old Archives - GOPUSA Illinois

February 26, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Ever-increasingly, according to Democrat leaders, you should vote for those Democrat candidates who promise to use government to give to those who share your demographics the most preference. Democrat candidates ever-increasingly promise to give those who are the following more preference: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, non-married, non-rich, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are noncitizen. Further, ever-increasingly, according to Democrat leaders, you should want more of the following and you should vote for those Democrat candidates who promise to give you more of the following: government assistance, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, vices, diminishment of Second Amendment rights, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/opinion-jb-pritzker-budget-black-hispanic-illinoisans/
— A little-known program allows CTA and Metra to suspend riders. Most of them are Black.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/cta-metra-suspensions/

DAILY HERALD
— Endorsement: Moore for DuPage County sheriff in Republican primary
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260226/endorsements/endorsement-moore-for-dupage-county-sheriff-in-republican-primary/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois GOP candidates debate Trump, taxes, Bears stadium
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2026/02/26/three-illinois-gop-governor-candidates-debate-trump-taxes-and-more/88863293007/

SOUTHERN
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Good and Pretti to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/02/25/trump-didnt-mention-them-but-renee-good-and-alex-pretti-loomed-over-state-of-the-union-address/

JOURNAL COURIER
— GOP lieutenant governor candidates speak unity as their other halves get testy. DD: While I was the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois in December of 2009, the organization hosted a Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate forum at which all six spoke: Jason Plummer, Matt Murphy, Don Tracy, Brad Cole, Dennis Cook, and Randy White.
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/illinois-lt-gov-candidates-jacksonville-unified-21940686.php

CITIES 92.9
— Illinois racial wealth gap among largest in country. DD: Democrats run Illinois, but they nevertheless blame Republicans for the gap. Since the 1960s, Democrats have used Affirmative Action and DEI to give tremendous preference to those who have demographics that vote for Democrats, that is, those who are: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://www.cities929.com/2026/02/25/illinois-racial-wealth-gap-among-largest-in-country/

ILLINOIZE
— Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) Removed from House Democratic Caucus. DD: What have your critics/opponents removed you from? My critics/opponents had their operatives and their dupes remove me from a) my membership on the Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, b) my role as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, c) my Republican Precinct Committeeman position for half my precinct in 2015, d) my chairmanship of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois in 2012, e) my service as the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster in 2010 and 2004, and f) my membership on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee in 2007. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who continue to have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois.
https://www.theillinoize.com/articles/rep-harry-benton-removed-caucus

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Giannoulias banks $9M amid mayoral buzz
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/02/26/giannoulias-banks-9m-mayoral-buzz-00799906

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/26/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-687/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— Blue City Spending Drives ‘Unaffordability,’ Not Relief
https://wirepoints.org/blue-city-spending-drives-unaffordability-not-relief-wirepoints-mark-glennon-on-chicagos-morning-answer-am560/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at those who are the following that Republicans cause all their problems: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, non-married, non-rich, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

NEW YORK POST
— Trump blasts Dems who refused to stand for protecting Americans over ‘illegal aliens’ at State of the Union: ‘You should be ashamed’
https://nypost.com/2026/02/25/us-news/trump-blasts-democrats-who-refused-to-stand-for-protecting-americans-over-illegal-aliens-at-state-of-the-union-2026/

CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois abortion bill sparks division between Republicans, pro-life advocates. DD: I support the Hyde Amendment. According to my critics/opponents on the left, I am too strong on abortion. According to my critics/opponents on the right, I am too weak on abortion.
https://www.aol.com/articles/illinois-abortion-bill-sparks-division-140000741.html

DAILY CALLER
— DD: Democrats and RINOs destroy you if you do not promote LGBTQ.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/02/25/human-rights-coalition-lgbtq-dei-corporate-equality-index/

NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER
— Vatican issues sweeping defense of traditional marriage. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-issues-sweeping-defense-traditional-marriage-pushing-back-polygamy

NEW AMERICAN
— Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez Advertise Free Child Care for Illegals. DD: My mother stayed home and raised me and my brother. Her earning potential was very limited because she never attended high school. My father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. Consequently, I had to work my way through college.
https://thenewamerican.com/us/immigration/mamdani-ocasio-cortez-advertise-free-child-care-for-illegals/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrats smell blood in the water. They ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump and shout at voters that if they do not like what Trump has said and/or done, they should vote for all the Democrats on the ballot.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/trump-elections-midterms.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage pregnant citizens of foreign countries to give birth in America. They see these children as being future Democrats.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/opinion/birthright-citizenship.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Republicans stare down epic voter enthusiasm gap ahead of 2026 midterms. The 14-percentage-point advantage is the Democrats’ largest in decades. DD: Democrats smell blood in the water. They ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump and shout at voters that if they do not like what Trump has said and/or done, they should vote for all the Democrats on the ballot.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/25/poll-democrats-trump-republicans-midterms/

USA TODAY
— DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/02/26/trump-lawsuit-affirmative-action/88291520007/

FLORIDA POLITICS
— House approves annual day of remembrance for fallen conservative icon Charlie Kirk
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/782009-house-approves-annual-day-of-remembrance-for-fallen-conservative-icon-charlie-kirk/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders fight against the War on Drugs.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-economics-of-illegal-drugs-ae89f0fa
— Vance, Newsom and Tales of Want. They romanticize a hard-knocks past that they don’t want anyone else to live. DD: My critics/opponents have always falsely painted my parents as being filthy rich. Ever since May of 1966 when I was 17 years old and bought a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint ( https://over-drive-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1965-12-CD-1966-Pontiac-Tempest-Sprint-Test-1-4.pdf ), my critics/opponents have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as having filthy rich parents. But I bought that car with money I earned washing dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights for 28 hours a week during my junior and senior years at Crete-Monee High School and 40 hours a week during the summer in between. I had to work my way through college. I bought that car, a poor man’s GTO, to commute to/from classes at UIC and my parents’ home in Crete.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/vance-newsom-and-tales-of-want-6d16b298

FAST COMPANY
— DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91498722/trump-said-he-ended-dei-in-america-heres-why-hes-wrong

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

SKY NEWS
— ‘Protecting criminal illegals’: Trump exposes Democrats’ shameful immigration stance
https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/rita-panahi/protecting-criminal-illegals-trump-exposes-democrats-shameful-immigration-stance/video/fc5009912460887376180e71424a7eb2

HANS INDIA
— The role of opportunity and preparation in student outcomes. DD: What do your critics/opponents attribute your successes to? My critics/opponents attribute my successes to my benefitting from discrimination against those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. They ignore/dismiss/belittle the fact that neither of my parents attended college, that my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, that my mother never attended high school, and that I had to work my way through college. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those whose parent had lots of money. I would focus on those whose parents had the most money.
https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/young-hans/the-role-of-opportunity-and-preparation-in-student-outcomes-1051969
(FROM THE ARTICLE: At some point in school, we are introduced to a simple equation: effort equals success. It is presented as both encouragement and caution. If you work hard enough, you will rise. If you struggle, perhaps more effort is needed. The formula feels orderly and reassuring. It suggests that outcomes are earned and that the system is fair.)

FROM OTHER SOURCES

BIG NEWS NETWORK
— Balancing Security and Responsibility: The Debate Around Civilian Self-Defense Tools
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/278889383/balancing-security-and-responsibility-the-debate-around-civilian-self-defense-tools
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Public safety concerns continue to shape daily decisions for many households. News cycles highlight break-ins, delayed emergency response times, and rising anxiety about personal security. For some civilians, the question is no longer whether safety planning matters, but how far personal responsibility should extend. . .Effective safety planning often includes: Home security systems, Environmental awareness. Emergency response plans, Defensive tools as a last resort)

BANKING RATES
— 6 Remote Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms With a $2,000 a Month Paycheck. DD: My mother stayed home and raised me and my brother. Her earning potential was very limited because she never attended high school. My father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. Consequently, I had to work my way through college.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-remote-jobs-stay-home-110704035.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Customer Service Representative-Median wage: $20.59 per hour. . .Invoice/Billing Specialist- Median wage: $22.66 per hour. . .Verification Specialist- Median wage: $23.81 per hour. . .Administrative Assistant- Median wage: $22.82 per hour. . .Inside Sales Representative- Median wage: $57.69 per hour including base salary and commission. . .Account Executive-Median wage: $61.54 per hour including base salary and commission)

February 24, 2026

WHITE HOUSE
— President Trump Honors Angel Families, Remembers American Lives Lost to Illegal Immigration
https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/02/president-trump-honors-angel-families-remembers-american-lives-lost-to-illegal-immigration/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

FOX32
— Illinois GOP governor primary debate: How to watch on Fox Chicago
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-gop-govenor-primary-debate

WTTW
— Illinois Increasingly Becomes Destination for Abortion
https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/23/illinois-increasingly-becomes-destination-abortion-access-new-public-private-partnership

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ex-strip club owner with ties to reputed mob figures a big campaign donor to Alexi Giannoulias. Perry Mandera, his family and companies have contributed more than $100,000 to Giannoulias’ campaign fund over the last few years as he contemplates a run for Chicago mayor. Mandera owned a strip club for years on the Near North Side that was involved in a long-running legal battle with City Hall — and that employed two men with alleged organized crime connections.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/02/24/perry-mandera-campaign-contributions-alexi-giannoulias-potential-candidate-chicago-mayor
— Woman calls police on congressional candidate Mike Simmons as he canvassed in apartment building. In a video, state Sen. Mike Simmons, a Democrat who is running for Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s seat, can be seen asking a woman if she’s calling the police and telling her he’s “disappointed” in how she handled the situation. The incident occurred Friday in Buena Park. No arrests were made. DD: I am happy to report that only one Democrat voter in my precinct, albeit an aggressive, nasty, wealthy, and prominent realtor with a common name, shouted threats at me while I hand-delivered envelopes to residences in my precinct that have at least one Republican or one NA voter without knocking on any doors. He shouted at me in a very threatening tone that he had thrown my envelope in his trash, that I should not deliver anything there anymore, that he knew who I was, that he knew where I lived, and that if I ever did deliver anything there again, he would come to my home and dump it on my driveway. While I did not realize who he was until after the incident, he had known who I was for many years. He had been a registered D in my precinct very near my home years ago. I now know that after he sold that home, he bought a very expensive and prominent home in the new part of my precinct. I delivered to his new home only because there was a registered NA in his home. To avoid future threats like this from Ds, I will identify those homes in my precinct that have NAs and not deliver to those homes that also have Ds but no Rs, something I did not take the time to do this time. There are limits on the time that I can spend. I spend 10+ hours a day 7 days a week putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters together and sending them out. I spent many hours putting 800 mailing labels and 400 return address labels on 400 envelopes, putting them into walk order, stuffing them with a sample ballot, a Milton Township Republican Organization flyer, and five candidate campaign literature pieces, dividing them into 5 batches, and hand-delivering them. I used 400 DuPage County Republican Central Committee envelopes and I used my photocopier, paper, and ink to copy the sample ballot 400 times 2-sided back-to-back. If I spent 6 minutes getting each envelope ready, that would be 40 hours. I spent about 15 hours hand-delivering the envelopes, or about 3 hours per batch.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/02/23/woman-calls-police-on-congressional-candidate-mike-simmons-as-he-canvassed-in-apartment-building
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Simmons says in the video, “I’m gonna let you know that it is against the law to call the police on an elected official who’s knocking doors, I know because I passed the law in 2021. So if you’d like me to leave the building, I would leave the building, but I am so disappointed in how you chose to handle the situation at a time when police have been known to get into deadly altercations with people of color.”)

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Who’s going to the State of the Union and who’s boycotting it? Illinois lawmakers are split.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260223/nation-and-world-politics/whos-going-to-the-state-of-the-union-and-whos-boycotting-it-illinois-lawmakers-are-split/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Trump funding cuts and threats to Illinois reach $61.5B and counting
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/trump-funding-cuts-threats-illinois-615b-and-counting

SHAW LOCAL
— Which Illinois lawmakers are attending the State of the Union address, and who are their guests?
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/02/24/which-illinois-lawmakers-are-attending-the-state-of-the-union-address-and-who-are-their-guests/

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Fighting the Losing Population Battle. Young people are heading out of state for college and career. To reverse the trend, we need to make Illinois schools more affordable and attract more employers.
https://www.chicagomag.com/news/fighting-the-losing-population-battle/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— In IL-08: Republican Jennifer Davis has been endorsed by Milton Township Republican Organization Chair Jeff Castle in her bid for Congress in the 8th District.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/02/24/budzinski-eyes-a-red-blue-reset-00794602

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/24/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-685/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

NEW YORK POST
— Melania Trump to host stand-out young women as guests for the State of the Union address
https://nypost.com/2026/02/24/us-news/melania-trumps-guests-for-state-of-the-union-address-include-stand-out-scholars/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Newsom tells Black crowd he’s like them, bad at reading and low SAT scores. DD: My critics/opponents have always stressed that my ACT score was only 24 and that I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my high school class.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/02/23/newsom-tells-black-crowd-hes-like-them-bad-at-reading-and-low-sat-scores-1623797/

BREITBART
— Trump Declares ‘Angel Family Day’ for Victims of Migrant Crime
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/02/23/watch-president-trump-declares-national-angel-family-day-honoring-victims-of-illegal-alien-crime/amp/

CAMPUS REFORM
— North Dakota State pushes ‘Safe Zone’ trainees to sign LGBTQ ‘ally’ pledge
https://www.campusreform.org/article/north-dakota-state-pushes-safe-zone-trainees-sign-lgbtq-ally-pledge/29452

CENTER SQUARE
— New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a proposal named after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk that would restrict the teaching of “leftist indoctrination” in the state’s public schools. DD: My parents sending me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools enabled me to avoid leftist indoctrination. My majoring in business, accounting, and finance enabled me to avoid leftist indoctrination.
https://www.aol.com/articles/hampshire-bill-targets-leftist-teachings-183600131.html

COLLEGE FIX
— Arcadia University launches racism minor to train students in ‘antiracist advocacy.’ DD: To get more votes from minorities, females, and younger people, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/arcadia-u-launches-racism-minor-to-train-students-in-antiracist-advocacy/

DAILY SIGNAL
— 7 Times Democrats Had a Meltdown Over Trump’s State of the Union Speeches
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/24/7-times-democrats-had-meltdown-over-trumps-state-union-speeches/
— The Media Lie About Trans Shooters
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/23/the-media-lies-about-trans-shooters/

FEDERALIST
— California Democrats Pile Out Of Clown Car At Their Convention
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/23/california-democrats-pile-out-of-clown-car-at-their-convention/
— Basing College Admissions On Merit Instead Of Skin Is Good For Everyone. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, they used Affirmative Action to give tremendous preference to my Democrat coworkers who were minority and/or female. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/23/surprise-basing-college-admissions-on-merit-instead-of-skin-is-good-for-everyone/

FOX NEWS
— House Dem compares Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown to ‘terrorism,’ vows to abolish ICE. Rep. Maxine Dexter promises to ‘dismantle and abolish ICE altogether’ if Democrats regain power.
https://noticias.foxnews.com/politics/house-dem-compares-trumps-illegal-immigration-crackdown-terrorism-abolish-ice
— Trump has sealed the border. Now, Democrats are hell-bent on ending immigration enforcement. Nine consecutive months of zero illegal alien releases at border while blue cities resist immigration enforcement.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-has-sealed-border-now-democrats-hell-bent-ending-immigration-enforcement
— White House calls CNN a ‘total disgrace’ for skipping event honoring victims of illegal immigrant crime. ‘CNN doesn’t care about the victims of illegal alien crime,’ the White House press secretary wrote.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/white-house-calls-cnn-total-disgrace-skipping-event-honoring-victims-illegal-immigrant-crime

TOWNHALL
— About Those Detroit Officers Facing Termination for Contacting Border Patrol
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2026/02/23/detroit-police-chief-reverses-decision-to-fire-police-officers-for-contacting-ice-n2671720
— Newsom Continues to Lie About His Privileged Childhood. DD: Were you privileged? Ever since May of 1966 when I was 17 years old and bought a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint ( https://over-drive-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1965-12-CD-1966-Pontiac-Tempest-Sprint-Test-1-4.pdf ), my critics/opponents have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as having filthy rich parents. But I bought that car with money I earned washing dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights, 28 hours a week during my junior and senior years at Crete-Monee High School, and 40 hours a week during the summer in between.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/print/2671745

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Democrats prepare to protest Trump State of the Union: What to know.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5751650-democrats-protest-trump-state-of-the-union/

NEW YORK TIMES
— State of the Union May Be a Trial for ‘Barely Invited’ Justices. If tradition holds, members of the Supreme Court will attend Trump’s annual speech, just days after ruling against the legality of his tariffs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/us/politics/supreme-court-state-of-the-union.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Democrats’ Latest Anti-Trump Tactic: Skipping the State of the Union. Some 50 Democratic members of the House and Senate plan to forgo annual speech in unusual rebuke of sitting president.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/democrats-latest-anti-trump-tactic-skipping-the-state-of-the-union-93aeebe4
— Federal Worker Sues Government. DD: In Diersen v. GAO, the courts ruled that the federal government can force its employees to retire, that is, it can fire its employees, for doing things that are specifically protected, that is, opposing political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/federal-worker-fired-after-hanging-trans-flag-at-yosemite-sues-government-0ef5aed2

DAILY CAMPUS
— The Death of the Republican Party. DD: I am for Trump when he promotes conservative principles and the Republican Party platform.
https://dailycampus.com/2026/02/24/the-death-of-the-republican-party/

NATIONAL TODAY
— Musk Warns of ‘Woke AI’ Threat as Trump Admin Struggles to Respond. Elon Musk highlights dangers of morally compromised AI models, but the Trump administration’s efforts to combat ‘woke’ tech face challenges.
https://nationaltoday.com/us/ca/san-francisco/news/2026/02/23/musk-warns-of-woke-ai-threat-as-trump-admin-struggles-to-respond/

CONSTRUCTION COVERAGE
— Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest and Lowest? A State, County, and City Analysis. Midwest and Northeast states levy the highest rates, led by Illinois and New Jersey.
https://constructioncoverage.com/research/average-property-tax-by-state-county-city

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

MEAWW
— Dozens of Democrats plan to boycott Trump’s State of Union to attend counterprogramming events
https://news.meaww.com/dozens-of-democrats-plan-to-boycott-trumps-state-of-union-to-attend-counterprogramming-events
— Newsom tells Black crowd ‘I’m like you, I can’t read.’
https://news.meaww.com/right-wing-influencers-troll-gavin-newsom-for-telling-black-crowd-im-like-you-i-cant-read

February 23, 2026 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— How to watch Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address and what to know. The address will be Trump’s first State of the Union during his second term.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/2026-state-union-how-watch-pres-donald-trumps-address-what-know/18640790/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: ABC News will air the State of the Union live at 9 p.m. EST, ABC News Live will stream special coverage starting at 7 p.m. EST and ABC News Digital will have a live blog with up-to-the-minute updates, key takeaways of the address and analysis.)
— DD: Democrat leaders say how Trump will use his State of the Union address to sell skeptical midterm voters on his plans
https://abc7chicago.com/post/how-trump-will-use-state-union-address-sell-skeptical-midterm-voters-plans/18638547/

NBC5
— When is President Trump’s State of the Union address? Time, how to watch and more. Planning to watch Tuesday’s State of the Union? Here’s the scheduled time, details on planned boycotts and more.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/president-trump/when-is-president-trumps-state-of-the-union-address-time-how-to-watch-and-more/3898899/
— Illinois lawmakers plan to boycott Trump’s State of the Union address
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/illinois-lawmakers-plan-to-boycott-trumps-state-of-the-union-address/3898881/

CBS2
— Casten, Ramirez, Schakowsky boycotting Trump’s State of the Union address
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/sean-casten-delia-ramirez-jan-schakowsky-state-of-the-union-boycott-president-donald-trump/
— Why some Democratic congresswomen will wear white to Trump’s State of the Union
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-state-of-the-union-democrats-wearing-white/
— U.S. women’s hockey team declines State of the Union invitation
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-womens-hockey-team-declines-state-of-the-union-invitation/
— “Abolish ICE” among six winners of Chicago snow plow naming contest
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/abolish-ice-wins-snow-plow-naming-contest/
— ICE whistleblower warns new recruits are receiving “defective” training. DD: In 1971, the first 6 months that I worked for IRS as a Revenue Officer was classroom training. IRS provided me with lots of training while I worked for it 1971-1980. GAO provided me with lots of classroom training while I worked for it 1980-1997.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-whistleblower-new-recruits-receiving-defective-training/

FOX32
— Chicago-area members of Congress to boycott Trump’s State of the Union speech
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-members-of-congress-boycott-trump-speech

WTTW
— DD: Responses to an Illinois Education Association survey indicate that the majority of respondents are anti-Trump and anti-those who share his demographics. Trump is American, Republican, conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and his ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/23/illinois-residents-oppose-ice-activity-schools-support-pay-raises-educators-new-teachers

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Responses to an Illinois Education Association survey indicate that the majority of respondents are anti-Trump and anti-those who share his demographics. Trump is American, Republican, conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and his ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/23/poll-shows-illinoisans-oppose-ice-near-schools/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Durbin to bring original Dreamer to Trump’s State of the Union speech, as several Illinois Dems boycott it. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, along with U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky and Eric Sorensen, say they won’t attend the annual address, with Duckworth calling it “another campaign rally full of lies.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump/2026/02/23/dick-durbin-original-dreamer-guest-president-donald-trumps-state-of-the-union-speech-illinois-democrats-boycott
— Familiar foes line up in Republican primary for chance against Gov. JB Pritzker. Darren Bailey is eyeing a second round with Pritzker, while Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heidner and James Mendrick each have their own history with the Democratic governor.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/02/23/illinois-republican-primary-governor-candidates-preview-bailey-dabrowski-heidner-mendrick

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago’s largest employers 2026: Government tops list. DD: I worked for GAO in Chicago 1980-1997, for IRS in Chicago, Joliet, and Harvey 1971-1980, and for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/data-center/chicagos-largest-employers-2026-government-tops-list

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Illinois congressman Eric Sorensen says he will skip Trump’s State of Union address
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/23/eric-sorensen-of-illinois-says-he-will-skip-trump-state-of-the-union/88829828007/

CHICAGO READER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://chicagoreader.com/?mc_cid=93c2310c71&mc_eid=c968c7978e

COD COURIER
— DD: Democrat leaders promote Bad Bunny
https://codcourier.org/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-halftime-show-sparks-pride-and-conversation-on-campus/

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/23/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-473/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Bailey Points to Illinois Truck Driver Licensing Scandal
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/21/bailey-points-to-illinois-truck-driver-licensing-scandal/
— Keicher’s Pitch for Nuclear Energy
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/17194/
— Where Company Headquarters Are Moving From and To
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/where-company-headquarters-are-moving-from-and-to/
— Illinois Municipal League Attacks Pritzker’s Push to Put Housing Under State Control
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/illinois-municipal-league-attacks-pritzkers-push-to-put-housing-under-state-control/
— Feds to Penalize Illinois for Bad Management
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/feds-to-penalize-illinois-for-bad-management/
— Questionnaires from Two GOP U.S. Senate Candidates: R. Cary Capparelli and Don Tracy
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/questionnaires-from-two-gop-u-s-senate-candidates-r-cary-capparelli-and-don-tracy/
— Juliana Stratton’s F-Bomb-Laden TV Commercial Not Mentioned in USA Today’s Article on Coarse Political Language
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=17233&action=edit
— Ness Relates Supreme Court Decision to Illinois Constituents
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/17298/
— Senate Democratic Party Newsletter Says Budget Will Have Bi-Partisan Conservations
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/senate-democratic-party-newsletter-says-budget-will-have-bi-partisan-conservations/
— Sosnowski introduces Bill to Base Assessed Valuation on Original Purchase Price
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/sosnowski-introduces-bill-to-base-assessed-valuation-on-original-purchase-price/
— 9th District Democrat Mike Simmons Goes After Laura Fine
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/9th-district-democrat-mike-simmons-goes-after-laura-fine/
— In 9th District Leading Candidate Daniel Biss Attacked by Super PAC Supporting Laura Fine
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/in-9th-district-leading-candidate-daniel-biss-attacked-by-super-pac-supporting-laura-fine/
— Stratton Hit with Negative TV Ad by Raja
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/stratton-hit-with-negative-tv-ad-by-raja/
— Bill Foster Invites McHenry County College Board Chair Suzanne Hoban to State of the Union Speech
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/bill-foster-invites-mchenry-county-college-board-chair-suzanne-hoban-to-state-of-the-union-speech/
— Pritzker Has Fun with Trump over U.S. Supreme Court Tariff Decision
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/pritzker-has-fun-with-trump-over-u-s-supreme-court-tariff-decision/
— DeVore v. Mendrick
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/devore-v-mendrick/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ICE whistleblower testifies about ‘secretive orders,’ curtailed officer training program. DD: In 1971, the first 6 months that I worked for IRS as a Revenue Officer was classroom training. IRS provided me with lots of training while I worked for it 1971-1980. GAO provided me with lots of classroom training while I worked for it 1980-1997.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/23/ryan-schwank-ice-whistleblower-testifies-secretive-orders-cuts/
— Trump seeks reset on economy in State of the Union address
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/23/trump-seeks-reset-economy-state-union-address/

NEW YORK POST
— Dozens of Dems plan to skip Trump’s State of the Union as party can’t decide on rival programming
https://nypost.com/2026/02/23/us-news/dozens-of-dems-plan-to-skip-president-trumps-state-of-the-union-as-party-splits-on-how-to-protest/

CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois ranks near bottom in social mobility. DD: Notwithstanding that, back in the good old days, while neither of my parents attended college, while my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, and while my mother never attended high school, I was able to work my way through college and earn three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license.
https://www.aol.com/news/illinois-ranks-near-bottom-social-160000632.html

DAILY WIRE
— Trump Torches ‘Sick’ Democrats Who Ignore Americans Murdered By Illegal Immigrants. “There’s something wrong with them.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-torches-sick-democrats-who-ignore-americans-murdered-by-illegal-immigrants

FEDERALIST
— Woke School ‘Segregated’ Middle Schoolers By Race Without Parents’ Knowledge. DD: Democrats used to promote integration. Now they promote segregation to consolidate minority power. How soon will they segregate LGBTQers?
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/23/report-woke-school-segregated-middle-schoolers-by-race-without-parents-knowledge/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NEWSWEEK
— Democrats Introduce F*** ICE Act. DD: Democrats ever-increasingly put citizens of foreign countries ahead of citizens of America.
https://www.newsweek.com/democrats-introduce-f-ice-act-11566450

USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders have always used Black History Month against Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2026/02/23/black-history-month-dei-crt-education-america/88742245007/

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
— DD: Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI are race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, national origin discrimination, and even worse things. Democrats and RINOs use AA and DEI to destroy Republicans who are White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://hbr.org/2026/02/the-upside-of-opening-up-dei-programs-to-everyone

GAO
— Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act: Actions Needed to Ensure People with Disabilities Can Access DOL Job Programs. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO’s Chicago office 1980-1997, they assigned me to supervise all their disabled employees.
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107473

ATLANTIC
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly call Republicans Nazis. To call someone a Nazi in America today is like calling someone a Jew in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. For their self-defense, Republicans should buy more and more and more firearms and ammunition. America declared war on Nazis in the 1940s. Democrats have declared war on Republicans today.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/04/republican-party-nazi-problem/686055/

February 22, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CBS2
— Republican Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Jeannie Evans shares her agenda
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/republican-illinois-u-s-senate-candidate-jeannie-evans-shares-her-agenda/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/22/japanese-americans-incarceration-broadview/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: Naperville D203 to offer teacher retirement incentives as $12.4M deficit looms. DD: In 1993, when I was 45 years old, to deal with Gingrich’s ever-increasing budget cuts, the Democrats who ran GAO “offered” its employees like me who had 25 years or more of federal service a $25,000 ($56,000 in today’s dollars) buyout and early retirement. Virtually all my coworkers who took that “offer” were White males who had not made GS-15 ($165,386-$197,200/year in today’s dollars). Their buyout “offer” expired September 30, 1994 and their early retirement “offer” expired September 30, 1997. They led me to believe they would let me work until I was 55 in 2003 and eligible for regular retirement. But in August of 1997, they made it clear that they were going to force me to retire by September 30, 1997 and they succeeded in doing that. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, female, or veteran. By forcing me to retire, they flushed down their toilets what I had learned a) working for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels ($118,984-$154,682/year in today’s dollars), b) working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels ($100,069-$113,402/year in today’s dollars), c) earning three job-related master’s degrees, d) earning six job-related professional certifications, and e) earning a job-related professional license. By forcing me to retire, my Democrat GAO superiors forced the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to pay me a $68,640/year pension in today’s dollars to stop me from coming to work. So far, that has been $1.95 million in today’s dollars. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/20/teacher-retirement-incentives-naperville-203-deficit/
— Illinois lawmakers push university funding overhaul amid regional enrollment drops and U. of I. opposition
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/22/illinois-lawmakers-push-university-funding-overhaul-amid-regional-enrollment-drops-and-u-of-i-opposition/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/20/operation-midway-blitz-effects-latino-neighborhoods-pilsen-little-village-southeast-side
— As Stratton airs ad with anti-Trump expletive, Krishnamoorthi launches first negative TV ad attacking her
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/02/21/us-senate-democratic-primary-stratton-krishnamoorthi-negative-tv-ads
— DD: What do you stress in defense of your ancestors? I stress that my ancestors always lived in northeast Illinois.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/21/black-artists-express-complicated-relationship-with-u-s-flag-in-show-honoring-nations-250th-anniversary
— Unions demand more from Pritzker for education
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/02/20/pritzker-state-budget-proposal-education-evidence-based-funding-rich-miller

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Sanctuary cities and the New Confederacy. Sanctuary cities were always a bad idea. The notion that city or state leadership can declare a jurisdiction exempt from federal law is antithetical to core American principles.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/4439839/sanctuary-cities-and-the-new-confederacy/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Omar shows up to ‘support’ detainees but ICE deported them first
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/02/21/rope-a-dope-rep-ilhan-omar-shows-up-to-support-detainees-but-ice-deported-them-first-1623546/

FOX NEWS
— Bureaucrats hide true price of Obama Presidential Center as taxpayers hit with infrastructure bill
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bureaucrats-hide-true-price-obama-presidential-center-taxpayers-hit-infrastructure-bill
— Scrapping SAT/ACT in name of ‘inclusivity’ is leaving students unprepared
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cal-state-prof-warns-scrapping-sat-name-inclusivity-leaving-students-unprepared

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Arizona State University Dean Admits to Rebranding DEI in Undercover Video. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly give preference to those who have demographics that vote for Democrats. That is why those who have demographics that vote for Republicans are ever-increasingly leaving Illinois.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/02/arizona-state-u-dean-admits-to-rebranding-dei-in-undercover-video/

WESTERN JOURNAL
— D.C. Water Chief Said DEI Was a Top Priority – Now City Faces Historic Sewage Spill. DD: Since the 1960s, Affirmative Action and DEI has been the top priority for those above me. That ever-increasingly have rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://www.westernjournal.com/flashback-d-c-water-chief-said-dei-top-priority-now-city-faces-historic-sewage-spill/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

MSN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in making people LGBTQ, that is, their success in destroying traditional marriage and family. How successful have Democrat leaders been in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/twice-as-many-lgbtq-people-in-us-than-in-2012-study-shows/ar-AA1Wxequ

WASHINGTON POST
— Why it’s becoming so expensive to buy a car in America. Prices are at record highs. More loans are going bad. It’s not an easy time to afford a new car in America. DD: Back in the good old days, I was able to earn enough money to a) pay for my undergraduate and graduate college expenses, b) buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., and c) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/02/17/new-cars-high-prices/

PAXTON MEDIA
— Early voting continues. DD: The DuPage County Election Division (DCED) should highlight early voting data on its website. That data should include how many votes have been cast the day before, the week before, and cumulatively broken out by the number of Republican, Democrat, and NA ballots that were cast. Further, voters should be able to easily see the aforesaid data for their township and for their precinct. Voters should be able to see and analyze trends. According the DCED website, 2,406 have voted as of 2/21/26.
https://www.paxtonmedia.com/news/jonesboro_sun/early-voting-continues/article_542f3a10-3938-5265-bc98-1172c8fd68a9.html

FORTUNE
— 40% of Stanford undergrads receive disability accommodations—but it’s become a college-wide phenomenon as Gen Z try to succeed in the current climate
https://fortune.com/article/rise-in-elite-students-seeking-accomodation-gen-z-phenomenon-find-success-in-competitive-job-market-stanford-university-skills-based-hiring/

FAST COMPANY
— Careers aren’t ladders, they’re quilts. Why traditional career maps miss the real shape of growth, and what to do instead. DD: The Democrats who run the federal government use “up-or-out” to get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they do not promote to GS-13 ($118,984) by age 25, GS-14 ($140,604) by age 30, GS-15 ($165,386) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($197,200) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91486024/careers-arent-ladders-theyre-quilts

INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION & SLATE & AMERICAN EDUCATOR
— College material. DD: When I was a student at Crete-Monee High School 1962-1966, no one thought that I was college material. Nevertheless, to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, I took college preparatory courses, got an ACT score of 24, graduated in the upper 20% of my class, and got accepted by UIC. I did yard work 1962-1964 and delivered newspapers 1962-1966 and used the money I earned to buy a 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air I used to get to/from my parents’ home in Crete and a minimum wage job washing dishes in Chicago Heights 1964-1966. I used the money I earned to buy a new 1966 Pontic Tempest Sprint in May of 1966. I used that car to get to/from my parents’ home in Crete and classes at UIC 1966-1968. I got a part-time job working for the Park Forest Post Office in 1966 and used the money I earned to pay for my UIC expenses, to buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967, to buy a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968, and to pay for my NIU expenses. I graduated debt-free from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in management and owning that Charger in August of 1970.
https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2021/04/12/colleges-should-reimagine-what-it-means-be-college-material-and-be-force-equity
https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/just-visiting/not-college-material
https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/03/college-isnt-for-everyone-lets-stop-pretending-it-is.html
https://www.aft.org/ae/fall2007/cushman

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

INDEPENDENT
— ICE recruits are showing up for training with disqualifying criminal backgrounds. DD: The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. Since then, to hire Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran, they have lowered standards. If I had not earned a high school diploma and passed the postal employment test, the Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966 would not have hired me. If I had not earned a job-related bachelor’s degree and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination, the Democrats who ran IRS in 1971 would not have hired me. If I had not earned a job-related master’s degree and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, the Democrats who ran GAO in 1980 would not have hired me.
https://www.aol.com/articles/ice-recruits-showing-training-disqualifying-160752475.html

February 20, 2026 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Letter from Pritzker campaign, Chicago-area company in SCOTUS tariffs case demand refunds. Pritzker says Trump stole $8.6 billion from Illinois families; Vernon Hills toy company was plaintiff in lawsuit.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/pritzker-campaign-letter-demands-86-billion-refund-illinois-families-scotus-strikes-down-trumps-sweeping-tariffs/18626044/
— House Speaker Mike Johnson denies request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in US Capitol. Funeral services to be held at Rainbow PUSH in Chicago in March.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/rev-jesse-jackson-funeral-house-speaker-mike-johnson-denies-request-civil-rights-icon-lie-honor-us-capitol/18626155/
— DD: Democrat leaders demand FBI investigation into man’s September 12 ICE shooting death in Franklin Park.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-ice-protest-locals-seek-fbi-investigation-shooting-silverio-villegas-gonzalez-franklin-park-illinois/18626069/
— All truckers and bus drivers will be required to take commercial driver’s license tests in English
https://abc7chicago.com/post/truckers-bus-drivers-will-required-take-commercial-license-tests-english/18625801/

CBS2
— Illinois homeowners have highest property tax rate in country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLCARLEctb0

WGN9
— Suburban toy company wins legal battle against Trump Administration’s tariffs
https://wgntv.com/news/north-suburbs/vernon-hills-toy-company-tariffs/
— Trump calls Supreme Court justices who ruled against tariffs ‘disloyal’
https://wgntv.com/news/trump-calls-supreme-court-justices-who-ruled-against-tariffs-disloyal/

FOX32
— U.S. Supreme Court sides with Illinois toy company in tariff case
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/u-s-supreme-court-sides-illinois-toy-company-tariff-case

WTTW
— The University of Chicago is among dozens of universities and colleges that have reached agreements with the U.S. Department of Education to terminate their partnerships with a nonprofit that helps students from underrepresented groups get degrees in business. The Republican administration says school diversity programs often exclude White and Asian American students.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/20/uchicago-dozens-other-colleges-cut-ties-nonprofit-after-trump-administration

WBEZ
— Chicago’s Newberry Library gets $4 million to help tribal nations revitalize Indigenous languages. The research library received a Mellon Foundation grant to expand access to its vast Indigenous collections, including materials related to 300 languages. DD: My ancestors continuing to speak German held them back. All my grandparents spoke German. Consequently, my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school.
https://www.wbez.org/museums/2026/02/20/chicagos-newberry-library-gets-4-million-to-help-tribal-nations-revitalize-indigenous-languages

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s sweeping tariffs, ruling in favor of Vernon Hills toymaker
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/20/supreme-court-strikes-down-trump-tariffs/
— DD: The mainstream news media exists to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/20/president-trump-campaigning-georgia/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Pritzker demands $8.6 billion for Illinois residents after Supreme Court strikes Trump tariffs. Pritzker, a longtime and frequent critic of Donald Trump, also called out the president during his State of the State address earlier this week.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-governor/2026/02/20/pritzker-illinois-refund-trump-tariffs-supreme-court-ruling
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/20/ofelia-giselle-torres-hidalgo-funeral-cancer-battle-immigration

DAILY HERALD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their Supreme Court victory.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260220/nation-and-world-politics/trumps-made-tariffs-central-to-his-presidency-chaos-may-come-next/

RIVER BENDER
— President Trump Says He will Sign A 10-Percent Global Tariff Order
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/illinois-leaders-praise-supreme-court-decision-on-tariffs-president-trump-says-he-will-sign-a-10percent-global-tariff-order-90976.cfm
— U.S. Military Leaders Agree with Duckworth: Expanding TRICARE Coverage of IVF Would Benefit Servicemembers and Strengthen Military. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors viciously used against me my and my wife’s giving up trying to have children without trying IVF. They not only stressed that IVF was covered by my wife’s insurance, they hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I lied about our trying to have children. They ignored/dismissed/belittled our big fertility problems and our doctor’s advising us against it. They all decried the time and money they spent raising their children. They all decried their spouses having little or no income. According to them, if we had children, I would not have been able to a) pass the CPA examination, let alone pass it on my first attempt, b) earn a master’s degree in accounting, c) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination, let alone pass it on my first attempt, d) become a licensed CPA, e) have a home built in Wheaton, f) buy collector cars, g) etc. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned us as being disgusting selfish filthy rich DINKs. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran.

February 18, 2026 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— In State of the State address, Gov. JB Pritzker pitches affordability and Illinois resilience to Trump
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/18/pritzker-illinois-2026-state-of-the-state/
— League of Women Voters of Central Kane County urges early mail-in voting amid USPS changes
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/18/league-of-women-voters-of-central-kane-county-urges-early-mail-in-voting-amid-usps-changes/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Arrigo Park’s Columbus statue to be replaced by one of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. A statue of Cabrini, the first American saint, will stand upon a pedestal left vacant since 2020, when the city removed the park’s Christopher Columbus statue.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/02/18/arrigo-parks-columbus-statue-saint-frances-xavier-cabrini

DAILY HERALD
— Three of the four Republicans running for Illinois’ 11th Congressional District seat have expressed doubts that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 presidential election.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260218/us-congress-politics/gop-congressional-candidates-express-doubts-about-bidens-2020-white-house-win/
— GOP candidates in 6th Congressional District differ on immigration; one says close borders to all
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260218/us-congress-politics/gop-candidates-in-6th-congressional-district-differ-on-immigration-one-says-close-borders-to-all/\\
— Woman’s hospitalization following Bailey campaign launch stirs questions within GOP
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260218/illinois-state-politics/womans-hospitalization-following-bailey-campaign-launch-stirs-questions-within-gop/

ABC7
— Pritzker proposes $56B budget with minimal new spending, tax on social media companies. State faces challenging financial future amid federal funding cuts and new mandates.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-deliver-budget-address-springfield/18615380/

NBC5
— Pritzker: Trump ‘illegally confiscating’ federal money from Illinois
https://www.nbcchicago.com/video/news/local/pritzker-trump-illegally-confiscating-federal-money-from-illinois/3895916/

FOX32
— Illinois given 30 days to fix CDL violations or risk $128M in funding
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-klu0fo3j5euq3c92
— US Senate candidates spar over $25 minimum wage. DD: I did not start earning $25/hour in today’s dollars until after I had earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970. My critics/opponents have always painted me as being overpaid.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-g35txz1b449jg0cu
— Illinois bill would lower legal blood alcohol limit for drivers
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-bill-lower-legal-blood-alcohol-limit-drivers
— Bill would guarantee paid sick leave for all US workers if passed. DD: I had paid sick leave all during the almost 30 years that I worked for the federal government. My Civil Service Retirement System pension is higher because I got credit for my many unused sick days like I had worked them. My critics/opponents have always been furious about that. According to those on the right, the benefit was too generous. According to those on the left, federal jobs and their benefits should only be given to Democrats.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/guaranteed-paid-sick-leave-bill-healthy-families-act-bernie-sanders

WGN RADIO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly treat Pat Brady like he is still the chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.
https://wgnradio.com/lisa-dent/pat-brady-jb-pritzkers-budget-address/

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Rick Heidner touts Trump ties in bid to unseat Pritzker
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/government-politics/article_643b216f-62e7-4082-8718-187d90b12eb8.html

STATELINE
— Pritzker criticizes ICE raids; Republicans say governor encourages illegal immigration
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/pritzker-criticizes-ice-raids-republicans-say-governor-encourages-illegal-immigration/

25 NEWS NOW
— Democrats praise Pritzker’s ‘roadmap,’ Republicans call budget ‘empty promises’ in partisan split
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/02/18/democrats-praise-pritzkers-roadmap-republicans-call-budget-empty-promises-partisan-split/

CWB CHICAGO
— 14-year-old boy shot as teen gathering turns violent in the Loop
https://cwbchicago.com/2026/02/14-year-old-boy-shot-as-teen-gathering-turns-violent-in-the-loop.html

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Democrats offer muted praise of Pritzker’s speech, Republicans dismiss ‘campaign’ rhetoric. Reactions largely fell along partisan lines, though there were some mixed feelings all around.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/democrats-offer-muted-praise-of-pritzkers-speech-republicans-dismiss-campaign-rhetoric/

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/18/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-470/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois’ increased revenue because of federal economy, not state lawmakers
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-increased-revenue-because-of-federal-economy-not-state-lawmakers/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— In your opinion, is it fair to stress the political positions that candidates’ spouses have? I have seen many cases in which once candidates are elected, they push their spouses’ political positions.
http://www.gopillinois.com
(GOOGLE AI: Spouses of political candidates often serve as influential, strategic partners who shape campaign narratives, engage voters, and expand outreach. While many spouses share aligned political views, they are not monoliths; they can hold independent opinions or, in some cases, bring diverse perspectives that create internal or public conflict.)

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump celebrates Black History Month at the White House. DD: My Black Democrat GAO subordinate who my Democrat GAO superiors rudely replaced me with led the office’s Black History Month events. He had less work experience than I had. He had less education than I had. He had one professional certification while I had six. He had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/18/trump-celebrates-black-history-month-white-house/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump endorsement tracker: Here’s who the president has picked in GOP midterm election primaries. DD: There are six U.S. Senate candidates in Illinois.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/4460164/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois will hold a Senate race this election cycle, though the field mainly consists of Democratic candidates. Trump has not endorsed the lone Republican, Don Tracy. Trump has endorsed Reps. Mike Bost, Mary Miller, and Darin LaHood for reelection. The three incumbents represent Illinois’ three Republican voting districts, which are primarily south of Chicago.)
— The canonization of Jesse Jackson
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/4462248/the-canonization-of-jesse-jackson/
— Jesse Jackson was not controversial, or liberal, according to the obituaries
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/4460851/jesse-jackson-death-obituary-nbc-controversial/

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Teachers Are Fomenting Anti-ICE Hysteria. Alleged ICE activity at schools is being used as a pretext to indoctrinate children.
https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/17/teachers-are-fomenting-anti-ice-hysteria/

BREITBART
— Illinois Illegally Issued One-in-Five Trucker Licenses to Non-Residents
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/02/18/report-illinois-illegally-issued-one-in-five-trucker-licenses-to-non-residents/

DAILY CALLER
— Professors Furious Over Being Told Not To Indoctrinate Students
https://dailycaller.com/2026/02/18/professors-furious-told-not-to-indoctrinate-students-out-of-control/

EPOCH TIMES
— More Than 550 Commercial Driving Schools to Close After Checks
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/more-than-550-commercial-driving-schools-to-close-after-checks-transportation-department-5987313

FEDERALIST
— While Democrats’ Anti-ICE Fury Escalates, Americans Show They Want Immigration Laws Enforced
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/18/while-democrats-anti-ice-fury-escalates-americans-show-they-want-immigration-laws-enforced/
— Affluent White Female Liberals Are Living In A Made-Up World
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/18/affluent-white-female-liberals-are-living-in-a-made-up-world/

FOX NEWS
— Duffy gives Illinois 30-day ultimatum after audit finds 1 in 5 noncitizen truck licenses issued illegally. Transportation secretary gives Pritzker 30-day ultimatum after audit finds drivers from El Salvador to Ukraine received improper commercial licenses.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/duffy-gives-illinois-30-day-ultimatum-after-audit-finds-1-5-noncitizen-truck-licenses-issued-illegally

NEW YORK POST
— Education Department scraps Biden-era race-based rules for doctoral degree grants
https://nypost.com/2026/02/18/us-news/education-department-scraps-biden-era-race-based-rules-for-doctoral-degree-grants/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ROLL CALL
— Vance pledges anti-abortion policies after White House deemed soft. DD: I should write about those abortion advocates who have taken the most/biggest adverse actions against me since 2000 because I oppose abortion. I would focus on those who are/were a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican elected officials in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) conservative leaders, and e) religious leaders.
https://rollcall.com/2026/01/23/vance-pledges-anti-abortion-policies-after-white-house-deemed-soft/

MOTLEY FOOL
— What causes unemployment? DD: QUESTION: Why have I been unemployed since I was 49 in 1997? ANSWER: The many big adverse actions that my Democrat superiors in the federal government took against me. QUESTION: Why did they take those adverse actions against me? ANSWER: Because I opposed their political affiliation discrimination, their reverse discrimination, and their age discrimination. I became an active participant in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation when I was 40 in 1988.
https://www.fool.com/terms/u/unemployment/

OKLAHOMAN
— Schools discipline over 100 students for anti-ICE walkout. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use their high school students to promote more hatred against Republicans. Have Democrat leaders already or will they promise high school students free rides in Ivy League universities if they walkout?
https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/18/over-100-mustang-public-schools-students-given-in-school-suspension-for-anti-ice-walkout/88738114007/

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Lawmakers eyeing changes to federal benefits, hiring, pay. DD: I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO for almost 18 years, who ran IRS for almost 9 years, and who ran the Post Office for almost 3 years. You had to commit to promoting Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI big time to get promoted to GS-14 at GAO, to GS-13 at IRS, and to GS-5 at the Post Office. To promote AA and DEI is to promote race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/congress/2026/02/lawmakers-eyeing-changes-to-federal-benefits-hiring-pay/

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
— How to Judge a Candidate. DD: If you ran for a government office, which of your qualifications would you stress. I would stress a) that I worked for GAO as an Analyst for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year, b) that before that, I worked for IRS as a Revenue Officer for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, c) that I became a CPA and a certified internal auditor (CIA), fraud examiner, government financial manager, financial services auditor, and forensic accountant, d) that I passed the CPA and CIA examinations on my first attempt, e) that I became a licensed CPA, and f) that I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.lwv.org/blog/how-judge-candidate

February 16, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CBS2
— DHS shutdown under way after funding expires without a deal in Congress. The latest shutdown is affecting agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/dhs-shutdown-under-way-after-funding-expires-without-a-deal-in-congress/
— Early voting to resume in DuPage County on Monday after delays, ballot issues
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/early-voting-dupage-county/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Tony McCombie for Illinois 89th House District Republican primary
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/16/editorial-tony-mccombie-illinois-89th-house-district-republican-primary/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/14/ofelia-giselle-torres-hidalgo-dies-immigration-ice-cancer

DAILY HERALD
— Daily Herald endorsement: Darren Bailey in GOP gubernatorial primary
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250215/endorsements/daily-herald-endorsement-darren-bailey-in-gop-gubernatorial-primary/
— GOP Senate candidates offer contrasting solutions to rising costs and economic challenges
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260215/us-congress-politics/gop-senate-candidates-offer-contrasting-solutions-to-rising-costs-and-economic-challenges/

WGN RADIO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://wgnradio.com/news/teen-who-fought-for-fathers-release-from-ice-custody-dies-from-rare-cancer-family/

HERALD REVIEW
— Protesters chant, sing outside Broadview ICE facility, plan recurring Saturday demonstrations. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://herald-review.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_644348c9-e61d-5431-9f4e-5abe8196ca5f.html

EVANSTON ROUNDTABLE
— Election Extra: Profiles of Republican U.S. Senate candidates
https://evanstonroundtable.com/newsletter-archive/election-extra-profiles-of-republican-u-s-senate-candidates/
— City of Evanston to host Reparations Repair Expo Feb. 21. DD: Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI are reparations. DD: Who wants you to pay reparations and why, that is, who wants you to pay the price of AA and DEI and why? My critics/opponents have always used against me the fact that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s. In their defense, I have always stressed that they always lived in northeast Illinois. My critics/opponents have also always used against me the fact that a) my ancestors on my father’s side homesteaded a 240-acre farm in southeast Crete township in 1854 and b) my ancestors on my mother’s side became owners of a 180-acre farm in Grant Park along the Indiana border after they sharecropped it. According to my critics/opponents, the longer that your ancestors have been in America and the more of the following that you are, the more that you have benefitted from slavery and therefore the more reparations you should pay, that is, the more that you should pay the price of AA and DEI: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, and/or German American.
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/02/09/city-of-evanston-to-host-reparations-repair-expo-feb-21/

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/world/article/she-was-denied-a-legal-abortion-and-sent-to-21356021.php

NPR ILLINOIS
— Immigration enforcement will remain largely uninterrupted by the government shutdown
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-02-15/immigration-enforcement-will-remain-largely-uninterrupted-by-the-government-shutdown
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use “democracy” to take more and more and more freedoms, opportunities, and money away from Republicans.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-02-16/concerns-over-autocracy-in-the-u-s-continue-to-grow

CHICAGO TODAY
— GOP Faces Backlash Over Fat-Shaming Illinois Governor. Some Republicans criticize the party’s body-shaming post targeting Democratic Governor JB Pritzker.
https://nationaltoday.com/us/il/chicago/news/2026/02/16/gop-faces-backlash-over-fat-shaming-illinois-governor/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Max Solomon: GOP Write-In Candidate for Treasurer
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/02/max-solomon-gop-write-in-candidate-for-illinois-treasurer/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The inevitable, unbearable politicization of the Olympics
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4457856/inevitable-unbearable-politicization-olympics/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump should insist on E-Verify. The easy way to determine who is in this country illegally.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/15/trump-insist-e-verify/
— Hispanic groups warn Trump’s ICE surge could ‘nullify’ GOP’s Texas congressional goals. DD: Democrat leaders want Hispanics to first think of themselves as being Hispanics before thinking of themselves as being anything else including being citizens of America.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/13/hispanic-groups-warn-trumps-ice-surge-could-nullify-gops-texas/

NEW YORK POST
— ICE offering six-figure salaries and $50K signing bonuses as it ramps up hiring to fuel deportations. DD: I did not earn $100,000/year in today’s dollars until 1974 after I had a) earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, b) worked for IRS for 3 years, and c) taken 10 graduate evening business courses at Loyola.
https://www.aol.com/ice-offering-six-figure-salaries-225718060.html

AMERICAN THINKER
— The persecution of Christians in the Islamic Middle East. Western governments feel too much colonial guilt to do anything about this.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/the_persecution_of_christians_in_the_islamic_middle_east.html
— France to send out letters to young women urging them to have babies before it’s too late. DD: My wife and I did not get married until I was 29 and she was 27. We erroneously believed that we would not have fertility problems, but both of us had major fertility problems. To get rid of me, my Democrat GAO superiors hinted/implied/shouted that I lied about our major fertility problems. They stressed that we did not try IVF even though my wife’s health insurance covered it. They stressed that we did not adopt or become foster parents. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned us as being disgusting filthy rich DINKs. They decried the tremendous amount of time and money that they spent raising their children. They decried that their spouses had little or no income. They crowed that they got married when they were young. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if my wife and I had children, I would not have been able to a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) afford to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, c) earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, d) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) become a licensed CPA in 1981, f) get promoted in 1986, g) etc. According to them, if we had children, we would not have been able a) go on four vacations a year after my wife’s business trips to luxury resorts across America 1978-1992, b) to have a home built in Wheaton in 1984, c) to buy collector cars in 1989 and 1994, d) etc. They would not have used our not having children against me if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/france_to_send_out_letters_to_young_women_urging_them_to_have_babies_before_it_s_too_late.html
— Real scientists have known the truth about global warming for decades. DD: Democrats blame Republicans for everything that is bad including bad weather.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/real_scientists_have_known_the_truth_about_global_warming_for_decades.html
— Ahead of midterms, Obama and Hillary suddenly embrace the Trump agenda. Anybody dumb enough to believe them? The talking points are going out.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/ahead_of_midterms_obama_and_hillary_suddenly_embrace_the_trump_agenda.html

BREITBART
— Nearly Seven in Ten Spaniards Oppose Socialist Government’s Illegal Migrant Amnesty Scheme
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/15/nearly-seven-in-ten-spaniards-oppose-socialist-governments-illegal-migrant-amnesty-scheme/
— Wisconsin Republican Party Headquarters Vandalized
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/02/15/photo-wisconsin-republican-party-headquarters-targeted-in-despicable-act-of-vandalism/amp/

CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES
— Dissecting CBS News’ Claim that ‘Less than 14%’ of Trump II ICE Arrestees Are ‘Violent Criminals’
https://cis.org/Arthur/Dissecting-CBS-News-Claim-Less-14-Trump-II-ICE-Arrestees-Are-Violent-Criminals

COLLEGE FIX
— Free speech group defends U. Illinois College Republicans amid uproar over ICE post
https://www.thecollegefix.com/free-speech-group-defends-u-illinois-college-republicans-amid-uproar-over-ice-post/
— University of Florida to stop ‘gender-affirming care’ for students
https://www.thecollegefix.com/university-of-florida-to-stop-gender-affirming-care-for-students/

FOX NEWS
— ICE ramps up deportation push by boosting capacity to 92,600 beds with $38.3B expansion.
https://www.aol.com/news/ice-ramps-deportation-push-boosting-194632362.html
— Schools that let students leave class to protest ICE have failing academic records. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been promoting walkouts in your school district? How soon, if not already, will they promise students free rides at Ivy League universities if they walkout?
https://www.aol.com/news/schools-let-students-leave-class-230023642.html

INSTITUTE FOR FAMLY STUDIES
— Why Young People Are Delaying Marriage. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors used my not getting married until I was 29 against me. They stressed that I avoided the Vietnam War draft. They stressed a) that I bought new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, and 29, b) that I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and a job-related master’s degree when I was 27, c) that I was earning $100,059/year in today’s dollars when I was 25, and d) that I bought real estate when I was 24, 25, and 27.
https://ifstudies.org/in-the-news/one-reason-why-young-people-are-delaying-marriage-and-what-you-can-do-about-it

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Minnesota Insurgency Needs to Be Addressed. DD: What about the Illinois insurgency?
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/02/minnesota-insurgency-needs-to-be-addressed/
— Gavin Newsom Compares ICE Agents to Nazi ‘Secret Police’
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/02/gavin-newsom-compares-ice-agents-to-nazi-secret-police/

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Trump Throws In the Towel on Minneapolis Surge
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/02/trump-throws-in-towel-on-minneapolis-surge/

NEWSMAX
— DHS Funding Fight Should Protect ICE
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/tom-homan-ice-dhs-funding/2026/02/15/id/1246219/

POST MILLENNIAL
— US airlines must certify use of merit-based hiring for pilots. DD: The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. Since then, to hire Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran, they have lowered standards.
https://thepostmillennial.com/us-airlines-must-certify-use-of-merit-based-hiring-for-pilots-faa-says

TOWNHALL
— How Soft Persecution and Socialist Indoctrination Are Erasing America’s Soul
https://townhall.com/columnists/virginia-prodan/2026/02/15/how-soft-persecution-and-socialist-indoctrination-are-erasing-americas-soul-n2671224
— This New Rule Will Finally End the Illegal Immigrant Truck Driver Crisis
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/02/15/this-new-rule-will-finally-end-the-illegal-immigrant-truck-driver-crisis-n2671346
— Polling Data Confirms the Left’s Disastrous Position on Trump’s Deportation Agenda
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/chloe-trapanotto/2026/02/15/polling-data-confirms-the-lefts-three-word-answer-on-ice-operations-its-devestating-n2671339

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Duckworth says to Vance: “Forrest Gump ran toward danger in Vietnam. Your boss ran to his podiatrist crying bone spurs,” Duckworth wrote in a post on the social platform X, referring to President Trump’s medical draft deferments that excused him from serving in the Vietnam War. DD: My avoiding the Vietnam War draft has had a tremendous negative impact on me. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, many, most, virtually all, and at times, all of my superiors and supervisors were Democrat veterans who blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War. They especially blamed Republicans like me who are White, male, and 1-A. They were furious that while my peers were dying in Vietnam, I earned college degrees, bought new cars, bought real estate, and went on vacations. Democrat veterans either orchestrated or carried out all the many adverse actions that the federal government took against me.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5711910-duckworth-responds-to-vance/

AOL
— Straw polls reveal frontrunners. DD: What would have sold more tickets for the DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC) February 27 fundraiser? Many more tickets would have been sold if the event included a straw poll. If I had been asked, I would have conducted one for the contested statewide and countywide races (U.S. Senate, Illinois Governor, Illinois Secretary of State, DuPage Sheriff, and 3rd District Appellate Court) like I did for the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) in the past. DuPage County straw polls have had big impacts on races. Jack Ryan’s winning MTRO’s 2003 Oktoberfest fundraiser U.S. Senate straw poll helped him win the 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate primary. 600 attended the fundraiser and 400 voted in the straw poll. The fundraiser’s profit was $20,000+, that is, it was $35,000+ in today’s dollars.
https://www.aol.com/news/dfl-sees-historic-minnesota-caucus-175835864.html

MSN
— Here’s how much more singles need to save for retirement to enjoy the same lifestyle as couples. DD: Since I got married when I was 29 years old in 1978, my critics/opponents have been furious, and especially my critics/opponents who are not married, whose spouses have little or no income, and/or who have children. When we got married, my wife had saved $20,000 ($102,000 in today’s dollars). She had a good job with the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. We used her savings to buy 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton ( https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/1017-E-Harrison-Ave-60187/home/18135528 ). For the next 14 years, we went on vacations 4 times a year following her business trips to luxury golf resorts across America. Her income helped us have 915 Cove Court built in Wheaton ( https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/915-Cove-Ct-60189/home/18126600 ) in 1984. My being married to her helped me a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) afford to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, c) earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, d) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) become a licensed CPA in 1981, f) get promoted in 1986, g) buy collector cars in 1989 and 1994, h) etc.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/heres-how-much-more-singles-need-to-save-for-retirement-to-enjoy-the-same-lifestyle-as-couples/ar-AA1WcUR2

NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been promoting walkouts in your school district? How soon, if not already, will they promise students free rides at Ivy League universities if they walkout?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/us/student-protests-walkouts-ice-texas.html

MY NEWS LA
— City of West Covina and its former Fire Department captain have reached a settlement in his lawsuit that alleged he was forced to resign in 2022. DD: Should I refile Diersen v. GAO? Just kidding. But a lot has changed since 1998. Back then, it was legal to use Affirmative Action to get rid Republicans who White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/city-of-west-covina-settles-with-former-fire-captain/ar-AA1Wf7tk

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— For College Applicants, Pressure to Make Summers Count Has Gotten Even Worse. Teens scramble to specialize their summer pursuits early—to convey a ‘story’ to college admissions officers. DD: What did you do during the summer between your junior and senior years in high school? I washed dishes for the minimum wage for 40 hours a week in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights. What did you do during the summer between your senior year in high school and your freshman year in college? I cleaned golf shoes in Flossmoor and chipped slag and pumped gasoline in Chicago Heights.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/college-admissions-summer-resume-activities-high-school-d2bfe312
— Gen Z, Locked Out of Home Buying, Puts Its Money in the Market. The share of young people transferring funds to investment accounts has climbed steeply over a decade. DD: Back in the good old days, that is, back when I was 24 in 1972, I was able to buy a new townhome ( https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ ). The down payment came from the money I earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. That money I earned also enabled me to buy a new 1972 Corvette in 1971 and to pay for four graduate evening business courses at Loyola in 1972.
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/gen-z-investments-home-ownership-ec0bbe98
— The Ultrawealthy Are Doubling Down on Home Security
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/the-ultrawealthy-are-doubling-down-on-home-security-181c69bc

FORBES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2026/02/15/bad-bunny-owns-90-of-the-top-10-on-multiple-billboard-charts/

MARKET WATCH
— Here’s the only group in New York City having children at a rate high enough to maintain the population
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-the-only-group-in-new-york-city-having-children-at-a-rate-high-enough-to-maintain-the-population-2815d103

GALLUP
— LGBTQ+ Identification Holds at 9% in U.S. DD: My critics/opponents ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/702206/lgbtq-identification-holds.aspx

LIST WIRE
— DD: Illinois Democrat leaders crow about their success in driving Trump’s approval rating down to 33% in Illinois.
https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/story/life/2026/02/15/trump-approval-rating-united-states-february-2026/88694047007/

WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
— DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been promoting walkouts in your school district? How soon, if not already, will they promise students free rides at Ivy League universities if they walkout?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/us/student-protests-walkouts-ice-texas.html

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

DECCAN HERALD
— Caste is by birth. Conversion or marriage doesn’t change it. DD: What caste were you born into? Neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. He never made more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars He almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills. He died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21. My mother never attended high school. Because that dramatically lowered her earning potential, she stayed home and raised me and my brother.
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/caste-is-by-birth-conversion-or-marriage-doesnt-change-it-says-allahabad-hc-3897439

February 15, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight deportation of their illegals.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/icirr-2026-illinois-coalition-immigrant-refugee-rights-summit-launching-state-campaign-ice-border-patrol-agenda/18601453/
https://abc7chicago.com/post/donald-trump-deportation-news-us-spent-40m-roughly-300-deportations-nations-other-own-democratic-report-says/18599935/

WGN9
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/bad-bunny-represents-u-s-better-than-trump-americans-say-in-poll/

FOX32
— ICE ramps up deportation push with 92,600 new beds in $38.3B expansion
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/ice-ramps-up-deportation-push-92600-new-beds-38-3b-expansion

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/protest-broadview-ice/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/chicago-teen-fought-cancer-dies/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Neighborhood, Loop protests are part of nationwide ‘spring surge to melt ICE’ Campus walkouts and a large cross-city gathering in Federal Plaza spotlight the continuing actions of the Trump administration against immigrants and U.S. citizens. “We’re just telling ICE to get out of our streets,” a high school freshman says. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use their high school students to fight deportation of their illegals.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/13/immigration-ice-trump-administration-protest-students-walkouts
— DD: Democrat leaders say that as Trump administration holds back funding, new taxes could be in store for Illinois.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/02/14/illlinois-democrats-budget-address-federal-tax-trump-rich-miller
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly equate their runaway slaves with their illegals.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/02/13/chicago-resistance-ice-operation-midway-blitz-deportation-campaign-fugitive-slave-act

DAILY HERALD
–DD: In its Sunday, February 15, 2026 hardcopy edition, the Daily Herald indorsed Bailey for governor.
https://www.dailyherald.com/

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
— Kane County GOP to host annual Lincoln Dinner fundraiser
https://www.shawlocal.com/kane-county-chronicle/2026/02/14/kane-county-gop-to-host-annual-lincoln-dinner-fundraiser/
— Kane County Democrats’ Truman Dinner speaker lineup includes Durbin, Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi
https://www.shawlocal.com/kane-county-chronicle/2026/02/14/kane-county-democrats-truman-dinner-speaker-lineup-includes-durbin-duckworth-krishnamoorthi/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly have their students walkout to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.aol.com/news/second-aurora-school-walkout-remains-005959824.html

SHAW LOCAL
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly have their students walkout to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.shawlocal.com/kendall-county-now/2026/02/13/oswego-east-h-s-students-walk-out-of-school-friday-to-protest-actions-of-ice-agents/

CHICAGO TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly have their students walkout to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://nationaltoday.com/us/il/chicago/news/2026/02/14/chicago-area-students-walk-out-to-protest-trump-policies/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What would have sold more tickets for the DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC) February 27 fundraiser? Many more tickets would have been sold if the event included a straw poll. If I had been asked, I would have conducted one for the contested statewide and countywide races (U.S. Senate, Illinois Governor, Illinois Secretary of State, DuPage Sheriff, and 3rd District Appellate Court) like I did for the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) in the past. DuPage County straw polls have had big impacts on races. Jack Ryan’s winning MTRO’s 2003 Oktoberfest fundraiser U.S. Senate straw poll helped him win the 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate primary. 600 attended the fundraiser and 400 voted in the straw poll. The fundraiser’s profit was $20,000+, that is, it was $35,000+ in today’s dollars. SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_United_States_Senate_election_in_Illinois – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Wheaton College Professor Really Didn’t Like My Bad Bunny Article
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/02/12/wheaton-college-professor-really-didnt-like-my-bad-bunny-article

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option. DD: When I was 45 years old In 1993, my Democrat GAO superiors “offered” my coworkers including me a $25,000 ($56,000 in today’s dollars) buyout to get rid of us. We had to have at least 25 years of federal service which I did. Virtually all my workers who took that “offer” were older White males.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/new-bill-offers-police-and-firefighters-pension-buyout-option/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Minneapolis prosecutors charge few anti-ICE protesters amid mass unrest
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/4457253/minneapolis-prosecutors-charge-few-anti-ice-protesters/
— It’s getting harder to walk down the aisle with someone from across the aisle. DD: Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary for the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/community-family/4457813/its-getting-harder-to-walk-down-the-aisle-with-someone-from-across-the-aisle/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to a new poll, 60% of Americans aged 18 to 29 say it is important that a romantic partner share their political views. Among baby boomers, only one-third feel the same way. Research from 2016 onward shows that roughly 60% of both Democrats and Republicans prefer to marry within their own party. This is a dramatic leap from 1958, when just 33% of Democrats and 25% of Republicans expressed such a preference.)

NEW YORK POST
— California dreamin’ migrants better off in front of SF judges than LA ones
https://nypost.com/2026/02/14/us-news/big-gap-in-california-immigration-asylum-cases-in-la-sf/
— Educators need to stop radicalizing kids
https://nypost.com/2026/02/14/opinion/educators-stop-radicalizing-kids/

AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION
— India’s caste system determines much about an individual’s opportunities, from marriage prospects to occupation. Such a long history of rigid social norms has also created a stigma around certain jobs and tasks. Defying these stereotypes may come with social and psychological costs. DD: What caste were you born into? Neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. He never made more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars He almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills. He died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21. My mother never attended high school. Because that dramatically lowered her earning potential, she stayed home and raised me and my brother.
https://www.aeaweb.org/research/charts/labor-supply-castes-india

AMERICAN THINKER
— Trump ends the era of fake asylum claims. Suddenly, the law now means what it says, thanks to Trump.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/trump_ends_the_era_of_fake_asylum_claims.html
— Why haven’t there been protests at Mayorkas’s house? After all, he was the architect of the immigration disaster plaguing America, and he implemented his plan during both Obama’s and Biden’s terms.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/why_haven_t_there_been_protests_at_mayorkas_s_house.html
— Trump didn’t declare defeat in Minneapolis; he switched to a smarter strategy. What he did was take a pragmatic look at the current board and adjust the pieces so that he can win the midterm.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/trump_didn_t_declare_defeat_in_minneapolis_he_switched_to_a_smarter_strategy.html

BREITBART
— Concealed Carry Permit Applications ‘Nearly Double,’ Gun Sales Up in Minnesota
https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2026/02/14/concealed-carry-permit-applications-nearly-double-gun-sales-up-minnesota/

FOX NEWS
— Chicago Teachers Union budgeting millions for ‘political activities.’ CTU’s November fiscal report shows union plans ‘Environmental Justice Freedom School’ and anti-Trump protests while student proficiency declines.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/chicago-teachers-union-budgeting-millions-political-activities-according-fiscal-report
— San Francisco residents band together to shut down reparations fund, claiming it’s ‘dividing’ the city.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/san-francisco-residents-band-together-shut-down-reparations-fund-claiming-its-dividing-city

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Penn State’s DEI requirement for faculty promotion prompts lawsuit. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the Post Office for almost 3 years, to keep your job and to get promoted, you had to be a Democrat. While I worked for the Democrats who ran IRS for almost 9 years, to keep your job and to get promoted to GS-13, you had to be a Democrat. While worked for the Democrats who ran GAO for almost 18 years, to keep your job and to get promoted to GS-14, you had to be a Democrat. Further, to get promoted, you had to be a minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/02/penn-states-dei-requirement-for-faculty-promotion-typical-among-us-universities/

NEWSMAX
— 50 GOP Senators Co-sponsoring SAVE America Act
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/mike-lee-save-america-act-republicans/2026/02/14/id/1246189/

TOWNHALL
— What Is Harvard Trying to Hide? This DOJ Lawsuit Aims to Find Out
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2026/02/14/justice-department-sues-harvard-for-refusing-to-turn-over-admissions-data-n2671299

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CBS NEWS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Obama to fight deportation of their illegals.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-president-barack-obama-ice-shootings-minnesota/

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Trump boasts of over $1.5B in political funds. His spending tactic could shape the midterms.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-boasts-of-over-1-5b-in-political-funds-his-spending-tactic-could-shape-the-midterms

MSN
— Chris Harrison is looking for ‘traditional’ singles. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage. What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary for the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/chris-harrison-is-looking-for-traditional-singles/ar-AA1VGdXz
— Finding a life partner will put you on the path to a richer retirement. DD: Since I got married when I was 29 years old in 1978, my critics/opponents have been furious, and especially my critics/opponents who are not married, whose spouses have little or no income, and/or who have children. When we got married, my wife had saved $20,000 ($102,000 in today’s dollars). She had a good job with the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. We used her savings to buy 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton ( https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/1017-E-Harrison-Ave-60187/home/18135528 ). For the next 14 years, we went on vacations 4 times a year following her business trips to luxury golf resorts across America. Her income helped us have 915 Cove Court built in Wheaton ( https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/915-Cove-Ct-60189/home/18126600 ) in 1984. My being married to her helped me a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) afford to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, c) earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, d) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) become a licensed CPA in 1981, f) get promoted in 1986, g) buy collector cars in 1989 and 1994, h) etc.
https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/heres-how-much-more-singles-need-to-save-for-retirement-to-enjoy-the-same-lifestyle-as-couples/ar-AA1Wd1Tx

NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight deportation of their illegals.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/opinion/ice-congress-trump-dhs.html
— Maybe America Needs Some New Cities Built From Scratch. DD: HUD built Park Forest South (now University Park) from scratch. Between 1966 and 1969, I delivered mail in what is now University Park. I bought a new townhome in University Park ( https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ ) in 1972. I lived in it full-time 1972-1974, part-time 1974-1976, rented it out 1976-1984, and sold it in 1984.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/business/economy/america-new-cities-irvine.html
— Want More Babies? Abolish Commutes. DD: My wife and I got married in 1978. We soon learned that we had fertility problems. Because of that, when I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980, I asked my GAO superiors to assign me to in-town audits instead of out-of-town audits. My GAO coworkers overwhelming wanted to be assigned to out-of-town audits. When my wife and I gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, my Democrat GAO superiors used that against me viciously. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I lied about are wanting/trying to have children and that we were disgusting filthy rich DINKs.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/

WASHINGTON POST
— Dr. Oz has a point about retirement. Spending healthy years in idleness isn’t good for you. DD: If you are not retired, what do you plan to do when you are retired? If you are retired, what are you doing? I was forced to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. Since 2000, ever-increasingly, I spend more of my time and money putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters together and sending them out. Between 2000 and 2010, I spent a lot of my time helping the Milton Township Republican Organization and the DuPage County Republican Central Committee be successful. Between 2003 and 2007, I spent a lot of my time serving as an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member. Between 2005 and 2012, I spent a lot of my time serving as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman. All of the aforesaid was to defend and advance conservative principles and the Republican Party platform.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/02/14/retirement-age-dr-oz-social-security/
— Job applicants scrub campus political activism from their résumés. DD: If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a Crete-Monee High School student 1962-1966, the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a UIC student 1966-1968 and 1971 and/or a NIU student 1969-1970, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time Loyola student 1972-1976, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time DePaul student 1976-1980, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired me in 1980 or promoted me in 1986.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/11/09/gen-z-job-applicants-campus-activism/

FOX SAN ANTONIO & WBALTV & KSWO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly have their students walkout to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://foxsanantonio.com/newsletter-daily/east-central-hs-plans-walkout-friday-as-student-protests-against-ice-continue-immigration-customs-enforcement-trump
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/students-walk-out-of-two-baltimore-area-high-schools-to-protest-ice/70351166
https://www.kswo.com/video/2026/02/15/lawton-students-walk-out-ice-out-protests/

BUSINESS INSIDER
— DD: According to my critics/opponents, my wife and I can and should pay way more taxes a) because we never had dependents, b) because we have no debts, c) because we have substantial retirement savings, d) because we inherited some money, e) because they believe that the federal government grossly overpaid me, f) because they believe that my $68,640/year Civil Service Retirement System pension is much too generous, g) because they believe that my $18,711.60/year Social Security is much too generous, h) because the federal government pays $21,000/year (72%) of our $30,000/year healthcare insurance premiums because I am a federal retiree, and i) because I avoided the Vietnam War draft. According to my critics/opponents, those who share our demographics and can pay more taxes should pay more taxes. According to them, we have what we have because we benefitted tremendously from discrimination against those who do not share our demographics. Comments?
https://www.businessinsider.com/california-millionaire-support-billionaire-wealth-tax-higher-taxation-2026-1

TIME
— From Eisenhower to Trump: How Military Service Impacts the Presidency. DD: How has the draft impacted you? My avoiding the Vietnam War draft has had a tremendous negative impact on me. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, many, most, virtually all, and at times, all of my superiors and supervisors were Democrat veterans who blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War. They especially blamed Republicans like me who are White, male, and 1-A. They were furious that while my peers were dying in Vietnam, I earned college degrees, bought new cars, bought real estate, and went on vacations. Democrat veterans either orchestrated or carried out all the many adverse actions that the federal government took against me.
https://time.com/7221827/presidents-combat-veterans/

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
— Success in high school and college athletics often is influenced by race and gender, as well as socioeconomic status, including family wealth and education. DD: What limited your athletic success? For me, it was my not being able to run since I was in grade school because I have a hereditary bone disease. If I was been 4-F for the Vietnam draft because of that along with my eyesight not being correctable to 20/20 and my having partial red/green color blindness, my entire life would have been drastically different.
https://news.osu.edu/how-family-background-can-help-lead-to-athletic-success/

NEXT 25
— Your campus activism could destroy job prospects forever. New survey reveals troubling employer attitudes toward politically active college graduates seeking their first professional positions. DD: If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a Crete-Monee High School student 1962-1966, the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a UIC student 1966-1968 and 1971 and/or a NIU student 1969-1970, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time Loyola student 1972-1976, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time DePaul student 1976-1980, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired me in 1980 or promoted me in 1986.
https://rollingout.com/2026/01/25/you-campus-activism-destroy-job-prospect/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

TELEGRAPH
— How to avoid living with retirement regret. Choosing the right time, or what to do next, takes careful planning. DD: I should write about what my last 28 years would have been like if I had not succumbed to my Democrat GAO superiors’ threats to retire 6 years early. If I had survived until I was 55 in 2003 and took regular retirement, my Civil Service Retirement System pension and retirement savings would be much higher. But my last 6 years would have been a living hell. They would have constructively demoted me, assigned me to work for my former subordinates, given me adverse transfers, given me bad job assignments, assigned me to supervise their most problematic employees, given me unfair performance expectations, given me unfair performance appraisals, and always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/pensions/news/how-to-avoid-living-with-retirement-regret/

February 14, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-agents-detain-5-men-work-du-quoin-sawmill-1-first-reported-mass-immigration-actions-far-south-il/18597868/

NBC5
— DD: Democrat leaders have their students walk out from class to protest Trump policies
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-and-suburban-students-walk-out-from-class-to-protest-trump-policies/3892757/

CBS2
— Partial government shutdown underway
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/partial-government-shutdown-underway/

FOX32
— Illinois GOP governor primary debate: Submit your questions for candidates
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-governor-gop-primary-debate-2026
— The typical American worker has just $955 saved for retirement. DD: I started earning credits toward a Civil Service Retirement System pension when I was 18 in 1966. My critics/opponents have always been furious about that. They got more furious when my Democrat GAO superiors “offered” me early retirement when I was 45 in 1993 and that I took it when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/typical-american-worker-just-955-saved-retirement-study

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting high school students to walk out. Walkout students know that their walking out will forever be on their records and that their walking out will help them get accepted by Democrat colleges and help them get hired by Democrat employers. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a Crete-Monee High School student 1962-1966, the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a UIC student 1966-1968 and 1971 and/or a NIU student 1969-1970, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time Loyola student 1972-1976, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time DePaul student 1976-1980, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired me in 1980 or promoted me in 1986.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/13/chicago-students-school-walkout/
— Trump administration cuts more than $100 million in Illinois transportation dollars
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/13/trump-administration-transportation-grant-cuts/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting high school students to walk out. Walkout students know that their walking out will forever be on their records and that their walking out will help them get accepted by Democrat colleges and help them get hired by Democrat employers. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a Crete-Monee High School student 1962-1966, the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a UIC student 1966-1968 and 1971 and/or a NIU student 1969-1970, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time Loyola student 1972-1976, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time DePaul student 1976-1980, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired me in 1980 or promoted me in 1986.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/13/immigration-ice-trump-administration-protest-students-walkouts
— Illinois after-school programs in limbo as lawsuits challenge Trump administration cuts. DD: When you were in high school, what did you do after class and/or Saturdays? I did yard work in Crete during my freshman and sophomore years. I delivered newspapers in Crete during all 4 years. I washed dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights during my junior and senior years.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/02/13/illinois-after-school-programs-parent-services-trump-administration-cuts-grants
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/02/13/grocery-prices-chicago-climbed-inflation-trump-cpi-food
— DD: What limited your sports activities in grade school, high school, and college? For me it was my inability to run because I had an inherited bone disease. Also, my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20 and I had partial red/green color blindness.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/books/2026/02/13/heated-rivalry-book-tv-steamy-sports-romance-chicago-authors-independent-bookstores

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH FOUR PHOTOS: GOP candidate wins appeal and slot on 11th Congressional District ballots; DuPage halts early voting as result
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260213/us-congress-politics/gop-candidate-wins-appeal-and-slot-on-11th-congressional-district-ballots/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Daley, LaHood put ‘fair maps’ campaign on hold
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/daley-lahood-suspend-fair-maps-illinois-campaign

SOUTHERN
— State races gain visibility as early voting continues
https://thesouthern.com/news/state-races-gain-visibility-as-early-voting-continues/article_dc6a781d-3e39-5587-b6b5-883f280cb87e.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) use their teachers to fight their deportation.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/teachers-describe-immigration-enforcements-impact-on-classrooms-in-challenge-of-trump-policy/article_3b326ae8-2d0f-5bc9-8401-97cfd3e3066c.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/13/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-468/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WEST SUBURBAN FOUNDATION FOR DISABLED VETERANS
— Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band are returning for another unforgettable ROCKIN’ FOR OUR VETS concert at Cantigny July 11!
https://www.wsfdv.org/

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Illinois election-integrity advocates are pushing the U.S. Senate to agree with a recent House move and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility America Act. They say it will strengthen federal election safeguards by requiring proof of citizenship and improving voter-roll maintenance.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_1d69088b-9e85-4041-9e71-b194dc64dc2c.html

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Needless-to-say, you define yourself by who you take adverse actions against. I should write about my critics/opponents who have had their operatives and their dupes take adverse actions against me including a) barring me from attending in my role as the GOPUSA Illinois Editor the DuPage County Republican Central Committee Lincoln Day Dinner on February 27, b) ending my membership on the Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, c) ending my service as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton’s Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, d) ending my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship in 2012, e) almost getting the Illinois Center Right Coalition to censure me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters in 2006 and ending my membership on its Steering Committee in 2007, and f) firing me as the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster in 2004 and 2010 and rejecting my bid to serve as its treasurer in 2004. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Who wants you to pay reparations and why, that is, who wants you to pay the price of Affirmative Action and DEI and why? My critics/opponents have always used against me the fact that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s. In their defense, I have always stressed that they always lived in northeast Illinois. My critics/opponents have also always used against me the fact that a) my ancestors on my father’s side homesteaded a 240-acre farm in southeast Crete township in 1854 and b) my ancestors on my mother’s side became owners of a 180-acre farm in Grant Park along the Indiana border after they sharecropped it. According to my critics/opponents, the longer that your ancestors have been in America and the more of the following that you are, the more that you have benefitted from slavery and therefore the more reparations you should pay, that is, the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action and DEI: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, and/or German American. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What career setbacks have you suffered? My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me to resign when I was 20 years old in 1969. My Democrat Firestone Store boss fired me when I was 22. My Democrat IRS superiors a) disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25, b) disallowed my education deductions when I was 29, and c) never promoted me beyond GS-12. My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS when I was 31, b) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, c) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and d) forced me to retire when I was 49. They would not have taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran. What political setbacks have you suffered? The Milton Township Republican Organization fired me as its webmaster in 2004 and 2010 and rejected my bid to serve as its treasurer in 2004, b) the Illinois Center Right Coalition almost censured me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters in 2006 and ended my membership on its Steering Committee in 2007, c) TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois ended my chairmanship in 2012, d) Wheaton ended my service as the Republican fundraiser for its Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, e) the Illinois Republican Party ended my membership on its State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, f) the DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC) has barred me from attending in my role as the GOPUSA Illinois Editor the DCRCC Lincoln Day Dinner on February 27, g) etc. They would not have taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me if I had been a RINO, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What do your critics/opponents do? My critics/opponents use their operatives and their dupes to destroy people like me who they cannot manipulate or dominate, who refuse to glorify and praise them, who refuse to pander to them, who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or who refuse to give them money. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What do you predict that your critics/opponents will eventually do? I predict that my “Republican” critics/opponents will eventually switch parties and announce that they always really were Democrats. I wonder how many of them will officially take credit for their having their operatives and their dupes a) bar me from attending in my role as the GOPUSA Illinois Editor the DuPage County Republican Central Committee Lincoln Day Dinner on February 27, b) end my membership on the Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, c) end my service as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton’s Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, d) end my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship in 2012, e) almost get the Illinois Center Right Coalition to censure me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters in 2006 and end my membership on its Steering Committee in 2007, and f) fire me as the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster in 2004 and 2010 and reject my bid to serve as its treasurer in 2004. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Roadmap to stop looming $21B in deficits
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/press-releases/illinois-policy-institute-roadmap-to-stop-looming-21b-in-deficits/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Judge rules ICE can’t make warrantless arrests at some churches. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly fill their churches with their illegals.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/13/judge-rules-ice-cant-make-warrantless-arrests-churches/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Duffy cracks down on trucking carriers and ‘sham school’ linked to Indiana crash caused by illegal immigrant.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/4458233/duffy-trucking-carriers-sham-indiana-illegal-immigrant/

NEW YORK POST
— Floodgates closed: 4 out of 5 asylum seekers now booted by judges as Trump restores borders
https://nypost.com/2026/02/14/us-news/eight-of-10-asylum-seekers-now-booted-by-judges-as-trump-restores-borders/
— Transportation chief Sean Duffy mandates merit-based hiring of US airline pilots. DD: All during the almost 30 years that I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government, they lowered their hiring, retention, and promotion standards to hire, retain, and promote more Democrats who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://nypost.com/2026/02/13/us-news/transportation-secretary-sean-duffy-orders-merit-based-airline-pilot-hiring/

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Abraham Lincoln: There Is No Inherited White Guilt for the Sin of Slavery. On his birthday, Abraham Lincoln still rebukes inherited guilt, reminding Americans that moral responsibility and dignity rest with individuals, not races. DD: My critics/opponents have always used against me the fact that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s. In their defense, I have always stressed that they always lived in northeast Illinois. My critics/opponents have also always used against me the fact that a) my ancestors on my father’s side homesteaded a 240-acre farm in southeast Crete township in 1854 and b) my ancestors on my mother’s side became owners of a 180-acre farm in Grant Park along the Indiana border after they sharecropped it. According to my critics/opponents, the longer that your ancestors have been in America and the more of the following that you are, the more that you have benefitted from slavery and the more reparations that you should pay, that is, the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action and DEI: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, and/or German American.
https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/14/abraham-lincoln-there-is-no-inherited-white-guilt-for-the-sin-of-slavery/

AMERICAN THINKER
— The real solution to America’s fertility woes. It’s not Stanford’s suggestion that more parents work from home. It’s not Trump’s pay-to-birth government checks, either. It’s this. DD: Do you know anyone with fertility problems who could have tried IVF but did not? My Democrat GAO superiors knew full-well that my wife’s healthcare insurance covered IVF, but that we nevertheless gave up trying to have children without trying IVF. They knew full-well, but ignored/dismissed/belittled, the fact that our doctors had advised against us trying it. They knew full-well that I had big problems with my sperm and that my wife had big problems with her eggs. They knew full-well that we did not adopt or become foster parents. They viciously used the aforesaid to demonize, denigrate, and condemn us being selfish filthy rich DINKS. They constantly complained about the tremendous amount of time and money that they spent raising their children and decried their spouses having little or no income. According to them, if we had children, I would not have been able to a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) afford to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, c) earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, d) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) become a licensed CPA in 1981, f) get promoted in 1986, g) etc. According to them, if we had children, we would not have been able to a) buy a home in Wheaton and two new cars in 1978, b) have a home built in Wheaton in 1984, c) go on four vacations a year after my wife’s business trips to luxury resorts across America 1978-1992, d) buy collector cars in 1989 and 1994, e) etc. They would not have used our not having children against me if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/the_real_solution_to_america_s_fertility_woes.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: This isn’t a rant against avocado toast or elaborate lattes. Rather, look at the most expensive line items in childrearing: daycare, education, food. These are all solvable, but parents have to plan their lives around solving them. Daycare is free if parents raise their own babies. I say “parents” and not just “mothers” on purpose. Dads who like having children and prioritize supporting their postpartum wives are a necessary part of the equation. Educating children at home is radically cheaper than private school tuition. Sure, there’s public school, but I assume most parents would prefer that their kids can read. As a bonus, homeschooling is one of the best ways to embrace the vocation as parent. Feeding kids is a challenge, especially as they grow. But there are many hacks for this, from wholesaler memberships to bulk-buying meat from a local farm to raising kids not to be picky eaters. Smart meal prep is a skill that must be learned. And RFK Jr. is on to something: Even if it’s nominally more expensive, natural food more effectively fills stomachs, so you buy less of it. It also promotes health and thus lowers doctor bills.)

BLAZE
— Democrats condemn SAVE Act even though most of their constituents support it
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/sara-gonzales-unfiltered/racist-misogynistic-trash-democrats-condemn-save-act
— Noem urges swift passage of SAVE Act to prevent illegal aliens from disenfranchising American voters
https://www.theblaze.com/news/noem-urges-swift-passage-of-save-act-to-prevent-illegal-aliens-from-disenfranchising-american-voters

BREITBART
— Record Number of Illegal Aliens Self-Deporting U.S. Under Trump
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/02/13/report-record-number-of-illegal-aliens-self-deporting-u-s-under-trump/
— Americans Should Compensate Minnesota Companies that Hired Illegal Migrants. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/02/13/tim-walz-americans-should-compensate-companies-that-hired-illegal-migrants/

CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES
— Fifth Circuit Greenlights Mandatory Detention for All Illegal Entrants. Ignore the thousands of habeas claims — this issue is bound for SCOTUS.
https://cis.org/Arthur/Fifth-Circuit-Greenlights-Mandatory-Detention-All-Illegal-Entrants

DAILY SIGNAL
— Trump, Beware—These ‘Unforced Errors’ Could Hand Democrats a Midterm Win
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/13/trump-beware-these-unforced-errors-could-hand-democrats-a-midterm-win/

EPOCH TIMES
— Trump Says He Will Sign Orders to Require Voter ID for Midterms. Republican Sen. Susan Collins became the latest to support the SAVE Act.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-says-he-will-require-voter-id-for-midterms-5985515

NEW AMERICAN
— DD: From what I see, virtually all illegals want/need/demand massive government assistance, lack education and/or job skills, and/or have health and/or other problems.
https://thenewamerican.com/us/immigration/report-most-immigrants-get-some-form-of-welfare-61-percent-of-illegal-aliens-do/
— Happily Handicapped Nation: Almost 4 in 10 Stanford Students Claim “Disability.” DD: What percent of the students in your school district are disabled? While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, they assigned me to supervise all their disabled employees.
https://thenewamerican.com/us/education/happily-handicapped-nation-almost-4-in-10-stanford-students-claim-disability/

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— In the Midwest, Anti-ICE Democrats Are Failing America
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/02/13/in_the_midwest_anti-ice_democrats_are_failing_america_153835.html

TOWNHALL
— The Illinois SAFE-T Act Set Violent Illegal Immigrant Loose. Thankfully ICE Has Arrested Him.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/02/13/chicago-migrant-safe-t-act-ankle-monitor-n2671271

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Texans must prove legal status to register vehicles after new DMV rule
https://thehill.com/homenews/5738300-texans-must-prove-legal-status-to-register-vehicles-after-new-dmv-rule/
— DHS funding lapses as Democrats demand ICE reforms
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5738280-dhs-funding-shutdown-democrats-ice/

REUTERS
— FAA: US airlines must certify use of merit-based hiring for pilots. DD: All during the almost 30 years that I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government, they lowered their hiring, retention, and promotion standards to hire, retain, and promote more Democrats who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/us-airlines-must-certify-use-merit-based-hiring-pilots-faa-says-2026-02-13/

CBS NEWS
— Trump vows to require voter ID in midterms “whether approved by Congress or not”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-vows-to-require-voter-id-in-midterms-whether-approved-by-congress-or-not/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Flexibility and Rising Costs Are Keeping Mothers at Work. Labor force participation for women with small children continues to float above prepandemic levels, thanks to flexible work setups — and rising costs. DD: One reason why my mother stayed home and raised my brother and I was her limited earning potential because she never attended high school.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/business/economy/mothers-labor-force-participation.html
— DD: Democrat leaders use what Trump said about elections against him.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/opinion/trump-cancel-elections-voting.html
— ‘Tax the Rich’ Rally Is Expected to Draw a Big Crowd. DD: According to my critics/opponents, my wife and I can and should pay way more taxes a) because we never had dependents, b) because we have no debts, c) because we have substantial retirement savings, d) because we inherited some money, e) because they believe that the federal government grossly overpaid me, f) because they believe that my $68,640/year Civil Service Retirement System pension is much too generous, g) because they believe that my $18,711.60/year Social Security is much too generous, h) because the federal government pays $21,000/year (72%) of our $30,000/year healthcare insurance premiums because I am a federal retiree, and i) because I avoided the Vietnam War draft. According to my critics/opponents, those who share our demographics and can pay more taxes should pay more taxes. According to them, we have what we have because we benefitted tremendously from discrimination against those who do not share our demographics. Comments?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/nyregion/mamdani-tax-rich-rally-dsa.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats. They all knew that to keep their jobs and to get promoted, they had to not only be Democrats, but they had to help get rid of Republican employees. It is called political affiliation discrimination.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/13/trump-rally-gop-fort-bragg/

NBC BOSTON & MSN & BUZZFEED & BOSTON GLOBE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use the Olympics to promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nbcboston.com/uncovering-the-news/lgbtq-olympians-2/3897270/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/texas-olympic-figure-skater-received-threats-for-lgbtq-advocacy/ar-AA1VWxoR
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/team-usa-figure-skater-amber-glenn-speaks-up-for-lgbtq-community-amid-trump-administration/ar-AA1VVRAv
https://www.buzzfeed.com/spenceralthouse/hottest-male-olympic-athletes-team-usa-2026
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/13/opinion/olympics-patriotism-athletes/

ORLANDO SENTINEL
— Scholarships unlock opportunities for college hopefuls. DD: Did you get any scholarships? I did not. My critics/opponents have always used that against me. My ACT score was only 24. I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my class. I had to work my way through college. I spent far too many hours washing dishes and delivering mail instead of studying. That harmed my GPA and my job search.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/02/14/commentary-scholarships-unlock-opportunities-for-college-hopefuls/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— America Fell Out of Love With the Sedan. Detroit Wants to Bring It Back. With drivers looking for more affordable options, U.S. automakers are having second thoughts about abandoning the mass-market sedan. DD: My wife and I have always preferred sedans for daily driving. That is a big reason why we bought a used 2018 Chevrolet Cruze LT ( https://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/cruze/2018/st-401717636/features-specs/ ) and a new 2021 Chevrolet Malibu Premier ( https://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/malibu/2021/st-401861363/features-specs/ )
https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/sedans-cars-trucks-detroit-afb034ee

SIRM
— Transforming Career Setbacks Into Career Success. DD: What career setbacks have you suffered? My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me to resign when I was 20 years old in 1969. My Democrat Firestone Store boss fired me when I was 22. My Democrat IRS superiors a) disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25, b) disallowed my education deductions when I was 29, and c) never promoted me beyond GS-12. My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS when I was 31, b) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, c) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and d) forced me to retire when I was 49. They would not have taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran. What political setbacks have you suffered? The Milton Township Republican Organization fired me as its webmaster in 2004 and 2010 and rejected my bid to serve as its treasurer in 2004, b) the Illinois Center Right Coalition almost censured me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters in 2006 and ended my membership on its Steering Committee in 2007, c) TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois ended my chairmanship in 2012, d) Wheaton ended my service as the Republican fundraiser for its Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, e) the Illinois Republican Party ended my membership on its State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, f) the DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC) has barred me from attending in my role as the GOPUSA Illinois Editor the DCRCC Lincoln Day Dinner on February 27, g) etc. They would not have taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me if I had been a RINO, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.
https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/hr-quarterly/transforming-career-setbacks-into-career-success

POLITICO
— ICE says federal agents appear to have lied about confrontation that led to shooting. Officers claimed they were attacked, prompting one to open fire.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/13/ice-minneapolis-shooting-assault-00780839

ATLANTIC
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) paint today’s Republicans as having been the Confederates in the Civil War and b) paint today’s Democrats as having been the Union Army in the Civil War.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/slavery-matt-walsh-1619-project/685982/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

UNION OF CATHOLIC ASIAN NEWS
— Conversion, marriage do not alter caste status, rules Indian court. DD: What caste were you born into? Neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. He never made more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars He almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills. He died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21. My mother never attended high school. Because that dramatically lowered her earning potential, she stayed home and raised me and my brother.
https://www.ucanews.com/news/conversion-marriage-do-not-alter-caste-status-rules-indian-court/111904

SUN
— Luxury car drivers are blasted by neighbors for adding ‘obnoxious’ eyesore to their homes – it’s part of annoying trend. One homeowner’s dream garage is another’s backyard nightmare. DD: I have owned 2 or more cars since I was 23 in 1971. I owned 3 cars for 6 months when I was 25. I have owned 3 or more cars since I was 29. I have owned 4 or more cars since I was 41. Storing those cars in garages has always been a problem. Because of car storage limitations, regret that I sold my 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS in 2005, my 1968 Dodge Charger R/T in 2005, my 2016 Ford Mustang in 2023, etc. Currently, my wife and I store 4 cars in our 3-car garage home and 5 cars in our Iron Gate Motor Condo in Naperville. Were it not for inheritances, we would not own so many cars or the condo.
https://www.the-sun.com/motors/13720067/luxury-car-drivers-neighbors-garage-eyesore-row/

February 10, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

WGN9
— Senate Democratic candidates to face off in statewide debate on WGN. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate debates.
https://wgntv.com/news/politics/senate-democratic-candidates-to-face-off-in-statewide-debate-on-wgn/

WTTW
— DD: Democrats ever-increasingly fight efforts to stop election fraud, that is, Democrats ever-increasingly promote election fraud.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/09/trump-s-claims-about-election-fraud-undermine-public-trust-uic-law-professor-says

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: How much money is Pritzker spending to manipulate Republican primary races?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/gov-jb-pritzker-endorses-margaret-croke-in-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/daywatch-bad-bunnys-super-bowl-halftime-show-was-close-to-art/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Moody’s sees Illinois slipping: Fewer jobs, fewer people
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/moodys-illinois-lose-jobs-population-year

DAILY NORTHWESTERN
— Congressional candidates face off at NAACP forum, marking start of Black History Lecture Series. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2026/02/09/city/congressional-candidates-face-off-at-naacp-forum-marking-start-of-black-history-lecture-series/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— New legislation filed in Illinois includes billionaire wealth tax. Senate Bill 3376 would apply Illinois’ personal income tax to the appreciation of billionaires’ assets.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/state/2026/02/10/billionaire-wealth-tax-is-among-newly-proposed-illinois-legislation/88590925007/

WCIA
— Senate Democratic candidates to face off in statewide debate in Illinois. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.wcia.com/illinois-capitol-news/senate-democratic-candidates-to-face-off-in-statewide-debate-on-wgn/

WGEM
— League of Women Voters of Adams County hosting 2 upcoming candidate forums. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.wgem.com/2026/02/09/league-women-voters-adams-county-hosting-2-upcoming-candidate-forums/

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push pot. How successful have Democrats been making everyone in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct stoners?
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/even-though-marijuana-is-legal-in-illinois-clearing-old-criminal-records-still-a-challenge/

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— DD: Chicago Democrats demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republican Florida.
https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/six-reasons-not-to-move-your-business-to-florida/

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/10/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-677/
— Rate the new Don Tracy digital ad
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/10/rate-the-new-don-tracy-digital-ad/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CHICAGO CONTRARIAN
— With the Border Secure, Federal Immigration Enforcement Should Go Where They’re Invited. DD: I disagree, ICE should go were the most illegals are.
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/with-the-border-secure-federal-immigration-enforcement-should-go-where-theyre-invited

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois gives $1.5M to ICE opponents
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/waste-watch-illinois-gives-1-5m-to-ice-opponents/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

AMERICAN THINKER
— Honoring ancient tradition means observing the Olympics’ political silence. The classlessness of the left is on full display in Milan.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/honoring_ancient_tradition_means_observing_the_olympics_political_silence.html
— What has feminism wrought?
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/what_has_feminism_wrought.html
— Who built America? Now even the anarchist hookers want in on the act.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/who_built_america.html

COLLEGE FIX
— Elmhurst University Turning Point USA fights for recognition
https://www.thecollegefix.com/elmhurst-university-turning-point-usa-fights-for-recognition/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Turning Point USA represents a threat to campus and must not be approved, according to student government leaders at Elmhurst University in suburban Chicago. However, university officials say they are “monitoring the situation.” Campus club founder Tim Dudasik recently spoke to The College Fix via a phone interview about his fight to start a chapter of the free-market student club at the private college in Elmhurst. He said student government leaders believe TPUSA is an “unsafe threat to campus.” While the senior always had an interest in politics, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, inspired him to start his own chapter. He said he “immediately filed an application” to start a chapter after the September 10, 2025 assassination of Turning Point USA’s founder. He initially had problems finding a faculty sponsor, emailing at least 25 professors without success. However, he told The Fix that multiple professors reached out to him after a student newspaper story came out about the new organization. Yet, he ran into further problems when he had to present to the student government and his peers denied his request for official recognition. That means the club is not allowed to meet in classrooms or “congregate on campus in any way.” The denial also prevents the club from doing something Dudasik is passionate about: “The big idea [with Turning Point] is tabling – being able to be on campus, talk about politics, religion, and all these divisive topics,” he said. “But without being officially recognized by the school, you can’t do that.” The chapter’s next steps are to address a list of concerns that the Student Government had provided them. “We’re… essentially [going to] go through the same process we did last semester, [to] address their concerns,” Dudasik said. “And if denied again, our next step is to become loud and vocal […a]nd to really express the need and desire for an organization like this on campus, because the more the school realizes that it’s something that’s wanted, it becomes something that’s harder for them to deny.” Still, Dudasik has found ways to organize his like-minded peers – a virtual event with former Olympian Anthony Watson drew 52 interested students. The national Turning Point USA also recognizes the chapter. Elmhurst officials won’t commit to approving the club. The university confirmed to The Fix that the student government must first approve the club before the school will. “The University is monitoring the situation to ensure that the group’s application is treated fairly, and that it receives the same consideration as any other group applying for recognition as a student organization,” Desiree Chen, a spokeswoman for the school, told The Fix via email. She has not responded in the past week for clarification on what the restrictions are on the club and why the school does not just intervene and approve the application. While Turning Point USA has faced problems getting approved on college campuses before, there have been numerous examples in the past several months since the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The national free-market student group reports more than 100,000 people signed up to start clubs. Chapters at Olivet Nazarene University, also in Illinois, as well as St. John’s University in New York City, have faced problems.)

DAILY SIGNAL
— Democrats Champion Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show, Attack Turning Point USA Alternative
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/09/democrats-champion-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-attack-turning-point-usa-alternative/

FOX NEWS
— Hochul running mate voted to allow noncitizen voting in NYC elections. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. They wanted cheap labor.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hochul-running-mate-voted-allow-non-citizen-voting-nyc-elections.amp

NEWSMAX
— Democrats Sabotage American Safety in DHS Fight
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/mary-miller-dhs-funding/2026/02/10/id/1245554/
— Democrats Want Illegals to Vote in Elections. DD: Illegals have demographics that vote for Democrats: need/want/demand massive government assistance, liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, unmarried, LGBTQ, non-Protestant, and/or non-German American.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/byron-donalds-democrats-illegal-aliens/2026/02/09/id/1245516/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5729617-markey-resolution-trump-election-takeover/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5730286-trump-criticism-bad-bunny-performance/

ROLL CALL
— White House, Democrats negotiate as shutdown deadline nears. As Friday DHS funding deadline approaches, Senate Democrats, Trump wrangle over details
https://rollcall.com/2026/02/09/white-house-democrats-negotiate-as-shutdown-deadline-nears/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: With days left to pass a Homeland Security spending bill, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate dismissed a White House counteroffer to their own, calling it “insufficient.” . . . Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said he was “aware” of the White House counteroffer, but couldn’t immediately provide more information. Kaine said his support for a continuing resolution would be dependent on the nature of the counteroffer the White House makes to Democratic demands. “Let’s see what the negotiation is like on the proposal the Dems have made and the counteroffer that the Republicans are making,” Kaine said. “We’ll know more after lunch tomorrow.”)

ABC NEWS
— DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/trump-pushes-save-act-calls-federalize-elections-midterms-130001274
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-show-full-symbolism/story?id=129992122

NBC NEWS
— DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/trumps-election-threats-shape-years-key-secretary-state-races-rcna257573

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-halftime-show-america-0f3534a06cc01fb7c5aae7487debe4fb

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://www.usnews.com/news/u-s-news-decision-points/articles/2026-02-09/can-feds-take-over-elections-heres-what-to-know

AOL
— DD: How did you meet your spouse? I met my outstanding wife at a social meeting for young adults at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. She was raised as a Catholic and I was raised as a Missouri Synod Lutheran. We were both looking for a traditional marriage. Our marriage in 1978 helped me a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) afford to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, c) earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, d) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) become a licensed CPA in 1981, and f) get promoted to GS-13 in 1986. Our marriage helped us a) buy a home in Wheaton and two new cars in 1978 and b) have a home built in Wheaton in 1984. Our marriage helped my wife earn a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.aol.com/articles/chris-harrison-host-traditional-marriage-202255471.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— It’s Time for America to Admit That It Has a Marijuana Problem
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/opinion/regulate-legalized-marijuana.html
— DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/trumps-nationalize-voting-elections-midterms-explainer.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/opinion/bad-bunny-super-bowl-americans.html
— Appeals Court Lets Trump Revoke Deportation Protections for 60,000 More Migrants. The court pointed to recent rulings by the Supreme Court as precedent to allow the protections for migrants from Nepal, Honduras and Nicaragua to expire.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/us/politics/appeals-court-lets-trump-revoke-deportation-protections-for-60000-more-migrants.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-02-09/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-how-it-happened-stage-production

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/2026/02/09/bad-bunny-at-the-super-bowl-was-a-win-for-culture/88588620007/

FLORIDA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2026/02/09/bad-bunny-backlash-reveals-ignorance-many-still-face-super-bowl-halftime-torres/88589030007/

USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders have no problem with their protesters bringing their loaded guns to their protests.
https://www.aol.com/articles/no-guns-protests-trump-says-225834337.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Minnesota Burning. Anti-ICE protesters sound more like George Wallace than Martin Luther King.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/minnesota-burning-efacf675
— The Blue State Population Bust. Journal Editorial Report: The 2030 census could spell doom for Democrats. DD: Ever-increasingly, Democrat and RINO leaders replace those who have demographics that vote for Republicans with those who have demographics that vote for Democrats.
https://www.wsj.com/video/series/journal-editorial-report/wsj-opinion-the-blue-state-population-bust/B83B099A-4704-4738-858F-CC510F88C5FF
— The Biggest Threat to Journalism? Journalists. Don’t blame rapacious owners for the loss of public trust. Blame biased, incompetent reporting. DD: I have always fully disclosed that I have always been a conservative Republican.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-biggest-threat-to-journalism-journalists-cf580513?mod=opinion_lead_pos6
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/music/bad-bunny-uses-joy-to-put-out-political-firestorm-at-super-bowl-halftime-6df796e7

BLOOMBERG
— DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-09/can-trump-nationalize-elections-how-the-constitution-limits-presidential-power

PBS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-cultural-impact-of-bad-bunnys-super-bowl-halftime-show

JORDAN PETERSON
— People who succeed in almost everything they do always take full responsibility for these 7 areas of their life. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I owe all my successes in my life to my benefitting from discrimination against those who are: liberal/moderate, non-Republican, minority, female, younger, poor, unmarried, LGBTQ, non-Protestant, and/or non-German American. According to my critics/opponents, because of the aforesaid, I should pay the price of Affirmative Action and DEI big time.
https://vegoutmag.com/lifestyle/r-t-jordan-peterson-says-people-who-succeed-in-almost-everything-they-do-always-take-full-responsibility-for-these-7-areas-of-their-life/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1) Your physical health and vitality. . .2) Your emotional regulation and mental health. . .3) Your career and contribution to society. . .4) Your personal finances and resources. . .5) Your relationships and social connections. . .6) Your personal growth and education. . .7) Your meaning and life purpose)