Common myths about the new FBI crime statistics, debunked
Right-wing billionaires are using their cash to seize more control over the media ecosystem:
These developments underscore the importance of independent outlets like Popular Information. Popular Information now has more than 352,000 readers! But here’s the truth: only a small percentage of Popular Information's readers are paid subscribers. If more readers upgrade to paid, Popular Information can reach more people, debunk more lies, and hold more powerful people accountable. This week, the FBI released its report on crime in the United States during 2023. The report aggregates data from over 16,000 law enforcement agencies that collectively cover over 94% of U.S. residents. It found a large decline in murders compared to 2022 (-11.3%), and moderate but still significant declines in violent crime overall (-3.0%) and property crime (-2.4%). Former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, however, insist that America is in the midst of an unprecedented "crime wave." They argue that the FBI data collected through the Uniform Crime Reporting Program is incomplete or fraudulent. In a September 12 post on X, Trump cited the Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey to claim that there has been a 40% increase in violent crime since he left office. "Kamala Crime is destroying America, and gangs are taking over!” Trump insisted. To sort through the confusion, Popular Information spoke with Jeff Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics, creator of the Real-Time Crime Index, and one of the nation's leading experts in crime statistics. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Note: Due to spam issues, replies to this newsletter are not monitored. You can reach Judd Legum by creating a new email and sending it directly to judd@popularinformation.substack.com. |
Older messages
Florida bans instruction on contraception and consent in sex ed classes
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
The Florida Department of Education is prohibiting school districts from including core topics in their sex education courses, including contraception, consent, domestic violence, abuse, and LGBTQ
EXCLUSIVE: The Trump campaign is still being hacked
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Email communications from individuals associated with the Trump campaign have been hacked by malign actors within the last ten days, Popular Information has confirmed. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
These companies are bankrolling a multi-million dollar effort to elect Mark Robinson governor of North Carolina
Monday, September 23, 2024
Even before securing the Republican nomination for Governor of North Carolina in March, Mark Robinson had a long and well-documented record of promoting conspiracy theories, maligning LGBTQ people,
The stark reality of mass deportation
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Former President Donald Trump has promised that he will start mass deportations if he wins in November. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
A new government report reveals the fundamental flaw in the American economy
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
A little-noticed report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released this month reveals why, for most Americans, the economy is broken. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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