The hottest Crime Substack posts right now

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

Lessons from Wall Street sex trafficker Howard Rubin

Sex and the State • 27 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Crime
  1. Rape is mainly about power, not sexual freedom, and abusers target people who are vulnerable and use control and coercion to harm them.
  2. Sexual shame and moralizing help abusers by silencing victims, letting others discredit survivors, and enabling recruitment and cover‑ups.
  3. Reducing sexual violence requires destigmatizing consensual sex, teaching accurate sex education, believing survivors, and holding perpetrators and enablers accountable.

Are These Mothers Starting a Revolt in England?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2128 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Mothers in Epping are protesting against the placement of male asylum seekers in their local hotel, feeling it puts their children at risk. They are particularly upset about a recent case involving the assault of a local girl by an asylum seeker.
  2. The protests have gained attention and support from locals, with many chanting for action to protect their community's children. There is a clear division in the community with some supporting the asylum seekers while others strongly oppose their presence.
  3. The situation highlights a growing tension between local concerns over safety and the broader issue of asylum seekers in the UK. It also shows how these issues can lead to conflict and escalate tensions within the community.

Remembering Rob Reiner. The Heroism of Jimmy Lai. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 426 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
đź“° News Crime
  1. Jimmy Lai has become a powerful symbol of press freedom after staying in Hong Kong to run Apple Daily, and he now faces sedition and collusion convictions with a possible life sentence after more than 1,800 days in solitary.
  2. Rob Reiner’s shocking murder has left a cultural void, and many criticized the president for mocking the dead instead of showing basic respect.
  3. The pieces highlight broader alarms: rising antisemitism forcing Jews into hiding, controversies over human-rights reporting such as Amnesty’s handling of Hamas, and a spate of violent events and policy shifts shaping global news.

Why Fake Kidnapping Stories Are Everywhere These Days

Shatter Zone • 4618 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
đź“° News Crime
  1. Fake kidnapping stories are prevalent in media due to their viral nature, not necessarily because they reflect real threats.
  2. Some individuals fabricate kidnapping stories online to gain followers or spread fear, contributing to misinformation and scams.
  3. Stories of kidnapping and human trafficking can be easily sensationalized and exploited for engagement on social media, leading to real-world consequences like paranoia and scams.
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Kidnapped by Russia. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 384 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
đź“° News Crime
  1. Thousands of Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia since 2022, and investigators and families are desperately trying to track and reunite them despite many cold leads.
  2. AI companies are hiring professional writers — sometimes for very high pay — to make chatbots more persuasive and to avoid poor, robotic output.
  3. Global tensions and instability are rising, with arguments that China wages a stealth campaign, alongside high-profile legal battles, mass shootings, and economic worries that are increasing public anxiety.

Why Jonathan Ross was legally justified in shooting Renée Good

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 230 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
đź“° News Crime
  1. The shooting of Renée Good is presented as legally justified because an officer facing a motorist driving toward him in a large, heavy vehicle can reasonably use deadly force.
  2. The broader context of dangerous, provocative protests—including motorists threatening officers—creates situations where police must have latitude to use lethal force for their safety.
  3. Many rebuttals and pseudo-forensic analyses miss or misstate the legal and practical point, but a finding of legal justification doesn’t erase the tragedy or make the outcome morally satisfying.

My Conversations With Luigi Mangione

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 6093 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Surrendering your freedom to make choices can lead to losing everything else that's important in life. It's essential to maintain your agency.
  2. It's easy for people to jump to conclusions about someone's actions without really knowing them. Personal experiences can provide deeper insights.
  3. Detachment from intense situations can help gain clarity and allow for more reasoned thoughts afterward. Taking time to reflect is valuable.

The Biggest Peacetime Crime—and Cover-up—in British History

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 5546 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Thousands of young girls in England were victims of grooming and serial rape for many years, and it continues to be a serious issue. Many people in power ignored these crimes for too long.
  2. The scandal has led to public outrage and demands for accountability, as many feel that both Conservative and Labour governments tried to hide the truth. People are calling for a full investigation into the matter.
  3. Elon Musk's comments on social media brought attention to the case, leading to a larger conversation about the need for justice for the victims and reform in British politics.

Are the Phones Really to Blame? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 398 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
đź“° News Crime
  1. Many people blame smartphones for youth mental-health and attention problems, sparking school phone bans and a low-tech backlash. Some experts say those harms are overstated and warn broad bans could hurt free expression and bring unintended costs.
  2. A powerful sedative called medetomidine has appeared in Philadelphia and is knocking users into dangerous, sleep-like states that can send them to the ER or leave them unconscious. Dealers are mixing it into cheap stamps, worsening the city's overdose crisis.
  3. Rising geopolitical risks are piling up: Trump’s aggressive posture in Latin America could accidentally trigger conflict, Ukraine refuses territorial concessions, and incidents like AI-chip smuggling and worries about Iranian operatives add to global instability. Together these developments are making the international situation more volatile.

The Audacious Roundup

The Audacity. • 1965 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
đź“° News Crime
  1. The Audacious Bookclub's February pick is _Martyr!_ by Kaveh Akbar.
  2. Roxane Gay's debut title from Roxane Gay Books is a finalist in the NAACP Image Awards.
  3. Various news and events in the literary and social justice world are highlighted.

The Extremely Gleeful, Extremely Dark Reaction to a CEO’s Killing

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 5216 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. A CEO was shot and killed in New York, capturing the attention of many people online. The video of the assassination showed a planned and cold-blooded act.
  2. Some people reacted to the murder in a troubling way, treating it as if it were a fictional scene from a movie. Critics expressed that they felt the CEO got what he deserved due to the company's actions.
  3. Comments on social media ranged from dark humor to openly supporting violence against executives, showing a disturbing sense of glee about the situation.

TGIF: Three Days In, Two Terrorist Attacks and a Subway Shove

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 4428 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. A man drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans while displaying an ISIS flag, leading to multiple fatalities, but authorities downplayed it as terrorism.
  2. In Las Vegas, another terrorist attempted to cause harm with a vehicle loaded with explosives but ended up only injuring himself and a few others.
  3. A subway incident in New York involved a random shove of a commuter, highlighting rising crime and dangerous behavior in public transport.

The Knot of Sovereignty

The J. Burden Show • 1098 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. The West is facing issues like immigration and declining birthrates, with leaders seemingly avoiding real solutions.
  2. There's a need for a new elite with both power and competence to address complex societal problems.
  3. Nayib Bukele of El Salvador is praised for his strong leadership, cutting through complex problems with decisive action.

Today's Epstein’s Records Destroy Official Narratives

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 64 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
đź“° News Crime
  1. Camera footage from the jail around Epstein’s death was deliberately removed, with documents saying an FBI agent physically took a hard drive so the key recordings are gone.
  2. Epstein ordered 55 gallons of sulfuric acid the same day a federal child‑sex trafficking probe began, a quantity that strongly suggests intent to destroy large amounts of material rather than any ordinary use.
  3. A federal record mentions a decoy dead body, and the files that survived redactions and delays collectively undermine the official account and point toward possible coordinated cover‑ups.

Was the UHC assassin a "pro"?

Read Max • 4215 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. There is a lot of debate online about whether the person who killed the UHC CEO was a skilled professional or just someone angry with the company. This shows how people are fascinated by the idea of hitmen and assassins.
  2. Most of the discussions about assassins come from movies and TV shows, not real life. Many people who talk about being 'cool gun guys' often have no real experience but love consuming action-packed media.
  3. The myth of hitmen being like the ones in movies may influence some to try and act like them. However, real-life hitmen are quite different from fiction, and trying to hire one is likely to lead to trouble.

More Misleading News

David Friedman’s Substack • 251 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
đź“° News Crime
  1. Headlines often exaggerate or simplify stories, turning speculative or partial findings into sensational claims that overstate the evidence.
  2. Speculative wording and single-data examples aren't proof; readers should look for context, source data, and alternative explanations before treating a claim as fact.
  3. Early reports and headlines can change as evidence is confirmed or disproven, so initial impressions — like naming a 'person of interest' — aren't always accurate.

The Bondi Massacre was a Choice

Kvetch • 238 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
đź“° News Crime
  1. The Bondi massacre was a deadly, targeted antisemitic attack that has devastated Sydney’s Jewish community and killed and injured many families.
  2. This form of hatred is portrayed as imported rather than homegrown, and Australia must choose whether to let such extremism fester or to act decisively to prevent it.
  3. Increased security helps but is not enough; practical, pragmatic measures—like stronger prevention, vetting, and border controls—are needed to stop extremists, while communities refuse to be intimidated.

My friend, the sadistic murderer

Julie Bindel's podcasts and writing • 1395 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
đź“° News Crime
  1. Kevin Ashdown, a former school friend, turned into a sadistic murderer who killed his girlfriend after years of abuse and control.
  2. The tragic story highlights the long-term impact of childhood abuse on individuals and how unaddressed anger and misogyny can lead to extreme violence.
  3. Reflecting on the past with empathy sheds light on how lives can diverge drastically, and how early experiences can shape a person's future choices and actions.

The L.A. Riots Are a Trump Ad

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1525 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Many Americans feel uncertain about Democrats when it comes to issues like immigration and safety. The response to recent riots in LA isn't helping this view.
  2. The current chaos in Los Angeles seems to highlight weak spots for the Democratic Party, especially concerning crime and public disorder.
  3. Instead of addressing the unrest, Democrats are focusing on criticizing Trump for sending in the National Guard, while police say they are overwhelmed by the situation.

Editors’ Picks: Jimmy Lai, Norman Podhoretz, and Rob Reiner

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 199 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
đź“° News Crime
  1. Editors highlight the lives and legacies of three notable men: Jimmy Lai, Norman Podhoretz, and Rob Reiner.
  2. This week included a string of brutal violence — a shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine, an MIT professor was later murdered, and Rob Reiner and his wife were fatally stabbed.
  3. The pieces mix remembrance and ongoing struggle, noting that while some are being mourned, one of the three is still fighting for his freedom.

New Orleans is America

The J. Burden Show • 1218 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. New Orleans is described as a city with a mix of beauty, dysfunction, and high crime rates, showcasing both its allure and challenges.
  2. The post discusses the city's leadership issues, particularly critiquing the mayor and suggesting the need for a strong leader who can tackle crime and corruption.
  3. There is a call for a transformative leader, likened to a Caesar figure, who can address law enforcement, foreign policy, and societal issues with a tough but just approach.

Watching the dead

Kvetch • 178 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
đź“° News Crime
  1. Ordinary community members — fathers, elders, and local leaders — were killed, and many bystanders showed remarkable bravery and self-sacrifice to stop the attackers.
  2. The violence has left deep grief and trauma, abruptly orphaning children and filling families with fear, guilt, and uncertainty about the future.
  3. Official political responses felt inadequate and evasive, while neighbours, strangers, and non-Jewish teachers offered powerful, spontaneous solidarity and practical support.

10 Things I Learned From the Epstein Files

The Corbett Report • 38 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
đź“° News Crime
  1. Jeffrey Epstein had deep ties to intelligence services, wealthy elites, and global institutions, appearing to act as an operative, fixer and broker between governments, businesses and security actors.
  2. The released files show troubling links across finance, technology and internet culture — from coded "pizza" communications and 4chan connections to funding in bitcoin and gaming — suggesting a broad network of influence and possible abuse, though many items are suggestive rather than definitive.
  3. The DOJ release is partial and heavily redacted, exposed survivors, and left major questions unanswered about his death and who else was involved, prompting calls for more documents and accountability.

How to Make Cities Safe

Uncharted Territories • 1945 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🔬 Science Crime
  1. Having eyes on the street is crucial for making neighborhoods safe and livable
  2. Local shops with stable businesses and engaged owners contribute to a sense of safety and community
  3. Visibility, through good lighting and active street life, helps deter crime and promote safety

What Really Happened to George Floyd?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 7776 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
đź“° News Crime
  1. A new documentary challenges key parts of the George Floyd story: the knee-on-the-neck hold as Chauvin's signature move, asphyxiation as the cause of death, and whether Chauvin received a fair trial.
  2. The full footage of the incident shows more context than the viral clip - officers had tried to place Floyd in the squad car and Chauvin's knee was not on Floyd's neck for as long as widely believed.
  3. Chauvin's criminal trial presented an opportunity to reassess the evidence and public opinion, with the prosecution having to prove Chauvin's actions constituted assault and caused Floyd's death.

On the chronicle of a life wasted

Unreported Truths • 50 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Crime
  1. Epstein’s post-2008 network was much smaller than people imagine, with most A-list celebrities, major media figures, and mainstream politicians largely absent.
  2. Over the 2010s the stigma around him grew and he became increasingly isolated, dealing mainly with a few confidants, foreign moneyed associates, struggling entrepreneurs, academics, and young women from Eastern Europe.
  3. By 2019 he had few allies and no realistic way to avoid a long prison sentence, which helps explain why his suicide became tragically believable.

"Don't Be a Feminist"

Heterodox STEM • 234 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Crime
  1. Feminism, as commonly used, is the view that society treats men more fairly than women, and the label can be ambiguous because many people who reject the label still support gender equality.
  2. Many measurable gender gaps—especially the earnings gap—often reflect different choices, preferences, or job mixes rather than simple discrimination; for example, the pay gap narrows for single, childless workers and men take more high-pay but unpleasant or risky jobs.
  3. Men also suffer serious harms like riskier work, higher imprisonment and suicide rates, and conscription, and society tends to prioritize protecting women, so both sides have legitimate complaints that are often overstated.

The Luigi documentary has an IG tip line

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2806 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. A new documentary about Luigi Mangione is being made, focusing on serious issues like healthcare and violence in America. The filmmaker wants to talk to people connected to the case to get different perspectives.
  2. MrBeast, a popular YouTuber, is struggling to stay relevant after a series of controversies, leading him to collaborate with various lesser-known creators. This shows how even big influencers can feel pressure to adapt and regain their audience.
  3. Pew Research found that nearly half of American teens are online all the time, mainly using platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Facebook and Twitter are losing popularity among this age group, indicating a shift in social media preferences.

Capitol Hillsong

The Pillar • 943 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Crime
  1. Advancements in AI technology, like deepfake videos, have the potential to manipulate information and create chaos.
  2. Concerns about the rise of far-right movements in German politics are being raised by the German bishops.
  3. The unauthorized celebration of traditional Latin Masses, marked by transgressive elements, reveals underlying tensions within the Catholic Church.

The Death of the Public Library. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 932 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Public libraries are facing significant decline, often becoming homeless shelters, which discourages families and students from using them. It's sad to see a place that was once a community hub turn into something else.
  2. People are becoming victims of identity theft, and this issue is tied to illegal immigration as some migrants need fake Social Security numbers to work. This adds another layer to the ongoing immigration debate.
  3. Mark Swidan, who was wrongfully detained in a Chinese prison, is struggling to rebuild his life back in America after his release. His story highlights the challenges faced by people who have endured long imprisonments.

"Defining Deviancy Down" at 30: Reflections on Crime, Welfare, and Mental Health

Glenn Loury • 1706 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime
  1. Moynihan's essay 'Defining Deviancy Down' explores the impact of shifting norms and incentives on society.
  2. Critics of Moynihan's work questioned his motives rather than engaging with the validity of his analysis.
  3. The redefinition of deviancy has implications for mental health, substance abuse, and social control in society, leading to complex outcomes.