Chris Matthews: Democrats "Falling Into A Trap Of Defending What's Indefensible" With Crime In Washington D.C.

Real Clear Politics ^ | August 13, 2025 | Ian Schwartz

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews on Wednesday's "Morning Joe" said Democrats are falling into a trap by denying the rising crime in Washington, D.C.

"Trump looks at the city visually like a real estate agent," Matthews told co-host Mika Brzezinski. "He wants to beautify the city like he's doing at the White House with that ridiculous ballroom he's putting in and getting rid of the Rose Garden. That's Trump work. But I think it shows strength. I agree with you. I think this is a strength move against the big cities who are in a difficult situation on crime."

"The murder rate, you can't keep saying violent crime is down, but the murder rate is up," Matthews continued. "To the average person, the murder rate is about life and death. You don't brag about a rising murder rate. And the Democrats are, I agree with you, Mika, they're falling into the trap of defending what's indefensible."

MIKA BRZEZINSKI, MSNBC HOST: I want to ask you, not just your take about this move by President Trump, what you feel about it, but also how Democrats should be responding. What do you think the politics of this is? I think it's a political win for Trump, and I think that the Democrats need to go beyond saying no, look at the data, crime is going down.

I feel that is exactly the wrong response politically, even if it's true, because the problems that D.C. is facing, whether the data shows it's going up or down, is homelessness, crime, rats, poverty, disparity in wealth, all the systemic problems that cities are facing. And I'm wondering if Democrats need to go beyond the data and come up with a real answer to these problems. What do...

[gundog]

C’mon, Chrissy....once you’ve embraced pedophilia, embracing plain old crime is a step upward.

[frank ballenger]

Shocking news was Chris Matthews is still alive and still blabbing. Many thought he was no longer with us.

Same with George Will (voted for Biden and Kamala to spite Trump) who is 84 and hired as a regular contributor under contract on NewsNation. Formerly MSNBC.

Sort of a Liz Cheney without lipstick, a dress and pumps. At least on the air.

[combat_boots]

Tom MacDonald’s new song

https://rumble.com/v6xn7bo-rapper-tom-macdonald-song-the-devil-is-a-democrat.html

[stylin19a]

nobody ever mentioned it but, IMHO, (For What that’s worth), Chris was a Vietnam war draft dodger.

[janetjanet998]

Somehow Trump once again got the Dems on the wrong side of a 80/20 issue

I guess it’s not that hard when they suffer from terminal TDS

[shelterguy]

“””Same with George Will (voted for Biden and Kamala to spite Trump) who is 84 and hired as a regular contributor under contract on NewsNation. Formerly MSNBC.”””””””

George always seemed to be a DC guy who has never been to America. Stuck up and clueless. He also looks like a guy who hasn’t been laid since about 1947.

[jerod]

Is Chris actually saying that crime, criminals and general anarchy and fear they cause... Isn’t ‘defensible’?

[frogjerk]

What’s the big deal?...so you don’t get mugged as much but you just may be killed. A winning issue. GOT IT!

[j.havenfarm]

When the monumental stupidity of the democrats is obvious even the Christian Mathew’s, you know it’s pretty bad

[RandallFlagg]

EWW!
ICK!
Chrissie and Mika look like commie loser brother and sister in that pic.

That being said, is it REALLY a, “Trap,” when the commies dug that hole themselves with their past?
Then called anyone a, “nazi,” if they attempted to free them?

Let ‘em wallow.

[shanover]

No thrill up the leg Chrissy?

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Democrats have fallen so far into that bottomless pit it’s impossible for them to crawl out.

[frank ballenger]

Ha. Some women are lonely but not THAT lonely.

[Jonny7797]

“and I’m wondering if Democrats need to go beyond the data and come up with a real answer to these problems.”

Democrats dont want to solve issues - they perpetuate them.

[frank ballenger]

Like criminals allowed to go outside but required to wear an ankle bracelet monitor, Chris should wear one to monitor leg tingling as a means for pollsters to get an early lead on fast breaking political trends.
Schumer——no effect.
Mamdani-—oooooooo.

[TalBlack]

“Democrats need to go beyond the data and come up with a real answer to these problems. “

Democrats cause these problems with their votes. They aren’t going to clean up anything. They have had decades to do it if they were going to.

[Vaduz]

MSNBC and Chris Matthews propaganda agents for the democrat party those jobs are getting thinner by the day.

[hanamizu]

Somehow Trump once again got the Dems on the wrong side of a 80/20 issue

---

Open borders to all comers no matter their background √
Pretend girls/women in girls/women’s sports, locker rooms, bathrooms √
Defending crime and murder in black-run cities √
Opposition to the ending perpetual warfare around the world √
Defending the irreversible mutilation of children √

I’m sure I’ve missed a few.

[T-Bird45]

And every one of your check-marked issues deserves a strong campaign media message (ads, billboards, broadcast/web presence, etc.) of its own for the next 2 election cycles. Will the RNC undertake this obvious strategy??? Doubtful, IMO but I remain optimistic and willing to be surprised.