What A Day Does Washington, D.C. Need Federal Intervention?
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Aug 20, 2025 
Journalist Josh Barro, co-host of Serious Trouble, dives into the complexities of crime in Washington, D.C. He discusses the Department of Justice's investigation into crime statistics, questioning the narrative of a severe crime crisis. Barro analyzes the impact of federal intervention on local public safety and critiques political motivations behind these actions. The conversation also touches on the need for effective governance and the challenging dynamics between federal and local authority.
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Federal Role Makes D.C. Different
- The federal government has unique powers over D.C. that make federal involvement consequential and different from other cities.
- Longstanding coordination gaps (prosecutors, labs, judges) have left D.C. with structural public-safety weaknesses.
Vacancies Weaken Prosecution
- Staffing and political choices have hollowed out key justice institutions in D.C., like the U.S. Attorney's Office and judgeships.
- Those vacancies and departures directly reduce prosecution rates and the city's ability to deter crime.
Use Federal Levers, Not Pageantry
- Use D.C.'s federal levers (nominations, budgets, agencies) to solve local safety problems rather than spectacle.
- Prioritize confirming judges, staffing prosecutors, and restoring crime-lab capacity to improve outcomes.