Steve Levitt, Professor emeritus of economics at the University of Chicago, explores the unexpected link between legalized abortion and declining crime rates with Stanford's John Donohue and Amherst's Jessica Wolpaw Reyes. They delve into their groundbreaking research, revealing how abortion legalization may correlate with reduced crime and the complexities surrounding this controversial finding. The conversation also addresses misconceptions, the influence of environmental factors like lead exposure, and the role of data in public debates about sensitive topics.

John Donohue, a Stanford Law professor and Second Amendment expert, discusses a groundbreaking Kansas ruling that strikes down the federal machine gun ban as unconstitutional, igniting debates over gun rights. Maia Spoto, a Bloomberg Law correspondent, reveals the gripping story of Tom Girardi, the once high-flying lawyer now convicted of embezzling from his clients. The fallout from Girardi’s deceit includes emotional testimonies from victims, while the gun regulation discussion emphasizes the legal shifts and challenges impacting public safety.

The controversial theory linking Roe v. Wade to a massive crime drop is back in the spotlight as several states introduce abortion restrictions. Steve Levitt and John Donohue discuss their original research, the challenges to its legitimacy, and their updated analysis. Also: what this means for abortion policy, crime policy, and having intelligent conversations about contentious topics.