FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Bailey criticizes Pritzker as Socialism 2026 conference opens in Chicago. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/darren-bailey-criticizes-illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-socialism-2026-conference-opens-hyatt-regency-chicago/19791146/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The rising visibility of socialist ideas within the Democratic Party became a flashpoint in the Illinois governor’s race Friday as Republican candidate Darren Bailey sought to tie the movement to Gov. JB Pritzker while the Socialism 2026 conference opened in Chicago. With the November election two months away, Bailey appeared outside the Hyatt Regency – a hotel connected to Pritzker’s family business interests – where the conference launched its holiday weekend program. Bailey is hoping to frame the gathering as an opportunity to highlight what he called a leftward shift among Democrats. “It’s no surprise that socialists feel at home here in Illinois. J.B. Pritzker has spent nearly eight years rolling out the red carpet for their policies,” Bailey said. An anti-Pritzker video billboard truck paid for by Bailey circled McCormick Place, where parts of the conference were also being held. The Pritzker campaign dismissed Bailey’s criticism, issuing a statement saying, “Darren Bailey wants to talk about anything but his extreme record. Governor Pritzker is going to continue delivering for all Illinoisans.” Pritzker has not embraced the socialist agenda promoted at the conference, though he has previously described Democrats as a “big tent” party. Bailey, meanwhile, said he is working to expand the Republican coalition. “It’s a choice between an out-of-touch billionaire who believes that government always needs more of your money and working Illinoisans who understand what it means to earn a living, balance a budget, and make difficult decisions,” Bailey said. The conference, which organizers say has more than 2,600 registered attendees, also drew attention from Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group that sent its own billboard truck past the hotel. Brian Costin of Americans for Prosperity said the group has concerns about the conference. “Hasan Piker is going to be presenting a program that talks about abolishing the Senate, abolishing prisons, abolishing police, abolishing the borders, and radically transforming life in America,” Costin said. Organizers of the conference defended their platform. “We’re for Medicare for all. We’re for eliminating all of that bureaucracy with the insurance system, and free healthcare, free childcare, and the way that we’re going to pay for that is by taxing rich people like Darren Bailey,” said Sean Larson of the Socialism 2026 organizing team. Bailey argued that voters are focused on economic pressures but said the policies promoted at the conference would worsen those concerns. “People are worried about housing, healthcare, wages, education, and the rising cost of everyday life, and that concern is real. But more government, higher taxes, and taking more from one group to give to another does not solve it,” he said. The Socialism 2026 Conference runs through the holiday weekend. Bailey is hoping the event will prompt voters to reconsider their support for a Democratic governor as he continues to argue the party is increasingly embracing socialist ideology.)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/04/chicago-public-schools-custodian-released-from-ice-it-was-42-very-difficult-days-for-our-family/
DAILY HERALD
— Leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties in Lake County agree on the most important issue — affordability — for voters in the Nov. 3 federal, state and local elections, but they offer different explanations for their reasoning. DD: What is the biggest reason why you have less money? For me it is my Democrat superiors in the federal government who wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260904/news/affordability-is-key-as-lake-election-races-enter-stretch-run-we-may-have-a-higher-turnout-than-us/
NORTHWEST HERALD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/2026/09/04/cannabis-dispensaries-in-illinois-can-now-have-drive-thrus-among-the-1st-is-in-woodstock/
FOX ILLINOIS
— GAO: Holes and delays in how Secret Service updates its protection policy.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/report-finds-holes-and-delays-in-how-secret-service-updates-its-protection-policy/article_08201107-b8d2-559e-b303-2af362ba6d6e.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump’s arch may break ground without final approval. Veterans are trying to stop it.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-09-04/trumps-arch-may-break-ground-without-final-approval-veterans-are-trying-to-stop-it
ILLINOIS
— DD: The Democrats who run Illinois ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.illinois.gov/news/release.html?releaseid=32905
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/09/04/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-589/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BREITBART
— 2026 Chicago Socialism Conference Features Covid Masking Requirements.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/04/2026-chicago-socialism-conference-features-covid-masking-requirements/amp/
— Federal Workforce Down 11.2% Since Trump Took Office.
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/09/04/federal-workforce-down-11-2-since-trump-took-office/
FOX NEWS
— Asylum claims with no merit should be denied at the front end.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6404590599112
— Reince Priebus: Democrats made a huge mistake letting Bernie Sanders in. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I am too conservative, and because of that, the following made a huge mistake letting me in: Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party (IRP), Illinois Center Right Coalition, and TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois. My critics/opponent reject some, many, most, virtually all, if not all the planks in the IRP platform. Most commonly, 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.
https://www.fox.com/watch/clip/fmc-c1fyptwbnoui4c9d/reince-priebus-democrats-made-a-huge-mistake-letting-bernie-sanders-in
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: Sanders rejects Fetterman’s political advice. Why do people reject your political advice? People reject my political advice because the leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party (IRP), Illinois Center Right Coalition, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois have taken so many big advise actions against me since 2000. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for all the losses that Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered since 2000. They reject some, many, most, virtually all, if not all the planks in the IRP platform. Most commonly, 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.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5999521-sanders-rejects-fetterman-advice/
CBS NEWS
— Judge lets Pentagon move forward with firing Stars and Stripes journalists for insubordination. DD: In Diersen v. GAO, the court ruled that federal agencies can force their employees to retire, that is, to fire them, for being active member in class action lawsuit that charge them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-allows-pentagon-fire-stars-stripes-journalists/
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: My critics/opponents paint themselves as being champions of the oppressed. The ever-increasingly shout at those who are the following that conservative Republicans like me oppress them: liberal/moderate, Democrat, RINO, minority, female, younger, unmarried, LGBTQ, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, noncitizen, etc.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/opinion/democrats-populism-big-tent.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— America Needs Its Boys to Play Football. The sport forms character by harnessing wild masculinity and directing it toward the good and the pure. DD: I never played football. Neither did my father nor any of my ancestors. My father had brittle type 1 diabetes from childhood. Both my father and I had a hereditary bone disease that prevented us from running.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/america-needs-its-boys-to-play-football-5b9673de
— The American Dream Is Alive. And It’s Minting Millionaires. Meet the ‘Everywhere Millionaires’ proving that elite degrees aren’t a prerequisite for building massive wealth.
https://www.wsj.com/business/entrepreneurship/the-american-dream-is-alive-and-its-minting-millionaires-3903775b
FORTUNE
— Workers’ share of America’s income is at a record low.
https://fortune.com/2026/09/04/ai-productivity-labor-share/
BUSINESS INSIDER
— Getting promoted. DD: What did your coworkers do to get promoted. My Democrat coworkers in the federal government stressed that they were Democrat, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time. They stressed that they were blindly loyal to the Democrat Party platform. They painted themselves as being yes-men and yes-women. They stressed that their spouse, if they had one, had little or no income. They stressed if they had children, the tremendous amount of time and money they spent raising their children. They destroyed their fellow coworkers who were Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time.
https://www.businessinsider.com/things-do-january-want-promotion-december-2026-1
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
— Email Newsletters as a Source of News. Three-in-ten Americans at least sometimes get news from newsletters, but many don’t read most of the newsletters they get.
https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2026/02/19/email-newsletters-as-a-source-of-news/
(FROM THE REPORT: As of 2025, 6% of U.S. adults say they often get news from email newsletters, while 24% say they sometimes get news this way. The majority rarely (26%) or never (43%) get news from email newsletters. Just 3% of Americans name newsletters as the platform they prefer for getting news, far behind television (34%), news websites/apps (21%) and other pathways. A slightly larger share of Americans (7%) say they have paid or given money to an email newsletter that focuses on news in the past year, whether by subscribing, donating or becoming a member. . .About the same share (24%) says most of their newsletters are independent and not connected to a news outlet. . .Americans with higher incomes and higher levels of formal education are more likely to get news from newsletters.)
QUARTZ
— 15 signs it’s time to leave your job. DD: The longer that you are employed in the public sector, the harder that it is to get a job in the private sector. 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://qz.com/signs-its-time-to-leave-your-job#your-growth-trajectory-has-flattened
CALIFORNIA PATCH
— Legal cannabis produces almost $8.4B in California taxes. But nonprofit CEO says cannabis brings a high price tag of increased emergency room visits, impaired driving. DD: I never used pot. If I had used pot, I would not have been able to work my way through college, earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, earn three job-related master’s degrees, earn six job-related professional certifications, or earn a job-related professional license.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_9fe7df56-14d0-4148-84c1-ff1eb217381d.html
Tag: LGBTQ
August 30, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump to attend Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club as tournament’s honorary chairman.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/29/trump-presidents-cup-chicago-honorary-chairman/
— Noncitizen voting claims animate President Trump’s attacks on midterms and set up potential result challenges. DD: Noncitizens have tremendous motivations to vote for Democrats because Democrats give noncitizens tremendous benefits.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/29/noncitizen-voting-claims-midterms/
— First electric commuter trains improved the air, spurred South Side development. DD: In 1971, I rode in very old electric train cars to get from Crete to my new job working for IRS in the Loop. In 1973, I rode in new electric double-decker train cars to get from my townhome in University Park to my job IRS there. In the interim, I worked for IRS in its Harvey, 63rd and Halsted, and Joliet offices.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/30/vintage-tribune-electric-trains/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The Illinois Central Railroad’s suburban service had been electrified!” the Tribune exclaimed a day after four modern steel electric trains smoothly and noiselessly pulled into the Roosevelt Street depot in August 1926.)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to fight voter fraud.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/08/29/trump-postal-service-mail-in-voting-supreme-court-marc-morial
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/08/28/trumps-blitz-on-chicago-targeting-the-worst-of-the-worst-only-detained-five-murderers-in-68-days
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Dillard presided over his final RTA board meeting Aug. 20. The new Northern Illinois Transit Authority replaces the RTA, effective Sept. 1.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260829/transportation/its-all-teed-up-dillards-last-stop-as-rta-chief-comes-as-new-agency-rises/
FOX32
— Tyson Foods shuts down Illinois meatpacking plant: cattle shortage or bad business climate?
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-6hoy7ej7g5ij5rbp
WAND TV
— Noncitizen voting claims animate Trump’s attacks on midterms and set up potential result challenges. DD: Noncitizens have tremendous motivations to vote for Democrats because Democrats give noncitizens tremendous benefits.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/noncitizen-voting-claims-animate-trumps-attacks-on-midterms-and-set-up-potential-result-challenges/article_0840ced5-c2f9-5e7f-b46d-b819cc07d8bb.html
KWQC
— Pritzker: Illinois is going to ‘fight like hell’ to find buyer for Joslin plant.
https://www.kwqc.com/2026/08/30/pritzker-illinois-is-going-fight-like-hell-find-buyer-joslin-plant/?outputType=amp
CHICAGO MAROON
— UChicago Enrolled More Male, Fewer Black Undergraduates Last Year.
https://chicagomaroon.com/53303/news/uchicago-enrolled-more-male-fewer-black-undergraduates-last-year/
JOLIET PATCH
— Joliet’s Black community pride was on display in a big way in downtown Joliet as Saturday afternoon marked the return of the Black Joy Parade celebrating Black Excellence in the community.
https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/13-amazing-photos-joliets-black-joy-parade-celebrating-black-excellence-our-diverse
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOHN KASS
— Chicago’s Political Dogs Walking Stiff-Legged Into Mayoral Race
https://johnkassnews.com/letting-my-big-mouth-do-the-talking/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What generation are you? I am a Baby Boomer. I was born in 1948. If I had been a Millennial or a Gen Z, because of my bad demographics, I would not have been able to accomplish what I did. I am White, male, conservative, Republican, Protestant, German American, and my ancestors have been in America for a long time. Because of ever-increasing Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, because of ever-increasing discrimination against those who share demographics, I would not have been able to a) earn a job-related bachelor’s degree (management) when I was 21 in 1970, b) earn job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance) when I was 27, 31, and 48, c) earn job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting) when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and d) earn a job-related professional license (CPA) when I was 32. The Post office, Firestone Stores, IRS, and GAO would not have hired me when I was 18, 21, 22, and 31. IRS would not have promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. GAO would not have promoted me when I was 38. I would not have been able to buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc. or collector cars when I was 40 and 45. I would not have been able to buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, etc. I would not have gotten married when I was 29. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— AOC renews DSA membership after 7-year lapse.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/29/aoc-renews-dsa-membership-7-year-lapse/
— A Honduran immigrant who earlier this year was convicted of blocking ICE operations now stands accused of illegally registering to vote in California.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/29/noncitizen-who-disrupted-ice-charged-illegally-registering-vote/
— Delusional DSA commemorates ‘fighter’ Fidel Castro.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/29/delusional-dsa-commemorates-fighter-fidel-castro/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Socialism didn’t die with the Soviets — Mamdani just brought it to City Hall.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4694926/mamdani-socialism-private-property-threat-new-york-city/
— Socialists fail math: Everyone can’t ride for free — so no one should. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. Socialist leaders hint/imply/argue/shout that under socialism, all you need to do to advance is to be a socialist. Democrat leaders hint/imply/argue/shout that under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is to be a Democrat. That destroys motivation and meritocracy. None of my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO coworkers came close to doing what I did to advance. 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. 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, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4694556/free-rider-problem-welfare-state-socialism-immanuel-kant/
— Those who wish to breezily dismiss or ridicule the left-wing Democratic Socialists of America amid the organization’s ongoing hostile takeover efforts against the Democratic Party do so at their peril.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/4701113/the-revolution-will-not-be-peaceful/
NEW YORK POST
— ‘Illegal alien’ Milo Yiannopoulos kicked out of US one day after getting nabbed by ICE at airport.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/29/us-news/milo-yiannopoulos-deported-from-us-after-getting-nabbed-by-ice-at-airport/
— DSA’s ‘noblesse oblige’ motto isn’t just hypocrisy — it’s downright racist. DD: According to Democrat leaders, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats, and especially Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. 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, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. When I was 19 in 1968, my Democrat Post Office superiors came to realize that I would never become a Democrat and proceed to get rid of me. When I was 25 in 1974, my Democrat IRS superiors came to realize that I would never become a Democrat and proceed to get rid of me. When I was 40 in 1988, my Democrat GAO superiors came to realize that I would never become a Democrat and proceed to get rid of me. According to my aforesaid superiors, I held jobs that should have been held by Democrats who were minority, female, younger than me, or veteran.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/29/opinion/dsas-noblesse-oblige-isnt-just-hypocrisy-its-downright-racist/
— Sen. Ed Markey, 80, defies call for new blood — as 43% doubt centrist Dem is mentally, physically capable of serving out his term. DD: I remember attending a meeting with Markey when I worked for GAO in the early 1980s.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/29/us-news/markey-80-defies-call-for-new-blood-as-43-doubt-dem-is-capable-of-serving-his-term/
— Married Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg, 51, beats ‘blackmailers’ to the punch by publishing footage of scandalous kiss with Bridgeview mayor.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/29/us-news/married-illinois-politician-drops-smooch-video-after-alleged-blackmail-plot/
— Socialists offer more of the same decay while LA crumbles in the dark.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/29/opinion/inside-the-14b-los-angeles-governance-failure/
— NYC socialist leaders caught living large, quietly collecting millions from real estate flips.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/29/us-news/dsa-leader-sold-luxe-nyc-triplex-for-nearly-2-5-million-used-profits-to-buy-pad-in-brooklyn/
AMAC
— Universities Push AI Tools As Trojan Horse for DEI Agenda.
https://amac.us/newsline/report-universities-push-ai-tools-as-trojan-horse-for-dei-agenda
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
— The Path Ahead for Welfare Reform. Our opportunity-focused safety net will reinforce the social norm of personal responsibility, which starts with employment for those who are able. The 1996 law was formally called the “Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act” for good reason. Its legacy should continue to advance that critical goal.
https://www.aei.org/commentary/the-path-ahead-for-welfare-reform/
AMERICAN PROSPECT
— How the Republican Party Forgot It Was Conservative. DD: Trump would not have won the Republican primary in 2016 if he had not promised Phyllis Schlafly that he would defend and advance the Republican Party platform if elected.
https://prospect.org/2026/03/27/apr-2026-magazine-how-republican-party-forgot-it-was-conservative/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— ‘Woke’ is poised to come roaring back with a vengeance.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/08/29/insider-dont-look-now-but-woke-is-poised-to-come-roaring-back-with-a-vengeance-1656801/
BLAZE
— DEI refuses to die.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/dei-refuses-to-die
BREITBART
— Top Democrat: Migrant Crime Is a ‘Fake Problem.’ 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.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/29/top-democrat-migrant-crime-is-a-fake-problem/
DAILY CALLER
— Major Corporations Are Keeping ‘Woke 1.0’ Alive.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/08/29/consumers-research-report-claims-corporations-embrace-diversity-equity-inclusion-practices/
DAILY WIRE
— Socialist Leader’s Immigrant Sob Story Keeps Getting Harder To Believe. The NYC DSA co-chair has portrayed his parents as penniless immigrants, but public records suggest otherwise.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/socialist-leaders-immigrant-sob-story-keeps-getting-harder-to-believe
— DD: My critics/opponents have always been woke, are woke, and always will be woke. To be woke is to be anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-Protestant, anti-German American, and/or anti-those who have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.dailywire.com/episode/michael-knowles-show-woke-right-debate
FOX NEWS
— Steve Moore: Socialism creates ruination and deprivation.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6404285560112
— Mark Levin: Socialism requires the control of the entire individual. DD: According to my critics/opponents, “You can’t tell Diersen what to do.” Of course, I take that as a badge of honor. My critics/opponents 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.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6404287607112
— Colorado congressman introduces House measure condemning all forms of socialism amid DSA rise.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republican-aims-put-democrats-record-over-dsa-resolution-condemning-socialism
— Socialists use the STRONG ARM of a police state.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StqJ6R42X28
JONATHAN TURLEY
— “Institutionalist” Becomes the New “Oligarch” Label for the Far Left.
https://jonathanturley.org/2026/08/29/f-that-noise-institutionalist-becomes-in-the-new-oligarch-label-for-the-far-left/
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— TX High Schoolers Could Soon Be Subjected to ‘Woke’ Finance Course That Promotes ‘Racial Justice.’ “…in reality, NGPF’s curriculum is a vessel for socialist propaganda and woke ideology that rejects the American notion of equality.”
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/08/tx-high-schoolers-could-soon-be-subjected-to-woke-finance-course-that-promotes-racial-justice/
PJ MEDIA
— Each Fake Asylum Claim Costs As Much As Treating One Pediatric Cancer Patient.
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/08/29/miller-each-fake-asylum-claim-case-costs-same-as-treating-one-pediatric-cancer-patient-n4956695
TOWNHALL
— Trump Admin Is Setting Sights on States That Give Massive Tuition Discounts to Illegal Aliens.
https://townhall.com/news/josephchalfant/2026/08/29/the-trump-admin-is-setting-sights-on-states-who-give-massive-tuition-discounts-to-illegal-aliens-n2682110
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Trump rejects traditional conservatism, embraces a Republican version of socialism. DD: Trump would not have won the Republican primary in 2016 if he had not promised Phyllis Schlafly that he would defend and advance the Republican Party platform if elected.
https://thehill.com/opinion/5870607-trump-republican-socialism-democrats/
CBS NEWS
— U.S. military uses laser to shoot down 3 cartel drones at southern border.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-military-laser-shoots-down-cartel-drones-southern-border-pentagon/
NBC NEWS
— Mike Pence says the Trump administration has ‘departed’ from conservative principles. DD: Trump would not have won the Republican primary in 2016 if he had not promised Phyllis Schlafly that he would defend and advance the Republican Party platform if elected.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/mike-pence-trump-departed-conservative-principles-anti-weaponization-rcna347743
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Influencers Have a Lot to Say About Politics. Many Are Quietly Paid for It. Their videos have proliferated on social media, but the payments are frequently hidden from viewers. DD: My direct competitors continue to be furious that I have the money, time, motivation, ability, and experience to put together and send out my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletter every day without a paywall, without any advertising, and without any donation requests. All the money that I spend putting the newsletters together and sending them out comes from my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my Social Security, and my retirement savings. Far too many of my direct competitors 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 them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/29/us/politics/campaigns-paid-influencers.html
— DD: My critics/opponents have always been woke, are woke, and always will be woke. To be woke is to be anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-Protestant, anti-German American, and/or anti-those who have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/29/opinion/wokeism-restitution.html
— Thankful for. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I am not thankful enough for what I have. According to them, I have what I have because I benefitted tremendously from discrimination against those who do not share my demographics, that is, those who are liberal/moderate, Democrat, RINO, minority, female, younger, unmarried, LGBTQ, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, noncitizen, etc.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/briefing/what-youre-thankful-for.html
— Is This a New Era of Class Warfare? DD: According to my critics/opponents, I have always had too much money. They have always knowingly, outrageously, disgustingly, and falsely hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my parents were filthy rich and that is why I was able to get an ACT score of 24, graduate in the upper 20% of my class, get accepted by UIC, NIU, Loyola, DePaul, and IIT, earn six professional certifications, and earn a professional license. They have always known that I had to work my way through college.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/opinion/class-warfare-violence.html
— It’s One Parking Spot in New York City. What Could It Cost, $250,000? Some New Yorkers are willing to pay condo-like prices for a bit of concrete convenience. DD: I have owned an Iron Gate Motor Condo in Naperville since 2020. Feel free to contact me about owning one.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/nyregion/private-parking-spots-new-york-city.html
— DD: Ever-increasingly, to get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout at Blacks that Republicans caused, are causing, and will forever cause all the problems that Backs had, have, and will have.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/realestate/washington-state-redlining-covenant-homeownership.html
TAMPA FREE PRESS
— Fetterman Rips Dem Socialists As ‘Deeply Unserious Hypocrites.’
https://www.tampafp.com/pennsylvania-sen-john-fetterman-rips-dem-socialists-as-deeply-unserious-hypocrites/
UNION BULLETIN
— Dolly Parton stood up for undocumented immigrants when few others would.
https://www.union-bulletin.com/opinion/opinion_columns/commentary-dolly-parton-stood-up-for-undocumented-immigrants-when-few-others-would/article_c7412eb3-8b39-446a-b22b-7101df4effaa.html
HARVARD GAZETTE
— Gen Z puts high priority on jobs with meaning, purpose, but sees daunting hurdles. DD: The purposes that the Post Office (delivering mail), IRS (collecting taxes), and GAO (fighting government waste, abuse, and fraud) have helped me endure tremendous efforts by my Democrat superiors to waste my career and get rid of me.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/08/gen-z-puts-high-priority-on-jobs-with-meaning-purpose-but-sees-daunting-hurdles/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
HINDUSTAN TIMES
— Chicago, Illinois mass shooting reports: At least 8 people shot near Washington Park. Reports of a mass shooting near Washington Park in Chicago, Illinois, have surfaced on social media.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/chicago-illinois-mass-shooting-reports-at-least-8-people-shot-near-washington-park-101788072984697.html
MEAWW
— ‘Big, big trouble’: Trump delivers new warning about Democrats. Trump said he had previously discussed socialism but argued that Democrats’ policies were ‘largely communism’ and ‘very dangerous’ for the country.
https://news.meaww.com/big-big-trouble-trump-delivers-new-warning-about-democrats
INDEPENDENT
— Consequences. DD: Since the 1960s, negative consequences have increased for being conservative, Republican, Protestant, German American, and/or having ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Ever-increasingly, those negative consequences have increased for being White, male, and/or older. Those who are not the aforesaid and those who curry favor with those who are not the aforesaid ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who are the aforesaid as being racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.
https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/candace-cameron-bure-religion-hollywood-b3039652.html
FROM OTHER SOURCES
HR EXECUTIVE
— 1 in 3 employees say retirement is out of reach. DD: I got in line for a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension when I was 18 in 1966. I have been getting a CSRS pension, currently $68,640/year, since I was 49 in 1997. My critics/opponents have always been furious about that. In my defense, I paid 7% of my federal salary into the CSRS. Further, 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://hrexecutive.com/1-in-3-employees-say-retirement-is-out-of-reach/
ABC11
— Teacher can buy dream car after $10M scratch-off win. DD: What is your dream car? My dream car is a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, as it came from the factory, numbers matching/correct, like new, 440 or 426, automatic, blue exterior, black vinyl roof, black leather interior, and air conditioning. There was one at the recent Wheaton concours with virtually all of the aforesaid. I owned a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 1994-2005 and a 1969 Dodge Charger SE 1968-1971.
https://abc11.com/post/chatham-county-woman-can-buy-dream-car-10m-scratch-off-win/19755056/
August 29, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to fight voter fraud.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/28/mail-in-voting-rule/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-march-on-washington-rally-draws-attention-to-voting-rights-with-jeffries-sanders
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois prosecutors fed ICE information about immigrants, leading to arrests and deportations.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/08/28/ice-trump-immigration-illinois-prosecutor
WTTW
— Pritzker to Trump: Don’t Force Illinois Farmers to ‘Pick Up the Tab’ for Iran War.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/08/28/pritzker-trump-don-t-force-illinois-farmers-pick-tab-iran-war
WGLT
— U.S. has entered deal with Venezuela to take control of 65 billion barrels of oil reserves.
https://www.wglt.org/2026-08-28/trump-says-u-s-has-entered-deal-with-venezuela-to-take-control-of-65-billion-barrels-of-oil-reserves
WFIW
— Illinois election officials are reviewing how a recent U.S. Supreme Court order could affect mail-in ballots ahead of the November 3 election.
https://www.wfiwradio.com/2026/08/29/illinois-election-officials-reviewing-mail-ballot-impact-after-supreme-court-order/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Experts warn more flooding might hit Nepal. DD: Of course, Democrat leaders blame that on “global warming” caused by Trump.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-08-28/experts-warn-more-flooding-might-hit-nepal-and-fed-chairman-to-give-key-address
CHICAGO MAROON
— Career Advancement Report Appears to Overstate Post-Graduation Student Outcomes. DD: After you earned your bachelor’s degree, how fast did your career advance? I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 in 1970. In today’s dollars, working for IRS, I earned $56,409/year when I was 22, $68,999/year when I was 23, $83,482/year when I was 24, $100,059/year when I was 25, and $113,402/year when I was 30. Working for GAO 1980-1997, earned $89,703/year when I was 31, $118,964/year when I was 38, and $154,682/year when I was 49. I earned job-related master’s degrees when I was 27 (business-Loyola), 31 (accounting-DePaul), and 48 (finance-IIT). I earned job-related professional certifications when I was 30 (public accounting), 32 (internal auditing), 41 (fraud examination), 45 (government financial management), 47 (financial services auditing), and 48 (forensic accounting). I earned a job-related professional license (CPA) when I was 32.
https://chicagomaroon.com/52872/news/career-advancement-appears-to-overstate-post-graduation-student-outcomes/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. Socialist leaders hint/imply/argue/shout that under socialism, all you need to do to advance is to be a socialist. Democrat leaders hint/imply/argue/shout that under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is to be a Democrat. That destroys motivation and meritocracy. None of my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO coworkers came close to doing what I did to advance. 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. 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, 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
— Ever-increasingly, in Democrat states, counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts, to be accepted, you have to be a Democrat. Democrats are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, unmarried, LGBTQ, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. To be accepted, you cannot change your race, gender, age, national origin, or ancestors, but you can become a Democrat, liberal/moderate, LGBTQ, unmarried, and/or non-Protestant. In your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct, to be accepted, how many have become Democrat, liberal/moderate, LGBTQ, unmarried, and/or non-Protestant? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Socialism and Antipathy.
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/poisonous-lips-socialism-and-antipathy-2/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Champagne socialism: Far-left movement brimming with affluent leaders. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents are wealthy. I should write about my critics/opponents and their operatives and their dupes.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/28/champagne-socialism-far-left-movement-brimming-affluent-leaders/
— Recall petition for Seattle’s socialist mayor withdrawn. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/28/recall-petition-katie-wilson-seattles-socialist-mayor-withdrawn/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— House will vote to denounce socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq8Bqy4Fyyw
— Americans care more about healthcare affordability than gas or groceries. DD: The federal government paying 72% of my healthcare insurance since 1966 and then also paying 72% of my wife’s healthcare insurance since 1978 helped me endure tremendous efforts by my Democrat superiors in the federal government to waste my career and to get rid of me.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/4704431/americans-care-healthcare-affordability-gabrielle-etzel/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Socialist Senate Nominee Angie Nixon’s ‘Cafe Resistance’ Features Wall Glorifying Black Power Militants—Including Convicted Cop-Killers. The café held a dance lesson where participants were asked to wear Black Panther attire, and, shortly after Charlie Kirk’s murder, hosted a professor ‘targeted’ by Kirk. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://freebeacon.com/democrats/exclusive-socialist-senate-nominee-angie-nixons-cafe-resistance-features-wall-glorifying-black-power-militants-including-convicted-cop-killers/
AMERICAN MIND
— The Disparity Obsession. Attempting to eliminate every unequal outcome inevitably produces discrimination. DD: My critics/opponents want equal outcome. According to them, when Whites and males do better at something than minorities and females, it is because Whites and males discriminate against minorities and females. Overwhelmingly, those who earned college degrees, professional certifications, and a professional license with me were Whites and males.
https://americanmind.org/salvo/the-disparity-obsession/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: We are living through a decade of wokeism in which racial favoritism has graduated from an ostensibly temporary thumb on the scale for the almost-qualified to the kind of unqualified frenzy that attracts grifters and con artists. And, correspondingly, the discrimination against the disfavored has gone from ambient to so intense as to bar advancement in culturally prestigious industries. Contra to dismissive talking points from purveyors like AOC, Woke 1 has done real damage to many lives.)
AMERICAN THINKER
— The Big Secret about Teen Takeovers. There’s something big the mainstream media don’t want to tell you about these disruptive and dangerous events. The fact that these takeovers involve mostly black teens is rarely if ever mentioned in media accounts. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/the-big-secret-about-teen-takeovers/
BREITBART
— Mayor Karen Bass: Hands Off Thousands of Migrant Food Vendors Operating Illegally in L.A.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/28/mayor-karen-bass-hands-off-thousands-migrant-food-vendors-operating-illegally-l-a/
— Socialist Positions: Trans ‘Rights’ for Children, Crushing 2nd Amendment. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/28/dem-gubernatorial-candidate-david-jolly-shares-socialist-positions-trans-rights-for-children-crushing-2nd-amendment/
— Milo Yiannopoulos Could Be Deported Without a Chance to Return.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/28/milo-yiannopoulos-couldbe-deported-without-chance-return/amp/
CAMPUS REFORM
— NIU hosts socials connecting students with gender, sexuality programs.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/niu-hosts-socials-connecting-students-gender-sexuality-programs/30489
DAILY SIGNAL
— Major Companies Are Rebranding DEI or Sticking With It. DD: Democrat and RINO employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/28/woke-alert-major-companies-are-rebranding-dei-sticking-with-it/
— Democrats Are Running From Hasan Piker—and He’s Exposing Their Socialist Agenda. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KI0kaDxgv48
DAILY WIRE
— Meet Democrat Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy Who Says Americans Are More Dangerous Than Illegals. The leftist Democrat argued that communities with large immigrant populations are safer than those with more native-born Americans.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/meet-the-dem-senator-who-says-americans-are-more-dangerous-than-illegals
— Why Democrat leaders want America To Be Racist. Because they can’t run on the issues, they run against pretend racism and bigotry.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-democrats-need-america-to-stay-racist
— Why We Can’t Let The Left Make Dolly Their Socialist Mascot. Parton embodied the reality that a person can be adored by the entire country not in spite of staying out of the political fray but because of it. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-we-cant-let-the-left-make-dolly-their-socialist-mascot
FEDERALIST
— American Culture, Not Mass Migration, Made America Great.
https://thefederalist.com/videos/davis-american-culture-not-mass-migration-made-america-great/
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
— All Quiet on the Southern Front, but Congress Will Need to Act to Keep it that Way.
https://www.fairus.org/opinion/all-quiet-southern-front-congress-will-need-act-keep-it-way
FOX BUSINESS
— Socialists have taken over the Democratic Party. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6404207223112
FOX NEWS
— The keys to the Democratic Party have been handed to the socialists. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaC4zDvGiaE
— Socialism creates ruination and depravation. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7duOWdEH2K0
— Right behind AOC is an army of ‘socialist foot soldiers.’ DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were foot soldiers in the Democrat Party. They did everything that they could to waste my career and to get rid of me.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6404236805112
NEWSMAX
— Dems DC Socialist rally is a flop. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/dems-dc-socialist-rally-flop-021738404.html
— House to Vote on Resolution Denouncing Socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/house-vote-resolution-denouncing-socialism/2026/08/28/id/1267655/
PJ MEDIA
— Democrats Can’t Ignore Their Socialism Problem Much Longer. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/08/28/democrats-cant-ignore-their-socialism-problem-much-longer-n4956660
liberal/moderate, Democrat, minority, female, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
REAL CLEAR MARKETS
— DD: According to my critics/opponents those who are liberal/moderate, Democrat, RINO, noncitizen, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time are victims of those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-veteran, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. My critics/opponents paint themselves as being champions for victims.
https://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2026/08/28/victimization_is_cancer_forgiveness_heals_responsibility_triumphs_1202977.html
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Democrats Try to Brush Aside ‘Woke 1.’ DD: My critics/opponents have always been woke, are woke, and always will be woke. To be woke is to be anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-Christian, anti-German American, and/or anti-those who have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/08/28/democrats_try_to_brush_aside_woke_1_154451.html
SALEM NEWS CHANNEL
— Democrats Love Socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://salemnewschannel.com/watch/democrats-love-socialismwhy-6a92092ae3495825d7a339a8
TOWNHALL
— Everyone Knows Why Educational Declines Are Happening. DD: Democrat teachers ever-increasingly crank out good little Democrats.
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/08/28/educational-declines-n2681897
— Fetterman Calls Out His Party’s Socialism Problem. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://townhall.com/news/jeff-charles/2026/08/28/john-fetterman-says-democrat-party-has-a-socialism-problem-n2682072
WESTERN JOURNAL
— The Psychology Behind Republicans Who Support Amnesty for Illegals. Amnesty Republicans typically suffer from two dark malign personality traits: an unsavory need for approval from elites and a desire for intimacy with the Chamber of Commerce. DD: My critics/opponents want amnesty for illegals.
https://www.westernjournal.com/psychology-behind-republicans-support-amnesty-illegals/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Mamdani socialism and Trump socialism — reject them both. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/6051425-rejecting-left-right-socialism/
— Hegseth blocks promotions of 4 Army officers with ties to sacked generals. DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who had promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. To get rid of me, my Democrat GAO superiors got rid of the GAO manager who had arranged for my transfer from IRS when I was 31 and was finally able to assign me audits of IRS when I was 37 and to promoted me when I was 38.
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6058699-hegseth-blocks-army-promotions-ousted-generals/
CBS NEWS
— Far-right political commentator and deportation advocate Milo Yiannopoulos is in ICE custody facing a final removal order. Yiannopoulos came to the U.S. legally in 2019 but “chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/milo-yiannopoulos-ice-custody-agency-records/
AOL
— How Inflation Hits Retirees Differently Than Everyone Else. Social Security ‘Raises’ Do Not Keep Up With Inflation. DD: I have been retired since I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.aol.com/articles/inflation-hits-retirees-differently-everyone-130011000.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Hegseth Blocks Promotions of Four Army Officers as Purge Widens. DD: I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997. They gave all their Democrat managers who they sent to run their Democrat Chicago office lists of their employees who they wanted them to purge. Of course, I was on all those lists if not at the top of all those lists not only because I was a Republican, but because I was conservative, White, male, older, non-veteran, German American, and I had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. I never would have survived until I was 49 in 1997 if I had not a) earned an MBA when I was 27, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, c) earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, d) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination and became a licensed CPA when I was 32, e) earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48, and f) earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading when I was 48.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/us/politics/hegseth-blocks-army-promotions.html
WASHINGTON POST
— The ugly truth about ‘merit’ promotion in the federal government. DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal procedures to waste my career and to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. My Democrat Post Office superiors used that subjectivity to not promote me beyond GS-4 and to force me to resign when I was 20 in 1969. My Democrat IRS superiors used that subjectivity to not promote me beyond GS-12. My Democrat GAO superiors used that subjectivity a) to force me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS when I was 31, to delay my promotions back to GS-12, to delay my promotion to GS-13, to never promote me to GS-14, and to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/22/federal-jobs-compost-toilets-potomac/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Busting the ABA’s Accreditation Monopoly. The bar association’s power over law schools gets a useful Trump challenge.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/aba-accreditation-trump-administration-education-department-626d3d11
NEWS PRESS
— DD: According to Democrats, when Republicans do better on tests than Democrats, it is because Republicans discriminate against Democrats.
https://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2026/08/29/correlation-between-test-scores-and-actual-learning-is-weak-opinion/91486742007/
FORBES
— 4 Useful Tips For When Your Manager Is Sabotaging Your Career Growth. DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government sabotaged my career. My Democrat Post Office superiors disallowed my sick leave requests when 19 and 20 and forced me to resign when I was 20. My Democrat IRS superiors a) got rid of the IRS manager who had promoted me when I was 23 in 1972, 24, and 25, b) disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25, c) ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA when I was 27, d) disallowed my education deductions when I was 29, e) ignored/dismissed/belittled my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, and f) made it clear that they would never promote me to GS-13. My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS when I was 31, b) ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning master’s degree in accounting when I was 31 and my passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and becoming a licensed CPA when I was 32, c) delayed my promotions back to GS-12, d) got rid of the GAO manager who had arranged for my transfer from IRS and had finally been able to assign me to audits or IRS when I was 37 and to promote me to GS-13 when I was 38, e) made it clear that they would never promote me to GS-14, f) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and g) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/heidilynnekurter/2021/08/19/4-useful-tips-for-when-your-boss-is-sabotaging-your-career-growth/
EXECUTIVE GOV
— OPM Urges Federal Agencies to Advance AI Use in Hiring Process. DD: Democrats run the federal government. Anticipate/expect that they will use AI to not hire those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-veteran, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.executivegov.com/articles/opm-ai-use-federal-hiring
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Trump formally proposes pay freeze for most federal workers, 3.8% increase for law enforcement. DD: As an IRS Revenue Officer 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, I enforced federal tax laws.
https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2026/08/trump-formally-proposes-pay-freeze-most-federal-workers-38-increase-law-enforcement/415707/
FEDERAL TIMES
— College grads shunning federal jobs. DD: Federal employees and federal retirees are looked down on if not despised if not hated. I was a federal employee for almost 30 years and I have been a federal retiree for almost 29 years. 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 it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination while I was a NIU student as an employment backup because I had been a federal employee for almost 3 years and because federal employees are viewed negatively.
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2022/08/26/few-recent-college-grads-are-considering-government-work-study-finds/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Less than half of recent graduates said they would consider federal employment. . .Very few recent college graduates are considering federal government jobs. According to the Qualtrics study, 20% of graduate respondents said they were not aware of federal jobs and 30% said the hiring process is too complicated. . .Minority graduates were even less likely to consider federal employment – only 40% said they would. Among minority students, 34% said they would consider federal employment and 37% were undecided.)
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Office of Personnel Management is touting new raining opportunities its Senior Executive Service (SES) members. DD: If I had been a Democrat, and even though I was not a minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who ran the federal government would have promoted me into their SES long before I was 40 in 1988. I had earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management) when I was 21 and job-related master’s degrees (business and accounting) when I was 27 and 31. I had earned job-related professional certifications (accounting and internal auditing) when I was 29 and 32. I had earned a job-related professional license (CPA) when I was 32. But because I was not a Democrat, they did not promote me to GS-12 until I was 25 and to GS-13 until I was 38 and never promoted me to GS-14.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/ses/2025/08/opm-launches-radically-different-training-program-for-federal-executives/
FED MANAGER
— Trump’s Budget Proposes Major Cuts to Federal Retirement System. Specifically, the budget calls for cutting the COLA by 0.5 percent for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) participants of what the typical formula currently allows. DD: My critics/opponents are furious that I get $18,712/year Social Security in addition to a $68,640/year Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension. But I paid into Social Security for 10 years and I paid into CSRS for almost 30 tears.
https://www.fedmanager.com/news/president-trumps-budget-proposes-major-cuts-to-federal-retirement-system
LEXOLOGY
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use disparate impact a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=bf4f03b2-c94a-4fc1-a730-6d2f0e4116d4
INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— When Career Advancement Feels Impossible. Many Americans feel stuck professionally and don’t buy in to potential of education to change their career circumstances. DD: What did you do to advance? I earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 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-elated professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997. Nevertheless, notwithstanding all the aforesaid, I never earned more than $154,682/year in today’s dollars. My critics/opponents use that to imply/hint/argue/shout it proves that I am a career failure because I am a very bad person. They know full-well that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 in 1988.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/11/17/survey-many-americans-feel-powerless-over-ability-advance-professionally
ATLANTIC
— DD: My critics/opponents have always been woke, are woke, and always will be woke. To be woke is to be anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-Christian, anti-German American, and/or anti-those who have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/08/claudia-rankines-new-post-woke-book/688436/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
DAILY MAIL
— Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg, 51, forced to release surveillance video of her KISSING mayor on lips for two seconds in back office, as she insists it was ‘non-romantic peck.’
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16087231/elyse-hoffenberg-mayor-steven-landek-kiss-illinois.html
MEAWW
— Fetterman says Democrats have a ‘socialism problem’, names candidates dragging them to the left. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://news.meaww.com/fetterman-says-democrats-have-a-socialism-problem-names-candidates-dragging-them-to-the-left
August 26, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Trump floats renaming Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America,’ denies claim he’d interfere with Canadians speaking French. The U.S. and Canada jointly manage the waterway.
https://abc7chicago.com/story/trump-floats-renaming-lake-ontario-america-denies-claim-hed-interfere-canadians-speaking-french/19733253/
WTTW
— ‘Do It Early’: Officials Urge Illinoisans to Submit Mail-In Ballots Well Before Election Day Amid Supreme Court ‘Chaos.’
https://news.wttw.com/2026/08/25/do-it-early-officials-urge-illinoisans-submit-mail-ballots-well-election-day-amid
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Illinois leaders anxious about Supreme Court ruling allowing Trump to push mail-in voting restrictions.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/25/supreme-court-ruling-mail-in-voting-illinois/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Mail ballots are secure, Illinois election officials stress after Supreme Court ruling. Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said it’s “business as usual,” and she prepares for the election by fighting misinformation, expanding drop boxes for mail ballots and prepares for an influx of early voting, which begins Oct. 19
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/08/25/mail-ballots-secure-illinois-election-officials-supreme-court-ruling-trump-executive-order
— Working class men. DD: Since the 1960s, women have ever-increasing been given more preference over men. That has ever-increasingly brought down men. Because I am a man, I would be nowhere today if I had not earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. As time when on, more and more and more of my coworkers were women. All those who my Democrat superiors promoted over me 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) had no professional license like the one I had.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/08/25/working-class-men-black-white-american-inequity-1879-ben-jealous
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to fight voter fraud.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/08/25/us-supreme-court-ruling-mail-in-voting-donald-trump-executive-order
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/08/25/marimar-martinez-ice-border-patrol-midway-blitz-chicago-police-cpd
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Hostage crisis? Conroy offers more election funding amid dispute with clerk.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260825/news/hostage-crisis-conroy-offers-more-election-funding-amid-dispute-with-clerk/
— The $6 billion plan that would give the suburbs control over supplying Lake Michigan water.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260824/news/suburban-leaders-detail-6-billion-plan-for-water-independence-amid-pushback-from-chicago/
SOUTHERN
— Caucus to select Republican nominee for Marion County Sheriff set for Tuesday night with questions looming about the process.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/08/25/caucus-to-select-republican-nominee-for-marion-county-sheriff-set-for-wednesday-night-with-questions-looming-about-the-process/
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Why are flags lowered in Illinois? Trump orders to honor Dolly Parton.
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/25/why-are-flags-at-half-staff-today-in-illinois-trump-order-lowered-dolly-parton-death-pritzker/91462262007/
FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump and Vance to keynote Republicans’ midterm convention in Texas. As if there was any doubt, Republicans’ midterm convention will be the Donald Trump show, with the president appearing at both nights of the event in Dallas next month.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-and-vance-to-keynote-republicans-midterm-convention-in-texas/article_7c11c295-a1dd-5301-9a7f-0f10f89fef86.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— Will Supreme Court’s order on mail-in ballots impact voting in Illinois?
https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2026-08-25/will-supreme-courts-order-on-mail-in-ballots-impact-voting-in-illinois
WGEM
— Pritzker, Bailey offer different visions for Illinois education.
https://www.wgem.com/2026/08/25/pritzker-bailey-offer-different-visions-illinois-education/
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Bailey implores Republicans to improve turnout as he plans to shift focus to Chicago. Republican nominee for governor says late August downstate tour is last of the campaign.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/bailey-implores-republicans-to-improve-turnout-as-he-plans-to-shift-focus-to-chicago/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Pritzker, Bailey offer different visions for Illinois education.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-pritzker-bailey-offer-different-visions-for-illinois-education/
ILLINOIS
— Governor Pritzker Announces $1 Billion to Expand High-Speed Internet Across Illinois. DD: To put together and send out GOPUSA ILLINOIIS newsletters, I have spent lots of money for high-speed internet, backup internet, computers, and backup computers.
https://www.illinois.gov/news/release.html?releaseid=32862
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What if America had been socialist when you were young? When I was young, because I would have refused to be a socialist, a) UIC would not have accepted me in 1966, NIU in 1969, Loyola in 1972, DePaul in 1976, or IIT in 1992, b) the Post Office would not have hired me in 1966, IRS in 1971, or GAO in 1980, and c) I would not have been able to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, become a licensed CPA in 1981, or earn four more job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Mainstream media love Arabs — as long as they hate Jews.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/25/mainstream-media-love-arabs-long-hate-jews/
— Musk faces no criminal charges for million-dollar voter giveaway. DD: Democrats run the federal government. To get more votes for Democrat candidates from their employees, they give their Democrat employees lots of preference.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/25/elon-musk-faces-no-criminal-charges-million-dollar-voter-giveaway/
— FEMA broke federal law by skipping homes with Trump signs after hurricane. DD: I have had a Vote Republican sign in front of my front porch for decades.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/25/fema-refused-visit-11-pro-trump-houses-2024/
— Florida restricts welfare benefits for ‘nonessential’ purchases. Items banned include vapes, tattoos, and spa services.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/25/florida-restricts-welfare-benefits-nonessential-purchases/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Consulting firm Deloitte to pay US government $21.5 million in DEI settlement. DD: The accounting profession had no interest in me a) because I did not pass the CPA examination until I was 30 in 1979, b) because I did not earn a master’s degree in accounting until I was 31, c) because I did not pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt until I was 32, and d) because I did not become a licensed CPA until I was 32. But the accounting profession would have been interested in me if I had been a minority or a female.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/business/4700165/deloitte-us-government-dei-settlement/
NEW YORK POST
— Affordability trumps all other issues in midterm battleground states. 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://nypost.com/2026/08/26/us-news/affordability-trumps-all-other-issues-in-midterm-battleground-states-grassroots-survey-reveals/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Will Supreme Court Ruling Make It Harder for Noncitizens to Vote?
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/25/will-supreme-court-ruling-make-it-harder-for-noncitizens-to-vote/
FOX NEWS
— Utah library confirms LGBTQ ‘Pride’ book for its ‘smallest patrons’ is kept easily accessible. DD: How successful have Democrats been making your children and grandchildren LGBTQers?
https://www.foxnews.com/media/utah-library-confirms-lgbtq-pride-book-its-smallest-patrons-kept-easily-accessible.amp
NEWSMAX
— Democrats embracing socialism.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/democrats-embracing-socialism-043004488.html
— Florida Bars Tattoos, Tanning, Tobacco From Welfare.
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/ron-desantis-florida-tanf/2026/08/25/id/1267295/
OPM
— Restoring Merit With the Right Civil Service Exam. DD: If I had not passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination (FSEE) in 1970, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have hired me in 1971. My having been a public sector employee for almost 3 years harmed my efforts to get good job in the private sector after I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 in 1970. In anticipation of that, as a fallback, I took and passed the FSEE before I graduated.
https://www.opm.gov/news/secrets-of-opm/restoring-merit-with-the-right-civil-service-exam/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The exam that hired one in twenty. This is not the federal government’s first rodeo. In fact, we had civil service exams from 1955 to 1982 – the Federal Service Entrance Examination (FSEE) and its successor, the Professional and Administrative Career Examination (PACE) – that were intended to allow an applicant to earn their desk by out-scoring the competition in a proctored exam hall. In practice, however, relatively few civil servants were hired through the FSEE or PACE exam.)
TOWNHALL
— We Now Have the First Details of the Republican Midterm Convention.
https://townhall.com/news/josephchalfant/2026/08/25/we-now-have-the-first-details-of-the-republican-midterm-convention-n2681889
— No Amnesty Ever.
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2026/08/26/get-it-through-your-thick-heads-gop-no-amnesty-ever-n2681808
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC NEWS
— Democratic socialists notch another win in the Oklahoma Senate primary runoff. Nurse N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas has won the Democratic Senate nomination in Oklahoma, NBC News projects, defeating an older, more moderate opponent. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/nkiyla-jasmine-thomas-wins-oklahoma-senate-primary-democrat-rcna593618
CBS NEWS
— Who qualifies for the IRS Fresh Start program? DD: While I worked for IRS’s Collection Division 1971-1980, I made many ability to pay decisions.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-qualifies-for-the-irs-fresh-start-program/
— U.S. airman faces charges under military justice system for criticizing Trump over Iran war. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 because I was an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. In Diersen v. GAO, the court ruled that was OK.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jason-watson-charged-trump-criticism-air-force-article-88/
FOX NEW YORK
— New York’s law banning police cooperation with ICE takes effect. DD: Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War on Republicans. Illegals are their soldiers in their Democrat Army.
https://www.fox5ny.com/news/new-york-bans-police-cooperation-with-ice-287-g
REUTERS
— Unions sue OPM over rules on ‘suitability firings,’ ranked performance reviews. DD: I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. According to them, I was never a suitable federal employee, not only because I was not a Democrat, but because I was not a minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and I had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. My Democrat superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal rules to waste my career and to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/unions-sue-opm-over-rules-suitability-firings-ranked-performance-reviews-2026-08-25/
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Hegseth’s Purge of Top Generals Leaves the Army Rudderless. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors purged many while I worked for GAO 1980-1997. They were overwhelmingly White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/hegseth-purge-army-generals.html
— DD: Democrat leaders want voters on welfare because voters on welfare vote for Democrats.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000011107033/how-welfare-became-a-tool-of-humiliation.html
USA TODAY
— Here’s when the Social Security COLA update is expected to be released. DD: What has helped you deal with inflation? COLAs have helped me deal with inflation big time. My critics/opponents are furious that I got COLAs while I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and that I have continued to get COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997 and as a Social Security recipient since 2010.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personal-finance/retirement/2026/08/25/social-security-cola-2027-announcement-date/91454199007/
— A single Corvette just sold for $18,705,000. What makes it special?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/news/2026/08/21/corvette-grand-sport-sells-record-price/91409884007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Ascendant No More, Democrats Are a Coalition of the Pathetic. The party’s base—and its ideological vanguard—consists of downwardly mobile college graduates.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ascendant-no-more-democrats-are-a-coalition-of-the-pathetic-50d7c6b9
— The Socialism We Already Have. The fundamental flaw in the Marxian slogan: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” is who decides? DD: According to Democrat leaders, since the 1960s, those who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran have the ability to pay and those who are Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran need money. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) 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 b) 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.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-socialism-we-already-have-1328767f
FORTUNE
— The Trump administration proposes $103,000 fee for H-1B visas that DHS itself estimates would paralyze 76% of small businesses. 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://fortune.com/2026/08/25/trump-h1b-visas-fee-startups/
— Gen Z wants to be ‘tradwives.’ New data reveals the exact salary your spouse needs to earn—and in most states it’s under $100K. DD: How old were you when you started earning $100,000/year in today’s dollars? For me, it was when I was 25 in 1974. I had worked for IRS for 3 years. I had completed 10 graduate business evening business courses at Loyola.
https://fortune.com/2026/08/26/stay-at-home-parent-tradwife-exact-salary-spouse-needs-to-earn-revealed-below-100k/
— Every politician says they’re for the working man, so why are only 1% of elected officials from the working class? DD: 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.
https://fortune.com/2026/08/25/working-class-representation-global-democracies/
TIME
— DD: There are tremendous incentives to vote for Democrat candidates. Democrat elected officials give tremendous preference to those who vote for them. I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates got tremendous preference from Democrat elected officials.
https://time.com/article/2026/08/26/the-false-fear-of-noncitizen-voting/
TAMPA FREE PRESS
— Voters Lean Toward Enforcing Existing Gun Laws Over New Bans As Midterms Loom.
https://www.tampafp.com/voters-lean-toward-enforcing-existing-gun-laws-over-new-bans-as-midterms-loom-poll-finds/
NAPLES DAILY NEWS
— More voters trust Democrats over GOP on cost of living. DD: What has helped you deal with inflation? COLAs have helped me deal with inflation big time. My critics/opponents are furious that I got COLAs while I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and that I have continued to get COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997 and as a Social Security recipient since 2010.
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/25/voters-trust-dems-gop-affordability-new-poll/91464740007/
LAKE COUNTY EXAMINER
— Who rigged the economy against workers? DD: What did you do to fight the rigged economy? 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.
https://www.lakecountyexam.com/townnews/work/opinion-who-rigged-the-economy-against-workers/article_3a5db58f-0965-458a-9ee5-5c5bb61bcb83.amp.html
NATIONAL NEWS DESK
— Young Democrats increasingly pick socialism in fight against economic woes. DD: When you were young, what did you do to fight economic woes? 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.
https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/young-democrats-increasingly-pick-socialism-in-fight-against-economic-political-woes-establishment-primary-elections
WTMJ
— Where are teens supposed to go? DD: When you were a teen, what did you do when you were not in school? 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 delivered mail 1966-1969.
https://wtmj.com/shows/point-taken/2026/08/25/what-happened-to-third-spaces-for-teenagers/
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK & NFFE
— Unions challenge Trump admin overhaul of suitability, performance rules. DD: I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. According to them, I was never a suitable federal employee, not only because I was not a Democrat, but because I was not a minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and I had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. My Democrat superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal rules to waste my career and to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/litigation/2026/08/unions-challenge-trump-admin-overhaul-of-suitability-performance-rules/
https://www.nffe.org/news/unions-challenge-trump-administration-rules-governing-federal-employee-performance-evaluations-and-job-suitability-decisions/
FED WEEK
— Within Grade Increases and Who Gets Them. DD: My critics/opponents were furious when I got within grade increases.
https://www.fedweek.com/ask/federal-pay/within-grade-increases/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: General schedule employees. . ..are eligible for within grade increases unless they are denied for poor performance, after the following waiting periods: 52 weeks for advancement to steps 2-4; 104 weeks for advancement to steps 5-7; and 156 weeks for advancement to steps 8-10. . .Within grade increases not meant to be “routine.”)
TAXPAYER ADVOCATE
— IRS halts most unannounced collection employee visits to taxpayers. DD: I made many unannounced visits to taxpayers to collect delinquent taxes while I worked for IRS’s Collection Division as a Revenue Officer 1971-1980.
https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/tax-news/irs-halts-most-unannounced-collection-employee-visits-to-taxpayers/2023/08/
POLITICO
— Trump scoffs at ‘affordability’ issues. 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://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/25/trumps-political-gamble-on-beef-shows-his-growing-anxiety-over-affordability-01049917
— Political newcomer Darline Graham wins South Carolina’s GOP Senate runoff. DD: My critics/opponents in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being a newcomer. They have always stressed that I have lived in the aforesaid only since I was 29 in 1978, that I never attended any schools there, that I never attended any churches there, and that I never raised any children there.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/25/darline-graham-wins-south-carolina-senate-runoff-01050320
PBS
— Courting the independent vote. DD: I have been a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999. Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct have always gotten more votes because I hand-deliver to the independent voters in my precinct sample ballots, Republican voter guides, and campaign literature from Republican candidates.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/in-arizona-courting-the-independent-vote-requires-a-new-playbook
August 23, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: DuPage County clerk warns of ‘unprecedented disaster’ in November election if funding shortfalls aren’t addressed.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260822/news/dupage-county-clerk-warns-of-unprecedented-disaster-in-november-election-if-funding-shortfalls-are/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kaczmarek, who lost a bid for reelection in the March primary, says her office is about $2.5 million short of what is needed to run the election. If the gap isn’t addressed, Kaczmarek said it could lead to cuts resulting in fewer polling places, a later start date for early voting and fewer election judges. . According to budget figures provided by county officials, the clerk’s office has spent 99.8% of its postage budget. The county budgeted $277,050, a 201% increase over what was spent in 2022, for postage, and the clerk’s office already has spent $276,569. In her proposed spending plan last year, Kaczmarek requested $734,672 for postage and $623,226 to cover election-related printing costs. County officials also noted the clerk’s office already has spent 74% of its printing budget, or money used to print ballots and other election materials. The county budgeted $474,700, a 15% increase over actual expenses in 2022, the last year of a gubernatorial election. The clerk’s office already has spent $351,126. . .Kaczmarek said she is reviewing her options for the November election with her office’s election attorney. She does not intend to be at Tuesday’s county board meeting.)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/08/21/deported-operation-midway-blitz-asif-amin-cheema-pakistan-best-sub-humboldt-park-addison
ABC7
— ComEd crews deployed to NW Indiana as NIPSCO power outages, storm recovery continues. Chicago Bears announce $200,000 in donations for storm relief efforts. DD: The more that overhead lines bring power to your home, the more that those lines are near trees, the more that I recommend getting a whole-house backup electric generator.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-area-storm-recovery-comed-sending-crews-illinois-assist-nipsco-nw-indiana-power-restoration/19719373/
WGN9
— US Postal Service issues rule to tighten requirements for mail-in voting despite courts looking to block.
https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/us-postal-service-issues-rule-to-tighten-requirements-for-mail-in-voting-despite-courts-looking-to-block/
FOX32
— Here’s how much it costs to live comfortably in your state for 2026: Illinois: $244,109 for a family of 4 and $101,587 single
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/heres-how-much-costs-live-comfortably-your-state-2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— And now the Democrat Party moves into open Marxism territory.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/22/democrat-party-moves-open-marxism-territory/
— Trump moves to cancel American Bar Association accreditation of law schools.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/21/trump-moves-cancel-american-bar-association-accreditation-law-schools/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— RNC raised $19 million in July and has $130 million for midterm elections.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4692615/rnc-touts-record-cash-on-hand/
NEW YORK POST
— DSA’s foreign-policy agenda has one goal: weaken America so that world’s worst regimes can reign instead.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/22/opinion/dsas-foreign-policy-agenda-weaken-america-strengthen-foes/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Socialists aiming to make ‘educational’ indoctrination ‘free.’ Socialists target educational systems for a reason. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/socialists-aiming-to-make-educational-indoctrination-free/
DAILY WIRE
— DD: According to Democrats, Jesus is a Democrat who condemns the concepts of countries, borders, laws, and private ownership. According to Democrats, Jesus wants dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, 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. According to democrats, Jesus condemns those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. How strongly have Democrats taken over your church?
https://www.dailywire.com/episode/michael-knowles-show-socialism-christianity-debate
FOX NEWS
— Schumer touts Democrats as ‘big tent party’ amid socialist surge.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403876623112
— AOC’s ‘Woke 1’ comment conceals a dangerous pivot to socialist class war.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/aoc-woke-1-comment-conceals-dangerous-pivot-socialist-class-war-media-chief-warns.amp
— DD: According to my critics/opponents, I got a higher ACT score because I benefitted tremendously from discrimination against my peers who were minority, female, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/california-professor-cited-irony-removing-act-sat-didnt-help-disadvantaged-groups-intended
— Trump’s welfare reforms are a major victory; bureaucrats could still wreck them.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trumps-welfare-reforms-major-victory-bureaucrats-could-still-wreck-them
HOT AIR
— DD: According to my critics/opponents, I got a higher ACT score because I benefitted tremendously from discrimination against my peers who were minority, female, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://hotair.com/john-stossel/2026/08/22/racist-tests-n3818242
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Maoist Faction of the DSA Claims Ocasio-Cortez too ‘Moderate’ to Run for President.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/08/maoist-faction-of-the-dsa-claims-ocasio-cortez-too-moderate-to-run-for-president/amp/
NEWSBUSTERS
— The Media Struggles with Socialism and ‘Progressive Credentials.’
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/jeffrey-lord/2026/08/22/2026-media-struggles-socialism-and-progressive-credentials
PJ MEDIA
— The Democrats Have Already Lost to the Socialists.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/08/22/the-democrats-have-already-lost-to-the-socialists-n4956436
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
AOL
— The Rise of Democratic Socialists After Primaries.
https://www.aol.com/articles/definitely-growing-cnn-data-guru-135328000.html
— Democrats Have a More Positive View of Socialism Than Capitalism By a 26-Point Margin.
https://www.aol.com/articles/poll-democrats-more-positive-view-164901000.html
CNBC
— The top 10 colleges for financial aid in 2026, according to The Princeton Review — and what families actually pay. DD: My critics/opponents have always used my not getting any scholarships against me big time.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/18/colleges-best-financial-aid-2026-princeton-review.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: I should write about the lawsuits that I have filed. I would focus on the defendants and the big adverse actions that they and their attorneys have taken against me.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/opinion/trumps-revenge.html
USA TODAY
— Fetterman calls Dems the party of socialism.
https://www.aol.com/articles/fetterman-calls-dems-party-socialism-165228000.html
— What affordability really means. 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://www.usatoday.com/story/nletter/2026/08/21/affordability-prices-inflation-debt-credit-money/91335601007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Cracks in the Blue Wall Against Voter ID.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/cracks-in-the-blue-wall-against-voter-id-79da7f93
SCRIPPS NEWS
— A growing number of six-figure earners say the American Dream feels out of reach. DD: How old were you when you started earning $100,000/year in today’s dollars? For me, it was when I was 25 in 1974. I had worked for IRS for 3 years. I had completed 10 graduate business evening business courses at Loyola.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/economy/a-growing-number-of-six-figure-earners-say-the-american-dream-feels-out-of-reach
LAS VEGAS JOURNAL REVIEW
— Everyone is campaigning on ‘affordability’ that no one can deliver. 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://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/jonah-goldberg-everyone-is-campaigning-on-affordability-that-no-one-can-deliver-3868118/
NEWS REVIEW
— Affordability is a real issue for Generation Z. DD: What did you do to afford things when you were young? 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://www.petoskeynews.com/story/opinion/columns/2026/08/22/affordability-is-a-real-issue-for-generation-z-opinion/91286235007/
CONCORD MONITOR
— Consider this before running for office. DD: What are your demographics? From what I see, because the following demographics are ever-increasingly demonized, denigrated, and condemned, the more of the following that you are, the more likely that you will lose: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/08/23/my-turn-candidates-american-values-unity/
ALASKA NATIVE NEWS
— A Government of the Rich, by the Rich, for the Rich: Nearly 60 Top Trump Officials Worth $100 Million or More.
https://alaska-native-news.com/a-government-of-the-rich-by-the-rich-for-the-rich-nearly-60-top-trump-officials-worth-100-million-or-more/85802/
ATLANTIC
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/08/socialism-rich-kids-gordillo/688382/
FEDERAL RETIREMENT
— Federal employee retirement benefits are generous. Health, dental, and vision insurance cost the same in retirement as they did while working. DD: My critics/opponents are furious about me and my wife benefitting from that.
https://federalretirement.net/benefits/
SHRM
— Multi-Generational Workforce Poses Challenges for HR Professionals. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, their top priority was getting rid of their older employees who were Republican, White, male, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. In 1993, when I was 45 years old, to get rid of their employees who were the aforesaid, they “offered” early retirement.
https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/employment-law-compliance/multi-generational-workforce-poses-challenges-hr
LEGIS
— Federal Probationary Workers Leaving Jobs at Higher Rates. DD: After I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors were furious when they learned that they could not use probationary procedures to get rid of me. Nevertheless, they did everything that could to get me to transfer back to IRS, transfer to another federal agency, or quit. They gave me bad job assignments, unfair performance expectations, and unfair performance appraisals. They kept me off audits of IRS. They delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13. Further, previously, in 1970, my Chicago Heights Firestone Store boss refused to let me start until after I passed a 2-week probationary period in Indiana. He would never had hired me, but his boss had assigned me to him. He did not have a college degree and he disapproved of my avoiding the Vietnam War draft, my being Protestant, my being German American, my having ancestors who had been in America since 1844, and my living in Crete.
https://legis1.com/news/federal-probationary-workers-separation-rates
DAILY KOS
— DD: According to Democrats, a) slaves built America and b) the longer that your ancestors have been in America, the more that you have benefitted from slavery and the more reparations that you should pay. Democrats have always wanted me to pay lots of reparations because all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s. In their defense, they always lived in northeast Illinois, they never were in a position to discriminate against anyone, and they never did discriminate against anyone.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/23/800087432/community/what-does-it-mean-to-remember-slavery/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES
— The New American Divide, Not Dream: Where You Start May Shape Where You End. DD: What helped you earn more than your parents did? 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. My father had brittle type 1 diabetes from childhood. He was only the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma. Because of his diabetes, he never attended college. My mother never attended high school.
https://www.ibtimes.sg/new-american-divide-not-dream-where-you-start-may-shape-where-you-end-92697
(FROM THE ATICLE: The share of American children who earn more than their parents has fallen from about 90% among those born in 1940 to roughly 50% among children born in the 1980s. The decline has affected the entire income distribution, but the fall has been particularly pronounced for the middle class.)
FROM OTHER SOURCES
CHICAGO MOTOR CARS & HAMILTON COLLECTION
— What a great day at the Wheaton Concours! DD: It was an outstanding event! My dream car is a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, as it came from the factory, numbers matching/correct, like new, 440 or 426, automatic, blue exterior, black vinyl roof, black leather interior, and air conditioning. There was one at the concours with virtually all of the aforesaid. I owned a 1968 R/T 1994-2005 and a 1969 SE 1968-1971.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcWahdYRneo/
https://www.chicagomotorcars.com/
https://thehamiltoncollection.com/
August 22, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Gary storm victims fill generators at a gas station, watch DVDs in their car, eat hot lunch at a school. A historic power outage in northwest Indiana has left 52% of Gary’s NIPSCO customers without power for 11 days. We spoke with people about their experiences as they wait for electricity to be restored and debris to be cleared. DD: The more that overhead lines bring power to your home, the more that those lines are near trees, the more that I recommend getting a whole-house backup electric generator.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/08/21/gary-storm-victims-fill-generators-at-a-gas-station-watch-dvds-in-car-eat-hot-lunch-at-a-school
https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/northwest-indiana-gary-no-power-storm-recovery
— Many Trump-endorsed candidates landing with a thud.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/08/21/trump-endorsed-candidates-loss-voters-republicans-midterms-s-e-cupp
— Tollway hike will improve infrastructure, save commute time, boost economy. DD: What section of the tollway do you use the most? For me, it is the I-88 section between Naperville Road and Route 59.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2026/08/22/illinois-tollway-airplane-toilets-roosevelt-trump-india-israel-animal-cruelty-ice-term-limits
FOX32
— What Illinois voters can expect on the 2026 general election ballot.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-ro8xjcgk3nqfxfrd
WGEM
— U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy makes stop in Quincy.
https://www.wgem.com/2026/08/22/us-senate-candidate-don-tracy-makes-stop-quincy/
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: To vote for Democrats is to promote LGBTQ.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/25-6-million-lgbtq-adults-in-us-transgender-population-twice-prior-estimates-study/
ELMHURST UNIVERSITY
— Four Career Benefits to Completing Your Degree. DD: If I had not 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, I never would have earned $154,682/year in today’s dollars in 1997. IRS would not have hired me in 1971 or promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. GAO would not have hired me in 1980 or promoted me in 1986.
https://www.elmhurst.edu/blog/four-career-benefits-to-completing-your-degree/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/21/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-584/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOHN KASS
— Vallas: Anti-Semitism and the Unholy Alliance Between the Far Left and Radical Islam.
https://johnkassnews.com/anti-semitism-and-the-unholy-alliance-between-the-far-left-and-radical-islam/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— According to Google AI, campaign literature pieces cost roughly $290 per 5,000 from specialized political printers. I hope that each of the 17 Republican candidates on the November 3, 2006 ballot in my precinct will provide 400 of their pieces to the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) that I can pick them up and hand-deliver them to the 400 residences in my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton that have at least one registered Republican or Independent voter. That is 7,200 pieces (400 X 17). So far, I have placed 660 DuPage County Election Division-provided mailing labels on 400 DuPage County GOP-provided envelopes. I have split them into five batches and put them in walk order. I want to start stuffing those envelopes with MTRO-provided outstanding Voter Guides and the literature pieces ASAP. I want to start stuffing as soon as I have at least 100 pieces from each of the candidates. As soon as the sample ballot for my precinct is available, I will make 400 photocopies, stuff them, and head out the door. The 18 candidates are Tracy, Bailey/Del Mar, Fioretti, Solomon, Harris, Drew, Soloman, Oakley, Lewis, Vrankovich, Grasso, Noonan, Schiappa, Henry, Eckhoff, Michaud, Schultz, Quirk, and Helland. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Bread lines or bread winning? The Democratic Party’s fatal leftward drift.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/4692671/democrats-socialism-vs-capitalism-economic-shift/
— Capitalism: The system Gen Z loves to roast but actually needs most. DD: What were you able to do under capitalism? I was able to buy a 1958 Chevy BeAir when I was 16 in 1964 with money I earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers. I was able buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966 with money I earned washing dishes for the minimum wage. I was able buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967 and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968 with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to graduate debt-free from NIU in 1970 with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to buy a new 1972 Corvette in 1971 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS. I was able to buy a new townhome in 1972 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/equality-not-elitism/4680934/capitalism-system-generation-z-needs-most/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: At its core, capitalism is about private ownership and incentives. You have a right to own your property or ideas. You have the freedom to negotiate in your self-interest and engage in mutually beneficial agreements. Profit and competition motivate you to innovate. No one forces you to. . .Socialism relies on coercion as central planners decide what gets made, how much, and who gets it. Private ownership of land, factories, or businesses is limited or taken over. The government needs taxes, rules, or force to do that. Take Venezuela. History shows that top-down socialist directives and nationalization produced hyperinflation, shortages of food and medicine, poverty, and the collapse of public services. Under socialism, where private ownership and property rights do not exist, outcomes get worse, and innovation suffers. This is the classic tragedy of the commons problem. Imagine public transit: filled with litter, graffiti-covered cars, and slow. No private individual cleans it because “it’s the government’s problem,” and government workers are slow to do so because they get paid regardless. When the state or collective controls public services, resources are misallocated, and quality deteriorates.)
NEW YORK POST
— Democrats now overwhelmingly have a more favorable view of socialism than capitalism. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.aol.com/articles/dems-now-favor-socialism-over-205152000.html
— Why 58% of California Democrats lust after socialism. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/21/opinion/why-california-democrats-like-socialism/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Socialism, after all, is an ideology of oppression that’s brought mass death, forced labor, famine and executions to a long list of nations, including China, Cambodia, Vietnam, North Korea, and the former USSR. So … what gives in the Golden State?. . .Socialism (with a smile!) sells in blue enclaves in part because it’s faddish, on trend, of the moment. It’s a shiny object glorified on social media to an audience too young to remember the Cold War –– or the ghoulish history of socialist and communist regimes. It taps into disgruntlement, class envy, entitlement. And it sells utopian fantasies about, when it comes down to it, taking other people’s stuff.)
AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
— We Must Save America’s Students from the False Promises of Socialism. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://aclj.org/radical-left/we-must-save-americas-students-from-the-false-promises-of-socialism
AMERICAN THINKER
— Illegitimate Elections Will Destroy the United States. ‘Sanctuary city’ secession is tearing the Union apart.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/illegitimate-elections-will-destroy-the-united-states/
BREITBART
— Chicago Threw $640M in Tax Dollars at Illegal Migrants Over Two Years.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/21/chicago-threw-640m-in-tax-dollars-at-illegal-migrants-over-two-years/amp/
COLLEGE FIX
— Education Dept. ends disparate impact, dropping requirement to balance racial outcomes. DD: When Whites and males do better on tests than minorities and females, Democrats and RINOs blame Republicans.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/education-dept-ends-disparate-impact-dropping-requirement-to-balance-racial-outcomes/
— Education Department praised for ending outcome-based discrimination rules. DD: When Whites and males do better on tests than minorities and females, Democrats and RINOs blame Republicans.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/in-washington-post-education-department-praised-for-ending-outcome-based-discrimination-rules/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Ending the Welfare State as We Know It.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/21/ending-the-welfare-state-as-we-know-it/
DAILY WIRE
— Socialist Senate Nominee Called Charlie Kirk Supporters Tools ‘Of White Supremacy.’ DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/socialist-senate-nominee-called-charlie-kirk-supporters-tools-of-white-supremacy
FOX BUSINESS
— Virginia removes over 6,000 noncitizens from voter rolls.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403805538112
FOX NEWS
— Socialism surges among Democrats as party leaders reject DSA agenda. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/socialism-surges-among-democrats-party-leaders-reject-dsa-agenda-pack-fools
— Democrats have built a ‘COALITION OF TRIBAL GRIEVANCES.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQd2F3IEJM8
NATIONAL REVIEW
— The Path Ahead for Welfare Reform.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/08/the-path-ahead-for-welfare-reform/
PJ MEDIA
— Hegseth Used Slang for Transgender-Identifying Lefties.
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/08/21/pete-hegseth-used-slang-for-transgender-identifying-lefties-and-wokies-lost-their-marbles-n4956398
PRESS BANNER
— Planning Your Financial Future Under Socialism. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://pressbanner.com/finance-planning-your-financial-future-under-socialism/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Bernie Sanders won Santa Cruz County primaries twice and now Ocasio-Cortez, Mandami, El-Sayed and Flanagan gain power. DSA friendly candidates threaten moderate Democrats and independent votes enough to give MAGA a fighting chance in November. Democratic Socialists of America claim 95,000 members. Would socialism look more like DSA dreams, Republican nightmares or Nordic compromises? With threats from right and left, can personal financial planning survive? The DSA Program. In “What is Democratic Socialism,” the DSA proclaims: “We want a democracy that creates space for us all to flourish not just survive and answers the fundamental questions of our lives with the input of all. We want to collectively own the key economic drivers that dominate our lives, such as energy production and transportation.” On the site program.dsausa.org, the DSA shamelessly prophesies: “You work as much as you are able and no more than needed…You have no debt. You don’t need health insurance. You don’t pay a mortgage or have a landlord, because comfortable housing is a human right. Your retirement is publicly funded. Food, education, energy, medicine, and transportation aren’t for-profit businesses; they are common goods and utilities.” DSA would “Expand public resources to support recreation, learning, and social spaces accessible to all.” Sustainable publicly owned transit and energy replace fossil fuels. Investment, insurance and estate planning here is a question for government, not individuals. Mao’s Ideological Purity. The specter of Maoism transformed Chinese agricultural society down “the road of socialism under the leadership of the party.” So government controlled not only politics and religion, but production, borders, the arts and education. Peasants ate from common kitchens and married according to party needs. Individuals couldn’t even plan their daily dress. Estates of landlords — even poor landlords — and entrepreneurs were confiscated. Seized housing guaranteed housing “rights.” There were no stock or insurance markets and security was greatest for peasants who denounced neighbors publicly and worked harder and longer even when government horribly mismanaged steel production with backyard furnaces. To collectivize agriculture, the party appropriated food to starve tens of millions. Nordic Socialism? In UN World Happiness Reports, Nordics rank the happiest people and surely honest democracy, subsidized education and healthcare contribute. Unicameral legislatures and proportional representation model the DSA’s critique of America’s independent presidency and judiciary. Roughly 30% of the people work in health care, education and government and workers are highly unionized with government settling disputes. Unemployment insurance and government childcare are regular. But Deng Xiaoping brought markets back to China and the Swedish Social Democrats deregulated banking and currency in the 1980s. The financial crisis of 1990-94 resulted in deregulation. Socialists beware: Swedes get vouchers for educational choice and save in subsidized mutual fund accounts. Scandification.com says: “Sweden is a highly liberalized and competitive open-market economy. The country happily trades with countries all around the globe. Most Swedish enterprises are privately owned and pay quite low taxes compared to other parts of the globe.” The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom ranks Sweden ahead of the United States! Questions for Socialists. What happens when socialism meets Amazon.com variety with bleak lifestyle choices? Canadians already venture abroad for delayed healthcare and Moscow bread lines were infamous. And we don’t all enjoy paying for solar panels on dull housing projects. F.A. Hayek says that the task of providing for everyone’s needs or wants while knowing all the human and natural resources is too much for any planning committee without the invisible hand of pricing. Mandami is already challenged delivering free buses. Poor worker motivation challenged Mao to lead constant rallies with art glorifying low-paid production — not short work and environmental purity. The DSO admittedly seeks “…aggressive wealth taxes on the richest individuals and corporations to spend on public goods and infrastructure.” Nordic countries tax over 40% of GDP versus OECD averages of 33.9%. Like our income tax, burdens start with the rich, but El-Sayed admitted that “you paid a little more in taxes” for free healthcare. Planning is impossible in Maoist China where planners would be lynched. Sweden’s welfare state hosts CFPs and tax planning with market investments flourishes. If Socialism — or Fascism — conquers America, we won’t have so many choices.)
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Woke 2.0 and the False Promise of Socialist Division.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/08/21/woke_20_and_the_false_promise_of_socialist_division_154432.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Democrats hold more favorable view of socialism than capitalism. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.aol.com/articles/democrats-hold-more-favorable-view-172421000.html
— Gen Z turns against capitalism as DSA takes off. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/6042507-gen-z-capitalism-socialism-sports-betting-gender-political-divide/
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Republicans Must Stop Being Democrat-Lite.
https://www.usnews.com/debate-club/is-the-gops-problem-in-its-strategies-or-its-policies/republicans-must-stop-being-democrat-lite
CNN
— DD: I often served as a fact checker while I worked for GAO 1986-1997 at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/17/politics/fact-check-trump-south-korea-cost-sharing-biden
AOL
— How Much Income You Need To Join the Top 10% in Every State. In Illinois it is $296,443/year.
https://www.aol.com/articles/much-income-join-top-10-142011000.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— The Socialist, a Million-Dollar Rowhouse and Unanswered Questions. Differing accounts of where Gustavo Gordillo, a leader of the Democratic Socialists of America, lives are raising doubts about whether the city’s left-wing organizers are ready for prime time. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/22/nyregion/nyc-gustavo-gordillo-democratic-socialist.html
— Journalism and Paywalls. An increasingly hostile environment for independent reporting in the United States and elsewhere has made our job harder, and more expensive. DD: My direct competitors continue to be furious that I have the money, time, motivation, ability, and experience to put together and send out my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletter every day without a paywall, without any advertising, and without any donation requests. All the money that I spend putting the newsletters together and sending them out comes from my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my Social Security, and my retirement savings. Far too many of my direct competitors 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 them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/world/journalism-us-colombia-quake.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Some of you have written in, surprised and sometimes annoyed at the prospect of hitting the paywall. I get it. So in today’s newsletter, I want to explain why we need people who can afford it to pay for our journalism. Many of you already do. Thank you.)
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— College Enrollments Are Expected to Plunge. DD: Under the Democrats, anticipate/expect that fewer and fewer and fewer Whites and males will earn college degrees.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/why-college-enrollments-are-expected-to-plunge-a8e00d7d
FORBES
— Employee Engagement. DD: I was far more engaged than my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO coworkers. While I worked for the Democrats who ran the Post Office 1966-1969, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree in management. While I worked for the Democrats who ran IRS 1971-1980, I earned an MBA, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, and almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting. While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, I earned a master’s degree in accounting, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt, became a licensed CPA, served on the Association of Government Accountants Executive Committee for 12 years, served on the Illinois CPA Society Membership Committee for 8 years, earned professional certifications in fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting, and earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading. None of my Democrat coworkers came close to doing what I did. To get promoted, all they had to do was to be “good little Democrats.”
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2026/08/20/12-employee-engagement-strategies-that-are-working-now/
— Career Slowdown. DD: My Post Office career more than slowed down, it crashed when my Democrat superiors disallowed my sick leave requests when I was 19 in 1968 and 20 and forced me to resign when I was 20 falsely claiming that I was not available to work enough part-time hours. My IRS career more than slowed down, it crashed when I was 25 when my Democrat superiors succeeded in getting rid of the manager who had promoted me when I was 23 (GS-9), 24 (GS-11), and 25 (GS-12). They disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA when I was 27. They disallowed my education expenses when I was 29. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. My GAO career more than slowed down, it crashed when I was 31 when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS, disempowering the GAO manager who had arranged that transfer, gave me bad job assignments and unfair performance expectations and performance appraisals and kept me off audits of IRS. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31 and my passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination and becoming a licensed CPA when I was 32. GAO finally did promote me to GS-13 when I was 38, but that was only because the manager who arranged my transfer got back into power, assigned me to audits of IRS, and promoted me to GS-13. But when I was 39, they forced him to retire and things when from bad to worse. When I was 40, my career really crashed. They threw me off audits of IRS, gave me a very bad job assignment, very unfair performance expectations, and performance appraisal and ranked me at the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance (PFP). They ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for PFP from then on. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning four more professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48 and my earning a master’s degree in financial markets and training when I was 48. They forced me to retire when I was 49.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2026/02/21/4-tips-to-keep-up-when-your-coworkers-careers-move-faster/
KEISER UNIVERSITY
— Which College Majors Offer the Best Work-Life Balance? DD: My not majoring in accounting from the beginning was one of my biggest mistakes. I erroneously thought that I could never pass the CPA examination. I did pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30 in 1979, but by then it was too late. The accounting profession saw me as being far too old to have a successful career in accounting. On top of that, the profession was under tremendous pressure to hire, retain, and promote young minorities and young females.
https://www.keiseruniversity.edu/articles/careers-with-best-work-life-balance/
STANDARD EXAMINER
— DD: When Whites and males do better on tests than minorities and females, Democrats and RINOs blame Republicans.
https://www.standard.net/opinion/national-commentary/2026/aug/21/stossel-racist-tests/
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
— Affordability For All. 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://nul.org/news/affordability-all-its-time-rescue-american-dream
FROM OTHER SOURCES
MAYO CLINIC
— Type 2 diabetes over time: What to expect as you age. DD: My prescribed type 2 diabetes pills are: Glimepiride (2), Jardiance, Metformin, and Ozempic. I am using Stelo ( https://www.stelo.com/ ) to monitor my glucose levels.
https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/diabetes/type-2-diabetes-over-time-what-to-expect-as-you-age/
TOPSPEED
— 10 Affordable Cars That Make Perfect Daily Drivers. DD: Chevy Malibu is one of them. My 2021 Chevy Malibu Premier will me my daily driver if my 2018 Chevy Cruze LT is totaled or stolen.
https://www.topspeed.com/affordable-new-cars-for-daily-driving/
August 21, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Tracy: “We believe in equal opportunity. They believe in equal outcomes. We believe in rewarding success. They want to redistribute success.”
https://abc7chicago.com/post/republican-candidates-midterm-election-share-message-unity-2026-illinois-state-fair/19709027/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. Trump defends and advances many planks in that platform. Democrat and RINO leaders blame Proft for Republican losses in Illinois, but they really blame Trump and the Republican Party platform. To win elections, they want the Republican Party to become the Democrat Lite Party, that is, to officially dump Trump and to officially dump the party’s conservative base, that is, to officially dump the platform’s 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, that is, to officially dissolve. Democrat candidates win in Illinois because they and their mainstream news media aggressively promote the anti-conservative Democrat Party platform.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/21/illinois-republicans-dan-proft-richard-uihlein-tony-mccombie-ryan-spain-republicans/
WMBD
— With Trump barely mentioned, Illinois Republicans focus on common enemy: Pritzker.
https://wmbdradio.com/2026/08/21/676221/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Illinois GOP chief Grogan on 2026 election: ‘It’s common sense versus communism’
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-illinois-gop-chief-on-2026-election-its-common-sense-versus-communism/
CHRONICLE ILLINOIS
— Different state, same results for Catalina Lauf, Jim Oberweis.
https://chronicleillinois.com/news/different-state-same-results-for-catalina-lauf-jim-oberweis/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— DD: According to Democrat and RINO leaders, to win, Illinois Republican candidates have dumped Trump.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/21/gop-says-affordability-trumps-trump-01044966
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: Trump who? One thing Bailey and other Republicans largely avoided discussing – except when asked – was President Donald Trump.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/21/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-796/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Chicago Public Schools students return amid low proficiency, underused schools.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-public-schools-back-to-school-performance-2026/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
— Adam Smith’s Warning for America’s New Socialists.
https://www.aei.org/commentary/adam-smiths-warning-for-americas-new-socialists/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Dividing America On Race: Russia’s Enduring Geopolitical Strategy. Thanks to the Soviet Union, America, rather than moving into a post-racial era after the Civil Rights Movement, has remained stuck in a racial time loop.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/dividing-america-on-race-russia-s-enduring-geopolitical-strategy/
COLLEGE FIX
— UC Berkeley’s top feeder school has 6% math proficiency.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/uc-berkeleys-top-feeder-school-has-6-math-proficiency/
— Trump admin unveils new rule to crack down on DEI in higher ed accreditors.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/trump-admin-unveils-new-rule-to-crack-down-on-dei-in-higher-ed-accreditors/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Democrats’ Minimum Wage Hike Would Make Life Less Affordable. To increase the federal minimum wage to $25/hour would cost the U.S. economy 5 million jobs and especially harm workers ages 16 to 24. DD: I did not start earning $25/hour in today’s dollars until after I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination, earned a bachelor’s degree in business, and got hired by IRS.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/no-the-sat-is-not-a-beacon-of-meritocracy
FEDERALIST
— Watchdog Asks Ed Department To Block American Bar Association’s Renewal As Law Schools’ Sole Accreditor. The Trump administration on Wednesday published rules that would open the door for other accreditors to be recognized across American higher education, as Trump himself recognizes that accreditation is the “secret weapon” for controlling universities.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/20/exclusive-watchdog-asks-ed-department-to-block-american-bar-associations-renewal-as-law-schools-sole-accreditor/
FOX NEWS
— As Chicago Suffers, City Found $639.6 Million for Illegals.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/08/20/as_chicago_suffers_city_found_6396_million_for_illegals_708439.html
— Want to stop socialism? A modern civic education needs a lot more than you’d think. Only about one-quarter of students who began college in 2012 received any college-level economics instruction.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/stop-socialism-modern-civic-education-needs-lot-more-than-youd-think
— New report lays out plan to tackle America’s affordability crisis. 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://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403787257112
— California lawmakers want corporations to disclose ties to slavery. DD: According to Democrat leaders, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are tied to slavery: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. In my defense, I stress that even though all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, they always lived in northeast Illinois, they never were in a position to discriminate against anyone, and they never did discriminate against anyone.
https://noticias.foxnews.com/media/california-lawmakers-push-corporate-slavery-disclosure-bill-despite-uncertain-future-reparations
NANCY MACE
— Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill To Ban Non-Citizens From The Federal Workforce. DD: Because my parents lacked money, I had to compete against noncitizens for jobs. All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. 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.
https://mace.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-nancy-mace-introduces-bill-ban-non-citizens-federal-workforce
POST MILLENNIAL
— San Francisco drag queen stuns audience with Charlie Kirk assassination reenactment at LGBTQ nightclub.
https://thepostmillennial.com/san-francisco-drag-queen-stuns-audience-with-charlie-kirk-assassination-reenactment-at-lgbtq-nightclub
REASON
— Do You Have the Right to Possess an AR-15? The Supreme Court Will Soon Decide. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a pair of cases involving rifle restrictions imposed by Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly erode Second Amendment rights.
https://reason.com/2026/10/01/scotus-takes-up-assault-weapon-bans/
TOWNHALL
— Socialists Shove the Resistance Aside in Florida.
https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbarone/2026/08/21/socialists-shove-the-resistance-aside-in-florida-n2681621
— California Democrats Want to Force Companies Into Their Reparations Agenda. DD: According to Democrat leaders, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are tied to slavery: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. In my defense, I stress that even though all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, they always lived in northeast Illinois, they never were in a position to discriminate against anyone, and they never did discriminate against anyone.
https://townhall.com/news/jeff-charles/2026/08/20/california-democrats-want-to-force-companies-into-their-reparations-agenda-n2681592
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CNBC
— Affordability is a ‘defining challenge’ for Americans. 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://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/05/affordability-grocery-prices.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: My critics/opponents are woke, that is, they promote dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, 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.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/12/style/woke-1-aoc-dsa.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to fight voter fraud.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/us/politics/trump-nevada-voter-election-fraud.html
— Envy. DD: To promote envy against me, my Democrat GAO superiors stressed to my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates how much money my wife and I had saved for our retirement. They stressed a) my avoiding the Vietnam War draft, b) that we gave up trying to have children without trying IVF, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, c) my wife’s salary, d) the home we owned in Wheaton, e) our cars, and f) our having no debts. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/well/mind/envy-friends.html
USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/08/20/nixon-florida-primary-win-fundraising-polling-midterms/91370815007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The End of Harry and Meghan’s American Dream. DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? 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://www.wsj.com/world/uk/the-end-of-harry-and-meghans-american-dream-172623fd
— Paul Ryan and Les Ford: Americans Are Getting Caught in the Safety Net. The 1996 welfare reform helped move people from dependency to work. We need to do that again.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/americans-are-getting-caught-in-the-safety-net-fed222f4
— Trump Administration Attacks Bar Association’s Power to Accredit Law Schools. The move escalates a feud with the nation’s premier legal organization.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/aba-american-bar-association-law-schools-accredit-trump-education-e56f4cbc
24/7 WALL STREET
— AOC Just Revealed Her Net Worth Is Less Than $100,000, Here’s How Much Fidelity Says She Should Have Saved For Retirement Before She Turns 40. AOC’s 2025 financial disclosure shows a net worth as low as negative $33,000, despite earning roughly $1.22 million in congressional salary since 2019. Fidelity’s 3x-by-40 benchmark applied to AOC’s $174,000 salary sets a $522,000 retirement savings target she needs to hit by October 2029.
https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/20/aoc-just-revealed-her-net-worth-is-less-than-100000-heres-how-much-fidelity-says-she-should-have-saved-for-retirement-before-she-turns-40/
FORTUNE
— Gen Z forced to rewrite the American Dream in the ‘Great Postponement’: Fixer-uppers, side hustles and doing life out of order. DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? 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://fortune.com/2026/08/20/gen-z-american-dream-great-postponement-affordability/
INVESTOPEDIA
— Most Americans Say They Won’t Save Enough for Retirement, Even After Decades of Work, DD: To promote envy against me, my Democrat GAO superiors stressed to my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates how much money my wife and I had saved for our retirement. They stressed a) my avoiding the Vietnam War draft, b) that we gave up trying to have children without trying IVF, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, c) my wife’s salary, d) the home we owned in Wheaton, d) our cars, and f) our having no debts.
https://www.investopedia.com/why-most-americans-say-they-won-t-save-enough-for-retirement-even-after-decades-of-work-12009710
PENNSYLVANIA
— More Former Federal Employees Are Choosing the Commonwealth to Continue their Public Service Careers. With 1,350 former federal employees hired since last March, the Shapiro Administration continues to deliver results by helping ensure state agencies have the staff they need to deliver high-quality and responsive services to Pennsylvanians. DD: When my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, the Democrats and the RINOs who ran Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton had absolutely no use for me.
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/oa/newsroom/more-former-federal-employees-are-choosing-the-commonwealth-to-c
CHICO ENTERPRISE RECORD
— Socialism distributes poverty instead of wealth.
https://www.chicoer.com/2026/08/21/letter-to-the-editor-socialism-distributes-poverty-instead-of-wealth/
NEWS34
— Youth group organizers call for more safe spaces for teens in Charlotte amid curfew proposal. DD: When you were a teen, what did you do when you were not in school? 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 delivered mail 1966-1969.
https://www.aol.com/articles/youth-group-organizers-call-more-210422000.html
CENTRAL FLORIDA PUBLIC MEDIA
— Can Government Really Make Life More Affordable? 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://www.cfpublic.org/podcast/engage/2026-08-20/can-government-really-make-life-more-affordable
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— DD: Federal employees have file financial disclosure statements. Republican federal employees should anticipate/expect that their Democrat superiors will use that information against them. The more income and assets that you have, the more that they will leak that information to promote envy against you. My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government painted themselves as being grossly underpaid. They decried their spouses having little or no income. They decried the costs of child raising. They were ever-increasingly envious of my and my wife’s income and assets.
https://www.govexec.com/management/2026/06/practical-steps-agencies-mitigate-financial-disclosure-controversies/414003/
NEW YORK REVIEW
— As Democratic Socialists rack up primary victories, the moderate wing of the Democratic Party looks increasingly out of touch.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/08/20/whose-party-democratic-socialists-of-america/
JACOBIN
— How China Picks Its Winners and Losers. China’s university entrance exam is one of the most competitive in the world — a reflection of the cutthroat reality of the country’s labor market. DD: My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors were furious when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981 because my Democrat coworkers who they wanted to promote over me either a) failed/refused to take the examinations or b) failed to pass them.
https://jacobin.com/2026/08/china-education-inequality-gaokao-exams
WASHINGTON STAND
— DD: How strongly does your church promote the anti-religious Democrat Party platform?
https://washingtonstand.com/article/most-american-churchgoers-say-their-clergy-address-political-issues-poll-finds
NPR
— Should the U.S. have a mandatory retirement age? 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.
https://www.npr.org/2026/08/14/nx-s1-5924910/should-the-u-s-have-a-mandatory-retirement-age
CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
— DD: When Whites and males do better on tests than minorities and females, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republican discrimination against minorities and females.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/no-the-sat-is-not-a-beacon-of-meritocracy
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
CHINA ACADEMY
— Can Gen Z Socialism Shake the Stronghold of Western Capitalism?
https://thechinaacademy.org/can-gen-z-socialism-shake-the-stronghold-of-western-capitalism/
GUARDIAN
— From McDonald’s to Congress: can a former fry cook flip a key district for Democrats? DD: What are you a former? I am a former yard worker, newspaper boy, dish washer, golf shoe cleaner, slag chipper, gasoline pumper, mailman, automotive assembly line worker, tire, automotive service, and major appliance salesman, tax collector, and auditor.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/20/mcdonalds-congress-affordability-democrats
ECONOMIC TIMES
— DD: Democrats encourage illegal immigration because illegals vote for Democrats. RINOs encourage illegal immigration because RINOs want cheap labor.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/migrate/america-sold-the-world-a-dream-and-kept-millions-chasing-it/articleshow/133394322.cms
August 19, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Chicago Cubs warn Crosstown Classic attendees about behavior after fight breaks out in bleachers.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-cubs-white-sox-game-today-north-side-team-warns-fans-disruptive-behavior-will-not-tolerated-fight-breaks/19699019/
— 7 teens shot, 1 fatally, in separate shootings across Chicago.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-shooting-7-teens-shot-1-fatally-separate-shootings-city-tuesday-night-wednesday-morning/19701723/
CBS2
— Pentagon orders “research security audit” at University of Illinois, 29 other schools.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/department-of-defense-research-security-audit-university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/
WGN9
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://wgnradio.com/lisa-dent/senator-tammy-duckworth-ice-has-been-detaining-military-and-military-spouses/
WBEZ
— Should colleges and universities require standardized test scores for admission? DD: UIC would not have accepted me in 1966 if my ACT score had not been 24 and I had not graduated in the upper 20% of my class.
https://www.wbez.org/say-more-with-mary-dixon-patrick-smith/2026/08/18/should-colleges-and-universities-require-standardized-test-scores-for-admission
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— CTU sues Illinois Policy Institute, Liberty Justice Center, alleging ‘ongoing smear campaign.’
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/18/ctu-sues-illinois-policy-institute/
— 3 arrested at Wrigley Field during City Series, but none related to viral brawl in bleachers.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/18/man-arrested-wrigley-field-fight/
— Free Illinois tollways? Show us the math, Darren Bailey. But keep the conversation going.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/19/editorial-free-illinois-tollways-show-us-the-math-darren-bailey-but-keep-the-conversation-going/
— The growing political isolation of the Chicago Teachers Union.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/19/editorial-chicago-teachers-union-stacy-davis-gates-illinois-policy-institute/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Pritzker pours $65M into his campaign fund ahead of November elections. While speculation is rampant about whether he will run for president in 2028, the Democratic governor cannot transfer funds from his state campaign fund to run for federal office.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/08/17/gov-jb-pritzker-pours-65m-into-his-campaign-fund-ahead-of-november-elections
— A ‘black book’ lists 34 people banned from Illinois casinos. It’s rarely updated and likely missing names. Answering to Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois Gaming Board has added just a dozen names to its “involuntary exclusion” list, as the black book is formally known, in his seven-plus years in office. Why certain nefarious characters are banned while others get a pass is a mystery.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/08/18/illinois-gaming-board-governor-jb-pritzker-involuntary-exclusion-list-marcus-fruchter-casinos
— Pumpkins, pensions, and the CTU’s ‘cooked’ books. A Chicago Teachers Union lawsuit shines a light on Illinois Policy Institute accusations. Is that smart?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/08/18/chicago-teachers-union-defamation-lawsuit-illinois-policy-institute-cooked-books
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Giannoulias calls for $22 minimum wage. DD: I did not start earning $20.87/hour in today’s dollars until I was 20 in 1968 and had worked for the Park Forest Post Office for 2 years and I had completed many undergraduate courses at UIC. Before that, I worked for the minimum wage washing dishes 1964-1966. I today’s dollars, it was $13.47/hour.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-alexi-giannoulias-minimum-wage-20260818/
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Del Mar charges Pritzker has ill-served public.
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-gop-candidate-charges-pritzker-has-ill-served-public/article_c80c1df4-abf4-481a-9151-4c6b2037691b.html
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
— Is the American dream still within reach for young Americans? DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? 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://www.nbc26.com/politics/economy/is-the-american-dream-still-within-reach-for-young-americans
VERMILION COUNTY FIRST
— Del Mar Encourages Republicans all Over the State to GET OUT TO VOTE, and BE PROUD. DD: What is your Republican Precinct Committeeman going to do to get out the vote? As the Republican Precinct Committeeman for DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton, I will hand-deliver to the 400 residences in my precinct that have at least one Republican or one Independent registered voter a copy of the sample ballot, campaign literature from all the candidates who provide their literature to the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO), and a MTRO voter guide. I have obtained a PDF file from the DuPage County Election Division mailing with labels for the 660 Republican and Independent registered voters in my precinct. I have printed out those labels, affixed them to envelopes provided by MTRO, and put them into five batches. I am now putting them in walk order. I will be stuffing those envelopes with MTRO’s voter guide, literature that candidates provided MTRO, and the sample ballot. The Republican 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.
https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/2026/08/18/gop-lt-governor-candidate-aaron-del-mar-encourages-republicans-all-over-the-state-to-get-out-to-vote-and-be-proud/
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-08-18/families-struggle-with-the-financial-impact-of-fighting-trumps-deportation-campaign
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-08-19/groups-sue-trump-administration-over-new-foreign-student-visa-rule
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— With $65M infusion, Pritzker has now self-funded $439M since 2018 campaign launch.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/with-65m-infusion-pritzker-has-now-self-funded-439m-since-2018-campaign-launch/
HINSDALE PATCH
— Hinsdale Conservative Kristina McCloy Claims Role In Bailey Campaign; Campaign Won’t Say. She has denounced Black people, “Mexican parades,” Muslims and the LGBTQ community.
https://patch.com/illinois/hinsdale/hinsdale-conservative-claims-role-bailey-campaign-which-wont-say
WHEATON PATCH
— The Wheaton Concours Car Show will bring exotic cars, super cars, classic coupes and other unique vehicles to Memorial Park on Aug. 22. The family-friendly event will also feature live DJ music and food vendors. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Illinois.
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/see-exotic-cars-classic-coupes-more-wheaton-concours-car-show
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— The breakfast Durbin built.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/19/the-breakfast-durbin-built-01041282
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/19/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-794/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/18/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-581/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WIREPOINTS
— Glennon guest on AM560 with Chris Krok discussing CTU lawsuit against Illinois Policy Institute.
https://wirepoints.org/wirepoints-mark-glennon-guest-on-am560-with-chris-krok-discussing-ctu-lawsuit-agains-illinois-policy-and-more/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to replace capitalism first with socialist and then with communism. How strongly are the Republican candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct stressing that? On the Democrat road first to socialism and then to communism, Democrat elected officials ever-increasingly promote more dependency on government. They ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that to advance under Democrats, all you need to do is to be a Democrat. None of my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO coworkers came close to doing what I did to advance. 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. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me a) were Democrats 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) 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
ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— The Clean Face of a Dirty Business.
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/08/the-clean-face-of-a-dirty-business/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Pritzker Dumps Another $65 Million Into Campaign as Self-Funding Tops $326 Million.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/08/pritzker-dumps-another-65-million-into-campaign-as-self-funding-tops-326-million.html
— $42M-Backed PAC Shuts Down With No Statewide Wins After $1.1M Paid to Proft’s Consulting Firm.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/08/42m-backed-pac-shuts-down-with-no-statewide-wins-after-1-1m-paid-to-profts-consulting-firm.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— The World War II Memorial still has a lesson for us. The Greatest Generation was as varied as the country it saved.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/17/world-war-ii-memorial-still-lesson-us/
— Young Democratic Socialists of America members: Unemployed, but maybe not so educated. Given universities’ long decline, don’t be fooled by survey findings.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/18/young-democratic-socialists-america-members-unemployed-maybe-not/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump’s Iran struggle comes through on campaign stump.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/daily-memo/4692031/trump-iran-struggle-campaign-stump-speeches-teleprompter/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ICE may pay for liability insurance for police who help with immigration.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/4690981/ice-may-pay-liability-insurance-for-police-who-help-immigration-report/
— DSA chapter plans ‘Riots and Uprisings’ reading club to study ‘how people struggled.’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/4691311/dsa-dc-chapter-riots-and-uprisings-reading-club/
NEW YORK POST
— UC Berkeley’s ban on standardized tests produces failure — as predicted. DD: My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors were furious when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981 because my Democrat coworkers who they wanted to promote over me either a) failed/refused to take the examinations or b) failed to pass them.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/18/opinion/uc-berkeleys-ban-on-standardized-tests-produces-failure-as-predicted/
AMAC
— Democratic Socialist Plan to Reshape the American Left Through Labor Unions. A DSA pamphlet titled “Why Socialists Should Become Teachers” urges members to take jobs in schools, logistics and health care to push unions further left.
https://amac.us/newsline/the-little-known-democratic-socialist-plan-to-reshape-the-american-left-through-labor-unions
BREITBART
— Moskowitz: My District Has People Who ‘Escaped Socialism’, They Reject DSA. DD: Private sector employers look down on public sector employees. The longer that you work in the public sector, the harder it is to get a job in the private sector. My having been a public sector employee for almost 3 years harmed my efforts to get good job in the private sector after I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 in 1970. In anticipation of that, as a fallback, I took and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination before I graduated. I would not have become an IRS employee when I was 22 a) if my Firestone Store boss had not rudely fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile and b) if Oldsmobile had not withdrawn that offer because it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. Because I refused to become a Democrat, starting in when I was 25, my Democrat IRS superiors did everything they could to get rid of me. They disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA when I was 27. They disallowed my education deductions when I was 29. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. They ever-increasing made it clear that they would never promote me to GS-13. Of course, the aforesaid made it ever-increasingly impossible for me to get any kind of job anywhere. Because of the aforesaid, to get promoted to GS-13, I had to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer to GAO. My Democrat GAO superiors did promote me to GS-13, but not until I was 38. They would never had promoted me a) if I had not earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, b) if I had not passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, c) if I had not became a licensed CPA when I was 32, and d) if the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer had not gotten back into power.
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/18/moskowitz-my-district-has-people-who-escaped-socialism-they-reject-dsa/
CREATORS SYNDICATE
— Socialism in the Open and on the Right.
https://www.creators.com/read/daily-editorials/08/26/socialism-in-the-open-and-on-the-right-30a47
DAILY WIRE
— VERY SAD IF NOT TRAGIC: Trump has again endorsed a Republican congresswoman leading the fight for amnesty on the Right. DD: Unlike Trump, because my parents lacked money, I had to compete against noncitizens for jobs. All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. 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.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-endorses-congresswoman-at-center-of-amnesty-fight
DISPATCH
— Affordability and the Problem With Populist Pandering. Lessons from Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump. DD: What did you do to afford things? 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/affordability-trump-mamdani-populism/
FOX BUSINESS
— New York City rent freeze squeezes landlords while DSA targets Gen Z to fuel rise of socialism.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403656155112
FOX NEWS
— Socialist candidates can delete old posts, but they can’t erase their radicalism.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/socialist-candidates-delete-old-posts-cant-erase-radicalism
NATIONAL REVIEW
— Adam Smith’s Warning for America’s New Socialists.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/08/adam-smiths-warning-for-americas-new-socialists/
NEWSMAX
— An Unexpected Win for Socialist Dems in Florida Senate Primary. DD: Anticipate/expect that wherever Republicans create prosperity and safety, Democrats will move in and create poverty and crime.
https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/vindman-florida-angie-nixon/2026/08/18/id/1266575/
— Colo. Sheriffs, NRA Push Back on New Semiautomatic Gun Law.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/colorado-jared-polis-steven-nowlin/2026/08/18/id/1266556/
PJ MEDIA
— The Democrats’ ‘Big Tent’ With Socialists Is Doomed. Here’s Why.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/08/18/the-democrats-big-tent-with-socialists-is-doomed-heres-why-n4956262
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Trump-endorsed Lauf loses GOP primary for open Donalds seat in Florida.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6033754-catalina-lauf-loses-florida-house-primary/
— Democratic socialist notches surprise win in Florida Senate primary. DD: Anticipate/expect that wherever Republicans create prosperity and safety, Democrats will move in and create poverty and crime.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6036787-nixon-vindman-peltola-primaries/
ABC NEWS
— Push to punish parents for ‘teen takeovers’ after brawl at DC Chipotle. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://abcnews.com/video/133100696/
CBS NEWS
— DD: Democrats ever-increasingly promote DEI. To promote DEI is to get rid of those who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dei-policies-company-stock-performance-study/
NEWSWEEK
— Trump-Backed Catalina Lauf Loses Florida Primary Race.
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-backed-catalina-lauf-loses-florida-primary-race-12340239
REUTERS
— Trump approval falls to 33%, lowest of his presidency. DD: What is your approval rating? My critics/opponents have always done everything they could to lower my approval rating. They have had their operatives and their dupes take many big adverse actions against me.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-approval-falls-33-lowest-his-presidency-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-08-17/
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— What Is the Average American Net Worth by Age? 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://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/what-is-the-average-american-net-worth-by-age
AOL
— DD: When you met your wife, what impressed you about her? 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. After we got married in 1978, she earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.aol.com/articles/m-letting-jesus-handle-65-050103000.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Florida Primary Underscores State’s New Identity as a Republican Juggernaut. Republicans hold every statewide elected office and have drastically swung voter registration in the state. A newly gerrymandered congressional map has added four Republican-leaning seats.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/us/politics/florida-primary-republican-dominance.html
— Yes, Woke 1.0 Was Crazy. Now Where’s the Accountability?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/opinion/woke-liberals-restitution.html
— Google Just Made It Easier for Campaigns to Send You Fund-Raising Emails. DD: I should write about how Google has treated my GOPUSA ILLINOIS website and emails.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/us/politics/google-political-campaigns-email-spam.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Noncitizens vote for Democrats because Democrats give noncitizens tremendous benefits.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/18/trump-revives-unverified-claims-noncitizen-voting-2020/
— Key witness in Trump impeachment trial loses to democratic socialist in Florida Senate primary. DD: Anticipate/expect that wherever Republicans create prosperity and safety, Democrats will move in and create poverty and crime.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/results/2026/08/18/florida-us-senate-special-primary-election-results-2026-live-updates/
USA TODAY
— Florida Senate primary winner Angie Nixon is a Democratic Socialist. DD: Anticipate/expect that wherever Republicans create prosperity and safety, Democrats will move in and create poverty and crime.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/19/angie-nixon-dsa-democratic-socialist-florida-election/91364091007/
SCRIPPS NEWS
— Young Americans redefine the American dream as costs rise and priorities shift. DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? 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://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/economy/young-americans-redefine-the-american-dream-as-costs-rise-and-priorities-shift
NEWS24
— Democratic Socialists of America’s biggest success comes from high-income districts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB3FyQS29tk
— Radical left wants to ‘burn it all down’ amid Democratic Socialists’ rise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on1AX4_idnE
— Privileged Democratic Socialists try to tell voters the system is rigged.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGI3iQug0-o
WEEKLY TIMES NOW
— Democratic socialists trying to tear down the system that has given them success.
https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/democratic-socialists-trying-to-tear-down-the-system-that-has-given-them-success/video/0717f51c1258201dc3bc238c0ad08fa5
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— How Radical Will the Democrats Get? Frustration with the economy is fueling the rise of the DSA, and it may not fade by 2028.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/how-radical-will-the-democrats-get-8381ee72
— Key Florida Takeaways: A Socialist Upset and Far-Right Flops. In other contests, scandal sinks Cory Mills while Byron Donalds stays on track to make history. DD: My critics/opponents have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being far right. My critics/opponents reject some, many, most, virtually all, if not all conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform. I should write about my critics/opponents and the conservative principles and planks they reject.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/key-florida-takeaways-a-socialist-upset-and-far-right-flops-51c25c75
— The Young MAGA Socialists Are Here. Many conservatives in Generation Z think the American Dream is gone. Some of us are building it.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-young-maga-socialists-are-here-8c941877
FORBES
— Trump’s Approval Rating Drops 8 Points Among Republicans. More than half of voters said they are worse off financially since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. DD: I have been worse off financially big time since I was 49 in 1997 when my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to retire. In today’s dollars, my GAO salary was $154,684/year, but my Civil Service Retirement System pension has only been $68,640/year in today’s dollars since then, or 56% less.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/08/18/trump-approval-rating-reaches-second-term-low-in-latest-poll-as-80-think-iran-war-will-drag-on/
MARKET WATCH
— Here’s the net worth you need to start getting ahead in your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond in the U.S. About three-fourths of Americans lack the wealth needed to prosper in today’s economy, according to a new benchmark developed by the Aspen Institute. 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.marketwatch.com/story/heres-the-net-worth-you-need-to-start-getting-ahead-in-your-20s-30s-40s-and-beyond-in-the-u-s-520c8d72
KIPLINGER
— What Is the Magic Number to Retire Comfortably? The amount you need might surprise you. Are you on track? 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.kiplinger.com/retirement/magic-number-to-retire-comfortably
USA FACTS
— Average wage in Illinois is $63,180/year. DD: In today’s dollars, my IRS salary was $56,409/year in 1971, $68,999/year in 1972, $83,482/year in 1973, and $100,059/year in 1974. I had earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970 and I had started taking four graduate evening business courses a year at Loyola in January of 1972. According to my critics/opponents, I was grossly overpaid.
https://usafacts.org/answers/what-is-the-average-wage-in-the-us/state/illinois/
FEDWEEK
— Guidance Recommends Messaging to Employees about Forced Ratings Distribution. DD: The Democrats who run the federal government use the subjectivity in their rating systems to waste the careers of and to get rid of their employees who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/guidance-recommends-messaging-to-employees-about-forced-ratings-distribution/
https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/forced-distributions-will-apply-to-current-ratings-cycle-says-opm/
— Job Candidate Vetting Process at USPS Improved but Still Has Gaps, Says IG. DD: If I had not earned a high school diploma and passed the postal employment test, the Democrats who ran the Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. 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, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job.
https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/job-candidate-vetting-process-at-usps-improved-but-still-has-gaps-says-ig/
FED SMITH
— Is Your Federal Retirement on Track? DD: Until just before their early retirement “offer” expired on September 30, 1997, my Democrat GAO superiors falsely led me to believe that they were going to let me work until I could take regular retirement when I was 55 in 2003.
https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/08/18/is-your-federal-retirement-on-track-a-comprehensive-planning-guide/
NEW YORKER
— Why Millennial Professionals Are Embracing Socialism. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/fault-lines/how-i-became-a-subaru-socialist
— How I Became a Subaru Socialist. By the time Bernie Sanders ran for President, in 2015, I was financially secure. But the previous decade had left a mark. DD: If I had become a Democrat, the Democrats who ran the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service, currently $197,200/year, long before I was 40 in 1988. 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. 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://www.newyorker.com/news/fault-lines/how-i-became-a-subaru-socialist
CHALKBEAT
— How American higher education helps the rich get richer. DD: My parents were not rich. 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://www.chalkbeat.org/2026/08/18/selective-colleges-have-funding-advantage-study-finds/
INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— Students’ Roommates. DD: I spent three semesters at University Plaza dormitory ( https://www.uplaza.com/ ) in DeKalb 1969-1970. I should write about the impact that my roommates who University Plaza assigned me had on me.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2026/08/19/students-choices-fueling-polarization-higher-ed
August 16, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/la-voz/2026/08/13/tras-seis-meses-detenida-por-ice-una-vendedora-de-tamales-de-chicago-reconstruye-su-vida
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more Islam.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/08/15/muslim-politics-democrat-trump-el-sayed-mamdani-piker-rummana-hussain
— DD: Democrat leaders always hint/imply/argue/shout that police are racists.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/08/14/traffic-stops-racial-disparities-chicago-police-department-illinois-department-transportation-driving-while-black
ABC7
— A petition to declare U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra “persona non grata” and have him removed from his post had received more than 104,000 signatures as of Thursday. The petition was launched on Canada’s parliamentary petitions portal, where citizens and residents of Canada can set up petitions to parliament. DD: If/when my critics/opponents set up such a petition against me and against my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters, how many signatures will they get? My critics/opponents blame me and blame my newsletters for all the losses that Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered since 2000. I should write about my “Republican” critics/opponents who paint themselves as being Democrat Lite, if not RINO, if not Democrat or Libertarian Plant. They do not want Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders to defend or promote conservative principles and the following planks in the Republican Party platform: personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving).
https://abc7chicago.com/story/100000-sign-petition-declare-us-ambassador-canada-persona-grata/19672210/
NBC5
— Power outages in northwest Indiana are so bad you can see them from space. DD: The more that overhead lines bring power to your home, the more that those lines are near trees, the more that I recommend getting a whole-house backup electric generator.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/power-outages-in-northwest-indiana-are-so-bad-you-can-see-them-from-space/3975848/
RIVER BENDER
— DD: Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more government assistance that you get: minority, female, younger, veteran, and/or citizen of a foreign country.
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/illinois-commission-on-equity-and-inclusion-announces-bep–vbp-certification-kickstart-workshop-95943.cfm
WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL
— Socialism lost in Wisconsin, but it’s winning in the Democratic Party.
https://madison.com/opinion/column/article_cf423347-2ce6-4bcd-b48a-a29010ef9780.html
WMOI
— LaHood, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Low-Interest Mortgages for First-Time Homebuyers. DD: Mortgage interest rates were 7.4% when I bought a new townhome in University Park when I was 24 in 1972. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . 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 $94,500. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://977wmoi.com/2026/08/lahood-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-access-to-low-interest-mortgages-for-first-time-homebuyers/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats plan decade-long strategy to push pro-transgender narrative. DD: How successful have Democrats been promoting LGBTQ in your county, township, municipality, and school district?
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/15/democrats-plan-decade-long-strategy-push-pro-transgender-narrative/
— The Democrat Party, since the presidential days of Bill Clinton, has been moving down a path toward communism.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/15/bold-blunt-socialism-nope-communism-fought/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Johnson launches website to teach young voters about socialism and communism ahead of midterm elections. DD: How successful have Democrats been promoting socialism in your county, township, municipality, and school district?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4688861/mike-johnson-contrast-for-america-tour-midterm-elections/
— The Peter Pan generation chooses pets. DD: My former neighbor Dr. Dan Kiley wrote the Peter Pan Syndrome. SEE: https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pan-Syndrome-Never-Grown/dp/0380688905
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/4667440/peter-pan-generation-chooses-pets-over-children/
— Democratic Socialists lack accountability by not facing the past.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AoDmip0KHh4
NEW YORK POST
— Socialist NY lawmaker Emily Gallagher says shoplifting for ‘biological need’ is OK.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/15/us-news/socialist-ny-lawmaker-emily-gallagher-says-shoplifters-have-a-biological-need-to-steal/
— DD: Democrat leaders dump Bill Maher because he thinks immigrants should assimilate and accept American values and principles.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/15/us-news/bill-maher-thinks-american-values-arent-negotiable/
— Dog owners’ average spending tops $4,000 a year—here’s the cost breakdown. DD: One reason why my wife and I have more money is our never owning pets.
https://nypost.com/lifestyle/true-cost-of-owning-a-dog/
AMERICAN THINKER
— How illegals plunder American billions, in broad daylight. And how Democrats enabled every dollar plundered.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/how-illegals-plunder-american-billions-in-broad-daylight/
— Mass immigration can only work if immigrants are introduced to a common American culture and expected to assimilate.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/america-s-stranger-problem/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Trump says AOC is misleading voters: ‘The woke will become woke again as soon as they get elected’
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/08/15/trump-says-aoc-is-misleading-voters-the-woke-will-become-woke-again-as-soon-as-they-get-elected-1654961/
BREITBART
— Democratic Socialists Have Been in Party for a While.
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/15/progressive-caucus-chair-democratic-socialists-have-been-in-party-for-a-while/amp/
— Rise of Democratic Socialists is a Real Opportunity for the GOP.
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/15/mark-levin-rise-of-a-democratic-socialists-a-real-opportunity-for-gop/
— Quarter of Americans Say Most Democrats Are Socialists.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/15/poll-quarter-of-americans-say-most-democrats-are-socialists/amp/
FOX NEWS
— A STEP TOWARD COMMUNISM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3vwDloUkxE
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— EEOC Sues Washington University in St. Louis For Firing Employee Who Complained About DEI Policy. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire not only because I complained about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination, but because I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with the aforesaid.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/08/eeoc-sues-wash-u-for-firing-employee-who-complained-about-dei-policy/amp/
NEWSMAX
— The growing influence of democratic socialists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqIshMiul4U
PATRIOT LEDGER
— ‘We’re winning:’ Bernie Sanders and DSA see WI, MI results as progress. DD: How successful have Democrats been promoting socialism in your county, township, municipality, and school district?
https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/16/bernie-sanders-dsa-wisconsin-michigan-progress/91276557007/
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— The Woke Right Is Urging The Abandonment Of “Core Conservative Traditional Reaganite Principles.”
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/08/15/mark_levin_the_woke_right_is_urging_the_abandonment_of_core_conservative_traditional_reaganite_principles.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— The worse it gets, the better it is: American leftism is thriving on its own failures.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/6030675-american-left-politics-failure/
ABC NEWS
— 21% of Married Couples Have a Foreign Spouse. DD: All my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s from what is now Germany. They all married those who shared their national origin.
https://abcnews.com/ABC_Univision/News/census-report-reveals-21-married-couples-foreign-spouse/story?id=20171171
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The number of mixed-nativity married couple households corresponds with the increase in immigration to the United States over the last several decades. . .As the immigrant population has grown, so has the chance that a native-born person will meet and marry a foreign-born person.)
CBS NEWS
— Federal workers sour on government work. DD: I would not have spent almost 30 years of my life working for the federal government if my high school friend had not asked me to join him to take the postal employment test in 1966. Because I passed, I was a part-time postal employee while I attended UIC 1966-1968 and NIU in 1969. I graduated from NIU in 1970 and accepted the only job offer that I got, to be the Retail Sales Manager in a Firestone Store, a job that not really require a college degree. 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. 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. I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination while I was a NIU student as a backup because federal employees are viewed negatively.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-workers-survey-public-service-job-security/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Nearly two-thirds of U.S. federal workers said they wouldn’t enter public service again, citing eroding job security and benefits, according to a recent poll of active and retired government employees. Respondents’ views overwhelmingly reflected concerns about the current federal climate, rather than regret over having chosen careers in government, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) found in a July survey. The Trump administration has made sweeping cuts to the federal workforce by eliminating jobs and weakening civil service protections. In 2025, the White House announced a number of executive orders to slash government jobs, including a hiring freeze on civilian workers and directives to federal agencies to reduce their rolls. President Trump has said there are too many federal workers, pushing to reduce the size and scope of government while making agencies more efficient.)
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/opinion/kansas-anti-trans-laws-drivers-license.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Democrats are calculating a left turn. The math is inescapable.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/07/2028-democratic-contenders-should-not-misread-primary-results/
USA TODAY
— College should be tough. Michigan’s grade plan coddles students. DD: What harmed your college GPA? For me, it was my working far too many hours delivering mail instead of studying.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/08/16/university-michigan-drops-grades-freshmen-lsa/91285520007/
FORTUNE
— Facing a decadeslong shortage, the FAA has now hired more than 2,000 air traffic controllers after its campaign recruiting Gen Z video gamers promising $155K payday. DD: I did not earn $155,000/year in today’s dollars until after I had a) worked for GAO for almost 18 years, b) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, c) earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), d) earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and e) earned a job-related professional license (CPA). 3 years after I started working for IRS in 1971, I earned $100,000/year in today’s dollars. I had completed 10 graduate business evening business courses. According to my critics/opponents, I was grossly overpaid.
https://fortune.com/article/why-is-trump-administration-hiring-gen-z-video-gamers-for-air-traffic-control/
FORBES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice including more pot.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2026/07/21/more-employers-drop-marijuana-tests-despite-rising-positive-results/
— Envy. DD: My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were filled with envy. They always painted themselves as being underpaid. They were ever-increasingly furious at my and my wife’s ever-increasing income and net worth. To turn them against me, my Democrat superiors 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 vacations that my wife and I took, h) etc. Some of them circulated copies of Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on me and my wife. SEE https://gopillinois.com/documents/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolelipkin/2024/04/30/how-to-keep-envy-at-bay-by-creating-a-positive-workplace-culture/
— Better Safe Than Sorry Kills Your Career. DD: I knew that I was taking a big career risk when I suggested myself to be the subject of a “One Person’s Finances” article in Money Magazine when I was 28 in 1977. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/documents/ But my Democrat IRS superiors had made it very clear that they would never promote me to GS-13. They had ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976. They had gotten rid of the IRS manager who had promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. They had disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-180010.11-0 If you were me, would you have taken that risk?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2026/08/15/why-better-safe-than-sorry-kills-your-career-making-success-harder/
BLOOMBERG
— Trump’s ‘Golden Age’ Pitch Meets Affordability Frustration. DD: What did you do to afford things? 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://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-08-15/trump-golden-age-pitch-meets-affordability-frustration-video
FORD FOUNDATION
— The Working Class. DD: I define the working class as being wage earners who earn less money. I was a member of the working class for 33 years. To earn more money, 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. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, I never earned more than $154,682/year in today’s dollars. According to my critics/opponents, I was both grossly overpaid and an abject career failure.
https://www.fordfoundation.org/news-and-stories/stories/the-backbone-of-america-understanding-the-working-class/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The term “working class” often evokes narrow and outdated images in American culture. But in reality, today’s working class is often primarily defined by education rather than occupation: individuals without a four-year college degree. By that measure, the working class constitutes over 60% of the U.S. labor force—more than 93 million people as of 2023. This group is not only large, but richly diverse: Roughly 53% are non-Hispanic white, 13% Black, and 25% Hispanic. Approximately 44% are women.)
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
— Reskilling. Did you reskill? I certainly did. When I was 40 in 1988, to get rid of me, my Democrat GAO superiors made it very clear that they would never again assign me to audits of IRS. Because of that, I applied for and got accepted into their audit group that audited federal financial industry regulators in 1990. The leader of that group made it very clear that she wanted everyone in that group to have a master’s degree in finance. Because of that, I started taking graduate evening finance courses at IIT in 1992 and earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in early 1997. But in August and September of 1997, she led her superiors’ successful effort to force me to retire. She gave my Black subordinate my job and my preferred corner office. He did not have a master’s degree in finance. He had less job-related education than I had. He had less job-related work experience than I had. He had one job-related professional certification while I had six. I had no job-related professional license like the one I had. She would not have had to do that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, veteran, or younger.
https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/want-workers-to-reskill-show-them-who-they-can-become
PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
— Undermining independence and eroding transparency: Examining Schedule Policy/Career reclassifications. A Partnership analysis of recent federal job postings suggests that Schedule Policy/Career reclassifications reach far beyond policy-influencing roles. This apparent expansion runs contrary to the Trump administration’s statement that reclassifications were largely limited to the “highest-ranking career positions outside of the Senior Executive Service.” DD: As a GS-13 GAO Analyst, I had absolutely no policy-influencing roles. I had to do what my superiors told me to do and I did that. But that was not good enough for them.
https://ourpublicservice.org/know-the-facts/blog/examining-schedule-policy-career-reclassifications
PBS
— Forced Retirement: What is it and what can you do about it? DD: I should write about forced retirement. I have almost 29 years of direct experience.
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/chasing-the-dream/2019/03/forced-retirement/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The loss of a career can feel like a death. The resulting grieving process is similar to that following the death of a friend or loved one. The five stages in the process of grieving a loss after death and they’re similar for grieving after an involuntary retirement: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Denial: You can’t believe this is really happening. You feel paralyzed. Anger: Once the shock has worn off, you begin to feel angry toward your company, supervisor and the world. For many retirees, the job is how they define themselves. When this is taken away, they feel frustrated and angry that they’ve lost their identity. Bargaining: You might want to try to get your job back, even with reduced pay, hours or responsibilities. This rarely works. Depression: Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness take hold and the future looks bleak. Acceptance: When your anger and depression are no longer consuming, you accept your new reality and begin to develop plans to make the most of your life. Each individual passes through these stages at his or her own rate and may move back and forth through some of the stages. The Suddenness of It All. A major problem of forced retirement is the lack of time to plan because of the suddenness of the termination. When someone voluntarily retires, there has been time to think about the future. Do you want to kick back and have a leisure filled retirement? Or do you plan to continue in some form of work or volunteerism? Is there some life passion you’ve been waiting to fulfill? The forced retiree hasn’t had the chance to think about these things. Work provides us with five important functions the forced retiree will suddenly lose. How will you deal with the changes in your financial situation? What about the time management and structure to your day that has been a major part of your working life? What will happen to the status you had and the recognition, reputation and sense of achievement that came with it? Where will you find the sense of usefulness you felt at your job? And how do you replace the social connections that are gone from your everyday life? These losses can lead to feelings of emptiness, shame, embarrassment and worry. You can feel like a failure.)
SHRM
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers reject E-Verify. 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. 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. Many, if not most, if not virtually all of my peers would not have stooped to take the aforesaid bad jobs that I took.
https://www.shrm.org/mena/topics-tools/news/everify-proposal-could-create-new-hr-bompliance-burden
POLITICO
— Democrats finalize 2028 calendar that moves racially diverse states to the front. South Carolina will kick off a presidential primary process, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/15/democrats-finalize-2028-calendar-that-moves-racially-diverse-states-to-the-front-01038875
POLITIFACT
— How PolitiFact selects facts to check. DD: I often served as a fact checker while I worked for GAO 1986-1997 at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year.
https://politifact.com/video/how-politifact-selects-facts-check/
BUZZ FEED
— Why One Income Could Buy A House In The 1950s But Not Today. DD: My father died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21 in 1969. He never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. My mother stayed home and raised me and my brother. He never bought a house. He rented from his parents. First, an apartment above their hardware store in Crete 1945-1954, and then their home at 1286 Wood Street in Crete. The lower rent he paid helped him afford sending me and my brother to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/victoriavouloumanos/people-debating-about-why-inflation-is-getting-worse
AXIOS
— College loses its monopoly on the American Dream. DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? 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://www.axios.com/2026/08/15/college-bachelors-degree-shift-ai-america
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at everyone that they cannot advance without massive government assistance. I never fell for that. Instead, to advance, 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://nul.org/news/affordability-all-its-time-rescue-american-dream
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
INDEPENDENT
— Meet the British former detective giving US churches AR-15s to defend against shooters. DD: What are churches in your county, township, municipality, and school district doing to defend themselves?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-church-assault-rifles-simon-osamoh-protection-shootings-b3032594.html
August 14, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DuPage board rejects referendum on eliminating elected coroner position.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/13/dupage-board-referendum-coroner-examiner/
DAILY HERALD
— DuPage board rejects proposed referendum on eliminating coroner elections.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260813/news/dupage-county-board-rejects-proposal-for-referendum-on-coroners-office/
— A twofold mission: Historic cemeteries deserve to be both preserved and visited. DD: I served as a Trustee of the Milton Township Cemeteries Authority 2001-2004.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260814/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-a-twofold-mission-historic-cemeteries-deserve-to-be-both-preserved-and-visite/
CBS2
— Chicago’s Agents of Hope Training & Information Center works to connect refugees with jobs. 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. 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. Many, if not most, if not virtually all of my peers would not have stooped to take the aforesaid bad jobs that I took.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicagos-agents-of-hope-training-information-center-refugees/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Bears keep Illinois on hold.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/14/bears-keep-indiana-on-hold-01037042
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/14/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-791/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/13/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-578/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Illinois taxpayers provide nearly $190 million for state fair.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_5c826519-4401-4b3a-9c8e-3062a52233e3.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats pick classic tax-and-spend leftist David Crowley for Wisconsin governor. Milwaukee’s county executive brings higher taxes, bigger government and socialist-friendly policies.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/13/democrats-pick-classic-tax-spend-leftist-david-crowley-wisconsin/
— America’s marijuana addiction fuels a public-health crisis. Daily use now outpaces cigarettes and alcohol as high-THC products raise risks for teens, drivers and workers. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot. In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/editorial-americas-marijuana-addiction-fuels-public-health-crisis/
— Radical Islam’s three-stage framework for cultural capture. America now faces the point where accommodation turns into political power.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/13/radical-islams-three-stage-framework-cultural-capture/
— State Department cancels DEI diplomacy; ‘White Fragility,’ BLM lessons expunged from training.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/13/state-department-cancels-dei-diplomacy-white-fragility-blm-lessons/
— The Democrats’ socialist moment: Revolution or rebranding? Hillary Clinton is worried that GOP branding of progressive candidates as communists ‘is going to be a very effective attack.’
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/democrats-socialist-moment-revolution-rebranding/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— 26,000 truckers can’t read English road signs. Why are they driving 80,000-pound missiles?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4684338/commercial-trucker-english-proficiency-rule/
— State Department abolishes ‘ideologically extreme and discriminatory’ DEI policies in Foreign Service.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/foreign-policy/4686789/state-department-abolishes-dei-policies-foreign-service/
— Dearborn isn’t a ‘walk for peace’: How Tehran launders the extremism America refuses to see.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4685462/dearborn-walk-for-peace-tehran-extremism-americas-streets/
— The most dangerous socialists aren’t in DC. They’re running for governor.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4684714/most-dangerous-socialists-running-for-governor-francesca-hong-wisconsin/
— California is democratic socialism’s future — and it’s dead last.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4685813/blue-state-affordability-crisis-capitalism/
— COLA increase estimated to be 3.2% in 2027 after summer inflation reports. DD: COLAs have helped me deal inflation big time. My critics/opponents are furious that I got COLAs while I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and that I have continued to get COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997 and as a Social Security recipient since 2010.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/4686000/social-security-cost-of-living-adjustment-2027-inflation/
— Catalina Lauf takes on the ‘swamp’ in her new book. Now she wants a seat in it.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4683661/catalina-lauf-new-book-congress/
NEW YORK POST
— NYC will spend $180K in effort to curb rampant dog poop problem.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/13/us-news/nyc-will-spend-180k-in-effort-to-curb-rampant-dog-poop-problem/
— Vance warns Republicans not to blame young Americans for the appeal of socialism. DD: Republican-haters love it that Vance blames Republicans when young people blame capitalism for their problems and want socialism to fix their problems. I never blamed capitalism for my problems. What problems have you had? My critics/opponents stress that under capitalism, even though I did the following, I never earned more than $154,682/year in today’s dollars. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management). I earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance). I earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting). I earned a job-related professional license (CPA). In my defense, I stress that I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government. For them, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats. Because I refused to become a Democrat, they wasted my career and got rid of me. If I had become a Democrat, they would have forgiven my avoiding the Vietnam War draft.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/14/us-news/jd-vance-warns-republicans-not-to-blame-young-americans-for-the-appeal-of-socialism/
AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Nearly Half of Young Americans Still Living With Parents as Affordability Squeeze Delays Adulthood. DD: I lived with and helped support my mother and brother in Crete for 25 months after I graduated from college. My father had died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21 in October of 1969. He was earning only $50,000/year in today’s dollars. My mother had never attended high school, she had never worked outside the home, and my brother was having problems. I graduated from NIU in August of 1970 and I got a job working for the Firestone Store in Chicago Heights that month. I applied for and I got a financial hardship draft deferment. I lived with mother and brother in Crete and helped support them until September of 1972 when I bought a new townhome in University Park.
https://amgreatness.com/2026/08/13/nearly-half-of-young-americans-still-living-with-parents-as-affordability-squeeze-delays-adulthood/
AMERICAN THINKER
— If Democrats Walk Like Socialists And Talk Like Socialists, They’re Socialists. The media and other Democrats keep trying to tell us there’s daylight between the Democrat and the Democrat Socialists, but that’s increasingly hard to believe.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/if-democrats-walk-like-socialisst-and-talk-like-socialists-maybe-they-re-socialists/
— The Mohammunist Manifest—Trojan-Horsing Society’s Institutions. When they are weak, communists and Muslims create seemingly durable pluralist partnerships that they then ruthlessly destroy once they achieve power.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/the-mohammunist-manifest-trojan-horsing-society-s-institutions/
— AOC retains the option to become a ‘birthing person.’ AOC has debilitating daddy issues. She also has malevolent mental issues. In fact, the former often exacerbates the latter.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/aoc-retains-the-option-to-become-a-birthing-person/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Colorado’s planned purchase permit system for semi-auto guns just got slapped with legal hurdle.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/08/13/colorados-planned-purchase-permit-system-for-semi-auto-guns-just-got-slapped-with-legal-hurdle-1654696/
BREITBART
— Dallas Airport Installing Foot Washing Stations for Muslim Travelers.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/13/dallas-airport-installing-foot-washing-stations-for-muslim-travelers/
— 52 Percent of Gen Z Morons Have Moved Money From Investments to Sports Betting. DD: Sports Betting is a vice.
https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/08/13/nolte-52-percent-of-gen-z-morons-have-moved-money-from-investments-to-sports-betting/
— Socialists and Islamists have this in common: anti-Jew, anti-Israel, and covetousness.
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/13/exclusive-dennis-prager-the-one-thing-socialists-and-islamists-have-in-common/
FEDERALIST
— Lawsuit: It’s Unconstitutional That Education Is ‘Free,’ But Only At Government Indoctrination Mills. DD: My parents sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools 1953-1962. 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. I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/13/lawsuit-its-unconstitutional-that-education-is-free-but-only-at-government-indoctrination-mills/
FOX NEWS
— Speaker Johnson slams Dems after noncitizens were charged with illegally voting in battleground state.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/speaker-johnson-slams-dems-after-noncitizens-charged-illegally-voting-battleground-state
NEWSMAX
— Eight Senate Democrats, including Schumer call on GAO to audit Trump’s White House ballroom project, citing concerns over its funding, contracting practices, and lack of congressional oversight.
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/gao-white-house-ballroom/2026/08/13/id/1266017/
REAL CLEAR MARKETS
— Socialism’s Failures Run Roughshod Over Its Promises.
https://www.realclearmarkets.com/2026/08/14/socialisms_failures_run_roughshod_over_its_promises_1200303.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: Republican-haters love it that Vance blames Republicans when young people blame capitalism for their problems and want socialism to fix their problems. I never blamed capitalism for my problems. What problems have you had? My critics/opponents stress that under capitalism, even though I did the following, I never earned more than $154,682/year in today’s dollars. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management). I earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance). I earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting). I earned a job-related professional license (CPA). In my defense, I stress that I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government. For them, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats. Because I refused to become a Democrat, they wasted my career and got rid of me. If I had become a Democrat, they would have forgiven my avoiding the Vietnam War draft.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6028771-vance-gop-socialism-young-voters/
CNN
— As Chicago rethinks its monuments, an artist surrounds George Washington with ‘Other Washingtons.’
https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/11/style/chicago-washington-monument-amanda-williams
AOL
— Why Traditional Middle-Class Milestones Like Kids, Marriage, and Cars Are Out of Reach for Many Americans. DD: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? 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://www.aol.com/articles/why-traditional-middle-class-milestones-190500000.html
NEWSWEEK
— How China Is Changing Its Social Credit System. DD: What costs you points in the Democrat/RINO Social Credit System? For me, it is my being conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and my having ancestors who have been in America for a long time. For me, it is my promoting conservative principles and 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.
https://www.newsweek.com/how-china-changing-its-social-credit-system-11079499
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: My critics/opponents are woke, that is, they promote dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, 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.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/opinion/republicans-woke-radical.html
USA TODAY
— College costs are rising. Here’s what the average family pays. DD: Back in the good old days, in 1970, I was able to graduate debt-free with a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU and owning a 1969 Dodge Charger SE a) by living with my parents in Crete while I took classes at UIC 1966-1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969 and b) by working part-time for the Park Forest Post Office while classes were in session and full-time during the summers of 1967, 1968, and 1969. In today’s dollars, my postal salary increased from $19.57/hour to $20.87/hour.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personal-finance/2026/08/12/college-costs-inflation-student-loans-tuition/91257662007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— AOC Tries to Make a Joke of Woke. Ask those who were canceled, or killed by released criminals, how funny it was. DD: My critics/opponents are woke, that is, they promote dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, 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.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/aoc-tries-to-make-a-joke-of-woke-f5ca5733?mod=opinion_lead_pos8
NAPLES DAILY NEWS
— Things continue to worsen in the American classroom. In the U.S., test scores have been sliding since 2013, while students in Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, South Korea and many European countries have made steady improvements. DD: Democrats run education in America. For Democrat educators, cranking out good little Democrats is their top priority.
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/opinion/2026/08/14/things-continue-to-worsen-in-the-american-classroom-opinion/91284126007/
WBUR
— Is upward mobility still possible? Fewer Americans out-earn their parents than in previous generations. DD: Back in the good old days, I was able to out-earn my father when I was 21 in 1970 because I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU.
https://www.wbur.org/the-wbur-festival/2026/08/13/wbur-fest-chetty-boston
WBAP
— State Department Ends DEI Agenda In Foreign Service, Restores Merit-Based Standards. DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats 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) 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.wbap.com/2026/08/13/state-department-ends-dei-agenda-in-foreign-service-restores-merit-based-standards/
NEWS 24
— Democratic socialists are people of privilege.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7ER_IEiInQ
CBS12
— Single adults need to make over $100,000 to live comfortably in Florida. DD: I did not start earning $100,000/year in today’s dollars until I was 25 in 1974. I had worked for IRS for 3 years. I had completed ten graduate evening business courses at Loyola.
https://cbs12.com/news/local/gallery/single-adults-need-to-make-over-100000-dollars-to-live-comfortably-in-florida-smartasset-study-says-palm-beach-county-109200-martin-county-101338-st-lucie-county-99341-cost-of-living-expense-inflation-earnings-families-affordability
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
— Grant County auditor candidates discuss experience, qualifications. DD: I worked hard to elect Grogan and reelect Grogan as DuPage County Auditor in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. Grogan and I are both long-time DuPage County residents, Republican Precinct Committeemen, licensed CPAs, Certified Fraud Examiners, and members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and Illinois CPA Society. Grogan represented me on the IRP State Central Committee 2018-2022.
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/jul/28/grant-county-auditor-candidates-discuss-experience-qualifications/
FLORIDA POLITICS
— Catalina Lauf send cease and desist letter to Jim Oberweis over attack ads.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/813658-catalina-lauf-send-cease-and-desist-letter-to-jim-oberweis-over-attack-ads/
POLITICO
— Trump backs Catalina Lauf for Congress to replace Byron Donalds. Lauf worked as a Commerce Department adviser in Trump’s first administration.
https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026/08/trump-backs-catalina-lauf-for-congress-to-replace-byron-donalds-01037485
— Trump waged war on EVs. Now he’s helping them out.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/12/trump-waged-war-on-evs-now-hes-helping-them-out-01032336
FORTUNE
— Here’s Why China’s Social Credit System Is So Warped. DD: What costs you points in America’s Social Credit System? For me, it is my being conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and my having ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://fortune.com/media/8abcdbb2-0402-4e44-bf8e-c2f606286669/
FACT CHECK
— DD: I often served as a fact checker while I worked for GAO 1986-1997 at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year.
https://www.factcheck.org/2026/08/trump-uses-deceptive-chart-in-false-inflation-boast/
NEWS ONE
— The Anti-DEI Trump Admin Is Boasting About Speedily Hiring Video Gamers As Air Traffic Controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that his office has taken a huge step towards solving the nation’s air traffic controller shortfall problem by recruiting video gamers to do the job. DD: According to Google AI, “In the United States, video game player ethnicity data shows that approximately 68% of gamers are White/Caucasian, 22% are Hispanic, 15% are Black/African American, 4% are Native American/Alaskan, and 2% are Asian/Pacific Islander.)
https://newsone.com/6868990/video-game-players-air-traffic-controllers/
PROGRESSIVE
— ‘We Are Coming to Get Our Check.’ Black Americans have sought reparations for slavery since the Emancipation Proclamation. DD: Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI are reparations. Blacks have been given many trillions of dollars in AA and DEI since the 1960s.
https://progressive.org/magazine/we-are-coming-to-get-our-check-baker-20260813/
COMMON DREAMS
— Can AOC Win the Working Class? Before running for president, she needs to prove she can build a national working-class coalition. DD: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? 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://www.commondreams.org/opinion/aoc-win-working-class