It's Been a Minute Crime is down. Why don't people feel safe?
Nov 19, 2025
Nicole Lewis, engagement editor at The Marshall Project, and Lex McMenamin, a writer and editor, dive into the complex perceptions of safety. They explore the difference between feeling unsafe and being unsafe, arguing that rhetoric often misrepresents real threats. Lex critiques the false sense of security created by tech and discusses how marginalized groups, like trans individuals, are wrongly portrayed as dangers. They advocate for community practices that foster real safety and suggest systemic reforms to ensure everyone feels secure.
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Threat Versus Risk
- Fear can be separated into tangible threat and the assessed risk of harm.
- Distinguishing threat from risk helps gauge how much fear is appropriate and actionable.
Fear Gets Weaponized
- Politicians and media can weaponize generalized fear to justify punitive measures.
- That rhetoric often obscures who is actually at risk and directs resources away from vulnerable groups.
Historical Roots Of Threat Narratives
- Historical narratives label certain bodies as threats to legitimize violence and control.
- Those narratives enable state and civilian violence while claiming protective justification.