FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Evanston HS marching band reportedly faced racist, homophobic comments during game at New Ryan Field. DD: Of course, sooner or later, if not already, Democrat leaders will blame Trump for this.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/evanston-township-high-school-marching-band-reportedly-faced-racist-homophobic-comments-during-new-trier-game-ryan-field/19952182/
NBC5
— Schools investigate reports of racist, homophobic comments at New Trier-Evanston football game. DD: Of course, sooner or later, if not already, Democrat leaders will blame Trump for this.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/schools-investigate-reports-of-racist-homophobic-comments-at-new-trier-evanston-football-game-at-ryan-field/4004134/
WGN9
— Racist, homophobic comments allegedly directed at members of Evanston Township marching band during football game against New Trier. DD: Of course, sooner or later, if not already, Democrat leaders will blame Trump for this.
https://wgntv.com/news/north-suburbs/eths-new-trier-marching-band-racist-homophobic-comments/
FOX32
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly drive Trump’s approval rating down and his disapproval rating up.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/trump-approval-hits-record-low-midterms-near-poll
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Editorial: Vote ‘no’ on Cook County millionaires tax referendum.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/17/editorial-vote-no-cook-county-millionaires-tax-referendum/
— Editorial: Two-term incumbent JB Pritzker and downstate farmer Darren Bailey vie in gubernatorial rematch.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/18/editorial-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-governor-election/
— DD: Democrat leader ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/18/paris-trump-ice-arrest/
— DD: Of course, Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for Paporakis’ actions.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/18/auroras-hindu-community-still-in-shock-after-alleged-plot-to-attack-temple/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/19/opinion-aurora-attempted-mass-shooting-hindu-temple/
— Zoning. DD: My critics/opponents have always wanted public housing to be built on the south side of Roosevelt Road in my Wheaton precinct. To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/18/oak-park-residents-question-home-affordability/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Of course, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for Paporakis’ actions.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/10/17/south-asian-hate-indians-hindu-temple-aurora-trump-alexandros-paporakis-rummana-hussain
— DD: Democrat leader ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/10/18/immigrant-crosses-project-honors-silverio-villegas-gonzalez-at-his-home-parish
DAILY HERALD
— Endorsements: Lewis for Illinois Senate 24; Vrankovich for House District 47, Sanalitro for House District 48
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261018/endorsements/endorsements-lewis-for-illinois-senate-24-vrankovich-for-house-district-47-sanalitro-for-house-di/
— Dan Ugaste: 2026 candidate for Illinois House District 65.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261018/illinois-state-politics/dan-ugaste-2026-candidate-for-illinois-house-district-65/
BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Bailey says he’d draw line between personal beliefs and governing.
https://www.bnd.com/news/article317679934.html
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/10/19/let-the-mayoral-games-begin-01125854
CAPITOL FAX
https://capitolfax.com/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WIREPOINTS
https://wirepoints.org/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Jesus never preached socialism. Christian compassion calls individuals to give freely rather than politicians to redistribute by force. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. How strongly have Democrats taken over your church?
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/18/jesus-never-preached-socialism/
— Kathy Hochul pledges allegiance to criminal illegals. New York governor has her loyalties backward.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/18/kathy-hochul-pledges-allegiance-criminal-illegals/
NEW YORK POST
— California’s billionaire tax has a French connection –– and riots across the Atlantic offer a grim warning. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://nypost.com/2026/10/18/opinion/california-should-not-adopt-failed-french-socialist-ideas/
— Most Americans won’t be able to afford a house until 2031. DD: How old were you when you bought your first home and what enabled you to buy it? I was 24 in 1972 when I bought a new townhome in University Park. The down payment came from what I had earned a) working for IRS for 15 months 1971-1972, b) working for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months 1971-1972, and c) working full-time for that Firestone Store 7 months before that 1970-1971. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. But the townhome that I bought had only 1,000 square feet. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and the down payment would have been about $36,000. According to Zillow, it is currently worth only $86.900. Sadly, that says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/most-americans-won-t-able-180008674.html
— Why the left doesn’t want to face the facts about marriage. DD: The Democrat Party platform destroys traditional marriage. What has traditional marriage enable you to do? My outstanding parents and their traditional marriage enabled me to a) work my way through college, b) earn a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21 in 1970, c) get promoted in 1972, 1973, and 1974, and c) earn an MBA in 1976. My outstanding wife and our traditional marriage enabled me to a) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, c) earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, d) pass the Certified Internal Auditor Examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) become a licensed CPA in 1981, f) get promoted in 1986, g) earn four more job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and f) earn a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997.
https://nypost.com/2026/10/18/opinion/why-the-left-doesnt-want-to-face-the-facts-about-marriage/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The decline of marriage drives many of our worst social problems, but the left is silent and the right not much better. . .Comprehensive new research from the Institute for Family Studies charts the disaster geographically, outlining marriage “deserts” where nuclear families are rare and “gardens” where they flourish. . .The left hates to acknowledge it, but low marriage rates — meaning, fewer kids raised by both biological (hitched) parents — bring higher rates of poverty, crime, addiction and general misery, along with far less educational success and shorter lifespans.)
AMERICAN THINKER
— Marxism Is The Root Of All The West’s Current Evils. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for Marxism.
https://www.americanthinker.com/watch/featured/2026/10/marxism-is-the-root-of-all-the-west-s-current-evils/
— The lies leftists tell about capitalism and socialism. Whether they’re telling you that the rich get richer at the expense of others or that socialism benefits all, they’re lying. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/10/the-lies-leftists-tell-about-capitalism-and-socialism/
BLAZE
— The global meritocracy myth sells Americans’ inheritance cheap. Generations built the universities, roads, and institutions that attract talent from around the world. Now Americans are told that preferring their own citizens violates the rules.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-global-meritocracy-myth-sells-americans-inheritance-cheap
DAILY WIRE
— How Socialists Used Trump To Build A Nationwide Movement. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mrn-261018
FOX NEWS
— Mike Johnson slams Democrats’ push for big government socialism. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.fox.com/watch/clip/fmc-mvgr8f2k16jbcdox/mike-johnson-slams-democrats-push-for-big-government-socialism
LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— Socialism Is Gaining Ground Ahead of the Midterms. History Offers a Warning. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/socialism-midterms-history-warning-america
NATIONAL REVIEW
— While many commentators are nostalgic for the glory days of yesteryear, families are richer today and can afford to buy more than ever before. DD: When I was young, I was able to a) buy new cars in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1973, and 1978, b) pay for tuition and books to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970, job-related master’s degrees in 1976 and 1980, job-related professional certifications in 1979 and 1981, and a job-related professional license in 1981, and c) by real estate in 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, and 1984.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/10/the-facts-and-fictions-of-economic-nostalgia/
NEWSMAX
— Blagojevich: Omar shows Dem Party hijacked by socialists. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V_95F1Y-2Y
— Democratic Socialists Seek Concessions From Jeffries. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/dsa-concessions-jeffries/2026/10/18/id/1273182/
POLICE1
— What are the best career moves in law enforcement? DD: What did you do to get promoted? 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. That helped me to get hired in 1970, 1971, and 1980 and to get promoted in 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1986. In today’s dollars, that increased my salary from $19.57/hour in 1966 to $154,684/year in 1997.
https://www.police1.com/the-police1-beat/whats-the-best-career-move-in-law-enforcement-police1-readers-weigh-in
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— France Is Burning, and Socialism Is Holding the Match. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/10/18/france_is_burning_and_socialism_is_holding_the_match_714552.html
REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL ASSOCIATION
— 27 States Urge Supreme Court to Protect Second Amendment Rights. DD: Under the Democrats, Second Amendment rights will ever-increasingly be diminished.
https://republicanags.com/2026/09/29/27-states-urge-supreme-court-to-protect-second-amendment-rights/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican Attorneys General Kris Kobach and Jonathan Skrmetti, along with 25 other states, are leading an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the Second Amendment and reject bans on AR-15 platform rifles and other commonly owned semiautomatic rifles. The brief was filed in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, two cases before the Supreme Court concerning state and local restrictions on semiautomatic rifles.)
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— 7 highlights from JD Vance’s CBS News town hall: Iran, immigration, corruption and 2028 plans.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jd-vance-cbs-town-hall-highlights-michigan/
NEWSWEEK
— US Citizens Wrongfully Detained by ICE Could Get $500K Under New Bill. DD: What about Republican federal employees like I was who were wrongfully forced to retire by Democrat federal agencies?
https://www.newsweek.com/u-s-citizens-wrongfully-detained-by-ice-could-get-500k-under-new-bill-12584996
WUSF
— Florida’s minimum wage is rising to $15. Here’s what that means for college students. DD: In today’s dollars, I earned $19.57-$20.87/hour 1966-1969 while I worked for the Park Forest Post Office part-time during the UIC and NIU school years and full-time during the summers while I lived with my parents in Crete. That enabled me a) to buy a new 1968 442 in 1967, b) to buy a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968, c) to pay my UIC and NIU expenses, and d) to graduate debt-free from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in business in August of 1970 owning that Charger. The aforesaid made my Park Forest Post Office superiors furious. They were Democrat veterans. They saw me as being a Vietnam War draft avoider. They blamed Republican draft avoiders for America losing the Vietnam War. To get rid of me, they forced me to resign in September of 1969 falsely saying that I was not going to be available to work enough part-time hours. I was available to work every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, holiday, and every day that NIU was not in session.
https://www.wusf.org/economy-business/2026-10-18/florida-minimum-wage-rising-15-dollars-what-that-means-for-college-students
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Inside the Democratic Socialists’ Plan to Pressure Hakeem Jeffries. DSA leaders are working behind the scenes with their endorsed candidates to pressure Jeffries on progressive priorities. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/the-democratic-socialists-have-a-plan-to-push-hakeem-jeffries-to-the-left-28735026
FORBES
— DD: The interest rate for a 10-year Treasury note is currently 5.10%. Do you see that as being a good investment? Are you considering buying one? If you sell before maturity, if interest rates have gone up, you will take a loss, but if interest rate have gone down, you will gain.
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/treasury-rates/
CALIFORNIA DSA
— Joint labor/socialist effort made Tax the Rich Day on October 10 a statewide success. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.californiadsa.org/news/joint-laborsocialist-effort-made-tax-the-rich-day-on-october-10-a-statewide-success
LEGAL NEWS
— The Justice Department will be allowed to press ahead with its effort to add the weight of the federal government to a court fight challenging the city of Evanston’s race-based “reparations” program paying millions of dollars in taxpayer money to black current and former residents and their descendants. DD: In Diersen v. GAO, Bush’s Justice Department sided with my Democrat GAO superiors, that is, Bush’s Justice Department promoted race and gender based preference giving, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.legalnewsline.com/cook-county-record/feds-ok-to-join-discrimination-lawsuit-vs-evanston-racial-reparations-program/article_3fb89818-2c46-4e17-950a-fd0b1a1b7b58.html
PEW RESEARCH
— Many Americans Are Struggling to Afford Basic Necessities. DD: What helped you afford things? When I was young, I spent far less money on immediate pleasures than my peers did. I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970. I worked two jobs 1971-1972. I earned job-related master’s degrees in 1976 and 1980, job-related professional certifications in 1979 and 1981, and a job-related professional license in 1981. In today’s dollars, that increased my salary from $19.57/hour in 1966, to $100,059/year in 1974, to $113,402 in 1980, and to $154,682/year in 1997. But according to my critics/opponents, I was able to do the aforesaid only because I avoided the Vietnam War draft.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/14/many-americans-are-struggling-to-afford-basic-necessities/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 60% say they do not currently have enough income to lead the kind of life they want. 53% say they do not have emergency funds that would cover their expenses for three months. 27% cannot pay some of their monthly bills or can only make partial payments. 32% say they worry every day or almost every day about the cost of healthcare and the amount of debt they have. Overall, 70% of U.S. adults say they have cut back on spending for extras – such as eating out, streaming services or other entertainment – in the past year. And 54% say they have not been able to save money for the future.)
POLITICO
— What Americans Really Prioritize When It Comes to Affordability. DD: When you were young, compared to your peers, what did you spend less money on? I spent far less money on immediate pleasures. What did you spend more money on? I spent more money on new cars, tuition and books, and real estate. I bought new cars in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1973, and 1978. I paid for tuition and books to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree in 1970, job-related master’s degrees in 1976 and 1980, job-related professional certifications in 1979 and 1981, and a job-related professional license in 1981. I bought real estate in 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, and 1984.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/10/18/poll-prices-wages-income-affordability-issue-01123309
NEW YORKER
— How the D.S.A. Learned to Love Elections. Members of the Democratic Socialists of America believe deeply in the possibility of a class revolution. Meanwhile, they’re running for office—and winning. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/10/26/how-the-dsa-learned-to-love-elections
NEW REPUBLIC
— DD: Democrat leaders are ever-increasingly anti-American.
https://newrepublic.com/article/216766/ilhan-omar-citizenship-trump-somali-americans
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
WORLD TRIBUNE
— Islamic socialism in the USA? It all began with Barack Hussein Obama. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism.
https://worldtribune.com/islamic-socialism-in-the-usa-it-all-began-with-barack-hussein-obama/
Tag: rich
September 2, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Survey shows Naperville residents highly satisfied with city.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/01/naperville-survey-satisfied-affordability-mobility/
— Barred from speaking, Trump to skip 9/11 25th anniversary ceremony in NYC. DD: I organized Wheaton’s 2003 and 2004 9/11 ceremonies. Sadly, my critics/opponents boycotted the events.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/28/trump-snubs-911-25th-anniversary-ceremony-ground-zero/
SOUTHERN
— Del Mar’s message to Southern Illinois targets cost of living, business growth.
https://thesouthern.com/people/del-mars-message-to-southern-illinois-targets-cost-of-living-business-growth/article_84fa8859-786e-582b-8c19-92f409b054b0.html
— Six objections filed to Republican caucus nominating Anthony Decker for Marion County sheriff.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/09/01/six-objections-filed-to-republican-caucus-nominating-anthony-decker-for-sheriff/
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOHN KASS
— Vallas: SANCTUARY BOONDOGGLE
https://johnkassnews.com/sanctuary-boondoggle/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— House Democrats vow repercussions for centrists who bucked Jeffries and helped GOP force socialism vote.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/4708980/democratic-leadership-exploring-repercussions-gluesenkamp-perez-golden/
NEW YORK POST
— ICE nabs over 2K illegal migrants across NY in ‘Operation Rotten Apple’ — including child rapists, killers.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/01/us-news/ice-nabs-more-than-2k-illegal-migrants-across-new-york-in-operation-rotten-apple-including-child-rapists-murderers/
— Zuckerberg hatched secret jobs bloodbath plan to ax 60% of staff — and then it blew up in his face.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/28/tech/mark-zuckerbergs-secret-project-aimed-to-replace-60-of-staff-with-ai/
AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The Manufacture of the Left’s ‘White Adjacent’ Tactic.
https://amgreatness.com/2026/09/02/the-manufacture-of-the-lefts-white-adjacent-tactic/
DAILY WIRE
— ‘Operation Rotten Apple’: ICE Nabs Hundreds Of Illegals Released By Sanctuary New York.
“These individuals should’ve never been on our streets.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/operation-rotten-apple-ice-nabs-hundreds-of-illegals-released-by-sanctuary-new-york
https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ew-260901
FOX NEWS
— Woke stunt goes horribly wrong as Michigan Dems open convention with brutal ‘land acknowledgment.’ Michigan Democratic Convention vice chair botched a land acknowledgement, mispronouncing Anishinaabe and Potawatomi. DD: My critics/opponents have never forgiven me for my ancestors on my father’s side homesteading a 240-acre farm in southeast Crete Township and my ancestors on my mother’s side sharecropping a 180-acre farm in Grant Park along the Indiana border.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/woke-stunt-goes-horribly-wrong-michigan-dems-open-convention-brutal-land-acknowledgment
— UN pushes nations to consider slavery reparations but legal group says idea ‘not going to fly in the US.’
https://www.foxnews.com/media/un-pushes-nations-consider-slavery-reparations-legal-group-says-idea-not-going-fly-us
HOMELAND SECURITY
— More than 120 Illegal Aliens Arrested at Memphis Nightclub.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/09/01/more-120-illegal-aliens-arrested-memphis-nightclub
LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— Chicago Mayor Takes Aim At Businesses With ICE Ties.
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/chicago-mayor-businesses-ice-law-enforcement
NEWSMAX
— 192 House Democrats Vote No on Anti-Socialism Measure.
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/house-democrats-condemn/2026/09/01/id/1268063/
PJ MEDIA
— House Democrats refuse to condemn socialism, giving Republicans a strong midterm advantage.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/09/01/the-democrats-just-gave-republicans-a-huge-gift-before-the-midterms-n4956795
TOWNHALL
— Is He Running? Rahm Emanuel’s Comments on Education Sure Sound Like a 2028 Campaign Pitch.
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/09/02/rahm-emanuel-on-education-n2682269
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— ‘No polling’ where Trump is popular.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6063375-trump-haberman-approval-polls/
NEW YORK TIMES
— More Mail Ballots Are Arriving Late This Cycle, and They’re Getting Tossed. State officials say they worry about the Postal Service’s ability to deliver votes this fall. They are urging voters to mail their ballots early or use drop boxes so their votes count.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/us/politics/postal-service-mail-ballots-delays-midterms-voting.html
— It’s a Great Time to Be Rich in New York City. For pretty much everyone else, the picture is bleak. Income inequality is as entrenched as ever. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I have always been undeservedly rich. They stress that I was able to buy a) new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., b) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, and 35, c) buy collector cars when I was 40 and 45, d) etc. In my defense, a) I worked my way through college, b) I earned college degrees when I was 21, 27, 31, and 48, c) I earned professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and d) I earned a professional license that I earned when I was 32.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/02/nyregion/new-york-income-inequality.html
BUSINESS
— Competition in the Workplace. DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats a) 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) who were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time. To get promoted, they a) stressed that they were Democrat, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time, b) stressed that they were blindly loyal to the Democrat Party platform, c) painted themselves as being yes-men and yes-women, d) stressed that their spouse, if they had one, had little or no income, e) stressed if they had children, the tremendous amount of time and money they spent raising their children, and f) destroyed their fellow coworkers who were Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time.
https://www.business.com/articles/gal-rimon-workplace-competition/
INVESTOPEDIA
— Average Salary by Age: See How Earnings Progress and When Pay Peaks as You Advance in Your Career. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I was always grossly overpaid. They stress that while I was a federal union member for almost 12 years, almost 3 years while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969 and almost 9 years while I worked for IRS 1971-1980, a) my Post Office salary increased from $19.57/hour to $20.87/hour and b) my IRS salary increased from $56,409/year to $113,402/year in today’s dollars. In my defense, during that time, I earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 1970, I earned an MBA in 1976, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, and I almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting. They stress that while I worked for GAO 1980-1997, my salary increased from $89,703/year to $154,682/year in today’s dollars. In my defense, during that time, a) I earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, b) I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA in 1981, c) I earned four more job-elated professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and d) I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading in 1997.
https://www.investopedia.com/average-salary-by-age-see-how-earnings-progress-and-when-pay-peaks-as-you-advance-in-your-career-12066343
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Workers ages 35 to 44 earn the highest median income at $72,020 per year, according to Federal Reserve data. Median earnings rise from about $40,092 for ages 16 to 24 to a peak in mid-career, before falling slightly as retirement nears. Comparing your salary to others your age can offer useful context on your career progress and earning potential over time.)
CATO
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.cato.org/testimony/re-sanctuary-policies-tragic-consequences
SLATE
— Voters Are Rejecting Elderly Politicians. So What’s This 80-Year-Old Senator’s Secret? Tonight’s big Senate primary is scrambling a national trend. DD: My Democrat IRS superiors started using my age against me big time when I was 25 in 1974, that is, they started using “up-or-out” against me big time when I was 25 in 1974. According to them, if you were the following, you had to make GS-13, currently $118,984/year, by the time you were 25, or you were out: Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran. I had only made GS-12, currently $100,059/year by the time I was 25. I finally did make GS-13, but it was not until I was 38 in 1986. By then, I had a) earned an MBA when I was 27, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, c) transferred to GAO and earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, and d) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32. I never would have made GS-13 if the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer had not gotten back into power in 1985.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/09/ed-markey-seth-moulton-massachusetts-senate-primary-age.html
NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— John Fetterman’s Party-Switch Calculus. DD: Sooner or later, all my critics/opponents who claim to be Republican will officially announce that they really always have been Democrats.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/john-fettermans-party-switch-calculus.html
BUZZ FEED
— DD: What helped you become marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $110,066/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. See Money Magazine’s 4-page February 1978 article on my wife and I at https://gopillinois.com/documents/ Things that impressed me about my outstanding wife included that her first job after high school was working for the FBI. She soon became the Corporate Secretary of the U.S. League of Savings Institutions. She did much to help elect Big Jim Thompson governor in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/jeremyhayes/reasons-why-men-want-to-date-women
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
NATIONAL TRIBUNE
— Tiny Homes Address Housing Affordability And Supply. DD: I was able to buy a new townhome in University Park when I was 24 in 1972. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . But it had only 1,000 square feet. 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 $92,700. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/tiny-homes-address-housing-affordability-and-supply/
IG METALL
— The Younger Generation: No Longer Interested in Work?
https://www.igmetall.de/en/jugend/junge-beschaeftigte/interview-so-denkt-die-junge-generation
September 1, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
DAILY HERALD
— Democrats try to brush aside ‘Woke 1’
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260901/syndicated-columnists/democrats-try-to-brush-aside-woke-1/
RIVER BENDER
— Pritzker Demands Relief For Farmers Facing Soaring Fertilizer Costs From Trump’s War With Iran.
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/gov-pritzker-demands-relief-for-farmers-facing-soaring-fertilizer-costs-from-trumps-war-with-iran-96358.cfm
WGLT
— McLean County GOP calls for Republican county auditor to resign.
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-08-31/mclean-county-gop-calls-for-republican-county-auditor-to-resign
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Anderson was appointed county auditor in 2009 and has won election to the office four times. Anderson has often clashed with county officials over delayed payments, has faced questions about her office’s accounting practices and faced claims she is not responsive to county administrators and other elected officeholders. “These are not isolated political disagreements. They represent a continuing pattern involving delayed financial work, disrupted county operations, strained professional relationships and potential costs to taxpayers and community organizations,” the county GOP said, citing a 2024 WGLT report about delayed grant payments that caused the nonprofit McLean County Center for Human Services to fear for its long-term financial stability.)
COD COURIER
— COD Board Hears Renewed Concerns Over Student Trustee.
https://codcourier.org/campus-progress-and-student-concerns-recap-of-the-college-of-dupage-board-of-trustees-meeting/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Isabella “Luna” Escobar, 2025-26 student trustee, returned to public comment — speaking both for herself and on behalf of another speaker, Joanna Osorio, who could not attend — to press the board on transparency around Student Trustee Danna Gonzalez, who remained in her position following past use of racial slurs.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/09/01/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-798/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Grogan’s Unity Test: Will IL GOP Chair Condemn Close Ally Jim Durkin’s Attacks on Trump, Bailey? DD: My critics/opponents side with Durkin.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/08/grogans-unity-test-will-il-gop-chair-condemn-close-ally-jim-durkins-attacks-on-trump-bailey.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Republican Party Chairman Bob Grogan has made “party unity” the defining message of his young tenure. Now Grogan faces a simple test: Does that rule apply to his close friend and longtime political ally, former Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin? During a recent CBS News Chicago interview, Durkin launched a blistering attack on President Donald Trump and Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey — declaring Bailey’s campaign “foolish” and blaming Trump and Bailey for Republican losses in Illinois. “There’s really no election in November,” Durkin said. “Darren Bailey, this is a foolish — uh, foolish campaign that he’s moving on. He adds nothing to the equation for Republicans. He’s not gonna help the Republican Party. He’s very intolerant.” Durkin predicted Bailey would receive “the same result that he got last time,” before adding: “We’ve lost more Republicans because of people like Darren Bailey and Donald Trump in Illinois.” That creates an uncomfortable problem for Grogan. Just weeks ago, Grogan was lecturing Republicans about the need to stop attacking one another. “We have to go back to the Reagan rule, where if somebody agrees with us 80 percent of the time, they’re not a 20 percent traitor,” Grogan told Capitol News Illinois in July. “Our entire Republican team is better than the entire Democratic team, and we need to pull together. We can’t purge our way to 51 percent.” Grogan has also warned that “fratricide isn’t a good campaign strategy.” Upon becoming chairman in May, Grogan proclaimed, “Illinois Republicans are united and I’m excited to get to work electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November.” Apparently, Durkin missed the unity memo. Rather than helping elect the Republican ticket, Durkin went on Chicago television and declared the party’s nominee for governor essentially defeated while attacking the Republican president. There is also rich irony in Durkin lecturing Republicans about losing elections. Republicans held 51 Illinois House seats following the 2016 election. By the time Durkin’s final election as Republican leader was over in 2022, the caucus had fallen to just 40 — a net loss of 11 seats. Republicans lost five seats in 2022 alone. Durkin then stepped aside as leader and ultimately resigned from the legislature. Yet today, he is blaming Trump and Bailey for Republicans disappearing from Illinois government. Grogan cannot have it both ways. He cannot demand that conservatives stop attacking establishment Republicans, preach that Republicans must embrace their “80-percent” allies and condemn intra-party “fratricide” — then remain silent when one of his closest political friends publicly torches Trump and the GOP nominee for governor. Bailey won the Republican primary. Trump leads the Republican Party nationally. And Grogan is chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. If Grogan’s unity message means anything, he should publicly separate himself from Durkin’s comments and make clear that Durkin does not speak for the Illinois Republican Party. Otherwise, Republicans may reasonably conclude that Grogan’s “unity” doctrine has an exception: His friends.)
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
NEW YORK POST
— Trump warns Chicago ‘will die’ if lefty Gov. Pritzker refuses federal help after bloody weekend leaves 41 shot.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/01/us-news/trump-warns-chicago-will-die-if-lefty-gov-pritzker-refuses-federal-help-after-bloody-weekend-leaves-41-shot/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Chicago’s new contract test: Is your company leadership ‘diverse’ enough?
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/08/31/chicagos-new-contract-test-is-your-company-leadership-diverse-enough-1657035/
— It’s time for young Americans to step up. DD: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/08/31/its-time-for-young-americans-to-step-up-1656966/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Unfortunately, many students attend college without acquiring skills that employers value. They sometimes accumulate substantial debt for degrees that provide little earning power. Higher education deserves some blame for selling expensive programs with limited economic value. But students must also take responsibility for choosing an education that does not prepare them for the workplace. Government cannot guarantee prosperity. In fact, government has no money of its own. Every dollar it spends must first be taxed from someone who earned it, borrowed and repaid by future taxpayers, or created in a way that can produce inflation. America became the world’s largest and most prosperous economy because it emphasized individual freedom, personal responsibility, relatively low taxation and a limited role for government. Those principles encouraged people to work, save, invest, innovate and build. Young Americans have legitimate concerns about housing, wages and opportunity. But socialism would replace those problems with dependency, stagnation and lost freedom. The answer is not to wait for government to provide a comfortable life. It is to acquire valuable skills, embrace entrepreneurship and solve the problems standing in the way. It is time for young Americans to step up.)
BLAZE
— The left’s next phase is even worse than woke.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/rufo-lomez/the-lefts-next-phase-is-even-worse-than-woke
BREITBART
— Feds Shut Down 270 Truck Driving Schools After 239 Deaths.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/31/sean-duffy-feds-shut-down-270-truck-driving-schools-after-239-deaths/amp/
— Woke 2: Democrats Say Illegal Aliens Better Than Americans.
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/31/woke-2-democrats-say-illegal-aliens-better-than-americans/
— Vance Excoriates Democrats for Giving CDLs to Illegal Aliens.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/31/jd-vance-excoriates-democrats-giving-cdls-illegal-aliens/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Race Over Merit: Higher Education Finds New Ways to Install DEI.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/31/even-after-affirmative-actions-fall-dei-thrives-at-elite-law-schools/
FOX NEWS
— House returns to session as lawmakers face shutdown deadline, socialism resolution.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6404389340112
NEWSMAX
— Feds Boot 110 Commercial Driver Training Providers.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/department-of-transportation-sean-duffy-dhs/2026/08/31/id/1267911/
POST MILLENNIAL
— Trump admin closes 270 truck driving schools for giving licenses to illegal aliens.
https://thepostmillennial.com/trump-admin-closes-270-truck-driving-schools-for-giving-licenses-to-illegal-aliens
TOWNHALL
— Trump Blows Up at Reporter Over Question About Iran and Nukes.
https://townhall.com/news/mattvespa/2026/08/31/trump-blows-up-at-reporter-over-question-about-iran-and-nukes-n2682206
— What the Socialists Get Wrong About the Affordability Problem. DD: What did you do to afford things? I took jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I worked my way through college. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree. I earned three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://townhall.com/watch/2026/08/31/what-the-socialists-get-wrong-about-the-affordability-problem-is-everything-n2682233
— Supposed Feminist Kathy Hochul Bends the Knee to Islam.
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/08/31/kathy-hochul-hijab-n2682161
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR
— Hegseth Says Promotions, Retention to be Based on Meritocracy, Not Quotas. DD: For my Democrat GAO, IRS, and Post Office superiors, meeting/exceeding their race and gender promotion quotas was their top priority. All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats a) 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) who were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4318944/hegseth-says-promotions-retention-to-be-based-on-meritocracy-not-quotas/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Democrats propose counter to GOP’s anti-socialism resolution.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6062370-democrats-socialism-resolution/amp/
REUTERS
— Trump’s approval stuck at 33%; Democrats appear more fired up for midterms.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-approval-stuck-33-democrats-appear-more-fired-up-midterms-reutersipsos-2026-08-31/
NEW YOR TIMES
— Army Secretary Resigns After Clashes With Hegseth Over Firings. DD: My critics/opponents were always overjoyed when my Democrat GAO, IRS, and Post Office superiors took adverse actions against me. They were overjoyed when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, got rid of the GAO manager in 1987 who had arranged my transfer from IRS in 1980 and was finally able to assign me to audits of IRS and to promote me to GS-13 in 1986, delayed my promotions and never promoted me to GS-14, and forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS in 1980. They were overjoyed when my Democrat IRS superiors never promoted me to GS-13, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974, and got rid of the IRS manager in 1974 who had promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. They were overjoyed when my Democrat Post Office superiors denied my sick leave requests in 1968 and 1969 and forced me to resign in 1969.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/08/31/us/trump-news
WASHINGTON POST
— Hegseth chose loyalty over leadership — and has crippled the military. The Iran quagmire wouldn’t have happened under Trump’s first-term military leaders.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/31/hegseths-purges-pentagon-leaders-threaten-national-security/
WFIN
— DSA leader’s working-class image takes hit as public records pile up contradictions. DD: 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. My mother never attended high school. My critics/opponent stress that my great grandfather and then my grandfather on my father’s side operated Crete’s only hardware store for many years and that my great grandfather and my grandfather on my mother’s side operated a farm in Grant Park along the Indiana border for many years.
https://wfin.com/fox-political-news/dsa-leaders-working-class-image-takes-hit-as-public-records-pile-up-contradictions/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Manuel Gordillo, Gordillo’s grandfather, immigrated from Peru to the United States to practice medicine in 1958. After settling in the United States, Manuel met his future wife in St. Louis, and the couple later had Gordillo’s father, Gustavo. The obituary also notes that Gordillo’s grandfather built a successful life as a psychiatrist in Ohio, at one point serving as the president of the Ohio Psychiatric Association, casting doubt on the socialist’s claim that his parents grew up in poverty.)
KNOWLEDGE AT WHARTON
— Why Workplace Success Isn’t Just About Merit. DD: What did your coworkers do to get promoted? To get promoted, my Democrat coworkers in the federal government a) stressed that they were Democrat, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time, b) stressed that they were blindly loyal to the Democrat Party platform, c) painted themselves as being yes-men and yes-women, d) stressed that their spouse, if they had one, had little or no income, e) stressed if they had children, the tremendous amount of time and money they spent raising their children, and f) destroyed their fellow coworkers who were Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9m8K5nXoAQ
TRUTHOUT
— Trump Calls on FCC to Punish News Orgs That Publish His Bad Polling Numbers. DD: I should write about my critics/opponents and the adverse actions they had their operatives and their dupes take against me since 2000 because I included links in my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters to articles that they do not like.
https://truthout.org/articles/trump-calls-on-fcc-to-punish-news-orgs-that-publish-his-bad-polling-numbers/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
DAILY STAR
— Merit, not politics, should guide promotions.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/merit-not-politics-should-guide-promotions-4255266
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/
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 26, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— How lighthearted social media trend of ‘teen takeovers’ took serious turn in Chicago and across US. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://abc7chicago.com/post/teen-takeover-chicago-news-how-social-media-trend-took-serious-turn/19575868/
CBS2
— Teen takeover crowds Green Line ‘L’ terminal in Chicago’s Englewood community. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/teen-takeover-green-line-l-terminal-chicago-englewood-community/
WGN9
— Trump’s crusade against mail-in voting loses in federal court.
https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/president-trumps-crusade-against-mail-in-voting-loses-in-federal-court/
FOX32
— Illinois giving undocumented immigrants in-state tuition rate is unconstitutional.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-immigrants-tuition-ruling
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/24/chicago-immigration-court-removal-orders-analysis/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/25/hundreds-march-to-trump-tower-vigil-for-ice-killings/
— Illinois Democrats’ single-party rule and diminished GOP may shield Springfield from Benton scandal reforms.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/26/harry-benton-election-impact/
WGN RADIO
— Matt Dietrich, Spokesperson for the Illinois Board of Elections on that the Illinois Board of Elections does to ensure that noncitizens aren’t able to register to vote.
https://wgnradio.com/john-williams/how-secure-are-elections-in-illinois/
HERALD WHIG
— Lieutenant governor candidate Aaron Del Mar calls for grace.
https://whig.com/2026/07/25/lieutenant-governor-candidate-calls-for-grace/
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— These 9 Illinois communities say they’re interested in new nuclear facilities.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/these-9-illinois-communities-say-theyre-interested-in-new-nuclear-facilities/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The DSA’s dumbed-down definition of working class is designed to deceive. DD: I was a member of the working class 1964-1997, that is, I was a wage earner 1964-1997. My critics/opponents look down on the working class, that is, they look down on wage earners.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/4657193/dsa-dumbed-down-definition-working-class-designed-to-deceive/
NEW YORK POST
— Socialists are on the march.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/real-estate/detroit-developer-cites-tax-hikes-as-reason-big-blue-cities-like-nyc-are-struggling-socialists-are-on-the-march/
— Team Trump is wisely pushing for most illegal migrants to go home voluntarily.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/opinion/team-trump-is-wisely-pushing-for-most-illegal-migrants-to-go-home-voluntarily/
— NYC promotes nearly 100% of students in grades 3-8 despite 40% of them failing standardized tests.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/us-news/city-promotes-nearly-100-of-students-in-grades-3-8/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Bombshell Biden memo: More illegals means more illegal voters.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/bombshell-biden-memo-more-illegals-means-more-illegal-voters/
— Texas to stop teaching capitalism? Texas parents have a new fight on their hands: keeping ‘anti-racism’ out of their children’s personal finance classes.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/texas-to-stop-teaching-capitalism/
— America’s Current Socialist Trend Could End Badly.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/07/america-s-current-socialist-trend-could-end-badly/
— Red better than blue. At least from an economics perspective.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/red-better-than-blue/
BLAZE
— The socialists are coming for the Senate.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-socialists-are-coming-for-the-senate
BREITBART
— Trump to Mamdani: Stop Destroying My Home Town.
https://www.breitbart.com/crime/2026/07/25/pinkerton-trump-to-mamdani-stop-destroying-my-home-town/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Capitalism Improves Human Lives, Socialism Does the Opposite. DD: Under socialism, to advance, all you need to do is be a socialist. Under Democrats, to advance, all you need to do is be a Democrat. 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.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/01/capitalism-improves-human-lives-socialism-does-the-opposite/
DAILY WIRE
— How Democratic Socialism Went Mainstream.
https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ben-shapiro-show-explains-the-dsa
FOX NEWS
— Majority of Democratic voters support socialism. DD: How soon, if not already, will Democratic Socialists take over the DNC, the Illinois Democratic Party, your Democratic county party, and your Democratic township party?
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402114830112
— Court checks Pritzker as Trump administration scores another immigration win. The ruling invalidates the RISE Act and Illinois DREAM Act, marking another win for Trump’s immigration agenda.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/court-checks-pritzker-trump-administration-scores-another-immigration-win
— Democrats concede NJ voter-roll failure was ‘horrible’ — but reject broader fraud fears. Senators and representatives called for election integrity reforms including paper trails and software reviews
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-concede-nj-voter-roll-failure-horrible-reject-broader-fraud-fears
— Fight for Democratic Party’s future moves to Midwest as socialism gains traction. DD: How soon, if not already, will Democratic Socialists take over the DNC, the Illinois Democratic Party, your Democratic county party, and your Democratic township party?
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402121162112
— Cuban immigrant warns against rising socialism in US primaries.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402120321112
— AOC’s 2028 chances spark concerns about Democratic socialists’ rise.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402121973112?spark_wn=1
— Platner to be replaced with socialist Troy Jackson.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402114775112
— Far-left victories rip mask off Democrats as top conservative sounds alarm party is ‘way beyond socialism.’ The House Freedom Caucus chairman argues DSA-backed primary wins will make voters nervous ahead of midterm elections.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/far-left-victories-rip-mask-off-democrats-top-conservative-sounds-alarm-party-way-beyond-socialism
— The Democratic establishment fights back against the socialists.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4663234/democratic-establishment-fights-back-against-socialists/
— Economic democracy: The DSA’s plan to punish the productive and reward the lazy. 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. 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 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.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4659903/dsas-plan-to-punish-productive-and-reward-lazy/
— Fetterman: Socialism should be the UNACCEPTABLE view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GueGDcRLX5s
— Democrats are in big trouble because Black and brown voters don’t want socialism.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/democrats-big-trouble-black-brown-voters-dont-want-socialism
LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY
— The Anti-ICE Campaign Is BLM 2.0.
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/the-anti-ice-campaign-is-blm-2-0
MILITARY
— White House Wants Veterans to Replace Immigrant Truckers Who Lost Their Licenses in Crackdown. DD: I often drove postal trucks while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969.
https://www.military.com/white-house-wants-veterans-to-replace-immigrant-truckers-who-lost-their-licenses-in-crackdown
POST MILLENNIAL
— Federal judge strikes down Illinois sanctuary policy granting illegal immigrants in-state tuition, financial aid.
https://thepostmillennial.com/federal-judge-strikes-down-illinois-sanctuary-policy-granting-illegal-immigrants-in-state-tuition-financial-aid.
— Alaska sends over 3,000 letters asking voters to prove citizenship. DD: It seems that to prove that you were born in America and/or that either of your parents were American citizens is to prove that you are an American citizen.
https://thepostmillennial.com/alaska-sends-over-3000-letters-asking-voters-to-prove-citizenship
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Karl Rove: Dem Socialism a Gift to GOP.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/07/25/karl_rove_dem_socialism_a_gift_to_gop_706151.html
TOWNHALL
— Democratic Socialists Are Obsessed With Abortion.
https://townhall.com/columnists/derekhunter/2026/07/26/democratic-socialists-are-obsessed-with-abortion-n2680134
— Communism—the Religion of Hate.
https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2026/07/26/communismthe-religion-of-hate-n2680127
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Mamdani’s ‘fair share’ myth joins a growing corpus of socialist fables. DD: According to my critics/opponents, I was always grossly overpaid. In my defense, I worked my way through college and I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5989614-socialist-mythology-wealthy-taxpayers/
AOL
— The Minimum Salary You Need To Feel Financially Stable in Every State in 2026. DD: In Illinois, it is $83,000/year. I did not start earning $83,000/year in today’s dollars until I was 24 in 1973. By then, I had earned a bachelor’s degree in business from NIU, worked for IRS for 2 years, bought a new 1972 Corvette, bought a new townhome in University Park, and completed six graduate evening business courses at Loyola.
https://www.aol.com/articles/minimum-salary-feel-financially-stable-180011000.html
CNN
— GAO: More Amazon workers are turning to SNAP and Medicaid to make ends meet. DD: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I passed that postal employment test when I was 17 in 1966. I passed the Federal Entrance Examination when I was 21. I earned a bachelor’s degree in business when I was 21. I earned an MBA when I was 27. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30. I earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32. I 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.
https://www.wxow.com/news/top-stories/more-amazon-and-gig-workers-are-turning-to-snap-and-medicaid-to-make-ends-meet/article_a5034c35-42e9-521b-b91a-e6281fd08371.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Employed but still in need of assistance. GAO, which also looked at 2024 Census data, found that nearly 14 million adults who worked at some point that year were enrolled in Medicaid, and 10.6 million adults lived in households that received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the formal name for food stamps. They mostly worked full-time schedules, and a majority worked in one of five occupations, including transportation and food preparation and serving. In 2020, about 12 million wage-earning adults were covered by Medicaid, and 9 million received food stamps, according to the earlier GAO report, which looked at Census data from the prior year. To qualify for food stamps, applicants must earn less than 130% of the federal poverty level, or about $42,000 a year for a family of four. (Some states have higher income limits.) Medicaid recipients can earn no more than 138% of the federal poverty limit, or about $22,000 for an individual, though some states that did not expand the program to low-income adults have lower income thresholds.)
NEW YORK TIMES
— Democratic Socialists Are Winning Big. Now They Want Action. The Democratic Socialists of America, after a string of election victories in New York, is eager to tax the rich and enact anti-Israel policies. DD: How soon, if not already, will Democratic Socialists take over the DNC, the Illinois Democratic Party, your Democratic county party, and your Democratic township party?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/nyregion/dsa-tax-rich-hochul-mamdani.html
— Gen Z-ers Don’t See the Point of Ambition. DD: How ambitious were your peers? 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. 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 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.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/opinion/gen-z-ambition-millennials-career.html
USA TODAY
— What the Supreme Court’s test for gun rules could mean for AR-15 bans. After appearing to loosen a restrictive test for gun regulations two years ago, the Supreme Court tacked back to the right this term. An even bigger Second Amendment case is up next.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/26/supreme-courts-historical-test-guns-ar-15/91012945007/
— Student debt has grads becoming socialists. It’s not the answer.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/07/26/college-degree-jobs-money-socialism/91014847007/
— New cars cost nearly $50K. Here are 5 affordable car brands under $40K. DD: Back in the good old days, that is, during the 1960s and 1970s. I was able to earn enough money to buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, and 29.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/shopping/new-cars/2026/07/14/best-affordable-cars-under-40k/90915827007/
NEW YORK SUN
— Third World-ism Emerging as the Ultimate Driver of the Democratic Socialist Agenda. The far left aspires to fulfill President Obama’s goal of ‘fundamentally transforming’ America.
https://www.nysun.com/article/third-world-ism-emerging-as-the-ultimate-driver-of-the-democratic-socialist-agenda
— Silence of America’s Surging Socialists Speaks Volumes as Nicaragua’s Ortega Ends Democracy.
https://www.nysun.com/article/silence-of-americas-surging-socialists-speaks-volumes-as-nicaraguas-ortega-ends-democracy
DALLAS EXPRESS
— Just 12% Of U.S. Adults Call Four-Year Schools Affordable. DD: Back in the good old days, even though no one thought I was college material, I took college preparatory courses, I got an ACT score of 24, I graduated in the upper 20% of my high school class, I got accepted by UIC, I worked my way through college by working for the Park Forest Post Office part-time during the school years and full-time during the summers, and I graduated debt-free from NIU in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in business and owning a 1969 Dodge Charger SE. I could not have done that if my parents had not provided me with room and board while I took classes at UIC 1966-1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969 to keep my Post Office job, and the summer of 1969.
https://dallasexpress.com/education/college-costs-under-fire-just-12-of-u-s-adults-call-four-year-schools-affordable/
TAMPA FREE PRESS
— Wealthy Elites, Not The Working Class, Are Driving Socialist Push.
https://www.tampafp.com/victor-davis-hanson-wealthy-elites-not-the-working-class-are-driving-socialist-push/
YONKERS TIMES
— Should the United States Have a $25 Minimum Wage? DD: I did not start earning $25/hour in today’s dollar s until after I had earned a bachelor’s degree in business and had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination.
https://yonkerstimes.com/should-the-united-states-have-a-25-minimum-wage/
COMMON DREAMS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/aoc-on-communism
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
— ‘Teen takeovers’ started as a social media trend. But now the phenomenon has taken a sinister turn. DD: What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/teen-takeovers-social-media-trend-us-police-chicago-b3021501.html
July 21, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/21/chicago-aldermen-ice-out-pledge/
— DuPage board followed law when approving salary increases, state’s attorney says.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/21/dupage-attorney-clerk-board-salaries-violation-open/
— Stressed parents. DD: My Democrat GAO superiors 1980-1997 a) decried the time and money that they spent raising their children and b) decried the little or no income that their spouses had. They used against me big time a) my wife and I giving up trying to have children without trying IVF, our not adopting, and our not becoming foster parents and b) my wife’s good job. According to them, were it not for the aforesaid, we would not have been able to buy two new cars and a home in Wheaton when we got married in 1978 and I would not have been able a) to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, c) to earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, d) to pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) to become a licensed CPA in 1981, or f) to have a home built in Wheaton in 1984. 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. Should write about my Democrat GAO superiors?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/21/naperville-zip-most-stressed-parents-illinois-mission/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/07/21/chicago-police-directives-ice-agents-law-violations-operation-midway-blitz
— Bipartisan housing bill is just one step toward expanding homeownership. DD: University Park was a federally-backed “new town” approved by HUD in 1968 under Title IV of the New Communities Act. It was designed as a racially integrated, planned suburb. Because of that backing, I was able to buy a new townhome in University Park when I was 24 in 1972. My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued that I knowingly, unfairly, and wrongly benefitted from that backing because the township I bought was earmarked for Blacks.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/07/20/bipartisan-housing-bill-affordable-rents-mortgage-congress-marc-morial
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Housing is more than shelter. Home ownership is the primary pathway many families use to build wealth, create financial security and pass opportunity from one generation to the next. When families cannot afford a home, cannot access fair financing or are displaced by rising costs, the consequences ripple through entire communities. The challenges are particularly acute in Black communities and other historically marginalized neighborhoods, where decades of redlining, appraisal bias, discriminatory lending practices and unequal access to credit have limited opportunities for home ownership and wealth creation. The home ownership gap did not emerge by accident, and it will not disappear on its own.)
WGEM
— Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial candidate makes campaign stop in Quincy.
https://www.wgem.com/2026/07/21/illinois-lieutenant-gubernatorial-candidate-makes-campaign-stop-quincy/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “There’s 102 counties in Illinois, 97 are ruby red Republican rural areas of Illinois. You need to go out there and govern for everyone and if you don’t actually put your boots on the ground, if you don’t go to these communities and talk to the people and see what the challenges are on that level, you can’t effectively govern,” Del Mar said.)
NPR ILLINOIS
— Bailey seeks to classify any organization receiving $10K in state grants as a ‘public body’
https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2026-07-21/bailey-seeks-to-classify-any-organization-receiving-10k-in-state-grants-as-a-public-body
— Smithsonian too focused on ‘oppressors and the oppressed,’ say House Republicans. DD: All my ancestors immigrated from what is now Germany during the 1840s and 1850s. They always lived in northeast Illinois. They never were in a position to oppress anyone and they never did oppress anyone.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-07-21/smithsonian-too-focused-on-oppressors-and-the-oppressed-say-house-republicans
ILLINOIS SENATE DEMOCRATS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/?view=article&id=7044:illinois-legislative-latino-caucus-responds-to-continued-escalation-of-ice-involvement
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— The fight over the future of renters’ rights in Chicago is heating up, as supporters of a proposal put forth by Mayor Brandon Johnson are blasting a competing measure as the “Chicago landlord’s big, beautiful bill.” DD: I was a reluctant landlord 1976-1984. I rented out my University Park townhome because I would have had to suffer a big loss to sell it. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/21/big-beautiful-bill-for-landlords-tenant-groups-slam-counterproposal-to-mayors-housing-plan/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/21/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-560/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. Republican candidates should show how their following conservative principles enabled their successes in life. The more conservative principles that you follow, the more successes that you will have in life. The more liberal principles that you follow, the fewer successes and the more problems that you will have in life. My following conservative principles enabled me to a) buy new cars when I was 17 in 1966, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., b) earn a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21, c) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, etc. d) earn an MBA at Loyola when I was 27, e) get married when I was 29, f) pass the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, g) earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul when I was 31, h) pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt when I was 32, i) become a licensed CPA when I was 32, j) earn four more professional certifications when I was 41, 45, 47, and 48, and k) earn a master’s degree in finance when I was 48. To qualify myself for better paying jobs, I always made earning job-related college degrees, professional certifications, and a professional license a high priority. I drank very little booze and I never used pot. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What delayed/harmed/stopped your successes in life? Instead of studying, I spent far too many hours washing dishes in Chicago Heights while I was student at Crete-Monee High School 1964-1966 to buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint before I graduated to use to commute to/from my parents’ home in Crete and classes at UIC. Instead of studying, I spent far too many hours delivering mail for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1968 while I was a student at UIC so that I could buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967 and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968. Consequently, my ACT score was only 24, I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my high school class, and my UIC and NIU GPAs suffered. Further, I should have majored in accounting at UIC, NIU, and Loyola. I did not start taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul until I was 27. I did not take and pass the CPA examination on my first attempt until I was 30. I did not earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul until I was 31. I did not take and pass on my first attempt the Certified Internal Auditor examination and become a licensed CPA until I was 32. By then, it was too late. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What could you have done to get promoted, but you refused to do? I refused to become a Democrat while I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. Further, virtually all their employees who they assigned me to supervise were Democrats who were minority, female, younger, veteran, disabled, non-Protestant, non-German American, had ancestors who had not been in American for a long time, and/or had performance problems. While I carried out their orders to give them preference, they always wanted me to give them even more preference. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— New Jersey finds 6,600 noncitizens registered to vote and hundreds voting.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/21/new-jersey-finds-6600-noncitizens-registered-vote-hundreds-voting/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— At 250 years, postliberalism risks undoing America.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4630841/250-years-postliberalism-risks-undoing-america/
— The unknown Darline Graham.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/daily-memo/4658078/the-unknown-darline-graham/
NEW YORK POST
— Mamdani and his DSA comrades have one goal — a communist revolution in America.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/19/opinion/mamdani-and-his-dsa-comrades-have-one-goal-a-us-communist-revolution/
AMERICAN SPECTATOR
— China’s Treacherous Assault on American Elections.
https://spectator.org/chinas-treacherous-assault-on-american-elections/
AMERICAN THINKER
— The Odyssey: Nolan’s Toxic Assault On Western Civilization.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/07/the-odyssey-nolan-s-toxic-assault-on-western-civilization/#google_vignette
GATEWAY PUNDIT
— United Airlines Offers Free Flight Changes to Avoid Landing at Newly Named ‘President Donald J. Trump International Airport’
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/07/united-airlines-offers-free-flight-changes-avoid-landing/
NEWSMAX
— Wealth-Bashing Dems Do Nothing for America.
https://www.newsmax.com/robtaub/affluence-sanders/2026/07/20/id/1263460/
TOWNHALL
— Islam and the Left Will Both Bring Tyranny.
https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2026/07/21/islam-and-the-left-will-both-bring-tyranny-n2679820
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— DD: Trump fired a U.S. Attorney because the judges who picked him did not consult with Trump. Who did my Democrat GAO superiors consult with before they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997? GAO works for Congress. My U.S. Congressman was Henry Hyde and my U.S. Senators were Carol Moseley-Braun and Dick Durbin.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roger-rogoff-us-attorney-seattle-trump-firing-lawsuit/
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Liberalism promotes poverty and crime.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/opinion/liberalism-democratic-socialists-future.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Liberalism promotes poverty and crime.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/24/conservatism-progressivism-liberalism/
NEW YORK STATE UNIVERSITY
— DD: Liberalism promotes poverty and crime.
https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2020/november/conservatives-and-liberals-motivated-by-different-psychological-.html
AMERICAN PROSPECT
— How the Republican Party Forgot It Was Conservative.
https://prospect.org/2026/03/27/apr-2026-magazine-how-republican-party-forgot-it-was-conservative/
GALLUP
— DD: Liberalism promotes poverty and crime.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/609914/women-become-liberal-men-mostly-stable.aspx
July 15, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Graham Platner’s implosion should be a dire warning to Democrats. Is the party listening?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/15/editorial-graham-platners-implosion-should-be-a-dire-warning-to-democrats-is-the-party-listening/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism. How soon will the Democrat Party officially change its name to the Socialist Party? For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats who are
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/15/column-socialist-democrats-center-majority-washington/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2026/07/14/maine-ice-shooting-man-killed/4e1a0ba8-7f8f-11f1-8a16-393bd03340b0_story.html
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/14/ice-suspends-most-vehicle-stops/
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— DOJ threatens to prosecute election officials over noncitizen voting
https://www.rrstar.com/story/news/state/2026/07/15/doj-threatens-state-officials-with-prosecution-over-noncitizen-votes/90701312007/
EVANSTON NOW
— Mayor Daniel Biss Monday night defended an Evanston pro-Palestine group’s participation in the 4th of July parade against claims by members of a Jewish group that it should have been banned. DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who have done the most since 1978 to diminish/stop Republican participation in Wheaton Independence Day parades.
https://evanstonnow.com/biss-defends-parade-free-speech/
STATE LINE
— Pritzker signs Certificate of Innocence Act to expand Illinois restitution laws. DD: My critics/opponents have taken many big adverse actions against me. Should I try to get exonerated?
https://www.mystateline.com/news/gov-pritzker-signs-certificate-of-innocence-act-to-expand-illinois-restitution-laws/
WBEZ
— Mayor Johnson’s controversial plan to crack down on ICE agents now faces City Council scrutiny
https://www.wbez.org/politics/2026/07/15/brandon-johnson-city-council-ice-immigration-midway-blitz
POLITICO ILLINOIS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/07/15/pritzker-hochul-diverge-on-data-centers-00997971
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— 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/
BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Ammons Indictment Exposes the Useless NGO Spending in the IL Budget
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/07/13/ammons-indictment-exposes-the-useless-ngo-spending-in-the-il-budget
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The New York Times stumped for Stalin. Now it’s mooning over Mamdani.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4645547/new-york-times-mooning-over-mamdani-socialism/
NEW YORK POST
— Maine socialists try again — with another he-man fake to sub for Graham Platner.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/opinion/maine-socialists-boost-another-he-man-fake-after-graham-platner/
— DD: LGBTQ advocates destroy those who do not advocate LGBTQ.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/west-hollywoods-lindsey-graham-tribute-sparks-debate-over-his-lgbtq-record/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— The birthright citizenship battle is back.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/07/14/the-birthright-citizenship-battle-is-back-and-the-left-is-nervous-1650502/
— CNBC mocked for list of top 10 worst states to live – they are ALL red.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/07/14/cnbc-mocked-for-list-of-top-10-worst-states-to-live-they-are-all-red-1650489/
BLAZE
— CNBC’s ‘worst states’ ranking under fire for scoring conservative policies as negatives.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/cnbcs-worst-states-ranking-under-fire-for-scoring-conservative-policies-as-negatives
BRITBART
— Socialists Will ‘Absolutely Rip Apart’ the Democrat Party.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/07/14/gop-rep-gill-socialists-will-absolutely-rip-apart-the-democrat-party/
DAILY CALLER
— Deranged American Rich Kids Are America’s Greatest Threat.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/07/14/ingersoll-deranged-american-rich-kids-leftists-marxism-education/
DAILY SIGNAL
— New York Times Countersues Trump Admin in DEI Hiring Case. DD: The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/14/new-york-times-countersues-dei/
FOX BUSINESS
— Democratic socialists erupt over 2028 endorsement.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6401119900112
FOX NEWS
— College students reveal political ignorance on Trump, Iran and socialism.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6401116345112
NEW AMERICAN
— DSA’s New Plan: Abolish Senate, Amnesty for Illegals — Deliver Madison’s “Tyranny”
https://thenewamerican.com/uncategorised/dsas-new-plan-abolish-senate-amnesty-for-illegals-deliver-madisons-tyranny/
U.S. HOUSE
— DEI is Discriminatory and Illegal. DD: Since the 1960s, my critics/opponents have used Affirmative Action and DEI against me.
https://oversight.house.gov/release/hearing-wrap-up-dei-is-discriminatory-and-illegal/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
YAHOO
— Johnson warns of socialist, communist, ‘barbarians in the gate,’ during GOP briefing.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/johnson-warns-socialist-communist-barbarians-210303192.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/us/hegseth-blocks-navy-promotions.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Federal Hiring. If I had not earned a high school diploma and passed the employment test, the Democrats who ran the Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. If I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in business, Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970. If I had not passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I have not been taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola, my Democrat IRS superiors would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not earned an MBA from Loyola and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired me in 1980.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/federal-hiring-isnt-a-one-test-fits-all-box-350cc742
DESERET NEWS
— The socialists trying to reshape the Democratic Party. Is communism making a comeback?
https://www.deseret.com/politics/2026/07/14/are-democratic-socialists-of-america-communists-like-president-trump-says/
DALLAS EXPRESS
— What The Democratic Socialists Of America Want.
https://dallasexpress.com/national/democratic-socialists-of-americas-plan-to-remake-america/
INTER NEWS GROUP
— JD Vance’s New Neighbors Are Furious About His Arrival. DD: Those who have demographics that vote for Democrats do not want those who have demographics that vote for Republicans to be their neighbors. I base that on my having been the Republican Committeeman for my precinct since 1999. Since then, about 4 out of every 5 times when a Republican home is sold in my precinct, Democrats buy it. Since Trump got elected in 2016, things have gotten ever-increasingly worse. Democrat homebuyers especially do not want Republican neighbors who share Trump’s demographics: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, draft avoider, Protestant, German American, and have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. Because I share all of the aforesaid demographics with Trump and because I am their Republican Precinct Committeeman, I am ever-increasingly unpopular in my precinct, if not persona non grata, if not despised/hated. The hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters in my precinct ever-increasingly take their hatred against Trump out on me. It is caller displaced aggression. Should I write about that? Should I wear a body camera when I go door-to-door delivering Republican campaign literature for my self-defense?
https://internewsgroup.com/2026/07/jd-vances-new-neighbors-are-furious-about-his-arrival/
FORBES
— Meritocracy. DD: All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2026/05/19/the-myth-of-meritocracy-and-other-outdated-beliefs-women-are-told-at-work/
CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
— Lessons In Vetting: Don’t Just Google Your Candidate. Before you agree to work for a political candidate make sure you do more than a Google search. This article lays out the key rules for vetting candidates. DD: Far too many run for offices as Republicans and get elected as Republicans who have far too much baggage, that is, far too many skeletons in their closets. I should write about candidates on ballots in my precinct since 2000 who ran as Republicans, but had far too much baggage, that is, far too many skeletons in their closets. I would focus on those who had their political consultants, major donors, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers destroy me because I refused to cover up their wrongdoing.
https://campaignsandelections.com/industry-news/lessons-in-vetting-don-t-just-google-your-candidate/
NEW REPUBLIC
— The ICE agent who shot and killed a 26-year-old Colombian immigrant in Biddeford, Maine, Monday morning had been with the agency for just a few short months. DD: The first 6 months that I worked for IRS in 1971 was in classroom training.
https://newrepublic.com/post/213081/new-details-ice-agent-fatal-maine-shooting
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
STANDARD
— Meritocracy: The foundation of strong institutions and national prosperity. DD: All of my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/amp/opinion/article/2001552327/meritocracy-the-foundation-of-strong-institutions-and-national-prosperity
June 5, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Bears’ Board of Directors votes to advance stadium development in Hammond, Indiana
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-bears-board-directors-vote-advance-stadium-development-hammond-indiana-espn-sources/19240596/
NBC5
— How far is Hammond, Indiana, from Chicago? What to know as Bears ‘advance’ stadium project. A Friday afternoon, rush-hour drive to Hammond was said to take 40 minutes, with Google Maps estimating typical travel times between 26 and 45 minutes, depending on the time of day.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/nfl/chicago-bears/how-far-is-hammond-indiana-from-chicago-what-to-know-as-bears-advance-stadium-project/3944735/
— Mayor of Arlington Heights responds as Bears move forward with Indiana stadium plans
https://www.nbcchicago.com/chicago-sports-bears-sox-cubs-bulls-blackhawks/mayor-of-arlington-heights-responds-to-bears-moving-ahead-with-indiana-plans/3944683/
— ‘Not surprising’: Illinois lawmakers react to Bears’ announcement on Indiana stadium plans
https://www.nbcchicago.com/chicago-sports-bears-sox-cubs-bulls-blackhawks/not-surprising-illinois-lawmakers-react-to-bears-announcement-on-indiana-stadium-plans/3944629/
CBS2
— Bears fans divided in reaction to team’s decision to focus on Hammond for new stadium
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-bears-fans-reacation-hammond-indiana-stadium/
WGN RADIO
— Who is to blame if the Bears move to Indiana?
https://wgnradio.com/john-williams/newsclick/the-john-williams-newsclick-7/#/questions
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders attack Bailey.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/05/darren-bailey-reset-image/
— Bears say they will proceed with plans for a stadium in Hammond
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/05/chicago-bears-stadium-indiana-vote/
— Get used to ‘Bear Down, Hammond Bears’ as Illinois’ reputation gets tackled for a loss
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/05/editorial-chicago-bears-stadium-hammond-springfield-reputation-pritzker/
— Side-by-side Wheaton mansions for sale for $2.4M and $3.3M. DD: These homes are in my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/05/wheaton-mansions/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two adjoining mansions located at the end of a long, private lane in Wheaton — and that were built at the same time — are on the market for $2.4 million and $3.3 million. The two homes, located immediately west of the Chicago Golf Club, occupy historic ground. Together, they sit on the 3.4-acre site that once held a rambling mansion called Overlinks, which had been designed by architect Jarvis Hunt and built in 1897 for Chicago Golf Club member and influential Chicago Board of Trade member Edward S. Worthington. Overlinks was demolished around 1990, and soon afterward, longtime homebuilder Harold “Mac” Airhart, who died on April 16 at age 86, subdivided the land and constructed the two mansions, one of which became Airhart’s own personal home. Airhart, a Wheaton College alumnus and a longtime Wheaton College trustee, in 1964 founded Airhart Construction, which now has constructed more than 1,800 homes. Even before Airhart’s passing, he and his wife, Vonla, had one of the two homes, their own, five-bedroom, 5,794-square-foot Georgian-style home, on the market. It’s available for $2.4 million. Situated on 1.61 acres, the Airhart mansion has 4 1/2 bathrooms, a grand foyer, soaring ceilings, millwork, a great room with a fireplace, an adjacent octagon-shaped sunroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, a library with custom built-ins and architectural molding and a kitchen with granite countertops, newer appliances and two pantries. Other features include a primary bedroom suite with a walk-in wardrobe and a finished walkout lower level. Outside on the property are hosta beds, mature trees, a three-car garage and a 60-foot-by-60-foot motor court. “This is a fabulous house and 1.6-acre lot,” listing agent Pattie Murray of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices told Elite Street. “It has such grandeur. I think it is one of the most iconic, beautiful places near Chicago Golf.” The Airhart house currently is listed in an agents-only private listing network. Airhart and his wife, Vonla, who spent winters in Naples, Florida, previously had listed the house for $2.35 million from 2011 until 2013, when they cut their asking price to just under $2.3 million. They took the home off the market later that year. Also for sale in an agents-only private listing network is the five-bedroom, 6,504-square-foot mansion immediately to the east. Listed on Tuesday for $3.3 million and known as Grey Walls, the home was constructed by Airhart’s firm and designed by Chicago architect Richard Hague. Its first owner, former Amoco CEO H. Laurance Fuller, owned the mansion from its completion in 1992 until 2004, when he sold it to spend more time at homes in South Carolina and Massachusetts. The mansion was inspired by — and takes its name from — Greywalls, the onetime country house on Scotland’s east coast that borders the Muirfield golf links there and now functions as a hotel. With 10,000 square feet of total space including the lower level, the Grey Walls mansion in Wheaton has five full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, two fireplaces, a dual stair entry, an oversize dining room, a mahogany library with custom built-ins and a limestone fireplace, a great room with a coffered ceiling, a sunroom and a kitchen with hand-crafted William Huber cabinetry, granite countertops, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances and a walk-in pantry. The mansion’s main-level primary bedroom suite has 11-foot ceilings, dual vanities and custom walk-in closets. Outside on the 1.77-acre property are bluestone patios and limestone terraces that overlook the Chicago Golf Club. The grounds were landscaped by the late Morton Arboretum landscape architect Tony Tyznik. “The location is spectacular, and this home is for somebody who appreciates architecture and who appreciates the Scottish and really European flair to the home,” listing agent Michael LaFido of LPT Realty told Elite Street. “It is really special. I think anybody who would come over as a guest and entertain would be like, ‘That’s a cool house.’” The Airhart house had a $34,704 property tax bill in the 2025 tax year, while Grey Walls had a $45,988 property tax bill in the 2025 tax year.)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Play-by-play of failed Bears stadium bill. Rumor about the football team having second thoughts leaving Chicago damaged the legislative effort to help the Bears move to the suburbs.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/06/05/bears-stadium-bill-cunnigham-kam-buckner-hammond-rich-miller
— With Bears saying they’re leaving for Indiana, blame game in Illinois spreads far and wide. Springfield’s inaction on incentives to keep the team in-state has been just the latest in a long-running political comedy of errors.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2026/06/05/chicago-bears-stadium-illinois-indiana-arlington-heights-hammond-blame
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) promote their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump/2026/06/04/trump-blanche-boutros-doj-broadview
DAILY HERALD
— ‘Done deal’ or ‘door remains open’? In latest stadium shift, Bears board advances Indiana plan.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260605/news/bears-board-votes-to-advance-northwest-indiana-stadium-project/
RIVER BENDER
— Plummer Blames Illinois Leadership After Bears Advance Hammond Stadium Plan
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/sen-jason-plummer-blames-illinois-leadership-after-bears-advance-hammond-stadium-plan-94055.cfm
WAND TV
— IL Democrats pass bill allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at public universities. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) promote their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/statehouse/il-democrats-pass-bill-allowing-undocumented-immigrants-to-pay-in-state-tuition-at-public-universities/article_eb0eeb98-461a-4c0c-b369-8b79f2bf06a7.html
14 NEWS
— Marijuana is a factor in many local crimes
https://www.14news.com/2026/06/05/epd-discusses-how-marijuana-is-factor-many-local-crimes/
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) promote their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/now-cleared-broadview-6-immigration-protesters-seek-evidence-of-white-house-pressure-to-indict/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Indiana Governor Hints at ‘Favorable Announcement’ as Pritzker Inches Closer to Losing the Bears
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/06/indiana-governor-hints-at-favorable-announcement-as-pritzker-inches-closer-to-losing-the-bears.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— America reaches 250 with unity and patriotism in retreat. The spirit of 1976 has given way to anger, grievance and political exhaustion. DD: What makes you patriotic? For me, it includes my being able to earn enough money to do the following even though neither of my parents attended college, my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, my father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars, he died when he was 47 and I was 21, and my mother never attended high school: a) work my way through college and earn a bachelor’s degree in management, master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance, a CPA certificate, a Certified Internal Auditor certificate, four more job-related professional certifications, and a CPA license, b) buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc., and c) buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, etc.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jun/3/america-reaches-250-unity-patriotism-retreat/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Sanctuary cities: Compassion on other people’s dime
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4592847/sanctuary-cities-compassion-on-other-peoples-dime/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Antifa-Democrat ‘narrative’ about deplorable conditions for detained illegals at Delaney Hall falls apart. Antifa and all its minions put on quite a show last month to promote the narrative that conditions for detained migrants were deplorable. One problem: None of it was true.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/06/antifa_democrat_narrative_about_deplorable_conditions_for_detained_illegals_at_delaney_hall_in_new_jersey_falls_apart.html
PJ MEDIA
— White Supremacists Used SPLC Money to Buy KKK Hoods and Cross-Burning Gear
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/06/04/supremacists-used-splc-money-to-buy-kkk-hoods-cross-burning-gear-n4953590
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— FBI fires analysts who worked on “Richmond memo” about Catholic extremist ideology
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-fires-analysts-richmond-memo-catholic-extremist-ideology/
May 1, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— DD: Democrats march to downtown Chicago for their May Day rally.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/may-day-chicago-2026-cps-teachers-students-expected-join-union-park-rally-march-downtown/19012972/
NBC5
— DD: Democrats march to downtown Chicago for their May Day rally.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/may-day-rally-and-march-in-chicago-could-lead-to-traffic-impacts-in-city-officials-say/3930681/
CBS2
— DD: Democrats march to downtown Chicago for their May Day rally.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/civic-action-may-day-chicago-public-schools/
FOX32
— DD: Democrats march to downtown Chicago for their May Day rally.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/may-day-protests-live
WTTW
— DD: Democrats march to downtown Chicago for their May Day rally.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/01/labor-advocates-teachers-and-students-gather-union-park-may-day-rally
WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2026/05/01/chicago-immigration-midway-blitz-trump-children
CHICAGO TRUBUNE
— DD: Democrats march to downtown Chicago for their May Day rally.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/01/cps-schools-may-day-rallies-protests/
— DD: Democrats hold their May Day rally in Aurora.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/01/protestors-in-aurora-rally-in-support-of-workers-immigrant-rights-in-honor-of-may-day-today-its-our-turn/
— Court restricts abortion access across the US by blocking the mailing of mifepristone.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/01/abortion-pill-mifepristone-restricted/
— In the SAFE-T Act era, Cook County Circuit judges are on trial. Judicial failures are resulting in death.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/01/editorial-judges-cook-county-safet-act-jb-pritzker-chicago-cop-shooting/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrats march to downtown Chicago for their May Day rally.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/05/01/ahead-of-may-day-march-cps-students-and-teachers-mark-civic-day-of-action
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/01/may-day-immigrant-rights
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/01/chicago-immigration-midway-blitz-trump-children
— DD: Democrats demand more for social services as Bears stadium deal gains steam.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/05/01/progressives-illinois-social-services-funding-bears-megaproject-economy-taxes-rich-miller
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/05/01/king-charles-trump-maga-royalty-england-uk-keir-starmer-mona-charen
— Pritzker pausing public duties after medical procedure. A governor’s staffer said he had a routine outpatient urology procedure Friday and will fulfill his regular duties out of the public eye next week.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-governor/2026/05/01/gov-jb-pritzker-routine-health-procedure-public-duties-pause
DAILY HERALD
— DD: Democrats hold their May Day rally in Aurora.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260501/news/the-real-labor-day-people-around-the-suburbs-rally-for-workers-rights-on-may-day/
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Court restricts abortion access across the US by blocking the mailing of mifepristone
https://www.news-gazette.com/court-restricts-abortion-access-across-the-us-by-blocking-the-mailing-of-mifepristone/article_772ea333-558c-5116-891d-5daefd2d26d9.html
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/01/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-516/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Justice Department Goes Fishing for “Sexual Orientation and Gender Ideology Content” in Illinois Schools, Including Crystal Lake High School District
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/01/justice-department-goes-fishing-for-sexual-orientation-and-gender-ideology-content-in-illlinois-schools-including-crystal-lake-high-school-district/
— Kane County Treasurer Chris Lauzen Rolls Out Newly-Designed Property Tax Bills (Shown within)
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/01/kane-county-treasurer-chris-lauzen-rolls-out-newly-designed-property-tax-bills/
— Lakewood Golf Club Flying American Flag Upside Down
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/04/30/lakewood-golf-club-flying-american-flag-upside-down/
— UPDATE: On Race-Based Legislative Maps, COMPARING ILLINOIS 13 WITH LOUISIANA 6
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/04/30/on-race-based-legislative-maps/
— Senate Sponsor of Bill to Gut Local Zoning Speaks
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/04/30/senate-sponsor-of-bill-to-gut-local-zoning-speaks/
— UPDATE: Prospective Independent Gubernatorial and Lt. Governor Candidate Planned Run Before GOP Primary WITH STATEMENT FROM CANDIDATE
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/04/30/update-prospective-independent-gubernatorial-and-lt-governor-candidate-planned-run-before-gop-primary-with-statement-from-candidate/
— Crystal Lake Grade School District Pays $115,000 for Paper Gun Incident at Lundahl Middle School
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=19128&action=edit
— Springfield House Ethics Language Echoes Horseracing Restrictions
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/04/28/springfield-house-ethics-language-echoes-horseracing-restrictions/
— Algonquin Township Republican Party Elects New Officers
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/04/28/algonquin-township-republican-party-elects-new-officers/
— Ten Republican State Reps. Blasted for Supporting Megaprojects’ Subsidies, Names Included
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/04/28/ten-republican-state-reps-blasted-for-supporting-megaprojects-subsidies/
— UPDATE: Eric Hendricks Elected McHenry County Republican Party Chairman WITH VOTE TOTALS
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/04/27/update-eric-hendricks-elected-mchenry-county-republican-party-chairman-with-vote-totals/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— May Day worker-oriented events promoted by groups funded by billionaires
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/1/may-day-worker-oriented-events-promoted-groups-funded-billionaires/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Of course we should be deporting America-hating noncitizens
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4550285/deporting-america-hating-noncitizens/
— UCLA threatens conservative students
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4551519/ucla-threatens-conservative-students-proving-woke-is-not-dead/
NEW YORK POST
— If states are going to legalize weed, the least they can do is order warning labels
https://nypost.com/2026/05/01/opinion/if-states-are-going-to-legalize-weed-the-least-they-can-do-is-post-warning-labels/
— Trump hangs with seniors in Florida’s Villages – touts everything he’s done to make life more affordable.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/01/us-news/trump-hangs-with-seniors-in-floridas-villages-touts-everything-hes-done-to-make-life-more-affordable/
— Trump weighs cabinet appointment for DeSantis
https://nypost.com/2026/05/01/us-news/trump-weighs-cabinet-appointment-for-florida-gov-ron-desantis/
DAILY CALLER
— Here’s How Law Schools Are Training The Next Generation Of Immigration Activists
https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/01/law-schools-immigration-activists-clinics-columbia-chicago/
DOJ
— Justice Department Launches Investigations Concerning Gender Ideology in Pre-K-12 Schools in 36 Illinois School Districts. DD: The list includes Crete-Monee School District 201-U. I attended Crete-Monee High School 1962-1966 and graduated from it in 1966.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-launches-investigations-concerning-gender-ideology-pre-k-12-schools-36
WESTERN JOURNAL
— DOJ Targets Blue State for Giving Illegals Financial Assistance While Neglecting U.S. Citizens
https://www.westernjournal.com/doj-targets-blue-state-giving-illegals-financial-assistance-neglecting-u-s-citizens/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC NEWS
— Billionaire Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker explores something new in a 2028 run: Raising money. The Illinois governor is still seeking a third term, but preliminary discussions indicate he would not fully self-fund if he launches a White House bid, two sources told NBC News.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2028-election/billionaire-illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-not-fully-self-finance-2028-run-rcna343122
CBS NEWS
— DD: Judge sides with Cole Allen against Trump.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-rebukes-prosecutors-accused-correspondents-dinner-gunman/