Amanda's Substack

Wealth Can Fund a Narrative. It Cannot Create Results.

Amanda Szulc — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:02:02 GMT

I have lived in Illinois my entire life. I have watched this state change, and not always for the better. As a precinct committee-person and someone who spends a great deal of time writing, researching, and listening to residents, I hear the same concerns over and over: rising taxes, the cost of simply living here, and the quiet frustration of people who feel the system no longer works for them. These are not abstract policy debates to the families I talk with. They are the difference between keeping their heads above water and falling further behind.

The Quiet Killer of Illinois Conservatism

Amanda Szulc — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:38:17 GMT

Darren Bailey and Aaron DelMar won the Republican primary for governor and lieutenant governor. That should have been a moment of momentum for a party that has struggled for decades in Illinois. While some Republican candidates and officials have shown support, the broader response has been marked by hesitation and silence. Too many have stayed quiet or kept their distance. In a state where Republicans have been out of power for so long, this lack of full and public unity after a primary is not just disappointing — it is self-defeating.

Grateful for a Country Worth Defending

Amanda Szulc — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:13:48 GMT

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

One Nation Under God: What Flag Day Should Remind Us

Amanda Szulc — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 20:21:09 GMT

“And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”

They Can Mock the Voice, But They Can’t Silence the Truth

Amanda Szulc — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:41:16 GMT

About three years ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. Along with the chronic fatigue, constant body pain, brain fog, and inflammation that come with this autoimmune condition, I developed nodules on my vocal cords. The strain and inflammation have left my voice hoarse, strained, and at times genuinely painful to use.

The Vendetta Against an Entire Family

Amanda Szulc — Sat, 23 May 2026 13:56:09 GMT

Last night, I saw a headline that deeply disturbed me.

They Erased Gender Dysphoria — And Then They Came for Our Children

Amanda Szulc — Tue, 19 May 2026 14:42:54 GMT

In 1980, “Gender Identity Disorder” was listed in the DSM-5 as a mental health condition. In May 2013, it was quietly removed and replaced with “Gender Dysphoria.” The stated goal was to reduce stigma. What it actually did was normalize a psychological condition and open the door for irreversible medical interventions on children and teenagers.

Teachers Aren’t Teaching — They’re Recruiting

Amanda Szulc — Sat, 02 May 2026 22:14:43 GMT

As an early childhood educator with over eleven years in Illinois classrooms — and a proud resident of Joliet — I entered this profession to teach children how to read, think critically, solve problems, and develop character. What happened in Chicago on May 1, 2026, was not education. It was a betrayal.

What Will I Do With the Time That Is Given to Me?

Amanda Szulc — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:40:45 GMT

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, the young hobbit Frodo Baggins is overwhelmed by the heavy burden of the One Ring and the evil it represents. In a moment of deep despair, he says to the wise wizard Gandalf:

When Will Enough Be Enough?

Amanda Szulc — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 03:24:31 GMT

I am still in shock.

When the Enemy Comes at Night

Amanda Szulc — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:07:21 GMT

Last night I woke up shaken in a way I haven’t been in years.

Selective Memory: The Left’s Convenient Amnesia on Immigration and Security

Amanda Szulc — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:43:56 GMT

A growing source of political division isn’t honest policy disagreement — it’s selective memory. Democratic leaders have spent years branding Republican ideas as radical, cruel, or dangerous — even when they themselves once endorsed or defended nearly identical policies. This isn’t debate. It’s hypocrisy that erodes trust and makes real conversation impossible.

The Real Tyranny Isn’t Trump — It’s the Selective Outrage That Threatens Our Republic

Amanda Szulc — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:38:14 GMT

“Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

The Real Scandal Isn’t ICE — It’s the Politicians Who Vilify Them

Amanda Szulc — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 21:34:12 GMT

There is such a dangerous narrative that paints ICE agents as something they are not. They are simply doing their job—removing people who are here illegally and taking violent criminals off the streets. In my admittedly limited experience, ICE agents are decent and upstanding people who risk a great deal in the normal course of their duties, often facin…

They're Not After Trump—They're After Us

Amanda Szulc — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:05:22 GMT

This is not merely a political story. It is a moral and constitutional one, rooted in the unchanging truth that God values honesty, justice, and the protection of the vulnerable. On February 22, 2026, in the early morning hours, a 21-year-old man named Austin Tucker Martin breached the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago armed with a shotgun and a gas can. Secret Service agents and local deputies responded decisively; he was killed, and no one else was harmed. Thank God for His mercy in that moment.

Wake Up, Illinois: The Audacity of J.B. Pritzker's Epstein Jab While His Own Record Is a Disaster

Amanda Szulc — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:02:06 GMT

As a conservative Christian writer committed to honoring God, defending truth, and standing in the light, I approach this analysis with a conviction rooted in biblical principles of integrity and accountability. Leaders are called to exemplify moral seriousness, as Proverbs 29:2 reminds us: “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (ESV).

Courage for My Faith

Amanda Szulc — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:16:20 GMT

September 10th, 2025, is a day forever seared into my soul—not just as the tragic loss of a bold voice, but as the spark of a divine revival that rekindled my own walk with God.

Never Underestimate the Power of Your Voice

Amanda Szulc — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:00:23 GMT

There are moments in politics when the noise grows so loud that it threatens to drown out something essential: truth handled with integrity.

Who Is the Super Bowl Really For Now?

Amanda Szulc — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 02:04:06 GMT

I have been playing the piano and singing for twenty-eight years. Music has been one of the most positive, grounding forces in my life — a constant that transcends politics, background, and belief. I have deep respect for artists across genres, even when their style is not my own, because at its best, music unites people rather than divides them.

Stop Pretending This Is Just Protest

Amanda Szulc — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 20:35:17 GMT

Author’s Note: