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> For example, President Donald Trump incorrectly claimed in August 2025 that crime in Washington D.C. was at an all-time high, generating countless fact-checks
by dvt 1y ago
> For example, President Donald Trump incorrectly claimed in August 2025 that crime in Washington D.C. was at an all-time high, generating countless fact-checks of his premise and think pieces about his dissociation from reality.
This is a dubious example to give. Even NPR (which skews liberal) has given a much more nuanced[1] interpretation of the numbers. Obviously Trump's claim is hyperbolic and inflammatory (per his MO), but the sentiment does seem to resonate with at least some folks in DC, particularly ones that moved there in the early 2010s (when crime was at an all-time low).
[1] https://www.npr.org/2025/08/19/nx-s1-5506208/dc-crime-trump-explained https://www.npr.org/2025/08/19/nx-s1-5506208/dc-crime-trump-...
- brookst 1y agoI don't see anything in that link that suggests ANY interpretation could support Trump's "all-time high" claim. Substituting sentiment for data is doesn't make the claim true.
- mjburgess 1y agoThe article links to analysis showing as the frequency of violent attacks has decreased (slightly), those which are lethal have increased. https://counciloncj.org/less-frequent-more-deadly/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMM1HNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPdndOc0hpZGRpSVVCVGVqAR5yFcieFEK_0KEejGVMi8r749ChNaVlKCvkmtaaJD2h69KLh_ZqmCedyeIfSw_aem_wvVSShHhZJflXgdWJYL7SQ https://counciloncj.org/less-frequent-more-deadly/?fbclid=Iw... > In a sample of 17 large American cities, the lethality of violent offenses increased 31% from 2019 to 2020 and was 20% higher in 2024 than in 2018. Thirteen of the 17 cities had higher lethality levels in 2024 than in 2018.
- empath75 1y agoThe peak of murders in DC was 482 in 1991. In 2024, it was 187. That pattern will be true in nearly every city you look at. We are not at all time highs or even close in most cities.
- mjburgess 1y agoYes, the only explanation for why people endorse political hyperbole is that they know its misinformation and they're doing so for the symbolic power of believing a falsehood. Or, ya know, maybe a rise in the lethality of crime in a society already one of the most profoundly violent in the world has too little hyperbole associated with it. But when Greta Thunbery uses hyperbole that's politcal rallying to a cause and colition building for a serious threat. But when trump mobilizes resources for police funding in cities with absurd levels of violence, now anyone who endorses this must be really an authoritarian dupe who delights in being mislead.
- brookst 1y agoTribal thinking is unhealthy. When Greta lies it's a lie. When Trump lies it's a lie.
- mjburgess 1y agoIt's naive to think people interpret the claims literally. Their political interpretation doesn't change if Trump had instead said, "the crime levels are serious and urgent" Emotional valence is communicated at a literal level in hyperbole. "You're the best mum in the world" isnt misinformation
- dvt 1y ago> "You're the best mum in the world" isnt misinformation To use the original article's language, the sentence "you're the best mum in the world" and "you're an exemplary mother because you take care of your children's emotional and material needs" are symbolically equivalent, even though the former is clearly a hyperbole.
- estearum 1y ago“Crime increased in recent years” Is a very different claim from “Crime is at the highest level it’s ever been”