Behind the Bastards It Could Happen Here Weekly 196
Aug 23, 2025
Bridget Todd, a DC resident and host of 'There Are No Girls on the Internet', delves into the federalization of D.C.'s police force, exploring its implications for local governance. Historian Michael Phillips and investigative reporter Stephen Monticelli discuss the troubling legacy of company towns in the U.S., linking them to modern capitalist ventures like those of Elon Musk. They reveal how these towns have historically eroded democracy and workers' rights, raising questions about the future of corporate influence on communities.
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Federal Takeover Threatens D.C. Autonomy
- Federalizing D.C.'s police is unprecedented and leverages D.C.'s unique legal status under the Home Rule Act.
- Bridget Todd warns this move can be a thinly veiled power grab that threatens home rule and local autonomy.
Show Of Force Over Crime Data
- Federal agents patrolling safe, residential, or tourist areas signals the action is political theater, not targeted crime-fighting.
- Todd and Davis emphasize crime statistics do not support the administration's claims about rising D.C. violent crime.
Policing As Political Intimidation
- The federal push into D.C. targets Black, brown, immigrant, and unhoused communities through intimidation rather than solving root causes.
- Hosts frame the move as a political signal intended to scare marginalized residents and voters.
