September 23, 2026

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC5
— Secret Service prepares for President Trump’s visit to Chicago suburbs. President Trump has yet to announce which day he will attend this weekend’s Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/secret-service-preps-for-president-trumps-visit-to-chicago-suburbs/3992464/

WTTW
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/09/22/key-city-panel-advances-push-force-firms-disclose-whether-they-are-profiting-immigration

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Legalizing video gambling terminals is a bad bet for Chicago. DD: In 2009, I led the successful effort to ban video gambling in Wheaton. In 2019, I led the successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2026/09/23/legalizing-video-gambling-terminals-is-a-bad-bet-for-chicago

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders organize protests against Trump at Medinah.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260922/nation-and-world-politics/pushback-protesters-to-converge-on-medinah-for-trumps-presidents-cup-visit/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Daily Herald reached out to several suburban Republican organizations, but none said they plan counterprotests. The Presidents Cup “is a really big deal for all the hotels, restaurants and businesses in the area,” DuPage County Republican Chairman Kevin Coyne said. “They’re hoping that the whole thing doesn’t get out of control and hurts their businesses. So out of respect to them and the event, we’re probably not going to add to any onsite party-organized events. “I’m sure there will be some supporters of the president there doing something but not organized by us,” Coyne noted. “By and large, the, Republicans aren’t into the whole jumping up and down on the street thing. The whole public mob thing is usually a Democratic activity.”)
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: Earliest convenience: Midterm voting starts Thursday for many suburbanites.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260922/news/earliest-convenience-midterm-voting-starts-thursday-for-many-suburbanites/
— Trump administration to remove 760,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees over fraud claims.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260922/nation-and-world-politics/trump-administration-to-remove-760000-affordable-care-act-enrollees-over-fraud-claims/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Duckworth slams Trump for ‘cozying up’ to Xi as Illinois waits on China trade.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-duckworth-trump-china-20260922/
— UChicago, Northwestern slip in U.S. college rankings.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/education/ccb-us-news-college-rankings-uchicago-northwestern-9th-20260922/

SOUTHERN
— DOJ defends White House news bans, saying access a ‘privilege’ and citing national security concerns. DD: Ever-increasingly, the mainstream news media exists a) to elect Democrats and b) to defeat Republicans.
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/09/23/doj-defends-white-house-news-bans-saying-access-a-privilege-and-citing-national-security-concerns/

DECATUR RADIO
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly push more pot.
https://www.decaturradio.com/2026/09/23/state-rep-proposes-cannabis-freedom-payments/

SHAW LOCAL
— 2026 Election Questionnaire: Don Tracy, United States Senate
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/election/2026/09/22/2026-election-questionnaire-don-tracy-united-states-senate/

NPR ILLINOIS
— White House launches ‘Trump TV’ after ban on major news outlets.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-09-22/white-house-launches-trump-tv-after-ban-on-major-news-outlets
— Major news outlets banned by Trump will have their day in court.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-09-23/major-news-outlets-banned-by-trump-will-have-their-day-in-court

FOX ILLINOIS
— Republicans want to turn Mamdani into a bogeyman for the midterms. Trump just made that harder. Trump has surprised many by showing support for Mamdani, a well-known democratic socialist.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/republicans-want-to-turn-mamdani-into-a-bogeyman-for-the-midterms-trump-just-made-that/article_f00e0734-b818-55a8-930f-00a791b29015.html

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Cruz rips ‘right-wing socialism,’ says GOP shouldn’t be ‘giving away free stuff.’
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/cruz-rips-right-wing-socialism-says-gop-shouldnt-be-giving-away-free-stuff/

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Lawsuit Seeks To Stop Giannoulias, Pappas, Quigley From Running for Mayor, Other Offices At Same Time.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/22/lawsuit-seeks-to-stop-giannoulias-pappas-quigley-from-running-for-mayor-other-offices-at-same-time/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— A legal wrinkle in the mayor’s race.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/09/23/a-legal-wrinkle-in-the-mayors-race-01088733

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/09/22/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-600/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Pritzker May Be Shrinking — But Illinois’ Budget Isn’t.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/09/pritzker-may-be-shrinking-but-illinois-budget-isnt.html
— Springfield Doesn’t Need Ozempic – It Needs Darren Bailey and DOGE.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/09/springfield-doesnt-need-ozempic-it-needs-darren-bailey-and-doge.html

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Other states will take Illinoisans’ money if Pritzker doesn’t opt into federal scholarship program.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/education-freedom-tax-credit-illinois-students/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump administration inked $200,000-per-year contract for Flock cameras in D.C. area.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/22/trump-administration-inked-200000-per-year-contract-flock-cameras-dc/
— DSA, the party of no personal responsibility. DD: To advance under socialists, all you need to do is be a socialist. To advance under Democrats and RINOs, all you need to do is be a Democrat or a RINO. I have always been a Republican. I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years. To advance, I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional licenses, and a job-related professional license. None of my Democrat coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me came close to doing that.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/22/letter-editor-dsa-party-no-personal-responsibility/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Why Nikole Hannah-Jones is wrong about failing schools. DD: My parents sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools. That put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4737863/why-nikole-hannah-jones-is-wrong-about-failing-schools/

NEW YORK POST
— Socialist, communist groups coordinate, promote ‘spontaneous’ anti-ICE protests.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/22/us-news/socialist-communist-groups-coordinate-promote-spontaneous-anti-ice-protests-in-austin/
— Murders of transgender people primarily motivated by ‘intimate partner violence’ — not hate.
https://nypost.com/2026/09/22/us-news/transgender-people-have-lower-murder-rate-than-general-population-crimes-usually-committed-by-partners-report/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Socialist mayoral candidate was convicted for stealing food stamps, she says it qualifies her for the job.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/09/22/socialist-mayoral-candidate-was-convicted-for-stealing-food-stamps-she-says-it-qualifies-her-for-the-job-1660015/
— A tiny boat shows up off Florida carrying 22 migrants — 13 are from China.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/09/22/a-tiny-boat-shows-up-off-florida-carrying-22-migrants-13-are-from-china-1660073/

BREITBART
— Florida Chamber’s Billboards Name Pritzker Runner-Up for ‘Economic Developer of the Year’: ‘Thanks for the Jobs!’
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/09/22/florida-chambers-billboards-name-illinois-democrat-governor-pritzker-runner-up-for-economic-developer-of-the-year-thanks-for-the-jobs/

CENTER SQUARE
— Republicans distance from Trump ahead of midterms.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_f8ecb02f-bf42-4a3a-a645-c21359638a27.html

CREATORS SYNDICATE
— The Socialist Indoctrination Machine: Schools Are Teaching Young People to Embrace Big Government, Hate Capitalism.
https://www.creators.com/read/ken-buck/09/26/the-socialist-indoctrination-machine-schools-are-teaching-young-people-to-embrace-big-government-hate-capitalism

FEDERALIST
— Nikole Hannah-Jones’ Racism Is Why Her Daughter Can’t Do Math. DD: My critics/opponents blame those who do not share their demographics for their problems, for your problems, and for everyone’ problems. They blame those who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time. My critics/opponents who are the aforesaid blame those who are the aforesaid to curry favor with those who are not aforesaid.
https://thefederalist.com/2026/09/22/nikole-hannah-jones-racism-is-why-her-daughter-cant-do-math/

FOX BUSINESS
— Trump drops annihilation warning on Iran in fiery UN speech.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6405449723112

FOX NEWS
— House conservatives unleash multimillion-dollar midterm blitz against Dem ‘socialist’ insurgency.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-conservatives-unleash-multimillion-dollar-midterm-blitz-against-dem-socialist-insurgency.amp
— Arkansas Democratic Senate candidate Hallie Shoffner faces scrutiny for saying illegal immigrants are more valuable workers than Americans. DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they did not have to take bad jobs like I had to because they had wealthy parents. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/red-state-dem-faces-fury-suggesting-illegal-aliens-should-replace-american-workers

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Responsibility in Modern American Life. DD: My parents and teachers promoted personal responsibility. That put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/why-shit-matters-challenges-readers-rethink-responsibility-modern-american

NEWSMAX
— A third of Democrats reacting positively to a hypothetical assassination of Trump reflects a “communist socialist uprising.”
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/matt-schlapp-donald-trump-charlie-kirk/2026/09/22/id/1270331/

PJ MEDIA
— Where Did 4.5 Million Illegal Aliens, Who Arrived Under Joe Biden, End Up Staying in the U.S.?
https://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2026/09/22/where-did-45-million-illegal-aliens-who-arrived-under-joe-biden-end-up-staying-in-the-us-n4957519

TOWNHALL
— Democrat Leasers Use Illegal Immigration As ‘Path to Political Power.’
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/09/22/brandon-gill-democrats-think-america-belongs-to-the-world-welfare-for-illegals-n2683374
— 1619 Project Founder Nikole Hannah-Jones Exposed the Real Problem With Public Education. DD: My parents sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools. That put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://townhall.com/news/dmitri-bolt/2026/09/22/heres-the-real-problem-with-public-education-n2683392
— Like Her Daughter, Nikole Hannah-Jones Learned Nothing. DD: My parents sent me to Missouri Synod Lutheran grade schools. That put me on track to earn a job-related bachelor’s degree, three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-related professional license.
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/09/22/vip-hnj-will-learn-nothing-n2683315
— Arkansas Democrat Hallie Shoffner is trying to pull off the impossible: defeat Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR). And she’s not going to do that if you say things like “she’d trade five Americans for an illegal alien.” DD: All my employers would have hired noncitizens instead of me if they could have. My critics/opponents cannot say that because they did not have to take bad jobs like I had to because they had wealthy parents. I should write about my critics/opponents.
https://townhall.com/news/mattvespa/2026/09/22/arkansas-dem-doubles-down-on-trading-americans-for-illegal-aliens-remarks-n2683349

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

THE HILL
— Hegseth announces new Pentagon battlefield test for promotions to general. DD: I worked for the Democrats who ran IRS and GAO. To promote Democrat minorities and Democrat females, they ever-increasingly lowered their promotion standards. That ever-increasingly rendered worthless my three job-related master’s degrees, my six job-related professional licenses, and my job-related professional license.
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6104382-pentagon-new-general-promotion-test/

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: After Years as the Star of Must-See TV, Trump Faces the Sting of Cancellation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/us/politics/trump-television-reporters-cameras.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Republicans care more about tribal loyalty than conservative principles. DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. My critics/opponent reject some, many, most, virtually all, if not all the planks in the Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/republicans-care-more-about-tribal-loyalty-than-conservative-principles/2021/05/13/753abf64-b42b-11eb-ab43-bebddc5a0f65_story.html

USA TODAY
— Don’t call me a Republican. I’m a conservative. Trump and his MAGA GOP aren’t. DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. My critics/opponent reject some, many, most, virtually all, if not all the planks in the Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/05/11/trump-republican-party-maga-conservative/83481933007/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/07/21/trump-maga-republican-party-takeover-conservatives/74436739007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Buying a First Home Isn’t Completely Impossible. You Just Have to Learn to Settle. DD: Back in the good old days, back when I was 24 in 1972, I was able to buy a new townhome in University Park. SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/ . But it had only 1,000 square feet. In today’s dollars, I paid about $180,000 for it and the down payment would have been about $36,000. In today’s dollars, my IRS Revenue Officer salary had just 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 $88.700. That says worlds about real estate values in University Park.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/buying-a-first-home-isnt-completely-impossible-you-just-have-to-learn-to-settle-a4dce9e9

FORBES
— Republicans Afraid To ‘Push Back At The Socialists.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKu0idBGmbA
— DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors promoted over me were Democrats a) who were minority, female, younger than me, and/or veteran and/or b) who 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. It is called political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2016/08/19/a-guy-15-years-younger-than-me-is-now-my-boss-what-do-i-do/

AMERICAN PROSPECT
— How the Republican Party Forgot It Was Conservative. DD: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The Republican Party platform is conservative. My critics/opponent reject some, many, most, virtually all, if not all the planks in the Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks.
https://prospect.org/2026/03/27/apr-2026-magazine-how-republican-party-forgot-it-was-conservative/

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Trump Hates Communism But Likes Hanging Out With Communists.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-against-communism-but-pals-with-mamdani-and-xi.html

HR DIVE
— EEOC solicits anti-American bias charges. “Have you been harassed at work for speaking English or for being too American?” the agency’s chair asked workers in a video. DD: Democrats run the federal government. For them the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats, and especially Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.
https://www.hrdive.com/news/EEOC-Lucas-anti-American-bias/830317/

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.