A Fox News reporter’s attempt to elicit anxiety about growing crime rates in Seattle did not go as intended.
Reporter Johnny Belisario was sent out onto the streets of the American metropolis during a recent part of conservative political pundit Jesse Watters’ show.
While he attempted to elicit reactions from people about how they felt about crime in the area, their replies fell short of what the presenter plainly desired.
The section began by asserting that “crime and drugs are now expected in Democratic (ocratic) cities.”
According to presenter Jeanine Pirro, the reporter was brought to a “progressive hellscape,” where locals supposedly “mocked the idea that the city is spiralling out of control.”
A series of films were then aired, with people refuting the assertions made by the reporter.
‘I’ve never seen any crime in Seattle,’ one man declared.
‘I’ve never seen any of it. I’ve seen fun and laughter [instead].’
Another woman looked distrustful and told Johnny: ‘I don’t believe that number.’
While he told her ‘people are getting robbed out here…carjacked’, she still wasn’t convinced.
‘I’ve never heard of anyone getting robbed.’
She continued: ‘That’s not a thing that just happens on the street. People just don’t come up and try to rob people on the street.’
After the reporter spoke about Seattle decriminalising and then criminalising drug use, she declared: ‘Where are you getting your facts from? You are from New York. You are listening to the wrong people.’
He then claimed he saw ‘lots of people shooting up’ that day, to which she rolled her eyes and questioned: ‘Oh did you?’
They had an unpleasant interaction when she inquired whether he was concerned by these folks and he disclosed he’d been in his car when they passed.
‘Oh no you were in your car!? They were hurting you so bad,’ she mocked.
Another person countered the fearmongering by sharing their measured perspective to the perceived figures.
‘I think crime is a social issue that could be solved by giving people their basic needs,’ she said.
After the segment went to air, in the studio Jeanine referenced the closing of two Target stores in Seattle because of ‘theft and organised retail crime’.
‘The arrogance and the ignorance of Seattle residents that Johnny interviewed is shocking. I mean, how could they be clueless?’ she asked Jesse, who said residents were ‘in denial’.
According to Seattle Police Department data, the number of violent crimes in 2022 reached a 15-year high, while the number of property crimes increased each year from 2019 to 2022.
However, according to municipal officials, significant crimes were down 17% in the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2022.
