FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NBC5
— Trump asked about potential Darren Bailey endorsement. Trump endorsed Bailey in the 2022 gubernatorial race, but did not when Bailey ran for Congress in 2024.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/donald-trump-darren-bailey-endorsement-question/3938017/
(FROM THE ATICLE: Will President Donald Trump endorse Darren Bailey in his bid to unseat Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker? Trump did back Bailey during the 2022 election, which the former state senator lost to Pritzker, and he was asked whether he would do so again this time around. The president did not confirm whether he’d offer Bailey his endorsement, but did say he liked him while also criticizing Pritzker. “I like Darren Bailey,” Trump said at the White House. “JB Pritzker is a slob of a governor. He could call me and I’d send in the National Guard and Chicago would have no crime.” While Trump did endorse Bailey in the 2022 race, he notably did not when he tried to unseat Rep. Mike Bost in a Congressional primary. Bost won that race and ultimately kept his seat in the House. In this election cycle, Bailey has at times criticized Trump, including when the president blasted Pope Leo XIV in social media posts and in interviews. “I’m a Christian and I’m an Illinoisan. President Trump mocking a Chicago-born Pope and posting himself as Jesus Christ is wrong. I don’t care whose name is attached to it—I’ll always call it like I see it,” Bailey said in a post after Trump had posted an image depicting himself as Jesus. Bailey has also softened his rhetoric when it comes to Chicago, which he famously called “a hellhole” during his 2022 campaign. “Being a farmer, being a former state legislature, you learn from your mistakes. And as we started this journey, moved through the primary, I wanted to make sure that people understood that I learned, you know, what I did wrong the last time,” he said. “And I want to represent all of Illinois. And in order to represent all of Illinois, I’ve got to be heard. I’ve got to watch what I say. I got to bring unity, not just to my party, but to all of Illinois and that’s exactly what I intend on doing. Even with Bailey seeking to forge a new path in the 2026 race, Pritzker’s campaign has repeatedly continued to tie his opponent to the Trump administration, which has seen its polling numbers dropping amid rising gas prices and the ongoing conflict in Iran. “Don’t be fooled. My opponent, Darren Bailey, wants to be the Donald Trump of Illinois,” he said in a social media post last week.)
— Could Illinois split in two? A deeper look at the movement to divide the state. DD: Under the Democrats, Cook and the collar counties ever-increasingly move further to the left.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/could-illinois-split-in-two-a-deeper-look-at-the-movement-to-divide-the-state/3937683/
— Teens face a cold summer job market; How can they improve their hiring chances? “Especially if you have no experience in any industry, it will be really tough this year.” DD: I did yard work the summers of 1962, 1963, and 1964. I delivered newspapers 1962-1966. I washed dishes 1964-1966. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline the summer of 1966. I delivered mail the summers of 1967, 1968, and 1969.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/teens-face-a-cold-summer-job-market-how-can-they-improve-their-chances/3938095/
CBS2
— Chicago Muslims say unchecked Islamophobia creates conditions for attacks like San Diego shooting.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-muslims-islamophobia-san-diego-shooting/
WGN9
— Flamethrower used during street takeover in Virginia
https://wgntv.com/news/watch-flamethrower-used-during-street-takeover-in-virginia/
FOX32
— Trump backs Darren Bailey for Illinois governor. President Trump made his support for GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey very clear on Tuesday and threw another jab at incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-fb0tlfwz2xwk3m7m
— House proposal would charge EV owners $130 yearly for road repairs
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/house-proposal-ev-owners-fee-road-repairs
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— New head of Black Lives Matter Lake County outlines goals: ‘It feels good to come home and make a difference’
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/18/lake-county-black-lives-matter/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/19/chicago-public-schools-student-mother-ice-detention/
— DD: For Democrats, voting exists to use government to take money away from Republicans and to give that money to Democrats.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/19/aldermen-chicago-voting-access-ordinance-rev-jesse-jackson/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/19/liliana-ricardo-navarette-mather-immigration-custody-release
— Former high-ranking Chicago cop sues city, claims he was wrongfully placed on ‘don’t hire’ list. DD: The following adverse actions that my Democrat superiors in the federal government took against me put me on do not hire lists: My Democrat GAO superiors a) forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, b) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance, c) delayed my promotions and never promoted me beyond GS-13, and d) forced me to take a $23,699/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors a) never promoted me beyond GS-12, b) disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and c) disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors a) forced me to resign in 1969 and b) disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. They ever-increasingly ignored/dismissed/belittled a) my 1970 job-related bachelor’s degree, b) my 1976, 1980, and 1997 job-related master’s degrees, c) my 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997 job-related professional certifications, and d) my 1981 job-related professional license. They would not have done any of the aforesaid if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/police-reform/2026/05/19/police-michael-barz-larry-snelling-chicago-cpd-do-not-hire
— DD: The Democrat Party is ever-increasingly anti-Christian.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/05/19/national-mall-prayer-session-christian-nation-donald-trump
DAILY HERALD
— Backpacker, accountant, ‘civil right’ member: New GOP chair steps up to lead fractious team
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260519/illinois-state-politics/backpacker-accountant-civil-right-member-new-gop-chair-steps-up-to-lead-fractious-team/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: CPA Bob Grogan’s resume includes walking precincts, serving on the powerful Republican State Central Committee and three terms as DuPage County auditor. His latest job is herding elephants as the new Illinois Republican Party chair, the state GOP’s third chief in five years. “This is not something that I necessarily sought,” the Downers Grove resident said Tuesday. “It was my peers and people in the Republican Party that asked me to do it. And sometimes when people ask, and you feel that you can actually contribute, you step into the breach.” Illinois Republicans face an uphill midterm election fight in a blue state where President Donald Trump’s poll numbers are shaky amid the Iran war and high gas prices. But, “I do believe in the average common sense of the Illinois voter,” Grogan said. “At some point, one by one, discussion by discussion, door knock by door knock, Facebook post by Facebook post … they do see that Republicans’ answers to some of these everyday life problems are better. “We need to speak a little bit more loudly and a little bit clearly, and I think that’s how you overcome all the structural disadvantages that the Democrats have dealt us.” On the Republican spectrum, Grogan said he’s hard to label. “I consider myself a member of the ‘civil right.’ Which means I consider myself conservative, however, I believe in deliberate, peaceful discussion. I don’t believe in calling people names,” he said. His takeaway is “it’s either the conservative, moderate coalition that runs the state or the liberal, moderate coalition that runs the state. If (Republicans) have any interest in advancing our agenda, we have to embrace both conservatives and moderates. We cannot purge our way to 51%.” State Central Committee members picked Grogan over incumbent Chair Kathy Salvi of Mundelein at a meeting Monday. Salvi stepped in as chair in July 2024, just before the Republican National Convention, when her predecessor Don Tracy resigned citing party dissension after three years in office. Illinois Democrats claimed on Tuesday that Salvi was GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s preferred choice and her departure signaled defeat for the former state senator from downstate Xenia. Bailey thanked Salvi for her leadership and “unwavering commitment to supporting candidates up and down the ticket” in a statement Monday. He congratulated Grogan, saying “we look forward to working with Bob to win the support of Illinois voters and take back our state in November.” Grogan credited Salvi for her “incredible job making sure that our finances are strong,” and offer of continued help. “Kathy and I, we were friends before and we were friends after,” he added. “There was a vote, and it was not unanimous for me, which is totally fine. It was just a matter of emphasis. Kathy has skills that exceed mine, and I have some skills that exceed hers, and folks just wanted to look at which ones are appropriate for right now.” Grogan, who is a certified fraud examiner, served for three terms as DuPage auditor before losing by 75 votes to Democratic challenger Bill White in 2020. He conducted his interviews for the GOP job virtually over the weekend while attending two separate out-of-town college graduations for his son and daughter. “My family is fortunately tolerant,” Grogan said. On his leadership style — “I’m kind of a no-nonsense person. I’m trustworthy in that regard. When you’re an auditor, (people) have to trust that you’re calling balls and strikes. I guess that’s what the party needed at this time, and that’s why I was asked and elected.”)
— DD: What harms your municipality’s best place to live ranking?
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260519/news/buffalo-grove-ranked-best-place-to-live-in-illinois-by-u-s-news-world-report/
CANTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/more-than-100000-children-separated-from-parents-during-trump-immigration-crackdown-report/
WROK
— Children Mistake THC Gummies For Candy At Illinois School
https://1440wrok.com/ixp/722/p/cannabis-edibles-illinois-schools/
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Illinois county clerks are preparing for mail voting amid continued attacks, changes
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/illinois-county-clerks-are-preparing-for-mail-voting-amid-continued-attacks-changes/
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/19/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-528/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Pritzker touts EV plant in Normal, Bailey says taxpayers bear the burden
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_e4f2d532-9d53-40fe-aac1-97071f7d8355.html
DON TRACY
— Don Tracy Congratulates New Illinois Republican Party Chairman
https://mailchi.mp/460acf05aca0/illinois-leads-nation-in-lost-income-as-families-flee-strattons-blueprint-1001
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
FOX NEWS
— The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) filed a lawsuit against Illinois officials Tuesday over the state’s Firearm Owners Identification Act, also known as the FOID Card Act, a state law that requires Illinois residents to apply for and carry an identification card at all times to possess any firearm or ammunition. DD: I have had a FOID card since I was 20 years old in 1968.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/civil-liberty-lawsuit-illinois-state-police-foid-gun-law.amp
NEW AMERICAN
— Major Victory Against Child Transgenderism
https://thenewamerican.com/us/culture/woke-doctors-paying-the-price-major-victory-against-child-transgenderism/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— No More Tax Audits for Trump. Plus, mediators see little progress in U.S.-Iran talks, and branded condos rock Miami
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/government-deal-with-trump-expands-to-end-tax-audits-aad8f2bc
https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/no-more-tax-audits-for-trump-d4c961b8
FORTUNE
— DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://fortune.com/2026/05/19/dei-experts-diversity-equity-inclusion-fortune-workplace-innovation-summit/
FORBES
— Pritzker Rips Trump’s ‘BFF’ Darren Bailey—Says Bailey Is ‘Unable’ To Criticize Iran War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9AsCJ5U8E8
POLITICO
— Trump endorses Paxton over Cornyn for Texas Senate. DD: Which of the Republican candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot in your precinct a) are seeking Trump’s endorsement and b) have gotten his endorsement?
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/19/trump-endorses-ken-paxton-texas-senate-00927811
