<a href="https://reason.com/podcast/2025/08/21/megan-mcardle-trumps-d-c-takeover-is-just-the-beginning/" target="_blank">View original image source</a>.
The recent crime wave in Washington, D.C., has stirred up quite the hornet’s nest, especially after the assault on Edward Coristine, a former staffer known as “Big Balls.” Donald Trump took to Truth Social to sound the alarm, claiming crime is “totally out of control” and promising federal intervention. But is this just a political stunt or a legitimate concern? Some politicians, like Senator Chris Van Hollen, think Trump may be exaggerating the situation for his own gain, while others, like columnist Megan McArdle, warn that ignoring the problem could only make matters worse.
McArdle argues that the failures of local governance and police pullback after the 2020 George Floyd protests have paved the way for Trump’s calls for federal control. And you have to admit, it’s a bit wild to think about the federal government moving in on cities like D.C. and possibly even Chicago or Los Angeles. It’s a high-stakes game of political poker, and everyone seems to have a stake in the outcome. The question is—who really wins?
As the debate heats up about the right balance of law enforcement and civil liberties, it’s becoming clear that this isn’t just a minor blip on the radar. We might just be witnessing the political conversation of our time. And while everyone argues about whose narrative to believe, it’s hard not to wonder: could this whole saga actually end up contributing to a greater demand for change? Let’s hope it doesn’t come down to locking up all the delinquent teens, because if so, we might need more than just a federal response—like a nationwide reality check instead!
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