May 20, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

FOX32
— DuPage County Bensenville residents say rat infestation is taking over neighborhood: ‘We’re freaking out’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dupage-county-residents-say-rat-infestation-is-taking-over-neighborhood-were-freaking-out.amp
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-vt8is1p09b9vq1wu

WTTW
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly shout at those who are the following that Democrat leaders protect them from Republicans: liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, poor, LGBTQ, unmarried, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/19/final-vote-set-scaled-back-effort-honor-rev-jesse-jackson-new-push-protect-voting-rights

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/05/20/latinos-homeless-chicago-illinois-greg-abbott-texas-busing-migrants

DAILY HERALD
— Fumbled rollout: Inclusion of controversial flyer overshadows redesign of Kane County’s tax bill
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260519/editorials/daily-herald-opinion-fumbled-rollout-inclusion-of-controversial-flyer-overshadows-redesign-of-coun/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PHOTO: US government agrees to drop tax claims against Trump in broadening of IRS lawsuit settlement. DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact that a) my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260519/nation-and-world-politics/us-government-agrees-to-drop-tax-claims-against-trump-in-broadening-of-irs-lawsuit-settlement/

STATELINE
— Universal health care proposal in Illinois Senate would eliminate private insurance, cover undocumented migrants
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/universal-health-care-proposal-in-illinois-senate-would-eliminate-private-insurance-cover-undocumented-migrants/

25 NEWS NOW
— Former state GOP chair Pat Brady sees key decisions ahead after party leaders oust Salvi. (FROM THE ARTICLE: the party chair is frequently the target of “everyone’s anger and frustrations.”)
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/05/20/former-state-gop-chair-brady-sees-key-decisions-ahead-after-party-leaders-oust-salvi/
(FROM THE ARTICLE:  A Bloomington native who used to lead Illinois Republicans said he knows from experience that the party chair is frequently the target of “everyone’s anger and frustrations.” Monday, the Illinois Republican Party’s State Central Committee replaced incumbent Chair Kathy Salvi with former DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan. Salvi became chair less than two years ago, just in time for the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Two years earlier, Salvi was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, losing to Democrat Tammy Duckworth. Salvi did a “nice job” raising money for the party, said Pat Brady, an attorney raised in Bloomington who served as state Republican chair from 2009 to 2013. During Brady’s term, social conservatives were angry with his stance favoring same-sex marriage. Brady is not sure why party leaders chose Grogan over Salvi this time around. “People were upset for whatever reason and they wanted a change,” said Brady. Now a Republican strategist with Mercury Public Affairs, Brady believes Illinois Republicans have a key decision to make. If they align themselves with the pro-Trump MAGA movement, Brady said “we’ll never be more than a downstate party.” Brady would like to see a more moderate brand, returning to the days when voters chose Republicans like Mark Kirk as U.S. senator and Jim Edgar as governor. Meantime, Grogan, Republican candidate for Governor Darren Bailey, and Senate candidate all praised Salvi’s work as chair. Grogan released the following statement: . . . )

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Chicago Schools elections get ugly
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/20/chicago-schools-elections-get-ugly-00929035

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/20/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-741/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

BOB BERLIN
— Bob Berlin, Duo Dog Crew, and Assistant State’s Attorneys Attend Furever Friends Gala
https://www.bobberlin.com/news/bob-berlin-duo-dog-crew-and-assistant-states-attorneys-attend-furever-friends-gala

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Illinois FOID Card Mandate Challenged in Federal Court
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/illinois-foid-card-mandate-challenged-in-federal-court/
— Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future Initiative Passes House
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/melania-trumps-fostering-the-future-initiative-passes-house/
— McLaughlin Holding Fundraiser
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/mclaughlin-holding-fundraiser-2/
— Ness Passes Bill To Make Savings Easier for People Who Have Disabilities
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/20/ness-passes-bill-to-make-savings-easier-for-people-who-have-disabilities/
— Trump Gets Blame for High Gas Prices, Ignoring High Illinois Motor Fuel Tax
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/category/uncategorized/
— Latest Spencer Pratt Video is Musical Take Off “Fresh Prince of Belair”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/latest-spencer-pratt-video-is-musical-take-off-fresh-prince-of-belair/
— Rep. Weber Criticizes Bill That Would Require Women’s Port-a-Potties at Construction Sites
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/rep-weber-criticizes-bill-that-would-require-womens-port-a-potties-at-construction-sites/
— Illinois Family Institute Targets Bills for Defeat
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/illinois-family-institute-targets-bills-for-defeat/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The ‘pro-Palestinian’ Left isn’t really about Gaza. Its real target is America
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4572918/pro-palestinian-left-isnt-about-gaza-real-target-is-america/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Illegal immigration data sparks new push for mass deportations
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/05/19/illegal-immigration-data-sparks-new-push-for-mass-deportations-1640233/

CENTER SQUARE
— DD: All those who were promoted over me hinted/implied/argued/shouted that they were yes-men or yes-women. They all had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. They all were minority, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_0bddedae-73db-469b-82c0-e219cf59bd99.html

COLLEGE FIX
— Progressive nonprofit launches left-wing competitor to Turning Point USA. Group’s true agenda is the redistribution of wealth.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/progressive-nonprofit-launches-left-wing-competitor-to-turning-point-usa/
— Just 10 percent of professors want to leave Republican-led states
https://www.thecollegefix.com/just-10-percent-of-professors-want-to-leave-republican-led-states/

FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
— If You Cheated to Become American, You Were Never American
https://www.fairus.org/opinion/if-you-cheated-become-american-you-were-never-american

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Civil Liberty Group Sues Illinois Over License Required to Buy Guns, Ammunition. DD: I have had a FOID card since I was 20 years old in 1968.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/05/civil-liberty-group-sues-illinois-over-license-required-to-buy-guns-ammunition/

PJ MEDIA
— Woke May Have Passed Its Peak, But What’s Coming Next From the Left Is Scary Bad
https://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2026/05/19/woke-may-have-passed-its-peak-but-whats-coming-next-from-the-left-is-scary-bad-n4953011

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Thousands of Illegal Aliens Live in Taxpayer-Funded Housing. Trump Is Ending it.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/05/19/thousands_of_illegal_aliens_live_in_taxpayer-funded_housing_trump_is_ending_it_154133.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

MSN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/more-gen-z-adults-say-life-can-be-fulfilling-without-marriage-children-study/ar-AA22ks9J

NEW YORK TIMES
— G.O.P. Supporters Back Trump, but a Third Seek a New Direction for the Party
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/poll-trump-republicans.html
— I.R.S. to Drop Audits of Trump and Family. DD: To get rid of me, my Democrat IRS superiors disallowed my education deductions when I was 29 years old in 1978. I had deducted graduate evening business courses (Loyola 1972-1976) and accounting courses (DePaul 1976-1978). They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically argued in tax court a) that the courses I deducted did not relate to my job duties, b) that the courses did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) that I took the courses to get a job in the private sector, and d) that I took the courses to qualify myself for a new trade or business. They outrageously, disgustingly, falsely, and unethically ignored the fact that a) my IRS employee manual encouraged me to take the courses, b) the content of my position descriptions, and c) that I stated in my applications that I wanted to take the courses to maintain and improve my IRS job skills. They would not have done that a) if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, younger, or veteran and/or b) if I had not complained about IRS’s political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/trump-irs-doj-lawsuit-audit.html

USA TODAY
— Nearly 4 in 10 Americans surveyed by Lending Tree, or 39%, said a car is a luxury they cannot afford. DD: Back in the good old days, in 1964, I was able to buy a 1958 Chevrolet BelAir with money I had earned doing yard work and delivering newspapers 1962-1964. In 1966, I was able to buy a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint with money I had earned delivering newspapers and washing dishes 1964-1966. In 1967, I was able to buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 with money I had earned delivering mail 1966-1967. In 1968, I was able to buy a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE with money I had earned delivering mail 1967-1968.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2026/05/18/car-ownership-affordability-costs/90049044007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE: Young buyers tap bank of mom & dad in tight home market. DD: When I was 24 in 1972, HUD made the new townhome that I bought in University Park ( https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ ) affordable. I could not have afforded to buy that townhome if it had cost more. In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had increased from $56,409/year to $68,999/year. The down payment came from what I had earned working for IRS for 15 months and for a Firestone Store part-time for 18 months and full-time for 7 months before that. According to Zillow, the townhome is currently worth $84,500. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/these-parents-are-buying-homes-for-their-kidswith-strings-attached-aa3da6d2

FORBES
— DD: My critics/opponents reject meritocracy. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me had less education than I had, had less work experience than I had, had no professional certification or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. They applaud that all those who were promoted over me were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2026/05/19/the-myth-of-meritocracy-and-other-outdated-beliefs-women-are-told-at-work/

BLOOMBERG
— Behind the Decline in Right-Wing Media Traffic. DD: I should write about those who have done the most since 2000 a) to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and b) to stop everyone from reading them. I would focus on past and present a) leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican leaders of Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) Republican political consultants, fundraisers, major doners, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, e) conservative leaders, and f) religious leaders.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-07-15/federalist-breitbart-daily-caller-see-decline-in-right-wing-media-traffic

JD SUPRA
— EEOC Files Suit Against The New York Times, Alleging that the Times Discriminated Against a White, Male Employee. DD: How has EEOC impacted you? I would not have become an IRS employee in 1971 if my Firestone Store boss had not fired me because I had accepted a job offer from Oldsmobile, an offer that Oldsmobile withdrew saying it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/eeoc-files-suit-against-the-new-york-1243494/

HR BREW
— DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government always crowed about their success in promoting their Democrat employees who were minority, female, and/or younger, that is, they always crowed about their success in discriminating against their Republican employees who were White, male, and/or older.
https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/eeoc-moves-to-end-eeo-1-reporting-on-race-and-gender

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.