November 12, 2025

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

FOX32
— Don Tracy, a Republican candidate for Senate in Illinois, joins Paris to talk about the 2026 midterm elections and the ongoing government shutdown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sut1ks6gms
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/illinois-gop-senate-candidate-talks-010917920.html

WTTW
— Chicago-Area Veterans Speak Out Against Trump, Immigration Raids During Veterans Day Events. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been turning veterans against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct? My Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://news.wttw.com/2025/11/11/chicago-area-veterans-speak-out-against-trump-immigration-raids-during-veterans-day
— DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been turning veterans against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct? My Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://news.wttw.com/2025/11/11/veterans-benefits-face-uncertain-future-federal-cuts-take-effect

WBEZ
— Veterans Day feels ‘emptier’ this year, says vet who is protesting ICE and Border Patrol. “I didn’t think they would actually use force against citizens,” says Brad Beaulieu, a Navy veteran who was hit in the leg with a tear gas canister outside of the Broadview processing facility. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been turning veterans against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?  My Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://www.wbez.org/in-the-loop-with-sasha-ann-simons/2025/11/11/veterans-day-feels-emptier-this-year-says-vet-who-is-protesting-ice-and-border-patrol

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE IN THE NAPERVILLE SUN: Police make gun-related arrest No. 17 near Naperville Topgolf
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/11/police-topgolf-gun-arrests-naperville/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois steps up where feds fall down in making college affordable. DD: I would not have been able to graduate debt-free from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in business and owning a 1969 Dodge Charger SE when I was 21 years old in 1970 a) if my parents had not provided me with room and board while I took classes at UIC 1966-1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969 and b) if I had not worked for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969 part-time during the school years and full-time during the summers.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/11/12/illinois-college-costs-trump-administration-students-color-low-income-denise-forte-juliana-stratton

SOUTHERN
— Veterans Day protest questions government treatment of troops. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been turning veterans against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?  My Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://thesouthern.com/people/veterans-day-protest-questions-government-treatment-of-troops/article_79ebd24c-b6c1-5476-b7d5-423f07feb075.html

AUSTIN WEEKLY NEWS
— Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch will face an Oak Park resident for the 7th Democratic State Central Committeeman seat next March.  DD: State Central Committee (SCC) members run political parties. In Illinois, Democrat SCC members are directly elected, but Republican SCC members are not. Since 2000, I have strongly advocated for direct election of SCC members. Since 2000, because of that, Republican leaders in Illinois who oppose direct election of SCC members have taken many big adverse actions against me. I should write about that.
https://www.austinweeklynews.com/2025/11/11/thomas-challenges-welch-democratic-leadership-spot/

OAK PARK
— Chad Koppie, an 87-year-old Kane County man seeking to run in the March 17 Republican primary for the 7th Congressional district is facing a formal challenge to his nominating petitions.
https://www.oakpark.com/2025/11/11/chad-koppie-petitions-challenged/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Partisan Democrats want the partisan GAO to investigate Trump.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/hill-politics/democrats-press-for-investigation-into-partisan-shutdown-messages-on-agency-websites/amp/

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Veterans Rally Downtown Against ICE ‘Occupation’ And ‘Life-Threatening’ Federal Budget Cuts. National Guard members, activists and elected officials marked Veterans Day by denouncing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement as an “attack on human rights.” DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been turning veterans against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?  My Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/11/veterans-rally-downtown-against-ice-occupation-and-life-threatening-federal-budget-cuts/

ILLINOIS PUBLIC MEDIA
— Women veterans in Illinois reflect on military experience including some challenges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPgIBgqm7PM

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Duckworth: Dems need to play ‘hardball’
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/11/12/duckworth-faults-dems-for-rushing-deal-00647443

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/11/12/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-630/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

CHICAGO CONTRARIAN
— Chicago Declares War on the Federal Government. DD: How many federal employees and federal retirees do you know? I was a federal employee for almost 30 years and I have been a federal retiree for more than 28 years.
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/chicago-declares-war-federal-government

WIREPOINTS
— Glennon interview on AM560: ‘We are playing for all the marbles now’ — Illinois’ Decline, Immigration Politics, and a Crisis of Confidence
https://wirepoints.org/wirepoints-mark-glennon-interview-on-am560-we-are-playing-for-all-the-marbles-now-illinois-decline-immigration-politics-and-a-crisis-of-confidence-audio/
— November 12, 2025
https://us10.campaign-archive.com/?e=19fa91a7b3&u=7f97bb358e660a3d3fb24306a&id=e104bfcb78

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Sheriff James Mendrick Dominates Kane County GOP Governor Candidate Forum as Ted Dabrowski Falls Flat. DD: If I was still the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois and if I was still on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee, the organizations would still be hosting candidate forums.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2025/11/sheriff-james-mendrick-dominates-kane-county-gop-governor-candidate-forum-as-ted-dabrowski-falls-flat.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Socialist takeover, America in transition, can California get even bluer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpnsKOro0Go

NEW YORK POST
— Trump says Chicago crime has fallen dramatically despite ‘extraordinary resistance’ from local Democrats
https://nypost.com/2025/11/12/us-news/trump-says-chicago-crime-has-fallen-dramatically-despite-extraordinary-resistance-from-local-democrats/
— Trump’s Cornell University deal leaves a ‘zombie’ DEI agenda ready to rise from the dead
https://nypost.com/2025/11/11/opinion/trumps-cornell-deal-leaves-a-zombie-dei-agenda-ready-to-rise-again/

BREITBART
— Mass Immigration Pushes U.S. Housing Market to ‘Breaking Point.’ DD: How many stash houses to Democrat leaders have in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/11/11/analysis-mass-immigration-pushes-u-s-housing-market-breaking-point/amp/

DAILY CALLER
— Man Named Jihad Crashes Turning Point USA Event, Kicks Off Brawl
https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/11/jihad-dphrepaulezz-charged-tpusa-event/

DAILY WIRE
— ‘Call In The Troops…Before It Is Too Late’: Trump Says Chicago’s Shopping District Is Under Attack. The Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Chicago, once considered our Nation’s BEST, now has a more than 28% vacancy factor, and is ready to call it quits.”  DD: I walked the Miracle Mile to/from my IRS job in the Loop, graduate evening business classes at Loyola, and my Outer Drive East studio condo 1974-1976.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/call-in-the-troops-before-it-is-too-late-trump-says-chicagos-shopping-district-is-under-attack
— Texas County Shelled Out $1.3 Million In Taxpayer Funds To Defend Illegal Immigrants
https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-county-shelled-out-1-3-million-in-taxpayer-funds-to-defend-illegal-immigrants-lawsuit-states

FOX NEWS
— DHS official calls out Pritzker, Chicago mayor for silence on attacks against ICE
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6384970037112
— Trump declares victory in Chicago despite ‘extraordinary resistance’ from sanctuary politicians. ‘As we ramp up more assets, these numbers will continue to drop,’ President Trump said.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-declares-victory-dem-run-city-despite-extraordinary-resistance-from-sanctuary-politicians

MRC TV
— Illegal Alien is Now a Slur? Illinois Speaker Says So.
https://mrctv.org/videos/illegal-alien-now-slur-illinois-speaker-says-so

NEWSMAX
— No Controls Over Mail-In Voting. DD: Far too many Republican candidates have lost elections because of ballots counted after election day.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/joseph-digenova-mail-in-voting/2025/11/11/id/1234154/
— Mamdani Plans to Be ‘Proactive,’ Call Trump Pre-Office
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/zohran-mamdani-donald-trump-nyc/2025/11/11/id/1234157/

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— On Veterans Day, Honor Sacrifice by Restoring the Military’s Warrior Ethos
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/11/11/on_veterans_day_honor_sacrifice_by_restoring_the_militarys_warrior_ethos_153505.html

STARS AND STRIPES
— Hundreds of veterans protest Trump policies at Veterans Day rally in Washington. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been turning veterans against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?  My Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2025-11-11/veterans-day-rally-protest-trump-19733534.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Trump’s PAC fundraises off Mamdani’s win
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5601066-trump-allies-target-mumdani/amp/

CBS NEWS
— Sold-out Turning Point USA event at UC Berkeley draws protests
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/sold-out-turning-point-usa-event-at-uc-berkeley-draws-protests/
— The voters Mamdani added to the Democratic coalition in New York. DD: From what I see, those who voted for Mamdani are anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-capitalism, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-Protestant, anti-German American, anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, and/or anti-those who have more money than they have.
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/cbs-news-analysis-the-voters-mamdani-added-to-the-democratic-coalition-in-new-york/

CNN
— Popular gay dating apps removed in Mainland China. DD: To promote LGBTQ is to destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/business/video/blued-finka-gay-dating-app-removed-mainland-china-lgbtq-digvid

MSNBC
— DD: Democrat leaders say “Celebrate Veterans Day by demanding Trump get the troops off our streets.” How successful have Democrat leaders been turning veterans against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?  My Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/veterans-day-trump-troops-rcna243121

TIME
— What the End of Obamacare Subsidies Could Mean for Your Health Coverage. DD: My critics/opponents ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn the 72% health insurance subsidy a) that I got when I was federal employee 1966-1997, b) that my wife got when she was a federal employee 1968-1970, c) that I will always get as a federal retiree, and d) that my wife has gotten since we got married in 1978 and will always get. My critics/opponents either a) would never stoop to take a federal job and/or b) failed/refused to qualify themselves for federal jobs.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/end-obamacare-subsidies-could-mean-184051651.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Justice Department to Investigate Protests at Turning Point Event at Berkeley
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/us/berkeley-protests-turning-point-doj-investigation.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for health costs. My critics/opponents ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn the 72% health insurance subsidy a) that I got when I was federal employee 1966-1997, b) that my wife got when she was a federal employee 1968-1970, c) that I will always get as a federal retiree, and d) that my wife has gotten since we got married in 1978 and will always get. My critics/opponents either a) would never stoop to take a federal job and/or b) failed/refused to qualify themselves for federal jobs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/us/politics/trump-shutdown-health-care-costs-aca.html
— Redistricting Battles, Set Off by Trump, Have Few Parallels in U.S. History
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/us/elections/gerrymandering-redistricting-democrats-republicans.html
— How the Trump Administration Is Giving Even More Tax Breaks to the Wealthy. DD: My critics/opponents have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being grossly overpaid, and therefore, I should pay more taxes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/business/trump-administration-tax-breaks-wealthy.html

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Turning Point USA rally in Berkeley turns bloody, 4 arrested
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/11/11/turning-point-usa-rally-berkeley-fight-arrests/

BALTIMORE SUN
— ‘Colorado sober’ movement ditches alcohol for cannabis, psychedelics.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/11/03/colorado-sober-movement-ditches-alcohol-for-cannabis-psychedelics-is-it-for-real/

USA TODAY
— Veterans protest at ‘Remember Your Oath’ rally against Trump administration. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been turning veterans against Trump in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct?  My Democrat superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War.
https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2025/11/11/veterans-day-remember-your-oath-rally-trump-protests/87220494007/
— Anti-Trump groups urge holiday boycott of Amazon, Home Depot, Target over DEI backtrack
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/11/10/holiday-shopping-boycott-amazon-target-home-depot/87139543007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— A 50-Year Mortgage Is a Bad Deal. DD: My priority 1972-1978, and then my and my wife’s priority after 1978 was to pay off our mortgage debt ASAP.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/50-year-mortgage-donald-trump-bill-pulte-housing-prices-5ca2417b

—  Antidepressants.
DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, because of ever-increasing Gingrich-led budget cuts, my GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates became ever-increasingly more depressed if not more angry. They ever-increasingly took their anger against Gingrich out on me.  I should write about that.
https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/antidepressants-facts-myths-40a09fc9

NEWSONE
— When A Muslim Democratic Socialist Mayor Has An Africana Studies Degree. If the phrase “Muslim Democratic Socialist” already makes conservative pundits sweat, then “Africana Studies,” like Black Studies, is the accelerant.
https://newsone.com/6601349/zohran-mamdani-muslim-democrat-socialist-mayor-africana-studies-degree/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

DAILY MAIL
— DD: The more that Hegseth does to fight DEI, the more that Democrats and RINOs fight him.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15282169/Hegseth-female-Navy-officer-SEAL.html

SKY NEWS
— Mamdani is the new ‘face’ of the Democratic Party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjBEoB-L5P0
— Turning Point’s event in California showed a packed out house
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ3Xut5qrVw
— Chaos erupts as Antifa-like thugs turn violent outside Turning Point USA event
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-cSeXR9o00
— Antifa thugs spark violent riot outside Turning Point USA event at UC Berkeley
https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/united-states/antifa-thugs-spark-violent-riot-outside-turning-point-usa-event-at-uc-berkeley/video/4a7e4ce48576d97ff290344aaef35a21
— ‘Get rid of all of them’: Violent Antifa ‘mob’ clash with police at Turning Point USA event
https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/get-rid-of-all-of-them-violent-antifa-mob-clash-with-police-at-turning-point-usa-event/video/e097162553d93e6644c4c4b3a0989a2f

INDIA TODAY
— Netanyahu invited to New York. Can Mamdani get him arrested, fulfil promise? Netanyahu is set to arrive in in New York on Mamdani’s first day as mayor. Mamdani had promised to arrest Netanyahu for “war crimes” in Gaza, but can he really get him arrested? The city is bracing for a clash of global politics and local governance. DD: When my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, they did not bring any political baggage in with them. Ever-increasingly, immigrants bring political baggage in with them.
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/zohran-mamdani-netanyahu-with-benjamin-netanyahu-nyc-visit-can-mamdani-get-him-arrested-fulfil-promise-un-headquarters-icc-2818022-2025-11-12
— Video: Brawl breaks out during Turning Point USA event on UC Berkeley campus
https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/world/us-news/story/uc-berkeley-tpusa-event-violence-fbi-investigation-antifa-clashes-glbs-2817811-2025-11-12

INDIA EXPRESS
— In Mamdani’s win, some hope for the working class — and sparks of a new politics. DD: I was a member of the working class for 35 years. My critics/opponents were not. They had wealthy parents. They look down on, if not despise, if not hate, the working class.
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/zohran-mamdani-politics-mayor-new-york-andrew-cuomo-trump-10360843/

TIMES OF INDIA
— ‘Fascists out of Berkeley’: Protests break out at UC campus; Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA event affected
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/fascists-out-of-berkeley-protests-break-out-at-uc-campus-charlie-kirks-tpusa-event-affected/articleshow/125266074.cms

BUSINESS TODAY
— ‘NYC will turn into Mumbai’: Billionaire warns after Mamdani’s victory.
https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/nyc-will-turn-into-mumbai-billionaire-warns-after-mamdanis-victory-heres-why-501796-2025-11-12

TIMES NOW NEWS
— US Billionaire Thinks New York Will Turn Into Mumbai Under Mamdani
https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/us-billionaire-barry-sternlicht-thinks-new-york-will-turn-into-mumbai-under-zohran-mamdani-asks-what-if-neighbours-know-article-153137664

JEWISH INSIDER
— After Mamdani win, socialists look to challenge Democratic incumbents in NYC
https://jewishinsider.com/2025/11/zohran-mamdani-socialists-democratic-incumbents-new-york-city/

WIRE
— DD: Immigrants ever-increasingly crow about their success in taking over America.
https://thewire.in/world/mamdanis-victory-shows-the-american-dream-is-not-over-yet

CDM
— There Is No Meritocracy in the Public Administration – There Never Was. DD: My Democrat superiors in the federal government ever-increasingly dumped meritocracy to hire, to retain, and to promote Democrats who were minority, female, and/or younger. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related bachelor’s degree, my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional certifications, and my job-related professional license.
https://www.cdm.me/english/there-is-no-meritocracy-in-the-public-administration-there-never-was/

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.