FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Maduro, has been captured and flown out of country
https://abc7chicago.com/post/us-venezuela-news-strikes-country-says-venezuelan-president-nicols-maduro-captured-wife/18346121/
CBS2
— U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured and flown out of the country
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— US strikes Venezuela and says leader Nicolás Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/us-strikes-venezuela-nicolas-maduro/
DAILY HERALD
— New laws: Illinois expands job-protected leave for parents with a newborn in a neonatal intensive care unit
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260102/business/new-laws-illinois-expands-job-protected-leave-for-parents-with-newborns-in-nicu/
— Illinois’ electric grids may soon face power shortages and further price increases as fossil fuel plants go offline and data centers fueling the rise of artificial intelligence demand ever-increasing amounts of power.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260102/business/as-state-regulators-warn-of-impending-energy-shortfalls-capacity-prices-rise-again/
JOURNAL COURIER
— Morgan Republicans plan meet-and-greet with gubernatorial candidate. DD: If I was still the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and a member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/morgan-republicans-set-gathering-gubernatorial-21272921.php
NPR ILLINOIS
— Naps, bruising, cognitive tests: Trump addresses aging questions. DD: How old are you? I am 77. What do you stress to defend your age? I stress the GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters that I put together and send out. Putting those newsletters together and sending them out takes lots of time and focus.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-01-02/naps-bruising-cognitive-tests-trump-addresses-aging-questions
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump tries to beat back questions about health: Key takeaways.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/trump-tries-to-beat-back-questions-about-health-key-takeaways/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— 9th Congressional District Democratic Party Hopeful Bushra Amiwala Joins Others in Attacking the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/03/9th-congressional-district-democratic-party-hopeful-bushra-amiwala-joins-others-in-attacking-the-american-israel-public-affairs-committee/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois local governments lose out on $10.9B in state taxes
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-local-governments-lose-out-on-10-9b-in-state-taxes/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BREITBART
— 41 Percent of Netflix Shows for Children Contain LGBTQ+ Content in 2025
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/01/02/report-says-41-percent-of-netflix-shows-for-children-contain-lgbtq-content-in-2025/
CHRISTIAN POST
— Mamdani’s inaugural address: ‘Godless, rancid ideology’
https://www.christianpost.com/news/top-responses-zohran-mamdani-inaugural-address.html
EPOCH TIMES
— Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down California Ban on Open Carry of Firearms
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/federal-appeals-court-strikes-down-california-ban-on-open-carry-of-firearms-5965490
FOX NEWS
— Mamdani ignites fierce backlash on day one in office
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdL7ph03298
— Mamdani’s inauguration fuels debate over Gen Z shift toward socialism, away from free markets. Zohran Mamdani’s first moments in office embraced ‘collectivism’ as Republicans warn Gen Z is rejecting free markets.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mamdanis-inauguration-fuels-debate-over-gen-z-shift-toward-socialism-away-from-free-markets.amp
— Redistricting battles brewing across the country as parties compete for power ahead of 2026 midterms
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/redistricting-battles-brewing-across-country-parties-compete-power-ahead-2026-midterms.print
NATIONAL REVIEW
— Horse Therapy, Gender-Neutral Bathrooms, and Hate Crime Work Leave: The Wild Blue State Laws of 2025
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/horse-therapy-gender-neutral-bathrooms-and-hate-crime-work-leave-the-wild-blue-state-laws-of-2025/amp/
— Mamdani to Establish New ‘Office of Mass Engagement’ Led by Veteran Socialist Organizer
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/mamdani-to-establish-new-office-of-mass-engagement-led-by-veteran-socialist-organizer/
— Let’s Hire Professors Purely on Merit. DD: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I passed the following tests because standardized tests are biased in favor of those who share my demographics: a) the postal employment test when I was 17 in 1966, b) the ACT test with a score of 24 in 1966, c) all the tests that I needed to pass to graduate in the upper 20% of my high school class in 1966, d) the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970, e) all the tests that I needed to pass to earn a bachelor’s degree from NIU in 1970 and master’s degrees from Loyola in 1976, DePaul in 1980, and IIT in 1997, f) the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. and g) the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981. In my defense, neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school. I had to work my way through college.
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/lets-hire-professors-purely-on-merit/
TOWNHALL
— Socialism in the City
https://townhall.com/columnists/christalgo/2026/01/03/socialism-in-the-city-n2668789
— Pritzker’s Pretzels
https://townhall.com/columnists/alanjosephbauer/2026/01/02/pritzkers-pretzels-n2668747
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Trump insults Pritzker with AI-generated social media post
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5670567-trump-pritzker-ai-image-feud/
NEW YORK TIMES
— Mamdani Acts on Vow to Protect Renters With Move Against a Big Landlord. DD: Have you been a landlord? I was reluctant landlord 1976-1984 because I could not sell my University Park townhome ( https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ ) unless I took a big loss.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/nyregion/mamdani-pinnacle-housing.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly replace those in America who have demographics that vote for Republicans with those who have demographics that vote for Democrats.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/business/us-immigration-trump-1920s.html
YAHOO
— Nobody Cares About Your Career. DD: During my federal career working for the Democrats who ran the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, 1997, only two of my superiors cared about my career. I should write the IRS manager who promoted me to GS-9 in 1972, GS-11 in 1973, and GS-12 in 1974. Because he did that, my Democrat IRS superiors forced him to transfer to Dallas. I should write about the GAO manager who arranged my transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980 and who was finally able to assign me to audits or IRS and to promote me to GS-13 in 1986. Because he did that, my Democrat GAO superiors forced him to retire in 1987. To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and never promoted me to GS-13. To get rid of me, my Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars, a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10, to transfer, b) delayed my promotions back to GS-12 Step 5, c) kept me off audits of IRS except 1986-1988, d) never promoted me to GS-14, e) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and f) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. In today’s dollars, my Civil Service Retirement System pension is less that what my IRS salary was when I was 23 in 1972.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nobody-cares-career-mcdonalds-ceo-000116698.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Corruption of the Welfare State
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/minnesota-welfare-fraud-immigrants-government-handouts-8076eb83
— Your Key Survival Skill for 2026: Critical Ignoring. DD: My critics/opponents want everyone to ignore my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus those who were/are a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) elected Republican leaders in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) conservative leaders, and e) religious leaders.
https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/critical-ignoring-social-media-7e236f52
FORBES
— Should An Experienced Professionals Take Internships To Change Careers? DD: Have you changed careers? Have you wanted to change careers? I have not. Due to circumstances, I have wanted to be a career federal employee since I was 18 years old in 1966. However, to waste my federal career and get rid of me, my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors outrageously, disgustingly, and unethically panted a) my earning a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21, b) my earning job-related masters degrees when I was 27 in 1976, 31, and 48, c) my earning job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and d) my earning a job-related professional license when I was 32 a) as being efforts by me to change my career and get a job in the private sector, b) as being justification to disallow my job-related education deductions in 1978, and c) to force me to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. I should write about the aforesaid
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecenizalevine/2025/06/25/should-an-experienced-professional-take-internships-to-change-careers/
EDUCATION
— Professional Certifications Worth It in 2026. DD: What is your position on professional certifications? I sought and obtained professional certifications to defend/advance my federal career. I became a CPA when I was 30 in 1979, a Certified Internal Auditor when I was 32, a licensed CPA when I was 32, a Certified Fraud Examiner when I was 41, a Certified Government Financial Manager when I was 45, a Certified Financial Services Auditor when I was 47, and a Certified Forensic Accountant when I was 48. But my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors ignored/dismissed/belittled that a) because I was a Republican who complained about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination and b) because I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with the aforesaid when I was 40. I should write about the aforesaid.
https://vocal.media/education/is-investing-in-professional-certifications-worth-it-in-2026
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
DAILY MAIL
— Karoline Leavitt calls out Mamdani’s wife as White House quits playing nice with ‘communist’ mayor
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/karoline-leavitt-calls-out-mamdani-s-wife-as-white-house-quits-playing-nice-with-communist-mayor/ar-AA1Ttrwy
— Mamdani unveils plan conservatives claim will usher in communism
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15429711/amp/zohran-mamdani-warmth-collectivism-socialist.html
BUSINESS STANDARD
— Mamdani takes action against Israel with his oath?
https://www.tbsnews.net/videos/tbs-stories/mamdani-takes-action-against-israel-his-oath-1325186
NDTV
— “Antisemitic Gasoline On Open Fire”: Israel vs Mamdani Over Revoked Orders
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/zohran-mamdani-vs-israel-over-revoked-order-on-antisemitism-definition-10237972
TIMES OF ISRAEL
— Anti-Zionism Was Never Harmless. Now It Governs. DD: Have your critics/opponents painted you as being an antisemite? Democrats have always painted Republicans as being antisemites. Because of my demographics, Democrats have especially painted me as being an antisemite. Needless-to-say, my Democrat Chicago office GAO superiors’ efforts to paint me as being an antisemite were stymied when I volunteered to work for their only Jewish group manager in late 1989. In 1989, to get rid of me because in late 1988, I had become the office’s only active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, they had a) thrown me off the group that audited IRS, b) gave me a very bad job assignment, c) gave me unfair performance expectations, d) gave me a very unfair performance appraisal, and e) ranked me at the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance. She managed the office’s group that audited federal financial industry regulators. She reluctantly had to accept me a) because very few of my coworkers would work for her because she was Jewish, b) because I had previously worked on audits of federal financial industry regulators, c) because I had become a licensed CPA in 1981, d) because I had passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) because I had earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, and d) because I had earned an MBA in 1976. She was very demanding. But beyond that, my coworkers were intimidated a) by her having an MBA from the University of Chicago, b) by her having passed the CPA examination on her first attempt, c) by her being wealthy, d) by her being younger, and e) by her being attractive. Because she demanded that her subordinates have master’s degrees in finance, I started taking graduate evening finance courses at IIT in 1992 and earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997. I succeeded in making her a member of IIT’s advisory group for that graduate program. Further, I became certified fraud examiner in 1990, government financial manager in 1994, financial Services Auditor in 1996, and forensic accountant in 1997. I was her only defender/promoter in the office. But nevertheless, when my Democrat GAO Chicago office superiors decided to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, she took the lead in doing that. I should write about the foresaid.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/anti-zionism-was-never-harmless-now-it-governs/
Tag: old
January 2, 2025
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— 2026 elections: What to know about major political races in Illinois this year
https://abc7chicago.com/post/2026-elections-what-know-illinois-governor-election-chicago-mayoral-midterm/18339645/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push medical pot to push recreational pot. Pot is poison, In 2019. I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/schaumburg-illinois-family-fights-keep-access-daughter-ashley-surins-medical-marijuana-patches/18340448/
WBBM
— New laws: Illinois education measures focus on immigrant rights in the classroom. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly replace American students with foreign students.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-laws-illinois-education-measures-focus-on-immigrant-rights-ai-in-the-classroom/ar-AA1Tiv7W
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: DD: Chicago Democrat leaders take credit for fewer murders.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/01/01/chicago-crime-murder-homicide-shooting-president-trump-mayor-johnson
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) flood America with their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/02/opinion-illinois-health-worker-shortage-immigration-raids/
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more dependency on government.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-01-02/how-the-trump-administrations-freeze-on-child-care-funding-will-affect-families
ADVANTAGE NEWS
— Madison County Democrats make endorsements for 2026. DD: Officially, the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) do not endorse candidates in contested primaries, but unofficially, they do. I know that from being an IRP, DCRCC, and MTRO Precinct Committeeman (PC) since 1999. I know that the aforesaid organizations severely punish and do everything that they can to get rid of PCs who support Republican primary candidates who they did not endorse. I should write about that. I would focus on candidates on Republican primary ballots in my precinct since 2000 who I supported, but the aforesaid organizations did not endorse. I would focus on how they continue to severely punish me and do everything that they can to get rid of me because I supported Pat O’Malley instead of Jim Ryan in the 2002 Republican gubernation primary. Further, I would focus on what the aforesaid organizations have done to me because I supported candidates who they did not endorse in nonpartisan rases in Wheaton. I would focus on what they have done to me because I supported Alan Bolds for Wheaton Mayor instead of Mike Gresk in 2007.
https://www.advantagenews.com/news/local/madison-county-dems-make-endorsements-for-2026/article_485d59b7-3a9c-4c7e-afac-b918eca9a2f8.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Madison County Democrats met recently to choose candidates for endorsement in the 2026 primary elections. A total of 72 precinct committee members took part in the process. Following discussion and deliberation, they voted to issue endorsements in a wide range of federal, state, and county races, while choosing to remain neutral in several contested races.)
WREX
— New laws: Illinois education measures focus on immigrant rights in the classroom. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly replace American students with foreign students.
https://www.wrex.com/news/top-stories/new-laws-illinois-education-measures-focus-on-immigrant-rights-ai-in-the-classroom/article_97824d6c-b7e4-47f7-8668-78ec7b201c72.html
DAILY LINE
— Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner raises more than $1.5M in large donations in fourth quarter
https://www.thedailyline.com/republican-gubernatorial-candidate-rick-heidner-raises-1-5m-large-donations-fourth-quarter
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Gubernatorial Forum Set by McHenry Township Republican Party. DD: If I was still the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and a member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/02/gubernatorial-forum-set-by-mchenry-township-republican-party/
— Young People Find Fraud Across the USA
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/01/15614/
— Illinois Labor Department Rolls Out Accomplishments
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/01/illinois-labor-department-rolls-out-accomplishments/
— Another New Year’s Day Cartoon
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/01/another-new-years-day-cartoon/
— How Are New Year’s Resolutions Like Campaign Promises?
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/01/how-are-new-years-resolutions-like-campaign-promises/
— Bruce Leon “Pauses” Campaign for 9th District Democratic Party Congressional Nomination
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/31/bruce-leon-pauses-campaign-for-9th-district-democratic-party-congressional-nomination/
— Tribune 2026 First Baby Story Doesn’t Mention the $1,000 Trump Account for Which He Is Eligible
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/01/tribune-2026-first-baby-story-doesnt-mention-the-1000-trump-account-for-which-he-is-eligible/
— Fox River Grove Creating A New Tax Increment Financing District
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/01/fox-river-grove-creating-a-new-tax-increment-financing-district/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Pensions make homeownership unaffordable in Illinois. DD: What is your attitude toward pensions and toward those who get them? My critics/opponents despise/hate my Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension and my and my wife’s 72% federal health insurance subsidy and therefore, they despise/hate me. In my defense, I would not have become a postal employee when I was 18 in 1966 if my high school friend had not asked me to join him in taking the postal employment examination. I would not have become an IRS employee when I was 22 if my Firestone Store boss had not rudely fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile that Oldsmobile withdrew because it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. I paid 7% of my Post Office, IRS, and GAO salaries into the CSRS.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pensions-make-homeownership-unaffordable-in-illinois/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— $22 Billion Wasted: Pritzker’s Big Government Spree Bleeds Illinois Dry as Residents Flee and Taxes Soar
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/01/22-billion-wasted-pritzkers-big-government-spree-bleeds-illinois-dry-as-residents-flee-and-taxes-soar.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
NEW YORK POST
— Mamdani’s lies about the rich are only meant to demonize — they already foot NYC’s bills
https://nypost.com/2026/01/01/opinion/mamdanis-lies-about-the-rich-are-only-meant-to-demonize-they-already-foot-nycs-bills/
CHRISTIAN NEWS
— Mamdani takes oath of office on Quran, becomes first NYC mayor to do so
https://christiannews.net/2026/01/02/zohran-mamdani-takes-oath-of-office-on-quran-becomes-first-nyc-mayor-to-do-so/
COLLEGE FIX
— DePaul University trains students on how to run pot shops. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push pot. Pot is poison. In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/depaul-university-trains-students-on-how-to-run-pot-shops/
DAILY SIGNAL
— 4 Things to Expect From the Trump Administration in 2026
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/01/01/what-expect-trump-administration-2026/
FOX NEWS
— Mamdani’s WOKE policies will bankrupt the city
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay79V7Jmw8I
— Black Republican calls for total, permanent abolition of DEI: ‘I want to earn every opportunity on merit.’ ‘I never want to be chosen, promoted, or rewarded because of how I look,’ Rep. Wesley Hunt noted. DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) were minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran and/or b) had less work experience than I had, had less education than I had, had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/black-republican-calls-total-permanent-abolition-dei-i-want-earn-every-opportunity-merit
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Northwestern University Publishes Strategies to Anchor DEI in University Policies
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/01/northwestern-university-publishes-strategies-to-anchor-dei-in-university-policies/amp/
PJ MEDIA
— The Great Replacement Chronicles: White-Knighting For the Somalis. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly replace those who have demographics that vote for Republicans with those who have demographics that vote for Democrats.
https://pjmedia.com/benbartee/2026/01/01/the-great-replacement-chronicles-white-knighting-for-the-somalis-n4947770
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— Records reveal Minnesota’s long history with day care fraud warnings
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-day-care-fraud-warning-records/
MSN
— Mamdani takes oath on Quran as He is sworn in as New York mayor
https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/zohran-mamdani-takes-oath-on-quran-as-he-is-sworn-in-as-new-york-mayor/ar-AA1TnZ5H
NEW YORK TIMES
— Mamdani Vows to Govern ‘Audaciously’ and Protect New York’s Vulnerable. DD: According to Democrats and according to RINOs, those who are liberal/moderate, non-Republican, noncitizen, non-rich, minority, female, younger, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time NEED PROTECTION from those who are conservative, Republican, American, non-poor, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Democrats and RINOs ever-increasingly promise to provide that PROTECTION.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/nyregion/mamdani-inauguration-mayor.html
— Minnesota Families Are Rattled by Threat to Cut Federal Aid for Child Care. After the federal government threatened to withhold funds for Minnesota’s child-care program, citing fraud concerns, parents and providers warned that the effects could be dire.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/us/minnesota-child-care-funding-impact-fraud.html
USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, there will be more and more and more homeless.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2025/12/28/number-of-homeless-students-jumps/87620804007/
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2025/12/30/us-students-forced-to-deal-with-reality-of-homelessness/87961285007/
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2025/12/30/americas-growing-number-of-homeless-students/87959473007/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/12/17/homelessness-crisis-caregiving/87381952007/
— Donald Trump’s whirlwind year changed America. Here are eight ways.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/12/30/donald-trump-changing-america/87605660007/
NEWS NATION NOW
— Trump says fraud in California, New York, Illinois worse than Minnesota
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/trump-fraud-california-new-york-illinois-worse-minnesota/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly a) flood America with their illegals, and b) fight their deportation. Democrat leaders because illegals vote for Democrats. RINO leaders because RINOs want cheap labor.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/why-trump-is-quickly-losing-hispanic-support-aa88d8d0
— The Hindu Attacks on India’s Christians. Modi stays silent as chauvinists in his party assault the religious minority.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-hindu-attacks-on-indias-christians-269f6d83
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
— In Unsteady Times, Job Seekers Need a Reality Check. Mentors Can Help. DD: What happened to those who helped your career? I should write the IRS manager who promoted me to GS-9 in 1972, GS-11 in 1973, and GS-12 in 1974. Because he did that, my Democrat IRS superiors forced him to transfer to Dallas. I should write about the GAO manager who arranged my transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980 and who was finally able to assign me to audits or IRS and to promote me to GS-13 in 1986. Because he did that, my Democrat GAO superiors forced him to retire in 1987. To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and never promoted me to GS-13. To get rid of me, my Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars, a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10, to transfer, b) delayed my promotions back to GS-12 Step 5, c) kept me off audits of IRS except 1986-1988, d) never promoted me to GS-14, e) always ranked me in the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and f) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. In today’s dollars, my Civil Service Retirement System pension is less that what my IRS salary was when I was 23 in 1972.
https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/job-seekers-need-a-reality-check-mentors-can-help
BANKING RATES
— Inflation Affects the Cost of Raising a Child. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors and supervisors always decried their cost of their raising their children. They all had spouses who had little or no income. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that GAO employees who had children should be paid more than GAO employees who did not have children. They viciously used against me my and my wife’s giving up trying to have children, our not adopting, and our not becoming foster parents. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if my wife and I had children, I would not have been able to a) pass the CPA on my first attempt in 1979, b) earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, c) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination in my first attempt in 1981, or d) become a licensed CPA in 1981. They stressed that without my wife’s income and savings, we would not have been able to a) buy a home in Wheaton in 1978, b) buy two new cars in 1978, c) have a new home built in Wheaton in 1984, d) etc.
https://www.aol.com/inflation-affects-cost-raising-child-120605680.html
AARP
— What to Do if You’re Forced Into Early Retirement. DD: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, the more of the following that you are, the more that you should anticipate/expect that you will be forced to retire early: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America fora long time. I should write about that. Are you retired? I have been retired since I was 49 years old in 1997. If you are retired, were you forced to retire? I was. What would the rest of your employment had been like if you had not retired? If I had not retired when I did, I would not have eligible to retire for another 6 years. My Democrat GAO superiors had made it extremely clear that if I did not retire, they would make those 6 years a living hell. They would constructively if not literally demote me. They would give me adverse transfers. They would give me bad job assignments. They would give me unfair performance expectations. They would give me unfair performance appraisals. They would rank me at the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance. They would treat me like they had treated me in 1989. They could do all of the aforesaid because GAO was not unionized. GAO did not unionize until 2007. I considered asking my Congressman Henry Hyde to come to my defense like I had done in 1989, but I decided not to. There were too many around Hyde who were against me. Further, my Democrat GAO superiors had taken so many big adverse actions against me, I could not see myself surviving another them for another 6 years. But nevertheless, I will always ask myself, what would have happened if I had again asked Hyde to come to my defense. His coming to my defense in 1989 enabled me to survive until 1997. It motived me to earn job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. It motived me to earn a job-related master’s degree in 1997.
https://www.aarp.org/money/retirement/forced-into-early-retirement/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
KHALEEJ TIMES
— Mamdani takes oath on Holy Quran, becomes NYC’S first Muslim mayor
https://www.pressreader.com/uae/khaleej-times/20260102/281801405328872
FINANCIAL EXPRESS
— Three Qurans, One Historic Moment: Mamdani Sworn In as NYC Mayor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHhlYw7y8A4
FROM OTHER SOURCES
MED CITY NEWS
— The Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Adoption Gap Is Worse Than You Think. DD: I have type 2 diabetes. I delayed using a CGM because my Medicare and BC/BS insurance does cover it. But recently, I bought a Stelo CGM using Amazon for $100/month. It has immediately shown that my glucose spikes to over 250 after I eat, that is, I have high hyperglycemia. I am anxiously awaiting my diabetes doctor’s instructions.
https://medcitynews.com/2025/12/cgm-diabetes-healthcare/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A new study found that continuous glucose monitors can cut healthcare costs by about 20% while also improving outcomes for insulin-dependent diabetes patients, largely by reducing hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Despite these benefits and broad insurance coverage, roughly 80% of eligible patients still are not using the technology — highlighting a significant adoption gap.)
December 29, 2025
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
AMERICAN THINKER
— Polling Signals Trouble for Democrats — and Opportunity for Republicans
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/12/polling_signals_trouble_for_democrats_and_opportunity_for_republicans.html
— Tucker Carlson: Pro-Islam, Anti-American, And Toxic For Republicans
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/12/tucker_carlson_pro_islam_anti_american_and_toxic_for_republicans.html
DAILY CALLER
— Democratic Lawmaker Says She Feels Guilty For Being White And Kids Should Too. DD: My critics/opponents promote Affirmative Action and DEI. They want more and more and more preference to be given those who are minority, female, younger, unmarried, LGBTQ, have less money than others, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are citizens of foreign countries.
https://www.aol.com/articles/democratic-lawmaker-says-she-feels-182204161.html
FOX NEWS
— Erika Kirk vows TPUSA will continue campus debates nationwide
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/we-not-afraid-erika-kirk-vows-tpusa-continue-campus-debates-nationwide
— Erika Kirk outlines Turning Point USA’s next chapter after Charlie Kirk
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6387005291112
— What the conservative think tank wars have to do with you. Mass exodus from Heritage Foundation reveals ideological split between populist Trump agenda and traditional conservative economics.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-what-conservative-think-tank-wars-have-do-you.amp
NEWSMAX
— DOJ Using Fraud Law to Target Companies on DEI
https://www.newsmax.com/us/doj-dei-fraud-law/2025/12/28/id/1239955/
POST MILLENNIAL
— Charlottesville ends license plate cameras over fears data could be used to identify illegal immigrants
https://thepostmillennial.com/charlottesville-ends-license-plate-camera-program-over-fears-data-could-be-used-to-identify-illegal-immigrants
TOWNHALL
— Infighting at TPUSA?
https://townhall.com/columnists/arthurschaper/2025/12/29/title-reflection-on-years-end-infighting-at-tpusa-n2668557
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The TPUSA audience and the general conservative movement are feeling Charlie Kirk’s passing more keenly, since the MAGA Coalition, which he helped forge and flourish, is beginning to fray. Divisions are the norm in politics, especially among party brass and grassroots activists. They all claim the right vision for their party’s standards, but rarely have the conflicts burst to the forefront as they did at TPUSA American First 2025.)
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— A look at aging baby boomers in the United States. DD: I am 77, I am a baby boomer. Who speaks for the baby boomers in America, in Illinois, in your county, in your municipality, and in your school district?
https://apnews.com/article/census-baby-boomers-aging-america-demographics-ad275e223615952ce73d52ed714d24b0
(FROM THE ARTICLE: By the end of this decade, all baby boomers will be 65 and older, and the number of people 80 and over will double in 20 years. . .The share of senior citizens in the U.S. population is projected to grow from 18.7% in 2025 to nearly 23% by 2050, while children under 18 decline from almost 21% to a projected 18.4%. . .The projected average U.S. life expectancy at birth rises from 78.9 years in 2025 to 82.2 years in 2055, according to the CBO.)
USA TODAY
— MAGA split grows as Mike Pence group poaches from Heritage Foundation
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/maga-split-grows-as-mike-pence-group-poaches-from-heritage-foundation/ar-AA1SUXHy
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Mike Johnson: House Republicans Had a Great Year. In 2025 we passed tax cuts, helped businesses expand, and repealed harmful regulations.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/house-republicans-had-a-great-year-04efce46
— Justice Department Using Fraud Law to Target Companies on DEI. Google and Verizon among those being investigated under novel interpretation of law applying to government contractors.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-doj-dei-fraud-investigations-93213d52
FORBES
— Common Mid-Career Mistakes That Limit Advancement And Growth. DD: Democrats run the federal government. To advance in the federal government, you have to be more than just a Democrat, you have to excel at a) advancing Democrat employees who are minority and/or female and b) wasting the careers of and getting rid of Republican employees who are White and/or male.
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2025/12/08/common-mid-career-mistakes-that-limit-advancement-and-growth/
— DD: My Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors struggled to meet their Affirmative Action quotas, goals, and targets because few minorities and women want to work for the Post Office, IRS or GAO. Consequently, a) they gave tremendous preference to their Democrat employees who were minority and/or female and b) they wasted the careers of and got rid of their Republican employees who were White and/or male.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizelting/2025/04/09/as-workplace-gender-bias-stalls-career-growth-business-ownership-offers-opportunities-to-break-barriers/
24/7 WALL STREET
— Why Social Security’s COLA Formula Is Failing Baby Boomers in 2026. Over 50% of current Social Security recipients have cut living costs because prices rise faster than their benefits. Benefits have lost around 20% of buying power since 2010 due to the COLA formula underweighting healthcare and housing costs. The 2026 COLA is 2.8% but fails to match retiree inflation because it tracks urban wage earners instead of senior spending patterns.
https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/12/28/why-social-securitys-cola-formula-is-failing-baby-boomers-in-2026/
BUSINESS JOURNAL
— DD: To get more votes from females, Democrat and RINO candidates, elected officials, and party leaders ever-increasingly paint males as being barriers.
https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2025/12/womens-advancement-risk-leaders.html
MCKINSEY & COMPANY
— DD: To get more votes from females, Democrat and RINO candidates, elected officials, and party leaders ever-increasingly paint males as being barriers.
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/women-in-the-workplace
https://www.mckinsey.com/about-us/new-at-mckinsey-blog/new-mckinsey-book-the-unwritten-rules-about-career-advancement-for-women
SHRM
— DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) were minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran and/or b) had less work experience than I had, had less education than I had, had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.shrm.org/enterprise-solutions/insights/gender-pay-gap-addressing-systemic-modern-challenges
GALLUP
— Addressing the Barriers Blocking Employee Development. Less than half of U.S. employees participate in any education or training for their current job. DD: While I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, Firestone Stores 1970-1972, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, virtually none of my Democrat coworkers took job-related courses like I did. I took job-related courses at UIC 1966-1968 and in 1971, at NIU 1969-1970, at Loyola 1972-1976, at DePaul 1976-1980, at Becker CPA review 1978-1979, at Roosevelt 1980-1981, at the Institute of Internal Auditors in 1981, and at IIT 1992-1997.
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/692642/addressing-barriers-blocking-employee-development.aspx
PRECINCT REPORTER
— DD: My Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors struggled to meet their Affirmative Action quotas, goals, and targets because few minorities and women want to work for the Post Office, IRS or GAO. Consequently, a) they gave tremendous preference to their Democrat employees who were minority and/or female and b) they wasted the careers of and got rid of their Republican employees who were White and/or male.
https://precinctreporter.com/2025/03/13/discrimination-career-barrier-for-black-women/
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— DD: Democrats run the federal government. For them, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats, and especially Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. If I had been a Democrat, the federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 because I had a) earned master’s degrees in business and accounting, b) passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt, and c) became a licensed CPA.
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/05/opm-merit-hiring-plan-includes-bipartisan-reforms-politicized-new-test/405687/
AARP
— 5 Ways AARP Is Fighting Age Discrimination. DD: According to my critics/opponents, age discrimination has never existed. They deny that my Democrat IRS superiors used up-or-out, that is, that they used age discrimination, to not promote me to GS-13. I ultimately did make GS-13 when I was 38 in 1986, but it was not until after I had a) earned an MBA in 1976, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, c) transferred to GAO in 1980, d) earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, e) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt tin 1981, and f) became a licensed CPA in 1981. My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors promoted many of my Democrat coworkers to GS-13 ahead of me a) who had less work experience than I had, who had less education than I had, who had no professional certifications, and/or had no professional license and/or b) who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.
https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/fighting-against-age-discrimination/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1. Backing legislation that reinforces worker rights. On a national scale, AARP is backing bipartisan bills that support older workers. In May, AARP sent letters to the House and Senate endorsing the reintroduction of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. This legislation would restore protections, which a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court decision stripped away, that required older workers to prove their age was the sole reason they experienced an adverse employment action. AARP also threw its support behind two more bipartisan bills in September. The Protecting Older Americans Act lets workers choose to pursue age discrimination claims in court rather than being forced into arbitration. The Protect Older Job Applicants Act would expand protections under federal law to include people who are applying for jobs, even before they have reached the hiring stage.)
AXIOS
— For the first time, there will be more workers in states with a minimum wage of $15 an hour or higher than those with the federal minimum of $7.25. More than a decade ago, labor advocates’ fight for a $15 an hour wage seemed radical — not so much anymore. DD: Back in the good old days, I worked for the minimum wage (about $13/hour in today’s dollars) part-time during my junior and senior years in high school and full-time the summer in between 1964-1966. With the money I earned, I 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 ) in May or 1966.
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/28/2026-new-year-minimum-wage
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
BUSINESS TODAY
— DD: To get more votes from females, Democrat and RINO candidates, elected officials, and party leaders ever-increasingly paint males as being barriers.
https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/deep-dive/story/issues-women-face-at-work-the-silent-load-that-career-women-experience-508008-2025-12-24
STUDY INTERNATIONAL
— What women want: 9 best careers for women. DD: My Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors struggled to meet their Affirmative Action quotas, goals, and targets because few minorities and women want to work for the Post Office, IRS or GAO. Consequently, a) they gave tremendous preference to their Democrat employees who were minority and/or female and b) they wasted the careers of and got rid of their Republican employees who were White and/or male.
https://studyinternational.com/news/best-careers-for-women/
INDEPENDENT
— DD: To get more votes from females, Democrat and RINO candidates, elected officials, and party leaders ever-increasingly paint males as being barriers.
https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/women-in-the-workplace-report-2025-findings-b2885110.html
December 28, 2025
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
DAILY HERALD
— Kane County’s top prosecutor Mosser seeks judicial seat
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251228/news/kane-countys-top-prosecutor-mosser-seeks-judicial-seat/
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Barriers to upward mobility. DD: To get more votes from those who are minority, female, and younger, Democrat and RINO candidates and elected officials paint those who are White, male, and older as being barriers.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/study-education-still-pays-but-barriers-to-upward-mobility-persist-in-illinois/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Sickness & Hypocrisy in Academia
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2025/12/22/sickness-hypocrisy-in-academia
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— I have started using Stelo by Dexcom to continuously monitor my blood sugar level. If you have type 2 diabetes like I do and use Stelo, please phone me at 630-653-0462. My blood sugar spikes to over 250 after I eat. That means I have high hyperglycemia. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Pence becomes unlikely face of conservative opposition to Trump and populism.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/4363005/pence-unlikely-face-conservative-opposition-trump-populism/
— With the impending rescheduling of marijuana in the U.S., the transportation industry is searching for answers on whether it still will legally be able to test employees before sending them on the road or in the air. DD: Pot is poison.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/4363202/dot-realizes-road-safety-concern-with-marijuana-rescheduling/
— More Floridians, Californians moving to Texas
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/4363199/more-floridians-californians-moving-to-texas-than-reverse/
— A dangerous Supreme Court decision. In a short three-page decision written with little briefing and no oral argument, a 6-3 majority denied the Justice Department’s request to stay a district court restraining order preventing President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard in Chicago. The court’s holding is tenuously founded, rushed, and will endanger the lives of federal law enforcement officers.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4362312/dangerous-supreme-court-decision-national-guard/
NEW YORK POST
— Hating the rich may feel good — and win elections — but it’s self-destructive
https://nypost.com/2025/12/27/opinion/hating-the-rich-may-feel-good-and-win-elections-but-its-self-destructive/
AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The Pence Mirage: Why the Right Isn’t Leaving Trump. The Heritage Foundation “mutiny” isn’t a conservative realignment so much as the latest anti-Trump mirage, with Mike Pence cast as a moral standard-bearer no one is following.
https://amgreatness.com/2025/12/28/the-pence-mirage-why-the-right-isnt-leaving-trump/
— Let Americans Choose Their Cars—Not the Government. EVs aren’t failing because consumers don’t want them, but because tariffs block affordable competition—leaving Americans stuck with costly choices the rest of the world has outgrown. DD: I bought a 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T EV early this year. If it had been offered with a Hemi V-8, I would have bought that. I have owned a 2013 Charger R/T Max since 2012. I owned a 1968 Charger R/T 1994-2005. I owned a 1969 Charger SE 1968-1971.
https://amgreatness.com/2025/12/26/let-americans-choose-their-cars-not-the-government/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Third World cultures have a corruption problem, and Democrats capitalize on it
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/third_world_cultures_have_a_corruption_problem_and_democrats_capitalize_on_it.html
— The dangerous cost of erasing Western wisdom
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/victor_davis_hanson_on_the_dangerous_cost_of_erasing_western_wisdom.html
— Blue states surrendering to Somalis, Islam, and diversity
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/blue_states_surrendering_to_somalis_islam_diversity.html
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
— Federal workers with a professional degree or doctorate—about 10 percent of the federal workforce—earned about 29 percent less, on average, than their private-sector counterparts. DD: I worked for the Democrats who ran IRS 1971-1980 and I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997. I earned an MBA in 1976. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980. I passed Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981. I became a licensed CPA in 1981. I earned four more job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. I earned a master’s in finance in 1997. In today’s dollars, IRS paid me $112,280/year in 1980 and GAO paid me $153,151/year in 1997.
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/60235
BREITBART
— TPUSA Continuing Campus Debates Nationwide
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/12/28/we-are-not-afraid-erika-kirk-says-tpusa-continuing-campus-debates-nationwide/
— Indian Government Protests Rubio’s Visa Curbs That Help Americans
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/12/27/indian-government-protests-rubios-visa-curbs-that-help-americans/
DAILY CALLER
— Minnesota’s Lt Gov Takes Pandering To Somalis To The Next Level
https://dailycaller.com/2025/12/26/minnesota-lt-gov-peggy-flanagan-hijab-somali-migrants/
LIFE NEWS
— New York and Illinois Glorify Suicide in the Name of Compassion
https://www.lifenews.com/2025/12/28/new-york-and-illinois-glorify-suicide-in-the-name-of-compassion/
TOWNHALL
— FBI Teases Denaturalizing, Deporting Eligible Minnesota Fraudsters
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2025/12/28/fbi-teases-denaturalizing-deporting-minnesota-fraudsters-n2668553
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— You cannot be America first and pro-Russia
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5664765-turner-russia-war-aggression-ukraine/
CNN
— It’s time for Republicans to start thinking about 2028 and the post-Trump era
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/28/politics/2028-presidential-election-republicans-vance-rubio-analysis
NBC NEWS
— Much of the Black middle class was built by federal jobs. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997 so that they could give my Black subordinate my job and my preferred corner office. 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.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/black-federal-job-cuts-trump-musk-dei-middle-class-rcna191704
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— GOP coalescing behind Vance as Trump privately dismisses third-term run
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-12-28/gop-coalescing-behind-vance-as-trump-privately-dismisses-third-term-run
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Companies Are Outlining Plans for 2026. Hiring Isn’t One of Them. Large employers indicate that they either want to maintain the size of their teams next year or let go of workers; ‘Everybody’s afraid for their jobs’
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/2026-job-hiring-growth-plans-10bc3470
— Pritzker’s Illinois Political Clout Faces Test in Senate Primary. Billionaire governor is backing his lieutenant governor in a Democratic face-off, but she has struggled to outshine two top rivals.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/jb-pritzkers-illinois-political-clout-faces-test-in-senate-primary-4140cfa1
— You Can’t Work Your Way Through College Anymore. DD: Back in the good old days, I worked my way through college. The money came from what I earned washing dishes 1964-1966, cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, and pumping gasoline in 1966, delivering mail 1966-1969, and working on an automotive assemble line in 1970. My parents provided me with room and board in their Crete home 1966-1968, my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969. I graduated debt-free with a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in August of 1970 owning a 1969 Dodge Charger SE that I had bought new in 1968.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/you-cant-work-your-way-through-college-anymore-1521239612
FORBES
— OK, Boomer: Are Baby Boomers Preventing The Upward Mobility Of Younger Employees? DD: I am a baby boomer. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997 so that they could give my Black subordinate my job and my preferred corner office. 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.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2019/11/08/ok-boomer-are-baby-boomers-preventing-the-upward-mobility-of-younger-employees/
FORTUNE
— These 10 companies offer workers the best chance to advance. DD: Democrats run the federal government. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats. To advance in the federal government you have to be a Democrat. The more of the following that Democrats are, the faster that they can advance: minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://fortune.com/2022/10/13/american-opportunity-index-best-places-to-work-worker-career-advancement/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1) AT&T, 2) American Express, 3) Cisco, 4) PG&E, 5) Microsoft, 6) Fiserv, 7) HF Sinclair, 8) Liberty Mutual, 9) International Paper, 10) Southwest Airlines)
HR DAILY ADVISOR
— Steps to Foster Internal Promotions and Career Advancement. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, they focused on making room at the top, that is, they focused on getting rid of their employees who they had not promoted to Senior Executive Service (currently $195,200/year) by age 40 and who were White, male, and/or non-veteran. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my three job-related master’s degrees (1976, 1980, and 1997), my six job-related professional certifications (1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997), and my job-related professional license (1981).
https://hrdailyadvisor.com/2025/04/23/4-steps-to-foster-internal-promotions-and-career-advancement/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Create Room at the Top. A promotion pipeline’s useless if there’s nowhere to go. Stagnant org charts—where tenured folks squat in senior roles—kill mobility. Some firms hoard headcount, afraid to expand; others cling to “we’ve always done it this way” structures. Shake that up. Regularly audit roles: Are they still relevant? Can they split or scale? A bloated middle management layer might need pruning to open slots above. Turnover is not the enemy here—natural attrition (retirements, lateral exits) can unclog the system. Encourage it gracefully—exit packages or sabbaticals for long-timers can free space without bad blood. And don’t fear invention. If a star performer’s outgrowing their role, craft a new one. A tech firm once turned a standout engineer into a “solutions architect” rather than lose her to a rival. Flexibility beats rigidity.)
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT DAILY
— Upward mobility: Unlocking career advancement opportunities. DD: My critics/opponents have always used my having three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license against me. They have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my having the aforesaid and my never having earned more than $153,151/year in today’s dollars and my being forced to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997 proves that I am seriously flawed, an abject failure, and even worse things.
https://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/75364/upward-mobility-unlocking-career-advancement-opportunities/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Access to education is a major deciding factor in determining someone’s eligibility for upward mobility. Society members with access to the best schools and universities will find it easier to find higher-paying jobs and qualify for promotions. Lower-income areas in the United States often have subpar educational facilities, making it more difficult for graduates to pursue upward mobility in society.)
HARVARD MAGAZINE
— The Upward Mobility Problem. Most Americans earn less than their parents did. DD: My father often decried his not having a college degree. That motivated me to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/faculty/features-upward-mobility-problem
WHARTON
— How Social Class Affects the Career Ladder. DD: What class 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. My mother never attended high school. I had to work my way through college.
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/podcast/knowledge-at-wharton-podcast/how-social-class-affects-the-career-ladder/
FORDHAM INSTITUTE
— Is military enlistment a pathway to upward mobility? DD: Because my parents lacked money, my plan to earn a college degree was to enlist and use the GI Bill. But because I was able to earn high enough grades taking college preparatory courses, to get an ACT score of 24, and to graduate in the upper 20% of my class, UIC accepted me in 1966. I worked my way through college. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970. I got student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971.
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/military-enlistment-pathway-upward-mobility
TUFTS
— Upward mobility is becoming obsolete. DD: Back in the good old days, even though neither of my parents attended college, my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, and my mother never attended high school, I was able to work my way through college and earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. But because of my bad demographics, I doubt that I could do that today.
https://www.tuftsdaily.com/article/2024/10/coffee-table-socioeconomics-upward-mobility-is-becoming-obsolete
BROOKINGS
— The American Dream in crisis: Helping low-wage workers move up to better jobs. DD: Back in the good old days, I was a low-wage worker. I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966, 1971, and 1972. I delivered mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automobile assembly line in 1970. To qualify myself for better paying jobs, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (1970). I earned three job-related master’s degrees (1976, 1980, and 1997). I earned six job-related professional certifications (1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997). I earned a job-related professional license (1981).
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-american-dream-in-crisis-helping-low-wage-workers-move-up-to-better-jobs/
POLITICO
— The 2028 Race Has Begun. Here’s Who’s Winning. White House hopefuls in both parties are maneuvering for the post-Trump era. Here’s where they stand at the end of 2025.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/12/28/presidential-race-2028-candidates-analysis-00695164
NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Why History Points to Huge 2026 Losses for Trump’s GOP
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/why-history-points-to-huge-2026-losses-for-trumps-gop.html
December 26, 2025
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— At least 6 shot, 1 fatally, in Christmas night violence across city
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-shootings-least-6-shot-1-fatally-christmas-gun-violence-police-department-says/18318233/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Illinois Democratic Senate primary race has started slow. But contrasts emerge in bid to replace Dick Durbin.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/26/illinois-us-senate-race-slow-start/
DAILY HERALD
— Stopping a frightening free-for-all: Fair maps amendment, protections needed more than ever
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251226/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-stopping-a-frightening-free-for-all-fair-maps-amendment-protections-needed-m/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251226/syndicated-columnists/a-place-of-moral-leadership-this-is-no-person-for-this-job/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage children to be sexually active LGBTQers.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251226/syndicated-columnists/transgender-teens/
FOX32
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage children to be sexually active LGBTQers.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-r81src9y4xn5130p
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
— DD: Have you wanted to run for a government office? Since I was 49 years old in 1997, my DuPage County critics/opponents have falsely hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I wanted to run for DuPage County Auditor. To discourage me from considering doing that, they have taken many big adverse actions against me. I should write about my DuPage County critics/opponents and the many big adverse actions that they have taken against me. Of course, they ignore/dismiss/belittle/badmouth what did to elect and to reelect Jim Rasins and Bob Grogan as DuPage County Auditors. My critics/opponents base their false accusations against me on my being highly qualified for the office. I became a licensed CPA. I passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt. I earned professional certifications in fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I worked for IRS for almost 9 years as a Revenue Officer and for GAO for almost 18 years as an Analyst, the last 11 years of at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $117,807-$153,151/year. I have master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.shawlocal.com/kane-county-chronicle/2025/12/25/kane-auditor-penny-wegman-named-auditor-of-the-year/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— “Home Alone” Beyond a Comedy
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/25/home-alone-beyond-a-comedy/
— Skinner 2025 Christmas Letter
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/25/skinner-2025-christmas-letter/
— The Best Legislative Christmas Greeting
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/25/the-best-legislative-christmas-greeting/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Congress should prioritize American graduates, not foreigners who promised to go home. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise citizens of foreign countries and give them preference over citizens of America.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/24/congress-prioritize-american-graduates-foreigners-promised-go-home/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Biden OK’d illegal immigrants ‘Elvis Presley’ and ‘Connie Chung’ into US
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/3919595/biden-administration-let-illegal-immigrants-elvis-presley-connie-chung-into-us/
— Biden’s DHS let migrants on bogus documents claim asylum
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/oct/16/bidens-dhs-catching-releasing-migrants-bogus-documents-audit/
NEW YORK POST
— Tim Walz’s daughter Hope wishes merry Christmas to illegal migrants that ‘ICE has been terrorizing’ in divisive holiday message
https://nypost.com/2025/12/25/us-news/tim-walzs-daughter-hope-wishes-merry-christmas-to-illegal-migrants-that-ice-has-been-terrorizing-in-divisive-holiday-message/
— We know the reasons for violence against Jews — but refuse to say them aloud. We know the causes. Anemic Western leaders — politicians, college presidents, media grandees and celebrities — fear Muslim terrorism, growing Muslim voters and their own growing antisemitic campus constituencies. So, they never call out antisemitic violence other than with nauseating nothings like, “Such violence has no place here.” Or “We condemn such violence in the utmost terms.” Or “This is not who we are.”
https://nypost.com/2025/12/25/opinion/we-know-why-jews-are-targets-of-violence-but-refuse-to-admit-it/
AMERICAN THINKER
— The Pope’s Christmas statements wrapped leftist political values in religious garb. DD: How strongly have Democrats taken over your church?
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/the_pope_s_christmas_statements_wrapped_leftist_political_values_in_religious_garb.html
BRIETBART
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly liken Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to Illegal Migrants on Christmas. How strongly have Democrats taken over your church?
https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2025/12/25/rep-eric-swalwell-likens-jesus-mary-and-joseph-to-illegal-migrants-on-christmas/amp/
CAMPUS REFORM
— Northwestern University releases pro-DEI instructions for educators to ‘anchor equity in strategy’
https://www.campusreform.org/article/northwestern-university-releases-pro-dei-instructions-educators-anchor-equity-strategy/29172
NEWSMAX
— Justices’ Ruling Clears Trump to Invoke Insurrection Act
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/supreme-court-donald-trump-insurrection-act/2025/12/25/id/1239688/
— DD: Democrats Ever-Increasingly Defend Their Illegals
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/art-del-cueto-democrats-illegal-aliens/2025/12/25/id/1239705/
LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— Santa’s Naughty List Now Includes Illegal Aliens, Says ICE AI Video
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/santa-ice-ai-video-illegal-aliens-deport
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— CA-Based Operation Highway Sentinel Nets 101 Arrests in Crackdown on Illegals With CDLs
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/12/ca-based-operation-highway-sentinel-nets-101-arrests-in-crackdown-on-illegals-with-cdls/
ONE AMERICA NEWS
— Hope Walz praises illegal immigrants while attacking ICE in Christmas message
https://www.oann.com/newsroom/hope-walz-praises-illegal-immigrants-while-attacking-ice-in-christmas-message/
REASON
— DD: Hate filled Trump-hating Trump haters not only hate Trump, but hate America and those who share Trump’s demographics: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://reason.com/2025/12/25/christian-nationalism-is-a-threat-to-americas-founding-principles/
TOWNHALL
— Trump’s DHS Pays Illegal Immigrants to Leave — Critics Ignore the Cost of Letting Them Stay
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2025/12/25/david-bier-what-if-biden-rewarded-illegals-n2668443
— Of Course, Politico Says Christmas Is a Right Wing Boogaloo
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2025/12/25/of-course-politico-says-christmas-is-a-right-wing-boogaloo-n2668468
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Trump Organization requested record number of foreign workers in 2025. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.aol.com/news/trump-organization-requested-record-number-034837590.html
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— The creation of the Pathways Program came from the simple need to replace the government’s internship program. DD: Democrats run IRS and GAO. GAO audits IRS. Democrats do not want Republicans to audit Democrats. Were you an intern? To stop me from transferring from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors unsuccessfully tried to force me to become an intern, that is, to take a $71,982/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer, that is, to take a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-4 Step 1. But they successfully forced me to take a $23,472 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer, a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10. Needless-to-say, that ruined my GAO career. My Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates viciously hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the downgrade a) proved that what I had learned working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $99,069-$112,280/year, was WORTHLESS, b) proved that what I had learned passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 was WORTHLESS, c) that what I had learned earning an MBA in 1976 was WORTHLESS, and d) that what I was learning taking graduate evening accounting courses since 1976 was WORTHLESS. They used the aforesaid to ignore, dismiss, belittle a) my earning a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, b) my passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and c) my becoming a licensed CPA in 1981. They succeed in a) delaying my promotions back to GS-11 Step 10 and GS-12 Step 5, b) keeping me off audits of IRS except 1986-1988, c) delaying my promotion to GS-13 until 1986, d) never promoting me beyond GS-13, e) always ranking me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and f) forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/04/the-pathways-program-transformed-agencies-approach-to-early-career-hiring/
NPR
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/24/nx-s1-5619298/how-the-clergy-has-rallied-against-the-trump-administrations-immigration-policies
ATLANTA VOICE
— Controlling the Scores. Standardized testing has long been framed as a neutral measure of achievement. Yet, its origins in white supremacy reveal that it was designed to privilege white, middle-class norms while excluding others. DD: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I passed the following tests because standardized tests are biased in favor of those who share my demographics: a) the postal employment test when I was 17 in 1966, b) the ACT test with a score of 24 in 1966, c) all the tests I needed to pass to graduate in the upper 20% of my high school class in 1966, d) the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970, e) all the tests I needed to pass to earn a bachelor’s degree from NIU in 1970 and master’s degrees from Loyola in 1976, DePaul in 1980, and IIT in 1997, f) the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. and g) the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981. In my defense, neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school. I had to work my way through college.
https://theatlantavoice.com/testing-bias-black-students/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
GUARDIAN
— US labor unions gear up to fight against Trump’s ‘Billionaire First’ agenda. AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler says union ready to stand up for struggling Americans: ‘Which side are you on?’ DD: If GAO had unionized sooner, my Democrat GAO superiors would not have been able to a) force me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, b) keep me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, c) delay my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13, d) always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and e) force me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/25/trump-labor-unions-afl-cio
FEDERAL
— Trump administration ends H-1B visa lottery, shifts to skill-based system. DD: What skills do/did you have? I transferred from IRS to be a GAO Analyst when I was 31 in 1980. GAO audits IRS. The Democrats who ran GAO ignored/dismissed/belittled the analytical skills that I had because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. I acquired those analytical skills a) working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $99,069-$112,280/year, b) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, c) almost completing the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting, and d) earning an MBA in 1976. Much of what I did for IRS was very similar to what I would do for GAO. GAO’s forcing me to take a $23,472 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars ruined my GAO career and proved GAO’s discrimination against those who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.
https://thefederal.com/category/international/trump-administration-ends-h1b-visa-lottery-skill-based-system-222170
FROM OTHER SOURCES
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
— College football’s highest-paid player takes a pay cut to chase 2026 championship. DD: Who do you know that has taken a pay cut? I took a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980, a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10. My Democrat IRS superiors had made it clear that they would never promote me to GS-13 because I was a non-veteran Republican who had complained about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination. The GAO Staff Manager (Bill) who arranged the transfer promised me that he that would assign me to audits of IRS and rapidly promote me back to GS-12 Step 5 and then to GS13. But my Democrat GAO superiors almost immediately replaced Bill with Dave. Dave vehemently disapproved of me and my transfer. He gave me bad job assignments. He gave me unfair performance expectations. He gave me unfair performance appraisals. He delayed my promotions back to GS-11 Step 10 and GS-12 Step 5. He kept me off audits of IRS. He ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA in 1976, my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, my earning a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, my passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and my becoming a licensed CPA in 1981. But in 1985, Dave went on extended sick leave. That enabled Bill to assign me to audits of IRS in 1986 and to promote me to GS-13 in 1986. But Dave came back in 1987. Dave forced Bill to retire in 1987. Dave threw me off audits in 1989. Dave again gave me bad job assignments. Dave again gave me unfair performance expectations. Dave again gave me unfair performance appraisals. Dave ranked me at the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance for 1989. GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized in 1980, Dave would not have been able to take the adverse actions against me that he did.
https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/college-football-highest-paid-player-takes-pay-cut-to-chase-2026-championship-arch-manning
December 24, 2025
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois joins lawsuit against White House’s attempted national ban on youth gender-affirming care. The Department of Health and Human Services this month unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to block access to gender-affirming care for patients under 19, including threats to cut off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide care. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage youth to be sexually active LGBTQers.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/12/24/illinois-joins-suit-trump-administrations-attempted-nationwide-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-youth
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251223/illinois-state-politics/doj-sues-illinois-governor-over-laws-protecting-immigrants-at-courthouses-and-hospitals/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump administration is recalling about 30 career diplomats. DD: Are/were you a career employee? I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, almost 3 for the Post Office, almost 9 for IRS, and almost 18 for GAO. But my Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates not only ignored/dismissed/belittled my postal employment, they used it against me; they were furious that I had almost 3 years of federal seniority when I started at IRS. And my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates not only ignored/dismissed/belittled my IRS employment, they used it against me; they were beyond furious that I had almost 12 years of federal seniority when I started at GAO. Because of that seniority, I had more vacation day and sick days. Because of that seniority, I got a preferred corner office at GAO. Because of that seniority I got the “opportunity” to get a $25,000 buyout and to take early retirement when I was 45 in 1993.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-12-23/the-trump-administration-is-recalling-about-30-career-diplomats
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Military recruiting soars after Trump election and ‘woke’ policy rollback. DD: Did you enlist? Initially, my plan to get a college degree was to enlist and to use the GI Bill. If I had enlisted, I would not have been able a) to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21, b) to earn an MBA when I was 27, c) to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, d) to earn a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, d) to pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, and e) to become a licensed CPA when I was 32. I would not have been able a) to buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., b) to buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35, c) to get married when I was 29, d) etc.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/23/us-military-recruiting-hits-15-year-high-trump-administration/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Border Patrol ‘will go anywhere’ to arrest illegal immigrants in 2026
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/4355660/border-patrol-travel-arrest-illegal-immigrants-2026-chief/
— Why is Mamdani surrounded by antisemites?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4356909/why-zohran-mamdani-surrounded-by-antisemites/
NEW YORK POST
— Why do pessimistic pundits keep getting Trump’s economy so wrong?
https://nypost.com/2025/12/23/opinion/why-do-pessimistic-pundits-keep-getting-trumps-economy-so-wrong/
— Mamdani doesn’t care about ‘upward mobility.’ DD: How upwardly mobile were you? Thanks to my outstanding parents and teachers, I was able to earn three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license notwithstanding neither of my parents having attended college, my father being only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, and my mother never having attended high school.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/mamdani-doesn-t-care-about-upward-mobility-and-his-charter-school-snub-proves-it/ar-AA1SQQnX
— DEI hollowed out a generation — and sapped America’s promise. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders use Affirmative Action and DEI to destroy Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America longer than their ancestors.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/22/opinion/dei-hollowed-out-a-generation-and-sapped-americas-promise/
BLAZE
— The Great Replacement isn’t a theory. It’s the plan. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly replace those who have demographics that vote for Republicans with those who have demographics that vote for Democrats. That will destroy America.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/the-auron-macintyre-show/the-great-replacement-isnt-a-theory-its-the-plan
BREITBART
— ICE Arrests 101 ‘Dangerous’ Illegal Alien Truckers on California Roads
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/12/23/report-ice-arrests-101-dangerous-illegal-alien-truckers-on-california-roads/amp/
— ICE Releases AI Video of Santa Rounding Up Illegal Aliens, Urges Self-Deportation to Avoid the ‘Naughty List’
https://www.breitbart.com/pre-viral/2025/12/23/watch-ice-releases-ai-video-of-santa-rounding-up-illegal-aliens-urges-self-deportation-to-avoid-the-naughty-list/
CAMPUS REFORM
— 5 times merit made a comeback in 2025. DD: My critics/opponents credit their successes to merit. They credit my successes to my benefitting from discrimination against those who are non-Republican, liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, veteran, unmarried, LGBTQ, non-Protestant, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are noncitizens.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/5-times-merit-made-comeback-2025/29157
COLLEGE FIX
— Lawsuit challenges University of Rhode Island’s ‘preference’ for hiring union members. DD: When the Democrats who ran the Post Office hired me when I was 18, I felt that I had no choice but to join the union. When the Democrats who ran IRS hired me when I was 22, I felt that I had no choice but to join the union. When the Democrats who ran GAO hired me when I was 31, they made it clear that they despised/hated unions and union members. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had not been a union member, IRS would not have promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25, that is, that IRS grossly overpaid me because I was a union member.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/lawsuit-challenges-u-rhode-islands-preference-for-hiring-union-members/
DAILY SIGNAL
— The Left Framed Trump on ‘Affordability’ Crisis. Here’s What Trump Must Do Now. DD: If there is something that you want to buy, but you can’t afford it, who do you blame? Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hates want you to blame Trump. Who do you blame for your not having more money than you have? I blame my Democrat superiors in the federal government who wasted my career, who took many big adverse actions against me, and who forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/12/23/the-left-framed-trump-on-affordability-crisis-heres-what-trump-must-do-now/amp/
— Reversing Democrats’ ‘Affordability’ Trap on Trump Before Midterms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry49sksqMFg
FOX BUSINESS
— This is a good incentive for illegal aliens to leave voluntarily
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6386883945112
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Systematic Scholarship Discrimination In Illinois Public Universities Challenged By Equal Protection Project. Our Civil Rights Complaint to the Department of Justice involves at least seventy-seven (77) scholarships and programs across seven institutions, including the flagship University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/12/systematic-scholarship-discrimination-in-illinois-public-universities-challenged-by-equal-protection-project/
NEW AMERICAN
— Top Democrats in Columbus, Ohio, Warn Illegal Aliens That ICE Is in Town
https://thenewamerican.com/us/immigration/top-democrats-in-columbus-ohio-warn-illegal-aliens-that-ice-is-in-town/
— University Writing Center Rejected Proper English, Calling It “Linguistic White Supremacy”
https://thenewamerican.com/us/education/university-writing-center-rejected-proper-english-calling-it-linguistic-white-supremacy/
— ICE Arrests More Than 100 Illegal Alien Truck Drivers in California
https://thenewamerican.com/us/immigration/ice-arrests-more-than-100-illegal-alien-truck-drivers-in-california/
PJ MEDIA
— Outrageous: Boasberg Demands Trump Return 130+ Terrorist Illegals to U.S.
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/12/23/boasberg-outrageously-demands-trump-return-130-criminal-illegals-to-us-n4947441
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals, b) fight their deportation, and c) make it clear that they despise/hate Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My coworkers were overwhelmingly Democrats who were non-German American, had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time, non-Protestant, veteran, minority, female, and/or younger than me.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/us/politics/stephen-miller-trump-immigrants.html
— How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little? The group’s biggest claims were largely incorrect, a New York Times analysis found. And its many smaller cuts added up to few savings. DD: If Gingrich had reformed GAO instead of gutting it, there would be no need for DOGE.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/us/politics/doge-musk-trump-analysis.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Trump administration abruptly recalls over two dozen career ambassadors. DD: U.S. ambassadors serve at the pleasure of U.S. presidents. Managers of GAO offices serve at the pleasure of those who run GAO. While I worked for GAO’s Chicago office 1980-1997, the Democrats who ran GAO got rid of the managers who they assigned who failed to get rid of enough of the office’s employees who were GS-14 and below and who were Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. I should write about each of those managers and the employees who they got rid of.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/12/22/trump-ambassadors-recalled/
BOSTON HERALD
— Things are looking up, thanks to Trump
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/12/24/moore-things-are-looking-up-thanks-to-trump/
SACRAMENTO BEE
— Here’s how Sacramento County residents can help with the upcoming homeless count. DD: As Democrats move into your county, township, municipality, and school district, homelessness will increase.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/homeless/article313927206.html
DAILY BEACON
— Check your privilege. DD: What are your demographics? If you are the following, my critics/opponents attribute your successes in life to your benefitting from discrimination against those who are not the following: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://utdailybeacon.com/87543/opinion/check-your-privilege/
WKBN
— DOJ to investigate ‘DEI wokeness’ after Pa. school bus driver fired for banning Spanish
https://www.wkbn.com/news/doj-to-investigate-dei-wokeness-after-pa-school-bus-driver-fired-for-banning-spanish/
WHYY
— Gen Z college graduates are facing tough odds in the job market. With a historically bad job market, phantom job listings and a loss of entry-level positions due to AI, young Philadelphians are sounding the alarm. DD: What entry-level jobs did you have? I had three. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 years old in 1970. My first entry-level job was a Retail Sales Manager for a Firestone Store. My salary was about $50,000/year in today’s dollars for a 44-hour workweek. In 1971, my second entry-level job was a GS-7 IRS Revenue Officer. The salary was $55,850/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. My taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola helped me get promoted to GS-9 ($68,315/year) in 1972, to GS-11 ($82,655/year) in 1973, and to GS-12 ($99,069/year) in 1974. I earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. In 1980, my third entry-level job was a GS-9 Step 10 GAO Analyst. The salary was $88,808/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and almost earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. My salary was $153,151/year in today’s dollars almost 18 years later in 1997, after I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, after I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, after I became a licensed CPA in 1981, after I earned four more professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and after I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.
https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-gen-z-college-graduates-job-market/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— America Needs More Husband Material. Marriage, disdained by many elites, has collapsed among the working class. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasing destroy traditional marriage and family. Under the Democrats, fewer and fewer and fewer people are marriage material. What helped make you marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $108,978/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/america-needs-more-husband-material-11ae071a?mod=opinion_lead_pos7
FORTUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders want the stock market to crash so that they can blame it on Trump.
https://fortune.com/2025/12/24/precarious-is-wall-streets-defining-word-for-2026/
— Why restricting graduate loans will bankrupt America’s talent supply chain. DD: I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I took only one course at a time because that was what I could afford in terms of time and money. Consequently, I did not earn an MBA until I was 27. I did not earn a master’s degree in accounting until I was 31. I did not earn a master’s degree in finance until I was 48. By then, it was too late.
https://fortune.com/2025/12/23/k-shaped-economy-education-graduate-loans-talent-supply-chain/
MONEY TALKS
— Here’s What Workers Say Matters Most in a Job in 2026 and What They’ll Do to Get It. DD: What about the importance of what employers do? The importance of what the Post Office does (deliver mail), Firestone Stores do (sell tires), Oldsmobile did (build cars), IRS does (collect taxes), and GAO does (audit federal agencies) motivated me to accept their job offers.
https://www.moneytalksnews.com/heres-what-workers-say-matters-most-in-a-job-in-and-what-theyll-do-to-get-it/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Key findings include: 85% of workers said remote work now matters more than salary when evaluating a job. 69% have switched, or seriously considered switching, career fields. Gen Z professionals reported struggling to build momentum and wanting stronger support. Working parents were stretched thin, with 65% saying remote work would better support their families. And across the workforce, return-to-office mandates have been straining trust and loyalty.)
LEGAL NEWSLINE
— DOJ says IL law can’t be used to limit, sue, ‘harass’ ICE agents
https://www.legalnewsline.com/madison-stclair-record/justice-department-battles-illinois-over-ice-limitations/article_df7e9ec0-7b26-4da6-a1a5-205da2d1962e.html
JD SUPRA
— The EEOC Issues New Guidance Regarding Anti-American Discrimination. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My coworkers were overwhelmingly Democrats who were non-German American, had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time, non-Protestant, veteran, minority, female, and/or younger than me.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-eeoc-issues-new-guidance-regarding-5111758/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The technical assistance document also offers examples of specific circumstances that may implicate this new guidance on national origin discrimination, including: Using discriminatory job advertisements, such as those that include the employer’s preference for or requirement of applicants from a particular country or with a particular visa status (e.g., “H-1B preferred” or “H-1B only”). Terminating American employees who are on the “bench” between job assignments at a higher rate than employees who are visa guest workers. Requiring American workers to participate in more burdensome application processes than H-1B visa holders during the PERM labor certification process. Allowing the harassment of employees based on their national origin, accent, or ethnicity, through unwelcome remarks or conduct. Retaliating against an employee who engaged in protected activity under Title VII, such as objecting to or opposing national origin discrimination at work, participating in employer or EEOC investigations, or filing an EEOC charge.
ATLANTIC
— DD: According to hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters, Trump Is looking a lot smaller and he is no longer dominating his party or the country in the way he once did.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2025/12/president-donald-trump-diminished/685427/
DAILY DISPATCH
— DD: I should write about anti-conservatives. I would focus on Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct since 2000. I would focus on leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization since 2000. I would focus on conservative leaders in Illinois since 2000. I would focus on religious leaders in Illinois since 2000. 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. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me lately.
https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/opinion/2025-12-24-conservative-american-manhood-has-hit-rock-bottom/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
INDIA TODAY
— Disagree with me, you won’t get the job: Trump’s test for next Fed chair. DD: Democrats run the federal government. For them, the federal government exists a) to hire, retain, and promote Democrats and b) to advance the Democrat Party platform. 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. I qualified myself for the Post Office job by earning a high school diploma and passing the postal employment examination. I qualified myself for the IRS job by earning a bachelor’s degree in business and passing the Federal Service Entrance Examination. I qualified myself for the GAO job by earning an MBA and passing the CPA examination on my first attempt.
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/disagree-with-me-you-wont-get-the-job-trumps-test-for-next-fed-chair-glbs-2840797-2025-12-24
December 23, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Supreme Court keeps Trump’s National Guard deployment blocked in the Chicago area, for now
https://abc7chicago.com/post/supreme-court-ruling-keeps-donald-trumps-chicago-national-guard-deployment-blocked-now/18309907/
— Pope disappointed over approval of assisted suicide legislation in his home state of Illinois
https://abc7chicago.com/post/pope-leo-xiv-news-catholic-church-leader-disappointed-approval-assisted-suicide-legislation-home-state-illinois/18310097/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Supreme Court deals Trump a defeat on bid to deploy National Guard in Illinois
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/supreme-court-trump-national-guard-illinois/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/20/november-us-consumer-goods-price-tracker/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Pope disappointed by approval of Illinois’ assisted suicide legislation. Pope Leo XIV said he asked Gov. JB Pritzker not to sign legislation allowing assisted suicide in Illinois. “We were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life from the very beginning to the very end, and unfortunately … he decided to sign that bill.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/pope-leo-xiv/2025/12/23/pope-disappointed-over-approval-of-illinois-assisted-suicide-legislation
DAILY HERALD
— Why three congressional candidates could be booted from the ballot
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251223/us-congress-politics/why-three-congressional-candidates-could-be-booted-from-the-ballot/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Three congressional candidates vying to serve different parts of the Northwest or West suburbs will find out early next month if they’ll appear on March 2026 primary ballots or be booted. On the hot seat are Democrat Mark J. Pasieka Sr., a Chicagoan running in the 3rd District; and two Republicans running in the 11th District, Tedora Brown of Palos Park and Michael Pierce of Naperville.)
— DuPagePads opens new warming center in Wheaton
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251223/news/dupagepads-opens-new-warming-center-in-wheaton/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Quantifying the Tax Local Officials Did Not Vote To Impose, a “Would Have Been, Could Have Been” Article
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/23/quantifying-the-tax-local-officials-did-not-vote-to-impose-a-would-have-been-could-have-been-article/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Supreme Court rules against Trump on deploying troops to Chicago
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/23/supreme-court-rules-trump-deploying-troops-chicago/
— Medicaid wasted more than $200 million on dead enrollees in single year
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/23/medicaid-paid-200-million-care-deceased-patients-single-year/
— White House rebuffs Catholic bishops’ appeal for a Christmas pause in immigration enforcement
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/23/catholic-bishops-appeal-christmas-pause-immigration-enforcement/
— Military hits best recruiting numbers in 15 years
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/23/military-hits-best-recruiting-numbers-15-years-pentagon-says/
— Islam is still incompatible with America
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/23/december-2025-islam-still-incompatible-america/
— American families deserve real health care relief. There’s a better path than Obamacare.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/10/american-families-deserve-real-health-care-relief/
NEW YORK POST
— Toxic ideas fueling far-left terrorists came straight from our college campuses
https://nypost.com/2025/12/23/opinion/toxic-fuel-for-far-left-terrorists-came-straight-from-our-colleges/
AMERICAN THINKER
— The problem behind ‘affordability’
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/the_problem_behind_affordability.html
— NBC criticizes Trump admin for claiming ‘without evidence’ that white civilization is being erased
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/more_fake_news_nbc_criticizes_trump_admin_for_claiming_without_evidence_that_white_civilization_is_being_erased.html
— The ‘affordability crisis’ myth
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/11/the_affordability_crisis_myth.html
BREITBART
— SCOTUS Rules Against Trump Sending National Guard to Sanctuary Chicago
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/12/23/scotus-rules-against-trump-sending-national-guard-sanctuary-chicago/
CAMPUS REFORM
— Worst 5 examples of higher ed’s pro-abortion agenda in 2025. Abortion is celebrated and promoted on college campuses.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/worst-5-examples-higher-eds-pro-abortion-agenda-2025/29167
DAILY WIRE
— TPUSA Attendees Rally Around JD Vance At AmFest. “JD Vance represents the greatest conservative movement in over forty years.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/tpusa-attendees-rally-around-jd-vance-at-amfest
EPOCH TIMES
— Federal Judge Strikes Down California’s Policies Hiding Gender Switches From Parents. The permanent injunction includes language that bars any employee in California’s education system from ’misleading the parent.’
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/federal-judge-strikes-down-californias-policies-hiding-gender-switches-from-parents-5961936
FOX NEWS
— Mamdani FIRES BACK after report exposes anti-Zionist appointees
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6386869048112
— 20% of NYC mayor-elect Mamdani transition appointees have anti-Zionist ties
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/20-nyc-mayor-elect-mamdani-transition-appointees-have-anti-zionist-ties-adl.amp
NEWSMAX
— California Auditor Flags Newsom Admin as High Risk, Citing Billions in Exposure
https://www.newsmax.com/us/california-gavin-newsom-audit/2025/12/23/id/1239457/
PATRIOT POST
— Slouching Toward Open Season on Jews. To catalog all the recent violence against Jews in the Western world would fill a book.
https://patriotpost.us/opinion/123805-slouching-toward-open-season-on-jews-2025-12-23
POST MILLENNIAL
— Vance overwhelmingly wins AmFest straw poll for 2028 GOP presidential nominee. The poll found that 84.2 percent of attendees want Vance for the spot, while no other figure in the poll received double-digit support.
https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-jd-vance-overwhelmingly-wins-amfest-straw-poll-for-2028-gop-presidential-nominee
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— The NLRB Can Now Serve the American People, Not the Democratic Party
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/12/22/the_nlrb_can_now_serve_the_american_people_not_the_democratic_party_153661.amp.html
TOWNHALL
— Mamdani Chalks Up His Antisemitic Staff Problem As a ‘Wide Variety of Political Opinion’
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2025/12/23/mamdani-radical-staffers-wide-variety-of-political-opinion-n2668370
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
REUTERS
— US seeks to cancel thousands of asylum cases
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-seeks-cancel-thousands-asylum-cases-cbs-news-reports-2025-12-23/
CNBC
— Entry-level hiring is down 23% from March 2020. DD: What entry-level jobs did you have? I had three. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 years old in 1970. My first entry-level job was a Retail Sales Manager for a Firestone Store. My salary was about $50,000/year in today’s dollars for a 44-hour workweek. In 1971, my second entry-level job was a GS-7 IRS Revenue Officer. The salary was $55,850/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. My taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola helped me get promoted to GS-9 ($68,315/year) in 1972, to GS-11 ($82,655/year) in 1973, and to GS-12 ($99,069/year) in 1974. I earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. In 1980, my third entry-level job was a GS-9 Step 10 GAO Analyst. The salary was $88,808/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and almost earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. My salary was $153,151/year in today’s dollars almost 18 years later in 1997, after I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, after I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, after I became a licensed CPA in 1981, after I earned four more professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and after I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/23/this-is-linkedins-no-1-piece-of-advice-for-entry-level-job-seekers-in-2026.html
USA TODAY
— Turning Point exposes Republican infighting when we need unity. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition officer, those organizations would still be hosting candidate debates today.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/12/23/turning-point-republican-infighting-conservative-movement/87855762007/
INC.
— The Top 15 Highest-Paying Jobs for 2026 That Don’t Require a College Degree. DD: Firestone Stores would not have hired me as a Retail Store Manager in 1970 and IRS would not have hired me as a Revenue Officer in 1971 if I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1970. IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 if I had not been taking graduate business evening courses. GAO would not have hired me as an Analyst in 1980 if I had not earned an MBA in 1976 and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. GAO would not have promoted me in 1986 if I had not earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and became a licensed CPA in 1981.
https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/the-top-15-highest-paying-jobs-for-2026-that-dont-require-a-degree/91281103
TALKING POINTS MEMO
— GAO Has Been Calling Out Trump’s Illegal Impoundment. That May Soon Change.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/one-agency-has-been-calling-out-trumps-illegal-impoundment-that-may-soon-change
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Throughout 2025, the Trump administration has, time after time, simply refused to spend funds that Congress appropriated. The obstinacy was without precedent in modern American governance; congressional Democrats suggested it had put the country on track toward a constitutional crisis. Republicans, who controlled both chambers of Congress, largely did nothing. Piping up occasionally to affirm to those who were paying attention that they had not entirely lost their minds was a relatively small watchdog agency housed within the legislative branch: The Government Accountability Office (GAO). . .Following Dodaro’s retirement, Congress will establish a bipartisan panel to recommend a replacement to the president. President Donald Trump will then nominate a candidate subject to Senate confirmation. But experts worry that the ostensibly bipartisan process will not be enough to force Trump to appoint someone who will live up to the agency’s nonpartisan mission, which includes investigating improper, wasteful and fraudulent use of the money Congress allocates. “It is very likely that Gene Dodaro is replaced with a Trump lackey,” Bobby Kogan, senior director of federal budget policy at the Center for American Progress, told TPM. Kogan worries that if Dodaro is replaced by a Trump loyalist, the agency will stop doing the “important part of what they have been doing, which is investigations, public oversight and accountability.” “GAO investigations are extremely important,” Georgetown Law professor David Super told TPM. “In many respects, it provides a better and more independent version of what the inspectors general used to provide,” he said, referencing the watchdogs who sit within many executive branch agencies — and who Trump fired en masse in 2025. “Since Trump has gotten rid of the inspectors general, we don’t have that independent site,” Super continued. “So having an independent GAO looking at things is extremely important. And, certainly, Congress would have a harder time doing its job without GAO.”)
PEW RESEARCH
— The Political Gap in Americans’ News Sources. DD: Since 2000, I have worked hard to fill an ever-increasing political news and commentary gap in Illinois with my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. Tragically, there are fewer and fewer and fewer conservative news and commentary sources in Illinois.
https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2025/06/10/the-political-gap-in-americans-news-sources/
December 22, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Medicaid fraud is a problem.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/22/medicaid-one-big-beautiful-bill-trump-fraud-reform/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois lawmakers visit Broadview ICE facility months after they were denied entry. The lawmakers said ICE expects immigration arrests to ramp up in the near future. While the facility only had two detainees on Monday, they said ICE anticipates increasing staffing at the facility with 85 additional agents.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/12/22/broadview-ice-chuy-garcia-delia-ramirez-danny-davis
— These two crooks can still convert millions from their campaign funds into personal use if they want. Because they’re grandfathered in under an old law, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and ex-Ald. Edward Burke can collectively pocket nearly $4 million and use it for virtually anything they want, so long as they pay income taxes.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/12/22/michael-madigan-edward-burke-illinois-campaign-contributions-convert-to-personal-use-elections-board
DAILY HERALD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for the high cost of healthcare.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251222/business/health-care-among-americans-biggest-priorities-for-2026-according-to-a-new-ap-norc-poll/
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251222/business/how-the-end-of-extra-affordable-care-act-subsidies-could-affect-you/
— DD: Under the DuPage Democrats, more and more and more DuPage residents want/need/demand more welfare.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251222/lifestyle/dupage-foundation-awards-100000-in-emergency-food-response-grants/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The foundation said more than 94,000 DuPage County residents struggle with food insecurity, including 8.4% of the county’s children.)
— After staging a collection drive, Republican state Sen. Darby Hills of Barrington Hills and her staff last week delivered food, toiletries and other items to eight food pantries in her 26th District. More than 2,000 items were collected in the Moms & Meals drive, according to a news release from Hills’ office. Boxed up for delivery, it was enough for five carloads.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251222/local/state-sen-hills-delivers-donated-goods-to-food-pantries/
— DD: Democrat leaders use “medical marijuana” to push pot.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251222/news/schaumburg-family-launches-campaign-to-retain-access-to-daughters-medical-marijuana/
FOX32
— ‘Rails and Roots’ shows how Mexican railroad workers built Chicago. DD: My ancestors on my father’s side immigrated from what is now Germany in 1844 and worked in a Chicago brick factory until 1854 when the homesteaded a farm in southeast Crete Township.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-mexican-worker-railroads
WTTW
— A group of Illinois Congressional representatives on Monday were allowed inside Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s processing center in suburban Broadview, months after they were previously turned away. Illinois U.S. Reps. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Delia Ramirez, Jonathan Jackson and Danny Davis toured the controversial west suburban facility Monday as part of a routine congressional inspection, six months after they said they were denied access by ICE agents without authority.
https://news.wttw.com/2025/12/22/accountability-not-optional-illinois-congressional-reps-tour-broadview-ice-facility
SOUTHERN
— Senate Democrats raise concerns about IRS readiness for tax filing season. DD: What does GAO say about that? GAO audits IRS. I worked for IRS 1971-1980 and for GAO 1980-1997. GAO wasted my knowledge of IRS. It kept me off audits of IRS except 1986-1988. Have you ever phoned IRS with a tax question? If you did during the 1974 filing season, the IRS employee who answered your call was one of my subordinates. Back then, as a 25-year-old GS-11 (currently $82,655/year) IRS Revenue Officer, I supervised all of the IRS employees, which included a rotating staff of about 90 IRS Revenue Agent trainees, in IRS’s new downtown Chicago office who answered taxpayer questions using IRS’s new tollfree CentiPhone system. Because of my job performance, the IRS manager who had given me that developmental opportunity and who had promoted me in 1972 and 1973 promoted me to GS-12 (currently $99,069/year) in 1974.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/12/22/senate-democrats-raise-concerns-about-irs-readiness-for-tax-filing-season/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Skyrocketing number of ‘no-shows’ in immigration court
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-12-22/npr-analysis-shows-skyrocketing-number-of-no-shows-in-immigration-court
— A rift in MAGA has top Heritage Foundation officials leaving to join with Mike Pence
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-12-22/a-rift-in-maga-has-top-heritage-foundation-officials-leaving-to-join-with-mike-pence
— Federal judge says U.S. must give due process to deported Venezuelans. DD: The federal justices and judges in Diersen v. GAO denied me my 7th Amendment right to a jury trial. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf They would not have done that if Republicans had been the discriminators and I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-12-22/federal-judge-says-u-s-must-give-due-process-to-deported-venezuelans
FOX ILLINOIS
— DHS offers $3,000 ‘home for the holidays’ incentive to migrants who self-deport
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/dhs-homeland-security-offers-3000-home-for-the-holidays-incentive-to-migrants-who-self-deport-illegal-immigration-crackdown-secretary-kristi-noem-cbp-home-app-customs-and-border-protection
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— U.S. Senate Hopeful Don Tracy Appears Before McHenry County GOP Central Executive Committee
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/22/u-s-senate-hopeful-don-tracy-appears-before-mchenry-county-gop-central-executive-committee/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for the high cost of healthcare.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/22/health-care-poised-key-issue-midterms-republicans-scramble-solutions/
— DHS holiday deal for illegal immigrants: Leave now and get $3,000 — or face arrest
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/22/dhs-tells-illegal-immigrants-go-home-holidays-stay/
— Heritage Foundation loses a dozen scholars to Pence-led group in rift over leadership. Josh Blackman resigns from Heritage, says judges, contributors distancing themselves.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/22/heritage-foundation-loses-dozen-scholars-pence-led-group-rift/
— Trump leading U.S. toward unprecedented economic prosperity. Cleaning up the Democrats’ massive mess takes time.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/22/trump-leading-us-toward-unprecedented-economic-prosperity/
— Ban the Muslim Brotherhood, or witness the West’s demise. We must act now.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/22/ban-muslim-brotherhood-witness-wests-demise/
— Universities, colleges not producing employable adults. DD: Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970 and IRS would not have hired me in 1971 if I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1970. IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 if I had not been taking graduate business evening courses. GAO would not have hired me in 1980 if I had not earned an MBA in 1976 and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. GAO would not have promoted me in 1986 if I had not earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and became a licensed CPA in 1981.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/22/universities-colleges-producing-employable-adults/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: These days, it’s rare for anyone to challenge sacred cows, but Charlie Kirk was the exception. He questioned one of America’s most entrenched assumptions: that everyone needs a college degree. He argued that college has become an overpriced credentialing system that fails to deliver on its age-old promises of rigorous education and better job prospects. Kirk asked tough questions with honest curiosity and respect, and he never backed down from calling out the problems in higher education, even when it made people uncomfortable. Genuine education demands engagement with difficult and often opposing ideas, something Charlie understood, and America’s colleges have largely ceased to provide. While the value has plummeted, the price tag has risen. Charlie Kirk brought this skepticism into mainstream discourse. Now, more than ever, people are questioning whether a college degree is worth it.)
— Democrats thrive on government fraud. A look at Minnesota Somalia, Obamacare, student loans and more.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/22/democrats-thrive-government-fraud/
NEW YORK POST
— Vance smashes AmericaFest 2028 straw poll, tops Trump’s position 2 years ago
https://nypost.com/2025/12/22/us-news/jd-vance-smashes-americafest-2028-straw-poll-tops-trumps-position-2-years-ago/
— Elite colleges admitting Asian students at incredible rates post affirmative action
https://nypost.com/2025/12/22/us-news/elite-colleges-admitting-one-student-minority-group-at-incredible-rates-post-affirmative-action/
— Heritage ousts two staffers as more scholars flee to Mike Pence’s group: ‘Brain drain’
https://nypost.com/2025/12/22/us-news/heritage-ousts-two-staffers-as-more-scholars-flee-to-mike-pences-group-brain-drain/
— It’s time to treat Bill Clinton like Prince Andrew — and banish him from polite society
https://nypost.com/2025/12/22/opinion/its-time-to-banish-bill-clinton-like-prince-andrew/
— DEI hollowed out a generation — and sapped America’s promise. DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government used Affirmative Action, DEI, the veterans preference, and up-or-out to waste my career, to take many big adverse actions against me, and to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/22/opinion/dei-hollowed-out-a-generation-and-sapped-americas-promise/
— Mamdani doesn’t care about ‘upward mobility’, and his charter school snub proves it
https://nypost.com/2025/12/22/opinion/mamdani-doesnt-care-about-upward-mobility-and-his-charter-school-snub-proves-it/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— University of Illinois lecture material is wildly bias, teaches ‘white supremacy and xenophobia brought on by … Trump’
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/22/university-of-illinois-lecture-material-is-wildly-bias-teaches-white-supremacy-and-xenophobia-brought-on-by-trump-1611831/
— School bus driver fired for sign directing students to speak English
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/22/school-bus-driver-fired-for-sign-directing-students-to-speak-english-1611767/
BREITBART
— Justice Department Ends Clinton Rule Giving Welfare to Migrants
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2025/12/22/justice-department-ends-clinton-rule-giving-welfare-to-migrants/amp/
CAMPUS REFORM
— Of course students must master standard English
https://www.campusreform.org/article/prof-jenkins-course-students-must-master-standard-english/29175
DAILY SIGNAL
— Accreditation Mandates Bring CRT Into Colleges and K-12 Schools
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/12/22/accreditation-mandates-bring-crt-into-colleges-and-k-12-schools/
FOX BUSINESS
— Sanctuary city policies are more interested in keeping illegal aliens in the country than protecting Americans
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6386843095112
NEWSMAX
— Ted Cruz Eyes 2028 Bid, Vance Showdown Looms
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/ted-cruz-2028-gop/2025/12/22/id/1239245/
PJ MEDIA
— DHS Now Offering Big Bucks for Illegals to Self-Deport
https://pjmedia.com/michaelcantrell/2025/12/22/dhs-now-offering-big-bucks-for-illegals-to-self-deport-n4947398
TURNING POINT USA
— FROM ERIKA KIRK: Thousands of students, patriots, and freedom fighters came together in the desert for the biggest conservative gathering of the year…This is what Charlie dreamed of — not just a crowd, but a movement gaining steam: 80% of attendees had never been to a Turning Point event before, More than one-third were students, Over half were young women, All 50 states were represented, And 40 breakout sessions trained students to lead
https://tpusa.com/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest puts conservative rift on display as Vance urges unity
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/turning-point-usa-feuding-jd-vance-ben-shapiro-tucker-carlson/
NEW YORK TIMES
— Playwrights Horizons Is Sued Over Discounts to People of Color. The lawsuit, against the prominent Off Broadway theater, is backed by Edward Blum, who has long challenged race-based policies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/theater/playwrights-horizons-lawsuit-race-based-discounts.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Migrants Who Self-Deport to Be Paid $3,000 in ‘Exit Bonus’ DD: In 1993, to get rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and who had 25 years of federal service, the Democrats who ran GAO offered a $25,000 buyout if they took early retirement.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-dhs-migrant-self-deportation-payment-e3ea8933
— Top Heritage Officials Flee to Mike Pence’s Nonprofit as Think Tank Fractures. Conservative movement continues to splinter about how to deal with its most controversial voices.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/top-heritage-officials-flee-to-mike-pences-nonprofit-as-think-tank-fractures-28765f2b
December 21, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw enters a new world with his Turning Point USA appearance
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/21/chicago-cubs-matt-shaw-turning-point-appearance/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/12/21/how-i-reported-on-immigration-as-a-daughter-of-immigrants
SUBURBAN CHICAGOLAND
— U.S. Republican Senate Candidate R. Cary Capparelli argues that the Illinois Republican Party needs new leadership.
https://suburbanchicagoland.com/2025/12/21/republican-party-in-illinois-needs-new-grassroots-candidate-says/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Judge’s conviction in ICE obstruction case vindicates courthouse arrests
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/21/judges-conviction-ice-obstruction-case-vindicates-courthouse-arrests/
— Turning Point’s AmericaFest surprises attendees with phone call from Trump
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/21/nicki-minaj-donald-trump-surprise-guests-turning-points-americafest/
— House investigators probing Jeffrey Epstein case urged to unseal the Clinton impeachment files
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/20/house-investigators-probing-jeffrey-epstein-case-urged-unseal-clinton/
— Our enemy Islam has revealed all. Recent massacres reveal patterns that denial and euphemisms only worsen.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/21/enemy-islam-revealed/
— Seats for sale: Campaign costs skyrocket, fueling elites in politics
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/19/seats-sale-campaign-costs-skyrocket-fueling-elites-politics/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Assessing the Wreckage of Affirmative Action. DD: Up until recently, Affirmative Action (AA) was the “law of the land,’ that is, up until recently, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination was the “law of the land.” My Democrat superiors in the federal government used AA to waste my career and to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. My critics/opponents not only have no problem with that, they applaud it.
https://freebeacon.com/culture/assessing-the-wreckage-of-affirmative-action/
NEW YORK POST
— Vance wades into MAGA civil war at AmericaFest, criticizes conservatives for ‘canceling each other’
https://nypost.com/2025/12/21/us-news/jd-vance-wades-into-maga-civil-war-decries-conservatives-canceling-each-other/
— Tucker Carlson named ‘Antisemite of the Year’ by prominent Jewish organization after alarming interviews
https://nypost.com/2025/12/21/us-news/tucker-carlson-named-antisemite-of-the-year-by-jewish-organization/
— Mamdani’s early staff picks confirm NYers’ worst fears for the next four years
https://nypost.com/2025/12/21/opinion/zohs-staffer-picks-are-starting-to-confirm-nyers-worst-fears-for-the-next-four-years/
AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Wake Up, Parents: American Library Association Is (Still) Grooming Our Kids. DD: How successful have Democrats been making the students in your school district sexually active LGBTQers?
https://amgreatness.com/2025/12/21/wake-up-parents-american-library-association-is-still-grooming-our-kids/
AMERICAN THINKER
— I thought Trump didn’t want any more federal holidays
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/i_thought_trump_didn_t_want_any_more_federal_holidays.html
BREITBART
— Vance: ‘Honor’ Charlie Kirk by Not Doing Things ‘That He Himself Refused to Do in Life’
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/12/21/jd-vance-honor-charlie-kirk-by-not-doing-things-that-he-himself-refused-to-do-in-life/
COLLEGE FIX
— U.S. House leader questions Chicago Public Schools’ exclusion of Christian student teachers
https://www.thecollegefix.com/u-s-house-leader-questions-chicago-public-schools-exclusion-of-christian-student-teachers/
— University play ‘A Gay in a Manger’ features Jesus as ‘King of Gays,’ Three Wise Men as drag queens
https://www.thecollegefix.com/university-play-a-gay-in-a-manger-features-jesus-as-king-of-gays-three-wise-men-as-drag-queens/
— ‘Power Rainbow’ by Harvard grad students teaches 3rd graders about systemic oppression
https://www.thecollegefix.com/power-rainbow-by-harvard-grad-students-teaches-3rd-graders-about-systemic-oppression/
DAILY CALLER
— ‘Threatening Western Civilization’: Tulsi Gabbard Slams ‘Islamist Ideology’ As America’s Greatest Threat
https://dailycaller.com/2025/12/21/tulsi-gabbard-islamist-ideology-america-threat-americafest-tpusa/
— WSJ Celebrates Degeneracy Just In Time For Christmas
https://dailycaller.com/2025/12/19/house-vaishnavi-nayel-talawadekar-throuple-wall-street-journal-relationship-gay-marriage/
EPOCH TIMES
— At TPUSA Event, Vance Warns Conservatives to Not Cancel Each Other. Sparks flew between Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, and other speakers at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/at-tpusa-event-vance-warns-conservatives-not-to-cancel-each-other-5961174
— How Chinese Syndicates With Ties to CCP Took Over Marijuana Black Market in US. ‘This stuff is being exported out of the country … It’s an international business for them,’ a drug enforcement expert said.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/how-chinese-syndicates-with-ties-to-ccp-took-over-marijuana-black-market-in-us-5944843
— Safer Roads, More Work: Truckers Welcome Crackdown on Illegal Drivers. A series of fatal accidents in 2025 spurred calls for reforms and better scrutiny of non-resident foreign commercial driver’s license holders and applicants.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/safer-roads-more-work-truckers-welcome-crackdown-on-illegal-drivers-5947753
FOX NEWS
— Progressive churches in Colorado and Washington host drag Nativity, Christmas shows. Congregations in Colorado and Washington host Nativity shows through a ‘queer lens.’
https://www.foxnews.com/media/progressive-churches-churches-colorado-washington-host-drag-nativity-christmas-shows
— Vance says ‘America First’ movement rejects ‘purity tests,’ welcomes critical thinkers. Vice president tells AmericaFest crowd Trump built coalition by welcoming supporters regardless of background. DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who had their saboteurs destroy TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois in 2012 and Illinois Center Right Coalition in 2007.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vance-says-america-first-movement-rejects-purity-tests-welcomes-critical-thinkers
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Ben Shapiro at TPUSA: Conservative movement in danger “from charlatans who … traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty”
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/12/ben-shapiro-at-tpusa-conservative-movement-in-danger-from-charlatans-who-traffic-in-conspiracism-and-dishonesty/
PJ MEDIA
— Trump Solved the Border Crisis Biden Claimed Was Unsolvable
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/12/21/trump-solved-the-border-crisis-biden-claimed-was-unsolvable-n4947344
TOWNHALL
— Vance Calls for GOP Unity, Touts Trump Agenda at AmericaFest 2025
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2025/12/21/jd-vance-calls-for-gop-unity-touts-trump-agenda-at-americafest-2025-n2668273
— BLM Co-founder Arrested on Domestic Assault Charges
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2025/12/21/blm-co-founder-arrested-on-domestic-assault-charges-n2668274
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Photos of Turning Point USA’s annual conservative youth conference
https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/turning-point-usa-conference-photos-d99fb219f6942e16b915208e13c1b37c
CNN
— Endorsement of Vance receives mixed reactions at Turning Point USA conference
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/21/politics/video/turning-point-endorse-jd-vance-president-reaction-vrtc
— Turning Point’s AmericaFest is rife with infighting
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/21/world/video/americafest-chaos-contorno-lkl-fst-122104aseg1-cnni-world-fast
NEWSWEEK
— MAGA Girl Power Riley Gaines Shapes Turning Point USA AmericaFest
https://www.newsweek.com/maga-girl-power-shapes-turning-point-usa-americafest-11250370
NEW YORK TIMES
— $27,000 a Year for Health Insurance. How Can We Afford That? DD: Are/were your healthcare insurance premiums subsidized? Ever since I became a part-time postal employee when was 18 in 1966, my critics/opponents have been furious that the federal government has paid 72% of my healthcare insurance premiums. They have been even more furious ever since I got married when I was 29 and the federal government started paying 72% of my wife’s healthcare insurance premiums. That 72% subsidy is a major reason why people despise/hate federal employees, federal retirees, and their spouses. That 72% subsidy helped me withstand tremendous efforts by my Democrat superiors in the federal government to waste my career and to get rid of me.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/opinion/health-care-aca-cost-insurance.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Turning Point USA showcases the discord that Republicans like Vance will need to navigate in the future. Turning Point has endorsed Vance as the Republican nominee for the next presidential election.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/21/turning-point-charlie-kirk-vance-republicans-2028/ae0bac0e-de6f-11f0-9a80-62add4d0e8ef_story.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Charlie Kirk’s Empire Is Lining Up Behind a Vance Presidential Bid. The vice president will speak Sunday at TPUSA’s premier event, days after Erika Kirk endorsed him for 2028 run.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/charlie-kirks-empire-is-lining-up-behind-a-jd-vance-presidential-bid-cedeb9cc
FORTUNE
— What comes after affirmative action? DD: Up until recently, Affirmative Action (AA) was the “law of the land,’ that is, up until recently, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination was the “law of the land.” My Democrat superiors in the federal government used AA to waste my career and to force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. My critics/opponents not only have no problem with that, they applaud it.
https://fortune.com/2023/06/08/affirmative-action-supreme-court-harvard-unc/
— Five-year career plan. DD: What career advice did you reject? I refused to a) become a Democrat, b) glorify and praise my superiors and supervisors, c) pander to my superiors and supervisors, d) serve as an operative or as a dupe for my superiors and supervisors, and e) help them get rid of their employees because they were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. Consequently, my Democrat superiors wasted my career, took many big adverse actions against me, and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/linkedin-ceo-says-it-s-outdated-to-have-a-five-year-career-plan-it-s-a-little-bit-foolish-considering-the-pace-ai-is-changing-the-workplace/ar-AA1SBIt9
HUFFINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/maga-nativity-immigration-ice-protest-goog_l_6942ebdfe4b045d9788c63f3
AXIOS
— MAGA media mess deepens at Turning Point convention
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/21/maga-media-antisemitism-turning-point-usa
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
FINANCIAL TINES
— Affordability. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout that if you cannot afford something, it is Trump’s fault. There are many things that I could/cannot afford because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://www.ft.com/content/d5f033e9-f9de-420d-93a1-22f2e38c6d5e
GUARDIAN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that if you vote for Democrats, your health care will be free.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/21/us-healthcare-system-trump
TIMES OF INDIA
— Less than one-third of state teachers clear competency test. DD: Only about 20% of those who take the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations pass them on their first attempt like I did. My critics/opponents have always ignored/dismissed/belittled that. My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors would not have done that if I had been a Democrat and a minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/less-than-one-third-of-state-teachers-clear-competency-test/articleshow/126097320.cms
December 21, 2025
FROM CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/20/volunteers-bringing-holiday-bliss-to-needy-immigrant-families/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/21/broadview-six-protest-ice-charges/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/chicago-immigration-enforcement-raids/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/broadview-zoning-ice-center/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/illinois-accountability-commission-pritzker-border-patrol/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/21/column-donald-trump-kennedy-center-susie-wiles-page/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
–DD: What helped you earn a bachelor’s degree? For me, back in the good old days, it was my parents who provided me with room and board while I took classes at UIC 1966-1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969. For me, it was the money I earned delivering mail for the Park Forest Post Office part-time during the school years and full-time during the summers 1966-1969. The aforesaid enabled me to graduate debt-free from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in management in August of 1970 and owing a 1969 Dodge Charger SE.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2025/12/18/in-austin-neighborhood-of-chicago-black-mentors-are-making-college-possible
DAILY HERALD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251219/lifestyle/downers-grove-woman-helps-form-operation-midway-bliss-to-assist-those-affected-by-ice/
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrats and RINOs will use Trump’s pot order to push more and more and more pot. Pot is poison. I led the successful effort to stop the sale of pot in Wheaton in 2019.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/business/press-releases/accesswire/1119813/after-trumps-marijuana-executive-order-will-the-dea-face-a-court-imposed-deadline-from-mmjs-writ-of-mandamus/
FROM CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Netflix’s merger threatens to push more woke dogma on Americans
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/4044489/netflix-warner-bros-merger-threatens-more-woke-dogma/
DAILY WIRE
— How Universities Divert Federal Science Grants To DEI And Administrative Bloat. 56% overhead rate funds college administrators under the guise of science grants.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-universities-divert-federal-science-grants-to-dei-and-administrative-bloat
PJ MEDIA
— The Left Offers Slavery, Nothing Else.
https://pjmedia.com/caskeet/2025/12/20/the-left-offers-slavery-nothing-else-n4947341
FROM CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Turley: Democratic despotism: The left moves from censored to compelled speech
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5657977-democratic-despotism-the-left-moves-from-censored-to-compelled-speech/
— Trump endorses GOP’s Blakeman for New York governor a day after Stefanik exits race. DD: Which of the candidates on the Republican primary ballot in your precinct a) have sought Trump’s endorsement and/or b) have gotten Trump’s endorsement?
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5658614-trump-endorses-blakeman-ny-governor/
— DD: What helped you escape liberal indoctrination? I majored in business at UIC 1966-1968, NIU 1969-1970, and Loyola 1972-1976. I majored in accounting at DePaul 1976-1980. I majored in finance at IIT 1992-1997.
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/5601601-college-indoctrination-myth-exposed/
ABC NEWS
— Here’s what you missed at Turning Point’s chaotic convention. Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention has been marked by internal feuds among conservative figures. DD: Who leads TPUSA in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, and in Wheaton Warrenville School District 200? I want to promote TPUSA activities. I should write about my critics/opponents who had their operatives and their dupes destroy TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and the Illinois Center Right coalition.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/missed-turning-points-chaotic-convention-128592455
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Some of the biggest names in conservative media took turns torching each other on the main stage, spending more time targeting right-wing rivals than their left-wing opponents. The feuds could ultimately define the boundaries of the Republican Party and determine the future of President Donald Trump’s fractious coalition, which appears primed for more schisms in the months and years ahead.)
CNN
— Top lawyer for military joint chiefs told chairman that officers should retire if faced with an unlawful order. DD: To be an employee is to be someone who obeys orders. While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, I never disobeyed any of their orders. My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors ordered me to give tremendous preference to their Democrat employees who they assigned me to supervise. All of those employees were minority, female, much younger than me, veteran, disabled, and/or had performance problems. But because I complained about their political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination and I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with the aforesaid discrimination when I was 40 years old in 1988, they wasted my career, they took many big adverse actions against me, and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://www.wisn.com/article/top-lawyer-for-military-joint-chiefs-told-chairman-that-officers-should-retire-if-faced-with-an-unlawful-order/69827195
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Gender gap closing at Turning Point. Young conservative women embracing Erika Kirk at helm.
https://journalnow.com/news/nation-world/government-politics/article_b632d7be-f716-5ea6-b5f1-3ff96949bb96.html
MSN
— Career Advice. DD: What career advice did you reject? I refused to a) become a Democrat, b) glorify and praise my superiors and supervisors, c) pander to my superiors and supervisors, d) serve as an operative or as a dupe for my superiors and supervisors, and e) help them get rid of their employees because they were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. Consequently, my Democrat superiors wasted my career, took many big adverse actions against me, and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/mcdonald-s-ceo-the-career-advice-i-would-give-if-i-wasn-t-afraid-to-hurt-your-feelings/ar-AA1SxFgj
— Millions of retirees are owed Social Security money – are you one of them? DD: My critics/opponents will be furious when they learn that because of a law that Biden signed, a) my Social Security increased from $3,000/year to $6,000/year, and now to $18,700/year and b) I got $3,200 and $14,000 backpay awards. Because of the law, I now can start getting 47% of my wife’s Social Security. I paid into Social security 1964-1973 while I washed dishes, cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, pumped gasoline, delivered mail, worked on an automotive assemble line, sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances, and pumped more gasoline.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/millions-of-retirees-are-owed-social-security-money-are-you-one-of-them/ar-AA1SFaun
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Millions of public workers received a notice this year and saw something unexpected. The Social Security Administration (SSA) informed them that their Social Security checks were going up and a lump-sum payment was on the way. If you spent your career as a teacher, firefighter, police officer, or government worker and watched your Social Security get slashed by confusing rules, this is the change you’ve been waiting for. A newer law, called the Social Security Fairness Act, wipes out two long-hated penalties: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Those rules used to cut or erase senior benefits for people who also had a pension from a job that didn’t pay into Social Security. Now they’re gone, and billions of dollars are being paid out. Here’s what the law actually does, who gets money, who doesn’t, and how much people are seeing. The Social Security Fairness Act became law on January 5, 2025, and repeals both WEP and GPO for benefits payable starting January 2024. WEP used to reduce retirement or disability benefits if you had a pension from “non-covered” work. This is a job where you didn’t pay Social Security tax. GPO reduced or wiped out spousal and survivor benefits for people with those same kinds of pensions. Together, those two rules cut benefits for more than 2.8 million people. Many of those were teachers, firefighters, police officers, and federal workers under old pension systems. Under the new law, December 2023 is the last month WEP and GPO apply. Any benefit payable for January 2024 and later must be calculated as if those penalties never existed. That means higher monthly checks going forward, and catch-up money for past qualifying months where your benefit was reduced. The new law does not help every public employee. To benefit, you must have a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security taxes. These may include: State and local teachers, firefighters, and police officers. Federal workers covered by the old Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), Some workers with foreign Social Security pensions. If your pension comes from a job where you paid Social Security tax, you will not see a change from this law. Roughly 72% of state and local public employees fall into this group. You may qualify if: You already receive a reduced retirement or disability benefit because of WEP. You get a reduced or zero spousal or survivor benefit because of GPO. You have enough Social Security credits or a spouse or ex-spouse with enough credits, but you never applied because WEP or GPO made the benefit too small to bother with. The law covers benefits on your own record and benefits as a spouse or surviving spouse. It does not change your actual pension. It only changes the Social Security piece that was being cut because of the pension. The amount depends on your situation, but the numbers can be big. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates show that eliminating WEP alone raises monthly benefits by around $360 on average for affected workers. The GPO repeal adds even more for spouses and widows. The CBO estimates an average monthly increase of $700 for spouses and $1,190 for widows. On top of higher monthly checks, there are lump-sum back payments. Because the repeal applies to benefits payable from January 2024 onward, people who were already collecting in 2024 are owed money for every month their benefit was underpaid. By early March 2025, more than 1.1 million people had already received over $7.5 billion in retroactive payments, with an average lump sum of $6,710. As implementation continued, the totals grew. By early July 2025, more than 3.1 million payments had gone out, totaling about $17 billion, five months ahead of schedule. While some people get hundreds of dollars more per month, others see a more modest increase. The size of your non-covered pension, how much GPO or WEP used to take away, and whether you’re a worker, a spouse, or a surviving spouse are all key factors in how much you’ll receive. For people who were already receiving benefits reduced by WEP or GPO, the process was mostly automatic. In 2025, SSA recalculated records and sent a one-time lump-sum payment for benefits owed back to January 2024 and increased monthly payments going out in April 2025. If you were affected by WEP or GPO and think you might be entitled to an increased benefit or a back-dated lump sum but haven’t received any money or a notice, you need to take action. Check your “my Social Security” account to see the status of your benefits and contact SSA for help if you think there’s a problem. If you never applied for retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits because WEP or GPO made the amount tiny or zero, you most likely need to file a new application. Retroactive payment rules still apply, though, so back pay could be limited to six months in many retirement and survivor cases. So don’t wait, as the longer you delay, the more money you’re losing. . .If you have a pension from work that didn’t pay into your Social Security and your benefits were cut by WEP or GPO, you’re exactly who this law was written for. You should already have received your lump-sum back pay and have been seeing your increased benefit amount since April. If you haven’t and think you’re entitled to it, check with SSA. If you never bothered to apply because WEP and GPO made the benefit tiny or non-existent, you should reconsider claiming now. With back pay potentially limited to six months, act fast to put extra cash in your pocket sooner rather than later.)
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout that if you cannot afford something, it is Trump’s fault. There are many things that I could/cannot afford because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/upshot/affordability-democrats-trump.html
— Turning Point’s Annual Gathering Turns Into a Gripefest. At AmericaFest, conservative leaders insulted one another, revealing serious rifts over conspiracy theories, antisemitism and who belongs in America. DD: Who leads TPUSA in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, and in Wheaton Warrenville School District 200? I want to promote TPUSA activities. I should write about my critics/opponents who had their operatives and their dupes destroy TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and the Illinois Center Right coalition.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/us/politics/turning-points-americafest-ben-shapiro.html
— DD: Anticipate/expect that more and more and more candidates will use criticisms of Trump to be more and more and more anti-conservate, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older-people, anti-heterosexual, anti-married people, anti-rich people, anti-Protestant, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/us/politics/vivek-ramaswamy-anti-indian-hate.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that if you vote for Democrats, your health care will be free.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/us/politics/health-care-gop.html
WASHINGTON POST
— The year Trump broke the federal government. How DOGE and the White House carried out a once-unthinkable transformation of the nation’s sprawling bureaucracy.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2025/trump-federal-government-workers-doge/
FORBES
— DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who had their saboteurs destroy TAPROOT Republicans of the Illinois in 2012 and the Illinois Center Right Coalition in 2007. I would focus on my critics/opponents who still have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me lately.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2025/11/30/theres-a-hidden-saboteur-in-your-meetings-and-theres-only-one-person-who-can-stop-it/
FAST COMPANY
— DD: To get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran, my Democrat GAO superiors and supervisors turned their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran against them.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91449043/most-leaders-misread-generational-tension-these-five-habits-resolve-it-generational-tension-workplace
TIMES RECORD
— Race-based hiring practices remain illegal. DD: How has Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI impacted you? While I was young, employers had to hire, promote, and retain based on race and gender, that is, they had to hire, promote, and retain minorities and females. 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. Because I am not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, my Democrat superiors ever-increasingly used AA and DEI to promote over me their Democrat employees who were minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/times-record-ft-smith-southwest/20251221/281522232434308
NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER
— DD: Ever-increasingly, Democrat leaders succeed in getting religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/ice-nativity-offers-boston-archbishop-leadership-opportunity-apology
AMERICAN PROSPECT
— Another Mass Staffing Purge at the VA. DD: I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997. They used Gingrich budget cuts to purge the agency of its employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. They gave their managers of their Chicago office lists of employees to purge. Of course, I was on all those lists. I would not have survived for almost 18 years if I had not earned an MBA in 1976, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, became a licensed CPA in 1981, earned more professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997. I should write about that.
https://prospect.org/2025/12/18/another-mass-staffing-purge-at-va/
WYOMING NEWS
— Two U.S. senators blast Trump’s nominee to be the federal attorney for Wyoming as being unqualified. DD: Were you promoted too fast? IRS promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. My Democrat and RINO critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I was promoted too fast, that is, that I was unqualified. My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me. To get rid of me, they disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25, they disallowed my education deductions when I was 29, and they never promoted me again. They ignored/dismissed/belittled/badmouthed my earning an MBA when I was 27 and my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. I should write about that.
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/senators-blast-wyoming-s-u-s-attorney-as-unqualified-maga-loyalist-jan-6-supporter/article_8d8a98f8-6f07-44ee-b0db-45b0a4a75c8a.html
MITCH JACKSON
— How an Unqualified, Conspiracy Driven Loyalist Gained Power Inside the Department of Justice. DD: Were you promoted too fast? IRS promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. My Democrat and RINO critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I was promoted too fast, that is, that I was unqualified. My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me. To get rid of me, they disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25, they disallowed my education deductions when I was 29, and they never promoted me again. They ignored/dismissed/belittled/badmouthed my earning an MBA when I was 27 and my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. I should write about that.
https://mitchthelawyer.substack.com/p/ed-martin-how-an-unqualified-conspiracy
ATLANTIC
— America’s ‘Marriage Material’ Shortage. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasing destroy traditional marriage and family. Under the Democrats, fewer and fewer and fewer people are marriage material. What helped make you marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $108,978/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/america-marriage-decline/681518/
NPR
— Inside Turning Point USA’s uneasy moment after Charlie Kirk. DD: Who leads TPUSA in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, and in Wheaton Warrenville School District 200? I want to promote TPUSA activities. I should write about my critics/opponents who had their operatives and their dupes destroy TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and the Illinois Center Right coalition.
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/20/nx-s1-5648806/inside-turning-point-usas-uneasy-moment-after-charlie-kirk
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
INDIAN EXPRESS
— Is the young, white male being pushed out? A new article is latest lightning rod in US culture wars. ‘The Lost Generation’, an article published in Compact magazine last week, alleges that DEI practices have squeezed young, white men out of prestige jobs in sectors such as media and television. It has reignited the debate on representation as the Trump administration goes after DEI programs.
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/young-white-male-us-10431501/