The Homestretch: Campaigning on crime is a power play

 Remnants of police crime scene tape remain near the site where two young girls were shot after leaving their grandmother's home yesterday on August 16, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The two girls were shot as their mother was buckling them in her vehicle. Seven-year-old Serenity Broughton died from her injuries. Broughton's 6-year-old sister Aubrey was seriously wounded and remains in the hospital following the shooting, which occurred on August 15. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Remnants of police crime scene tape remain near the site where two young girls were shot after leaving their grandmother's home yesterday on August 16, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The two girls were shot as their mother was buckling them in her vehicle. Seven-year-old Serenity Broughton died from her injuries. Broughton's 6-year-old sister Aubrey was seriously wounded and remains in the hospital following the shooting, which occurred on August 15. Photo credit (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Chicago, Ill., has been used as a poster child for violence in recent campaigns, but it isn’t an issue that impacts that city alone. In fact, there’s been a crime surge across the country.

Why is this? What can fix it? Are any politicians running for office in the midterms offering viable solutions? Kaitlin Devaney, a criminology professor at Northwestern University outside Chicago, joined “The Homestretch” podcast from Audacy to help find answers.

“The Homestretch” is a new limited-series political podcast hosted by political reporter Doug Sovern of KCBS Radio that tackles key issues ahead of the midterm elections. Each installment brings listeners up to speed in around 15 minutes.

When it comes to crime, context is key, Devaney told Sovern.

“I mean…we can look at numbers, but then we have to talk about the fact we’re coming out of COVID,” she said. We need to talk about the fact that people are frustrated. There’s inflation. People have been locked down for two years.”

Listen in for more insights about how crime is impacting the U.S. and what people believe about it could impact the midterms.

You can also get caught up on more key issues on other episodes of “The Homestretch” that include inflation, reproductive rights and the importance of Latino voters. New episodes drop Thursday mornings at 6 a.m. ET. Available on the Audacy app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Featured Image Photo Credit: (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)