FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— US Attorney for Northern District of Illinois leading criminal probe into E. Jean Carroll. Acting AG Todd Blanche recused himself from the investigation.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/us-attorney-northern-district-illinois-andrew-boutros-leading-doj-criminal-probe-jean-carroll-sources/19183723/
NBC5
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-high-school-soccer-star-reunites-with-team-after-release-from-ice-custody/3941237/
— Chicago faith leaders plan a new kind of ‘teen takeover’ after violent gatherings. It’s all to prevent the dangerous trend that caused chaos in the city over the holiday weekend. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-faith-leaders-plan-a-new-kind-of-teen-takeover-after-violent-gatherings/3941156/
WGN9
— Girl, 14, charged after teen takeover in Hyde Park. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://wgntv.com/video/girl-14-charged-after-teen-takeover-in-hyde-park-cpd-says/11804054/
— Concerns growing over how to put a stop to teen takeovers. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSF2VGBo3xs
FOX32
— Alderman pushing to penalize parents in teen takeovers. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-yau47ow8m11099j6
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Fundraiser for Illinois GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey delayed after Tribune raised ethics law questions. DD: Anticipate/expect that the Pope will ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republicans.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/27/darren-bailey-fundraiser-ethics/
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use buyout and early retirement “offers” to get rid of their employees who are: 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.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/28/opinion-illinois-voluntary-pension-buyouts/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/28/illinois-hiv-advocates-funding-trump-cuts/
STATELINE
— DD: How many votes will Corbett take from Bailey?
https://www.mystateline.com/news/independent-candidate-enters-illinois-governor-race-challenging-pritzker-and-bailey/
WIFR
— DD: How many votes will Corbett take from Bailey?
https://www.wifr.com/2026/05/27/former-republican-strategist-collin-corbett-files-run-illinois-governor-independent/
NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— DD: Democrat leaders raise questions about Trump’s health.
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/2026-05-27/trumps-third-check-up-at-walter-reed-raises-more-questions-about-his-health
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Durbin invokes Lincoln in democracy warning. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly paint Democrats as having been the Union in the Civil War and paint Republicans as having been the Confederacy.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/28/durbin-invokes-lincoln-in-democracy-warning-00939505
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: Democratic state Rep. La Shawn Ford has been endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus’ political organization in his bid for the 7th congressional seat now held by Rep. Danny Davis, who also has endorsed him. Ford survived a competitive primary to emerge as the Democratic nominee in a predominantly blue district. He faces Republican Chad Koppie, a retired farmer and jet pilot, in the November election.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/28/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-746/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Republican Candidate to Replace Dick Durbin Comments on His Speech to the Illinois General Assembly
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/28/republican-candidate-to-replace-dick-durbin-comments-on-his-speech-to-the-illinois-general-assembly/
— Taxpayers Subsidizing Teacher Pensions, Often with Teachers Paying Nothing. DD: For my Civil Service Retirement System pension, I paid 7% of my federal salary.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/28/taxpayers-subsidizing-teacher-pensions-often-with-teachers-paying-nothing/
ILLINOIS ANSWERS PORJECT
— A Proposed Law Would Push Wealthy Suburbs to Build More Affordable Housing. Mayors Are Pushing Back.
https://illinoisanswers.org/2026/05/27/proposed-illinois-law-push-wealthy-suburbs-build-more-affordable-housing/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to Criticize Trump Policies, Push Reparations Agenda During Vatican Meeting. DD: DD: Affirmative Action and DEI are reparations. Anticipate/expect that the Pope will ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republicans.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/05/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-to-criticize-trump-policies-push-reparations-agenda-during-vatican-meeting.html
— The Hatred Against the Trump Family Has Turned Dangerous. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been promoting hatred against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/05/opinion-the-hatred-against-the-trump-family-has-turned-dangerous.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
— Trial Awaits Lifeguard Who Sought Pride Flag Exemption. LA County allegedly refused to accommodate Christian beliefs. The case of a Christian lifeguard in Los Angeles County who was denied a religious accommodation that would have excused him from raising or lowering the LGBTQ+ “Progress Pride Flag” is going to trial after a federal judge’s sealed ruling last week. Capt. Jeffrey Little, a lifeguard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, first filed a lawsuit against the county and several supervisors in 2024 after the county enacted a policy requiring the Progress Pride Flag to be flown over county facilities, including some lifeguard stations, during LGBTQ Pride Month each June.
https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/articles/trial-awaits-lifeguard-who-sought-pride-flag-exemption
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— West Point wake-up call: Hegseth torches DEI obsession in military ranks
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/05/27/west-point-wake-up-call-hegseth-torches-dei-obsession-in-military-ranks-1642715/
BREITBART
— Blue States Starting to Curb ‘Free’ Healthcare to Migrants
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/05/27/blue-states-starting-to-curb-free-healthcare-to-migrants-as-budgets-spin-out-of-control/amp/
DAILY CALLER
— GOP Establishment Quietly Memory-Holes Months Of Anti-Paxton Content
https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/27/nrsc-deletes-anti-ken-paxton-content/
DAILY WIRE
— Camouflage-Clad Chinese Illegals Caught At Border
https://www.dailywire.com/news/camouflage-clad-chinese-illegals-caught-at-border
— DEI’s Hidden Cost: The Quiet Consequences Of A Flawed Policy. Diversity mandates fracture merit, mental health, and relationships.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/deis-hidden-cost-the-quiet-consequences-of-a-flawed-policy
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
— Older Americans Month: Champion Your Health. DD: Putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters together and sending them out has harmed my health, is harming my health, and will ever-increasingly harm my health. My critics/opponents ever-increasingly stress that to discourage/stop me from putting the newsletters together and sending them out.
https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2026/05/older-americans-month-champion-your-health
FOX NEWS
— Lindsey Graham: Iran became ‘rich and lethal’ under Biden and Obama.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6396807522112
— Trump offers federal help for Chicago’s teen takeovers. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6396737300112
— Illinois official charged after allegedly submitting dead mother’s mail-in ballot. Authorities say the investigation began after election officials flagged a vote-by-mail ballot connected to a deceased voter.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/illinois-official-charged-allegedly-submitting-dead-mothers-mail-ballot
— Pete Hegseth’s anti-DEI speech at West Point is a template to save American lives. Regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, we need the best of the best to protect us.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/pete-hegseths-anti-dei-speech-west-point-template-save-american-lives
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5897035-trump-control-republicans-paxton/
MS NOW
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.ms.now/morning-joe/watch/top-democrat-loyalty-to-trump-only-thing-that-matters-to-gop-2501512771945
ABC NEWS
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://abcnews.com/Politics/americans-democrats-dont-stand-republicans-republicans-support-trump/story?id=133320627
ABC NEW YORK
— DD: How long have your ancestors been in America? According to Democrat leaders, the longer that your ancestors have been in America and the more of the following that you are, the more that you have benefited from slavery, and therefore the more reparations that you should pay: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, and/or German American. My critics/opponents have always stressed that I am all of the aforesaid and that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s. In my ancestors’ defense, they always lived in northeast Illinois, they never were in a position to discriminate against Blacks, and they never did discriminate against Blacks.
https://abc7ny.com/post/pope-leo-xiv-makes-historic-apology-vaticans-role-legitimizing-slavery/19175137/
NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Administration Wants Federal Employees to Sign Nondisclosure Agreements. Lawyers representing federal workers said the move is intended to chill speech and could be challenged on First Amendment grounds. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors’ forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 forced me to disclose lots about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/us/politics/trump-administration-nondisclosure-agreements.html
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/27/us/trump-cornyn-paxton-senate-republicans.html
— Vice and the Crisis of Liberalism. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice. In 2009, I led the successful effort to ban video gambling in Wheaton. In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/opinion/vice-liberalism-addiction-gambling-drugs.html
USA TODAY
— 59% retire earlier than planned. DD: The more of the following that you are, the likely that you will be forced to retire early: 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.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2026/05/25/early-retirement-job-loss-health-layoffs/90218745007/
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/05/27/paxton-win-texas-runoff-midterms-trump-endorsement/90211135007/
FED SMITH
— OPM Proposes Eliminating the Time-in-Grade Rule. DD: The Democrats who ran IRS in 1971 hired me as a GS-7 when I was 22. While I got promoted as fast as time-in-grade rules allowed to GS-9 when I was 23, to GS-11 when I was 24, and to GS-12 when I was 25, that was not fast enough for them. They used their up-or-out rule to deem me to be too old to be promoted to GS-13 because they had not promoted me to GS-13 by the time I was 25. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran.
https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/05/27/eliminating-time-in-grade-rule-federal-workforce-impact/
TIME
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://time.com/article/2026/05/26/paxton-defeats-cornyn-trump-texas-talarico/
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
— The Case for Prohibiting Vice. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice. In 2009, I led the successful effort to ban video gambling in Wheaton. In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/case-prohibiting-vice
NEW REPUBLIC
— DD: For Democrats, democracy exists to take opportunities, money, and everything else away from Republicans and to give it all to Democrats.
https://newrepublic.com/article/210941/southern-states-anti-democracy-gerrymandering
AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL
— DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/green-card-news-uscis-memo/
YALE DAILY NEWS
— Yale reinstates SAT, ACT requirement. DD: UIC would not have admitted me in 1966 if I had not gotten an ACT score of 24.
https://yaledailynews.com/articles/yale-reinstates-sat-act-requirement-after-six-years-of-flexible-policy
AXIOS
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.axios.com/2026/05/27/trump-primary-elections-retribution-loyal-maga
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
GUARDIAN
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/27/trump-republican-party-maga
Tag: LGBTQ
May 27, 2026
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— The Illinois GOP has a new operator. DD: Under Grogan, what will change? Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. Past and present anti-conservative leaders of the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) want me to stop sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters because I emphasize the following conservative 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). Failing that, they want to stop everyone from reading my newsletters. Failing that, they want to stop me from emphasizing those planks. Under Grogan, what will change? How will anti-conservative IRP, DCRCC, and MTRO leaders treat my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and treat me?
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/27/the-illinois-gop-has-a-new-operator-00937440
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Bob Grogan has spent so many years around Illinois Republican politics that he jokes he used to be “the youngest person in the room” at party meetings. Now, at 58, the former DuPage County auditor is stepping into leadership of a state GOP that is less competitive in the suburbs that once powered Republican success statewide. Culture wars: Grogan isn’t interested in being a culture-war bomb thrower. He says he’s more drawn to the mechanics of politics — recruiting volunteers, knocking on doors and figuring out what makes a campaign work. “I’m an optimizer. I’m a problem solver,” Grogan told your Playbook host in an interview after he was elected the new chair of the Illinois Republican Party. “I’m a collector of best practices.” That managerial mindset helped Grogan defeat outgoing Chair Kathy Salvi in a closed-door vote of the Republican State Central Committee. He now inherits a party that has become an afterthought, with Democrats controlling every statewide office and dominating the suburbs that once were the backbone of Illinois Republicanism. Reality bites: Grogan doesn’t deny the depth of the problem. But he also isn’t particularly interested in ideological navel-gazing. Instead, he talks about spending smarter, recruiting better candidates and wooing suburban moderates who increasingly view the GOP as out of step. “We cannot purge our way to 51 percent. You can’t grow the church by excommunicating all the sinners,” he said, referring to Republicans who lean left on social issues. Grogan describes himself as conservative, and he rejects the idea that every disagreement inside the party should become a loyalty test. Asked whether he saw himself as more aligned with former Sen. Mark Kirk’s moderate wing or the activist Dan Proft’s conservative faction, Grogan laughed, saying, “I’m a Bob Grogan Republican.” The Trump factor: Even his relationship to President Donald Trump is nuanced. Grogan says Republicans would be foolish to “run away” from Trump, but he also seems keenly aware that suburban voters have grown wary of him and largely want to tune out the endless partisan infighting. “There’s very little that I can say to change anybody’s mind because everyone at this point in life has probably had 10,000 hours of input as to Donald Trump,” he said. Get real: Instead, Grogan insists Illinois Republicans need to focus on what he calls “the actual issues in front of people,” including crime, affordability, taxes and frustrations with local government. He also thinks Republicans too often talk at voters instead of listening to them. On listening: “One of the things I’ve often criticized my own brethren [for] is, we see somebody and we tell them what they should be worried about, as opposed to listening [to] what they’re worried about,” he said. Call me: When we spoke a few days after his election, Grogan and GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey hadn’t yet spoken, but he has since said they have made plans to campaign together. The two were on opposite sides of the March 17 primary as Grogan backed Ted Dabrowski, who got trounced by Bailey 54 percent to 29 percent, with third-place finisher James Mendrick receiving 10 percent of the vote. Stand by his man: Grogan assured us that he’s behind Bailey’s campaign, saying the electorate is tired of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker: “There’s fatigue out there.”)
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Crowds prompt large police response at Chicago’s 57th Street Beach amid teen takeover plans. A chaotic scene also unfolded near North Avenue Beach on Monday night. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://abc7chicago.com/post/teen-takeover-chicago-news-crowds-prompt-large-police-response-57th-street-beach-hyde-park-amid-trend-plans/19171065/
— Trump wraps up 3-hour medical visit to Walter Reed and declares ‘Everything checked out PERFECTLY.’ It will be his fourth publicly disclosed medical exam since returning to office.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/president-donald-trump-see-doctors-annual-physical-walter-reed-medical-center-what-public-finds-is/19173662/
NBC5
— Debate intensifies over tackling Illinois’ housing shortage. Senate Democrats introduced a plan that is separate from Gov. JB Pritzker’s BUILD plan. DD: Since 1984, my critics/opponents have wanted public housing to be built on the north border of my precinct on the south side of Roosevelt Road.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/debate-intensifies-over-tackling-illinois-housing-shortage/3940714/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: However, suburban mayors continue to raise alarm bells about how the plan would change neighborhoods. Their biggest concern is that small apartment buildings between 4 and 8 units could be built on lots designed for single-family homes. Some mayors even have taken the step to adopt resolutions explaining their opposition. “Your neighbor next door can leave town, sell that property, and have a multi-family, four-unit, six-units complex built right next to your single-family home. We just don’t think that’s right,” said Wheaton Mayor Phil Suess. More than 500 new units of housing are on their way to Wheaton. Suess believes the construction is a sign his city’s affordable housing plans are working. So, he doesn’t believe Springfield needs to get involved. “Things are working well. We’re achieving a lot of the points that are referenced in the BUILD Act, and we’re doing it without mandated legislation,” Suess explained.)
CBS2
— 53 people arrested, 9 weapons seized during large teen gathering in Hyde Park. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/3-shot-teen-gathering-hyde-park-memorial-day-weekend/
WGN9
— Millennial job seekers trimming resumes to avoid ageism. DD: The more of the follow that you are, the more that you will face ageism: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://wgntv.com/news/trending/resume-botox-millennial-job-seekers-trimming-resumes-to-avoid-ageism/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— It’s time to get tougher on teen takeovers after chaotic Memorial Day weekend. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/26/editorial-teen-takeovers-brandon-johnson-chaos-memorial-day-weekend/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use the Pope to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/pope-leo-xiv/2026/05/26/pope-leo-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-vatican-visit
WBEZ
— The job market is brutal. DD: Anticipate/expect that employers will hang out signs that say that those who are the following need not apply: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/05/26/how-recent-chicago-college-graduates-are-navigating-a-brutal-job-market
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DuPage auditor takes Grogan on onus of state GOP leadership. DD: Serving as the chairman of a political organization is a thankless job; they are always blamed for their party’s losses. I survived for 7 years as the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois 2005-2012. During that time, I invited speakers for all 78 of the organization’s monthly meetings, August picnics, and December Christmas parties. I should list all those who spoke at those events and what they emphasized. My critics/opponents always demonized, denigrated, and condemned those speakers and what they emphasized. To end my TAPROOT chairmanship and to destroy TAPROOT in 2012, my critics/opponents had their TAPROOT officers and their TAPROOT directors charge me with gross incompetence. They argued/shouted that anyone could do a better job of heading TAPROOT than I did. Previously, I survived for 4 years as a member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) Steering Committee (SC) 2003-2007. My critics/opponents had my fellow ICRC SC members end my ICRC SC membership and destroy ICRC in 2007. In 2006, they unsuccessfully tried to get ICRC to censure me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on IRP SCC members since 1999.
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-dupage-auditor-takes-on-onus-of-state-gop-leadership/article_8fe70a48-ac5d-435a-a4de-b882fdeab8c0.html
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrat leaders say that Trump is getting the Republican Party that he wants, but ask can he win in the midterms?
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-trump-is-getting-the-republican-party-that-he-wants-but-can-he-win-in-the-midterms/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Illinois lawmakers roll out broad cannabis industry overhaul. DD: Illinois Democrats ever-increasing crow about their success in pushing pot, that is, their success in destroying Illinois.
https://www.nprillinois.org/economy-business/2026-05-26/illinois-lawmakers-roll-out-broad-cannabis-industry-overhaul
— American men leaving the workforce at historic rates. DD: Anticipate/expect that employers will hang out signs that say that those who are the following need not apply: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-05-26/why-are-american-men-leaving-the-workforce-at-historic-rates
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Former Republican strategist Collin Corbett files to run for governor as independent. Says he’s dissatisfied with direction of Republican Party. DD: How many votes will Corbett take from conservative Bailey? Since at least 1976, the Illinois Republican Party has moved further to the left, that is, the more that it has become anti-conservative.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/former-republican-strategist-collin-corbett-files-to-run-for-governor-as-independent/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Pritzker says suspension of state gas tax possible, blames Trump for having to consider it.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-pritzker-says-suspension-of-state-gas-tax-possible-blames-trump-for-consideration/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/26/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-532/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Bill to let felons vote from prison draws criticism from Republicans. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote criminals and crime.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_cac9ebd9-4ee3-4563-9922-f96045ce9bd8.html
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/27/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-745/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Supreme Court refuses Florida’s complaint against states that issue truck licenses to migrants. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/26/supreme-court-refuses-floridas-complaint-states-issue-truck-licenses/
— Americans whining over gas prices ignore Iran’s greater threat. Stopping a nuclear threat should matter more than cheaper fill-ups.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/26/americans-whining-gas-prices-ignore-irans-greater-threat/
— ‘Wild West’: 81% of online abortion companies violate FDA’s 10-week gestational limit.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/26/wild-west-81-online-abortion-companies-violate-fdas-10-week/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Supreme Court denies Florida’s lawsuit over CDLs issued to illegal immigrants. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/supreme-court/4581678/supreme-court-denies-florida-lawsuit-cdls-illegal-immigrants/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Harvard Gives $90,000-a-Year Fellowships to Four Anti-Israel Activists
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/harvard-gives-90000-a-year-fellowships-3c5
NEW YORK POST
— Trump blasts ‘terrible’ Dem Chicago leaders after driver allegedly plows into 5 cops during ‘teen takeover’
https://nypost.com/2026/05/27/us-news/trump-blasts-terrible-dem-chicago-leaders-after-driver-allegedly-plows-into-5-cops-during-teen-takeover/
DAILY CALLER
— Justice Thomas Baffled SCOTUS Won’t Hear Case Against Blue States Handing Truck Licenses To Illegals Like Candy. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/26/thomas-scotus-case-blue-states-handing-truck-licenses-illegals/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Fairfax GOP Stands Up to State Party on Abortion and Gender. The GOP in Fairfax County was getting pressure from the state GOP to not fight Democrats on abortion and gender issues. They responded “No!” DD: I should write about pressure from RINO leaders in Illinois to get Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders in Illinois to officially dump the following planks in the Republican Party platform: 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).
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/26/fairfax-gop-stands-abortion-gender/
— Thomas Slams Court for Refusing to Hear Florida’s Case Against California on Illegal Alien Drivers
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/26/thomas-slams-court-refusing-hear-floridas-case-against-california-illegal-alien-drivers/
— Law School Threatened Disciplinary Action Against Students Who Opted Out of DEI Training
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/26/law-school-threatened-students-who-opted-out-of-dei-training/
DAILY WIRE
— Democrat’s Financial Ties To Gender Mutilation Of Kids
https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-lawmaker-linked-to-woke-distillery-that-pushes-trans-ideology-on-kids
EEOC
— Northwestern Medicine to Pay $325,000 to Resolve EEOC Discrimination Charges. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if my Firestone Store boss had not fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile, an offer that Oldsmobile withdrew saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/northwestern-medicine-pay-325000-resolve-eeoc-religious-discrimination-charges
FEDERALIST
— Thomas, Alito Blast SCOTUS For Ducking Case On Illegal-Alien Truck Drivers ‘Causing Fatal Accidents’
https://thefederalist.com/2026/05/26/thomas-alito-blast-scotus-for-ducking-case-on-illegal-alien-truck-drivers-causing-fatal-accidents/
FOX NEWS
— Teenagers run Chicago with ‘mob violence’ says former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6396698010112
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Trump: Chicago mayor, Illinois governor should ask for help after ‘teen takeover.’ DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5895958-teen-car-ramming-chicago-police/
— ICE ordered to ramp up cases against attorneys accused of filing false asylum claims. DD: All those who promote illegal immigration should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
https://thehill.com/homenews/5895886-homeland-security-targets-asylum-fraud/
CBS NEWS
— DD: Democrat leaders will forever use George Floyd to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/video/george-floyd-remembered-6-years-later-as-family-says-more-change-is-needed/
NBC NEWS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-transgender-healthcare-gender-veterans-federal-employees-rcna346425
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family. If my parents had not had a traditional marriage, I would not have been able to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-05-26/1950s-marriage-family-nostalgia-economic-inequality
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/11-reasons-why-more-women-are-walking-away-from-men-and-marriage/ss-AA1YvbfS
STATELINE
— Trump administration targets attorneys who file fraudulent asylum claims. DD: All those who promote illegal immigration should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
https://stateline.org/2026/05/26/trump-administration-targets-attorneys-who-file-fraudulent-asylum-claims/
FORBES
— Meritocracy. My critics/opponents reject meritocracy. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me 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. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me 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.forbes.com/sites/adiaharveywingfield/2026/05/26/want-to-make-your-company-a-meritocracy-dont-mention-it/
BUSINESS INSIDER
— DD: My critics/opponents are woke. According to them, I owe all my successes in my life to my benefiting from discrimination against those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://www.businessinsider.com/habits-billionaire-success-jpmorgan-2025-12
CHICAGO BOOTH REVIEW
— Meritocracy. My critics/opponents reject meritocracy. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me 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. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me 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.chicagobooth.edu/review/virtues-rough-meritocracy
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
— Nearly half of states have legalized recreational marijuana use. DD: Democrats ever-increasing crow about their success in pushing pot, that is, their success in destroying America.
https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/nearly-half-of-states-have-legalized-recreational-marijuana-use/
BROOKINGS
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly shout at those who are the following that Republicans cause all their problems: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-demographics-of-racial-inequality-in-the-united-states/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
MEAWW
— Trump slams ‘terrible’ Chicago Dem leaders after driver plows into 5 cops at ‘teen takeover.’ Trump demands intervention after 18-year-old drove into multiple officers before crashing.
https://news.meaww.com/trump-slams-terrible-chicago-dem-leaders-after-driver-plows-into-5-cops-at-teen-takeover
ONE NEWS NOW
— Pritzker GOES NUCLEAR On Trump During Explosive Press Meet.
https://www.onenewspage.com/video/20260527/17768876/Wannabe-Dictator-Illinois-Gov-Pritzker-GOES-NUCLEAR.htm
IFS
— Wealthy parents have wealthy children. DD: My critics/opponents had wealthy parents. I should write about those whose parents were the wealthiest. I had to work my way through college. That harmed my GPA. I spent far too many hours washing dishes and delivering mail instead of studying.
https://ifs.org.uk/publications/why-do-wealthy-parents-have-wealthy-children-0
May 26, 2026
How will things change under Grogan? For how long and how closely have you watched the Illinois Republican Party (IRP)? Ever since Big Jim Thompson got elected governor in 1976, the IRP has moved to the left, that is, it has become Democrat Lite and the more that it has pushed out platform Republicans like me, that is, the more that it has pushed out conservatives like me. How will things change under Grogan? I have watched the IRP since the 1960s, and more closely since I started working the Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, and more closely since I started working for the Democrats who ran IRS in 1971, and more closely since I was the subject of a 4-page One Person’s Finances article in Money Magazine ( https://gopillinois.com/documents/ ) in 1978, and more closely since I started working for the Democrats who ran GAO in 1980, and more closely since they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, and more closely since I filed Diersen v. GAO in 1998 ( https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf ), and more closely since I became a Republican Precinct Committeeman in 1999, and more closely since I became the GOPUSA Illinois Editor in 2000, and more closely since I became an Illinois Center Right Steering Committee member in 2003, and more closely since I became the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman in 2005. I have attended all the IRP State Conventions as a delegate since 2000. I have attended many IRP State Central Committee (SCC) meetings, although not recently. I served on the IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2008. How will things change under Grogan? Many believe that nothing will change until IRP SCC members are directly elected.
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Can Bob Grogan rebuild the Illinois GOP in the suburbs?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/26/bob-grogan-gop-ilgop-illinois-republicans-kathy-salvi-tom-cross-gop/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: After years of infighting, ideological warfare and organizational atrophy, Illinois Republicans appear to be betting on a different model: coalition building over purity tests, precinct organizing over political theatrics and suburban recovery over grievance politics. “You can’t purge your way to 51%,” new Illinois Republican Chairman Bob Grogan told us over the phone Thursday. He went on: “Fratricide isn’t a good campaign strategy.” Republican State Central Committee members on May 18 voted out Kathy Salvi after roughly two years at the party’s helm in favor of Grogan, an accountant, former DuPage County auditor and a lifelong resident of the collar counties Republicans once dominated politically. Grogan, who served as DuPage County auditor from 2008 to 2020, is no stranger to rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, almost a prerequisite for anyone who wants to take on Springfield’s many challenges. Some may remember Grogan from his 2014 primary campaign for state treasurer against longtime Illinois Republican politician Tom Cross, a race Grogan lost before Cross himself lost the general election to Democrat Michael Frerichs. Yet Grogan comes off today as more of a tempering force than one might expect to meet in today’s GOP. First and foremost, he told us, he wants to present a positive message. Among his many catchphrases, Grogan shared a vision that’s at odds with what’s playing in Washington. “You can’t grow the church by excommunicating all the sinners,” he said. Something must be in the water, because that’s the tone GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey of downstate Xenia is taking this time around, too. Bailey, a Republican who had trouble ginning up support here in Chicagoland when he last ran for governor in 2022, is doing his level best to right past wrongs. He even came before the City Council on May 20 to apologize formally for calling our city a “hellhole” in his previous gubernatorial campaign. Can a kinder, friendlier GOP work? Not on its own, and adjusting the party’s tone and tent are not the only things Grogan aims to change about the tired party structure. He also pointed out the obvious: Illinois Republicans need to focus on getting out the vote. “We haven’t failed in a very short period of time, we’ve had failures over a long period of time,” he said. He’s not wrong there. After former Gov. Bruce Rauner — temporarily the GOP’s largest benefactor and anchor — picked up his ball and went home, the party became rudderless. The Rauner void led to competing factions, overlapping power centers and deep internal discord. While we respect Republicans like state Rep. Ryan Spain of Peoria and House Republican Leader Tony McCombie of Savanna, others within the party have gone to the fringes alongside many of their national counterparts. While outgoing Chair Kathy Salvi has been praised for her fundraising abilities, the party remains disorganized and has been unable to assemble and execute adequate GOTV strategies. Republican turnout tells the story. The four GOP gubernatorial candidates this year combined had about 560,000 primary votes — nearly 230,000 fewer than Republicans cast in the 2022 gubernatorial primary, and far below even the low-turnout 2014 contest won by Rauner. While many tend to view the ticket top-down, Grogan said he sees things in a more bottom-up way. If Republicans think Salvi’s best skill set was fundraising, Grogan says his is his ground game. For Grogan, “ground game” means rebuilding the Republican Party as a neighborhood-level organization again — training volunteers, strengthening precinct operations, coordinating county groups and creating a durable turnout machine instead of relying on personalities and TV ads. It also helps that he’s from DuPage, formerly a Republican stronghold where the GOP has atrophied and needs to build back up. That means running candidates in all races, no excuses. While Republicans this primary season had a crowded gubernatorial race, down the ticket Republicans have done a spottier job of making sure Democrats face a challenger. That’s part of what frustrates would-be Republican voters here, especially because Illinois is a land of political opportunity for anyone with a solid plan to make a go of it. First, there’s money here. Ahead of the 2024 election, President Donald Trump and affiliated super PACs raised over $30 million out of Illinois. Second, it’s not as if Democrats are wildly popular. Illinois Democrats control the Statehouse and the governor’s mansion, and preside over years of fiscal mismanagement and an unwillingness to face up to our state’s biggest problems, though they aren’t as shy about turning to taxpayers for more revenue. And while it’s likely Gov. JB Pritzker will win reelection in November, his most recent victory wasn’t exactly a sweeping mandate — he didn’t even crack 55% of the vote. All that to say, Illinois is ripe for a commonsense voice to come in and challenge our state’s one-party rule. “If it takes a long time to screw things up, it’ll take a long time to make things right,” Grogan said. He has less than six months until the November general election to make his mark, but the new Republican chairman’s legacy will extend far beyond this fall. Moderate voters and Republican donors need a reason to invest in the state party. Grogan’s task is to give them one.)
— Stomping on IRS audits is an egregious abuse of power by Trump. DD: Has IRS audited you? To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses at Loyola 1972-1976 and accounting courses at DePaul 1976-1978. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that they did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took them to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took them to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact a) that my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the course descriptions and my position descriptions, and c) that I had stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/editorial-donald-trump-justice-department-lawsuit-settlement-lawfare-fund-irs/
DAILY HERALD
— ‘Discussion by discussion’: Republicans make promising choice with new state party leader.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260526/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-discussion-by-discussion-republicans-make-promising-choice-with-new-state-p/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: A combination of voter demographics and structural election dynamics — read gerrymandering — has made it tough in recent years for Republicans to show enough political strength to become relevant in Illinois government. Adding to the picture have been philosophical differences eating away at the party from within. In 2024, then-state party Chairman Don Tracy stepped away from the job complaining that he spent “far too much time dealing with intraparty power struggles, and local intraparty animosities.” Some of that squabbling appears to have settled down under Tracy’s successor, Kathy Salvi, of Mundelein, yet it’s not clear whether that is because the internal forces are cooperating or much of the strength of the party has simply abandoned ship. If the latter is true — and, for that matter, even if it is not — Republicans could hardly have done better last week than to elect former DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan to take the reins. In three terms as auditor, Grogan, of Downers Grove, was an innovative, efficient, taxpayer-focused executive, known for his concentration on the demands of the job over partisan political concerns. His lists of county firsts include a county online checkbook, an office transparency and an auditor hotline. He was one of the most respected auditors in the state, eventually serving as president of the Association of Illinois County Auditors. Yet, although his focus centered on the functions of his job, he also understood the political side of the equation and demonstrated leadership in promoting traditional Republican values, including serving on the influential Republican State Central Committee. His new role no doubt will be one of the most challenging he has faced. Through a systematic process of legislative boundary control, Democrats have stacked the political calculus strongly in their favor, and the animus-driven influence of Trumpian politics that breaches no sense of compromise still fractures the party. Yet, if anyone can placate what the Republicans’ arch-conservative wing call the “grass roots” while wooing back traditional conservative voters like those in the molds of George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan who used to dominate suburban politics, it is someone like Grogan. His basic spirit is a good place to start. In an interview following his election, he told our Marni Pyke, “I consider myself a member of the ‘civil right.’ Which means I consider myself conservative, however, I believe in deliberate, peaceful discussion. I don’t believe in calling people names.” That alone will be a welcome priority in elevating political discussions. But Grogan’s fundamental strategy also holds great promise. “I do believe in the average common sense of the Illinois voter,” he said. “At some point, one by one, discussion by discussion, door knock by door knock, Facebook post by Facebook post … they do see that Republicans’ answers to some of these everyday life problems are better.” It takes two strong, influential political parties to produce the kind of strong, well-moderated government needed for a diverse state like Illinois. That has not been the case for too long. The state Republican Party took a good step in the right direction by putting Grogan at its head.)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Dozens march in anti-war protest on Memorial Day in the Loop. Dozens, including many veterans and relatives of veterans, gathered in front of the city’s Riverwalk Vietnam War memorial wall to protest ongoing U.S. military action around the globe. DD: My many Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/05/25/dozens-march-in-anti-war-protest-on-memorial-day-in-the-loop
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/music/2026/05/24/suenos-music-festival-midway-blitz-latino-mexican-celebration-joy-fuerza-regida
— DD: Democrat leaders will never stop using George Floyd to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2026/05/23/george-floyd-murder-racial-injustice-civil-rights-black-brown-zindy-marquez
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Seth Lewis: Illinois has all the advantages to make it an economic leader, not a laggard
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/forum/ccb-illinois-pritzker-economic-advantages-leader-20250525/
ABC7
— Trump honors troops killed in Iran war during Memorial Day remarks.
https://abc7chicago.com/live-updates/iran-war-news-trump-peace-deal-strait-of-hormuz-oil-gas-prices/19168718/
— Chicago veterans protest against Trump administration’s military interventions on Memorial Day. DD: My many Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/veterans-gather-downtown-chicago-protest-iran-war-donald-trump-administration-actions-vietnam-memorial/19169540/
WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.wbez.org/music/2026/05/24/suenos-music-festival-midway-blitz-latino-mexican-celebration-joy-fuerza-regida
ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Juliana Stratton doubles Don Tracy in Illinois U.S. Senate fundraising. Inside the money trail shaping the Illinois race to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/juliana-stratton-illinois-senate-fundraising-tracy-22229090.php
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Meanwhile, Tracy has pulled together roughly $2.32 million for his Senate campaign, with $2 million of that coming from a loan. The remainder of his fundraising dollars came predominantly from individual and committee contributions. Tracy ended the reporting period with about $1.54 million in cash on hand.)
SHAW LOCAL
— DD: Pot industry oversold medical benefits, downplayed risks. In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/05/26/lawsuit-claims-cannabis-industry-oversold-medical-benefits-downplayed-risks/
FOX NEWS ILLINOIS
— Trump will see doctors for his annual physical. What the public finds out is up to him. President Donald Trump is scheduled to get a medical exam on Tuesday, putting his health back under public scrutiny. DD: How old are you? I am 77. What do you stress to defend your health? I stress my putting together and sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-will-see-doctors-for-his-annual-physical-what-the-public-finds-out-is-up/article_0ef56e9f-4e3e-574a-81ba-ace909033f26.html
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Durbin will return to Springfield on Wednesday to address a rare joint session of the Illinois General Assembly, where lawmakers are also expected to recognize his nearly 44 years in Congress. DD: GAO works for Congress. Durbin was my U.S. Senator in 1997 when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/26/ctus-dues-hike-falls-flat-00935596
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/26/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-744/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER_RIGHT SOURCES
WIREPOINTS
— Totaling the unsustainable tax increases and windfall revenue during Pritzker Administration
https://wirepoints.org/totaling-the-unsustainable-tax-increases-and-windfall-revenue-during-pritzker-administration-wirepoints/
OPEN THE BOOKS
— Southern Poverty Law Center Received Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Spread its Message and Materials, Including in Schools
https://openthebooks.substack.com/p/southern-poverty-law-center-received
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Pride for veterans, America’s 250th felt from crowd during D.C. Memorial Day parade
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/25/pride-veterans-americas-250th-felt-crowd-dc-memorial-day-parade/
— IRS weighing adding non-U.S. citizen checkbox to tax forms
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/25/irs-reportedly-weighing-adding-non-us-citizen-checkbox-tax-forms/
— Pope Leo XIV makes historic apology for Vatican’s role in legitimizing slavery.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/25/vaticans-role-legitimizing-slavery-leo-makes-historic-apology/
— Trump thanks service members who died in Operation Epic Fury
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/25/trump-thanks-service-members-died-operation-epic-fury/
— Primaries prove Trump clout stronger than ever
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/25/primaries-prove-trump-clout-stronger-ever/
— Will Democrat wrongdoers ever face justice? Public memory of leftist malfeasance is short thanks to legacy media.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/24/democrat-wrongdoers-ever-face-justice/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Pope Leo urges significant regulation to disarm AI
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/4581180/pope-leo-artificial-intelligence-regulation-encyclical/
NEW YORK POST
— AOC lays groundwork for White House bid while insisting she’s not focused on presidency.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/us-news/aoc-lays-groundwork-for-white-house-bid-while-insisting-shes-not-focused-on-presidency/
— Classic cars don’t need smog tests —so pass Leno’s Law. DD: Emissions testing for cars with low mileage is a waste.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/opinion/classic-cars-dont-need-smog-tests-pass-lenos-law/
— More proof that progressives are pro-crime.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/opinion/more-proof-that-progressives-are-pro-crime/
— Mai Vang, who disdains Pledge of Allegiance, has no place in Congress.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/23/opinion/mai-vang-who-disdains-america-has-no-place-in-congress/
— Democrats’ radicalism is their biggest problem.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/23/opinion/the-concept-of-transgenderism-has-created-disarray-in-the-democratic-party/
— With gambling, marijuana, NYC’s new vice economy is set up for failure. DD: To get more votes, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice. I led the successful efforts to ban video gambling and the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://nypost.com/2022/12/10/why-nycs-new-vice-economy-weed-casinos-might-be-doomed/
FOX NEWS
— Anti-ICE protesters clash with agents outside New Jersey detention center as Gov Sherrill denied entry.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-ice-protesters-clash-agents-outside-new-jersey-detention-center-gov-sherrill-denied-entry.amp
INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY STUDIES
— The Success Sequence. DD: My parents and teachers promoted personal responsibility. That put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/what-does-the-success-sequence-mean
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Finish high school. Get a full-time job once you finish school. Get married before you have children. . .Most men and women have the capacity to make choices, to embrace virtues or avoid vices, and to otherwise take steps that increase or decrease their odds of doing well in school, finding and keeping a job, or deciding when to marry and have children.)
TOWNHALL
— DEI Is Not Disappearing. New York Is Just Renaming It.
https://townhall.com/columnists/gregory-lyakhov/2026/05/26/dei-is-not-disappearing-new-york-is-just-renaming-it-n2676632
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
MSN
— DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been destroying traditional marriage and family in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/11-reasons-why-more-women-are-walking-away-from-men-and-marriage/ss-AA1YvbfS
— DD: Democrat leaders had tremendous success making the military woke. To be woke is to be against those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, married, Protestant, German American, and/or those who have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. My critics/opponents are either woke and/or are operatives or dupes for those who are woke.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pete-hegseth-left-isolated-at-pentagon-as-he-continues-firing-spree-to-weed-out-wokeness/ar-AA22jE1c
NEW YORK TIMES
— Vice and the Crisis of Liberalism. DD: To get more votes, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice. I led the successful efforts to ban video gambling and the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/opinion/vice-liberalism-addiction-gambling-drugs.html
— Retirees Expect Their Home to Be a Financial Safety Net. They Shouldn’t. DD: Reverse mortgages have limits.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/business/retirement-home-equity-selling-your-house.html
— FRONT PAGE: G.O.P. Worries It’s Trump First, Midterms Last. Trump’s Self-Indulgence Deepens G.O.P. Fears in Midterms. “The stupid stuff is killing our chances,” said a retiring Republican senator.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/us/politics/trump-gop-fears-midterms.html
— Trump Wants to Compile Citizenship Lists, but They Would Be Hard to Create. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/politics/trump-lists-noncitizens-states.html
USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: USPS DD: I delivered mail for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/18/usps-built-a-mighty-network-financial-problems/90044771007/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/05/06/liberal-women-less-likely-marry-conservatives/89929874007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Reports of Woke’s Death Are Exaggerated. DD: My critics/opponents are woke. According to them, I owe all my successes in my life to my benefiting from discrimination against those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/reports-of-wokes-death-are-exaggerated-30f09ab8
— Trump’s Anti-DEI Push Is Unraveling College Scholarships. DD: Since the 1960s, ever-increasingly, scholarships are for those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-trump-s-anti-dei-push-is-unraveling-college-scholarships/ar-AA1I1HlT
— People Hate the Idea of Losing Their Job. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors’ success in forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 was one of the biggest negatives in my life.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/people-hate-the-idea-of-losing-their-job-even-more-than-high-gas-prices-f25e3a49
— The New Big Labor GOP. Republicans in Congress hand union bosses a pair of political victories. DD: My critics/opponents are anti-union. They stress that I was a union member for almost 12 years. According to them, my salary would not have increased from $19.57/hour to $113,402/year in today’s dollars if I had not been a union member. In my defense, during that time, I earned a bachelor’s degree in business, I earned an MBA, and I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-new-big-labor-gop-41539fa0
— You’ve Landed Your First Job. Now Don’t Sink Your Career Before It Starts. Your first job holds promise and peril. Here’s how to protect your future self. DD: If I had become a Democrat, the federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 years old. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21. I earned an MBA when I was 27. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. I earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31. I passed the Certified Internal Auditing examination on my first attempt when I was 32. I became a licensed CPA when I was 32. I earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48. I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading when I was 48.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/youve-landed-your-first-job-now-dont-sink-your-career-before-it-starts-96a3ad5b
FORBES
— Pope Leo Paints Bleak AI Future—With ‘Tower Of Babel’ Warning—Without Human Control
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/05/25/pope-leo-paints-bleak-ai-future-with-tower-of-babel-warning-without-human-control/
FORTUNE
— It’s a lot harder to put yourself through college than it used to be. Even if you do, you’ll probably graduate later. DD: To discredit me, my critics/opponents stress that it was much easier to work yourself through college like I did 1966-1970. They stress that if my ACT score and my GPA were higher I could have gotten scholarships. What percent of those who graduated in 1970 worked their way through college?
https://fortune.com/2023/01/11/college-students-with-jobs-20-percent-less-likely-to-graduate-than-privileged-peers-study-side-hustle/
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
— DD: According my critics/opponents, I owe all my successes in my life to my benefiting from discrimination against those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://hbr.org/2018/09/use-your-everyday-privilege-to-help-others
BUSINESS INSIDER
— 8 Ways That Money Can Buy Happiness. DD: When you were young, what did you use the money for that you earned? For me, it was for job-related college degrees when I was 21, 27, 31, and 48; professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and a professional license when I was 32. Also, for cars when I was 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, 41, etc. Also, for real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35.
https://www.businessinsider.com/8-ways-that-money-can-buy-happiness-2012-11
POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU
— DD: All my female coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me had less work experience than I had, had less education than I had, had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.prb.org/resource/college-education-benefits-some-more-than-others/
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
— The Case for Prohibiting Vice. DD: To get more votes, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice. I led the successful efforts to ban video gambling and the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/case-prohibiting-vice
ATLANTIC
— America Has Gone Too Far in Legalizing Vice. DD: To get more votes, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice. I led the successful efforts to ban video gambling and the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/02/legalized-gambling-marijuana-use-addiction/673028/
DAILY KOS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their successes in destroying Republicans.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/25/800028836/news/woke-mob-defeats-trumps-team-3-times/
— DD: My critics/opponents want Blacks to get preference. They were overjoyed when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 and gave my job and my preferred corner office to my Black subordinate. He had less work experience than I had. He had less education than I had. He had one professional certification while I had six. He had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/20/800041803/community/if-it-was-a-black-person-theyd-be-let-go/
POLITICO
— Donald Trump’s unlikely weed wager. The former president’s pro-cannabis policies could bolster his efforts to gain support with key Democratic constituencies. DD: To get more votes, Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice. I led the successful efforts to ban video gambling and the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/15/donald-trump-marijuana-legalization-00179205
PEW RESEARCH
— DD: According my critics/opponents, I owe all my successes in my life to my benefiting from discrimination against those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/03/11/about-one-in-four-americans-say-theyve-had-fewer-advantages-in-life-than-others-their-age/
— DD: For Democrats, voting exists to take opportunities, money, and everything else away from Republicans and to give it to Democrats.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/07/22/wide-partisan-divide-on-whether-voting-is-a-fundamental-right-or-a-privilege-with-responsibilities/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
NATIONAL HERALD INDIA
— The new US immigration policy forces millions of Indians into uncertainty. Green card applications currently under adjudication will be significantly impacted as it changes how officers handle pending and incoming applications. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/amp/story/opinion/the-new-us-immigration-policy-forces-millions-of-indians-into-uncertainty
May 24, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/22/fallout-from-broadview-six-case/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/25/legal-providers-try-to-bridge-the-gap-touting-the-benefits-of-counsel-for-immigrants-fighting-removal/
— The answer to rising antisemitism is to stand proud, not silent
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/24/opinion-antisemitism-college-campuses-synagogues/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Work permits. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly make America more dependent on foreign countries and their citizens. All my employers would have hired noncitizens if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/21/work-permits-immigrant-workforce-rules-backlogs
DAILY HERALD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly want to replace GOD with government.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260524/news/references-to-god-didnt-come-from-founders/
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
— DD: To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at Blacks that Republicans cause all the problems that Blacks have. Democrat leaders especially blame Trump and those who share his demographics: conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, married, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. How many demographics do you share with Trump?
https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/columnists/james-causey/2026/05/23/trump-fund-reparations-black-americans/90183069007/
ADVANTAGE NEWS
— Illinois House Republicans say Governor J.B. Pritzker’s housing proposals will give local control to state politicians, but the governor says decisions will still be made by local government units. The governor’s Building Up Illinois Developments plan consists of at least five bills aiming to address housing supply and affordability issues. State Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro, R-Hanover Park, said the plan would take zoning decisions away from local communities and move them to Springfield. DD: My critics/opponents want the north end of my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton to be rezoned for public housing.
https://www.advantagenews.com/news/local/house-gop-pushes-pritzker-for-local-control/article_e3c44520-a08e-41f6-8e06-942bd7be4176.html
FOX ILLINOIS
— Democrats vow a redistricting counterpunch but are facing hurdles Republicans don’t. Democrats are poised to finish several seats behind Republicans in 2026 in the nationwide race to redraw maps for the U.S. House. DD: I live in Illinois’ racially gerrymandered 3rd Congressional District.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/democrats-vow-a-redistricting-counterpunch-but-are-facing-hurdles-republicans-dont/article_2e475e0d-5d0a-56b4-ac01-3bf08b73cd3f.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— Suspect dead after opening fire near White House security checkpoint
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-05-23/suspect-dead-after-opening-fire-near-white-house-security-checkpoint-secret-service-says
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Catalina Lauf Takes Hit in Her Florida Congressional Campaign from The Conservative Journal
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/24/catalina-lauf-takes-hit-in-her-florida-congressional-campaign-from-the-conservative-journal/
LEGAL NEWSLINE
— IL Supreme Court again turns aside challenge to state’s FOID law. DD: I have had a FOID card since I was 20 in 1968.
https://www.legalnewsline.com/madison-stclair-record/il-supreme-court-again-turns-aside-challenge-to-state-s-foid-law/article_891e5daa-d385-4525-8a6a-bbf6ef91ea94.html
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Registration is open for political entries in Wheaton’s July 4 Independence Day Parade. SEE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wheaton-independence-day-parade-entry-2026-tickets-1984881886153 The deadline is June 28. The cost is $183.58. I hope that all the Republican candidates on the ballot in my precinct will participate in the parade: Tracy, Bailey/Del Mar, Fioretti, Harris, Drew, Soloman, Oakley, Lewis, Vrankovich, Grasso, Noonan, Schiappa, Henry, Eckhoff, Michaud, Schultz, Quirk, and Helland. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What is your Republican Precinct Committeeman going to do to help elect the Republican candidates on the ballot in your precinct win November 3? 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. I am going to hand-deliver to all the residences in my precinct a copy of the sample ballot, campaign literature that the candidates provide the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO), and whatever else MTRO asks me to deliver. I did the aforesaid for the March 17 Republican primary in my precinct. 39% of the registered Republican voters voted. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— A tree limb recently fell on the overhead ComEd and Xfinity lines that bring electricity and internet to my subdivision. The resultant outage caused me lots of problems. I have filed tree trimming requests with ComEd and Xfinity. Further, I have asked that they put the lines underground. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Hegseth praises West Point cadets as ‘not an army of woke’ in commencement speech. DD: My critics/opponents are woke. To be woke is to be against those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense/4580616/hegseth-praise-west-point-cadet-commencement-speech/
NEW YORK POST
— Pete Hegseth tears into DEI, ‘woke military’ in fiery West Point graduation speech. DD: My critics/opponents are woke. To be woke is to be against those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/23/us-news/pete-hegseth-tears-into-dei-woke-military-in-fiery-west-point-graduation-speech/
— Master’s degrees yielding fewest jobs in 20 years as some businesses uninterested in candidates with advanced education. DD: I spent lots of my time and lots of my money earning three master’s degrees: 16 courses for an MBA from Loyola in 1976 when I was 27, 12 courses for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and 14 courses for a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997. If I had not been taking graduate evening business courses, my Democrat IRS superiors would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not earned an MBA and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired me in 1980. If I had earned a master’s degree in accounting, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt, became a licensed CPA, earned four more professional certifications, and earned a master’s degree in finance, my Democrat GAO superiors a) would not have promoted me in 1986 and b) would have succeeded in forcing me to retire sooner than they did.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/us-news/masters-degrees-hiring-at-one-of-its-worst-levels-in-20-years-been-a-bit-tough/
AMERICAN THINKER
— DD: If you live in a Republican state, county, township, municipality, school district, and/or precinct, anticipate/expect that sooner or later, Democrats will move in and destroy it. I should write about the Democrat invasion of a) DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville School District 200, and my precinct and b) Will county, Crete Township, and Crete.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/05/we_need_to_educate_renegade_democrats_in_the_ways_of_conservativism.html
BREITBART
— Socialist Dream: Zohran Mamdani Touts Universal Childcare for Two-Year-Olds. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/05/23/socialist-dream-zohran-mamdani-touts-universal-childcare-for-two-year-olds/amp/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Trump Team to Restore ‘Integrity and Safety’ for American Truckers
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/23/trump-team-american-truckers/
EPOCH TIMES
— AI Content Is Swamping the Internet—How It Impacts Critical Thinking. Under near constant exposure to AI output, experts say the dangers are real and the evidence is already showing up. DD: All the decisions made to include or to not include links to articles in GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters are made my me. All the comments on those articles in those newsletters are made by me.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/ai-content-is-swamping-the-internet-how-it-impacts-critical-thinking-6026954
FOX NEWS
— Hegseth reveals Army hit its recruiting goal early
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6396440826112
PJ MEDIA
— Voter Received Ballots for Prior Residents
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/05/23/harmeet-dhillon-says-she-received-ballots-for-prior-residents-n4953177
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Thousands of Illegal Aliens Live in Taxpayer-Funded Housing. Trump Is Ending it.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/05/19/thousands_of_illegal_aliens_live_in_taxpayer-funded_housing_trump_is_ending_it_154133.html
TOWNHALL
— Illegal Alien Stole Identity, Collected Over $300K in Taxpayer Benefits for Decades
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2026/05/23/illegal-alien-stole-identity-collected-over-300k-in-taxpayer-benefits-for-decades-n2676580
— Here Is What’s Wrong With the Republican Party
https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2026/05/24/here-is-whats-wrong-with-the-republican-party-n2676592
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Hegseth torches identity politics in West Point speech: ‘Can’t throw your pronouns at the enemy.’ DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ. How successful have Democrat leaders been promoting LGBTQ in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5892744-defense-secretary-west-point-address/
CNN
— Hegseth slams ‘woke ideology’ in West Point speech. DD: My critics/opponents are woke. To be woke is to be against those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/23/politics/video/pete-hegseth-commencement-speech-west-point-digvid-vrtc
REUTERS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ. How successful have Democrat leaders been promoting LGBTQ in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/visitors-celebrate-lgbtq-pride-at-pensacola-beach-park-east-during-annual-party-on-may-23-2026/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX01UMVVTQVRPREFZMjkwNDEwMjU
MSN
— Hegseth tells West Point grads to reject ‘woke ideology.’ DD: My critics/opponents are woke. To be woke is to be against those who are conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/hegseth-tells-west-point-grads-slow-slide-into-woke-is-over/ss-AA23TTip
— Traditional marriage and family. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/11-reasons-why-more-women-are-walking-away-from-men-and-marriage/ss-AA1YvbfS
ABC NEWS
— Individuals targeted by the Trump. DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who have targeted me the most and why. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me. I would focus on past and present a) leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) Republican political consultants, fundraisers, major doners, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, e) conservative leaders, and f) religious leaders.
https://abcnews.com/US/list-individuals-including-lisa-cook-targeted-trump-administration/story?id=124968309
CBS NEWS
— Wealthy parents. DD: My critics/opponent had wealthy parents. They bought them cars, paid for their education, got them jobs. etc. My father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. I had to buy all my own cars. I had to work my way through college. I should write about my critics/opponents whose parents had the most money. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me. I would focus on past and present a) leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) Republican political consultants, fundraisers, major doners, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, e) conservative leaders, and f) religious leaders.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/parents-wealth-homeownership-study/
NBC NEWS
— Green cards. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly make America more dependent on foreign countries and their citizens. All my employers would have hired noncitizens if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents.
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/shorts/trump-announces-new-green-card-application-rules-263858757707
— $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund. DD: Just kidding, but should I apply? Democrat leaders in Illinois had my Democrat GAO, IRS, and Post Office superiors waste my career and take many big adverse actions against me. My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, b) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, c) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, and d) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors a) never promoted me beyond GS-12, b) disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and c) disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors a) forced me to resign in 1969 and b) disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. My critics/opponents have always stressed that in Diersen v. GAO, not only Bush’s DOJ sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me, but that no Republican federal elected officials in Illinois came to my defense, that is, they sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors, is to promote Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, to promote race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/anti-weaponization-fund-trump-settlement-justice-lawsuits-blowback-rcna346424
NEW YORK TIMES
— Illegals. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/19/us/trump-news
— Three Decades on the Supreme Court Is Too Long. DD: For my Democrat GAO superiors, 18 years was too long. For my Democrat IRS superiors, 9 years was too long. For my Democrat Post Office superiors, 3 years was too long.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/opinion/supreme-court-tenure.html
NEW YORK SUN
— Defense Secretary Slams DEI and ‘Woke’ Military Policies in West Point Commencement Address
https://www.nysun.com/article/defense-secretary-slams-dei-and-woke-military-policies-in-west-point-commencement-address
BOSTON HERALD
— Ex-CIA officer tapped to replace Gabbard blasted ‘toxic’ DEI culture
https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/05/23/ex-cia-officer-tapped-to-replace-gabbard-blasted-toxic-dei-culture/
FORTUNE
— Illegals. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly make America more dependent on foreign countries and their citizens. All my employers would have hired noncitizens if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents.
https://fortune.com/2026/05/05/ice-deportations-us-born-job-losses-study/
— Affirmative Action and DEI: DD: Ever-increasingly, Democrat and RINO employers what to a) hire, retain, and promote Democrats and RINOs who are minority, female, and/or younger and b) get rid of their Republican employees. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless a) my job-related bachelor’s degree, b) my three job-related master’s degrees, c) my six job-related professional certifications, and d) my job-related professional license.
https://fortune.com/2026/05/22/beyond-the-diploma-skills-that-actually-get-graduates-hired/
MONEYWISE
— Office jobs ‘are over’ as AI-fluent workers earn 25% more and get promoted 3.5x faster. Do you have an office job? Did you have an office job? I had office jobs working for IRS 1971-1980 and for GAO 1980-1997.
https://moneywise.com/managing-money/employment/office-jobs-over-randstad-ceo-ai-skilled-trades
BUSINESS INSIDER
— Noncitizens. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly make America more dependent on foreign countries and their citizens. All my employers would have hired noncitizens if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents.
https://www.businessinsider.com/experts-react-donald-trump-new-immigration-policy-green-card-applications-2026-5
HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR
— Entry-level jobs are disappearing. DD: What was your entry-level job? When I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 in 1970, I had to have a job. Consequently, I accepted the only job offer that I got. It was from Firestone Stores for a sales job that did not really require a college degree. My Chicago Heights store boss would never had hired me, but his boss had assigned me to him. He did not have a college degree. He refused to let me start until after I passed a probationary period in Indiana. He disapproved of my avoiding the Vietnam War draft. He disapproved of my being Protestant, my being German American, my having ancestors who had been in America since 1844, and my living in Crete. Under him, I saw that my Firestone career was bleak, if not nonexistent. Consequently, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile in early 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, if not violently, fired me because I had accepted that offer. I had to have a job. So I accepted the only job offer that I got. It was to be an IRS Revenue Officer.
https://www.hcamag.com/au/specialisation/hr-technology/the-entry-level-job-is-disappearing/575695
NPR
— Noncitizens. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly make America more dependent on foreign countries and their citizens. All my employers would have hired noncitizens if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents.
https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/05/12/g-s1-121493/the-economic-chilling-effect-of-trumps-immigration-crackdown
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Federal job applicants can’t skip ‘loyalty question.’ DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-retention/2026/04/federal-job-applicants-cant-skip-loyalty-question-that-opm-says-is-optional-court-filings-claim/
DAILY KOS
— DD: To get more votes from Black women, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/23/800043877/community/the-extermination/
FROM OTHER SOURCES
CONSUMER REPORTS
— 6 Best Whole-House Generators of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed. Home standby generators from companies like Champion, Generac, and Kohler are pricey, but they provide immediate backup power during outages. DD: Sadly, the motor in my 2011 20KW unit failed in late 2024, and recently, the motor in my 2024 24KW unit also failed. While Generac has provided me with a 17KW loaner, I am anxiously awaiting either a replacement of the whole 24KW unit or replacement of its motor.
https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/generators/best-home-standby-generators-consumer-reports-tests-a5942327707/
May 23, 2023 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Republicans are rushing to redraw districts before midterms. Here’s where things stand.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/23/republicans-midterm-redistricting/
CITIES 92.9
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage criminals to vote for Democrats.
https://www.cities929.com/2026/05/22/illinois-dems-seek-to-expand-post-release-convict-support-housing/
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2026-05-22/abortion-advocates-urge-additional-reproductive-health-support-from-illinois
— DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-05-23/trump-administration-to-force-foreigners-in-the-u-s-to-apply-for-a-green-card-abroad
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/10-provisions-in-the-latest-illinois-cannabis-omnibus-bill/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-lawmaker-il-is-a-leader-in-lgbtq-rights/
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Community College reimbursement bill passed. DD: When I was in high school, no one saw me as being college material. At best, they thought that Prairie State College might accept me. But I took college preparatory courses, I got an ACT score of 24, I graduated in the upper 20% of my class, and I got accepted by UIC.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_7cbf7e95-2777-4d31-b25e-5291645bc493.html
AXIOS CHICAGO
— Movement to divide Illinois into two states gains traction in suburbs
https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/05/21/movement-to-divide-illinois-into-two-states-gains-traction-in-suburbs
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— The employees who you are assigned to supervise can make or break your career. All their employees who my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors assigned me to supervise were Democrats who were minority, female, younger, veteran, unmarried, disabled, and/or had performance problems. I did everything that I could to advance them, but that was not enough for my Democrat superiors. Since the 1960s, employers have been under ever-increasing pressure to hire, to retain, and to promote those who are minority, female, and/or younger. For those who are White, male, and/or older, to get hired, retained, and/or promoted, they ever-increasing have to show employers that they can and that they will advance their subordinates who are minority, female, and/or younger. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Minutes Legislators Get to Review Budgets Before Vote Is Taken
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/22/minutes-legislators-get-to-review-budgets-before-vote-is-taken/
— Outstanding Warrants in McHenry County, SAFE-T Act in Action
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/22/outstanding-warrants-in-mchenry-county/
— Republican Bill Passes Urging Parks Be Designed To Include Disabled with Others
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/22/republican-bill-passes-urging-parks-be-designed-to-include-disabled-with-others/
— Tribune Buys Daily Herald, Beating Out Shaw Media, Owners of Northwest Herald
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/22/tribune-buys-daily-herald-beating-out-shaw-media-owners-of-northwest-herald/
— Illinois Projected to Lose Two Seats in Congress after 2030 Census
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/22/illinois-projected-to-lose-two-seats-in-congress-after-2030-census/
— House Republicans Offer Budget Suggestions
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/22/house-republicans-offer-budget-suggestions/
— Pharmacy Out of Your Prescription, Easier Transfer to Another Passes Senate
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/23/pharmacy-out-of-your-prescription-easier-transfer-to-another-passes-senate/
— Revenge of a California Gasoline Supplier
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/23/revenge-of-a-gasoline-supplier/
— Lake in the Hills Receives First Distribution from Forever Chemicals Class Action Settlement
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/23/lake-in-the-hills-receives-first-distribution-from-forever-chemicals-class-action-settlement/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Republicans not defunding abortion as promised
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/23/republicans-not-defunding-abortion-promised/
WASHINTON EXAMINER
— Rated W for woke: The FCC should upgrade the TV ratings system
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4578478/brendan-carr-fcc-tv-ratings-transgender-identity/
— Democrats are a global outlier on gender medicine for minors
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4570730/democrats-global-outlier-on-gender-medicine-for-minors/
NEW YORK POST
— From coast to coast, the ultra-left is on a quest to take over the Democratic Party
https://nypost.com/2026/05/23/opinion/scenes-from-the-hard-lefts-takeover-of-the-democratic-party/
BLAZE
— The left doesn’t like it when minorities think for themselves
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-left-doesnt-like-it-when-minorities-think-for-themselves
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
— Justice Department Announces 1.8B Anti-Weaponization Fund. DD: Just kidding, but should I apply? Democrat leaders in Illinois had my Democrat GAO, IRS, and Post Office superiors waste my career and take many big adverse actions against me. My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, b) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, c) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, and d) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors a) never promoted me beyond GS-12, b) disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and c) disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors a) forced me to resign in 1969 and b) disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. My critics/opponents have always stressed that in Diersen v. GAO, not only Bush’s DOJ sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me, but that no Republican federal elected officials in Illinois came to my defense, that is, they sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors, is to promote Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, to promote race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-anti-weaponization-fund
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
REUTERS
— DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrats and RINOs will ever-increasingly use AI to get rid of Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-justice-moraes-warns-political-candidates-not-use-ai-against-opponents-2024-02-29/
ROLL CALL
— DD: My critics/opponents are woke.
https://rollcall.com/2026/04/06/for-these-republicans-the-war-on-woke-starts-at-home/
MSN
— DD: The more hatred that you promote against Trump, the more that Democrats promote you.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ex-gop-congressman-says-trump-is-a-deranged-sociopath-calls-for-resistance/ar-AA23Psol
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Since 2000, I have spent lots time and money helping elect Republican candidates in ballots in my precinct. I should write about those candidates who I have done the most to help elect. I would focus on those who have blamed me the most for their defeats.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/31/elon-musk-trump-donor-2024-election/
USA TODAY
— DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2026/05/23/new-trump-policy-harder-immigrants-get-green-cards/90233065007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Unemployment Rate for Younger Workers With a Master’s Degree Has Rarely Been Higher. DD: I spent lots of my time and my money earning three master’s degrees: 16 courses for an MBA from Loyola in 1976 when I was 27, 12 courses for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and 14 courses for a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/the-unemployment-rate-for-younger-workers-with-a-masters-degree-has-rarely-been-higher-f7bc36d4
BUSINESS INSIDER
— AI is changing entry-level work. Here’s how to ace your first job after college. DD: When I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 in 1970, I had to have a job. Consequently, I accepted the only job offer that I got. It was from Firestone Stores for a sales job that did not really require a college degree. My Chicago Heights store boss would never had hired me, but his boss had assigned me to him. He did not have a college degree. He refused to let me start until after I passed a probationary period in Indiana. He disapproved of my avoiding the Vietnam War draft. He disapproved of my being Protestant, my being German American, my having ancestors who had been in America since 1844, and my living in Crete. Under him, I saw that my Firestone career was bleak, if not nonexistent. Consequently, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile in early 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, if not violently, fired me because I had accepted that offer. I had to have a job. So I accepted the only job offer that I got. It was to be an IRS Revenue Officer.
https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-changing-entry-level-work-advice-to-succeed-2026-5
RECORD
— Your Data Will Be Used Against You. DD: What information has your critics/opponents used against you the most? My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors used the information in Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on me the most. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/documents/
https://therecord.media/your-data-will-be-used-against-you-author-surveillance-technology
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202504/eyes-wide-shut-the-temptation-of-blind-loyalty
May 22, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC5
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/broadview-six-defendants-have-all-remaining-charges-dismissed-by-judge/3939029/
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cook-county-judge-rejects-special-prosecutor-to-investigate-operation-midway-blitz/3938934/
WTTW
— Illinois Lawmakers Frustrated Over Delay in Distribution of After-School Program Funds. DD: When you were young, what did you do after-school, weekends, and summers? I did yard work 1962, 1963, and 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. I worked on an automotive assemble line in 1970.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/21/illinois-lawmakers-frustrated-over-delay-distribution-after-school-program-funds
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/prosecutors-closed-hearing-broadview-six/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/22/opinion-cannabis-weed-honest-information-warning-labels/
— Chicago Tribune strikes 11th-hour deal to buy Daily Herald, outbidding suburban suitor.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/chicago-tribune-daily-herald-deal/
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/2026/05/21/broadview-ice-protest-grand-jury-transcript-kat-abughazaleh-trump
DAILY HERALD
— Paddock enters purchase agreement with Chicago Tribune
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260521/business/paddock-enters-purchase-agreement-with-chicago-tribune/
— DD: Naperville Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260521/news/naperville-considers-ordinance-to-block-federal-agents-from-using-municipal-property/
NAPERVILLE SUN
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Naperville Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/naperville-due-process-ordinance-draft-ice/
JOURNAL COURIER
— Illinois lawmakers pushing effective ban on Glocks, other pistols with certain trigger style
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/illinois-house-pushes-effective-ban-glock-pistols-22266680.php
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/advocacy-group-sues-trump-administration-over-22271897.php
VERMILLION COUNTY FIRST
— State Rep Adam Niemerg Argues Against Illinois House Bill 4471. The bill, which seeks to restrict the manufacture, sale, and transfer of semiautomatic “convertible pistols” that can be easily altered into fully automatic machine guns using aftermarket switches, was given approval in the House Gun Violence Committee Wednesday afternoon.
https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/2026/05/21/state-rep-adam-niemerg-argues-against-illinois-house-bill-4471/
SOUTHERN
— Republicans eyeing restrictions on Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund. DD: Democrat U.S. Senators and Democrat U.S. Representatives weaponize federal employers against their employees who are Republican.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/05/21/republicans-eyeing-restrictions-on-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-tossing-1b-for-ballroom-sources/
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders say that even as anxieties grow under Trump, swing voters aren’t ready to back Democrats.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-05-21/even-as-anxieties-grow-under-trump-these-swing-voters-arent-ready-to-back-democrats
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) increase consumer prices to punish Trump and b) promote abortion.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-05-22/as-voters-prioritize-cost-of-living-focus-on-abortion-evolves-in-midterm-elections
NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote abortion.
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/2026-05-21/abortion-pills-just-in-case-planned-parenthood-will-offer-them-in-two-states
FOX ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders say that pushed to the limit, Republicans show rare defiance to Trump’s demands. President Donald Trump’s political revenge tour met its potential match this week as angry Republican senators finally said no, even if temporarily.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/pushed-to-the-limit-republicans-show-rare-defiance-to-trumps-demands/article_230468a8-ed28-57ee-af21-728024e81f0a.html
— Trump immunity from IRS audit shocks experts, who warn it could undermine trust in tax system. Donald Trump has a reputation for slashing his taxes using techniques that some experts find aggressive. DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact a) that my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-immunity-from-irs-audit-shocks-experts-who-warn-it-could-undermine-trust-in-tax/article_5771719e-9a9d-5ff2-b437-83e087887650.html
CWB CHICAGO
— Kidnap-and-rob crew targeting Chicago nightlife districts strikes 3 more times.
https://cwbchicago.com/2026/05/kidnap-and-rob-crew-targeting-chicago-nightlife-districts-strikes-3-more-times-police-say.html
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— ‘We will be left out and left behind’: Senate GOP urges action on school choice bills. Pressure arrives as Democratic New York governor says she’ll opt into federal tax credit.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/we-will-be-left-out-and-left-behind-senate-gop-urges-action-on-school-choice-bills/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— All these years later, AIDS still a Black ‘epidemic.’ Senator calls for equitable funding. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-all-these-years-later-aids-still-a-black-epidemic/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— For Brandon Johnson, message matters
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/22/for-brandon-johnson-message-matters-00932987
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/22/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-743/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/21/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-530/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_59fc7920-e336-406e-b7c2-3ef2aa12e60c.html?a
JOHN KASS
— Beware of the Historical Revisionists. DD: According to Democrat leaders, America was built my those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://johnkassnews.com/beware-of-the-historical-revisionists/
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Kat Off the Hook in Federal ICE Interference Trial
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/21/kat-off-the-hook-in-federal-ice-interference-trial/
— Pritzker’s Zoning Takeover Criticized by Republican State Representatives
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/21/pritzkers-zoning-takeover-criticized-by-republican-state-representatives/
— 21-Year Old Who Rammed an ICE Vehicle Indicted
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/21/21-year-old-who-rammed-an-ice-vehicle-indicted/
— Latest Spencer Pratt Video: “I’m Not MAGA Or Anything”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/21/latest-spencer-pratt-video/
— Vice Chairman of McHenry County GOP Urges Unity
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/21/vice-chairman-of-mchenry-county-gop-urges-unity/
— Democrats on Kane County Board Decide to Hike Property Taxes 2.7%–the Maximum Allowed by the Tax Cap
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/21/democrats-on-kane-county-board-decide-to-hike-property-taxes-2-7-the-maximum-allowed-by-the-tax-cap/
— Catalina Lauf Makes Pitch via Text in Southwestern Florida GOP Congressional Primary
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/catalina-lauf-make-pitch-via-text-in-southwestern-florida-gop-congressional-primary/
— Credit Cards and Banks Seek Repeal of Illinois Law Prohibiting Fees on Tips and Sales Taxes
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/credit-cards-and-banks-seek-repeal-of-illinois-law-prohibiting-fees-on-tips-and-sales-taxes/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
U.S. SENATE
— Kelly, Scott Lead Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing May as Older Americans Month. DD: How has age discrimination impacted you? Ever-increasingly, starting when I was 25 years old in 1974, my Democrat superiors in the federal government used my age against me. They used “up-or-out” to get rid of me because they had not promoted me to GS-13 by the time was 25. I finally made GS-13 at GAO when I was 38. But I would not have been able to do that if I had not a) earned an MBA when I was 27, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, c) earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, d) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32, and e) if the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer from IRS had not finally gotten back into power and promoted me when I was 38.
https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-scott-lead-bipartisan-resolution-recognizing-may-as-older-americans-month-2/
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Feds release video of vehicle ramming attack on ICE in Chicago.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/21/feds-release-video-vehicle-ramming-attack-ice-chicago/
— Threat of teen takeovers in D.C. loom without curfew, as prosecutors eye holding parents accountable.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/21/threat-teen-takeovers-dc-loom-without-curfew-prosecutors-eye-holding/
NEW YORK POST
— Democrats’ ‘autopsy’ of 2024 defeat shows why their 2028 run may be just as deadly
https://nypost.com/2026/05/22/opinion/democrats-autopsy-of-2024-defeat-shows-why-their-2028-run-may-be-just-as-deadly/
— Stunning number of illegal migrants who have been deported from US or left voluntarily.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/us-news/stunning-number-of-illegal-migrants-who-have-been-deported-from-us-or-left-voluntarily-revealed-by-dhs/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Illegals Are Killing America. Another horrific murder shows what we’re up against — not just the illegal aliens, but the judges who keep releasing them.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/05/illegals_are_killing_america.html
— Reparations: Who Pays Whom? Underneath the feel-good politics of it, the practical questions sink the whole enterprise. DD: Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI are reparations. The more of the following that you are, the more credit that you should be given for having paid the price of AA and DEI: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Since the 1960s, because I am all of the aforesaid, those above be had made me pay the price of AA and DEI big time. If I had not been the aforesaid, my Democrat superiors in the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 years old. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/05/reparations_who_pays_whom.html
CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES
— Illegal Aliens Are Bad Credit Risks.
https://cis.org/Arthur/Trump-Banks-Illegal-Aliens-Are-Bad-Credit-Risks
CRISIS MAGAZINE
— Mass Migration Threatens Civilization, But No One Seems to Mind. The reality of mass migration has been a disaster for the West and has done little to address the problems it purports to solve. DD: Democrat leaders encourage citizens of foreign countries to come to America because they vote for Democrats. RINO leaders encourage citizens of foreign countries to come to America because they want cheap labor.
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/mass-migration-threatens-civilization-but-no-one-seems-to-mind
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
— Trump Administration Moves to Debank Illegal Aliens.
https://www.fairus.org/legislation/executive/trump-administration-moves-debank-illegal-aliens
FREE PRESS
— DD: My critics/opponents either a) proudly paint themselves as being woke or b) act like they are woke. The more of the following that you are, the harder that they work to get rid of you: 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.thefp.com/p/tyler-cowen-wokeness-has-peaked-what-followed-is-worse
NEWSMAX
— Illegal Immigration Driving Up Housing Demand.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/marlin-stutzman-immigration-housing/2026/05/21/id/1257068/
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Eliminating Wokeness at Universities a Long-Term Battle
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/05/21/eliminating_wokeness_at_universities_a_long-term_battle_700084.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEW YORK TIMES
— 5 Takeaways From the Democrats’ Autopsy of Kamala Harris’s 2024 Loss. A draft report released by the Democratic National Committee argued that Ms. Harris did not sufficiently separate herself from President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/politics/dnc-election-autopsy-report-takeaways.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use critical race theory to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/02/books/review/backtalker-kimberle-williams-crenshaw.html
— The Far Right Is Dividing College Republicans. As some college Republicans invite white nationalists into their organizations, other young conservatives have recoiled. The divide could affect upcoming elections. DD: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued that TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) were far-right extremist groups. I was the TAPROOT chairman 2005-2012 and an ICRC Steering Committee member 2003-2007. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/college-republicans-split-far-right.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: My critics/opponents either a) proudly paint themselves as being woke or b) act like they are woke. The more of the following that you are, the harder that they work to get rid of you: 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.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/21/wokeism-republicans-liberals/
USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2026/05/06/lgbtq-youth-mental-health-survey/89896205007/
LA SENTINEL
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use critical race theory to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://lasentinel.net/kimberle-crenshaws-backtalker-an-american-memoir-explores-race-and-law.html
WMBF
— Opposition to Iran war gains traction in Congress.
https://www.wmbfnews.com/2026/05/20/opposition-iran-war-gains-traction-congress/
WSJ
— Requiem for a Democratic Campaign Nightmare. Party leaders don’t want to tell themselves or their base why they lost in 2024.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/requiem-for-a-democratic-campaign-nightmare-d688bdee?mod=opinion_lead_pos3
FORBES
— DD: To hire, retain. and promote those who are Democrat, minority, female, and/or younger, employers ever-increasingly a) replace objective standards with subjective standards and b) lower standards.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2025/03/12/objective-hiring-pitfalls-to-avoid/
BLOOMBERG
— Up-or-out. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders use up-or-out to get rid of Republicans. The Democrats who run the federal government use up-or-out to get rid of their employees who are the following who they do not promote to GS-13 ($118,984) by age 25, GS-14 ($140,604) by age 30, GS-15 ($165,386) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($197,200) by age 40: Republican, White, male, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-27/mckinsey-piles-up-or-out-pressure-on-some-us-consultants?embedded-checkout=true
POLITICO
— The DNC’s 2024 autopsy is out — and the Democratic pile-on has begun.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/21/democratic-party-2024-autopsy-00931754
EMPLOYMENT LAW
— Employers: Your Next EEO-1 Report May Be Your Last Ever. DD: Since the 1960s, all my employers were under ever-increasing pressure to hire, to retain, and to promote those who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree (1970), my three job-related master’s degrees (1976, 1980, an 1997), my six job-related professional certifications (1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997), and my job-related professional license (1981).
https://www.employmentlawworldview.com/employers-your-next-eeo-1-report-may-be-your-last-ever-us/
PEW RESEARCH
— DD: In Illinois, under the Democrats, anticipate/expect that the more of the following that you are, the more underrepresented that you will be: 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.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/21/119th-congress-brings-new-growth-in-racial-ethnic-diversity-to-capitol-hill/
May 21, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey apologized to Chicago during public comments.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-city-council-review-parking-meter-deal-fair-wage-ordinance/19137482/
— DD: Democrat leader ever-increasingly push more LGBTQ in Downers Grove.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/downers-grove-continue-pride-month-fest-june-plans-despite-city-council-meeting-debate/19138041/
NBC5
— Darren Bailey apologizes to Chicago residents for calling city ‘hellhole.’ Gov. Pritzker continues to link Bailey with President Trump, who endorsed the GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2022.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/darren-bailey-apologizes-to-chicago-residents-for-calling-city-hellhole/3938712/
CBS2
— Brawl breaks out at graduation ceremony for Thornwood High School in South Holland
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/thornwood-high-school-graduation-brawl-south-holland/
— CPD Supt. Larry Snelling says parents should play bigger role in stopping “teen takeovers”
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cpd-larry-snelling-parents-teen-takeovers/
FOX32
— Darren Bailey makes pitch to Chicago at City Council meeting: ‘I owe you an apology’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/darren-bailey-makes-pitch-directly-chicago-city-council-meeting
WTTW
— City Council Votes 28-21 to Rid CPD of Officers With Ties to Extremist Groups
https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/20/city-council-votes-28-21-rid-cpd-officers-ties-extremist-groups
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/broadview-six-trial-oak-park-trustee/
— City Council measure bans Chicago police with ties to Proud Boys, other extremist groups. DD: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued that TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) were extremist groups. I was the TAPROOT chairman 2005-2012 and an ICRC Steering Committee member 2003-2007.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/20/city-council-measure-chicago-police-proud-boys-extremist-groups/
— University of Chicago nukes tuition for the middle class and achieves a degree of affordability. DD: In today’s dollars, my father never earned more than $50,000/year.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/editorial-university-of-chicago-nukes-tuition-for-the-middle-class-and-achieves-a-degree-of-affordability/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: When the University of Chicago announced this month that students whose families earn less than $250,000 will no longer pay tuition starting next year, they were taking a big gamble.)
— Stomping on IRS audits is an egregious abuse of power by President Donald Trump. DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact that a) my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/editorial-donald-trump-justice-department-lawsuit-settlement-lawfare-fund-irs/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chicago’s immigrant workforce. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealth parents. I had to work my way through college.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/21/work-permits-immigrant-workforce-rules-backlogs
— City Council votes to ban cops tied to far-right groups. The ordinance prohibits officers from engaging in “extremist activities,” defined as any attempt to overthrow the U.S. government through violence or “unconstitutional means.” It also bans actively participating in extremist groups, such as by fundraising, recruiting or displaying tattoos supportive of extremist groups. DD: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued that TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) were extremist groups. I was the TAPROOT chairman 2005-2012 and an ICRC Steering Committee member 2003-2007.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/05/20/council-ordinance-passes-ban-cops-police-extremist-groups-january-6-proud-boys-oath-keepers-cpd
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/05/21/republicans-maga-reagan-trump-voters-americans-s-e-cupp
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/05/21/ice-officer-christian-castro-minnesota-venezuelan-immigration-jacob-sullum
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/20/operation-midway-blitz-federal-civil-rights-commission-chicago-testimony-immigration-deportation
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/20/broadview-ice-protest-april-perry-kat-abughazaleh-trump
STATELINE
— Illinois bill would require women’s bathrooms, menstrual products at construction sites. DD: All of my employers would have hired women instead of me if they could have.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-bill-would-require-womens-bathrooms-menstrual-products-at-construction-sites/
ILLINOIS TIMES
— Local cannabis businesses receive state funding. Almost $32 million in forgivable loans awarded to cannabis businesses across the state. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.illinoistimes.com/news/local-cannabis-businesses-receive-state-funding/
PRITZKER
— We Can Bring Back Starter Homes. DD: In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for my starter home in University Park in 1972. Sadly, according to Zillow, it is worth only $84,500 today. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ When I bought it, in today’s dollars, my salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year.
https://jbpritzker.substack.com/p/we-can-bring-back-starter-homes
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Making a play for first U.S. primary
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/21/making-a-play-for-first-u-s-primary-00931430
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: State Sen. Seth Lewis has been named “Legislator of the Year” by DuPage Animal Friends. Lewis was recognized for his “commitment to protecting animals and supporting and sponsoring policies that promote their humane treatment,” according to the organization.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/21/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-742/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-529/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
10th REPUBLICAN NEWSLETTER
— It’s Been a Big Week DD: As a Republican Precinct Committeeman (RPC) since 1999, I urge all Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee members to send monthly newsletters to the RPCs in their district.
https://mailchi.mp/ee555d3f7a0d/the-new-il-10th-republican-newsletter-14206814
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: In case you’ve been under a rock, abandoned social media, or already moved to Florida, you likely already know the results of the State Central Committee’s vote for a State Party Chair. There were four candidates who applied for the position. Of those four, three presented themselves to be interviewed by the whole Committee this past Monday. After fielding questions, and discussion by the Committee, former DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan was elected to be the Chairman. While the vote was taken in Executive Session (“ES”), the results were out into the social media sphere before I even arrived home from Springfield. This was probably inevitable, though I’m disappointed that someone broached ES confidentiality. There is a purpose to ES, and divulging the actual vote is a clear breach of that purpose. What annoyed me even more is that I moved the SCC to put us into ES for the interviews and the vote. I thought it was appropriate and important for me to do so. Let me explain why. First, while I didn’t know my fellow State Committeemen’s questions, some of mine were very challenging, and required answers that the SCC needed to hear but that the majority of the public (particularly our opposition Democrats) should not be privy to. I wanted to be able to ask tough questions, and have each candidate explain their positions and strategies. Along with those questions and answers, I wanted the SCC to be able to have very honest discussions about the candidates and the issues presented. Second, I asked the SCC (though I was tepidly turned down early on) that we vote in ES, verify the tallies and report out an unanimously backed winner. I asked this for two reasons: I didn’t want people to be involuntarily tarred with a very difficult vote if they didn’t vote for the winner, when the result of the vote is all that really matters. I have been answering questions about my vote to inquiries, but I didn’t want to presume the same for all the SCC Committee members. Also, I wanted whoever the new Chair was to have the full “backing” of the SCC and not have a divided vote dogging them as they begin the hard work of chairing the Party. I wanted a united SCC to back the new Chair, and dispense with discussions of the vote itself, divisions in the Party, and related issues, so that we could move forward with the stuff that really matters. I completely understand that people disagree with me on the second point of ES as to reporting out the vote – that’s fair. But for Chair, I thought it important to have an honest discussion about difficult matters, and also back whoever the winner was as a unified group without further distractions. I guess it doesn’t really matter in the end, because the voting result got broadcast to the world pretty quickly. That disappointed me. I hope the next time the SCC takes ES seriously – it may be a personnel matter, or something of a personal nature that requires confidentiality, and I would hate to think that the purpose of ES is optional for some members. Other officers were also elected, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. I was elected Secretary of the SCC, and I look forward to being an officer on the Executive Board. If there is a very bright side to things, I am happy to report to you all that the SCC Committeemen – despite having differing views (and votes) on Chair and other officers – all played very nice in the sandbox. Everyone got along, and it’s already clear that many on the SCC bring a broad level of skill, experience, and deliberation to the group. It’s also very clear to me that people want to get along, and they are motivated to be the best volunteers they can to help the State Party succeed. From reports of prior Committeemen, even from those who are holdovers from the prior SCC, the culture and attitude of those on the current SCC is a remarkable breath of fresh air to the prospects of working together to get things done. I am excited to roll up our sleeves and do the work. I offer congratulations to our new Chair, Bob Grogan, and I’ll do whatever I can to help him see the State Party prosper. I also offer immense gratitude to Kathy Salvi, for putting her (and her family’s) life on hold and doing everything she could to help turn Illinois around. The Party Chair a volunteer position that requires more out of a Chair than a full-time job; it’s a position that costs the Chair tremendous time, significant money, and requires a thick skin for all the abuse. Chair Salvi did all of that with grace and hard work, and for that she is owed a debt of gratitude from all of us. It’s been a long week. A busy week. A good week. And now it’s time to get to work.)
MEMOIR CALL
— Fred Bucholz, Wheaton IL, Obituary, Death: The Former DuPage County Recorder Dies
https://memoircall.info/fred-bucholz-wheaton-il-obituary-death-the-dupage-county-recorder-dies/
ILLINOIS FREEDOM CAUCUS
— Illinois Is Registering Non Citizens To Vote. We are calling on President Trump and The DOJ to investigate the State!
https://illinoisfreedomcaucus.substack.com/p/illinois-is-registering-non-citizens
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_d75ee016-0232-455f-a088-18a3862ac942.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Employers are automating jobs instead of hiring native workers. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealth parents. I had to work my way through college.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/20/study-finds-no-evidence-citizens-taking-jobs-vacated-trump/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ‘America’s worst mayor’ Tiffany Henyard wins Georgia primary after switching parties
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/4577623/tiffany-henyard-wins-fulton-county-republican-primary/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Zohran Mamdani Cozies Up to Holocaust Denying Queens Sheikh Who Called Jewish Death Toll ‘Exaggerated.’ Plus, Graham Platner disparaged Army soldiers in deleted Reddit posts: ‘Full of fat, lazy trash who would rather not be in uniform.’
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/zohran-mamdani-cozies-up-to-holocaust
BREITBART
— Trump Restricts Banks’ Support for Migrants, Foreign Criminals
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/05/20/trump-restricts-banks-support-for-migrants-foreign-criminals/amp/
CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES
— Big Banks and the U.S. Treasury Have Been Enabling Illegal Immigration for Two Decades
https://cis.org/Fishman/Big-Banks-and-US-Treasury-Have-Been-Enabling-Illegal-Immigration-Two-Decades-0
DAILY WIRE
— Pritzker Tries Telling Trump What He Can Say And Can’t Say
https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-tries-telling-trump-what-he-can-say-and-cant-say
— Every Soros Prosecutor Endangers American Lives. This is a deliberate, left-wing effort to remake America’s criminal justice system.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-cotton-every-soros-prosecutor-endangers-american-lives
FEDERALIST
— RINO Crash Out Over Trump’s Paxton Endorsement Shows How Much The GOP Hates Its Voters
https://thefederalist.com/2026/05/20/rino-crash-out-over-trumps-paxton-endorsement-shows-how-much-the-gop-hates-its-voters/
TOWNHALL
— Trump Orders Banks to Look at Citizenship Status
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/05/20/trump-eo-illegal-aliens-banks-n2676399
— If Voter Fraud Doesn’t Happen, Why Is Spanberger Blocking Feds From Polling Places?
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/05/20/spanberger-voting-ice-n2676393
— Supporters of the Dignity Act Are Playing the Religious Card, and It’s Backfiring Big Time
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/05/20/salazar-dignity-act-needed-to-prevent-deportation-of-christians-n2676389
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
MSN
— Musk ‘repeats’ his vow. He says woke killed his son and he wants to destroy it.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-repeats-his-vow-says-it-killed-my-son-i-want-to-destroy/ar-AA23ssOY
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/insight/gop-lawmaker-warns-trump-s-revenge-politics-risk-midterm-losses/gm-GM7369D1ED
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/trumps-higher-education-crackdown-visa-revocations-dei-bans-lawsuits-and-funding-cuts
NEW YORK TIMES
— House Passes Legislation Aiming To Bring Down Housing Prices. DD: In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for my starter home in University Park in 1972. Sadly, according to Zillow, it is worth only $84,500 today. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ When I bought it, in today’s dollars, my salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/us/politics/housing-bill-house-senate-trump.html
— DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who have blamed me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters the most for losses suffered by Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct since 2000. I would focus on past and present a) leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) Republican political consultants, fundraisers, major doners, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, e) conservative leaders, and f) religious leaders.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/us/politics/republicans-elections-trump.html
— G.O.P. Candidates, Looking to Soften Their Image, Turn to Their Wives. DD: Anticipate/expect that if a Republican candidate, elected official, and/or party leader spouse rejects a plank in the Republican Party platform, sooner or later, that Republican candidate, elected official, and/or party leader will also reject that plank.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/27/us/politics/republican-candidates-wives-ads.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders racially gerrymander to defeat Republicans.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/20/supreme-court-do-nothing-philosophy-threatens-voting-rights/
USA TODAY
— Feds to fine migrants $18,000 to recoup deportation costs
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/21/trump-administration-18000-migrant-fine-deportations/90175178007/
— DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government always crowed about their success in promoting their Democrat employees who were minority, female, and/or younger, that is, they always crowed about their success in discriminating against their Republican employees who were White, male, and/or older.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/05/20/trump-eeoc-to-eliminate-job-discrimination-data/90145345007/
BOSTON GLOBE
— Starter homes becoming ‘thing of the past.’ DD: In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for my starter home in University Park in 1972. Sadly, according to Zillow, it is worth only $84,500 today. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ When I bought it, in today’s dollars, my salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/20/real-estate/starter-home-boston-first-time-homebuyers/?s_campaign=spoint:newsletter
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Republican Lawmakers Increasingly Frustrated With Trump Targeting Critics. DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-ballroom-gop-senators-725af4d4
— Woke Isn’t Dead, or Even Resting. Defund and dismantle all you want, but the work continues.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/woke-isnt-dead-or-even-resting-77a6448f
— Rove: Gerrymandering Isn’t Enough for the GOP. Republicans could still lose the House in the fall—unless Trump is restrained.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/gerrymandering-isnt-enough-for-the-gop-3ca53b73
— FRONT PAGE: America’s Toxic Divide Reaches the Jury Room. Trial lawyers and jury consultants say an erosion of trust in the justice system, more rigid viewpoints and starker political divides have made pitched juror battles more common. DD: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, anticipate/expect that ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the less likely that you can get a fair trial: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/jury-strife-increase-political-division-27383925
FORTUNE
— Trump’s EEOC chair is suing The New York Times because ‘we should bring it on behalf of white workers too.’ DD: How has EEOC impacted you? I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if my Firestone Store boss had not fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile, an offer that Oldsmobile withdrew saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/why-trump-eeoc-suing-new-york-times-discrimination-against-white-man/
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/bernice-king-mlk-dei-workplace-innovation-summit/
HERALD NEWS
— Older Americans Month. DD: How has age discrimination impacted you? Ever-increasingly, starting when I was 25 years old in 1974, my Democrat superiors in the federal government used my age against me. They used “up-or-out” to get rid of me because they had not promoted me to GS-13 by the time was 25. I finally made GS-13 at GAO when I was 38. But I would not have been able to do that if I had not a) earned an MBA when I was 27, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, c) earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, d) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32, and e) if the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer from IRS had not finally gotten back into power and promoted me when I was 38.
https://www.news-herald.com/2026/05/16/older-americans-month-provides-important-recognition-editorial/
PBS NEWS
— Candidate Spouses Serve as Partners on Campaign Trail. DD: Anticipate/expect that if a Republican candidate, elected official, and/or party leader spouse rejects a plank in the Republican Party platform, sooner or later, that Republican candidate, elected official, and/or party leader will also reject that plank.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/candidate-spouses-serve-as-partners-on-campaign-trail
POLITICO
— Tax world gawks at Trump audit agreement: ‘Never seen anything like this.’ DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact that a) my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/20/tax-world-gawks-at-trump-audit-agreement-never-seen-anything-like-this-00929576
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
— Firestone technician says he was fired after EEOC complaint, alleges pay gap. He says Firestone forced his transfer, skipped his raises, and pushed him out after he spoke up. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if my Firestone Store boss had not fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile, an offer that Oldsmobile withdrew saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/employment-law/firestone-technician-says-he-was-fired-after-eeoc-complaint-alleges-pay-gap/576038
May 20, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
FOX32
— DuPage County Bensenville residents say rat infestation is taking over neighborhood: ‘We’re freaking out’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dupage-county-residents-say-rat-infestation-is-taking-over-neighborhood-were-freaking-out.amp
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-vt8is1p09b9vq1wu
WTTW
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at those who are the following that Democrat leaders protect them from Republicans: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/19/final-vote-set-scaled-back-effort-honor-rev-jesse-jackson-new-push-protect-voting-rights
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/05/20/latinos-homeless-chicago-illinois-greg-abbott-texas-busing-migrants
DAILY HERALD
— Fumbled rollout: Inclusion of controversial flyer overshadows redesign of Kane County’s tax bill
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260519/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-fumbled-rollout-inclusion-of-controversial-flyer-overshadows-redesign-of-coun/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PHOTO: US government agrees to drop tax claims against Trump in broadening of IRS lawsuit settlement. DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact that a) my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260519/nation-and-world-politics/us-government-agrees-to-drop-tax-claims-against-trump-in-broadening-of-irs-lawsuit-settlement/
STATELINE
— Universal health care proposal in Illinois Senate would eliminate private insurance, cover undocumented migrants
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/universal-health-care-proposal-in-illinois-senate-would-eliminate-private-insurance-cover-undocumented-migrants/
25 NEWS NOW
— Former state GOP chair Pat Brady sees key decisions ahead after party leaders oust Salvi. (FROM THE ARTICLE: the party chair is frequently the target of “everyone’s anger and frustrations.”)
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/05/20/former-state-gop-chair-brady-sees-key-decisions-ahead-after-party-leaders-oust-salvi/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Bloomington native who used to lead Illinois Republicans said he knows from experience that the party chair is frequently the target of “everyone’s anger and frustrations.” Monday, the Illinois Republican Party’s State Central Committee replaced incumbent Chair Kathy Salvi with former DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan. Salvi became chair less than two years ago, just in time for the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Two years earlier, Salvi was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, losing to Democrat Tammy Duckworth. Salvi did a “nice job” raising money for the party, said Pat Brady, an attorney raised in Bloomington who served as state Republican chair from 2009 to 2013. During Brady’s term, social conservatives were angry with his stance favoring same-sex marriage. Brady is not sure why party leaders chose Grogan over Salvi this time around. “People were upset for whatever reason and they wanted a change,” said Brady. Now a Republican strategist with Mercury Public Affairs, Brady believes Illinois Republicans have a key decision to make. If they align themselves with the pro-Trump MAGA movement, Brady said “we’ll never be more than a downstate party.” Brady would like to see a more moderate brand, returning to the days when voters chose Republicans like Mark Kirk as U.S. senator and Jim Edgar as governor. Meantime, Grogan, Republican candidate for Governor Darren Bailey, and Senate candidate all praised Salvi’s work as chair. Grogan released the following statement: . . . )
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Chicago Schools elections get ugly
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/20/chicago-schools-elections-get-ugly-00929035
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-741/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BOB BERLIN
— Bob Berlin, Duo Dog Crew, and Assistant State’s Attorneys Attend Furever Friends Gala
https://www.bobberlin.com/news/bob-berlin-duo-dog-crew-and-assistant-states-attorneys-attend-furever-friends-gala
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Illinois FOID Card Mandate Challenged in Federal Court
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/illinois-foid-card-mandate-challenged-in-federal-court/
— Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future Initiative Passes House
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/melania-trumps-fostering-the-future-initiative-passes-house/
— McLaughlin Holding Fundraiser
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/mclaughlin-holding-fundraiser-2/
— Ness Passes Bill To Make Savings Easier for People Who Have Disabilities
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/ness-passes-bill-to-make-savings-easier-for-people-who-have-disabilities/
— Trump Gets Blame for High Gas Prices, Ignoring High Illinois Motor Fuel Tax
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/category/uncategorized/
— Latest Spencer Pratt Video is Musical Take Off “Fresh Prince of Belair”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/latest-spencer-pratt-video-is-musical-take-off-fresh-prince-of-belair/
— Rep. Weber Criticizes Bill That Would Require Women’s Port-a-Potties at Construction Sites
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/rep-weber-criticizes-bill-that-would-require-womens-port-a-potties-at-construction-sites/
— Illinois Family Institute Targets Bills for Defeat
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/illinois-family-institute-targets-bills-for-defeat/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The ‘pro-Palestinian’ Left isn’t really about Gaza. Its real target is America
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4572918/pro-palestinian-left-isnt-about-gaza-real-target-is-america/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Illegal immigration data sparks new push for mass deportations
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/05/19/illegal-immigration-data-sparks-new-push-for-mass-deportations-1640233/
CENTER SQUARE
— DD: All those who were promoted over me hinted/implied/argued/shouted that they were yes-men or yes-women. They all 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. They all were minority, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_0bddedae-73db-469b-82c0-e219cf59bd99.html
COLLEGE FIX
— Progressive nonprofit launches left-wing competitor to Turning Point USA. Group’s true agenda is the redistribution of wealth.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/progressive-nonprofit-launches-left-wing-competitor-to-turning-point-usa/
— Just 10 percent of professors want to leave Republican-led states
https://www.thecollegefix.com/just-10-percent-of-professors-want-to-leave-republican-led-states/
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
— If You Cheated to Become American, You Were Never American
https://www.fairus.org/opinion/if-you-cheated-become-american-you-were-never-american
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Civil Liberty Group Sues Illinois Over License Required to Buy Guns, Ammunition. DD: I have had a FOID card since I was 20 years old in 1968.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/05/civil-liberty-group-sues-illinois-over-license-required-to-buy-guns-ammunition/
PJ MEDIA
— Woke May Have Passed Its Peak, But What’s Coming Next From the Left Is Scary Bad
https://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2026/05/19/woke-may-have-passed-its-peak-but-whats-coming-next-from-the-left-is-scary-bad-n4953011
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Thousands of Illegal Aliens Live in Taxpayer-Funded Housing. Trump Is Ending it.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/05/19/thousands_of_illegal_aliens_live_in_taxpayer-funded_housing_trump_is_ending_it_154133.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
MSN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/more-gen-z-adults-say-life-can-be-fulfilling-without-marriage-children-study/ar-AA22ks9J
NEW YORK TIMES
— G.O.P. Supporters Back Trump, but a Third Seek a New Direction for the Party
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/poll-trump-republicans.html
— I.R.S. to Drop Audits of Trump and Family. DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact that a) my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/trump-irs-doj-lawsuit-audit.html
USA TODAY
— Nearly 4 in 10 Americans surveyed by Lending Tree, or 39%, said a car is a luxury they cannot afford. DD: Back in the good old days, in 1964, I was able to buy a 1958 Chevrolet BelAir with money I had earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers 1962-1964. In 1966, I was able to buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint with money I had earned delivering newspapers and washing dishes 1964-1966. In 1967, I was able to buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 with money I had earned delivering mail 1966-1967. In 1968, I was able to buy a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE with money I had earned delivering mail 1967-1968.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2026/05/18/car-ownership-affordability-costs/90049044007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE: Young buyers tap bank of mom & dad in tight home market. DD: When I was 24 in 1972, HUD made the new townhome that I bought in University Park ( https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ ) affordable. I could not have afforded to buy that townhome if it had cost more. In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had 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 $84,500. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/these-parents-are-buying-homes-for-their-kidswith-strings-attached-aa3da6d2
FORBES
— DD: My critics/opponents reject meritocracy. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me 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. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me 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.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2026/05/19/the-myth-of-meritocracy-and-other-outdated-beliefs-women-are-told-at-work/
BLOOMBERG
— Behind the Decline in Right-Wing Media Traffic. DD: I should write about those who have done the most since 2000 a) to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and b) to stop everyone from reading them. I would focus on past and present a) leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) Republican political consultants, fundraisers, major doners, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, e) conservative leaders, and f) religious leaders.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-07-15/federalist-breitbart-daily-caller-see-decline-in-right-wing-media-traffic
JD SUPRA
— EEOC Files Suit Against The New York Times, Alleging that the Times Discriminated Against a White, Male Employee. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if my Firestone Store boss had not fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile, an offer that Oldsmobile withdrew saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/eeoc-files-suit-against-the-new-york-1243494/
HR BREW
— DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government always crowed about their success in promoting their Democrat employees who were minority, female, and/or younger, that is, they always crowed about their success in discriminating against their Republican employees who were White, male, and/or older.
https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/eeoc-moves-to-end-eeo-1-reporting-on-race-and-gender
May 19, 2026
WGN9
— Kathy Salvi ousted as Illinois GOP chair, Bob Grogan takes over
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/kathy-salvi-ousted-as-illinois-gop-chair-bob-grogan-takes-over/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kathy Salvi is out as Illinois Republican Party chair less than two years after being elected by the State Central Committee. In a Monday release, the Illinois Republican Party announced the election of Bob Grogan, effective immediately. A native of DuPage County, Grogan previously served as county auditor from 2008 to 2020. “I am honored and humbled to be elected as the next Chair of the Illinois Republican Party. I’m grateful to my good friend, Chair Salvi, for her dedication to the party and her work to build a brighter future for Illinois families. Illinois Republicans are united and I’m excited to get to work electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November,” Grogan said in a statement. Darren Bailey, the former state senator set for a gubernatorial rematch with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in November, and Lt. Gov. candidate Aaron Del Mar thanked Salvi for her unwavering commitment to supporting GOP candidates and also hailed Grogan’s appointment. “We look forward to working with Bob to win the support of Illinois voters and take back our state in November!” read Bailey’s statement. Salvi, a lawyer and former Lake County assistant public defender, took over as Illinois GOP chair on July 19, 2024, succeeding Don Tracy, who had announced his decision to step down.)
DAILY HERALD
— State Republicans choose suburbanite Grogan to lead the party
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260518/illinois-state-politics/state-republicans-choose-suburbanite-grogan-to-lead-the-party/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For the third time in five years, Illinois Republican Party officials on Monday picked a new leader to navigate the choppy waters of Prairie State politics. Downers Grove resident Bob Grogan, whose experience includes serving as former DuPage County auditor, grass-roots organizer and State Central Committee member, is the new GOP chair. “I am honored and humbled to be elected as the next chair of the Illinois Republican Party. Illinois Republicans are united and I’m excited to get to work electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November,” Grogan said in a statement. He recognized outgoing Chair Kathy Salvi, who had sought reelection. “I’m grateful to my good friend, Chair Salvi, for her dedication to the party and her work to build a brighter future for Illinois families,” Grogan said. Mundelein attorney Salvi took over the leadership of the party in July 2024 just before the Republican National Convention convened in Milwaukee. “When you cross the border into Illinois, don’t you sorta feel a blue funk sometimes?” Salvi told state delegates at a RNC gathering July 17, 2024 . “Well I’ll tell ya, that blue funk is over.” She succeeded Springfield attorney Don Tracy, who was selected in February 2021 and resigned in June 2024, blaming infighting in the ranks. “Unfortunately, however, I have had to spend far too much time dealing with intraparty power struggles, and local intraparty animosities that continued after primaries and county chair elections,” Tracy said at the time. Tracy and Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton are running for the U.S. Senate seat held by outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin in the November election. Inspiring Republicans and raising funds in a blue state is a challenge, however party officials say Grogan is up to the task. As DuPage auditor, “Grogan focused on transparency, radically transforming the office to make the county checkbook publicly available, create a transparency portal and create a fraud hotline,” the Illinois Republican Party said in a statement. “His work rooted out waste, fraud and abuse, saving Illinois taxpayers millions of dollars.”)
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Salvi out as Illinois GOP leader. No reason was given for the change.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-salvi-out-as-illinois-gop-leader/
THOMAS DEVORE
— The Illinois GOP Just Voted to Lose
https://www.facebook.com/
(FROM THE POSTING: If you want to understand why the Illinois Republican Party cannot win in Illinois, look no further than the weighted vote tally that just installed Bob Grogan, Part-Time Plummer’s boy, as Chairman of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee. The chart is below. Seventeen members. Seventeen votes, weighted by district. And by a margin of 61.1 to 38.9 percent, the same establishment faction that has presided over a generation of statewide defeat has handed itself the keys to the party once again. The result was not earned on the merits. It was assembled, district by district, deal by deal, by people whose only common thread is their contempt for the grassroots conservatives who keep showing up despite them. Start with Grogan. He did not arrive on the State Central Committee through anything resembling a clean process. Grassroots Republicans in DuPage County have, almost without exception, described the contest that put him there as rigged from the start. He got the seat anyway. Now he gets the gavel. And now he gets to spend the next four years steering the apparatus on behalf of the same circle of self-styled “reformers” who keep losing. Look at the slate that delivered him the chairmanship — and what each of them walked away with. Zach Emberton (District 15) controls the largest single weighted vote on the committee — 16.5 percent. He voted Grogan. He is now Vice Chair. Emberton does not move without Tony McCombie’s permission, and through him, she now has her hand on the wheel of the state party. Rhonda Belford (District 12) — 15.9 percent, the second largest weighted vote on the committee — voted Grogan. She supplied the margin and it is yet to be seen what she gets out of the deal. Keith Brin (District 10) voted Grogan. He is now Secretary. Cindy Lamar (District 13) voted Grogan. She is now Treasurer. Cindy replaced Miles Nelson and votes, on every consequential question, the way Miles would have. Add in the votes of Bunting, Flynn, and Boulton, and the deeply disappointing vote from Beth Findley-Smith (District 14) — who has spent years presenting herself as a grassroots conservative and then cast her 5.5 percent share for the very people who exist to suffocate the grassroots, and you have your majority. This is not a coincidence. It is a coalition. It is the same coalition we have seen for years: the Jason Plummer, Jeanne Ives, Dan Proft, Ted Dabrowski axis of the party. The people who lose every competitive race they touch and whose answer to losing has always been to purge the people who told them why. They lost a primary to Darren Bailey that they thought they owned. They have been trying to settle that score ever since. This vote was the next installment. Here is what it means for November. Darren Bailey is running. Aaron Del Mar, himself a member of this State Central Committee from District 5, is running. The party they belong to is now controlled by people whose explicit political project is to ensure that neither of them succeeds, because the success of either one would discredit the entire faction that just took power. These officers will not raise the money. They will not coordinate the field. They will not show up for our candidates in any meaningful way. They will smile for the cameras at the State Fair, issue the obligatory press releases, and quietly do everything in their power to keep state party resources away from any campaign that has not been blessed by the inner circle. I know how this reads. It reads like sour grapes from a side that lost a vote. It is not. Look at the names. Look at the percentages. Look at the alignments. Then ask yourself one question: in the last decade, has a single Illinois Republican from this Grogan, Plummer, Proft, Ives axis won a competitive statewide race? The answer is no. They lose, they blame the grassroots, and they consolidate. Grassroots Republicans across this state need to recognize what just happened and respond accordingly. Stop sending money to Springfield. Stop trusting state party leadership to do the right thing. Start building independent infrastructure, county by county, precinct by precinct, that does not need the State Central Committee’s blessing to function. We are going to lose in November. The people who just took control of this party are prepared to lose, they want to lose, because a loss is the cleanest argument for keeping their grip on the apparatus that produced it. Don’t give them the satisfaction of pretending otherwise.)
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— I am one of those who are reluctant to blame Salvi for Republican losses. Fioretti, Harris, and Solomon have stressed her accomplishments. Serving as the chairman of a political organization is a thankless job; they are always blamed for their party’s losses. I survived for 7 years as the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois 2005-2012. During that time, I invited speakers for all 78 of the organization’s monthly meetings, August picnics, and December Christmas parties. I should list all those who spoke at those events; my critics/opponents always demonized, denigrated, and condemned them. To end my TAPROOT chairmanship and to destroy TAPROOT in 2012, my critics/opponents had their TAPROOT officers and their TAPROOT directors charge me with gross incompetence. They argued/shouted that anyone could do a better job of heading TAPROOT than I did. Previously, I survived for 4 years as a member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) Steering Committee (SC) 2003-2007. My critics/opponents had my fellow ICRC SC members end my ICRC SC membership and destroy ICRC in 2007. In 2006, they unsuccessfully tried to get ICRC to censure me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on IRP SCC members since 1999.
http://www.gopilinois.com
— INITIAL QUESTIONS FOR IRP CHAIRMAN GROGAN: What are you going to do differently than Salvi? What is your response be to Thomas DeVore’s criticisms? Who do you want to replace you as the IRP SCC District 6 member? With the IRP’s Executive Director resignation, who do you want to serve as the IRP Executive Director? What are you going to do to improve IRP communication with Illinois Republican Precinct Committeemen? What do you say to those who want the IRP to be the “Democrat Lite Party?” What is your position on direct election of IRP SCC members? What is your position on Dave Diersen and his GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters? What is your position on Diersen being thrown off the 2024 IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What do your critics/opponents want you to do? My critics/opponents want me to stop sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. Failing that, they want to stop everyone from reading my newsletters. Failing that, they want to stop me from promoting conservative principles in my newsletters. Failing that, they want me to stop promoting the planks in the Republican Party platform that they reject in my newsletters. 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. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Ever since my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, to discourage/stop me from running for a government office or for a political office, my critics/opponents in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois have done everything that they could to destroy me. They most feared that I would run for DuPage County Auditor a) because I had worked for GAO as an Analyst for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year, b) because I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years before that, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, c) because had I passed the CPA examination and the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt, d) because I had become a licensed CPA, e) because I had become a certified fraud examiner, government financial manager, financial services auditor, and forensic accountant, and f) because I had master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I should write about my critics/opponents in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and the many big adverse actions that have had their operatives and their dupes take against me. Of course, they ignore/dismiss/belittle/badmouth what I did to help elect and to help reelect Jim Rasins and Bob Grogan as DuPage County Auditors. They always stressed that Grogan got better scores on the CPA examination than I did and that he became a Certified Fraud Examiner by passing an examination while I grandfathered in. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Bob Grogan Elected to Head Illinois State Republican Party (FROM THE ARTICLE: The Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party is stepping down for health reasons.)
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/bob-grogan-elected-to-head-illinois-state-republican-party/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: Grogan Beats and Replaces Salvi The Chairman race was won by district 6 SCC member Bob Grogan who defeated incumbent Kathy Salvi. The vote was 9-8 for Grogan, however, that doesn’t matter since weighted vote is used. Grogan received 61.1% of the weighted vote. The State Central Committee met on Monday, May 18 to pick its executive committee. The Secretary race was won by Keith Brin who serves as the 10th district SCC member. The Treasurer race was won by Cindy Lamar who is the 13th district SCC member. The Vice Chairman race was won by Zach Emberton who represents the 15th district on the SCC. Deputy SCC members were also approved. The Illinois Republican Party, according to its bylaws, requires that deputies be the opposite gender of the SCC member, so if the SCC member is a male he has to pick a female and vice versa. For McHenry County, I am told that former Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger will be the deputy in the 10th district serving with Keith Brin, that former congressional candidate Susan Altman will be the deputy in the 11th district with Chris Yaeger, and that Jan Klaas will be the deputy in the 16th district with Jim Rule. I did not get a deputy name for the 9th district which is also in McHenry County, and I was told that some SCC members did not nominate deputies. Joan LaSonde is the SCC member in the 9th district. Matt Janes, the Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party, is stepping down for health reasons. McHenry County Blog contributors and readers will put Matt Janes in our prayers.)
— Illinois Unemployment Up to 5%, Trump Blamed
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/illinois-unemployment-up-to-5-trump-blamed/
— Wilcox Outlines What Will Happen in Last Two Weeks in Springfield
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/wilcox-outlines-what-will-happen-in-last-two-weeks-in-springfield/
— DeWitte Outlines Last Two Weeks of Legislative Session
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/dewitte-outlines-last-two-weeks-of-legislative-session/
— Algonquin Raises Comprehensive Alarm About Pritzker’s Grab of Local Zoning Power
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/algonquin-raises-alarm-about-pritzkers-grab-of-local-zoning-power/
— Crystal Lake Park Board Set to Sell $2 Million in Non-Referendum Bonds
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/crystal-lake-park-board-set-to-sell-2-million-in-non-referendum-bonds/
— Collin Corbett Collects Some Money, Has Website and Schedules Announcement Party
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/collin-corbett-collects-some-money-has-website-and-schedules-announcement-party/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURSES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: For Democrat leaders, education exists to crank out good little Democrats.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/19/university-of-chicago-laboratory-schools-university-of-chicago-chicago-statement-free-expression-free-speech-first-amendment/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Justice Department announces a $1.7B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit. DD: My critics/opponents have always stressed that in Diersen v. GAO, not only Bush’s DOJ sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me, but that no Republican elected officials in Illinois came to my defense, that is, they sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors, is to promote Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, to promote race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/18/justice-department-irs/
— DD: Democrats always want a) Democrats to pay less taxes and b) Republicans to pay more taxes.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/19/opinion-illinois-budget-trump-tax-cuts/
WSIU
— DOJ creates an ‘anti-weaponization fund’ as part of Trump IRS settlement. DD: My critics/opponents have always stressed that in Diersen v. GAO, not only Bush’s DOJ sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me, but that no Republican federal elected officials in Illinois came to my defense, that is, they sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors, is to promote 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.wsiu.org/2026-05-19/doj-creates-an-anti-weaponization-fund-as-part-of-trump-irs-settlement
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Pritzker returns swinging at City Hall
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/19/pritzker-returns-swinging-at-city-hall-00927376
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/19/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-740/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Illinois Should Stop Passing 3,000-Page Budgets Sight Unseen
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/05/19/illinois_should_stop_passing_3000-page_budgets_sight_unseen_154134.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
DAILY SIGNAL
— California School District Spends $300K to Partner With LGBTQ Center
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/18/california-school-district-lgbtq/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
MSN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/11-reasons-why-more-women-are-walking-away-from-men-and-marriage/ss-AA1YvbfS
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PASGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: The Democrat Party and its mainstream news media exist to drive Trump’s approval ratings down.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/poll-trump-republicans-midterms-iran.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Trump’s deal to drop suit against IRS creates $1.8B ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund.’ DD: My critics/opponents have always stressed that in Diersen v. GAO, not only Bush’s DOJ sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me, but that no Republican elected officials in Illinois came to my defense, that is, they sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors, is to promote Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, to promote race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/05/18/trump-will-end-10-billion-lawsuit-against-irs-over-leaked-tax-records/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— A Master’s Degree Isn’t the Job Guarantee It Used to Be. New data shows the unemployment rate for professionals under 35 with advanced degrees has rarely been higher in the past 20 years. DD: I spent lots of my time and my money earning three master’s degrees: 16 courses for an MBA from Loyola in 1976, 12 courses for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and 14 courses for a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/a-masters-degree-isnt-the-job-guarantee-it-used-to-be-53e237aa
— FRONT PAGE: Parents Are Fuming About Other Peoples’ Kids Getting Extra Time on the SAT. Special accommodations for irritable bowel syndrome? Families are getting creative, and spending big, in pursuit of an edge.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/parents-are-fuming-about-other-peoples-kids-getting-extra-time-on-the-sat-2daeea8c
WEEK
— DD: Democrats and RINOs have always, are now, and will always use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://theweek.com/articles/462937/origins-affirmative-action
INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— DD: Democrats and RINOs have always, are now, and will always use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2026/05/19/after-dei-backlash-what-can-individuals-do-opinion
May 18, 2026
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Republican Precinct Committeemen (RPC) elect Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) members who elect IRP chairmen. I have been a RPC since 1999. QUESTION: What information should each of the 17 IRP SCC members have provided directly to each of the RPCs in their congressional district by now concerning their electing the next IRP chairman? ANSWER: The date, time, and location of the election. Who the candidates are. The candidates’ letter/document outlining their vision for the IRP, a list of the those who submitted letters of recommendations for them, and their biography and/or professional resume. The weighted vote that each IRP SCC member has. Who each candidate intends to pick for vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer. Most importantly, which candidate the IRP SCC member intends to vote for and why. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— I hope that by close of business today, all the RPCs in Illinois will receive an email from the IRP concerning the IRP chairman election that includes a) the name of winning candidate, b) how the weighted voting played out, c) a statement from the winning candidate, c) any statements from the losing candidates, and d) who the winning candidate wants to serve as vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— QUESTIONS TO ASK THE IRP CHAIRMAN CANDIDATES: What would you do to improve IRP communication with RPCs? What do you say to those who want the IRP to be the “Democrat Lite Party?” What is your position on direct election of IRP SCC members? What is your position on Dave Diersen and his GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters? What is your position on Diersen being thrown off the 2024 IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— Thomas DeVore May 14, 2026 Posting
https://www.facebook.com/
(THE POSTING: In my opinion, what is happening inside the Illinois Republican Party right now is nothing short of an establishment takeover by a bunch of bad actors who hate grassroots conservatism. Behind the public statements and polished talking points, there is a coordinated effort underway by entrenched insiders, political operatives, donors, and career party figures to consolidate power, crush the grassroots movement, and sideline the conservatives who could actually build the energy behind the modern Illinois GOP. And at the center of this fight is the party chair vote. You must stop pretending this is some open, organic process driven purely by ideas and debate. Most grassroots Republicans already believe the outcome is being engineered behind closed doors by the same network of establishment figures who always seem to end up protecting each other while the base gets ignored. It is well accepted inside political circles that Rhonda Belford is all but certain to support Bob Grogan, not because grassroots conservatives in the 12th Congressional District demanded it, but because the pressure and influence surrounding this vote are being leveled on Belford. Remember that one of Belford’s four titles is the Illinois RNC committee member. She’s in Florida right now on a trip that costs thousands. The reality nobody wants to say out loud is that national party politics are expensive. RNC involvement requires travel, appearances, conferences, donor events, dinners, and constant participation in a political world built around money and access. That system naturally creates dependency on the people willing and able to finance it and when a person like Belford who naturally can’t afford it, it opens the door for donor influence. And within Illinois Republican circles, Eloise Gerson is widely viewed as one of the people eager to wield financial influence on anyone she can rope in. That matters because when political survival and continued access depend on wealthy benefactors, independence becomes very difficult. People can dance around that fact all they want, but grassroots Republicans are not stupid. They understand how influence works. They understand how loyalty is cultivated. And they understand why certain votes suddenly become “inevitable” long before they ever happen publicly. I believe Rhonda Belford knows exactly where the power structure wants her vote to go, and I believe defying that structure would come with political consequences she has no interest in facing. An unhappy Eloise Gerson could spell financial problems for a modest Belford who doesn’t have an extra $30-$40K a year to travel the nation and attending events with national political figures. You picking up what I’m laying down here? But this is bigger than Rhonda Belford. The real issue is the growing establishment machine forming around Bob Grogan, Jeanne Ives, Jason Plummer, Tony McCombie, and the network of insiders who appear determined to regain total control over the Illinois Republican Party apparatus. Grassroots conservatives should not ignore what is happening here. This is not merely a disagreement over leadership style. This is a battle over whether the Illinois GOP will belong to Republican voters or to a handful of connected insiders, donors, consultants, and power brokers who believe they are entitled to run the party from the top down. The Bailey-DeMar movement terrified the establishment because it proved the grassroots could organize outside the control of the traditional power structure. Ever since Dabrowski lost, there has been a clear effort to neutralize, isolate, and marginalize conservative grassroots wing of the party while reasserting establishment dominance. Maybe the establishment succeeds. Maybe Grogan gets the votes. Maybe the insiders lock down the machinery once again. But if that happens, grassroots Republicans should at least understand exactly what they are watching: not a movement driven by principle, but a consolidation of power driven by influence, access, and political self-preservation. This will all but guarantee more Republican losses and a continued path to political irrelevance!)
— Thomas DeVore May 14, 2026 Posting
(FROM THE POSTING: I’ve recently began warning people that State Senator Jason Plummer has been working behind the scenes to undermine the grassroots movement rising up inside Illinois Republican politics. And the deeper you look, the more obvious the network becomes. Take Bob Grogan. Plummer and Grogan have known each other for years. Plummer appointed Grogan to the board of Constitution Bank, Plummer’s bank, despite the fact that Grogan lives hours away in northern Illinois. People don’t drive across the state to sit on small-town bank boards unless there’s a close political and personal alliance involved. Then there’s the Dabrowski campaign. While Plummer served as chair, Bob Grogan was made treasurer; therefore, putting one of Plummer’s closest allies in charge of the campaign finances and infrastructure. Again, the same names. The same inner circle. The same power structure. Now suddenly Grogan is being positioned as a potential Illinois Republican Party chairman right after the establishment operation in DuPage County shoved its way through internal party politics and maneuvering. Republicans are supposed to believe this is all organic? Please. This looks like a coordinated effort by Plummer to consolidate influence over every layer of Republican politics in Illinois campaigns, party leadership, donor networks, and institutional power. The grassroots movement threatens the old insider system, and the insiders are responding exactly how political machines always respond: by tightening control and elevating loyalists. Republicans need to wake up to what’s happening here. This isn’t about reform. It isn’t about unity. It’s about power, who controls it, who keeps it, and who gets shut out. And from my perspective Jason Plummer appears to be right in the middle of it.)
— Illinois Freedom Caucus May 17, 2026 Posting
https://www.facebook.com/
(THE POSTING: Tomorrow, the State Central Committee will vote on who should be the Chair of the Illinois Republican Party. The grassroots deserve real Republicans. We’re not here to endorse a candidate – rather something much more important. We’re here to endorse ideals, principles and the Republican Party Platform. Whoever is going to lead the party must: – Believe, firmly, in the conservative principles and ideals that make us REPUBLICANS, – Be unafraid to call out leaders and elected representatives of the party when they sell out the good people of this state by voting for things such as tax increases, the green bad deal, woke education mandates and other items that violate Republican principles, – REJECT woke, immoral, blood money from organizations like the teachers unions that seek to indoctrinate and exploit our children. If someone cannot commit to these values, then they should not be chairing a party that represents the interests of working families, taxpayers, and small businesses.)
— Beth Findley Smith April 17 Posting
https://www.facebook.com/
(FROM THE POSTING: Recently, many people have asked me “what the heck is an SCC?” I thought I’d post some information to clarify the ILGOP structure. The Illinois Republican Party has a fairly structured, top-down leadership system—but it’s built on local participation at the base. Here’s a clear breakdown of how it works: Top Level: State Party Leadership State Party Chair Leads the ILGOP day-to-day Acts as the public face of the party Hires staff, coordinates statewide campaigns, and fundraising State Central Committee (SCC): Made up of one State Central Committeeman and Deputy (opposite sexes) from each of Illinois’ 17 congressional districts (34 total members). Elected at the County Convention 29 days after the Primary. The Deputy is appointed later. The SCC: Sets party direction and strategy Oversees operations and finances Elects the State Party Chair These are your direct link between: grassroots voters, county organizations, and the state party County Level Each county has its own Republican organization: Led by a County Chairman Governed by a County Central Committee Who makes up the County Central Committee? Precinct Committeepersons (PCs) These are elected (or sometimes appointed) at the precinct level (elected in the primary) They vote on: County leadership Local endorsements Filling vacancies for certain offices Precinct Level (The Grassroots) This is the foundation of everything: Precinct Committeepersons Represent voters in a small geographic area Recruit candidates and volunteers Get out the vote (GOTV) Communicate voter concerns upward If the grassroots are active, the whole party is stronger. If not, everything above gets disconnected. How It All Connects Think of it like a chain: Voters → Precinct Committeepersons → County Party → State Central Committee → State Party Leadership Ideally: Information flows UP (grassroots concerns) Support/resources flow DOWN (strategy, funding, messaging))
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/18/ice-detains-chicago-public-schools-senior/
DAILY HERALD
— Trump supporters gather for ‘silent majority’ rally in McHenry County
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260517/nation-and-world-politics/trump-supporters-gather-for-silent-majority-rally-in-mchenry-county/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Power Families of Chicago: Uihlein
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-most-powerful-families-uihlein-20260518/
— Chicago power families: Who holds influence now
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/ccb-most-powerful-families-intro-20260518/
NORTHWEST HERALD
— Trump supporters gather for ‘silent majority’ rally in McHenry. The rally coincided with the White House’s National Day of Prayer in D.C.
https://www.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/2026/05/17/trump-supporters-gather-for-silent-majority-rally-in-mchenry/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Black leaders and the redistricting divide
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/18/illinois-black-leaders-and-the-redistricting-divide-00925683
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Illinois Taxes Are Being Used to Celebrate Homosexuality
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/05/12/illinois-taxes-are-being-used-to-celebrate-homosexuality
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— QUESTION: Why do pollical parities and their organizations exist? ANSWER: To help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Illinois Republican Party (IRP) exists to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance its IRP platform. The platform is conservative. I served as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012. During that time, I invited speakers for all 78 of the organization’s monthly meetings, August picnics, and December Christmas parties. I routinely took the chairman’s prerogative and asked candidates who spoke at those events the first question after they spoke. I asked them if it would be correct to say that if elected, they would defend and advance all the planks in the IRP platform. Of course, the more planks in the IRP platform that they rejected, the more furious that they were against me. The more planks in the IRP platform that Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders rejected, the more that they rejected my invitations to speak. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— QUESTION: Which planks in the Republican Party platform do RINOs most commonly reject? ANSWER: 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). – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— In Illinois, ever-increasingly, leaders make it clear that their top priority is advancing those who are liberal/moderate, Democrat, RINO, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. To do that is to discriminate against those who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. The aforesaid destroys meritocracy and destroys everything else. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Kathy Salvi, Bob Grogan, Scott Gryder, and Lawrence Stowe are candidates for IRP chairman. The 17 IRP State Central Committee (SCC) members will cast their weighted votes today, Monday, May 18, in Springfield. The three IRP SCC members with the greatest weighted vote are Zach Emberton (15th CD) with 16.5%, Rhonda Belford (12th CD) with 15.9%, and Jim Rule (16th CD) with 10.2%. Other IRP SCC members include Grogan (6th CD) with 5.9%, Aaron Del Mar (5th CD) with 3.3%, and Mike Flynn (3rd CD) with 2.7%. In 2005, as an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, I organized a candidate forum in Springfield the evening before the day the IRP SCC elected Andy McKenna as the IRP chairman. Participants in that forum were John Cox, Stephen McGlynn, McKenna, and Jim Nalepa. Jim Oberweis wanted to participate, but could not. Back then, IRP SCC members let the candidates give their presentations in an open forum before they voted in a closed session. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Which of the four candidates for IRP chairman (Salvi, Grogan, Gryder, and Stowe) do you want your IRP SCC member to vote for and why? In my opinion, the IRP should publish on its website the candidates’ letter/document outlining their vision for the IRP, a list of the those who submitted letters of recommendation for them, and their biography and/or professional resume. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— How could a registered Republican voter in Illinois have input on the May 18 IRP SCC chairman election? One route would be providing input to their Republican Precinct Committeeman (RPC) who would provide that input it to his/her IRP SCC member. RPCs elect IRP SCC members. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— According to Google AI, serving as the chairman of a political organization is a thankless job. I survived for 7 years as the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois 2005-2012. During that time, I invited speakers for all 78 of the organization’s monthly meetings, August picnics, and December Christmas parties. I should list all those who spoke at those events. My critics/opponents always demonized, denigrated, and condemned those who spoke at those events. To end my TAPROOT chairmanship and to destroy TAPROOT in 2012, my critics/opponents had their TAPROOT officers and their TAPROOT directors charge me with gross incompetence. They argued/shouted that anyone could do a better job of heading TAPROOT than I did. Previously, to end my membership on the Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) Steering Committee (SC) and to destroy ICRC in 2007, they almost got their ICRC SC members to get ICRC to censure me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters in 2006. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on IRP SCC members since 1999. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
AMERICAN THINKER
— Seattle contemplates a state of emergency because of red state LGBTQ migrants
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/05/seattle_contemplates_a_state_of_emergency_because_of_red_state_lgbtq_migrants.html
TOWNHALL
— The GOP’s Midterm Reversal of Fortune
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2026/05/18/the-gops-midterm-reversal-of-fortune-n2676169
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
AOL
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.aol.com/articles/fbi-veteran-claims-kash-patel-173044000.html
USA TODAY
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/05/18/trump-massie-revenge-republican-kentucky-primary/90058239007/
SEATTLE TIMES
— DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They have their operatives and their dupes destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money.
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/cassidy-tried-to-get-along-with-trump-after-his-impeachment-vote-retribution-came-anyway/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Career: You need sponsors more than mentors. DD: My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors got rid of my sponsors. My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of my IRS sponsor who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors got rid of my GAO sponsor who arranged for my transfer from IRS in 1980 and was finally able to assign me to audits of IRS in 1986 and to promote me in 1986.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/no-one-cares-about-your-gpa-and-more-career-advice-for-new-grads-2696c174
FROM THE ARTICLE: These terms sound similar, but “there’s a difference,” researcher Emily Riley told me when we discussed her study of women who have cracked the top 1% of U.S. earners. The distinction comes down to advocacy. Mentors dispense good advice. Sponsors lobby for you to get that stretch assignment or promotion. “Mentorship is valuable because you always want to learn, but sponsorship is really where the power lives,” Riley says.)