In Trump's DC Takeover, Crime Data Is in the Spotlight
What's going on: President Donald Trump’s claims that violent crime is rising in Washington, DC, have set the stage for a new fight. This week, the Justice Department opened an investigation into whether police officials tampered with the city’s crime statistics, according to multiple news outlets. Trump pointed to a case involving a police officer who was suspended this year after accusations of downplaying major crimes. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) said she doesn’t believe it’s part of a larger trend — though the case remains under investigation. As Trump’s hold on the city enters its second week, reports indicate troops are being stationed in low-crime, tourist areas, with federal officials helping to carry out the president’s immigration agenda.
What it means: It’s unclear if the DOJ’s probe could lead to federal charges, but the move threatens to escalate tensions between Trump and the local police force. Meanwhile, despite Trump’s repeated assertion that violent crime is up in DC, the numbers tell a different story. Violent crime in DC spiked in 2023, but has fallen steadily — hitting a 30-year low in 2024. One data expert told NPRthat, “Yes, DC has a chronic problem with violent crime, but it’s not nearly the worst in the United States.” Others worry this is another example of Trump using the criminal justice system to go after political opponents.
What's going on: Democrats may be taking a page from the MAGA playbook as they gear up for the midterms and 2028: leaning into (but also mocking) Trump’s language and combative persona. Exhibit A? Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has memed Trump on X, adopting his brash, all-caps style. One example: “DANA ‘DING DONG’ PERINO (NEVER HEARD OF HER UNTIL TODAY!) IS MELTING DOWN BECAUSE OF ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM!” There are also the JD “Dance” and Kid Rock AI-generated parody memes. He also called out Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem via alliteration (so Trump). Newsom is keeping up the bit, and attracting support from both liberals and disgruntled conservatives alike.
What it means: Newsom says his approach is meant as a “wake-up call” to how the public’s normalized Trump’s rhetoric and style. But some analysts say that he’s tapped into a populist, anti-establishment tone that could attract as many voters as eyeballs. It comes as the Dems still seem to lack a clear midterm strategy. As one expert told Newsweek: "Democrats are looking for a fighter. It's not about ideology anymore.” Linguists warn Trump has already reshaped political language — and now wonder how long Newsom can keep it up without losing himself (hey, Colbert managed for nearly a decade). Other analysts note that just because this aggressive strategy is working online doesn’t mean it’ll translate to support.
Institutions Push Back on Federal Vaccine Guidance — Creating More Confusion
What's going on: The country’s leading group of pediatricians says parents should ignore the federal government and vaccinate their kids for COVID-19. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) made the recommendation for kids ages 6 to 23 months old, as they’re at high risk of developing severe illness from the disease. They also recommended them for many older kids. Their advice comes just months after the CDC, under the leadership of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said healthy kids could skip it. HHS accused AAP of putting “commercial interests and politics” ahead of public health. But AAP’s president said her group has issued immunization recommendations since the 1930s and the only thing that's changed is it’s working in an “environment of misinformation.” This comes as states and doctors have urged pregnant people to get vaccinated for COVID-19, despite HHS no longer recommending it.
What it means: This is the first time in 30 years that the AAP has made a recommendation that so sharply contradicts the CDC. It highlights the growing rift between the medical community and the agencies now led by Kennedy — a known vaccine skeptic. The mixed guidelines are expected to create even more confusion for the country’s most vulnerable. Experts say this also adds pressure on medical professionals to do more vaccine outreach. AAP acknowledges that their recommendation conflicts with the HHS’s, but noted “we need to make the right choices for children to protect them.”
