The Gist Nicole Gelinas on Crime, Bail, and Mamdani's Vibesy Criminology
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Nov 17, 2025 Nicole Gelinas, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, dives into New York City's post-pandemic crime surge. She highlights how weak supervision and repeat offenders exacerbate violence, especially in subways, instilling fear in residents. Gelinas contrasts NYC's crime recovery with national trends, attributing complications to bail reform which favored low-risk defendants while failing to contain high-risk offenders. She touches on the pandemic's role in increasing disorder, along with a surprising take on Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent stance against toxicity.
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Comic Opening About Golden State Killer
- Mike Pesca opens the episode with a humorous, extended riff about the Golden State Killer's anatomy to set a comedic tone.
- This playful anecdote contrasts with the serious policing discussion that follows.
Historic Spike In NYC Homicides
- New York saw a 53% jump in murders between 2019 and 2021, the sharpest short-term rise in modern history.
- That abrupt change reversed decades of steady decline and materially worsened public safety for many residents.
Subway Killings Amplify Public Fear
- Subway homicides quadrupled since the pandemic and serve as a high-profile proxy for random street violence.
- These killings are rare in global transit systems and drive outsized public fear because riders perceive risk as random.