March 21, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Elgin police officer fired for social media post targeting undocumented immigrants. DD: As Democrat domination of Illinois ever-increasingly increases, the sooner that Democrats will get rid of you if you say or do anything that they do not like.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/20/elgin-officer-lentz-fired-social-media-immigrants/
— Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric draws renewed scrutiny after the US goes to war with Iran
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/20/pete-hegseths-christian-rhetoric/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: No longer old-school, matchmaking is drawing younger, more diverse singles looking for connections. DD: I would not be here today if a relative had not introduced my parents to each other. She knew that they were both conservative, Missouri Synod Lutheran (MSL), German American, and shared an interest in music. I would not have met my wife if she and I had not both attended a young adults social group meeting at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. She is Catholic and I am MSL. I was impressed by her having worked for the FBI, having helped elect Big Jim Thompson, and the job she had working for the U.S. League of Saving Institutions.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/21/matchmakers-help-black-gay-singles/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans continue to cause all the problems that those who are the following have: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are in America illegally.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/21/today-in-history-civil-rights-activists-march/
— A federal judge agreed Friday to block the Trump administration from enforcing a policy limiting news reporters’ access to the Pentagon, agreeing with The New York Times that key portions of the new rules are unlawful. DD: I have been the GOPUSA Illinois Reporter since 2000. I should write about those “Republican” candidates, elected officials, and party leaders who have done the most a) to stop me from learning about their events and b) to stop me from attending their events. I would focus on those who had their operatives and dupes throw me out of their events. I would focus on those who pander to the Democrat news media the most.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/20/judge-sides-new-york-times-reporters-access-pentagon/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Park District paints over César Chavez mural as calls grow to rename public buildings in Chicago. On Friday Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García called to rename a post office in Pilsen, while leaders at Cesar E. Chavez Multicultural Academic Center began the process of getting community feedback on renaming the school. DD: FROM BREITBART: Cesar Chavez opposed illegal immigration every bit as much as Donald J. Trump. Chávez understood that illegal aliens undermined the wages of legal migrant workers and their union bargaining power. Cesar Chavez was so opposed to illegal immigration that, just like Minuteman Project of 2004, which was widely smeared in the legacy media as racist, Chavez put together his own militia to stop illegals from crossing the border. There are credible reports that violence was used as an example to others. To form his United Farmworkers Union (UFW), it was Chavez versus the growers, and for obvious reasons, the growers loved the open border. For just as obvious reasons, Chavez did not. And there you have it.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/03/20/leaders-at-southwest-side-elementary-school-named-for-cesar-chavez-moving-to-potentially-rename-school
— Chicago young voter turnout jumped from previous midterm primary, but it’s no ‘systemic rise.’  About 85,000 Chicagoans ages 17 to 34 voted in Tuesday’s midterm primary, with more mail in votes still to be counted. That’s up from the close to 62,000 voters in that age group in the 2022 primary. Residents who are 17, but will be 18 years old by the November general election are allowed to vote in the primary. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at young voters in Chicago and at everyone else that Republican candidates are racists, sexists, ageists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout that Republicans cause all the problems that those who are the following have:  liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, have less money than others, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are in America illegally.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/21/chicago-young-voter-turnout-increase-midterm-primary
— Definition of a company man? DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the Post Office 1966-1969, I would have been more than happy to work for the Post Office for the rest of my career. My 1970 bachelor’s degree in management would have helped me move up the ladder. But my Democrat superiors did everything that they could to get rid of me. They disallowed my sick leave requests in 1968 and 1969 and they forced me to resign in 1969 by outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically claiming that I was not available to work enough part-time hours.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/03/20/ford-stamping-plant-chicago-heights-calbert-wright-employee-since-1963
— Outspent but not outrun: Stratton, Ford among primary winners who beat deeper pockets. DD: What offices have you ran for? If you lost, what caused you to lose? When I ran for the open Milton Township Republican Organization Treasurer office in 2004, I got only 13 votes while my opponent got 69. My critics/opponents a) belatedly got one of their own to run against me and b) got their high-profile operatives and dupes to demonize me, denigrate me, and condemn me just before the vote was taken. They blamed me for Jim Ryan’s loss to Blagojevich big time. They ignored/dismissed/belittled/badmouthed my qualifications including a) my having worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, b) my having worked for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step-1-10 Levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year, c) my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt, d) my earning a master’s degree in accounting, e) my passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt, f) my becoming a licensed CPA, g) my earning four more accounting-related professional certifications, h) my having served as the Treasurer of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter for 3 years, and i) my serving as the Treasurer in the Illinois Center Right Coalition since 2003.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/03/20/juliana-stratton-lashawn-ford-illinois-primary-winners-beat-deeper-pockets-rich-miller
— According to Democrat leaders, the Iran War is being carried out to boost Trump’s ego and soothe his psychic wounds.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/03/21/iran-war-iranians-trump-ego-israel-allies-military-action-mona-charen
— AIPAC has become a political liability for many seeking office. DD: My critics/opponents have always painted me as being a political liability.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/03/21/aipac-israel-gaza-palestinians-illinois-primary-elections-natalie-moore

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE WITH PHOTO: Elgin police officer fired for social media posts about immigration enforcement. DD: As Democrat domination of Illinois ever-increasingly increases, the sooner that Democrats will get rid of you if you say or do anything that they do not like.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260320/news/elgin-police-officer-fired-for-social-media-posts-about-immigration-enforcement/
— DuPage County Board to vote on $2.5 million for Loaves & Fishes project. DD: Soon, under the Democrats, everyone in DuPage County will be a) handing out welfare and/or b) receiving welfare.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260320/news/dupage-county-board-to-vote-on-2-5-million-for-loaves-fishes-project/
— Democrat leaders are ever-increasingly dividing those who have demographics that vote for Democrats against those who have demographics that vote for Republicans.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260319/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-the-power-of-connection-our-country-may-feel-divided-but-shared-events-bring/

NBC5
— University of Notre Dame announces free tuition for families making less than $150K. DD: In today’s dollars, my father never earned more than $50,000/year.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/university-of-notre-dame-announces-free-tuition-for-families-making-less-than-150k/3911249/

RIVER BENDER
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly side with Iran against America.
https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/duckworth-blasts-trumps-war-with-iran-91803.cfm

SHAW LOCAL
— DD: What percent of the students in your school district are in America illegally?
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/03/21/english-learner-programs-in-illinois-schools-face-uncertainty-amid-federal-funding-cuts/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump’s push to abolish the Education Department reaches student loan portfolio. DD: Did you get a student loan and/or a scholarship? I got neither. My critics/opponents have always stressed that my ACT score was only 24 and that I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my class. Further, they have always outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my parents were filthy rich and that is why I could not get a financial scholarship. They have always known that I had to work my way through college.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/trumps-push-to-abolish-the-education-department-reaches-student-loan-portfolio/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On Thursday, the department announced it would seek to move its $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department, the latest in a series of interagency agreements shifting programs out of the Education Department, which could only be officially closed by an act of Congress.)

INDIVISIBLE
— Wheaton, Roosevelt Road Resistance: No Kings III – March 28, 2026. DD: What are the leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party doing to counter such Democrat propaganda?
https://indivisible.org/events/wheaton-roosevelt-road-resistance-no-kings-iii-main-st-2/
(FROM THE POSTING: On March 28, communities across DuPage County will gather along Roosevelt Road from Elmhurst to West Chicago for No Kings 3 —a coordinated, peaceful demonstration to defend American democracy at a moment when it matters most. Our goal is simple: to make democracy visible. To remind our communities that civic engagement is not a spectator sport. And to demonstrate that when YOU show up—physically, publicly, and together—democracy grows stronger. At 11 major intersections up and down Roosevelt Road, neighbors, families, activists, and first‑time participants will stand shoulder to shoulder, forming a visible line of civic resolve stretching across one of the county’s most traveled corridors. Each gathering point will serve as a beacon of democratic commitment. Bring your creative signs to wave to passing cars and join us with chants and songs as we connect with each other and our communities. Small American flags will be distributed at each intersection (while supplies last). On March 28, Roosevelt Road becomes more than a roadway. It becomes a statement. A gathering place. A line in the sand. No Crowns, No Thrones, No Kings! This location is being organized by the League of Women Voters – Wheaton and Indivisible DuPage in collaboration with partner organizations: Downers Grove, Milton, Winfield & York Township Democrats; League of Women Voters-Glen Ellyn; Democratic Women of DuPage County; Swing Left DuPage; and Illinois Muslim Action Network. Please choose a location convenient for you or based on the organization. *A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.*)

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/03/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-491/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— I want to help the candidates who won in the March 17 Republican primary get as many votes as possible in my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 to win in the November 3 election. I anxiously await hearing from them on what they want me to do through communications from the Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO), DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, and/or directly from their campaigns. The candidates are Tracy, Bailey, Fioretti, Harris, Drew, Soloman, Oakley, Lewis, Vrankovich, Grasso, Noonan, Schiappa, Henry, Eckhoff, Michaud, Schultz, Quirk, and Helland or Senak. Back in 2003, I organized a picnic in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct that all the announced Republican candidates for U.S. Senate attended: Cox, Kathuria, McKenna, Oberweis, and Ryan. More than 200 attended. Back then, in addition to my being a Republican Precinct Committeeman, I was the GOPUSA Illinois Editor, the MTRO webmaster, and an officer of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, and American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter. I organized a major MTRO straw poll later that year that Ryan won. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— According to my critics/opponents, the more that I do to help elect candidates, a) the fewer votes that those candidates will get and b) the more votes that their opponents will get. If you were me, how would deal with that? Most commonly, my critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that I am far too conservative, and that therefore, the more that I do to help elect a candidate, that means that candidate is too conservative to win. My critics/opponents want the Republican Party to dump the following planks in its platform: 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).  My critics/opponents stress the many big adverse actions that they have had their operatives and their dupes take against me. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Protecting Which of the Vulnerable? DD: According to Democrat leaders, the more of the following that you are, the more vulnerable that you are because Republicans discriminate against you: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, unmarried, have less money than others, non-Protestant, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are in America illegally.
https://illinoisfamily.org/religious/sb-2805-protecting-which-of-the-vulnerable/

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Without the Right to Life, No Other Rights Matter
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/03/without-the-right-to-life-no-other-rights-matter/
— Why Are Black Americans Still Trusting Democrats?
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/03/why-are-black-americans-still-trusting-democrats/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

NEW YORK POST
— Failing California school district pays for black kids to learn to rap
https://nypost.com/2026/03/20/us-news/california-school-district-pays-270k-to-teach-students-rap/

BREITBART
— Why Cesar Chavez Suddenly Became Politically Inconvenient to the Left.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/19/nolte-why-cesar-chavez-suddenly-became-politically-inconvenient-to-the-left/amp/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Cesar Chavez opposed illegal immigration every bit as much as Donald J. Trump. Chávez understood that illegal aliens undermined the wages of legal migrant workers and their union bargaining power. Cesar Chavez was so opposed to illegal immigration that, just like Minuteman Project of 2004, which was widely smeared in the legacy media as racist, Chavez put together his own militia to stop illegals from crossing the border. There are credible reports that violence was used as an example to others. To form his United Farmworkers Union (UFW), it was Chavez versus the growers, and for obvious reasons, the growers loved the open border. For just as obvious reasons, Chavez did not. And there you have it.)
— Trump Celebrates 10th Month of Zero Releases of Illegal Aliens at Border
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/20/trump-dhs-zero-releases-of-illegals-at-border/
— ICE Cast as Cruel, Causing Emergency Room Chaos on HBO’s ‘The Pitt’
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/03/20/ice-cast-as-cruel-causing-emergency-room-chaos-on-hbos-the-pitt-cant-we-just-tell-the-agents-to-fk-off/amp/

JONATHAN TURLEY
— Chi-Town Meltdown: Chicago Ramps Up Taxes and Debt in Familiar Death Spiral
https://jonathanturley.org/2026/03/21/chi-town-meltdown-chicago-ramps-up-taxes-and-debt-in-familiar-death-spiral/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Bailey faces uphill battle in Illinois governor’s race against Pritzker. DD: What uphill battles have you faced? Mine include getting promoted to GS-13. I finally made GS-13 when I was 38 in 1986, but not until after I had a) earned a MBA when I was 27, b) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30, c) transferred from IRS to GAO and earned a master’s degree in accounting when I was 31, d) passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and become a licensed CPA when I was 32, and e) the GAO manager who had arranged my transfer got back into power and assigned me to audits of IRS and promoted me. Another uphill battle was keeping my GAO job at least until I was eligible for regular retirement when I was 55. I lost that battle when I was 49 even though I became a Certified Fraud Examiner when I was 41, Certified Government Financial Manager when I was 45, Certified Financial Services Auditor when I was 47, and Forensic Accountant when I was 48, and I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading when I was 48. I would have made GS-13 much sooner and I might still be a GAO employee if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5793205-darren-bailey-illinois-gubernatorial-race/

CBS NEWS
— Florida continues to draw spring break crowds. DD: When you were in college, did you take spring breaks? My Democrat Park Forest Post Office superiors were furious when I took vacation days for a spring break in 1969 and drove to Daytona Beach with three of my female NIU classmates in my 1969 Dodge Charger SE. In 1970, I repeated the aforesaid. In 1971, while I was taking a graduate evening business course at UIC, I took advantage of a student package trip to the Bahamas.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/video/florida-continues-to-draw-spring-break-crowds/

NEW YORK TIMES
— The Future of the Democratic Party Is Emerging. DD: The Democrat Party is ever-increasingly a) anti-conservative, b) anti-personal responsibility, d) anti-traditional marriage and family, e) anti-life, f) anti-immigration laws and enforcement, g) pro-vice, h) anti-Second Amendment, i) anti-equal opportunity, j) anti-American, k) anti-White, l) anti-male, m) anti-older people, n) anti-Protestant, o) anti-German American, p) anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, and q) anti-those who have more money than others unless they are Democrats.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/opinion/democrats-midterms-iran-future.html
— An Army Reservist Owns a Cannabis Dispensary. It May End His Career. Selling marijuana is strictly prohibited in the military. What that means for soldiers who own businesses is unclear. DD: In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/nyregion/times-square-cannabis-army.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly get religious leaders to hate not only Trump, but to hate America.
https://www.wsj.com/world/american-pope-leo-donald-trump-relationship-c5e7e0a1

CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
— Economic Affirmative Action Is Working. Low-income students are the beneficiaries of the Supreme Court’s striking down race-conscious admissions. DD: How much money did your parents have? My father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. My mother did not work outside the home until after he died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21. Consequently, I had to and I did work my way through college. But my GPA suffered because of that. Because of that, I got no scholarships. While I was a junior and a senior in high school, instead of studying, I washed dishes for 28 hours a week during the school years and 40 hours a week during the summer in between. While I took classes at UIC and NIU, instead of studying, I delivered mail for all the part-time hours that I could during the school years and full-time during the summers in between.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/economic-affirmative-action-is-working

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

BOLLYWOOD SHAADIS
— Meet Juliana Stratton’s Husband, Bryan Echols As She Wins Illinois Democratic Senate Primary Race. Juliana Stratton and her husband, Bryan Echols share an enduring bond. All about their over 7-year marriage amid her Illinois Senate position win.
https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/meet-juliana-stratton-husband-bryan-echols-she-wins-illinois-democratic-senate-primary-race-76393

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.