FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Trump’s State of the Union address sparks debate over SAVE Act voting proposal. Illinois GOP says there is widespread support, League of Women Voters says law could disenfranchise millions of Illinois voters.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/president-donald-trumps-state-union-address-sparks-debate-save-act-voting-proposal-voter-id-election-rules/18650683/
— DD: Democrat leaders cause America’s problems.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/president-donald-trump-speech-today-fact-checking-state-union-sotu-2026-address/18646901/
NBC5
— DD: Democrat leaders cause America’s problems.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/state-of-the-union-fact-check-what-president-trump-said-during-the-address/3899928/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— As primary looms, Illinois Republican governor candidates say they oppose abortion-is-murder bill
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/25/illinois-gop-candidates-oppose-aborton-murder/
CHICAGIO SUN-TIMES
— In fiery meeting, Rep. Delia Ramirez issues demands, reminds DHS head Noem of plans to pursue her impeachment. Ramirez came equipped with specific requests, including barring federal agents from churches, schools and hospitals — and revoking a controversial policy that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to enter homes without a judicial warrant.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/25/rep-delia-ramirez-homeland-security-secretary-kristi-noem-meeting-dhs-actions-impeachment-plans
— DD: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump. How successful have they been in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/02/25/trumps-state-union-low-approval-immigration-economy-s-e-cupp
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/02/25/state-union-speech-trumps-lies-immigrants-america-chicago-natalie-moore
DAILY HERALD
— Who’s the real Republican? And does Trump make mistakes? Gov hopefuls debate (sans Bailey)
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260225/illinois-state-politics/whos-the-real-republican-and-does-trump-make-mistakes-gov-hopefuls-debate-sans-bailey/
— Edmond (Eddie) Moore: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Sheriff
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260225/local-politics/edmond-eddie-moore-2026-candidate-for-dupage-county-sheriff/
— Sean T. Noonan: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Sheriff
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260225/local-politics/sean-t-noonan-2026-candidate-for-dupage-county-sheriff/
— Gary Vician: 2026 candidate for 14th Congressional District
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260225/us-congress-politics/gary-vician-2026-candidate-for-14th-congressional-district/
— GOP candidate deletes video of fake Trump endorsement
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260225/us-congress-politics/gop-candidate-deletes-video-of-trump-that-white-house-calls-fake/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Asked this week to comment, Kim said he didn’t know about the video until the Daily Herald asked about it. Kim said five people manage his social media accounts and that he rarely posts messages. On Wednesday, campaign manager Karolyn Radulovich said Kim requested his team remove the clip. “Charlie likes to be positive about our campaign, and he does not wish to deceive voters nor be negative,” Radulovich said in an email. The video was created using a stock video template through an online editing service, Radulovich said. The goal was to promote Kim’s campaign “and make people smile,” she said, not to make people believe Trump had endorsed Kim.)
WGN RADIO
–DD: Democrat leaders want Pat Brady to lead the Illinois Republican Party.
https://wgnradio.com/lisa-dent/pat-brady-reviewing-the-state-of-the-union/
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more pot.
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/danvilles-first-cannabis-consumption-lounge-opens/article_36f1f02a-7e82-4dde-bdd9-6f5882e0a62d.html
DAILY ILLINI
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote foreign languages.
https://dailyillini.com/life_and_culture-stories/culture-diversity/2026/02/24/arabic-program/
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Republican candidates for governor — minus Bailey — try to distance themselves
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/republican-candidates-for-governor-minus-bailey-try-to-distance-themselves/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/25/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-475/
— Dabrowski pledges to issue emergency order with the goal of killing SAFE-T Act, TRUST Act and ‘unite everybody who wants to take on the legislature’
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/25/dabrowski-pledges-to-issue-emergency-order-with-the-goal-of-killing-safe-t-act-trust-act-and-unite-everybody-who-wants-to-take-on-the-legislature/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump endorses slate of Indiana Republicans running against anti-redistricting state senators
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/4471964/trump-endorses-indiana-republicans-primary-redistricting-state-senate/
BREITBART
— CNN Poll: 64% of SOTU Viewers Say Trump’s Policies Move U.S. in Right Direction
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/02/25/watch-trump-won-over-cnn-viewers-contradicting-networks-own-abby-phillips-post-speech-grading/
— Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR) says President Donald Trump’s asking lawmakers to stand for American citizens over illegal aliens was “thinly veiled racist language.”
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/02/25/democrat-congresswoman-trump-asking-lawmakers-stand-americans-over-illegals-was-racist/
CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois racial wealth gap among largest in country
https://www.fwbusiness.com/news/national/article_584e4cde-63cb-58bb-a59e-3b6c57964eed.html
NATIONAL REVIEW
— Mamdani, AOC Offer Taxpayer-Funded Child Care to Illegal Immigrants in Spanish-Language Video
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/mamdani-aoc-offer-taxpayer-funded-child-care-to-illegal-immigrants-in-spanish-language-video/
NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE
— Illinois launches new fund to pay for more abortions
https://nrlc.org/nrlnewstoday/2026/02/illinois-launches-new-fund-to-pay-for-more-abortions/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC NEWS
— DD: Democrat leaders cause America’s problems.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/state-of-union-fact-check-trump-speech-2026-rcna259900
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/trump-lays-into-congress-members-over-inflation-you-caused-that-problem-258243653574
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders cause America’s problems.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/25/us/fact-check-state-of-the-union-trump
WASHINGTON POST
— DD: Democrat leaders cause America’s problems.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/25/trump-democrats-you-caused-that-problem/
NPR
— DD: Democrat leaders cause America’s problems.
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/24/nx-s1-5716277/trump-state-union-fact-check
Tag: trump
February 24, 2026
WHITE HOUSE
— President Trump Honors Angel Families, Remembers American Lives Lost to Illegal Immigration
https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/02/president-trump-honors-angel-families-remembers-american-lives-lost-to-illegal-immigration/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
FOX32
— Illinois GOP governor primary debate: How to watch on Fox Chicago
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-gop-govenor-primary-debate
WTTW
— Illinois Increasingly Becomes Destination for Abortion
https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/23/illinois-increasingly-becomes-destination-abortion-access-new-public-private-partnership
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ex-strip club owner with ties to reputed mob figures a big campaign donor to Alexi Giannoulias. Perry Mandera, his family and companies have contributed more than $100,000 to Giannoulias’ campaign fund over the last few years as he contemplates a run for Chicago mayor. Mandera owned a strip club for years on the Near North Side that was involved in a long-running legal battle with City Hall — and that employed two men with alleged organized crime connections.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/02/24/perry-mandera-campaign-contributions-alexi-giannoulias-potential-candidate-chicago-mayor
— Woman calls police on congressional candidate Mike Simmons as he canvassed in apartment building. In a video, state Sen. Mike Simmons, a Democrat who is running for Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s seat, can be seen asking a woman if she’s calling the police and telling her he’s “disappointed” in how she handled the situation. The incident occurred Friday in Buena Park. No arrests were made. DD: I am happy to report that only one Democrat voter in my precinct, albeit an aggressive, nasty, wealthy, and prominent realtor with a common name, shouted threats at me while I hand-delivered envelopes to residences in my precinct that have at least one Republican or one NA voter without knocking on any doors. He shouted at me in a very threatening tone that he had thrown my envelope in his trash, that I should not deliver anything there anymore, that he knew who I was, that he knew where I lived, and that if I ever did deliver anything there again, he would come to my home and dump it on my driveway. While I did not realize who he was until after the incident, he had known who I was for many years. He had been a registered D in my precinct very near my home years ago. I now know that after he sold that home, he bought a very expensive and prominent home in the new part of my precinct. I delivered to his new home only because there was a registered NA in his home. To avoid future threats like this from Ds, I will identify those homes in my precinct that have NAs and not deliver to those homes that also have Ds but no Rs, something I did not take the time to do this time. There are limits on the time that I can spend. I spend 10+ hours a day 7 days a week putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters together and sending them out. I spent many hours putting 800 mailing labels and 400 return address labels on 400 envelopes, putting them into walk order, stuffing them with a sample ballot, a Milton Township Republican Organization flyer, and five candidate campaign literature pieces, dividing them into 5 batches, and hand-delivering them. I used 400 DuPage County Republican Central Committee envelopes and I used my photocopier, paper, and ink to copy the sample ballot 400 times 2-sided back-to-back. If I spent 6 minutes getting each envelope ready, that would be 40 hours. I spent about 15 hours hand-delivering the envelopes, or about 3 hours per batch.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/02/23/woman-calls-police-on-congressional-candidate-mike-simmons-as-he-canvassed-in-apartment-building
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Simmons says in the video, “I’m gonna let you know that it is against the law to call the police on an elected official who’s knocking doors, I know because I passed the law in 2021. So if you’d like me to leave the building, I would leave the building, but I am so disappointed in how you chose to handle the situation at a time when police have been known to get into deadly altercations with people of color.”)
DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Who’s going to the State of the Union and who’s boycotting it? Illinois lawmakers are split.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260223/nation-and-world-politics/whos-going-to-the-state-of-the-union-and-whos-boycotting-it-illinois-lawmakers-are-split/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Trump funding cuts and threats to Illinois reach $61.5B and counting
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/trump-funding-cuts-threats-illinois-615b-and-counting
SHAW LOCAL
— Which Illinois lawmakers are attending the State of the Union address, and who are their guests?
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/02/24/which-illinois-lawmakers-are-attending-the-state-of-the-union-address-and-who-are-their-guests/
CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Fighting the Losing Population Battle. Young people are heading out of state for college and career. To reverse the trend, we need to make Illinois schools more affordable and attract more employers.
https://www.chicagomag.com/news/fighting-the-losing-population-battle/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— In IL-08: Republican Jennifer Davis has been endorsed by Milton Township Republican Organization Chair Jeff Castle in her bid for Congress in the 8th District.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/02/24/budzinski-eyes-a-red-blue-reset-00794602
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/24/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-685/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
NEW YORK POST
— Melania Trump to host stand-out young women as guests for the State of the Union address
https://nypost.com/2026/02/24/us-news/melania-trumps-guests-for-state-of-the-union-address-include-stand-out-scholars/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Newsom tells Black crowd he’s like them, bad at reading and low SAT scores. DD: My critics/opponents have always stressed that my ACT score was only 24 and that I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my high school class.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/02/23/newsom-tells-black-crowd-hes-like-them-bad-at-reading-and-low-sat-scores-1623797/
BREITBART
— Trump Declares ‘Angel Family Day’ for Victims of Migrant Crime
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/02/23/watch-president-trump-declares-national-angel-family-day-honoring-victims-of-illegal-alien-crime/amp/
CAMPUS REFORM
— North Dakota State pushes ‘Safe Zone’ trainees to sign LGBTQ ‘ally’ pledge
https://www.campusreform.org/article/north-dakota-state-pushes-safe-zone-trainees-sign-lgbtq-ally-pledge/29452
CENTER SQUARE
— New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a proposal named after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk that would restrict the teaching of “leftist indoctrination” in the state’s public schools. DD: My parents sending me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools enabled me to avoid leftist indoctrination. My majoring in business, accounting, and finance enabled me to avoid leftist indoctrination.
https://www.aol.com/articles/hampshire-bill-targets-leftist-teachings-183600131.html
COLLEGE FIX
— Arcadia University launches racism minor to train students in ‘antiracist advocacy.’ DD: To get more votes from minorities, females, and younger people, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at them that Republicans cause all their problems.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/arcadia-u-launches-racism-minor-to-train-students-in-antiracist-advocacy/
DAILY SIGNAL
— 7 Times Democrats Had a Meltdown Over Trump’s State of the Union Speeches
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/24/7-times-democrats-had-meltdown-over-trumps-state-union-speeches/
— The Media Lie About Trans Shooters
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/23/the-media-lies-about-trans-shooters/
FEDERALIST
— California Democrats Pile Out Of Clown Car At Their Convention
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/23/california-democrats-pile-out-of-clown-car-at-their-convention/
— Basing College Admissions On Merit Instead Of Skin Is Good For Everyone. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, they used Affirmative Action to give tremendous preference to my Democrat coworkers who were minority and/or female. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/23/surprise-basing-college-admissions-on-merit-instead-of-skin-is-good-for-everyone/
FOX NEWS
— House Dem compares Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown to ‘terrorism,’ vows to abolish ICE. Rep. Maxine Dexter promises to ‘dismantle and abolish ICE altogether’ if Democrats regain power.
https://noticias.foxnews.com/politics/house-dem-compares-trumps-illegal-immigration-crackdown-terrorism-abolish-ice
— Trump has sealed the border. Now, Democrats are hell-bent on ending immigration enforcement. Nine consecutive months of zero illegal alien releases at border while blue cities resist immigration enforcement.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-has-sealed-border-now-democrats-hell-bent-ending-immigration-enforcement
— White House calls CNN a ‘total disgrace’ for skipping event honoring victims of illegal immigrant crime. ‘CNN doesn’t care about the victims of illegal alien crime,’ the White House press secretary wrote.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/white-house-calls-cnn-total-disgrace-skipping-event-honoring-victims-illegal-immigrant-crime
TOWNHALL
— About Those Detroit Officers Facing Termination for Contacting Border Patrol
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2026/02/23/detroit-police-chief-reverses-decision-to-fire-police-officers-for-contacting-ice-n2671720
— Newsom Continues to Lie About His Privileged Childhood. DD: Were you privileged? Ever since May of 1966 when I was 17 years old and bought a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint ( https://over-drive-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1965-12-CD-1966-Pontiac-Tempest-Sprint-Test-1-4.pdf ), my critics/opponents have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as having filthy rich parents. But I bought that car with money I earned washing dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the SS Kresge in Chicago Heights, 28 hours a week during my junior and senior years at Crete-Monee High School, and 40 hours a week during the summer in between.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/print/2671745
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Democrats prepare to protest Trump State of the Union: What to know.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5751650-democrats-protest-trump-state-of-the-union/
NEW YORK TIMES
— State of the Union May Be a Trial for ‘Barely Invited’ Justices. If tradition holds, members of the Supreme Court will attend Trump’s annual speech, just days after ruling against the legality of his tariffs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/us/politics/supreme-court-state-of-the-union.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Democrats’ Latest Anti-Trump Tactic: Skipping the State of the Union. Some 50 Democratic members of the House and Senate plan to forgo annual speech in unusual rebuke of sitting president.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/democrats-latest-anti-trump-tactic-skipping-the-state-of-the-union-93aeebe4
— Federal Worker Sues Government. DD: In Diersen v. GAO, the courts ruled that the federal government can force its employees to retire, that is, it can fire its employees, for doing things that are specifically protected, that is, opposing political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/federal-worker-fired-after-hanging-trans-flag-at-yosemite-sues-government-0ef5aed2
DAILY CAMPUS
— The Death of the Republican Party. DD: I am for Trump when he promotes conservative principles and the Republican Party platform.
https://dailycampus.com/2026/02/24/the-death-of-the-republican-party/
NATIONAL TODAY
— Musk Warns of ‘Woke AI’ Threat as Trump Admin Struggles to Respond. Elon Musk highlights dangers of morally compromised AI models, but the Trump administration’s efforts to combat ‘woke’ tech face challenges.
https://nationaltoday.com/us/ca/san-francisco/news/2026/02/23/musk-warns-of-woke-ai-threat-as-trump-admin-struggles-to-respond/
CONSTRUCTION COVERAGE
— Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest and Lowest? A State, County, and City Analysis. Midwest and Northeast states levy the highest rates, led by Illinois and New Jersey.
https://constructioncoverage.com/research/average-property-tax-by-state-county-city
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
MEAWW
— Dozens of Democrats plan to boycott Trump’s State of Union to attend counterprogramming events
https://news.meaww.com/dozens-of-democrats-plan-to-boycott-trumps-state-of-union-to-attend-counterprogramming-events
— Newsom tells Black crowd ‘I’m like you, I can’t read.’
https://news.meaww.com/right-wing-influencers-troll-gavin-newsom-for-telling-black-crowd-im-like-you-i-cant-read
February 23, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— How to watch Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address and what to know. The address will be Trump’s first State of the Union during his second term.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/2026-state-union-how-watch-pres-donald-trumps-address-what-know/18640790/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: ABC News will air the State of the Union live at 9 p.m. EST, ABC News Live will stream special coverage starting at 7 p.m. EST and ABC News Digital will have a live blog with up-to-the-minute updates, key takeaways of the address and analysis.)
— DD: Democrat leaders say how Trump will use his State of the Union address to sell skeptical midterm voters on his plans
https://abc7chicago.com/post/how-trump-will-use-state-union-address-sell-skeptical-midterm-voters-plans/18638547/
NBC5
— When is President Trump’s State of the Union address? Time, how to watch and more. Planning to watch Tuesday’s State of the Union? Here’s the scheduled time, details on planned boycotts and more.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/president-trump/when-is-president-trumps-state-of-the-union-address-time-how-to-watch-and-more/3898899/
— Illinois lawmakers plan to boycott Trump’s State of the Union address
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/illinois-lawmakers-plan-to-boycott-trumps-state-of-the-union-address/3898881/
CBS2
— Casten, Ramirez, Schakowsky boycotting Trump’s State of the Union address
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/sean-casten-delia-ramirez-jan-schakowsky-state-of-the-union-boycott-president-donald-trump/
— Why some Democratic congresswomen will wear white to Trump’s State of the Union
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-state-of-the-union-democrats-wearing-white/
— U.S. women’s hockey team declines State of the Union invitation
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-womens-hockey-team-declines-state-of-the-union-invitation/
— “Abolish ICE” among six winners of Chicago snow plow naming contest
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/abolish-ice-wins-snow-plow-naming-contest/
— ICE whistleblower warns new recruits are receiving “defective” training. DD: In 1971, the first 6 months that I worked for IRS as a Revenue Officer was classroom training. IRS provided me with lots of training while I worked for it 1971-1980. GAO provided me with lots of classroom training while I worked for it 1980-1997.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-whistleblower-new-recruits-receiving-defective-training/
FOX32
— Chicago-area members of Congress to boycott Trump’s State of the Union speech
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-members-of-congress-boycott-trump-speech
WTTW
— DD: Responses to an Illinois Education Association survey indicate that the majority of respondents are anti-Trump and anti-those who share his demographics. Trump is American, Republican, conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and his ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/23/illinois-residents-oppose-ice-activity-schools-support-pay-raises-educators-new-teachers
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Responses to an Illinois Education Association survey indicate that the majority of respondents are anti-Trump and anti-those who share his demographics. Trump is American, Republican, conservative, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and his ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/23/poll-shows-illinoisans-oppose-ice-near-schools/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Durbin to bring original Dreamer to Trump’s State of the Union speech, as several Illinois Dems boycott it. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, along with U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky and Eric Sorensen, say they won’t attend the annual address, with Duckworth calling it “another campaign rally full of lies.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump/2026/02/23/dick-durbin-original-dreamer-guest-president-donald-trumps-state-of-the-union-speech-illinois-democrats-boycott
— Familiar foes line up in Republican primary for chance against Gov. JB Pritzker. Darren Bailey is eyeing a second round with Pritzker, while Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heidner and James Mendrick each have their own history with the Democratic governor.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/02/23/illinois-republican-primary-governor-candidates-preview-bailey-dabrowski-heidner-mendrick
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago’s largest employers 2026: Government tops list. DD: I worked for GAO in Chicago 1980-1997, for IRS in Chicago, Joliet, and Harvey 1971-1980, and for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/data-center/chicagos-largest-employers-2026-government-tops-list
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Illinois congressman Eric Sorensen says he will skip Trump’s State of Union address
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/23/eric-sorensen-of-illinois-says-he-will-skip-trump-state-of-the-union/88829828007/
CHICAGO READER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.
https://chicagoreader.com/?mc_cid=93c2310c71&mc_eid=c968c7978e
COD COURIER
— DD: Democrat leaders promote Bad Bunny
https://codcourier.org/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-halftime-show-sparks-pride-and-conversation-on-campus/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/23/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-473/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Bailey Points to Illinois Truck Driver Licensing Scandal
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/21/bailey-points-to-illinois-truck-driver-licensing-scandal/
— Keicher’s Pitch for Nuclear Energy
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/17194/
— Where Company Headquarters Are Moving From and To
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/where-company-headquarters-are-moving-from-and-to/
— Illinois Municipal League Attacks Pritzker’s Push to Put Housing Under State Control
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/illinois-municipal-league-attacks-pritzkers-push-to-put-housing-under-state-control/
— Feds to Penalize Illinois for Bad Management
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/feds-to-penalize-illinois-for-bad-management/
— Questionnaires from Two GOP U.S. Senate Candidates: R. Cary Capparelli and Don Tracy
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/22/questionnaires-from-two-gop-u-s-senate-candidates-r-cary-capparelli-and-don-tracy/
— Juliana Stratton’s F-Bomb-Laden TV Commercial Not Mentioned in USA Today’s Article on Coarse Political Language
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=17233&action=edit
— Ness Relates Supreme Court Decision to Illinois Constituents
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/17298/
— Senate Democratic Party Newsletter Says Budget Will Have Bi-Partisan Conservations
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/senate-democratic-party-newsletter-says-budget-will-have-bi-partisan-conservations/
— Sosnowski introduces Bill to Base Assessed Valuation on Original Purchase Price
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/sosnowski-introduces-bill-to-base-assessed-valuation-on-original-purchase-price/
— 9th District Democrat Mike Simmons Goes After Laura Fine
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/9th-district-democrat-mike-simmons-goes-after-laura-fine/
— In 9th District Leading Candidate Daniel Biss Attacked by Super PAC Supporting Laura Fine
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/in-9th-district-leading-candidate-daniel-biss-attacked-by-super-pac-supporting-laura-fine/
— Stratton Hit with Negative TV Ad by Raja
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/stratton-hit-with-negative-tv-ad-by-raja/
— Bill Foster Invites McHenry County College Board Chair Suzanne Hoban to State of the Union Speech
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/bill-foster-invites-mchenry-county-college-board-chair-suzanne-hoban-to-state-of-the-union-speech/
— Pritzker Has Fun with Trump over U.S. Supreme Court Tariff Decision
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/pritzker-has-fun-with-trump-over-u-s-supreme-court-tariff-decision/
— DeVore v. Mendrick
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/23/devore-v-mendrick/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— ICE whistleblower testifies about ‘secretive orders,’ curtailed officer training program. DD: In 1971, the first 6 months that I worked for IRS as a Revenue Officer was classroom training. IRS provided me with lots of training while I worked for it 1971-1980. GAO provided me with lots of classroom training while I worked for it 1980-1997.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/23/ryan-schwank-ice-whistleblower-testifies-secretive-orders-cuts/
— Trump seeks reset on economy in State of the Union address
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/23/trump-seeks-reset-economy-state-union-address/
NEW YORK POST
— Dozens of Dems plan to skip Trump’s State of the Union as party can’t decide on rival programming
https://nypost.com/2026/02/23/us-news/dozens-of-dems-plan-to-skip-president-trumps-state-of-the-union-as-party-splits-on-how-to-protest/
CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois ranks near bottom in social mobility. DD: Notwithstanding that, back in the good old days, while neither of my parents attended college, while my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, and while my mother never attended high school, I was able to work my way through college and earn three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license.
https://www.aol.com/news/illinois-ranks-near-bottom-social-160000632.html
DAILY WIRE
— Trump Torches ‘Sick’ Democrats Who Ignore Americans Murdered By Illegal Immigrants. “There’s something wrong with them.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-torches-sick-democrats-who-ignore-americans-murdered-by-illegal-immigrants
FEDERALIST
— Woke School ‘Segregated’ Middle Schoolers By Race Without Parents’ Knowledge. DD: Democrats used to promote integration. Now they promote segregation to consolidate minority power. How soon will they segregate LGBTQers?
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/23/report-woke-school-segregated-middle-schoolers-by-race-without-parents-knowledge/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEWSWEEK
— Democrats Introduce F*** ICE Act. DD: Democrats ever-increasingly put citizens of foreign countries ahead of citizens of America.
https://www.newsweek.com/democrats-introduce-f-ice-act-11566450
USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders have always used Black History Month against Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2026/02/23/black-history-month-dei-crt-education-america/88742245007/
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
— DD: Affirmative Action (AA) and DEI are race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, national origin discrimination, and even worse things. Democrats and RINOs use AA and DEI to destroy Republicans who are White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://hbr.org/2026/02/the-upside-of-opening-up-dei-programs-to-everyone
GAO
— Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act: Actions Needed to Ensure People with Disabilities Can Access DOL Job Programs. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO’s Chicago office 1980-1997, they assigned me to supervise all their disabled employees.
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107473
ATLANTIC
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly call Republicans Nazis. To call someone a Nazi in America today is like calling someone a Jew in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. For their self-defense, Republicans should buy more and more and more firearms and ammunition. America declared war on Nazis in the 1940s. Democrats have declared war on Republicans today.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/04/republican-party-nazi-problem/686055/
February 21, 2025 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Trump wants to impose 15% tariff, up from 10% he announced after Supreme Court decision
https://abc7chicago.com/post/trump-10-global-tariff-murky-outlook-businesses-supreme-court-ruling-tariffs-prompts-countermoves-donald/18629152/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— ICE’s purchases for big detention centers are marked by secrecy, frustrating towns
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/21/ices-purchases-big-detention-centers/
— Supreme Court ruling offers little relief for Republicans divided on President Donald Trump’s tariffs
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/21/supreme-court-ruling-republicans-trumps-tariffs/
— Indiana passes amendment to limit early voting without testimony. DD: The DuPage County Election Division (DCED) should highlight early voting data on its website. That data should include how many votes have been cast the day before, the week before, and cumulatively broken out by the number of Republican, Democrat, and NA ballots that were cast. Further, voters should be able to easily see the aforesaid data for their township and for their precinct. Voters should be able to see and analyze trends. According the DCED website, 2,406 have voted as of 2/21/26.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/21/indiana-passes-amendment-to-limit-early-voting-without-testimony/
DAILY HERALD
— Endorsement: Jennifer Davis in 8th District Republican primary
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260220/endorsements/daily-herald-endorsement-jennifer-davis-in-8th-district-republican-primary/
WBEZ
— Why did the FBI recruit Catholic high school girls in Chicago? DD: The FBI recruited my outstanding wife at her Catholic high school in 1968.
https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2026/02/18/why-did-the-fbi-recruit-catholic-high-school-girls-in-chicago
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, author of the 2007 book The FBI: A History, said a strategy of hiring Catholic girls would line up perfectly with longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s attitude in the post-World War II years, when the United States was in the grip of fears over communism. “He placed a huge emphasis on recruiting Catholics because he thought that Catholics would be reliably anti-communist,” said Jeffreys-Jones, a professor of American history at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. “They had the moral code and backbone. He went out of his way to praise the Catholic schools in America. He explicitly said that these schools have amongst their teaching staff not a single example of an atheist. And of course, communism, amongst other things, stands for atheism. That was his outlook.”)
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Early voting turnout remains low across Central Illinois ahead of March 17 primary. DD: The DuPage County Election Division (DCED) should highlight early voting data on its website. That data should include how many votes have been cast the day before, the week before, and cumulatively broken out by the number of Republican, Democrat, and NA ballots that were cast. Further, voters should be able to easily see the aforesaid data for their township and for their precinct. Voters should be able to see and analyze trends. According the DCED website, 2,406 have voted as of 2/21/26.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/top-stories/central-illinois-early-voting-turnout/
NPR ILLINOIS
— A huge study finds a link between cannabis use in teens and psychosis later
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-02-21/a-huge-study-finds-a-link-between-cannabis-use-in-teens-and-psychosis-later
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Bailey Points to Illinois Truck Driver Licensing Scandal
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/21/bailey-points-to-illinois-truck-driver-licensing-scandal/
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Municipal League: Housing reform could strip authority from local communities
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_629f5e87-ba08-4226-b80f-e478cd6aad07.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Secretary of War-slash-Defense Pete Hegseth headlined the National Religious Broadcasters Freedom 250 Celebration on Thursday with a warning about the “godless left” that’s trying to destroy “Western Christian” values. And this is truly the war America faces in modern times.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/21/america250-pits-godless-left-versus-judeo-christian-right/
— Scott Walker: Young Americans deserve real history, not political indoctrination. Declining national pride reflects failures in education, civic teaching and historical truth.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/19/young-americans-deserve-real-history-political-indoctrination/
BREITBART
— Portland Anti-ICE Agitator Faces 20 Years in Prison for Assaulting Federal Agent with Large Rock
https://www.breitbart.com/border/2026/02/21/portland-anti-ice-agitator-faces-20-years-in-prison-for-assaulting-federal-agent-with-large-rock/
HOT AIR
— Due Process Means What They Say It Means. DD: Because GAO was not unionized in 1997, I did not get due process when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire. GAO unionized in 2007.
https://hotair.com/mitch_berg/2026/02/21/two-mns-part-ii-n3812009
WESTERN JOURNAL
— Trump Announces ‘Different Direction’ on Tariffs Following SCOTUS Decision, And Might Charge Countries More Than Before
https://www.westernjournal.com/president-trump-announces-different-direction-tariffs-following-scotus-decision-might-charge-countries/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEW YORK TIMES
— JPMorgan Admits It Shut Trump’s Accounts After Jan. 6 Capitol Attack. Nation’s largest bank, in response to a lawsuit filed by the president, confirmed his longstanding complaint about “debanking.” DD: What attitude does JPMorgan have toward you?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/business/jpmorgan-trump-debanking.html
K8 NEWS
— Early voting numbers in Lawrence County. DD: The DuPage County Election Division (DCED) should highlight early voting data on its website. That data should include how many votes have been cast the day before, the week before, and cumulatively broken out by the number of Republican, Democrat, and NA ballots that were cast. Further, voters should be able to easily see the aforesaid data for their township and for their precinct. Voters should be able to see and analyze trends. According the DCED website, 2,406 have voted as of 2/21/26.
https://www.kait8.com/2026/02/20/early-voting-numbers-lawrence-county/
February 20, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS2
— Candidate Rick Heidner discusses race for Illinois governor
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/candidate-rick-heidner-discusses-race-for-illinois-governor/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Juliana Stratton ad with anti-Trump expletive draws attention in Democratic primary race for US Senate
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/illinois-senate-race-stratton-ad-trump-expletive/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use religious leaders a) to glorify and praise their illegals and b) to fight their deportation. Judge Gettleman has helped them do that. When my lawsuit against GAO was transferred from Washington DC to Chicago in 2000, it was initially assigned to Gettleman. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/religious-leaders-allowed-into-broadview-ice-facility-for-ash-wednesday-after-judge-orders-dhs-to-grant-access/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On Feb. 12, nearly three months into the legal battle, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman issued a preliminary injunction allowing the coalition entry to the facility on Ash Wednesday to offer ashes and Holy Communion. “The court finds that the government has substantially burdened plaintiffs’ exercise of religion,” the order read. Gettleman ruled that allowing pastoral care to migrants and detainees “will improve the condition of those detained at Broadview.” . . . Gettleman last week ruled that with “reasonable notice and communication, addressing legitimate security and safety concerns, allowing plaintiffs to provide pastoral care to migrants and detainees does not pose any undue hardship on the government.” While the injunction specifically allowed access on Ash Wednesday, it also called on the Department of Homeland Security to confer with the coalition over how religious ministry could continue at the facility going forward. Gettleman set a status hearing in the case for next week.)
WAND TV
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/statehouse/democrats-bash-bill-banning-abortion-in-illinois/article_34a41482-8541-4441-b310-e5ab14b5bfcb.html
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Democrat leaders want their noncitizens to be counted for the census tor their congressional apportionment purposes.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-democrats-say-citizenship-question-could-derail-census-test-and-deter-immigrants-from-participating/
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Pritzker focuses on affordability. DD: What has helped you afford things? For me, it has been my taking jobs that my peers would never stoop to take. I did yard work in Crete 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers in Crete 1962-1966. I washed dishes in Chicago Heights 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes in Flossmoor and chipped slag in Chicago Heights in 1966. I pumped gasoline in Chicago Heights in 1966, 1971, and 1972. I delivered mail in Park Forest 1966-1969. I worked on an automobile assembly line in Belvidere in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances Chicago Heights in 1971 and 1972. I collected delinquent taxes for IRS in Harvey, Joliet, and Chicago 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies for GAO in Chicago 1980-1997. To get those jobs, to keep those jobs, and to get promoted, I earned a diploma from Crete Monee High School in 1966. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree from NIU in 1970. I earned job-related master’s degrees from Loyola in 1976, DePaul in 1980, and IIT in 1997. I earned job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. I earned a job-related professional license in 1981.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-pritzker-focuses-on-history-affordability-in-8th-state-of-the-state-address/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use religious leaders to glorify and praise their illegals and to fight their deportation. Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that Jesus rejects the concepts of countries, borders, and laws. Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that according to Jesus, when governments do exist, they should exist to hand out welfare. Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly fill their churches with their illegals.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/02/20/cardinal-cupich-meets-the-moment-00790538
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— I have requested the DuPage County Election Division (DCED) to provide me with early voting data. It would be great if the DCED would provide me with the number of early votes cast daily, weekly, and cumulatively in DuPage County broken out by a) type of ballot (R,D,NA), b) township, and c) precinct. I would be great if the DCED would post the aforesaid data on its website. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois uses temporary federal aid to fund ongoing social programs
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/waste-watch-illinois-uses-temporary-federal-aid-to-fund-ongoing-social-programs/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump declares ‘I’ve won affordability’ during Georgia visit. DD: What has helped you afford things? For me, it has been my taking jobs that my peers would never stoop to take. I did yard work in Crete 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers in Crete 1962-1966. I washed dishes in Chicago Heights 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes in Flossmoor and chipped slag in Chicago Heights in 1966. I pumped gasoline in Chicago Heights in 1966, 1971, and 1972. I delivered mail in Park Forest 1966-1969. I worked on an automobile assembly line in Belvidere in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances Chicago Heights in 1971 and 1972. I collected delinquent taxes for IRS in Harvey, Joliet, and Chicago 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies for GAO in Chicago 1980-1997. To get those jobs, to keep those jobs, and to get promoted, I earned a diploma from Crete Monee High School in 1966. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree from NIU in 1970. I earned job-related master’s degrees from Loyola in 1976, DePaul in 1980, and IIT in 1997. I earned job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. I earned a job-related professional license in 1981.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4464558/trump-declares-ive-won-affordability-during-georgia-visit/
NEW YORK POST
— Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson calls out Clarence Thomas while defending city’s reparations task force. DD: Democrats fought to keep slavery. Republicans fought to end it. Today’s Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for slavery. My critics/opponents have always stressed that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s. In their defense, I have always stressed that they always lived in northeast Illinois and that they always voted Republican.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/23/media/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-calls-out-clarence-thomas-while-defending-citys-reparations-task-force/
— Hollywood merger would scale up the ‘woke’
https://nypost.com/2026/02/19/opinion/glitzy-merger-would-scale-up-the-woke/
BLAZE
— Disney’s ‘Gay Days’ are canceled.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/disneys-gay-days-are-canceled-dont-pop-the-champagne-just-yet
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
— Record Number of Immigration Proceedings Resulting in Voluntary Departures
https://www.fairus.org/legislation/executive/record-number-immigration-proceedings-resulting-voluntary-departures
FOX NEWS
— Illinois lieutenant governor seeking US Senate seat releases video of people saying ‘F— Trump’ ‘They said it. We’re all thinking it,’ Juliana Stratton wrote in a post on X.
https://noticias.foxnews.com/politics/illinois-lieutenant-governor-seeking-us-senate-seat-releases-video-people-saying-f-trump
— Lewis University moves classes online after learning ICE is operating in the same building. University says it has no control over leasing decisions involving other tenants in Oak Brook building.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/illinois-university-moves-classes-online-after-learning-ice-operating-same-building
NATIONAL REVIEW
— Contrived Coarseness Like Juliana Stratton’s Is Here to Stay
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/contrived-coarseness-like-juliana-strattons-is-here-to-stay/
POST MILLENNIAL
— Illinois Dem Lt. Gov Juliana Stratton releases ‘f*ck Trump’ Senate campaign ad vowing to ‘abolish ICE’
https://thepostmillennial.com/illinois-dem-lt-gov-juliana-stratton-releases-f-ck-trump-senate-campaign-ad-vowing-to-abolish-ice
TOWNHALL
— Based on These Remarks, No Wonder Why DC Water Is a Total Trainwreck
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2026/02/20/based-on-these-remarks-no-wonder-why-dc-water-is-a-total-trainwreck-n2671547
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Illinois Senate candidate Juliana Stratton launches campaign ad featuring people saying ‘F— Trump’
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5746907-juliana-stratton-trump-ad/
NBC NEWS
— New Trump administration order could lead to the detention of thousands of legal refugees. The Department of Homeland Security says in a memo that refugees applying for green cards must return to federal custody one year after they were admitted to the U.S.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-trump-administration-order-lead-detention-thousands-legal-refugees-rcna259838
CBS NEWS
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly destroy those who do not promote LGBTQ.
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/hate-crimes-against-lgbtq-community-on-the-rise-in-texas-across-the-u-s-report-says/
NEW YORK TIMES
— HUD Revives First-Term Trump Proposal to Eject Undocumented Immigrants from Public Housing
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/politics/hud-trump-immigrants-housing.html
BLOOMBERG LAW
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/legal-exchange-insights-and-commentary/employers-can-reduce-dei-risk-with-narrow-but-deep-equality-work
FORTUNE
— Stop waiting for the perfect job and just start working. DD: I did not wait. I took bad jobs that my peers would never stoop to take. I did yard work in Crete 1962-1964. I delivered newspapers in Crete 1962-1966. I washed dishes in Chicago Heights 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes in Flossmoor and chipped slag in Chicago Heights in 1966. I pumped gasoline in Chicago Heights in 1966, 1971, and 1972. I delivered mail in Park Forest 1966-1969. I worked on an automobile assembly line in Belvidere in 1970. I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances Chicago Heights in 1971 and 1972. I collected delinquent taxes for IRS in Harvey, Joliet, and Chicago 1971-1980. I audited federal agencies for GAO in Chicago 1980-1997. To get those jobs, to keep those jobs, and to get promoted, I earned a diploma from Crete Monee High School in 1966. I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree from NIU in 1970. I earned job-related master’s degrees from Loyola in 1976, DePaul in 1980, and IIT in 1997. I earned job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997. I earned a job-related professional license in 1981.
https://fortune.com/2026/02/15/fox-news-host-dana-perino-gen-z-college-graduate-advice-start-working-build-network-career-advancement/
POST REGISTER
— Precinct Committeeman: Your neighborhood. Your voice. Your chance to serve. DD: I might not have been elected Republican Precinct Committeeman (RPC) in 2000 if Peter Roskam and Randy Hultgren had not endorsed me in writing. Anti-conservative DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton “Republican” leaders had recruited a woman who had never been active in Republican politics to run against me even though I was officially serving as the precinct’s appointed RPC and I had served as the precinct’s Assistant RPC before that. I should write about the aforesaid “Republican” leaders who have taken and continue to take the most/biggest adverse actions against me since 2000.
https://www.postregister.com/opinion/columns/opinion-your-neighborhood-your-voice-your-chance-to-serve/article_9ba15e59-f4e9-4d8c-8061-227759874257.amp.html
CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
— DD: Democrat colleges use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not admit or hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican students and employees.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/diversity-officers-must-be-clearer-about-goals-says-new-leader
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
HINDUSTAN TIMES
— ‘F— Trump’: Democrat Juliana Stratton of Illinois under fire over ‘vulgar’ campaign ad for primaries. Juliana Stratton launched a blunt anti-Donald Trump Senate ad featuring a vulgar slogan, drawing backlash online as her primary bid heats up.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/f-trump-democrat-juliana-stratton-of-illinois-under-fire-over-vulgar-campaign-ad-for-primaries-101771541309782.html
February 19, 2026 Evening Edition
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Tudor Dixon, former Michigan gubernatorial candidate, will keynote the DuPage County Republican Central Committee annual Lincoln Day fundraiser on February 27. Event sponsors are: HYDE SPONSOR: Rick Heidner For Illinois Governor, LINCOLN SPONSOR: AM560 TheAnswer, PATRIOT SPONSOR: El Gerson for Ted Dabrowski for IL Governor, John Curran, IL Senate Republican Leader, James Zay, DuPage County Board Member 5, Seth Lewis, State Senator 24th District, Jennifer Davis, Candidate for Congress IL-08, Gary Grasso, Candidate for DuPage County Board Chairman, Patricia Kladis-Schiappa, Candidate for DuPage County Clerk, AMERICA SPONSOR: Bob Berlin, DuPage County State’s Attorney, Don Tracy, Candidate for US Senate, Jeff Walter, Candidate for Congress IL-11, Sean Noonan Candidate for DuPage County Sheriff, Kari Galassi, DuPage County Board Member 3, Jeff Castle Milton Township Republican Chairman & DuPage County GOP Secretary, Josh McBroom Financial Group, DUPAGE SPONSOR: Hon. S. Louis Rathje, Hon. Kirk Dillard, Former State Rep. & DuPage County GOP Chairman, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, Candidate for IL Governor, Amber Quirk, Regional Superintendent of Schools, Dan Ugaste, State Rep. 65, Greg Boltz, Downers Grove Township Assessor, Krishna & Meghna Bansal, Bryan Drew, Candidate for IL Comptroller, Niki Conforti, Candidate for Congress IL-06, Julie Berkowicz, Candidate for State Senate 21, Laura Hois, Candidate for State Rep. 81, Robert “Rusty” Stevens, Candidate for State Rep. 46, Ajay Gupta, Candidate for State Rep. 41, Eddie Moore, Candidate for DuPage County Sheriff, Carl Schultz, Candidate for DuPage County Forest Preserve President, Daniel Lomeli, Candidate for DuPage County Board 5, Theresa McClear, Candidate for DuPage County Board 2, Mark Senak, Candidate for Illinois 3rd District Appellate Court, Roger Claar, Former Bolingbrook Mayor, Bill Eagan, CPA, Steve Milltello, TABLE SPONSORS: Kevin Coyne, DuPage County GOP Chairman, Gwen Henry, DuPage County Treasurer, Carol Davis, Illinois Conservative Union, Michael Flynn, IL SCC-03 Deputy, Michael Pierce, Candidate for Congress IL-11, Bloomingdale Township Republicans, Downers Grove Township Republicans, Milton Township Republicans, Naperville Township Republicans, Wayne Township Republicans, York Township Republicans, Jennifer Sanalitro, State Rep. 48, Nicole LaHa, State Rep. 82 – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
DAILY HERALD
— School shooting survivor and gun control advocate David Hogg will be the keynote speaker at the Democratic Party of DuPage County’s annual gala on Sunday. Other scheduled speakers include U.S. Senate candidates Juliana Stratton, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Robin Kelly and Kevin Ryan, as well as other candidates in the March 17 primary election.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260219/us-congress-politics/school-shooting-survivor-to-speak-at-dupage-democratic-event-sunday/
— Krishnamoorthi among nation’s top U.S. Senate fundraisers
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260219/us-congress-politics/krishnamoorthi-among-top-u-s-senate-fundraisers-with-weeks-until-primary/
— Cook County’s top prosecutor lays out road map for charging federal agents
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260219/crime/cook-countys-top-prosecutor-lays-out-road-map-for-charging-federal-agents-2/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Cook County top prosecutor circulates policy outlining process for charging federal immigration agents
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/law-enforcement-charging-protocol-immigration/
ABC7
— DD: Democrats fought to keep slavery. Republicans fought to end it. Today’s Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for slavery. My critics/opponents have always stressed that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s. In their defense, I have always stressed that they always lived in northeast Illinois and that they always voted Republican.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/slavery-displays-are-being-restored-presidents-house-site-philadelphias-independence-mall/18620820/
NPR ILLINOIS
— HUD rule could push families with undocumented immigrants out of their homes. DD: How many illegals are Democrats harboring in their homes in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-02-19/hud-rule-could-push-families-with-undocumented-immigrants-out-of-their-homes
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote their foreign students.
https://www.nprillinois.org/equity-justice/2026-02-19/international-college-students-have-to-balance-education-with-political-realities
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/7559/505255094
CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— The 50 Most Powerful Chicagoans. DD: Uihlein is No. 2, Fuentes is No. 7, Tom Ricketts is No. 24, James Perry Jr. is No. 28
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/march-2026/the-50-most-powerful-chicagoans/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/19/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-471/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JEFF CASTLE
— VIDEO: Important Information regarding the Milton Twp Highway Dept Tax Increase
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1433273224862229
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Both Republican candidates for Illinois Secretary of State are Republican Precinct Committeemen (RPC). I might not have been elected RPC in 2000 if Peter Roskam and Randy Hultgren had not endorsed me in writing. Anti-conservative DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton “Republican” leaders had recruited a woman who had never been active in Republican politics to run against me even though I was officially serving as the precinct’s appointed RPC and I had served as the precinct’s Assistant RPC before that. I should write about the aforesaid “Republican” leaders who have taken and continue to take the most/biggest adverse actions against me since 2000. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— New DHS policy allows for refugees to be rearrested after a year in U.S.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/19/new-dhs-policy-allows-refugees-rearrested-year-us/
— Trump cracks down on illegal immigrants getting housing assistance
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/19/trump-cracks-illegal-immigrants-getting-housing-assistance/
— DOGE defeat: Congress has rejected most of Trump’s spending cuts
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/19/doge-defeat-congress-rejected-trumps-spending-cuts/
— The District’s DEI hiring obsession led to largest wastewater spill in U.S. history. DC Water focused more on race, gender and sex than sewer maintenance.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/19/districts-dei-hiring-obsession-led-largest-wastewater-spill-us/
— Young Americans deserve real history, not political indoctrination. Declining national pride reflects failures in education, civic teaching and historical truth.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/19/young-americans-deserve-real-history-political-indoctrination/
— Was climate change the greatest financial scandal in history? Many people got very rich, with no measurable public benefit.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/19/climate-change-greatest-financial-scandal-history/
— It’s time to take a stand against ‘woke AI’ before it compromises our reality
https://nypost.com/2026/02/18/opinion/miranda-devine-its-time-to-take-a-stand-against-woke-ai-before-it-compromises-our-reality/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Democrat Juliana Stratton gets direct in Illinois Senate ad: ‘F*** Trump’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/4464034/democrat-juliana-stratton-illinois-senate-trump-ad/
BREITBART
— Democrats Lambasted for Ignoring Christian Ash Wednesday to Highlight Islamic, Chinese Tradition
https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2026/02/19/heathens-democrat-party-lambasted-for-ignoring-christianitys-ash-wednesday-to-highlight-islamic-and-chinese-traditions/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Democrats to Boycott State of the Union With Progressive Activists
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/19/12-democrats-announce-boycott-of-trump-state-of-the-union/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— DD: Pritzker ever-increasingly blames Trump for inflation.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5746275-pritzker-attacks-trump-policies/
NBC NEWS
— Illinois Democrat tries to bleep her way through a tough Senate primary with a new expletive-laden anti-Trump ad. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton’s new ad full of F-bombs is the latest move in a contest that has centered on the president.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/illinois-democrat-juliana-stratton-senate-primary-trump-ad-rcna259761
OKLAHOMAN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout a) that Jesus loves illegals and b) that therefore, Jesus despises/hates/condemns Americans who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/religion/2026/02/19/citing-biblical-principles-oklahoma-clergy-call-for-immigration-reform/88741635007/
February 12, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— DHS shutdown seems certain as funding talks between White House and Democrats stall
https://abc7chicago.com/post/upcoming-2026-dhs-shutdown-seems-certain-federal-government-funding-talks-between-white-house-democrats-stall/18592318/
WGN RADIO
— Should students be able to protest without penalty?
https://wgnradio.com/john-williams/newsclick/the-john-williams-newsclick-should-students-be-able-to-protest-without-penalty/#/questions
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— 3 Illinois GOP rivals for US Senate sidestep criticizing President Donald Trump in debate but note differences
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/12/illinois-gop-senate/
— Preckwinkle calls for charges against federal immigration agents in local shootings
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/12/toni-preckwinkle-charges-federal-immigration-agents-local-shootings/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Voters cast ballots at Loop Supersite as early voting kicks off. DD: I want to know the number ballots cast each day and cumulatively in DuPage County broken out by Republican, Democrat, and N/P.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/02/12/voters-cast-ballots-at-loop-supersite-as-early-voting-kicks-off-everythings-at-stake
— DePaul and Loyola accused of pushing low-income families toward hefty loans while favoring wealthier students. DD: I paid for my tuition and books for my graduate evening business courses at Loyola 1972-1976 and my graduate evening accounting courses at DePaul 1976-1980 with my IRS salary 1972-1979 and my GAO salary in 1980.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/02/12/depaul-and-loyola-chicago-accused-of-pushing-low-income-families-toward-hefty-loans-while-favoring-wealthier-students
DAILY HERALD
— Many — but not all — 9th Congressional District Democratic candidates say abolish ICE.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260212/us-congress-politics/many-but-not-all-9th-congressional-district-democratic-candidates-say-abolish-ice/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois leads states’ lawsuit challenging Trump’s $600M health grant cuts
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/health-care/illinois-sues-trump-over-600-health-grant-cuts
SOUTHERN
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn ICE.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/02/12/trust-has-been-lost-ice-cbp-officials-questioned-on-enforcement-tactics-during-senate-oversight-hearing/
STATELINE & UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly discourage assimilation, that is, they ever-increasingly encourage citizens of American to think of themselves as being members of racial, sexual, age, religious, national origin, etc. groups, and not as being citizens of America.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/new-bill-requires-illinois-schools-to-teach-latin-american-history-and-culture/
https://news.illinois.edu/study-demographic-forms-census/
BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.bnd.com/news/state/illinois/article314644715.html
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in promoting illegal immigration, that is, their success in destroying America.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/just-8-percent-in-us-see-immigration-as-biggest-problem-gallup/
CITIES 92.9
— Illinois senator’s bill on transgender ‘mental illness’ sparks debate.
https://www.cities929.com/2026/02/12/illinois-senators-bill-on-transgender-mental-illness-sparks-debate/
WGLT
— LaHood sticks with president despite concerns about tariffs
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-02-12/lahood-sticks-with-president-despite-concerns-about-tariffs
NPR ILLINOIS & CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Rick Heidner casts himself as ‘Trump Republican’ in bid to unseat Pritzker. The Barrington Hills businessman has been criticized for past donations to Democrats.
https://www.nprillinois.org/government-politics/2026-02-12/rick-heidner-casts-himself-as-trump-republican-in-bid-to-unseat-pritzker
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/rick-heidner-casts-himself-as-trump-republican/
ILLINOIZE
— “Too little, too late?” as Heidner Dumps More Money into Governor Campaign
https://www.theillinoize.com/articles/too-little-too-late-heidner
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-on-track-to-lose-another-congressional-seat/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats’ demands for immigration enforcement changes should be DOA
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/12/democrats-demands-immigration-enforcement-changes-doa/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The Bad Bunny halftime show wasn’t for you or me
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4447991/bad-bunny-halftime-show-not-for-you-or-me/
— Fueling the transgender persecution complex is getting people killed
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4456357/fueling-transgender-persecution-complex-is-getting-people-killed/
NEW YORK POST
— Handcuffing ICE will cost Americans big-time — and not just in crime
https://nypost.com/2026/02/12/opinion/handcuffing-ice-will-cost-americans-big-time-and-not-just-in-crime/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Are there any voting-age citizens who don’t have a photo ID? Shouldn’t the GOP make the Democrats defend their ridiculous, racist lies?
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/are_there_any_voting_age_citizens_who_don_t_have_a_photo_id.html
CAMPUS REFORM
— University of Houston asks faculty to pledge against indoctrination. DD: I avoided Democrat indoctrination while I earned my four college degrees by majoring in management, business, accounting, and finance.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/university-houston-asks-faculty-pledge-indoctrination/29401University of Houston asks faculty to pledge against indoctrination
FEDERALIST
— Democrats Want To Stop Illegal Alien Deportations By Shutting Down DHS. It’s That Simple
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/12/democrats-want-to-stop-illegal-alien-deportations-by-shutting-down-dhs-its-that-simple/
— Anti-Truth Media Bend Over Backward To Call Canadian Trans School Shooter By His Preferred Pronouns
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/12/anti-truth-media-bend-over-backward-to-call-canadian-trans-school-shooter-by-his-preferred-pronouns/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republicans.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-analysis-words-voters-describe-republicans-democrats/
— Judge blocks Pentagon from downgrading Sen. Mark Kelly’s military rank, pay
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-blocks-pentagon-from-downgrading-sen-mark-kellys-military-rank-pay/
TIME
— Why These Democratic Governors Are Boycotting the White House Dinner
https://time.com/7377722/democratic-governors-boycott-white-house-dinner-nga-meeting/
POLITICO
— Federal court blocks Hegseth effort to punish Democratic senator. The judge said the Pentagon had “trampled” on Sen. Mark Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms. DD: To win, Hegseth should cite Diersen v. GAO. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/12/court-hegseth-kelly-senator-00778449
PBS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly train their protesters to harass ICE.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/immigration-officials-defend-officers-and-tactics-as-public-backlash-grows
HR DRIVE
— Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.hrdive.com/news/dei-initiatives-impact-employees-executives-conference-board/812070/
February 9, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
DAILY HERALD
— Should U.S. nationalize elections? GOP governor candidates speak up. DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260209/illinois-state-politics/should-u-s-nationalize-elections-gop-governor-candidates-speak-up/
— Early voting to begin Tuesday in DuPage County after delay
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260209/news/early-voting-to-begin-tuesday-in-dupage-county-after-delay/
— Virtual forum Tuesday for GOP candidates in 11th U.S. House District
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260209/us-congress-politics/virtual-forum-tuesday-for-gop-candidates-in-11th-u-s-house-district/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago Tribune offers 30% premium to buy Daily Herald suburban newspaper
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/chicago-tribune-daily-herald/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Cook County prosecutors drop charges against 19 arrested during clergy-led protest at Broadview ICE facility. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight deportation of their illegals.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/09/cook-county-prosecutors-drop-charges-against-19-arrested-during-clergy-led-protest-broadview-ice-facility
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Bad Bunny
https://chicago.suntimes.com/music/2026/02/09/bad-bunny-superbowl-halftime-chicago-conductor-giancarlo-guerrero-lady-gaga-ricky-martin-music
— Cardinal Blase Cupich calls for White House to apologize for racist video depicting Obamas as primates
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/02/09/cardinal-blase-cupich-white-house-obama-racist-video-apology
ABC7
— Leadership exodus continues at Chicago’s US Attorney’s Office. DD: My critics/opponents stress that GAO works for Congress and that while Diersen v. GAO was pending a) the Chicago US Attorney’s Office was run by Republican Patrick Fitzgerald under Republican President Bush and Republican US Attorney General Ashcroft, b) Republican Gingrich and Republican Hastert were the Speakers of the House, c) Republican Peter Fitzgerald was my U.S. Senator, and d) Republican Hyde was my Congressman. According to my critics/opponents, Patrick Fitzgerald’s defending GAO and his success in getting the US Appellate Court for the 7th Circuit to deny me my 7th Amendment right to a jury trial proves a) that the aforesaid Republicans reject the equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) plank in the Republican Party platform and/or b) that they reject me personally. To reject the equal opportunity plank is to curry favor with minorities and with females. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf
https://abc7chicago.com/post/northern-district-illinois-us-attorneys-office-leadership-exodus-continues-andrew-boutros-donald-trump-administration/18575999/
WGN9
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Bad Bunny
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/bad-bunnys-halftime-show-sparks-pride-across-humboldt-park/
FOX32
— Chicago archbishop calls for Trump to apologize for “racist” video of Obamas. Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich called on President Donald Trump to apologize for sharing what he called a “racist” video on social media depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as apes.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-3m7ahb91ctyoq0pv
WBEZ
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Bad Bunny
https://www.wbez.org/music/2026/02/09/bad-bunny-superbowl-halftime-chicago-conductor-giancarlo-guerrero-lady-gaga-ricky-martin-music
NORTHERN STAR
— DD: Democrat leaders have no problem with their protesters bringing their loaded guns to their protests.
https://northernstar.info/132817/opinion/opinion-the-death-of-alex-pretti-shows-trump-ublicans-true-colors/
CHICAGO TODAY
— Chicago Businesses Reject Calls to Relocate to Florida. Billionaire Ken Griffin’s pitch for Florida falls flat with Chicago’s business community. DD: What percent of Chicago businesses are run by Democrats?
https://nationaltoday.com/us/il/chicago/news/2026/02/09/chicago-businesses-reject-calls-to-relocate-to-florida/
DUPAGE COUNTY ELECTION DIVISION
— County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek announces that five early voting sites in DuPage County will open on Tuesday, Feb. 10th from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm weekdays and 9:00 am to noon Saturdays. Early voting sites will be open on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 16th.
https://www.dupagecounty.gov/county_clerk/EaryVoting_1637.php
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/09/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-465/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— The Waukegan HS Failure Factory. Waukegan High School Student Protest February 6, 2026.
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/read/2026/02/09/the-waukegan-hs-failure-factory
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— White House sends counteroffer to Democrats’ immigration enforcement demands
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/9/republicans-prepare-counteroffer-democrats-immigration-enforcement/
— Trump administration to make it harder for federal workers to appeal firing. DD: My critics/opponents stand with my Democrat superiors in the federal government who wasted my career, took many big adverse actions against me, and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. My critics/opponents stand with the following who had their operatives and their dupes take many big adverse actions against me since 2000: a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, and Illinois Center Right Coalition, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) unsuccessful Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct and their political consultants, fundraisers, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, d) conservative leaders, e) religious leaders, and f) those who I have sued and their attorneys.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/9/trump-administration-make-harder-federal-workers-appeal-firing/
— Ford worker who heckled Trump won’t be disciplined or lose job. DD: I never heckled my Democrat GAO superiors, but I did become an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. Because of that, they forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. Federal employees who are Republican have no Civil Service protections.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/9/ford-worker-heckled-trump-wont-disciplined-lose-job/
— How states can fix America’s retirement access shortfall. DD: I started earning credits toward a Civil Service Retirement System pension when I was 18 in 1966. My critics/opponents have always been furious about that. They got more furious when my Democrat GAO superiors “offered” me early retirement when I was 45 in 1993 and that I took it when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/9/states-fix-americas-retirement-access-shortfall/
NEW YORK POST
— Bad Bunny slammed for controversial Super Bowl halftime show decision that ‘encourages’ division. He made no effort in his Spanish-only performance to include the 78% of American households that speak only English. He previously taunted that anyone annoyed with his selection as halftime performer had “four months to learn Spanish.”
https://nypost.com/2026/02/09/us-news/bad-bunny-slammed-for-controversial-super-bowl-halftime-show-decision-that-encourages-division/
— How voters fleeing California turn other states blue. DD: Democrats fleeing the Democrat Chicago and Democrat Cook County turned DuPage County blue.
https://nypost.com/2026/02/09/opinion/how-california-refugees-turn-other-states-blue/
FEDERALIST
— If SCOTUS Bans Illegals From The Census, Dems Could Lose Power For Years
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/09/if-scotus-bans-illegals-from-the-census-dems-could-lose-power-for-years/
FOX NEWS
— Trump administration pushes back on CBS claim very few arrested illegal aliens have ‘violent criminal records.’ DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said CBS’ report was an inaccurate reading of the numbers, pointing out that the article downplayed several serious crimes.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-administration-pushes-back-cbs-claim-very-few-arrested-illegal-aliens-have-violent-criminal-records
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight deportation of their illegals.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-arrests-violent-criminal-records-trump-first-year/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Immigration Raids in South Texas Are Starting to Hit the Economy. Trade groups are raising alarms about aggressive immigration enforcement hurting businesses in the region. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. They wanted cheap labor.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/texas-immigration-raids-economy-87e23e2e
FLORIDIAN PRESS
— Oberweis Donation to Hillary Clinton
https://floridianpress.com/2026/02/james-oberweis-donation-to-hillary-clinton-had-brush-with-illegal-immigration/
February 6, 2026 Evening Edition
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— ABC7 Chicago to broadcast, stream 2026 Republican US Senate primary forum Wednesday
https://abc7chicago.com/post/abc7-chicago-league-women-voters-illinois-univision-broadcast-stream-2026-republican-us-senate-primary-forum-wednesday/18554376/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: ABC7 Chicago, the League of Women Voters of Illinois and Chicago and Univision Chicago will present live and without commercials the 2026 Republican U.S. Senate Primary Forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11. ABC7’s Anchor Judy Hsu will lead the 60-minute forum, with questions also asked by the station’s political reporter Craig Wall and WGBO/Univision Chicago anchor/reporter Enrique Rodriguez. Three of the Republican candidates running for U.S. Senate in Illinois will participate in the forum: Republican Candidate Casey Chlebek, Republican Candidate Jeannie Evans, and Former Chair of the Illinois Republican Party Don Tracy. The 2026 Republican U.S. Senate Primary Forum will stream live on ABC7Chicago.com, on ABC7 Chicago’s news app and Facebook page, and on ABC7’s 24/7 streaming channels. It will be broadcast on ABC7 directly following the station’s late newscast at 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13. The forum will also be translated and streamed live on Univision’s digital platforms, and it will air on Univision’s main channel at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.)
— Memo from state’s attorney’s office to Chicago mayor’s office criticizes fed investigation order. ‘(Order) jeopardizes our ability to effectively prosecute and secure convictions,’ memo says.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/memo-cook-county-states-attorneys-office-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-criticizes-federal-investigation-executive-order/18555854/
WTTW
— Top Cop: COPA Should Probe Chicago Police Conduct During Immigration Raids Because Public Wouldn’t ‘Trust’ Internal Affairs
https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/06/top-cop-copa-should-probe-chicago-police-conduct-during-immigration-raids-because-no-one
— Police Oversight Board to Top Cop: Explain Why CPD Officers Are Using Force More Often
https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/05/police-oversight-board-top-cop-explain-why-cpd-officers-are-using-force-more-often
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Democrat leaders say Illinois GOP urges early, mail voting despite Trump’s baseless fraud claims and calls to nationalize elections.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/illinois-gop-urges-early-mail-voting-despite-trumps-baseless-fraud-claims-and-calls-to-nationalize-elections/
— West Chicago teacher resigns after being placed on leave for social media post supporting ICE. DD: Will anyone come to the teacher’s defense? Will anyone argue that his punishment was too severe? The message of all this is that Democrats can and will destroy you if you a) oppose their flooding America with their illegals and/or b) oppose their fighting their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/west-chicago-teacher-resigns-after-social-media-supporting-ice/
— Judge rules Trump administration can’t withhold child care and social service funds to Illinois and 4 other states
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/illinois-child-care-federal-funding-ruling/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democrats have 10 ICE reforms they want to see before agreeing to fund DHS. DD: Democrats want to stop deportation of their illegals. But failing that, they want to obstruct, cripple, disable, hinder, impede, hamstring, and undermine ICE.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/06/department-of-homeland-security-funding-democrats-10-demands
— Walmart, Amazon and CPS top list of employers where Illinois workers still need SNAP benefits. State data obtained by the Sun-Times identifies where SNAP recipients say they work as expanded employment requirements could push as 400,000 off the food assistance program this spring. DD: In today’s dollars, my part-time Post Office salary increased from $19.57/hour to $20.87/hour when I was 18-20 years old 1966-1969. According to my critics/opponents, I was grossly overpaid. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the job I had should have been given to a needy Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran. They stressed that my parents provided me with room and board and that I had no dependents. They were furious that the money that I earned enabled me to pay for my UIC expenses 1966-1968, to pay for my NIU expenses 1969-1970, to buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967, to buy a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968, and to graduate debt-free from NIU in 1970 owning that Charger.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/02/06/walmart-amazon-cps-top-employers-illinois-workers-still-need-snap-benefits-trump-work-requirements-lose-benefits
(FROM THE ARTICLE: At $18.42 an hour, she’s among the school district’s lowest paid staffers. . .Among the people in Chicago living in SNAP households who are 22 or older, she is among the 47% who are employed but still need government support to help buy groceries, according to 2024 U.S. Census data analyzed by WBEZ. . .Profile of a SNAP worker People who are employed but also need to rely on SNAP, like Brooks and Mendez, often fit a certain work profile. Their incomes are relatively low, making them eligible for the help — the monthly household income for a family of four has to be under about $4,400 or roughly $53,000 a year — and they are clustered in certain occupations. The fields with the greatest percentages of Chicago workers living in households receiving SNAP include nursing and home health aides, childcare workers and personal care aides, and a category that covers janitors, housekeepers and groundskeepers, according to 2024 American Community Survey Census data analyzed by WBEZ. SNAP recipients, along with people on Medicaid public health insurance, also receive fewer pay increases and face more volatility than other workers, according to a 2018 analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington D.C-based research and policy organization. Republicans said they pushed for the expanded rules that went into effect this month to get more SNAP recipients to work and to reduce what they called abuse of the program. A person who doesn’t meet the requirements can get benefits for only three months in a three-year period.)
DAILY HERALD
— West Chicago teacher in pro-ICE comment controversy resigns. DD: Will anyone come to the teacher’s defense? Will anyone argue that his punishment was too severe? The message of all this is that Democrats can and will destroy you if you a) oppose their flooding America with their illegals and/or b) oppose their fighting their deportation.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260206/education/west-chicago-teacher-in-pro-ice-comment-controversy-resigns/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A West Chicago District 33 teacher whose pro-immigration agent comment on social media was criticized by many people has resigned. On Thursday, the school board accepted the resignation and a separation agreement of the Gary Elementary School teacher. “This situation was never about politics. It has been about our responsibility to keep schools operating normally and to minimize disruption to learning,” board President Rita Balgeman said after the vote. The board did not discuss the terms of the settlement. As part of the separation agreement, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the teacher will be paid his salary and health benefits through the end of the school year. It also states that the district will give a neutral reference about him to future employers. According to West Chicago Mayor Dan Bovey, the teacher commented, “go ICE!” in a social media post. Bovey, whose wife works at the school, said he spoke with the man when the controversy erupted. After the district learned of the comment Jan. 22, the teacher initially resigned that day but retracted it later that day. The district put him on leave while it investigated the matter. More than 81% of the district’s students are of Hispanic descent, according to its 2025 state school report card. Bovey said West Chicago schoolchildren have been traumatized because their parents were taken by immigration enforcement agents, and that the comment was hurtful and offensive. After the board voted, members of the public spoke about the matter. “We want our students to feel respected and valued, which is why we request that the seriousness of the comment be recognized,” one mother of a student said, speaking in Spanish. But another woman, Corinne Ingrum, urged the community to “pick your battles more wisely,” saying the action against the teacher will not resolve the community’s concerns with immigration agents’ actions. “You could have chosen to rally around one of your own beloved teachers, but instead you chose to bring more unwanted ICE attention to West Chicago,” Ingrum said. She suggested that people bring their concerns to elected officials. Timothy Lorman asked the school board whether it is a prerequisite of employment “to agree with the majority or the popular opinion of the day.” Another man urged the board to look at anti-ICE statements made by teachers and consider whether they were inappropriate.)
— Candidate exits Democratic primary for DuPage County sheriff
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260206/local-politics/candidate-exits-democratic-primary-for-dupage-county-sheriff/
— Democrats seeking to replace Mendoza offer various approaches to comptroller’s job. Bryan Drew, a Republican from southern Illinois, is running unopposed for his party’s nomination.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260206/illinois-state-politics/democrats-seeking-to-replace-mendoza-offer-various-approaches-to-comptrollers-job/
— DuPage group to build altars, hold vigil Saturday in Wheaton for those killed by immigration enforcement officers
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260206/news/dupage-group-to-build-altars-hold-vigil-saturday-for-those-killed-by-immigration-enforcement-office/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Casa DuPage Workers Center, together with community members, will honor three people killed by federal immigration officers by constructing Day of the Dead altars Saturday in Wheaton. Members of the group said in a news release that they’ll build altars to honor Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed in January in Minneapolis, as well as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, who was fatally shot in September by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Franklin Park. The altars will be built from 1 to 4 p.m. at Casa DuPage, 311 S. Naperville Road in Wheaton, and then taken on the back of a pickup truck to the site in Franklin Park where Villegas-Gonzalez was killed near 25th and Grand avenues. A candlelight vigil will be held at the site. “We need to keep track of our humanity in this moment, as we feel to the marrow of our bones the pain that ICE has unleashed on us all by constantly remembering these martyrs,” Cristobal Cavazos, executive director of Casa DuPage Workers Center, said in a statement. “We will continue to struggle for justice, honoring their lives (and) legacy.” Casa DuPage Workers Center is a program of Immigrant Solidarity DuPage, a grassroots, community-funded, activist group whose goal is to build solidarity locally with the immigrant community.)
— Reliving the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, and discovering an Illinois connection. The first shot of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War was fired by a man from DuPage County.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260206/travel/reliving-the-civil-war-battle-of-gettysburg-and-discovering-an-illinois-connection/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DD: Democrat leaders say Illinois Republicans lend credibility to Trump’s voter-fraud fiction
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/illinois-gop-lends-credibility-trumps-voter-fraud-fiction-yohnka
HERALD NEWS
— Joliet student protesters say as they stage walk out over ICE actions. DD: Anticipate/expect that sooner or later, Democrat leaders will get most if not virtually all of the students in your school district to walkout to protest enforcement of federal immigration laws. Anticipate/expect that the students who walkout will overwhelmingly be illegals, females, and minorities. Of course, their walking out will be on their records for the rest of their lives. Anticipate/expect that Democrat colleges and employers will give preference to those students who walked out over those who did not. For Democrat leaders, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. Democrats exist to destroy Republicans.
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/02/06/joliet-high-school-students-stage-walkout-as-part-of-anti-ice-protests/
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
— 2026 Election Questionnaire: Chris Lauzen, Kane County Treasurer
https://www.shawlocal.com/kane-county-chronicle/2026/02/06/2026-election-questionnaire-chris-lauzen-kane-county-treasurer/
NPR ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat protest tactics are winning.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-02-06/trumps-harsh-immigration-tactics-are-taking-a-political-hit
FOX ILLINOIS
— Judge orders Trump administration to bring back 3 families deported to Honduras, other countries. A federal judge says the Trump administration must bring back three deported families who should have been allowed to remain in the United States under a court settlement involving the separation of children from their parents at the border.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-bring-back-3-families-deported-to-honduras-other-countries/article_b3d63ca5-88de-58cf-a5b2-b9a9781cb310.html
WSPY
— Plano High School students hold ICE protest walkout
https://www.wspynews.com/news/local/plano-high-school-students-hold-ice-protest-walkout/article_9b4ffc95-e041-4e53-9ec2-fba7064c00f6.html
https://www.wspynews.com/news/local/district-308-responds-to-planned-ice-protest-walkouts/article_a25b7cc5-8b64-40ec-8345-be642b2fed89.html
WGLT
— Rep. LaHood praises federal immigration policy
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-02-06/rep-lahood-praises-federal-immigration-policy
— DD: The mainstream news media exists to destroy Trump.
https://www.wglt.org/2026-02-05/media-faces-challenges-under-trump
— New Pantagraph owner takes over. The new owner of the parent company of the Bloomington Pantagraph newspaper said the chain’s flagship paper is “a little too far left.”
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-02-06/new-pantagraph-owner-takes-over
25 NEWS NOW
— Upstate Illinoisan vying for GOP gubernatorial slot remains off ballot after appellate court decision
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/02/06/upstate-illinoisan-vying-gop-gubernatorial-slot-remains-off-ballot-after-appellate-court-decision/
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders say conservative policy wonk Ted Dabrowski gets off sidelines with run for governor. Dabrowski said Republicans need to try something new to beat Pritzker in 2026.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/conservative-policy-wonk-ted-dabrowski-gets-off-sidelines-with-run-for-governor/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Governor candidate Ted Dabrowski argues he is uniquely positioned to unite the fractured Illinois GOP, raise the funds needed to compete statewide and win back suburban voters crucial to a Republican victory. Dabrowski is making electability his central argument, pointing to Darren Bailey’s decisive 2022 loss to Pritzker as evidence Republicans need a new standard-bearer. His policy platform includes capping property taxes at 1% of home value, cutting the state income tax rate, auditing state spending and repealing the SAFE-T Act.
He also said he’d like to see the income tax rate decreased from 4.95% to 3%.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/06/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-464/
— State GOP at cross-purposes with itself. DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/06/state-gop-at-cross-purposes-with-itself/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CORTES INVESTIGATES
— The Foreign Student Crisis Destroying American College Admissions. While American students struggle to get acceptance letters, 6,000 Chinese nationals have found a home at the University of Illinois. Is this globalism gone wrong, or a financial necessity for American higher education? In this documentary, we investigate the shocking reality in America’s heartland. From Fighting Illini football games broadcast in Mandarin Chinese to the displacing of local students, we uncover why U.S. universities are prioritizing foreign tuition over domestic talent. Who is really funding our education system, and at what cost to national security?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ykPKDdZaL4
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois placed 38th nationally for social mobility. Its rank was pulled down by economic problems and corruption in its legal system. DD: Back in the good old days, even though my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma and my mother never attended high school, I was able to earn bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license. With the money I earned, I was able to buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc. while my father was not able to buy a new car until he was 45 and it was a bottom of the line Chevrolet 2-door 6-cylinder with no air conditioning.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-social-mobility-is-worst-in-midwest/
MCHENRY COUNTY
— Appellate Court Denies Severino Appeal to Appear on the GOP Gubernatorial Primary Election Ballot
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/06/appellate-court-denies-severino-appeal-to-appear-on-the-gop-gubernatorial-primary-election-ballot/
— West Chicago Democrat: “We Need To Tax”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/06/west-chicago-democrat-we-need-to-tax/
— Here Is a Distinctive Congressional TV Ad
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/06/here-is-a-distinctive-congressional-tv-ad/
— Cost of Subsidized Housing in Chicago
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/06/cost-of-subsidized-housing-in-chicago/
— Bailey Attacks Democrat’s Attempt to Banning Open Burning
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/06/bailey-attacks-democrats-attempt-to-banning-open-burning/
— Reminding Me of Elgin Legislator John Friedman Who Is on My Profiles in Courage List
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/06/reminding-me-of-elgin-legislator-john-friedman/
— State Treasurer Earns $1.5 Billion on Investments
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/05/state-treasurer-earns-1-5-billion-on-investimates/
— Ponzi Scheme Indictment for James Brothers, Whose Firm Owns McHenry’s Brake Parts
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/05/ponzi-scheme-indictment-for-james-brothers-whose-firm-owned-brake-parts/
— Opponents of Battery Farm Post Billboards
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/05/opponents-of-battery-farm-post-billboards/
— Politico Illinois Reports on 9th District Debate Among Democrats
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/05/politico-illinois-reports-on-9th-district-debate-among-democrats/
— Lakewood President, Under Oath, Says Village “Will Have $1.4 Million Deficit withing Four Years”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/05/lakewood-president-under-oath-says-village-will-have-1-4-milliondeficit-withing-four-years/
— Lauzen Lays Out Tax Hiking Politicians Promoting “Affordability”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/lauzen-lays-out-tax-hiking-politicians-promoting-affordability/
— SuperPAC Runs Ad for Laura Fine in the 9th Congressional District
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/superpac-runs-ad-for-laura-fine-in-the-9th-congressional-district/
— Hills Introduces Bill To Encourage Hiring Developmentally Disabled
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/hills-introduces-bill-to-encourage-hiring-developmentally-disabled/
— Illinois Death Tax Collection from Estates over $4 Million Soaring with Stock Market
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/illinois-death-tax-collection-from-estates-over-4-million-soaring-with-stock-market/
— LaHood’s Pork Excludes McHenry County
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/lahoods-pork-excludes-mchenry-county/
— Illinois Anemic Job Growth
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/illinois-anemic-job-growth/
— Daily Herald Asks 9th District Democrats about Gaza
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/daily-herald-asks-9th-district-democrats-about-gaza/
— The Probable Motivation for Governor George Ryan’s Stopping of Executions
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/the-probable-motivation-for-governor-george-ryans-stopping-of-executions/
— Two 9th District Democratic Party Hopefuls Leave the Race
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/04/two-9th-district-democratic-party-hopefuls-leave-the-race/
— Laura Fine Poll Shows She Is Tied with Daniel Biss in 9th District
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/03/laura-fine-poll-shows-she-is-tied-with-daniel-biss-in-9th-district/
— Tribune Endorses John Elleson for GOP 9th District Congressional Race
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/03/tribune-endorses-john-elleson-for-gop-9rh-district-congressional-race/
— Tribune Endorses Laura Fine in 9th District Democratic Party Congressional Race
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/03/tribune-endorses-laura-fine-in-9th-district-democratic-party-congressional-race/
— Craig Wilcox Follows Darby Hills’ Example Offering $20 per Hour Internships
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/03/craig-wilcox-follows-darby-hills-example-offering-20-per-hour-internships/
— Senator Darby Hills Offers $20 per Hour for Spring Interns
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/02/senator-darby-hills-offers-20-per-hour-for-spring-interns/
— New Illinois Tax Proposed on Fuel and Natural Gas
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/03/new-illinois-tax-proposed-on-fuel-and-natural-gas/
— Tribune Looks at Congressional Races, Again Gives Kat Free Publicity
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/03/tribune-looks-at-congressional-races-again-gives-kat-free-publicity/
— Illinois Pork for Pickleball and Tennis Courts
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/03/illnois-pork-for-pickball-and-tennis-courts/
— Status of Federal School Choice Plan, Which Pritzker Has Refused to Join
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/02/02/16406/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
NEW YORK POST
— Turning Point Super Bowl halftime show with Kid Rock carries Charlie Kirk’s legacy — and Trump’s support. DD: My critics/opponents will watch Bad Bunny, not the Turning Point USA show.
https://nypost.com/2026/02/06/us-news/turning-point-super-bowl-halftime-show-with-kid-rock-carries-charlie-kirks-legacy-and-trumps-support/
— Mamdani blasts ICE in fiery speech at event meant to promote unity
https://nypost.com/2026/02/06/us-news/mayor-mamdani-blasts-ice-in-fiery-speech-at-event-meant-to-promote-unity-cruelty-that-staggers-the-conscience/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Could blue states boxing out ICE give Democrats upper hand in next census?
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/02/05/could-blue-states-boxing-out-ice-give-democrats-upper-hand-in-next-census-1620430/
CITY JOURNAL
— Blue States’ Demographic Nightmare. Recent migration numbers emphasize how population gains, economic growth, and political power are shifting toward Republican strongholds.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/blue-states-demographic-nightmare
FEDERALIST AND REAL CLEAR POLICY
— Dems Hate The SAVE Act Because They Want Illegals to Vote
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/06/democrats-hate-the-save-act-because-they-want-illegals-to-vote/
https://www.realclearpolicy.com/2026/02/06/dems_hate_the_save_act_because_they_want_illegals_to_vote_1163364.html
FEDERALIST
— Mass Amnesty In Spain Heralds The End Of Nationhood
https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/06/mass-amnesty-in-spain-heralds-the-end-of-nationhood/
FOX BUSINESS
— Sanctuary cities are the ‘problem’, not ICE
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6388884907112
— How sanctuary cities have ‘gotten away’ with shielding criminals
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6388904300112
FOX NEWS
— Mamdani quotes the Quran, Bible to support sanctuary city status. Mamdani signed executive order barring federal agents from city property without judicial warrant. DD: The Democrat Party’s domination of all religions is almost complete.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/mamdani-quotes-quran-bible-support-sanctuary-city-status
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
REUTERS
— Bad Bunny’s hometown beams with pride ahead of Super Bowl halftime show
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/bad-bunnys-hometown-beams-with-pride-ahead-super-bowl-halftime-show-2026-02-06/
MSN
— Irish illegals fleeing Trump’s America to avoid being caught by ICE
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/irish-illegals-fleeing-donald-trump-s-america-to-avoid-being-caught-by-ice/ar-AA1VNAyB
NBC NEWS
— DHS warned its independent watchdog that Noem can kill its investigations, senator says. Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth wrote that she fears “repeated tacit threats” could be weakening the Department of Homeland Security inspector general’s independence. DD: During the 1980s, while I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO, a powerful Democrat Representative killed a major GAO audit that I had worked on for more than a year.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dhs-independent-watchdog-noem-duckworth-investigations-rcna257846
— White House blames ‘staffer’ for racist Obamas post that Trump shared
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-nj-mejia-malinowski-elections-iran-dhs-immigration-live-updates-rcna256969
WASHINGTON POST
— Those seeking to sue ICE for injuries or damage face an uphill battle. Scores of claims are expected to arise out of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Experts say suing the government will be tough. DD: I knew that my successfully suing my Democrat GAO superiors ( https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DiersenGAOFifthAmendedComplaint.pdf ) was not likely. But I nevertheless sued to get my evidence into the public record.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/02/06/ice-legal-claims-cost-lawsuits/
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Jesse Jackson’s son appeals to Trump on ICE victims at Prayer Breakfast
https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/02/05/prayer-breakfast-jesse-jackson-son-trump-minneapolis-ice-victims/
BLOOMBERG
— Illinois Sees ‘Unprecedented’ Budget Pressure From Trump Cuts
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-06/illinois-sees-unprecedented-budget-pressure-from-trump-cuts
FORBES
— Republican Leaders Denounce Trump For Sharing Racist Video
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/02/06/gop-members-want-trump-apology-for-racist-clip-of-obamas-he-shared-then-deleted/
February 5, 2026
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Elgin HS students stage walkout to protest ICE. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/04/elgin-high-students-walkout-protest-ice/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/opinion-immigration-crime-statistics-public-safety/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ahead of midterms, Illinois’ GOP members of Congress question the state’s ‘election integrity.’ In a letter sent to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Reps. Mike Bost, Mary Miller and Darin LaHood urged the state to provide more information about how voting records are vetted. DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/02/04/illinois-voter-rolls-challenge-republicans-bost-miller-lahood-state-board-of-elections-trump
NBC5
— As Trump promises ‘softer touch’ on immigration, Chicago residents stay wary. There is some concern in Chicago that agents leaving Minneapolis could be redeployed, including back to Illinois. DD: Any hint of a “softer touch” reopens the floodgates.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/as-trump-promises-softer-touch-on-immigration-chicago-residents-stay-wary/3886839/
FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump taking steps toward installing a Columbus statue near the White House. DD: How strongly anti-Italian are the Democrats in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-taking-steps-toward-installing-a-columbus-statue-near-the-white-house/article_601745f2-a8ce-5179-be61-e7bc90cba9b6.html
WEEK
— Trump proposal to ‘nationalize’ elections sparks debate. DD: All elections should have both Republican and Democrat oversight.
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/02/05/trump-proposal-nationalize-elections-sparks-local-debate/?outputType=amp
WAND TV
— Democrats demand ‘dramatic changes’ for ICE, including masks, cameras and judicial warrants. Democrats are threatening to block funding for the Homeland Security Department when it expires in two weeks unless there are “dramatic changes” and “real accountability” for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies who are carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign of federal immigration enforcement. DD: Democrats want to stop deportation of their illegals. But failing that, they want to cripple, disable, hinder, impede, hamstring, and undermine ICE.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/what-democrats-are-demanding-in-the-fight-over-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-funding/article_269f32b5-2ab4-51c7-9434-93e6c26bf320.html
— Illinois bill could ban ICE agents from working as state, local police. DD: Have you been banned? By their wasting my career, by their taking many big adverse actions against me, and by their forcing me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997, my Democrat superiors in the federal government banned me from getting any kind of employment appropriate for someone with my work experience, education, professional certifications, and professional license.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/statehouse/illinois-bill-could-ban-ice-agents-from-working-as-state-local-police/article_f91d9a48-14ad-49d0-958d-573344840d4a.html
DAILY ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders have declared a Second Civil War against Republicans. Illegals are their soldiers in their Democrat Army.
https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/university-news/student-organizations/2026/02/03/illini-democrats-illini-republicans-ice-statement/
DOWNERS GROVE PATCH
— Loaded Gun Found Stashed Under Child’s Car Seat During Traffic Stop In Naperville. A Downers Grove man is being held in DuPage County Jail after Tuesday night’s incident.
https://patch.com/illinois/downersgrove/loaded-gun-found-stashed-under-childs-car-seat-during-traffic-stop-naperville
HINDSDALE PATCH
— Hinsdale-Based Conservative Group Concerned Parents of Illinois Denounced At Meeting. It was called a hate group that hurts youth and the LGBTQ community. DD: My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) and TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois were hate groups. I served as an ICRC officer 2003-2007 and as the TAPROOT chairman 2005-2012. My critics/opponents succeeded in having their operatives and their dupes destroy ICRC in 2007 and TAPROOT in 2012. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who continue have their operatives and their dupes take big adverse actions against me. I would focus on those who had their operatives and their dupes a) end my membership on the Illinois Republican Party Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, b) end my role as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, and c) gerrymander my precinct in 2015.
https://patch.com/illinois/hinsdale/hinsdale-based-conservative-group-denounced-meeting
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— In IL-09, friendly forum turns fierce
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/02/05/in-il-09-friendly-forum-turns-fierce-00766712
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— A proposal backed by Illinois Democrats to expand voter registration opportunities for high school students is raising concerns among some parents and education advocates, who argue the measure could add strain to already overburdened schools and open the door to partisan influence.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_a3232f6f-2a97-4346-8084-b284ed21d740.html
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far? If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a Crete-Monee High School student 1962-1966, the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was an UIC student 1966-1968 and 1971 and/or a NIU student 1969-1970, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time Loyola student 1972-1976, the Democrats who ran IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974. If I had been active in Republican politics when I was a part-time DePaul student 1976-1980, the Democrats who ran GAO would not have hired me in 1980 or promoted me in 1986. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats reveal 10-point list of demands for ICE reforms. Topping the list are bans on ICE officers wearing masks to hide their identities, and new rules barring immigration arrests near hospitals, schools, churches, courts, child-care facilities and other “sensitive locations.” The 10-point list also calls for new limits on use of force, and would explicitly give state and local authorities a veto over “large-scale” immigration operations. DD: Democrats want to stop deportation of their illegals. But failing that, they want to cripple, disable, hinder, impede, hamstring, and undermine ICE.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/4/democrats-reveal-ice-reform-demands-continue-funding-homeland/
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Some Crying Kids Are Way Cooler Than Others. This week’s illegal immigrant poster boy is 5-year-old Liam Ramos.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/some-crying-kids-are-way-cooler-than-others/
BLAZE
— The West’s forbidden truth: Ethnic cleansing is now official policy. DD: Ever-increasingly, Democrat and RINO leaders replace those who have demographics that vote for Republicans with those who have demographics that vote for Democrats.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-wests-forbidden-truth-ethnic-cleansing-is-now-official-policy
BREITBART
— Left-Wing Teachers Across the Country Are Forcing Kids to Protest ICE
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/02/04/left-wing-teachers-across-the-country-are-forcing-kids-to-protest-ice/
CENTER SQUARE
— Federal Way council pres & teacher urging students to walk out in ICE protest
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_c62e2923-4eba-4972-a631-e3b2344ccc2f.html
FOX NEWS
— Greg Abbott threatens arrests for violent student protesters, funding cuts for schools allowing walkouts. Texas governor says schools allowing ‘disruptive walkouts’ should be treated as ‘co-conspirators’ after Kyle incident.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/greg-abbott-threatens-arrests-violent-student-protesters-funding-cuts-schools-allowing-walkouts
FOX NEWS RADIO
— Sanctuary City Cooperation & The President’s ‘Softer Touch’ Immigration Approach. DD: Any hint of a “softer touch” reopens the floodgates.
https://radio.foxnews.com/2026/02/05/sanctuary-city-cooperation-the-presidents-softer-touch-immigration-approach/
PJ MEDIA
— Shocking Cost of Migrant Crime
https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2026/02/04/estimating-the-cost-of-illegal-alien-crimes-n4949119
— Texas Sues County for Using Taxpayer Cash to Pay Illegal Aliens’ Lawyers
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/02/04/texas-sues-county-for-using-taxpayer-cash-to-pay-illegal-aliens-lawyers-n4949122
TOWNHALL
— Democrats’ Demands for DHS Funding Are Here—They Would Destroy ICE As We Know It. DD: Democrats want to stop deportation of their illegals. But failing that, they want to cripple, disable, hinder, impede, hamstring, and undermine ICE.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/02/04/democrats-demands-for-dhs-funding-are-herethey-would-destroy-ice-as-we-know-it-n2670714
— Immigration Enforcement Should Not Be Limited to the ‘Worst of the Worst’
https://townhall.com/columnists/dalewilcox/2026/02/05/immigration-enforcement-should-not-be-limited-to-the-worst-of-the-worst-n2670707
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Trump says he does not believe his team is good at public relations on immigration
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5723686-trump-administration-immigration-handling-public-relations/amp/
— Trump says Good, Pretti were ‘not angels’ but their actions didn’t justify fatal shootings
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5723664-good-pretti-shooting-trump/amp/
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Good and Pretti to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5723685-public-skepticism-trump-ice-pretti-good-poll/amp/
NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/arts/music/super-bowl-bad-bunny-puerto-rico-nfl.html
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/business/eeoc-nike-white-employee-discrimination.html
— Educators Sue to Keep Immigration Agents From Schools and Bus Stops. The lawsuit is challenging a Trump administration policy allowing federal agents near locations such as schools, churches and hospitals. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly fill their schools, churches, and hospitals with their illegals.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/us/minnesota-educators-immigration-agents-lawsuit-schools-bus-stops.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/us/ice-lawsuits-states.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/us/politics/border-patrol-history-aggression.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use children to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/us/minneapolis-children-ice-schools.html
USA TODAY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Bad Bunny to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/02/05/super-bowl-bad-bunny-turning-point-usa-halftime-show/88509842007/
CBS NEWS
— Hundreds of Ann Arbor high school students walk out in protest of ICE. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/ann-arbor-high-school-students-walk-out-ice-operations/
ABC SAN FRANCISCO
— Thousands of East Bay high school students walk out to protest ICE enforcement. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://abc7news.com/post/thousands-east-bay-high-school-students-walk-protest-ice-enforcement/18544017/
INDY STAR
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2026/02/05/organizing-ice-walkouts-meet-indianapolis-students-risking-writeups/88365956007/
https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/local/hamilton-county/noblesville/2026/02/05/noblesville-high-school-students-walkout-in-protest-of-ice/88478191007/
MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE
— Local leaders demand faster ICE withdrawal from Minnesota. DD: Any hint of a withdrawal reopens the floodgates.
https://www.startribune.com/ice-raids-minnesota/601546426
FOX AUSTIN
— Texas student walkouts. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-student-walkouts-elgin-isd-protest-ice-operations
HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA
— Texas state leaders target school walkouts. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2026/02/04/542549/ice-protest-houston-school-tea/
KXXV
— Texas Education Agency says students, schools could face serious consequences for walkouts. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in getting students to walkout over ICE. The more walkouts, the more proof that for Democrats, education exists to crank out good little Democrats. How many students have Democrats gotten to walkout in your school district so far?
https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/texas-education-agency-releases-new-guidelines-on-student-ice-walkouts
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Negotiators Say Talks to Restore ACA Subsidies Likely Dead. New, higher health-insurance bills are kicking in for many households. DD: Because I am a retired federal employee, the federal government pays 72% of my and my wife’s healthcare insurance premiums. The 28% that we pay just increased from $600/month to $700/month.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/negotiators-say-talks-to-restore-aca-subsidies-likely-dead-a9c710b4
MONEY WISE
— DD: My Democrat GAO superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal systems a) to delay my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13 and b) to force me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. My Democrat IRS superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal systems to never promote me beyond GS-12. My Democrat Post Office superiors used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal systems to force me to resign when I was 20 in 1969.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/employers-set-to-give-peanut-butter-raises-in-place-of-merit-based-pay-bumps-in-2026-here-s-what-it-means-for-your-paycheck-and-budget/ar-AA1VEjYO
HRD MAGAZINE
— DD: Democrat and RINO employers use Affirmative Action and DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.hcamag.com/us/news/general/nike-investigated-for-discrimination-against-white-people/564287
https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/diversity-inclusion/dei-goes-dark-employers-retreat-from-transparency-not-inclusion/564336
AFSCME
— Black History Month. DD: My Black Democrat GAO subordinate who my Democrat GAO superiors replaced me with led the office’s Black History Month events. He had less work experience than I had. He had less education than I had. He had one professional certification while I had six. He had no professional license like the one I had.
https://www.afscme.org/blog/what-a-century-of-black-history-month-teaches-us-about-todays-fight-for-working-people