February 26, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: Ever-increasingly, according to Democrat leaders, you should vote for those Democrat candidates who promise to use government to give to those who share your demographics the most preference. Democrat candidates ever-increasingly promise to give those who are the following more preference: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, non-married, non-rich, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are noncitizen. Further, ever-increasingly, according to Democrat leaders, you should want more of the following and you should vote for those Democrat candidates who promise to give you more of the following: government assistance, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, vices, diminishment of Second Amendment rights, and Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/opinion-jb-pritzker-budget-black-hispanic-illinoisans/
— A little-known program allows CTA and Metra to suspend riders. Most of them are Black.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/cta-metra-suspensions/

DAILY HERALD
— Endorsement: Moore for DuPage County sheriff in Republican primary
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260226/endorsements/endorsement-moore-for-dupage-county-sheriff-in-republican-primary/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois GOP candidates debate Trump, taxes, Bears stadium
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2026/02/26/three-illinois-gop-governor-candidates-debate-trump-taxes-and-more/88863293007/

SOUTHERN
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Good and Pretti to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/02/25/trump-didnt-mention-them-but-renee-good-and-alex-pretti-loomed-over-state-of-the-union-address/

JOURNAL COURIER
— GOP lieutenant governor candidates speak unity as their other halves get testy. DD: While I was the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois in December of 2009, the organization hosted a Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate forum at which all six spoke: Jason Plummer, Matt Murphy, Don Tracy, Brad Cole, Dennis Cook, and Randy White.
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/illinois-lt-gov-candidates-jacksonville-unified-21940686.php

CITIES 92.9
— Illinois racial wealth gap among largest in country. DD: Democrats run Illinois, but they nevertheless blame Republicans for the gap. Since the 1960s, Democrats have used Affirmative Action and DEI to give tremendous preference to those who have demographics that vote for Democrats, that is, those who are: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://www.cities929.com/2026/02/25/illinois-racial-wealth-gap-among-largest-in-country/

ILLINOIZE
— Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) Removed from House Democratic Caucus. DD: What have your critics/opponents removed you from? My critics/opponents had their operatives and their dupes remove me from a) my membership on the Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024, b) my role as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021, c) my Republican Precinct Committeeman position for half my precinct in 2015, d) my chairmanship of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois in 2012, e) my service as the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster in 2010 and 2004, and f) my membership on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee in 2007.  I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who continue to have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois.
https://www.theillinoize.com/articles/rep-harry-benton-removed-caucus

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Giannoulias banks $9M amid mayoral buzz
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/02/26/giannoulias-banks-9m-mayoral-buzz-00799906

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/02/26/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-687/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WIREPOINTS
— Blue City Spending Drives ‘Unaffordability,’ Not Relief
https://wirepoints.org/blue-city-spending-drives-unaffordability-not-relief-wirepoints-mark-glennon-on-chicagos-morning-answer-am560/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at those who are the following that Republicans cause all their problems: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, non-married, non-rich, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or noncitizen. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

NEW YORK POST
— Trump blasts Dems who refused to stand for protecting Americans over ‘illegal aliens’ at State of the Union: ‘You should be ashamed’
https://nypost.com/2026/02/25/us-news/trump-blasts-democrats-who-refused-to-stand-for-protecting-americans-over-illegal-aliens-at-state-of-the-union-2026/

CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois abortion bill sparks division between Republicans, pro-life advocates. DD: I support the Hyde Amendment. According to my critics/opponents on the left, I am too strong on abortion. According to my critics/opponents on the right, I am too weak on abortion.
https://www.aol.com/articles/illinois-abortion-bill-sparks-division-140000741.html

DAILY CALLER
— DD: Democrats and RINOs destroy you if you do not promote LGBTQ.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/02/25/human-rights-coalition-lgbtq-dei-corporate-equality-index/

NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER
— Vatican issues sweeping defense of traditional marriage. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-issues-sweeping-defense-traditional-marriage-pushing-back-polygamy

NEW AMERICAN
— Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez Advertise Free Child Care for Illegals. DD: My mother stayed home and raised me and my brother. Her earning potential was very limited because she never attended high school. My father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. Consequently, I had to work my way through college.
https://thenewamerican.com/us/immigration/mamdani-ocasio-cortez-advertise-free-child-care-for-illegals/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrats smell blood in the water. They ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump and shout at voters that if they do not like what Trump has said and/or done, they should vote for all the Democrats on the ballot.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/trump-elections-midterms.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly encourage pregnant citizens of foreign countries to give birth in America. They see these children as being future Democrats.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/opinion/birthright-citizenship.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Republicans stare down epic voter enthusiasm gap ahead of 2026 midterms. The 14-percentage-point advantage is the Democrats’ largest in decades. DD: Democrats smell blood in the water. They ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump and shout at voters that if they do not like what Trump has said and/or done, they should vote for all the Democrats on the ballot.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/25/poll-democrats-trump-republicans-midterms/

USA TODAY
— DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/02/26/trump-lawsuit-affirmative-action/88291520007/

FLORIDA POLITICS
— House approves annual day of remembrance for fallen conservative icon Charlie Kirk
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/782009-house-approves-annual-day-of-remembrance-for-fallen-conservative-icon-charlie-kirk/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DD: Democrat and RINO leaders fight against the War on Drugs.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-economics-of-illegal-drugs-ae89f0fa
— Vance, Newsom and Tales of Want. They romanticize a hard-knocks past that they don’t want anyone else to live. DD: My critics/opponents have always falsely painted my parents as being filthy rich. 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 for 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. I had to work my way through college. I bought that car, a poor man’s GTO, to commute to/from classes at UIC and my parents’ home in Crete.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/vance-newsom-and-tales-of-want-6d16b298

FAST COMPANY
— DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91498722/trump-said-he-ended-dei-in-america-heres-why-hes-wrong

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

SKY NEWS
— ‘Protecting criminal illegals’: Trump exposes Democrats’ shameful immigration stance
https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/rita-panahi/protecting-criminal-illegals-trump-exposes-democrats-shameful-immigration-stance/video/fc5009912460887376180e71424a7eb2

HANS INDIA
— The role of opportunity and preparation in student outcomes. DD: What do your critics/opponents attribute your successes to? My critics/opponents attribute my successes to my benefitting from discrimination against those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. They ignore/dismiss/belittle the fact that neither of my parents attended college, that my father was only the first of my ancestors to earn a high school diploma, that my mother never attended high school, and that I had to work my way through college. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those whose parent had lots of money. I would focus on those whose parents had the most money.
https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/young-hans/the-role-of-opportunity-and-preparation-in-student-outcomes-1051969
(FROM THE ARTICLE: At some point in school, we are introduced to a simple equation: effort equals success. It is presented as both encouragement and caution. If you work hard enough, you will rise. If you struggle, perhaps more effort is needed. The formula feels orderly and reassuring. It suggests that outcomes are earned and that the system is fair.)

FROM OTHER SOURCES

BIG NEWS NETWORK
— Balancing Security and Responsibility: The Debate Around Civilian Self-Defense Tools
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/278889383/balancing-security-and-responsibility-the-debate-around-civilian-self-defense-tools
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Public safety concerns continue to shape daily decisions for many households. News cycles highlight break-ins, delayed emergency response times, and rising anxiety about personal security. For some civilians, the question is no longer whether safety planning matters, but how far personal responsibility should extend. . .Effective safety planning often includes: Home security systems, Environmental awareness. Emergency response plans, Defensive tools as a last resort)

BANKING RATES
— 6 Remote Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms With a $2,000 a Month Paycheck. DD: My mother stayed home and raised me and my brother. Her earning potential was very limited because she never attended high school. My father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. Consequently, I had to work my way through college.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-remote-jobs-stay-home-110704035.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Customer Service Representative-Median wage: $20.59 per hour. . .Invoice/Billing Specialist- Median wage: $22.66 per hour. . .Verification Specialist- Median wage: $23.81 per hour. . .Administrative Assistant- Median wage: $22.82 per hour. . .Inside Sales Representative- Median wage: $57.69 per hour including base salary and commission. . .Account Executive-Median wage: $61.54 per hour including base salary and commission)

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.