January 31, 2025 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Federal appeals court strikes down ban on handgun sales to teens. The repealed regulation keeping teens from buying guns originated in 1968.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/gun-laws-fifth-circuit-court-appeals-rules-allow-18-year-olds-buy-handguns-strikes-down-landmark-control-regulation/15850192/
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote Durbin
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-senator-dick-durbin-weighs-president-trumps-2nd-week-office-executive-orders-dc-plane-crash-ice-raids-more/15852460/

NBC5
— Real ID appointments filling up ‘fast.’ Tip to know if you want to secure your spot. Appointments to get a Real ID are filling up fast, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office says.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/real-id-appointments-filling-up-fast-tip-to-know-if-you-want-to-secure-your-spot/3661786/

CBS2
— Pritzker bans convicted Jan. 6 participants from consideration for state jobs (COMMENT: After my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997, they did everything that they could to ban me from getting employment appropriate for my work experience, education, professional certifications, and professional license.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/pritzker-bans-convicted-jan-6-participants-state-jobs/
— Veteran whose 30-year-old car couldn’t pass emissions test gets part he needed from Good Samaritan (COMMENT: A big reason why I traded in my 2003 Chevy Caviler LS in 2021 was that car mechanics could not get its check engine light to go off.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/carol-stream-veteran-car-emissions-test-repair-good-samaritan/
— Surveillance video shows Secret Service agents being turned away from Chicago school (COMMENT: One of my best friends during the 1960s and 1970s was a Secret Service Agent. Democrats ever-increasing put their hatred against Trump above everything else.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/hamline-elementary-surveillance-video-secret-service-agents/


FOX32
— Illinois AG joins coalition condemning Trump’s anti-DEI actions.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 11 other AGs condemning President Trump. (COMMENT: Democrats use DEI to get rid of Republicans.)
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1586168
— Dolton, Thornton Township leaders call on Pritzker and others to remove Tiffany Henyard
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dolton-thornton-township-leaders-pritzker-remove-tiffany-henyard
— Bipartisan lawmakers call for more air traffic controllers in wake of D.C. tragedy (COMMENT: Air traffic control staffing was involved in an audit of FAA that I worked on for GAO in the early 1980s.)
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/bipartisan-lawmakers-air-traffic-controllers-dc-tragedy
— Duckworth criticizes Sen. Tommy Tuberville over military promotion holds (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO for almost 30 years, the agency was almost always under Republican-led hiring freezes and/or promotion freezes.)
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1586063

WGN9
— Air traffic controllers union responds to Trump’s DEI attacks (COMMENT: Air traffic control staffing was involved in an audit of FAA that I worked on for GAO in the early 1980s.)
https://wgntv.com/news/national/air-traffic-controllers-union-responds-to-trumps-dei-attacks/

WTTW
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more illegal immigration.
https://news.wttw.com/2025/01/31/chicago-immigrant-advocates-push-increased-protections-trump-administration-targets-city
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://news.wttw.com/2025/01/31/week-review-trump-funding-freeze-sows-confusion-ice-raids-begin

WGN RADIO
— Illinois State Representative Nicole La Ha (82nd District) joins Lisa Dent to discuss the property tax relief bill she has introduced which aims to cap property tax bills for any property receiving the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption. (COMMENT: In today’s dollars, my Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 44% of what my salary was in 1997 and it is less than what my salary was in 1972.)
https://wgnradio.com/lisa-dent/state-representative-nicole-la-ha-introducing-property-tax-relief-bill-for-seniors/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Aurora police not enforcing federal immigration laws, mayor says
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/31/afternoon-briefing-aurora-police-not-enforcing-federal-immigration-laws-mayor-says/
— Pritzker wants those involved in Jan. 6 Capitol riot blocked from state employment (COMMENT: After my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997, they did everything that they could to block me from getting employment appropriate for my work experience, education, professional certifications, and professional license.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/31/gov-jb-pritzker-wants-those-involved-in-jan-6-capitol-riot-blocked-from-state-employment/
— Naperville City Council candidate questionnaire responses for the April 1, 2025, election
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/31/naperville-council-candidate-questionnaire-april-2025-election/
— Pentagon prepares to deploy 1,000 more troops to bolster Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/31/pentagon-deploy-troops-trump-immigration-crackdown/
— Trump White House marks Black History Month while Defense Department declares ‘identity months dead’ (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO’s Chicago office for almost 18 years, they ever-increasingly required the office to celebrate groups each month, but they never celebrated Whites, males, or older people.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/31/trump-white-house-black-history-month/
— Health data, entire pages wiped from federal websites as Donald Trump officials target ‘gender ideology’
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/31/federal-agencies-remove-gender-ideology/
— Teacher’s comment about deportations at Dixmoor school sparks fear as threat of ICE raids loom
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/30/teachers-comment-deportations-dixmoor/
— A Will County judge Thursday reversed his December ruling that would have appointed a special prosecutor to represent 10 Will County Board Republicans in a road widening dispute with County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/30/will-county-special-prosecutor-veto-lawsuit/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ever-increasingly, the mainstream news media exists to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2025/01/31/gene-lyons-president-donald-trump-will-ruin-american-experiment-last-column
— America’s enemies use birthright citizenship to destroy America.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2025/01/31/wannabe-king-donald-trump-birthright-citizenship-14th-amendment-constitution-mona-charen
— I became a licensed CPA when I was 32 years old in 1981. Back then, very few women were licensed CPAs and extremely few minorities were licensed CPAs. Anticipate/expect that Democrats will ever-increasingly lower CPA licensing requirements so that more women and more minorities can become licensed CPAs.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/01/31/illinois-licensing-reforms-address-racial-inequality-illinois-policy-institute-joshua-bandoch

DAILY HERALD
— Internship program helps students make post-high school plans (COMMENT: One of my roommates at NIU 1969-1970 was a summer intern at a big CPA firm. That helped him a) to be immediately hired by that firm when he graduated in June of 1970, b) to soon pass the CPA examination on his first attempt, and c) to soon become a partner at that firm. By way of contrast, a) I delivered mail during the summer of 1969, b) I did not start taking graduate accounting courses until 6 years after I graduated from NIU in August of 1970, c) I did not take and pass the CPA examination until 9 years after I graduated from NIU, d) I did not earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul until 10 years after I graduated from NIU, and e) I did not take and pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination and become a licensed CPA until 11 years after I graduated from NIU. By then, the accounting profession viewed me as being far too old to have a successful career in accounting.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250131/news/we-really-are-changing-lives-internship-program-helps-students-make-post-high-school-plans/
— Applications open for 26th Senate District seat
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250131/illinois-state-politics/applications-open-for-26th-senate-district-seat/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Trump tariffs on Canada and Mexico could hit Illinois hard
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-will-hit-illinois-economy
— McDonald’s settles Hispanic student scholarship lawsuit filed by anti-DEI activist (COMMENT: Democrats use DEI to get rid of Republicans.)
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/restaurants/mcdonalds-settles-hispanic-student-scholarship-lawsuit

SOUTHERN
— Federal employees told to remove pronouns from email signatures by end of day
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/01/31/federal-employees-told-to-remove-pronouns-from-email-signatures-by-end-of-day/
— Some government employees dismayed after Musk jokes about buyout offer
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/01/30/some-government-employees-dismayed-after-musk-jokes-about-buyout-offer/

STATELINE
— To get more votes from Blacks, Democrat leaders promise to give them reparations.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/illinois-residents-could-get-reparations-if-a-new-bill-is-passed/

FOX ILLINOIS
— ICE rounds up alleged kidnapper, rapist, robber and more in immigration crackdown
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/ice-rounds-up-alleged-kidnapper-rapist-robber-and-more-in-immigration-crackdown-ice-agents-continue-stepped-up-immigration-enforcement-efforts-focused-on-illegal-immigrants-accused-of-crimes

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Pentagon strips travel reimbursement for troops seeking abortions, fertility treatment
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/health-news/ap-pentagon-strips-travel-reimbursement-for-troops-seeking-abortions-fertility-treatment/

BLACK ENTERPRISE
— The Chicago Treasurer’s Office gives preference to Blacks
https://www.blackenterprise.com/chicago-treasurers-office-black-financial-resources/

ELMHURST PATCH
— Democrats want to push pot in Elmhurst.
https://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/marijuana-sales-elmhurst-hopefuls-weigh

BLOCK CLUB CHIAGO
— Black West Side Leaders Blast Trump’s Move To Restrict Diversity, Inclusion Policies: ‘We Are Not Going Back’  U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and other officials spoke out against President Donald Trump’s crackdown on DEI policies and his bid to freeze federal funding, saying they’re prepared to “fight tooth and nail.” (COMMENT: Democrats use DEI to get rid of Republicans.)
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/31/black-west-side-leaders-blast-trumps-move-to-restrict-diversity-inclusion-policies-we-are-not-going-back/

CAPITOL FAX
— HGOPs demand Dems hold Statehouse hearings if Mayor Johnson won’t testify to Congress
https://capitolfax.com/2025/01/31/hgops-demand-dems-hold-statehouse-hearings-if-mayor-johnson-wont-testify-to-congress/
— Illinois-related executive directives, orders and lawsuits
https://capitolfax.com/2025/01/31/more-illinois-related-executive-directives-orders-and-lawsuits/
— Pritzker blocks pardoned Jan 6 rioters from state jobs
https://capitolfax.com/2025/01/31/pritzker-blocks-pardoned-jan-6-rioters-from-state-jobs/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/01/31/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-240/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Illinois GOP conservatives call for new party leadership
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_034f21e0-e020-11ef-8f17-93ad5efc4141.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A conservative branch of Illinois Republicans is calling out the party’s House leader.  The Illinois Freedom Caucus, made up of six state representatives and one senator, is accusing House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, of playing “silly games” after she denied several services at the Capitol for not voting for her as leader. Some of the services the group said they are being denied include access to their state websites, emails, and email newsletter services, access to communications staffers including access to social media sites, audio and visual services and press release services, and all outreach assistance services. “At the end of the day, what she’s doing here is she is punishing tax paying voters,” said Vice Chairman Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City. This comes after Aaron Del Mar, the co-chair of the Illinois Republican Party, abruptly resigned, saying Republican principles of transparency and integrity are being compromised. Del Mar did not offer specifics. Wilhour said it is time for new party leadership. “I think the only way to unify the caucus at this point is for her to step aside,” said Wilhour. A request for comment from McCombie’s office was not returned. The Illinois Freedom Caucus issued a statement after they learned the Statehouse services were being denied. “Minority Leader Tony McCombie has officially declared war on conservatives. She seems to be more interested in going after conservative members of her own caucus than she is in taking on the Democrats who control every level of government in our state and who have run our state into the ground,” the statement read.)

SOUTHLAND JOURNAL
— Jim Marter Issues Statement on Lauren Underwood’s Failing Record on Women’s Safety
https://thesouthlandjournal.com/jim-marter-issues-statement-on-lauren-underwoods-failing-record-on-womens-safety/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Study Finds Political Corruption in Illinois Results in Average of More than One Conviction Every Week between 1983 and 2023
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/01/31/study-finds-political-corruption-in-illinois-results-in-average-of-more-than-one-conviction-every-week-between-1983-and-2023/
— On Providing Rail Service to Rockford
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/01/31/on-providing-rail-service-to-rockford/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats declare political open season on Trump, MAGA
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/30/democrats-declare-political-open-season-donald-tru/
— Federal websites shut down temporarily as Trump administration scrubs DEI content
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/31/federal-websites-shut-temporarily-trump-administra/
— FBI purge: 20+ top officials ousted in sweeping shake-up
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/31/top-fbi-officials-terminated-forced-quit/
— While rescuers searched for air crash victims in the Potomac, partisans rushed to blame Trump. Media and Democrats couldn’t wait to score political points with lies.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/30/rescuers-searched-air-crash-victims-potomac-partis/
— Trump’s firing of inspectors general sets up battle over government control
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/30/editorial-trump-firing-inspectors-general-sets-bat/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Choosing new leaders, Democrats are still in denial
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/daily-memo/3307091/choosing-new-dnc-leaders-democrats-in-denial/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— De-Wokeifying Government Is Easier Said Than Done
https://freebeacon.com/columns/de-wokeifying-government-is-easier-said-than-done/

NEW YORK POST
— If you really support immigration, stop excusing border chaos
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3305430/if-you-really-support-immigration-stop-excusing-border-chaos/
— FAA embroiled in lawsuit alleging it turned away 1,000 applicants based on race — that contributed to staffing woes
https://nypost.com/2025/01/31/us-news/faa-embroiled-in-lawsuit-alleging-it-turned-away-1000-applicants-based-on-race/

BREITBART
— Guantanamo Bay Will Be Opened to “Full Capacity” to Detain “High-Priority Criminal Illegals”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq94ZipfrRY
— FBI’s 55 Field Offices ‘Working Really Hard’ to Help Target Criminal Illegals Across U.S.
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/01/31/report-fbis-55-field-offices-working-really-hard-to-help-target-criminal-illegals/

DAILY CALLER
— ‘Bowing To Wokeness Since 2010’: Fmr Air Traffic Controller Says Short Staffing Is ‘Attributable To Obama Admin’
https://dailycaller.com/2025/01/30/michael-pearson-obama-admin-short-staffing/

EPOPCH TIMES
— US to Impose Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, on China on Feb. 1. The US will impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and 10 percent on China, the White House said.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/us-to-impose-25-percent-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-10-percent-on-china-on-feb-1-post-5802206

FOX NEWS
— ICE getting ‘no cooperation’ from sanctuary cities on criminal migrants
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6368045648112
— Democrats rally around lightning rod issue during unruly DNC debate despite voter backlash in 2024. A wave of left-wing protesters repeatedly interrupted the final DNC chair debate ahead of Saturday’s election.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-rally-around-lightning-rod-issue-during-unruly-dnc-debate-despite-voter-backlash-2024
— Why do Democrats defend violent, criminal illegal immigrants against Trump raids?  Democrats would rather score political points than keep Americans safe.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/why-do-democrats-defend-violent-criminal-illegal-immigrants-against-trump-raids
— Trump’s migrant DHS FBI crackdown leaves killers, rapists nowhere to run. FBI’s 55 field offices around country supporting DHS operations.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/trumps-migrant-dhs-fbi-crackdown-leaves-killers-rapists-nowhere-run

JONATHAN TURLEY
— “Center of the Action”: Bally’s Chicago Casino Sued for Discrimination Against White Investors
https://jonathanturley.org/2025/01/31/center-of-the-action-ballys-chicago-casino-sued-for-discrimination-against-white-investors/

NEWSMAX
— Colombia Pres. Asks Illegals to Return
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/colombia-immigration-deportation/2025/01/31/id/1197293/

OSV NEWS
— Illinois state lawmakers file bills to legalize physician assisted-suicide
https://www.osvnews.com/illinois-state-lawmakers-file-bills-to-legalize-physician-assisted-suicide/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

REUTERS
— Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-aides-lock-government-workers-out-computer-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/

ABC7
— WH sidesteps question on hiring disabled federal workers (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO’s Chicago office 1980-1997, they assigned me to supervise all their disabled employees.)
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/trump-2nd-term-live-updates-executive-action-plans/?id=117934786

NBC NEWS
— Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blocks Jan. 6 rioters from state jobs after Trump pardons
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-blocks-jan-6-rioters-state-jobs-trump-pardons-rcna190101

CBS NEWS
— CDC purges STD and vaccine recommendations after Trump gender order (COMMENT: Democrats ever-increasingly promote more LGBTQ.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-std-vaccine-gender-trump/
— Agencies asked to scrub federal government websites to remove diversity-related content
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-officials-pausing-most-federal-government-websites-friday/
— Trump officials make plans to revoke legal status of migrants welcomed under Biden
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-officials-make-plans-to-revoke-legal-status-of-migrants-welcomed-under-biden/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Administration Shocks Senior F.B.I. Ranks by Moving to Replace Them (COMMENT: All during the almost 18 years that I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO, the more of the following that their employees were, the more that they did to replace them: conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. They focused on replacing the aforesaid who they had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $117,807/year) by age 25, GS-14 ($139,211) by age 30, GS-15 ($163,749) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($195,200) by age 40.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/us/politics/trump-fbi-firing.html
— Trump Raises New Threat to Sanctuary Cities: Blocking Transportation Dollars. A new order revives an old battle about how much an administration is allowed to coerce cities and states by withholding money.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/upshot/sanctuary-cities-trump-transportation-funds.html

NEW YORKER
— Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans
https://www.newyorker.com/newsletter/the-daily/the-real-reason-behind-trumps-war-on-dei

CATO
— Democrats and RINOs use wokeness/wokeism to get rid of Republicans
https://www.cato.org/blog/here-comes-legal-campaign-against-woke-employers

JD SUPRA
— Will Trump Administration End Women and Minority-Owned Business Set Asides? (COMMENT: The Democrats who run the federal government set aside promotions for their Democrat employees who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/will-trump-administration-end-women-and-9111036/
— States Continue to Enforce Their Affirmative Action Requirements
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/states-continue-to-enforce-their-3899035/

SPLC
— Democrats and RINOs use DEI to get rid of Republicans
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/stories/why-wrong-teach-students-about-dei/

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.