The hottest Policing Substack posts right now

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

Why does America feel worse than other countries? Crime.

Noahpinion ā€¢ 48177 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. The U.S. stands out among rich countries for its very high violent-crime and murder rates and for visible public disorder that people notice every day.
  2. Progressive ideas and policiesā€”like decarceration, tolerance of disorder, and softer prosecutorial approachesā€”often suppress serious public debate about crime and may have contributed to higher crime in some places.
  3. High crime reshapes American life: it pushes people into suburbs, keeps riders off trains, blocks housing and transit projects, and broadly lowers urban quality of life.

Record Low Crime Rates Are Real, Not Just Reporting Bias Or Improved Medical Care

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 25534 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. U.S. violent and property crime rates are at or near historic lows, with the murder rate possibly the lowest in 250 years and many crimes at multi-decade lows.
  2. The decline looks real rather than just underreporting, because independent victim surveys, consistently reported crimes like car theft, and murder counts all show similar downward trends.
  3. Improved medical care doesnā€™t explain the drop in murdersā€”lethality per violent incident has stayed stable or injuries have grown worseā€”and researchers offer multiple plausible explanations (technology, policing, demographics, lead decline, etc.) without a single agreed cause.

The Greatest Tension Within 21st Century Progressivism Remains Unresolved

Freddie deBoer ā€¢ 12066 implied HN points ā€¢ 10 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Many progressives oppose police power and mass incarceration in general, but also demand tougher prosecutions and punishments in high-profile sexual violence and discrimination cases.
  2. Pushing for harsher criminal responses in those specific cases tends to expand prosecutorial and sentencing power and predictably increases racial disparities and overpunishment for marginalized people.
  3. The left rarely confronts this contradiction openly, and must choose whether to build non-carceral supports and protect due process or to accept expanding the carceral state with its attendant harms.

Activism, Uncensored: A Return to Minneapolis

TK News by Matt Taibbi ā€¢ 1920 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Local and state police took a bigger role at Minneapolis protests, which reduced the number of federal agents on the front lines and led to fewer uses of tear gas and other riot munitions.
  2. Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis, is winding down and agents are withdrawing after being ramped up following a fatal shooting.
  3. A reporter who filmed ICE and Border Patrol actions was publicly criticized by ICE as "stalking," and the reporter defended continuing to film as a protected right.

Who's to Blame in Minnesota? Five Cases Involving Police Shooting at Cars

TK News by Matt Taibbi ā€¢ 5984 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Thereā€™s little consistent data or clear rules about when police can shoot at cars, and courts still disagree a lot on these cases.
  2. High-profile incidents like the ICE shooting of Renee Good split people: some say the driver endangered officers, while others point out the person was unarmed and the shooting looked unjustified.
  3. Police training and tactics vary, and ignoring basic safety rulesā€”like not standing in front of a car or not shooting at moving vehicles unless thereā€™s a direct threat to lifeā€”can make officers as much to blame as drivers.
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Community and crisis

Your Local Epidemiologist ā€¢ 2999 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. The country is under severe strain and the constant emotional load of grief, anger, and helplessness is unhealthy and hard to carry.
  2. Community care and small acts of solidarityā€”mutual aid, donation centers, peaceful marches, and vigilsā€”make practical differences and offer hope.
  3. Everyone can act: protect your mental health by limiting exposure to traumatic media and leaning on community, and take civic steps like donating and calling representatives to shape the society we want.

Two cities under siege

The Watch ā€¢ 2038 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Federal immigration and security forces are being sent into cities in a way that mirrors colonial troop occupations, and those deployments threaten constitutional protections like the Fourth Amendment.
  2. The administration has used misleading justifications, secret memos, and public praise for agents who kill or intimidate people while blocking local investigations and hiding officers' identities, eroding accountability.
  3. Huge, determined protests across multiple cities show popular resistance and restraint, and that civic pressure will be crucial to defending rights and holding the government accountable.

Londonā€™s Bonfire of the Vanities

Wrong Side of History ā€¢ 650 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Feb 26
šŸ“° News Policing
  1. High-profile police shootings quickly become emotional and political symbols, with victims often being sanctified and public pressure mounting before all facts are known.
  2. In this incident, armed officers were following an SUV linked to a recent gang shooting, and an officer fired a single fatal shot after the vehicle moved toward them.
  3. These events fuel mutual fear and grievance: police worry about legal and reputational fallout, while activists use them to mobilise, spreading confrontational, American-style race politics to London.

Mr Bean Britain

Wrong Side of History ā€¢ 645 implied HN points ā€¢ 07 Feb 26
šŸ“° News Policing
  1. The government often looks both incompetent and heavy-handed, mixing laughable messaging with intrusive or secretive policies.
  2. Justice and immigration systems are seen as inconsistent and opaque, with selective enforcement and withheld details creating a sense of two-tier treatment.
  3. Rising school violence, stresses on public services, and contested diversity and identity initiatives are producing social unease and cultural friction.

Am I gonna have to protest again?

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday ā€¢ 784 implied HN points ā€¢ 30 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. The increasing use of militarized federal forces far from the communities they serve is eroding trust and driving people back to the streets; local, community-rooted policing would help reduce that harm.
  2. AI deepfakes and online misinformation are turning everyone into amateur detectives, making it harder to know whatā€™s real and intensifying information warfare.
  3. Media figures, politicians, and celebrities are leaning into grifting and spectacle for profit and influence, which weakens institutions and fuels public cynicism and protest.

Prison And Crime: Much More Than You Wanted To Know

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 35858 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Nov 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Long prison sentences don't necessarily lower crime rates. Studies suggest they have a weak effect on deterring future crime and might not be worth the costs.
  2. Incapacitating criminals by keeping them in prison does prevent some crimes, but the number of crimes prevented by an extra year in prison is generally low compared to other crime-fighting methods.
  3. After someone is released from prison, their chance of reoffending can actually increase due to loss of social connections and opportunities, making long sentences sometimes counterproductive.

ā€˜Charlie began taking in a lot of harmful ideological messagesā€™

Wrong Side of History ā€¢ 622 implied HN points ā€¢ 17 Jan 26
šŸ“° News Policing
  1. The British state is portrayed as mixing authoritarian impulses with farcical incompetence, prioritising ideological conformity and community appeasement over honesty and effectiveness.
  2. A government-backed Prevent programme and related materials treat questioning mass immigration as a dangerous or extremist mindset, framing research or debate as risky and pushing counselling or referrals for youths who engage with those ideas.
  3. Institutional priorities like hitting diversity targets and managing 'community relations' are producing practical harms and contradictions ā€” from bad hiring decisions and police deference to reduced opportunities and inconsistent restrictions for teenagers.

How Trump Officialsā€™ Rhetoric Backfired in Minnesota. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 445 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Aggressive rhetoric by Trump officials after the Minneapolis border-patrol killing inflamed outrage and prompted a quick administration retreat, including a demotion and new personnel on the ground.
  2. Holocaust denial and distortion are resurging as the last witnesses die, making preservation of testimony and efforts to fight abuse of history urgently important.
  3. A set of other major stories underline wider social and political fractures ā€” Democrats losing support among men, sudden purges in China that raise questions about leadership stability, growing harms from family estrangement, tech and regulatory clashes, and deadly winter storms.

Zohran Mamdani's Magnificent First Two Weeks

JoeWrote ā€¢ 582 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Zohran Mamdani has moved quickly to prove a leftist can govern by using executive actions and bold appointments to deliver immediate results. He prioritized tenant protections, worker support, and a state-backed childcare pilot to show practical wins.
  2. The administration emphasizes concrete, everyday improvementsā€”like public restrooms, suing exploitative gig apps, canceling harmful orders, and pro-worker commissionsā€”to improve peopleā€™s lives rather than just talk.
  3. Significant pushback and legal hurdles already exist, from political attacks to court setbacks and policing questions, so governing will involve learning, tradeoffs, and managed growing pains.

Proof of Systemic Racism in America

Erik Examines ā€¢ 761 implied HN points ā€¢ 01 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Multiple real-world and controlled studies show racial bias at every stage of the criminal system ā€” from traffic stops and police shootings to searches, arrests, jury selection, and sentencing.
  2. Implicit stereotypes and dehumanizing views of Black people, including seeing Black children as older or less innocent, increase use of force and lead to harsher treatment.
  3. These biases cause concrete harms ā€” higher arrest and incarceration rates, longer sentences, worse medical care, and reduced job opportunities ā€” which reinforce racial inequality.

let's talk about renee good

bad cattitude ā€¢ 466 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Renee Good is portrayed not as an innocent bystander but as an organized antiā€‘ICE activist who deliberately shadowed, harassed, and blocked ICE officers.
  2. Available video and officer footage are used to claim her truck backed toward and struck an agent and that the agent fired through the windshield, making the officer's splitā€‘second perception of a lethal vehicle threat central to the shooting.
  3. The writeup argues these activist groups stage aggressive, mediaā€‘focused confrontations to shape optics, and that national media often strips context, which deepens political polarization and creates dangerous situations.

Highlights From The Comments On Prison

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 15485 implied HN points ā€¢ 10 Dec 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Many criminals act without thinking of long-term consequences. They might believe they'd get away with risky behavior, such as driving drunk, which can lead to serious problems later on.
  2. Prison can sometimes offer a break from harmful lifestyles, especially for those already struggling with addiction or crime. It might not disrupt a stable life, since some people had a challenging life full of problems even before incarceration.
  3. The effectiveness of longer prison sentences as a deterrent is questionable. Many criminals don't pay attention to the details of potential punishments, but are more influenced by the chance of getting caught while committing a crime.

Sans Papiers

Dada Drummer Almanach ā€¢ 226 implied HN points ā€¢ 29 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Our right to anonymity and protection from unreasonable searches is disappearing. Tech companies and everyday services force us to hand over data, and the state now uses that surveillance.
  2. Who can safely assert those rights depends on privilege: race, citizenship status, and education often determine whether refusing to show papers is safe or deadly.
  3. Refusing to comply with unnecessary demands for ID is both a learned immigrant survival tactic and a democratic practice. Rebuilding civil liberties will take widespread, deliberate nonā€‘compliance.

Derek Chauvin Did Not Murder George Floyd

Glenn Loury ā€¢ 5694 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Dec 23
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. The concept of "poetic truth" is discussed, referring to the creation of a partisan version of reality for power and leverage.
  2. The narrative around George Floyd's death is challenged, highlighting potential inaccuracies and the danger of perpetuating false truths.
  3. The importance of seeking and acknowledging the truth in controversial and emotionally charged situations is emphasized, even when it challenges established beliefs.

Why Jonathan Ross was legally justified in shooting RenƩe Good

eugyppius: a plague chronicle ā€¢ 230 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Jan 26
šŸ“° News Policing
  1. The shooting of RenƩe 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 protestsā€”including motorists threatening officersā€”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 doesnā€™t erase the tragedy or make the outcome morally satisfying.

What I Got Wrong On Defunding Police

The Discourse Lounge ā€¢ 1975 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Jun 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Automated traffic enforcement can reduce the need for police interactions. It uses technology to manage traffic violations more effectively and safely.
  2. Gun violence is heavily tied to police aggression in the U.S. Reducing the number of guns could lead to fewer violent encounters with law enforcement.
  3. Creating non-police roles for certain tasks can lessen police burden and improve community safety. Investing in social services can help address root issues instead of relying solely on police.

Measuring Mamdani's Mistake

JoeWrote ā€¢ 83 implied HN points ā€¢ 04 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Zohran Mamdaniā€™s early mayoralty shows that a left-wing leader can win broad support and focus on day-to-day issues like affordability, but governing a big city forces hard compromises with the political establishment.
  2. His initial responses to recent NYPD shootingsā€”slow public comment and a statement that praised officersā€”alienated his progressive base, and he has since shifted tone and pushed for non-police crisis responses like a Department of Community Safety.
  3. Being held accountable by his supporters has helped him correct mistakes (as with his Israel remarks), showing that the socialist left is learning how to govern and should expect growing pains while refining its approach.

The police militarization debate is over

The Watch ā€¢ 1474 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Jul 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. The lines between police and military roles are becoming dangerously blurred. Police are meant to keep the peace while soldiers fight enemies, and mixing the two could harm our freedoms.
  2. Donald Trump is seen as creating his own loyal force using police and military resources to serve him rather than the public. This raises concerns about accountability and abuse of power.
  3. Many believe that the courts and laws are not set up to protect citizens against the actions of this new force, leading to fears of a growing authoritarianism in America.

The roundup -- and a request for your support

The Watch ā€¢ 204 implied HN points ā€¢ 29 Dec 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. A major investigative report warns the administration is building a mass deportation apparatus and using tactics many experts call authoritarian, while grassroots community groups are already organizing to protect immigrants.
  2. Paid subscriptions and reader donations are essential to fund investigative reporting and keep content freely available, and subscription prices will rise in midā€‘January to help cover higher costs.
  3. The roundup catalogs many worrying trendsā€”ICE abuses, harsh detention conditions, denaturalization and other immigration crackdowns, political corruption, and publicā€‘health setbacksā€”and notes ongoing and planned investigations and a podcast that have already won recognition.

OSD 362: To improve others, improve yourself

Open Source Defense ā€¢ 59 implied HN points ā€¢ 30 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Videos of violent encounters donā€™t tell the whole story and can dehumanize people, leading to shallow, conflicting analyses instead of careful learning.
  2. If you carry a gun, make conscious, situation-by-situation risk/reward choices, avoid impulsively intervening in volatile encounters, and train for safe, defensible use.
  3. Police and responders must raise professional standards: be clear about objectives, communicate, handle firearms safely, know when to stop shooting, and render aid once a threat ends.

We Filmed ICE. Now What?

JoeWrote ā€¢ 121 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Recording ICE and collecting video evidence didnā€™t stop state violence or produce reliable accountability, so transparency alone is not enough.
  2. Federal agents are using deadly force while being shielded by investigations, officials, and sympathetic commentators, and mainstream politicians have so far failed to ensure justice.
  3. The only practical path forward is collective, local action: join organizing and immigrant-advocacy groups, build community defense, and consider lawful self-defense measures because official protection cannot be relied on.

New Revelations in the Renee Good Shooting Narrative Have Sent Everything Off the Rails

Proof ā€¢ 90 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. New details about the Renee Good shooting keep emerging and theyā€™ve dramatically changed how people see the case, making the situation more shocking and unstable.
  2. The fatal shooting has sparked widespread anti-ICE protests across the country, turning a local incident into a national flashpoint.
  3. People close to the victim stress a stark contrast between unarmed protesters and armed agents, and the case looks likely to drive legal fights and broader political tensions in the months ahead.

How Minneapolis Became the Vortex of American Polarization

KERFUFFLE ā€¢ 85 implied HN points ā€¢ 10 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Minneapolis has shifted from a trusting, "Minnesota nice" city to one now associated with riots, police violence, political assassinations, and large fraud schemes.
  2. A string of high-profile eventsā€”the 2020 George Floyd unrest, a massive Somali fraud scheme, and an ICE agent's fatal shootingā€”has kept the city in the national spotlight and deepened political division.
  3. Longstanding tensions simmer beneath the surface and can flare up suddenly, and local leaders' handling of these crises is a central part of debates about the city's future.

The Moral Panic Over Retail Theft Is Out of Control

Discourse Blog ā€¢ 1061 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Oct 23
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Retailers are using the narrative of organized theft to justify store closures, blame financial downturns, and push for harsher laws and increased police funding.
  2. There is doubt and skepticism about the actual extent and impact of organized retail theft, despite widespread media coverage and corporate claims.
  3. The response to the perceived rise in theft includes enhanced security measures, stricter laws, and significant funding for law enforcement, generating concerns about over-policing and reinforcing damaging narratives.

The most neglected problem in Britain?

Comment is Freed ā€¢ 45 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Dec 25
šŸ“° News Policing
  1. More than a quarter of women have been sexually assaulted since age 16, and about a third of those incidents are rapes or attempted rapes.
  2. Sexual offences havenā€™t fallen over the last 20 years and receive surprisingly little public or political attention, even though other crimes have decreased significantly.
  3. There are proven, evidence-backed reforms ā€” for example improved policing and investigation models like Operation Soteria ā€” that could cut offences in the next few years, so policy should focus on these alongside longer-term cultural change.

GUEST COLUMN: Iā€™m So Outraged by What the Administration Has Done in Minnesota That I Wonā€™t Forget About It for Three Weeks

I Might Be Wrong ā€¢ 12 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Officials responded to recent deadly shootings with slander and efforts to stifle investigations, suggesting a deeper problem of dishonesty and impunity.
  2. People feel strong outrage now but expect it to fade within about three weeks as other news and personal life distractions take over.
  3. Even if some memory lingers, recollections will be distorted and are unlikely to produce political consequences or change votes.

āœŠšŸ½ People Power

UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar ā€¢ 9 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Rules made by an administration are fragile ā€” a new president can reverse them quickly, so memos and internal policies don't guarantee long-term protections.
  2. Lasting civil rights protections require legislation, court victories, or state-level laws; relying solely on executive policy is insufficient.
  3. Mass public action ā€” big protests, strikes, and sustained organizing ā€” is what makes protections durable, because movements, not memos, lock in change.

My questions for the GOP candidates

The Watch ā€¢ 860 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Aug 23
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Some key questions for GOP candidates revolve around their stance on important issues like the COVID-19 vaccine, QAnon conspiracy theories, and racism.
  2. The GOP candidates are asked about their views on the death penalty, executing drug dealers, and their opinions on the Trump administration's policies.
  3. Questions are raised about the GOP candidates' stance on law enforcement, policing, and criminal justice reforms, including their views on the Capitol riots and the FBI.

Amid Suburban Riots in France, Some Brief Thoughts on Their Potential Roots

Paris Unlocked Newsletter ā€¢ 119 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Jul 23
šŸŒ World Politics Policing
  1. Riots and demonstrations have broken out in Paris due to frustration, poverty, and discrimination.
  2. There is intense political polarization in France around issues of policing and order.
  3. Understanding the roots of violent protest does not excuse the violence but helps in comprehending the conditions that lead to such responses.

Policing the Cops

Diane Francis ā€¢ 339 implied HN points ā€¢ 03 May 21
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. Policing in America has become very militarized, often lacking proper training and accountability. Many officers are poorly trained and some act with bias or aggression.
  2. The increase of video evidence from smartphones and body cameras is pushing for accountability in police actions. Public scrutiny is growing, and each police incident is likely to lead to protests and demands for change.
  3. To reduce police violence, America needs to focus on better training for officers, civilian oversight, and treating drug issues as health problems rather than criminal ones. There are examples in other countries that could provide a better model.

Policing as a Toxic Industrial Labor Relation

Something to Consider ā€¢ 39 implied HN points ā€¢ 03 Sep 23
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. After protests in 2020, many police officers are doing less to fight crime. This is not because there are fewer crimes, but because officers now feel less support.
  2. Trust is really important in policing. When officers believe their efforts won't be appreciated, they may only do the bare minimum required.
  3. To improve policing, city leaders need to show they support the police and encourage them to be more active. This could help reduce crime and increase safety.

The Beekeeper's Dilemma

Breaking Smart ā€¢ 18 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Jul 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Policing
  1. The main character, GD, is considering retiring from his detective work because cases have become rare and unfulfilling. Heā€™s thinking that maybe itā€™s time to explore other passions.
  2. GD has developed a serious interest in beekeeping, which he finds enjoyable and meaningful despite feeling heā€™s moving away from his original career in law enforcement.
  3. The policing environment has changed a lot since GD started, focusing less on justice and more on control, making him feel outdated and disconnected from the current system.