Welcome to the America’s Criminologist Podcast for December 27, 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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My new book, “The Advent of Feral Man” is now available on Substack drcurriemyers.substack.com for all paid subscribers. In this book, I present compelling evidence that within the last decade, America is going into a quick decent into the “wilding” of human beings. A phenomenon that is perpetuated by the lack of faith, family, and formation in our human development. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
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
Dr Currie Myers Best Of: Myers joined WDUN's "The Martha Zoller Show" six months to talk about Law Enforcement and Prosecution. The reason I am placing it out for view again is that as we go into a new presidency, the importance of focused criminal justice public policy is so important. It’s time to make America Safe Again! For the full interview click here!
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:
On election night, Donald Trump clinched the presidency once again, with Republicans securing control of the U.S. Senate through decisive victories in Montana, Ohio, and West Virginia. This means the GOP will hold at least a 52-48 majority in the Senate, placing one chamber firmly in the hands of Trump’s allies, though control of the House of Representatives remains a slim majority. Trump's victory signifies more than just a partisan win; it’s a clear mandate for a bold new direction on issues that have been top of mind for American voters—especially crime and immigration.
For at least the next two years, Trump will have the leverage to drive his agenda in Washington. This includes his plans to slash taxes, restrict immigration, and prioritize law enforcement reforms that align with the priorities of many Americans. But beyond legislative control, a Republican Senate offers Trump another strategic advantage: the power to appoint conservative judges and key personnel across government agencies, potentially shaping the judicial and administrative landscape for years to come. These appointments will bolster his ability to enact policies in line with his promises, affecting everything from tax reform to crime prevention.
It’s no coincidence that voters overwhelmingly voiced their concerns on public safety and crime. In California, Proposition 36—a ballot measure amending the controversial Proposition 47 criminal justice reforms—passed in a landslide, with 70.5% of voters favoring a change. Proposition 47, initially marketed as a way to reduce prison populations and redirect funding, had devastating unintended consequences. By downgrading several offenses and reducing penalties, it inadvertently fueled what many residents see as an ongoing crime wave. Proposition 36’s success sends a clear signal: Californians, like voters nationwide, are fed up with policies that prioritize offenders over the safety of law-abiding citizens.
Exit polls tell the story in stark numbers and re-affirm the Pew Research. Among Trump voters, 94% considered crime and safety a top priority, while 90% identified immigration as a significant issue. These figures speak volumes about the American mindset and should be taken as a warning to policymakers. Americans are tired of the increasing disorder in their communities, which has only worsened in recent years. Proposition 36’s victory, alongside Trump’s win, marks a shift in public tolerance of “reform” policies that ultimately make neighborhoods less safe.
Trump’s promise to enforce stricter immigration controls resonated with voters as well. Across the country, Americans are weary of lax immigration policies that strain public resources and exacerbate security issues. Under previous administrations, border enforcement suffered as leniency took precedence, leading to increased illegal crossings and a strain on local communities. Trump’s win serves as a mandate to return to the policies he championed in his first term, which emphasized securing the border and enforcing immigration laws as a means of protecting American jobs and public safety.
For Trump supporters, securing the border isn’t just about law and order; it’s about preserving a sense of control and stability that has been missing from the immigration debate for too long. Many see unchecked immigration as a factor contributing to crime, economic strain, and a diluted sense of national identity. Trump’s victory is a clear message from voters demanding that the government put American safety and security first.
This election wasn't just a victory for Trump; it was a referendum on law enforcement and public safety. The data is hard to ignore as crime has surged in many parts of the country, Americans are increasingly skeptical of “reforms” that seem to put criminal justice before public justice. Trump voters, in particular, have had enough. They seek a government that prioritizes their safety and cracks down on both crime and the factors fueling it, including ineffective policies at the local and state levels.
In the past, many states and cities adopted “criminal justice reform” measures like Proposition 47 with the best intentions. However, the reality on the ground has been starkly different. As crime spiked in neighborhoods that once felt safe, Americans began to question whether the reforms were worth the cost. In response, Trump’s campaign and his allies in the GOP leaned into a strong law-and-order message, pledging to undo the damage and return a sense of security to American streets.
With control of the Senate, Trump and his allies are well-positioned to push forward their legislative priorities. Immigration and crime will be top of mind, and the GOP-led Senate will likely support bills that align with Trump’s vision. For instance, tougher sentencing laws, policies to curb illegal immigration, and initiatives to support law enforcement agencies are all on the table.
This unified agenda will also enable Trump to work more effectively with local law enforcement across the country. America’s police departments have been stretched thin, with morale often impacted by what they see as anti-police rhetoric and policies. A Trump administration with control of the Senate can change that, working to restore respect for law enforcement while also addressing the root causes of crime.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing my own views on the specific criminal justice priorities that the new administration should consider. This agenda will reflect the values Americans have expressed loud and clear at the ballot box: a commitment to safe streets, secure borders, and a renewed focus on the well-being of law-abiding citizens.
Trump’s victory is more than a political win; it’s a re-affirmation of core values that too many felt were slipping away. Americans have sent a message: they want leadership that puts them first, protects their communities, and respects the rule of law. Trump’s next two years will be critical for enacting policies that address these concerns, and he has a rare opportunity to restore faith in government by delivering on his promises.
As the Trump administration gears up for another term, Republicans in both chambers must keep their priorities aligned with the needs of their constituents. The American people have spoken, and their mandate is clear: they want an end to policies that encourage crime, an immigration system that makes sense, and a government that works for them—not against them. It’s now up to Trump and his allies in Congress to answer that call, ensuring a safer, stronger America for all.
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Okay here is my five-minute blitz on CJ News and Information for this week:
Mexico is bracing itself for the mass arrival of individuals deported from the United States due to their illegal alien status, preparing over two dozen new shelters, which are set to open on the day of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. It's amazing what you can get other countries to do to try and help solve a global humanitarian crisis, really, when the leader of the free world is taken seriously. Reports of the new shelters, which will hold over 12,000 beds for new arrivals into the country, come via Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, currently serving as governor of Baja California, the 12th largest state in Mexico. Olmeda spoke with reporters earlier this week and explained Mexico is taking Trump at his word when it comes to conducting mass deportations on day one of his new term. “This is a strategic plan to accommodate exclusively people who get deported after January 20,” Olmeda conveyed, according to Border Report. “What we do know, throughout his (Trump's) campaign, he threatened to do this, and since he was already president of the United States, we believe this time he will be stricter and tougher when it comes to deportations,” she added.
People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operatives and spies continue to be arrested in the U.S. The latest include two Chinese spies in California and several arrested in Guam near a U.S. military installation on the same day as an historic live ballistic missile interception test. In California, a 64-year-old man was arrested on several charges including allegedly acting as a PRC agent while working as a campaign manager for a southern California city council candidate elected in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The operative “allegedly discussed with Chinese government officials how the PRC could ‘influence’ local politicians in the United States, particularly on the issue of Taiwan” and was allegedly involved in operations “to combat ‘anti-China forces’ in the U.S., among other conspiracies. He was also charged with conspiring with another PRC operative who was sentenced to prison last month for acting as an unregistered PRC agent and bribing an IRS agent. In that case, two PRC citizens living in Los Angeles were targeting members of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Center, a multi-agency investigation found.
Renowned actor Neal McDonough told Glenn Beck in Dec. that ‘something’s changed’ in Hollywood’s relationship with faith in 2024. McDonough told Beck that when people like us here at Million Voices, or you wonderful folks at home, go out and buy movie tickets to see faith-based films, we’re sending a direct message to the movie studios in Los Angeles. “I love that,” said McDonough of this new trend in American culture. “I was reading [the breakdown] of all the studios, what they’re looking for, and this project and that,” McDonough continued. “And never ever, ever, have I seen before, of the 10 [studios] four or five of them at the bottom say, ‘oh, by the way, if you have something of faith, we’re very interested this year.”
An Instacart shopper in North Carolina who was in the middle of a grocery haul for a woman allegedly shot and killed a police officer — gunning him down before the cop had “time to draw” — while inside of a local supermarket, officials say. “He started doing the shopping,” Tarell McMillian’s customer, Sheila Gonzalez, told CBS affiliate WFMY this week after the Monday shooting in Greensboro. “He was nearly finished.” McMillian, 34, was compiling Gonzalez’s grocery order when he allegedly opened fire on Greensboro Police Officer Michael Horan inside a Food Lion at 4709 Lawndale Drive. A 911 call came in Monday morning of a “suspicious person, possibly armed” being inside of the supermarket, with McMillian fitting the description. “Officer Horan was the first to arrive on the scene and made contact with the individual inside the store,” the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said in a press release Monday night. “After a brief struggle, the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the officer before leaving the scene in a vehicle. The officer did not have time to draw or fire his weapon.” McMillian was later located and arrested in Johnston County by sheriff’s deputies following a pursuit on I-40. He was taken into custody without incident and denied bond. Fellow cops and friends have set up an online fundraiser for Horan’s family through the website Help a Hero to provide financial support for them in the wake of his death. “He was an excellent officer,” the description says. “He received a lifesaving award in 2019 for his bravery and quick response when, on a trip to the beach with his family, he put his own life in jeopardy, knowingly entering an active rip current before swimming approximately 60 yards to save the life of a man and his son from drowning, which would have caused an unimaginable tragedy to a family. He had an outstanding reputation inside the Department and the community.”
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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 New Year my friends!
Stay safe!
Dr C
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