August 17, 2026 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— New recruits joining military in big numbers, but not for reason Hegseth says. The economy is driving young Americans’ enlistments, according to Pentagon data.
https://abc7chicago.com/story/us-military-news-new-recruits-enlisting-big-numbers-not-reason-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-says/19693144/
— Dramatic decline in people becoming new citizens in Chicago area this year. DD: Democrat leaders give tremendous benefits to noncitizens.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-area-naturalizations-drop-dramatically-more-80-2026-federal-citizenship-data-shows/19599022/
— Bailey calls for ending tolls; Pritzker questions funding plan. Toll revenues fund construction projects.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/republican-illinois-governor-candidate-darren-bailey-calls-ending-tolls-gov-jb-pritzker-questions-funding-plan/19694196/

NBC5
— Wheaton ZIP code 60187 named among America’s hottest housing markets for 2026.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/suburban-chicago-zip-code-named-among-americas-hottest-housing-markets-for-2026/3976579/

CBS2
— Some NIPSCO customers in northwest Indiana frustrated after nearly week 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://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/northwest-indiana-power-outage-nipsco/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois spent big during COVID and the migrant crisis. Who was watching the bills?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/17/favorite-staffing-covid-migrants-contractor-chris-meister/
— Northwest Indiana communities frustrated with extended NIPSCO outages. 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/2026/08/17/northwest-indiana-frustrated-extended-nipsco-outages/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/17/ice-legal-insurance-local-officers/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Thousands of Gary residents still without power after last week’s deadly storms. As of Monday afternoon, more than 100,000 Indiana residents were without electricity, according to utility company NIPSCO, after over 300,000 people lost power because of the 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://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/08/17/gary-indiana-residents-without-power-deadly-storms
— DD: To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at non-Whites that Republicans cause all the problems that non-Whites have.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2026/08/17/anti-dei-trump-chicago-cps-firefighters-black-brown-equity-donathan-brown

DAILY HERALD
— Geneva’s annual Concours d’Elegance returns Aug. 23 with 200 vintage cars.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260817/submitted-content/genevas-annual-concours-delegance-returns-aug-23-with-over-200-vintage-cars/

SAUK VALLEY
— Tri-County GOP candidates’ meet-and-greet event set for 3 counties at 3 locations at 3 times Sept. 24.
https://www.shawlocal.com/sauk-valley/2026/08/17/tri-county-gop-candidates-meet-and-greet-event-set-for-3-counties-at-3-locations-at-3-times-sept-24/

BURR RIDGE PATCH
— Burr Ridge Park District Bars Patricia Kladis-Schiappa’s Event. The candidate is asking the agency to reconsider. She says she cannot accept “the suppression or cancellation” of a community discussion.
https://patch.com/illinois/burrridge/burr-ridge-agency-wont-allow-local-politicians-event

IPM NEWS
— Bailey on SAFE-T Act, budget, and Illinois schools.
https://ipmnewsroom.org/republican-gubernatorial-candidate-darren-bailey-on-safe-t-act-budget-and-illinois-schools/

CAPITOL FAX
—  Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/17/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-580/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What is your Republican Precinct Committeeman going to do to get out the vote? As the Republican Precinct Committeeman for DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton, I will hand-deliver to the 400 residences in my precinct that have at least one Republican or one Independent registered voter a copy of the sample ballot, campaign literature from all the candidates who provide their literature to the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO), and a MTRO voter guide. I have obtained a PDF file from the DuPage County Election Division mailing with labels for the 660 Republican and Independent registered voters in my precinct. I have printed out those labels and I am in the process of affixing them to envelopes provided by MTRO and putting them into five batches in walk order. I will be stuffing those envelopes with MTRO’s voter guide, literature that candidates provided MTRO, and the sample ballot. The Republican candidates on the ballot in my precinct are: Tracy, Bailey/Del Mar, Fioretti, Harris, Drew, Soloman, Oakley, Lewis, Vrankovich, Grasso, Noonan, Schiappa, Henry, Eckhoff, Michaud, Schultz, Quirk, and Helland. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— New Law Allows Veterans Second Set of Special License Plates
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/15/new-law-veterans-second-set-of-special-license-plates/
— State Believes It Can Create and Preserve Affordable Housing
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/15/state-believes-it-can-create-and-preserve-affordable-housing/
— Steve Willson’s Letter Blasting Proposed Rockford-Chicago Passenger Trains Make Front Page of Rockford Register-Star Email
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/15/steve-willsons-letter-blasting-proposed-rockford-chicago-passenger-trains-make-front-page-of-rockford-register-star-email/
— Running for Chicago Mayor, Mike Quigley Willing to Risk His Future to Save Chicago, Is Trump Willing to Do the Same to Beat Iran?
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/15/running-for-chicago-mayor-mike-quigley-willing-to-risk-his-future-to-save-chicago-is-trump-willing-to-do-the-same-to-beat-iran/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote voters who are anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-Christian, anti-German American, and/or anti-those who have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. That is, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote the Democrat Party’s base.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/17/catholic-league-warns-massachusetts-legislation-would-give/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Democrats are embracing socialism. Americans aren’t.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4687755/democrats-embracing-socialism-polling/

NEW YORK POST
— Shoplifting isn’t need, it’s just plain greed.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/17/opinion/hey-progressives-shoplifting-isnt-need-its-just-plain-greed/

DAILY SIGNAL
— The DSA Has a Diversity Problem.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/17/the-dsa-has-a-diversity-problem-dsa/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

FLORIDA POLITICS
— Millions were spent in CD 19 GOP Primary, but will a late Donald Trump endorsement decide the race?
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/814362-millions-were-spent-in-cd-19-gop-primary-but-will-a-late-donald-trump-endorsement-decide-the-race/

PEW RESEARCH
— Refugee admissions to the U.S. are dropping sharply in Trump’s second term.
https://www.pewresearch.org/publications/

FROM OTHER SOURCES

REALTOR
— FOR SALE IN MY WHEATON PRECINCT:
25W451 Plamondon Road – $3,300,000
25W471 Plamondon Road – $2,400,000
1021 Greenwood Drive – $1,000,000
1160 Midwest Lane – $1,000,000
1028 Lodalia Court (lot) – $415,000
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/60189/sby-2

HOMES
— FOR SALE IN MY WHEATON PRECINCT: 25W328 Plamondon Road (lot) – $299,900
https://www.homes.com/property/25w328-plamondon-rd-wheaton-il/n6npjnwsm9jnz/

August 15, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

FOX32
— DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers? 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.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-wpszr7ochva90k0q

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Potential candidates get a lesson in what it takes to run for office from those who have won elections.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/14/lagrange-forum-potential-candidates/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Free summer YMCA memberships draw 3,000 Chicago teens. More than a thousand teens signed up at the South Side YMCA alone. Teens there are playing basketball, lifting weights or just hanging out with friends — and hoping the program continues next year. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers? 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://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/08/13/free-summer-ymca-memberships-draw-3-000-chicago-teens
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/08/14/trump-dictator-reflecting-pool-vandals-vaccines-todd-blanche-mona-charen
https://www.news-herald.com/2026/08/14/s-e-cupp-donald-trumps-third-world-presidency/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— DD: Democrat leaders demonize, denigrate, and condemn whatever Trump wants.
https://www.sj-r.com/videos/news/2026/07/24/poll-shows-disapproval-of-trumps-dc-changes/91036540007/

SHAW LOCAL
— Underwood calls for removing Trump from office: ‘Unstable,’ ‘dangerous,’ ‘unable to function.’  Congresswoman spoke at town hall meeting at Northern Illinois University.
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/08/14/underwood-calls-for-removing-trump-from-office-unstable-dangerous-unable-to-function/

WHEATON PATCH
— DuPage Regional Office of Education Expands Student Health and Wellness Supports Ahead of New School Year. Partnerships, training, and early-intervention resources help schools create safer, more supportive learning environments.
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/dupage-regional-office-education-expands-student-health-wellness-supports-ahead-new

BLACK CHRONICLE
— The executive director of a Chicago violence prevention group has been charged with sexually assaulting a juvenile family member and grooming. Englewood First Responders executive director Charles McKenzie, 37, was arrested Aug. 5 in the 6700 block of South Emerald Avenue.
https://blackchronicle.com/midwest/illinois/illinois-quick-hits-violence-prevention-group-leader-arrested/

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/14/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-579/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Trump Endorses Catalina Lauf for Congress in Southwest Florida, Victory Almost Certain
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/14/trump-endorses-catalina-lauf-for-congress-in-southwest-florida-victory-almost-certain/
— Florida Law Preventing Minors from Attending Drag Shows Upheld 8-5 by Federal Appellate Court
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/14/florida-law-preventing-minors-from-attending-drag-shows-upheld-8-5-by-federal-appellate-court/
— Safe-T Act Failure
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/13/safe-t-act-failure-2/
— The Potential Data Center Problems
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/13/the-potelxntial-data-center-problems/
— Vaccine Exemptions
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/12/vaccine-exemptions/
— Triple Shot Vaccinations Led to Hours of Keening
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/11/21787/
— On the National Front
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/10/on-the-national-front/
— Double-Dipping, Something Illinois Legislators Won’t Stop. DD: My critics/opponents have always been furious a) that I earned both Civil Service Retirement System and Social Security credits for almost 5 years a) while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969 and b) for IRS and Firestone Stores 1971-1972.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/11/double-dipping-something-illinois-legislators-wont-stop/
— Group Seeks to Stop Flock Cameras in Woodstock
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/11/group-seeks-to-stop-flock-cameras-in-woodstock/
— Republicans Followed Pritzker’s 2022 Strategy in Wisconsin to Elect the Weakest Candidate in the Opposite Party–Francesca Hong, It Didn’t Work
— https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/08/11/republicans-follow-pritzkers-2022-strategy-tn-wisconsin-to-elect-the-weakest-candidate-in-the-opposite-party-francesca-hong/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Democrats turn their DEI strategy toward Muslim voters.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4687851/democrats-turn-dei-strategy-toward-muslim-voters/
— ’Tax the rich’ is a scam. You’re the one getting the bill.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4685821/why-taxing-the-rich-hurts-middle-class/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The carpetbagger primary: Meet the cast of characters running for this Florida House seat. DD: My critics/opponents continue to stress that I have lived in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton only since I was 29 in 1978 and that I never attended schools or churches or worked there. They continue to stress that they have lived in DuPage County, Milton Township, and/or Wheaton their entire lives and that they attended schools and churches there and worked there.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4687660/florida-19th-congressional-district-candidates-carpetbagger-primary/

NEW YORK POST
— Hegseth fumes over the Army’s decision to withdraw new academic standards for college students in the ROTC program — including requiring a SAT score of at least 1000 — to ensure that “stupid people” are not becoming military officers. DD: According to Google AI, an  ACT score of 24 equals a SAT score of 1200–1220. My ACT score was 24.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/14/us-news/hegseth-angry-as-army-scraps-new-sat-minimum-for-rotc-to-screen-out-stupid-officers/
— AOC’s student debt unpaid as she embarks on costly egg-freezing journey.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/14/us-news/aocs-student-debt-unpaid-as-she-embarks-on-costly-egg-freezing-journey/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has made at least $174,000 annually for nearly eight years as a member of Congress, but like many of her “Squad” colleagues, she has yet to put a substantial dent in her student loan debt, according to House financial disclosures. The Bronx and Queens Democrat has owed between $15,001 and $50,000 in federal student loan debt since her election to the House in 2018. That’s the same amount she owes now, according to her August disclosure, where lawmakers report ranges for debt and income. The “Tax the Rich!” pol reported less than $81,000 in total assets. Recently, Ocasio-Cortez has suggested that she’d been saving up for some time instead to freeze her eggs, a process that can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per cycle. “I got sworn into the House of Representatives when I was 29 years old,” she said in an Instagram video. “There’s this flip side where you have to then grow up in the public eye in a time that most people usually get to grow more privately.” Ocasio-Cortez amassed the loans while attending Boston University as an international relations and economics major between August 2007 and May 2011 — and went on to tend bar in Manhattan before her successful run for Congress. The “Squad” Democrat has consistently backed student debt cancellation. During former President Joe Biden’s term, she even pushed the 46th commander-in-chief to cancel as much as $50,000 in debt per student borrower. But she’s not the only US lawmaker who’s still holding student loans. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has held up to $50,000 over the past eight years in student debt — despite her net worth ballooning for a time to as much as $30 million due to her husband’s winery and venture capital businesses. Not all her colleagues who entered the same freshman class of 2018 have failed to pay off their student debts. Fellow “Squad” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) had up to $100,000 in law school loans that have been partially paid off in the same time period — but could still amount to as much as $50,000 too, per House disclosures. Meanwhile, moderate Rep. Jared Golden (R-Maine) similarly held up to $100,000 in outstanding student debt but paid off at least half of it by his last House filing.)

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— ‘Woke 1’ Never Really Went Away. Progressives may be less forthcoming, but they haven’t changed their beliefs since the mass lunacy of 2020.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/woke-1-never-really-went-away/

BLAZE
— Wokeism is just the ‘smoke screen’ — Nick Freitas warns of the far more dangerous ideology quietly dismantling the West.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/making-the-argument-with-nick-freitas/wokeism-is-just-the-smoke-screen-nick-freitas-warns-of-the-far-more-dangerous-ideology-quietly-dismantling-the-west

COLLEGE FIX
— 40% won’t hire Trump voters. DD: In Illinois, your primary voting record is public knowledge, it is in the public realm. Employers can easily find out if you cast a Republican primary ballot or a Democrat primary ballot.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/40-wont-hire-trump-voters-new-report-details-higher-educations-ideological-divide/

FEDERALIST
— America lives or dies based on how we address the very real problems that have put the American Dream far out of reach for most people. DD: When I was young, I believed that the American Dream was in my reach even though neither of my parents had attended college, my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, my mother had never attended high school, my ACT score was only 24, and I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my high school class. That motivated me to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license. But if I was young today and with the aforesaid limitations, I question if I would believe that the American Dream was in my reach. Since I was young, those who share my demographics are ever-increasingly demonized, denigrated, and condemned.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/14/we-cant-save-the-american-dream-by-pretending-everything-is-just-fine/
— If You Want To Be A Grandparent One Day, Raise Your Kids To Get Married And Want Babies ASAP. DD: My wife and I did not get married until I was 29 and she was 27. We did not know that we both had major fertility problems. We did not try IVF because our problems were so great. We did not adopt. We did not become foster parents. My Democrat GAO superiors used that against me big time.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/14/if-you-want-to-be-a-grandparent-one-day-raise-your-kids-to-get-married-and-want-babies-asap/
— Stepping Down To Raise Her Kids Makes Karoline Leavitt An Even Better Role Model. DD: According my Democrat GAO superiors, if my wife and I had children, I would not have been able to a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, b) take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 and earn a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, c) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32 and become a licensed CPA when I was 32, d) have a home built in Wheaton when I was 35, and g) buy a collector car when I was 40. My Democrat GAO superiors ever-increasingly demonized, denigrated, and condemned my wife and I as being disgusting selfish rich DINKs. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They knew full-well that both my wife and I had major fertility problems. They painted themselves as being grossly underpaid. They decried the time and money they spent raising their children. They decried the little or no income that their wives had. Should I write about my Democrat GAO superiors?
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/13/stepping-down-to-raise-her-kids-makes-karoline-leavitt-an-even-better-role-model/
— The Problem With DSA Democrats Isn’t Socialism, It’s Third-Worldism.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/12/the-problem-with-dsa-democrats-isnt-socialism-its-third-worldism/

FINANCIAL CONTENT
— IRS Collections Surge: What 11.5M Delinquent Accounts Mean for You. DD: The Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997 wasted my knowledge of IRS. GAO audits IRS. After working for IRS’s Collection Division as a Revenue Officer for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980. My Democrat GAO superiors wasted my knowledge of IRS’s Collection Division. The kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for them. While they did assign me to audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division for 3 years, they never assigned me to audits of IRS’s Collection Division. Democrats do not want Republicans to audit Democrats.
https://www.financialcontent.com/article/getnews-2026-8-15-irs-collections-surge-what-115m-delinquent-accounts-mean-for-you
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The IRS is collecting again, and it’s not being subtle about it. The IRS Data Book FY2024 reported over 11.5 million delinquent taxpayer accounts in active inventory, with the agency’s compliance and enforcement division posting measurable increases in both automated notices and field revenue officer assignments. For the millions of Americans carrying unpaid tax balances, that shift isn’t abstract. It means liens, levies, and wage garnishments are moving from paper threats to real collection events at a pace not seen in several years. Noble Tax Relief is responding directly to that shift, offering structured tax resolution services built for taxpayers who are already in the IRS’s line of sight. The IRS Data Book FY2024 recorded 11.5 million delinquent accounts in the IRS’s active collection inventory IRS enforcement revenue from collection activities reached approximately $63.6 billion in FY2024, up from prior pandemic-era lows, per IRS Data Book FY2024 The Inflation Reduction Act directed roughly $45.6 billion of the IRS’s $80 billion funding boost specifically toward enforcement, per the Congressional Budget Office’s August 2023 report “Effects of the Inflation Reduction Act on CBO’s Projections of Federal Tax Revenues” Tax practitioners working IRS Installment Agreement and Offer in Compromise cases consistently report longer resolution timelines when taxpayers wait until a notice of levy or lien has already been filed Noble Tax Relief works with individuals and businesses across delinquent filing situations, unpaid balances, and active IRS collection cases, applying IRS resolution frameworks including Installment Agreements (Form 9465), Currently Not Collectible status, and the Offer in Compromise program The IRS’s own acceptance rate for Offers in Compromise has historically ranged between 30% and 40% depending on the tax year, per IRS Data Book annual records, meaning eligibility analysis before submission is what separates accepted cases from rejected ones. The IRS spent several years pulling back on aggressive enforcement during and after the pandemic. That period is over. With fresh funding, restored staffing in key compliance units, and a mandate to close the estimated $688 billion annual tax gap (IRS Tax Gap Estimates for Tax Years 2014-2016, updated 2023), the agency has both the resources and the political instruction to pursue unpaid accounts more systematically. Taxpayers who received a first notice and sat on it hoping things would quiet down are now finding out that the queue didn’t clear. It moved forward.)

FOX BUSINESS
— Green Beret combat veteran calls out anti-men rhetoric from ‘Woke 1’
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6403423368112

FOX NEWS
— Trump: New York is a ‘disaster,’ sanctuary cities protect criminals.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403409149112
— Hannity: The rise of the Democratic socialist movement is no surprise. DD: Both socialists and Democrats promote dependency on government.  According to socialists, all you need to do advance is to be a socialist. According to Democrats, all you need to do advance is to be a Democrat. None of my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO coworkers came close to doing what I did to advance. 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.foxnews.com/video/6403430164112
— Lefties backtrack on ‘woke-ism’
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403432784112

FREE PRESS
— Abdul El-Sayed’s Victory and the Democrats’ Anti-American Turn.
https://www.thefp.com/p/abdul-el-sayed-anti-american-turn

INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY STUDIES
— America’s Demoralized Men, Lost Pathways, Greater Struggles. DD: If Affirmative Action and DEI had been stronger when I was young, I might very well have not have able to achieve what I did. I earned a bachelor’s degree from NIU in 1970. IRS hired me and I bought a new 1972 Corvette in 1971. IRS promoted me and I bought a new townhome in University Park in 1972. IRS promoted me in 1973. IRS promoted me and I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East (ODE) building in 1974. I earned an MBA from Loyola and bought a one bedroom condo in the ODE building in 1976. My wife and I got married and we bought a home in Wheaton and two new cars in 1978. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I transferred from IRS to GAO and earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981. My wife and I had a home built in Wheaton in 1984. GAO promoted me in 1986. I earned four more job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. I earned a master’s degree in finance from IIT in early 1997.
https://ifstudies.org/report-brief/americas-demoralized-men-part-ii-lost-pathways-greater-struggles

NEWSMAX
— Vote GOP to Stop Socialism.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/mike-lipetri-tom-suozzi-new-york/2026/08/14/id/1266180/
— AOC is rushing to the middle, backing away from past positions.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/aoc-moore-socialists/2026/08/14/id/1266164/

TOWNHALL
— Economic Case for Mass Deportations.
https://townhall.com/news/dmitri-bolt/2026/08/14/scott-bessent-deportations-are-driving-down-costs-and-improving-wages-n2681247
— Stop Dooming. We’re on the Cusp of the Golden Age. DD: What were your best years? My best years include 1970 when I earned a bachelor’s degree from NIU, 1971 when IRS hired me and I bought a new 1972 Corvette, 1972 when IRS promoted me and I bought a new townhome in University Park, 1973 when IRS promoted me, 1974 when IRS promoted me and I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East (ODE) building, 1976 when I earned an MBA from Loyola and bought a one bedroom condo in the ODE building, 1978 when my wife and I got married and we bought a home in Wheaton and two new cars, 1979 when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, 1980 when I transferred from IRS to GAO and earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, 1981 when I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA, 1984 when my wife and I had a home built in Wheaton, 1986 when GAO promoted me, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997 when I earned four more job-related professional certifications, and early 1997 when I earned a master’s degree in finance from IIT. What were your worst years? My worst years include 1969 when my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me to resign by falsely claiming that I was not available to work enough part-time hours and my father died suddenly, 1971 when Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted because it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint and my Firestone Store boss fired me because I had accepted that offer, 1974 when my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my travel vouchers, 1978 when my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions, 1980 when I had to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, 1989 when my Democrat GAO superiors threw me off audits of IRS, gave me a very job assignment, gave me very unfair performance expectations, gave me a very unfair performance appraisal, and began ranking me at the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and 1997 when they forced me to retire.
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2026/08/14/stop-dooming-were-on-the-cusp-of-the-golden-age-n2681207
— PETA Isn’t Going to Condemn Dog-Killer Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
https://townhall.com/news/josephchalfant/2026/08/14/shocker-peta-isnt-going-to-condemn-dog-killer-abdul-el-sayed-n2681291

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— For Democrats, it’s the best of times and the worst of times. DD: What were your best years? My best years include 1970 when I earned a bachelor’s degree from NIU, 1971 when IRS hired me and I bought a new 1972 Corvette, 1972 when IRS promoted me and I bought a new townhome in University Park, 1973 when IRS promoted me, 1974 when IRS promoted me and I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East (ODE) building, 1976 when I earned an MBA from Loyola and bought a one bedroom condo in the ODE building, 1978 when my wife and I got married and we bought a home in Wheaton and two new cars, 1979 when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, 1980 when I transferred from IRS to GAO and earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, 1981 when I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA, 1984 when my wife and I had a home built in Wheaton, 1986 when GAO promoted me, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997 when I earned four more job-related professional certifications, and early 1997 when I earned a master’s degree in finance from IIT. What were your worst years? My worst years include 1969 when my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me to resign by falsely claiming that I was not available to work enough part-time hours and my father died suddenly, 1971 when Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted because it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint and my Firestone Store boss fired me because I had accepted that offer, 1974 when my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my travel vouchers, 1978 when my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions, 1980 when I had to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO, 1989 when my Democrat GAO superiors threw me off audits of IRS, gave me a very job assignment, gave me very unfair performance expectations, gave me a very unfair performance appraisal, and began ranking me at the bottom of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, and 1997 when they forced me to retire.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5893340-democrats-poll-setbacks-congress/

AOL
— Why the American dream feels like a fantasy to many. DD: If Affirmative Action and DEI had been stronger when I was young, I might very well have not have able to achieve what I did. I earned a bachelor’s degree from NIU in 1970. IRS hired me and I bought a new 1972 Corvette in 1971. IRS promoted me and I bought a new townhome in University Park in 1972. IRS promoted me in 1973. IRS promoted me and I bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East (ODE) building in 1974. I earned an MBA from Loyola and bought a one bedroom condo in the ODE building in 1976. My wife and I got married and we bought a home in Wheaton and two new cars in 1978. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I transferred from IRS to GAO and earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981. My wife and I had a home built in Wheaton in 1984. GAO promoted me in 1986. I earned four more job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. I earned a master’s degree in finance from IIT in early 1997.
https://www.aol.com/articles/why-american-dream-feels-fantasy-160806000.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/us/politics/trump-immigration-crackdown.html
— Conservatives Don’t Like Sociology. Some Sociologists Don’t Either. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/us/activist-sociology-independent.html
— Can an 80-Year-Old Senator Outrun the Age Issue? Ed Markey is hoping that his progressive politics will save him in Massachusetts. DD: I remember attending a meeting with Markey when I worked for GAO in the early 1980s.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/us/politics/ed-markey-senator-age.html
— Hegseth Is Pressed to Clarify Lawyer’s Role in Promotion Decisions. DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me a) were Democrats who 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. 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 refused to promote me beyond GS-12, and my Democrat GAO superiors refused to promote me beyond GS-13.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/us/hegseth-jason-crow-military-promotions.html

WILX
— 1 in 5 adults in Michigan choose not to have children. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors viciously used against me a) my wife and I giving up trying to have children without trying IVF, b) our not adopting, and c) our not becoming foster parents. They painted themselves as being grossly underpaid. They decried the time and money they spent raising their children. They decried the little or no income that their wives had. They willfully and falsely ignored/dismissed/belittled our both having major fertility problems. They ever-increasingly hinted/implied/argued/shouted that we lied about our wanting to have children. They ever-increasingly demonized, denigrated, and condemned my wife and I as being disgusting selfish rich DINKs. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. Should I write about my Democrat GAO superiors?
https://www.wilx.com/2026/08/14/1-5-adults-michigan-choose-not-have-children-according-new-research/

BULWARK
— ‘A Slaughter in Our Industry’: Home Builders Say ICE is Destroying Their Business.
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-slaughter-in-our-industry-home-builders-ice-destroying-business-construction-immigration-vance

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— How Colleges Produce Socialists. When your first brush with adulthood involves endless consumption and no cost, it gives you the wrong idea of how the world works. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/how-colleges-produce-socialists-41fe4257

BLOOMBERG
— First-Time Homebuyers Find American Dream in Midwest. DD: My critics/opponents have always been furious that I was able to buy a new townhome when I was 24 in 1972. They have always stressed that if I had not avoided the Vietnam War draft, I would not have been able to do that.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-08-14/first-time-homebuyers-find-american-dream-in-midwest-video

JD SUPRA
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use disparate impact a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/illinois-joins-other-states-in-4203071/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

TELEGRAPH
— Reform would end student loans for ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/08/02/reform-would-end-student-loans-for-mickey-mouse-degrees/

August 13, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC5
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad including bad weather.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/as-dc-aims-to-cut-weather-forecasting-illinois-takes-nations-tornado-warning-lead/3974563/

WGN9
— GOP candidate for Lt. Governor Aaron Del Mar defends abortion comments: ‘I was expressing my personal feelings’
https://wgntv.com/news/politics/wgn-the-point-politics-chicago-illinois/gop-candidate-for-lt-governor-defends-abortion-comments-i-was-expressing-my-personal-feelings/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— ‘Steel Across America’ tour brings 9/11 memorial to Chicago ahead of 25th anniversary. DD: I organized Wheaton’s 2003 and 2004 9/11 ceremonies.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/12/september-11-memorial-chicago-steel-across-america/
— As police response times grow, people are taking defense into their own hands. DD: What is the police response time where you live?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/06/03/opinion-chicago-911-response-time-firearms-concealed-carry/

DAILY HERALD
— College of DuPage to commemorate 25th anniversary of 9/11. DD: I organized Wheaton’s 2003 and 2004 9/11 ceremonies.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260812/submitted-content/college-of-dupage-to-commemorate-25th-anniversary-of-9-11/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Ford to shift Lincoln production from China, potentially boosting Chicago plant.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/manufacturing-logistics/ccb-ford-china-lincoln-chicago-20260812/

WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/08/12/colleges-scramble-after-court-strikes-down-in-state-tuition-for-illinois-undocumented-students

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Springfield food pantries struggle as SNAP cuts hit. DD: Democrat leaders want as many people as possible on SNAP because people on SNAP vote for Democrats.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/local/2026/08/13/snap-cuts-strain-springfield-food-pantries/91235814007/

FOX ILLINOIS
— David Crowley’s razor-thin Wisconsin primary win sets up match against Trump pick.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/david-crowleys-razor-thin-wisconsin-primary-win-sets-up-match-against-trump-pick/article_63a00f27-53cd-5816-8c09-23a5d94f37be.html
— Republicans see Minnesota fraud scandal as a chance to go on offense in a blue state.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/republicans-see-minnesota-fraud-scandal-as-a-chance-to-go-on-offense-in-a-blue/article_1900df0e-d605-5312-a4fe-de1b007a9afd.html

GLEN ELLYN PATCH
— College of DuPage to Commemorate 25th Anniversary of 9/11. The ceremony will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York. DD: I organized Wheaton’s 2003 and 2004 9/11 ceremonies.
https://patch.com/illinois/glenellyn/amp/34631685/college-of-dupage-to-commemorate-25th-anniversary-of-9-11

POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/08/13/bustos-puts-her-network-to-work-01035668

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/08/12/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-577/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

JOHN KASS
— Vallas: CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION’S SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS A SCAM
https://johnkassnews.com/chicago-teachers-unions-sustainable-community-schools-is-a-scam/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats cannot escape their overeducated socialist wing. Voters remain wary of a party increasingly shaped by entitled collectivists. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/democrats-cannot-escape-overeducated-socialist-wing/
— Far-left momentum meets resistance as energized Democrats search for winning formula.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/far-left-momentum-meets-resistance-energized-democrats-search-winning/
— Lindell refuses to concede in Minnesota’s GOP gubernatorial primary.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/mypillow-founder-mike-lindell-refuses-concede-minnesotas-gop/
— H-2A visa program should not become an amnesty, a permanent foreign-labor pipeline. 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. 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. Many, if not most, if not virtually all of my peers would not have stooped to take the aforesaid bad jobs that I took.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/12/h-2a-visa-program-not-become-amnesty-permanent-foreign-labor-pipeline/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Despite President Trump’s strong focus on immigration enforcement and protecting American workers, a bill to provide amnesty for illegal aliens and to broaden the use of work visas was recently introduced by the House Agriculture Committee chairman. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 (H.R. 9535), which has more than 50 co-sponsors including 47 Republicans, dramatically expands the scope of the H-2A program. This would allow employers to more easily replace Americans with foreign workers and would suppress wage growth while reducing incentives to recruit domestic labor, improve working conditions, or invest in productivity-enhancing technology. Supporters portray the bill as a response to labor shortages. But when workers are scarce, wages rise. Employers improve conditions. Businesses innovate and automate. The purpose of a market economy though is not to guarantee employers access to labor at a price they prefer; it is to allow supply and demand to determine wages and encourage productivity growth. H.R. 9535 violates this healthy market dynamic. The bill broadens eligible work to include not only traditional agricultural jobs, but also packing, processing, transportation, aquaculture, logging, equine-related activities, and even portions of meat and poultry processing. It also redefines “temporary” work to include contracts lasting up to 349 days, regardless of the employer’s underlying need.)

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— How ‘pro-union conservatism’ is a win for the radical Left. DD: I was a union member for almost 12 years.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/4681478/pro-union-conservatism-win-for-radical-left-josh-hawley-labor-terms-mobilization/
— Mike Lindell lost because of immigration amnesty proposal despite Trump backing.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/4685105/mike-lindell-loss-immigration-amnesty-steve-bannon/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— DEI Fellowship Pledging To Recruit ‘Underserved’ Legal Talent Accepted Most Privileged Students in US.
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/dei-fellowship-pledging-to-recruit

NEW YORK POST
— How Democrats’ DEI kept homebuyers in the dark about crime and schools. DD: When Democrats move in, poverty and crime increase.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/opinion/how-democrats-dei-kept-homebuyers-in-the-dark-about-crime-schools/
— Vanity Fair profile on Usha Vance claims she ‘built JD’ Vance. DD: My outstanding wife helped me a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, b) afford to take a $23,699 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31, c) earn a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, d) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, e) become a licensed CPA when I was 32, f) earn four more professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48, g) get promoted when I was 38, h) earn a master’s degree in finance when I was 48, and i) afford to take a $86,042/year (56%) loss in income in today’s dollars to retire in 1997. But before we got married, I had a) gotten promoted when I was 23, 24, and 25, b) earned an MBA when I was 27, c) earned $100,066/year in today’s dollars, and d) almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/us-news/vanity-fair-profile-on-usha-vance-claims-she-built-jd-vance/

AMAC
— Air Traffic Control Hiring Surges Under Trump. A campaign targeting video gamers hired over 2,000 controllers and hit 94% of its goal, offering pay above $155,000 after three years of training. DD: 3 years after I started working for IRS in 1971, I was earning $100,000/year in today’s dollars.  According to my critics/opponents, I was grossly overpaid. I did not earn $155,000/year in today’s dollars until after I had a) worked for GAO for almost 18 years, b) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, c) earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance), d) I earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting), and e) I earned a job-related professional license (CPA).
https://amac.us/newsline/air-traffic-control-hiring-surges-under-trump

BLAZE
— Here’s the unfiltered truth about the ‘moderate’ who beat the America-hating socialist in Wisconsin.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/heres-the-unfiltered-truth-about-the-moderate-who-beat-the-america-hating-socialist-in-wisconsin

BREITBART
— Pro-migration activists have funded some 20,000 lawsuits to release roughly 17,300 illegal migrants — including many criminals — mostly with the aid of judges nominated by President Joe Biden.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/12/pro-amnesty-groups-fund-wall-of-20000-lawsuits-to-block-migrant-deportations/
— Lindell Loses Minnesota Primary After Embracing Amnesty.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/12/mike-lindell-loses-minnesota-primary-after-embracing-amnesty/
— The Radical Left Has Control of the Democratic Party.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/12/exclusive-rep-jim-jordan-the-radical-left-has-control-of-the-democrat-party/

DAILY WIRE
— Why Socialism Is Winning With America’s Youth. DD: Socialists hint/imply/argue/shout at youth and at everyone else that all you need to do to advance under socialism is to be a socialist. Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout at youth and at everyone else that all you need to do to advance under Democrats is to be a Democrat. I worked for the Democrats who ran the Post Office, IRS, and GAO for almost 30 years. None of my Democrat coworkers came close to doing what I did to advance. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management). I earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance). I earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting). I earned a job-related professional license (CPA). But because my coworkers were Democrats, they were promoted them over me. They all 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.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-socialism-is-winning-with-americas-youth
— Democrats’ ‘Moderate’ Wisconsin Nominee Has His Own Woke Skeletons In The Closet. DD: All my critics/opponents are woke to some degree, that is, they all reject some, many, most, virtually all, if not all conservative principles and planks in the Republican Party platform..
https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-moderate-wisconsin-nominee-has-his-own-woke-skeletons-in-the-closet

FOX BUSINESS
— Jonathan Turley warns of ‘DRESS UP’ socialism schtick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrqx_4QGXoo

FOX NEWS
— Biden-era directive for diplomats to peddle DEI on foreign governments scrapped by State Department. Trump administration says diplomats should advocate national interests, not ‘woke political dogmas,’ on the world stage.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-era-directive-diplomats-peddle-dei-foreign-governments-scrapped-state-department?lid=1ejfrqce3s10
— Hong’s defeat doesn’t mean we’re ‘out of the woods’ from the socialist threat.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403305979112
— Internal fight exists between ‘regular’ Democrats and ‘crazy’ socialists.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403291974112
— This is not the end of the socialist surge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnW24OghUSQ

NRCC
— Socialists Hijack the Democrat Party, America Is Next.
https://www.nrcc.org/2026/08/12/socialists-hijack-the-democrat-party-america-is-next/

NEWSMAX
— Why Socialist Hong Lost in Wisconsin.
https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/david-crowley-francesca-hong-wisconsin/2026/08/12/id/1265932/

TOWNHALL
— Democrats Blame Capitalism for America’s Problems. But America Isn’t As Capitalist As You Think. DD: Democrat and RINO employers put hiring, retaining, and promoting Democrats and RINOs ahead of making profits.
https://townhall.com/news/dmitri-bolt/2026/08/12/is-it-socialism-or-capitalism-that-has-failed-the-united-states-n2681127

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC NEWS
— One year in, the National Guard continues to patrol Washington, D.C.  Taxpayers have spent at least $600 million on the federal deployment in the nation’s capital. President Donald Trump has declared victory, while residents call it an unnecessary “occupation.” DD: The Democrat Party platform promotes poverty and crime.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/one-year-national-guard-continues-patrol-washington-dc-rcna591956

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Homeland Security Intensifies Pursuit of Noncitizens on Voter Rolls. Immigrants who said they inadvertently registered to vote while obtaining or renewing driver’s licenses are increasingly facing deportation under the Trump administration.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/politics/noncitizens-vote-crackdown.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Islam.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/11/us/politics/muslim-voters-candidates.html

USA TODAY
— America’s 10 best colleges. DD: According to my critics/opponents, degrees from non-Ivy League colleges are worthless, that is, my 1970 degree from NIU, 1976 degree from Loyola, my 1980 degree from DePaul, and my 1997 degree from IIT are worthless.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/08/09/best-colleges-ranking-linkedin/91215754007/
— A pay cut for a steady job? Economic anxiety fuels forever jobs. DD: Who do you know who voluntarily took a pay cut to get promoted? I voluntarily took a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980. I did that to get promoted to GS-13. My Democrat IRS superiors had made it very clear that they would never promote me to GS-13 because I refused to become a Democrat. They had gotten rid of the IRS manager who had promoted me when I was 23, 24, and 25. They had disallowed my travel vouchers when I was 25. They had disallowed my education deductions when I was 29. GAO ultimately did promote me to GS-13, but not until I was 38. By then, I had become a licensed CPA when I was 32, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, and earned an MBA when I was 27. The Democrats who ran GAO would never have promoted me to GS-13 if the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer had not gotten back into power. They forced him to retire when I was 38.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personal-finance/2026/08/11/steady-job-pay-cut/91247904007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Rove: Seven Steps to Defeat Dems and the DSA. Far-left candidates give an opening to the GOP in the midterms. Can they use it wisely?
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/seven-steps-to-defeat-dems-and-the-dsa-d113b12b
— The Badger State Says No to Socialism.
https://www.wsj.com/video/series/potomac-watch-strassel/wsj-opinion-the-badger-state-says-no-to-socialism/7A61C74D-F7F4-43B0-B5D7-B588C82EBEFB
— Welfare Benefits and the ‘Disincentive Desert.’ How Americans become ensnared in the system. DD: Democrat leaders want as many people on welfare as possible because people on welfare vote for Democrats.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/poverty-welfare-benefits-work-incentives-22850530

FORBES
— Our First Socialist President.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jameskglassman/2026/08/12/our-first-socialist-president/

WASHINTON REPORTER
— Catalina Lauf ahead in final days of Florida House primary.
https://washingtonreporter.news/exclusive-catalina-lauf-ahead-in-final-days-of-house-primary-poll-shows/

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL
— DD: To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://lasentinel.net/the-american-dream-is-being-repossessed.html

HIGHER EDUCATION
— College costs for families up 10% from last year. DD: My critics/opponents ignore/dismiss/belittle my working my way through college because college costs were less back then.
https://www.highereddive.com/news/college-costs-for-families-up-10-from-last-year-poll-finds/827623/

CORNELL UNIVERSITY
— The Privilege Spectrum. DD: According to my critics/opponents, a) those who are White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time are advantaged and b) those who are minority, female, younger, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time are disadvantaged. But not only that, that a) those who are advantaged cause all the problems that those who are disadvantaged have.
https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/high-road/buffalo/privilege-spectrum

FEDWEEK
— Shared Hiring Certificates DD: I never applied to work for IRS. IRS offered me a job when I was 22 in 1971 because I had taken and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970.
https://www.fedweek.com/careers/shared-hiring-certificates-what-you-need-to-know/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A “shared certificate” is a list of job candidates who have already applied to a federal job announcement, been assessed against the job’s qualifications, and been found eligible for hire but who were not selected by the original hiring agency. Agencies that ran the original hiring action can share that certificate of eligible candidates (known as a “cert”) with other federal agencies looking to fill a similar position without those agencies having to post their own announcement.)
— Within Grade Increases and Who Gets Them. DD: My critics/opponents have always been furious that I got within grade increases while I worked for the Post Office, IRS, and GAO. In today’s dollars, my Post Office salary increased from $19.57/hour to $20.87/hour 1966-1969. My IRS salary increased from $100,059/year to $113,402/year 1974-1980. My GAO salary increased from $118,984/year to $154,682/year 1986-1997.
https://www.fedweek.com/ask/federal-pay/within-grade-increases/

MY FEDERAL RETIREMET
— 2027 CSRS / Social Security COLA Estimate DD: My critics/opponents were furious that I got COLAs while I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and that I have continued to get COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997.
https://www.myfederalretirement.com/cola-estimate/
https://www.myfederalretirement.com/fers-csrs-cola-watch/

PEW RESEARCH CENTER
— What the data says about food stamps in the U.S.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/11/14/what-the-data-says-about-food-stamps-in-the-us/

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/

August 1, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC5
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/immigrant-children-could-face-court-hearings-without-lawyers-chicago-attorneys-warn/3969082/

CBS2
— Democrats in Congress demand training, vetting information on ICE agent who killed immigrant in Maine. DD: IRS would not have hired me to be a Revenue Officer when I was 22 in 1971 if I had not had a bachelor’s degree in business and had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. The first 6 months I worked for IRS was in classroom training.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democrats-congress-ice-maine-shooting-letter-training-vetting/
— People with disabilities fear service cuts as Trump’s DOJ questions legal protections. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO’s Chicago office 1980-1997, they had me supervise all the disabled employees they hired.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-doj-disability-rights-home-care/
— Noisy motorcycle caravans creating chaos downtown, raising safety concerns from neighbors.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/motorcycle-caravans-dan-ryan-expressway-south-loop-downtown/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A caravan of hundreds of motorcycles created a loud, chaotic, and potentially dangerous situation on the Dan Ryan Expressway and in the South Loop and downtown Chicago late Thursday night. Some Chicago neighbors said it has become a summer nuisance that comes with serious safety concerns. The Caravan of motorcycles made its way from the Dan Ryan through the South Loop to downtown, where residents said it’s nothing new, but time something is done. Police experts said the solution isn’t as easy as it appears.)

WCIA
— Pritzker signs Illinois ‘language equity’ law; 24% of residents don’t speak English. DD: Everyone in America speaking English made America great.
https://www.wcia.com/news/capitol-news/pritzker-signs-illinois-language-equity-law-24-of-residents-dont-speak-english/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: With nearly 24% of Illinois residents speaking a language other than English, with Spanish being the most common, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a new law to regulate language requirements at government agencies statewide. “Illinois is a diverse state made up of people with cultural and linguistic backgrounds from around the world—hundreds of unique languages are spoken in households across the state, and those people are equally as entitled to access public services as their English-speaking counterparts,” said Pritzker. The Language Equity and Access Act requires the Governor’s Office of New Americans to partner with the Illinois Department of Human Services to create, implement, and oversee statewide language access plans for state agencies. The act requires an annual compliance report to the Governor’s Office and the Illinois General Assembly. The state says, besides Spanish, Polish, Chinese, and Tagalog are the most spoken languages in the state. “Prioritizing accessibility for people who do not speak English as a first language will open new avenues of equitable opportunities for countless Illinoisans of differing backgrounds,” said state Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago).)


FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Socialist candidates barnstorm country to grow ranks in Congress.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4671147/left-wing-candidates-flock-allies-campaign-trail-maximize-collective-influence/

NEW YORK POST
— Fed-up Spaniards lash out at socialist prime minister after migrant invasion: ‘A third-world country.’
https://nypost.com/2026/07/31/world-news/fed-up-spaniards-lash-out-at-socialist-prime-minister-after-migrant-invasion/

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Import Socialists, Get Socialism. Democratic socialists haven’t learned hard lessons from their ancestral homelands.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/import-socialists-get-socialism/

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The Fifth for Fauci and the Administrative State. Fauci was attempting to protect the myth behind the leftist narrative of “trust the science.”
https://amgreatness.com/2026/08/01/the-fifth-for-fauci-and-the-administrative-state/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Socialism and Islam: A tale of two psychoses. A dark night is descending over America.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/socialism-and-islam-a-tale-of-two-psychoses/

COLLEGE FIX
— Student debt is turning college grads into socialists.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/student-debt-is-turning-college-grads-into-socialists-column/

DAILY SIGNAL
— The Democratic Socialist Rising Class.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/31/cut-flowers-democratic-socialist/

FOX NEWS
— Socialism has become a buzzword.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402556733112
— Shocking percentage of Democrats identify as ‘democratic socialists’ according to new poll: ‘Toxic policies.’ Democratic-aligned respondents who identify as democratic socialists were primarily young White Americans.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/shocking-percentage-democrats-identify-democratic-socialists-according-new-poll-toxic-policies
— Democratic Socialists of America activists signed pledge to support, defend ‘Chinese socialism.’ The statement expresses the view that ‘the record of the socialist countries is overwhelmingly positive.’
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democratic-socialists-america-activists-signed-pledge-support-defend-chinese-socialism

HANNITY
— Mamdani-Linked Socialists Sign China Loyalty Pledge.
https://hannity.com/media-room/commie-commitment-mamdani-linked-socialists-sign-china-loyalty-pledge/

NEWSMAX
— One-Third of Democrats Identify as Democratic Socialists.
https://www.newsmax.com/us/one-third-of-democrats-identify-as-democratic-socialists-cnn-poll-finds/2026/07/31/id/1264705/

PJ MEDIA
— Where Is the Socialist Wave Really Coming From?
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/07/31/where-is-the-socialist-wave-really-coming-from-n4955681

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Vetting of ICE officer is under internal review after Maine shooting. DD: IRS would not have hired me to be a Revenue Officer when I was 22 in 1971 if I had not had a bachelor’s degree in business and had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. The first 6 months I worked for IRS was in classroom training.
https://apnews.com/article/maine-shooting-immigration-ice-vetting-9a8cfccc9e509766fb65effaa607a65b

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
— DD: Ever-increasingly, those who come to America want/need/demand massive government assistance, lack education and/or job skills, and/or have health and/or other problems.  Ever-increasingly they talk and/or act like they want to impose their language and/or their religion on America, that is, to turn America into a clone of their motherland.
https://www.ocregister.com/2026/07/31/fear-the-day-when-talented-foreigners-dont-want-to-move-here/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Democratic Voters Are Battling Over What Their Party Stands For. Some are embracing insurgent socialist candidates, and others say the party is losing itself.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/democratic-socialists-voters-why-3d25da52
— The Smithsonian’s Disdain for America. The head of the National Museum of American History doesn’t want to talk about her exhibits.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-smithsonians-disdain-for-america-8edffb1e

24/7 WALL STREET
— The RMD Tax Trap That Costs Retirees Six Figures. A $1.6 million traditional 401(k) generates a mandatory $60,400 first RMD at 73, which counts as ordinary income and grows larger every year. Adding the RMD to Social Security can push MAGI above $109,000, triggering Medicare IRMAA surcharges that won’t appear until 2028 due to a two-year lookback.
https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/07/30/the-rmd-tax-trap-that-costs-retirees-six-figures-without-these-three-moves-before-year-end/

NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION
— Tell Congress to Adequately Fund Federal Agencies. DD: I was a NTEU member 1971-1980.
https://www.nteu.org/blog/2026/07/30/tell-congress-to-adequately-fund

FED SMITH
— Federal Employees Could Get 12 Weeks of Paid Leave Under New Senate Bill. DD: My critics/opponents have always been furious about the benefits that I got a federal employee for almost 30 years and that I have continued to get as a federal retiree for almost 29 years.
https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/07/31/federal-employees-12-weeks-paid-leave-senate-bill/

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— OPM cements major shift in federal employee appeals, RIF processes. 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.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2026/07/opm-cements-major-shift-in-federal-employee-appeals-rif-processes/
— HHS violated 5,000 probationary employees’ rights with 2025 terminations. DD: I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980. My Democrat GAO superiors were furious that they could not use probationary procedures to get rid of me.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce-rightsgovernance/2026/07/hhs-violated-5000-probationary-employees-rights-with-2025-terminations/
— Some federal careers are built to end early, so what comes next? DD: Federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who are the following are expected/forced to retire as soon as they are eligible, that is, as soon as they have 30 years of service and are 55 years old: Republican, White, male, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. I am all of the aforesaid. I became eligible to take GAO’s early retirement “offer” when I was 45 in 1993. My Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take early retirement when I was 49 in 1997 because since I was 40 in 1988, I had been an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. That dramatically reduced my CSRS pension and my retirement savings.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/retirement/2026/07/some-federal-careers-are-built-to-end-early-so-what-comes-next/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— New documentary recounts ‘free-for-all attitude of cruelty’ toward axed federal employees. The movie, which was filmed during the start of the second Trump administration, examines the human and societal effects of recent federal job cuts. DD: My critics/opponents continue to be overjoyed that my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. My critics/opponents continue to ignore/dismiss/belittle that while I was a federal employee for almost 30 years, I used my personal time and my salary to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2026/07/documentary-recounts-cruelty-axed-federal-employees/415071/
— Veteran’s preference. DD: I avoided the Vietnam War draft. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, many, most, and at times, virtually all of my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and/or subordinates were Democrat veterans. They had no use for me, if not despised me, if not hated me. They blamed Republicans like me for America losing the Vietnam War. I should write about my Democrat veteran superiors who took the most/biggest adverse actions against me. They all stressed that if I had not avoided the Vietnam War draft, I would not have been able to a) earn a bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and master’s degrees when I was 27 and 31, b) earn professional certifications when I was 30 and 32, c) earn a professional license when I was 32, d) buy new cars when I was 19, 20, 23 25, and 29, e) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35, or f) get married when I was 29.
https://www.govexec.com/technology/2026/07/gsa-official-put-leave-social-media-post-saying-veterans-preference-federal-hiring-hampering-tech-recruiting/415122/

GAO
— Law Enforcement Officers: Observations on Recruitment and Retention at the Federal Level. DD: IRS and GAO have always been run by Democrats. I was an IRS Revenue Officer 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step-1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year. GAO audits IRS. I transferred from IRS to GAO when I was 31 in 1980 and worked for GAO for almost 18 years. My Democrat GAO superiors wasted my knowledge of IRS. Democrats do not want Republicans to audit Democrats. They refused to assign me to audits of IRS’s Collection Division. However, they did assign me to audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division for 3 years.
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108495
(FROM THE REPORT: From 2019 through 2024, officer resignations and retirements have increased, reducing staff at law enforcement agencies. Studies have shown that having more officers can improve public safety and reduce crime.)

July 31, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

WTTW
— Judge Expands Lawsuit Accusing CPD of Targeting Black, Latino Chicagoans With Traffic Stops to Include All Black, Latino Drivers.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/07/30/judge-expands-lawsuit-accusing-cpd-targeting-black-latino-chicagoans-traffic-stops

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Urban League report says Trump administration is harming Black Americans’ chances at American Dream. DD: To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at Blacks that Republicans cause all the problems that Blacks have. My Democrat superiors in the federal government did that. They ever-increasingly hinted/implied/argued/shouted at my many Black superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates that I caused all their problems. It all culminated when they 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.pbs.org/newshour/politics/urban-league-report-says-trump-administration-is-harming-black-americans-chances-at-american-dream
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/national-urban-league-declares-state-of-emergency-for-civil-rights-in-the-u-s-under-trump
— Most Black Americans say they never fly the American flag. DD: I have flown an American flag off my front porch 24 hours a day since September 11, 2001.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/30/black-americans-fly-flag-poll/
— Businesses should improve access for people with disabilities. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO’s Chicago office 1980-1997, they had me supervise all the disabled employees they hired.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/30/letters-073026-accessability-transit/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/07/29/immigration-midway-blitz-federal-agents-misconduct-legal-liability-guzman-state-laws
— Other cities also struggle with teen takeovers. What can Chicago learn from them? DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/07/30/chicago-teen-takeovers-other-cities-strategy-baltimore-detroit-philadelphia-washington
https://chicago.suntimes.com/teen-takeovers-chicago-public-schools-lollapalooza-tornadoes
— Illinois SNAP recipients kicked off the federal food program are getting $400 from the state. State officials estimate 100,000 people will receive the one-time benefit to help offset cuts in federal food assistance. DD: Democrat leaders want as many voters as possible on SNAP because they vote for Democrats.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/07/30/illinois-snap-recipients-kicked-off-the-federal-food-program-are-getting-400-from-the-state

SHAW LOCAL
— Illinois launches monthly payment program to help residents who lost SNAP benefits. DD: Democrat leaders want as many voters as possible on SNAP because they vote for Democrats.
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/07/30/illinois-launches-monthly-payment-program-to-help-residents-who-lost-snap-benefits/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrats promote Democrats at  Lollapalooza.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/31/the-politics-of-lolla-01018139

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/30/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-567/
— Pritzker calls Bailey a racist, in Spanish. DD: To get more votes from non-Whites, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly call Republicans racists.
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/30/pritzker-calls-bailey-a-racist-in-spanish/
(BAILEY RESPONSE: Friends, today JB Pritzker called me a racist. But this isn’t really about me. It’s about you, because this is what JB Pritzker does to people who disagree with him. If you don’t support his agenda, you’re not just wrong, you’re an extremist. You’re a racist. Tomorrow, you’re a fascist. JB will do everything that he can to make this election about anything except his own record. After nearly eight years in office, that’s the one conversation that he can’t afford to have. He doesn’t want to explain why property taxes keep climbing. He doesn’t want to explain why he doubled the gas tax. He doesn’t want to explain why Illinois families are staring at the biggest tax hike in Illinois history. He doesn’t want to explain why people are paying more and getting less, and he certainly doesn’t want to explain why repeat offenders are escaping justice. And not for nothing, when people in my own party mocked JB Pritzker’s weight, I called them out. I said it was wrong because politics should be about ideas, not personal attacks. It’s a shame that Governor Pritzker doesn’t have the class to treat the people of Illinois with that same respect. Friends, I’m not running to call people names. I’m running to lower your taxes, make Illinois affordable, give drivers a break at the pump, and keep the bad guys in jail. That’s the conversation Illinois deserves. Thank you, and God bless.)

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Pritzker Takes the Typical Democratic Party Attack Approach – “He’s Too Extreme!!”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/30/21424/

JOHN KASS
— Vallas: Governor Pritzker’s “Vulgar” Education Record.
https://johnkassnews.com/governor-pritzkers-vulgar-education-record/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Thanks to gerrymandering, over 90% of recently passed bills in Illinois were sponsored by one party. DD: I live in the racially gerrymandered 3rd Congressional District.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/thanks-to-gerrymandering-over-90-of-recently-passed-bills-in-illinois-were-sponsored-by-one-party/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— About a third of Democrats identify as democratic socialists. DD: Under socialism, all you need to do to advance is to be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is to be a Democrat. I worked for Democrats for almost 30 years. I refused to become a Democrat. None of my Democrat coworkers who they promoted over me did anything close to what I did to advance. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/30/third-democrats-identify-democratic-socialists-poll/
— DSA-backed candidates cannot legally be seated in Congress. Americans legally elected but unable to faithfully and truthfully take the oath of office because they support dismantling the Constitution cannot be seated. If you cannot take the oath, then you cannot serve.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/30/dsa-backed-candidates-cannot-legally-seated-congress/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— How universities taught an entire generation to hate the West. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination by majoring in business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4669133/postcolonial-theory-marxism-universities/
— Michigan primary tests socialism’s reach with black voters.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4668467/dsa-aligned-donavan-mckinney-sees-surge-support-cbc-members-will-black-voters-back-him/
— The government owns 28% of America — and has no clue what’s underneath it.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4669412/government-federal-land-critical-minerals/
— Trump’s failures on affordability are sinking the GOP ship for the midterm elections. DD: Democrats have always blamed Republicans for inflation. Then again, Democrats have always blamed Republicans for everything that is bad.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4669564/trump-failures-affordability-tariffs-sinking-gop-midterms/
— Government compels, culture persuades: Why Washington is ruining America. DD: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, fewer and fewer and fewer Americans are becoming productive members of society.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4669387/government-overreach-civil-society/

NEW YORK POST
— Trump gives veterans priority pass for trucking jobs after New York and California busted for illegal immigrants on the road. DD: I often drove postal trucks while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/30/us-news/trump-gives-veterans-priority-pass-for-trucking-jobs-after-new-york-and-california-busted-for-illegals-on-the-road/
— Lonnie Bunch III, the Smithsonian Institution secretary who called DEI an “integral to excellence in museum practice,” raked in over $4.4 million from 2020-2024 in base salary and added benefits.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/31/us-news/smithsonian-exec-lonnie-bunch-iii-who-said-dei-must-be-at-center-of-institutions-is-raking-in-eye-popping-salary/
— Members of Mamdani’s DSA pledge to ‘support’ and ‘defend’ China: ‘Survival of Chinese socialism is a crucial matter’
https://nypost.com/2026/07/30/us-news/members-of-mamdanis-dsa-pledge-to-support-defend-china/

AMERICAN LIBERTY
— Now Is The Time To Address The Emerging Socialism Of JD Vance.
https://americanliberty.news/commentary/now-is-the-time-to-address-the-emerging-socialism-of-jd-vance/dsimon/2026/07/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Semiautomatic firearms selling like hotcakes as gun owners try to beat clock on Colorado licensing scheme. DD: Colorado today, Illinois tomorrow.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/07/30/semiautomatic-firearms-selling-like-hotcakes-as-gun-owners-try-to-beat-clock-on-colorado-licensing-scheme-1652854/

CREATORS SYNDICATE
— America’s Peak Socialism — Abandoned a Century Ago.
https://www.creators.com/read/michael-barone

DAILY CITIZEN
— Why Parents Everywhere Should Pay Attention to the DSA’s Public School Strategy in NYC.
https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/dsa-public-school-strategy/

FEDERALIST
— Barack Obama Fathered Today’s Marxist Democrat Party.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/30/barack-obama-fathered-todays-marxist-democrat-party/

FOX NEWS
— Trump admin’s push to scrap DEI in federal government takes landmark step with new hiring rule.  DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government ever-increasingly used Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-admin-push-scrap-dei-federal-government-landmark-step-new-hiring-rule
— Socialist surge: Inside the DSA’s funding.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402495662112
— Pro-migrant socialism brings thousands to Spain.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402485537112
— We must help more people buy a home. It’s key to the American Dream. DD: What did you do to buy your first home? I bought a new townhome in University Park ( https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ ) when I was 24 in 1972. 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 $93,200. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/we-must-help-more-people-buy-home-its-key-american-dream

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Teacher Training Program Paints Parents as Oppressors.  DD: Democrats ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family. I owe all my successes in life to my parents and to their traditional marriage.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/07/teacher-training-program-allegedly-paints-parents-as-oppressors/

PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER TEAM
— Judge Stephen McGlynn, Southern Illinois U.S. District Court. DD: Judge McGlynn ran for chairman of the Illinois Republican Party in 2005.  He was one of the candidates who attended a candidate forum that I organized in Springfield the evening before the election.
https://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/2026/07/30/judge-stephen-mcglynn-southern-illinois-u-s-district-court/

TOWNHALL
— The Socialist Monster Awakens.
https://townhall.com/columnists/victordavishanson/2026/07/30/the-socialist-monster-awakens-n2680404

WESTERN JOURNAL
— Mamdani Is Setting Stage to Saddle NYC with Cash Reparations for Slavery.
https://www.westernjournal.com/watch-mamdani-open-forcing-new-yorkers-pay-cash-reparations-slavery-says-complicit/

YOUR TANGO
— Gen X & Millennials Were Taught 8 Things About Success That Sound Completely Outdated To Gen Z. DD: To get promoted, I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.yourtango.com/career/things-gen-x-millennials-taught-about-success-gen-z-sees-outdated
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For older generations, they were taught that work ethic is how you get ahead in life. Even exhaustion is a badge of honor because it’s tied into someone’s work ethic. . .Things about success that sound outdated to Gen Z but were taught to Gen X and millennials: 1. Living to work. . .3. Climbing the corporate ladder is the goal. . .6. Hard work is the key)

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Most say they wouldn’t back democratic socialist presidential candidate. DD: Ever-increasingly, to be a Democrat is to be a socialist.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5999703-democratic-socialism-presidential-support-low/
— 1 in 3 Democrats now consider themselves democratic socialists.  DD: Under socialism, all you need to do to advance is to be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is to be a Democrat. I worked for Democrats for almost 30 years. I refused to become a Democrat. None of my Democrat coworkers who they promoted over me did anything close to what I did to advance. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5999669-democrats-identify-democratic-socialists/

CNN
— A third of Democrats now identify as democratic socialists. DD: Under socialism, all you need to do to advance is to be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is to be a Democrat. I worked for Democrats for almost 30 years. I refused to become a Democrat. None of my Democrat coworkers who they promoted over me did anything close to what I did to advance. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/30/politics/cnn-poll-a-third-of-democrats-now-identify-as-democratic-socialists

CBS NEWS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation. Then again, Democrats have always blamed Republicans for everything that is bad.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-poll-analysis-cost-of-living-democrats-republicans/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Mamdani Leaves Door Open to Paying Reparations to Black New Yorkers. DD: To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promise them reparations.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/nyregion/mamdani-reparations-slavery.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. Under socialism, all you need to do to advance is to be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to advance is to be a Democrat. I worked for Democrats for almost 30 years. I refused to become a Democrat. None of my Democrat coworkers who they promoted over me did anything close to what I did to advance. I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/30/most-americans-would-not-support-democratic-socialist-president-poll-finds/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Federal hiring. DD: The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966 hired as a GS-4, currently $19.57/hour, part-time postal employee when I was 18 because I had earned a high school diploma and passed the postal employment examination. The Democrats who ran IRS in 1971 hired me as a GS-7, currently $56,409/year, Revenue Officer when I was 22 because I had earned a bachelor’s degree in business and passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. The Democrats who ran GAO in 1980 hired me as a GS-9 Step 10, currently $89,703/year, Analyst when I was 31 because I had earned an MBA and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. They hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/federal-hiring-isnt-a-one-test-fits-all-box-350cc742

NEW JERSEY
— New Jersey offers $20 million legal defense fund for noncitizens mistakenly registered to vote.
https://nj1015.com/noncitizen-voters-nj-legal-defense/

CHALKBEAT
— Teens feel unwelcome. 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.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia/2026/07/30/third-space-needed-to-address-philly-teen-safety/

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— DD: Federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Unions provide some protection. But GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized when I transferred from IRS in 1980, my Democrat GAO superiors might not have been able to take the many big adverse actions against me that they did including forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2026/07/a-key-mspb-ruling-threatens-civil-service-protections-democrats-warn/
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce-rightsgovernance/2026/07/encouraging-people-to-speak-up-is-one-challenge-protecting-them-afterward-is-another/

JD SUPRA
— Embedding E-Verify into Federal Funding: Where Immigration and Grant Compliance Converge. DD: Democrats and RINOs oppose E-Verify. Democrats because illegals vote for Democrats. RINOs because RINOs want cheap labor.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/embedding-e-verify-into-federal-funding-3801433/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in promoting socialism.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2026/07/31/ueag-j31.html

July 28, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Ethics report expected to scrutinize IL House Speaker Welch’s handling of harassment complaints.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/report-expected-detail-illinois-house-speaker-emanuel-chris-welchs-handling-harassment-complaint-harry-benton/19586740/

CBS2
— 3 men charged with stealing, vandalizing automated license plate reading cameras in Lisle.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/3-men-charged-stealing-alpr-cameras-lisle/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois GOP’s anemic fundraising underscores its life in the political wilderness
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/28/darren-bailey-jb-pritzker-margaret-croke-juliana-stratton-don-tracy/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Money talks, particularly in politics. And, right now, campaign donations are underscoring just how much of a one-party state Illinois has become. Democrats are dominating Republicans not just in the marquee races, but nearly every statewide contest. Consider the assets of our two major-party gubernatorial candidates. Incumbent JB Pritzker started July with over $3.1 million in his JB for Governor campaign fund. Republican Darren Bailey, on the other hand, began the month with less than $128,000. The fact that enthusiasm isn’t high given that Bailey lost to Pritzker in 2022 likely explains some of the disparity. So does billionaire Pritzker’s ability to self-finance — he has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars of his own fortune across his gubernatorial campaigns and seeded this reelection effort with another $25.5 million last fall. Not helping either is the shadow of an unpopular Trump administration. With conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein opting to observe from the sidelines, Republican funding has dried up. We’d argue that perhaps this is a prime opportunity for someone with more moderate conservative instincts to swoop in and fill the gap — Uihlein’s cash was both a blessing and a curse, as it tended to come with strings attached. In 2022, Uihlein gave more than $12 million directly to Bailey, doubling down on his commitment to oust Pritzker by pouring $42 million into an outside super PAC. This cycle, he has largely stayed out of statewide races. Among Bailey’s largest donors is former 2022 gubernatorial candidate Gary Rabine, who chipped in $25,000; a large sum, to be sure, but unless Bailey can start courting similar investments from other folks it won’t bridge the gap. But it’s not just the competition for governor, as Tribune reporting laid out last week. Don Tracy’s U.S. Senate bid has drawn far less financial support than his opponent, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. Stratton emerged victorious in a challenging primary thanks in large part to $10 million from Pritzker. From April 2025 through June 2026, Stratton accepted roughly $5.3 million in general-election campaign contributions, according to FEC records. Tracy’s campaign, on the other hand, took in less than $2.5 million from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, including a $2 million personal loan he made to his own campaign. In the race for comptroller, Democratic nominee Margaret Croke has double the cash on hand compared with her Republican opponent. In spite of this vast gulf, this is currently the most competitive race for a constitutional office, based on fundraising. The bigger question isn’t whether the GOP can close the fundraising gap, but whether Illinois’ increasingly one-sided political landscape is healthy for voters, who benefit most when both parties are capable of mounting a serious challenge. We don’t think so. When one party no longer worries about losing elections, the incentives change. The pressure to compromise weakens. Difficult reforms become easier to postpone. The opposition becomes less capable of forcing uncomfortable but necessary debates. That truth is made evident repeatedly. Weak political competition doesn’t affect only elections — it affects governing. A recent headline in this paper read, “Illinois Democrats’ single-party rule and diminished GOP may shield Springfield from Benton scandal reforms.” That’s our sad reality. Whether it’s Springfield’s failure to confront Illinois’ property tax burden, billion-dollar spending plans that avoid structural reform, or another legislative session that produces hundreds of new laws with comparatively little attention paid to tackling our most pressing fiscal and economic challenges, our lopsided state government isn’t yielding the results Illinois needs. A more competitive political playing field would offer voters something they’re perpetually lacking these days: Options. A little variety, which is said to be the spice of life. Or, in politics, the push and pull needed to rein in the worst impulses of both sides. It’ll take funding to give voters more of a choice in November. But cash requires confidence. And the Illinois GOP isn’t doing enough to inspire it.)
— Andy Shaw: The side of Illinois JB Pritzker would rather ignore.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/28/opinion-darren-bailey-jb-pritzker-illinois-bureaucracy/
— Chicago shouldn’t give up on addressing food deserts.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/28/editorial-save-a-lot-south-west-side-yellow-banana-grocery-food-deserts/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders want as many voters as possible on SNAP because they vote for Democrats.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/07/27/illinois-sees-16-drop-in-snap-enrollment-one-year-after-food-program-overhaul

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260727/news/daughters-fight-for-release-of-their-mother-a-green-card-holder-arrested-in-des-plaines-by-ice-last/

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Godfrey-to-discuss-video-gaming-cannabis-kratom-14444276.php

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump defends his sweeping tariffs and watches ‘America First’ drag races during Michigan stop.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/ap-trump-is-set-to-defend-his-economic-policies-in-michigan-where-new-canadian-tariffs-may-sting/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Trump visited a sprawling General Motors facility in the Detroit suburb of Milford that is a testing ground for its vehicles. He pumped a fist after watching a trio of drag races that involved muscle cars and luxury vehicles like the Corvette Z06, Cadillac Escalade V, and EV Hummer — events the announcer promised were “all America First power.” It was the kind of thundering speed the president is expecting at an IndyCar race in Washington next month, which is part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations.)

25 NEWS NOW
— Area lawmakers weigh in on speaker’s handling of allegations against disgraced representative.
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/07/28/area-lawmakers-weigh-speakers-handling-sexual-harassment-allegations-against-disgraced-representative/

ADVANTAGE NEWS
— GOP makes political push in House races amid lawmaker controversies.
https://www.advantagenews.com/news/local/gop-makes-political-push-in-house-races-amid-lawmaker-controversies/article_93f65954-1401-4498-8eb7-17992d93e599.html

CAPITOL CITY
— Brad Cole to retire from IL Municipal League. Rockford mayor Tom McNamara will succeed him.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-brad-cole-to-retire-from-il-municipal-league/

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote mote LGBTQ.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/27/taylors-tacos-is-offering-tacos-and-lgbtq-representation-on-the-west-side/

NIC FLOSI
— Chicago man led police on 100 mph chase after Wheaton carjacking.
https://www.aol.com/articles/chicago-man-led-police-100-123804000.html

POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/28/governors-unlikely-group-chat-01013209

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/28/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-779/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Support for Cessation of Treating Illegals Better Than American Citizens.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/27/support-for-cessation-of-treating-illegals-better-than-american-citizens/

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— DD: Pritzker ever-increasingly promotes more hatred.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_ad83d3c8-b90c-4305-84a9-572daef08c00.html

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois sales taxes near top in U.S.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-sales-taxes-near-top-in-u-s/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— The Lingering Miasma of Marxism. No matter how many times it’s defeated, the politics of resentment always has an audience.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-lingering-miasma-of-marxism/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Imagine America under Sharia.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/07/imagine-america-under-sharia/

BLAZE
— Rush University Medical Center still promoting DEI and trans ideology despite federal funding.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/trans-dei-hospital-federal-funds

BREITBART
— Wikipedia Labels Feminists Opposing Transgenderism Like J.K. Rowling ‘Exclusionary’
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2026/07/27/terf-war-wikipedia-labels-feminists-opposing-transgenderism-like-jk-rowling-exclusionary/

COLLEGE FIX
— UBuffalo dental school forces freshmen through DEI training on ‘structural marginalization’
https://www.thecollegefix.com/ubuffalo-dental-school-forces-freshmen-through-dei-training-on-structural-marginalization/

DAILY CALLER
— US Medical Schools Still Promote DEI Efforts.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/07/27/university-iowa-medical-school-dei-do-no-harm/

DAILY WIRE
— ‘A Car Plowed’? NYT Shredded For Sanitizing Muslim Terrorist Attack. “Was the car a Chevrolet radicalized Muslim?”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-car-plowed-nyt-shredded-for-sanitizing-muslim-terrorist-attack

FOX NEWS
— GIANNO CALDWELL: We marched for every family blue city politicians left behind. The people of Chicago deserve leaders who show up, not just at election time, but when it matters most.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/gianno-caldwell-marched-every-family-blue-city-politicians-left-behind.amp
— Trump admin targets woke schools accused of hiding students’ gender transitions from parents.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-admin-targets-woke-schools-accused-hiding-students-gender-transitions-parents

NATIONAL REVIEW
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/vice-in-america-the-new-issue-of-nr-is-out/

TOWNHALL
— Chicago Residents Are Livid After Losing More Grocery Stores.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/07/27/7-grocery-stores-shut-down-in-chicago-n2680171

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NEW YORK TIMES
— Vice and the Crisis of Liberalism. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/opinion/vice-liberalism-addiction-gambling-drugs.html
— DD: When you graduated from college, what frustrated your job search? For me, it was employers seeing me as being draft bait. They did not believe that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment would be approved. Further, my GPA was not that great because I had spent far too many hours working instead of studying. Further, I had the stigma of having been a federal employee for almost 3 years.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/business/college-graduates-job-market.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— America Is Awash in Vice. Gambling, drugs and pornography were once held at bay by the country’s Judeo-Christian moral consensus. Not any more. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/america-is-awash-in-vice-a720daac
— It Bears Repeating: Your Life Is in Your Own Hands. DD: What do your critics/opponents hold you personally responsible for? My critics/opponents hold me personally responsible for my being forced to retire when I was 49 in 1997 and for all the other adverse actions that my Democrat superiors took against me. They hold me personally responsible for all the adverse actions that the defendants in the lawsuits I filed and their lawyers have taken against me. They hold me personally responsible a) for my being thrown off the Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, b) for my being stopped from serving as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, c) for my precinct being gerrymandered in 2015, d) for my being dumped from my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship position in 2012, e) for my being dumped from the Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) Steering Committee in 2007, f) for my almost being censured by ICRC for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters in 2006, g) for my being dumped from my Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) webmaster position in 2004 and 2010, and h) for my being defeated 69 to 13 when I ran for MTRO Treasurer in 2004.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/it-bears-repeating-your-life-is-in-your-own-hands-a46aeee9

FORBES
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2026/07/17/where-is-cannabis-legal-a-guide-to-all-50-states/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2022/09/29/mr-vice-guy-meet-the-hedge-fund-vulture-who-made-120-million-betting-on-casinos-and-cannabis/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2021/12/31/forbes-vices-awards-2020-circa-downtown-vegas-first-new-casino-in-40-years/

TIME
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders have always used demographic data to get rid of Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://time.com/article/2026/07/22/trump-administration-eeoc-worker-demographic-data-requirement/

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
— The Case for Prohibiting Vice. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/case-prohibiting-vice

DEFENSE SCOOP
— Hegseth directs removal of underperformers. DD: My Democrat superiors always hinted/implied that I underperformed and that was why they took adverse actions against me. They always used the subjectivity in their performance systems against me. In my defense, extremely few of my Post Office coworkers earned a job-related bachelor’s degree like I did. Very few of my IRS and GAO coworkers earned job-related master’s degrees and professional certifications like I did. None of my coworkers earned a job-related professional license like I did. All of 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. My Democrat GAO superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal systems to a) force me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, b) always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, c) delay my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, and d) force 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 used that subjectivity to never promote me beyond GS-12, disallow my education deductions in 1978, and disallow my travel vouchers in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors used that subjectivity to force me to resign in 1969 and disallow my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran. 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.
https://defensescoop.com/2025/10/02/dod-civilian-employee-removal-procedures-underperformers-hegseth-tata-memos/

PSY
— What influences teens’ career expectations? DD: My father’s often decrying his not having a college degree had a big impact on me. It motivated me to work my way through college and to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://phys.org/news/2026-07-qa-teens-career.html

ATLANTIC
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more vice.
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2025/11/american-vice-national-character/684785/
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/02/legalized-gambling-marijuana-use-addiction/673028/

ECONOMIST
— Knowing what your colleagues earn. DD: Federal employees have always known what their superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates earn, that is, what GS Grade and Step they were. My GAO, IRS and Post Office superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates always saw that those who my Democrat superiors promoted over me 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.
https://www.economist.com/business/2025/01/23/knowing-what-your-colleagues-earn

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

INDIA TIMES
— Four in 10 employees admit sabotaging colleagues to get ahead. DD: To get promoted, my Democrat GAO, IRS, and Post Office coworkers sabotaged me. They stressed that I was conservative, Republican, draft avoider, Protestant, German American, Crete resident 1948-1972, Wheaton resident since 1978, and my ancestors had been in America since 1844.
https://hrme.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/four-in-10-employees-admit-sabotaging-colleagues-to-get-ahead-survey-finds/132574317

JUSTICE FOR ALL
— India: Caste And Implications. DD: What Caste were you born into? Neither of my parents attended college. My father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma. He never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. He almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills. He died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21, My mother never attended high school. All my grandparent spoke German. I had to work my way through college. Nevertheless, my critics/opponents have always outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically painted my parents as having been filthy rich. They have always known full-well that I did yard work 1962-1964, delivered newspapers 1962-1966, washed dishes 1964-1966, cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966, delivered mail 1966-1969, worked on an automotive assemble line in 1970, sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971, pumped more gasoline 1971-1972, collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980, and audited federal agencies 1980-1997. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those whose parents were the wealthiest.
https://www.justiceforall.org/india-caste-and-implications/

July 27, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CBS2
— Police respond to large gathering outside CTA station in Chicago’s Englewood community. A teen takeover ended with multiple people in police custody in Chicago’s Englewood community overnight Saturday into Sunday. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/police-respond-to-large-gathering-outside-cta-station-in-chicagos-englewood-community/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— In historic shift, Latino officers soon to be largest racial group in Chicago Police Department.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/27/chicago-police-racial-diversity/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/27/illinois-green-card-ice-detention/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Giannoulias’ money is reshaping the Chicago mayor’s race — before he’s even entered it.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-alexi-giannoulias-brandon-johnson-20260727/

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO
— Should Illinois require IDs to vote? Madison County residents will be asked in November.
https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-07-27/illinois-require-ids-vote-madison-county-asked-november

POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/27/states-take-center-stage-in-chicago-01012350

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Illinois Stopped from Allowing Illegal Aliens Lower Tuition Than Americans Living Out of State
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/26/illinois-stopped-from-allowing-illegal-aliens-lower-tuition-than-americans-living-out-of-state/
— $349,845 in Private Money for Each “Affordable Housing” Dwelling Unit Announced by Governor JB Pritzker
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/16/349845-affordable-housing-dwelling-united-announced-by-governor-jb-pritzker/
— Illinois Unemployment at 5.1%, Up Almost One Percentage Point from Last Year, Unemployed Up 16% Over Last Year
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/16/illinois-unemployment-at-5-1-up-almost-one-percentage-point-from-last-year-unemployed-up-16-over-last-yearr/
— McHenry County Libertarian Leader Trashes Home Rule & County Executive Form of Government by Asking Questions for Which No Answer Has Been Given
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/16/mchenry-county-libertarian-leader-trashes-home-rule-county-executive-form-of-government/
— “Court rules McHenry County must allow solar farms after County Board rejects them”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/14/court-rules-mchenry-county-must-allow-solar-farms-after-county-board-rejects-them/
— Illinois Second in Loss of Millionaires from 2010 thru 2022
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/14/illinois-second-in-loss-of-millionaires-from-2010-thru-2022/
— Northwest Herald Reporter Misses Real Reason Municipalities and McHenry County Want Home Rule Power
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/14/northwest-herald-reporter-misses-real-reason-municipalities-and-mchenry-county-wants-home-rule-power/
— UPDATE: Still Another Big Company–True Value–Taking Leave of Illinois, INDIANA KICKING IN $3.4 MILLION
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/07/13/still-another-big-company-true-value-taking-leave-of-illinois/

BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Bye, Bye In-State Tuition for Illegals & Naperville Hippies Protest the Wrong Thing.
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/07/26/bye-bye-in-state-tuition-for-illegals-naperville-hippies-protest-the-wrong-thing
— Is Pritzker China’s Favorite Governor? Follow the Money.
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/watch-listen/reveille/is-pritzker-chinas-favorite-governor-follow-the-money
— From Where Did All the Revolutionaries Come?
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/07/22/from-where-did-all-the-revolutionaries-come
— Leftism Metastasizes to and Within the Smithsonian.
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/07/25/leftism-metastasizes-to-and-within-the-smithsonian

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Proposed toll hikes would cost drivers $17 billion in next 15 years.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/proposed-toll-hikes-would-cost-drivers-17-billion-in-next-15-years/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINTON TIMES
— Congressional Democrats say AOC has emerged as party leader, but less sure about ‘28 prospects.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/24/congressional-democrats-say-aoc-emerged-party-leader-less-sure-28/
— Rural voters have soured on President Trump again, according to a new poll that found his standing with the group flipping from positive to negative in the span of a single month.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/25/rural-voters-turn-trump-poll-swings-14-points/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— DSA co-chair reaffirms calls to abolish the Senate, ICE, and borders.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/entertainment/4663817/dsa-calls-to-abolish-senate-ice-borders-interview/
— Sanders rebukes Rahm Emanuel and establishment Democrats: ‘Status quo is not working’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4663857/sanders-rahm-emanuel-establishment-democrats/

NEW YORK POST
— Mamdani, DSA aim to ‘transform’ America — by pushing barbarism.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/27/opinion/mamdani-dsa-aim-to-transform-america-by-pushing-barbarism/
— The media’s anti-Trump bias was on full display at redo of White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/opinion/michael-goodwin-the-medias-anti-trump-bias-was-on-full-display-at-re-do-of-white-house-correspondents-dinner/

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Trump’s Immigration Success—And Its Discontents.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/trumps-immigration-success-and-its-discontents/

DAILY CALLER
— DD: My critics/opponents paint themselves as being woke to curry favor with those who do not share my demographics.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/07/26/wokeness-made-people-more-respectful-and-empathetic-fuentes-says-during-hunter-biden-interview/

DAILY SIGNAL
— Obama recently gave America another reminder of how his presidency—once expected to bring the country together—left us more divided on race.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/26/trumps-america-involves-same-arguments-historical-period-that-gave-birth-klan-barack-obama-says/

EPOCH TIMES
— Half of Students Now Get A’s, but Actual Achievement Is Declining. Your child’s report card may be sending the wrong signal. Grades and GPAs increasingly reflect institutional incentives rather than academic achievement. DD: I passed the CPA examination and the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt even though my ACT score and my GPAs were not that great.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/half-of-students-now-get-as-but-actual-achievement-is-declining-6066451

FOX NEWS
— Lindsey Graham left behind modest wealth despite decades in Washington’s elite circles. Graham held nearly all assets in mutual funds and government bonds, avoiding stock trading controversies.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lindsey-graham-left-behind-modest-wealth-despite-decades-washingtons-elite-circles

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Why the U.S. Has a Culture of Dependency. DD: According to Democrat leaders, you cannot succeed in America without massive government assistance. According to my critics/opponents, I owe all my successes life to my federal employment. According to them, without my postal employment, I would not have been able to buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967, buy a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968, or graduate debt-free from NIU owning that Charger in 1970. According to them, without my IRS employment, I would not have been able to buy a new 1972 Corvette in 1971, buy real estate in 1972, 1974, 1976, or 1978, buy a new car in 1973, earn an MBA from Loyola in 1976, get married in 1978, buy a home in Wheaton in 1978, buy two new cars in 1978, or pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. According to them, without my GAO employment, I would not have been able to earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, become a licensed CPA in 1981, have a home built in Wheaton in 1984, buy collector cars in 1989 and 1994, earn professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, or earn a master’s degree in finance in 1997.
https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/commentary/why-the-us-has-culture-dependency

PJ MEDIA
— Why Is National Review Pretending Barack Obama Was a Moderate?
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/07/26/why-is-national-review-pretending-barack-obama-was-a-moderate-n4955465

PATRIOT POST
— The Hard Truth About the Sanctuary Movement.
https://patriotpost.us/opinion/129443-the-hard-truth-about-the-sanctuary-movement-2026-07-27

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Communism – It’s Back.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/07/27/communism__its_back_154369.html

TOWNHALL
— More Than Half of Democrats Support Socialism. DD: Capitalism is what made America great.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/07/26/new-poll-shows-that-more-than-half-of-democrats-support-socialism-n2680137
— Democratic Socialist Platform Includes Open Borders, Amnesty for Illegals. DD: Socialists are anti-American.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2026/07/26/democratic-socialists-co-chair-admits-platform-includes-open-borders-amnesty-n2680142

U.S. HOUSE
— More Americans Dependent on Welfare Checks, at the Expense of Work
https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2025/01/08/new-report-shows-more-americans-dependent-on-welfare-checks-at-the-expense-of-work/
— Growth of the Welfare State.
https://oversight.house.gov/release/grothman-opens-second-hearing-on-examining-the-growth-of-the-welfare-state/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Hakeem Jeffries doubles down on Dems’ and affordability ahead of midterms. DD: What did you do to help you afford things? I 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 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://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5991507-jeffries-target-gop-control/

USA TODAY
— Retiring early. DD: My Civil Service Retirement System pension is dramatically less a) because my Democrat superiors wasted my career and b) because they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. I should write about the adverse actions that my Democrat GAO superiors would have taken against me if I had tried to work to my regular retirement age of 55 in 2003. They had made it clear that they would constructively, if not literally, demote me and that they would have given me adverse transfers, bad job assignments, unfair performance expectations, and unfair performance evaluations. I continue to ask myself what exactly would have happened if I had not succumbed to their threats. Would Speaker Gingrich, Speaker Hastert, U.S. Senator Fitzgerald, U.S. Representative Hyde, and/or the Bush Administration have come to my defense? The aforesaid did not come to my defense in Diersen v. GAO.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2026/07/23/americans-retire-sooner-than-planned-retirement-saving/91011967007/
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/money/2026/07/23/many-americans-retire-early-and-face-costly-retirement-regrets/91029370007/

FLORIDA POLITICS
— New attack ad targets Jim Oberweis’ past immigration comments in CD 19 Republican Primary.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/809660-new-attack-ad-targets-jim-oberweis-past-immigration-comments-in-cd-19-republican-primary/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Republicans Who Enable Socialists. GOP lawmakers can’t agree on spending reform, so they keep funding the tax-eating nonprofits.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-republicans-who-enable-socialists-16dae2d1

FORTUNE
— DD: Were you overpaid? According to my critics/opponents, I was always grossly overpaid. They have always been furious that while I was a union member when I was a postal employee for almost 3 years 1966-1969 and then an IRS employee for almost 9 years 1971-1980, my salary increased from $19.57/hour to $113,402/year in today’s dollars. In my defense, during that time, I earned a bachelor’s degree in business, I earned an MBA, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, and I almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting. In today’s dollars, my IRS salary was $56,409/year when I was 22 in 1971, $68,999/year when I was 23, $83,482/year when I was 24, $100,059/year when I was 25, and $113,402/year when I was 31. In today’s dollars, my GAO salary was $89,703/year when I was 31, $118,984/year when I was 38, and $154,682/year when I was 49. I earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32. I earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48. I earned a master’s degree in finance when I was 48. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are minority, female, younger, veteran, disabled, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. I am none of the aforesaid.
https://fortune.com/2026/07/26/hannah-williams-salary-transparent-street-millennial-job-hopped-90k-at-23-become-salary-negotiation-guru/

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Federal employees report low productivity, morale. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, employee morale and productivity ever-increasing decreased because of Republican success in disseminating the agency.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2026/07/after-returning-to-the-office-federal-employees-report-low-productivity-morale/
— DD: Virtually all, if not all, GAO employees are Democrats. Therefore GAO cannot call itself nonpartisan. When I was 31 in 1980, I was one of the last Republicans GAO hired. Virtually all, if not all, IRS employees are Democrats. Therefore IRS cannot call itself nonpartisan. When I was 22 in 1971, I was one of the last Republicans IRS hired. Virtually all, if not all, postal employees are Democrats. Therefore USPS cannot call itself nonpartisan. When I was 18 in 1966, I was one of the last Republicans USPS hired.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/management/2026/07/after-slaughter-decision-mspb-no-longer-calling-itself-independent/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— OPM shrinks its workforce by a third, seeks further staffing cuts. DD: If I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, OPM would have offered me a job. I passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination when I was 21 in 1970. My 1970 bachelor’s degree was in personnel management. My 1976 MBA area of concentration was in personnel management.
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2026/07/opm-shrinks-its-workforce-third-seeks-further-staffing-cuts/414895/

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
— Affordability For All: It’s Time To Rescue The American Dream. 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://nul.org/news/affordability-all-its-time-rescue-american-dream

PEW RESEARCH
— NOVEMBER 23, 2015 FLASHBACK: Since the late 1990s, the public’s feelings about the federal government have tended more toward frustration than either anger or contentment. That remains the case today: 57% feel frustrated with the government, while smaller shares either feel angry (22%) or are basically content (18%). DD: Who do you know who is/was a federal employee? I was a federal employee for almost 30 years.  Who do you know who is/was a federal retiree? I have been a federal retiree for almost 29 years. Many, if not most, of my critics/opponents despise/hate federal employees and federal retirees.
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2015/11/23/2-general-opinions-about-the-federal-government/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

INDEPENDENT
— Why your town is at risk from a teen takeover this summer. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/teen-link-ups-trend-summer-snapchat-b3021125.html

July 25, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Oak Park officials deny advisory referendum on ending single family housing zoning.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/24/oak-park-zoning-referendum-vote/
— Wheaton man busted in Naperville on meth, other drug charges.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/24/naperville-meth-drugs-man-charged-fleeing/

MUSCATINE JOURNAL
— Illinois Lt. Gov. candidate Aaron Del Mar wants to talk affordability, not abortion. DD: Because Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family, people ever-increasingly cannot afford things.
https://muscatinejournal.com/news/local/government-politics/article_08e1000f-5065-57e6-a97d-3112235b231b.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/24/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-563/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— How Our Republic Is Destroyed.
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/07/how-our-republic-is-destroyed/
— Federal Lawmakers Want to End Federal Welfare Benefits for Non-Citizens.
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/07/federal-lawmakers-want-to-end-federal-welfare-benefits-for-non-citizens/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— The Quiet Killer of Illinois Conservatism.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/07/opinion-the-quiet-killer-of-illinois-conservatism.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Socialism moves from protest to power in American cities. What happens when DSA-aligned lawmakers actually have to govern.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/24/watch-susan-ferrechio-answers-questions-socialist-policies-reshaping/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ICE arrests under Trump top 602,000, DHS says, but some are skeptical.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/4661389/ice-arrests-trump-top-602k-some-are-skeptical/
— Mike Lindell urged to withdraw ‘absurd’ illegal immigration amnesty proposal.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/4661937/mike-lindell-urged-withdraw-illegal-immigration-amnesty-proposal/
— How many illegal immigrant votes is too many?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4660341/how-many-illegal-immigrant-votes-too-many-new-jersey-noncitizen-voting/
— Socialism is a ‘pie in the sky treatment’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/4662090/socialism-democratic-socialist-america-platform-byron-york/
— Genuinely Un-American: Socialists are telling us who they are — and we should believe them.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/magazine/4659723/genuinely-un-american-socialists-are-telling-us-who-they-are-and-we-should-believe-them/
— Black Democrats emerge as bulwark against socialist takeover.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4661824/black-democrats-bulwark-socialist-takeover/
— DSA endorsement tracker: Here are the socialists running for office across America.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/4657182/dsa-endorsement-tracker-socialists-running-for-office-across-america/
— DD: To get more votes from non-Whites, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Whites.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4660592/white-supremacy-culture-framework-subverts-american-values/

CITY JOURNAL
— DD: Ever-increasingly, since the 1960s, Democrat and RINO leaders have ever-increasingly forced everyone to give more preference to minorities and to females, that is, to ever-increasingly discriminate against Whites and males. I am a White male born in 1948. If I had been born later, I doubt that I would have been able to work my way through college and earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-race-reporting

FOX BUSINESS
— Trump warns of socialism as Mamdani targets NYC’s wealthy homeowners.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6402023966112
— How the Republican Party can make the case for capitalism. DD: Under socialism, all you need to do to succeed is be a socialist. Under Democrats, all you need to do to succeed is be a Democrat. Under RINOs, all you need to do to succeed is be a RINO. I never was and never will be a socialist, Democrat, or RINO.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6402054837112

FOX NEWS
— Democratic socialists are outnumbering the centrist and moderates in the Democratic Party.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402044327112
— Rahm Emanuel warns ‘Bernie bros’ could sink Democrats by saddling moderates with socialist agenda.
https://noticias.foxnews.com/media/rahm-emanuel-warns-bernie-bros-could-sink-democrats-saddling-moderates-socialist-agenda

PJ MEDIA
— Biden Regime Had Planned to Bring Millions More Illegal Migrants Into the Country.
https://pjmedia.com/robert-spencer/2026/07/24/biden-regime-had-planned-to-bring-millions-more-illegal-migrants-into-the-country-n4955430

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Democrats brush off fears within party about threat of democratic socialists.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5987225-democrats-democratic-socialists-midterms/

CNN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/ar-AA28yb43

NEWSWEEK
— Dare To Dream: Explore The American Dream Index. Don’t listen to the pessimists. The American Dream is thriving in places you might not expect—you just need to know where to look. Type in your ZIP code to find out, and explore all our interactives here. DD: I pursued the American Dream from 60417 (Crete) 1948-1972, then from 60484 (University Park) 1972-1976, then from 60601 (downtown Chicago) 1976-1978, and then from 60187/60189 (Wheaton) since 1978.
https://www.newsweek.com/dare-to-dream-explore-the-american-dream-index-12054194

NEW YORK TIMES
— He Got Fired From FEMA. His Return Could Mark a New Era for Disasters.  Cameron Hamilton defended the agency last year when President Trump talked about eliminating it. Emergency managers hope for more stability if he’s confirmed as administrator.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/climate/cameron-hamilton-fema-trump.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Socialism’s Slippery Definitions. The hard left is whatever it needs to be at the moment.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/socialisms-slippery-definitions-51c11441
— Socialism Is Whatever You Want It to Be. Definitions are available on an as-needed basis.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/socialism-is-whatever-you-want-it-to-be-17f746d3

BLOOMBERG
— DD: To get citizens of foreign countries to come to America illegally and to stay in America illegally, Democrat and RINO leader give them big public benefits.
https://www.bloomberg.com/sessions/2026-07-28/live-q-amp-a-is-the-american-dream-fading-for-international-students

BLOOMBERG LAW
— EEOC, Texas Car Dealers Reach $925,000 Deal. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? EEOC had a tremendous impact on me. When I was 22 in 1971, I accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile. But Oldsmobile withdrew that job offer because it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. Because I had accepted that offer, my Firestone Store boss rudely fired me. Because of that, I accepted a job offer from IRS.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/eeoc-texas-car-dealers-reach-925-000-deal-in-harassment-case

BUSINESS
— Competition in the Workplace. DD: Virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats. Extremely few of my Post Office coworkers earned a job-related bachelor’s degree like I did. Very few of my IRS and GAO coworkers earned job-related master’s degrees and professional certifications like I did. None of my coworkers earned a job-related professional license like I did.
https://www.business.com/articles/gal-rimon-workplace-competition/

PBS
— American Dream and How It’s Changed Over Time. 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.pbs.org/video/new-documentary-explores-the-american-dream-and-how-its-changed-over-time-nob9id/

BROOKINGS
— DD: To get citizens of foreign countries to come to America illegally and to stay in America illegally, Democrat and RINO leader give them big public benefits.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-growing-effort-to-restrict-immigrants-access-to-public-benefits/
— DD: To get more votes from non-Whites, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/sat-math-scores-mirror-and-maintain-racial-inequity/

NEA
— The Racist Beginnings of Standardized Testing. DD: My critics/opponents have always attributed my success in passing standardized tests to my benefitting tremendously from tremendous discrimination against those who share their demographics. I passed all the tests needed to earn a) a job-related bachelor’s degree, b) three job-related master’s degrees, c) six job-related professional certifications, and d) a job-related professional license. The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980 hired me because I had earned a high school diploma and had passed the postal employment test and 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 a) passed that postal employment test when I was 17 in 1966, b) passed the Federal Entrance Examination when I was 21, c) earned a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21, d) earned an MBA when I was 27, e) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, f) earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, g) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, h) became a licensed CPA when I was 32, i) earned four more job-related professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48, and j) earned a master’s degree in finance when I was 48. Overwhelmingly those who took and passed tests with me were White males.
https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/racist-beginnings-standardized-testing

July 23, 2026 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Durbin pressing for action amid possible Legionella at Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/sen-dick-durbin-pressing-general-services-administration-gsa-amid-possible-legionella-dirksen-federal-courthouse/19565422/

NBC5
— Man, 24, and woman, 27, fatally shot in car on University of Chicago campus. A weapon was recovered from the scene, police said.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/man-24-and-woman-27-fatally-shot-in-car-on-university-of-chicago-campus/3965571/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly side with Iran against America.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/23/house-passes-iran-war-resolution/
— DD: Democrat leaders continue to use Emmett Till to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/23/emmett-till-day/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 2 fatally shot in Hyde Park. A 24-year-old man and 27-year-old woman were found inside a vehicle in the 5900 block of East Ellis Avenue at 5:35 p.m. with single gunshot wounds to each of their heads, police said.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/07/23/2-fatally-shot-in-hyde-park

DAILY HERALD
— Wheaton man charged with sexually assaulting woman.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260723/news/authorities-wheaton-man-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-woman/
— Arlington Heights couple pleads guilty to vandalizing local GOP headquarters.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260723/news/arlington-heights-couple-pleads-guilty-to-vandalizing-local-gop-headquarters/

FOX32
— DD: Democrat leaders continue to use Emmett Till to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-6f7oirzh028a7g8i

RIVER BENDER
— DD: Democrat leaders continue to use Emmett Till to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/gov-pritzker-designates-emmett-till-day-in-illinois-95340.cfm?

WSIL TV
— Push to make Illinois the 51st State.
https://www.wsiltv.com/video/push-to-make-illinois-the-51st-state/video_b96da2f7-14de-531c-90bd-0f3bfe157607.html

WJOL
— Diane M. Harris Named Interim Chairman Of Joliet Township Republican Organization.
https://www.wjol.com/diane-m-harris-named-interim-chairman-of-joliet-township-republican-organization/

WGLT
— DD: The mainstream news media exists to drive Trump’s approval rating down.
https://www.wglt.org/2026-07-23/a-year-after-trump-funding-cuts-public-media-finds-support-from-audiences

NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly side with Iran against America.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-07-23/for-a-2nd-time-house-approves-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iran-in-a-rebuke-to-trump

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Here’s how Illinois election authorities guard against noncitizen voting. Officials say safeguards are in place prevent inadvertent registration.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/heres-how-illinois-election-authorities-guard-against-noncitizen-voting/

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/23/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-562/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump administration falls short of ‘mass deportations.’ New data released by DHS is disappointing.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/23/trump-administration-falls-short-mass-deportations/
— The Smithsonian’s museum of woke. Federal funding should not support ideology masquerading as history.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/23/editorial-smithsonians-museum-woke/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Medical students are being trained in left-wing activism. That puts us all in danger.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4658905/medical-students-left-wing-activism-puts-us-in-danger/
— Wikipedia is training Google and AI to lie to you.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4659114/wikipedia-training-google-and-ai-lie-to-you/
— JD Vance handed Iran $6 billion — American soldiers paid the price.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4659856/jd-vance-iran-mou-us-military-casualties-strait-hormuz/

NEW YORK POST
— Democrats’ shameful refusal to fund the Pentagon is making AOC the heart of the party.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/23/opinion/democrats-shameful-refusal-to-fund-the-pentagon-is-making-aoc-the-heart-of-the-party/
— China’s schemes are poisoning every facet of American life — and could bend us to its will.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/23/opinion/chinas-schemes-are-poisoning-every-facet-of-american-life-and-could-bend-us-to-its-will/

DAILY CALLER
— Conservative Leaders Call GOP-Led Amnesty Bill ‘Betrayal’ To Voters.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/07/23/conservative-leaders-call-gop-led-amnesty-bill-betrayal-to-voters/

FOX NEWS
— Smithsonian pushed ‘revolting’ social action training after ‘whiteness’ chart apology.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/smithsonian-pushed-revolting-social-action-training-whiteness-chart-apology-expert

NEWSMAX
— House GOP Farm Bill Draws Conservative Amnesty Fury.
https://www.newsmax.com/us/house-gop-farming/2026/07/22/id/1263724/

TOWNHALL
— Mamdani Makes It Clear He Believes International Law Trumps US Sovereignty.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/07/23/mamdani-international-law-trumps-us-law-n2680000

FROM OTHER SOURCES

THIS OLD HOUSE
— Undergrounding Power Lines. DD: I have asked ComEd to put its line underground between my subdivision and its line along the Illinois Prairie Path, and failing that, to trim the trees that are pushing the line down and to the north.
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/this-old-house/season-47/walpole-ranch-with-adu/all-about-undergrounding-power-lines