6 minutes
中国媒体人刘虎、巫英蛟因发文揭露官员涉贪于2月1日遭刑拘，在社交网络引发强烈反应，多名律师撰文声援，呼吁公众关注。
6 minutes
中国媒体人刘虎、巫英蛟因发文揭露官员涉贪于2月1日遭刑拘，在社交网络引发强烈反应，多名律师撰文声援，呼吁公众关注。
12 minutes
Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest. When President Donald Trump pressured state and local officials to intervene in his behalf in the 2020 election, it wasn’t a matter of abstract constitutional theory for the people running elections. It was armed protests outside offices, threats against their families, subpoenas for voter data, and months of uncertainty about whether doing their jobs would land them in legal jeopardy. Now, Trump says he wants Republicans to “nationalize the voting” and “take over the voting in at least 15 places,” language that evokes the pressure campaigns he and allies mounted during that contentious 2020 period. Trump’s 2020 effort ultimately stalled when even some Republicans refused to take steps they believed were unlawful. And his call to nationalize voting this week prompted pushback from some GOP members of Congress and other Republican figures. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Trump’s proposal raised constitutional concerns, and he warned that nationalizing elections could make them more susceptible to cybersecurity attacks. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska was more blunt, saying he has long opposed federal control of elections. “I’ll oppose this now as well,” he wrote on X. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s comments referred to his support for federal legislation commonly called the SAVE Act. Election officials say the lesson of 2020 was not that the system is invulnerable, but that it can be strained in ways that cause lasting damage long before courts step in. While it’s unclear whether Trump’s latest demands — and possible future actions— would lead to the same level of disruption, legal experts say some of the backstops that ultimately stopped him last time are now weaker, leaving election officials to absorb even more pressure. Memories of 2020 shape the response Kathy Bernier, a Republican former Wisconsin lawmaker and Chippewa County clerk, was the chair of the state Senate’s election committee following the 2020 election and repeatedly pushed back on Trump’s claims of widespread fraud. As Republicans launched a prolonged review of the results, Bernier criticized the effort publicly, saying Wisconsin’s elections were secure and that “no one should falsely accuse election officials of cheating.” She faced extensive backlash, including calls for her resignation, and Bernier said the dispute escalated to the point that she carried a gun for protection. She ultimately left the legislature, a decision that she said wasn’t politically motivated. A key takeaway from the 2020 election for election officials, Bernier told Votebeat, was the importance of radical transparency — not just following the rules, but showing people, in real time, that the rules are being followed “to a T.” “When there’s a paper jam,” she said, “announce it.” Still, she said, officials also learned the limits of that approach. After she tried to boost election confidence across Wisconsin, she came to a blunt conclusion: “There’s nothing you can do with ‘I don’t believe you.’” In the years that followed, Bernier said, a bigger danger than Trump himself were the “charlatans” who took his words and turned them into a business model, spreading conspiracy theories for profit. The misinformation and disinformation those people spread, Bernier said, continue to resonate among the conspiratorial segments of the GOP. The impact of their campaigns has been felt acutely by election officials. Many received death threats, and some had to relocate and enhance their security protections. Large cities redesigned their election offices to better protect their workers, and election official turnover increased dramatically, reshaping the profession long after the votes were counted. Stephen Richer, a Republican who became recorder in Maricopa County, Arizona, shortly after the 2020 election, had similar advice: Follow the law, tell the truth, and consult attorneys, national associations, and state associations before making key decisions, because “the likelihood that they are dealing with your jurisdiction alone is limited.” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is among the Republicans who prominently resisted Trump’s calls to overturn the 2020 election. He and his wife received death threats, and were assigned a protective team by the state. He declined an interview with Votebeat, but in a statement this week, he urged lawmakers to improve state election administration “rather than rehashing the same outdated claims or worse — moving to federalize a core function of state government.” Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, another Republican who pushed back on Trump’s baseless allegations of widespread fraud following the 2020 election and faced similar retaliation, told Votebeat that the state’s elections are freer and fairer than ever before, and that the Constitution stops Trump from unilaterally nationalizing elections. The Michigan Department of State, similarly, said this was a settled constitutional matter. On the other hand, Michigan Republicans have asked the U.S. Justice Department for increased federal involvement in elections in the state, calling for monitors — not atypical in American elections — as well as “oversight,” although GOP leaders didn’t elaborate on what that would mean. Richer, who lost his reelection bid for recorder in 2024 to another Republican, said Trump’s comments, combined with similar calls for federal involvement, suggest the Republican Party is drifting from its traditional commitment to federalism and local control. He also pointed to increased legislation at the federal level seeking to standardize elections, which has received little pushback from the Republican Party. That’s despite Republicans criticizing an earlier Democratic legislative effort as federal overreach. “Clearly the federal government is going to do things that it’s never done before,” he said. “The FBI going in and taking materials from an election that happened over five years ago is unprecedented, so maybe we’re destined for additional unprecedented actions." Election officials and courts the most significant ‘line of defense’ One of the key reasons that Trump failed in his efforts to delay and then overturn the 2020 election was the “men and women of principle” in his administration, said David Becker, an election lawyer who leads the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research. Becker, a former Justice Department official, said the experience offered an uncomfortable lesson: Those internal guardrails existed because individuals chose to enforce them — and there is less reason to assume they would be there again. After the 2020 election, Bill Barr, the attorney general at the time, disputed Trump’s claim that there was widespread fraud; the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency similarly disputed the president’s claim that swings in unofficial results during election night meant that there was election fraud; and national security officials reportedly warned Trump that he couldn’t seize voting machines. “That line of defense is largely gone,” Becker said, because “the primary and perhaps only qualification for being hired by this administration — particularly in those key roles in the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security — is loyalty to this man.” With fewer internal checks, Becker said, the second and most important line of defense this election cycle is courts and state and local election officials. Courts have already stymied many of the election policies Trump has tried to carry out via executive order, and “election officials are holding firm.” But he cautioned that court challenges take time — time in which “untold damage” can be done to erode public trust and to the officials caught in the middle. That gap between what Trump can say and what he can actually do is where the risk now lies, said Justin Levitt, an election law professor at Loyola Marymount University who advised President Joe Biden’s administration on democracy and voting rights. Levitt said Trump does not have the legal or operational authority to unilaterally nationalize elections, even if he were inclined to cross legal boundaries. He contrasted the president’s ability to control elections with ICE’s use of force in Democratic-run cities. In immigration enforcement, Levitt said, Congress has given the executive branch authority that can be exercised aggressively or improperly, even when courts later find those actions unlawful. In those cases, Levitt said, the president has “his finger on a switch” — the practical ability to act first and answer questions later. “No such switch exists” in elections, said Levitt. But with fewer administration officials pushing back on Trump’s claims compared with his first term, Levitt said election officials can expect Trump’s messaging to get “much, much, much worse this year,” and for those claims to be given more oxygen by the rest of the federal government. “It’s up to us to choose to believe him or not,” he added. Obedience in advance isn’t required, and treating Trump’s claims as commands would grant him authority he does not have, Levitt said, adding, “We have agency in this.” Alexander Shur is a reporter for Votebeat based in Wisconsin. Contact Alexander at ashur@votebeat.org.
Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest. When President Donald Trump pressured state and local officials to intervene in his behalf in the 2020 election, it wasn’t a matter of abstract constitutional theory for the people running elections. It was armed protests outside offices, threats against their families, subpoenas for voter data, and months of uncertainty about whether doing their jobs would land them in legal jeopardy. Now, Trump says he wants Republicans to “nationalize the voting” and “take over the voting in at least 15 places,” language that evokes the pressure campaigns he and allies mounted during that contentious 2020 period. Trump’s 2020 effort ultimately stalled when even some Republicans refused to take steps they believed were unlawful. And his call to nationalize voting this week prompted pushback from some GOP members of Congress and other Republican figures. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Trump’s proposal raised constitutional concerns, and he warned that nationalizing elections could make them more susceptible to cybersecurity attacks. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska was more blunt, saying he has long opposed federal control of elections. “I’ll oppose this now as well,” he wrote on X. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s comments referred to his support for federal legislation commonly called the SAVE Act. Election officials say the lesson of 2020 was not that the system is invulnerable, but that it can be strained in ways that cause lasting damage long before courts step in. While it’s unclear whether Trump’s latest demands — and possible future actions— would lead to the same level of disruption, legal experts say some of the backstops that ultimately stopped him last time are now weaker, leaving election officials to absorb even more pressure. Memories of 2020 shape the response Kathy Bernier, a Republican former Wisconsin lawmaker and Chippewa County clerk, was the chair of the state Senate’s election committee following the 2020 election and repeatedly pushed back on Trump’s claims of widespread fraud. As Republicans launched a prolonged review of the results, Bernier criticized the effort publicly, saying Wisconsin’s elections were secure and that “no one should falsely accuse election officials of cheating.” She faced extensive backlash, including calls for her resignation, and Bernier said the dispute escalated to the point that she carried a gun for protection. She ultimately left the legislature, a decision that she said wasn’t politically motivated. A key takeaway from the 2020 election for election officials, Bernier told Votebeat, was the importance of radical transparency — not just following the rules, but showing people, in real time, that the rules are being followed “to a T.” “When there’s a paper jam,” she said, “announce it.” Still, she said, officials also learned the limits of that approach. After she tried to boost election confidence across Wisconsin, she came to a blunt conclusion: “There’s nothing you can do with ‘I don’t believe you.’” In the years that followed, Bernier said, a bigger danger than Trump himself were the “charlatans” who took his words and turned them into a business model, spreading conspiracy theories for profit. The misinformation and disinformation those people spread, Bernier said, continue to resonate among the conspiratorial segments of the GOP. The impact of their campaigns has been felt acutely by election officials. Many received death threats, and some had to relocate and enhance their security protections. Large cities redesigned their election offices to better protect their workers, and election official turnover increased dramatically, reshaping the profession long after the votes were counted. Stephen Richer, a Republican who became recorder in Maricopa County, Arizona, shortly after the 2020 election, had similar advice: Follow the law, tell the truth, and consult attorneys, national associations, and state associations before making key decisions, because “the likelihood that they are dealing with your jurisdiction alone is limited.” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is among the Republicans who prominently resisted Trump’s calls to overturn the 2020 election. He and his wife received death threats, and were assigned a protective team by the state. He declined an interview with Votebeat, but in a statement this week, he urged lawmakers to improve state election administration “rather than rehashing the same outdated claims or worse — moving to federalize a core function of state government.” Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, another Republican who pushed back on Trump’s baseless allegations of widespread fraud following the 2020 election and faced similar retaliation, told Votebeat that the state’s elections are freer and fairer than ever before, and that the Constitution stops Trump from unilaterally nationalizing elections. The Michigan Department of State, similarly, said this was a settled constitutional matter. On the other hand, Michigan Republicans have asked the U.S. Justice Department for increased federal involvement in elections in the state, calling for monitors — not atypical in American elections — as well as “oversight,” although GOP leaders didn’t elaborate on what that would mean. Richer, who lost his reelection bid for recorder in 2024 to another Republican, said Trump’s comments, combined with similar calls for federal involvement, suggest the Republican Party is drifting from its traditional commitment to federalism and local control. He also pointed to increased legislation at the federal level seeking to standardize elections, which has received little pushback from the Republican Party. That’s despite Republicans criticizing an earlier Democratic legislative effort as federal overreach. “Clearly the federal government is going to do things that it’s never done before,” he said. “The FBI going in and taking materials from an election that happened over five years ago is unprecedented, so maybe we’re destined for additional unprecedented actions." Election officials and courts the most significant ‘line of defense’ One of the key reasons that Trump failed in his efforts to delay and then overturn the 2020 election was the “men and women of principle” in his administration, said David Becker, an election lawyer who leads the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research. Becker, a former Justice Department official, said the experience offered an uncomfortable lesson: Those internal guardrails existed because individuals chose to enforce them — and there is less reason to assume they would be there again. After the 2020 election, Bill Barr, the attorney general at the time, disputed Trump’s claim that there was widespread fraud; the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency similarly disputed the president’s claim that swings in unofficial results during election night meant that there was election fraud; and national security officials reportedly warned Trump that he couldn’t seize voting machines. “That line of defense is largely gone,” Becker said, because “the primary and perhaps only qualification for being hired by this administration — particularly in those key roles in the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security — is loyalty to this man.” With fewer internal checks, Becker said, the second and most important line of defense this election cycle is courts and state and local election officials. Courts have already stymied many of the election policies Trump has tried to carry out via executive order, and “election officials are holding firm.” But he cautioned that court challenges take time — time in which “untold damage” can be done to erode public trust and to the officials caught in the middle. That gap between what Trump can say and what he can actually do is where the risk now lies, said Justin Levitt, an election law professor at Loyola Marymount University who advised President Joe Biden’s administration on democracy and voting rights. Levitt said Trump does not have the legal or operational authority to unilaterally nationalize elections, even if he were inclined to cross legal boundaries. He contrasted the president’s ability to control elections with ICE’s use of force in Democratic-run cities. In immigration enforcement, Levitt said, Congress has given the executive branch authority that can be exercised aggressively or improperly, even when courts later find those actions unlawful. In those cases, Levitt said, the president has “his finger on a switch” — the practical ability to act first and answer questions later. “No such switch exists” in elections, said Levitt. But with fewer administration officials pushing back on Trump’s claims compared with his first term, Levitt said election officials can expect Trump’s messaging to get “much, much, much worse this year,” and for those claims to be given more oxygen by the rest of the federal government. “It’s up to us to choose to believe him or not,” he added. Obedience in advance isn’t required, and treating Trump’s claims as commands would grant him authority he does not have, Levitt said, adding, “We have agency in this.” Alexander Shur is a reporter for Votebeat based in Wisconsin. Contact Alexander at ashur@votebeat.org.
13 minutes
Frustrated by rising property taxes, complicated tax schemes and housing costs that seem out-of-control, leaders at the state, county and local level have been getting an earful from local residents, and some have raised the question: Is it (again) time to consider a statewide sales tax? Just the mere mention of the concept is politically […]
Frustrated by rising property taxes, complicated tax schemes and housing costs that seem out-of-control, leaders at the state, county and local level have been getting an earful from local residents, and some have raised the question: Is it (again) time to consider a statewide sales tax? Just the mere mention of the concept is politically […]
13 minutes
O Ministério da Saúde lançou nesta terça-feira (3) edital para a oferta de 3 mil vagas de residência médica. Com a contratação, o governo federal passa a responder por mais de 60% do total de residentes no país, o equivalente a 35 mil profissionais. O investimento, segundo a pasta, será de R$ 3 bilhões. Em […] Saúde anuncia 3 mil vagas de residência e 900 para especialistas apareceu primeiro no Brasil de Fato.
O Ministério da Saúde lançou nesta terça-feira (3) edital para a oferta de 3 mil vagas de residência médica. Com a contratação, o governo federal passa a responder por mais de 60% do total de residentes no país, o equivalente a 35 mil profissionais. O investimento, segundo a pasta, será de R$ 3 bilhões. Em […] Saúde anuncia 3 mil vagas de residência e 900 para especialistas apareceu primeiro no Brasil de Fato.
13 minutes
Bruno Rodríguez se reúne com autoridades vietnamitas e discute comércio, energia e projetos bilaterais Em meio a hostilidades dos EUA, chanceler cubano visita Vietnã para fortalecer cooperações estratégicas apareceu primeiro no Brasil de Fato.
Bruno Rodríguez se reúne com autoridades vietnamitas e discute comércio, energia e projetos bilaterais Em meio a hostilidades dos EUA, chanceler cubano visita Vietnã para fortalecer cooperações estratégicas apareceu primeiro no Brasil de Fato.
16 minutes
گروهی از دانشجویان رشته دندانپزشکی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تبریز، روز سهشنبه ۱۴ بهمن، با تحصن در داخل دانشکده، یاد کشتهشدگان قتل عام اخیر در ایران را گرامی داشتند
گروهی از دانشجویان رشته دندانپزشکی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تبریز، روز سهشنبه ۱۴ بهمن، با تحصن در داخل دانشکده، یاد کشتهشدگان قتل عام اخیر در ایران را گرامی داشتند
17 minutes
ادامه تقویت حضور نظامی آمریکا در اطراف جمهوری اسلامی
ادامه تقویت حضور نظامی آمریکا در اطراف جمهوری اسلامی
17 minutes
A House subcommittee voted Tuesday to advance legislation aimed at collecting energy during non-peak usage times to help meet energy demand. House Study Bill 630 would allow for the operation of customer-based power plants and storage facilities in the state, with the purpose of managing and optimizing energy usage. Iowa utility companies MidAmerican Energy and […]
A House subcommittee voted Tuesday to advance legislation aimed at collecting energy during non-peak usage times to help meet energy demand. House Study Bill 630 would allow for the operation of customer-based power plants and storage facilities in the state, with the purpose of managing and optimizing energy usage. Iowa utility companies MidAmerican Energy and […]
18 minutes
وزیر جنگ آمریکا: ما در آمادگی کامل در مقابله با جمهوری اسلامی بهسر میبریم
وزیر جنگ آمریکا: ما در آمادگی کامل در مقابله با جمهوری اسلامی بهسر میبریم
18 minutes
The nonprofit partnered with Goodwill Industries of Michiana to replicate the Padua program.
The nonprofit partnered with Goodwill Industries of Michiana to replicate the Padua program.
19 minutes
Tiempo de lectura: 4 minutosEl Organismo Legislativo dio luz verde para que los 15 integrantes de la Comisión de Postulación del Ministerio Público, que tendrá a su cargo la selección de la nómina de seis candidatos para reemplazar a Consuelo Porras, puedan empezar sus funciones. Este proceso será determinante porque marcará el futuro del MP, luego de ocho años ... Read more
Tiempo de lectura: 4 minutosEl Organismo Legislativo dio luz verde para que los 15 integrantes de la Comisión de Postulación del Ministerio Público, que tendrá a su cargo la selección de la nómina de seis candidatos para reemplazar a Consuelo Porras, puedan empezar sus funciones. Este proceso será determinante porque marcará el futuro del MP, luego de ocho años ... Read more
19 minutes
تشریح رویکرد دولت ترامپ در قبال جمهوری اسلامی از سوی وزارت خارجه آمریکا
تشریح رویکرد دولت ترامپ در قبال جمهوری اسلامی از سوی وزارت خارجه آمریکا
20 minutes
A 5th Judicial District judge has dismissed a petition by Virginia City business owners against the state Department of Commerce and the Montana Heritage Commission. The order, from Judge Luke Berger, says that Lewis and Clark District Court was the proper venue for legal proceedings over the contract. The business owners had previously filed an […]
A 5th Judicial District judge has dismissed a petition by Virginia City business owners against the state Department of Commerce and the Montana Heritage Commission. The order, from Judge Luke Berger, says that Lewis and Clark District Court was the proper venue for legal proceedings over the contract. The business owners had previously filed an […]
21 minutes
Procurement transparency may sound technical. In reality, it goes to the heart of how wealth is built—or excluded—in the Commonwealth.
Procurement transparency may sound technical. In reality, it goes to the heart of how wealth is built—or excluded—in the Commonwealth.
21 minutes
قوه قضائیه خامنه ای، آتش به اختیار برای سرکوب
قوه قضائیه خامنه ای، آتش به اختیار برای سرکوب
23 minutes
سینماگران در ایران با جامعهای که عزادار قتلعام مردم بهدست جمهوری اسلامی است چه نسبتی دارند
23 minutes
سینماگران در ایران با جامعهای که عزادار قتلعام مردم بهدست جمهوری اسلامی است چه نسبتی دارند
24 minutes
The campaign behind an initiative to roll back Maine’s inclusive policies for transgender athletes said on Monday it has enough signatures to appear on the November ballot. In a press conference at the State House, the group announced that it collected over 82,000 signatures from Maine voters over the past few months — more than […]
24 minutes
The campaign behind an initiative to roll back Maine’s inclusive policies for transgender athletes said on Monday it has enough signatures to appear on the November ballot. In a press conference at the State House, the group announced that it collected over 82,000 signatures from Maine voters over the past few months — more than […]
25 minutes
Dentre todos os 68 mil imigrantes detidos nos Estados Unidos (EUA), 73% não têm antecedentes criminais. O cálculo é do Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (Trac), banco de dados da Universidade de Syracuse, dos EUA, referentes ao final de 2025. “Muitos dos condenados cometeram apenas delitos menores, incluindo infrações de trânsito”, diz o Trac. No discurso […] Dos imigrantes detidos nos EUA, 73% não têm antecedentes criminais apareceu primeiro no Brasil de Fato.
Dentre todos os 68 mil imigrantes detidos nos Estados Unidos (EUA), 73% não têm antecedentes criminais. O cálculo é do Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (Trac), banco de dados da Universidade de Syracuse, dos EUA, referentes ao final de 2025. “Muitos dos condenados cometeram apenas delitos menores, incluindo infrações de trânsito”, diz o Trac. No discurso […] Dos imigrantes detidos nos EUA, 73% não têm antecedentes criminais apareceu primeiro no Brasil de Fato.
25 minutes
آمریکا از لنز دوربین
26 minutes
(The Center Square) – The timing of Seattle Police Department Chief Shon Barnes' first Year in Review address touting dropping crime rates could be considered unfortunate, coming in the aftermath of recent multiple homicides in the city. Two Rainier Beach High School students were killed at a bus stop on Friday, and another man was killed in a separate shooting in Pioneer Square early Sunday. “This is not a victory lap,” Barnes said, after acknowledging the killings, from the Northwest African American Museum on Monday. “This is the first lap in a long marathon toward public safety.” The recent violence didn’t stop the chief from noting positive year-end 2025 crime data in the Emerald City and plans for the upcoming year. “And although we understand that no amount of crime in our city is ever acceptable, we are proud to report that in 2025 we saw an 18% overall reduction in crime citywide,” Barnes said. Seattle experienced 37 homicides in 2025, which is 36% fewer than the 58 people killed in 2024. This is the lowest level of homicides since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, SPD solved 86% of those homicide cases. “That means SPD brought some measure of closure to 32 of 37 families affected by a tragic homicide,” Barnes said. The 86% clearance rate also represents a substantial improvement over the department’s 2024 clearance rate of 57% and surpasses the 61% national average. SPD data shows a decrease in both violent incidents and injuries, with an 8% reduction in aggravated assaults and a 36% drop in victims struck by gunfire. In 2025, stolen vehicle incidents decreased by 24%, resulting in 1,821 fewer victims than the previous year. Burglaries decreased by 18% last year, translating into 1,571 fewer victims. SPD hired 167 officers in 2025, a net increase of 94 officers. The department saw the fewest number of officer separations since 2016, “with only 62 officers leaving our department,” Barnes said. The chief attributed the improved crime statistics to greater collaboration among patrol, detectives and the new Real-Time Crime Center. The RTCC assisted in 45% of homicide cases within months of launching, the chief said. This collaborative approach, which integrates technology, field intelligence and investigative support, aims to improve public safety and community trust. The community played a major role, too, Barnes pointed out. “Our ability to solve 86% of last year’s homicide cases suggests we are improving in the most important category of all: community trust,” he said. The Center Square asked the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs about Seattle’s improving crime statistics. “The 2025 Crime in Washington Report will be compiled this spring for release this summer,” WASPC Communications Consultant Barbara Smith emailed The Center Square. “So WASPC doesn’t have verified crime statistics for Seattle or other jurisdictions at this point.” She did note that overall crime rates in Washington were down in 2024. The Center Square also reached out to the Seattle Police Officers Guild – which has consistently criticized Seattle city leadership for what it claims are dangerous policies like limiting drug arrests and pushing defund the police ideologies – for comment, but did not receive a reply. Last week, outgoing SPOG President Mike Solan publicly criticized Mayor Katie Wilson’s plans to bar federal immigration enforcement from using city-controlled property and to have city police verify the identification of federal agents. Crime was a major issue in last year’s mayoral race between then-Mayor Bruce Harrell and Wilson. Harrell, elected in 2021 on a law-and-order platform, ran on his record of increasing police staffing, clearing homeless encampments, and promoting a centrist approach. Wilson, a community organizer, ran on a progressive platform focusing on affordable housing, alternatives to police responses, and addressing the root causes of crime. Barnes outlined a 2026 plan focused on continuing to reduce crime, expanding community policing and increasing officer staffing. SPD has been highlighting a new, monthly community conversation series called Our City, Our Safety. The next meeting will be held on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Loyal Heights Community Center. “And this is the work they do each and every day, and I am so proud to lead this department, and proud of your continued support, your continued partnership, and I look forward to the work that we have ahead of us in the new year, 2026,” Barnes said.
(The Center Square) – The timing of Seattle Police Department Chief Shon Barnes' first Year in Review address touting dropping crime rates could be considered unfortunate, coming in the aftermath of recent multiple homicides in the city. Two Rainier Beach High School students were killed at a bus stop on Friday, and another man was killed in a separate shooting in Pioneer Square early Sunday. “This is not a victory lap,” Barnes said, after acknowledging the killings, from the Northwest African American Museum on Monday. “This is the first lap in a long marathon toward public safety.” The recent violence didn’t stop the chief from noting positive year-end 2025 crime data in the Emerald City and plans for the upcoming year. “And although we understand that no amount of crime in our city is ever acceptable, we are proud to report that in 2025 we saw an 18% overall reduction in crime citywide,” Barnes said. Seattle experienced 37 homicides in 2025, which is 36% fewer than the 58 people killed in 2024. This is the lowest level of homicides since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, SPD solved 86% of those homicide cases. “That means SPD brought some measure of closure to 32 of 37 families affected by a tragic homicide,” Barnes said. The 86% clearance rate also represents a substantial improvement over the department’s 2024 clearance rate of 57% and surpasses the 61% national average. SPD data shows a decrease in both violent incidents and injuries, with an 8% reduction in aggravated assaults and a 36% drop in victims struck by gunfire. In 2025, stolen vehicle incidents decreased by 24%, resulting in 1,821 fewer victims than the previous year. Burglaries decreased by 18% last year, translating into 1,571 fewer victims. SPD hired 167 officers in 2025, a net increase of 94 officers. The department saw the fewest number of officer separations since 2016, “with only 62 officers leaving our department,” Barnes said. The chief attributed the improved crime statistics to greater collaboration among patrol, detectives and the new Real-Time Crime Center. The RTCC assisted in 45% of homicide cases within months of launching, the chief said. This collaborative approach, which integrates technology, field intelligence and investigative support, aims to improve public safety and community trust. The community played a major role, too, Barnes pointed out. “Our ability to solve 86% of last year’s homicide cases suggests we are improving in the most important category of all: community trust,” he said. The Center Square asked the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs about Seattle’s improving crime statistics. “The 2025 Crime in Washington Report will be compiled this spring for release this summer,” WASPC Communications Consultant Barbara Smith emailed The Center Square. “So WASPC doesn’t have verified crime statistics for Seattle or other jurisdictions at this point.” She did note that overall crime rates in Washington were down in 2024. The Center Square also reached out to the Seattle Police Officers Guild – which has consistently criticized Seattle city leadership for what it claims are dangerous policies like limiting drug arrests and pushing defund the police ideologies – for comment, but did not receive a reply. Last week, outgoing SPOG President Mike Solan publicly criticized Mayor Katie Wilson’s plans to bar federal immigration enforcement from using city-controlled property and to have city police verify the identification of federal agents. Crime was a major issue in last year’s mayoral race between then-Mayor Bruce Harrell and Wilson. Harrell, elected in 2021 on a law-and-order platform, ran on his record of increasing police staffing, clearing homeless encampments, and promoting a centrist approach. Wilson, a community organizer, ran on a progressive platform focusing on affordable housing, alternatives to police responses, and addressing the root causes of crime. Barnes outlined a 2026 plan focused on continuing to reduce crime, expanding community policing and increasing officer staffing. SPD has been highlighting a new, monthly community conversation series called Our City, Our Safety. The next meeting will be held on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Loyal Heights Community Center. “And this is the work they do each and every day, and I am so proud to lead this department, and proud of your continued support, your continued partnership, and I look forward to the work that we have ahead of us in the new year, 2026,” Barnes said.