The hottest Crime Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Rand Paul Is Going It Alone. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 519 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. Rand Paul is positioning himself as a lone, influential critic inside his party, using his committee role to challenge mass deportation policies and warn about overfunding ICE.
  2. AI is already changing everyday life: tools like ChatGPT can catch medical mistakes and new “no-code” AI platforms let nonprogrammers build useful apps quickly.
  3. Bitcoin’s recent crash wasn’t about lost faith but about leveraged perp trades; extreme borrowing (10x–50x) forced mass sell-offs and wiped out many investors.

Indictment!

Steady • 29167 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. A former president has been indicted and it has a significant impact on our nation.
  2. The indictment highlights the broader issues in our political landscape beyond just one individual.
  3. The situation emphasizes the importance of fighting for democratic ideals and the future of the country.

Can You Get Away with Murder in the Woods?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 190 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
⚔ Fiction Crime
  1. A woman in a controlling relationship conspires with his ex to kill him, picking the secluded Maine woods as their planned crime scene.
  2. The protagonist’s prepper upbringing and successful ‘girlboss’ life collide with darker impulses, turning survival skills into a tool for violence and liberation.
  3. The small-town and Appalachian Trail setting creates a tense, eerie mood where plans unravel and suspense builds as things don’t go according to plan.

Canada and the U.S. Now Have Something Horrific in Common

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 426 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. A mass shooting at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge killed and injured many, erasing the belief that school shootings are only an American problem.
  2. The town is tiny and remote, so residents, victims, and the shooter were closely connected and the whole community is deeply traumatized.
  3. Canadian officials used different language and approaches—calling the suspect 'gunperson' and respecting a preferred gender identity—highlighting a distinct national response to such violence.

Whatever Happened to Sex? Plus . . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 403 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. Many American couples are having far less sex than in past decades, with factors like tiredness, performance anxiety, hormonal changes, social media, porn, and even AI sex tech all cited as contributing to a real cultural shift toward disconnection.
  2. Rapid advances in AI and growing concern about social media’s effects on kids are changing everyday life and prompting new policy fights, as people and governments rush to respond to technological disruption.
  3. Institutions and politics are under strain, from debates over grade inflation at elite universities and a high-profile antitrust ouster to problems in refugee resettlement and public-safety failures, reflecting wider organizational and political conflict.
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China Caught

Diane Francis • 1218 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. China has been cheating in trade by stealing ideas and lying about its deals. This has been hurting businesses and countries that rely on China.
  2. NATO has accused China of supporting Russia by giving them supplies, even after China promised not to. This shows that China can't be trusted in international agreements.
  3. China is also involved in the drug trade, providing materials to Mexican cartels. Despite their denials, evidence shows they continue to help with drug problems.

Putting Clan Over Country Will Ruin America

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2476 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Putting clan or family loyalty above the wider society creates a system that rewards short-term kin interests and discourages cooperation. That dynamic can enable fraud and other social harms.
  2. Immigrant communities that cluster and keep strong sectarian ties can become parallel societies. Those parallel societies weaken civic bonds and risk social fracture if they don’t integrate.
  3. Adopting shared civic norms and full assimilation is presented as necessary to prevent these fractures. Ignoring the problem under multicultural defenses lets harmful practices continue.

WATCH: The Epstein Tapes, Part II: The Eye of the Law

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 190 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Twelve hours of footage from Data Set 9 show a yearslong cat-and-mouse between Epstein and investigators, including police searches, depositions, and an FBI sting to recover his “little black book.”
  2. Where earlier videos focused on Epstein’s private world, this batch centers on how law enforcement worked over many years to investigate and dismantle his network.
  3. The files were unusually hard to access because the DOJ site lacked easy browsing and the batch was partially pulled after complaints that some files contained unredacted child pornography, limiting public availability.

The Afrikaners Welcomed to America—and the Ukrainians Forced to Leave. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 431 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. America’s refugee policy is being applied selectively: some groups, like white South African Afrikaners, were welcomed but now struggle with poor housing and scarce support, while many Ukrainians who fled war are stuck in legal limbo or forced to leave after relief programs were paused.
  2. A large DOJ release of Jeffrey Epstein-related videos contains disturbing footage that exposes more of his network, but the files are massive and hard to search or browse.
  3. Drones are moving into everyday life with cheap, practical uses—pizza delivery, disaster relief, even catching car thieves—signaling a fast-growing drone age with broad social effects.

UPDATE: Woman charged with homicide of Mika Westwolf 

Popular Information • 19890 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
📰 News Crime
  1. A woman has been charged with the homicide of Mika Westwolf after initially facing lesser charges
  2. Investigation into Mika Westwolf's death gained national attention after being under-resourced and misfocused initially
  3. Mika Westwolf's mother engaged in a campaign raising awareness about her daughter's case and other missing and murdered Indigenous women

Cardinal Dolan’s Exit Interview. De-escalation in Minneapolis. Allie Beth Stuckey Responds to Hillary Clinton. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 449 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. Timothy Cardinal Dolan is retiring after 17 years as a blunt, influential voice for the American Catholic Church, and he’s been active in political and religious debates, notably speaking out on rising antisemitism.
  2. Big political announcements often don’t change outcomes: promises to disband the Department of Education haven’t come to pass, and ICE’s reported pullback in Minnesota coincided with local actions that still enabled federal immigration enforcement.
  3. Technology is shaking institutions and norms: AI and stolen exams have undermined the integrity of top high school math contests, while tech stocks and Bitcoin have fallen as markets rethink risky, growth-focused assets.

Parricide

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1613 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
📰 News Crime
  1. A brutal murder happened on that block when a mentally disturbed young woman was released and then stabbed her mother, and she’s now back in confinement.
  2. The house where the killing occurred was bought, cleaned and renovated, then sold again, showing that properties with violent histories can be resold and aren’t always searchable in public records.
  3. The offender contacted the new owner from the institution with threatening messages, and the institution assured the owner the woman would not be released.

How to hire a dark net hitman

How to Survive the Internet • 139 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
📰 News Crime
  1. There are dark net sites that seem to offer hitmen for hire, but many are scams. People might pay money, but they often get nothing in return.
  2. A journalist and his team discovered real dangers behind these sites, revealing 175 kill requests and helping authorities make 34 arrests. This shows the serious risks involved.
  3. Podcasts can have a big impact on solving crimes. By working with law enforcement, journalists can help protect people and uncover hidden dangers in the digital world.

El Salvador Update

Cremieux Recueil • 628 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Crime
  1. A harsh, large-scale anti-gang campaign has sharply cut murders and made public life feel much safer, and most Salvadorans approve despite mistakes and heavy‑handed policing.
  2. Improved security hasn’t yet produced rapid economic growth—poverty and visible class segregation remain, and it’s unclear how the government will turn safety into higher incomes.
  3. There are real trade-offs and risks: civil‑liberty abuses and wrongful detentions occurred, petty crime could reemerge without stronger state capacity, and social problems like obesity and inequality persist.

How the FBI Is Searching for Nancy Guthrie

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 259 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. An 84-year-old woman vanished from her home near Tucson, and doorbell camera footage shows a masked person with a gun at her front door.
  2. Investigators have released few details and faced early stumbles, so they are relying on limited clues like the video to guide the search.
  3. A veteran FBI hostage-rescue founder is providing expert analysis on how the bureau is likely handling the case and interpreting the scant evidence.

After 35 years in prison, Charlie Vaughn is free

The Watch • 832 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
📰 News Crime
  1. A man with a severe intellectual disability spent 35 years in prison for a murder he did not commit after giving a coerced confession and receiving poor legal representation.
  2. Systemic failures — including inadequate public defense, prosecutorial and investigative problems, misuse of jailhouse informants, and the restrictive AEDPA law — made it extremely difficult to correct his wrongful conviction.
  3. Sustained legal advocacy and community support secured his release via an Alford plea, giving him housing, care, and the opportunity to continue fighting to clear his name.

‘They Messed with the Wrong City.’ Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 454 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
📰 News Crime
  1. Protests in Minneapolis have mounted fierce local resistance to federal deportation operations after the killing of Alex Pretti, and residents think that pressure may force a policy turnaround.
  2. The return of the final hostage from Gaza ends an 843-day effort to ‘bring them home,’ leaving survivors and families with a complicated mix of relief and grief and tough questions about what comes next.
  3. AI is already shaping religious life—many sermons may be co-written with machines—which raises real questions about whether and how AI should participate in spiritual practice.

Former DEA official's alleged co-conspirator in attempt to launder cartel money is infamous former CIA operative

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 1444 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
📰 News Crime
  1. A former senior DEA financial official and Robert Mario Sensi were indicted for allegedly trying to support the CJNG by laundering $12 million and offering advice on fentanyl production and weaponized drones.
  2. Robert Mario Sensi is an infamous ex‑CIA operative with a long record of legal trouble, including a conviction for stealing $2.5 million, SEC liability in a pyramid scheme, and a recent bankruptcy filing.
  3. Sensi allegedly offered to procure drones capable of carrying kilograms of explosives, and his combination of intelligence ties and criminal history makes the accusations a serious national and international security concern.

This Week in Canada: The Tragedy of Tumbler Ridge

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 185 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge killed eight people and injured 27, but the motive remains unclear and claims that the 18-year-old shooter was medically transitioned are unconfirmed by health authorities.
  2. U.S. lawmakers are siding with Canada over tariffs, and discussions of tariff relief are gaining momentum.
  3. Political tensions are rising, with renewed talk of Alberta separatism reportedly getting help from the U.S., and public attention turning to past political moments like the 'Shawinigan Handshake'.

what the epstein dump is and is not

bad cattitude • 195 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. The email dump is not a single smoking gun, but its huge volume can create patterns that, taken together, may point to wrongdoing even if individual messages don’t prove anything.
  2. The files contain lots of odd euphemisms and coincidences—pizza, dentist talk, 'beef jerky', strange ranch activity and unusual transactions—that make the situation highly suspicious but also ambiguous, so careful verification is essential to avoid misreading jokes or false claims.
  3. Powerful actors appear to be downplaying or obscuring the matter and the network seems active rather than bygone, so persistent, cautious investigation and document validation are needed despite political and psychological barriers.

UPDATE: The truth about Target 

Popular Information • 11556 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Target closed stores due to theft, but data showed lower levels of theft in those locations.
  2. Retailers like Target may be using theft to cover up other issues affecting their businesses.
  3. The cost of organized retail crime is a small fraction of total retail losses, with operational errors and employee theft accounting for the majority of shrink.

Did COVID Vaccine Advocates Commit Plagiarism?

Igor’s Newsletter • 7114 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
📰 News Crime
  1. Plagiarism controversy in academic circles is widening due to cultural controversies.
  2. Investigate COVID vaccine advocates for possible acts of plagiarism using plagiarism detection tools.
  3. Avoid making false accusations of plagiarism by verifying findings thoroughly before affecting someone's reputation.

New column by me in the Wall Street Journal: The Epstein ‘Transparency’ Travesty

Michael Tracey • 76 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
📰 News Crime
  1. A major newspaper column offers a distinct, possibly first-of-its-kind perspective on the Epstein Files within mainstream American media.
  2. A profile in an entertainment outlet quoted something the interviewee says they didn’t say, and the interviewee emphasizes avoiding the loaded phrase “conspiracy theory” in favor of a more measured stance.
  3. The column is being shared via a free online link and will appear in the newspaper’s print edition, and the related profile was unexpected but came across as generally positive.

U.S. Government seized "approximately 17 phones" from former DEA official charged with narcoterrorism and money laundering

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 1078 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
📰 News Crime
  1. Two former U.S. officials — a high-ranking ex-DEA financial official and a former CIA operative — were indicted on charges of allegedly providing material support to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and money laundering, and they were brought into court in shackles.
  2. Investigators seized about 17 phones and other electronic storage and obtained warrants for Apple iCloud, Google accounts, and GPS location data, indicating a large volume of digital evidence.
  3. The court set a follow-up conference to manage extensive discovery (scheduled for Feb 6), bail for one defendant was previously denied without prejudice, and the judge disclosed a past professional tie to a prosecutor but said he can remain impartial.

Former CIA operative attempted to introduce DEA asset to Colombian FTO in Curaçao, according to U.S. attorneys

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 569 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
📰 News Crime
  1. Former CIA operative Robert Sensi and ex‑DEA official Paul Campo are accused of laundering millions and facilitating large drug deals for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, including converting cash into cryptocurrency and paying for hundreds of kilograms of cocaine.
  2. Prosecutors say Sensi tried to arrange a meeting in Curaçao between a DEA confidential source (posing as a CJNG member) and a representative of a U.S.‑designated Colombian foreign terrorist group. He allegedly discussed sourcing weapons like rifles and even C‑4 explosives.
  3. U.S. attorneys filed WhatsApp messages and other evidence, including many seized phones, to oppose Sensi's bail and argue that his travel and actions show he remains a flight and public‑safety risk despite his age and medical problems.

The Epstein Myth Unravels: Why Capitulating to Hysteria Only Fueled Prince Andrew's Downfall

Michael Tracey • 121 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. Widespread media and public hysteria amplified uncorroborated allegations and helped precipitate Prince Andrew's downfall despite weak supporting evidence.
  2. Investigators reportedly found inconsistencies and a lack of corroboration in the central accuser's claims, with little evidence for the alleged large-scale trafficking and secret blackmail scheme.
  3. Royal settlements and public concessions unintentionally fueled the panic instead of calming it, showing the need to prioritize evidence and reason over worldview-driven myths.

Running towards danger

Wrong Side of History • 693 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
📰 News Crime
  1. Ordinary people often run toward danger and stop or limit terrorist attacks, risking their own lives to save others.
  2. Those who act come from all walks of life—immigrants, tourists, servicemen, and even reformed offenders—and their quick decisions can prevent mass casualties.
  3. Such bravery can carry terrible personal cost, including serious injury or death, but it also brings public gratitude, awards, and community support.

Another year over, and a new one just begun

Wrong Side of History • 465 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Crime
  1. 2025 felt like a tech and medical tipping point, with big AI advances and major medical breakthroughs promising longer, healthier lives.
  2. Britain’s political consensus broke down as new parties rose and government missteps exposed deep questions about national identity and a needs-based approach many see as unfair to the majority.
  3. Culture wars over 'woke' policies, DEI, and education are eroding institutions and careers, leaving many people frustrated even as infrastructure and progress projects are promoted as solutions.

Former CIA station chief requests imprisonment delay to prevent 'grave physical harm' from drug traffickers at FDC Miami

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 447 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
📰 News Crime
  1. A 69-year-old former CIA chief asked to delay his prison surrender, saying placement in FDC Miami would expose him to “grave physical harm” because many inmates are accused narcotics offenders from South America.
  2. He was convicted and sentenced to two concurrent 366-day terms for selling access to classified information through the lobbying firm BGR; the case drew sharp criticism from some former colleagues while his lawyer highlighted his prior covert service.
  3. After legal filings, the Bureau of Prisons corrected his facility designation on January 5 and his counsel withdrew the transfer motions, a development that occurred alongside other high-profile detention disputes such as the Robert Sensi matter.

BREAKING: I found the real "coverup" in the Epstein Files!

Michael Tracey • 170 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
📰 News Crime
  1. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York said they were unable to corroborate Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s central claims and noted numerous internal inconsistencies, admissions of lying, and unverified sensational statements.
  2. Her allegations became the linchpin of much of the Epstein trafficking and blackmail narrative and produced major media, political, and legal fallout, even as prosecutors documented serious doubts about her credibility.
  3. A DOJ memo outlining these doubts was uploaded and later removed, raising questions about how documents and evidence in the Epstein matter have been handled and what may have been concealed.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 86

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Crime
  1. A weekend roundup curates eleven standout links that span culture, design, nature, and true crime.
  2. Standouts include a deep dive on Coca‑Cola’s formula change and its corporate fallout, an odd personal anecdote about a ping‑pong champion, and an amateur’s claim to connect two famous cold cases.
  3. The mix balances light, clickable pieces—like book dedications and snowy‑owl videos—with longer investigative and historical reads, so you can skim or dive deep.

This Week in Canada: Extremism Is Extremely Normal

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 514 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
📰 News Crime
  1. A foiled terror plot revealed a small group driven by hatred of women and Jewish people, with arrests and weapons linked to ISIS.
  2. Law enforcement made arrests but officials still don’t seem fully clear-eyed or prepared, so a single bust doesn’t mean the wider threat is gone.
  3. Everyday crimes and justice debates, like disputes over race-based sentencing and near-miss shoplifting incidents, show deeper social tensions and inconsistent responses from the system.

Undeclared

Doomberg • 7460 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. The relationship between immigration and organized crime can be complex. Some immigration patterns have led to an increase in crime, but it’s important not to judge entire communities based on the actions of a few individuals.
  2. The fentanyl crisis in North America is serious, with both Canada and the US struggling with it. It's important for countries to work together to address the flow of illegal drugs across borders.
  3. Political decisions, like tariffs, can trigger strong reactions from countries involved. Canada felt threatened by the recent US tariffs, highlighting how deeply interconnected their economies and issues are.

Breaking: Photo of Scientology's Obstructor-In-Chief Julian Swartz Published For The First Time

Yashar's Newsletter • 5719 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
📰 News Crime
  1. Julian Swartz, a top Scientology official, has been covering up crimes, particularly those involving sexual violence, for years.
  2. Swartz's role in Scientology is to protect the organization at all costs, even if it means committing crimes like silencing victims and destroying lives.
  3. Swartz has been involved in covering up sex crimes by Scientologists, including cases of sexual assault, rape, and molestation of children.

Things Worth Remembering: The Dangers of Multiculturalism

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 7391 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. There are crimes that society ignores because they go against popular beliefs. This makes it hard for people to talk about these issues openly.
  2. Many people are starting to recognize the serious problem of gang crimes that have targeted vulnerable young girls in specific communities.
  3. It's important for the public to be aware of these issues and to discuss them, even if it goes against the dominant narratives.

TGIF: Life of a Showgirl

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2160 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Trump is making a lot of money from cryptocurrencies, especially since the election, and his family's crypto ventures are linked to some controversial companies.
  2. Americans are uncertain about their wealth due to mixed job reports and potential data manipulation by authorities to present a specific economic narrative.
  3. The crime situation in Washington D.C. is downplayed by some, despite high rates of car theft and lingering concerns about safety among residents.

Swindling Geologist 2 (Pt 2 of 2)

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 319 implied HN points • 25 Jul 24
💾 History Crime
  1. A swindler pretended to be a geologist to steal valuable books and fossils. He was caught and went to jail but continued his con artist ways after being released.
  2. The swindler used different names and identities to deceive people and even stole microscopes from a university. His actions led to long prison sentences, but he kept going back to his old ways afterward.
  3. The success of these con artists was partly due to the trust placed in them by local naturalists and scientists. They were often seen as experts, which made their scams easier to pull off.