FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks ‘democracy zones’ outside polls to stop Trump interference. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly exist to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/10/mayor-brandon-johnson-democracy-zones-polls-trump/
— Crete Village Board annexes property for construction of 2,400-acre solar farm
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/10/crete-annexes-property-solar-farm/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote opposition to the War on Iran.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/10/iran-bombing-girls-school-war-israel/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Mayor Johnson defends push for ‘democracy zones’ at polling places as a lasting legacy to Jesse Jackson. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly exist to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/03/10/mayor-brandon-johnson-democracy-zones-polling-places-jesse-jackson
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/03/10/white-privilege-racism-black-america-jesse-jackson-ben-jealous
WGN 9
— Erika Kirk appointed to Air Force Academy board
https://wgntv.com/politics-3/erika-kirk-appointed-to-air-force-academy-board/
WTTW
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote opposition to the War on Iran.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/03/10/time-war-iran-americans-unite-aggravation-over-sticker-shock-gas-pump-0
— DD: The Democrat Party platform ever-increasingly promotes more homelessness.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/03/09/report-outlines-premature-deaths-chronic-health-problems-among-homeless-illinois
WGN RADIO
— Dan Proft, co-host of “The Morning Answer” radio program 5-9 a.m. on WIND AM 560, is this week’s guest joining John Kass & Jeff Carlin to discuss the Illinois governor’s race, specifically the Republican primary that has seen second-time candidate Darren Bailey take umbrage with Dan being paid to work on behalf of first-time candidate, Ted Dabrowski. Plus, Kasso wonders why the Chicago Tribune isn’t endorsing anyone in the Republican primary?
https://wgnradio.com/wgn-plus/thechicagoway/chicago-way-w-john-kass-dan-proft-responds-to-darren-baileys-whining/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/03/10/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-483/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Chicago Appellate Court Slaps Down Obama Circuit Court Judge
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/10/chicago-appellate-court-slaps-down-obama-circuit-court-judge/
— Prairie Grove Village President Outlines Battery Farm Details and Pretty Much Predicts That State Law Will End Up Mandating Its Approval
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/10/prairie-grove-village-president-outlines-battery-farm-details-and-pretty-much-predicts-that-state-law-will-end-up-mandating-its-approval/
— Ted Dabrowski Puts Up Ad Directly Attacking Daren Bailey’s 2022
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/10/ted-dabrowski-puts-up-ad-directly-attacking-daren-baileys-2022-suburban-failure/
— Illinois Family Action Ignores Bailey in Its Endorsements, Citing His Lt. Governor as the Reason
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/10/illinois-family-action-ignores-bailey-in-its-endorsements-citing-his-lt-governor-as-the-reason/
— Raja Poll Shows Raja Leading the Pack, Here Come the Attack Ads
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/10/raja-poll-shows-raja-leading-the-pack/
— Wilcox, DeWitte & Hills Join Other GOP Senators Aiming at Homeowner Relief
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/10/wilcox-and-dewitte-join-other-gop-senators-aimed-at-homeowner-relief/
— Sosnowski Introduces Real Estate Tax Bill that Pulls from California’s Prop 13 and Florida’s Limit on Assessment Hikes at 3% per Year
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/09/sosnowski-introduces-real-estate-tax-bill-that-pulls-from-californias-porp-13-and-floridas-limit-on-assessment-hikes-at-3-per-year/
— Republican U.S. Senate Hopeful Ted Dabrowski Tags Democratic Party Candidates Serving in Congress with TSA Lines
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/09/republican-u-s-senate-hopeful-ted-dabrowski-tags-democratic-party-candidates-serving-in-congress-with-tsa-lines/
— State Paying Kaplan for Test Preparation Courses
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/09/state-paying-kaplan-for-test-preparation-courses/
— McHenry County Board Considering Paying Board of Health Members
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/09/mchenry-county-board-considering-paying-board-of-health-members/
— Pritzker’s Concern for Indiana Taxpayers Mocked by Dan Ugaste
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/05/pritzkers-concern-for-indiana-taxpayers-mocked-by-dan-ugaste/
— McHenry County GOP Board Candidate Jeff Schwartz Criticizes “Unreasonable Regulations” That Have “Gutted” Downtown Wonder Lake
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/05/mchenry-county-board-candidate-jeff-schwartz-criticizes-unreasonable-regulations-that-have-gutted-downtown-wonder-lake/
— Sheriff Receiving $195,000 State Grant to Buy Body Cameras
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/05/sheriff-receiving-195000-state-grant-to-buy-body-cameras/
— Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate Nomination Don Tracy Mails
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/04/republican-candidate-for-u-s-senate-nomination-don-tracy-mails/
— Republicans: Write-In Max Solomon for State Treasurer
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/03/04/republicans-write-in-max-solomon-for-state-treasurer/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— House Speaker Mike Johnson says Sharia law in the U.S. is contrary to Constitution
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/mar/10/house-speaker-mike-johnson-says-sharia-law-us-contrary-constitution/
CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES
— Sanctuary Cities: The Cost of Undermining Law and Order
https://cis.org/Testimony/Sanctuary-Cities-Cost-Undermining-Law-and-Order
DAILY SIGNAL
— Why Kristi Noem Failed at DHS. DD: What would your critics/opponents say you failed at? My critics/opponents would say I failed at a) being a Post Office, Firestone Store, IRS, and GAO employee, b) Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter Executive Committee member, c) holder of master’s degrees in business, accounting and finance, c) CPA, Certified Internal Auditor, licensed CPA, and certified fraud examiner, government financial manager, financial services auditor, and forensic accountant, d) FINRA arbitrator, e) conservative activist, Republican Precinct Committeeman, GOPUSA Illinois Editor, Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, Pat O’Malley for governor Milton Township campaign coordinator, Illinois Center Right Coalition officer, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks, Illinois Republican Party State Convention committee member, e) filer of grievances, arbitration demand, and lawsuits, f) etc. I should write about my critics/opponents and the adverse actions that they have taken against me and why.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/10/the-three-things-that-did-not-work-out-for-kristi-noem/
FOX NEWS
— Illinois governor warns Kristi Noem will ‘still be held accountable.’ Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker hints at repercussions for outgoing DHS secretary.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6390642408112
GINGRICH
— Democrats Hold America Hostage. The Democrats can’t defund ICE, so they are holding America hostage.
https://www.gingrich360.net/p/democrats-hold-america-hostage
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— TSA absences double during shutdown, 300 officers quit, as some airports see longer security lines
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-absences-double-shutdown-300-quit-airport-security-lines/
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— After deep staffing cuts, agencies seek mix of hiring and AI tools to rebuild capacity. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, Republicans ever-increasingly cut the agency’s budget in relative terms if not absolute terms every year. In response, the Democrats who ran GAO declared that none of their employees who were young and/or who were veterans would suffer any adverse impacts of those budget cuts. Consequently, because I am not a veteran and because I was 31 years old when I started with GAO, they made me suffer the adverse impacts of those budget cuts. They forced me to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS in 1980. They delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13. They kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for them. They always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance. They forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. 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.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2026/03/after-deep-staffing-cuts-agencies-seek-mix-of-hiring-and-ai-tools-to-rebuild-capacity/
GALLUP
— One in Four U.S. Employees Lack Advancement Opportunities. DD: What did you do to increase your advancement opportunities? I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. But I did not earn the aforesaid soon enough. I did not earn the master’s degrees until I was 27 (16 courses), 31 (12 courses), and 48 (14 courses). I did not earn the certifications until I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48. I did not earn the license until I was 32. By then, I was viewed as being too old. I would have earned the aforesaid sooner if I had more money. I had to earn money to pay for the courses. In today’s dollars, my IRS salary was only $56,409/year when I was 22, only $68,999/year when I was 23, only $83,482/year when I was 24, and only $100,059/year when I was 25. My GAO salary was only $89,703/year when I was 31, only $108,533/year when I was 32, only $118,984/year when I was 38, and only $154,682/years when I was 49. Because of that and because I gave my job duties top priority, I took only one course at a time.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/695996/one-four-employees-lack-advancement-opportunities.aspx
Tag: old
March 8, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Illinois 2026 GOP primary for governor features four candidates and one familiar face but big donors sit out
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/08/illinois-2026-gop-primary-for-governor-features-four-candidates-and-one-familiar-face-but-big-donors-sit-out/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/08/column-kristi-noem-dhs-ice-congressional-hearing-firing-page/
— Supporters of Cook County’s guaranteed income program hold meeting to help shape distribution. DD: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. The money for that came from what I earned doing yard work 1962-1964, delivering newspapers 1962-1966, washing dishes 1964-1966, cleaning golf shoes and chipping slag in 1966, pumping gasoline in 1966, 1971, and 1972, delivering mail 1966-1969, working on an automotive assembly line in 1970, selling tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971, collecting delinquent federal taxes 1971-1980, and auditing federal agencies 1980-1997.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/07/cook-county-guaranteed-income-program/
— DuPage undersheriff and sheriff hopeful placed on leave less than 2 weeks before March primary
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/dupage-sheriff-hopeful-eddie-moore-placed-on-leave/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chicago short nearly 225,000 affordable rental units for its poorest residents. There are only 31 affordable homes for rent for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Chicago, according to a new report released this Thursday.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/03/06/chicago-225-000-affordable-rental-units-poorest-residents-nlihc-report
DAILY HERALD
— Illinois, Cook County wipe out $2B in medical debt for pennies on dollar
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260307/health-care/i-didnt-believe-it-illinois-cook-county-wipe-out-2b-in-medical-debt-for-pennies-on-dollar/
WGLT
— Trump vows to ‘take care of Cuba,’ praises Venezuela cooperation at summit
https://www.wglt.org/2026-03-07/trump-vows-to-take-care-of-cuba-praises-venezuela-cooperation-at-summit
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Minimum wage? Keep it up, says Pritzker. A new proposal would raise it to $27 by 2032. DD: I did not start earning $27/hour in today’s dollars until 10 months after I had earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-minimum-wage-keep-it-up-says-pritzker/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Auditor general nomination approved unanimously in Illinois. FROM HIS BIOGRAPHY: Prior to joining IFA, Meister was Director of Legislative Affairs and Associate General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (2003-2007). Before his public service with the State of Illinois, Meister worked in private law practice. Meister was a law clerk for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and DePaul University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
https://www.aol.com/articles/auditor-general-nomination-now-illinois-200400396.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Wednesday, the Illinois Senate approved Chris Meister, who is currently leading the Illinois Finance Authority, to be the new auditor. State Sen. Chapin Rose, who serves on the Legislative Audit Commission, said Meister suggested bringing back a deputy director position for the office. “At the end of the day, you’re getting someone with that breadth of government knowledge, extreme financial management experience,” said Rose, R-Mahomet. “And then I believe ultimately we’re also going to pick up, as a bonus, one of our other candidates. And at the end of the day, this body, and the entire General Assembly and frankly, the taxpayers of Illinois will be enormously well served with Mr. Meister at the helm.” The auditor general is responsible for financial audits and compliance examinations of state agencies. The office also performs audits approved by the Legislative Audit Commission. Wednesday, state Sen. Laura Ellman praised Rose’s nomination for Chris Meister to be the new auditor. “This was a once in a 10 year activity,” Ellman, D-Naperville, said of selecting a new auditor general. “Nobody was really good at it. But through that leadership, Senator Rose guided us all through it and really is a bicameral, bipartisan, effort. So I’m excited to see the next Legislative Audit Commission under Auditor General Meister.” After being unanimously approved by the Senate, Senate Joint Resolution 55 was also unanimously approved by the Illinois House Wednesday. The Illinois Auditor General office’s budget is $43.3 million from state taxpayer funds. The auditor’s salary is more than $197,000.)
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— If you are not retired, sooner or later, you will be. I have been involuntarily retired since I was 49 in 1997. After you retire, sooner or later, you will assess what helped and harmed your life. Things that helped my life the most include a) my parents and my teachers who encouraged conservatism and personal responsibility; that put me on tack to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license and b) my outstanding wife. Things that harmed my life the most include a) my not becoming a Democrat, b) my avoiding the Vietnam War draft, c) my not majoring in accounting from the beginning, d) my father’s sudden death when he was 47 and I was 21 in 1969, e) my complaining about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination and my becoming an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged my superiors with the aforesaid and the resultant many big adverse actions that my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and superiors tool against me, f) my volunteering myself to become the subject of a February 1978 Money Magazine “One Person’s Finances” article ( https://gopillinois.com/documents/ ), g) me and my wife giving up trying to have children without trying IVF, our not adopting, and our not becoming foster parents, h) Gingrich’s gutting GAO instead of reforming GAO, i) my filing grievances, arbitration demands, and lawsuits, and j) my remaining conservative while the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization became more and more and more anti-conservative. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— My critics/opponents want Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI a) because they have never paid the price of AA or DEI, b) because they benefit from AA and DEI, and/or c) they use AA and DEI to get rid of those who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. QUESTION: Who pays the price of AA and DEI? ANSWER: Those who have less money than others and are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. My critics/opponents have never paid the price of AA or DEI, they benefit from AA, and/or they use AA and DEI to get rid of others. Their parents were wealthy and/or they are libera/moderate, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. They stress that I am conservative, White, male, older (born in 1948), non-veteran (Vietnam War draft avoider), Protestant (Missouri Synod Lutheran), German American (100%), and my ancestors who have been in America since 1844. They falsely/outrageously/disgustingly/unethically hint/imply/argue/shout that my parents were wealthy. They ignore/dismiss/belittle/badmouth that I had to work my way through college. They falsely/outrageously/disgustingly/unethically hint/imply/argue/shout that I owe all my successes in life to my benefitting from discrimination against those who are libera/moderate, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. AA and DEI are patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. Democrats and RINOs have always used AA and DEI to get rid of Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Joe Biden’s message at mostly-black Jesse Jackson funeral: ‘I’m a helluva lot smarter than most of you’
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/03/07/joe-bidens-message-at-mostly-black-jesse-jackson-funeral-im-a-helluva-lot-smarter-than-most-of-you-1626054/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Victor Davis Hanson on Trump’s Dream Iran Outcome
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/03/victor-davis-hanson-another-iran-quagmire-might-mean-big-losses-for-republicans-in-the-midterms/
LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan Moves to Shut Down Sanctuary City Policies
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/hedtbd-house-judiciary-committee-chairman-jordan-to-mark-up-legislation-banning-sanctuary-jurisdictions
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
MSN
— Trump proposes freezing work permits for asylum seekers indefinitely. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/nigeria/trump-proposes-freezing-work-permits-for-asylum-seekers-indefinitely/ar-AA1WNeOz
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Colleges Respond to Upswing in Disability Diagnoses. DD: My father never attended college. His doctor discouraged him from attending because he had brittle type 1 diabetes. The belief was that the stress would kill him. He frequently decried his not having a college degree. That encouraged me to get one. He died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/us/colleges-students-disabilities-enrollment.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Housing is so expensive that people earning $200,000 qualify for help. Data shared with The Post shows that home-buying assistance programs across the U.S. have been raising their income threshold requirements. 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. In 1972, my IRS salary increased from $56,409/year to $68,999year in today’s dollars. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $87,100.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/03/05/housing-costs-down-payment-assistance-eligibility/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Brendi Bluitt didn’t think she fit the typical profile of someone needing public assistance to pay for housing. She had a good job in public relations, earning $80,000 a year. But she qualified for D.C.’s home-purchase-assistance program, and she ended up getting an interest-free loan of more than $84,000. She had to contribute only $1,000 from her savings to buy her $376,000 condo.)
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— ‘Christ is king’ becomes a loaded phrase in U.S. political debates. DD: According to communists, socialists, and Democrats, government is king.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-03-05/christ-is-king-becomes-loaded-phrase-in-u-s-political-debates-especially-on-right
BOSTON GLOBE
— No bright side to the shift of minority students out of elite schools. DD: According to my critics/opponents, degrees from non-elite schools are worthless, that is, my 1980 NIU, 1976 Loyola, 1980 DePaul, and 1997 IIT degrees are worthless.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/08/opinion/letters-affirmative-action-minority-students/
SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE
— Trump lawsuit could eliminate affirmative action in workplaces. DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/south-bend-tribune/20260308/281642491669693
POST BULLETIN
— No room for divided allegiance. DD: To come to America is to come under America’s elected leaders. How many are in America who owe their allegiance to foreign countries?
https://www.postbulletin.com/news/let-no-room-for-divided-allegiance
FORBES
— DD: Google, Facebook, and YouTube exist a) to promote the Democrat Party platform and b) to elect Democrats.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelicamarideoliveira/2026/02/12/what-excessive-social-media-means-for-older-adults/
— According to Democrats, standardized tests do not measure how much students learned or can learn, but instead measurer the family and community capital of students. The most important tests that I passed were the CPA examination in 1979 and Certified Internal Auditor examination in 1981, both of which I passed on my first attempt, something that only about 20% do. My Democrat and GAO superiors were furious because my coworkers who they wanted to promote over me and were Democrat, minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran either had not taken the examinations, had failed them, or had passed, but not on their first attempt.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2024/02/10/research-shows-what-state-standardized-tests-actually-measure/
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
— When Feedback Crosses the Line. DD: Constructively, my Democrat superiors and supervisors in the federal government advised me to become a Democrat and to help them get rid of their Republican employees who were White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. They never advised me to get job-related college degrees, professional certifications, or licenses.
https://hbr.org/2026/03/when-feedback-crosses-the-line
HARVARD LAW REVIEW
— A Plea for Affirmative Action. DD: My critics/opponents want Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI a) because they have never paid the price of AA or DEI, b) because they benefit from AA and DEI, and/or c) they use AA and DEI to get rid of those who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. QUESTION: Who pays the price of AA and DEI? ANSWER: Those who have less money than others and are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. My critics/opponents have never paid the price of AA or DEI, they benefit from AA, and/or they use AA and DEI to get rid of others. Their parents were wealthy and/or they are libera/moderate, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. They stress that I am conservative, White, male, older (born in 1948), non-veteran (Vietnam War draft avoider), Protestant (Missouri Synod Lutheran), German American (100%), and my ancestors who have been in America since 1844. They falsely/outrageously/disgustingly/unethically hint/imply/argue/shout that my parents were wealthy. They ignore/dismiss/belittle/badmouth that I had to work my way through college. They falsely/outrageously/disgustingly/unethically hint/imply/argue/shout that I owe all my successes in life to my benefitting from discrimination against those who are libera/moderate, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. AA and DEI are patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. Democrats and RINOs have always used AA and DEI to get rid of Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://harvardlawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/136-Harv.-L.-Rev.-F.-205.pdf
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
TIMES OF INDIA
— Raising kids in this economy: To DINK or not? Why more Indian couples are rethinking parenthood. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors were DINK-haters. Because my wife and I gave up trying to have children without trying IVF, because we did not adopt, and because we did not become foster parents, my Democrat GAO superiors viciously demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being a filthy rich disgusting DINK. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I lied about our efforts to have children. According to them, if we had children, I would not have been able to a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, b) earn a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, c) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, or d) become a licensed CPA when I was 32. None of them had as many job-related master’s degrees or professional certifications as I had. None of them was a licensed CPA like I was. According to them, if we had children, we would not have been able to have a home built in Wheaton when I was 35. My Democrat GAO superiors complained about the time and cost needed to raise children. They decried their spouses having little or no income.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/raising-kids-in-this-economy-to-dink-or-not-why-more-indian-couples-are-rethinking-parenthood/articleshow/128913569.cms
March 2, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— US nationals urged to leave 14 countries in Middle East. The U.S. and Israel are continuing strikes on targets across Iran.
https://abc7chicago.com/live-updates/iran-live-updates-trump-says-major-combat-operations-have-begun/18660347/
— Strait of Hormuz is ‘closed.’ An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander said the Strait of Hormuz is “closed.”
https://abc7chicago.com/live-updates/iran-live-updates-trump-says-major-combat-operations-have-begun/18660347/entry/18669060/
NBC5
— Trump won’t rule out sending U.S. troops into Iran if ‘necessary.’ Iran escalated attacks on Israel and targets across the Middle East, with six U.S. service members killed.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/iran-us-israel-middle-east-conflict-march-03-2026-live-updates/3901981/
CBS2
— Iranians in Chicago express mixed emotions to U.S.-Israel attacks in Iran
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/iranians-chicago-express-mixed-emotions-u-s-israel-attacks-iran/
FOX32
— ICE won’t be tolerated at Chicago-area polling places, clerk says. DD: Why do Democrats insist that their illegals do not vote?
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/ice-wont-be-tolerated-chicago-area-polling-places-clerk-says
— Trump speaks on conflict in Iran: ‘Intolerable threat.’ The conflict in Iran is expanding on several fronts. President Donald Trump just spoke moments ago about the conflict in the Middle East.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-dijowlt27oaaz7kr
— Trump says Iran war could last 4 to 5 weeks
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-e0upx1cmkdwtix71
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Primary voting pickings grow slimmer in Lake County
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/02/column-charles-selle-primary/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For those of Republican persuasion, the coming election should be dispiriting for a party that once ruled the Lake County political roost. In the home county of state GOP Chair Kathy Salvi of rural Mundelein, it should be downright depressing for party regulars. The party has no primary candidates listed in several Illinois House districts within county boundaries and no candidate in the 30th Senate District, a seat currently occupied by Democrat incumbent Adriane Johnson of Buffalo Grove. Of the four countywide offices, Republicans have posted only two candidates: The treasurer’s race and for sheriff. It is at the Lake County Board-level where the party truly shows its continuing minority status in the county. Of the 12 seats up in the Nov. 3 general election, the party has primary candidates in but two districts, and they are unopposed.)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Voters turn out across Chicago’s 50 wards, suburbs ahead of March 17 primary. With early voting expanding across the Chicago area Monday, election officials gathered at the new South Loop Supersite to provide voters with an update ahead of the primary. DD: How many have voted so far in Illinois, in your county, in your township, in your municipality, and in your precinct? How many Democrat, Republican, and NA ballots have been cast so far? Who does not want the aforesaid information to be reported and why?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/02/chicago-early-voting-wards-suburban-counties
— Illinois Democrats call for state commission to probe Epstein files for local ties
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/03/02/epstein-commission-illinois-bill-abdelnasser-rashid-kwame-raoul
DAILY HERALD
— DuPage clerk to ICE: Stay away from polling places. DD: How strongly will this a) discourage Republicans from voting and b) encourage voters to cast Democrat ballots?
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260302/news/dupage-clerk-to-ice-stay-away-from-polling-places/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek made it clear Monday that federal immigration agents are not welcome at polling places. She announced her office has set up a special phone number, (630) 407-5634, for people to report if they see U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other federal agents at or near a polling place. “Today, my office has a message for the voters of DuPage County and for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and that message is that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will not be allowed to interfere with DuPage County elections in any way,” Kaczmarek said at a news conference. She said it is a federal crime for military or federal agents to interfere in elections or intimidate voters. “Those crimes will not be tolerated in DuPage County. Not on my watch,” Kaczmarek said. “ICE, go away. Do not even try. You will fail.” Early voting began several weeks ago at five sites and expanded to 24 on Monday. When asked if immigration agents had been seen at any of the sites, Kaczmarek said, “No.” She said it is a myth that non-citizens vote on Election Day. Kaczmarek also reminded voters that if they feel unsafe at a polling place on the day of the March 17 primary election, they can go to another of the 248 polling places because DuPage residents can vote anywhere in the county. If the clerk’s office receives a report about federal agents, it will notify election judges at that polling place. It will also alert community “rapid response” teams who monitor agents and report their presence to the public, Kaczmarek said. The clerk said she will also notify the appropriate authorities. She said election judges can ask agents to leave. Kaczmarek said she did not consult with DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin or DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick about enforcing any such requests.)
— Early voting kicks into high gear as more polls open across the suburbs. DD: How many have voted so far in Illinois, in your county, in your township, in your municipality, and in your precinct? How many Democrat, Republican, and NA ballots have been cast so far? Who does not want the aforesaid information to be reported and why?
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260302/local-politics/early-voting-kicks-into-high-gear-as-more-polls-open-across-the-suburbs/
— Feud with county board a key issue in DuPage County clerk primary race
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260302/local-politics/feud-with-county-board-a-key-issue-in-dupage-county-clerk-primary-race/
WAND TV
— Hegseth insists the Iran conflict is ‘not endless’ while warning more casualties are likely. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has spoken to widening concerns the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran could spiral into a protracted regional conflict by declaring, “This is not Iraq.”
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/hegseth-insists-the-iran-conflict-is-not-endless-while-warning-more-casualties-are-likely/article_83e6eb23-8e7c-5f45-b218-74bb1bf22595.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump defends Iran strikes, offers objectives for military operation
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-03-02/trump-defends-iran-strikes-offers-objectives-for-military-operation
ELMHURST PATCH
— DuPage Undersheriff Charged In Bar Disturbance In 2021. He was described as the “primary aggressor.” He said he was targeted with a racial slur.
https://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/dupage-undersheriff-bar-disturbance-2021-police
BLACK CHRONICLE
— Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says $21 million in state capital funds will unlock more than $83 million in private investment to restore a historic hotel area in the Pullman State Historic Site on Chicago’s South Side. According the governor’s office, the public-private partnership will redevelop the 1881 Hotel Florence, Pullman Car Works building and surrounding grounds into a boutique hotel, dining destination, and cultural and performing arts hub. DD: In 1973, when I was a 24-year-old IRS Revenue Officer, I collected delinquent taxes from a resident in that hotel.
https://blackchronicle.com/midwest/illinois/illinois-quick-hits-state-taxpayers-to-help-restore-historic-chicago-hotel/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/03/02/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-478/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Pentagon insists no ‘regime-change war’ as Iran conflict spreads across Mideast. Trump says war could last a month or longer, maps out four specific U.S. objectives.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/mar/2/pentagon-insists-no-regime-change-war-iran-conflict-spreads-across/
— Trump says Tehran’s long support of terrorism justifies Operation Epic Fury attack
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/mar/2/trump-says-tehrans-long-support-terrorism-justifies-operation-epic/
— After briefing, lawmakers disagree on whether Iran threat to U.S. was imminent
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/mar/2/briefing-lawmakers-disagree-whether-iran-threat-us-imminent/
NEW YORK POST
— Trump won’t rule out sending US troops into Iran ‘if necessary’— tells The Post war is progressing ‘way ahead of schedule’
https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/trump-wont-rule-out-sending-us-troops-into-iran-if-necessary-tells-the-post-i-dont-care-about-polling/
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.
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/us-military-leaders-agree-with-duckworth-expanding-tricare-coverage-of-ivf-would-benefit-servicemembers-and-strengthen-military-90741.cfm
STATELINE
— Pritzker: Trump owes Illinois families $2K per household after Supreme Court tariff ruling
https://www.mystateline.com/news/pritzker-trump-owes-illinois-families-2k-per-household-after-supreme-court-tariff-ruling/
WAND TV
— What happens next after the Supreme Court slapped down Trump’s tariffs. There’s little that Donald Trump has cherished more in his second term than tariffs, a symbol of his imperious approach to the presidency.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/what-happens-next-after-the-supreme-court-slapped-down-trumps-tariffs/article_65c75d50-4187-56fe-bdbf-63e40180df3e.html
WGLT
— 7 key things to know about Trump’s tariffs after the Supreme Court decision
https://www.wglt.org/2026-02-20/7-key-things-to-know-about-trumps-tariffs-after-the-supreme-court-decision
CHICAGO READER
— Illinois officials decry proposed cuts to HIV care. President Donald Trump wants to strip hundreds of millions in public health funding from four states led by Democratic leaders—including $8 million from Illinois. DD: Democrat leaders ever increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://chicagoreader.com/news/trump-illinois-hiv-public-health-funding/
CAPITOL FAX
— Bailey only GOP gov candidate to denounce Sen. Anderson’s abortion bill; Heidner calls to end infighting; US Senate candidate Don Tracy, Cardinal Cupich oppose penalties
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/20/bailey-only-gop-gov-candidate-to-denounce-sen-andersons-abortion-bill-heidner-calls-to-end-infighting-us-senate-candidate-don-tracy-cardinal-cupich-oppose-penalties/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-472/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— The DuPage County Election Division 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 see the aforesaid data for their township and their precinct. Voters should be able to see and analyze trends. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— 2026 State Central Committee Application
https://illinois.gop/2026-state-central-committee-application/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois job openings drop by 100,000 since September with 302,000 unemployed
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-job-openings-drop-by-100000-since-september-with-302000-unemployed/
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Stratton Gets Widespread Publicity with F-ck Trump Ad, See It Here
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/20/stratton-gets-widespread-publicity-with-f-ck-trump-ad-see-it-here/
— Citizen Action Urges Write-in: Max Solomon for State Treasurer on Republican Ticket
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/17/citizen-action-urges-write-in-max-solomon-for-state-treasurer-on-republican-ticket/
— Attack on Durbin’s Credit Card Bill
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/20/attack-on-durbins-credit-card-bill/
— Jeff Schwartz Makes Facebook Pitch for McHenry County Board
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/20/jeff-schwartz-makes-facebook-pitch-for-mchenry-county-board/
— Grafton Township GOP Endorsed Jeff Schwartz Over Incumbent Brian Sager
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/17/grafton-township-gop-endorsed-jeff-schwartz-over-incumbent-brian-sager/
— Republican U.S. Senate Hopeful Jeannie Evans Sends Mail
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/19/republican-u-s-senate-hopeful-jeannie-evans-sends-mail/
— Pritzker’s Budget Speech
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/19/pritzkers-budget-speech/
— Comptroller Susana Mendoza Breaks with Governor on Opting Into Big Beautiful Bill’s Scholarship Program
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/19/comptroller-susana-mendoza-breaks-with-governor-on-opting-into-big-beautiful-bills-scholarship-program/
— Threat of Federal Funding Cut for Ignoring Mandate for Motorcycle Helmets Did Not Succeed
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/19/threat-of-federal-funding-cut-for-ignoring-mandate-for-motorcycle-helmets-did-not-succeed/
— Pritzker Calls for More State Zoning Power
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/19/pritzker-calls-for-more-state-zoning-power/
— Daily Herald Endorses State Senator Laura Fine for 9th District Congressional Democratic Party Nominee
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/19/daily-herald-endorses-state-senator-laura-fine-for-9th-district-congressional-nominee/
— Democratic Party Establishment Backing Biss in 9th
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/14/democratic-party-establishment-backing-biss/
— Poll Still Shows Biss Running First
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/14/poll-still-shows-biss-running-first/
— Daily Herald Refuses To Endorse in the 9th District GOP Contest
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/17/daily-herald-refuses-to-endorse-in-the-9th-district-gop-contest/
— 9th District GOP Candidate Got Hawaiian Record Wiped Clean
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/16/9th-district-gop-candidate-gets/
— Jacqueline Garretson Uses Facebook and Yard Signs in Her Attempt to Win Precinct Committeeperson Race Against Jeanne Caifano
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/19/jacqueline-garretson-uses-facebook-and-yard-signs-in-her-attempt-to-win-precinct-committeeperson-race-against-jeanne-caifano/
— Reick’s Idea of Stripping DCFS of Day Care Licensing Makes Governor’s Speech
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/18/reicks-idea-of-stripping-dcfs-of-day-care-licensing-makes-governors-speech/
— A Conservative Reflects on the ICE Shootings
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/18/a-conservative-reflects-on-the-ice-shootings/
— McLaughlin Fundraiser March 16th
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/18/mclaughlin-fundraiser-march-16th/
— Dabrowski Has New Ad, See It Here
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/17/dabrowski-has-new-ad/
— McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio Replies to Ruth Scifo, Head of the Democratic Party
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/16/mchenry-county-clerk-joe-tirio-replies-to-ruth-scifo-head-of-the-democratic-party/
— A Rant about the McHenry County Conservation District’s Neglect of Taxpayers Living within the Crystal Lake Grade School District’s Boundaries
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/16/a-rant-about-the-mchenry-county-conservation-districts-neglect-of-taxpayers-living-within-the-crystal-lake-grade-school-districts-boundaries/
— Grafton Township GOP Endorses Mike Pierce for Congress
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/16/grafton-township-gop-endorses-mike-pierce-for-congress/
— Appellate Court Orders Teodora Brawn Back on the Ballot in 11th District GOP Race for Congress
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/13/appellate-court-orders-teodora-brawn-back-on-the-ballot-in-11th-district-gop-race-for-congress/
— Tribune Endorses Elburn Mayor Jeff Walter in GOP 11th Congressional District Race
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/11/tribune-endorses-elburn-mayor-jeff-walter-in-gop-11th-congressional-district-race/
— More Evidence That the Chicago Tribune Just Doesn’t Like Republicans
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/14/more-evidence-that-the-chicago-tribune-jjust-doesnt-like-repblicans/
— Sue Ness Makes Endorsements
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/12/sue-ness-makes-endorsements/
— Schakowsky Announced Pork: $4 Million Out of $12.5 Million for McHenry County
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/11/schakowsky-announced-pork-4-million-out-of-12-5-million-for-mchenry-county/
— Echoes of Martin Luther King Holiday Being Introduced as a “Commemorative” Holiday
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/11/echoes-of-martin-luther-king-holiday/
— Appellate Court Confirms Severino Won’t Be on the GOP Gubernatorial Ballot
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=17190&action=edit
— Democratic Party Candidate for State Comptroller Holly Kim Holding Free Lunar New Year Celebration in Algonquin Saturday
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/20/democratic-party-candidate-for-state-comptroller-holly-kim-holding-free-lunar-new-year-celebration-in-algonquin-saturday/
— U.S. Senate GOP Hopeful Don Tracy Hits Democratic Party Hopefuls for Voting Against Bill That Cut Taxes on Tips and Overtime or Opposed the Legislation
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/20/u-s-senate-gop-hopeful-don-tracy-hits-democratic-party-hopefuls-for-voting-against-bill-that-cut-taxes-on-tips-and-overtime-or-opposed-the-legislation/
— Fear That New Mental Health Sales Tax Would Not Equal Old Real Estate Tax Take Unfounded
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/20/fear-that-new-mental-health-sales-tax-would-not-equal-old-real-estate-tax-take-unfounded/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— DHS wants to block asylum-seekers from working, cutting incentives to illegal immigration. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/20/dhs-wants-block-asylum-seekers-working-cutting-incentives-illegal/
— Despite government blowing $100 billion, Americans reject mass transit. DD: I used mass transit in 1971 and then 1973-1997.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/20/editorial-despite-government-blowing-100-billion-americans-reject/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Detroit police officers suspended for contacting Border Patrol during traffic stops
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/4465066/detroit-police-officers-suspended-contacting-border-patrol-traffic-stops/
NEW YORK POST
— Trump has lost the tariff battle but not the tariff war
https://nypost.com/2026/02/20/opinion/supremes-ruling-could-actually-be-a-win-for-trumps-tariff-program/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Illinois Dems slammed for intellectually lazy ‘F**k Trump’ campaign ad
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/02/20/youre-an-embarrassment-illinois-dems-slammed-for-intellectually-lazy-fk-trump-campaign-ad-1623354/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs Core to Trump Economic Agenda
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/20/breaking-supreme-court-strikes-down-tariffs-core-to-trump-economic-agenda/
DAILY WIRE
— Trump Seeks Tougher Work Permit Rules For Illegals With Asylum Claims. “We are proposing an overhaul of the asylum system.” DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-seeks-tougher-work-permit-rules-for-illegals-with-asylum-claims
FOX NEWS
— Some Republicans privately celebrate as Supreme Court blocks Trump policy
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tariffs-suck-some-republicans-privately-celebrate-supreme-court-blocks-trump-policy.amp
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Pritzker tells Trump to ‘cut the check’ after tariffs ruling
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5748630-pritzker-demands-trump-tariff-refunds/
— DD: The US needs a strong conservative press
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5746288-black-press-fight-white-supremacy/
NBC NEWS
— Trump to impose new tariffs after ‘deeply disappointing’ Supreme Court decision. The Supreme Court’s decision does not affect all of Trump’s tariffs but invalidates those implemented using a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/live-blog/-trump-tariffs-ruling-supreme-court-live-updates-rcna252655
NEWSWEEK
— Work Permits Could Change for Half a Million People. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.newsweek.com/asylum-work-permits-changes-trump-administration-11557927
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Pritzker Sends Trump an Invoice for $8.6 Billion in Tariff Refunds
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-us-gdp-report-02-20-26/card/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-sends-trump-an-invoice-for-8-6-billion-in-tariff-refunds-VphDZG8Ibo7rLjQBwu9s
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