FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Kristi Noem draws protesters at Chicago Christmas tree charity event. Trump’s deportation chief presided over the “Christmas Tree Ship” ceremony at Navy Pier Saturday. She led one of the early aggressive immigration raids near Chicago.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/12/06/homeland-security-kristi-noem-christmas-trees-chicago-coast-guard-navy-pier
— Feds deploy tear gas in Elgin as hourslong standoff ends in man’s arrest. ICE agents fire tear gas and residents toss snow and water bottles back during a confrontation that ended with a man in custody. State Sen. Cristina Castro was on scene and decried agents for “striking fear” in the community.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/12/06/tear-gas-deployed-in-elgin-as-feds-detain-man-after-hours-long-standoff
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— On day of Kristi Noem visit to Chicago, federal immigration agents use tear gas on Elgin crowd
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/06/immigration-agents-use-tear-gas-on-crowd-in-elgin/
DAILY HERALD
— Threats pile up as Indiana Republicans confront pressure from Trump on redistricting
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251206/nation-and-world-politics/threats-pile-up-as-indiana-republicans-confront-pressure-from-trump-on-redistricting/
ABC7
— Federal agent involved in crash, ‘chemical irritants’ deployed in Elgin
https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-elgin-federal-immigration-agent-involved-crash-highland-ave-7-exposed-chemical-irritants-maple-lane-police/18258436/
–DD: The Democrat Party platform promotes homelessness.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/new-hud-housing-program-rules-donald-trump-administration-could-put-formerly-unhoused-people-back-streets/18251645/
CBS2
— Federal agent involved in crash, chemical agents dispersed in Elgin
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/federal-agent-involved-in-crash-chemical-agents-dispersed-elgin-illinois/
WGLT
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Somalia.
https://www.wglt.org/2025-12-05/trumps-garbage-comment-met-with-disappointment-in-somalia
FOX ILLINOIS
— ‘They’re really cute’: Trump says he approved ‘tiny cars’ for US production. DD: A 1978 Chevrolet Chevette was my daily driver 1978-1994.
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/theyre-really-cute-trump-says-he-approved-tiny-cars-for-us-production-automakers-manufactured-united-states-japan-kei-smaller-vehicles-driving-gas-fuel-economy-mileage-transportation-environment
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump to affordability critics: ‘I’M FIXING IT’
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/6/trump-affordability-critics-im-fixing/
— Universities defy Trump’s diversity essay ban despite federal threats. DD: UIC admitted me when I was 18 in 1966, NIU when I was 20, Loyola when I was 23, DePaul when I was 27, and IIT when I was 43. But because I oppose race and gender based preference giving, if I was 18, 20, 23, or 43 today, they would not admit me today.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/5/trump-admin-threatens-universities-diversity-essay-policies-schools/
— Young people will lead America into tyranny if not stopped
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/5/young-people-lead-america-tyranny-stopped/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Democrats are choosing cartels over Americans
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/3908558/democrats-choose-cartels-over-americans/
— Trump administration announces audit of contractors benefiting from ‘disadvantaged’ business program. DD: All my critics/opponents a) hint/imply/argue/shout that they are disadvantaged and/or b) that they fight for the disadvantaged. They all demonize, denigrate, and condemn me as being advantaged.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/business/3909429/trump-administration-announces-audit-of-contractors-benefiting-from-disadvantaged-business-program/
NEW YORK POST
— Trump administration will expand travel ban to over 30 countries
https://nypost.com/2025/12/06/us-news/trump-administration-expanding-travel-ban-to-more-than-30-countries/
— America needs to restore high standards before our schools become completely worthless
https://nypost.com/2025/12/06/opinion/alarming-signs-kids-are-paying-a-steep-price-for-low-standards-and-less-testing-in-schools/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— 260K dead found on voter rolls, thousands more ‘non-citizens’
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/06/harmeet-dhillon-reveals-260k-dead-found-on-voter-rolls-thousands-more-non-citizens-1608495/
CENTER SQUARE
— Obama-era ‘Welcoming Cities’ program overlaps with illegal border crosser crimes
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_6e09665c-9366-45a5-b950-838e21ca57da.html
FOX NEWS
— Sanctuary cities have ‘absolutely no say’ on immigration crackdowns
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6386124149112
— Photos emerge of Somali illegal’s ties to top Minnesota Dems after ICE arrest. Ibrahim has been photographed with several high-profile Minnesota Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz and ‘Squad’ Rep. Ilhan Omar
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/photos-emerge-somali-illegals-ties-top-minnesota-dems-after-ice-arrest
— Ilhan Omar says there are few undocumented Somali migrants in the country
https://noticias.foxnews.com/media/ilhan-omar-says-few-undocumented-somali-migrants-country.print
— Trump takes his affordability agenda on the road. DD: What did you do to afford things? I took bad jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivered mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997. According to my critics/opponents, I was grossly overpaid for those jobs and my pension and retirement benefits are much too generous. To qualify myself for better paying jobs, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6386127745112
— The Alarming Gaps in America’s Immigration Vetting System
https://radio.foxnews.com/2025/12/06/extra-the-alarming-gaps-in-americas-immigration-vetting-system/
NEWSMAX
— Zero Tolerance for Those Who Impede ICE
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/immigration-ice-dhs/2025/12/06/id/1237327/
— Another Stabbing by Illegal Migrant in Charlotte
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/crime-violence-illegals/2025/12/06/id/1237353/
PJ MEDIA
— Woke Priest Uses His Church’s Nativity Scene to Mock and Defy ICE
https://pjmedia.com/robert-spencer/2025/12/06/woke-priest-finds-a-way-to-mock-ice-in-his-churchs-nativity-scene-n4946773
— When Sanctuary Politics Put a Knife to an Innocent American
https://pjmedia.com/david-manney/2025/12/06/when-sanctuary-politics-put-a-knife-to-an-innocent-american-n4946772
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEWSWEEK
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ, that is, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-stumbles-america-lgbtq-forum-speech-11167745
AOL
— Ageism in the Job Market Is Real. DD: I have been fighting ageism since I was 25 years old in 1974 when my Democrat IRS superiors deemed me to be too old to be promoted to GS-13. I ultimately did make GS-13, but not until I was 38 and 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.
https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/too-old-too-young-retire-133059851.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Here’s How Trump Has Made It Harder for Migrants Seeking Asylum and Citizenship
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/us/politics/trump-immigration-changes.html
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Skeletons in your closet? No problem, you can be a GOP candidate. DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. Voters demand more from Republican candidates than from Democrat candidates. They demand even more from Republican candidates who state that they are conservative. Candidates can always run as Independents. Should political parties have the power to stop candidates from seeking offices as a member of their party? If so, what criteria should be used? Far too many candidates have tremendous skeletons in their closets. When those skeletons come out, not only do they lose, but the party that they ran under loses. When their skeletons come out, far too many Republican candidates blame me and blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. But nothing has ever been in my newsletters that was not already in the public realm and/or was already known by the Democrats. Democrat leaders have always falsely claimed to have first learned of Republican negatives from my newsletters. Far too many who are involved in Republican activities are Democrat plants.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-01-22/republicans-solomon-pena-george-santos-vetting-candidates-democrats
DESERET NEWS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasing destroy traditional marriage and family. Under the Democrats, fewer and fewer and fewer people are marriage material. What helped make you marriage material? By the time I got married when I was 29 in 1978, I had worked for IRS for almost 7 years and my salary was $108,978/year in today’s dollars. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and I was taking graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul. I lived in a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building that I had bought in 1976. I was renting out a town home in University Park that I had bought new in 1972. I owned a 1972 Corvette that I had bought new in 1971. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/documents/
https://www.deseret.com/special-series/2025/11/14/american-family-survey-marriage-indifference-needed-family/
WKBW
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that Jesus was an illegal immigrant and that he rejects the concepts of countries, borders, and laws.
https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/jesus-himself-was-an-immigrant-buffalo-catholic-diocese-calls-for-compassion-for-immigrants
HEALTH INSURANCE
— Does health insurance cover IVF and other fertility treatments? DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who have used against me the most my and my wife giving up trying to have children without trying IVF, our not adopting, and our not becoming foster parents. According to them, if we had children, I would not have been able a) to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) to earn a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, c) to pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and d) to become a licensed CPA in 1981. The aforesaid enabled me to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980 and to get promoted by GAO to GS-13 in 1986. Would Duckworth agree with my critics/opponents, and if so, why? Duckworth stresses what she has accomplished since she successfully used IVF.
https://www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/does-health-insurance-cover-ivf-and-other-fertility-treatments/
POLITICO
— Immigration courts thrown into chaos as Trump administration purges dozens of judges. The president has ousted about one-seventh of the DOJ judges weighing whether to deport noncitizens.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/06/trump-immigration-court-judge-purges-00679376
SALON
— American workers are refusing to take bad jobs. DD: What bad jobs did you take? I took bad jobs that my peers would not stoop to take. I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped lag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivered mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971. I pumped more gasoline 1971-1972. I collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies 1980-1997. According to my critics/opponents, I was grossly overpaid for those jobs and my pension and retirement benefits are much too generous. To qualify myself for better paying jobs, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.salon.com/2021/06/19/american-workers-are-refusing-to-take-bad-jobs-and-thats-good-for-everyone-economists-say/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
TELEGRAPH
— US Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump’s appeal challenging birthright citizenship for children of noncitizens
https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/world/us-supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-trumps-appeal-challenging-birthright-citizenship-for-children-of-noncitizens/cid/2136503
Tag: rino
December 5, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Ahead of Kristi Noem’s visit to Chicago Saturday, immigration agents make show of force in west suburbs
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/05/kristi-noem-chicago-immigration-arrests/
— Democrat leaders badmouth Trump Accounts
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/05/donald-trump-baby-bonds-trump-accounts-savings-1000/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders defend the SAFE-T Act.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2025/12/05/safe-t-act-criticism-pre-trial-detention-cta-burning-lawrence-reed-rich-miller
DAILY HERALD
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more mass/illegal immigration.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251205/nation-and-world-politics/around-the-world-refugees-are-shut-out-of-the-us-by-trumps-new-policies/
ABC7
— Mayor Johnson’s pick for Chicago Housing Authority CEO had ‘lack of operational experience.’ DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats who a) had less work experience than I had, b) had less education than I had, c) had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or d) no professional license like the one I had.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/mayor-brandon-johnsons-chicago-housing-authority-ceo-pick-former-alderman-walter-burnett-had-lack-experience-letter/18255257/
CBS2
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly get religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/priest-walks-dolton-pope-leo-home-new-york-statue-of-liberty-immigration/
— Indiana House GOP advances 9-0 congressional map, sending contentious plan to state Senate
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/indiana-redistricting-vote/
— Durbin trying to pass DREAM Act one more time before retirement
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/dick-durbin-dream-act-retirement/
WGN RADIO
— Why college sophomores panic. DD: In retrospect, with benefit of hindsight, if I could do it over again, I would have majored in accounting. I erroneously thought I could never pass the CPA examination. But I passed it on my first attempt when I finally took it when I was 30 years old. But by then, the accounting profession viewed as being too old.
https://wgnradio.com/jobs/career-vision/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Homeless shelter for families with children opens in downtown Champaign
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/housing/homeless-shelter-for-families-with-children-opens-in-downtown-champaign/article_e1a29a84-4491-44eb-a46c-0b6b9c3dfbae.html
WAND TV
— Another line of attack: White House sets up a hall of shame for news outlets. President Donald Trump’s White House has established a hall of shame for journalists it finds guilty of media bias as it looks for new avenues of attack against legacy news outlets.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/another-line-of-attack-white-house-sets-up-a-hall-of-shame-for-news-outlets/article_4059594e-71ae-579b-8530-4a6f95156f0d.html
WREX
— Realtors say immigration fear is influencing Rockford housing market
https://www.wrex.com/news/realtors-say-immigration-fear-is-influencing-rockford-housing-market/article_7640023e-471a-40cb-965f-4aa531ad4995.html
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Illinois educators hope to tackle thorny issue of math competence. State board developing ‘numeracy plan’ to boost math competency statewide.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/illinois-educators-hope-to-tackle-thorny-issue-of-math-competence/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/12/05/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-433/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Forced Charity: ComEd Shifting Electric Burden to Middle Class under Pritzker Administration Order
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/05/forced-charity-com-ed-shifting-electric-burden-to-middle-class-under-pritzker-administration-order/
— Former Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren Retiring as Head of Illinois Bankers Association
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/05/former-republican-congressman-randy-hultgren-retiring-as-head-of-illinois-bankers-association/
— 9th District Democratic Party Congressional Hopeful Bushra Amiwala Marshals Volunteers
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/05/9th-district-democratic-party-congressional-hopeful-bushra-amiwala-marshals-volunteers/
— Prairie Grove School District Seeks 16.6% Tax Hike
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/04/prairie-grove-school-district-seeks16-6-tax-hike/
— Crystal Lake High School District Asking for Almost 5% More in Real Estate Taxes
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/12/04/crystal-lake-high-school-district-asking-for-almost-5-more-in-real-estate-taxes/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTINGTON TIMES
— Most universities ignore Trump administration’s ban on diversity-themed admission essays
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/5/universities-ignore-trump-administrations-ban-diversity-themed/
— ‘Ticking time bomb’: How dangers lurked in Afghan evacuee population
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/5/ticking-time-bomb-dangers-lurked-afghan-evacuee-population/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The one-income, middle-class household is a historical myth. DD: I was raised in a one-income household. My father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. He died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21. I had to work my way through college.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/business/3899251/one-income-middle-class-household-historical-myth/
— Dell teaches an anti-socialist lesson
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/magazine/magazine-letter-from-the-editor/3906428/dell-teaches-anti-socialist-lesson/
— The college degree was a signal. Now it’s just noise. DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government 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 certifications or fewer than I had, and/or d) no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/3907523/college-degree-was-signal-now-noise/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: As college students across the country prepare for their final exams, many assume they’re entering a job market eager to receive them. But the latest data tell a harsher truth: Americans with bachelor’s degrees now make up a record 25% of the unemployed, up from under 10% three decades ago. And for those ages 20 to 24 — the very students heading toward commencement — unemployment has climbed to 9.2%, a year-over-year spike not seen outside recessions. For many parents, these statistics land like a betrayal. They followed the script they were handed, and they urged their children to do the same: work hard, pad the résumé, secure admission, earn the degree. They were assured the payoff would be waiting on the other side. Instead, the very credential that students were promised would open doors for them is now failing even to keep those doors from closing in their faces.)
NEW YORK POST
— Trump to tour nation with economic pitch as Dems hone ‘affordability’ attack
https://nypost.com/2025/12/05/us-news/trump-to-tour-nation-with-economic-pitch-as-dems-hone-maaa-affordability-attack/
— Trump’s Mr. Fix it: Scott Bessent set to tackle affordability crisis. DD: What stopped you from earning more money during your career? For me, it was my Democrat superiors in the federal government who wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. They wasted what I had learned a) earning a job-related bachelor’s degree and three job-related master’s degrees, b) earning six job-related professional certifications, c) earning a job-related professional license, d) working for the Post Office for almost 3 years, e) working for IRS for almost 9 years, and f) working for GAO for almost 18 years.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/05/business/trumps-mr-fix-it-scott-bessent-set-to-tackle-affordability-crisis/
AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Over 260,000 Dead People and Thousands of Illegals Found in Voter Roll Review Thus Far
https://amgreatness.com/2025/12/05/assist-ag-harmeet-dhillon-over-260000-dead-people-and-thousands-of-illegals-found-in-voter-roll-review-thus-far/
BREITBART
— Minneapolis: ICE Arrests Illegals from Somalia During ‘Operation Metro Surge’
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/12/05/minneapolis-ice-arrests-illegals-from-somalia-during-operation-metro-surge/amp/
FEDERALIST
— Normal Americans Are The Ones Who Pay The Price For Biden’s Disastrous Immigration Policies
https://thefederalist.com/2025/12/05/normal-americans-are-the-ones-who-pay-the-price-for-bidens-disastrous-immigration-policies/
— Raking In Hundreds Of Millions For Trafficking Kids Destroys U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Credibility On Immigration
https://thefederalist.com/2025/12/05/raking-in-hundreds-of-millions-for-trafficking-kids-destroys-u-s-catholic-bishops-credibility-on-immigration/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— U.S. mission in Afghanistan was “two-decade long effort fraught with waste,” watchdog finds
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-mission-afghanistan-fraught-with-waste-sigar-report/
PACIFIC LEGAL
— Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed legislation rewriting the state’s scholarship rules—and abruptly ending a decades-old race-exclusive program. The change will moot a lawsuit led by a student member of the American Alliance for Equal Rights and represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation at no cost. The law, House Bill 3065, which took effect November 21, struck racial classifications from scholarship eligibility in Illinois.
https://pacificlegal.org/following-plfs-discrimination-suit-pritzker-signs-bill-ending-illinois-race-exclusive-scholarship/
CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
— DD: If Democrat and RINO leaders had their way, only those who are the following would be allowed to earn college degrees: Democrat, RINO, minority, female, younger, unmarried, LGBTQ, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are citizens of foreign countries. I am none of the aforesaid. After I got married when I was 29, I earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31 and a master’s degree in financial markets and trading when I was 48.
https://www.chronicle.com/newsletter/daily-briefing/2025-12-05
December 2, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC5
— Dell family to give $6.25 billion to create 25 million additional ‘Trump Accounts.’ “This gift is expected to reach nearly 80% of children age 10 and under across 75% of U.S. zip codes,” according to Invest America.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/dell-billions-donations-trump-accounts/3857683/
WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders use students to crow about their obstruction of justice.
https://www.wbez.org/education/2025/12/02/as-immigration-agents-swept-chicago-this-fall-communities-stepped-in-to-get-kids-to-school-safely
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight enforcement of immigration laws.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/02/sen-dick-durbin-demands-answers-from-homeland-security-regarding-u-s-citizens-caught-up-in-immigration-raids/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/02/opinion-chicago-immigration-raids-lessons-children/
DAILY HERALD
— Needless dispute: Censure of DuPage County clerk could have been avoided
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251202/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-needless-dispute-censure-of-dupage-county-clerk-could-have-been-avoided/
— Batavia pub gets OK for video gambling, despite being next to two churches
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251202/gambling/batavia-pub-gets-ok-for-video-gambling-despite-being-next-to-two-churches/
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for price increases.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/more-americans-say-trump-has-helped-raise-prices-rather-than-lower-them-survey/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/12/02/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-430/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Bill on Pritzker’s desk enhances Illinois’ migrant sanctuary policies. DD: The Democrats who run Illinois are ever closer to officially seceding Illinois from the United States.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_adaf80e0-ede3-4720-9968-6028d9d1fbbf.html
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— If you are a Republican and if more and more and more of the voters in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct are voting for Democrats, your future is bleaker and bleaker and bleaker. At what point will you move? But if you move to a prosperous and safe area that Republicans created, Democrats will a) move into that area to take advantage of that prosperity and safety and b) get rid of you. Look at DuPage County. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Young socialists revolt as Democratic Party hits 30-year popularity low
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/2/democratic-party-popularity-hits-30-year-low-young-socialists-gain/
— GOP advances bill to add citizenship question to 2030 census
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/2/gop-advances-bill-add-citizenship-question-2030-census/
— Journalist group presses White House to remove ‘media offenders’ webpage
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/2/journalist-group-presses-white-house-remove-media-offenders-webpage/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Mamdani Taps Felon Who Served 7 Years for Robbing NYC Taxi Drivers as ‘Criminal Legal System’ Adviser
https://freebeacon.com/democrats/mamdani-taps-felon-who-served-7-years-for-robbing-nyc-taxi-drivers-as-criminal-legal-system-adviser/
NEW YORK POST
— Trump Derangement Syndrome is real
https://nypost.com/2025/12/02/opinion/trump-derangement-syndrome-is-real-these-hysterical-threats-prove-it/
— Anti-ICE chaos in Lower Manhattan is a sign of trouble ahead
https://nypost.com/2025/12/01/opinion/anti-ice-chaos-in-lower-manhattan-is-a-taste-of-whats-to-come-if-mamdani-amp-feds-cant-cooperate/
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
— States Fail to Require Adequate Cannabis Product Safety Warnings. DD: Pot is poison.
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/states-fail-to-require-adequate-cannabis-product-safety-warnings/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Lawmakers who spent hundreds of millions on illegals want to charge Chicagoans $1.25 ‘package fee’ deliveries.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/02/lawmakers-who-spent-hundreds-of-millions-on-illegals-want-to-charge-chicagoans-1-25-package-fee-deliveries-1607606/
BREITBART
— Trump: ‘The Word Affordability Is a Con Job by the Democrats’ After Biden’s Historic Inflation
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/12/02/trump-word-affordability-is-con-job-democrats-after-bidens-historic-inflation/
DAILY SIGNAL
— House GOP Pushing Affordability Heading Into Election Year
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/12/02/house-gop-pushing-affordability-heading-into-election-year/
FOX NEWS
— Trump unleashes on Dems’ top campaign platform: affordability
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6385857884112
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CNN
— Religious leaders sue to block ICE raids at houses of worship. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly turn religious leaders against America.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/world/video/religious-leaders-sue-to-block-ice-raids-at-houses-of-worship
USA TODAY
— ‘Affordability is a con job by the Democrats’: Trump tells Cabinet. Trump said tariffs are generating billions of dollars from countries such as Japan and South Korea that had been ‘ripping us off.’
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/02/trump-cabinet-meeting-venezuela-live-updates/87566205007/
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Trump dismisses affordability concerns as Democratic ‘con job’
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/12/02/trump-dismisses-affordability-concerns-as-democratic-con-job/
NEW YORK SUN
— Illinois Church’s Nativity Scene Depicts Baby Jesus Zip-Tied, Romans as ICE Agents. ‘The Holy Family were refugees. This is not political interpretation, this is the reality described,’ the church says. DD: The Democrat Party’s conquering of religion will soon be complete.
https://www.nysun.com/article/illinois-churchs-nativity-scene-depicts-baby-jesus-zip-tied-romans-as-ice-agents
NEWSWEEK
— In a survey of more than 1,200 likely Illinois voters, carried out between November 20 and 25 and seen by Fox 32, Chicago-based Victory Research put Pritzker at 54.3 percent of the vote, compared to 34 percent for GOP candidate Darren Bailey.
https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-chances-beating-jb-pritzker-illinois-governor-election-11142102
FORBES
— Giving Tuesday: What It Is And How To Maximize Its Impact. DD: What do you give to others? Since 2000, I have given my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters to anyone who wants to read them free of charge, without any advertising, and without any donation requests. Since 2004, they have included links to almost 530,000 articles.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2025/12/02/giving-tuesday-what-it-is-and-how-to-maximize-its-impact/
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Why America needs the GAO: DD: For almost 18 years, I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO. If Gingrich had reformed GAO during that time instead of gutting it, DOGE would not have been needed.
https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2025/11/why-america-needs-gao-doge-done-right/409745/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ten months after the launch of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, one thing is clear: no one can agree on how much money it saved—or, in fact, whether it saved any money at all—and, if there were savings, what happened to them. What if DOGE were done right? Here something else is clear: we have had the Government Accountability Office, founded as a green-eye-shade operation back in 1921 to audit every single government transaction. It’s grown into the indispensable watchdog on the federal government’s spending and operations. It’s what DOGE done right looks like. At first, Musk promised to find $2 trillion in savings. Then the pledge dropped to $1 trillion. Then he struggled to document any savings at all. Since 2002, GAO’s work has logged more than $1.45 trillion in savings for taxpayers, across more than 29,000 different federal operations. Last year, savings were $67.5 billion. And better than most watchdogs glad to gobble up every available can of dog food, GAO has kept watch on itself. It’s measured the return on taxpayer investment in its own operations: $123 for every budget dollar. It’s operations aren’t flashy. In fact, they’re pretty wonky, which as card-carrying wonks we greatly admire. Its staff get advanced training when they walk into the door, which never stops as employees move up through the ranks. The size of its staff, which was reduced from 5,200 staff to its current level of about 3,500 after the Republican takeover of the House in 1995, has been relatively stable over the last decade, despite expanding demands on its work. Musk promised to trim the number of federal agencies. “There’s so many that people have never heard of. I think we should be able to get away with 99 agencies,” he said. It wasn’t clear where that number came from. It was clear from his work that DOGE didn’t know how to get there. GAO, on the other hand, has been identifying areas of duplication and overlap since 2011, with $725 billion in savings in this area alone. As others were struggling to come up with solid savings, GAO in May issued a 154-page report detailing just how to do more. Musk brought in IT whiz kids to comb through the federal government’s information services, but they had little to show for it except putting the security of Americans’ personal information at risk. GAO, in contrast, laid out a plan for figuring out how to save money on IT. Better proof-of-concept work in space-based laser communications could save hundreds of million dollars—and the government could pick up $157 billion by better managing the payment rates in Medicare. In a February Oval Office meeting, Musk claimed the federal government was full of officials who had approved money for “fraudsters,” but that claim turned out to be little more than arm-waving. GAO, in contrast, has since 1990 prepared a report every two years on programs prone to waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement. Its latest report, in February 2025, identified 38 areas needing special attention. This “high-risk list” bears careful reading for anyone who really cares about getting into the guts of the problem. It identifies issues ranging from contract management in the Pentagon to money leaking out of federal disability programs to management of oil and gas leases to mega-challenges inside the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster assistance. Even a casual look of the report—all 323 pages of it—would convince any reader that it’s a road map for which stones to unturn to get at the unholy trinity of waste, fraud and abuse. But there’s more here. GAO keeps score so we can see who’s making progress—and who isn’t. In 10 areas, federal agencies made $84 billion in progress. Three slipped backwards—acquisition of weapons systems by the Pentagon, improving IT management throughout the government and managing the federal government’s property. And even more. GAO doesn’t operate like a sheriff riding into town promising to clean up the saloons. It has developed a big-picture look at federal operations and identified leading practices that federal agencies can pick up. Like any oversight body, federal agencies don’t always like what they hear and often squawk. But there’s no question that we—and even they—are a whole lot better off for GAO’s work. GAO is relatively little known outside government. Even less well known is the fact that it’s an agency that works for Congress. That often is a thorn in the side of the administration, regardless of who’s in power, because GAO often says things the administration would rather not hear. That’s especially been the case in recent months with GAO’s findings that the administration has violated the law in impounding federal money—refusing to spend money that Congress appropriated. This was at the root of Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought’s statement that GAO “shouldn’t exist”. The OMB Director doesn’t want anyone looking over their shoulder, just as students don’t like to take home report cards that aren’t straight-A’s or spend their time in detention. But now that we’re closing in on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebrating the Constitution that the founders crafted to govern us, we need to strengthen the balance-of-powers model that Madison and the other founders left us. They deliberately chose not to give us an easy system to use in governing ourselves. That means the three branches of government are always going to be jousting with each other—and that’s how it should be. In the growing complexity of our society, we need governmental institutions that can keep up with that complexity. That means Congress, in turn, needs muscle to do the heavy lifting required to oversee the executive branch, whether it’s a Republican or Democratic Congress, or a Republican or Democratic President. That’s what Washington, Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton and the other founders had in mind. And that’s why the next month is so important. The current head of GAO, Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, will be at the end of his fifteen-year term, the longest term in the federal government except for the lifetime appointment of federal judges, and the process to name a successor will shift into high gear. A special commission—consisting of congressional leaders—recommends a slate of individuals to the president. The president selects one person to nominate, and the Senate must then confirm the new head. This appointment is a pretty big deal. It will ensure strong oversight through the 2030s into the 2040s and reinforce the balance of powers for even longer. GAO will provide the executive branch with the independent insights it needs to wring out waste, fraud and abuse. It is a tool that Congress can use to hold the executive branch accountable, essential because a weak GAO weakens the legislative branch. We all have a stake in making sure that GAO can provide the oversight the Constitution requires—and the balance of powers that they designed.)
HR DIVE
— As major firms green-light AI for performance reviews, should others follow suit? Artificial intelligence promises efficiency and data-driven insights, but it could also subject employers to bias claims and compliance obligations, sources say. DD: Democrat and RINO employers use performance reviews to get rid of their Republican employees. They paint their Democrat employees as positively as they can and they paint their Republican employees as negatively as they can. In Diersen v. GAO, I entered into the court record all the many performance reviews that my Democrat superiors gave me 1980-1997. None of them came close to justifying the many adverse actions that they took against me. They forced me to take a $23,472 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. They kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO. They delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13. They always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance. They forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://www.hrdive.com/news/AI-for-performance-reviews/806785/
PBS
— Trump says the word ‘affordability’ is a ‘con job’ by the Democrats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS8IJgsOip8
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
GUARDIAN
— Chicago’s faith leaders on front lines of resistance against ICE crackdown. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly turn religious leaders against America.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/chicago-faith-leaders-ice-crackdown
November 30, 2025
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
DAILY HERALD
— The more that you urge rejection or Trump’s orders, the more that hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters glorify and praise you.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251129/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-unnerving-overreach-government-intimidation-not-justified-for-lawmakers-who-s/
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Too little economic growth has too many fighting for state support
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-too-little-economic-growth-has-too-many-fighting-for-state-support/article_99862403-d353-4d14-84f9-8eb707002b9b.html
ADVANTAGE NEWS
— Illinois business group warns of ‘backbreaking’ progressive income tax. DD: Who wants you to pay more taxes? My critics/opponents have always wanted me to pay more taxes.
https://www.advantagenews.com/news/local/illinois-business-group-warns-of-backbreaking-progressive-income-tax/article_b34d63d2-1446-483e-a4a8-1ca67da37f04.html
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— 5 ways Republicans are breaking with Trump
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/5-ways-republicans-are-breaking-with-trump/amp/
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders always want more immigration because immigrants are future Democrats.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-11-29/how-one-attack-is-reshaping-the-fight-over-immigration-policy
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— County Board Set to Approve 3% Automatic Annual Raises Starting in 2030, End of Free Family Health Insurance for Those Elected in 2028
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/29/county-board-set-to-approve-3-automatic-annual-raises-starting-in-2030-end-of-free-family-health-insurance-for-those-elected-in-2028/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
NEW YORK POST
— We must totally overhaul our immigration system. DD: According to Democrat and RINO leaders, citizens of foreign countries come to America only for good reasons. Democrat leaders want immigrants because immigrants are future Democrats. RINO leaders want immigrants because RINOs want cheap labor.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/29/opinion/afghani-lunatic-proves-we-must-totally-overhaul-our-immigration-system/
AMERICAN SPECTATOR
— Reclaiming America’s Graduate Pipeline. DD: UIC admitted me in 1966, NIU in 1969, Loyola in 1972, DePaul in 1976, and IIT in 1992. But they would have admitted foreign students instead of me if they could have.
https://spectator.org/reclaiming-americas-graduate-pipeline/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The United States has long been the world’s university. More than 1.6 million international students studied here last year, according to the 2024 SEVIS by the Numbers Report from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which tracks active F-1 visa holders. At the graduate level, many of them pay no tuition at all, receive annual stipends ranging from $25,000 to $65,000, and health benefits funded by U.S. universities and federal research grants. As someone who has run Health and Human Services departments in multiple states, I have seen how difficult it is for middle- and lower-income American families to send their children to college. Parents juggle extra jobs to afford tuition. Students borrow tens of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, many foreign doctoral candidates enjoy full tuition waivers and monthly paychecks funded by American institutions. The imbalance is real. According to the 2023 National Science Foundation’s Survey of Earned Doctorates, approximately 90 percent of 215,000 international Ph.D. students in the United States receive full tuition support, salaries and health benefits. By comparison, only 84 percent of American students receive the same treatment. This has been a consistent trend. Data from 2019 to 2023 shows that temporary visa holders consistently have a slightly higher rate than U.S. citizens. Cornell University reports that 97 percent of its doctoral students are fully funded. The same pattern holds across major research universities. The result is that over a five year space more than a million non-U.S. students are effectively educated in highly sought after doctoral programs for free underwritten by American resources. No other developed nation does this at such scale. In most countries, foreign students pay higher tuition than domestic students. Scholarships for non-citizens are rare and usually tied to explicit national interests. America stands alone in offering open-ended funding that includes tuition, health coverage, and salaries to foreign students who may or may not remain here after graduation. Beyond financial considerations, prioritizing American doctoral students in funded positions would ensure that our undergraduates benefit from instructors who are fully fluent in English and deeply familiar with American cultural and educational norms. Many international Ph.D. students, face significant proficiency challenges that lead to communication barriers in the classroom, as evidenced by frequent complaints from U.S. undergraduates about difficulties understanding accents, explanations, and instructions. We have created a system that rewards global recruitment without requiring any justification that the position serves a defined American need. Even with justification our own citizens deserve the first opportunity. This situation doesn’t come without danger to national security.)
AMERICAN THINKER
— Earned Entitlements And Mass Immigration
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/11/earned_entitlements_and_mass_immigration.html
COLLEGE FIX
— Oregon questionnaire asks 6th graders if they’re ‘genderfluid,’ ‘trans,’ ‘pansexual,’ and more. DD: How much success have Democrats had making students in your school district sexually active LGBTQers?
https://www.thecollegefix.com/oregon-questionnaire-asks-6th-graders-if-theyre-genderfluid-trans-pansexual-and-more/
DAILY CALLER
— 43-Year-Old Socialist Mayor-Elect Brags She Doesn’t Need Parents To Bankroll Her Anymore. DD: I should write about my critics/opponents whose parents had the most money.
https://www.aol.com/news/43-old-socialist-mayor-elect-152726896.html
DAILY SIGNAL
— Democrats’ Dangerous Game of Federal Nullification
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/11/25/insurrection-chic-democrats-dangerous-new-fad/
FOX NEWS
— ‘America is the most generous country in the world when it comes to legal migration’ DD: Democrats run the federal government. They make immigrants Democrats.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6385717483112
NEWSMAX
— Blagojevich: Pritzker ‘Pandered to Crazies’
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/jb-pritzker-democrats-politics/2025/11/29/id/1236437/
— NYC Protesters Now Using Barriers to Halt ICE Agents
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/nyc-protesters-zohran-mamdani/2025/11/29/id/1236451/
— Republicans must look beyond Trump to combat the spread of socialism. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DG5d0Gnr-U
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— 5 ways Republicans are breaking with Trump
https://thehill.com/homenews/5624163-trump-faces-republican-resistance/
NEWSWEEK
— Trump’s approval rating among Gen Z Americans has improved. Polling shows that while it is still underwater, Trump’s net approval among adults ages 18 to 29 has increased from -55 percentage points to -34 points in November. A conservative shift among Gen Z voters proved key to Trump’s success in the November 2024 election. DD: What is your approval rating? My critics/opponents have always worked very hard to make mine low. They stress the many big adverse actions that they have had their operatives and their dupes take against me. They stress that virtually no one has ever come to my defense.
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-approval-shifts-gen-z-11126435
AOL
— Millions Could Lose Out on Social Security COLA Adjustments Next Year. DD: I have benefitted from COLAs since I was 16 years old in 1966 and became a part-time postal employee. My critics/opponents have always been furious about that. I got COLAs while I was a postal employee 1966-1969, IRS employee 1971-1980, and GAO employee 1980-1997. I have gotten COLAs as a federal retiree since 1997 and as a Social Security recipient since 2010. My critics/opponents either a) would never stoop to take a federal job or b) failed to qualify themselves for one.
https://www.aol.com/articles/why-millions-could-lose-social-151601641.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ultimately, the heart of the matter is that for those Americans who receive Medicare Part B premiums, which are expected to jump a whopping 11.5% in 2025, to around $206.20 monthly, up from $185, this COLA increase doesn’t amount to much of anything. Consider that for most retirees, these premiums for Medicare Part B are going to be automatically deducted from their future Social Security checks in 2026. What this means is that a sizable portion, if not the entirety, of someone’s 2.8% COLA increase will be lost well before any check hits a bank account. There is no way around this, and it’s quickly becoming a frightening reality for millions of Americans who rely on Social Security. The situation is basically summed up by saying that as one government benefit rises slightly, another offsets it almost immediately. Now, factor in the fact that 2026 is going to mark the eighth double-digit increase in Medicare Part B premiums in the past 25 years, and it’s just disheartening news all around. The Big Picture: COLA Is Based on an Outdated Formula)
NEW YORK TIMES
— Mamdani hires car-hating activist Ben Furnas for NYC transportation team: ‘War on drivers.’ DD: My critics/opponents are anti-car if not car-haters.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/29/us-news/mamdani-hires-car-hating-activist-ben-furnas-to-transportation-team-war-on-drivers/
— Democrats say “Afghans Who Assisted U.S. During the War Underwent Rigorous Vetting.” DD: One more reason to restrict immigration.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/politics/afghans-cia-vetting.html
KCAU
— Iowa GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Forum. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RHjD0DKomU
FORTUNE
— America is developing a ‘dependency’ on the top 1% of workers, while the bottom 60% are struggling and unproductive. DD: What did you do to advance your career? I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree and three job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license. My critics/opponents use the aforesaid against me. They stress that notwithstanding the aforesaid, I never made more than $153,151/year in today’s dollars. They stress that I was forced to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://www.aol.com/finance/ray-dalio-says-america-developing-085611572.html
FORBES
— How Workforce Development Boosts Career And Economic Growth. DD: None of my Democrat IRS superiors encouraged me to take job-related graduate evening courses. I got that encouragement from my IRS employee manual. My taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola helped me get promoted in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat IRS superiors would have encouraged me if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicamendoza1/2025/01/31/how-workforce-development-boosts-career-and-economic-growth/
ZIP RECRUIER
— GS-13 Salary. (currently $117,807-$153,151/year) DD: My Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates have been furious ever since I got promoted to GS-13 when I was 38 year old in in 1986. By then, I had worked for GAO for almost 7 years. I had become a licensed CPA in 1981. I had passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981. I had earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980. I had worked for IRS 1971-1980. I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I had earned an MBA in 1976.
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Government-Gs-13-Salary
JUST THE NEWS
— Poll finds 51% of young voters prefer democratic socialist in 2028. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/polling/poll-finds-51-young-voters-prefer-democratic-socialist-2028
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
DAILY MAIL
— All the ways ‘white female Mamdani’ is set to change her city as she attempts to ‘Trump-proof’ liberal stronghold
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15324867/mayor-elect-katie-wilson-socialist-change-seattle-trump.html
ECONOMIC NEWS
— Google parent Alphabet races toward $4 trillion valuation as AI-fueled gains accelerate. DD: Google ever-increasingly steers everyone to websites that promote the Democrat Party platform.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/alphabet-races-toward-4-trillion-valuation-as-ai-fueled-gains-accelerate/articleshow/125545183.cms
November 29, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
JOURNAL COURIER
— Pritzker’s approval rating up slightly from June in new poll. DD: How does Pritzker poll in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/jb-pritzker-approval-rating-june-new-poll-21208424.php
SHAW LOCAL
— The growing dependency on government. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-journal/opinion/2023/11/25/jackson-the-growing-dependency-on-government/
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: The mainstream news media exists to drive Trump’s approval rating down.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/trump-approval-rating-drops-to-new-low-poll/
CWB CHICAGO
— Auto thieves point guns at firefighters outside Avondale firehouse. DD: While I worked for IRS in Chicago, my 1969 Dodge Charger SE was stolen in 1971 and my 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air was stolen in 1973.
https://cwbchicago.com/2025/11/auto-thieves-point-guns-at-firefighters-outside-avondale-firehouse.html
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
TAZEWELL COUNTY GOP
— Tazewell County Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Forum. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.tazewellgop.org/tazewell_county_republican_gubernatorial_candidate_forum
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— White House launches media bias tracker
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/29/white-house-launches-media-bias-tracker/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The White House has launched a new section on its website dedicated to calling out media it considers misleading or having a bias in its coverage of President Trump and his policies. At the top of the site it says, “Misleading. Biased. Exposed.” It lists the “media offender” of the week, which will seemingly be updated. When users scroll down, it names the outlet, the reporter, the offense, the claim the article makes, what “the truth is” and what the key points of the issue are, among other things. There is an “offender hall of shame” and users can search for a specific headline, or scroll through specific outlets and reporters. It also features a “leaderboard” characterized as a “race to the bottom.” The leaderboard has The Washington Post as first, followed by MSNBC, CBS News, CNN, The New York Times, Politico and The Wall Street Journal.)
— Taking ‘woke’ out of Wall Street. New report shows corporate investors are rejecting radical shareholder activism.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/29/editorial-taking-woke-wall-street/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— White House unveils ‘Media Bias’ website to expose ‘fake news’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3901687/white-house-unveils-media-bias-website-to-expose-fake-news/
— The growing threat of toxic empathy
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/premium/3888073/growing-threat-toxic-empathy/
— Trump’s immigration crackdown already benefiting American students
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/3899942/trump-immigration-crackdown-already-benefiting-american-students/
NEW YORK POST
— Illegal immigrant students allowed unlimited absences under Chicago Public Schools policy
https://nypost.com/2025/11/29/us-news/illegal-immigrant-students-allowed-unlimited-absences-under-chicago-public-schools-policy/
ARMY
— Is “Up or Out” Holding Us Back? DD: Democrat and RINO leaders use up-or-out to get rid of Republicans. Democrats run the federal government. They get rid of their employees who are Republican employees who are White, male, and/or non-veteran who they do not promote to GS-13 ($117,807) by age 25, GS-14 ($139,211) by age 30, GS-15 ($163,749) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($195,200) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines. I never would have made GS-13 when I was 38 or survived until I was 49 if I had not a) earned a job-related bachelor’s degree (management) when I was 21, b) made GS-12 ($99,069) when I was 25, c) earned three job-related master’s degrees (business, accounting, and finance) when I was 27, 31, and 48, d) earned six job-related professional certifications (accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting) when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and e) earned a job-related professional license (CPA) when I was 32. The Army equivalent of GS-12 is Major. The Army equivalent of GS-13 is Lieutenant Colonel.
https://www.army.mil/article/247749/is_up_or_out_holding_us_back
DAILY WIRE
— Treasury Sec: We’re Cutting Off Benefits To Illegals, They Belong To Americans. “Illegal aliens that use our financial institutions to move their illicitly obtained funds is exploitation.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/treasury-sec-were-cutting-off-benefits-to-illegals-they-belong-to-americans
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Why the U.S. Has a Culture of Dependency. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/commentary/why-the-us-has-culture-dependency
— The Rise in Dependency. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://www.heritage.org/commentary/the-rise-dependency
— Biden Boosted the Need for Food Stamps—And Calls That a “Success.” DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://www.heritage.org/welfare/commentary/biden-boosted-the-need-food-stamps-and-calls-success
HOT AIR
— The Erosion of College Readiness
https://hotair.com/headlines/2025/11/29/the-ideological-erosion-of-college-readiness-n3809351
HOUSE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE
— More Americans Dependent on Welfare Checks, at the Expense of Work. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2025/01/08/new-report-shows-more-americans-dependent-on-welfare-checks-at-the-expense-of-work/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Buying Americans out of poverty is undermining incentives to work, with families living in poverty relying more on taxpayer-funded welfare checks than income from work, according to a newly released report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Costing well over $1 trillion, America’s social safety net encompasses more than 80 federal programs, and is discouraging beneficiaries from seeking income from work. The report, which was requested by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08), shows low-income families are becoming increasingly dependent on government transfers. In 1979, families living below the poverty line earned about 60 percent of their income from work. In 2021, that number dropped to an all-time low of around 25 percent. The report also shows how the dramatic increase in dependency on government transfers for low-income families was accelerated by COVID-era benefits.)
NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
— Showdown Over SNAP Benefits Points to Excessive Government Control and Dependency. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2025/10/31/showdown-over-snap-benefits-points-to-excessive-government-control-and-dependency/
TOWNHALL
— Trump Announces Major Move to Prevent Future Terrorist Attacks
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2025/11/28/trump-says-he-will-permanently-pause-immigration-from-third-world-countries-after-dc-shooting-n2667127
WESTERN JOURNAL
— Chicago Police Department Hit with Civil Rights Complaint for Race-Based Hiring Practices Meant to Address ‘Systemic Inequities’
https://www.westernjournal.com/chicago-police-department-hit-civil-rights-complaint-race-based-hiring-practices-meant-address-systemic-inequities/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEWSWEEK
— Map Shows 19 Countries Impacted as Trump Threatens Migration Halt
https://www.newsweek.com/map-19-countries-impacted-trump-threatens-migration-halt-11127499
— Map Shows Donald Trump’s Approval Rating in Each State After 10 Months. DD: What is Trump’s approval rating in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.newsweek.com/map-donald-trump-approval-rating-each-state-10-months-11127534
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Conversely, the president is experiencing significant disapproval in historically Democratic states, according to the polling. Hawaii reports a net approval of -55 percent, Vermont sits at -50 percent, Maryland at -44 percent, Massachusetts at -42 percent, California and Rhode Island at -40 percent, and Washington and Oregon at -36 percent. In populous states such as New York (-32 percent) and Illinois (-29 percent), the figures further reinforce national partisan divides.)
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Protesters block ICE from leaving garage to conduct Canal St. sweep as NYPD makes arrests
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/11/29/protesters-block-ice-from-leaving-garage-to-conduct-canal-street-sweep-as-nypd-makes-arrests/
BLOOMBERG
— Protesters Disrupt Federal Immigration Action in Lower Manhattan
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-29/protesters-disrupt-federal-immigration-action-in-lower-manhattan
FINANCIAL REVIEW
— More than 50 percent of voters now rely on government for their main income. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/culture-of-dependency-lifts-spending-to-highest-level-since-wwii-20250722-p5mgu0
REASON
— Americans Grow Increasingly Dependent on Government Payments. Many citizens of the land of the free are hooked on government checks. DD: My critics/opponents promote dependency on government, that is, they promote socialism.
https://reason.com/2024/10/04/americans-grow-increasingly-dependent-on-government-payments/
AXIOS
— Trump says he’ll “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries.” DD: What percent of those who are in America illegally are from third world countries?
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/28/trump-third-world-countries-immigration-pause-permanent
November 29, 2025
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Kevin Coyne, Chairman, DuPage GOP: DuPage GOP wants election, vote-by-mail system review
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/letters-naperville-data-center-election-mcit-reopen/
(FROM THE LETTER: The DuPage GOP calls for an immediate public hearing on the topic of election integrity, our voter rolls and the process by which vote-by-mail ballots are being distributed, collected and counted. We believe the DuPage County clerk’s office should make itself available to participate and to answer respectful questions about election integrity. We welcome the participation of the League of Women Voters and DuPage County’s Democratic Party in this public hearing should it proceed. Confidence in the integrity of our elections is at an all-time low. It’s abundantly clear there are a great many DuPage voters who do not trust vote-by-mail and who believe games are being played with how these ballots are distributed, collected and counted. General questions about our voter rolls also continue to persist. Let’s talk about these concerns openly, transparently and publicly. We will keep all questions respectful and sincere. We hope this call is accepted by the clerk’s office. We also hope the other mentioned stakeholders participate. We call on this hearing to take place within 90 days and before the 2026 primary.)
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: McHenry County takes on an old client in court: ICE
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/29/mchenry-county-court-ice-lawsuit/
CBS2
— Northwestern University to pay $75 million to federal government to settle antisemitism claims, restore frozen funds
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/northwestern-university-trump-administration-settlement-antisemitism-investigation/
WRAL
— Northwestern to pay $75 million in deal with Trump administration to restore federal funding
https://www.wral.com/news/ap/d6465-northwestern-to-pay-75-million-in-deal-with-trump-administration-to-restore-federal-funding/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— If the Pilgrims Had a Lawyer
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/28/if-the-pilgrims-had-a-lawyer/
— Seeing President Truman
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/28/seeing-president-truman/
— Reminding Me of My Favorite Oberlin
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/28/reminding-me-of-my-favorite-oberlin-college-professor/
— Postal Inflation Since 1968
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/27/postal-inflation-since-1968/
— How Bad Is Chicago’s Financial Situation?
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/how-bad-is-chicagos-financial-situation/
— Schools and Socialism
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/14321/
— Dems Authorize More Subsidies for Illegal Aliens
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/dems-authorize-more-subsidies-for-illegal-aliens/
— Two More from Illinois Make “Worst of the Worst” List
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/two-more-from-illinois-make-worst-of-the-worst-list/
— Hit Your Mom, No Longer Get Arrested, No House or Senate Votes in Opposition
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/hit-your-mom-no-longer-get-arrested-no-house-or-senate-votes-in-opposition/
— The End of Lincoln
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/the-end-of-lincoln/
— Pritzker’s Polling above 50%
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/pritzkers-polling-above-50/
— Rocio Cleveland Gains More Free Publicity in Quest to Win GOP Nomination in Jan Schakowsky’s 9th Congressional District
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/rocio-cleveland-gains-more-free-publicity-in-quest-to-win-gop-nomination-in-jan-schakowskys-9th-congressional-district/
— Pritzker’s Star Wars’ Delusion
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/pritzkers-star-wars-delusion/
— A Permanent Accomplishment of Governor Dan Walker
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/a-permanent-accomplishment-of-governor-dan-walker/
— Mayor Richard J. Daley’s Cary Speeding Ticket
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/11/26/mayor-richard-j-daleys-cary-speeding-ticket/
ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Evict Dangerous Illegals Before the Next Attack
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2025/11/deport-dangerous-illegals-before-the-next-terror-attack/
— Bethany Magee’s Critical Condition Was Preventable
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2025/11/bethany-magees-critical-condition-was-preventable/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Vallas: Chicago needs education reform to curb youth violence epidemic
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/vallas-chicago-needs-education-reform-to-curb-youth-violence-epidemic/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— New legislation would crack down on hiring illegal immigrant workers and ‘sanctuary unions.’ DD: My critics/opponents despise/hate unions. They have never forgiven me for my being a union member for almost 12 years. According to them, my salary would never had increased from $19.37/hour (GS-4) to $112,280/year (GS-12 Step 5) in today’s dollars if I had not been a union member. But during that time, I earned a bachelor’s degree in management, I earned an MBA, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, and I earned a master’s degree in accounting.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/28/new-legislation-would-crack-hiring-illegal-immigrant-workers/
AMERICAN THINKER
— The Whiteness Pandemic
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/11/the_whiteness_pandemic_is_there_a_mask_for_that.html
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Disturbing poll shows majority of young voters want ‘Democrat socialist’ in the White House. DD: My critics/opponents want socialism. They focus on promoting dependency on government.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/11/28/disturbing-poll-shows-majority-of-young-voters-want-democrat-socialist-in-the-white-house-1606448/
BLAZE
— If conservatives will not defend capitalism, who will? DD: My critics/opponents want socialism. They focus on promoting dependency on government.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/if-conservatives-will-not-defend-capitalism-who-will
BUSINESS WIRE
— Citizens Against Government Waste Names Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson November 2025 Porker of the Month
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/citizens-against-government-waste-names-201300831.html
DAILY SIGNAL
— 4 Ways Trump Has Forced DEI Out of Higher Education. DD: Democrat and RINO employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/11/28/4-ways-trump-has-successfully-pressured-higher-ed-abandon-dei/
FOX BUSINESS
— Middle-income Americans pessimistic about their financial future amid persistent inflation
https://www.aol.com/articles/middle-income-americans-pessimistic-financial-180015299.html
FOX NEWS
— Trump unveils ‘reverse migration’ plan to halt ‘Third World’ immigration, revoke Biden-era entries. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. All the colleges that admitted me would have admitted noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://noticias.foxnews.com/politics/trump-unveils-reverse-migration-plan-halt-third-world-immigration-revoke-biden-era-entries.print
NATIONAL REVIEW
— Trump Plans to Suspend Third World Immigration after National Guard Shooting. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. All the colleges that admitted me would have admitted noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/trump-suspends-third-world-immigration-after-national-guard-shooting/
PJ MEDIA
— The War Within the Democratic Party Is Over — and AOC and Mamdani Have Won. DD: My critics/opponents want socialism. They focus on promoting dependency on government.
https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2025/11/28/apocalypse-democrat-the-war-within-the-democratic-party-is-over-and-aoc-and-mamdani-have-won-n4946496
— Socialism Continues Its Beautiful Decline in the Western Hemisphere. DD: My critics/opponents want socialism. They focus on promoting dependency on government.
https://pjmedia.com/sarah-anderson/2025/11/28/socialism-continues-its-western-hemisphere-decline-n4946498
TOWNHALL
— DD: The Democrats who run the College of DuPage ever-increasingly make it clear that they do not want those who are the following to apply: conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2025/11/28/il-college-will-punish-students-who-report-illegals-to-ice-n2667103
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Majority of voters say they’ve made sacrifices in past year to make ends meet. DD: Of course, Democrats blame Republicans for that.
https://thehill.com/business/economy/5585832-financial-sacrifices-survey-voters/
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— DACA recipients are being arrested despite deportation protection
https://www.wane.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-some-daca-recipients-have-been-arrested-in-the-trumps-immigration-crackdown/amp/
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise citizens of foreign countries. All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. All the colleges that admitted me would have admitted noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/us/politics/trumps-response-to-shooting-shows-intensified-anti-migrant-stance.html
SEATTLE TIMES
— Workers sue WA’s biggest employers over limits on taking a second job. DD: My IRS superiors approved my working part-time for a Firestone Store in Chicago Heights 1971-1972. The money I earned helped me pay for a) a new 1972 Corvette in 1971, b) graduate evening business courses at Loyola during 1972, and c) a new townhome in University Park in 1972.
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/workers-sue-was-biggest-employers-over-limits-on-taking-a-second-job/
FORTUNE
— Billionaire MacKenzie Scott once needed her college roommate’s help with a $1,000 loan. DD: Where did the money come to pay for your college degrees? DD: To pay for my undergraduate degree and for cars, I did yard work 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966. I delivered mail 1966-1969. I worked on an automotive assembly line in 1970. To pay for my graduate degrees, I worked for Firestone Stores 1970-1972, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997.
https://fortune.com/2025/11/28/mackenzie-scott-college-roommate-jeannie-tarkenton-father-loan/
— DD: My critics/opponents despise/hate DINKs. I should write about my critics/opponents. According to them, my wife and I have what we have because we gave up trying to have children, because we did not adopt, and because we did not become foster parents.
https://fortune.com/2025/11/13/are-you-richer-as-a-dink-double-income-no-kids-wealth/
BANKING RATES
— 7 Signs You’re Way Above Average Financially
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rachel-cruze-7-signs-way-120053445.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: You’re Debt-Free. . .You Have Money Saved. . .You’ve Planned for Retirement. . .You’re a Homeowner. . .You Can Celebrate Other People’s Wins. . .You Earn the Median Income. . .You Practice Generosity)
METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY
— Do You Need a College Degree for Career Advancement? Here Are 5 Reasons You Do. DD: My father often decried his not having a college degree. If I had not had a bachelor’s degree in management, Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970 and IRS in 1971. If I had not been taking graduate business courses, IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not had an MBA, GAO would not have hired me in 1980. If I had not earned master’s degrees in accounting and finance, I would not have survived at GAO until 1997.
https://www.msudenver.edu/do-you-need-a-college-degree-for-career-advancement-here-are-5-reasons-you-do/
ROLLING STONE
— DD: Under the Democrats, soon, everyone will be a) handing out welfare and/or b) receiving welfare.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/snap-recipients-struggle-trump-food-assistance-1235473080/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
TIMES OF INDIA
— Americans are reconsidering the college ladder: 63% say the climb isn’t worth the price. DD: If I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 1970, Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970 and IRS in 1971. If had not been taking graduate evening business courses, IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not been taking graduate evening accounting courses, I would not have passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. If I had not earned an MBA in 1976 and passed the CPA examination, GAO would not have hired me in 1980. I had not taken undergraduate and graduate internal auditing courses, I would not have passed the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examination on my first attempt in 1981. If I had not passed the CPA examination, earned a master’s degree in accounting, and passed the CIA examination, I would not have become a licensed CPA in 1981.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/americans-are-reconsidering-the-college-ladder-63-say-the-climb-isnt-worth-the-price/articleshow/125636272.cms
November 19, 2025
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC5
— Pritzker holds private meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Rome. “You can feel his humanity,” Pritzker said in an interview with NBC 5. “It was a special moment, even for this Jewish boy.” DD: What complaints do the Pope and Pritzker share against Trump?
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/nbc-5-exclusive-pritzker-holds-private-meeting-with-pope-leo-xiv-in-rome/3853221/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Dabrowski: Illinois Republicans want their party to make arguments, not excuses
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/19/opinion-illinois-republicans-power/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight deportation of their illegals.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-sun-times/20251119/281711210930928
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: What percent of illegals want/need/demand public assistance?
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-11-18/trump-administration-rule-could-further-penalize-immigrants-for-using-benefits
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Little Village’s 26th Street Slowly Comes Back To Life After Months Of Immigration Raids. Business owners celebrated a noticeably more lively weekend after Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and many of his agents left town. “There’s feeling of a brotherhood now, of people coming out to the community to be supportive,” one business manager said. DD: How dependent on their illegals have Democrat and RINO leaders made your county, your township, your municipality, your school district, and your precinct?
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/18/little-villages-26th-street-slowly-comes-back-to-life-after-months-of-immigration-raids/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Where’s JB: Meeting the Pope
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/11/19/wheres-jb-at-the-vatican-with-the-pope-00658696
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/11/19/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-635/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WIREPOINTS
— Glennon on Chicago’s property tax bills
https://wirepoints.org/wirepoints-mark-glennon-on-chicagos-property-tax-bills-youtube-am560/
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— The Washington Post decries the money that baby boomers have. I am a baby boomer. Are you a baby boomer? If so, where did your money come from? My money came from what I earned doing yard work 1962-1964, delivering newspapers 1962-1966, washing dishes 1964-1966, cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, and pumping gasoline in 1966, delivering mail 1966-1969, working on an automotive assembly line in 1970, selling tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971, pumping more gasoline 1971-1972, collecting delinquent federal taxes 1971-1980, auditing federal agencies 1980-1997, my Civil Service Retirement System pension since 1997, my Social Security since 2010, and more recently, three inheritances. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What opinions on socialism do your critics/opponents have? My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that I benefitted big time by working for the federal government for almost 30 years and that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— How has antisemitism impacted you? My Democrat superiors in the federal government forced my many Jewish superiors and supervisors to take many big adverse actions against me. They stressed that I was conservative, Republican, Protestant, German American, and that I lived in Crete 1948-1972 and in Wheaton since 1978. In my defense, I stressed that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI, that my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII, and that my father would have fought the Germans in WWII if he had not been 4-F. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump administration accuses Illinois officials of inciting ICE protests
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/supreme-court/3890533/trump-administration-accuses-illinois-officials-of-inciting-ice-protests/
— National conservatism isn’t the future of the GOP
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/3890772/national-conservatism-not-gop-future/
— Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani 2028 ticket: Don’t laugh, socialism rising. DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that I benefitted big time by working for the federal government for almost 30 years and that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/3890760/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-zohran-mamdani-2028-ticket-dont-laugh-socialism-rising/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Mamdani Throws Support Behind State Assembly Candidate Who Blamed 9/11 on America. DD: Will Mamdani succeed in uniting non-Christians against Christians?
https://freebeacon.com/latest-news/socialists-unite-mamdani-throws-support-behind-behind-state-assembly-candidate-who-blamed-9-11-on-america/
— Cal State Schools Require Students To Take DEI Classes To Graduate. Options Include ‘Queer Crip Lit’ and ‘Decolonize Your Diet.’
https://freebeacon.com/campus/cal-state-schools-require-students-to-take-dei-classes-to-graduate-options-include-queer-crip-lit-and-decolonize-your-diet/
AMAC
— Government Shutdown Exposes Massive Illegal Alien Welfare Fraud
https://amac.us/newsline/economy/government-shutdown-exposes-massive-illegal-alien-welfare-fraud/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Why young Americans support democratic socialism. DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/11/why_young_americans_support_democratic_socialism.html
— The running gag, the leftist lie: ‘Socialism has never been tried before.’ DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/11/the_running_gag_the_leftist_lie_socialism_has_never_been_tried_before.html
BLAZE
— Charlotte school district attendance plummets after immigration raid, sparking concerns about illegal alien numbers
https://www.theblaze.com/news/charlotte-school-district-attendance-plummets-after-immigration-raid-sparking-concerns-about-illegal-alien-numbers
— Bill Maher warns Democrats the radical left is leading party to ruin. DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/socialism-will-f-k-you-bill-maher-warns-democrats-the-radical-left-is-leading-party-to-ruin
BREITBART
— States Illegally Issued 194,000 Commercial Driver’s Licenses to Foreign Truckers
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/11/18/sean-duffy-states-illegally-issued-194000-commercial-drivers-licenses-to-foreign-truckers/
— Majority of Democrats Have Favorable View of Socialism. DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/11/18/poll-majority-of-democrats-have-favorable-view-of-socialism/amp/
— Trump urged GOP-led states to redraw US House districts. Now other states also are gerrymandering.
https://www.breitbart.com/news/trump-urged-gop-led-states-to-redraw-us-house-districts-now-other-states-also-are-gerrymandering/amp/
DAILY CALLER
— How America’s Biggest Socialist Group Could Get A Million Mamdanis Elected. DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://www.aol.com/articles/america-biggest-socialist-group-could-215027342.html
— Socialist Mamdani Won’t Stop Asking His Supporters To Redistribute Wealth … To Him
https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/18/zohran-mamdani-supporters-money/
DAILY WIRE
— Millions Of Illegals Are Receiving Food Stamps
https://www.dailywire.com/news/yes-millions-of-illegals-are-receiving-food-stamps
FOX BUSINESS
— Republicans prepare for post-Trump era with a new generation of conservative leaders
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6385262875112
FOX NEWS
— Sanctuary states need crackdown as Americans pay price for illegal immigrant truckers
https://www.foxnews.com/us/sanctuary-states-need-crackdown-americans-pay-price-illegal-immigrant-truckers-gop-lawmaker
NEWSMAX
— Pope Backs US Bishops in Blasting Trump Immigration Crackdown. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly succeed in getting religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/pope-leo-xiv-bishops-donald-trump/2025/11/18/id/1235102/
— DHS Moves to Deny Migrants ‘Primarily Dependent’ on Govt Assistance
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/dhs-green-cards-snap/2025/11/18/id/1235042/
REAL CLEAR MARKETS
— Affordable Housing Fixes Hide Socialist Wish-Lists
https://www.realclearmarkets.com/2025/11/19/affordable_housing_fixes_hide_socialist_wish-lists_1148276.html
— AI-Touting Technocrats Sell Socialism As Solution. DD: When my critics/opponents aren’t blaming their problems on discrimination against those who share their demographics, they blame their problems on capitalism.
https://www.realclearmarkets.com/2025/11/18/ai-touting_technocrats_sell_socialism_as_solution_1147989.html
TOWNHALL
— As Religion Weakens, Socialism Strengthens. DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://townhall.com/columnists/starparker/2025/11/19/as-religion-weakens-socialism-strengthens-n2666640
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— The right battles to define the post-Trump GOP, just 1 year into his presidency
https://thehill.com/newsletters/the-movement/5609862-trump-future-republican-party-squabbles/amp/
— Ben Shapiro warns young people to flee New York City, socialism
https://www.aol.com/articles/opinion-ben-shapiro-warns-young-184716819.html
CNN
— Senate unanimously agrees to send Epstein bill to Trump’s desk
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-presidency-epstein-files-house-vote-11-18-25
— DD: Under the Democrats, fewer and fewer and fewer become productive members of society.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/business/prices-economy-tariff-small-business
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War against Republicans. Their illegals are their soldiers in their Democrat Army.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/us/immigrants-survey-trump.html
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly get religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/us/catholic-church-immigration-trump.html
— DD: Under the Democrats, fewer and fewer and fewer become productive members of society.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/us/politics/trump-mcdonalds-affordability-inflation.html
WASHINGTON POST
— How baby boomers got so rich and why their kids are unlikely to catch up. DD: I am a baby boomer. Are you a baby boomer? If so, where did your money come from? My money came from what I earned doing yard work 1962-1964, delivering newspapers 1962-1966, washing dishes 1964-1966, cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, and pumping gasoline in 1966, delivering mail 1966-1969, working on an automotive assembly line in 1970, selling tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971, pumping more gasoline 1971-1972, collecting delinquent federal taxes 1971-1980, auditing federal agencies 1980-1997, my Civil Service Retirement System pension since 1997, my Social Security since 2010, and more recently, three inheritances.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/11/18/baby-boomer-wealth/
USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote socialism.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/15/zohran-mamdani-victory-nyc-democratic-socialism/87231501007/
— DD: Under the Democrats, fewer and fewer and fewer become productive members of society.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/11/18/mcdonalds-lower-income-customers/87334177007/
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— The federal takeover of New York City has begun
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/11/19/the-federal-takeover-of-new-york-city-has-begun/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE: Trump’s Grip on Republicans Shows First Signs of Slipping
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trumps-grip-on-republicans-shows-first-signs-of-slipping-794e3c51
— Gen Z, Socialism and the ‘Memes’ of Production. Students discuss the popularity of the far left among young people. DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/gen-z-socialism-and-the-memes-of-production-db3af34c
— Antisemitism Betrays America’s Heritage. DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government forced my many Jewish superiors and supervisors to take many big adverse actions against me. They stressed that I was conservative, Republican, Protestant, German American, and that I lived in Crete 1948-1972 and in Wheaton since 1978. In my defense, I stressed that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI, that my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII, and that my father would have fought the Germans in WWII if he had not been 4-F.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/antisemitism-betrays-americas-heritage-3fd6d3d1
BARRON’S
— DD: Under the Democrats, fewer and fewer and fewer become productive members of society.
https://www.barrons.com/articles/trump-economy-prices-consumers-affordability-40464997
FORBES
— Republicans & Dems Spar Over Resolution ‘Denouncing The Horrors Of Socialism’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGo527KDfMM
— DD: Republicans urge Democrats to denounce socialism. DD: My critics/opponents who have less money than I have want socialism. They blame their problems on capitalism. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if I had spent my career in the private sector instead of government, I never would have earned $153,151/year in today’s dollars when I was 49 years old in 1997. How much would I have been earning in 1997 if I had spent my career in the private sector? I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I earned professional certifications in accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting. I became a licensed CPA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20hneB6DbLs
WESTLAW
— Trump is close to implementing a rule that would end long-standing legal protections for whistleblowers among senior federal employees. DD: For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire Democrats, to retain Democrats, and to promote Democrats.
https://today.westlaw.com/Document/I317e0d90c4d811f08e72ef1396201407/View/FullText.html
FED WEKK
— NTEU Sues for Release of Positions Recommended for Schedule Policy/Career. DD: For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire Democrats, to retain Democrats, and to promote Democrats.
https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/nteu-sues-for-release-of-positions-recommended-for-schedule-policy-career/amp/
HUFFINGTON POST
— Senate Republicans Want To Charge Federal Workers Thousands Of Dollars For Job Security. DD: For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire Democrats, to retain Democrats, and to promote Democrats.
https://www.aol.com/senate-republicans-want-charge-federal-163110256.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Senate Republicans are pursuing a plan through their “big, beautiful bill” that would force new federal employees to pay for traditional job protections, a major reform that unions have decried as “extortion.” The measure put forth late last week by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee mirrors a similar one House Republicans included in their version of the reconciliation bill that passed last month. It would require federal workers to pay thousands of additional dollars into their government retirement plans each year unless they choose to be “at-will” employees who can be fired without cause. The cost to workers is even steeper in the Senate legislation. Whereas the House version would require new hires to pay an additional 5% of their salary to avoid being at-will, the Senate version hikes it to a whopping 10%. Even those who forgo civil service protections would still have to chip in another 5% — a measure not included in the House bill. In other words, a new federal worker on a $50,000 salary would be paying an extra $2,500 into the retirement plan compared to a veteran employee. And if that new worker wanted the same job protections as the veteran, they would have to pay an extra $5,000 instead.)
AXIOS
— Pope Leo denounces “extremely disrespectful” treatment of immigrants in U.S. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly succeed in getting religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/19/pope-leo-trump-immigration-crackdown-us-bishops-message
ACLU
— DD: Democrat leaders crow about their success getting in veterans to protest Trump.
https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/dozens-of-veterans-descend-on-capitol-hill-to-oppose-military-deployments-to-u-s-cities
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
NTD
— ICE to Target Employers Hiring Illegal Immigrant Workers
https://www.ntd.com/ice-to-target-employers-hiring-illegal-immigrant-workers-says-director_1108749.html
TELEGRAPH
— DD: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly use Epstein to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/why-maga-is-obsessed-with-epstein-and-why-the-21195160.php
November 18, 2025
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Mayor declares ’emergency order’ amid death threats against Broadview officials
https://abc7chicago.com/post/broadview-illinois-declares-civil-emergency-order-amid-death-threats-mayor-katrina-thompson-fbi-investigating/18165937/
— Coalition of organizations working to help communities rebuild after Chicago-area immigration raids
https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chicago-news-coalition-organizations-meets-humboldt-park-works-help-communities-impacted-immigration-raids/18166454/
NBC5
— Reprimand of Rep. ‘Chuy’ García over election withdrawal advances in House
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/reprimand-of-rep-chuy-garcia-over-election-withdrawal-advances-in-house/3852636/
FOX32
— Broadview mayor declares ‘civil emergency’ after out-of-town protesters threaten violence amid anti-ICE unrest. Katrina Thompson cites ‘serious and credible’ threats following protests at ICE facility that led to 21 arrests.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/illinois-mayor-declares-civil-emergency-after-out-of-town-protesters-threaten-violence-amid-anti-ice-unrest
WTTW
— Decision to Send Texas National Guard Home Represents ‘Unconditional Surrender’: Mayor Brandon Johnson
https://news.wttw.com/2025/11/17/decision-send-texas-national-guard-home-represents-unconditional-surrender-mayor-brandon
— Illinois Public Universities See Highest Enrollment Levels in a Decade
https://news.wttw.com/2025/11/17/illinois-public-universities-see-highest-enrollment-levels-decade
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Pritzker deposits $25.5M of his own money into campaign fund as he ramps up bid for third term
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/pritzker-25-million-2026-campaign/
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PHOTOS: Republican 9th Congressional District candidate Rocio Cleveland confronts Democratic rival Kat Abughazaleh with prison-themed gift bag at event
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251117/us-congress-politics/republican-congressional-candidate-confronts-democratic-rival-with-holy-water-and-prison-themed-gift/
— DD: Democrats push pot in Elburn. In 2019, I led the successful effort to stop the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251116/business/cannabis-dispensary-coming-to-elburn/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Dems clash over García rebuke
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/11/17/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-424/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump. What did you do to help you afford things? I took bad jobs that my critics/opponents would never have stooped to take. 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. My critics/opponents remain furious a) that I could afford the expenses to earn the aforesaid degrees, b) that I could afford to buy a 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air when I was 16 in 1964, a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint when I was 17, a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 when I was 19, a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE when I was 20, a new 1972 Corvette when I was 23, etc., and c) that I could afford to buy real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, etc. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What stopped you from affording more things? For me, it was my Democrat superiors wasting my career and getting rid of me. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me to resign when I was 20 in 1969. My Democrat Firestone Store boss fired me when I was 22. My Democrat IRS superiors never promoted me beyond GS12. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer when I was 31. They delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13. They always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance. They forced me to retire when I was 49. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Trump says that America does not have plenty of talent. Do you have talent? According to my critics/opponents, I do not. What do you stress that shows your talent? I stress that I passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt, that I became a licensed CPA, that I earned four other job-related professional certifications, and that I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I stress that despite my Democrat superiors’ tremendous efforts to get rid of me, I survived as a postal employee for almost 3 years, as an IRS employee for almost 9 years, and as a GAO employee for almost 18 years. I stress that my Democrat IRS superiors promoted me to GS-12 Step 5, currently $112,280/year and that my Democrat GAO superiors promoted me to GS-13 Step 10, currently $153,151/year.
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What entry-level jobs did you have? I had three. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 years old in 1970. My first entry-level job was a Retail Sales Manager for a Firestone Store. My salary was about $50,000/year in today’s dollars for a 44-hour workweek. In 1971, my second entry-level job was a GS-7 IRS Revenue Officer. The salary was $55,850/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. My taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola helped me get promoted to GS-9 ($68,315/year) in 1972, to GS-11 ($82,655/year) in 1973, and to GS-12 ($99,069/year) in 1974. I earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. In 1980, my third entry-level job was a GS-9 Step 10 GAO Analyst. The salary was $88,808/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and almost earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. Almost 18 years later, after earning a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, after passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, after becoming a licensed CPA in 1981, after earning four more professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and after earning a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, my salary was $153,151/year in today’s dollars. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Who do you know who voluntarily took a pay cut? I voluntarily took a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10, that is, a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980. Why did I do that? My Democrat IRS superiors had made it clear that they would never promote me to GS-13 even though I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, and almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. The GS-15 GAO Staff Manager (Bill) who arranged for my transfer assured me that I would be assigned to audits of IRS and soon promoted back up to GS-12 Step 5 and soon to GS-13. But almost immediately, Bill was replaced with a new Staff Manager (Dave) who despised me, if not hated me. Dave kept me off audits of IRS, gave me bad job assignments, gave me unfair performance expectations, and gave me unfair performance appraisals. Dave delayed my promotions back up to GS-11 Step 10 and to GS-12 Step 5. Dave stopped me from being promoted to GS-13. But then, in late 1985, Dave went on extended sick leave. That enabled Bill to assign me to audits of IRS and promote me to GS-13 in 1986. But then, Dave came back. Dave forced Bill to retire in 1987. Dave threw me off audits of IRS, gave me a very bad job assignment, gave me very unfair performance expectations, gave me a very unfair performance appraisal, and ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance in 1989. Dave took the aforesaid adverse actions against me a) even though I had earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and became a licensed CPA in 1981. Dave would not have taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me if had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran. Dave would not have been able to take the aforesaid adverse actions against me if GAO had been unionized. GAO did not unionize until 2007. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Republicans’ message not reaching younger generation enamored with socialism
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/17/republicans-message-reaching-younger-generation-enamored-socialism/
— Illegal immigrant used gun-show loophole to traffic firearms
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/17/illegal-immigrant-used-gun-show-loophole-traffic-firearms-feds/
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/17/trump-praises-affordability-policies-mcdonalds-impact-summit/
— Judge threatens DHS program that lets states scrub noncitizens from voter lists
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/17/judge-threatens-dhs-program-lets-states-scrub-noncitizens-voter-lists/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Foreign-funded socialist group behind anti-ICE uprising in Charlotte
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3889926/foreign-funded-socialist-group-behind-anti-ice-uprising-charlotte/
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/3890125/trump-affordability-message-mcdonalds-summit/
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3889645/watch-live-trump-affordability-speech-mcdonalds-impact-summit/
NEW YORK POST
— Massive drop in Latino support for Trump
https://nypost.com/2025/11/17/us-news/massive-drop-in-latino-support-for-trump-stuns-cnns-harry-enten/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— L.A. Mayor Karen Bass faces socialist Mamdani-like-challenger
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/11/17/and-so-it-begins-mayor-karen-bass-faces-socialist-mamdani-like-challenger-1600800/
CENTER SQUARE
— Average cost of family insurance nears $27,000 a year. DD: My critics/opponents ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn the 72% health insurance subsidy a) that I got when I was federal employee, b) that my wife got when she was a federal employee, c) that I will always get as a federal retiree, and d) that my wife has gotten since we got married in 1978 and will always get.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_4d30b633-d1f0-4f95-a085-967734edb4de.html
DAILY CALLER
— Mamdani’s West Coast ‘Sister’ May Spark Cascade Of Socialist Politicians
https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/17/katie-wilson-zohran-mamdani-socialist-analysts/
— Mamdani-Loving Queer Socialist Primaries Hakeem Jeffries
https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/17/chi-osse-hakeem-jeffries-democratic-primary-zohran-mamdani-new-york/
EPOCH TIMES
— Appeals Court Halts DOT Restrictions on Commercial Driver’s Licenses for Immigrants
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/appeals-court-halts-dot-restrictions-on-commercial-drivers-licenses-for-immigrants-5945727
FOX BUSINESS
— Dems ‘embracing socialism’ amid leadership turmoil
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6385212204112
— Congress is looking at every tool to address the affordability crisis. DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump. What did you do to help you afford things? I took bad jobs that my critics/opponents would never have stooped to take. 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyJiyXlOfjA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWuSUxCPpzQ
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6385224326112
FOX NEWS
— Sean Hannity: This socialist contagion is ripping through the Democratic Party
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6385230892112
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6385226053112
NEW AMERICAN
— The Real Affordability Agenda
https://thenewamerican.com/opinion/the-real-affordability-agenda/
NEWSMAX
— We Need to Make America, America Again. DD: Democrat and RINO leaders have no problem with citizens of foreign countries taking over America.
https://www.newsmax.com/michaeldorstewitz/india-roosevelt/2025/11/17/id/1234861/
— Dems to Push Housing Crisis on Trump in ’26
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/democrats-housing-affordability/2025/11/17/id/1234875/
— GOP Presses Abortion Limits in ACA Subsidy Talks
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/gop-abortion-limits-aca-subsidies/2025/11/17/id/1234869/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu7wA8OVR4w
CNN
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/politics/trump-mcdonalds-economy-tariffs-rebate-checks-inflation-analysis
NEWSWEEK
— Trump’s surprising shift on legal immigration — from welcoming 600,000 Chinese students to endorsing more H-1B visa holders — triggered outrage among MAGA supporters who saw it as a betrayal of his “America First” stance. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. All the colleges that admitted me would have admitted noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q42JhZN8zxw
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-mcdonalds-affordability-inflation-tariffs-updates-11062285
— Trump Admin Revoking Tens of Thousands of Visas
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-admin-revoking-tens-of-thousands-of-visas-stephen-miller-11063811
— Social Security COLAs To Be Capped for High Earners Under New Proposal
https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-cola-capped-high-earners-11057294
MSN
— ‘We don’t need low-wage servants…’: Vance sparks row amid H-1B visa debate, takes U-turn from Trump’s stance.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/we-don-t-need-low-wage-servants-jd-vance-sparks-row-amid-h-1b-visa-debate-takes-u-turn-from-donald-trump-s-stance/ar-AA1QtOza
AOL
— 12 Remote Entry-Level Jobs That Pay at Least $50,000 a Year. DD: What entry-level jobs did you have? I had three. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 years old in 1970. My first entry-level job was a Retail Sales Manager for a Firestone Store. My salary was about $50,000/year in today’s dollars for a 44-hour workweek. In 1971, my second entry-level job was a GS-7 IRS Revenue Officer. The salary was $55,850/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. My taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola helped me get promoted to GS-9 ($68,315/year) in 1972, to GS-11 ($82,655/year) in 1973, and to GS-12 ($99,069/year) in 1974. I earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. In 1980, my third entry-level job was a GS-9 Step 10 GAO Analyst. The salary was $88,808/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and almost earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. Almost 18 years later, after earning a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, after passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, after becoming a licensed CPA in 1981, after earning four more professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and after earning a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, my salary was $153,151/year in today’s dollars.
https://www.aol.com/articles/12-remote-entry-level-jobs-110500241.html
MS NOW
— Trump faces blowback from MAGA base over defense of H-1B visas and ‘America First’ agenda
https://www.ms.now/katy-tur/watch/trump-faces-blowback-from-maga-base-over-defense-of-h-1b-visas-and-america-first-agenda-252086853892
— DD: The more planks in the Republican Party platform that my critics/opponent reject, the harder that they work against me.
https://www.ms.now/opinion/msnbc-opinion/republican-party-platform-trump-project-2025-rcna161259
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/nyregion/mamdani-trump-meeting.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/us/politics/trump-mcdonalds-affordability-inflation.html
USA TODAY
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/17/trump-mcdonalds-affordability-taxes/87329117007/
LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-the-chutzpah-of-democrats-and-the-affordability-theme-3583011/
WEEK
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://theweek.com/politics/affordability-trump-answer
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Affordability Costs a Bundle. Republicans need a free-market answer to Democrats’ turn toward socialism. DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/affordability-costs-a-bundle-057bb0ee
— Trump, Affordability and Growth. The economy has rebounded smartly; the end of tariff fights could ignite a boom. DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-affordability-and-growth-c8e5a50a
— Identity Politics, Seattle Edition. Mayor-elect Katie Wilson lays out her cabinet priorities.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/seattle-mayor-elect-katie-wilson-progressives-2slgbtquia-cabinet-0eb657c8
— Why Ford Can’t Find Mechanics. Forget about reshoring manufacturing without more skilled workers. DD: What did you do to maintain and improve your job skills? I earned thee job-related master’s degrees. I earned six job-related professional certifications. I earned a job-related professional license.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ford-motor-ceo-jim-farley-mechanic-shortage-autos-skilled-workers-334ae52d
BLOOMBERG
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-11-17/tariffs-and-trump-and-affordability
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-18/trump-hails-mcdonald-s-extra-value-meals-in-affordability-pitch
FOIRBES
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote citizens of foreign countries over citizens of America.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2025/11/17/top-us-technology-companies-dominate-h-1b-visa-list-in-2025/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvhz58D0KYQ
FORTUNE
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://fortune.com/2025/11/17/zohran-mamdani-donald-trump-affordability-meeting/
— Work-life balance finally outranks pay as a top motivator for job seekers. DD: Who do you know who voluntarily took a pay cut? I voluntarily took a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5 to GS-9 Step 10, that is, a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO when I was 31 years old in 1980. Why did I do that? My Democrat IRS superiors had made it clear that they would never promote me to GS-13 even though I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, and almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. The GS-15 GAO Staff Manager (Bill) who arranged for my transfer assured me that I would be assigned to audits of IRS and soon promoted back up to GS-12 Step 5 and soon to GS-13. But almost immediately, Bill was replaced with a new Staff Manager (Dave) who despised me, if not hated me. Dave kept me off audits of IRS, gave me bad job assignments, gave me unfair performance expectations, and gave me unfair performance appraisals. Dave delayed my promotions back up to GS-11 Step 10 and to GS-12 Step 5. Dave stopped me from being promoted to GS-13. But then, in late 1985, Dave went on extended sick leave. That enabled Bill to assign me to audits of IRS and promote me to GS-13 in 1986. But then, Dave came back. Dave forced Bill to retire in 1987. Dave threw me off audits of IRS, gave me a very bad job assignment, gave me very unfair performance expectations, gave me a very unfair performance appraisal, and ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance in 1989. Dave took the aforesaid adverse actions against me a) even though I had earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and became a licensed CPA in 1981. Dave would not have taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me if had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran. Dave would not have been able to take the aforesaid adverse actions against me if GAO had been unionized. GAO did not unionize until 2007.
https://fortune.com/2025/11/17/work-life-balance-outranked-pay-top-perk-peoeple-choosing-a-job/
POLITICO
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/17/trump-says-americans-are-damn-lucky-hes-in-office-in-first-affordability-pitch-00655751
HARVARD CRIMSON
— Harvard Students Hate Capitalism — Until Recruiting Season. DD: My critics/opponents hint/imply that under socialism, they would have been more successful.
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/11/18/isaac-harvard-hates-capitalism/
BEAST
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-favorite-food-is-failing-the-affordability-test/
RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Democratic Socialism 2028? Most Young Voters Say ‘Yes’ DD: My critics/opponents hint/imply that under socialism, they would have been more successful.
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/partner_surveys/democratic_socialism_2028_most_young_voters_say_yes
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
FINANCIAL EXPRESS
— ‘Have ordinary skills but can be easily controlled’: Indian-origin US professor on H-1B visa workers. According to Hira, it is a “no-brainer” for corporations to opt for H-1B employees because while they have “ordinary skills”, that are widely available in the US job market, they are still favored due to economic advantages, such as legally being underpaid as compared to American workers.
https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-have-ordinary-skills-but-can-be-easily-controlled-indian-origin-us-professor-on-h-1b-visa-workers-4047556/
NDTV
— Indian-Origin Howard Professor Explains Why US Companies Prefer H-1B Workers: “Cheaper And Controllable” He explained that US companies favor the program because it lets them hire workers at lower wages who are tied to their employers, limiting job mobility.
https://www.ndtv.com/feature/indian-origin-howard-professor-explains-why-us-companies-prefer-h-1b-workers-cheaper-and-controllable-9651274
— H-1B Visa Holders Are Replacing US Workers
https://www.ntd.com/panel-discussion-are-h-1b-visa-holders-replacing-us-workers_1108457.html
INDIA
— Trump: “US doesn’t have plenty of talent.” DD: Do you have talent? According to my critics/opponents, I do not. What do you stress that shows your talent? I stress that I passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt, that I became a licensed CPA, that I earned four other job-related professional certifications, and that I earned master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I stress that despite my Democrat superiors’ tremendous efforts to get rid of me, I survived as a postal employee for almost 3 years, as an IRS employee for almost 9 years, and as a GAO employee for almost 18 years. I stress that my Democrat IRS superiors promoted me to GS-12 Step 5, currently $112,280/year and that my Democrat GAO superiors promoted me to GS-13 Step 10, currently $153,151/year.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/white-house-issues-clarification-on-h-1b-visa-programme-after-trump-admits-us-doesnt-have-plenty-of-talent/ar-AA1QkxDV
TIMES OF INDIA
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote citizens of foreign countries over citizens of America.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/busting-myths-donald-trump-h-1b-visa-holders-are-not-cheap-labour-why-foreign-workers-are-important-for-us/articleshow/125403553.cms
— Musk under fire for claiming Americans can’t do challenging physical work amid H-1B row
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/elon-musk-under-fire-for-claiming-americans-cant-do-challenging-physical-work-amid-h-1b-row/articleshow/125387130.cms
DAILY MAIL
— DD: If you have trouble affording things, Democrat and RINO leaders want you to blame Trump.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-returns-to-mcdonald-s-golden-arches-to-sell-affordability/ar-AA1QCRo2?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds
WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
— Chicago workers speak out against ICE neighborhood arrests
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/11/17/kupj-n17.html
November 16, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Staffer held at knifepoint at state Senate leader’s Oak Park office. Scott Loeffler, 35, allegedly pulled a knife on an employee in state Sen. Don Harmon’s office and stole her phone. He was charged with armed robbery and ordered detained Sunday.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-suburbs/2025/11/16/staffer-held-knifepoint-don-harmon-oak-park-office
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use religious leaders to protect their illegals.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/11/16/clergy-arrests-broadview-ice
DAILY HERALD
— DD: Palatine ever-increasingly blasts ICE.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251116/news/palatine-leaders-hope-to-rebuild-trust-in-wake-of-immigration-arrests/
ABC7
— DHS leaves command center at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago
https://abc7chicago.com/post/department-homeland-security-leaves-midway-blitz-command-center-naval-station-great-lakes-north-chicago-city-officials/18162361/
— Many House Republicans will back bill to release Epstein files
https://abc7chicago.com/post/house-republicans-will-back-bill-blow-open-epstein-files-effort-leaders-say-pres-trump-calls-clinton-investigation/18162601/
CBS2
— Border Patrol commander has left Chicago, but some communities remain on edge
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/border-patrol-chief-left-chicago-communities-remain-on-edge/
— Staffer robbed at knifepoint at Illinois Sen. Don Harmon’s Oak Park office; suspect charged
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/staffer-robbed-at-knifepoint-at-don-harmons-oak-park-office-suspect-charged/
FOX32
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/immigration-crackdown-chicago
— 2 out of 5 younger women want to leave US for good
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/2-out-5-younger-women-want-leave-us-good-poll-finds
HERALD REVIEW
— Illinois residents face high health insurance prices, with Obamacare subsidies still in limbo after shutdown
https://herald-review.com/news/state-regional/business/health-care/article_4b261e0b-75c3-5e3f-a1bd-0aa5509730af.html
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE & WSIU & WAND TV
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation.
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/trumps-republican-party-insists-theres-no-affordability-crisis-and-dismisses-election-losses/article_f77d0898-0fd2-58d9-ba45-0b3d3362defe.html
https://www.wsiu.org/2025-11-15/white-house-pivots-to-affordability-as-president-trump-confronts-voter-discontent
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/trumps-republican-party-insists-theres-no-affordability-crisis-and-dismisses-election-losses/article_bb2918e2-14ad-58da-939f-c3e9662f7666.html
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Malefactor Deathmatch: Socialists vs. Groypers
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2025/11/13/malefactor-deathmatch-socialists-vs-groypers
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump seeks primary challenges against Indiana state lawmakers who defy redistricting demands
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/16/trump-seeks-primary-challenges-indiana-state-lawmakers-defy/
— House Speaker Mike Johnson insists President Trump has ‘clean hands’ in Epstein case
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/16/mike-johnson-house-speaker-insists-president-trump-clean-hands/
— Right-wing antisemitism betrays conservatism. Antithetical to the Judeo-Christian ethic. DD: Many, if not most, if not virtually all of my Chicago office GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were antisemitic. They were furious when I volunteered to work for a GS-15, currently $163,749-$195,200/year, Jewish manager in 1990. They were intimidated/envious of her having an MBA from the University of Chicago and passing the CPA examination on her first attempt.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/16/right-wing-antisemitism-betrays-conservatism/
— California yanks illegal immigrants’ trucker’s licenses; Newsom says migrant status not a factor
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/16/california-yanks-illegal-immigrants-truckers-licenses-newsom-says/
— Where’s the violence? Look to the left. Conservatives aren’t assassinating the opposition.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/16/wheres-violence-look-left/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The woke war on standards is destroying higher education
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/3887586/woke-war-on-standards-destroying-higher-education/
— Trump debuts new ‘Marjorie Taylor Brown’ nickname for MTG after pair fall out. DD: I should write about those who have dumped me. I would focus on Republican candidates, elected officials, and party leaders who I have done the most to help elect and to help reelect. I would focus on those who blame me and blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters the most for their defeats.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3888374/trump-debuts-new-marjorie-taylor-brown-nickname-for-mtg-after-pair-fall-out/
— Epstein’s resentment toward Trump
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/3888590/jeffrey-epstein-resentment-toward-donald-trump/
NEW YORK POST
— Trump fumes at ‘politically correct’ Indiana state GOP pols over stalled redistricting push
https://nypost.com/2025/11/16/us-news/trump-fumes-at-indiana-state-gop-pols-over-redistricting-push/
— Bigwig on Zohran Mamdani’s transition team railed against Jews
https://nypost.com/2025/11/16/us-news/bigwig-on-zohran-mamdanis-transition-team-railed-against-jews-questioned-gay-rights/
AMERICAN THINKER
— How many illegal aliens are in our country?
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/11/wait_a_minute_how_many_illegal_aliens_are_in_our_country_again.html
BREITBART
— Companies Abusing H-1B Program to Save Labor Costs
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/11/15/schweizer-companies-abusing-h-1b-program-to-save-labor-costs/
CENTER SQUARE
— DD: Democrats and RINOs slam Vance’s call for less legal immigration. If there had been as many immigrants when I was young as there are now, they would have gotten the jobs that I got. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they had wealth parents who bought them cars, paid for their college education, and got them jobs.
https://www.aol.com/articles/advocates-slam-vances-call-less-165900388.html
DAILY CALLER
— ‘Just Doesn’t Work And Has Never Worked’: Bill Maher Slams Democrats’ Shift Towards Socialism
https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/16/bill-maher-socialism-destroy-democrats-real-time-mamdani-dsa/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Mamdani Is a Warning for Western Civilization
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/11/16/mamdani-is-a-warning-for-western-civilization/
— Midterms Shaping Up to Be a War Over Delivering Affordability for Gen Z
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/11/16/midterms-shaping-up-to-be-a-war-over-delivering-affordability-for-gen-z/
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Bill Maher Rips Democratic Socialism, Warns Dems They’re Going Too Far Left
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/11/bill-maher-rips-democratic-socialism-warns-dems-theyre-going-too-far-left/
NEWSMAX
— Trump Withdraws Support for MTG’s Reelection
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/mtg-marjorie-taylor-greene-donald-trump/2025/11/16/id/1234774/
— Trump’s Healthcare Plan Lowers Premiums, Costs
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/bill-cassidy-trump-healthcare/2025/11/16/id/1234767/
PJ MEDIA
— Charlotte Grocery Store Offers Illegals Free Delivery to Avoid ICE
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/11/16/charlotte-grocery-store-offers-illegals-free-delivery-to-avoid-ice-n4946053
TOWNHALL
— Trump Threatens To Replace RINO Indiana Republicans Who Won’t Redistrict
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2025/11/16/trump-threatens-to-replace-rino-indiana-republicans-who-wont-redistrict-n2666525
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: How soon will the Democratic Party officially name itself the Socialist Party?
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5606186-socialism-gaining-popularity-affordability/
— Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) claimed Sunday that President Trump is “losing his MAGA base” over files related to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as controversy surrounding the disgraced financier heats up.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5608012-khanna-trump-epstein-files/
— Greene says Trump administration ‘infuriating people’ by ‘gaslighting’ them on affordability
https://www.aol.com/articles/greene-says-trump-administration-infuriating-191429637.html
CNN
— Trump feuds with Marjorie Taylor Greene as House vote on releasing Epstein files looms
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-administration-epstein-files-11-16-25
REUTERS
— US House speaker says ‘nothing to hide’ in Epstein files
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-speaker-says-nothing-hide-epstein-files-2025-11-16/
AOL
— While on NYC’s slowest bus, Mamdani says he’d as mayor bike, ride public transit to work
https://www.aol.com/articles/while-nyc-slowest-bus-mamdani-234400932.html
NBC NEWS
— Epstein vote a Democratic attempt to make Trump a ‘lame duck’
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/sen-barrasso-says-epstein-vote-a-democratic-attempt-to-make-trump-a-lame-duck-full-interview-252146245958
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat Leaders Say Pope Leo Doesn’t Want to Be the Anti-Trump. But He Is.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/opinion/trump-pope-leo-maga-christianity.html
— Marjorie Taylor Greene Extends an Olive Branch to Trump. The Georgia Republican, long a loyal Trump ally, had come under attack by the president after showing independence, notably on the government’s investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/us/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-trump-epstein-files.html
— Epstein Emails Reveal a Lost New York
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/style/epstein-emails-reveal-a-lost-new-york.html
WASHINGTON POST
— GOP-led Epstein probe in House creates political friendly fire for Trump. The Republican side of the committee investigating Epstein has kept pushing out troves of emails and documents, and Trump’s name keeps coming up.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/16/epstein-emails-republicans-trump/
— Despite Trump’s ire, House gaining support on Epstein files vote. Lawmakers pushing for the release of more files are planning a news conference at the Capitol on Tuesday alongside victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/16/house-epstein-discharge-petition-trump/
— GOP plans to replace Obamacare have failed. Here’s what lawmakers propose now.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/16/gop-healthcare-plans-trump/
USA TODAY
— What Epstein’s emails reveal about the rich and famous who sought his advice. Financial and political intel? Sure. But there was so much more that Bold Face Names sought from the disgraced sex offender and former Trump friend.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/15/jeffrey-epsteins-emails-advice-to-rich-and-famous/87274450007/
DALLAS EXPRESS
— Trump Plans To Bring Foreign Experts To Train American Workers. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://dallasexpress.com/national/treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-says-trump-plans-to-bring-foreign-experts-to-train-american-workers/
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
— Catholic leaders across U.S. issue ‘special message’ condemning Trump’s deportations. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly get religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.silive.com/nation/2025/11/catholic-leaders-across-us-issue-special-message-condemning-trumps-deportations.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump’s Affordability Agenda
https://www.wsj.com/video/series/journal-editorial-report/wsj-opinion-trump-affordability-agenda/4BBBC550-1217-497D-AAB8-62CD32E5B7C1
— White House Hunts for Ways to Lower the Cost of Living. Aside from reducing tariffs, Trump has a limited ability to bring down prices. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/trump-cost-of-living-prices-8e08798d
— He’s Called ‘Little Trump,’ and His Tactics Are Rankling White House Top Brass. Bill Pulte, head of the agency overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has been making big waves from his low-profile post. DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who have lots of clout, who claim to be religious, conservative, and/or Republican, and who have worked harder against me than me than against any Democrat. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me lately.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/bill-pulte-profile-d000c844
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pulte, who heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, told the president he had identified leakers who were undermining the administration. He was carrying a “Ghostbusters”-style poster that featured pictures of administration officials and outside allies, outlined by red circles with lines through their faces, according to officials familiar with the meeting. For many in the West Wing, it was classic Pulte: an attention-grabbing move to burrow into President Trump’s good graces by attacking the president’s perceived enemies. . .Pulte has routinely made waves from that low-profile post, digging up opposition research on the president’s foes, ousting legal and ethics watchdogs who investigated the FHFA director’s conduct, and lashing out at companies in the housing world.)
— Trump Withdraws Support for Once Staunch Backer Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Georgia Republican has recently criticized the administration on several issues including affordability. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-withdraws-support-for-once-staunch-backer-marjorie-taylor-greene-89798ddf
FORTUNE
— The exact amount of money ($619,178/year) you need to earn to be among New York’s ultra-wealthy club has been revealed—and it’s 7x the average wage ($84,578/year).
https://www.aol.com/finance/exact-amount-money-earn-among-161519963.html
PBS
— As Enforcement Intensifies, Churches Become Sanctuaries for Immigrants. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly get religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.kqed.org/news/12063793/as-enforcement-intensifies-churches-become-sanctuaries-for-immigrants-seeking-peace
AXIOS
— These cities have the highest entry-level wage growth. DD: What entry-level jobs did you have? I had three. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 years old in 1970. My first entry-level job was a Retail Sales Manager for a Firestone Store. My salary was about $50,000/year in today’s dollars for a 44-hour workweek. In 1971, my second entry-level job was a GS-7 IRS Revenue Officer. The salary was $55,850/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. My taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola helped me get promoted to GS-9 ($68,315/year) in 1972, to GS-11 ($82,655/year) in 1973, and to GS-12 ($99,069/year) in 1974. I earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. In 1980, my third entry-level job was a GS-9 Step 10 GAO Analyst, The salary was $88,808/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980.
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/16/entry-level-wage-growth-cities
RAW STORY
— Trump rages at GOP ‘friend’ for not following his orders. DD: My critics/opponents demand blind loyalty. They destroy those like me who they cannot manipulate or dominate, who refuse to glorify and paise them, who refuse to pander to them, who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, who refuse to cover up their wrongdoing, and/or who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of clout and had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me lately.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-friend-gop-power-grab/
COMMON DREAMS
— Mamdani Backers Rally to ‘Tax the Rich’ as Transition Raises $1 Million in 10 Days From 12,000 Donors
https://www.commondreams.org/news/mamdani-tax-the-rich
SALON
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly get religious leaders to do their bidding.
https://www.salon.com/2025/11/16/faith-under-attack-more-clergy-arrested-at-ice-facility-protest/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
INDEPENDENT
— The Trump Organization looked to bring in nearly 200 foreign workers on visas this year to staff its golf clubs and businesses — the highest total to date, according to figures from the Department of Labor. This year, the company sought to hire 184 foreign workers for temporary positions at the family’s Mar-a-Lago resort, two golf clubs and a winery in Virginia through H-2A and H-2B visas, Forbes first reported. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have.
https://www.aol.com/news/trump-organization-asked-foreign-visas-151152895.html
GUARDIAN
— The banality of evil: how Epstein’s powerful friends normalized him
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/16/jeffrey-epstein-powerful-friends
November 12, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Hundreds detained as part of immigration ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ ordered released on bond
https://abc7chicago.com/post/hundreds-detained-part-federal-immigration-operation-midway-blitz-ordered-released-bond-judge-says/18148124/
— DD: Democrat employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/city-chicago-sues-us-department-justice-dei-restrictions-community-policing-hiring-grant-mayor-brandon-johnson-says/18148498/
WLS
— Judge orders release of hundreds arrested in Illinois immigration crackdown
https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/wls-judge-orders-release-of-hundreds-arrested-in-illinois-immigration-crackdown/article_6e83bab3-06f8-5136-93e5-50b4ea730813.html
WTTW
— Chicago Will Stop Investing in US Treasury Securities to Protest ‘Authoritarian’ Trump, Treasurer Announces
https://news.wttw.com/2025/11/12/chicago-will-stop-investing-us-treasury-securities-protest-authoritarian-trump-treasurer
WGN RADIO
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote Pat Brady.
https://wgnradio.com/lisa-dent/pat-brady-rahm-emanuel-epstein-files/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Federal judge says he’ll order release of hundreds of ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ arrestees on bond
https://wgnradio.com/lisa-dent/pat-brady-rahm-emanuel-epstein-files/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois steps up where feds fall down in making college affordable. DD: What made college affordable for you? Way back when I was young, way back in the 1960s, many of my high school classmates did not try to earn a college degree because their parents could not afford it. My parents could not afford it. My father often decried his not having a college degree. So I bought a 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air in 1964 with money I had earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers. I used that car to get to/from my parents’ home in Crete and my minimum wage dishwashing job in the basement of the S.S. Kresge in Chicago Heights. I took college preparatory courses. I got an ACT score of 24. I graduated in the upper 20% of my Crete-Monee High School class. UIC accepted me. I used the money I had earned washing dishes to but a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in May of 1966. I used that car to get to/from summer jobs during 1966 and then classes at UIC. The Park Forest Post Office hired me in November of 1966. I used the money I earned delivering mail to pay not only for my college expenses but a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967 and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968. I transferred from UIC to NIU in January of 1969. I graduated debt-free from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in business in August of 1970.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/11/12/illinois-college-costs-trump-administration-students-color-low-income-denise-forte-juliana-stratton
FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump faces criticism from MAGA base over comments on American workers. DD: Employers want cheap labor. Noncitizens work for less money and are easier to exploit.
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/president-trump-faces-criticism-from-maga-base-over-comments-american-workers-laura-ingraham-h1b-scott-bessent
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Donald Trump’s recent defense of the H-1B visa program has stirred controversy, even among his staunchest supporters. During an interview with Laura Ingraham, Trump had a back-and-forth with the Fox News host over the H-1B visa program. “You also do have to bring in talent,” Trump said. “We have plenty of talented people here,” replied Ingraham. “No, you don’t, no you don’t,” Trump replied, causing Ingraham to press him on whether or not we have talented American workers domestically. “You don’t have certain talents and people have to learn. You can’t take people off an unemployment line and say I’m going to put you into a factory and you’re going to make missiles,” Trump said. These remarks contrast sharply with an executive order he signed in September, which increased H-1B visa application fees to $100,000, up from the previous $2,000 to $5,000 range. The comments have been perceived as a slight against American workers, drawing criticism from figures like Steve Bannon. “All the visa programs…I think we’ve got enough folks, until everyone has a high-paying, high-value job,” he said on his “Bannon’s War Room” show Wednesday. Pro MAGA voices on social media expressed outrage, with some labeling the comments as “insanity” and predicting electoral losses. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the president’s stance Wednesday morning, citing the lack of domestic production in industries like shipbuilding and semiconductors. “An American can’t have that job because we haven’t built ships in the US for years, we haven’t built semiconductors, so this idea of overseas partners coming in, teaching American workers, then returning home, it’s a home run,” he told Fox News. The H-1B visa issue has been a contentious topic within the MAGA movement since late 2024, when figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramswamy faced criticism for supporting the program to attract tech workers.)
NPR ILLINOIS
— Who is Laura Loomer, President Trump’s self-described chief ‘loyalty enforcer’?
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-11-12/who-is-laura-loomer-president-trumps-self-described-chief-loyalty-enforcer
NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TV
— DuPage County Trade Apprenticeship Expo sees record attendance
https://www.nctv17.org/news/dupage-county-trade-apprenticeship-expo-sees-record-attendance/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/11/12/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-422/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS FREEDOM CAUCUS
— It’s The Holiday Season…and the Democrats Dumped More Coal In Your Stocking. Veto Session 2025 Looked Like Something The GRINCH Would Have Planned For Christmas… tax increases, legal suicide, restricting law enforcement and more.
https://illinoisfreedomcaucus.substack.com/p/its-the-holiday-seasonand-the-democrats
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
NEW YORK POST
— Epstein emails: The Dems and their lapdogs with laptops cry Wolff again
https://nypost.com/2025/11/12/opinion/epstein-emails-the-dems-and-their-lapdogs-with-laptops-cry-wolff-again/
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— MAGA’s ‘Multiracial Coalition’ Was a Mirage. DD: To get more votes from those who are the following, Democrat candidates ever-increasingly promise to use government to give them more preference: minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, unmarried, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, have less money than others, are noncitizens, etc.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/magas-multiracial-coalition-was-a-mirage/
BLAZE
— Trump celebrates historic crime drop in hostile sanctuary city after federal ‘blitz’
https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-celebrates-historic-crime-drop-in-hostile-sanctuary-city-after-federal-blitz-dhs
DAILY SIGNAL
— Noem Pledges ‘Surge’ of Resources to Chicago After Pritzker Calls Bovino a ‘Snowflake’
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/11/12/noem-pledges-surge-resource-chicago-after-gov-jb-pritzker-calls-top-immigration-official-snowflake/
CAMPUS REFORM
— Northwestern helps illegal alien students access employment, health care, scholarships, and more. As ICE increases enforcement operations near Chicago, Northwestern continues programs that shield illegal alien students from the law. The university provides illegal aliens with wellness workshops, scholarships, hotlines, travel guides, free health care, career series, graduate school opportunities and more. DD: All the universities that admitted me would admitted noncitizens instead of me if they could have. All the employers that hired me would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents have no problem with that.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/northwestern-helps-illegal-alien-students-access-employment-health-care-scholarships-/28936
DAILY WIRE
— Border Agents Head To Charlotte After Illegal Immigration Sweep In Chicago. Border Patrol chief for California’s El Centro sector, Gregory Bovino, will also head to Charlotte, sources said.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/border-agents-head-to-charlotte-after-illegal-immigration-sweep-in-chicago
EPOCH TIMES
— Trump Defends Plan To Offer 600,000 Chinese Student Visas. DD: All the universities that admitted me would admitted noncitizens instead of me if they could have. All the employers that hired me would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents have no problem with that.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-defends-plan-to-offer-600000-chinese-student-visas-5943597
FOX NEWS
— A member of Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s office allegedly signs forms while misrepresenting himself as the attorney of an illegal immigrant. ICE said person’s purported client had already been deported four times and convicted of a DUI.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6385005028112
HOMELAND SECRITY
— Operation Midway Blitz Brings Historic Drop in Crime to J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson’s Chicago
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/11/12/operation-midway-blitz-brings-historic-drop-crime-jb-pritzker-and-brandon-johnsons
NEWSMAX
— Trump’s ‘Midway Blitz’ Slashes Chicago Crime: Carjackings Plunge 48%
https://www.newsmax.com/us/trump-dhs-chicago/2025/11/12/id/1234241/
PJ MEDIA
— California Issued 17,000 CDLs to ‘Dangerous Foreign Drivers’
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/11/12/california-issued-17k-cdls-to-dangerous-foreign-drivers-n4945903
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
WMAL
— Trump Endorses Abbott for Fourth Term in Texas. DD: Which candidates on the March 17, 2025 Republican primary ballot in your precinct a) have sought Trump’s endorsement and/or b) have received Trump’s endorsement?
https://www.wmal.com/2025/11/12/trump-endorses-abbott-for-fourth-term-in-texas/
USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Carlson and Fuentes to paint Republicans as being antisemites. My Democrat superiors in the federal government used their Jewish superiors and supervisors to take many big adverse actions against me. They stressed to them that I was conservative, Republican, Protestant, and 100% German American. They stressed that I lived in Crete 1948-1972 and in Wheaton since 1978.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/12/carlson-fuentes-interview-maga-rift/87210363007/
BLOOMBERG
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Carlson and Fuentes to paint Republicans as being antisemites. My Democrat superiors in the federal government used their Jewish superiors and supervisors to take many big adverse actions against me. They stressed to them that I was conservative, Republican, Protestant, and 100% German American. They stressed that I lived in Crete 1948-1972 and in Wheaton since 1978.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-11-12/tucker-carlson-nick-fuentes-will-force-gop-to-confront-antisemitism
SPLC
— DD: Democrat leaders use Kirk’s assignation against Republicans.
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/charlie-kirk-trans-shooter-myth/
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
INDEPENDENT
— ICE recruits are showing up for training with disqualifying criminal backgrounds. DD: In my defense, my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors fully vetted me. But they hired me only because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, and/or veteran who would take the job. I qualified myself for my Post Office job by passing the postal employment examination and earning a high school diploma. I qualified myself for my IRS job by passing the Federal Service Entrance Examination and earning a bachelor’s degree in business. I qualified myself for my GAO job by earning an MBA and passing the CPA examination on my first attempt.
https://www.aol.com/news/ice-recruits-showing-training-disqualifying-160752475.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement is flush with cash for an aggressive recruiting campaign to fulfill Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. But new recruits are reportedly failing physical fitness requirements and entering training programs before the agency performed background checks or finished a screening process. ICE officials have discovered that some recruits failed drug testing or had disqualifying criminal backgrounds while they were already enrolled in training, according to NBC News. Since the beginning of a summer hiring surge after the president approved $178 billion to expand the agency into one of the most expensive police agencies in the world, ICE has dismissed more than 200 new recruits while they were in training for falling short of requirements, according to agency data reviewed by NBC. Most did not meet physical and academic standards — including failing open-book tests — while several were dismissed for their criminal backgrounds or over safety concerns that were flagged in background checks, the outlet reported. At least one recruit at the agency’s training academy in Brunswick, Georgia, had been previously charged with strong-arm robbery and battery stemming from a domestic violence incident, according to a Homeland Security official speaking to NBC. Several recruits also had not submitted fingerprints or gone through any background checks at all before entering the six-week training course, officials said. Homeland Security deputy secretary Tricia McLaughlin claimed that a majority of new recruits are former law enforcement officers who go through a different hiring process; per ICE policy, applicants are required to pass drug tests and undergo a security check before they enter training. McLaughlin said the figures in NBC’s report are “not accurate” and “reflect a subset of candidates in initial basic academy classes.” “The vast majority of new officers brought on during the hiring surge are experienced law enforcement officers who have already successfully completed a law enforcement academy,” she said. “This population is expected to account for greater than 85 percent of new hires. Prior-service hires follow streamlined validation but remain subject to medical, fitness, and background requirements.” The Trump administration has aimed for hiring 10,000 ICE agents by next year, or roughly doubling its footprint, with a major boost to the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division. Critics have warned that hitting that 10,000 target — without adequate guardrails to screen future agents and know exactly who is filling those roles — the government could open the door to repeat past mistakes, as ICE faces intense legal scrutiny over allegations of abuse and illegal use of force as Trump surges federal officers into cities across the country. “The loosening of hiring standards and training requirements is unacceptable and will likely result in increased officer misconduct — similar to or worse than what occurred during a small surge in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the early 2000s,” Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem this week. “Exacerbating our concerns, DHS has gutted offices responsible for overseeing ICE officers and ensuring accountability for use-of-force incidents,” he added. “Given these developments, greater congressional oversight of ICE’s hiring is essential.” To boost recruitment, Homeland Security offered a “maximum $50,000 signing bonus” and student loan forgiveness. DHS also dropped age limit requirements, allowing people as young as 18 years old to apply and opening ICE to recruits older than 40 years old. The training period at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia shrunk from 13 weeks to eight — and then six. Recruits must also pass a physical fitness test, including running 1.5 miles under 14 minutes and 25 seconds. But dozens of new recruits were sent packing because they couldn’t pass a legal exam, in which officers are allowed to use their books and notes for a test on the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Fourth Amendment. Another group of recruits was dismissed after medical issues or failing the physical fitness requirements. “It’s pathetic,” one career ICE official told The Atlantic. The federal government has been struggling to enroll physically fit personnel to join the ranks since even before Trump, with military branches also regularly failing to meet recruiting goals. One Pentagon study found that more than three-quarters of Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 were ineligible for service because they were overweight, unable to pass an aptitude test, afflicted by physical or mental health issues, or ruled out by a criminal record.)