[Karah Rucker]
ANOTHER MAJOR NEWS STORY –
AND THE MEDIA IS TWISTING NUMBERS, BENDING FACTS, AND HOPING YOU WON’T NOTICE.
WELCOME BACK TO BIAS BREAKDOWN.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS LOOKING TO TACKLE CRIME IN D.C.
BUT THE MEDIA’S PORTRAYAL OF D.C. CRIME IS MISLEADING.
YOU’RE ABOUT TO SEE A BLATANT EXAMPLE OF HOW NEWS OUTLETS CAN HANDPICK FACTS AND CONSTRUE REAL DATA IN ORDER TO BEST SERVE THEIR POLITICAL AGENDA.
WE’LL EXPOSE THE HALF TRUTHS THE PARTISAN MEDIA IS GIVING YOU –
THEN LEAVE YOU WITH WHAT THEY WON’T – THE **FULL PICTURE.
this is liberation day in d.c. and we’re going to take our capitol back. We’re taking it back.
“I’m placing the d.c. metropolitan police department under direct federal control.”
TRUMP ANNOUNCED MONDAY HE IS PLACING THE D.C. POLICE FORCE UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL AND DEPLOYING BOTH THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THE CITY’S POLICE TO PATROL D.C. STREETS.
AS PRESIDENT – HE HAS DIRECT CONTROL OVER D.C.’S NATIONAL GUARD.
AND BY INVOKING A 1973 LAW – TRUMP HAS THE AUTHORITY TO “USE THE D.C. POLICE FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES FOR THIRTY DAYS.”
IT’S A MAJOR ESCALATION TO A TOPIC THAT HAS CONSUMED THE NEWS CYCLE.
“president trump once again threatening a federal take over of DC
“President trump is once again threatening a federal take over of d.c.”
“donald trump is threatening to take federal control of washingtonD.C.”
WHILE TRUMP IS FEDERALIZING D.C. POLICE AND NOT THE ENTIRE CITY’S GOVERNMENT – IT’S STILL A HISTORIC MOVE.
TRUMP’S REASONING FOR IT – D.C. CRIME.
AND AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED IN NEWS COVERAGE – THIS IS THE ELEMENT OF THE STORY THAT IS BEING SPUN.
THERE’S NOW A SUBSET OF FACTS FOR THOSE ON THE LEFT AND THOSE ON THE RIGHT…AND IT’S HARD TO KNOW WHAT’S TRUE – WHEN YOU’RE BEING TOLD TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS.
LISTEN TO THIS.
“here’s a chart that shows as of 2024 violent crime is at a 15 year low in the district.”
this years numbers are on track to be even lower.”
“but let’s be clear. Crime in d.c. is down this year according to d.c. police and the stats go through this morning. All crime, property crime, violent crime, all of it’s down.”
“it’s worth noting contrary to the president’s claims, violent crime in washington d.c. last year hit a 30 year low.”
“in many ways dc has become a disgrace. In 2023 d.c. had a homicide rate of 40 per 100 thousand residents. It was the fifth worst of the 60 largest u.s. Cities. And although in 2024, the murder rate dropped to 27.3 per 100 thousand, d.c. is still number four on the national homicide rankings list.”
Our nation’s capitol is a crime-ridden dump. It is a very dangerous place to live.”
“the washington d.c. crime rate is more than twice the national average. Making it one of the most dangerous metro areas in the entire country.”
the statistics are eye popping. The homicide rate when compared to other major u.s. Cities is horrible! D.c. has the fourth worst murder rate in the u.s.”
SO I HEAR THESE TWO CONFLICTING SENTIMENTS RIGHT –
THAT CRIME IN D.C. IS ACTUALLY NOT AS BAD AS THE PRESIDENT MAKES IT OUT TO BE –
AND THAT CRIME IN D.C. IS ACTUALLY REALLY BAD AND THE PRESIDENT IS JUSTIFIED TO STEP IN AND CLEAN IT UP.
THERE YOU’VE GOT YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT POLITICAL NARRATIVES.
CRITICIZING OR DEFENDING TRUMP’S REASONING TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN POLICING THE CITY.
AND THE PARTISAN MEDIA IS PROVIDING ITS AUDIENCES SUPPORTING EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THEIR ARGUMENT.
BUT THAT’S NOT HOW THE NEWS IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SLANT – A FORM OF MEDIA BIAS.
AND IT WASN’T JUST THE TALKING HEADSON THE T.V. – BUT ALSO IN HEADLINES.
TAKE ONE FROM FOX NEWS ON THE RIGHT.
AND ANOTHER FROM AXIOS ON THE LEFT.
THE NEWS OUTLETS STRATEGICALLY PROPPED UP THEIR PREFERRED CONCLUSION.
OF A CRIME SURGE VERSUS FALLING CRIME.
THEN ONLY PROVIDED DATA AND STATISTICS THAT WOULD SHOW CRIME IN D.C. IS SURGING – **OR FALLING.
THIS IS SLANT.
AS EXPLAINED BY MEDIA WATCHDOG GROUP ALLSIDES:SLANT IS “A FORM OF MEDIA BIAS IN WHICH JOURNALISTS HIGHLIGHT OR PLAY UP ONE PARTICULAR ANGLE…
THROUGH CHERRY-PICKING INFORMATION TO SUPPORT ONE SIDE.
SLANT PREVENTS READERS FROM GETTING THE FULL STORY AND NARROWS THE SCOPE OF UNDERSTANDING.
AND THAT — IS EXACTLY WHATs HAPPENED HERE.
SO HERE’S WHAT GOES THROUGH MY MIND WHEN I SEE THIS KIND OF MEDIA BIAS.
IF YOU’RE LIKE MY FAMILY, THE TV’S ON FOR THE EVENING NEWS I’D SAY MOST NIGHTS — FIVE O’CLOCK OR SEVEN O’CLOCK NEWS — AND, LET’S BE HONEST, IT’S USUALLY THE SAME CHANNEL.
MOST OF US GRAVITATE TOWARD THE NEWS OUTLETS THAT MATCH OUR POLITICS.
I MEAN, I DON’T KNOW MANY LIBERAL FRIENDS WHO ARE BIG FANS OF FOX NEWS…
BUT I DO HAVE CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO POKE FUN AT MSNBC.
WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS, A LOT OF PEOPLE NEVER SEE WHAT THE OTHER SIDE IS REPORTING.
AND THAT’S A PROBLEM.
WHEN MEDIA OUTLETS FUEL THEIR BASE WITH
ONLY HALF THE STORY,
IT DIVIDES US – UNDER THE GUISE OF INFORMING.
WE’RE NOT HERE TO DO THAT.
HERE’S SOME OF THE FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS STORY.
IN 2023 – THE HOMICIDE RATE IN D.C. WAS 40.9 PER 100 THOUSAND RESIDENTS.
IN 2024 – THE HOMICIDE RATE IN D.C. WAS 27.3 PER 100 THOUSAND.
IN 2023 – D.C. SAW THE FIFTH-HIGHEST MURDER RATE AMONG THE NATION’S BIGGEST CITIES.
IN 2024 – D.C. SAW THE FOURTH-HIGHEST MURDER RATE AMONG THE NATION’S TOP CITIES.
SO WHAT ARE FAIR CONCLUSIONS YOU CAN MAKE FROM THIS DATA?
D.C. HAS ONE OF THE **HIGHEST HOMICIDE RATES IN THE NATION.
AND – HOMICIDES ARE ALSO WAY **DOWN COMPARED TO 2023 – DOWN 31 PERCENT.
WHEN LOOKING AT OVERRALL VIOLENT CRIME –
IN 2023 – D.C. SAW 5,345 INCIDENTS.
OR 1,151 VIOLENT CRIMES PER 100 THOUSAND.
D.C. SAW 3,469 VIOLENT CRIMES IN 2024 –
AND SO FAR THIS YEAR (2025) D.C. HAS SEEN 1,572 VIOLENT CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR IN 2024 – D.C. HAD RECORDED 2,116 OFFENSES.
2024 SAW A 35 PERCENT DROP IN VIOLENT CRIME COMPARED TO 2023.
AND – THERE IS ALSO A 26 PERCENT DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME IN 2025 COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
HERE ARE FAIR CONCLUSIONS:
WHEN COMPARING CRIME RATES – D.C.’S VIOLENT CRIME RATE IN 2023 WAS HIGHER THAN ANY STATE.
AND WHEN COMPARING TO YEARS PAST –
TOTAL VIOLENT CRIME IN D.C. FOR 2024 WAS AT ITS LOWEST IN 30 YEARS FOR D.C.
DATA SUBSETS CAN OFFER MULTIPLE CONCLUSIONS.
AND DATA IS A POWERFUL TOOL.
AFTER ALL – “NUMBERS DON’T LIE” AS THE SAYING GOES.
BUT HOW YOU USE THOSE NUMBERS TO CREATE STATISTICS –
CAN BE MANIPULATED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN RIGHT-LEANING NETWORKS COMPARE D.C. ‘S CRIME NUMBERS TO THOSE OF STATES, IT IS FACTUAL BUT CAN BE SOMEWHAT MISLEADING.
WHILE D.C. DOES STAND OUT AS A FEDERAL DISTRICT RATHER THAN PART OF ANY STATE, IT’S NOT A STATE – AND HAS A MUCH SMALLER POPULATION – SO CRIME RATES – CAN APPEAR HIGHER.
AND WHEN LEFT-LEANING NETWORKS COMPARE THE 2024 CRIME RATE TO THE RECORD-HIGH LEVELS OF 2023, IT CAN GIVE A DISTORTED IMPRESSION..
YES, THE PERCENTAGE DROPS ARE TECHNICALLY ACCURATE — BUT BECAUSE 2023 HAD AN UNUSUALLY HIGH CRIME RATE, THE DECREASE MAY LOOK MORE DRAMATIC, EVEN IF SOME CRIMES REMAIN HIGH.
IN BOTH SITUATIONS –
WHEN COMPARISONS ARE **SELECTIVE, THEY OFTEN **MISS THE FULL PICTURE.
MY HOPE IS THAT AFTER SEEING TRUE DATA – AND UNDERSTANDING THERE’S DIFFERENT WAYS IT CAN BE INTERPRETED –
NEXT TIME YOU’RE READING OR LISTENING TO A STORY WITH DATA POINTS –
YOU’LL BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE WHEN A STORY USES NUMBERS TO PUSH A PARTICULAR NARRATIVE
SEE IT, SPOT IT, CALL IT OUT, AND DON’T FALL FOR THE MEDIA’S SLANT.
LIKE READING AN ARTICLE FROM THE NEW YORK POST – A NEWS OUTLET ON THE RIGHT–
YOU WOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT “Since August 2023, DC police have collared 333 carjacking suspects and 56% of those busts were of kids under 18.”
A STATISTIC WITH A CONCLUSION THAT JUVENILES ARE COMMITTING HIGH RATES OF PETTY CRIME IN D.C.
AND IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ON THE LEFT –
YOU’D HAVE READ “D.C. police have made about 900 juvenile arrests this year — almost 20 percent fewer than during the same time frame last year.”
A STATISTIC WITH A CONCLUSION THAT JUVENILE CRIME IS SUBSTANTIALLY FALLING IN D.C.
THESE ARTICLES HIGHLIGHT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF JUVENILLE CRIME – WITHOUT ADDRESSING EACH OTHER’S STATISTICS –
POTENTIALLY SKEWING PERCEPTIONS OVER THE ISSUE DUE TO THE SLANT WITHIN ITS ARTICLES.
AND THAT’S YOUR BIAS BREAKDOWN.
