Washington DC officials are touting major drops in crime after deploying the National Guard, with carjackings reportedly down by nearly 90%. But is this surge a real solution or just an unsustainable show of force? In this video, we break down Mayor Bowser’s report, the visible police and military presence across the city, and what it really means for safety, justice, and the local economy.

We also dig into overlooked issues: clogged courts from mass arrests, ICE targeting low-level workers, the economic collapse hitting restaurants and tourism, and the lack of a clear long-term plan once the Guard leaves. Is this about fighting crime—or something else entirely?

Join the discussion on how DC can move toward meaningful, lasting solutions without relying on over-policing and militarization.

Learn more, and join in on the conversation on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:30 Carjackings drop 87%

01:10 National Guard everywhere

02:20 Is this sustainable?

03:10 Courts overwhelmed

04:00 Overcharging cases

05:00 DC budget problems

06:20 Tourism collapse

07:00 Residents’ testimony ignored

08:10 Immigration scapegoating

09:00 Real solutions vs temporary fixes

10:20 Final thoughts