January 23, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— State finds nearly $500 million in budget reserves amid federal funding uncertainty
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/22/pritzker-budget-reserves/
— DD: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/22/column-donald-trump-greenland-shackelford/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly fight deportation of their illegals.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/immigrants-ice-open-door/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Wage gap. DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats a) who had less work experience than I had, had less education than I had, had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had and/or b) were minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2026/01/19/illinois-equal-pay-public-schools-absenteeism-donald-trump-ice-protests-greenland

DAILY HERALD
— Judge dismisses use-of-force lawsuit brought by protesters against DHS
https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/judge-dismisses-use-of-force-lawsuit-brought-by-protesters-against-dhs/3880103/
— Illinois faces federal defunding for state law requiring abortion referrals. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260122/nation-and-world-politics/illinois-faces-federal-defunding-for-state-law-requiring-abortion-referrals/
— Trump administration tells agencies to compile data on money sent to Democratic states, including Illinois. DD: States that have declared war on the federal government should not expect to get any money from the federal government.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260122/nation-and-world-politics/trump-administration-tells-agencies-to-compile-data-on-money-sent-to-democratic-states/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Empty suburban office space ended 2025 at new record high
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/empty-suburban-office-space-ended-2025-new-record-high

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Social justice law again raising concerns about public safety
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/jim-dey-social-justice-law-again-raising-concerns-about-public-safety/article_b506875a-e3fd-406e-b849-bf396b39b34d.html

DES MOINES REGISTER
— Could Iowa take over Illinois counties? Lawmaker’s bill makes the case.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/23/iowa-bill-absorbing-illinois-counties-study/88290629007/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump pushes his power to new heights with help from loyal lieutenants
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-01-23/trump-pushes-his-power-to-new-heights-with-help-from-loyal-lieutenants

STATE OF ILLINOIS
— On the heels of the 10th anniversary of the National Day of Racial Healing, the Illinois Department of Human Services announced $4.3 million in grant funding for nearly 200 Healing Illinois subgrantees to foster racial and community healing statewide. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for all the problems that minorities have, and for that matter, for all the problems that everyone has. RINO leaders ever-increasingly blame conservatives for all the problems that liberals and moderates have, and for that matter, for all the problems that everyone has. RINO leaders in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton ever-increasingly blame me and blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for all the problems that they have and that everyone has.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/22/3224206/0/en/Healing-Illinois-Announces-2026-Subgrantees.html

ILLINOIS PATCH
— IL Gubernatorial Race Heating Up With 4 Republicans Vying To Challenge Pritzker. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/il-gubernatorial-race-heating-4-republicans-challenging-pritzker

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— State creates a budget buffer
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/01/23/state-creates-a-budget-buffer-00743371

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Opportunity To Hear Gubernatorial and Lt. Governor Candidates in McHenry Sunday. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/01/23/opportunity-to-hear-gubernatorial-and-lt-governor-candidates-in-mchenry-sunday/

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. Far too many people get involved in Republican politics and get leadership positions a) to move the party to the left, b) that is, to get the party to officially strike its personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race of gender based preference giving) platform planks, and/or c) that is, to destroy the Republican Party. I should write about the aforesaid who are/were leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and/or Milton Township Republican Organization. I would focus on the aforesaid who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me lately. I would focus on the aforesaid who continue to have lots of government, political, religious, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Far too many people falsely claim to be conservative and/or Republican to give themselves standing to destroy conservatives and to destroy Republicans. My “conservative” and “Republican” critics/opponents have always worked harder against me and against my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters than they have ever worked against any liberal or Democrat. I should write about the many big adverse actions that my “conservative” and “Republican” critics/opponents have had their operatives and their dupes take against me since 2000. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_f6e02049-20e1-4309-b090-1d7163c2772d.html

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Chicago Public Schools’ school choice experiment is working: students at the city’s selective enrollment schools are thriving. DD: My parents sending me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certification, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-public-schools-students-thrive-through-academic-rigor/
— Chicago Public Schools spends a lot on empty desks
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-public-schools-spends-a-lot-on-empty-desks/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— More cases of illegal voting are coming to light as GOP scrubs voter rolls for noncitizens. DD: Noncitizens vote for Democrats because Democrats give noncitizens preference over citizens.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/dec/29/cases-illegal-voting-coming-light-gop-scrubs-voter-rolls/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Inflation ticked up to 2.8% in November in Fed’s preferred gauge. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for inflation. While I worked for IRS in 1971, my superiors had me make phone calls for 2 weeks as part of Nixon’s “Wage & Price Freeze” program. What has helped you deal with inflation? For me, it has been COLAs, step increases, and promotions. I have gotten federal wage, Civil Service Retirement System pension, and/or Social Security COLAs almost every year since 1966. I got step increases in 1967, 1968, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1983-1985, and 1987-1996. I got promotions in 1972 (GS-9), 1973 (GS-11), 1974 (GS-12), 1981 (GS-11), 1982 (GS-12), and 1986 (GS-13).
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/4428184/inflation-ticked-up-november-fed-preferred-gauge/

BREITBART
— Dem NM D.A.: I’ll Arrest ICE Agents for False Detention and Hold Illegals Committing Violent Felonies Accountable
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/01/22/dem-nm-d-a-ill-arrest-ice-agents-for-false-detention-and-hold-illegals-committing-violent-felonies-accountable/

FOX NEWS
— Minnesota agitators stalk, pelt Border Patrol agents with food and spit at gas stations. Hostile crowds repeatedly harassed and blocked Border Patrol agents attempting to do mundane tasks, such as use the restroom. DD: Thank GOD that did not have to suffer such harassment while I was an IRS Revenue Officer for almost 9 years.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/minnesota-agitators-stalk-pelt-border-patrol-agents-food-spit-gas-stations-dhs-says
— Impeding federal law enforcement is not protest, it’s just crime
https://www.aol.com/articles/david-marcus-impeding-federal-law-162644827.html
— Arizona Dem AG blasted for ‘dangerous’ claim residents can shoot ICE agents under state laws
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arizona-dem-ag-blasted-dangerous-claim-residents-can-shoot-ice-agents-under-state-laws
— Democrats are mad because ICE is doing its job and Trump is doing what he ran on
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6388116461112
— Trump shows off images of criminal illegal immigrants arrested in Minnesota
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6388084354112

HOMELAND SECURITY
— Since Day 1, Secretary Noem and President Trump Have Enhanced Federal Law Enforcement Training, Equipped ICE To Keep the Public Safe and Arrest the Worst of the Worst
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/22/day-1-secretary-noem-president-trump-have-enhanced-federal-law-enforcement-training

NATIONAL REVIEW
— DD: From what I see, more and more and more come to America to take advantage of the tremendous welfare and tremendous preferences that Democrat and RINO leaders give them.
https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/03/to-be-and-to-become-an-american/?amp

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

MSN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use the Pope to promote more LGBTQ, that is, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use the Pope to destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/world/pope-leo-meets-lgbtq-catholic-advocate-and-vows-continuity-with-pope-francis-legacy-of-welcome/ar-AA1LFZvg
— China’s population drops for the fourth year in a row, reaching record-low levels
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-s-population-drops-for-the-fourth-year-in-a-row-reaching-record-low-levels/ar-AA1UuUDv

REUTERS
— Vance defends ICE during visit to Minneapolis following weeks of unrest.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/vance-heads-minneapolis-amid-tension-over-ice-crackdown-2026-01-22/
— DD: How has EEOC impacted you? When I was 22 years old in 1971, Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. My Firestone Store boss rudely fired me because I had accepted that offer. I had to have a job. I was helping support my mother and brother. Because of that, I accepted a job offer from IRS. I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination and earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1970.
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/eeoc-rescinds-inclusive-harassment-guidance

NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders fact-check Trump. During the last 11 years that I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year, I increasingly worked as a fact-checker.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/politics/trump-falsehoods-fact-check-first-year.html
— Why New York Nurses Seek $200,000 a Year As a Strike Stretches On. DD: In today’s dollars, I never earned more than $154,682/year even though I had three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/nyregion/nyc-nurses-striking-again-different.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly crow about their success in turning his younger supporters against him.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/upshot/trump-poll-analysis-times-siena.html
— Denmark Bristles at Idea of Giving Up Any Sovereignty in Greenland. American and NATO officials have discussed giving the United States sovereignty over U.S. military bases in Greenland. The Danes don’t seem to like that. DD: Since America was formed 250 years ago, it has come to the defense of countries that have been invaded. All the countries of the world either hate that or applaud that. What does Denmark want America to do when Russia and/or China invades it?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/world/europe/denmark-greenland-trump-us-reaction.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly do everything that they to turn foreign countries against America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/world/europe/trump-rift-europe.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: The mainstream news media exists to drive Trump’s approval rating down.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/us/politics/trump-poll-second-term.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— 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.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-01-18/meritocracy-diversity-equity-inclusion

WGME
— Portland Public Schools says attendance has dropped since start of ICE operation. DD: What percent of the students in your school district are illegals?
https://wgme.com/news/local/portland-public-schools-says-attendance-has-dropped-since-start-of-ice-operation-maine-immigration-customs-enforcement

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— How the Deep State Thwarted ICE Administrative Warrants. Bureaucrats falsely claimed the law didn’t allow officers into illegal aliens’ homes.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/how-the-deep-state-thwarted-ice-administrative-warrants-1a847297
— American Studies Can’t Stand Its Subject. Eighty percent of articles in the field’s leading journal were negative, while not one was positive. DD: Democrats ever-increasingly hate America.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/american-studies-cant-stand-its-subject-c919f89c

HR GRAPEVINE
— 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.hrgrapevine.com/us/content/article/2026-01-22-dei-initiatives-wont-return-to-their-previous-form-so-what-comes-next

JD SUPRA
— The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 2026: Implications for Entities Administering “Federal Public Benefits.” DD: What have you done that you take personal responsibility for? I earned a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license. According to my critics/opponents, I was able to do the aforesaid because I benefitted from discrimination against minorities, females, those who are younger than me, veterans, unmarried, LGBTQ, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or those who have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-personal-responsibility-and-work-2415679/

POLITICO
— Trump looks left on cost of living concerns. The White House is trying to embrace populist economic ideas that Republicans aren’t crazy about.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/23/trump-democrats-warren-schumer-00742515

PBS
— Federal officers detain 5-year-old boy who a Minnesota school official says was used as ‘bait’
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/federal-officers-detain-5-year-old-boy-who-a-minnesota-school-official-says-was-used-as-bait

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

INDEPENDENT
— Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. DD: I enforced federal tax laws as an IRS Revenue Officer 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year.
https://www.aol.com/articles/kristi-noem-encourages-people-buy-175205042.html

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.