Durkin — who in 2023 retired from the legislature after 24 years, including nine as House GOP leader — has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and his populist “Make America Great Again” movement. Durkin blames it for the decline of party moderates, particularly in the Chicago suburbs, once the heart of the party when Republicans were competitive statewide. He also has long criticized Bailey, a wealthy downstate farmer and former state senator from Xenia. Durkin blamed Trump, and Bailey’s fealty toward him, for the drubbing Republican legislative candidates took in the 2022 general election. Bailey lost that election to Pritzker by nearly 13 percentage points while Democrats grew their state House majority to 78-40 over Republicans, which is the chamber’s current partisan makeup. Durkin said Bailey’s loyalty to Trump, his opposition to abortion rights and gay rights, and a campaign steeped in his evangelical Christian faith turned off suburban voters in 2022, including women, a key voting bloc in the collar counties. Bailey this time around has sought to distance himself from Trump and controversial social issues. But he has once again accepted Trump’s endorsement, and Pritzker has relentlessly sought to link him to a president who has lost Illinois three times and to remind voters of Bailey’s conservative stance on social issues. “He can’t hide from his past and who he is,” said Durkin, who lives in and represented the western suburbs. “He is a right-wing evangelist and he is part of this MAGA fever that has gotten into the party. And this party needs to break that fever like a virus. We need to break that. He has not changed who he is.” Bailey “can talk a big game, but the fact is that he’s an opportunist,” Durkin said. “He can try to suggest that he now understands Chicago and the suburbs. But the fact is, I know who he is. I know what he’s about. And, he doesn’t reflect the Republican principles that I grew up with or the ones that I ran on over the last 40 years and the ones that I supported.” “We have lost so many voters because of this intolerance and exclusion that he has preached over the years where suburban Republicans, collar county Republicans, don’t identify themselves as Republican and they stay out of the primary … and that just leaves hardcore conservatives who control it,” Durkin added. Durkin said his decision to back Pritzker follows such moves as veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove backing a Democrat for statewide office in Texas after lamenting how the state GOP had been infiltrated by “bigots,” and Cindy McCain backing Joe Biden over Trump in 2020. McCain was the wife of the late Arizona Sen. John McCain. Durkin was state chair of John McCain’s 2000 and 2008 presidential campaigns. Durkin’s previous criticism of Trump and Bailey has drawn enmity from the more conservative elements of the state GOP. “Jim Durkin can go kick rocks. Jim Durkin is a sellout RINO who has no business being involved in Republicans,” Bailey’s running mate, Aaron Del Mar, said on an Aug. 31 webcast, using the critical acronym “Republican in Name Only.” In response, Durkin pointed to his decades of campaigning and fundraising on behalf of Republican candidates, awards from the American Conservative Union, his legislative record and his battles with former House Speaker Michael Madigan, the longtime Democratic leader now in federal prison. “If (Del Mar) wants to call me a RINO based on that, he ought to go back to what he does best, which is serving as (Palatine) township road supervisor. I hear he does a really super job there,” Durkin said. “My interests are creating a two-party state where we actually have a voice that can connect with suburban collar county and downstate voters,” Durkin said. “You can appeal to downstate voters without having this zealot-type approach toward government. Bailey stands for exclusion and intolerance and that’s now what the party’s about.” Whether Durkin’s vision of a competitive two-party Illinois can be realized remains an open question. When he stepped down from the legislature more than three years ago, Durkin said, “I hope that at some point in the near future, and I think we’re getting there, that the party breaks its fever of Donald Trump and understands and learns from the past. Some people will never get there.”)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Endorsement: Angel Oakley for US House of Representatives in District 3. DD: Oakley’s outstanding campaign literature piece was one of the 14 candidate literature pieces along with the outstanding Milton Township Republican Organization Voter Guide and sample ballot that I hand-delivered last week to the 370 residences in my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton that have at least one registered Republican voter or one registered Independent voter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/04/editorial-angel-oakley-for-u-s-house-of-representatives-in-district-3/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: As downtown Chicago reinvents itself, demand is high for luxury apartment complexes as building costs rise. DD: I lived in my Outer Drive East (ODE) studio condo part-time 1974-1976 and then in my ODE one bedroom condo full-time 1976-1978. I bought them so that I could walk to/from my IRS job in the Loop and graduate evening business courses at Loyola 1974-1976 and then graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul 1976-1978.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/05/400-lake-shore-drive-luxury-apartments/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Video gambling saturates Chicago area — nearly 80% of region allows video slots. Across Illinois, video gambling devices are allowed in more than 200 communities and banned in more than 60. It’s legal in almost all of Kane, McHenry and Will counties. Critics worry about oversaturation and negative social effects. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice. In 2009, I led the successful effort to ban video gambling in Wheaton. In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/10/05/video-gambling-majority-chicago-area-communities-illinois-gaming-board
ABC7
— Protesters clash, rocks thrown at far-right activists outside Palestinian festival in Bridgeview.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/protesters-clash-rocks-thrown-far-activists-outside-palestinian-festival-bridgeview-illinois/19907974/
— US Attorney for Northern District of Illinois leading criminal probe into E. Jean Carroll.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/us-attorney-northern-district-illinois-andrew-boutros-leading-doj-criminal-probe-jean-carroll-sources/19183723/
NBC5
— Tense protests surround Palestine Fest in suburban Bridgeview. Outside of the stadium, protesters and counterprotesters faced off while police and security kept a close watch.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/tense-protests-surround-palestine-fest-in-suburban-bridgeview/3997676/
CBS2
— Experts weigh in on possible presidential campaigns for Pritzker, Emanuel.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/experts-weigh-in-on-possible-presidential-campaigns-for-pritzker-emanuel/
FOX32
— Bridgeview Palestine Fest protest by far-right activist Jake Lang draws security concerns.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/bridgeview-palestine-fest-protest
TAYLORVILLE DAILY NEWS
— Bailey Explains His Plans If Elected.
https://www.taylorvilledailynews.com/republican-governor-candidate-darren-bailey-explains-his-plans-if-elected/
10TV
— Illinois police arrest teens, charge parent after fight involving nearly 250 teens at Raising Cane’s. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.10tv.com/article/news/nation-world/illinois-police-arrest-teens-charge-parent-after-fight/507-cc4c8b86-bd5b-48f6-931a-ff6dae372812
NPR ST. LOUIS
— DD: Illinois Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ. To promote LGBTQ is to destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.stlpr.org/race-identity-and-faith/2026-10-04/lgbtq-families-belleville-offer-different-experience-missouri
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Illinois Republican Gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey.
https://capitolcitynow.com/podcasts/illinois-republican-gubernatorial-candidate-darren-bailey/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/10/05/guess-who-showed-up-at-the-mayors-rally-01106258
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— My critics/opponents either want socialism or fail/refuse to fight it. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Socialists want to destroy the American dream. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/4/socialists-want-destroy-american-dream/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Socialism for CEOs, inflation for you. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4744673/corporate-socialism-subsidies-double-taxation/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Biden judge rules that law punishing illegals who vote in elections is ‘unconstitutional.’
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/10/biden-judge-rules-that-law-punishing-illegals-who-vote-in-elections-is-unconstitutional/
— Don’t Let Young People Fill Their Moral Vacuum With Sharia.
https://www.americanthinker.com/watch/podcasts/american-thinker-podcast/2026/10/don-t-let-young-people-fill-their-moral-vacuum-with-sharia/
COLLEGE FIX
— U. Miami medical school dean calls for ditching merit-based admissions during DEI debate. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, they ever-increasingly lowered standards to hire, retain, and promote more Democrats who were minority, female, younger, and or veteran. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/u-miami-medical-school-dean-calls-for-ditching-merit-based-admissions-during-dei-debate/
DAILY SIGNAL
— 84% of Gen Z Democrats Back Socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/10/04/84-of-gen-z-democrats-back-socialism-poll/
— How Mamdani Is Merging Socialist Activists With New York City Government. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/10/04/how-mamdani-is-merging-socialist-activists-with-new-york-city-government/
FOX NEWS
— Uzbek truck driver’s fatal crash exposed troubling fraud trend in Middle America: ‘Chameleon carriers.’ Industry veterans warn of a scheme where operators dodge inspections, facilitate cargo theft and never fully shut down.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/uzbek-truck-driver-fatal-crash-exposed-troubling-fraud-trend-middle-america-chameleon-carriers.amp
— DD: The socialist takeover of the Democratic Party. To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/majority-leader-thune-says-chuck-schumer-lives-fear-socialists-taking-over-democratic-party
HEARTLANDER NEWS
— More than 40% of Americans hold a positive view of socialism, marking a seven-percentage-point rise and the highest rating for the theory since 2010, according to a recent Gallup poll. Support for socialism has risen primarily among Democrats, jumping from 50% to 66% between 2010 and 2025, but within the past year, independents’ approval of socialism spiked to 45% from 37% last year. Republicans’ support for socialism remains below 15%, according to the poll. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. One could argue that working for Democrats is like working for socialists. I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years 1966-1969 and 1971-1997. Democrats could argue that my working for those Democrats enabled me to buy new cars when I was 19 in 1967, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1978, etc., to buy a new townhome in University Park in 1972, to buy a studio condo in downtown Chicago in 1974, to buy a one bedroom condo in downtown Chicago in 1976, to get married and buy a home in Wheaton in 1978, to have a home built in Wheaton in 1984, etc. But to do the aforesaid, I worked private sector jobs 1964-1966 and 1970-1972, I earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1970, I earned an MBA in 1976, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, I earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981, I earned four more job-related professional certifications 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and I earned a master’s degree in finance in 1997. I argue that because of the aforesaid, if I had worked in the private sector, I would have accomplished much more.
https://heartlandernews.com/nearly-half-of-u-s-adults-approve-of-socialism-new-poll-finds/
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— It Would Be Absurd To Trust Democrats on Affordability. DD: What helps people afford things? Obviously, it is earning more money. What did you do to earn more money? I earned a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21 in 1970, I earned an MBA in 1976, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, I earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981, I earned four more job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and I earned a master’s degree in finance in 1997. According to my critics/opponents, I was able to do the aforesaid not only because I was privileged, but because I benefitted tremendously from discrimination against Democrats and against RINOs who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. In my defense, no one saw me as being college material. Nevertheless, I got accepted by UIC when I was 17 in 1966. I had work my way through college, and I did.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/10/04/it_would_be_absurd_to_trust_democrats_on_affordability_713034.html
TOWNHALL
— Socialist Mayor Mamdani: Government’s Job Is to Deliver ‘Whatever You Need’ for a Dignified Life. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) destroy personal responsibility and b) promote dependency on government. My parents and teachers promoted personal responsibility. That put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://townhall.com/news/scott-mcclallen/2026/10/04/socialist-mayor-mamdani-governments-job-is-to-deliver-whatever-you-need-for-a-dignified-life-n2684087
WESTERN JOURNAL
— Illegal Families Given $100k: Report Reveals ‘Shadow Welfare System’ California Uses to Fund Illegals.
https://www.westernjournal.com/illegal-families-given-100k-report-reveals-shadow-welfare-system-state-uses-fund-illegals/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEWSWEEK
— DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.newsweek.com/rahm-emanuel-says-democratic-socialists-are-their-own-party-amid-dsa-wins-12522433
NEW YORK TIMES
— Israeli Authorities Trade Blame for Failure to Flag FlyDubai Co-Pilot. The Omani co-pilot who officials said tried to crash the plane was said to have embraced extremist Islamist views.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/world/middleeast/flydubai-israel-debate-pilot-security.html
— Self-Driving Cars Are Getting Better. The Risks Are Getting Bigger. Self-driving systems are getting so good that drivers may overestimate the technology and not be prepared to respond when something goes wrong.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/business/self-driving-cars-tesla-fsd.html
— Trump, Critic of Voting by Mail, Urges Republicans to Do It in Midterms.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/us/politics/trump-republicans-mail-voting.html
— As Midterms Near, Justice Alito Says He Considers Each Year Whether to Retire. The justice, the second oldest on the court at 76, told CBS News that he decided against stepping down last term. He could face pressure should Democrats win the Senate in November. DD: I became eligible to take early retirement when I was 45 in 1993. My Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to retire just before that eligibility expired I was 49 in 1997. They made it clear if I did not take their early retirement “offer,” the next 6 years until I would be eligible for regular retirement in 2003 would be a living hell. They made it clear that they would demote me, give me adverse transfers, give me unfair performance expectations, and give me unfair performance appraisals.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/us/politics/justice-alito-retirement-supreme-court.html
NEW YORK FOCUS
— Mamdani Enlists Unions in Push to Overhaul NYC Hiring. DD: The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat who was minority, female, younger, or veteran and who would take the job. They wasted my career and forced me to retire in 1997 because I refused to become a Democrat.
https://nysfocus.com/2026/10/05/mamdani-unions-civil-service-government-hiring
FORBES
— DD: All my Democrat superiors and supervisors were married and had children. They all painted themselves as being underpaid. They all decried the time they needed to raise their children and the high cost of raising their children. They all decried their spouses having little or no income. According to them, if had gotten married earlier and if my wife and I had children, I never would have been able a) to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970 when I was 21, job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and a job-related professional license when I was 32, b) to buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., c) to buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35, d) to buy collector cars when I was 40 and 45, e) to take the many luxury vacations that my wife and I took in connection with her many business trips 1978-1992, f) to save what we did for our retirement, g) etc. Further, according to them, I would never have been able to the aforesaid if I had not avoided the Vietnam War draft. They ever-increasingly painted my wife and I as being disgusting selfish rich DINKs.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2026/10/04/3-career-pivots-that-make-having-it-all-a-reality/
— Why Leaders Create A Boogeyman. DD: Who has made you a boogeyman and for what? My Democrat Post Office (1966-1969), IRS (1971-1980), and GAO (1980-1997) superiors made me their boogeyman for the problems they had hiring, retaining, and promoting Democrats who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. None of my Democrat Post Office coworkers who were minority, female, younger, or veteran and who they wanted to promote over me took courses toward a bachelor’s degree in management like I did or earned a bachelor’s degree in management like I did in 1970. None of my Democrat IRS coworkers who were minority, female, younger, or veteran and who they wanted to promote over me a) took courses toward master’s degrees in management and accounting like I did, b) earned a master’s degrees in management like I did in 1976, or c) passed the CPA examination on their first attempt like I did in 1979. None of my Democrat GAO coworkers who were minority, female, younger, or veteran and who they wanted to promote over me a) earned a master’s degree in accounting like I did in 1980, b) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on their first attempt like I did in 1981, c) became a licensed CPA like I did in 1981, d) earned four more job-related professional certifications like I did in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, or d) earned a master’s degree in finance like I did in 1997.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotthutcheson/2025/01/27/why-leaders-create-a-boogeyman-and-how-to-avoid-their-trap/
BARRON’S
— Housing Affordability Is at a 40 Year Low—and 7% Mortgage Rates Only Tell Half the Story. DD: Mortgage rates were 7% when I took out a mortgage to buy a new townhome in University Park in 1972. They were 11% when I took out a mortgage to buy a studio condo in downtown Chicago in 1974. They were 9% when I took out a mortgage to buy a one bedroom condo in downtown Chicago in 1976. They were 9% when my wife and I took out a mortgage to buy a home in Wheaton in 1978. They were 14% when my wife and I took out a mortgage to have a home built in Wheaton 1984.
https://www.barrons.com/articles/housing-crisis-mortgage-rates-hurt-so-much-e99a4c0e
HOUSING WIRE
— Support starter homes, not looser lending or financial fixes. Policymakers can lower frictions, but only new starter-home production changes the math. DD: Did you buy a starter home? I did when I was 24 in 1972. I lost lots of money on it. I bought a new townhome in University Park. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . It had only 1,000 square feet. In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and the down payment would have been about $36,000. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. The down payment came from what I had earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $88.700. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park. When my IRS salary increased from $83,482/year to $100,059/year when I was 25 in 1974, I would have sold it and bought a one bedroom condo in the Outer Dive East building in downtown Chicago. But because the University Park housing market had crashed, I could sell it only if I took a big loss. So I kept it and instead bought a studio condo in that building. In 1976, I traded that studio condo in to the building’s developer for a one bedroom condo. But because the University Park housing market was still way down, I began renting out the townhome. I sold it in 1984 at a big inflations-adjusted loss.
https://www.housingwire.com/articles/build-starter-homes-supply/
AXIOS
— New York has a socialist mayor. Los Angeles may be next. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.axios.com/2026/10/04/la-nyc-south-asian-immigrant-socialist-mayors
September 24, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS2
— Ramirez Proposal would abolish ICE, shut down DHS. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-ewvmgakr06att13e
FOX32
— Illinois immigrant rights group plans protest during Trump’s Chicago visit.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-zoagqoxj9qgpnqys
WTTW
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/09/23/judge-sets-hearing-date-broadview-six-want-further-investigation-prosecutors-misconduct
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Early voting begins Thursday in collar counties but not until Oct. 1 in Chicago and Oct. 7 in suburban Cook.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/24/illinois-election-early-voting/
— Cook County leaders warn of ‘devastation’ with 100 days to go before Medicaid work requirements take effect. DD: According to Google AI, “Able-bodied in the Medicaid program is a policy term used to describe adults who do not qualify for traditional coverage categories like being elderly, blind, disabled, pregnant, or a child.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/23/medicaid-work-requirements/
— The Nov. 3 ballot lacks real choices.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/23/charles-selle-column-nov-3-ballot/
— Who’s afraid of a big, bad debate?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/23/judy-bowlby-hilario-dominguez-darren-bailey-mary-miller-juliana-stratton-don-tracy-jennifer-davis-melissa-bean/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Just ask Don Tracy, the Republican running for U.S. Senate against Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. He’s made his opponent’s unwillingness to face off a leading campaign talking point. While Stratton has committed to a debate on WTTW, Chicago’s local public television channel, that’s it. Darren Bailey this spring declined to debate his primary opponents Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heinder and James Mendrick, winning the primary election soundly anyway. Bailey is rightfully upset that Gov. JB Pritzker has apparently declined to debate him and has agreed only to a single “forum” on WTTW, which does not typically reach a large downstage audience. We’d hope arrangements are being made for wider distribution. Downstate U.S. Rep. Mary Miller also demurred when it came to debates. We suspect she didn’t want to have to take on a more pragmatic, independent-minded candidate in Judy Bowlby, whom we endorsed. Both Bailey and Miller won their primaries handily, which unfortunately reinforces bad behavior. Namely, once you’re confident enough that you can win, campaigning becomes less about making your case to the public and more about holding your ground.)
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE: $710 million DuPage County budget proposal includes money for first-time homebuyers. DD: Back in the good old days, back when I was 24 in 1972, I was able to buy a new townhome in University Park. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . But it had only 1,000 square feet. In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and the down payment would have been about $36,000. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. The down payment came from what I had earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $88.700. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260923/local-politics/710-million-dupage-county-budget-proposal-includes-money-for-first-time-homebuyers-rental-assistan/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: One highlight of the proposed budget is a plan to use $5 million for a first-time homebuyer program administered in partnership with the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The program, which Conroy hopes to begin in early 2027, would provide up to $30,000 in down payment assistance to qualifying residents.)
JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL COURIER
— Region’s Republicans follow president’s plan: Campaign like he’s on ballot.
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/morgan-county-republicans-talk-voting-data-22442639.php
SHAW LOCAL
— 2026 Election Questionnaire: JB Pritzker, Illinois Governor.
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/09/23/2026-election-questionnaire-jb-pritzker-illinois-governor/
WAND TV
— Schumer says Trump needs to stand up to Xi.
https://www.wandtv.com/video/2026/09/23/schumer-says-trump-needs-stand-up-xi/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Illinois attorney general claims victory in lawsuit against Trump administration. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat judges and justices will ever-increasingly will rule not only against Trump, but against all Republicans.
https://www.nprillinois.org/government-politics/2026-09-23/illinois-attorney-general-claims-victory-in-lawsuit-against-trump-administration
— Judge orders Trump administration to restore journalists’ access to White House. DD: I should write about the following who have done the most since 2000 to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters: a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) conservative leaders, and e) religious leaders.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-09-24/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-restore-journalists-access-to-white-house
(FROM THE ARTICLE: CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a joint lawsuit against Trump to challenge that decision on Monday, on the grounds that their constitutional rights had been violated. They sought a temporary restraining order on the ban that would allow them to report from the White House as the proceedings in the case continue. In his Thursday ruling, Kelly ordered White House representatives to “immediately return, reinstate, and restore” their press credentials to reporters of the three news organizations.)
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Democrat leaders and their mainstream news media ever-increasingly paint everything as being bad and blame Trump for that.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/trump-disapproval-highest-in-second-term-amid-economic-woes-emerson-college/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago): Illinois is a leader in LGBTQ rights. A priority is to ban the use of tax dollars for conversion therapy.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-lawmaker-il-is-a-leader-in-lgbtq-rights/
ILLINOIS PATCH
— Illinois Becomes First Midwest State To Allow Medically Assisted Death As ‘Deb’s Law’ Goes Into Effect.
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/illinois-becomes-first-midwest-state-allow-medically-assisted-death-debs-law-goes
ILLINOIZE
— Spending, Attacks Ramp Up in Competitive House Races.
https://www.theillinoize.com/articles/spending-attacks-ramp-up-house
(FROM THEW ARTICLE: There are more than a few Republicans who tell us they believe the seat being vacated by Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is all but lost to Democrats and Wheaton City Council member Erica Bray-Parker. Bray-Parker has had digital ads running in the district and at least one mail piece, we’re told. Republican sources say digital ads will be going up for Republican candidate Rob Vrankovich. . .Democrats appear to believe Ugaste’s district is trending their way, so they’ve begun hitting Ugaste pretty hard in mail and digital. The digital ad looks as if it is from a congressional race and not a state legislative race. Dems haven’t hit Ugaste in mailboxes for a couple of weeks, though, so they may not be fully invested. Ugaste is dropping mail and running digital ads.)
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— The Bailey-Dabrowski divide deepens.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/09/24/the-bailey-dabrowski-divide-deepens-01091210
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Illinois Republican Party is also drawing criticism from some Republicans for not seeming to do more to support Bailey. Its chair, Bob Grogan, served as treasurer for Dabrowski’s campaign before heading the party. He now insists he’s supporting all candidates, including Bailey. Stirring the pot: Downstate attorney Tom DeVore, a former attorney general candidate, accused Dabrowski and Grogan of purposely trying to make sure Bailey loses significantly to Pritzker in order to help prop up Republicans for 2030. “They want to convince the base that votes in a primary that it takes a Dabrowski or it takes an Irvin or a Rauner to actually beat the Democrats,” said DeVore, referring to Richard Irvin, who lost to Bailey in the primary in 2022, and former Gov. Bruce Rauner, who lost to Pritzker in 2018. “They think that unless they can get enough Republicans in the base convinced of that, they can never get through a primary. Dabrowski denies the accusation. “That’s crazy talk,” he said, and he suggested that Bailey, as the standard bearer of the party, should be trying to unite Republicans. The back-and-forth is exposing a deep divide inside the Illinois GOP that hasn’t won statewide office in over a decade and continues to struggle for relevance.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/09/24/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-814/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/09/23/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-601/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Who works the hardest against you? Those who work the hardest against me promote dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, gambling, pot, and other vices, diminishment of Second Amendment rights, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. I should write about those who have worked the hardest against me. I would focus on those who had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me. – Dave Diersen
httpo://www.gopillinois.com
— Why do your critics/opponents get involved in Republican politics? My critics/opponents get involved in Republican politics to get the Republican party to officially dump its personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in its platform. I should write about my critics/opponents in the following who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me since 2000 because I promote the aforesaid planks: Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What is your Republican Precinct Committeeman doing to get out the Republican vote? I am hand-delivering DuPage GOP-provided envelopes to the 660 registered Republican and Independent voters in their 400 residences in my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton. The envelopes have 660 DuPage County Election Division-provided mailing labels and contain a copy of the sample ballot, a Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO)-provided outstanding Voter Guide, and campaign literature from the 14 of 18 Republican candidates who provided their literature to the MTRO so far. By the time I am done, I will have stuffed 6,400 pieces — 5,600 literature pieces (14X400), 400 Voter Guides, and 400 sample ballots — in 400 envelopes and hand-delivered them. I have to fold the Voter Guides (400), sample ballots (400), and two of the literature pieces (800). I am using my photocopier to make 400 copies of the 2-sided sample ballot and 200 color copies of the Voter Guide. The 18 candidates on the ballot in my precinct are: Tracy, Bailey/Del Mar, Fioretti, Harris, Drew, Soloman, Oakley, Lewis, Vrankovich, Grasso, Noonan, Schiappa, Henry, Eckhoff, Michaud, Schultz, Quirk, and Helland. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Billionaire Pritzker Lets Taxpayers Finance His Health Insurance
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/22/billionaire-pritzker-lets-taxpayers-finance-his-health-insurance/
— State Rep. Jeff Keicher on Artificial Intelligence
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/23/state-rep-jeff-keicher-on-artificial-intelligence/
— Independent Candidate for Governor Releases Real Estate Tax Relief Plan (with Critique)
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/23/independent-candidate-for-governor-releases-real-estate-tax-relief-plan-with-critique/
— Federal Judge Gives Suburbanite a Year for Threatening to “Kill the Nazi Rapist Pigs”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/22/federal-judge-gives-suburbanite-a-year-for-thretening-to-kill-the-nazi-rapist-pigs/
— Senator Craig Wilcox Holding Pig Roast at Highest Elevation in Algonquin Township Saturday
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/21/senator-craig-wilcox-holding-pig-roast-at-highest-elevation-in-algonquin-township/
— Illinois Environment Council Zoom Presents One-Sided Look at Battery Farms
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/18/illinois-environment-council-zoom-presents-one-sided-look-at-battery-farms/
— Illinois Battery Farm Construction Far Behind Expectations
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/17/illinois-battery-farm-construction-far-behind-expectations/
— Corbett Catches WTTW with It Pants Down in Preventing His Debate Attendance
— https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/16/corbett-catches-wttw-with-it-pants-down-in-preventing-his-debate-attendance/
— Sun-Times Reports Colin Corbett “a Fiscal Conservative Who Supports Abortion Rights”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/17/sun-times-reports-colin-corbett-a-fiscal-conservative-who-supports-abortion-rights/
— No Measles Cases Found in McHenry County
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/09/17/no-measles-cases-found-in-mchenry-county/
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Taxpayers pay extra for early voting.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_3e0ec8f4-0a38-4950-8902-c5f3438b214f.html
CHICAGO CONTRARIAN
— Chicago’s Finger Pointing Mayor.
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/chicago-finger-pointing-mayor
WIREPOINTS
— Bravo: Ted Dabrowski launches ‘Fight for Illinois’
https://wirepoints.org/bravo-ted-dabrowski-launches-fight-for-illinois-wirepoints/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— As Bailey Battles Pritzker, Dabrowski Launches His Own Statewide Political Machine, Fueling 2030 Talk.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/09/as-bailey-battles-pritzker-dabrowski-launches-his-own-statewide-political-machine-fueling-2030-talk.html
— Dabrowski Is ‘Fighting for Illinois’ — From Delaware.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/09/dabrowski-is-fighting-for-illinois-from-delaware.html
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Vallas: Pritzker’s credit upgrades come with a nearly $86 billion tax bill.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-credit-rating-pritzker-tax-hikes/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— More than 4 in 10 Americans favor socialism for the first time. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/23/gallup-poll-finds-4-10-americans-favor-socialism-first-time/
— Trump and the press boycott each other. Presidents don’t need a friendly media; they need the confidence to face a hostile one. DD: I should write about the following who have done the most since 2000 to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters: a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) conservative leaders, and e) religious leaders.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/23/trump-press-boycott/
NEW YORK POST
— Chicago commuters are hit with a bold new Florida billboard campaign.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/22/business/florida-chamber-gives-jb-pritzker-runner-up-for-economic-developer-of-the-year-award-on-chicago-billboards/
— Marco Rubio begins yanking visas of birth tourism enablers: ‘Sending a clear message.’
https://nypost.com/2026/09/23/us-news/marco-rubio-begins-yanking-visas-of-birth-tourism-enablers/
— People who don’t like America should go somewhere else. DD: What do you say to Democrats who come to DuPage County and who stay in DuPage County a) to flee Democrat poverty and crime and b) to take advantage of Republican prosperity and safety, but continue to vote for Democrats?
https://nypost.com/2026/09/23/media/judge-judy-says-people-who-dont-like-america-should-go-somewhere-else/
— Gay media empire forced out board member over MAGA hat.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/23/media/equalpride-board-member-resigns-after-staff-pushback-over-trump-hat/
AMERICAN THINKER
— So why did Nikole Hannah-Jones expose New York City’s horrible public schools now?
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/so-why-did-nikole-hannah-jones-expose-new-york-city-s-horrible-public-schools-now/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: I think the answer lies in her own ideology, in her own ‘contributions’ to social thought. Her error-filled 1619 Project, which the American Federation of Teachers promoted in schools, likely in those very schools Hannah-Jones’s daughter attended (Update: was taught), claimed that America was fatally flawed from its foundation, and remained hopelessly flawed. Black people were victims. The only conclusion that could be reached from it was reparations and of course, reinforced affirmative action. That made it easy to not worry too much about the results coming out of the public schools, which Democrats running these cities don’t worry too much about as they throw more money at them. It would explain why promoting black children without merit, giving every kid an ‘A’ no matter how poorly they performed, could continue without any apparent consequences for the kids or the schools. One reason, of course, is that teachers were afraid to be branded ‘racist’ if they did flunk any of the kids for nonperformance, given the atmosphere. Another reason was, why not? If teachers could never be fired for failing to teach and kids would go on to college no matter what their preparation, why not just give all A’s? There would be no consequences either way and less attention from giving the A’s and passing the kids along to the next level. But what actually became of the kids in these failing schools, especially the ones who were tracked into college with no education?)
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Kamala Harris says attacking DEI means attacking maternal care.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/09/23/kamala-harris-says-attacking-dei-means-attacking-maternal-care-1660225/
BLAZE
— Socialists want a new Constitution. Believe them. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-socialists-want-a-new-constitution-believe-them
BREITBART
— Homan: ‘They Will Never Abolish ICE’ DD: Democrats have always run GAO. In 1980, I was one of the last Republicans GAO hired. Charles Bowsher ran GAO 1981-1996. Under him, GAO shrank from more than 6,000 employees to less than 3,000 employees. GAO is just a shell of what it once was. If Bowsher had defended GAO and reformed GAO, there would have been no need for DOGE.
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/09/23/homan-they-will-never-abolish-ice/amp/
— More than 40% of Americans have positive view of socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. Democrat leaders crow about their success in getting young people a) to blame their career problems on capitalism and b) to want socialism. What do you blame your career problems on? I blame my career problems on the Democrats who run the federal government and their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.breitbart.com/news/poll-more-than-40-of-americans-have-positive-view-of-socialism/
— Report Exposes California’s $11B ‘Shadow Welfare System’ for Illegals.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/09/23/report-exposes-californias-11b-shadow-welfare-system-for-illegals/
CAMPUS REFORM
— Howard University homecoming to feature LGBTQ ‘Lavender Reception.’
https://www.campusreform.org/article/howard-university-homecoming-feature-lgbtq-lavender-reception/30628
COLLEGE FIX
— New Jersey university trains counseling students to be ‘social justice advocates.’
https://www.thecollegefix.com/monmouth-u-trains-counseling-students-to-be-social-justice-advocates/
DAILY WIRE
— Speaker Johnson: Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan An Excellent ‘Investment.’ Johnson said that deportations were a solid way to protect Americans from crime. DD: To come into a country illegally and/or to stay in a country illegally demonstrates gross disrespect for the rule of law and for that country.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-trumps-mass-deportation-plan-an-excellent-investment
DISPATCH
— Young People Need Know the American Dream Isn’t Dead. It’s fine to be angry about affordability, but grievance can’t be the response. DD: What did you do to afford things? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://thedispatch.com/article/american-dream-generation-z-socialism-populism/
FOX BUSINESS
— Socialists and communists want government control over your life. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6405515888112
— Americans look at socialism as being big government. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. What do you blame your career problems on? I blame my career problems on the Democrats who run the federal government and their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6405517279112
— Socialism is predicated on jealousy. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. My Democrat Post Office (1966-1969), IRS (1971-1980), and GAO (1980-1997) superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were filled with envy. They always painted themselves as being underpaid. After I got married in 1978, they were ever-increasingly more furious at my and my wife’s ever-increasing income and net worth. To turn everyone against me, they stressed a) the new cars that I bought when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., b) the real estate that I bought when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35, c) the collector cars that I bought when I was 40 and 45, d) the college degrees that I earned when I was 21, 27, 31, and 48, e) the professional certifications that I earned when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, f) the professional license that I earned when I was 32, g) the many vacations that my wife and I took, h) etc. Some of my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates circulated copies of Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on me and my wife. SEE https://gopillinois.com/documents/
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6405514875112
FOX NEWS
— Chicago’s half-empty schools reveal a crisis city leaders refuse to confront. Rooftop Revelations: Let me explain is why the school buildings are empty. The people who run these buildings are largely the problem.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/chicago-half-empty-schools-reveal-crisis-city-leaders-refuse-confront
HOT AIR
— Teen Takeovers Are a Legacy of Woke 1.0. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://hotair.com/headlines/2026/09/23/teen-takeovers-are-a-legacy-of-woke-10-n3819215
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Seattle U. To Host ‘People of Color’ Law Conference.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/09/seattle-u-to-host-people-of-color-law-conference/amp/
NEWSMAX
— It is America vs Socialism on the ballot. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/matt-schlapp-midterms-america-vs-225220298.html
POST MILLENNIAL
— Kamala Harris claims an ‘attack on DEI is an attack on Black maternal care’ as El-Sayed shows off friendship bracelets. By Harris’ metric, a person’s dark skin color should give them that advantage of access and a person’s dark skin color automatically gives them a greater understanding of health care for Black moms.
https://thepostmillennial.com/kamala-harris-claims-an-attack-on-dei-is-an-attack-on-maternal-care-as-el-sayed-shows-off-friendship-bracelets
POWERLINE
— Late-stage socialism. As a society, we have lost the plot. From Gallup, “Forty-three percent of Americans now have a positive view of socialism, marking the first time this figure has exceeded 39% in Gallup’s trend since 2010. Socialism still trails capitalism and free enterprise in public favorability but now ranks ahead of big business.” DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/09/late-stage-socialism.php
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— New White House Ad: We Will Defeat Communism, Socialism, and Marxism In America. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/09/23/new_white_house_ad_we_will_defeat_communism_socialism_and_marxism_in_america.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC NEWS
— DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. Democrat leaders crow about their success in getting young people a) to blame their career problems on capitalism and b) to want socialism. What do you blame your career problems on? I blame my career problems on the Democrats who run the federal government and their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/poll-voters-grow-concerned-capitalism-re-still-wary-socialism-dsa-rcna599194
CBS NEWS
— DOJ defends Trump White House media ban, citing national security and “professionalism and decorum.” DD: I should write about the following who have done the most since 2000 to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters: a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) conservative leaders, and e) religious leaders.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-defends-trump-white-house-media-ban/
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/09/24/how-trump-administration-is-dismantling-us-asylum-system/
USA TODAY
— Women to inherit most of $124T ‘great wealth transfer.’ Many aren’t ready.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personal-finance/2026/09/22/great-wealth-transfer-women-unprepared/91816260007/
— DD: Alcohol and pot are vices. Anticipate/expect that as more pot is used, less alcohol will be used.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2026/09/22/alcohol-use-drops-first-time-covid-19-pandemic-study/91888128007/
— FRONT PAGE WITH BIG PICTURE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Stratton.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/09/18/juliana-stratton-lisa-blunt-rochester-angela-alsobrooks-senate/91759441007/
ABC17
— Where dedication pays: Jobs with the biggest earning upside. DD: What did you do to increase your earning potential? I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. My critics/opponents stress notwithstanding all that, I never made more than $154,682/year in today’s dollars and I was forced to retire when I was 49 in 1997. According to them, that proves that I am an unmitigated loser and even worse things.
https://abc17news.com/stacker-careers-education/2026/09/23/where-dedication-pays-jobs-with-the-biggest-earning-upside/
WALL STREET JOUNAL
— Some Republicans Don’t Want Indian-American Votes. The multiracial coalition that elected Trump in 2024 may fracture because of bigotry within the party. DD: How many Indian-Americans voted for Trump because he and Modi were great friends?
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/some-republicans-dont-want-indian-american-votes-bebd6382
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Carnegie Endowment for International Peace survey estimated that 32% of Indian-Americans backed Mr. Trump in the 2024 election. Yet this year only 22% of Indian-Americans favor Republicans for the Senate and only 18% favor them for the House, according to last month’s Asian American Voter Survey. Indian-American Trump supporters aren’t the only minority voters apparently feeling buyer’s remorse. Two years ago, the president won around 48% of the Hispanic vote. Hispanic support for Mr. Trump has since crashed to 26%, according to a recent New York Times/Siena poll. Mr. Trump’s 15% support among black voters in 2024 has declined to 11%.)
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
— DD: The mainstream news media ever-increasingly a) ascribes positive motives to liberals and to Democrats and b) ascribes negative motives to conservatives and to Republicans.
https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2020/november/conservatives-and-liberals-motivated-by-different-psychological-.html
FED SMITH
— The average federal civilian salary is about $112,000/year. DD: According to my critics/opponents, a) the federal government grossly overpaid me, b) I should not have gotten the promotions I got, and c) my federal career was an abject failure. They stress that while I was a federal union member for almost 12 years, almost 3 years while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969 and almost 9 years while I worked for IRS 1971-1980, a) my Post Office salary increased from $19.57/hour to $20.87/hour and b) my IRS salary increased from $56,409/year to $113,402/year in today’s dollars. In my defense, during that time, I earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 1970, I earned an MBA in 1976, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, and I almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting. They stress that while I worked for GAO 1980-1997, my salary increased from $89,703/year to $154,682/year in today’s dollars. In my defense, during that time, a) I earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, b) I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981, c) I earned four more job-elated professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and d) I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran, the federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service, currently $197,200/year, long before I was 40 in 1988.
https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/06/10/why-some-federal-employees-earn-twice-average-salary/
POLITICO
— POLITICO barred from White House after court ruling restoring access.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/politico-barred-from-white-house-after-court-ruling-restoring-access-01091259
— Judge restores White House access for POLITICO, CNN and MS NOW. DD: I should write about the following who have done the most since 2000 to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters: a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) conservative leaders, and e) religious leaders.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/white-house-access-media-ban-ruling-01091226
DAILY BEAST
— Pete Hegseth’s wife is waging her own war on wokeness. Jenny Hegseth, the Secretary of War’s third wife, held the inaugural meeting of the Military Spouse Commission at the White House on Monday, a month after President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the commission and naming Jenny as its leader.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/pentagon-pete-hegseths-third-wife-jenny-hegseth-flaunts-new-power-grab/
ADVOCATE
— The 15 best universities in the U.S. for LGBTQ+ students. These are the top places to get a great education in a queer-friendly and affirming environment. The University of Illinois Chicago scored high on all of the LGBTQ+-inclusive metrics, but suffered from having only one queer venue within 10 miles of the college.
https://www.advocate.com/news/education/lgbtq-friendly-universities-study#rebelltitem10
September 16, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
WGN9
— A kiss renews questions about why IL has so many townships?
https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/a-kiss-renews-questions-about-why-il-has-so-many-townships/
WTTW
— Former CPD Supt. Larry Snelling Starts Collecting $190K Annual Police Pension. DD: I got in line for a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension when I was 18 in 1966. While I worked part-time for the Post Office 1966-1969, I got both Social Security credits and full-time CSRS credits. My critics/opponents have always been furious about that. Further, they are furious that since I was 49 in 1997, I have gotten a CSRS pension, currently $68,640/year. So far, in today’s dollars, CSRS has paid me $2 million dollars. Further, they are furious that last year, my Social Security increased from $3,000/year to $19,000/year.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/09/14/former-cpd-supt-larry-snelling-starts-collecting-190k-annual-police-pension-records-show
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/16/deerfield-public-school-district-109/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Google’s Thompson Center debut delayed to 2028.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/commercial/ccb-google-thompson-center-opening-delayed-20260916/
MUDDY RIVER NEWS
— Pritzker campaign seems to pay more attention to Trump endorsement than Bailey.
https://muddyrivernews.com/politics/pritzker-campaign-seems-to-pay-more-attention-to-trump-endorsement-than-bailey/20260915213302/
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL PUBLISHING
— Illinois Democrats raise $1 million at Navy Pier rally.
https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/2026/09/15/illinois-democrats-raise-1-million-at-navy-pier-rally/
WHEATON PATCH
— Man Set Fire To His Aunt And Uncle’s House In Wheaton. Nahom T. Abraha, 40, is being held at DuPage County Jail in connection with the Sept. 13 arson.
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/man-set-fire-his-aunt-uncles-house-wheaton-police
BUR RIDGE PATCH
— Burr Ridge Mayor Returns Indicted Restaurateur’s Campaign Donations. The mayor said he did not know about the contributions before Patch’s inquiry. He also returned the businessman’s donations in 2018.
https://patch.com/illinois/burrridge/amp/34838127/burr-ridge-mayor-returns-indicted-restaurateurs-campaign-donations
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— On the official (Democrat) campaign trail.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/09/16/on-the-official-campaign-trail-01078576
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/09/16/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-808/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Florida restricts welfare benefits for ‘nonessential’ purchases. Items banned include vapes, tattoos, and spa services. DD: While I worked for IRS’s Collection Division for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, I took many financial statements from delinquent taxpayers who claimed an inability to pay.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/25/florida-restricts-welfare-benefits-nonessential-purchases/
— University of Maryland replaces DEI language with ‘belonging and community.’
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/15/university-maryland-replaces-dei-language-belonging-community/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— What Karl Marx got right about politics.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/4727637/what-karl-marx-got-right-about-politics-socialism-capitalism/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Mamdani Taps ‘Gay Communist’ for Senior Government Role: New Adviser Called for ‘Abolition of Police’ and ‘Undoing Capitalism,’ Condemned Gandhi as ‘Anti-Black Misogynist.’
https://freebeacon.com/democrats/exclusive-mamdani-taps-gay-communist-for-senior-government-role-new-adviser-called-for-abolition-of-police-and-undoing-capitalism-condemned-gan/
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY
— What is socialism? Socialism is an economic system in which much of the economy is publicly owned or controlled rather than privately owned.
https://americansforprosperity.org/blog/what-is-socialism-what-people-get-wrong/
AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The Democrat Party and Its Supporters Are a Hive. Coordination emerges not primarily from explicit instruction but from shared ideological programming, financial incentives, and institutional culture.
https://amgreatness.com/2026/09/16/the-democrat-party-and-its-supporters-are-a-hive-part-one/
BREITBART
— Chicago’s Dem. Mayor Johnson Says Illegals Are an ‘Essential Part of Who We Are.’ DD: Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War on Republicans. Their illegals are their soldiers in their Democrat Army.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/15/chicagos-dem-mayor-johnson-says-illegals-are-an-essential-part-of-who-we-are/
— House Hearing on Voter Fraud. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to fight voter fraud.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/15/watch-live-house-hearing-on-voter-fraud/
CAMPUS REFORM
— Most MD programs still maintain DEI initiatives.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/report-finds-md-programs-still-maintain-dei-initiatives/30560
DAILY CALLER
— Conservative Leaders Call GOP-Led Amnesty Bill ‘Betrayal’ To Voters.
https://www.aol.com/articles/conservative-leaders-call-gop-led-184237000.html
DAILY WIRE
— Household Debt Is Getting Out Of Hand. Here’s Why It’s At An All-Time High. The bill for all of this excessive, wasteful spending is eventually going to come due.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/household-debt-is-getting-out-of-hand-heres-why-its-at-an-all-time-high
FOX NEWS
— Charlie Kirk’s family alleges Utah Valley University knew of rooftop security risk before his assassination. The notice alleges campus police had no written security plan and only six officers for 3,000 spectators.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/charlie-kirk-family-alleges-uvu-knew-rooftop-security-risk-before-assassination-legal-filing
— Smithsonian move reignites ‘woke,’ ‘Marxist’ criticism as Latino museum avoids congressional approval. Mike Gonzalez’s report argues the museum’s inaugural exhibition reflected anti-Western ideology and Marxist messaging.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/smithsonian-move-reignites-woke-marxist-criticism-latino-museum-avoids-congressional-approval
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEW YORK TIMES
— Half of Voters Dislike Socialism Amid Progressive Wins.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/us/politics/democratic-socialism-poll.html
— DD: Democrat leaders have always used and abused Jews. My Democrat superiors in the federal government successfully forced my many anti-conservative anti-Republican Democrat Jewish superiors and supervisors to take many big adverse actions against me. They stressed that I was conservative, Republican, Protestant, German American, a Crete resident 1948-1972, and a Wheaton resident since 1978. My Jewish Post Office superiors a) disallowed my sick leave requests in 1968 and 1969 and b) forced me to resign in 1969. My Jewish IRS superiors a) forced the IRS manager who had promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 to transfer to Dallas, b) disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974, c) disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and d) made it clear that they would never promote me again. My Jewish GAO superiors a) forced me to take a $23.699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer to GAO in 1980, b) delayed my promotions to GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13, c) made it clear that would never promote me to GS-14, d) kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, e) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for performance, and f) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/opinion/trump-antisemitism-israel-civil-rights.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Why Republicans struggle to prove the danger of socialism. When the GOP embraces big government, it’s harder to champion free markets.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/15/gop-socialism-lite-risks-midterms-without-free-market-contrast/
NBC DALLAS FORT WORTH
— Mortgage rates climb above 7%. DD: Mortgage rates were 17% when I took out a mortgage to buy a new townhome in University Park in 1972. They were 11% when I took out a mortgage to buy a studio condo in downtown Chicago in 1974. They were 9% when I took out a mortgage to buy a one bedroom condo in downtown Chicago in 1976. They were 9% when my wife and I took out a mortgage to buy a home in Wheaton in 1978. They were 14% when my wife and I took out a mortgage to have a home built in Wheaton 1984.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/mortgage-rates-north-texas-homebuyers/4077739/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— This English Village Is Threatening to Quit the U.K. Over Planned Asylum Camp. Piddington, population 350, is up in arms over a proposal to house 1,250 asylum seekers at a former military site.
https://www.wsj.com/world/uk/this-english-village-is-threatening-to-quit-the-u-k-over-planned-asylum-camp-cd0d7610
— Pensions Were on the Brink of Extinction. Now Companies Are Bringing Them Back. Some companies are turning to the lost benefit to recruit employees or settle negotiations with labor unions. DD: I got in line for a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension when I was 18 in 1966. While I worked part-time for the Post Office 1966-1969, I got both Social Security credits and full-time CSRS credits. My critics/opponents have always been furious about that. Further, they are furious that since I was 49 in 1997, I have gotten a CSRS pension, currently $68,640/year. Further, they are furious that last year, my Social Security increased from $3,000/year to $19,000/year. So far, in today’s dollars, CSRS has paid me $2 million dollars.
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/pensions-were-on-the-brink-of-extinction-now-companies-are-bringing-them-back-81b009dc
— DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats a) who were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time and/or b) who had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. None of my coworkers came close to doing what I did. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, I earned six job-related professional certifications, and I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/gender-pay-gap-return-to-office-002bb828
TIME
— Relevant work experience. DD: To force me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors not only ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA in 1976 and my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, they outrageously/disgustingly/falsely/unethically ignored/dismissed/belittled the fact that GAO audits IRS and treated my almost 9 years of experience working for IRS, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, as being not only not job related, but worthless. They knew full-well that much of what I did for IRS was very similar to what I would do be doing for GAO. They would not have forced me to take the aforesaid pay cut if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran. They would have offered me a promotion to GS-13 to transfer, currently $118,984/year.
https://time.com/partner-content/charter/why-college-isn-t-enough-anymore/
KERA NEWS
— Karl Rove said he’ll break 30 years of only supporting Republicans to vote against ‘bigot’ Bo French. DD: I have always not only voted for the Republican candidates on general election ballots in my precinct, but also promoted them. That includes not only candidates who blame me for their defeats, but candidates who have taken big adverse actions against me.
https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2026-09-15/karl-rove-said-hell-break-30-years-of-only-supporting-republicans-to-vote-against-bigot-bo-french
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Karl Rove, former adviser to President George W. Bush and longtime Texas GOP political consultant, said he will vote for Jon Rosenthal, a Houston Democrat running to serve the Texas Railroad Commission, after Republican Bo French posted racist comments on Sunday about South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin. Rove made the comments at a members-only lunch event at the Headliners Club in Austin, where he called French a “bigot,” according to three attendees to whom The Texas Tribune has granted anonymity to discuss the conversation. Rove said he has only ever voted for one Democratic candidate, Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, who was up for reelection in 1994.)
AMERICAN BAZAAR
— Mamdani leads lawsuit challenging Trump’s new ‘public charge’ rule to deny green cards, visas. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they did not have to take bad jobs like I had to because they had wealthy parents. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://americanbazaaronline.com/2026/09/15/mamdani-leads-lawsuit-challenging-trumps-new-public-charge-rule-to-deny-green-cards-visas-488186/
FINDLAW
— Lawsuit Seeks to Block Trump Rule Linking Green Cards to Public Benefits. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they did not have to take bad jobs like I had to because they had wealthy parents. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/courtside/lawsuit-seeks-to-block-trump-rule-linking-green-cards-to-public-benefits/
HR DIVE
— DD: DEI-motivated hirings and promotions cost Accenture $25M in DOJ settlement. DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats a) who were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time and/or b) who had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. None of my coworkers came close to doing what I did. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, I earned six job-related professional certifications, and I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.hrdive.com/news/alleged-dei-motivated-hirings-promotions-cost-accenture-25m-in-doj-settlement/830448/
FINANCIAL POST
— Should you accept your employer’s invitation to resign rather than be fired? DD: My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me to resign when I was 20 in 1969 falsely saying that I was not going to be available to work enough part-time hours. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 saying they would demote me, give me adverse transfers, give me unfair performance expectations, and give me unfair performance appraisals if I did not retire. If I had not taken their early retirement “offer,” I would not have been eligible to take regular retirement until I was 55 in 2003.
https://financialpost.com/fp-work/accept-employers-invitation-to-resign-or-be-fired
SCOTUS BLOG
— Court prevents Trump from firing Fed governor. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors hinted/implied that they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 “for cause.” SEE: Diersen v. GAO at https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf Previously, they had a) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, b) delayed my promotions and never promoted me to GS-14, c) kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and d) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS when I was 31 in 1980.
https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/court-prevents-trump-from-firing-fed-governor/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts contended that, if the Trump administration were correct, it “would in effect transform the Federal Reserve’s for-cause protection into at-will employment—an interpretive leap out of step with the statute Congress enacted and our Nation’s tradition of central banking protected from political interference.”
NPR
— DD: Democrats use “democracy” to take everything away from Republicans and to give it to Democrats.
https://www.npr.org/2026/09/15/nx-s1-5969741/state-of-u-s-democracy-reaches-new-low-report-finds
CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS
— DD: My Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors ever-increasing gave more preference to my Democrat coworkers who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. All my coworkers who they promoted over me were Democrats who were the aforesaid and had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. None of my coworkers came close to doing what I did. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, I earned six job-related professional certifications, and I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/amid-rising-costs-the-gender-wage-gap-deepens-affordability-challenges-for-women/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
ECONOMIST
— In the coming years the “silent” and “baby boomer” generations in America—people born between the 1920s and 1960s—will pass $110 trillion in wealth to their children. DD: My father died suddenly in 1969 when he was 47 and I was 21. Of course, my critics/opponents are furious that I inherited money when my mother, aunt, and brother passed away recently.
https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2026/09/16/dont-fear-the-inheritocracy
HINDUSTAN TIMES
— New Green Card rule takes effect Sept 18: What changes for Indian applicants under the new public charge guidance? Starting September 18, Indian nationals applying for US green cards will face expanded public-charge assessments. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they did not have to take bad jobs like I had to because they had wealthy parents. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/nri/new-green-card-rule-takes-effect-sept-18-what-changes-for-indian-applicants-under-the-new-public-charge-guidance-101789543441057.html
TIMES OF ISRAEL
— Despite anti-Israel turmoil, 67% of US Jews plan to vote Democrat in midterms. DD: All my many Jewish superiors in the federal government were Democrats, that is, they all were anti-Republican, that is, they all were anti-conservative, that is, they all were anti-Israel.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-anti-israel-turmoil-67-of-us-jews-plan-to-vote-democrat-in-midterms-poll/
September 14, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— House Speaker Mike Johnson says President Donald Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ needs congressional approval.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/13/johnson-trumps-5000-dividend-congrssional-approval/
— Decision on Aurora recall referendum expected Monday.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260913/local-politics/decision-on-aurora-recall-referendum-expected-monday/
— Illinois farmers are farming the government for cash.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/14/farm-bill-china-farmers-illinois-soybeans/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Under the Democrats, poverty ever-increasingly increases in Chicago.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/09/14/new-report-finds-35-of-chicago-households-dont-have-sufficient-food
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/arts-and-culture/2026/09/13/mexican-independence-day-parade-operation-midway-blitz-year-later
NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump returns home to drum up voter support for GOP candidates ahead of midterms.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-09-14/trump-returns-home-to-drum-up-voter-support-for-gop-candidates-ahead-of-midterms
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Democrat ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/republicans-fearing-voter-anger-about-costs-clash-over-economic-strategy/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Johnson’s reelection bet: the left
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Radical IL Dems Running For Office and Don’t Ignore The Lessons of 9/11.
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/09/13/radical-il-dems-running-for-office-and-dont-ignore-the-lessons-of-9-11
— Socialism 2026 Conference Worse Than Expected.
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/09/10/socialism-2026-conference-worse-than-expected
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— House Speaker Mike Johnson calls Trump’s $5,000 checks an ‘idea’ Congress will consider.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/13/house-speaker-mike-johnson-calls-trumps-5000-checks-idea-congress/
— Most colleges ignored the Declaration’s 250th anniversary. Higher education missed a chance to examine the nation’s founding principles.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/13/colleges-ignored-declarations-250th-anniversary/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Happy Constitution Day: The states retain responsibilities, not just rights. DD: Under the Democrats, more and more and more Democrat states are moving toward secession.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/4719179/constitution-day-please-check-your-assignment/
NEW YORK POST
— Charlie Kirk statue vandalized outside TPUSA’s Phoenix HQ days after it was unveiled.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/13/us-news/new-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-outside-tpusas-phoenix-hq/
— Hollywood’s crusade against Jews and Israel is unconscionable.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/13/opinion/hollywoods-bias-against-jews-and-israel-is-unconscionable/
— Left’s push to delay deporting illegal-migrant criminals imposes huge costs on taxpayers.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/14/opinion/lefts-push-to-delay-deporting-illegal-migrant-criminals-imposes-huge-costs-on-taxpayers/
1819 NEWS
— Americans have got to wake up. The leftist takeover of Democrat Party must rouse voters.
https://1819news.com/news/item/the-american-people-have-got-to-wake-up-strong-argues-leftist-takeover-of-democrat-party-must-rouse-voters
AMERICAN THINKER
— Increasingly obvious: Islam is incompatible with Western Civilization. Democrats are embracing Islam’s incompatibility with civilization.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/increasingly-obvious-islam-is-incompatible-with-western-civilization/
— Shall we be a socialist paradise like France? Let’s take a look at what France is actually like.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/shall-we-be-a-socialist-paradise-like-france/
BREITBART
— Brandon Johnson Will Seek Second Term as Mayor of Homicide-Plagued Chicago.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/13/brandon-johnson-will-seek-another-term-as-mayor-of-homicide-plagued-chicago/amp/
COLLEGE FIX
— Universities are embedding DEI concepts into AI programs.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/universities-are-embedding-dei-concepts-into-ai-programs-watchdog-warns/
COLLEGE VOICE
— Why I Started a Turning Point USA Chapter. DD: What are the Turning Point USA chapters in Illinois?
https://thecollegevoice.org/2026/03/26/why-i-started-a-turning-point-usa-chapter/
DAILY WIRE
— Charlie Kirk Statue Defaced With Red Paint After Unveiling. The eight-foot bronze statue was unveiled just three days earlier to mark the anniversary of Kirk’s assassination.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-after-unveiling
FEDERALIST
— Schools, Corporate Media Rewrite Islamic Terrorists Out Of 9/11.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/09/12/schools-corporate-media-rewrite-islamic-terrorists-out-of-9-11/
FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
— Government dependency. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more dependency on government. According to them, you cannot succeed in America without massive government assistance. According to my critics/opponents, I owe all my successes in life to my working for the federal government. But my federal employers did not reimburse the money I spent to earn my job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. Many big private sector employers reimburse such expenses. If I had not earned the aforesaid degrees, certifications, and license, the Democrats who ran IRS in 1971 would not have hired me or promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 and the Democrats who ran GAO in 1980 would not have hired me or promoted me in 1986. I would not have become a postal employee in 1966 if my high school friend had not asked me to join him in taking the postal employment test. Further, I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if Oldsmobile had not withdrawn a job offer that I had accepted because Oldsmobile had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://thefga.org/blog/if-work-is-punitive-what-is-a-lifetime-of-government-dependency/
FOX BUSINESS
— Millennials may believe in socialism but they BENEFIT from capitalism.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/am-uc35on54
FOX NEWS
— Democrat leaders punish Democrats who put working Americans ahead of party loyalty. DD: RINOs leaders punish Republicans who promote planks in the Republican Party platform that they reject. Most commonly, RINO leaders reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/democrats-punish-members-put-working-americans-ahead-party-loyalty
— Trump DEMANDS Smithsonian replace ‘WOKE’ exhibits.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6405008476112
— DSA-backed candidates are winning primaries and their vision for America is very different
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dsa-backed-candidates-winning-primaries-vision-america-different
— There is no ‘moderate socialism.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6405017175112
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Vandals Deface Charlie Kirk Memorial, Cross Out Jesus.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/09/vandals-deface-charlie-kirk-memorial-cross-out-jesus/
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Why the U.S. Has a Culture of Dependency. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more dependency on government. According to them, you cannot succeed in America without massive government assistance. According to my critics/opponents, I owe all my successes in life to my working for the federal government. But my federal employers did not reimburse the money I spent to earn my job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. Many big private sector employers reimburse such expenses. If I had not earned the aforesaid degrees, certifications, and license, the Democrats who ran IRS in 1971 would not have hired me or promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 and the Democrats who ran GAO in 1980 would not have hired me or promoted me in 1986. I would not have become a postal employee in 1966 if my high school friend had not asked me to join him in taking the postal employment test. Further, I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if Oldsmobile had not withdrawn a job offer that I had accepted because Oldsmobile had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/commentary/why-the-us-has-culture-dependency
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Pushing Back Against DEI Capture of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/09/pushing-back-against-dei-capture-of-mandatory-continuing-legal-education/amp/
NATIONAL REVIEW
— The March of School Choice. DD: My parents sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools. That put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/10/the-march-of-school-choice/
— Personal Responsibility in Modern American Life. DD: My parents sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools. That put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/why-shit-matters-challenges-readers-rethink-responsibility-modern-american
(FROM THE ARTICLE: At 72, Jim Crupi draws on a lifetime of experiences that inform the perspectives explored throughout the book. He credits a strong family upbringing, a 50-year marriage, two successful children, and a career spanning more than 40 years in aviation as important foundations for his observations about responsibility and character.)
— Trump’s Reckless $5,000 ‘Dividend.’
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/09/trumps-reckless-5000-dividend/
PJ MEDIA
— What Happens When We Elect People to Congress Who Hate America. DD: Under the Democrats, more and more and more Democrat states are moving toward secession.
https://pjmedia.com/robert-spencer/2026/09/13/what-happens-when-we-elect-people-who-hate-america-to-congress-this-n4957200
— The American Left Is Irredeemable. DD: The American Left is ever-increasingly anti-American.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/09/13/is-the-american-left-irredeemable-n4957198
REAL CLEAR MARKETS
— Socialists Are Sapping U.S. Cities: Money Is Running Out.
https://www.realclearmarkets.com/2026/09/14/socialists_are_sapping_us_cities_money_is_running_out_1205673.html
REASON
— Americans Grow Increasingly Dependent on Government Payments. Many citizens of the land of the free are hooked on government checks. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more dependency on government. According to them, you cannot succeed in America without massive government assistance. According to my critics/opponents, I owe all my successes in life to my working for the federal government. But my federal employers did not reimburse the money I spent to earn my job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. Many big private sector employers reimburse such expenses. If I had not earned the aforesaid degrees, certifications, and license, the Democrats who ran IRS in 1971 would not have hired me or promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 and the Democrats who ran GAO in 1980 would not have hired me or promoted me in 1986. I would not have become a postal employee in 1966 if my high school friend had not asked me to join him in taking the postal employment test. Further, I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if Oldsmobile had not withdrawn a job offer that I had accepted because Oldsmobile had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://reason.com/2024/10/04/americans-grow-increasingly-dependent-on-government-payments/
TOWNHALL
— Charlie Kirk Statue Vandalized Days After Unveiling at TPUSA HQ.
https://townhall.com/news/scott-mcclallen/2026/09/13/charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-days-after-unveiling-at-tpusa-hq-n2682903
— America Has Not Learned the Right Lessons From Charlie Kirk’s Murder.
https://townhall.com/columnists/joshhammer/2026/09/11/america-has-not-learned-the-right-lessons-from-charlie-kirks-murder-n2682802
— Why People Prefer Socialism to Capitalism. DD: To get ahead under socialism, all you have to do is be a socialist. To get ahead under Democrats, all you have to do is be a Democrat. To get ahead under RINOs, all you have to do is be a RINO. To get ahead under Affirmative Action and DEI, all you have to be is a minority or a female.
https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2026/09/14/why-people-prefer-socialism-to-capitalism-n2682900
U.S. HOUSE
— More Americans Dependent on Welfare Checks, at the Expense of Work. DD: To avoid welfare, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. I took bad jobs that my peers would never stoop to take. I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivering mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent federal taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997. I would not have become a postal employee in 1966 if my high school friend had not asked me to join him in taking the postal employment test. Further, I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if Oldsmobile had not withdrawn a job offer that I had accepted because Oldsmobile had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2025/01/08/new-report-shows-more-americans-dependent-on-welfare-checks-at-the-expense-of-work/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/12/us/politics/trump-democrats-communism-midterms.html
USA TODAY
— DD:: Democrat leaders blast Trump and the GOP convention.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/09/11/trump-republican-midterm-convention-pledge-allegiance-takeaways/91656650007/
SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE
— Trump, MAGA saved America. Don’t let socialism ruin it.
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/opinion/letters/2026/09/14/trump-maga-socialists-left/91754827007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Yes, Children Really Are Getting Dumber. Covid shutdowns, grade inflation and now AI are degrading the quality of American education.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/yes-children-really-are-getting-dumber-fa4cb20c
— The Road to a Universal Basic Income. An expanded child tax credit is the first step. The bidding is underway.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-road-to-a-universal-basic-income-ee06f422
— Andrew M. Cuomo: Antisemitism Surges 25 Years After 9/11.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/antisemitism-surges-25-years-after-9-11-2327f95c
FORBES
— ‘I Like The Candidate From Illinois’: Trump Praises GOP Candidate For IL Governor Darren Bailey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QnJGu0Q09o
FORTUNE
— Amazon workers on food stamps have tripled despite its record revenue—and it’s just the latest evidence of the new economy of shrinking labor shares. DD: In Illinois, you qualify for food stamps if you earn less than $25,824/year or $12.42/hour. In today’s dollars, I worked for $12.74/hour washing dishes 1964-1966.
https://fortune.com/2026/09/13/amazon-workers-food-stamps-tripled-record-revenue-labor-share/
— Life Lessons Learned From Saving for Retirement. DD: My wife and I always made saving for our retirement a top priority.
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/wsj-readers-share-the-life-lessons-learned-from-saving-for-retirement-494cf093
FORBES
— Mike Johnson Blasts ‘Marxist Socialist Left,’ Urges Americans To Vote For GOP in Midterms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIsTK4KZBpE
NPR
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote reparations in Evanston.
https://www.npr.org/2026/09/14/nx-s1-5869793/evanston-illinois-reparations-trump-administration
YALE DAILY NEWS
— First campus Turning Point USA event nods to Charlie Kirk’s legacy. On the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Yale’s chapter of Turning Point USA hosted its first public event with Nick Shirley, a conservative influencer, who highlighted the importance of independent journalism.
https://yaledailynews.com/articles/first-campus-turning-point-usa-event-nods-to-charlie-kirk-s-legacy
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Yale’s chapter of Turning Point USA invited Nick Shirley, an independent journalist and conservative influencer, on Thursday, the one-year anniversary of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Turning Point USA was founded in 2012 by Kirk and his mentor, Bill Montgomery, to advocate for conservative principles on high school and college campuses across the United States. Kirk was killed in a shooting last September at a speaking event at a university in Utah, and Turning Point USA’s Yale chapter was founded this spring. During the off-the-record event, Shirley detailed his investigations into fraud and emphasized the importance of independent journalism, which he predicted would become increasingly popular in the future, according to audience members. . .Turning Point USA has over 800 college chapters, according to its website.)
— The class of 2030, by the numbers. DD: 11.7% are bisexual, 8.9% are gay/lesbian, 3.4% are queer, 3.2% are questioning/curious, 1.2% are asexual, .6% are pansexual, 56.8% are not very religious or spiritual, 19.5% are agnostic, 15% are Protestant, 13.3% are Catholic, 8.9% are Jewish, 52% speak more than one language, 54.1% receive financial aid, 10% took out loans, 20.9% receive full financial aid, 94% receive partial financial support from their parents, 4% are working their way through college, 17% of their parents have at least a bachelor’s degree, 23.8% a doctoral degree, and 42.8 a master’s or professional degree, and of those who submitted their ACT score, only .6% had a score of 24 or lower.
https://yaledailynews.com/articles/the-class-of-2030-by-the-numbers
LIVING WAGE
— Calculator. DD: The living wage for a single person with no dependents in Will County is $55,952/year. In today’s dollars, when I was 22 in 1971 and living with and helping support my mother and brother in Crete, my IRS salary was $56,409/year. I had earned a bachelor’s degree in business from NIU in 1970. In today’s dollars, my IRS salary increased to $68,999/year when I got promoted in 1972. That enabled me to buy a new townhome in University Park in 1972. Previously, with my full-time Firestone Store salary 1970-1971 and then part-time salary 1971-1972, I was able to buy a new 1972 Corvette in 1971 and to pay for tuition and books for graduate evening business courses at Loyola in 1972.
https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/17043
FROM OTHER SOURCES
BEST COLLEGES
— 40 Companies That Pay for College With Tuition Reimbursement. DD: I worked for Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997. My entire life would have been different if they had reimbursed my tuition expenses. Except for some small token amounts, they did not reimburse the money I spent to earn my job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970, my job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997, my job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and my job-related professional license in 1981. Many big private sector employers including UPS, FedEx, Fidelity, and JP Morgan Chase, reimburse such expenses. Further, to get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education expenses in 1978. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued that the courses I took a) did not relate to my job duties, b) did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, and d) qualified me for a new trade or business. They ignored/dismissed/belittled the fact that my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses. They ignored/dismissed my job descriptions and the Loyola and DePaul course descriptions.
https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/companies-with-tuition-reimbursement/
August 11, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Pritzker and Bailey spar over Trump tariffs and farm economy at ag forum.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/10/jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-ag-forum/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/10/column-democrats-democratic-socialism-progressives-donald-trump-red-scare-page/
SHAW LOCAL
— ‘This race is winnable’: Bailey calls on La Salle County Republicans for support in quest for governor’s chair. Candidate stopped in Mendota for appearance in Sweet Corn Fest Grand Parade.
https://www.shawlocal.com/illinois-valley/2026/08/10/this-race-is-winnable-bailey-calls-on-la-salle-county-republicans-for-support-in-quest-for-governors-chair/
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Governor candidates fight for the farmers vote.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/your-local-election-hq/illinois-gov-candidates-agriculture/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Illinois Republicans fight for name recognition.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-il-republicans-fight-for-name-recognition/
CHICAGO PARENT
— These are the 10 best places to raise a family in Chicagoland. Explore the top family-friendly suburbs in Chicagoland with great schools, low crime rates and affordable housing. DD: If your municipality is not on the list, why is that?
https://www.chicagoparent.com/how-do-i/these-are-the-10-best-places-to-raise-a-family-in-chicagoland-cbd38771
CHICAGO READER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://chicagoreader.com/city-life/chicago-gay-games-2006/
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/10/chicagoans-alleging-crimes-by-ice-agents-seek-police-help-after-feds-fail-to-act/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Is Wisconsin becoming Illinois north?
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/11/is-wisconsin-becoming-illinois-north-01032223
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/11/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-788/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/10/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-575/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Dangers of issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. States that weaken CDL standards put American families at deadly risk.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/10/dangers-issuing-commercial-drivers-licenses-illegal-aliens/
— Trump says Democrats are electing ‘jihadists.’
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/10/trump-says-democrats-electing-jihadists/
— Young adults are having trouble finding potential spouses. DD: I met my outstanding wife at a Presbyterian singles event. She is Catholic and I am Missouri Synod Lutheran. What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/10/young-people-looking-love-wrong-places/
— Ceuta invasion another step toward a Muslim Europe. Americans can ill afford to be smug.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/10/editorial-ceuta-invasion-another-step-toward-muslim-europe/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Rainbow reds are more dangerous than communists of old.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/community-family/4680978/rainbow-reds-more-dangerous-communists-no-god-debasing-science-pampered/
— Too conservative. DD: According to Democrats and according to RINOs, I am too conservative, that is, I promote too many conservative principles, that is, I promote too many planks in the Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4681101/new-fusionism-blueprint-uniting-gop/
— AOC, 2028, and the coming of woke 2.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/4682228/aoc-2028-woke-1-socialist-democrats/
— Democrats try to dodge ‘Woke 1’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4681169/the-democrats-crazy-woke-1-dodge-past-comments-trailing-candidates/
— ‘We have to smash the state’: The Left prepares for war.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4681140/we-smash-state-left-prepares-war/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Move Over, Thanksgiving: Francesca Hong Hosted ‘Feast of the Feminine.’
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/move-over-thanksgiving-francesca
NEW YORK POST
— DSA darling Francesca Hong doesn’t just want to cancel Thanksgiving — here’s all her nuttiest takes ahead of pivotal Wisconsin primary.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/10/us-news/dsa-darling-francesca-hong-doesnt-just-want-to-cancel-thanksgiving-all-her-nuttiest-takes-ahead-of-pivotal-wisconsin-primary/
— Democratic socialists will act like communists once elected.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/10/opinion/fresh-proof-that-democratic-socialists-will-act-like-communists-once-elected/
— Judge Wayne Ozzi derails Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax. DD: I had a second home in the Outer Drive East building in downtown Chicago 1974-1978, but only because I would have had to suffer a big loss if I had sold my University Park townhome.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/10/opinion/judge-squelches-mamdanis-enemies-list-but-the-socialists-have-still-put-you-on-notice/
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Do Hegseth’s Reforms to Military Universities Go Far Enough? Wokeness isn’t the only problem at war colleges and service academies.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/do-hegseths-reforms-to-military-universities-go-far-enough/
BLAZE
— Socialism’s favorite bait-and-switch.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/socialisms-favorite-bait-and-switch
DAILY CALLER
— Woke 2
https://dailycaller.com/2026/08/11/duke-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-woke-1-crazy-francesca-hong/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Far-Left Democrats Lose to Far-Far-Left DSA Challengers.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/10/far-left-democrats-far-far-left-dsa-challengers/
DAILY WIRE
— America’s Professors Break Century-Long Precedent To Go Full Socialist.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-professors-break-century-long-precedent-to-go-full-socialist
FOX BUSINESS
— Let’s not punish the rich.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403158657112
FOX NEWS
— Socialist tax-the-rich plan to face NY judge. DD: Who wants you to pay more taxes and why? My critics/opponents have always wanted me to pay more taxes. Their justifications include a) my having avoided the Vietnam War draft, b) my having worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, for IRS 1971-1980, and for GAO 1980-1997, c) my being a federal retiree since 1997, d) my getting promotions in 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1986, e) my wife and I giving up trying to have children without trying IVF, our not adopting, and our not becoming foster parents, and f) me and my wife having itemized. According to my critics/opponents, I have always had more income because I benefit from discrimination against those who share their demographics.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403179217112
— Will Wisconsin be the place that stops socialism?
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403165635112
— Mamdani clashes with Democratic Socialists’ push to abolish police and prisons. DD: Of course, criminals vote for socialist candidates.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/mamdani-clashes-democratic-socialists-push-abolish-police-prisons
GREENWALD
— The tactic of AOC and her allies to giggle away the ‘craziness’ of Woke-era abuses should not be tolerated. The so-called “Woke 1” period is not something to laugh off. It was a repressive and destructive mob rule which unjustly destroyed careers and requires a reckoning.
https://greenwald.substack.com/p/the-tactic-of-aoc-and-her-allies
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Some Migrants Hate America on Arrival.
https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/some-migrants-hate-america-arrival
INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY STUDIES
— It’s still not good for man to be alone. New research on the state of men in America shows the benefits of marriage, family, and work.
https://wng.org/opinions/its-still-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-1786340259
JONATHAN TURLEY
— “Niceness as Whiteness”: Professors Denounce Niceness as White Privilege.
https://jonathanturley.org/2026/08/11/niceness-as-whiteness-professors-denounce-niceness-as-perpetuating-white-privilege/comment-page-1/amp/
NEWSMAX
— Democrats Are Embracing Communism.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/russell-fry-democrats-communism/2026/08/10/id/1265670/
— ICE Arrests Hit Record Highs.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/tom-homan-newsmax-ice/2026/08/10/id/1265685/
TOWNHALL
— Congress Can Still Act on Birthright Citizenship.
https://townhall.com/columnists/jeremy-beck/2026/08/11/congress-can-still-act-on-birthright-citizenship-n2680998
— A Staten Island judge has blocked a tax hike on second homes proposed by Mamdani. DD: I had a second home in the Outer Drive East building in downtown Chicago 1974-1978, but only because I would have had to suffer a big loss if I had sold my University Park townhome.
https://townhall.com/news/josephchalfant/2026/08/10/new-york-judges-halts-mamdanis-aggressive-socialist-policy-n2681015
— Wisconsin Will Stop the Socialist Wave.
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/08/10/tom-tiffany-wisconsin-will-stop-socialism-n2680967
— Did Abdul El-Sayed Really Say This About White Truck Drivers?
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/08/10/abdul-el-sayed-afraid-of-white-truck-drivers-n2680973
WESTERN JOURNAL
— The House’s Push to Purge LGBT Propaganda from Children’s Shows.
https://www.westernjournal.com/houses-push-purge-lgbt-propaganda-childrens-shows/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: The more problems that Democrats and RINOs have, the more likely that they will a) blame capitalism for their problems and b) want socialism to solve their problems. What did you do to avoid problems? I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management), three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and a job-related professional license (CPA).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdSicnRRBC0
AOL
— Illinois breaks top 20 best states to live in. DD: The more of the following that you are, the better that Illinois is for you: liberal/moderate, Democrat, RINO, minority, female, younger, unmarried, LGBTQ, veteran, poor, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are in America illegally.
https://www.aol.com/articles/study-illinois-breaks-top-20-175518000.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Homeland Security Intensifies Pursuit of Noncitizens on Voter Rolls.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/politics/noncitizens-vote-crackdown.html
— Women’s Share of Top Military Promotions Falls as Hegseth Blocks Nominees. DD: All my coworkers who were women and who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/upshot/military-promotions-women-hegseth.html
— Now Coming to a Black Media Outlet Near You: Mayor Mamdani. Zohran Mamdani’s “all of the above” media strategy, which encompasses ethnic media, influencers and content creators, has led to a recent Black media blitz. DD: Everyone sees how the following treat me and treat my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters: past and present a) leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, and Illinois Center Right Coalition, b) Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) conservative leaders, and e) religious leaders.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/09/nyregion/black-media-mamdani.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Trump administration takes aim at website listing diversity scholarships. DD: My critics/opponents have always used my not getting scholarships against me.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/08/10/trump-administration-takes-aim-website-listing-diversity-scholarships/
USA TODAY
— $110,000 needed to afford a typical US home in 2026. DD: What did you do to buy your first home? I bought a new townhome in University Park ( https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ ) when I was 24 in 1972. In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and the down payment would have been about $36,000. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. The down payment came from what I had earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $92,200. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/08/05/income-needed-afford-typical-us-home-2026-redfin-report/91185869007/
— As Trump drastically rolls back rules for Head Start, some Republicans are wary. DD: My critics/opponents have always used my parents’ sending me to kindergarten at Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete in 1953 to falsely hint/imply/argue/shout that they were filthy rich.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/09/head-start-trump-rfk-jr-preschool-senate-republicans-alarmed/91213407007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong’s Wisconsin Primary Lead Alarms Establishment Democrats. Party insiders worry Hong would lose the general election for governor in November.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/democratic-socialist-francesca-hongs-wisconsin-primary-lead-alarms-establishment-democrats-e3b9a1ce
— How to Plan for the Staggering Costs of Fertility Treatments. The amount of money spent can rival a house purchase or college tuition. It’s crucial for couples to figure out the financial equation ahead of time. DD: In 1989, my Democrat GAO superiors pulled out all the stops to get rid of me. That included their viciously demonizing, denigrating, and condemning me for my wife and I giving up trying to have children without trying IVF. They stressed that my wife’s health insurance covered the costs. They ignored/dismissed/belittled our doctor’s advising against it because we both had major fertility problems. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned our not adopting and our not becoming foster parents. They painted themselves as being grossly underpaid. They decried the time and money they spent raising their children. They decried the little or no income that their wives had.
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/fertility-treatment-costs-planning-976703b7
FORTUNE
— We have a happiness-segregated society by marriage. DD: My Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I got married when I was 29 in 1978. To get rid of me, they had ever-increasingly painted me as being so bad that I would never get married. They were especially furious because my wife had a good job. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/documents/
https://fortune.com/2026/08/10/americans-unhappy-marriage-rates-peltzman/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The first instinct is to blame money, but Peltzman says it’s not that simple. Yes, while grocery bills and gas prices have soared, blaming the affordability crisis would make sense if the unhappiest Americans were the ones getting squeezed hardest. But Peltzman’s data says the opposite. The people who fell furthest after 2020 were the ones who had the most going in: white, high-income, college-educated, right-leaning Americans. “The affordability business is not an upper-income kind of concern,” he said. “It’s a lower-income kind of concern, and the upper-income people have been hit hardest in the happiness crash. “Any story which says that it’s inequality,” Peltzman said, “those kind of stories are not consistent with the facts.” ‘We have a happiness-segregated society by marriage’ Married people are still, on net, happy. Unmarried people, about 45% of American adults, are now, on net, unhappy. “The only people who are positive, where there’s a clear positive balance in happiness, are married people,” Peltzman said. “We have a happiness-segregated society by marriage.” The obvious next question is whether this is just the marriage rate falling and the crash is only picking that up. It isn’t. The marriage rate itself hasn’t moved in 15 years: “It’s 55/45, and it’s been that way,” Peltzman said. Marriage rates did decline for decades, from the 1970s through the early 2000s, and in an earlier paper, Peltzman found that decline explained most of the happiness slide that came before the pandemic. But that slide had already leveled off well before 2020. The country’s split between married and unmarried adults going into the crash is the same split as today. What changed was not how many people are married, but how much worse it now feels to be unmarried, while married people mostly held their ground.)
— Jamie Dimon says Gen Z is wrong to give up on the American Dream—but admits it’s dying for the bottom 20% of households. DD: Neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. He never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. He almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills. He died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21, My mother never attended high school. All my grandparent spoke German. I had to work my way through college.
https://fortune.com/2026/08/10/jamie-dimon-gen-z-giving-up-american-dream-wrong-understandable/?ref=biztoc.com
BUSINESS INSIDER
— Job loss. DD: After my Democrat GAO forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, I soon gave up searching for a job appropriate for someone with my work experience, education, professional certification, and professional license because my Democrat GAO superiors had damaged me so much. Prior to their forcing me to retire, they had a) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, c) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, d) kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 13 years that I worked for GAO, and e) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.
https://www.businessinsider.com/laid-off-single-mom-part-time-garden-new-perspective-2026-8
WEEK
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://theweek.com/politics/should-democrats-embrace-democratic-socialists
FLORIDA POLITICS
— Super PAC’s new CD 19 ads warn voters: Don’t let Catalina Lauf ‘Illinois our Florida.’ In the Republican Primary to succeed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, “Illinois” is now a verb. A week after loading three out-of-state candidates into an AI-generated clown car, Southwest Florida First is back with ads aimed at just one of them: Catalina Lauf. DD: My critics/opponents in DuPage County have always stressed that I did not move to DuPage County until I was 29 in 1978.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/812570-super-pacs-new-cd-19-ads-warn-voters-dont-let-catalina-lauf-illinois-our-florida/
ALTERNET
— Former GOP chair Michael Steele: Republicans are socialists — but only for themselves.
https://www.alternet.org/trump-farmers-2677684186/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Donald Trump is accusing Democrats of being “communists” and “socialists,” but as a former Republican National Committee chair pointed out on Monday, he supports socialist policies… as long as they benefit Republican constituencies like farmers. “People fundamentally do not understand socialism,” MS NOW commentator and former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele said on Monday. “They do not understand communism. What is it — the median grade level in the United States is eighth grade. Okay? We’re not teaching civics. We’re not teaching world history. We’re not teaching the fundamentals of how all of this comes together. So these terms from the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s are being thrown out into the ecosystem.” He then mentioned Trump’s proposed $17.3 billion bailout to farmers, a group that has been disproportionately economically harmed by his tariffs, his mass deportations and his war against Iran. “Y’all know the Farm Bill is socialism; y’all know that, right?” Steele said.)
LAW
— DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.law.com/article/almID/900005518698/
— STOP THE CLOCK ON AGE RETIREMENTS. DD: Federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System and who are the following are forced to retire as soon as they are eligible, that is, when they are 55 and have 30 years of service: conservative, Republican, White, male, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. I became eligible for early retirement when I was 45 in 1993. My Democrat GAO succeeded in forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 when their early retirement “offer” expired. I would not have been eligible for regular retirement until I was 55 in 2003. They made it very clear that if I did not take their “offer,” they would make those 6 years a living hell for me. They would constructively demote me, give me adverse transfers, give me unfair performance expectations, give me unfair performance appraisals, and even worse things. SEE: https://www.law.com/article/almID/53G5-97S1-JBM3-R0DM-00000-00/https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf
FED SMITH
— Beyond One Senate Race: What AFGE’s Endorsement Reveals About Federal Employee Unions. AFGE’s endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed highlights the political role of federal employee unions and raises questions about representing a non-partisan workforce. DD: Virtually all federal employees are Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, disabled, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Many if not most of them a) paint themselves as being “in need” and b) blame Republicans for their many problems. While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, none of my coworkers did what I did. I earned a) three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), b) six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and c) a job-related professional license (CPA).
https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/08/10/afge-endorsement-federal-unions-senate-race/
PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
— Civil Service Protections. DD: Democrats run the federal government. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. I am none of the aforesaid. To get rid of me, my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors punished me a) for my not becoming a Democrat, b) for my avoiding the Vietnam War draft, c) for my complaining about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, and d) for my being an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with the aforesaid. Federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Unions provide some protection. But GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized when I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors might not have been able to take the many big adverse actions against me that they did including forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://ourpublicservice.org/know-the-facts/blog/merit-systems-protection-board-mspb-removal-conditions-retaliation-protections
HIGHER EDUCATION DIVE
— Elite colleges are returning to the SAT and ACT. Will others follow? Top-ranked colleges and the Trump administration are embracing the exams, but that doesn’t mean test-optional policies are falling out of favor everywhere. DD: UIC would not have accepted in 1966 if my ACT score had not been 24 and I had not graduated in the upper 20% of my class.
https://www.highereddive.com/news/elite-colleges-are-returning-to-the-sat-and-act-will-others-follow/827299/
DAILY KOS
— DD: Democrat leaders continue to reject the fact that in 2024, voters elected Trump and gave control of the House and Senate to Republicans.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/10/800082538/community/forget-the-socialist-scare-americas-crisis-is-capitalism-without-democracy/
July 12, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after a ‘brief and sudden illness. DD: I remember speaking with Graham at a fundraiser for Henry Hyde.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/us-sen-lindsey-graham-dies-71-brief-sudden-illness-office-says/19490033/
(FROM GOOGLE AI: Senator Lindsey Graham and former Congressman Henry Hyde were key Republican figures who worked together most notably as House managers during the 1998–1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. The two maintained a close political and personal bond, frequently aligning on conservative constitutional principles and the pro-life movement.)
— Bridgeview delays ‘Little Palestine Way’ sign unveiling amid claims of political interference. DD: Ever-increasingly, immigrants talk and/or act like they remain loyal to their motherland if not like they came to America to turn America into their motherland.
https://www.aol.com/articles/bridgeview-delays-little-palestine-way-222250000.html
NBC5
— DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers? What did you do when you were at teen? I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivering mail 1966-1969.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/hundreds-of-youth-explore-chicago-as-part-of-my-block-my-hood-my-citys-downtown-day/3960320/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly diminish Second Amendment rights.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/12/editorial-the-7th-circuit-made-the-right-decision-on-illinois-assault-weapons-ban/
— Trump suggests a standing order to attack Iran if it assassinates him. But JD Vance would make the call.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/11/trump-vance-iran/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly punish America to punish Trump.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/12/state-funded-america-250-commemorations-kept-mellow-as-federal-funding-cuts-still-sting-in-illinois/
— Illinois Republicans aren’t just losing. They’re disappearing. DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. According to political consultants in Illinois who want Republican candidates to continue to lose in Illinois, Republican candidates in Illinois should continue to become ever-increasingly more Democrat Lite if not anti-conservative if not RINO. But Republican candidates in Illinois should advocate conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform including its personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. They should cite how their following conservative principles and the aforesaid planks helped them succeed. I attribute my successes in life to my following conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/19/bailey-dabrowski-proft-republican-politics-illinois-gop-ilgop-elections/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/08/charles-selle-column-gop-voters/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/12/courthouse-immigration-arrests/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers? What did you do when you were at teen? I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivering mail 1966-1969.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/07/11/my-block-my-hood-my-city-downtown-day-teen-takeovers
BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Illinois state government hiring for 38 metro-east jobs, including one that pays up to $139,764 per year. DD: In today’s dollars, when I was 22 in 1971, after I had earned a bachelor’s degree in business from NIU when I was 21, my IRS starting salary was $56,409/year. In today’s dollars, when I was 31, after I had earned an MBA from Loyola when I was 27, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, and had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, my starting GAO salary was only $89,703/year. It would have been $113,402, if not $118,984/year (GS-13 Step1), if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran.
https://www.aol.com/news/illinois-state-government-hiring-38-134933231.html
CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— How Illinois Became a One-Party State. DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. According to political consultants in Illinois who want Republican candidates to continue to lose in Illinois, Republican candidates in Illinois should continue to become ever-increasingly more Democrat Lite if not anti-conservative if not RINO. But Republican candidates in Illinois should advocate conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform including its personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. They should cite how their following conservative principles and the aforesaid planks helped them succeed. I attribute my successes in life to my following conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform.
https://www.chicagomag.com/news/opinion-how-illinois-became-a-one-party-state/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On Aug. 8, 2001, George Ryan stood on the steps of the Kankakee County Courthouse and announced he would not seek a second term as governor of Illinois. Ryan’s governorship had been tainted by the licenses-for-bribes scandal, for which he would eventually spend five years in federal prison. Ryan knew he was un-reelectable, but he used the occasion to take a parting shot at the right wing of his party. “I worry for the Republican Party — the party of Lincoln under whose banner I have proudly served all of my life,” he said. “If we’re to be successful, we need to listen more and shout less. We need to moderate our positions. I learned a long time ago that winning public office is about addition and not subtraction, and I would hope that the party folks are listening.” Ryan had once been an archconservative. As speaker of the state House in the early 1980s, he worked with Phyllis Schlafly to stamp out the Equal Rights Amendment. But he won the governorship by running to the left of his Democratic opponent — Southern Illinois congressman Glenn Poshard — on gay rights and abortion. As governor, he instituted a moratorium on the death penalty and, just before leaving office, commuted all death sentences to life in prison. Like any successful politician, Ryan could tell which way the wind was blowing. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, as America’s Red vs. Blue divide developed, Illinois was turning Blue. In 2002, the Democrats took complete control of the state, winning the governorship for the first time in 30 years and the state senate for the first time in more than a decade. Part of their success was due to the national political trends Ryan had observed; part was due to Ryan himself. As the third and last in a 26-year run of Republican governors, his corruption had damaged the brand of a party that had overstayed its welcome.)
MAYOR BROWN
— What Employers Need to Know About “Anti-American” Bias in the Workplace. DD: I am 100% German American. German is one of the worst national origins to have because of WWI, WWII, and the Holocaust. In my defense, I have always stressed that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI, that my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII, and that my father would have fought the Germans in WWII if he had not been 4-F.
https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/insights/publications/2026/03/what-employers-need-to-know-about-anti-american-bias-in-the-workplace
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Political Friends
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/06/27/political-friends/
— Health Care at Illinois Prisons and ICE Detention Centers, Underwood v. Mullin
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/06/27/health-care-at-illinois-prisons-and-ice-detention-centers-underwood-v-mullin/
— Unemployment Rises 19% in McHenry County Over Last Year
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/06/29/unemployment-rises-19-in-mchenry-county/
— State To Gather Height of Water Needed to Flood Structures Along Fox River & Chain of Lakes
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/06/29/state-to-gather-height-of-water-needed-to-flood-structures-along-fox-river-chain-of-lakes/
–Democrats Assumed $500 Million Too Much To Spend
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/06/30/democrats-assumed-500-million-too-much-to-spend/
— An Astounding Reason the CTA “Needs a Bailout”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/06/30/an-astounding-reason-the-cta-needs-a-bailout/
— Early Voter Says She Was “Testing the System” When She Also Voted on Election Day
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/06/30/early-voter-says-she-was-testing-the-system-when-she-also-voted-on-election-day/
— Block Club Chicago Analyzes Uses of Force by Immigration Officers in Operation Midway
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/06/30/block-club-chicago-analyzes-uses-of-force-by-immigration-officers-in-operation-midway/
— Wilcox Holding Bull Valley Golf Club Outing July 13th
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/01/wilcox-holding-bull-valley-golf-club-outing-july-13th/
— But Not in Illinois
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/01/but-not-in-illinois/
— Brian Sager To Continue Representing McHenry County on Commuter Rail Agency
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/01/brian-sager-to-continue-representing-mchenry-county-on-commuter-rail-agency/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— U.S. extends work permits for immigrants with temporary protected status. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/11/us-extends-work-permits-immigrants-temporary-protected-status/
— The vile evil attacking Erika Kirk must be condemned.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/10/vile-evil-attacking-erika-kirk-must-condemned/
— Could birthright citizenship be the next Roe v. Wade? It took nearly 50 years for conservatives to see Roe v. Wade overturned. They’re hoping it won’t take that long to nix Trump v. Barbara, last month’s decision on birthright citizenship.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/11/could-birthright-citizenship-next-roe-v-wade/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump’s welcome crackdown on illegal immigrant truckers
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4642674/trump-welcome-crackdown-illegal-immigrant-truckers/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Selling Our Birthright. The Myth of Birthright Citizenship: What the Fourteenth Amendment Really Says.
https://freebeacon.com/politics/selling-our-birthright/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Naturalization Acts of 1790 and 1795, which offered citizenship to “any alien, being a free white person, who shall have resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States for the term of two years.” . . . 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State where in they reside.”)
NEW YORK POST
— Capitalists fight back: NY Dem launches campaign to counter socialist wave sweeping party.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/11/us-news/ny-democrat-launches-campaign-to-counter-socialist-wave-sweeping-party/
1819
— Combatting the rise of socialism in America
https://1819news.com/news/item/kristin-landers-combatting-the-rise-of-socialism-in-america
AMERICAN THINKER
— Platner may be gone, but the new leftist Democrat party remains. Graham Platner was not an anomaly: The spoiled scion of an affluent family perfectly represents the Jacobin takeover of the Democrat party.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/platner-may-be-gone-but-the-new-leftist-democrat-party-remains/
— Did JD Vance just attack meritocracy and Milton Friedman? Why yes, he did, and that, along with his continued failure to make a clean break from the increasingly lunatic Tucker Carlson, worries me.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/did-jd-vance-just-attack-meritocracy-and-milton-friedman/
BLAZE
— Democratic Socialists of America will seek to RADICALLY upend the federal government in platform update.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/democratic-socialists-new-platform-govt
BREITBART
— Trump Delays Shutdown of Haitians’ Temporary Protected Status. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/07/11/trump-delays-shutdown-of-haitians-temporary-protected-status/amp/
— Los Angeles Gives Free Pass to Illegal Alien Food Vendors While Restaurants Must Comply Or Get Fined and Even Shut Down.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/07/11/exclusive-los-angeles-gives-free-pass-to-illegal-alien-food-vendors-while-restaurants-must-comply-or-get-fined-and-even-shut-down/amp/
CITIZEN FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES
— Immigration Enforcement Has Benefitted American Workers. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://cis.org/Camarota/Has-Immigration-Enforcement-Benefitted-American-Workers
DAILY SIGNAL
— Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died of a “brief and sudden illness” on Saturday, his Senate office announced early Sunday morning. DD: I remember speaking with Graham at a fundraiser for Henry Hyde.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/12/republican-senator-lindsey-graham-dead-71/
(FROM GOOGLE AI: Senator Lindsey Graham and former Congressman Henry Hyde were key Republican figures who worked together most notably as House managers during the 1998–1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. The two maintained a close political and personal bond, frequently aligning on conservative constitutional principles and the pro-life movement.)
FOX NEWS
— NYC map omits Little Italy. DD: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that Crete was “little Germany” when I lived their 1948-1972.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/die-hard-actor-robert-davi-blasts-mamdani-nyc-map-omits-little-italy
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— White House Report Details the Wokeification of the Smithsonian American History Museum.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/07/white-house-report-details-the-wokeification-of-the-smithsonian-american-history-museum/
PJ MEDIA
— American Houses Are for American People.
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/07/12/secretary-turner-american-houses-are-for-american-people-n4954931
— Michigan State University Spends Almost $900,000 on Five DEI Staffers.
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/07/11/michigan-state-university-spends-almost-900000-on-five-dei-staffers-n4954930
TOWNHALL
— The ghost of communism is indeed haunting America. How could that be? Didn’t we win the Cold War? In the late 1980s, the Berlin Wall came down, and the Eastern European nations threw off the yoke of Marxist bondage. Then in the early 1990s, the Soviet Union — the “evil empire” as Ronald Reagan called it— imploded.
https://townhall.com/columnists/jerrynewcombe/2026/07/12/is-there-a-spectre-haunting-america-n2679079
— Equal Protection Wasn’t Supposed to Be Negotiable. DD: Federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Unions provide some protection. But GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized when I transferred from IRS in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors would not have been able to take the many big adverse actions against me that they did. My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, b) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, c) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, and d) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. But even though I was a union member at the time, a) my Democrat IRS superiors never promoted me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974 and b) my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me to resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. That was because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Virtually all federal employees are Democrats who are one or more of the aforesaid. All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://townhall.com/columnists/jay-rogers/2026/07/12/equal-protection-wasnt-supposed-to-be-negotiable-n2679251
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: The Democrat Party is ever-increasingly becoming the Socialist Party. DD: To work for a socialist employer is like working for a Democrat employer. The federal government is a Democrat employer. To advance working for a socialist employer you have to be a socialist. To advance working for a Democrat employer you have to be a Democrat. I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. If I had been a Democrat, they would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service, currently $197,200/year, long before I was 40. I had earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. But my Democrat superiors flushed all that down their toilets because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5962999-democrats-defeat-trump-policies/
CBS NEWS
— DOJ threatens criminal action against states that allow noncitizens to vote.
https://www.aol.com/articles/doj-threatens-criminal-action-against-013522000.html
ASSOCIATE PRESS
— Federal appeals court upholds Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons. DD: According to Google AI, “A semiautomatic firearm automatically performs the reloading steps but requires a separate trigger pull for every individual shot. One Pull, One Round: Pulling and holding the trigger fires only one single bullet. Self-Loading Action: The firearm uses the internal energy of the fired cartridge (gas, recoil, or blowback) to automatically eject the empty casing and chamber a fresh round. Manual Reset: The shooter must completely release (reset) the trigger and pull it again to fire the next shot.”
https://www.aol.com/articles/federal-appeals-court-upholds-illinois-005044000.html
AOL
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.aol.com/news/self-deported-mps-teachers-aide-022654449.html
— For Texans making the state’s median household income of $84,084 in 2026, it would take 7.2 years to save enough money for a down payment on a house with the state’s typical home value of $302,187. DD: For you, how many months did it take to save enough money for your first down payment? For me, back in the good old days, it took only 25 months. Where did the money come from for your first down payment? When I was 24 in 1972, HUD made the new townhome that I bought in University Park ( https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ ) affordable. I could not have afforded to buy that townhome if it had cost more. In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and my down payment would have been about $36,000. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. The down payment came from what I had earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $92,200. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.aol.com/news/much-longer-texans-must-save-210001679.html
CNBC
— DD: Democrats exist to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/11/worst-states-to-live-in-america-2026.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and Staunch Trump Ally, Dies at 71. Mr. Graham died of a “brief and sudden” illness on Saturday evening, his office said. Over more than two decades in the Senate, he consistently pushed for the use of U.S. military power overseas. DD: I remember speaking with Graham at a fundraiser for Henry Hyde.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/us/politics/lindsey-graham-dead.html
(FROM GOOGLE AI: Senator Lindsey Graham and former Congressman Henry Hyde were key Republican figures who worked together most notably as House managers during the 1998–1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. The two maintained a close political and personal bond, frequently aligning on conservative constitutional principles and the pro-life movement.)
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in promoting socialism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/nyregion/dsa-upstate-new-york.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/nyregion/dsa-young-voters-primary-ny.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Teen takeovers confound cities struggling to define the problem — and find solutions. A spate of sometimes violent gatherings has stoked demands for action. But officials know they need to provide outlets for the many teens who are not breaking laws. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers? I did not need an outlet when I was a teen because I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivering mail 1966-1969.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/07/11/teen-takeovers-confound-cities-struggling-define-problem-find-solutions/
— Trump attacks ‘communists.’ Both want a bigger government role in the economy. The president has had the federal government take partial ownership of nearly two dozen companies since returning to the White House.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/07/12/trump-attacks-communists-pushes-bigger-government-role-economy/
NEW YORK SUN
— Democrats’ Turn to Socialism Offers GOP a Golden Opportunity. The best path Republicans have to defy historical trends and retain both houses of Congress comes in the form of a concerted campaign against far-left policies.
https://www.nysun.com/article/democrats-turn-to-socialism-offers-gop-a-golden-opportunity
USA TODAY
— Lower-income wages catching up with fastest growth in 3 years. DD: What did you do to increase you earning power? I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when in 1970 when I was 21. I earned job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48. I earned job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 46, and 47. I earned a job-related professional license when I was 32.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2026/07/09/lower-income-wages-fastest-growth-june/90859814007/
FOX BALTIMORE
— Rural Illinois wants to split from Chicago and form a new state, it’s not alone. DD: Democrats despise/hate farms, farming, and farmers. My great grandparents on my father’s side were farmers. My grandparents on my mother’s side were farmers. During the 1950s, I spent lots of time at their farm in Grant Park along the Indiana border.
https://foxbaltimore.com/news/nation-world/rural-illinois-wants-to-split-from-chicago-and-form-a-new-state-its-not-alone-cook-county-idaho-oregon-portland-indiana
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— In New York and Britain, Socialism Is on the March. It’s no longer just vibes; socialists in Britain and elsewhere want to nationalize the means of production. DD: To work for a socialist employer is like working for a Democrat employer. The federal government is a Democrat employer. To advance working for a socialist employer you have to be a socialist. To advance working for a Democrat employer you have to be a Democrat. I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. If I had been a Democrat, they would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service, currently $197,200/year, long before I was 40. I had earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. But my Democrat superiors flushed all that down their toilets because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/in-new-york-and-britain-socialism-is-on-the-march-1448f618
FORTUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in promoting socialism.
https://fortune.com/2026/07/11/white-collar-socialists-tech-workers-working-class-dsa-members-blue-collar-economic-anxiety/
24/7 WALL STREET
— Musk qualifies for a maximum Social Security benefit of just $5,181 per month ($62,172/year) if he waits until age 70 to claim. DD: My critics/opponents are furious that my Social Security is now $18,712/year and that my Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension is $68,640/year. In my defense, I paid into Social Security for 10 years and I paid into CSRS for almost 30 years.
https://www.aol.com/articles/elon-musk-world-first-trillionaire-143410000.html
— The 2027 COLA Is Coming. Medicare’s Premium Hike Could Swallow Most of the Raise Before It Hits the Bank. DD: My critics/opponents were, are, and will always be furious a) that I got COLAs when I was a federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and b) that I have gotten COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997 and as a Social Security recipient since 2010.
https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/07/11/the-2027-cola-is-coming-for-this-retiree-medicares-premium-hike-could-swallow-most-of-the-raise-before-it-hits-the-bank/
MARKETS TODAY
— How the Social Security special minimum benefit works. DD: DD: My critics/opponents were, are, and will always be furious that I benefit from the special minimum benefit. My salary was low when I washed dishes, cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, pumped gasoline, delivering mail, and pumped more gasoline.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/how-the-social-security-special-minimum-benefit-works/ss-AA25QHUd
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Social Security Special Minimum Benefit was introduced in 1972 to ensure a baseline income for retirees with long histories of low earnings. It is based on years of coverage rather than lifetime average wages, with payments ranging from $53.50 to over $1,100 per month in 2026. Fewer people now qualify due to slower price-indexed growth, but it remains an important safety net, particularly for women and long-term low-wage earners.)
CAPITOL SKYLINE & MOTLEY FOOL
— While higher inflation often creates financial pressure, current projections suggest that the 2027 Social Security COLA could provide an unusual advantage for some retirees. If forecasts hold, next year’s increase may outpace the growth in Medicare Part B premiums for the first time since 2023, allowing many beneficiaries to keep more of their annual raise. DD: My critics/opponents were, are, and will always be furious a) that I got COLAs when I was a federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and b) that I have gotten COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997 and as a Social Security recipient since 2010.
https://capitolskyline.com/social-securitys-2027-cola-could-bring-an-unexpected/
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2026/07/11/social-security-2027-cola-silver-lining-first-2023/
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://nul.org/news/ice-has-run-rogue-these-governors-and-mayors-are-last-line-defense-american-democracy
REASON
— Public employees are not underpaid. DD: In today’s dollars, when I was 49 in 1997, my salary was only $154,682/year working in the Democrat public sector. My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had worked in the private sector, I never would have earned that much. In my defense, I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. If I had been a Democrat, my GAO salary would have been $197,200/year in today’s dollars.
https://reason.org/commentary/public-employees-are-not-underpaid/
RECORD
— Your Data Will Be Used Against You. DD: What do your critics/opponents use against you? My critics/opponents use the following against me: a) my demographics, b) my being conservative, c) my being Republican, d) my promoting conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform that they reject, e) my having avoided the Vietnam War draft, f) my having been a federal employee for almost 30 years, g) my having been a federal retiree for almost 29 years, h) the lawsuits that I have filed, i) their not being able to manipulate/dominate me, j) my refusing to glorify and praise them, k) my refusing to pander to them, l) my refusing to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, m) my refusing to cover up their wrong doing, and/or n) my refusing to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://therecord.media/your-data-will-be-used-against-you-author-surveillance-technology
PEW RESEARCH
— Dual income, no kids: What we know about ‘DINKs’ in the U.S. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors 1980-1997 a) decried the time and money that they spent raising their children and b) decried the little or no income that their spouses had. They used against me big time a) my wife and I giving up trying to have children without trying IVF, our not adopting, and our not becoming foster parents and b) my wife’s good job. According to them, were it not for the aforesaid, we would not have been able to buy two new cars and a home in Wheaton in when we got married in 1978 and I would not have been able a) to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, c) to earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, d) to pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) to become a licensed CPA in 1981, or f) to have a home built in Wheaton in 1984. My Democrat GAO superiors ever-increasingly demonized, denigrated, and condemned my wife and I as being disgusting selfish rich DINKs. I should write about my Democrat GAO superiors.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/11/03/dual-income-no-kids-what-we-know-about-dinks-in-the-us/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
ECONOMIST
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/07/11/checks-and-balance-newsletter-the-weirdness-of-american-socialism
NATURE
— Entrepreneurs v. wage earners. DD: My critics/opponents look down if not despise wage earners. I was a wage earner 1964-1997. Few political candidates, elected officials, and party leaders were wage earners for very long if at all.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-04338-x
July 1, 2026
DD: With the Supreme Court ruling, America’s enemies will ever-increasingly use birthright citizenship to destroy America. How did your ancestors become citizens? All my ancestors immigrated legally from what is now Germany during the 1840s and 1850s. They applied for citizenship and they became citizens. They never exhibited any type of anti-Americanism. My grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI. My uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII. Anticipate/expect that more and more and more of America’s enemies will pay/order their female citizens to get pregnant and to give birth in America. Democrats ever-increasingly elect more anti-Americans to government offices.
FOX32
— DD: Democrat leaders celebrate SCOTUS birthright ruling.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-immigrant-groups-celebrate-scotus-birthright-ruling
CHICAGO TRIBUNE & WBEZ
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders rejoice as Supreme Court affirms birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s order.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/30/illinois-immigrants-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship/
https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2026/06/30/supreme-court-upholds-birthright-citizenship-rejecting-trumps-proposed-limits
— Video gambling battle heats up. DD: In 2009, I led the successful effort to ban video gambling in Wheaton.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/29/lori-lightfoot-ballys-chicago-vide-gaming/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump. Democrat leaders hate those who voted for Trump.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/01/column-america-250-donald-trump-abuses-chapman/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s proposed limits.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/nation-world/2026/06/30/supreme-court-upholds-birthright-citizenship-trump-roberts-thomas-kavanaugh
— FRONT PAGE: U.S. Supreme Court will hear challenge to Cook County assault weapons ban.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/us-supreme-court/2026/06/30/supreme-court-assault-weapon-ban-cook-county
— Burglaries at video gambling establishments are soaring, with more than 500 reported so far in 2026. DD: In 2009, I led the successful effort to ban video gambling in Wheaton.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/06/30/illinois-gaming-board-video-gambling-burglaries-gov-jb-pritzker
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s proposed limits.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260630/nation-and-world-politics/supreme-court-upholds-birthright-citizenship-rejecting-trumps-proposed-limits/
— Supreme Court upholds state laws banning transgender girls and women from school athletic teams.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260630/nation-and-world/supreme-court-upholds-state-laws-banning-transgender-girls-and-women-from-school-athletic-teams/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOL:D WTH THREE PHOTOS: Pay raises for some elected officials in DuPage may be in jeopardy as County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek raises questions about the vote approving the increases. On Friday, Kaczmarek filed a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General’s public access counselor. She claims the county board violated the Open Meetings Act when it voted on April 28 to approve pay increases for the future county clerk, treasurer, county board chairman and sheriff.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260630/news/dupage-county-board-accused-of-violating-open-meetings-act-in-approving-pay-raises-for-elected-offic/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/01/raoul-finds-vindication-in-birthright-case-00982474
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump says China is the winner in Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jun/30/trump-says-china-winner-supreme-courts-birthright-citizenship-ruling/
— Supreme Court rules states can bar transgender athletes from girls’ sports.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jun/30/supreme-court-rules-states-bar-transgender-athletes-girls-sports/
BREITBART
— SCOTUS Failed. The Fight to Ban Anchor Babies Continues.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/06/30/scotus-affirms-birthright-citizenship-rejects-trumps-reform/
DAILY CALLER
— SCOTUS Flips The Bird To Young Americans. The U.S. Supreme Court just handed birthright citizenship to illegal immigrants’ children and birth tourists; the implications for young Americans will be severe.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/06/30/rooke-scotus-birthright-citizenship-trump-china-illegal-immigration-young-americans-housing-inflation/
— Clarence Thomas Goes Scorched Earth On Birthright Decision, Says It ‘Devalues American Citizenship’
https://dailycaller.com/2026/06/30/clarence-thomas-supreme-court-ruling-birthright-american-citizenship/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship in Blow to Trump Immigration Enforcement.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/30/supreme-court-upholds-birthright-citizenship-in-blow-to-trump-immigration-enforcement/
— Justices Thomas, Alito Argue ‘Birthright Citizenship’ Ruling Reverses the Declaration of Independence on Its 250th Anniversary.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/30/medieval-justices-thomas-alito-argue-birthright-citizenship-reverses-declaration-independence-250th-anniversary/
— Hill GOP Erupts Over Birthright Citizenship Decision.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/30/hill-gop-erupts-birthright-citizenship/
— Trump Reveals Plan to End Birthright Citizenship After SCOTUS Ruling.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/30/trump-reacts-birthright-citizenship/
DAILY WIRE
— Trump Plans Assault On Birth Tourism After Letdown At SCOTUS. “Birth tourism schemes exploit our immigration system and violate criminal law.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-plans-assault-on-birth-tourism-after-letdown-at-scotus
FEDERALIST
— ‘Grotesque Results’ Of Birth Tourism Allow Foreign Invaders To Seize Control Of U.S. From The Inside.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/grotesque-results-of-birth-tourism-allow-foreign-invaders-to-seize-control-of-u-s-from-the-inside/
— Supreme Court Makes It Clear. Mass Deportations Are Mandatory To Save America.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/supreme-court-makes-it-clear-mass-deportations-are-mandatory-to-save-america/
— Thomas, Alito: In Birthplace Citizenship Ruling, John Roberts Imposes ‘Feudal’ ‘Darkness’
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/thomas-alito-in-birthplace-citizenship-ruling-john-roberts-imposes-feudal-darkness/
— McCarthyism Didn’t Go Far Enough To Root Out Filthy Commies, So Now We Have Modern NYC.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/mccarthyism-didnt-go-far-enough-to-root-out-filthy-commies-so-now-we-have-modern-nyc/
— Alito: John Roberts Sold Out The Declaration Of Independence ‘Only Days Before’ 250th Anniversary.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/alito-john-roberts-sold-out-the-declaration-of-independence-only-days-before-250th-anniversary/
— After SCOTUS Citizenship Ruling, National Security Requires A Travel Ban On CCP Nationals.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/after-scotus-citizenship-ruling-national-security-requires-a-travel-ban-on-ccp-nationals/
— SCOTUS Says The US Civil War Was Basically About Protecting ChiCom Birth Tourists.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/scotus-says-the-us-civil-war-was-basically-about-protecting-chicom-birth-tourists/
— SCOTUS Says Babies Of Illegal Aliens, CCP Birth Tourists Are US Citizens Because Of Magic Dirt.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/scotus-says-babies-of-illegal-aliens-ccp-birth-tourists-are-us-citizens-because-of-magic-dirt/
— Illegal Immigration Caused 30% Of Home Price Spikes While Deflating American Wages. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/06/30/fed-study-illegal-immigration-caused-30-of-home-price-spikes-while-deflating-american-wages/
FEDERATION FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM
— Supreme Court Gets Birthright Citizenship Wrong.
https://www.fairus.org/press-releases/supreme-court-gets-birthright-citizenship-wrong
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Birthright Citizenship: Three Liberal Justices Stuck Together And Won While Conservatives Splintered
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/06/birthright-citizenship-three-liberal-justices-stuck-together-and-won-while-conservatives-splintered/
PJ MEDIA
— Here’s How Devastating the Birthright Citizenship Ruling Is.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/06/30/heres-how-devastating-the-birthright-citizenship-ruling-is-n4954549
PATRIOT POST
— Birthright Citizenship for Illegals Is a Death Sentence for the Country. As expected, a 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court got it woefully and atrociously wrong on the question of applying the 14th Amendment to the children of illegals.
https://patriotpost.us/articles/128714-birthright-citizenship-for-illegals-is-a-death-sentence-for-the-country-2026-06-30
NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Says It’s ‘Too Bad’ Supreme Court Upheld Birthright Citizenship
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/politics/trump-congress-birthright-citizenship.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Trump calls on Congress to end birthright citizenship after court defeat.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/30/trump-says-congress-should-act-end-birthright-citizenship/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Justices Uphold Birthright Citizenship in Blow to Trump.
https://www.wsj.com/business/justices-uphold-birthright-citizenship-in-blow-to-trump-e31ed979
— The U.S. Added 1,200 New Millionaires a Day Last Year. Soaring financial markets are a big reason Americans make up nearly half the world’s new millionaires. DD: My net worth is dramatically less because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.wsj.com/finance/the-u-s-added-1-200-new-millionaires-a-day-last-year-d238830f
— Federal Direct Plus loans for graduate students are being phased out. DD: I paid for my 1976, 1980, and 1997 job-related master’s degrees with money I earned working for IRS 1971-1980 and for GAO 1980-1997. My Democrat IRS superiors were furious that I deducted my education expenses. In 1978, they disallowed what I had deducted since 1972.
https://www.wsj.com/buyside/personal-finance/student-loans/obbba-federal-borrowing-caps
GUARDIAN
— Why the US supreme court’s birthright ruling brings only partial relief.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/30/supreme-court-ruling-birthright-citizenship
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS2
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage Black men to be LGBTQers.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-black-gay-mens-caucus/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Supreme Court to hear challenge to Cook County assault weapons ban.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-supreme-court-cook-county-assault-weapons-20260630/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Bailey campaign embraces artificial intelligence in new era of politics.
https://www.nprillinois.org/government-politics/2026-06-30/bailey-campaign-embraces-artificial-intelligence-in-new-era-of-politics
WSIU
— What it means to be a Black in the military. DD: I should write about what it meant to be a Republican working for the Democrats who ran the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997. I should write what it means to be a conservatives working for anti-conservatives.
https://www.wsiu.org/politics-elections/2026-06-30/what-it-means-to-be-black-in-a-military-controlled-by-trump-and-hegseth
CWB CHICAGO
— 34 arrested during Chicago Pride Parade festivities.
https://cwbchicago.com/2026/06/34-arrested-during-chicago-pride-parade-festivities-police-say.html
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Mayor Wants To Create A Tenant Bill Of Rights, Other Protections For Renters. DD: To avoid paying rent, I bought a new townhome in University Park when I was 24 in 1972. Then I bought condos in downtown Chicago in 1974 and 1976. Then my wife and I bought a home in Wheaton in 1978 and then had one built there in 1984.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/29/mayor-wants-to-create-a-tenant-bill-of-rights-other-protections-for-renters/
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/06/30/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-547/
— Bailey campaign embraces AI slop
https://capitolfax.com/2026/06/30/bailey-campaign-embraces-ai-slop/
— ACLU: Supreme Court’s transgender ruling doesn’t apply to Illinois
https://capitolfax.com/2026/06/30/aclu-supreme-courts-transgender-ruling-doesnt-apply-to-illinois/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION
— Illinois State Rifle Association Welcomes U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Hear Challenge to Cook County “Assault Weapons” Ban
https://isra.org/isra-news/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Anti-abortion groups push Trump to defund Planned Parenthood before Fourth of July deadline.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4629744/anti-abortion-groups-trump-planned-parenthood-july-4-deadline/
CAMPUS REFORM
— Kansas State students pay $30K a year as core courses focus on oppression, identity. DD: I escaped liberal indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/kansas-state-students-pay-30k-year-core-courses-focus-oppression-identity/30157
EEOC
— EEOC Votes to Rescind Affirmative Action Interpretive Guidelines and Related Compliance Manual. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? EEOC had a tremendous impact on me. When I was 22 in 1971, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile. But Oldsmobile withdrew that job offer because it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. Because I had accepted that offer, my Firestone Store boss rudely fired me. Because of that, I accepted a job offer from IRS.
https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-votes-rescind-affirmative-action-interpretive-guidelines-and-related-compliance
FOX NEWS
— The leftward lurch of the Democrat Party. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to destroy America.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6399864815112
— ABC has no business on public airwaves because it operates like a partisan cable network.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/abc-no-business-public-airwaves-180021801.html
JONATHAN TURLEY
— Illinois among 10 blue states refusing to join Independence Day Celebration on Washington Mall. Celebration Without Representation: Blue States Refuse to Join in the 250th Anniversary Celebration on the Mall. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly punish America to punish Trump.
https://jonathanturley.org/2026/06/29/celebration-without-representation-blue-states-refuse-to-participate-in-the-250th-anniversary-celebration-on-the-mall/
LEGAL NEWSLINE
— White teacher gets new life for race discrimination suit vs Evanston D65. DD: In Diersen v. GAO, my Democrat superiors argued that they treated me exactly like Congress wanted them to treat me, that is, to implement Affirmative Action, that is, to give preference to their employees who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran, that is, to discriminate against their employees who were White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf
https://www.legalnewsline.com/cook-county-record/white-teacher-gets-new-life-for-race-discrimination-suit-vs-evanston-d65/article_4988f8e1-b108-4029-a623-c6ce778e523c.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ACCOUNTING TODAY
— IRS needs to hire more veterans. DD: I should write about my many Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors who were veterans and the many big adverse actions that they took against me. What was your biggest mistake in life? For me, it was my avoiding the Vietnam War draft. My many Democrat superiors who were veterans used my avoiding the draft with deferments against me viciously. They blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War. Did you try to enlist. I did not. I have always asked myself would I have been accepted if I had tried to enlist. I was 1-A even though I could not run because I had an inherited bone disease, my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20, and I had partial red/green color blindness. My critics/opponents have always used my health problems against me. They have always stressed that if I had been accepted, I would not have been sent into combat and that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am a disgusting unmitigated hypocritical coward. According to my many Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government who were veterans, if I had not avoided the draft, I would not have been able to a) buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., b) earn a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21, c) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, etc. d) earn an MBA when I was 27, e) get married when I was 29, f) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, g) earn a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, h) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, or i) become a licensed CPA when I was 32.
https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-needs-to-hire-veterans
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Internal Revenue Service consistently falls short of its longstanding 14% goal of hiring veterans, with annual hiring typically ranging from 7% to 11%.)
DAILY KOS
— Military legal drama on TV took a look at promotions. DD: All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/30/800063008/community/military-legal-drama-on-tv-took-a-look-at-promotions/
June 26, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ, that is, they ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/06/26/steep-growth-in-same-sex-couples-on-the-far-southeast-side-south-shore-hegewisch-census-gay-lesbian-chicago
https://chicago.suntimes.com/wnba/2026/06/25/the-wnba-is-doing-it-for-the-gays
https://chicago.suntimes.com/arts-and-culture/2026/06/26/chicago-area-trans-authors-representation-pride
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Gary Grasso: Linking Italian Americans to the mob in news stories needs to stop
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/26/opinion-italian-americans-news-reporting-mafia-associations/
— Civil servants should refuse to implement cruel policies, even if it costs them. DD: My fighting political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination in the federal government cost me big time. To advance in the federal government, you have to be a Democrat. If I had become a Democrat, even though I was not a minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who ran the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 because I earned three job-related masters degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. None of my coworkers came anywhere near close to doing what I did. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/26/opinion-immigrant-deporations-donald-trump-civil-servants-shackelford/
— DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/26/chicago-syrian-immigration-tps-supreme-court/
SOUTHERN
— Postal Service says it will not deliver ballots if states refuse to turn over voter lists under Trump proposal.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/06/25/postal-service-says-it-will-not-deliver-ballots-if-states-refuse-to-turn-over-voter-lists-under-trump-proposal/
WIFR TV
— Illinois Lt. Gov. candidates focus on affordability in pitch to Rockford voters.
https://www.wifr.com/2026/06/26/illinois-lt-gov-candidates-focus-affordability-pitch-rockford-voters/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXqPe5WpDWg
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ, that is, they ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/25/chicagos-played-a-key-role-in-lgbtq-history-here-are-9-historical-sites/
— Video gambling. DD: In 2009, I led the successful effort to ban video gambling in Wheaton. My critics/opponents continue to use that against me big time.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/25/is-chicago-ever-getting-video-gambling-machines-bars-wait-for-answers-as-city-council-spars/
CHALKBEAT CHICAGO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for all the problems that Blacks have had, are having, and will have.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/06/25/chicago-public-schools-slow-to-roll-out-black-student-success-plan/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/06/26/coaching-candidates-on-israel-00977430
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/06/26/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-759/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— To advance under socialism, you have to be a socialist. To advance in the federal government, you have to be a Democrat. If I had become a Democrat, even though I was not a minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who ran the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 because I earned three job-related masters degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. None of my coworkers came anywhere near close to doing what I did. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. The more planks in the Republican Party platform that you reject, the more RINO that you are. RINOs have far more in common with Democrats and with Libertarians than with Republicans, and especially RINOs who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, veteran, poor, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Most commonly, RINOs reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform. RINOs want the Republican Party to be the Democrat Lite Party. Far too many RINOs are really Democrat plants. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. How strongly do the Republican candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct promote the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform? RINO and Democrat plant leaders want Republican candidates to downplay, if not ignore, if not work against the aforesaid planks. RINO and Democrat plant leaders want the Republican Party to be the Democrat Lite Party. The Whig Party collapsed in the mid-1850s because it failed/refused to oppose slavery. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. My critics/opponents want me to leave the Republican Party. They want me to stop sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. They want me to resign as a Republican Precinct Committeeman. They want the Republican Party to officially change its name to the Democrat Lite Party. According to them, I am far too conservative. They reject planks in the Republican Party platform that I promote. They reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform. They are RINOs if not Democrat plants. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— There are far too many RINO leaders in the Republican Party. There are no DINO leaders in the Democrat Party. That is why the Republican candidates are defeated why Democrat candidates are elected. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
CHICAGO CONTRARIAN
— Another Chicago Hate Scare Goes up in Smoke.
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/chicago-hate-scare-up-in-smoke
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— New York socialist surge reveals warning signs for Schumer.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4625908/new-york-socialist-surge-warning-signs-schumer/
NEW YORK POST
— Dems stunned after anti-Israel, anti-capitalist socialists sweep NYC primaries.
https://www.aol.com/articles/dems-stunned-anti-israel-anti-110912894.html
— Antisemitism: From New York to LA, a new political scourge.
https://nypost.com/2026/06/25/opinion/antisemitism-rises-along-with-socialism-in-new-york-la/
— Entitlement of NYC’s Knicks trash-can thief exposes the ingrained flaws of the DEI movement.
https://nypost.com/2026/06/25/opinion/entitlement-of-nycs-knicks-trash-can-thief-exposes-the-ingrained-flaws-of-the-dei-movement/
CAMPUS REFORM
— UCLA fellowship gives students $7,000 for immigration activism work
https://www.campusreform.org/article/ucla-fellowship-gives-students-7000-immigration-activism-work/30137
CHRISTIAN POST
— Supreme Court sides with Trump on ending TPS for Haitians and Syrians, rules illegals outside US aren’t arrivals.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/scotus-sides-with-trump-on-ending-tps-policy-on-asylum-seekers.html
COLLEGE FIX
— North Carolina lawmakers override governor’s vetoes to pass sweeping DEI bans.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/north-carolina-lawmakers-override-governors-vetoes-to-pass-sweeping-dei-bans/
CONTRARIAN
— Tucker Carlson’s Reason For Leaving The GOP Is Unpatriotic. DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. My critics/opponents want me to leave the Republican Party. They want me to stop sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. They want me to resign as a Republican Precinct Committeeman. They want the Republican Party to officially change its name to the Democrat Lite Party. According to them, I am far too conservative. They reject planks in the Republican Party platform that I promote. They reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform. They are RINOs if not Democrat plants.
https://www.contrariannews.org/p/tucker-carlsons-reason-for-leaving
DAILY SIGNAL
— America’s New Socialists Are Coming From the Upper Class.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/25/americas-new-socialists-upper-class/
FEDERALIST
— Treasury Department Pushes Debanking Illegal Aliens.
https://www.fairus.org/legislation/executive/treasury-department-pushes-debanking-illegal-aliens
FOX BUSINESS
— Trump vows US will ‘NEVER’ be a communist country after NY socialist primary victories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dttU99MiJgc
FOX NEWS
— Socialism vs capitalism: House Dems clash over what NY election results mean for party.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/socialism-vs-capitalism-house-dems-clash-ny-election-results-mean-party
— Progressives are getting ‘OBLITERATED’ by democratic socialists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4g1coj5LXY
— The rise of socialism within the Democratic Party. Candidates endorsed by Mamdani are winning primaries. They’re on the wrong side of normal.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6399320949112
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6399387253112
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6399403734112
— ‘Allure’ of socialism is always going to exist. DD: The allure of being a Democrat in the Democrat federal government. If I had become a Democrat, even though I was not a minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who ran the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 because I earned three job-related masters degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. None of my coworkers came anywhere near close to doing what I did.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6399414842112
— Democrats sound alarm over party’s socialist shift
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6399403734112
— The Democrat Party’s Socialist Civil War
https://radio.foxnews.com/2026/06/25/the-democrat-partys-socialist-civil-war/
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Kansas U. Course Teaches How to ‘Deconstruct Gender’ Through ‘Queer Theory’
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/06/kansas-u-course-teaches-how-to-deconstruct-gender-through-queer-theory/
NEWS BUSTERS
— Sanitizing the Hateful Mamdani-Endorsed Radicals.
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/tim-graham/2026/06/25/newsbusters-podcast-sanitizing-hateful-mamdani-endorsed-radicals
— CNN Excited About Socialist Shift: ‘The Revolution is Being Televised’
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/james-waterman/2026/06/25/cnn-excited-about-socialist-shift-revolution-being-televised
NEWSMAX
— Democrats Handed Party to Socialists.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/brandon-gill-zohran-mamdani-democrats/2026/06/25/id/1260937/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
C-SPAN
— Trump Delivers Remarks at Faith & Freedom Conference. He was joined by administration officials, Republican lawmakers, and conservative activists. DD: Who are the leading conservative activists in Illinois? How do they treat me and treat my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters?
https://www.c-span.org/event/campaign-2026/president-trump-delivers-remarks-at-faith-freedom-conference/444473
AOL
— Socialism no longer feared within Democratic Party.
https://www.aol.com/articles/socialism-no-longer-feared-within-070000000.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/opinion/ice-jobs-economy-immigration.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Bill to raise minimum wage to $25 an hour will be introduced in Senate. DD: I did not start earning $25/hour in today’s dollars until after I had earned a bachelor’s degree in business from NIU in 1970.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/06/25/bill-raise-minimum-wage-25-an-hour-will-be-introduced-senate/
— After wins by democratic socialists, centrist Democrats unite to push back.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/25/centrist-democrats-unite-against-democratic-socialists/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation. Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War on Republicans. Their illegals are their soldiers in their Democrat Army. How many illegals do Democrat leaders have in Illinois and in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/06/25/what-supreme-court-rulings-mean-americas-immigrants-nation/
— Meet the megadonors pouring more than $1.3 billion into the 2026 election. Billionaires and newly minted trillionaire Elon Musk make up the top individual donors.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/interactive/2026/06/25/these-are-biggest-individual-donors-2026-election-cycle/
NEW YORK SUN
— Democrats’ Socialist Surge Sets Up a Dilemma for Hakeem Jeffries. If he decides to legitimize the radicals, he will put every Democratic candidate in the country on the line.
https://www.nysun.com/article/democrats-socialist-surge-sets-up-a-dilemma-for-hakeem-jeffries
USA TODAY
— New York’s democratic socialist sweep is a warning for USA.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/06/26/mamdani-democratic-socialists-win-ny-warning/90690699007/
— ‘Eternal debt of gratitude’: Trump, conservative leaders celebrate Charlie Kirk. DD: What positions do the Republican candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct have on Charlie Kirk? What positions do the leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, your Republican county party organization, and your Republican township party organization have on Charlie Kirk?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/09/21/charlie-kirk-memorial-service-live-updates/86203128007/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for all the problems that Blacks have had, are having, and will have.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2026/06/18/karmelo-anthony-verdict-parents-black-children/90527039007/
POST REGISTER
— DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. The more planks in the Republican Party platform that you reject, the more RINO that you are. RINOs have far more in common with Democrats and with Libertarians than with Republicans, and especially RINOs who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, veteran, poor, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Most commonly, RINOs reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform. RINOs want the Republican Party to be the Democrat Lite Party. Far too many RINOs are Democrat plants.
https://www.postregister.com/opinion/guest_column/opinion-its-time-to-meet-in-the-middle/article_54699edd-ca4b-40a3-a36d-3e680033d960.amp.html
FLORIDA’S VOICE
— Conservative leaders endorse Dan Green for Florida’s 9th Congressional District. DD: Who are the conservative leaders in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, and Wheaton Warrenville School District 200? How do they treat me and treat my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters?
https://flvoicenews.com/conservative-leaders-and-veterans-endorse-dan-green-for-floridas-9th-congressional-district/
FORBES
— AMERICA’S BEST EMPLOYERS FOR DIVERSITY. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly replace those who have demographics that vote for Republicans with those who have demographics that vote for Democrats. Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, the more of the following that you are, the more that you need not apply: conservative, Republican, American, heterosexual, White, male, older, non-poor, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-diversity/
CHALKBEAT
— DD: My Democrat GAO superiors used the subjectivity in their pay-for-performance system to get rid of their Republican employees who were conservative, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2026/06/25/teacher-merit-pay-benefits-student-learning-in-texas-and-south-carolina/
PBS
— Charlie Kirk helped shape a conservative force for a new generation. DD: What positions do the Republican candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct have on Charlie Kirk? What positions do the leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, your Republican county party organization, and your Republican township party organization have on Charlie Kirk?
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-charlie-kirk-helped-shape-a-conservative-force-for-a-new-generation
SALON
— DD: My critics/opponents attribute their successes in life to meritocracy. They attribute my successes in life to my benefitting from discrimination against those who are liberal/moderate, Democrat, RINO, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://www.salon.com/2026/06/25/the-white-working-class-myth-that-made-jd-vance/