Tag: marijuana

December 26 Evening Edition

ABC7
— President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump make surprise visit to troops in Iraq for Christmas – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/president-trump-first-lady-visit-troops-in-iraq-for-christmas/4970506/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps stress the importance of employees who oversee federal food stamps.
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/shutdown-to-cut-office-overseeing-federal-food-stamps-by-95-percent/4970744/

 

NBC5
— 30 New Illinois Laws Taking Effect in 2019 – Shelby Bremer
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/new-2019-illinois-laws-503509331.html

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump signals no end to shutdown: ‘You have to have a wall’ – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/trump-signals-no-end-to-shutdown-you-have-to-have-a-wall-

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Racial divide scuttles Chicago’s Women’s March. What happens now? – Clarence Page
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-chicago-womens-march-louis-farrakhan-donald-trump-tamika-mallory-20181226-story.html
— While GM idles sedan production, Chicago-area Ford, Chrysler plants are going strong after shifting to SUVs – Robert Channick
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-ford-chrysler-jeep-auto-plants-chicago-20181203-story.html
— The voice of the people of 1968 – Ron Grossman (DIERSEN: What were you doing in 1968? I was a full-time student at UIC and a part-time employee for the Park Forest Post Office. I lived with my parents and brother in Crete. I sold my 1968 Oldsmobile 442 and bought a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE. I saved money for college expenses.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-flashback-1968-letters-editor-voice-people-1230-20181219-story.html
— Top stories of 2018: Lake County Democrats join national blue wave – Frank Abderholden
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-top-stories-blue-wave-st-1227-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump received bone spurs diagnosis as a favor.” (DIERSEN: Did you register for the draft? I did in 1966 when I was 18 years old. I was classified 1-A notwithstanding the fact that my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20, I had partial red/green color blindness, and I had Osgood-Schlatter disease (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease). I got four student draft deferments 1966-1970 while I attended UIC and NIU and I got a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971. I always knew that would be used against me, but I did know that it would be used against me so strongly.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-bone-spurs-vietnam-20181226-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Politics aside, renaming Dan Ryan Expressway for Obama has appeal – Editorial (DIERSEN: In a state in which Republicans are in the minority, renaming the expressway would shout “Republicans are not welcome.”)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/dan-ryan-expressway-barack-obama-bill-daley-renaming-chicago-mayoral-election/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Our wishes for lawmakers in new era: independence, cooperation – Editorial (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, tragically, far more Democrat lawmakers defend and advance the Democrat Party platform than Republican lawmakers defend and advance the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181226/editorial-our-wishes-for-lawmakers-in-new-era-independence-cooperation
— ‘I feel respected’: Navy recruits welcomed at Arlington Heights school for Christmas – Russell Lissau (DIERSEN: Who disrespects you? My critics/opponents, their operatives, their dupes disrespect those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181225/i-feel-respected-navy-recruits-welcomed-at-arlington-heights-school-for-christmas

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Pain at the pump? Move to increase Illinois’ gas tax gaining some traction – KEVIN BARLOW
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/pain-at-the-pump-move-to-increase-illinois-gas-tax/article_621f8df8-313d-5a31-a4df-e59fd5197b5b.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Rauners say that they want Trump to learn from Rauner’s difficulties.
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-12-26/editorial-the-bogus-budget-battle.html

 

GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
— Rauner years an expensive lesson – Scott Reeder
https://www.galesburg.com/opinion/20181226/scott-reeder-rauner-years-expensive-lesson

 

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Republican lawmaker (Tim Bivins) wants to see more party leadership – Scott Bertram
https://www.daily-journal.com/news/illinois/republican-lawmaker-wants-to-see-more-party-leadership/article_b0e52d88-0915-11e9-93da-0ba2d1dc9973.html

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Over $17M donated to GoFundMe for Trump’s border wall – McKenzie Stauffer
https://foxillinois.com/news/offbeat/over-17m-donated-to-gofundme-for-trumps-border-wall
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump confuses, misleads on border wall.”
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/fact-check-trump-confuses-misleads-on-border-wall

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Mike Walkup Writes of Jack Franks’ Threat During 2016 County Fair
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/26/walkup-writes-of-franks-threat-during-2016-county-fair/
— Politician Other Than Jack Franks Called a Weasel
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/26/politician-other-than-jack-franks-called-a-weasel/

 

SE ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey decries continuing exodus from state, cites taxes as cause – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511689988-bailey-decries-continuing-exodus-from-state-cites-taxes-as-cause

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ANOTHER IL GOP OFFICIAL (John McGlasson) JOINS CALL FOR STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO RE-GATHER FOLLOWING RAUNER REVELATIONS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/another-il-gop-official-joins-the-call-for-state-central-committee-to-re-gather-following-rauner-rev.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The conservative wing of the party willingly and enthusiastically supported Governor Rauner in his first campaign,” McGlasson said. “Then, in my opinion, he broke his word and turned to liberal stances on social issues and forgot his plans to balance the budget and reform our pension system. That is why he lost the enthusiastic support of social conservatives.” McGlasson said the IL GOP leadership change is urgent. “We need to find a leader who can bring us together while respecting the party platform. Chairman Schneider’ term lasts through the spring of 2020. We cannot wait that long to begin the transformation,” he said. Illinois Review reached out to Morrison after his December 14th statement, and he has yet to reply.)
— FAMILIES ENCOURAGED TO “SHOUT THEIR ADOPTIONS!” JANUARY 27 AT STATE CAPITOL
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/families-encouraged-to-shout-their-adoptions-january-27-at-state-capitol.html
— CHICAGO WOMEN’S MARCH CANCELS JANUARY OUTDOOR RALLY; LEADERSHIP LINKED TO ANTI-SEMITISM
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/chicago-womens-march-cancels-january-outdoor-rally-leadership-linked-to-anti-semitism.html

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— President Trump, Take Your Case For The Wall To The People
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/29374

 

FOX NEWS
— Farrakhan awash in federal dollars, anti-Semitic hate notwithstanding – Deroy Murdock
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/farrakhan-awash-in-federal-dollars-anti-semitic-hate-notwithstanding

 

DAILY CALLER
— OPINION: 10 REASONS WE CAN ALL BE THANKFUL TO PRESIDENT TRUMP – Paris Dennard
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/26/reasons-thank-trump/

 

EAGLE PAC
— Facebook suspends accounts tied to Dem disinformation scheme in Alabama race – Greg Norman
https://eagleactionreport.com/articles/facebook-suspends-accounts-tied-to-dem-disinformation-scheme-in-alabama-race

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— People Believe ‘Fake News’ Because They Want it to Be True – JIM GERAGHTY
https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/people-believe-fake-news-because-they-want-it-to-be-true/

 

THE HILL
— Democrats worry: Top three candidates in polls are all white men – AMIE PARNES (DIERSEN: How bad are your demographics? According to anti-Trumps, the following are bad demographics: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, draft avoider, German American, and if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/422545-dems-worry-top-three-candidates-in-polls-are-all-white-men

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Juan Escalante glorifies and praises citizens of foreign countries.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-2018-trump-immigrants_us_5c1a76cee4b0ce5184b98729

 

CBS NEWS
— “We do live paycheck by paycheck”: Federal workers struggle as shutdown continues – ROB LEGARE (DIERSEN: Have you ever lived “paycheck by paycheck?” I have never lived “paycheck by paycheck,” and of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always been furious about that. They stress a) that my parents provided me with room and board 1966, 1967, 1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969, b) that I got student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971, c) that I got married in 1978, d) that my wife had savings and income, and e) that we gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-workers-struggle-as-shutdown-continues-through-christmas-2018-12-25/

 

ABC NEWS
— ABC Sneers: ‘Without Any Proof,’ Trump Cites Federal Workers Who Back Him on Border Wall – Tim Graham (DIERSEN: Some of my Democrat superiors and supervisors in the federal government disapproved of their having to waste the careers of and to get rid of their employees like me who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. That is, they disapproved of having to carry out political affiliation, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation orders.)
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/tim-graham/2018/12/26/abc-without-any-proof-trump-cites-federal-workers-who-back-him-border

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq to See American Troops – Annie Karni, Mark Landler and Thomas Gibbons-Neff
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/us/politics/trump-iraq-troops-visit.html
— Stocks Bounce Back From Edge of Bear Market – Emily Flitter
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/business/business-stock-markets.html
— As Shutdown Lingers, Only Guarantee for Federal Workers Is More Uncertainty – Alan Blinder and Kate Taylor (DIERSEN: How have federal government shutdowns impacted you? I was a federal retiree during shutdowns in 2013 and this year. I was an IRS employee during shutdowns in 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. I was a GAO employee during shutdowns in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1995, and 1996.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/us/shutdown-federal-workers-.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Dow soars more than 1,050 points, its biggest point gain in history, recovering from days of losses – Thomas Heath
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-stocks-volatile-as-markets-try-to-recover-from-christmas-eve-freefall/2018/12/26/29f8905e-0928-11e9-85b6-41c0fe0c5b8f_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Dow Industrials Post First-Ever 1,000 Point Gain in a Session
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-stocks-poised-for-gains-11545827647

 

BOSTON
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Bill would bar workers from being fired for private pot use Workers can still be fired for using the drug, even if it’s outside of work and its effects have worn off by the time they return to their jobs. – AP
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2018/12/25/bill-would-bar-workers-from-being-fired-for-private-pot-use

 

SEATTLE TIMES
— As labor market tightens, women are moving into male-dominated jobs – CLAIRE CAIN MILLER and Jed Kolko (DIERSEN: Women did not want the jobs that I had because they were male-dominated jobs. Women did not want the jobs that I had because they were bad jobs. Because the jobs that I had were bad jobs, my superiors had an extremely hard time hiring women to take them. I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997.)
https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/careers/as-labor-market-tightens-women-are-moving-into-male-dominated-jobs/

 

BLOOMBERG
— Hot Labor Market Brought Full-Time Perks to Part-Time Employees – Rebecca Greenfield (DIERSEN: I got full-time Civil Service Retirement System credit while I worked part-time for the Post Office 1966-1969. My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious about that. They would not have been furious about that if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a female, or a veteran.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-24/hot-labor-market-brought-full-time-perks-to-part-time-employees

 

FORBES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/12/26/these-states-are-most-likely-to-legalize-marijuana-in-2019/#7e226d6c5add

 

FEDERAL TIMES
— Trump claims federal workers want shutdown for border wall – Jessie Bur
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2018/12/26/trump-claims-federal-workers-want-shutdown-for-border-wall/

December 24 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Foster wants congressional gym, sauna closed during government shutdown
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-lawmaker-wants-congressional-gym-sauna-closed-during-government-shutdown/4956897/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Proposed medical marijuana tax might preserve right to tax recreational cannabis in village, Oak Park officials say – Steve Schering
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/ct-oak-marijuana-tax-tl-1227-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Want to cut your tax bill? Keep reading and call your CPA – Laura Davison
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20181223/want-to-cut-your-tax-bill-keep-reading-and-call-your-cpa
(FROM THE ARTICLE: SALT deductions One of the most bitterly opposed parts of Trump’s tax law was the $10,000 cap on so-called SALT deductions, for state and local taxes. Some tax accountants have helped clients in high-tax states set up special trusts that can help to get around the limit. Here’s how it works: clients transfer their homes into limited liability companies, and then transfer the interests in the LLCs into non-grantor trusts, and each trust takes the maximum $10,000 deduction. So if you have a $50,000 property tax bill, you can set up five separate trusts, with each taking the $10,000 deduction. The strategy has some drawbacks — setting up the trusts can be costly and the homeowner would need to put enough income-generating assets into the trust to balance out the $10,000 deduction. The IRS could also move to block the strategy. But for top-earners living in high-tax states, the savings could well justify the costs and the hassle, accountants say.)

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Davis Questions Rauner on Food Stamp Waiver – Greg Bishop
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=276732#.XCDSd1xKiM8

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn members of the following groups as being racists and even worse things who should be gotten rid of: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511689949-reeder-talk-of-illegal-immigration-often-is-nothing-more-than-a-smokescreen-for-condemnation-of-all-immigrants

 

TOWNHALL
— Trump The Disrupter Pivots Back To Trumpism – And The Establishment Freaks Out – Kurt Schlichter
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2018/12/24/trump-the-disrupter-pivots-back-to-trumpism-and-the-establishment-freaks-out-n2537978

 

FOX NEWS
— Caravan organizer Pueblo Sin Fronteras blasted by migrants over risky journey – Nicole Darrah
https://www.foxnews.com/world/world-2018-12-23-group-that-escorts-migrant-caravans-draws-more-scrutiny-html

 

NEWSMAX
— CNBC Poll: Startling 38 Percent of Wealthy GOP Won’t Vote Trump – Eric Mack (DIERSEN: What percent of the “wealthy GOP” is anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.newsmax.com/us/wealthy-republicans-re-election/2018/12/23/id/895617/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump may move to try to end birthright citizenship in U.S.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/23/trump-may-move-to-try-to-end-birthright-citizenshi/
— ‘Unfit’: Trump’s wild Washington week spurs increase in 25th Amendment talk Julian Castro: ‘He’s not behaving like he’s fit for office’ – Valerie Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/23/25th-amendment-calls-remove-trump-increase/

 

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The President’s Enemies and Their Confected Drama – Conrad Black (DIERSEN: Who paints themselves as being your enemies? I should write a book about those who paint themselves as being my enemies.)
https://amgreatness.com/2018/12/23/the-presidents-enemies-and-their-confected-drama/

 

NEWS BUSTERS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, those who are members of Group A say that members of Group B are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/brad-wilmouth/2018/12/24/rick-tyler-wall-supporters-dont-want-people-who-are-not-white

 

WATCHDOG
— Open the Books: 19 million public employees cost taxpayers nearly $1 trillion – Bethany Blankley (DIERSEN: In your precinct, in your township/ward, and in your county, how high is the level of hatred a) against past and present public employees and b) against public retirees?)
https://www.watchdog.org/national/open-the-books-million-public-employees-cost-taxpayers-nearly-trillion/article_c8e10b5a-020d-11e9-9d08-bfd09e189736.html

 

ACCURACY IN ACADEMIA
— University of Illinois Course to Address ‘Snowflakes’ and Viewpoint Diversity Problems at Colleges
https://www.academia.org/university-of-illinois-course-to-address-snowflakes-and-viewpoint-diversity-problems-at-colleges/

 

EPOCH TIMES
— ‘Lawfare’ Used to Tie Down and Punish President Trump, Conservatives Say – MATTHEW VADUM
https://www.theepochtimes.com/lawfare-used-to-tie-down-and-punish-president-trump-conservatives-say_2747181.html

 

THE HILL
— Migrants say caravan escort group misled them on dangers of trip – EMILY BIRNBAUM
https://thehill.com/latino/422692-migrants-say-caravan-escort-group-misled-them-on-dangers-of-trip


— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s week of tumult shakes many in GOP.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/422682-trumps-week-of-tumult-shakes-many-in-gop

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Trump’s coalition cracking over his policies and personality.”
https://www.abc15.com/national/trumps-coalition-cracking-over-his-policies-and-personality

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Peddled on the Streets of Los Angeles: Ice Cream, Hot Dogs, and Fake Social Security Cards – Miriam Jordan
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/us/undocumented-immigrants-los-angeles.html
— The Steady Bedlam of the Trump White House Making sense of the never-ending turnover in the administration. – Michael Tomasky
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/opinion/trump-mattis-turnover.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: If Your Boss Is Unhappy and You Know It – Rob Walker (DIERSEN: Some of my superiors and supervisors in the federal government were unhappy that they had to waste the careers of and get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/business/unhappy-boss.html

 

NEW YORK POST
— Fewer NYC high school students identify as heterosexual than ever before – Carl Campanile (DIERSEN: Democrats want everyone to be LGBTQ, that is, Democrats want to destroy a) traditional marriage and b) the traditional family.)
https://nypost.com/2018/12/24/fewer-nyc-high-school-students-identify-as-heterosexual-than-ever-before/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Facebook’s Lonely Conservative Takes on a Power Position Joel Kaplan has emerged as the social-media site’s protector against allegations of political bias – Deepa Seetharaman
https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebooks-lonely-conservative-takes-on-a-power-position-11545570000
— What Amazon Isn’t Telling Investors About Its Revenue New accounting rule says companies should report more details about revenue, but many don’t: ‘There will have to be more of an outcry’ – Michael Rapoport
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-amazon-isnt-telling-investors-about-its-revenue-11545480000
— Shutdown Shows Little Initial Impact Due to the weekend and federal holidays, the closing of government agencies and services won’t be fully felt until Wednesday – Kate Davidson and Andrew Duehren (DIERSEN: Are/were you an essential employee? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being someone who never was an essential employee.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/shutdowns-initial-impact-likely-to-be-minor-11545455237

 

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
— We don’t have a wall because it would work – VICTOR DAVIS HANSON
https://www.abqjournal.com/1261011/we-dont-have-a-wall-because-it-would-work.html

 

WASHINGTON MONTHLY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say that Trump is insecure.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2018/12/23/just-how-insecure-is-donald-trump/

December 23 Evening Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Durbin poised to run in 2020: ‘Raising money and trying to lose some weight’ – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/durbin-poised-to-run-in-2020-raising-money-and-trying-to-lose-some-weight/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump’s reluctant backers sour on his leadership, policies.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/trumps-reluctant-backers-sour-on-his-leadership-policies/

 

NBC5
— Did Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin Admit to Running in 2020? “We now have reached a depth of dysfunction that I’ve never seen before in Washington,” – Daniela Prizont-Cado
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Did-Illinois-Sen-Dick-Durbin-Admit-to-Running-in-2020-503409241.html

 

ABC7
— Trump: Mattis out as of Jan. 1; deputy to be acting chief – CNN (DIERSEN: Have you been let go earlier than your “planned departure.” I had planned to retire no sooner than 2003 when I would be 55 years old and eligible for a regular Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension. But in 1997, when I was 49 years old, my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer.” Consequently, my CSRS pension is only 41% of what my GAO salary was in today’s dollars. In 1971, I wanted a successful career in the automotive industry. But EEOC ended all that when Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. That made me unemployed because Firestone had fired me for accepting that offer. I had to get a job fast because I had a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother. Because of the aforesaid, I accepted a job offer from IRS.)
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-mattis-out-as-of-jan-1/4954503/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Donald Trump announced on Sunday he would replace Defense Secretary James Mattis at the start of the new year, two months earlier than Mattis’ planned departure. “I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, + previously Boeing. He will be great!” Trump tweeted. Mattis announced his resignation on Thursday with a letter saying his views were not aligned with Trump, who said Mattis would retire at the end of February. A source familiar with the matter said Trump was mad at the extensive coverage given to Mattis’ resignation and therefore was forcing him to leave earlier than he originally planned.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans promote anti-American activities.
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/response-to-viral-gofundme-page-seeks-ladders-to-defeat-border-wall/4943075/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Profiting off presidency? Trump biz takes hit since election – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20181223/news/312239970/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “How history should guide a Trump impeachment inquiry.”
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/how-history-should-guide-trump-impeachment-inquiry

 

WBBM 780
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Declining Illinois Population Likely To Set Off Congressional Remapping – CRAIG DELLIMORE
https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/declining-illinois-population-likely-set-congressional-remapping

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Marijuana legalization a bad idea – Robert Gebhardt, Johnsburg
https://www.nwherald.com/2018/12/21/letter-marijuana-legalization-a-bad-idea/ad7mrpa/

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Rauner shouldn’t have run in the first place – Editorial
https://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-rauner-shouldn-t-have-run-in-the-first-place/article_be551d94-edf1-52ba-9487-b22bcdc93db4.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Lawmakers may gamble on a casino bill again – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-12-23/tom-kacich-lawmakers-may-gamble-casino-bill-again.html

 

MC HENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Northwest Herald Finally Recognizes Jack Franks Lies
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/23/northwest-herald-finally-recognizes-jack-franks-lies/
— “Franks was not immediately available for comment.”
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/23/franks-was-not-immediately-available-for-comment/

 

FOX NEWS
— President Trump, you must keep your promise to build the wall — You cannot buckle – Judge Jeanine Pirro
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jeanine-pirro-president-trump-you-must-keep-your-promise-to-build-the-wall-you-cannot-buckle

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Dick Durbin says Dems want to keep out drugs and guns, doesn’t mention illegals – Valerie Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/23/dick-durbin-says-democrats-want-keep-out-drugs-and/
— Trump insists on steel slatted fence with funding counteroffer to Democrats – Valerie Richardson and Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/23/donald-trump-concedes-wall-funding-not-steel-slatt/
— Group that escorts migrant caravans to U.S. border draws scrutiny – AP
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/23/pueblo-sin-fronteras-group-escorts-migrant-caravan/

 

CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— The Government Lost Billions More Bailing Out GM Than The $5.7 Billion Request For Wall Funding – Molly Prince
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/the-government-lost-billions-more-bailing-out-gm-than-the-5-7-billion-request-for-wall-funding/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— WAY TO FUND A BORDER WALL Lowell Ponte emphasizes ‘some kind of solution is desperately needed’
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/way-to-fund-a-border-wall/
— MR. PRESIDENT, BUILD THE WALL! Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson slams Dems who ‘want power by any means necessary’
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/mr-president-build-the-wall/

 

COLLEGE FIX
— Profs: Trump’s ‘anti-immigrant’ rhetoric harms health of Latino families
https://www.thecollegefix.com/profs-trumps-anti-immigrant-rhetoric-harms-health-of-latino-families/

 

CAMPUS REFORM
— Top 5 times higher ed cried ‘white supremacy’ this year – Celine Ryan
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=11676

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— A Shutdown to Nowhere – Editorial
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/12/government-shutdown-trump-border-wall-funding-fight/

 

NBC NEWS
— What could go wrong with the 2020 census? Almost everything, GAO says The company printing the forms went bankrupt, there aren’t enough workers, and field tests have been cut back. Then there’s the citizenship question. – Dartunorro Clark
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/what-could-go-wrong-2020-census-almost-everything-government-watchdog-n947761

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Which boxes to check? College hopefuls weigh race, identity and affirmative action. – Nick Anderson (DIERSEN: What if I had claimed Swedish ancestry? What is your national origin? During the 1840s and 1850s, all my ancestors immigrated to northeast Illinois from what is now Germany. Of course, needless-to-say, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always used that against me. In my defense, I stress that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans during WWI, that my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans during WWII, and that my father would have fought the Germans during WWII if he had not been 4-F. Further, according to http://dna.ancestry.com, my ancestry is 33% Europe West, 28% Scandinavia, 24% Great Britain, 11% Ireland, 2% Europe East, 1% Finland/Northwest Russia, and 1% Italy/Greece. What if I had claimed Swedish ancestry?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/which-boxes-to-check-college-hopefuls-weigh-race-identity-and-affirmative-action/2018/12/23/d8458af0-f7d9-11e8-8d64-4e79db33382f_story.html

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Sabria Kazmi’s background defies easy classification. She has grandparents from Tennessee, Iraq and two countries in South Asia. So when the 18-year-old filled out her college application, she puzzled over what boxes to check. The task is all the more sensitive this year amid the mounting debate over the role of race and ethnicity in admissions. First, Kazmi came to white. Check. Then Asian. Check. Followed by Middle Eastern and Pakistani. Check, check. She found a blank space to write in her Bangladeshi roots. Kazmi, a high school senior in Northern Virginia, could have gone further because one grandmother is part Cherokee. But she stopped there. “I remember someone once telling me something like, ‘Oh, you should put Native American on your college applications. It will help you,’ ” Kazmi said. “I of course did not because it would not be fair for me to claim to have the same culture and to have faced the same obstacles as someone with a larger connection to their Native American ancestry.” The roiling national debate over affirmative action in college admissions has raised the stakes for these questions about identity. Hundreds of thousands of applicants are wrestling with whether and how to describe their race and ethnicity and what that information should mean to the gatekeepers reading their files.)

 

NEW YORK POST
— Dick Durbin blasts Trump’s ‘political insecurity’ – Marisa Schultz
https://nypost.com/2018/12/23/dick-durbin-blasts-trumps-political-insecurity/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Administration Warns Shutdown Could Last Into January High-stakes spending fight could extend into new Congress with Democratic House – Stephanie Armour, Natalie Andrews and Kristina Peterson
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-warns-shutdown-could-last-into-january-11545580036
— The Phony Shutdown War Trump and Democrats put political symbolism over policy substance. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-phony-shutdown-war-11545593815

 

NEWSWEEK
— TRUMP HAS BEEN FORCED TO HIRE FORMER BUSH OFFICIALS AS HIS STAFF LEAVE, DESPITE PREVIOUSLY MOCKING THEM – TIM MARCIN (DIERSEN: Constructively, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates mocked me. GAO audits IRS. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, they did not want me to transfer, but failing that, they wanted me to transfer as a GS-4 Step 1 (currently $32,978/year) intern, that is, to suffer a $58,902/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned the fact a) that I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880/year, b) that much of what IRS Revenue Officers do is similar to what GAO Analysts do, c) that I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, d) that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and e) that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years of federal seniority, 30 days of unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days.)
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-allies-suspicious-bushies-bush-family-hiring-conservatives-1269916

December 22 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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


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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

December 19 Evening Edition

ABC7
— FBI investigating fraudulent signatures in 13th Ward race – Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/abc7-exclusive-fbi-investigating-fraudulent-signatures-in-13th-ward-race/4931368/

 

NBC5
— Nearly 187K Register to Vote Using New Illinois System The state’s new automatic voter registration system went into effect July 1
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/nearly-187k-register-to-vote-using-new-illinois-system-503149241.html

 

CBS2
— Nearly 187K Register To Vote Using New Illinois System
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/12/19/nearly-187k-register-to-vote-using-new-system/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— GoFundMe page to fund border wall has raised over $1M in 2 days
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/gofundme-page-to-fund-border-wall-has-raised-over-1-million-dollars-in-2-days
— Chick-fil-A will soon be the No. 3 fast-food chain in America, research firm claims
http://www.fox32chicago.com/facebook-instant/chick-fil-a-will-soon-be-the-no-3-fast-food-chain-in-america-research-firm-claims

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois declines in population for fifth year in a row with more than 45,000 fewer residents With exodus continuing, Illinois could lose a congressional seat after next census- Angie Leventis Lourgos
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-census-illinois-population-20181219-story.html
— How bad does the ‘Illinois Exodus’ have to get? – Editorial (DIERSEN: Democrats believe that for every Republican individual, organization, and company that they drive out of Illinois, one or more Democrat individuals, organizations, and companies will move into Illinois.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-population-loss-madigan-exodus-20181219-story.html
— Senate poised to vote to keep government running into 2019, with no wall funding in sight – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-government-shutdown-20181219-story.html
— Liberal startup reports on brands’ political spending, hopes shoppers opt for blue Christmas – Rachel Siegel
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-shopping-corporate-political-spending-20181219-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— The war against the trolls: We must reassert humanity in the face of cruelty – S. E. Cupp
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/the-war-against-the-trolls-we-must-reassert-humanity-in-the-face-of-cruelty/
— Feds eye move to regulate legal sports betting nationwide – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/sports-gambling-regulation-bill-united-states/

 

DAILY JOURNAL
— Contested council races in store for several DuPage communities – Robert Sanchez and Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181219/contested-council-races-in-store-for-several-dupage-communities

 

JOURNAL TOPICS
— Town Hall On Recreational ‘Pot’ Set For Jan. 4
https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/town-hall-on-recreational-pot-set-for-jan-4/

 

WQAD
— Anti-abortion group asks Illinois Supreme Court to nullify abortion law
https://wqad.com/2018/12/19/anti-abortion-group-asks-illinois-supreme-court-to-nullify-abortion-law/

 

SUBURBAN CHICAGOLAND
— Tax Raisers ready for massive Gas Tax increase
https://suburbanchicagoland.com/2018/12/19/tax-raisers-ready-for-massive-gas-tax-increase/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives speaks out against proposed gas tax increase – Kyla Asbury
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511684828-ives-speaks-out-against-proposed-gas-tax-increase

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Assessing Rauner’s legacy as governor – Dan McCaleb
https://www.ilnews.org/opinion/op-ed-assessing-rauner-s-legacy-as-governor/article_abd32a7a-030c-11e9-8030-7be48a6ab0ab.html

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— GAS TAX HIKE RUMORS STIR OPPOSITION FROM CONSERVATIVE STATE LAWMAKERS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/gas-tax-hike-rumors-stir-opposition-from-conservative-state-lawmakers.html
— MEDIA AIDS DEMOCRATS IN EASING TAXPAYER CONCERNS ABOUT STATE’S FINANCES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/media-aids-democrats-in-easing-taxpayer-concerns-about-states-finances.html
— THORNER & O’NEIL: TRUMP FIGHTS BACK AGAINST UNHINGED MEDIA AND OUTRAGED GLOBALIST ELITES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/thorner-oneil-trump-fights-back-against-unhinged-media-and-outraged-globalist-elites.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— More controversy over Satanic Temple display in Rotunda
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/19/more-controversy-over-satanic-temple-display-in-rotunda/
— The hollowing-out of state government
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/19/the-hollowing-out-of-state-government-4/
— Quit the union and use that cash for Christmas shopping!
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/19/quit-the-union-and-use-that-cash-for-christmas-shopping/
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Illinois lost 45,116 people in one year
https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/19/illinois-lost-45116-people-in-one-year/

 

GOPUSA
— Trump impeachment countdown is on
http://www.gopusa.com/trump-impeachment-countdown-is-on/
— Judge: Cops, schools had no duty to protect Parkland students from shooting
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61273
— Boston mayor doubles down on support for illegal aliens after plea from ICE to rid communities of public safety threats
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61277
— Time to finish the Wall
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61198

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— New York Times tries and fails to paint Trump administration as racist – Rick Esenberg
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/new-york-times-tries-and-fails-to-paint-trump-administration-as-racist

 

BREITBART
— Chicago Tribune: Gun Control Not the Solution for American Firearm Deaths – Awr Hawkins
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/chicago-tribune-gun-control-not-the-solution-for-american-firearm-deaths/
— Poll: One Third of Republicans Would Pitch in to Build Wall – Penny Starr
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/19/poll-one-third-of-republicans-would-pitch-in-to-build-wall/

 

DAILY CALLER
— JEWISH PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WALLS – Rabbi Yechezkel Moskowitz
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/jews-traditionally-pro-wall/
— JUDGE THWARTS TRUMP BID TO LIMIT ASYLUM ELIGIBILITY – Kevin Daley
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/19/trump-asylum-domestic-violence/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Gaming the system: Two congress members escort favored illegals into the U.S. – Monica Showalter
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/gaming_the_system_two_congress_members_escort_favored_illegals_into_the_us.html

 

LIBERTY NEWS NOW
— Chick-fil-A Is Now America’s #3 Fast Food Chain – Jessica Cambridge
https://libertynewsnow.com/chick-fil-a-is-now-americas-3-fast-food-chain/article10327

 

THE HILL
— Conservatives blast GOP, Trump over spending deal – NIV ELIS
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/422123-conservatives-blast-gop-trump-over-spending-deal
— Michelle Malkin, other conservatives rip Trump over border wall funding – JOE CONCHA
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/422116-michelle-malkin-other-conservatives-rip-trump-over-border-wall-funding
— Why Americans are so tired of Trump news – JOE CONCHA
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/422080-why-americans-are-so-tired-of-trump-news

 

NBC NEWS
— Times Square billboard calls out migrant deaths, slams border wall – Nicole Acevedo
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/times-square-billboard-calls-out-migrant-deaths-slams-border-wall-n950121
— Asylum seekers ‘elated’ after judge strikes down Trump rules – Daniella Silva
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/asylum-seekers-elated-after-judge-strikes-down-trump-rules-n950116

 

WASHINGTON POST
— How to save the jobs of GM workers Opponents of General Motors’ immoral moves need a strategy that reflects the company’s history – Jason Weixelbaum (DIERSEN: In 1970, I lost my part-time job working for Chrysler in Belvidere when Chrysler suspended production there.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/outlook/2018/12/19/how-save-jobs-gm-workers/

 

SUN TIMES NEWS
— OUTSTANDING: Dexter Township Looking to Prohibit Commercial Marijuana Establishments – Lonnie Huhman
https://thesuntimesnews.com/dexter-township-looking-to-prohibit-commercial-marijuana-establishments/

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Most Voters Consider a Cyberattack an Act of War (DIERSEN: Acts of war include a) illegally sending many millions of your citizens into another country illegally, b) illegally keeping many millions of your citizens illegally in another countries illegally, and c) illegally sending many mountains of illegal drugs into another country illegally.)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/december_2018/most_voters_consider_a_cyberattack_an_act_of_war

 

USA JOBS
— GAO Intern announcement: Chicago (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did not want me to transfer, but failing that, they wanted me to transfer as a GS-4 (currently $32,978/year) Intern, that is, to suffer a $58,902/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned the fact a) that I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880/year, b) that much of what IRS Revenue Officers do is similar to what GAO Analysts do, c) that I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, d) that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and e) that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years of federal seniority, 30 days of unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days.)
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/518365800

 

NEWSWEEK
— GOFUNDME PAGE FOR DONALD TRUMP’S BORDER WALL RAISES MORE THAN $900K IN 3 DAYS – CHRISTINA ZHAO
https://www.newsweek.com/gofundme-page-trumps-border-wall-raises-over-800k-3-days-1265744
— ANN COULTER SAYS TRUMP MAY HAVE BEEN ‘SCAMMING VOTERS’ WITH WALL PROMISE, PREDICTS HE WON’T BE RE-ELECTED – TIM MARCIN
https://www.newsweek.com/ann-coulter-donald-trump-border-wall-1265332

 

THE WEEK
— Ann Coulter predicts Trump will be the last Republican president
https://theweek.com/speedreads/813647/ann-coulter-predicts-trump-last-republican-president

December 18 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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


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

 

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

 

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

December 18 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

December 17 Evening Edition

CBS2
— Illinois Has The Highest Cell Phone Taxes In The Nation
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/12/17/cell-phone-taxes-illinois/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Get ready, Illinois, for the government you chose – Kristen McQueary (DIERSEN: On November 6, 2018, I voted for all the Republicans on the ballot in my precinct.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-mcqueary-taxes-pritzker-rahm-emanuel-pensions-1218-20181217-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: New year, new governor, new legislature. Among Illinois Democrats, there’s a thrill of excitement only Chris Matthews’ leg during a Barack Obama speech could appreciate. In January, Democrats will increase their control of Illinois, Cook County and suburban governments. In the Illinois House, Democrats will hold 74 seats to Republicans’ 44. In the Senate, Democrats will hold 40 seats to the GOP’s 19. For the most part, voters swept out the suburban Republicans who have often served as the General Assembly’s only fiscal disciplinarians. So please, suburbanites. Stifle your complaints about high taxes. This is the government you chose. The majority party also took every statewide office including governor. And on the Cook County Board, only two of 17 seats remain in Republican hands. That is if you consider Commissioner Peter Silverstri of Elmwood Park a Republican, and no one really does. Democrats, you dominated. Spike the ball in the end zone. Body surf House Speaker Michael Madigan across a sea of pink hats. Treat the start of the spring legislative session like a locker room victory party. Champagne hairspray, everyone. The Democrats already are rolling out plans for higher taxes, more gambling, legalized dope and additional borrowing, particularly if it’s the risky pension bond-sale variety. Mayor Rahm Emanuel called for a change to the Illinois Constitution’s pension clause to control pension costs. But the most likely action at the city and state levels will be can-kicking and borrowing — exactly what got us here.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Donald Trump’s border wall demand is dressed up with more lies about immigrants.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/donald-trump-border-wall-mexico-immigration-reform-policy/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters use children as cannon fodder.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/migrant-girl-7-years-old-dies-border-donald-trump-terrorists/

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— OUTSTANDING: Peoria doctor Raymond Bertino opposes the proposed legalization of marijuana in Illinois for recreational purposes – Dean Olsen
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20181215/peoria-doctor-raymond-bertino-opposes-proposed-legalization-of-marijuana-in-illinois-for-recreational-purposes

 

OUR QUAD CITIES
— Pritzker minimum wage deal might work for Democrats & Republicans Next Illinois governor proposes small business tax credits – Jim Niedelman
https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/4-the-record/pritzker-minimum-wage-deal-might-work-for-democrats-republicans/1663683024

 

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
— Chicago Booth’s Marianne Bertrand examines the ‘glass ceiling’ phenomenon (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors would stress to women that to help retain and advance women, they forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors would stress to women that to help retain and advance women, they did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors would stress to women that to help retain and advance women, they forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://news.uchicago.edu/story/whats-holding-women-back-top-paying-jobs

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Batinick addresses Rauner concerns: Republicans must unite to win – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511683546-batinick-addresses-rauner-concerns-republicans-must-unite-to-win
— 82.3 percent of Crete-Monee teachers stay put; average earns $59,303.62 per year
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511677692-82-3-percent-of-crete-monee-teachers-stay-put-average-earns-59-303-62-per-year

 

SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey says Rauner just trying to save face – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511683540-bailey-says-rauner-just-trying-to-save-face

 

CHAMBANA SUN
— Caulkins says Rauner not helping GOP cause – Glenn Minnis
https://chambanasun.com/stories/511683535-caulkins-says-rauner-not-helping-gop-cause

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THORNER/O’NEIL: IS A “WELL-INFORMED ELECTORATE” A THING OF THE PAST, OR HAS IT EVER EXISTED? (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents discourage everyone from reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They discourage voters, activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, and everyone else from reading the emails. My critics/opponents want everyone to know only what they tell them, no more and no less.)
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/thorneroneil-is-a-well-informed-electorate-a-thing-of-the-past-or-has-it-ever-existed.html

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups want America to surrender to Mexico and surrender to the rest of the foreign countries: anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/leading-gop-pollster-trumps-focus-on-immigration-sunk-house-majority

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— Retiring Republicans May Not Show Up to Vote, Threatening Border Wall Vote – Rachel del Guidice
https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/12/17/retiring-republicans-may-not-show-up-to-vote-threatening-border-wall-vote/

 

NEW AMERICAN
— Democrats and Trump Agree: Shutdown Is Coming Over Wall – R. Cort Kirkwood
https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/30944-dems-and-trump-agree-shutdown-is-coming-over-wall

 

GOPUSA
— Schumer, Democrats: Trump should understand ‘he is not going to get the wall in any form’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61143
— Open Borders, Build the Wall Groups Meet in San Diego
http://www.gopusa.com/open-borders-build-the-wall-groups-meet-in-san-diego/

 

HOT AIR
— Log Cabin Republicans Plan To “Push” Trump On LGBT Rights
https://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2018/12/log-cabin-republicans-plan-push-trump-lgbt-rights/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Obama said illegal alien parents put their children’s ‘lives at risk’ – Keith Edwards
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/obama_said_illegal_immigrant_parents_put_their_childrens_lives_at_risk_.html

 

CAMPUS REFORM
— Feds shell out $10 million for STEM diversity – Sergei Kelley
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=11648

 

NBC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump’s latest big immigration bet is looking like a loser.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-s-latest-big-immigration-bet-looking-loser-n948981
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Americans don’t think Trump got message from midterms.”
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/12/17/poll-americans-dont-think-trump-got-message-from-midterms/23620694/

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Politicians have caused a pay ‘collapse’ for the bottom 90 percent of workers, researchers say – Christopher Ingraham
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/12/17/politicians-have-deliberately-eroded-workers-power-resulting-collapse-pay-bottom-percent-researchers-say/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “The signs are mounting: Trump has been badly weakened. It will get worse for him.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/17/signs-are-mounting-trump-has-been-badly-weakened-it-will-get-worse-him/

 

BOSTON HERALD
— Traditional values strengthen society – Star Parker
https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/12/17/traditional-values-strengthen-society/

 

BLOOMBERG
— How Democrats Can Thrive in the Age of Trump A Q&A with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel about tactics for expanding on this year’s electoral victories. – Albert R. Hunt
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-12-16/rahm-emanuel-q-a-how-democrats-can-thrive-in-the-age-of-trump

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— These Are the 10 Best Colleges for Transfer Students – KAITLIN MULHERE (DIERSEN: I transferred from UIC to NIU in 1969.)
http://time.com/money/5479015/2018-best-colleges-transfer-students/

 

EDITOR & PUBLISHER
— New Report on Russian Disinformation, Prepared for the Senate, Shows the Operation’s Scale and Sweep – Craig Timberg and Tony Romm (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, a) I spread disinformation with my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) all information is disinformation except for the information that they spread or bless.)
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/new-report-on-russian-disinformation-prepared-for-the-senate-shows-the-operations-scale-and-sweep/
— The Future of the Deepfake—And What It Means For Fact-Checkers – Tim Hwang  (DIERSEN: What are your qualifications to be a fact checker? While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325, I increasingly worked as a referencer, that is, as a fact checker. That work required assuring the accuracy and support for each and every word, number, table, graph, chart, conclusion, opinion, and recommendation in GAO reports. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. My other fact checking qualifications include my becoming a Forensic Accountant in 1997, a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a licensed CPA in 1981, a Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and a CPA in 1979.)
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/the-future-of-the-deepfake-and-what-it-means-for-fact-checkers/

December 16 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

December 15 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, if you say anything critical about immigration, you are demonized, denigrated, and condemned.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-tucker-carlson-immigrants-20181215-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ald. Marty Quinn withdraws controversial ballot challenge against teen contender – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/ald-marty-quinn-withdraws-controversial-ballot-challenge-against-teen-contender/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Residents leaving Illinois will not be charged a fee – Bob Oswald (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats make it clear that they want individuals, organizations, and companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time TO LEAVE ILLINOIS.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181215/facts-matter-residents-leaving-illinois-will-not-be-charged-a-fee-
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump floats fictions about the border.”
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20181215/news/312159960/

 

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Progressive income tax easier said than done – BGA
https://www.rrstar.com/news/20181215/progressive-income-tax-easier-said-than-done

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— OUTSTANDING: Medical officials oppose effort to legalize recreational use of marijuana – Dean Olsen
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181215/medical-officials-oppose-effort-to-legalize-recreational-use-of-marijuana
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: While he was governor, Rauner took anti-religious, anti-conservative, and anti-Republican actions, but those in Illinois who are anti-religious, anti-conservative, and/or anti-Republican voted for Pritzker anyway.
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181215/local-business-notes-imas-baise-offers-views-on-states-business-climate-politics
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The Republican Party needs to reflect the values of center-right voters, who I believe are a majority of voters in this state, utilizing issues of fiscal conservatism, trying to solve our pension problem, working on issues like improving education and our property tax issues,” Baise said. ” … If we’re going to continue to have arguments over whether or not you’re pro-life or pro-choice, whether or not you’re pro-gay marriage or anti-gay marriage, the majority of voters are going to turn their back on you.” Baise characterized his approach as pragmatic, focused on totally on winning. While not getting into specifics, Baise said the party should run candidates who have the ability to win over the majority of voters in the state and allow for differences of opinion on certain issues, like abortion. “Unless you can be elected, you can’t govern,” Baise said. “You can stand up and stay I’m right about this issue, you can scream from your lungs. But if you’re a backbencher, if you’re in the minority, if you’re out of power, you can’t anything done. So it should be in the mold of someone who can get 50.1 percent of the vote.”)

 

PAXTON RECORD
— ‘Mega Town Hall’ event to replace Ford County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in 2019 – Will Brumleve
http://www.paxtonrecord.net/news/2018-12-15/mega-town-hall-event-replace-ford-county-republican-lincoln-day-dinner-2019.html

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— 13-year-old brings pot brownies to school
https://foxillinois.com/news/offbeat/13-year-old-brings-pot-brownies-to-school-12-15-2018

 

TOWNHALL
— Hating The President Is Not a Strategy, As Bill Kristol Just Learned – Jeff Ballabon
https://townhall.com/columnists/jeffballabon/2018/12/15/hating-the-president-is-not-a-strategy-as-bill-kristol-just-learned-n2537512

 

BREITBART
— Women’s March Leaders Face Anti-Semitic, Corruption Charges Ahead of Second Anti-Trump Event – Penny Starr
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/15/womens-march-leaders-face-anti-semitic-corruption-charges-second-anti-trump-event/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Does Freedom of Religion Mean Satanic Displays in State Capitols? – E. Jeffrey Ludwig
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/does_freedom_of_religion_mean_satanic_displays_in_state_capitols.html
— Someone needs to be charged in migrant child’s desert death, and it’s not the lawmen – Monica Showalter
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/someone_needs_to_be_charged_in_migrant_childs_desert_death_and_its_not_the_lawmen.html

 

CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS
— Democrats Politicize And Criminalize Even Your Very Thoughts – Dave King
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/12/democrats-politicize-and-criminalize-even-your-very-thoughts/

 

NEWS BUSTERS
— CNN Gives Liberal Activist Forum to Bash Trump on Migrant Child Death – Brad Wilmouth
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/brad-wilmouth/2018/12/15/cnn-gives-liberal-activist-forum-bash-trump-child-death
— NY Times Blames ‘Hard-Line Immigration Enforcement’ for Migrant Girl’s Death – Clay Waters
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/clay-waters/2018/12/15/ny-times-blames-hard-line-immigration-enforcement-migrant-girls

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Paul Ryan Pushing Through Thousands Of Irish Visas Before Leaving Office The House speaker previously blocked efforts to help Dreamers. – Andy McDonald
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/speaker-paul-ryan-pushing-through-thousands-of-irish-visas-before-leaving-office_us_5c154703e4b009b8aea7c0fa

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, if you say anything critical about immigration, you are demonized, denigrated, and condemned.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/15/tucker-carlson-said-immigration-makes-america-dirtier-so-an-advertiser-took-action/

 

MOTLEY FOOL
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/12/15/the-next-3-states-to-legalize-recreational-pot.aspx

 

DAILY MAIL
— The dawn raiders: Dozens of migrants attempt early-morning clamber over Mexico border fence after Trump stepped up patrols and shut down Tijuana crossing to block ‘very bad thugs’ reaching US soil – MIRANDA ALDERSLEY
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6498919/Migrants-attempt-early-morning-clamber-Mexico-border-Trump-shut-crossing.html