🔊 Tough on What Crime Exactly unpacks one of the Right’s favorite talking points — “tough on crime” — and asks: what crime are they actually talking about?
In this episode, we dive into how Republicans weaponize fear of crime to push regressive policies, from mass incarceration to immigrant scapegoating. We trace the history of “law and order” rhetoric from Nixon to Trump, and how it’s been used to justify racialized policing, voter suppression, and attacks on marginalized communities. Meanwhile, the real crimes — corporate fraud, wage theft, environmental destruction — rarely make the cut in their tough talk.
👉 The bottom line: being “tough on crime” has always been more about political theater than public safety. And if Democrats want to fight back, we need to reframe the conversation around justice, accountability, and making our communities genuinely safer.
By the Ballot is an opinion series published on Substack. All views expressed are solely those of the author and should not be interpreted as reporting or objective journalism or attributed to any other individual or organization. I am not a journalist or reporter, nor do I claim to be one. This publication represents personal commentary, analysis, and opinion only.
