FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Community leaders tell Chicagoans to know their rights before ICE raids begin after Trump’s inauguration
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/18/community-leaders-tell-chicagoans-to-know-their-rights-before-ice-raids-begin-after-trumps-inauguration/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— With Trump deportation raids expected to start in Chicago, advocates say they will safeguard immigrants. The incoming Trump administration is reportedly beginning mass deportations next week in the city and across the U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia said “the current threats are nothing new” and advocates are ready to fight for and protect the community.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/01/18/ice-immigration-raids-chicago-jesus-garcia-delia-ramirez-resurrection-project
DAILY HERALD
— Thousands march in Washington days before Trump takes office
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250118/nation-and-world-politics/thousands-march-in-washington-days-before-trump-takes-office/
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250118/news/viator-house-marks-8-years-of-offering-safe-haven-for-young-immigrants-seeking-asylum/
ABC7
— Post-inauguration ICE raids likely to begin in Chicago, could start as soon as Tuesday. Immigration advocates host ‘know your rights’ workshops for community amid mass deportation fears.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/trumps-chicago-deportation-plan-dhs-officials-confirm-city-will-target-area-incoming-admin-mass-fears-grow/15813592/
NBC5
— Chicago immigration activists prepare for possible large-scale deportation raids. NBC News reports Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials plan to conduct a major enforcement operation in Chicago following Trump’s inauguration.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-immigration-activists-prepare-for-possible-large-scale-deportation-raids/3649994/
— Who will be at Trump’s inauguration: Performers, guests and more. From former presidents to famous musical artists, Inauguration Day will feature a number of high-profile attendees.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/who-will-be-at-trumps-inauguration-performers-guests-and-more/3649960/
CBS2
— ICE planning to ramp up arrests in major U.S. cities after Trump takes office
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/ice-planning-increase-arrests-undocumented-immigrants-major-u-s-cities-after-trump-takes-office/
— Chicago’s migrant community prepares for potential ICE raids after Trump takes office
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-ice-raids-immigration-undocumented-migrants-trump-inauguration/
WGN9
— Mass deportation raids could start in Chicago as soon as Tuesday
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/mass-deportation-raids-threatened-chicago/
— Most voters in new survey seek toned-down Trump agenda
https://wgntv.com/news/national/most-voters-in-new-survey-seek-toned-down-trump-agenda/
WGN RADIO
— Chicago prepares for deportation arrests targeting hundreds next week after Trump takes office
https://wgnradio.com/news/national/ap-chicago-prepares-for-deportation-arrests-targeting-hundreds-next-week-after-trump-takes-office/
WBEZ
— With Trump deportation raids reported to start in Chicago, advocates move to safeguard immigrants. The incoming Trump administration is reportedly beginning mass deportations next week in the city and across the U.S., one of the president-elect’s campaign promises.
https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2025/01/18/ice-immigration-raids-chicago-jesus-garcia-delia-ramirez-beatriz-ponce-de-leon
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Illinois lawmakers, delegates going to D.C.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/rockford-register-star/20250119/281852944231161
WGLT & NPR ILLINOIS
— Steve Bannon says MAGA populism will win — as Trump is surrounded by billionaires
https://www.wglt.org/2025-01-19/steve-bannon-says-maga-populism-will-win-as-trump-is-surrounded-by-billionaires
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-01-19/steve-bannon-says-maga-populism-will-win-as-trump-is-surrounded-by-billionaires
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump’s influence spreads through state capitols in both substance and symbolism (COMMENT: What about Illinois?)
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-trumps-influence-spreads-through-state-capitols-in-both-substance-and-symbolism/
— Vance will make his mark as the first millennial vice president and the potential MAGA torchbearer
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-vance-will-make-his-mark-as-the-first-millennial-vice-president-and-the-potential-maga-torchbearer/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Democrat and RINO leaders ever-increasingly encourage illegals to stay.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-01-18/trump-has-promised-mass-deportations-why-some-migrants-think-its-worth-the-risk
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump and against the 77 million who voted for him.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2025-01-19/trumps-2nd-term-represents-hope-for-the-right-and-fear-of-a-dark-era-for-others
DEPAULIA
— Corporations pour millions into inauguration Democrats plan to ditch
https://depauliaonline.com/73940/news/corporations-pour-millions-into-inauguration-democrats-plan-to-ditch/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Do you share my interest in American nameplate muscle cars? If so, please let me know. I am seriously considering ordering a red 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T with Plus Group package, Sun & Sound package, and full glass roof. SEE: https://www.dodge.com/charger.html – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— “ICE Man Cometh,” Chicago Targeted for Illegal Alien Removal Tuesday
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/01/18/chicago-targeted-for-illegal-allien-removal-tuesday/
— Remembering Visiting Washington Men’s Room 70-80 Years Ago
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/01/18/remembering-visiting-washington-mens-room-70-80-years-ago/
— Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Ma-Mi
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/01/17/projected-2025-mchenry-county-employee-compensation-ma-mi/
— Another Example of Order of Protection Not Protecting
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/01/18/another-example-of-order-of-protection-not-protecting/
Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Mi-Ne
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/01/18/projected-2025-mchenry-county-employee-compensation-mi/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Thousands turn out for anti-Trump ‘People’s March’ rally as inauguration looms
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/18/thousands-turn-anti-trump-people-march-rally-inaug/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The military needs Pete Hegseth (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/3291411/military-needs-pete-hegseth/
— DEI’s obscene price tag (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/3290547/dei-obscene-price-tag/
NEW YORK POST
— Trump arrives in DC with family ahead of inauguration extravaganza
https://nypost.com/2025/01/18/us-news/trump-heads-to-washington-with-melania-barron-ahead-of-inauguration-day/
ALL SIDES
— Google News Shows Strong Political Bias (COMMENT: Ever-increasingly, Google steers everyone a) to websites that promote the Democrat Party platform and b) away from websites that promote the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.allsides.com/blog/google-news-shows-strong-political-bias-allsides-analysis
AMERICAN THINKER
— The FBI sweeps DEI under the rug
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/01/the_fbi_sweeps_dei_under_the_rug.html
CENTER SQUARE
— California removes college degree requirements for nearly 30k state jobs (COMMENT: To hire, retain, and promote more young Democrat minorities and more young Democrat females, Democrat employers have ever-increasingly eliminated job requirements. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.)
https://www.aol.com/california-removes-college-degree-requirements-164900658.html
DAILY SIGNAL
— DEEP STATE GEARING UP: Nearly Half of Federal Employees in the Swamp Plan to Resist Trump (COMMENT: I should write about my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who despised/hated Republicans the most.)
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/01/13/deep-state-gearing-nearly-half-federal-employees-swamp-plan-resist-trump-poll-finds/
— I Live in Pacific Palisades and I Know Who Caused the Fire
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/01/14/i-live-in-pacific-palisades-and-i-know-who-caused-the-fire/
DAILY WIRE
— Air Force Official Held Event Pushing Critical Race Theory, Bemoaning ‘White Middle Class Problem. One panel member claimed that America’s public schools have ‘a white, middle class problem’
https://www.dailywire.com/news/air-force-official-held-event-pushing-critical-race-theory-bemoaning-white-middle-class-problem
FOX NEWS
— Trump’s ‘blacklist’: President-elect describes the type of people he doesn’t want to hire (COMMENT: The Democrats who ran GAO in 1980, IRS in 1971, and the Post Office in 1966 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. They gambled that I would become a Democrat and lost.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-s-blacklist-president-elect-describes-the-type-of-people-he-doesn-t-want-to-hire/ar-AA1xjeJi
— Diversity, equity, inclusion course mandates cost taxpayers nearly $2 billion nationwide. Undergraduate students at public universities spent at least 40 million student hours satisfying DEI general education course requirements. (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans.)
https://www.foxnews.com/media/diversity-equity-inclusion-course-mandates-cost-taxpayers-nearly-2-billion-nationwide-study
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Trump Administration To Start ‘Large-Scale’ Deportations on Tuesday in Chicago
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/01/trump-administration-to-start-large-scale-deportations-on-tuesday-in-chicago/
NEWSMAX
— It’s time to return the United States to its rightful place as the number-one superpower in the world.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/babin-trump-us/2025/01/18/id/1195603/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Pentagon under Trump will be “about meritocracy” along with being ready and defeating the enemies of the United States, as “it should have been all along,” said Babin.”)
— GOP for Legal Immigration
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/jeff-van-drew-border-democrats/2025/01/18/id/1195599/
POWERLINE
— Mass Deportations? Well, Yes
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/01/mass-deportations-well-yes.php
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
REUTERS
— Thousands gather in Washington to protest Trump inauguration
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/thousands-gather-washington-protest-trump-inauguration-2025-01-18/
NEWSWEEK
— Trump’s pick for undersecretary of the Air Force, Matthew Lohmeier, was previously fired from the Space Force for criticizing what he described as critical race theory and “Marxism” in the U.S. military. (COMMENT: My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire, that is, they fired me, because I was an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged them with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-air-force-matthew-lohmeier-fired-marxism-2017334
MSN
— Trump labels windmills an ‘economic and environmental disaster’
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/donald-trump-labels-windmills-an-economic-and-environmental-disaster/ar-AA1xrElK
— Trump has to undo four years of Biden administration ‘carnage’
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/donald-trump-has-to-undo-four-years-of-biden-administration-carnage/ar-AA1xru6u
— Tens of thousands to join People’s March in Washington DC against Trump
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/tens-of-thousands-to-join-people-s-march-in-washington-dc-against-trump/ar-AA1xpHNM
— ‘First buddy’ Elon Musk is set to speak at Trump’s pre-inauguration rally. Here’s who will join.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/first-buddy-elon-musk-is-set-to-speak-at-trump-s-pre-inauguration-rally-here-s-who-will-join/ar-AA1xogyH
— Pam Bondi educational qualifications: The rise of Trump’s courtroom queen (COMMENT: I took graduate evening courses in business (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting (DePaul 1976-1980) because that was what my IRS employee manual encouraged me to do. But my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed those courses outrageously disgustingly and unethically arguing that the courses did not relate to my job duties, that they did not maintain or improve my job skills, that I took them to get a job in the private sector, and that they qualified me for a new trade or business.)
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/pam-bondi-educational-qualifications-the-rise-of-trump-s-courtroom-queen/ar-AA1xj1DD
— Massachusetts drops degree requirements from most state job listings (COMMENT: To hire, retain, and promote more young Democrat minorities and more young Democrat females, Democrat employers have ever-increasingly eliminated job requirements. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/governor-healey-drops-degree-requirements-from-most-state-job-listings/ar-BB1hgHCC
MSNBC
— What members of Trump’s ‘blacklist’ have in common (COMMENT: My critics/opponents destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, d) who refuse to coverup their wrongdoing, and/or e) who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/maddow-blog-what-members-of-trump-s-new-republican-blacklist-have-in-common/ar-AA1xjPWk
CNBC
— Trump vowed to declare a national energy emergency as soon as he takes office — here’s how he might do it
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/19/how-trump-could-declare-a-national-energy-emergency-.html
CBS NEWS
— Before Trump’s inauguration, thousands show up to San Francisco’s Women’s March
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-franciscos-womens-march-before-trump-inauguration/
— About 270,000 migrants waiting to enter U.S. through app Trump has vowed to end
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/270000-migrants-waiting-to-enter-u-s-through-cbp-one-app-trump-has-vowed-to-end/
NBC NEWS
— How quickly Trump will be able to carry out his mass deportation plan depends on these factors
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/quickly-trump-will-able-carry-mass-deportation-plan-depends-factors-rcna188064
NEW YORK TIMES
— The Last Migrant Caravans Before Trump’s Inauguration
https://www.nytimes.com/card/2025/01/18/world/americas/mexico-migrants-border-trump
— Democrats ever-increasingly use Tulsa to promote more hatred against Republicans.
https://www.nytimes.com/card/2025/01/19/us/tulsa-race-massacre
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tulsa-race-massacre-survivors-demand-accountability-and-reparations-following-doj-report/ar-AA1xqT7M
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Support for Trump’s Policies Exceeds Support for Trump. A new poll found the public is sympathetic to the president-elect’s plans to deport migrants and reduce America’s presence overseas.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/us/politics/trump-policies-immigration-tariffs-economy.html
— For Those Deemed Trump’s Enemies, a Time of Anxiety and Fear. Donald Trump is returning to the White House vowing to seek retribution. Those in his sights are worried both about him — and his supporters.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/us/politics/trump-officials-retribution.html
— Under Trump’s Big Tent, Republicans Are Starting to Clash. Donald J. Trump won his battle with establishment Republicans. Now, it’s disputes over immigration, taxes and foreign policy that will test his party’s unity.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/us/politics/donald-trump-inauguration-republican-party.html
— A Trump Oligarchy Is Moving to Washington, and Buying Up Prime Addresses. Billionaires and multimillionaires are flocking to a city where power has been more important than money, but is now deeply intertwined with it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/trump-billionaires-washington-homes.html
WASHINGTON POST
— A dominant Trump looks to his second term to reshape, disrupt America. On the eve of his second inauguration, Donald Trump is politically stronger than ever, but huge tests await on immigration, the economy and more.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/19/dominant-trump-looks-his-second-term-reshape-disrupt-america/
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Resettlement agencies race to help refugees ahead of Trump’s second term
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-01-18/resettlement-agencies-race-to-help-refugees-ahead-of-trumps-second-term
PHILADELPHIA INQUIER
— Demonstrators gathered for People’s March in Center City ahead of Trump’s inauguration: ‘We need people to be engaged’ A rebranded version of the Women’s March, which drew 50,000 people into the city’s streets amid Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, the People’s March was smaller but no less determined.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-peoples-march-trump-immigration-abortion-rights-20250118.html
PROPUBLICA
— How Segregated Are Your Local Private Schools? (COMMENT: Democrats ever-increasing drive White students out of public schools.)
https://www.propublica.org/article/segregation-academies-demographic-data-private-schools
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Progressive Chicago, Long a Trump Target, Braces for Deportations. Plans remain fluid, but there is no doubt of a push for highly visible raids in Democratic cities in the first days of the new administration
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/progressive-chicago-long-a-trump-target-braces-for-deportations-177683ac
FORBES
— Why Is It So Hard For Recent College Graduates To Find A Decent Job? (COMMENT: When I graduated from NIU when I was 21 years old in 1970, I was 1-A for the Vietnam War draft. Potential employers viewed me as being draft bait and that frustrated my job search big time. Potential employers did not believe that my application for a financial hardship draft deferment would be approved. Consequently, I accepted the only job offer that I got, it was for a job that did not really require a college degree.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/02/15/why-is-it-so-hard-for-recent-college-graduates-to-find-a-decent-job/
BLOOMBERG
— Chicago, San Diego Brace for Fight With Trump Border Czar
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-18/chicago-san-diego-brace-for-fight-with-trump-border-czar-homan
BUSINESS INSIDER
— Did you get any scholarships? I did not. My critic/opponents have always used that against me.
https://www.businessinsider.com/twins-applied-same-college-different-merit-scholarships-2025-1
FINANCIAL REVIEW
— Democrat and RINO employers will continue to use DEI to not hire Republicans and to get rid of their Republican employees but just call it a different name.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/why-dei-should-be-here-to-stay-but-under-another-name-20250119-p5l5j3
FAST COMPANY
— Democrat and RINP employers use DEI a) to not hire Republicans and b) to get rid of their Republican employees.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91113957/4-common-arguments-against-dei-and-how-to-dismantle-each-one
https://www.fastcompany.com/91261356/what-can-you-do-if-your-company-is-cutting-dei-programs
JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTANCY
— The benefits of ‘budgeting for results’ (COMMENT: My critics/opponents in the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party have always opposed budgeting.)
https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2018/nov/not-for-profit-budgeting-for-results.html
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
— The Demographic Outlook: 2025 to 2055 (COMMENT: From what I see, under the Democrats and under the RINOs, ever-increasingly, fewer and fewer and fewer of those in American will be productive members of society, citizens of America, White, male, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61164
MAC DAILY NEWS
— Apple CEO Cook’s total salary set to rise by $10 million for 2024 (COMMENT: My critics/opponents have always viciously demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being overpaid. In my defense, I stress that I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21, b) job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, c) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and d) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://macdailynews.com/2025/01/13/apple-ceo-cooks-total-salary-set-to-rise-by-10-million-for-2024-dependent-on-shareholder-approval/
HIRING LAB
— Educational Requirements Are Gradually Disappearing From Job Postings (COMMENT: To hire, retain, and promote more young Democrat and RINO minorities and more young Democrat and RINO females, Democrat and RINO employers have ever-increasingly eliminated job requirements. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.)
https://www.hiringlab.org/2024/02/27/educational-requirements-job-postings/
PRESS GAZETTE
— Should I stop including links in GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters to websites that paywall or have cookies or popups? My critics/opponents are furious that I have the money, time, ability, experience, and motivation to put together and send out a GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletter each and every morning free of charge and without any advertising, donation requests, cookies, or popups.
https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/most-popular-websites-news-us-monthly-3/
MS MAGAZINE
— Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://msmagazine.com/2025/01/18/dei-trump-diversity/
POLITICO
— National Guard troops worry Trump will deploy them for mass deportations (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs side with illegals against America.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/19/trump-national-guard-mass-deporations-fears-00199063
NEW YORKER
— Transgender athletes should be allowed to compete only against other transgender athletes.
https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/whats-really-behind-the-house-bill-to-ban-transgender-athletes-from-school-sports
HUFFINGTON POST
— Trump Posts ‘Blacklist’ Online And Critics Fear The Same Thing (COMMENT: My critics/opponents destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, d) who refuse to coverup their wrongdoing, and/or e) who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/donald-trump-posts-blacklist-online-and-critics-fear-the-same-thing/ar-AA1xiGK9
INDEPENDENT
— Trump names and shames 11 people on his White House blacklist for second administration (COMMENT: My critics/opponents destroy those like me a) who they cannot manipulate or dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, d) who refuse to coverup their wrongdoing, and/or e) who refuse to give them money. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me.)
https://www.aol.com/trump-names-shames-11-people-141013448.html
DAILY MAIL
— Rural Midwesterners fight to split Illinois in two after years of Democrat chaos
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14293995/rural-midwest-counties-secede-failed-blue-state.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: From peaceful southern Illinois, Chicago can look like a crime-ridden hellhole that’s welcomed far too many asylum seekers and is driving the state off a financial cliff and into a $3.2 billion deficit. No surprise, then, that Illinois lost 83,839 residents in 2023, its 10th straight year of decline — as people and businesses flee across state lines seeking lower taxes and less red tape. Now, separatists say rural counties should wave goodbye to Chicago and surrounding Cook County, and forge the state of ‘New Illinois.’ Their mantra is: ‘Leave Illinois without moving.’ American history is littered with examples of states and counties trying to redraw maps — and most often they’re doomed. But Illinois’ separatists have the wind in their sails after winning nonbinding ballot resolutions in 33 of the state’s 102 counties. Neighboring Indiana has taken notice, offering to shift its western border and absorb disgruntled parts of Illinois. G.H. Merritt, chairman of New Illinois State, says she expects Illinois to soon ‘crash and burn’ due to the progressive tax-and-spend policies of Chicago’s political elite. A lot of businesses have left the state,’ Merritt told DailyMail.com. ‘They leave Chicago because it’s dangerous, and the taxes are too high. Over the course of a few years, we’ve lost a million residents.’ Those leaving often point to Brandon Johnson of Chicago, whose abysmal approval ratings have made him ‘America’s most hated mayor.’ He’s struggled to accommodate the tens of thousands of immigrants and asylum seekers who turned up in Chicago, seeking jobs, homes, and schools after crossing the southern border. Others slam Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker for running up a $3.2 billion deficit in his 2026 budget and overseeing a staggering $144 billion pension debt, according to Illinois Policy, a think tank. Critics note that Pritzker only won his 2022 election through victories in the heavily-weighted counties around Chicago. Illinois is ‘on the verge of bankruptcy,’ warns Merritt. ‘If we can’t make New Illinois happen, you’re going to see a lot more people leave Illinois and go to states where they feel they’ll have a voice.’ It’s not clear that New Illinois would have better finances after jettisoning Cook County. Chicago is surrounded by several wealthy blue counties — and their taxes subsidize poorer areas down south, says research from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. The separatist movement was launched in 2018, but it’s started making real progress in recent months. It echoes efforts in Colorado, California and Oregon, where vast swaths of red, rural counties are dominated by a few blue cities. The divide between urban and rural America has long been a fault line in the world’s biggest economy. President-elect Donald Trump played up tensions on the campaign trail as he railed against large Democratic-run cities. Now, animated separatist groups see his second administration as friendly to sparsely-populated red areas that get pushed about by metropolitan liberals. Late last year, Merritt’s group passed the first draft of a new constitution, and counts support in 68 counties. A sister organization, Illinois Separation Referendum, has secured support from voters on ballot initiatives in 33 counties. In November, even Madison County, a metropolitan area and suburb of St. Louis, approved the symbolic referendum about splitting from the Chicago area and forming a new state. Still, it’s a daunting process, requiring the consent of the state legislature and Congress, says the US Constitution. It’s only happened a handful of times, including the formation of Kentucky, with the consent of Virginia, and Maine, which once belonged to Massachusetts. The most recent example was West Virginia, which left Virginia during the Civil War — 162 years ago. Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have since vaunted the idea of becoming a 51st state. Meanwhile, Texas, California, and some other states have efforts to split from the US entirely. In Oregon, a group called Greater Idaho wants to redraw state lines so its eastern conservative rural counties can join Idaho. Though Illinois’ separatists have support among a dozen lawmakers, they have little succor among the elites in Chicago and Springfield, the state capital. ‘We’re one state,’ Gov Pritzker told reporters before last year’s election. ‘The idea that someplace in Illinois wants to kick out another place in Illinois should not be on the ballot.’ This month, Illinois politics got messier once again, with neighboring Indiana joining the ruckus. Republicans in Indianapolis introduced a bill to launch a boundary commission to redraw state lines and absorb disgruntled parts of Illinois. It would ’embrace neighboring counties that want to join low-tax, low-cost Indiana,’ says the bill. Indiana Republican House Speaker Todd Huston said: ‘Instead of seceding and creating a 51st state, they should just join us.’ Still, even with support in Indiana, that effort would need to win over Springfield and Washington DC — another long-shot. Pritzker has rejected Indiana’s move as a ‘stunt’ and advised his residents against joining a ‘low-wage state’ with few worker protections and shoddy healthcare. Still, for Merritt, who lives near Chicago in Lake County, it’s a more a question of how much of Illinois that Indiana would be willing to absorb. ‘If it were to work, I’d say ‘great’,’ she told DailyMail.com. ‘But I wouldn’t want Indiana to grab 33 counties in southeastern Illinois, because then the rest of us would get left behind.’)
