May 22 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Why the COVID-19 pandemic is deepening a racial divide in Chicago area communities – Chuck Goudie, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel, Ross Weidner, Jonathan Fagg and Adriana Aguilar
https://abc7chicago.com/health/why-the-pandemic-is-deepening-a-racial-divide-in-chicago-area-communities/6203131/
— Chicago issues thousands of citations to businesses operating in violation of stay-at-home order – Jason Knowles and Ann Pistone
https://abc7chicago.com/coronavirus-chicago-illinois-stay-at-home-order-non-essential-businesses/6201791/

NBC5
— Pritzker ‘Very Concerned’ About Surge of Coronavirus Cases in Fall A surge is likely, Gov. Pritzker said, if a vaccine or very effective treatment isn’t available
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/pritzker-very-concerned-about-surge-of-coronavirus-cases-in-fall/2276187/

WGN TV
— Chicago area governments laying off workers as revenues fall amid coronavirus – Ben Bradley, Andrew Schroedter (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, the Democrats who ran GAO used Republican-led budget cuts to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40.)
https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/chicago-area-governments-laying-off-workers-as-revenues-fall-amid-coronavirus/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Donning masks and rolling up sleeves, lawmakers tackle vote-by-mail, pot tweaks — with budget, COVID-19 relief looming No mask faceoffs added any drama to Day Two of the special legislative session. State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, entered the Bank of Springfield Center wearing a face covering. State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, went a little further, donning a complete face shield. – Tina Sfondeles and Neal Earley
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/21/21266946/lawmakers-masks-vote-mail-legal-pot-budget-covid-19-relief-bailey-oberweis-coronavirus
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater uses Phyllis Schlafly to demonize, denigrate, and condemn the 53% of White women who voted for Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/5/21/21266599/phyllis-schlafly-feminism-equal-rights-amendment-mrs-america-era-culture-wars

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois unemployment rate hit 16.4% in April, a 44-year high, as coronavirus-related job losses multiplied – Abdel Jimenez (DIERSEN: What were you doing in 1976? I turned 28 years old. I worked for IRS in its Loop office as a GS-12 Step 3 (currently $90,758/year) Revenue Officer assigned to its Special Procedures Staff. I traded in to the building’s developer my studio condo for a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building in downtown Chicago. I completed the requirements for an MBA from Loyola and started taking graduate accounting classes at DePaul. I rented out my town home in University Park. I drove a 1962 Chevy BelAir and garaged my 1972 Corvette at my mother’s home in Crete.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-april-unemployment-rate-20200521-gfg675giqbcqtaahirsrmyaaga-story.html
— Judgment just as contagious in our culture war of wearing masks in public – JERRY DAVICH (DIERSEN: If you demonize, denigrate, and condemn people for not wearing a mask, you should be wearing one yourself.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-wearing-masks-in-public-culture-war-controversy-st-0517-20200515-liwsboclbrdljhsuprp2hivo24-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— In close vote, Cook County Board agrees to release COVID-19 patient addresses – Christopher Placek
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200521/in-close-vote-cook-county-board-agrees-to-release-covid-19-patient-addresses-
— Masks are for protection of others, not political symbols – Editorial (DIERSEN: If you demonize, denigrate, and condemn people for not wearing a mask, you should be wearing one yourself.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20200522/editorial-masks-are-for-protection-of-others-not-political-symbols

WBEZ
— Coronavirus In Illinois: Unemployment Rate Is Now The Highest It’s Been Since 1976
https://www.wbez.org/stories/coronavirus-in-illinois-unemployment-rate-is-now-the-highest-its-been-since-1976/b9d4bbde-4bde-48e1-810b-5cc7df506ca0
— Illinois Lawmakers Push Vote-By-Mail Expansion – But Not Much Else – During Emergency Session – Tony Arnold, Dave McKinney
https://www.wbez.org/stories/illinois-lawmakers-push-vote-by-mail-expansion-but-not-much-else-during-emergency-session/7c1e0966-07b0-43ea-818f-9bf3aa28f358

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Thousands still await COVID-19 test results in Winnebago County – Isaac Guerrero
https://www.rrstar.com/news/20200521/thousands-still-await-covid-19-test-results-in-winnebago-county

WJOL
— Many Illinois Residents Still Struggling With Unemployment Claims
https://www.wjol.com/many-illinois-residents-still-struggling-with-unemployment-claims/

WCIA
— Righter rebukes Bailey’s mask antics: ‘Half the game is showing up’ – Mark Maxwell (DIERSEN: According to your critics, what should you have NOT done?” According to my critics, I should NOT have been a Republican, been conservative, avoided the draft, opposed political affiliation discrimination, opposed reverse discrimination, opposed age discrimination, opposed the traffic signal at Harrison and President in Wheaton, filed lawsuits, became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged my superiors with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, opposed promoting booze, pot, and other vices, opposed promoting LGBTQ activity, opposed promoting abortion, opposed promoting mass/illegal immigration, opposed promoting abolition of the First and Second Amendments, failed/refused to become one of their operatives/dupes, failed/refused to pander to them, failed/refused to give them money, etc. )
https://www.wcia.com/news/capitol-news/righter-rebukes-baileys-mask-antics-half-the-game-is-showing-up/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The veteran downstate legislator who is preparing to pass the legislative baton of his rural State Senate district over to House Representative Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) next January was not entertained by Bailey’s public act of defiance when he refused to wear a face mask on the floor of the Illinois House on Wednesday. “I would not have done that,” Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) said in an interview Thursday morning, arguing that in orchestrating his own ejection from the House floor, Bailey also effectively abandoned his duties as an elected official in the legislature. Bailey won the March primary election to replace Righter, who is retiring from the statehouse after 23 years in office. Bailey is running unopposed for the Senate seat in November.)

FOX ILLINOIS
— Coronavirus-triggered layoffs in US hit nearly 39 million – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/millions-more-people-likely-sought-us-unemployment-benefits

KENDALL COUNTY NOW
— GOP lawmakers to offer free masks, milk and food at Kendall County Food Pantry Saturday
https://www.kendallcountynow.com/2020/05/20/gop-lawmakers-to-offer-free-masks-milk-and-food-at-kendall-county-food-pantry-saturday/aixpb1y/

WIRE POINTS
— Big raises for Chicago Teachers Union, state’s AFSCME shows where federal aid to Illinois will end up – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/big-raises-for-chicago-teachers-union-states-afscme-shows-where-federal-aid-to-illinois-will-end-up-wirepoints/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS BILL WOULD MAKE ELECTION DAY A HOLIDAY, BUT ONLY FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS – Joe Barnas
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-bill-would-make-election-day-a-holiday-but-only-for-government-workers/

FOX NEWS
— Sanders delegates push back at agreements prohibiting convention dissent: ‘It’s ridiculous’ – Paul Steinhauser (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have painted themselves as being attack dogs for activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, campaign managers, those who I have sued, etc. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, for everyone’s problems, and for all the problems that the following have had: Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. I might title the book “The Scapegoaters.”)
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sanders-convention-delegates-push-back
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The agreements – first reported by the Washington Post and confirmed by Fox News – call on Sanders delegates to “Refrain from making negative statements about other candidates, party leaders, Campaigns, Campaign staffers, supporters, news organizations or journalists. This Campaign is about the issues and finding solutions to America’s problems. Our job is to differentiate the senator from his opponents on the issues — not through personal attacks.” Another of the 10 rules listed in the document states: “Do your best to avoid online arguments or confrontations. … If engaging in an adversarial conversation, be respectful when addressing opposing viewpoints or commenting on the opposition.” And the agreement states that “If a member of the media contacts you about a posting of any kind: do not respond.” Instead, it directs them to contact the Sanders press team. The document states that “failure to comply with these expectations may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to your removal from the delegation.” The agreements were sent to some Sanders delegates across the country last week.)

BREITBART
— Pew Research: Less Than 3-in-8 Americans Support Coronavirus Relief for Illegal Aliens – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/21/pew-research-less-than-3-in-8-americans-support-coronavirus-relief-for-illegal-aliens/

TOWNHALL
— Trump Administration Extends Border Restrictions Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – Bronson Stocking
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bronsonstocking/2020/05/21/cdc-extends-title-42-following-major-success-slowing-illegal-immigration-at-the-border-n2569259

FEDERALIST
— California Democrats Try To Legalize Racial Discrimination During Pandemic – Kenny Xu
https://thefederalist.com/2020/05/21/californa-democrats-try-to-legalize-racial-discrimination-during-pandemic/

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— “Hate Speech” and the New Tyranny over the Mind – Arthur Milikh
https://www.heritage.org/civil-society/report/hate-speech-and-the-new-tyranny-over-the-mind

CNN
— The pandemic could cause long-term damage to how we get our food – Bob Ortega
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/05/business/coronavirus-food-supply-invs-cnnphotos/
— Coronavirus ‘immunity passports’ are a terrible idea that could backfire, experts warn – Faith Karimi and Maggie Fox (DIERSEN: Of course, according to Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs, if you have immunity, it is because you unfairly benefitted from your parents’, grandparents’, great grandparents’, and the rest of your ancestors’ discrimination against minorities, against females, against poor people, against Democrats, against Libertarians, against Greens, against RINOs, against non-Protestants, against non-German Americans, against those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, against etc.)
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/health/immunity-passport-coronavirus/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Fed Chair Warns This Is a ‘Downturn Without Modern Precedent’ – Jeanna Smialek and Alan Rappeport
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/business/economy/fed-chair-warns-this-is-a-downturn-without-modern-precedent.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats stimulus dollars to go to those who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/opinion/coronavirus-stimulus-women.html
— University of California Will End Use of SAT and ACT in Admissions The change is expected to accelerate the momentum of American colleges away from the tests, amid concern that they are unfair to poor, black and Hispanic students. – Shawn Hubler (DIERSEN: What tests have you passed? I passed a) the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 when I was 30 years old, b) the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, c) all the tests necessary to earn a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, d) all the tests necessary to earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, e) all the tests necessary to earn an MBA from Loyola in 1976, f) all the tests necessary to earn a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, g) the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970, and h) the Post Office employment examination in 1966.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/us/university-california-sat-act.html
— A Wave of Small Business Closures Is on the Way. Can Washington Stop It? Bipartisan proposals address weaknesses of a hastily passed aid program. – Neil Irwin
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/upshot/virus-small-business-closures.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater asks “How Many Will Die for the Dow?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/opinion/trump-coronavirus-dow.html
— The First Invasion of America And the cultural earthquake it’s unleashing. – David Brooks (DIERSEN: The first invasion of America was by citizens of Mexico.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/opinion/us-coronavirus-history.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: FRONT PAGE: Trump-haters say “Host of Virus Alarms Ignored By a Single-Minded President.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/us/politics/presidents-daily-brief-trump.html
— Many Jobs May Vanish Forever as Layoffs Mount With over 38 million U.S. unemployment claims in nine weeks, one economist says the situation is “grimmer than we thought.” – Patricia Cohen
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/business/economy/coronavirus-unemployment-claims.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats use coronavirus to promote hatred against Republicans.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/21/us-them-pandemic-shows-america-is-still-impervious-black-pain/
— Shrinking newsrooms could affect how we view the coronavirus pandemic Journalists of color are particularly susceptible to layoffs, and that can distort coverage of the crisis – Marian Liu (DIERSEN: Virtually all federal employees are Democrats. They are protected, and especially those who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran, because the federal government gets rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who do not make GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/21/diversity-coronavirus-coverage/
— Trump’s purge of inspectors general is alarming. His replacements may be worse. – David C. Williams (DIERSEN: I should write a book about all my coworkers in the federal government who my Democrat superiors a) promoted over me and/or b) retained instead of me. They all were Democrats, minorities, females, younger than me, non-Protestant, non-German American, veterans, their ancestors had been in America for less time than mine, they had less work experience than I had, they had less education than I had, and/or they had fewer professional certifications and/or licenses than I had.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/21/trumps-widespread-removal-inspectors-general-is-alarming-so-are-his-appointments/
— Antimalarial drug touted by President Trump is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients, study says – Ariana Eunjung Cha and Laurie McGinley
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/22/hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus-study/

NEW YORK POST
— Joe Biden asks Amy Klobuchar to undergo VP vetting process, report says – Ebony Bowden (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, if you have skeletons in your closets, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office, and especially if you paint yourself as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican.)
https://nypost.com/2020/05/21/joe-biden-asks-amy-klobuchar-to-undergo-vp-vetting-process-report/

USA TODAY
— Food prices soar to highest one-month increase since 1974; price of eggs up 16% in April – Susan Selasky
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/05/20/food-prices-soar-coronavirus-covid-19/5226969002/
— How Joe Biden is working to win over progressive voters – Rebecca Morin (DIERSEN: To win over progressive voters, Biden will promise to use the federal government to get rid of the following once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/05/21/joe-biden-bernie-sanders-work-together-bring-progressives-board/5155900002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— How to Keep Workers Off the Job More evidence that the enhanced $600 unemployment benefit will slow the recovery and keep the jobless rate high. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-keep-workers-off-the-job-11590103444
— The Covid Surcharge: Companies Confront the Unforgiving Economics of Coronavirus Rising costs, weak demand and customer limits challenge efforts to reopen for business – Matt Grossman
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-surcharge-companies-confront-unforgiving-economics-of-coronavirus-11590139802
— Behind Trump’s Removal of Inspectors General: Support for His Agenda He views himself ‘a victim of overly aggressive actions,’ according to one senior administration official – Catherine Lucey and Gordon Lubold
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-moves-to-make-own-picks-for-oversight-posts-11590064279

BLOOMBERG
— Lockdowns Haven’t Proved They’re Worth the Havoc – Joe Nocera
https://www.yahoo.com/news/lockdowns-haven-t-proved-worth-100003823.html

WCNC
— Minorities carrying the biggest financial burden of COVID-19 crisis In April, the unemployment rate soared to 14.7%, minority groups were hit the hardest with 19% of Hispanic workers and almost 17% of black workers unemployed. – Billie Jean Shaw
https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/minorities-carrying-the-biggest-financial-burden-of-covid-19-crisis/275-062fbd49-70ae-41b9-bb05-0560b3ff3add

NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters side with Communist China against America.
https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-blame-china-re-election-strategy-might-seriously-backfire-opinion-1505813

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Just Give People Handouts – Sarah Jones (DIERSEN: How soon, because of efforts to fight coronavirus, will everyone in the world be getting welfare and/or handing out welfare?)
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/05/people-need-money-not-skills-retraining.html

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— These Federal Agencies Have Seen the Most COVID-19 Deaths Nearly 130 federal workers have died from the coronavirus pandemic. – ERIC KATZ
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2020/05/these-federal-agencies-have-seen-most-covid-19-deaths/165578/

FORD AUTHORITY
— Ford Will ‘Likely’ Conduct Daily Employee COVID-19 Tests When It’s Possible – Brett Foote
https://fordauthority.com/2020/05/ford-will-likely-conduct-daily-employee-covid-19-tests-when-its-possible/

SUN
— Michigan Attorney General says Trump is NOT welcome in the state after flouting mask rules ‘like a petulant child’ – Mollie Mansfield
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11681799/donald-trump-michigan-attorney-general-not-welcome/

NATIONAL HERALD INDIA
— Amid reports that Google has reduced diversity and inclusion training programmes fearing conservative backlash, CEO Sundar Pichai denied any digression from company’s commitment to promoting diversity (DIERSEN: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, up-or-out, budget cuts, etc. to not hire Republicans and to get rid of their employees who are Republican, and especially those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/have-more-resources-invested-in-diversity-than-ever-google-ceo

ZILLOW
— FOR SALE: 921 James Court, Wheaton – $650,000
https://www.zillow.com/wheaton-il/X1-SS1apc9gppw622z_3o1g1_sse/4448311_zpid/

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.