FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Melissa Conyears-Ervin: Chicago will not help fund Donald Trump’s terror
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/opinion-chicago-treasurer-boycott-us-treasury-securities/
— Gen Z can’t afford Chicago’s affordable housing mandate. DD: What did you do to afford things before you were 28 years old? Back in the good old days, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and a job-related master’s degree when I was 27. I took bad jobs that my peers would never stoop to take. That enabled me a) to buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, and 25, b) to graduate debt-free from college owning a 20-month old car, and c) to buy real estate when I was 24, 25, and 27.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/opinion-chicago-gen-z-affordable-housing/
— Thornton Township District 205 giving teachers $5,000 bonuses for good attendance. DD: All during the almost 30 years that I worked for the federal government, I used dramatically fewer sick days than my coworkers.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/thornton-township-district-205-teacher-bonuses/
DAILY LINE
— Democratic primary for Illinois Comptroller, Republican primary for governor proving to be most competitive statewide races
https://www.thedailyline.com/forms/shares/new?page_id=37974
WHEATON RECORD
— DD: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://thewheatonrecord.com/2025/11/16/the-voices-shouting-no-kings/
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Pritzker pumps $25.5M into 2026 bid
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/11/17/pritzker-pumps-25-5m-into-2026-bid-00654117
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: Americans for Prosperity is out with its Prairie State Policy Champions recognizing state lawmakers who advocate for “reining in” government spending. The honorees, all Republicans, are: House Leader Tony McCombie, Senate Leader John Curran, state Reps. Norine Hammond, Blaine Wilhour, Adam Niemerg and Dan Swanson, state Sens. Chapin Rose and Andrew Chesney, and House Republican spokesperson on education Amy Elik.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2025/11/17/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-633/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Fake Bailey Campaign Postcard Could Trigger a Felony Carrying up to 20 Years in Federal Prison
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2025/11/weaponizing-the-u-s-mail-fake-bailey-campaign-postcard-could-trigger-a-felony-carrying-up-to-20-years-in-federal-prison.html
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2025/11/a-2022-postcard-becomes-the-center-of-a-political-hoax-targeting-the-bailey-campaign.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump seeks primary challenges against Indiana state lawmakers who defy redistricting demands. DD: In 2000, my Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) critics/opponents succeeded in getting a registered Republican voter in my precinct to challenge me for Republican Precinct Committeeman, but not since then. But they have succeeded in stopping me from becoming a MTRO committee chairman or officer since then. They rudely fired me as MTRO webmaster in 2004 and 2010. They gerrymandered my precinct in 2015. They ended my service as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks in 2021. They threw me off the Illinois Republican Party State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee in 2024. My MTRO critics/opponents ever-increasingly blame me and blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters a) for all the losses that Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered since 2000 and b) for all of MTRO’s other problems. I should write about my MTRO critics/opponents.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/16/trump-seeks-primary-challenges-indiana-state-lawmakers-defy/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— GOP must hold its ground on enhanced subsidies — now more than ever. DD: My critics/opponents ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn the 72% health insurance subsidy a) that I got when I was federal employee, b) that my wife got when she was a federal employee, 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.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/3888607/gop-hold-ground-on-enhanced-subsidies/
NEW YORK POST
— Portland’s socialist disaster should be a wake-up call for Mamdani, NYC voters
https://www.aol.com/articles/portland-socialist-disaster-wake-call-120000780.html
— Socialist Mamdani called for abolition of private property. DD: Being able to own cars and real estate has always motived me. I bought my first car when I was 16 and news cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, etc. I bought real estate when I was 24, 25, 27, 29, etc.
https://www.aol.com/socialist-zohran-mamdani-called-abolition-222326729.html
— Vile antisemitic graffiti scrawled on Mexico’s top court during protests against country’s first Jewish president
https://nypost.com/2025/11/16/world-news/antisemitic-graffiti-scrawled-on-mexicos-top-court-during-protests-against-countrys-first-jewish-president/
— Champagne Socialist Mamdani slammed for hogging $2,300 apartment despite wealthy parents. DD: My critics/opponents had wealthy parents. I should write about the advantages that gave them. My critics/opponents have always used my having to work my way through college against me.
https://www.aol.com/cuomo-bashes-rich-person-zohran-125945960.html
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUE
— Democrats are galloping to the left. DD: Ever-increasingly, because of Democrat victories, just about everyone around me is moving to the left. What does that say about them?
https://www.aei.org/articles/why-the-democrats-can-move-to-the-left/
BREITBART
— MTG: Trump Calling Me a Traitor Puts ‘My Life in Danger’
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/11/16/mtg-trump-calling-me-a-traitor-puts-my-life-in-danger/amp/
DAILY CALLER
— AOC Screams At Top Of Her Lungs, Panders To As Many Minority Groups As Possible In 38 Seconds. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been uniting those who are the following in your county, township, municipality, school district, and precinct against Republicans: liber/moderate, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, non-married, non-rich, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time?
https://www.aol.com/articles/aoc-screams-top-her-lungs-152613565.html
DAILY SIGNAL
— Midterms Shaping Up to Be a War Over Delivering Affordability for Gen Z. DD: What did you do to afford things before you were 28 years old? Back in the good old days, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and a job-related master’s degree when I was 27. I took bad jobs that my peers would never stoop to take. That enabled me a) to buy new cars when I was 17, 19, 20, 23, and 25, b) to graduate debt-free from college owning a 20-month old car, and c) to buy real estate when I was 24, 25, and 27.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/11/16/midterms-shaping-up-to-be-a-war-over-delivering-affordability-for-gen-z/
DAILY WIRE
— Rooting Out Fraud: Trump Admin To Make Food Stamp Recipients Reapply For Benefits
https://www.dailywire.com/news/rooting-out-fraud-trump-admin-to-make-food-stamp-recipients-reapply-for-benefits
EPOCH TIMES
— Socialism Preferred by One-Third of Churchgoers. DD: Democrats are ever-increasingly taking over and destroying religion.
https://prescottenews.com/2025/11/17/new-study-finds-socialism-preferred-by-one-third-of-churchgoers-the-epoch-times/
FOX NEWS
— Socialist wave reaches West Coast as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass gets a Mamdani-like challenger
https://www.foxnews.com/media/socialist-wave-reaches-west-coast-los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-gets-mamdani-like-challenger
— Trump calls on House Republicans to vote to release Epstein files: ‘We have nothing to hide.’ President calls controversy a ‘Democrat hoax perpetrated by radical left lunatics’ in Truth Social post. DD: Ever-increasingly, because of Democrat victories, just about everyone around me is moving to the left. What does that say about them?
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-calls-house-republicans-vote-release-epstein-files-we-have-nothing-hide
NEWSMAX
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Says She Still Supports Trump. DD: I have always supported the Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, including those who blame me for their defeats and/or who have taken big adverse actions against me. I should write about that.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/epstein-files-marjorietaylorgreene/2025/11/16/id/1234766/
POST MILLENNIAL
— Trump urges house Republicans to ‘vote to release the Epstein files’
https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-president-trump-urges-house-republicans-to-vote-to-release-the-epstein-files
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— From CRT to Campus Protest: The Making of a Mamdani Voter. DD: How many Mamdani voters are there in Illinois, your county, your township, your municipality, your school district, and your precinct?
https://www.aol.com/articles/crt-campus-protest-making-mamdani-115612569.html
— The Rise of City Leftists: Mamdani, Wilson and the Democrats. DD: Ever-increasingly, because of Democrat victories, just about everyone around me is moving to the left. What does that say about them?
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/11/17/the_rise_of_city_leftists_mamdani_wilson_and_the_democrats.amp.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Trump on H-1B visas: US lacks enough ‘talented people.’ DD: Are you talented? According to my critics/opponents, I am not. They stress that my ACT score was only 24, that I only just barely made it into the upper 20% of my high school class, that I got no scholarships, that while I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree and three job-related master’s degrees, my GPAs were not that great, and that while I passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examinations on my first attempt, my scores could have been better. They stress that I did not earn my master’s degrees until I was 27, 31, and 48, that I did not take the CPA examination until I was 30 and the CIA examination until I was 32, and that while I became a licensed CPA, it was not until I was 32. But more than the aforesaid, they stress the many big adverse actions a) that my Democrat superiors in the federal government took against me and b) that my Republican superiors in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois took against me.
https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-h-1b-visas-us-135445060.html
ABC NEWS
— How Hegseth’s newly proposed military fitness standards compare to existing tests. DD: I was 1-A for the Vietnam War draft. My critics/opponents have always used against me big time my getting student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971. Did you try to enlist? I did not. But if I had, would my not being able to run because I had a bone disease, my eyesight not being correctable to 20/20, and my partial red/green color blindness have disqualified me? What if I had stressed the aforesaid when I got my physical examination for the Vietnam War draft when I was 18 in 1966?
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/hegseths-newly-proposed-military-fitness-standards-compare-existing/story?id=126110550
AOL
— US inflation rate climbs to 3% in September; highest this year
https://www.aol.com/finance/us-inflation-rate-climbs-3-124724769.html
— How Does the 2.8% COLA for 2026 Compare Historically? DD: My critics/opponents continue to be furious a) that I got COLAs while I was a federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 and b) that I have gotten COLAs as federal retiree since 1997. My critics/opponents a) would never stoop to take a federal job or b) failed/refused to qualify themselves for federal jobs. I qualified myself for my Post Office job by passing the postal employment examination and earning a high school diploma. I qualified myself for my IRS job by passing the Federal Service Entrance Examination and earning a bachelor’s degree in business. I qualified myself for my GAO job by earning an MBA and passing the CPA examination on my first attempt.
https://www.aol.com/finance/does-social-securitys-2-8-084400236.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— In Israel, Adams Raises Doubts About Safety of Jews in New York. Mayor Eric Adams painted an alarming picture of his city under his successor, Mamdani, saying, “If I were a Jewish New Yorker, I’d be concerned about my children.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/nyregion/eric-adams-israel-safety-mamdani.html
— Trump, in Reversal, Urges House to Approve Releasing Epstein Files
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11/16/us/trump-news
WASHINGTON POST
— In shift, Trump says House should vote to release Epstein files
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/16/house-epstein-discharge-petition-trump/
— Seattle’s coming socialist experiment
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/11/16/seattle-socialist-mayor-katie-wilson-mamdani/
KQED
— DD: As Enforcement Intensifies, Churches Become Sanctuaries for illegals. Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that GOD condemns the concepts of countries, borders, and laws. How much success are Democrat leaders having in your church?
https://www.kqed.org/news/12063793/as-enforcement-intensifies-churches-become-sanctuaries-for-immigrants-seeking-peace
KTRH
— Mamdani Win Shows Legal Immigration Is As Harmful As Illegal Immigration
https://ktrh.iheart.com/featured/houston-texas-news/content/2025-11-14-mamdani-win-shows-legal-immigration-is-as-harmful-as-illegal-immigration/
FORTUNE
— Meta is hiring entry-level roles that pay up to $290,000 a year and require little prior experience. DD: What entry-level jobs did you have? I had three. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU when I was 21 years old in 1970. My first entry-level job was a Retail Sales Manager for a Firestone Store. My salary was about $50,000/year in today’s dollars for a 44-hour workweek. In 1971, my second entry-level job was a GS-7 IRS Revenue Officer. The salary was $55,850/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination. My taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola helped me get promoted to GS-9 ($68,315/year) in 1972, to GS-11 ($82,655/year) in 1973, and to GS-12 ($99,069/year) in 1974. I earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. In 1980, my third entry-level job was a GS-9 Step 10 GAO Analyst, The salary was $88,808/year in today’s dollars. To get that job, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980.
https://fortune.com/2025/10/17/meta-hiring-200k-dollars-six-figure-entry-level-software-engineer-jobs-gen-z-careers-tech-industry-dwindling-opportunities/
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
— Hiring Trends: Skills, Credentials and Potential. DD: Meeting and exceeding Affirmative Action and DEI quotas, goals, and targets was always my employers’ top priority. The Democrats who ran the Post Office in 1966, IRS in 1971, and GAO in 1980 hired me because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. As they came to realize that I was not going to become a Democrat, they ever-increasingly wasted my career and they succeed in forcing me to retire when I was 49 in 1997. They ever-increasingly wasted my work experience and what I had learned earning a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://patimes.org/hr-hiring-trends-skills-credentials-and-potential/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Recruiting and retaining a well-qualified workforce is a critical concern for public administrators. To provide effective, efficient and responsive services, employees must be carefully selected for their roles. There is a long-standing debate about whether hiring should focus on their skills developed through experience, formal credentials or their potential. The Society for Human Resource Management has reported that employers practicing skills-based hiring increased from 56% in 2022 to 81% in 2024. While the short-term trend is clear, public administrators should be cognizant of both the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.)
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— OPM seeks fast-track removal of federal employees for ‘suitability’ reasons in proposed rule. DD: According to Democrats, to be suitable for a federal job, you must be a Democrat who is minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-retention/2025/06/opm-seeks-fast-track-removal-of-federal-employees-for-suitability-reasons-in-proposed-rule/
NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Why Are IQ Scores Suddenly Falling?
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/american-adult-lower-iq-scores-cognitive-decline-technology-flynn-effect.html
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES
SPECTATOR
— Far left is the new face of the Democratic Party. DD: Ever-increasingly, because of Democrat victories, just about everyone around me is moving to the left. What does that say about them?
https://www.spectator.com.au/2025/11/far-left-is-the-new-face-of-the-democratic-party/
INDEPENDENT
— Fox News host Jesse Watters blames single women for Mamdani’s socialist takeover in New York. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly discourage traditional marriage and family. Affirmative Action and DEI discourage traditional marriage and family.
https://www.aol.com/news/fox-news-host-jesse-watters-015034229.html
HINDUSTAN TIMES
— Mamdani slammed after raising $1 million for transition
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/new-york-city-mayor-elect-zohran-mamdani-slammed-after-raising-1-million-for-transition-affordability-is-expensive-101763315207921.html
INDIA TODAY
— Why buying health insurance should be your first move in personal finance. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, the federal government paid 72% of my health insurance premiums. That helped me endure my Democrat superiors’ tremendous efforts to get rid of me. My critics/opponents ever-increasingly demonize, denigrate, and condemn the 72% health insurance subsidy a) that I got when I was federal employee, 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.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/other/why-buying-health-insurance-should-be-your-first-move-in-personal-finance/ar-AA1QzayW
