Here's what people get wrong when talking about Chicago crime...

It's not just people "looking to score political points", it's people angry and sad about seeing a 7 year old randomly stabbed to death. You can't say everything is okay when the system that exists right now allowed it to happen.

I didn't say "everything is okay." In fact, I specially said in the video: "None of this is to say Chicago still doesn't have a big crime problem."

You also said people like Trump are using this to score political points. Kind of like you were by making that statement. If you really think Chicago still has a big crime problem you should be more specific with your complaints.

@BenBradleyTV Hey Craig- go fuck your mother you nativist know-nothing

@BenBradleyTV Quality response brother

@BenBradleyTV Go fuck your mother, brother

@BenBradleyTV Does it hurt your libtard feelings 😂

Chicago has been cooking those stats since McCarthy. Chicago Magazine exposed it decades ago.

Ben, day after day there are horrific crimes that take place in Chicago. Downplaying that does not help. Seeing a downward trend is indeed good. Judges need to be held accountable. There are a million oversight committees for CPD. Where is the IL Judicial Inquiry Board? Why aren’t we addressing electronic monitoring?

Ben, I’ve lived in Chicago for over 50 years. Neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, River North, and the Gold Coast almost never saw crime back in the day. The statistics have been massaged and manipulated to show reductions in crime while shot spotter was simultaneously removed.

Are you seriously trying to “own” people w/ these “stats,” Ben? A 4 year old boy was shot in the head less than 24 hours ago. On Saturday, a 7 year old little girl was stabbed to death on the sidewalk in broad daylight. An 18 month old baby was shot in the head on Sep 26th.

No one is trying to "own" anyone. I'm trying to have a fact-based conversation. If you watched the video, you'd know I actually talked about the 7-year-old who was killed and the criminal history of the woman now charged with her murder.

A “fact based conversation” to share your disagreement on something Trump posted. Who cares what he posts. The focus should be on the yet to be buried 7 y/o and the two babies shot in the head. Your stats mean nothing to those families. To them, crime is just NOT down, Ben.

I agree.

They just don't arrest anyone. Look at all the damage from the multiple teen takeovers. Nothing happens, just the Mayor saying we shouldn't punish these "children."

Ben. Here’s a problem. You asking to “have that discussion” about the repeats and free criminals just doesn’t fly anymore. Asking to have a chat about it is the standard formula for kicking it down the road. It should be the ONLY key issue because the candidates are clear.

Perfect example of which came first the chicken or the egg. SAFE-T-Act came first. The unintended consequence? Gave judges the excuse to release offenders that then offend again. Vicious circle that puts law abiding citizens in harms way. Crime is worse under the SAFE-T-Act.

Ben, god to admit, I was getting a bit sick of you. You went too Woke. You have really turned the page lately. Bravo. As for murders and shooting. they are still there. We just over look out count them differently. Robberies have to be through he roof.

Would love to see you report on the consequences of the Safe-T Act, the REAL numbers of people either hurt or killed as a result of repeat offenders let out using it. But I’m guessing you won’t, at least not before the election.

A slew of restaurants and other small businesses continue to get broken into. A tourist from NY was assaulted in a downtown parking garage just last week. Stats mean zilch, zip, nada when the quality of life sucks. Too bad the local journalists seemingly Just Don’t Get It!🤦🏾‍♀️

Swat was literally on my block 3 weeks ago . Catalytic converter thieves have armed lookouts ready to kill on sight. Hypes on the redline mainlining . Cashless bail and liberal judges are pro crime and anti tax payer safety

What people get wrong? The media ignores constant crime, the release of violent offenders, the shootings. But they do have time to talk about the Cornell 7

I find it weird that a reporter is also working for a PR/Crisis Management Firm as well. Which begs the question when does news end and money making begin? #JOURNALISTICINTEGRITY

You treat Chicago police stats as Gospel. Police are the devil except for when you like how they designate a crime on a form. It’s not just me, last year Alderman Napolitano questioned whether relabeling offenses from homocides to death investigations screwed the pooch. He’s a former police officer and has personal knowledge of the manipulation that goes on with Chicago crime. Why don’t you? Waving a document prepared by a City bureaucrat in front of a camera and calling your viewers uninformed may be good TV, but not actually good reporting. Best

To say that crime is 'down' is a total insult to families in neighborhoods like Austin and Englewood, where violence remains concentrated. Citywide averages are artificially dragged down by affluent downtown tourist areas. Even if the city manages a flat trend compared to one previous year, it completely ignores the broader reality: Chicago has recorded the highest total number of murders of any U.S. city for 13 consecutive years. Nearly 46% of Chicago’s homicides occur in just 5 South and Westside police districts. Until Democrat leadership abandons 'root cause' activist ideology and starts enforcing the law, Chicago remains a national security crisis.

When people aren't actually being charged and convicted for crimes anymore, of course the fucking stats are going to go down.

How many people under 18 have been shot this week (or stabbed)? Why is it ok for black people to be murdered at the rate they are? I guess just a crap load of condtant murders are ok as long as the metric you pull doesn't show an increase. Shame on this take.

I would love to see you out some of these judges more aggressively on the news. It's insane what people can do in Chicago and then be released almost immediately. And, as you said, just because there's less crime, doesn't mean crime is not a problem in Chicago. It is.

A little girl got slashed to death on the street, another girl set on fire, another shot in the head, another log in the head, and we get Ben mansplaining to women about Trump won’t help them. Phuck off Ben.

Chicago is a shithole, and media assholes like you only are putting powdered sugar on a turd.

Chicago - 2026 YTD: 337 Homicides - 1 every 19 hours and 48 minutes 1,506 people shot - 1 every 4 hours and 26 minutes 60 mass shootings

Yes…and….violent crime rates vary significantly by neighborhood. It might be more accurate to focus on high crime areas than Chicago as a whole when both speaking about crime and assessing actions to reduce it.

Good god are you minimizing the issue

the problem is shitbags like you not reporting anything UNLESS somehow it benefits your "party".

if chicago was so safe Johnson wouldn't have over 150 police protecting just him!

Ok then re word your title to: “ Woke judges in Chicago keep letting violent criminals loose”

When you take the system down that can actually track gunshots, I am sure there will be less shootings reported. The type and severity of crime is getting worse. We just had a 7 year old stabbed to death and a woman was set on fire on the train.

lol. “Stats are going down” 2 seconds later…. “7yo girl stabbed to death for no reason” You clown.

Oh. I see the problem. You think the Chicago Police Department is being honest about its numbers. You think they’re not changing how they’re reporting stats. Okay. Makes sense now.

Coded language and euphemisms used in Chicago news reporting result in a lack of credibility when "statistics" are trotted out. Teens = Black youths/adolescents Teen trend = wilding event Large gathering = illegal assembly Birthday party = drinking and smoking weed in the public way Gun violence = thug/gang violence Chicago man = illegal immigrant Community organizer = welfare recipient Stakeholders = random people with complaints There's also the stories that don't get media coverage. Mob attacks in the downtown area or on the @cta seem like news to me.

And have investigations gone over these judges with scrutiny? They seem to have way too much power and not enough restrictions. We see it as one more example of weaponization of the court. Whether on Chicago or the SDNY... It's a nationwide issue

Another douche bag telling us it’s no biggie that Chicago has lead the country in murders the past 16 years.

Thank you for the sound discussion on this.

I appreciate the comment.

@mark_struck To what do you owe this improvement in crime statistics that you discuss?

@BenBradleyTV I did some analysis of the crime data a year ago, i.e.

People aren’t over reacting enough about Chicago crime, children are getting hurt every week.