FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/graphics/immigration/2026/midway-blitz-by-the-numbers/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bearing-the-blitz/2026/09/08/photos-what-operation-midway-blitz-left-behind
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bearing-the-blitz/2026/09/08/how-operation-midway-blitz-played-out
— 6 killed, 28 hurt in Labor Day weekend gun violence. Labor Day caps a historically peaceful summer in Chicago. The city had had 122 murders in June, July and August — the lowest summer total since 1965.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/09/07/labor-day-weekend-shooting
— Illinois joins lawsuit against latest Trump admin push to cut funding for youth gender-affirming care. DD: Ever-increasingly, to send your child to a public school is to make your child an LGBTQer.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/09/04/illinois-joins-lawsuit-against-second-trump-admin-push-to-cut-federal-funding-for-youth-gender-affirming-care
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders say the GOP was confident about keeping its Senate majority but now the fight for control is wide open.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/08/gop-senate-majority-control/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to fight illegal drugs.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/08/column-operation-southern-spear-drug-trafficking-donald-trump-depetris/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/08/illinois-in-state-tuition-changes/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/08/opinion-midway-blitz-one-year-later-donald-trump-ice/
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Suburban ‘Angel Mom’ turns grief into advocacy for immigration enforcement.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260907/news/suburban-angel-mom-turns-grief-into-advocacy-for-immigration-enforcement/
— How the suburbs will honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11. DD: I organized Wheaton’s 2003 and 2004 9/11 ceremonies. Sadly, my critics/opponents boycotted the events.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260908/news/we-remember-how-the-suburbs-will-honor-the-25th-anniversary-of-9-11/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Wheaton Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Memorial Park band shell, 225 N. Karlskoga Ave. Join the city and Wheaton Park District in paying tribute to those lost in the terrorist attacks 25 years ago and the ensuing military conflicts, and honoring fire and police personnel. Ceremony participants will include Wheaton Mayor Philip Suess, members of the Wheaton police and fire departments and honor guard, local musicians, and community leaders. Visit www.wheaton.il.us .)
FOX ILLINOIS
— What to watch as Republicans gather in Dallas for Trump’s unusual midterm convention. Republicans will descend on Dallas this week for a two-day convention dreamed up by President Donald Trump to rally his party ahead of this year’s midterm elections.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/what-to-watch-as-republicans-gather-in-dallas-for-trumps-unusual-midterm-convention/article_c00fea0e-313a-55b3-bb26-cef4bf45f167.html
— Trump wants voters to pretend he’s on the ballot. The Republican Party is going along for the ride. President Donald Trump may try to channel the role of cowboy as he heads to the first-ever off-year Republican convention in Dallas beginning Wednesday.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-wants-voters-to-pretend-he-s-on-the-ballot-the-republican-party-is-going/article_bcb6cb69-2f16-53f4-9ea9-0bc25b61e1b7.html
POSITIVELY NAPERVILLE
— Naperville Jaycees’ Labor Day Parade 9/7/2026.
https://www.positivelynaperville.com/2026/09/07/photo-gallery-naperville-jaycees-labor-day-parade-9-7-2026/160933
NAPERVILLE PATCH
— Investigation Underway After Shots Fired Incident In Naperville. Police say they have interviewed “several subjects” who they believed were involved in the shots fired incident.
https://patch.com/illinois/naperville/investigation-underway-after-shots-fired-incident-naperville
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— IL reparations commission wants your input. DD: How strongly do Democrat leaders blame your ancestors for slavery?
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-il-reparations-commission-wants-your-input/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Democratic Senate nominee Juliana Stratton and Republican nominee Don Tracy are set to debate Oct. 20 on WTTW. Tracy recently released a new ad ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gCmzRelTbI ).
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/09/08/campaigns-hit-the-gas-01067063
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/09/08/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-802/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— GOP rep, Pritzker targeted with AI photo, death threats.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/gop-rep-pritzker-targeted-ai-150000531.html
WIREPOINTS
— Low Returns and a New Political Handout: How the Illinois Treasurer Invests Your Money.
https://wirepoints.org/low-returns-and-a-new-political-handout-how-the-illinois-treasurer-invests-your-money-wirepoints/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Too conservative? Since 2000, my critics/opponents have blamed me and have blamed my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for defeats suffered by Republican candidates on ballots in my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton. They hint/imply/argue/shout at Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders that is because I am too conservative, that is, because I promote too many conservative principles and too many planks in the Republican Party platform that they reject. Most commonly, they reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. They stress the success they have had getting their operatives and their dupes to take adverse actions against me. According to them, the more that I do to help elect Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, the fewer votes they will get. My more extreme critics/opponents discourage candidates and the Milton Township Republican Organization from giving me candidates’ campaign literature for me to distribute in my precinct. What do you say to my critics/opponents? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Republicans should set midterm eyes on exposing leftist lunacy, lies, hypocrisies.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/8/republicans-set-midterm-eyes-exposing-leftist-lunacy-lies-hypocrisies/
— Why 30 million American men are single — and why that number keeps growing. DD: What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/7/analysts-see-social-economic-changes-pushing-men-not-marry/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump’s immigration enforcement was no miracle, just responsible government.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4714184/immigration-enforcement-responsible-government/
— Osama bin Laden is winning from the grave.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4713112/america-political-violence-bin-laden-logic/
NEW YORK POST
— Trump, GOP turn up the heat to ensure fairness, purge wokeism on campuses.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/08/opinion/trump-gop-turn-up-the-heat-to-ensure-fairness-purge-wokism-on-campuses/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Personal Finance and the Road to Reparations. The problem of poverty is not slavery. It is the black culture with single-parent families. It is the adoption of Democrat Party government programs that encourage dependency.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/09/personal-finance-and-the-road-to-reparations/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Government Employees Fight Trump’s Reforms From Within the Executive Branch. DD: Virtually all federal employees are Democrats.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/09/07/federal-unions-act-like-deep-state-suing-block-trump-policy/
FOX NEWS
— Five reasons the Democrat Party will only keep making a hard left turn. Government spending, union campaign finance and super PAC influence are pushing Democrats further left.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/five-reasons-democrat-party-keep-making-hard-left-turn
— Socialists wrestle with party strategy at annual conference in Chicago.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/socialists-wrestle-party-strategy-annual-233402075.html
LIBERTY NATION
— The Horrifying Legacy of Socialism.
https://www.libertynation.com/the-horrifying-legacy-of-socialism/
NATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION
— The National Police Association Investigates Who Was Behind Illinois Laws Targeting Federal Officers. DD: I enforced federal tax laws for IRS for almost 9 years a Revenue Officer, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year.
https://nationalpolice.org/the-national-police-association-investigates-who-was-behind-illinois-laws-targeting-federal-officers/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The National Police Association (NPA) has opened a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) public-records investigation into the origins of the Illinois Bivens Act and the Illinois Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act, laws designed to put the men and women enforcing federal immigration law personally in the crosshairs of lawsuits, punitive damages, and political retribution. The NPA’s FOIA requests are seeking drafts, redlines, legal memoranda, meeting records, emails, text messages, and other communications from the offices of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, State Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and the Illinois Senate. The records sought cover the conception, drafting, promotion, and planned enforcement of the laws, including any and all coordination with immigration organizations, civil-rights groups, legal-aid organizations, outside lawyers, lobbyists, and anti-police organizations. The laws create the authority for illegal aliens and others to sue federal immigration enforcement officers, turning Illinois courts into a venue for illegal aliens and their attorneys to extract money from federal agents. And Illinois lawmakers went further. An officer’s facial covering, identification practices, body-camera use, vehicle license plates, and even crowd-control equipment can become factors in determining punitive damages. Another provision restricts arrests in and around state courthouses and exposes federal officers to an additional $10,000 in statutory damages. The public has the right to know whether politicians in Springfield worked hand-in-glove with anti-law enforcement organizations to build this litigation scheme and whether those organizations expect to profit from the lawsuits the new laws authorize. “It is unacceptable for a state government to declare open season on federal officers because political leaders despise the federal laws those officers were sworn to enforce,” said Eddie Hutchison, President of the National Police Association. “Illinois politicians could not repeal federal immigration law, and they could not abolish ICE, so they appear to have chosen to make the enforcement of federal law as personally financially ruinous as possible,” Hutchison added. If that was the plan, then open the files and name the names: who conceived it, who wrote it, who helped arm it, and who intends to cash in as Illinois turns its courthouses into weapons against federal officers for doing their jobs enforcing America’s immigration laws. The NPA’s individual FOIAs can be viewed here. The National Police Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting for law enforcement through advocacy, education, and the courts.)
WESTERN JOURNAL
— Leftists Call for Murder of Liberal Financial YouTuber for Promoting Personal Responsibility to Overcome Debt.
https://www.westernjournal.com/leftists-call-murder-liberal-financial-youtuber-promoting-personal-responsibility-overcome-debt/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: You’ve likely seen viral clips of financial YouTuber Caleb Hammer. His channel boasts 3.7 million subscribers, mostly due to videos in which he sits down with guests to go over their spending habits. That might sound boring to the average viewer, but Hammer makes it wildly entertaining as he admonishes guests over their poor budget decisions and life choices that landed them in dire financial straits.)
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Midterm elections head into the home stretch as candidates attend Labor Day events.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/midterm-elections-head-into-the-home-stretch-as-candidates-attend-labor-day-events
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: As Midterms Approach, Republicans Find There Is No Escape From Trump. The president’s strategy, message and spending have left the G.O.P. in a difficult spot as lawmakers try to outrun his sagging approval ratings.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/us/politics/trump-miderm-elections-republicans.html
— Inside the Battle to Save One Pioneering General From Hegseth’s Purge. DD: There was no battle to save me from being purged by my Democrat GAO superiors when I was 49 in 1997. My critics/opponents continue to uses that against me. According to them, my being purged even though I had three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license proves that I brought it on myself, that I deserved it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/us/politics/hegseth-army-general-donahue.html
USA TODAY
— Trump bets on himself as midterm savior. Will ‘Trumpapalooza’ backfire? Trump is putting himself center stage in the midterms with a Dallas convention, even as his low approval rating threatens to drag down GOP candidates.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/09/06/trump-midterm-election-convention-risk/91576603007/
– Single Americans who say income matters in a relationship expect a potential lifelong partner to earn an average of $139,000 a year. DD: In today’s dollars, I never earned more than $154,682/year and that was not until I was 49 in 1997. When I got married when I was 29 in 1978, my salary was only $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years. 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. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/budget-and-spending/2026/09/03/single-americans-partners-earning-six-figures-study/91595118007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Socialism and the Dumbest Generation. Young people embrace an ideology that goes against everything they actually believe.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/socialism-and-the-dumbest-generation-687024bf
— The Unexpected Cost of Pet Care Has Young Adults Rethinking Their Finances. Pet ownership among Gen Z has spiked, but many are unprepared for the inevitable vet bills.
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/cost-pet-care-finances-5a1cd072
— American Workers Have Slammed the Brakes on Switching Jobs. The country is adding around 80,000 jobs a month, up from last year, but workers are still wary. DD: The longer that you are employed in the public sector, the more impossible it is to get a job in the private sector.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/american-workers-have-slammed-the-brakes-on-switching-jobs-767c45d1
— FRONT PAGE: Americans Without College Degrees Are Having One of the Best Job Markets in Years. Unemployment among younger workers who didn’t go to college has rarely been lower in recent decades. It is the opposite story for college grads. DD: If I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21 in 1970, Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970. If I had not passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970, IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had not been taking graduate evening business courses, IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not earned an MBA in 1976 and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, GAO would not have hired me in 1980.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/americans-without-college-degrees-are-having-one-of-the-best-job-markets-in-years-5f37d00e
JOURNAL COURIER
— Demonization of Trump to blame for rise of socialism.
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/opinion/article/mark-serrano-demonization-trump-blame-rise-22411520.php
LA PROGRESSIVE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn capitalism.
https://www.laprogressive.com/progressive-issues/socialism-in-the-dock
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
ECONOMIST
— How American universities get around the DEI backlash.
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/09/07/how-american-universities-get-around-the-dei-backlash
Tag: poor
August 27, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Trump signs order renaming Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ in the United States. Trump cannot force Canada to follow his preferred naming convention.
https://abc7chicago.com/story/trump-signs-order-renaming-lake-ontario-america-united-states/19745641/
CITIES 92.9
— $34.9M Chicago development provides ‘affordable’ homes. DD: What enabled you to afford your first home? I bought a new townhome in University Park when I was 24 in 1972. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and the down payment would have been about $36,000. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. The down payment came from what I had earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $94,600. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.cities929.com/2026/08/27/illinois-quick-hits-34-9m-chicago-development-provides-affordable-homes/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Parent group raises concerns over Glenbrook North course.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_267d4ee4-a227-4448-85d4-3734c384cbc9.html
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— How can CPS address its 54% of underused buildings?
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-public-schools-underutilized-academic-impact/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— George Washington University Medical School intentionally and illegally gives Black and Hispanic applicants an advantage in admissions, the Justice Department said Thursday.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/27/george-washington-university-med-school-illegally-discriminates/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Charlie Kirk’s murder is a basic ethical litmus test.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4702870/charlie-kirk-murder-basic-ethical-litmus-test/
— Democrats try to brush aside ‘Woke 1.’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/4702376/democrats-try-brush-aside-woke-1/
AMERICAN THINKER
— ‘It Can’t Happen Here’? Are You Sure? Why do young people love communism so much nowadays?
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/it-can-t-happen-here-are-you-sure/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— AOC rejoins DSA as socialist diva mulls 2028 White House bid.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/08/27/aoc-rejoins-dsa-as-socialist-diva-mulls-2028-white-house-bid-1656535/
BLAZE
— America’s young are being recruited into socialism — one dance party at a time.
https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/americas-young-are-being-recruited-into-socialism-one-dance-party-at-a-time
CAMPUS REFORM
— New Jersey course teaches that ‘white supremacy,’ ‘white privilege’ remain ‘institutionalized.’ DD: Under the Democrats, hatred against Republicans is institutionalized, and especially against Republicans who are White, male, older, non-veteran, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/new-jersey-course-teaches-white-supremacy-white-privilege-remain-institutionalized/30487
CENTER SQUARE
— Majority of voters concerned with rise of socialism, communism.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_3d1d2d52-4cad-4a2d-907b-0ed3f57c0fd9.html
https://www.aol.com/articles/poll-majority-voters-concerned-rise-133000000.html
DAILY SIGNAL
— When the Left Ignores Federal Law and Sounds Like Neo-Confederates.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/27/hanson-left-ignores-federal-law/
— Housing Affordability Crisis Results From ‘Too Much Socialism,’ Not Too Little.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/27/housing-affordability-crisis-results-from-too-much-socialism-not-too-little-report/
FEDERALIST
— Democrats’ Racial Grievances Are Just A Cynical Grift.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/27/democrats-racial-grievances-are-just-a-cynical-grift/
FOX BUSINESS
— Democrats’ socialist agenda will make affordability worse.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6404130506112
FOX NEWS
— AOC’s socialist credentials face fresh scrutiny after glaring 7-year gap surfaces: ‘Very convenient’
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/aocs-socialist-credentials-face-fresh-scrutiny-after-glaring-7-year-gap-surfaces-very-convenient
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Gary, Indiana’s Power Outages Aren’t Because Of Racism.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/08/gary-indianas-power-outages-arent-because-of-racism/
PJ MEDIA
— As Islamic Socialism Rises, a Dem Congressman Says the Real Enemy Is… Christian Nationalism?
https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2026/08/27/as-islamic-socialism-rises-a-dem-congressman-says-the-real-enemy-is-christian-nationalism-n4956611
REAL CLEAR MARKETS
— 100 Million Reasons To Support Capitalism.
https://www.realclearmarkets.com/2026/08/27/100_million_reasons_to_support_capitalism_1202662.html
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Laura Ingraham: Republican Candidates Have Not Been Effective In Taking On Democrats And Their Tilt Toward Socialism.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/08/27/laura_ingraham_republican_candidates_have_not_been_effective_in_taking_on_democrats_and_their_tilt_toward_socialism_comments.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Mamdani socialism and Trump socialism — reject them both.
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/6051425-rejecting-left-right-socialism/
CBS NEWS
— Fired Stars and Stripes journalists sue Hegseth and Pentagon spokesperson. DD: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have not succeeded in getting a registered Republican voter in my precinct to run against me for Precinct Committeeman.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fired-stars-and-stripes-journalists-sue-hegseth-and-pentagon-spokesperson/
— Fed’s Lisa Cook pushes back on Trump firing threat, says she “never committed mortgage fraud.” DD: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have not succeeded in getting a registered Republican voter in my precinct to run against me for Precinct Committeeman.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lisa-cook-denies-trump-mortgage-fraud-allegations/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-arrests-record-high-july-new-data/
NBC NEWS
— The job market for new college grads keeps getting worse. DD: When you graduated from college, what harmed your job search? When I graduated from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21 in 1970, potential employers saw me as being draft bait. They did not believe that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother would be approved. Further, potential employers were under tremendous pressure to hire minorities and females. Consequently, I accepted the only job offer that I got, to be the Retail Sales Manager in a Firestone Store, a job that not really require a college degree. Because my future there was bleak, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile in 1971. But Oldsmobile withdrew that offer saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. My Firestone Store boss rudely fired me because I had accepted that offer. Because I had to have a job, I accepted a job offer that I got from IRS to be a Revenue Officer. I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination while I was a NIU student as a backup because I had been a federal employees for almost 3 years and because federal employees are viewed negatively.
https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/job-market-new-college-grads-keeps-getting-worse-2026-rcna588700
NEWS24
— Democrats brainwashing impressionable voters into socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y6Gc4H0F2Y
INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— Student indoctrination. DD: For Democrat leaders, education exists to crank out good little Democrats.
https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/07/18/we-couldnt-indoctrinate-students-if-we-wanted-opinion
BROOKINGS
— Public schools. DD: For Democrat leaders, education exists to crank out good little Democrats.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/perceptions-of-us-public-schools-political-leanings-and-the-federal-role-in-education/
PBS
— Systemic racism continues. DD: To get more votes from non-Whites, females, younger people, etc., Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/annual-report-shows-systemic-racism-continues-to-bring-down-black-peoples-quality-of-life
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN
— What Women’s Equality Day Means NOW. DD: To get more votes from women, non-Whites, younger people, etc., Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://now.org/media-center/press-release/what-womens-equality-day-means-now/
ALTER NET
— White-collar jobs crisis comes home to roost in Trump’s America. DD: When you graduated from college, what harmed your job search? When I graduated from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21 in 1970, potential employers saw me as being draft bait. They did not believe that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother would be approved. Further, potential employers were under tremendous pressure to hire minorities and females. Consequently, I accepted the only job offer that I got, to be the Retail Sales Manager in a Firestone Store, a job that not really require a college degree. Because my future there was bleak, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile in 1971. But Oldsmobile withdrew that offer saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. My Firestone Store boss rudely fired me because I had accepted that offer. Because I had to have a job, I accepted a job offer that I got from IRS to be a Revenue Officer. I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination while I was a NIU student as a backup because I had been a federal employees for almost 3 years and because federal employees are viewed negatively.
https://www.alternet.org/trump-white-collar-unemployment/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
ECONOMIC TIMES
— DD: Pritzker ever-increasingly promotes more hatred against Trump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_cZLX_Z_3c
August 24, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— An ethics watchdog, such as our state’s legislative inspector general, should know when to say ‘no comment.’ Former judge Michael McCuskey has been talking too much.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/22/patrick-pfingsten-michael-mccuskey-legislative-inspector-general-harry-benton/
— Recall referendum issue seems like Laesch vs. Irvin round two.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/23/column-recall-referendum-issue-seems-like-laesch-vs-irvin-round-two/
— Data centers near O’Hare win nearly $100M in local tax breaks, leaving suburban homeowners to cover the gap.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/23/special-report-data-centers-taxes/
— Mandatory service can renew young people’s faith in America. DD: My initial plan was to enlist and to earn a bachelor’s degree with the GI Bill. But then I saw that my high school neighbor friend in Crete was on track to get accepted by UIC and to commute to/from classes there from his parents’ home. I adopted that plan, I took college preparatory classes, got an ACT score of 24, and I graduated in the upper 20% of my 1966 Crete-Monee High School class. My high school neighbor friend commuted in a new 1965 base Chevelle that his father bought for him. I commuted in a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint that I paid for with money that I earned washing dishes for 28 hours a week during my junior and senior years 1964-1966 and for 40 hours a week during the summer of 1965.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/24/opinion-national-service-renew-faith-america-patriotism/
— For tens of thousands in northwest Indiana, power outages mean much of August has been hell. ComEd took a few days to restore power after Aug. 11 storms. NIPSCO is taking two weeks. DD: The more that overhead lines bring power to your home, the more that those lines are near trees, the more that I recommend getting a whole-house backup electric generator.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/24/editorial-nipsco-commonwealth-edison-electricity-outages-storms/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: ‘Why is this OK?’ With no power and a spotty generator, every day is a struggle for a family of seven as they approach two weeks without electricity in Northwest Indiana. DD: The more that overhead lines bring power to your home, the more that those lines are near trees, the more that I recommend getting a whole-house backup electric generator.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/graphics/weather/powerless/12-nights-without-power-in-Gary-Indiana/
DAILY HERALD
— Geneva Concours highlights rare, unusual vehicles. DD: There were three 1972 Corvettes in the concours. I have owned my 1972 Corvette since October 14, 1971.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260823/festivals-and-fairs/a-fashion-show-for-cars-geneva-concours-highlights-rare-unusual-vehicles/
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/great-lakes/5008067-genevais-concours-dielegance-car-show-pics-lots.html
ABC7
— At least 17 shot, 4 fatally, in weekend gun violence across Chicago.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-shootings-weekend-least-16-shot-4-fatally-gun-violence-city-police-department-says/19722721/
NBC5
— A $25-per-hour minimum wage? Some Illinois lawmakers are pushing for it. DD: I did not start earning $25/hour in today’s dollars until I had a) passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination and earned a bachelor’s degree in business from NIU when I was 21 in 1970 and b) got hired by IRS in 1971.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/a-25-per-hour-minimum-wage-some-illinois-lawmakers-are-pushing-for-it/3931575/
CBS2
— Frustration mounts for thousands still without power after deadly Indiana storms. DD: The more that overhead lines bring power to your home, the more that those lines are near trees, the more that I recommend getting a whole-house backup electric generator.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deadly-indiana-storms-frustration-mounts-thousands-still-without-power/
— Illinois politics are to blame for failure to secure stadium for Chicago Bears in state.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/expert-illinois-politics-blame-failure-secure-stadium-chicago-bears/
WGN9
— Indiana Gov. Mike Braun criticizes NIPSCO over ongoing outages; more than 15K remain without power. DD: The more that overhead lines bring power to your home, the more that those lines are near trees, the more that I recommend getting a whole-house backup electric generator.
https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/nipscos-latest-outage-numbers-gary-mayor-provides-update-at-wgn/
WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders fight standardized testing because those who have demographics that vote for Democrats get lower test scores than those who have demographics that vote for Republicans. I passed many standardized tests a) to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, b) to earn three job-related master’s degrees, c) to earn six job-related professional certifications, d) to earn a job-related professional license, and e) to get hired by the Post Office, IRS, and GAO. Overwhelmingly, those who took and passed standardized tests with me had demographics that vote for Republicans. 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.
https://www.wbez.org/say-more-with-mary-dixon-patrick-smith/2026/08/18/should-colleges-and-universities-require-standardized-test-scores-for-admission
NORTHWEST HERALD
— Trump store in Crystal Lake is closing, owner announces – but then seemingly takes it back.
https://www.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/2026/08/22/trump-store-in-crystal-lake-is-closing-owner-announces/
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— What income is needed to live comfortably in Illinois: $244,109 for a family of 4 and $101,587 single
https://www.pjstar.com/story/business/economy/2026/08/24/salary-needed-to-live-comfortably-in-illinois-smartasset/91409434007/
ILLINOIZE
— Will there be gubernatorial debates?
https://www.theillinoize.com/articles/will-there-be-gubernatorial-debates
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Ocasio-Cortez endorses Massachusetts Senate incumbent Ed Markey. DD: I remember attending a meeting with Markey when I worked for GAO in the early 1980s.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4694506/ocasio-cortez-endorses-massachusetts-senate-incumbent-ed-markey-green-new-deal/
— California school district’s curriculum cites Osama bin Laden’s manifesto as proof US ‘targeted Muslim communities.’ DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly give more preference to Muslims.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/education/4696334/california-school-districts-curriculum-cites-osama-bin-ladens-manifesto-as-proof-us-targeted-muslim-communities/
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
— Inflation Pressures. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation and for everything else that is bad.
https://www.aei.org/featured_data/inflation-pressures/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Colorado to constituents — no guns for you. Colorado leftists attempt an end run around the 2nd Amendment. DD: Colorado today, Illinois tomorrow.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/colorado-to-constituents-no-guns-for-you/
CATO
— Ten Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Arguments for Socialism and Why They’re Wrong. DD: What were you able to do under capitalism? I was able to buy a 1958 Chevy BeAir when I was 16 in 1964 with money I earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers. I was able buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966 with money I earned washing dishes for the minimum wage. I was able buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967 and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968 with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to graduate debt-free from NIU in 1970 owning that Charger with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to buy a new 1972 Corvette in 1971 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS. I was able to buy a new townhome in 1972 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS.
https://www.cato.org/blog/ten-democratic-socialists-america-dsa-arguments-socialism-why-theyre-wrong
CRISIS MAGAZINE
— In Defense of Private Property: Repelling the Rise of Socialism. DD: What were you able to do under capitalism? I was able to buy a 1958 Chevy BeAir when I was 16 in 1964 with money I earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers. I was able buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966 with money I earned washing dishes for the minimum wage. I was able buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967 and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968 with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to graduate debt-free from NIU in 1970 owning that Charger with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to buy a new 1972 Corvette in 1971 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS. I was able to buy a new townhome in 1972 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS.
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/in-defense-of-private-property-repelling-the-rise-of-socialism
DAILY SIGNAL
— Immigration Under the New Left.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/23/immigration-under-the-new-left/
— Why Are So Many Young People Drawn to Communism?
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/23/why-are-so-many-young-people-drawn-to-communism/
EPOCH TIMES
— Why Are So Many Young People Drawn to Communism?
https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/why-are-so-many-young-people-drawn-to-communism-6077478
FOX NEWS
— Socialists don’t believe in liberty of any kind.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403937012112
— Billions spent by key federal agency hasn’t made American dream of homeownership any easier. DD: I bought a new townhome in University Park when I was 24 in 1972. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and the down payment would have been about $36,000. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. The down payment came from what I had earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $93,700. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/billions-spent-key-federal-agency-hasnt-made-american-dream-homeownership-any-easier-report
NATIONALREVIEW
— Democratic Socialists of America Hate Billionaires — Except Fidel Castro.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/08/the-democratic-socialists-of-america-hate-billionaires-except-fidel-castro/
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— We Need To Remind Americans Why Capitalism’s Important. DD: What were you able to do under capitalism? I was able to buy a 1958 Chevy BeAir when I was 16 in 1964 with money I earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers. I was able buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966 with money I earned washing dishes for the minimum wage. I was able buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967 and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968 with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to graduate debt-free from NIU in 1970 owning that Charger with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to buy a new 1972 Corvette in 1971 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS. I was able to buy a new townhome in 1972 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS.
https://www.realclearmarkets.com/2026/08/24/we_need_to_remind_americans_why_capitalisms_important_1201914.html
— DEI Refuses To Die.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/08/24/dei_refuses_to_die_154439.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
AOL
— Curfews, drones, and criminal charges: Cities differ on approaches to ‘teen takeovers.’ DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.aol.com/articles/curfews-drones-criminal-charges-cities-140006000.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Moving to Florida. DD: More and more and more of those who are the following are moving to Florida: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/15/realestate/florida-retirement-residency-taxes.html
USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: The Democrat Party platform is extremely anti-religious. How successful have Democrats been taking over your church?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/22/democrats-use-faith-to-challenge-red-state-gop/91340610007/
USA HERALD
— California Wants Corporations to Confess Their Ties to Slavery — Under Oath. DD: According to Democrat leaders, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are tied to slavery: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. In my defense, I stress that even though all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, they always lived in northeast Illinois, they never were in a position to discriminate against anyone, and they never did discriminate against anyone.
https://usaherald.com/california-wants-corporations-to-confess-their-ties-to-slavery-under-oath/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— A Socialist Surprise in Florida.
https://www.wsj.com/video/wsj-opinion-a-socialist-surprise-in-florida/7780BE57-7ACC-4DD7-A963-30D1C441AB05
FORBES
— Unfair Advantages. DD: What unfair advantages do your critics/opponents say you have? According to my critics/opponents, the following are unfair advantages and I have them: White, male, Protestant, German American, and my ancestors have been in America since 1844. In addition, a) my parents sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools 1953-1962, b) my parents provided me with room and board while I attended UIC 1966-1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969, and c) I avoided the Vietnam War draft. 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, and I had to work my way through college.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthgotian/2022/07/19/you-might-be-overlooking-your-unfair-advantage-heres-how-to-find-it/
MARKETPLACE
— Americans are retiring earlier than they’d like to. And not because they can afford to. DD: 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, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or if you have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/07/24/why-some-americans-are-forced-to-retire-too-soon
NEWS BREAK
— Sen. Duckworth Tells Hegseth to “Find a New Job and Let the Press Do Theirs” After Stars and Stripes Editor’s Firing. DD: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have hinted/implied/argued/shouted at the following that because I am a Republican Precinct Committeeman, they can and they should dictate the content of my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters: the leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization. I should write about the many big adverse actions that the aforesaid have taken against me since 2000.
https://www.newsbreak.com/combat-rated-361333999/4845203759286-sen-duckworth-tells-hegseth-to-find-a-new-job-and-let-the-press-do-theirs-after-stars-and-stripes-editor-s-firing
ATLANTIC
— High-School Reunions. Social media should have killed them. Instead, they’re popular again. DD: I just learned that my 1966 Crete-Monee High School class is going to have a reunion. Sadly, my interactions with my classmates was dramatically less during my junior and senior years because I spent 28 hours a week during the school years and 40 hours a week during the summer in between washing dishes in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights. Sadly, that job did not paint me as being college material. Further, my not being able to run because I had a bone disease kept out of sports.
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2025/09/high-school-reunion-attendance/684097/
August 22, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Gary storm victims fill generators at a gas station, watch DVDs in their car, eat hot lunch at a school. A historic power outage in northwest Indiana has left 52% of Gary’s NIPSCO customers without power for 11 days. We spoke with people about their experiences as they wait for electricity to be restored and debris to be cleared. DD: The more that overhead lines bring power to your home, the more that those lines are near trees, the more that I recommend getting a whole-house backup electric generator.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/08/21/gary-storm-victims-fill-generators-at-a-gas-station-watch-dvds-in-car-eat-hot-lunch-at-a-school
https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/northwest-indiana-gary-no-power-storm-recovery
— Many Trump-endorsed candidates landing with a thud.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/08/21/trump-endorsed-candidates-loss-voters-republicans-midterms-s-e-cupp
— Tollway hike will improve infrastructure, save commute time, boost economy. DD: What section of the tollway do you use the most? For me, it is the I-88 section between Naperville Road and Route 59.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2026/08/22/illinois-tollway-airplane-toilets-roosevelt-trump-india-israel-animal-cruelty-ice-term-limits
FOX32
— What Illinois voters can expect on the 2026 general election ballot.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-ro8xjcgk3nqfxfrd
WGEM
— U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy makes stop in Quincy.
https://www.wgem.com/2026/08/22/us-senate-candidate-don-tracy-makes-stop-quincy/
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: To vote for Democrats is to promote LGBTQ.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/25-6-million-lgbtq-adults-in-us-transgender-population-twice-prior-estimates-study/
ELMHURST UNIVERSITY
— Four Career Benefits to Completing Your Degree. DD: If I had not earned a job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970, job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997, job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and a job-related professional license in 1981, I never would have earned $154,682/year in today’s dollars in 1997. IRS would not have hired me in 1971 or promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. GAO would not have hired me in 1980 or promoted me in 1986.
https://www.elmhurst.edu/blog/four-career-benefits-to-completing-your-degree/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/21/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-584/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOHN KASS
— Vallas: Anti-Semitism and the Unholy Alliance Between the Far Left and Radical Islam.
https://johnkassnews.com/anti-semitism-and-the-unholy-alliance-between-the-far-left-and-radical-islam/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— According to Google AI, campaign literature pieces cost roughly $290 per 5,000 from specialized political printers. I hope that each of the 17 Republican candidates on the November 3, 2006 ballot in my precinct will provide 400 of their pieces to the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) that I can pick them up and hand-deliver them to the 400 residences in my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton that have at least one registered Republican or Independent voter. That is 7,200 pieces (400 X 17). So far, I have placed 660 DuPage County Election Division-provided mailing labels on 400 DuPage County GOP-provided envelopes. I have split them into five batches and put them in walk order. I want to start stuffing those envelopes with MTRO-provided outstanding Voter Guides and the literature pieces ASAP. I want to start stuffing as soon as I have at least 100 pieces from each of the candidates. As soon as the sample ballot for my precinct is available, I will make 400 photocopies, stuff them, and head out the door. The 18 candidates are Tracy, Bailey/Del Mar, Fioretti, Solomon, Harris, Drew, Soloman, Oakley, Lewis, Vrankovich, Grasso, Noonan, Schiappa, Henry, Eckhoff, Michaud, Schultz, Quirk, and Helland. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Bread lines or bread winning? The Democratic Party’s fatal leftward drift.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/4692671/democrats-socialism-vs-capitalism-economic-shift/
— Capitalism: The system Gen Z loves to roast but actually needs most. DD: What were you able to do under capitalism? I was able to buy a 1958 Chevy BeAir when I was 16 in 1964 with money I earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers. I was able buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966 with money I earned washing dishes for the minimum wage. I was able buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967 and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968 with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to graduate debt-free from NIU in 1970 with money I earned delivering mail. I was able to buy a new 1972 Corvette in 1971 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS. I was able to buy a new townhome in 1972 with money I earned working for Firestone Stores and IRS.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/equality-not-elitism/4680934/capitalism-system-generation-z-needs-most/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: At its core, capitalism is about private ownership and incentives. You have a right to own your property or ideas. You have the freedom to negotiate in your self-interest and engage in mutually beneficial agreements. Profit and competition motivate you to innovate. No one forces you to. . .Socialism relies on coercion as central planners decide what gets made, how much, and who gets it. Private ownership of land, factories, or businesses is limited or taken over. The government needs taxes, rules, or force to do that. Take Venezuela. History shows that top-down socialist directives and nationalization produced hyperinflation, shortages of food and medicine, poverty, and the collapse of public services. Under socialism, where private ownership and property rights do not exist, outcomes get worse, and innovation suffers. This is the classic tragedy of the commons problem. Imagine public transit: filled with litter, graffiti-covered cars, and slow. No private individual cleans it because “it’s the government’s problem,” and government workers are slow to do so because they get paid regardless. When the state or collective controls public services, resources are misallocated, and quality deteriorates.)
NEW YORK POST
— Democrats now overwhelmingly have a more favorable view of socialism than capitalism. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.aol.com/articles/dems-now-favor-socialism-over-205152000.html
— Why 58% of California Democrats lust after socialism. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/21/opinion/why-california-democrats-like-socialism/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Socialism, after all, is an ideology of oppression that’s brought mass death, forced labor, famine and executions to a long list of nations, including China, Cambodia, Vietnam, North Korea, and the former USSR. So … what gives in the Golden State?. . .Socialism (with a smile!) sells in blue enclaves in part because it’s faddish, on trend, of the moment. It’s a shiny object glorified on social media to an audience too young to remember the Cold War –– or the ghoulish history of socialist and communist regimes. It taps into disgruntlement, class envy, entitlement. And it sells utopian fantasies about, when it comes down to it, taking other people’s stuff.)
AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
— We Must Save America’s Students from the False Promises of Socialism. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://aclj.org/radical-left/we-must-save-americas-students-from-the-false-promises-of-socialism
AMERICAN THINKER
— Illegitimate Elections Will Destroy the United States. ‘Sanctuary city’ secession is tearing the Union apart.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/illegitimate-elections-will-destroy-the-united-states/
BREITBART
— Chicago Threw $640M in Tax Dollars at Illegal Migrants Over Two Years.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/21/chicago-threw-640m-in-tax-dollars-at-illegal-migrants-over-two-years/amp/
COLLEGE FIX
— Education Dept. ends disparate impact, dropping requirement to balance racial outcomes. DD: When Whites and males do better on tests than minorities and females, Democrats and RINOs blame Republicans.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/education-dept-ends-disparate-impact-dropping-requirement-to-balance-racial-outcomes/
— Education Department praised for ending outcome-based discrimination rules. DD: When Whites and males do better on tests than minorities and females, Democrats and RINOs blame Republicans.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/in-washington-post-education-department-praised-for-ending-outcome-based-discrimination-rules/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Ending the Welfare State as We Know It.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/21/ending-the-welfare-state-as-we-know-it/
DAILY WIRE
— Socialist Senate Nominee Called Charlie Kirk Supporters Tools ‘Of White Supremacy.’ DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/socialist-senate-nominee-called-charlie-kirk-supporters-tools-of-white-supremacy
FOX BUSINESS
— Virginia removes over 6,000 noncitizens from voter rolls.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403805538112
FOX NEWS
— Socialism surges among Democrats as party leaders reject DSA agenda. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/socialism-surges-among-democrats-party-leaders-reject-dsa-agenda-pack-fools
— Democrats have built a ‘COALITION OF TRIBAL GRIEVANCES.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQd2F3IEJM8
NATIONAL REVIEW
— The Path Ahead for Welfare Reform.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/08/the-path-ahead-for-welfare-reform/
PJ MEDIA
— Hegseth Used Slang for Transgender-Identifying Lefties.
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/08/21/pete-hegseth-used-slang-for-transgender-identifying-lefties-and-wokies-lost-their-marbles-n4956398
PRESS BANNER
— Planning Your Financial Future Under Socialism. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://pressbanner.com/finance-planning-your-financial-future-under-socialism/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Bernie Sanders won Santa Cruz County primaries twice and now Ocasio-Cortez, Mandami, El-Sayed and Flanagan gain power. DSA friendly candidates threaten moderate Democrats and independent votes enough to give MAGA a fighting chance in November. Democratic Socialists of America claim 95,000 members. Would socialism look more like DSA dreams, Republican nightmares or Nordic compromises? With threats from right and left, can personal financial planning survive? The DSA Program. In “What is Democratic Socialism,” the DSA proclaims: “We want a democracy that creates space for us all to flourish not just survive and answers the fundamental questions of our lives with the input of all. We want to collectively own the key economic drivers that dominate our lives, such as energy production and transportation.” On the site program.dsausa.org, the DSA shamelessly prophesies: “You work as much as you are able and no more than needed…You have no debt. You don’t need health insurance. You don’t pay a mortgage or have a landlord, because comfortable housing is a human right. Your retirement is publicly funded. Food, education, energy, medicine, and transportation aren’t for-profit businesses; they are common goods and utilities.” DSA would “Expand public resources to support recreation, learning, and social spaces accessible to all.” Sustainable publicly owned transit and energy replace fossil fuels. Investment, insurance and estate planning here is a question for government, not individuals. Mao’s Ideological Purity. The specter of Maoism transformed Chinese agricultural society down “the road of socialism under the leadership of the party.” So government controlled not only politics and religion, but production, borders, the arts and education. Peasants ate from common kitchens and married according to party needs. Individuals couldn’t even plan their daily dress. Estates of landlords — even poor landlords — and entrepreneurs were confiscated. Seized housing guaranteed housing “rights.” There were no stock or insurance markets and security was greatest for peasants who denounced neighbors publicly and worked harder and longer even when government horribly mismanaged steel production with backyard furnaces. To collectivize agriculture, the party appropriated food to starve tens of millions. Nordic Socialism? In UN World Happiness Reports, Nordics rank the happiest people and surely honest democracy, subsidized education and healthcare contribute. Unicameral legislatures and proportional representation model the DSA’s critique of America’s independent presidency and judiciary. Roughly 30% of the people work in health care, education and government and workers are highly unionized with government settling disputes. Unemployment insurance and government childcare are regular. But Deng Xiaoping brought markets back to China and the Swedish Social Democrats deregulated banking and currency in the 1980s. The financial crisis of 1990-94 resulted in deregulation. Socialists beware: Swedes get vouchers for educational choice and save in subsidized mutual fund accounts. Scandification.com says: “Sweden is a highly liberalized and competitive open-market economy. The country happily trades with countries all around the globe. Most Swedish enterprises are privately owned and pay quite low taxes compared to other parts of the globe.” The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom ranks Sweden ahead of the United States! Questions for Socialists. What happens when socialism meets Amazon.com variety with bleak lifestyle choices? Canadians already venture abroad for delayed healthcare and Moscow bread lines were infamous. And we don’t all enjoy paying for solar panels on dull housing projects. F.A. Hayek says that the task of providing for everyone’s needs or wants while knowing all the human and natural resources is too much for any planning committee without the invisible hand of pricing. Mandami is already challenged delivering free buses. Poor worker motivation challenged Mao to lead constant rallies with art glorifying low-paid production — not short work and environmental purity. The DSO admittedly seeks “…aggressive wealth taxes on the richest individuals and corporations to spend on public goods and infrastructure.” Nordic countries tax over 40% of GDP versus OECD averages of 33.9%. Like our income tax, burdens start with the rich, but El-Sayed admitted that “you paid a little more in taxes” for free healthcare. Planning is impossible in Maoist China where planners would be lynched. Sweden’s welfare state hosts CFPs and tax planning with market investments flourishes. If Socialism — or Fascism — conquers America, we won’t have so many choices.)
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Woke 2.0 and the False Promise of Socialist Division.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/08/21/woke_20_and_the_false_promise_of_socialist_division_154432.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Democrats hold more favorable view of socialism than capitalism. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.aol.com/articles/democrats-hold-more-favorable-view-172421000.html
— Gen Z turns against capitalism as DSA takes off. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/6042507-gen-z-capitalism-socialism-sports-betting-gender-political-divide/
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Republicans Must Stop Being Democrat-Lite.
https://www.usnews.com/debate-club/is-the-gops-problem-in-its-strategies-or-its-policies/republicans-must-stop-being-democrat-lite
CNN
— DD: I often served as a fact checker while I worked for GAO 1986-1997 at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/17/politics/fact-check-trump-south-korea-cost-sharing-biden
AOL
— How Much Income You Need To Join the Top 10% in Every State. In Illinois it is $296,443/year.
https://www.aol.com/articles/much-income-join-top-10-142011000.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— The Socialist, a Million-Dollar Rowhouse and Unanswered Questions. Differing accounts of where Gustavo Gordillo, a leader of the Democratic Socialists of America, lives are raising doubts about whether the city’s left-wing organizers are ready for prime time. DD: Ever-increasingly, to vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/22/nyregion/nyc-gustavo-gordillo-democratic-socialist.html
— Journalism and Paywalls. An increasingly hostile environment for independent reporting in the United States and elsewhere has made our job harder, and more expensive. DD: My direct competitors continue to be furious that I have the money, time, motivation, ability, and experience to put together and send out my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletter every day without a paywall, without any advertising, and without any donation requests. All the money that I spend putting the newsletters together and sending them out comes from my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my Social Security, and my retirement savings. Far too many of my direct competitors destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify or praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money. I should write about them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/world/journalism-us-colombia-quake.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Some of you have written in, surprised and sometimes annoyed at the prospect of hitting the paywall. I get it. So in today’s newsletter, I want to explain why we need people who can afford it to pay for our journalism. Many of you already do. Thank you.)
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— College Enrollments Are Expected to Plunge. DD: Under the Democrats, anticipate/expect that fewer and fewer and fewer Whites and males will earn college degrees.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/why-college-enrollments-are-expected-to-plunge-a8e00d7d
FORBES
— Employee Engagement. DD: I was far more engaged than my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO coworkers. While I worked for the Democrats who ran the Post Office 1966-1969, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree in management. While I worked for the Democrats who ran IRS 1971-1980, I earned an MBA, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, and almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting. While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, I earned a master’s degree in accounting, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt, became a licensed CPA, served on the Association of Government Accountants Executive Committee for 12 years, served on the Illinois CPA Society Membership Committee for 8 years, earned professional certifications in fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting, and earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading. None of my Democrat coworkers came close to doing what I did. To get promoted, all they had to do was to be “good little Democrats.”
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2026/08/20/12-employee-engagement-strategies-that-are-working-now/
— Career Slowdown. DD: My Post Office career more than slowed down, it crashed when my Democrat superiors disallowed my sick leave requests when I was 19 in 1968 and 20 and forced me to resign when I was 20 falsely claiming that I was not available to work enough part-time hours. My IRS career more than slowed down, it crashed when I was 25 when my Democrat superiors succeeded in getting rid of the manager who had promoted me when I was 23 (GS-9), 24 (GS-11), and 25 (GS-12). They disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA when I was 27. They disallowed my education expenses when I was 29. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. My GAO career more than slowed down, it crashed when I was 31 when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS, disempowering the GAO manager who had arranged that transfer, gave me bad job assignments and unfair performance expectations and performance appraisals and kept me off audits of IRS. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31 and my passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination and becoming a licensed CPA when I was 32. GAO finally did promote me to GS-13 when I was 38, but that was only because the manager who arranged my transfer got back into power, assigned me to audits of IRS, and promoted me to GS-13. But when I was 39, they forced him to retire and things when from bad to worse. When I was 40, my career really crashed. They threw me off audits of IRS, gave me a very bad job assignment, very unfair performance expectations, and performance appraisal and ranked me at the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance (PFP). They ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for PFP from then on. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning four more professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48 and my earning a master’s degree in financial markets and training when I was 48. They forced me to retire when I was 49.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2026/02/21/4-tips-to-keep-up-when-your-coworkers-careers-move-faster/
KEISER UNIVERSITY
— Which College Majors Offer the Best Work-Life Balance? DD: My not majoring in accounting from the beginning was one of my biggest mistakes. I erroneously thought that I could never pass the CPA examination. I did pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30 in 1979, but by then it was too late. The accounting profession saw me as being far too old to have a successful career in accounting. On top of that, the profession was under tremendous pressure to hire, retain, and promote young minorities and young females.
https://www.keiseruniversity.edu/articles/careers-with-best-work-life-balance/
STANDARD EXAMINER
— DD: When Whites and males do better on tests than minorities and females, Democrats and RINOs blame Republicans.
https://www.standard.net/opinion/national-commentary/2026/aug/21/stossel-racist-tests/
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
— Affordability For All. DD: What did you do to afford things? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://nul.org/news/affordability-all-its-time-rescue-american-dream
FROM OTHER SOURCES
MAYO CLINIC
— Type 2 diabetes over time: What to expect as you age. DD: My prescribed type 2 diabetes pills are: Glimepiride (2), Jardiance, Metformin, and Ozempic. I am using Stelo ( https://www.stelo.com/ ) to monitor my glucose levels.
https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/diabetes/type-2-diabetes-over-time-what-to-expect-as-you-age/
TOPSPEED
— 10 Affordable Cars That Make Perfect Daily Drivers. DD: Chevy Malibu is one of them. My 2021 Chevy Malibu Premier will me my daily driver if my 2018 Chevy Cruze LT is totaled or stolen.
https://www.topspeed.com/affordable-new-cars-for-daily-driving/
August 21, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Tracy: “We believe in equal opportunity. They believe in equal outcomes. We believe in rewarding success. They want to redistribute success.”
https://abc7chicago.com/post/republican-candidates-midterm-election-share-message-unity-2026-illinois-state-fair/19709027/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. Trump defends and advances many planks in that platform. Democrat and RINO leaders blame Proft for Republican losses in Illinois, but they really blame Trump and the Republican Party platform. To win elections, they want the Republican Party to become the Democrat Lite Party, that is, to officially dump Trump and to officially dump the party’s conservative base, that is, to officially dump the platform’s personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks, that is, to officially dissolve. Democrat candidates win in Illinois because they and their mainstream news media aggressively promote the anti-conservative Democrat Party platform.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/21/illinois-republicans-dan-proft-richard-uihlein-tony-mccombie-ryan-spain-republicans/
WMBD
— With Trump barely mentioned, Illinois Republicans focus on common enemy: Pritzker.
https://wmbdradio.com/2026/08/21/676221/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Illinois GOP chief Grogan on 2026 election: ‘It’s common sense versus communism’
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-illinois-gop-chief-on-2026-election-its-common-sense-versus-communism/
CHRONICLE ILLINOIS
— Different state, same results for Catalina Lauf, Jim Oberweis.
https://chronicleillinois.com/news/different-state-same-results-for-catalina-lauf-jim-oberweis/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— DD: According to Democrat and RINO leaders, to win, Illinois Republican candidates have dumped Trump.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/21/gop-says-affordability-trumps-trump-01044966
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: Trump who? One thing Bailey and other Republicans largely avoided discussing – except when asked – was President Donald Trump.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/21/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-796/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Chicago Public Schools students return amid low proficiency, underused schools.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-public-schools-back-to-school-performance-2026/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
— Adam Smith’s Warning for America’s New Socialists.
https://www.aei.org/commentary/adam-smiths-warning-for-americas-new-socialists/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Dividing America On Race: Russia’s Enduring Geopolitical Strategy. Thanks to the Soviet Union, America, rather than moving into a post-racial era after the Civil Rights Movement, has remained stuck in a racial time loop.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/dividing-america-on-race-russia-s-enduring-geopolitical-strategy/
COLLEGE FIX
— UC Berkeley’s top feeder school has 6% math proficiency.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/uc-berkeleys-top-feeder-school-has-6-math-proficiency/
— Trump admin unveils new rule to crack down on DEI in higher ed accreditors.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/trump-admin-unveils-new-rule-to-crack-down-on-dei-in-higher-ed-accreditors/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Democrats’ Minimum Wage Hike Would Make Life Less Affordable. To increase the federal minimum wage to $25/hour would cost the U.S. economy 5 million jobs and especially harm workers ages 16 to 24. DD: I did not start earning $25/hour in today’s dollars until after I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination, earned a bachelor’s degree in business, and got hired by IRS.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/no-the-sat-is-not-a-beacon-of-meritocracy
FEDERALIST
— Watchdog Asks Ed Department To Block American Bar Association’s Renewal As Law Schools’ Sole Accreditor. The Trump administration on Wednesday published rules that would open the door for other accreditors to be recognized across American higher education, as Trump himself recognizes that accreditation is the “secret weapon” for controlling universities.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/20/exclusive-watchdog-asks-ed-department-to-block-american-bar-associations-renewal-as-law-schools-sole-accreditor/
FOX NEWS
— As Chicago Suffers, City Found $639.6 Million for Illegals.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/08/20/as_chicago_suffers_city_found_6396_million_for_illegals_708439.html
— Want to stop socialism? A modern civic education needs a lot more than you’d think. Only about one-quarter of students who began college in 2012 received any college-level economics instruction.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/stop-socialism-modern-civic-education-needs-lot-more-than-youd-think
— New report lays out plan to tackle America’s affordability crisis. DD: What did you do to afford things? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403787257112
— California lawmakers want corporations to disclose ties to slavery. DD: According to Democrat leaders, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are tied to slavery: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. In my defense, I stress that even though all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, they always lived in northeast Illinois, they never were in a position to discriminate against anyone, and they never did discriminate against anyone.
https://noticias.foxnews.com/media/california-lawmakers-push-corporate-slavery-disclosure-bill-despite-uncertain-future-reparations
NANCY MACE
— Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill To Ban Non-Citizens From The Federal Workforce. DD: Because my parents lacked money, I had to compete against noncitizens for jobs. All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. 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. I delivering mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent federal taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997.
https://mace.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-nancy-mace-introduces-bill-ban-non-citizens-federal-workforce
POST MILLENNIAL
— San Francisco drag queen stuns audience with Charlie Kirk assassination reenactment at LGBTQ nightclub.
https://thepostmillennial.com/san-francisco-drag-queen-stuns-audience-with-charlie-kirk-assassination-reenactment-at-lgbtq-nightclub
REASON
— Do You Have the Right to Possess an AR-15? The Supreme Court Will Soon Decide. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a pair of cases involving rifle restrictions imposed by Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly erode Second Amendment rights.
https://reason.com/2026/10/01/scotus-takes-up-assault-weapon-bans/
TOWNHALL
— Socialists Shove the Resistance Aside in Florida.
https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbarone/2026/08/21/socialists-shove-the-resistance-aside-in-florida-n2681621
— California Democrats Want to Force Companies Into Their Reparations Agenda. DD: According to Democrat leaders, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are tied to slavery: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. In my defense, I stress that even though all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, they always lived in northeast Illinois, they never were in a position to discriminate against anyone, and they never did discriminate against anyone.
https://townhall.com/news/jeff-charles/2026/08/20/california-democrats-want-to-force-companies-into-their-reparations-agenda-n2681592
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CNBC
— Affordability is a ‘defining challenge’ for Americans. DD: What did you do to afford things? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/05/affordability-grocery-prices.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: My critics/opponents are woke, that is, they promote dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, vices, diminishment of Second Amendment rights, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/12/style/woke-1-aoc-dsa.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight efforts to fight voter fraud.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/us/politics/trump-nevada-voter-election-fraud.html
— Envy. DD: To promote envy against me, my Democrat GAO superiors stressed to my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates how much money my wife and I had saved for our retirement. They stressed a) my avoiding the Vietnam War draft, b) that we gave up trying to have children without trying IVF, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, c) my wife’s salary, d) the home we owned in Wheaton, e) our cars, and f) our having no debts. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/well/mind/envy-friends.html
USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/08/20/nixon-florida-primary-win-fundraising-polling-midterms/91370815007/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The End of Harry and Meghan’s American Dream. DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.wsj.com/world/uk/the-end-of-harry-and-meghans-american-dream-172623fd
— Paul Ryan and Les Ford: Americans Are Getting Caught in the Safety Net. The 1996 welfare reform helped move people from dependency to work. We need to do that again.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/americans-are-getting-caught-in-the-safety-net-fed222f4
— Trump Administration Attacks Bar Association’s Power to Accredit Law Schools. The move escalates a feud with the nation’s premier legal organization.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/aba-american-bar-association-law-schools-accredit-trump-education-e56f4cbc
24/7 WALL STREET
— AOC Just Revealed Her Net Worth Is Less Than $100,000, Here’s How Much Fidelity Says She Should Have Saved For Retirement Before She Turns 40. AOC’s 2025 financial disclosure shows a net worth as low as negative $33,000, despite earning roughly $1.22 million in congressional salary since 2019. Fidelity’s 3x-by-40 benchmark applied to AOC’s $174,000 salary sets a $522,000 retirement savings target she needs to hit by October 2029.
https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/08/20/aoc-just-revealed-her-net-worth-is-less-than-100000-heres-how-much-fidelity-says-she-should-have-saved-for-retirement-before-she-turns-40/
FORTUNE
— Gen Z forced to rewrite the American Dream in the ‘Great Postponement’: Fixer-uppers, side hustles and doing life out of order. DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://fortune.com/2026/08/20/gen-z-american-dream-great-postponement-affordability/
INVESTOPEDIA
— Most Americans Say They Won’t Save Enough for Retirement, Even After Decades of Work, DD: To promote envy against me, my Democrat GAO superiors stressed to my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates how much money my wife and I had saved for our retirement. They stressed a) my avoiding the Vietnam War draft, b) that we gave up trying to have children without trying IVF, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, c) my wife’s salary, d) the home we owned in Wheaton, d) our cars, and f) our having no debts.
https://www.investopedia.com/why-most-americans-say-they-won-t-save-enough-for-retirement-even-after-decades-of-work-12009710
PENNSYLVANIA
— More Former Federal Employees Are Choosing the Commonwealth to Continue their Public Service Careers. With 1,350 former federal employees hired since last March, the Shapiro Administration continues to deliver results by helping ensure state agencies have the staff they need to deliver high-quality and responsive services to Pennsylvanians. DD: When my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, the Democrats and the RINOs who ran Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton had absolutely no use for me.
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/oa/newsroom/more-former-federal-employees-are-choosing-the-commonwealth-to-c
CHICO ENTERPRISE RECORD
— Socialism distributes poverty instead of wealth.
https://www.chicoer.com/2026/08/21/letter-to-the-editor-socialism-distributes-poverty-instead-of-wealth/
NEWS34
— Youth group organizers call for more safe spaces for teens in Charlotte amid curfew proposal. DD: When you were a teen, what did you do when you were not in school? 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. I delivered mail 1966-1969.
https://www.aol.com/articles/youth-group-organizers-call-more-210422000.html
CENTRAL FLORIDA PUBLIC MEDIA
— Can Government Really Make Life More Affordable? DD: What did you do to afford things? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.cfpublic.org/podcast/engage/2026-08-20/can-government-really-make-life-more-affordable
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— DD: Federal employees have file financial disclosure statements. Republican federal employees should anticipate/expect that their Democrat superiors will use that information against them. The more income and assets that you have, the more that they will leak that information to promote envy against you. My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government painted themselves as being grossly underpaid. They decried their spouses having little or no income. They decried the costs of child raising. They were ever-increasingly envious of my and my wife’s income and assets.
https://www.govexec.com/management/2026/06/practical-steps-agencies-mitigate-financial-disclosure-controversies/414003/
NEW YORK REVIEW
— As Democratic Socialists rack up primary victories, the moderate wing of the Democratic Party looks increasingly out of touch.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/08/20/whose-party-democratic-socialists-of-america/
JACOBIN
— How China Picks Its Winners and Losers. China’s university entrance exam is one of the most competitive in the world — a reflection of the cutthroat reality of the country’s labor market. DD: My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors were furious when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981 because my Democrat coworkers who they wanted to promote over me either a) failed/refused to take the examinations or b) failed to pass them.
https://jacobin.com/2026/08/china-education-inequality-gaokao-exams
WASHINGTON STAND
— DD: How strongly does your church promote the anti-religious Democrat Party platform?
https://washingtonstand.com/article/most-american-churchgoers-say-their-clergy-address-political-issues-poll-finds
NPR
— Should the U.S. have a mandatory retirement age? DD: Federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System and who are the following are forced to retire as soon as they are eligible, that is, when they are 55 and have 30 years of service: conservative, Republican, White, male, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. I became eligible for early retirement when I was 45 in 1993. My Democrat GAO succeeded in forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 when their early retirement “offer” expired. I would not have been eligible for regular retirement until I was 55 in 2003. They made it very clear that if I did not take their “offer,” they would make those 6 years a living hell for me. They would constructively demote me, give me adverse transfers, give me unfair performance expectations, give me unfair performance appraisals, and even worse things.
https://www.npr.org/2026/08/14/nx-s1-5924910/should-the-u-s-have-a-mandatory-retirement-age
CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
— DD: When Whites and males do better on tests than minorities and females, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republican discrimination against minorities and females.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/no-the-sat-is-not-a-beacon-of-meritocracy
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
CHINA ACADEMY
— Can Gen Z Socialism Shake the Stronghold of Western Capitalism?
https://thechinaacademy.org/can-gen-z-socialism-shake-the-stronghold-of-western-capitalism/
GUARDIAN
— From McDonald’s to Congress: can a former fry cook flip a key district for Democrats? DD: What are you a former? I am a former yard worker, newspaper boy, dish washer, golf shoe cleaner, slag chipper, gasoline pumper, mailman, automotive assembly line worker, tire, automotive service, and major appliance salesman, tax collector, and auditor.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/20/mcdonalds-congress-affordability-democrats
ECONOMIC TIMES
— DD: Democrats encourage illegal immigration because illegals vote for Democrats. RINOs encourage illegal immigration because RINOs want cheap labor.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/migrate/america-sold-the-world-a-dream-and-kept-millions-chasing-it/articleshow/133394322.cms
August 9, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Brandon Johnson’s City Hall can’t find anyone willing to collect debt on the city’s behalf. Shocking, but hardly surprising. DD: Just kidding, but should form a company to collect those debts? I worked for IRS’s Collection Division for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/09/editorial-brandon-johnson-debt-collection-budget-banks-aldermen/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has informed aldermen that a proposed sale of outstanding debts owed to the city of Chicago, which was supposed to net $90 million in this year’s budget, is garnering no interest from banks or other financial services firms. The apparent failure of the debt sale looks like it will blow a hole in the current year’s budget that will need to be addressed, although the size of that shortfall is yet to be determined. We certainly agree with members of the council majority who included the debt sale among other revenue-raising measures that the mayor and his administration gave their idea no real chance of succeeding. From the start, Johnson castigated the plan to sell some of the $8 billion owed to the city in unpaid ambulance charges, water bills, red-light and speeding camera tickets and other obligations as “immoral” and “morally bankrupt.” This page rejected his argument, saying among other things that it’s unfair to the people who pay their debts to give a tacit pass to those who just don’t. Johnson allowed the budget containing the proposed debt law to become law without his signature.)
HERALD WHIG
— Bailey pledges to lead Illinois with integrity.
https://whig.com/2026/08/08/bailey-pledges-to-lead-illinois-with-integrity/
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/article_fbe4e232-596c-4374-8400-f8538c003d9e.html
ABC7
— DD: My “Republican” critics/opponents are really Democrat Lite, if not anti-conservative, if not Democrat plants. Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/jim-durkin-illinois-house-republican-resigning/12678017/
VILLA PARK PATCH
— League of Women Voters “Unite & Rise” for Voting Rights!
https://patch.com/illinois/villa-park-il/calendar/event/20260808/2f82b133-686c-4891-a6ff-41630e21389c/league-of-women-voters-unite-rise-for-voting-rights
JUSTICE FOR ALL
— Justice For All is an American Human Rights organization, specifically advocating for the rights of Muslim minorities. Its main office is located in Chicago, with additional teams in Washington DC, Boston, New York, Toronto, and Ottawa.
https://www.justiceforall.org/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOHN KASS
— The Democratic Socialists Are Coming!
https://johnkassnews.com/the-democratic-socialists-are-coming/
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— GOP State Senate Calls Out Democrats on Ethics
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/03/gop-state-senate-calls-out-democrats-on-ethics/
— 80 Years for Gun Toting Marengo Circle K Robber
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/03/80-years-for-marengo-circle-k-robber/
— DeWitte Criticizes Chicago School District’s Lust for Money from the Rest of Illinois
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/04/dewitte-criticizes-chicago-school-districts-lust-for-money-from-the-rest-of-illinois/
— Where School Spending Goes
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/04/where-school-spending-goes/
— State Senator Darby Hills Explains New E-Bike Law and Channel 7
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/04/darby-hills-explains-new-e-bike-law-and-channel-7/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The media act like cheerleaders with press credentials — they’re supposed to be instant replay. DD: The mainstream news media exists a) to elect and to reelect Democrats and b) to defeat Republicans.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4674625/media-bias-objective-journalism-press-referees/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Wealth Taxes Don’t Work. Envy is the second of the seven deadly sins, and Zohran Mamdani seems to want a more envious New York (and America). Instead of worrying about how much money Ken Griffin has (reportedly some $50 billion), why not begin by starting wherever you are qualified and working your way up?
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/wealth-taxes-don-t-work/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Inciting envy is the modus operandi of all socialists. It is their means of fomenting division and attracting voters, but it is a particularly ugly way of doing so because it demeans the very people they would lead and creates the potential for violence. One reason envy is so destructive is that it saps the initiative of those who might otherwise be striving to improve their own situation. Instead of worrying about how much money Ken Griffin has (reportedly some $50 billion), why not begin by starting wherever you are qualified and working your way up? This has always been the American way, but socialists undermine this healthy instinct and replace it with the promise of equality of outcomes, which is their means of gaining power. Anyone who has studied the history of socialism knows that it does not produce equality.
Zohran Mamdani and others like to pretend wealth taxes can produce enough revenue to pay for their promises of free transportation, free daycare, subsidized groceries, and even Medicare for all.)
— How Little has Changed Between ‘Political Correctness’ and ‘Woke.’
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/how-little-has-changed-between-political-correctness-and-woke/
— The Democrat embrace of Islamo-socialism is party suicide.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/the-democrat-embrace-of-islamo-socialism-is-party-suicide-comments/
— The Mohammunist Manifesto—Public Or Private, Nothing Is Beyond Our Control. Whether the government is Islamic or communist, the leaders can reach into every sphere of life and can truly make the rules up as they go along.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/the-mohammunist-manifesto-public-or-private-nothing-is-beyond-our-control/
BREITBART
— Reject Cheap Foreign Labor. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/08/reject-cheap-foreign-labor-former-utah-rep-jason-chaffetz-condemns-sen-john-curtiss-amnesty-plan/
— Democrats Are Running to Destroy the Country, They Want to Blow Up the Constitution.
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/08/blackburn-democrats-running-to-destroy-the-country-they-want-to-blow-up-the-constitution/amp/
COLLEGE FIX
— Illegal alien students demand U. California system comply with court ruling, hire them for campus jobs.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/illegal-alien-students-demand-u-california-system-comply-with-court-ruling-hire-them-for-campus-jobs/
— The Education Department is being praised by some for recently ending its disparate impact race-quota regulations, with an editorial in The Washington Post arguing civil rights laws “exists to protect individuals from discrimination, not to guarantee equal statistical outcomes.” The department in late July removed disparate impact from Title VI regulations, meaning it will no longer treat neutral school policies or practices that produce unequal outcomes by race as violations of federal law. DD: To curry favor with minorities and with females, my critics/opponents want equal outcome. Only about 20% of those who take the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations pass the examinations on their first attempt like I did. Virtually all of those who passed the examinations on their first attempt with me were White males.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/in-washington-post-education-department-praised-for-ending-outcome-based-discrimination-rules/
FEDERALIST
— RINOs Are Tanking The Entire Republican Party, Not Just Trump. DD: RINOs fail/refuse to defend and advance the Republican Party platform.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/07/rinos-are-tanking-the-entire-republican-party-not-just-trump/
— The Average Man Rejected Socialism. White Affluent Liberals Chose It For Him. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/05/the-average-man-rejected-socialism-white-affluent-liberals-chose-it-for-him/
FOX BUSINESS
— America is the envy of the world.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403015347112
FOX NEWS
— Socialism appeals to young voters because the ideology allows them to blame external systems rather than taking personal responsibility. DD: According to my critics/opponents, if I had worked in the private sector instead of the public sector, I would not have gotten the promotions that I got. According to my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates, if I had worked for GAO instead of IRS, I would not have gotten promoted to GS-9 (currently $68,999/year) when I was 23 in 1972, to GS-11 (currently $83,482/year) when I was 24 in 1973, and to GS-12 (currently $100,059/year) when I was 25 in 1974. They stress that I did not earn an MBA until I was 27 in 1976 and that I did not pass the CPA examination on my first attempt until I was 30 in 1979. They used that to force me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars, a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 (currently $113,403/year) to GS-9 Step 10 (currently $89,703/year).
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/truth-socialisms-appeal-young-voters-115047273.html
— Gen Z spending faces scrutiny amid affordability concerns. DD: While I worked for IRS’s Collection Division for almost 9 years, I took and analyzed financial statements from many taxpayers who wanted payment agreements.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403080483112
— Vance slams blue states for failing to verify welfare eligibility.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403054464112
NATIONAL REVIEW
— Socialists Want the DNC to Sign Its Own Death Warrant.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/08/the-socialists-want-the-dnc-to-sign-its-own-death-warrant/
— A Foreseeable and Dire Munitions Crisis. DD: I worked for GAO on an audit of the Department of Defense FY 1990 ammunition budget request. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-90-23.pdf
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/08/a-foreseeable-and-dire-munitions-crisis/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CNN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/ar-AA28yb43
https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/08/politics/video/smerconish-will-the-democratic-party-become-the-party-of-democratic-socialism
AOL
— DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.aol.com/articles/why-sending-kids-college-become-100232000.html
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Republicans Must Stop Being Democrat-Lite. DD: My “Republican” critics/opponents are really Democrat Lite, if not anti-conservative, if not Democrat plants. Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative.
https://www.usnews.com/debate-club/is-the-gops-problem-in-its-strategies-or-its-policies/republicans-must-stop-being-democrat-lite
— Affordable New Cars With Lots of Horsepower in 2026. DD: Because I wanted to buy a new car before I graduated from Crete-Monee High School in 1966, In May of 1966, I bought a new Pontiac Tempest Sprint ( https://over-drive-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1965-12-CD-1966-Pontiac-Tempest-Sprint-Test-1-4.pdf ), a poor man’s GTO, instead of a GTO. But then my Park Forest Post Office salary enabled me to buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967 and then a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968.
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/cheap-cars-with-a-lot-of-horsepower
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Our Top Picks Overall: 2026 Ford Mustang — The Ford Mustang rolls into 2026 with a few styling tweaks and no other changes, which means this sports car is still a fantastic driving machine.)
NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Gains a Loyal Enabler at the Justice Dept. DD: My critics/opponents was loyal enablers. They destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify or praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of government, political, financial, and/or religious 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.nytimes.com/2026/08/08/us/politics/blanche-attorney-general-doj-trump-power.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/09/us/politics/gustavo-gordillo-democratic-socialists.html
— DD: Socialists win because they falsely hint/imply/argue/shout that if you do not get promotions, it is because of capitalism. Democrats win because they falsely hint/imply/argue/shout that if you do not get promotions, it is because of Republicans. All my coworkers who my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors promoted over me did little or nothing to get promoted. They got promoted because they were Democrats, minorities, females, and/or veterans. To get promoted, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management), three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and a job-related professional license (CPA). All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, b) had less work experience than I had, c) had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I had. Consequently, because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, my Democrat Post Office superiors refused to promote me beyond GS-4, my Democrat IRS superiors beyond GS-12, and my Democrat GAO superiors beyond GS-13.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/08/opinion/socialist-wave-democratic-party.html
— The Bagpiper’s Endless Quest for a Place to Practice. DD: Between 2005 and 2019, I raised $2,500 a year from Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders for “DuPage Republicans” to be the lead sponsor for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks. My critics/opponents ended that by stopping sponsorships. $1,000 each year of the money I raised was for bagpipers to walk in the parades. My critics/opponents do not like, if not despise, if not hate bagpipers. For them, they walked too slow.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/nyregion/bagpipes-new-york.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG GRAPHIC: How a Nation of Immigrants Traces Its Roots. Melting pot, tapestry, mosaic, kaleidoscope, salad bowl. Every cliché is true. DD: My critics/opponents have always used against me the fact that all my ancestors immigrated from what is now Germany during the 1840s and 1850s when slavery was legal. In their defense, I have always stressed that they always lived in northeast Illinois.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/07/01/us/america-identity-ancestry-census.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: After 1840, immigration from Western Europe began to rise quickly as political instability in Germany and the famine in Ireland drove people to leave. Asian immigrants, drawn by the discovery of gold in California in 1848, were recruited to work on farms and railroads. Later in the 19th century, pogroms across Eastern Europe and the aftermath of Italian reunification drove a surge of migration to the United States. From 1880 to 1920, 24 million immigrants arrived. They went almost everywhere except the South, where the land-owning elite already had cheap labor from the formerly enslaved and poor tenant farmers. Cities swelled. In 1910, according to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, three-quarters of the residents of Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and New York City were immigrants or children of immigrants.)
— FRONT PAGE: For More College Graduates, Moving Home Is a No-Brainer. DD: I lived with and helped support my mother and brother in Crete for 25 months after I graduated from college. My father died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21 in October of 1969. He was earning $50,000/year in today’s dollars. My mother had never attended high school, she had never worked outside the home, and my brother was having problems. I graduated from NIU in August of 1970 and I got a job working for the Firestone Store in Chicago Heights that month. I applied for and I got a financial hardship draft deferment. I lived with them in Crete and helped support them until September of 1972 when I bought a new townhome in University Park.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/business/college-graduates-living-at-home.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Moving Back Home After College? All Your Friends Are Doing It. More young adults are living with their parents. The development suggests that they face a weak job market, but also that fewer face stigma in returning to the roost.)
UNION LEADER
— Socialism is a sin and a death sentence for America.
https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/mary-jane-beauregard-socialism-is-a-sin-and-a-death-sentence-for-america/article_5dd566ea-6124-47bb-82b0-66b1a4e219d9.html
DALLAS EXPRESS
— Why Young Americans Are Turning To Socialism — And What JD Vance Says Must Change.
https://dallasexpress.com/national/why-young-americans-are-turning-to-socialism-and-what-jd-vance-says-must-change/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Vance stated that “A lot of Americans look at this rising tide of socialism and say, ‘How did we get here?’ We got here by 40 years of bipartisan leaders selling our industrial base to foreign countries, allowing low-wage immigrants to come in and compete with Americans for jobs, by destroying the foundation of the middle class. That’s how you got socialism.” He continued: “How you fix that problem is by doubling down on Donald Trump’s economic nationalism, not going back to the way we’ve done things for the past 40 years. It’s failed everywhere it’s tried, and it always leads to socialism. It always leads exactly where we are. The only way to get out of it is to double down on the economics of the past 18 months.” Vance also described Democratic candidates he called “limousine socialists” as offering redistribution rather than industry or good jobs, saying manufacturing remains the foundation of middle-class prosperity.)
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— ICE Is Weaponizing Social Media Against Its Critics. Agency says its surveillance program searches for threats to agents, but critics see free-speech infringements.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/ice-surveillance-internet-critics-e3b22f49
24/7 WALL STREET
— Only 30% of Americans Ever Receive an Inheritance. Those Who Do Get It at 58, Not 30. DD: My wife and I never anticipated receiving inheritances. Therefore, we lived our lives like that. We saved as much as we could for our retirement.
https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/06/24/only-30-of-americans-ever-receive-an-inheritance-those-who-do-get-it-at-58-not-30/
MONEY LION
— These 16 US Colleges Now Cost More Than $100K a Year. DD: University of Chicago is $103,821/year. Back in the good old days, in 1970, I was able to graduate debt-free with a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU and owning a 1969 Dodge Charger SE a) by working part-time for the Park Forest Post Office while classes were in session and full-time during the summers 1966-1969 and b) by living with my parents in Crete while I took classes at UIC 1966-1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969. In today’s dollars, my postal salary increased from $19.57/hour to $20.87/hour.
https://www.aol.com/articles/16-us-colleges-now-cost-153011000.html
COMPLETE COLORADO
— Democratic socialism is just an opening act for communism. Socialism is a devil’s brew of delusional utopianism, economic malpractice, hatred of capitalism, and unlimited government control of every aspect of our lives. It’s a philosophy based on envy and resentment dressed up as “social justice.”
https://completecolorado.com/2026/08/03/democratic-socialism-opening-act-communism/
COLORADO POLS
— Pence Slams Trump at Revamped Western Conservative Summit. DD: Ever-increasingly, the more conservative that you are, that is, the more conservative principles that you promote, that is, the more planks in the Republican Party platform that you promote, the faster that you are gotten rid of. I am no longer a) the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks, b) the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, c) an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, and d) the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster.
https://www.coloradopols.com/diary/227239/pence-slams-trump-at-western-conservative-summit
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “In our movement there are people who have been nibbling away at the very principles that have made America strong and prosperous and free and have defined a conservative agenda,” said former Vice President Mike Pence, CCU’s newest 2026 faculty member, who refused President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. “In fact, in many respects in recent years we’ve seen our movement toss about at a tempest of populism, protectionism, and on occasion even isolationism. On the world stage, we saw the administration’s initial stops and starts when it comes to Ukraine after that brutal and unprovoked invasion by Russia four years ago. I have held since that moment that America, as the leader of the free world, should continue to marshal the West to give the brave Ukrainian people what they need to repel and defeat that Russian invasion. “At home, we’ve seen the rise of protectionist policies,” continued Pence. “The so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs of a year ago represented the largest tax increase in American history, imposed on friend and foe alike. They impacted families, literally at the grocery store and at the counter. We’ve also witnessed populist policies that have taken on the free market tradition of our movement, nationalizing American businesses. The headlines this morning are that a dozen more businesses have received direct equity investments by the federal government. And we’ve seen price controls on everything from consumer credit to medicines. And perhaps most troubling to traditional conservatives like me is there’s been a marked departure, a marginalizing of our commitment to the sanctity of human life.”)
ALTOONA MIRROR
— Reunions a time to reflect, reconnect. DD: Sadly, it looks like there will not be a 60th reunion for my Crete-Monee High School Class of 1966. Sadly, my interaction with my classmates decreased dramatically during my junior and senior years because I worked 28 hours a week during the school years and 40 hours a week during the summer in between washing dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights.
https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2026/08/reunions-a-time-to-reflect-reconnect/
POST AND COURIER
— Education pathways to prosperity. DD: When you were young, what did you do to advance your career? I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970; job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997; job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997; and a job-related professional license in 1981.
https://www.postandcourier.com/moultrie-news/news/education-pathways-to-prosperity/article_8678cc81-0b75-40e0-a27c-9d7c1d27ff10.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: August marks back-to-school season. It’s a season filled with anticipation for new coursework and academic progress, but also a time for students and families to reflect on the career pathways that education can help make possible. It’s understandable that many young people are questioning the value of higher education. National student loan debt now exceeds $1.87 trillion, with borrowers in South Carolina carrying an average balance of about $34,000 per learner, slightly below the national average of roughly $37,000 to $39,000. Meanwhile, unemployment among South Carolinians ages 16 to 24 is approximately 9.2 percent, twice the state’s overall unemployment rate of 4.6 percent. While concerns about the value of college are very real, the data indicate that post-secondary education still provides the best pathways to increased lifetime income. In South Carolina, community college graduates will earn $220,000 to $335,000 more over their lifetime than those with just a high school diploma. Four-year graduates (including transfer students) will earn nearly $800,000 more over their lifetime. However, the biggest barriers to obtaining a college degree are cost, time to completion, accessibility and flexibility to accommodate competing life priorities. Certificates, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees. Post-secondary education provides multiple pathways to economic success through professional certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The key is to choose the pathways that offer the best job security and ROI. Professional certificates are the fastest and least expensive way to earn a credential that validates a desired skillset. Certificates can serve as a stackable on-ramp toward a degree, provide timely skills, or help you qualify for upward mobility.)
TRIB LIVE
— Potential of 3-year bachelor’s degrees spark debate of affordability, quality. DD: Immediately after I completed 16 graduate evening business courses one course at a time 1972-1976 and earned an MBA from Loyola, Loyola cut its requirement for an MBA to 12 courses if you had a bachelor’s degree in business which I did. My not earning an MBA sooner than I did harmed my IRS career.
https://community.triblive.com/news/4110996
CENTER FOR RETIREMENT RESEARCH
— Let’s Elect Candidates Who Will Make the Wealthy Pay Taxes. DD: The less income you have, the less income tax that you pay.
https://crr.bc.edu/lets-elect-candidates-who-will-make-the-wealthy-pay-taxes/
COMMON DREAMS
— Who Is ‘Authentically’ Working Class? DD: My critics/opponents look down on if not despise the working class. I was a member of the working class 1962-1997. 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. I delivering mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997.
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/who-is-the-working-class
LAW
— DD: Democrats and RINOs will always use Affirmative Action, DEI, and wokeness/wokeism to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.law.com/article/almID/53G6-WMG1-JBM3-R52C-00000-00/
FEDERAL RETIREMENT
— DD: My critics/opponents have always been furious that I qualified myself for both a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension, currently $68,640/year, and Social Security, currently $18,712/year. I paid into Social Security for 10 years and into CSRS for almost 30 years including into both at the same time for almost 3 years. While I worked part-time for the Post Office for almost 3 years, I paid into both Social Security and CSRS and got full-time CSRS credit even though I worked only part-time. They are beyond furious that because of a Bill that Biden signed, my Social Security increased from about $3,000/year to about $6,000/year and then to $18,712/year.
https://federalretirement.net/social-security/csrs-social-security/
COLLEGE NEWS
— Best U.S. Companies for Entry-Level Jobseekers. DD: After you earned your bachelor’s degree, what was your entry-level job? When I graduated from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in management in 1970, I accepted the only job offer that I got. It was to be the Retail Sales Manager for the Firestone Store in the Chicago Heights. Potential employers saw me as being draft bait. They did not believe that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother would be approved. Because advancement working for Firestone looked bleak, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile in 1971, but Oldsmobile withdrew that offer saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. My Firestone Store boss rudely fired me because I accepted that offer. Because I had to have a job, I accepted a job offer that I got from IRS. I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination while I was a NIU student.
https://www.collegenews.com/which-are-the-best-us-companies-for-entry-level-jobseekers/
July 13, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Medical examiner reveals preliminary findings in Sen. Lindsey Graham’s cause of death.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/lindsey-graham-cause-death-us-senator-dies-71-brief-sudden-illness-office-says-heres-what-know/19494199/
— Durbin remembers Sen. Lindsey Graham.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-us-senator-dick-durbin-remembers-south-carolina-sen-lindsey-graham-fierce-republican-key-bipartisan-ally/19493797/
CBS2
— Illinois U.S. senators pay tribute late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/illinois-u-s-senators-pay-tribute-late-sen-lindsey-graham/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Should the fear of soccer-based violence qualify you for asylum in the US? The World Cup has been joyous but the game’s fans can be anything but beautiful.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/13/bojan-andric-serbia-red-devils-asylum-immigration-immigration-reform/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: DD: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote Pritzker.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/07/09/pritzker-for-president-handicapping-the-illinois-governors-political-future
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/07/07/chicago-man-deported-in-error-by-ice-struggling-to-adjust-since-the-feds-returned-him-to-the-u-s
DAILY HERALD
— David Steiner is holding Americans’ ballots hostage.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260713/columns/david-steiner-is-holding-americans-ballots-hostage/
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Lindsey Graham’s journey from a pool hall to the heights of political power.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/ap-lindseys-grahams-journey-from-a-pool-hall-to-the-heights-of-political-power/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/13/reading-between-the-ad-lines-00994276
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/13/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-768/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Speaker Welch Quiet on Double-Dipping of State Rep. He Asked to Resign
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/02/speaker-welch-quiet-on-double-dipping-of-state-rep-he-asked-to-resign/
— Federal Chicago Violence Reduction Program Snags 17, 24 Children Bought Home
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/02/federal-chicago-violence-reduction-program-snags-179-24-children-bought-home/
— The Letter from Governor Pritzker in America’s Time Capsule To Be Opened 250 Years from Could Not Be Found by Governor’s Staff
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/03/the-letter-from-governor-pritzker-in-americas-time-capsule-to-be-opened-250-years-from-could-not-be-found-by-governors-staff/
— Bob Anderson Documents That Thornton Township Supervisor (and State Rep.) Does Not Live in His Township, As Required by Law
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/03/bob-anderson-documents-that-thornton-township-supervisor-and-state-rep-does-not-live-in-his-township-as-required-by-law/
— County Home Rule, That Is, “May We Raise Your Taxes WITHOUT Your Referendum Approval?” Surfaces on County Board Committee Agenda
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/03/county-home-rule-that-is-may-we-raise-your-taxes-with-your-referendum-approve-surfaces-on-county-board-committee-agenda/
— WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio) Includes Nippersink Creek in Its List of Creeks to Paddle
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/04/wbez-chicago-public-radio-includes-nippersink-creek-in-its-list-of/
— Sunday Rodeo Prompts Request for Oversight & Enforcement of County Ordinances and State Law
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/04/sunday-rodeo-prompts-request-for-oversight-enforcement-of-county-ordinances-and-state-law/
— Young People Moving Out of Illinois Faster Than from Any Other State
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/05/young-people-moving-out-of-illinois-faster-than-from-any-other-state/
— Comparing Budgets of JB Pritzker and Ron DeSantis
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/05/comparing-budgets-of-jb-pritzker-and-ron-desantis/
— Repealed Special State Funds
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/06/repealed-special-state-funds/
— To Save Money County Now Posting Assessment Notices on Internet Instead of Mailing Notices – Richmond Township First
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/07/to-save-money-county-now-posting-assessment-notices-on-internet-instead-of-mailing-notices-richmond-township-first/
— Prairie Grove Grade School District Put Deeply in Debt Without Voter Approval
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com
— Law Makes Governor’s Budgeting Less Transparent
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/07/law-makes-governors-budgeting-less-transparent/
— How School Boards Can Put Taxpayers in Deep Debt Without a Referendum
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/07/the-d46-leaks-leaked-emails-expose-how-taxpayer-hero-engineered-8-million-backdoor-debt-loophole/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democratic socialism offers communism with better branding. Rhetoric may sound softer, but the hostility to capitalism and private property remains.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/12/democratic-socialism-offers-communism-better-branding/
— Islam has no place in America’s public life. Our nation was founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/12/islam-no-place-americas-public-life/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— How hostile nations use US legal residency to spy. DD: Ever-increasingly, immigrants talk and/or act like they remain loyal to their motherland, if not like they came to America to turn America into their motherland, if not like they are paid agents of their motherland.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3390907/russia-china-cuba-iran-use-us-legal-residency-espionage/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The discussion about U.S. border security focuses on mass migration and foreigners who circumvent our legal immigration system, but those aren’t the only valid concerns. What are the espionage risks to U.S. national security posed by legal immigration? First, it must be understood that the vetting scheme employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement is broadly inadequate from a counterintelligence viewpoint. ICE looks more for criminals and immigration fraudsters than foreign spies. The espionage threat from legal immigrants can be broken into two categories. First, there are spies coming to America on a secret espionage mission, which they don’t declare to ICE. Second are immigrants who, after their arrival in the United States, decide to commit espionage, usually on behalf of their homeland. Both groups are difficult for our counterintelligence to detect — the latter is especially so.)
— Leftward, ho! How socialists would shape a new Democratic majority.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/4641323/how-socialists-would-shape-democratic-majority/
NEW YORK POST
— Never mind socialism — the rebellious kids are all conservative and love America.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/12/opinion/loving-america-is-the-most-rebellious-thing-kids-can-do/
— Lindsey Graham’s sudden death could hamstring Trump’s Senate agenda — after rogues and Mitch McConnell cut margin.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/12/us-news/lindsey-grahams-sudden-death-could-hamstring-trumps-senate-agenda/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Open Borders Are a Death Sentence to Western Nations. Governments have refused to respect the wishes of their citizens.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/07/open-borders-are-a-death-sentence-to-western-nations/
— What’s really in the rebooted Democratic Socialist platform. Sheltered in the Democrat party’s big tent, the DSA members are leaning even further left than most people realize. DD: Socialism destroys personal responsibility.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/what-s-really-in-the-rebooted-democratic-socialist-platform/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Medicare for all, free college education for all, public ownership of housing, establish permanent rent control, 32-hour work week, mandatory union membership, tax the rich, mandatory Green New Deal regulations, rescinding economic sanctions levied on Iran, Russia, and Cuba, ending legal restrictions on marriage, legalizing polygamy, expanding paid family leave, free universal childcare, public ownership of major transportation industries, massive public investment in green energy projects, end all economic aid and weapon sales to Israel, close all overseas American military bases, demilitarize and open the United States borders, abolish the Border Patrol agency, end deportation and detention of criminal aliens, provide access to jobs, social services, and health care to all immigrants regardless of immigration status, extend voting rights to all convicted felons and all non-citizens, statehood for Washington, D.C., replace the 2-party political system with a representative multi-party government and expand the House of Representatives.)
— Is America traveling down the road to another Holocaust? Those paying attention have noticed eerie similarities between Germany in the 1930s and America today. DD: Democrat leaders are ever-increasingly antisemitic. My Democrat superiors in the federal government had my many Jewish superiors and supervisors take many big adverse actions against me.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/is-america-traveling-down-the-road-to-another-holocaust/
BLAZE
— Where is the outrage over our stolen birthright?
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/where-is-the-outrage-over-our-stolen-birthright
CITY JOURNAL
— The Scourge of Teen Takeovers. Why youths are rampaging in cities across America—and how to stop it. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers? What did you do when you were a teen? 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. I delivering mail 1966-1969.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/teen-takeovers-streets-us-cities-looting
HOUSE REPUBLICANS
— House Republicans Stand for Homeland Security while Democrats Defend Violent Illegals. DD: Ever-increasingly, immigrants talk and/or act like they remain loyal to their motherland, if not like they came to America to turn America into their motherland, if not like they are paid agents of their motherland.
https://www.gop.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3157
TOWNHALL
— Absent 250th ‘Celebrities’ Did Not “Punish” Trump—They Dishonored Our History.
https://townhall.com/columnists/douglasmackinnon/2026/07/06/absent-250th-celebrities-did-not-punish-trump-they-dishonored-our-history-n2678834
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
AOL
— DD: What did you do to achieve the American Dream? I worked my way through college and earned 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.aol.com/articles/middle-class-american-dream-crumbling-143016320.html
MSN
— 1960s. DD: When were you born? I was born in 1948. What did your parents and teachers promote? My parents and teachers promoted personal responsibility. During the 1960s, 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. I delivering mail 1966-1969. That enabled me to buy a 1958 Chevrolet BelAir in 1964, a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966, a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 1967, and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968. I worked my way through college and I graduated debt-free from NIU in 1970 owning that Charger.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/15-life-lessons-from-1960s-childhoods/ss-AA27r3LV
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Children growing up in the 1960s often developed independence, resilience, and practical skills through everyday experiences. Strong family bonds, close-knit neighborhoods, and shared responsibilities shaped their values, while social movements and cultural shifts encouraged adaptability, civic engagement, and environmental awareness. Outdoor play, slower-paced living, and simple home activities fostered creativity, connection, and appreciation for life’s basic pleasures.
NEW YORK BOOKS
— DD: My critics/opponents are woke and/or want to curry favor with those who are woke. They destroy those like me who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, heterosexual, married, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nybooks.com/online/2026/07/12/the-freedom-to-be-woke/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Socialists Lead Democrats Into the Tea-Party Trap. Extremist candidates make it harder for a party to win and make a victory perilous for the country.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/socialists-lead-democrats-into-the-tea-party-trap-c991b290
— A Socialist Welfare Takeover. The young American voter and 1960s hippy voters cling to the myth that under the socialists, they are better off. DD: Socialism destroys personal responsibility.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/a-socialist-welfare-takeover-514ed056
— A Student Loan Subsidy for Government. Forgiveness favoritism for public and nonprofit workers has cost taxpayers some $91 billion.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/a-student-loan-subsidy-for-government-73eea243
FORBES
— Codes of ethics. DD: What codes of ethics are you under? I am under nine codes of ethics. I have been a CPA since I was 30 in 1979, a Certified Internal Auditor since I was 32, a licensed CPA (inactive since 2000) since I was 32, a Certified Fraud Examiner since I was 41, a Certified Government Financial Manager since I was 45, a Certified Financial Services Auditor since I was 47, a Forensic Accountant since I was 48, a FINRA arbitrator since I was 49, and an American Association of Political Consultants member since I was 50. My critics/opponents have always despised/hated codes of ethics. They destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who still have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and who have had their operatives and their dupes take the biggest adverse actions against me lately.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2021/12/29/codes-of-conduct-and-ethics-can-help-guard-against-and-address-crisis-situations/
HARTFORD BUSINESS
— The American Dream is still alive. DD: To what do you attribute your success in achieving the American Dream? I attribute my success to my parents and to my teachers who promoted personal responsibility and conservative principles. My critics/opponents attribute my success to my benefitting tremendously from tremendous discrimination against those who do not share my demographics.
https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/opinion-at-250-the-american-dream-is-still-alive/
NEW UNIVERSITY
— The American Dream in 2026. DD: To what do you attribute your success in achieving the American Dream? I attribute my success to my parents and to my teachers who promoted personal responsibility and conservative principles. My critics/opponents attribute my success to my benefitting tremendously from tremendous discrimination against those who do not share my demographics.
https://newuniversity.org/2026/07/12/the-american-dream-in-2026/
CONVERSATION
— How ancient Rome dealt with the Barbarians at the gate. DD: Barbarians destroyed Rome. Barbarians are at America’s gate. How soon will they destroy America? Ever-increasingly, immigrants talk and/or act like they remain loyal to their motherland, if not like they came to America to turn America into their motherland, if not like they are paid agents of their motherland.
https://theconversation.com/immigration-how-ancient-rome-dealt-with-the-barbarians-at-the-gate-109933
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Roman border control rarely made use of massive walls, but depended on natural barriers in the landscape. This was particularly true on the northern border, which heavily relied on the Rhine and Danube rivers. Rome’s borders were gradual transitions more than hard and fast lines. When migrating tribes asked to be admitted to the empire, the Romans tended to follow a fairly standard policy. Tribes were broken up into smaller groups and sent to underpopulated regions. They were forced to surrender their weapons, renounce their loyalty to their tribal leaders, and commit a certain number of fighting men to the Roman legions. These policies had served the empire well for centuries. By diluting tribal loyalty and disarming the newcomers, the Romans strengthened their economy, increased tax revenue, and swelled the ranks of the army.)
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
— Professional certifications and licenses. DD: My critics/opponents, and especially those who do not have a professional certification or license, despise/hate those like me who have professional certifications and licenses. I have been a CPA since I was 30 in 1979, a Certified Internal Auditor since I was 32, a licensed CPA (inactive since 2000) since I was 32, a Certified Fraud Examiner since I was 41, a Certified Government Financial Manager since I was 45, a Certified Financial Services Auditor since I was 47, a Forensic Accountant since I was 48, a FINRA arbitrator since I was 49, and an American Association of Political Consultants member since I was 50.
https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2019/article/professional-certifications-and-occupational-licenses.htm
GOVERNING
— DD: Barbarians destroyed Rome. Barbarians are at America’s gate. How soon will they destroy America? Ever-increasingly, immigrants talk and/or act like they remain loyal to their motherland, if not like they came to America to turn America into their motherland, if not like they are paid agents of their motherland.
https://www.governing.com/context/the-stubborn-catch-22-of-the-u-s-immigration-puzzle
PEW RESEARCH
— U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Reached a Record 14 Million in 2023. Preliminary data indicates continued growth into 2024 and a decrease in 2025. DD: Barbarians destroyed Rome. Barbarians are at America’s gate. How soon will they destroy America? Ever-increasingly, immigrants talk and/or act like they remain loyal to their motherland, if not like they came to America to turn America into their motherland, if not like they are paid agents of their motherland.
https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/08/21/u-s-unauthorized-immigrant-population-reached-a-record-14-million-in-2023/
ADVOCATE
— DD: LGBTQ advocates demonize, denigrate, and condemn Lindsey Graham. My critics/opponents are furious that I got married when I was 29 in 1978 and that I have stayed married.
https://www.advocate.com/obituaries/lindsey-graham-dead
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Born July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina, Graham grew up in the business his parents operated, which included a restaurant, bar, and pool hall. Both parents died while Graham was in his early 20s, and he helped care for his younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone. Graham earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. He joined the Air Force as a military lawyer and continued to serve in the South Carolina Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, eventually retiring as a colonel. Graham was elected to the House in 1994 and took office in January 1995. He gained national attention as one of the House managers who presented the impeachment case against President Bill Clinton in the Senate. He won election to the Senate in 2002, succeeding Strom Thurmond, and took office in January 2003. He served for more than 23 years. For much of his early Senate career, Graham was closely associated with Arizona Sen. John McCain. The two promoted an interventionist foreign policy and occasionally joined bipartisan negotiations, most notably the 2013 effort to overhaul the country’s immigration system. The measure passed the Senate but did not receive a vote in the House. Graham mounted a brief campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. During the primary, he called Trump a “kook” and a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” Trump retaliated by reading Graham’s personal cellphone number aloud during a campaign event. After Trump won the presidency, Graham underwent one of Washington’s most conspicuous political transformations. He became a golfing companion, an informal adviser, and a vigorous defender of the president. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021, Graham helped advance Trump’s judicial nominees, including Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court. He defended Trump during both impeachment trials. Graham briefly appeared to break with Trump after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. “Count me out. Enough is enough,” Graham said on the Senate floor. The separation did not last. Graham returned to Trump’s side and remained one of his most visible congressional allies through Trump’s second administration.)
FROIM FOREIGN SOURCES
GUARDIAN
— The barbarians are at the gate but Europe’s leaders are too busy infighting to notice. DD: Barbarians destroyed Rome. Barbarians are at America’s gate. How soon will they destroy America? Ever-increasingly, immigrants talk and/or act like they remain loyal to their motherland, if not like they came to America to turn America into their motherland, if not like they are paid agents of their motherland.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/16/trump-putin-xi-strongmen-are-at-the-gate-but-europes-leaders-are-too-busy-infighting-to-notice
— Trump is turning the organs of the state against his personal enemies. DD: GAO audits IRS. After I earned an MBA when I was 27 in 1976, after I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, after I almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting, and after I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31. To waste my GAO career and to get rid of me, my Democrat GAO superiors outrageously/disgustingly/falsely/unethically hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the only reason why I transferred and the only reason why I asked to be assigned to audits of IRS was that I wanted to get power to punish my IRS superiors who had a) disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974, b) disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and c) failed/refused to promote me beyond GS-12. They used that to keep me off audits of IRS until I was 37 and then again after I turned 40 and for the rest of me GAO career. Of course, I never asked to be assigned to audits that involved my IRS superiors who had taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me. I stressed that my knowledge of IRS would help me contribute more to GAO’s audits of IRS. I stressed that I was under seven codes of ethics because I had been CPA since I was 30, a Certified Internal Auditor since I was 32, a licensed CPA since I was 32, a Certified Fraud Examiner since I was 41, a Certified Government Financial Manager since I was 45, a Certified Financial Services Auditor since I was 47, and a Forensic Accountant since I was 48. My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors knew full-well that my punishing anyone would violate those codes of conduct.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/06/trump-e-jean-carroll-justice-department
— DD: What do your critics/opponents want you to do? I should write about my critics/opponents who are the following who have made it the most clear that they want me a) to stop sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and b) to resign as a Republican Precinct Committeeman: past and present a) leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) Republican political consultants, fundraisers, major doners, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, e) conservative leaders, and f) religious leaders. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me. I would focus on those who reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks, and/or other planks in the Republican Party platform. I would focus on those who destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) who refuse to cover up their wrong doing, and/or f) who refuse to give them money. I should focus on those who blame me and blame my newsletters the most for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/26/tucker-carlson-marjorie-taylor-greene-republican-split
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/02/tucker-carlson-new-political-party-idea-interview
July 10, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly diminish Second Amendment rights.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/us-court-appeals-7th-circuit-upholds-illinois-assault-weapons-ban-supreme-takes-chicago-area-connecticut-bans/19476860/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly diminish Second Amendment rights.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/09/illinois-assault-weapons-ban-upheld/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly diminish Second Amendment rights.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/us-supreme-court/2026/07/09/assault-weapon-illinois-cook-county-supreme-court
DAILY HERALD & WQAD
— Republicans call for more transparency, accountability after ‘disgraceful week’ for House Democrats.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260709/news/republicans-call-for-more-transparency-accountability-after-disgraceful-week-for-house-democrats/
https://www.wqad.com/article/news/politics/illinois-politics/illinois-republicans-call-more-transparency-accountability-disgraceful-week-house-democrats-capitol-news/526-1f41d928-3b70-44c6-ae3a-bab634663775
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly diminish Second Amendment rights.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-court-upholds-illinois-assault-weapons-ban-20260709/
MLWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
— DOJ threatens to prosecute Wisconsin officials if noncitizens vote. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/09/doj-threatens-to-prosecute-wisconsin-officials-if-noncitizens-vote/90868441007/
WREX
— Illinois ‘reviewing’ DOJ’s threat to prosecute state election officials over noncitizen voting. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealthy parents. Noncitizens work for less money and they are easier to exploit.
https://www.wrex.com/news/illinois-news/illinois-reviewing-doj-s-threat-to-prosecute-state-election-officials-over-noncitizen-voting/article_6b2a04c7-de2f-4fbf-9821-9d73fb028ed7.html
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump says he’ll ask Supreme Court to rehear birthright citizenship case.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/trump-says-hell-ask-supreme-court-to-rehear-birthright-citizenship-case/
— Illinois Republicans urge immediate resignation of Democrat federally indicted. DD: My Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25 in 1974 and treated that as being more than enough reason for me to resign. (SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-180010.11-0 NOTE: Joliet and the Loop are not “nearby.”) My Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education expenses when I was 29 in 1978 and treated that as being more than enough reason for me to resign. My Democrat GAO superiors erroneously believed that their forcing me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars would stop me from transferring from IRS when I was 31 in 1980.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/illinois-news/carol-ammons-resignation-demanded/
NPR ILLINOIS
— The ‘grandparent economy’ quietly keeping Americans afloat. DD: How much financial help are/did your parents getting/get from their parents? On my mother’s side, parents did not get any. On my father’s side, because my father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars, he got some help from his parents.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-07-09/the-grandparent-economy-quietly-keeping-americans-afloat
ADVANTAGE NEWS
— Census shows Illinois under-20 population declining. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly drive everyone out of Illinois, including those who have demographics that vote for Democrats.
https://www.advantagenews.com/news/local/census-shows-illinois-under-20-population-declining/article_69cc872c-65fd-4127-b3f4-b9a10af94aa4.html
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/09/ice-arrests-are-on-the-rise-in-chicago-heres-what-immigrants-need-to-know/
ILLINOIS HUMAN RESOURCES
— Building Professional Credibility. DD: Should I start writing about those who have attacked my credibility the most?
https://humanresources.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Growth-Advancement_Individual_Building-Professional-Credibility.pdf
CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— DD: Democrats despise/hate farms, farming, and farmers. My great grandparents on my father’s side were farmers. My grandparents on my mother’s side were farmers. During the 1950s, I spent lots of time at their farm in Grant Park along the Indiana border.
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/august-2026/meet-your-new-neighbor-darren-bailey/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/09/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-552/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOHN KASS
— Vallas: Progressive Policies Have Left Illinois the Least Equitable State in the Country.
https://johnkassnews.com/progressive-policies-have-left-illinois-the-least-equitable-state-in-the-country/
CHICAGO CONTRARIAN
— Chicago’s Streets Awash with Crime, Brandon Johnson Launches Meaningless Gun Violence Office.
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/chicago-streets-crime-brandon-johnson-gun-violence-office
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats silent on illegals’ murder victims. Left apparently has no time for ‘angels.’
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/9/democrats-silent-illegals-murder-victims/
NEW YORK POST
— Less than half of Americans think capitalism is working as patriotism, support for democracy tanks. DD: In today’s dollars, when I was 49 in 1997, my salary was only $154,682/year working in the Democrat public sector. My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had worked in the private sector, I never would have earned that much. In my defense, I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. If I had been a Democrat, my salary would have been $197,200/year in today’s dollars.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/09/us-news/under-half-of-americans-think-capitalism-works-well-survey-shows/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Texas hospital turns to ‘birth tourism.’
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/strained-by-illegals-free-health-care-texas-hospital-may-have-turned-to-birth-tourism-to-make-up-for-the-losses/
BREITBART
— Seventh Circuit Upholds Illinois ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban.
https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2026/07/09/seventh-circuit-upholds-illinois-assault-weapons-ban/
— Federal Appeals Court Ends Texas In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/07/09/federal-appeals-court-ends-texas-in-state-tuition-for-illegal-aliens/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Europe Is Being Destroyed From Within.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/09/europe-good-old-days-destroyed/
— Mamdani Erases Little Italy … and (Of Course) the Jews.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/09/mamdani-erases-little-italy-jews/
— California Was Once the American Dream. Now It’s Ranked the 3rd Worst State to Move To.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/09/california-ranked-3rd-worst-state/
— The Ungrateful Urban Class Turning Into the New Democratic Socialist Party.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/09/urban-class-democrat-socialist/
— Supreme Court Defies Woke Commandments on Sex.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/09/supreme-court-woke-commandments/
— Ilhan Omar Aims at Repealing Alien Enemies Act, Blocking Military Force Against Designated Terrorist Organizations.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/09/ilhan-omar-alien-enemies-act/
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATIONJ REFORM
— ‘No Human Is Illegal’ Sounds Noble—Until You Examine What It Really Means. DD: Those who hate America hate the concepts of countries, borders, and laws.
https://www.fairus.org/opinion/no-human-illegal-sounds-noble-until-you-examine-what-it-really-means
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— DEI Rebranding On College Campuses.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/07/dei-rebranding-on-college-campuses-new-criticalrace-org-report-exposes-name-change-game/amp/
— NY Italian Community Furious After Mamdani Omits Little Italy on NYC Immigrant Neighborhood Map.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/07/italians-furious-after-mamdani-omits-little-italy-on-nyc-immigrant-neighborhood-map/
PJ MEDIA
— Sodom and Gomorrica: Sanctuary Cities, Redux.
https://pjmedia.com/benbartee/2026/07/09/sodom-and-gomorrica-sanctuary-cities-redux-n4954824
— It Looks Like the Democrats Have Been Sending Their Best All Along.
https://pjmedia.com/tim-o-brien/2026/07/09/it-looks-like-the-democrats-have-been-sending-their-best-all-along-n4954844
PATRIOT POST
— Allen West: It is a sad reality that in the Land of Lincoln, the Law of the Land, our Constitution, is rendered irrelevant.
https://patriotpost.us/opinion/128992-the-law-of-the-land-in-the-land-of-lincoln-2026-07-09
TOWNHALL
— The Return of Socialism and the GOP’s Golden Opportunity.
https://townhall.com/columnists/joshhammer/2026/07/10/the-return-of-socialism-and-the-gops-golden-opportunity-n2679152
— Trump Administration Threatens Oregon Leaders With Criminal Prosecution for Letting Illegals Vote.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2026/07/09/trump-administration-threatens-oregon-leaders-with-criminal-prosecution-for-letting-illegals-vote-n2679117
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
FOX DC
— Republicans sharpen “socialism” attacks as Democrats shift left. DD: In today’s dollars, when I was 49 in 1997, my salary was only $154,682/year working in the Democrat public sector. My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had worked in the private sector, I never would have earned that much. In my defense, I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. If I had been a Democrat, my salary would have been $197,200/year in today’s dollars.
https://www.fox5dc.com/video/fmc-bf0jtluxeh2394uv
NEWSWEEK
— Turning Point USA Blamed for Election Losses. DD: Ever-increasingly, since 2000, my critics/opponents have blamed me and blamed my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for defeats suffered by Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct. Should I start writing about my critics/opponents? I would focus on those who continue to have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me lately.
https://www.newsweek.com/turning-point-usa-blamed-for-election-losses-11803898
AOL
— More Than 60% of Restaurant Workers Are Skipping Meals While They Feed the Rest of Us. DD: I was a restaurant worker 1964-1966.
https://www.aol.com/articles/more-60-restaurant-workers-skipping-130100000.html
MSN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/11-reasons-why-more-women-are-walking-away-from-men-and-marriage/ss-AA1YvbfS?ocid=ob-fb-nlbe-SBS-NLBE-K3
USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE: Americans are abandoning the workforce. DD: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more that you need not apply: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, heterosexual, married, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2026/07/09/why-americans-leave-workforce/90826379007/
NEWS & OBSERVER
— Teen takeover drew 8,000 young people, most from outside Raleigh. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316414416.html
TAMPA FREE PRESS
— Gunfire Cuts Through Massive Pensacola Teen Takeover, Leaving One Dead And Six Injured. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.aol.com/articles/gunfire-cuts-massive-florida-teen-114911000.html
— Why Americans Are Trading Capitalism For Socialism. DD: In today’s dollars, when I was 49 in 1997, my salary was only $154,682/year working in the Democrat public sector. My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had worked in the private sector, I never would have earned that much. In my defense, I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. If I had been a Democrat, my salary would have been $197,200/year in today’s dollars.
https://www.aol.com/news/victor-davis-hanson-explains-why-161644567.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Iran Planned New Trump Assassination Attempt, Israel Warns U.S.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/iran-planned-new-trump-assassination-attempt-israel-warns-u-s-93f74c90
— Iran Hatched Fresh Plot to Kill Trump, Israel Told U.S.
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-hatched-fresh-plot-to-kill-trump-israel-told-u-s-1511d9d2
THE STREET
— America’s car affordability crisis is getting worse. DD: Back in the good old days, back when I was 17 in May of 1966, I had earned enough money working for the minimum wage washing dishes for 28 hours a week for 15 months and for 40 hours a week for 3 months to buy new Pontiac Tempest Sprint, a poor man’s GTO. SEE: https://over-drive-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1965-12-CD-1966-Pontiac-Tempest-Sprint-Test-1-4.pdf
https://www.thestreet.com/automotive/america-car-affordability-crisis-worse
INVESTOPIDIA
— Inflation Has Eroded Wages For the College Class of 2026. DD: My critics/opponents were, are, and will always be furious a) that I got COLAs when I was a federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and b) that I have gotten COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997.
https://www.aol.com/finance/inflation-eroded-wages-college-class-110000295.html
MONEY LION
— Why a $100K Salary Can Still Have You Living Paycheck to Paycheck. DD: Back in the good old days when I started earning $100,000/year in today’s dollars when I was 25 in 1974, I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building so I could walk to/from my IRS job in the Loop and graduate evening business classes at Loyola. I continued to own my townhome in University Park that I had bought new in 1972 because I would have had to suffer a big loss to sell it. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. My daily driver was a 1962 Chevrolet BelAir.
https://www.moneylion.com/trending/money/why-six-figure-salary-can-still-have-you-living-paycheck-to-paycheck
RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— More than a quarter of American voters now believe socialism is better than capitalism, and this preference is strongest among Democrats. DD: In today’s dollars, when I was 49 in 1997, my salary was only $154,682/year working in the Democrat public sector. My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had worked in the private sector, I never would have earned that much. In my defense, I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. If I had been a Democrat, my salary would have been $197,200/year in today’s dollars.
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration_second_term/support_for_socialism_still_growing
NOTUS
— Senate Candidates Have Been Replaced Before. Here’s How It Went. DD: In 2004, I reported on Ryan’s primary election win, his withdrawal, his replacement selection process, Keyes’ campaign, and Keyes’ defeat.
https://www.notus.org/analysis/graham-platner-senate-replacement-maine
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Perhaps the most cataclysmic mid-campaign change came in 2004. Illinois Democrats nominated an ambitious young state senator, Barack Obama, as their nominee. Republicans settled on Jack Ryan, a business executive with a deep background in charity. The public release of family custody records during divorce proceedings forced Ryan to bow out of the race. Illinois Republicans spent six weeks flailing in their bid to find a prominent politician to take the nomination, leading to a failed courtship with the famed Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka. Eventually they gave the nomination to Alan Keyes, a former Reagan administration official who became a prominent Black Republican commentator — even though he lived in Maryland. Obama won the election by more than 40 percentage points, and would be elected president four years later.)
AMERICAN PROSPECT
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. DD: In today’s dollars, when I was 49 in 1997, my salary was only $154,682/year working in the Democrat public sector. My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had worked in the private sector, I never would have earned that much. In my defense, I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. If I had been a Democrat, my salary would have been $197,200/year in today’s dollars.
https://prospect.org/2026/07/09/un-mysterious-case-of-the-socialist-surge/
July 7, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS2
— Violence interrupter says large gathering on West Side got “out of hand” before mass shooting.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/mass-shooting-west-garfield-park/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/07/opinion-pride-parade-judges-lgbtq-community/
— DD: To get even more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans caused, are causing, and will forever cause all the problems that Blacks have. I should write about the successes and failures that my Democrat superiors in the federal government had doing that.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/06/bronzeville-exhibit-emmett-tills-legacy/
DAILY HERALD
— Age change in road tests is not enough.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260706/letters-to-the-editor/age-change-in-road-tests-is-not-enough/
MUDDY RIVER NEWS
— ‘Underdog’ Tracy says he’s ‘answering a call of duty’ by running for Durbin’s seat.
https://muddyrivernews.com/politics/underdog-tracy-says-hes-answering-a-call-of-duty-by-running-for-durbins-seat/20260707061334/
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-07-06/militant-lgbtq-rights-group-the-lavender-panthers-was-founded-on-this-day-in-1973
— DD: Democrat leaders used, are using, and will forever use slavery against Republicans.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-07-07/heirs-of-odious-supreme-court-ruling-see-modern-parallels
CWB CHICAGO
— 7 people shot at huge West Side street party while cops were already at the scene.
https://cwbchicago.com/2026/07/7-people-shot-at-huge-west-side-street-party-while-cops-were-already-at-the-scene.html
CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— DD: Democrat leaders say “Belittling Chicago didn’t help Darren Bailey in his first run for governor. So if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/august-2026/meet-your-new-neighbor-darren-bailey/
CHICAGO MAROON
— Post-graduate success overstated. DD: What was your post-graduate success? When I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 in 1970, I had to have a job. Potential employers saw me as being draft bait. I had applied for a financial hardship draft deferment to help support my mother and brother, but potential employers did not believe it would be granted. So I accepted the only job offer that I got. It was being the Retail Sales Manager for the Firestone Store in Chicago Heights. But the job did not really require a college degree. To “learn the business,” I was required to dismount, mount, and balance many tires, pump lots of gasoline, change lots of engine oil and filters, change batteries, deliver major appliances to homes, etc. My Chicago Heights store boss would never had hired me, but his boss had assigned me to him. He did not have a college degree. He refused to let me start until after I passed a 2-week probationary period in the Firestone Store in Gary, Indiana. He disapproved of my avoiding the Vietnam War draft. He disapproved of my being Protestant, my being German American, my having ancestors who had been in America since 1844, and my living in Crete. Under him, I saw that my Firestone career was bleak if not nonexistent. Consequently, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile. But Oldsmobile withdrew that offer saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. He rudely if not violently fired me because I had accepted that offer. I had to have a job. So I accepted the only job offer that I got. It was to be an IRS Revenue Officer. Then, oddly, puzzlingly, he then offered me a job working part-time pumping gasoline which I accepted until he “asked” me to resign at the end of 1972. The money I earned helped me a) buy a new Corvette in 1971, b) pay for four graduate evening business courses at Loyola in 1972, and c) buy a new townhome in University Park in 1972.
https://chicagomaroon.com/52872/news/career-advancement-appears-to-overstate-post-graduation-student-outcomes/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— State House race: Republican Ajay Gupta will be feted at a fundraiser cohosted by U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy, former Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi and Republican insiders Bill Hogan and Nancy Quigley in his bid to unseat Democratic state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/07/pritzker-draws-the-ai-line-00988435
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/07/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-764/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois loses young people at more than 3 times the U.S. rate. DD: Anticipate/expect that young people who leave Illinois will overwhelming be conservative, Republican, White, male, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Democrat leaders want to get rid of those who are the aforesaid.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-loses-young-people-at-more-than-3-times-the-u-s-rate/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Chicago Among Nation’s Most Violent Cities During Fourth of July Holiday Weekend.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/07/chicago-among-nations-most-violent-cities-during-fourth-of-july-holiday-weekend.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— White House says Smithsonian pushes leftist ideology, cannot be trusted to tell America’s story.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/6/white-house-says-smithsonian-pushes-leftist-ideology-cannot-trusted/
— Mamdani’s twisted view of America.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/6/mamdanis-twisted-view-america/
— Soccer’s culture clashes with America’s values.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/6/soccers-culture-clashes-americas-values/
— The 14th Amendment was written for one people. Courts have treated the Constitution’s citizenship clause more broadly than the framers intended.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/6/14th-amendment-written-one-people/
NEW YORK POST
— Activists demand Black English be pushed on kids in California preschools.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/06/us-news/activists-demand-black-english-be-pushed-on-kids-in-california-preschools/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Why Do Jews Keep Voting for Leftists Who Hate Them? DD: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats, and far too many of them were antisemites. My Democrat antisemite superiors had my many Jewish superiors and supervisors take many big adverse actions against me. They stressed that I was conservative, Republican, Protestant, and 100% German American.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/07/why-do-jews-keep-voting-for-leftists-who-hate-them-comments/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Trump Has These Options to Fight Birth Tourism.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/06/even-after-scotus-citizenship-ruling-trump-has-these-options-to-fight-birth-tourism/
— Congress Can Ban Birthright Citizenship.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/06/congress-ban-birthright-citizenship/
FEDERALIST
— Democratic Socialists Who Failed At Life Are Weaponizing Envy To Destroy American Families.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/06/democratic-socialists-who-failed-at-life-are-weaponizing-envy-to-destroy-american-families/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. To advance under socialists, you must be a socialist. To advance under Democrats, you must be a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who run the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service ($197,200/year) long before I was 40. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. But because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they never promoted me beyond GS-13 Step 10 ($154,682/year) and they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5954347-democratic-party-socialism-debate/
ABC NEWS
— In scathing report, White House accuses Smithsonian of presenting ‘a radical view of American history.’ The Smithsonian says it is committed to “nonpartisan” scholarship.
https://abcnews.com/amp/Politics/scathing-report-white-house-accuses-smithsonian-presenting-radical/story?id=134515705
NEWSWEEK
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. To advance under socialists, you must be a socialist. To advance under Democrats, you must be a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who run the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service ($197,200/year) long before I was 40. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. But because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they never promoted me beyond GS-13 Step 10 ($154,682/year) and they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.newsweek.com/democratic-socialists-communists-differences-trump-attacks-midterms-12162129
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. To advance under socialists, you must be a socialist. To advance under Democrats, you must be a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who run the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service ($197,200/year) long before I was 40. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. But because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they never promoted me beyond GS-13 Step 10 ($154,682/year) and they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/nyregion/dsa-economy-nyc.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. To advance under socialists, you must be a socialist. To advance under Democrats, you must be a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who run the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service ($197,200/year) long before I was 40. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. But because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they never promoted me beyond GS-13 Step 10 ($154,682/year) and they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/06/democrats-are-electing-socialists-republicans-are-labeling-them-communist/
USA TODAY
— DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, they had to meet hiring, retention, and promotion quotas. All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats who a) were minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran and b) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 and gave my job and my preferred corner office to my Black subordinate. He had less education than I had. He had less work experience than I had. He had one professional certification while I had six. He had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/02/26/trump-lawsuit-affirmative-action/88291520007/
BIG NEWS NETWORK
— Indiana law targets employers hiring undocumented workers. DD: All my employers would have hired non-citizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/279171460/indiana-law-targets-employers-hiring-undocumented-workers
INVESTOPEDIA
— Less than 30% of today’s workers have a defined benefit pension, yet more than half of current retirees receive pension income. Public-sector workers are more likely to have pensions than private-sector workers, and the benefits they pay are typically much larger. DD: I got in line for a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension when I was 18 in 1966. I have been getting a CSRS pension, currently $68,640/year, since I was 49 in 1997. My critics/opponents have always been furious about that. In my defense, I paid 7% of my federal salary into the CSRS. Further, I would not have become a postal employee in 1966 if my high school friend had not asked me to join him in taking the postal employment test. I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if Oldsmobile had not withdrawn a job offer that I had accepted because Oldsmobile had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://www.investopedia.com/why-more-retirees-rely-on-pensions-than-most-people-realize-12009683
FINANCE BUZZ
— 12 Jobs Paying Over $100,000 That Are Desperately Short of Workers Right Now. DD: I did not start earning $100,059/year in today’s dollars until I was 25 in 1974 and I had a) earned a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21, b) worked for IRS for 3 years, and c) completed 11 graduate evening business courses. I did not start earning $118,984/year in today’s dollars until I was 38 and I had a) earned an MBA when I was 27, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, c) earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, e) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination and became a licensed CPA when I was 32, d) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, and e) worked for GAO for almost 7 years. I did not start earning $154,684/year in today’s dollars until I was 49 and I had a) earned four more job-related professional certifications, b) earned a master’s degree in finance, and b) worked for GAO for almost 18 years.
https://www.aol.com/articles/12-jobs-paying-over-100-115000000.html
FED SMITH
— DD: Democrats run the federal government. They use the subjectivity in their performance rating systems to not promote and to get rid of their Republican employees who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.
https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/07/07/new-opm-rule-changes-how-your-performance-rating-gets-decided/
MSHALE
— Trump: Government Jobs Won’t Make America Great Again. Fired federal employees now working in the private sector are “getting two or three times more money, and they’re doing well,” President Trump tells NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich during an exclusive one-on-one interview. Trump explains why government jobs are not jobs that “will make America great again.” DD: My critics/opponents despise/hate federal employees and federal retirees. I was a federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and I have been a federal retiree since 1997. My critics/opponents especially despise/hate federal employees and retirees who like me are Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://mshale.com/89f3eec1/790883edeJYlUDaZ4MQ?__cf_chl_f_tk=R.6A_kFzwfaryQtRoUqhluYYCkdHLqxY4WOS828oI0E-1783413279-1.0.1.1-OiTve12ilPo9dYjzaW_ifBW1CngxP.uH4nKaH5PjZWU
ATLANTIC
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. To advance under socialists, you must be a socialist. To advance under Democrats, you must be a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who run the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service ($197,200/year) long before I was 40. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. But because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they never promoted me beyond GS-13 Step 10 ($154,682/year) and they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/mamdani-affordability-crisis-consumer-socialism/687603/
POLITICO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. To advance under socialists, you must be a socialist. To advance under Democrats, you must be a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who run the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service ($197,200/year) long before I was 40. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. But because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they never promoted me beyond GS-13 Step 10 ($154,682/year) and they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/dsa-progressives-wisconsin-michigan-primaries-00986944
AXIOS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. To advance under socialists, you must be a socialist. To advance under Democrats, you must be a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who run the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service ($197,200/year) long before I was 40. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. But because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they never promoted me beyond GS-13 Step 10 ($154,682/year) and they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/democratic-socialists-medicare-for-all
SHRM
— Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat superiors in the federal government never put me on a PIP, but instead, they took many big adverse actions against me. My Democrat Post Office superiors disallowed my sick leave requests in 1968 and 1969 and b) forced me to resign in 1969. My Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and never promoted me beyond GS-12. My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, b) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, c) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and d) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. I frustrated their efforts to get rid of me by earning a) a job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970, b) job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1981, and 1997, c) professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and c) a job-related professional license in 1981.
https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/employment-law-compliance/inconsistent-reasons-provided-performance-plan-suggest-pretext
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
SPECTATOR
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Working for socialists is like working for Democrats. To advance under socialists, you must be a socialist. To advance under Democrats, you must be a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, the Democrats who run the federal government would have promoted me into their Senior Executive Service ($197,200/year) long before I was 40. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. But because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, they never promoted me beyond GS-13 Step 10 ($154,682/year) and they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://spectator.com/article/why-socialism-will-fail/?edition=us
BUSINESS TIMES
— Forging a career path in the non-profit sector. Many choose to work in the sector for greater flexibility, purpose in their role as life circumstances change. DD: I would not have become a postal employee in 1966 if my high school friend had not asked me to join him in taking the postal employment test. I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if Oldsmobile had not withdrawn a job offer that I had accepted because Oldsmobile had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. My critics/opponents despise/hate federal employees and federal retirees. I was a federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and I have been a federal retiree since 1997. My critics/opponents especially despise/hate federal employees and retirees who like me are Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/forging-career-path-non-profit-sector
July 3, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation. Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War on Republicans. Their illegals are their soldiers in their Democrat Army. How many illegals do Democrat leaders have in Illinois and in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/07/03/chicago-newsrooms-immigration-coverage-july-fourth
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/07/02/midway-blitz-lawsuit-ice-immigration-officer
ABC7
— Olympian David Hearn indicted for vandalism of Reflecting Pool.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/olympian-david-hearn-indicted-alleged-vandalism-reflecting-pool/19436852/
FOX32
— DD: FBI Director Kash Patel forces Chicago FBI leader Douglas DePodesta to retire for not adequately supporting Trump’s agenda. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997 for my opposing their agenda. Their agenda was to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/fbi-chicago-douglas-depodesta-leaving-reports
WGN9
— Can Republicans win back voters in Chicago’s suburbs? DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. Democrat candidates get more and more and more votes in Chicago suburbs a) because more and more and more Democrats move to Chicago suburbs to escape Democrat poverty and crime and to hypocritically take advantage of the prosperity and safety that conservative Republicans created in Chicago suburbs and b) because anti-conservative/RINO/Democrat Lite/Democrat plant candidates, elected officials, and party leaders ever-increasingly fail/refuse to defend, let alone advance, the Republican Party platform.
https://wgntv.com/news/politics/wgn-the-point-politics-chicago-illinois/can-illinois-republicans-win-back-voters-in-chicagos-suburbs/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acFg-nIqwec
SOUTHERN
— ICE arrests 10,000 illegally in US in 5-day span
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/07/02/ice-arrests-10000-illegally-in-us-in-5-day-span/
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Pritzker’s GOP foe recognizes a good tactic when he borrows one.
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-pritzkers-gop-foe-recognizes-a-good-tactic-when-he-borrows-one/article_369549c3-f7aa-4324-9174-a396ab9b0737.html
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/02/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-549/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WIREPOINTS
— Pritzker Embraces Democratic Socialists of America as Part of Democrats’ Recipe to Win.
https://wirepoints.org/pritzker-embraces-radical-democratic-socialists-of-america-as-part-of-democrats-recipe-to-win-wirepoints/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What makes you proud to be American? For me, it includes my being able to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree when in 1970 when I was 21, job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 46, and 47, and a job-related professional license when I was 32 even though a) neither of my parents attended college, b) my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, c) he never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars, d) he died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21 in 1969, e) my mother never attended high school, f) my ACT score was only 24, g) I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my high school class, and h) I had to work my way through college. Further, I was 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, 35, etc. and c) to get married when I was 29. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats welcome their new Marxist overlords. Establishment Dems hope the communists come for them last.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/2/democrats-welcome-new-marxist-overlords/
— A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that 19 intelligence community employees fired because they were doing diversity, equity and inclusion jobs must be given a chance to apply for other posts. DD: To force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, among many threats, my Democrat GAO superiors threatened to give me adverse transfers. I had been assigned to audits of federal financial industry regulators since 1990. I had become a Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996. I had earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/2/appeals-court-says-dei-employees-apply-jobs-intelligence-community/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Colorado proves Mamdani’s midterm wins were not a fluke.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4634694/colorado-proves-mamdani-midterm-wins-not-fluke/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Indoctrination is dangerous. People are so misinformed that they falsely believe that big government and socialism are the solution for everything they want.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/indoctrination-is-dangerous/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— The plan to destroy America
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/07/02/the-plan-to-destroy-america-1648947/
BREITBART
— Fetterman: Dem Leadership Needs to Stand Against ‘Extreme, Anti-American’ Candidates.
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/07/02/fetterman-dem-leadership-needs-to-stand-against-extreme-anti-american-candidates/
CAMPUS REFORM
— University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign hosted all-ages drag tea party targeted at children and families. The public university invited families to attend a drag performance featuring entertainers such as ‘Spank Knightly’ at its Spurlock Museum. The event is part of a broader pattern of drag programming at the university, including a previous event co-sponsored with Planned Parenthood of Illinois Action.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/university-illinois-hosted-all-ages-drag-tea-party-targeted-children-families/30202
CHRISTIAN POST
— 10 most populous countries that have birthright citizenship.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/10-most-populous-countries-with-birthright-citizenship.html
DAILY SIGNAL
— Democrat Leaders Try to Dismantle the Founders’ Work on America’s 250th Anniversary.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/03/democratic-socialists-of-america-lefts-deep-hatred-america-we-celebrate-250th-anniversary/
FEDERALIST
— SCOTUS Pasting Birth Tourism Into The Constitution Demands A Legal System Rebuild.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/02/scotus-pasting-birth-tourism-into-the-constitution-demands-a-legal-system-rebuild/
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Top Med Schools Instruct Students on Gender Transition Surgeries.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/07/criticalrace-org-report-reveals-top-med-schools-instruct-students-on-gender-transition-surgeries/
NEWSBUSTER
— Hating America: The Hollywood Left’s Worst Anti-American Outbursts.
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/geoffrey-dickens/2026/07/02/hating-america-hollywood-lefts-worst-anti-american-outbursts
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: To ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against America.
https://thehill.com/homenews/5950446-racial-justice-america-future/amp/
— Survey: Fewer than half of Democrats proud to be US citizens. In contrast, 93 percent of Republican respondents said they are generally “very proud” or “proud” of being American. Only 7 percent of GOP respondents said they are generally “not too proud” or “not proud at all” of being American. DD: My critics/opponents are not proud to being Americans because Americans citizens elected Trump and because they blame Trump for all problems, and especially for all problems that those who are the following have: liberal/moderate, Democrat, RINO, minority, female, younger, poor, veteran, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen.
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/5951332-republican-pride-democrat-decline/
NBC NEWS
— ICE arrests increase significantly, marking a turn in immigration strategy.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ice-arrests-increase-significantly-marking-turn-immigration-strategy-rcna352736
MSN
— During a Fox News interview, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that young Americans who frequently complain about life in the U.S. should be sent to Cuba or Iran to gain perspective. She argued that many in Gen Z have grown up with ‘silver spoons’ and without the work ethic she associates with traditional American values. The comment, paired with her criticism of entitlement, quickly went viral and drew strong reactions online and across political circles.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/karoline-leavitt-says-gen-z-complaints-stem-from-laziness-liberal-indoctrination/gm-GM68173DF0
— Marriage is starting later than ever. DD: I did not get married until I was 29 in 1978. If I had not met my outstanding wife at a church sponsored singles social event when I was 28 in 1977, I might never had gotten married. My Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious that I got married. To get rid of me, they had painted me being an extremely bad person because I had refused to become a Democrat. They hinted/implied/argued that because of that, I would never get married. What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/why-marriage-is-starting-later-than-ever/ss-AA26C1uz
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Virtually all federal employees are Democrats who are one or more of the aforesaid. All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/02/us/politics/cia-odni-intelligence-diversity-court.html
— These Unpaid Interns Want $32 an Hour. And Health Insurance. DD: I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980. My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors wanted me to transfer in as a GS-4 intern, that is, to take a $35/hour pay cut in today’s dollars. I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. They would not have wanted that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/nyregion/unpaid-internships-nyc.html
USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage pregnant women who are citizens of foreign countries to give birth in America.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2026/06/30/birthright-citizenship-supreme-court-trump-decision/90590335007/
LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL
— Democrats aren’t proud to be Americans.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/opinion-columns/victor-joecks/victor-joecks-why-democrats-arent-proud-to-be-americans-3845973/
TEXAS VOICE
— Abolishing ICE, Ending Bail Among Resolutions Passed by Texas Democrats. Resolutions Supporting Progressive Priorities Adopted at Texas Democrat Convention.
https://www.thetexasvoice.com/abolishing-ice-ending-bail-among-resolutions-passed-by-texas-democrats/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Socialist Threat Is Real. America will be in serious trouble if Democrats fail to defend their party.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-socialist-threat-is-real-7773676e
FED SMITH
— Trump wants to make it easier to fire federal employees. DD: For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Virtually all federal employees are Democrats who are one or more of the aforesaid. All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time. The Democrats who ran GAO in 1980, IRS in 1971, and the Post Office in 1966 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. I would not have survived as a federal employee for almost 30 years if I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21, earned an MBA when I was 27, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, became a licensed CPA when I was 32, earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48, and earned a master’s degree in finance when I was 48.
https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/07/02/opm-douglas-factors-fire-federal-employees/
TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION
— Relevant work experience: DD: None of my coworkers who my Democrat GAO superiors promoted over me had relevant work experience when they were hired. GAO audits IRS. I had almost 9 years’ experience working for IRS, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year. My Democrat GAO superiors wasted my knowledge of IRS. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran.
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/are-days-degrees-no-work-experience-numbered
PULITZER CENTER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use slavey and 1619 to demonize, denigrate, condemn, and destroy Republicans. According to Democrat leaders, the more of the following that you are, the more that you have benefitted from slavery, the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI, and the more reparation that you should pay: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Because I am all of the aforesaid, Democrat leaders have always made me pay the price of AA and DEI big time. I should write about that. My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, b) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, c) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, and d) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors a) refused to promote me beyond GS-12, b) disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and c) disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors a) forced me to resign in 1969 and b) disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/its-250th-who-does-us-want-be
SPLC
— DD: SPLC exists to promote hatred against Republicans.
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/hard-right-uses-economic-woes-cultivate-distrust-communities-color/
COMMUNIST PARTY USA
— What, to the working class, is the Fourth of July? DD: My critics/opponents despise/hate the working class. I was a member of the working class 1964-1997. I had to work my way through college. 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. I delivered mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assemble line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997. I should write about my critic/opponents. I would focus on those whose parents were the wealthiest.
https://www.cpusa.org/article/what-to-the-working-class-is-the-fourth-of-july/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
DECCAN HERALD
— Indra Nooyi: “I would never have been PepsiCo CEO in any other country, including India, were it not for America’s meritocratic system.” DD: All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/i-would-never-have-been-ceo-in-any-other-country-including-india-indra-nooyi-highlights-meritocratic-system-in-us-4060762