Why is crime falling everywhere?

America is on track for its lowest homicide year since 1900, but nobody seems to be celebrating. Matt Yglesias and Jerusalem Demsas debate why crime has dropped so dramatically and what caused the pandemic-era highs in the first place. Were the George Floyd and BLM protests to blame for the increase in crime? Were cops holding back because they felt disrespected? Or was it pandemic-era disruptions that caused the chaos?Together, they explore what it means for democratic accountability when officers can retreat from their duties, why police union reform remains the third rail of criminal justice policy, and why crime is falling across the country regardless of conservative or progressive leadership.(0:00) The shocking 2025 crime drop(5:24) Criminal justice reform & the "Ferguson effect"(10:02) The George Floyd protests as an authentic democratic reaction(13:04) Debating the root causes of crime during COVID-19(23:49) The dire need for police union reform(29:52) Why nobody wants to be a police officer anymore(34:26) How much power do progressives actually have?(42:51) Peer review: Do violent movies prevent crime?Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate!The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.