Crime and Society Newsletter
America's Criminologist with Dr. Currie Myers
America's Criminologist Podcast for December 20, 2024
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America's Criminologist Podcast for December 20, 2024

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from America's Criminologist, Dr. Currie Myers

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my friends! First and foremost, how about a song: Don’t be a Grinch!

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel
You're as cuddly as a cactus
And as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch
You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel

You're a monster, Mr. Grinch
Your heart's an empty hole
Your brain is full of spiders
You've got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch
I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole

You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch
You have termites in your smile
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch
Given the choice between you, I'd take the seasick crocodile

And, if you prefer, here the original version!

Welcome to the America’s Criminologist Podcast for December 20, 2024. This is Dr Currie Myers with some interesting criminal justice news and events that have occurred in the United States recently.

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Don’t forget my podcast also available on Spotify on America’s Criminologist with Dr. Currie Myers. And please join me on X. This is a very important platform for distributing my work. @DrCurrieMyers

Here are my pressing issues this week that I have offered an opinion on as an applied criminologist, ethicist and career law enforcement officer at the local, state, and federal level:

The Enemy Within the Gates! Biden Administration's National Security Failures. The guilty plea of Chen Jinping, who operated a covert Chinese police station in Manhattan, exposes a troubling reality: America's national security has been compromised under the Biden Administration's lax enforcement policies. Hidden in Chinatown, this station allowed agents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to target pro-democracy activists and dissidents on American soil. This case is more than a security breach—it's a glaring example of how criminals, terror organizations, and foreign government operatives exploit the Biden Administration's weak approach to law enforcement and border security. The unauthorized police station, disguised as a community service center, started operations in early 2022. It was meant to assist Chinese citizens with tasks like driver's license renewals, but it’s true purpose was far more sinister. Directly linked to the CCP, it surveilled critics of the Chinese government and suppressed dissent. Despite these activities, federal agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) failed to act until late 2022, allowing the station to operate unchecked. This case underscores broader systemic failures. The Biden Administration's open-borders policies and lenient stance on foreign interference have created fertile ground for adversaries to infiltrate and operate within the United States. Critics argue the administration's focus on domestic political agendas has left critical national security vulnerabilities exposed. The DOJ's delayed response, the lack of proactive enforcement under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and DHS's failure to identify and neutralize foreign threats earlier highlight a clear lack of coordination and urgency. Such failures embolden adversaries like the CCP while putting U.S. citizens, particularly those fleeing oppressive regimes, at risk. The Biden Administration is an example of the DNC agenda to prioritize ideological goals over national security, America will remain vulnerable to enemies "within the gates." Stronger enforcement of FARA, enhanced intelligence coordination, and a crackdown on foreign operatives are urgently needed to close these security gaps and protect U.S. sovereignty.

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As I wrote last week, the assassination of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthCare, sent shockwaves across the nation. The arrest of Luigi Mangione, a man from a privileged background with an Ivy League education, has further fueled intrigue. As the details of the case emerge, it becomes clear that Mangione’s psychological profile may fit the traits of a "dark empath." This concept describes individuals who blend cognitive empathy with manipulative or destructive tendencies, weaponizing emotional intelligence to serve darker purposes. The concept of the dark empath is relatively new in psychological discourse. Unlike traditional dark triad personalities—characterized by narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—dark empaths possess a high degree of cognitive empathy. They are adept at understanding and anticipating the emotions of others but lack the emotional resonance to feel compassion or remorse. This emotional detachment enables them to manipulate others or justify harmful actions. As I wrote in my book, “The Advent of Feral Man”, people displaying the dark traits are more likely to be male and younger. They tend to be motivated by power, use sex as a tool, and have conspicuous consumption. This group of traits is also linked with selfishness and immature defense styles, as well as a lack of compassion, empathy, and conscientiousness. A study of high school students (Chabrol et al., 2015) found that students with dark tetrad traits displayed the most antisocial behaviors. Concerningly, they also had elevated levels of suicidal ideation. People with dark triad personality traits are more likely to commit crimes, cause social distress, and create problems in the workplace. Internet trolling and mob or group criminal behavior has been linked to dark traits. The dark traits can be fueled by deindividuation, group identity, group acceptability, anonymity, and diffusion of responsibility. Knowing this about the suspect, then I believe local authorities (both the sheriff’s office in Pennsylvania in which Mangione was held and New York City PD that currently has custody of the accused assassin should be very cautious in the future about using Mangione as a prop for media and the public. Dark Empaths love attention and only further encourages their behavior as well as those who are attractive to the dark empath’s psyche. So, my suggestion is no more perp walks. This suspect needs to be transported in secret, non-descript vehicles and brought into facilities underground or through garages and brought directly into the facility. In our profession it is tempting to be proud catching the person you have captured and there is a natural desire for some officers to enjoy having pictures with the suspect for prosperity. I caution that the unintended consequences of these media shots will only end in the furthering of the dark empaths power.

I had the privilege to interview Morgan Wright this week regarding the drone activity that has increased in the last month or so in the United States, but particularly on the East Coast. Morgan is an internationally recognized expert on cybersecurity strategy, cyberterrorism, national security, and intelligence. He is a Senior Fellow at The Center for Digital Government, Chief Security Advisor for SentinelOne, and the chief technology analyst for Fox News and Fox Business. Morgan's landmark testimony before Congress on Healthcare.gov changed how the government collected personally identifiable information. Previously, Morgan was a Senior Advisor in the US State Department Antiterrorism Assistance Program, the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor for the 2012 Republican National Convention, taught behavioral analysis interviewing at the National Security Agency and spent a year teaching the FBI how to conduct internet investigations. In addition to 18 years in state and local law enforcement as a highly decorated state trooper and detective, Morgan has developed solutions in defense, justice, and intelligence for the largest technology companies in the world, including Cisco, SAIC, Unisys, and Alcatel-Lucent/Bell Labs.

I also opined this week on the rise of always-listening devices such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and smartphones equipped with virtual assistants has transformed how we interact with technology. These devices provide unparalleled convenience, enabling users to set reminders, control smart home systems, and retrieve information instantly with voice commands. However, the convenience they offer comes with a potential cost to privacy. Many individuals have reported instances where these devices appeared to join conversations unprompted, raising valid concerns about how and when they might be recording or storing private information.

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Okay here is my five-minute blitz on CJ News and Information for this week:

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared in Manhattan federal court on new charges that could potentially carry the death penalty. Mangione, 26, was extradited from Pennsylvania earlier in the day and is now being held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate had been expected to be arraigned Thursday on a state murder indictment in a killing that at once rattled the business community and galvanized some health insurance critics, but the federal charges preempted that appearance. The cases will now proceed on parallel tracks, prosecutors said, with the state charges expected to go to trial first.

The National Border Patrol Council, which represents about 18,000 Border Patrol agents, endorsed former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, who President-elect Donald Trump nominated for the position. "On behalf of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), I write to express our complete and total support for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), former U.S. Representative and Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard," the NBPC wrote in a letter to incoming Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., according to the letter written on Tuesday that the Daily Wire obtained.

Republicans trying to reinvigorate a bill to repeal the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act held a congressional hearing Wednesday highlighting how the Department of Justice (DOJ) has weaponized FACE against pro-lifers. Some pro-lifers will spend this Christmas in federal prison because they peacefully prayed or briefly blocked the doors to abortion mills around the country. Under President Joe Biden’s direction, the DOJ cracked down on such pro-lifers using the 1994 FACE Act, coupled with a rarely used conspiracy charge that added a decade to their potential sentence. This is good news as the public as the right to demonstrate against things they don’t believe in as long as they follow the law in doing so!

The 15-year-old girl who allegedly carried out a mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, had reportedly been in contact with a 20-year-old man from California who was allegedly planning a separate mass attack on a government building. The authorities are currently investigating Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow’s motive for opening fire at the school on Monday, killing a teacher and student while injuring six others. Rupnow is believed to have turned the gun on herself after carrying out the school shooting in Wisconsin. Now, investigators are looking into her relationship with Alexander Charles Paffendorf, a 20-year-old man from Carlsbad, California. The authorities confirmed that the alleged conversations between Rupnow and Paffendorf included discussions on his intention to target a government building with explosives. “During an FBI interview, Paffendorf admitted to the FBI agents that he had told Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun and that he would target a government building,” CBS News reported. Investigators are still piecing together how the two individuals began speaking. FBI agents discovered Paffendorf’s plan to target a government building after looking into Rupnow’s communications.

Democratic mayor of New York City Eric Adams said he is working to change the city’s sanctuary laws to cooperate with federal authorities on the deportation of illegal immigrants with criminal records. Mayor Adams recently met with Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, to work on a plan to deport dangerous illegal immigrants. “We both agreed on: violent individuals should not remain in our country,” Adams told Fox News in an exclusive interview with Martha MacCallum.

In recent days, multiple drone incursions have taken place over US Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The Defense Department has confirmed the incident and highlighted that it’s taking all reports of drone incursions seriously and working with the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration to examine the sightings and assess the situation. Reports have claimed that there were six instances of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) observed entering Camp Pendleton’s airspace.


This is Dr Currie Myers, America’s Criminologist. To view my work please visit drcurriemyers.substack.com and please share and like our page! And please remember my friends at Howard Wagyu for some of the best beef in America. Howard Wagyu, Kansas homegrown Wagyu Beef so tender you can cut your steak with a fork! Stay safe and have a great weekend! Happy Advent Season and Merry Christmas my friends!

Stay safe!

Dr C


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Crime and Society Newsletter
America's Criminologist with Dr. Currie Myers
Talking crime and criminal justice issues with renown Criminologist Sheriff (Ret) Currie Myers, PhD, MBA. MS.
Dr Myers is an applied criminologist and public policy ethicist that is billed as "America's Criminologist" a media favorite on podcasts, radio, and television.