Febuary 28, 2026 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— US-Israel attack on Iran: Illinois leaders react, demonstrations held downtown Chicago. Strikes celebrated by many in Chicago’s Iranian community, demonstrators against US troops on ground.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/us-israel-attack-iran-illinois-leaders-react-demonstration-held-downtown-chicago-president-trump-says-irans-leader-is-dead/18662172/

NBC5
— Dozens gather in downtown Chicago for protest after U.S., Israel strike on Iran. “They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore,” Trump said after the attack.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/dozens-gather-in-downtown-chicago-for-protest-after-u-s-israel-strike-on-iran/3901470/

FOX32
— Illinois elected leaders blast Trump’s military strikes in Iran: ‘No justification’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-elected-leaders-blast-trumps-military-strikes-iran-no-justification

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Leading Illinois Democrats denounce President Donald Trump’s military strikes in Iran
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/28/illinois-democrats-pritzker-iran-trump/

DAILY HERALD
— Endorsement: Tracy for Republicans in U.S. Senate race
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260228/endorsements/endorsement-tracy-for-republicans-in-u-s-senate-race/

STATELINE
— Illinois Department of Labor analyzes wage gaps based on race and gender. DD: If IDL analyzed such gaps for federal employees, it would find that for federal employees who have similar education, work experience, professional certifications, and professional licenses, those who are minority and/or female are paid more than federal employees who are White and/or male.
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/a-supreme-court-case-over-whether-marijuana-users-can-own-guns-is-creating-unusual-alliances/article_90ee8794-aca8-5782-8ec4-bac0157895c1.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YROHKZ2llfM

CHAMPAIGN/URBANS NEWS GAZETTE & CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— A Supreme Court case over whether marijuana users can own guns is creating unusual alliances. DD: I side with Trump. I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton in 2019.
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/a-supreme-court-case-over-whether-marijuana-users-can-own-guns-is-creating-unusual-alliances/article_90ee8794-aca8-5782-8ec4-bac0157895c1.html
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-a-supreme-court-case-over-whether-marijuana-users-can-own-guns-is-creating-unusual-alliances/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Republican Trump administration will be defending a firearm restriction, with backing from gun-control groups typically more aligned with Democrats. On the other side is a pairing of the National Rifle Association and the American Civil Liberties Union.)

WGLT
— Duckworth calls Iran strikes ‘illegal’ as LaHood points to ‘direct consequence of Iran’s actions’
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-02-28/duckworth-calls-iran-strikes-illegal-as-lahood-points-to-direct-consequence-of-irans-actions

INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE
— Indiana keeps bucking marijuana legalization, tightening related laws instead. DD: I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton in 2019.
https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/02/indiana-keeps-bucking-marijuana-legalization-tightening-related-laws-instead/

ILLINOIS TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use the Republican Party’s BIG TENT policy to destroy the Republican Party. Far too many Republican organizations and candidates seek, accept, and/or give money to/from organizations and candidates that reject some, many, most, if not virtually all the planks in the Republican Party platform. Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. I should write about the aforesaid organizations and candidates. I would focus on those that have sought/accepted/given the most aforesaid money and that have made it the most clear that they reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform. I would focus on the aforesaid that have taken the most/biggest adverse actions against me. since 2000.
https://www.illinoistimes.com/news/illinois-republicans-need-diversity-of-views-a-bigger-tent-20101601/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

NEW YORK POST
— Democrats rage over Trump’s ‘illegal’ war in Iran, demand Congress return to Washington for ‘immediate’ vote
https://nypost.com/2026/02/28/us-news/trumps-iran-attack-sets-off-furious-debate-in-congress-on-whether-war-is-necessary-or-illegal/
— Black voters should reject Newsom’s ‘I’m as dumb as you’ shtick
https://nypost.com/2026/02/27/opinion/black-voters-should-reject-newsoms-act/

WESTERN JOURNAL
— Black Republican Nukes Liberal for Implying the SAVE Act Targets Minorities: We’re ‘Educated Enough’ to Get an ID
https://www.westernjournal.com/black-republican-nukes-liberal-implying-save-act-targets-minorities-educated-enough-get/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump’s Attack on Iran Is Reckless
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/opinion/iran-attack-trump-war.html
— Only 21% of Americans Support the United States Initiating an Attack on Iran.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/politics/poll-americans-support-iran-attack.html
— Trump’s Decision to Strike Iran Opens New Fissures in Midterms. Republicans largely supported the decision, while Democrats mostly opposed it — but divisions appeared in both parties.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/politics/trump-iran-attack-midterms.html
— Legalizing Marijuana Is a Big Mistake. DD: I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton in 2019.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/opinion/marijuana-legalization-disaster.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Enforces His Red Line on Iran. His war aims suggest a long campaign that could topple the regime.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-enforces-his-red-line-on-iran-a2ad85ab?mod=opinion_lead_pos1

AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL
— DD: Democrat leaders reject America’s immigration laws, that is, Democrat leaders reject America.
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/did-my-family-really-come-legally-todays-immigration-laws-created-a-new-reality/

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.