New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) held a briefing Wednesday about state and local efforts to increase safety within the New York City subway system. Although Hochul did her apparent best to put a positive spin on the state of play, a reporter took some of the wind out of her sails with unfavorable facts. Hochul noted that in March, she and NYC Mayor Eric Adams promised to make the city's subways safer. In hopes of curbing crime, the governor deployed 250 members from the New York State Police and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department to help with "enhanced" baggage checks at heavily trafficked areas and 750 members of the New York National Guard to supplement such efforts. The previous month, Adams ordered an additional 1,000 officers to join the law enforcement presence in the subway following a 45% spike in major crimes in January as compared with the same time last year — a year that reportedly saw 570 reports of felony assault on trains or in stations, the highest number in over 20 years. Extra to increased manpower, Hochul announced that the MTA would accelerate the installation of security cameras inside trains and train stations to aid law enforcement in apprehending criminals transiting the system. The New York City subway reportedly now has cameras on every subway car. 'Murders are up 200%.' The governor's office noted Wednesday, just hours after a maniac reportedly stabbed a straphanger aboard a Brooklyn train, that Hochul's safety plan "has laid a strong foundation for enhancing the safety and protection of transit workers across New York City." "A lot of people didn't think we'd make a difference," Hochul told reporters. "Thanks to our five-point plan to improve public safety, subway safety, subway crime is down 10% just since last March. In only two years since the year 1970 have we had fewer subway crimes than we had this past year." The presence of additional law enforcement officials and members of the National Guard appears to have made some difference. After all, the New York Police Department observed a 15.8% reduction in overall crime last month and a year-to-date decrease in crime of 6.3%. "This crime reduction directly reflects the relentless effort and dedication of our hardworking women and men in uniform, and I look forward to further successes across all crime categories," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a Dec. 3 statement. While similarly optimistic, Hochul noted Wednesday, "You'll never hear me say, 'Mission accomplished.' We'll never declare victory because if there's a single crime on the subway or anywhere, it's a crime too many." During the subsequent question period, WABC-TV's N.J. Burkett noted, "You can say a lot of things with statistics, and I see the percentage that crime is down 42% since 2021. But if you look back to pre-pandemic — and I know you like to say that overall, crime is down 12% since the pandemic — but murders are up 200%, felony assault is up 55%, and burglary is up 140%." "So are you saying that this is progress?" asked Burkett, clarifying he was referring to crime in the transit system. Hochul punted the question, leaving MTA chairman Janno Lieber struggling to provide a satisfactory answer. "The numbers that we're talking about in the individual categories of crime are, you know, small or ... you know, very, very, very low double digits, so they do move around," said Lieber. "We're not saying there's — there's nothing you heard from me or the governor, not just today but ever, that suggests that we think that crime is not a problem. What you did hear is significant indicators of progress, which is overall crime, way down, and we're seeing passenger comfort levels as reflected in surging ridership way up." Hochul indicated that during the Christmas season, an additional 250 National Guard members will patrol the subway, deterring crime and generating a sense of security. The governor's office noted in a statement, "The MTA Police Department, New York Police Department (NYPD) and the National Guard will work together to monitor the city's busiest stations and prevent security threats within the subways. Protecting the subway system and its passengers is the only way to keep New York moving." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida officials continue to accuse federal agents of hampering the state-level investigation into the second assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump now that suspect Ryan Routh faces an attempted murder charge in connection with a 6-year-old girl who is still fighting for her life.On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced that Routh had been charged with attempted felony murder after a 6-year-old girl was seriously injured in a car crash that occurred while Routh was being apprehended.'When you couple those terrible injuries together with [Routh's] other criminal conduct, which we believe rises to the level of domestic terrorism, it turns his actions into an attempted felony murder case.'After Routh allegedly escaped Trump International Golf Club on September 15, he reportedly hopped into a getaway car. An eyewitness almost immediately "locked eyes" with the suspect and was able to give police a general description of the vehicle and the license plate, the affidavit claimed.That vehicle, a black Nissan Xterra, was soon afterward spotted heading northbound on Interstate 95 in Martin County at around mile marker 110, according to the affidavit. Though the vehicle safely came to a stop along the highway, officers were concerned that explosives may be hidden inside it, so they stopped traffic in both directions, causing a significant pile-up.Around 3 p.m. that day, about 35 minutes after the suspect's vehicle was stopped, an accident involving five cars occurred "3 or 4 miles south of the felony stop." In one of the cars was a family who had just been visiting the Bush Wildlife Sanctuary. During the crash, their vehicle had been rear-ended with such force that a 6-year-old girl sitting in the second row and wearing a seatbelt suffered "life-threatening" injuries and had to be airlifted to a hospital, where she still remains, the affidavit claimed."We felt compelled to seek justice on her behalf and her family that will never be the same as they cope with her injuries," Moody said at a press conference on Wednesday."When you couple those terrible injuries together with [Routh's] other criminal conduct, which we believe rises to the level of domestic terrorism, it turns his actions into an attempted felony murder case," she added.During her remarks, Moody also called out federal agencies for allegedly thwarting state efforts to investigate the crash and the would-be attempt on Trump's life. "As a former federal prosecutor, I have never seen such unwillingness or lack of communication," Moody claimed."They responded that we should not bring charges," she continued. "The excuse and the reasoning kept coming back to the need to protect the case and national security."She made a similar statement in a press release from her office. "Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, we vowed to bring transparency and accountability to the investigation into the second assassination attempt of President Trump," she said. "Despite the federal government frustrating our efforts, which we continue to challenge in court, we found that Mr. Routh’s actions caused catastrophic injuries to a six-year-old girl."DeSantis, who wanted to attend the press conference but was prevented by inclement weather, likewise claimed that federal agencies had "stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn."Both DeSantis and Moody also expressed optimism that such alleged federal interference and obstruction will end under the second Trump administration."The tide will turn on January 20, and we fully expect that the federal roadblocks will be removed," DeSantis said."A new day is coming," Moody said, adding that she expects "new leadership" — especially attorney general nominee Pam Bondi and FBI director nominee Kash Patel — to "reach out" and work with state officials "as intended.""The people who have been nominated, Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, love this country and what it is meant to be," she continued."I personally have strongly supported these nominations, leading efforts and writing to the Senate to promptly and thoroughly consider these nominations and to those senators that would advise and provide consent on the nominations of President-elect Trump."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Earlier this week, President-elect Donald Trump won the defamation lawsuit he brought against ABC News and its anchor George Stephanopoulos, who made inaccurate statements on air about verdicts in E. Jean Carroll’s civil lawsuits against Trump. The network has agreed to pay $15 million to Donald Trump’s presidential library, as well as $1 million of Trump’s legal fees. It also issued a public apology. Other outlets that made similar slanderous statements about Trump are now biting their nails, anxiously anticipating which network he might come for next. One of those outlets is CNN. “Jake Tapper over on CNN is very concerned that this won't be the end of Trump going after the media,” says Dave Rubin, playing a clip of Tapper, who used to work at ABC, wearing his concern like a brightly colored garment. “This weekend, ABC News agreed to pay $16 million, including legal fees, to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump against the network and their anchor George Stephanopoulos,” said Tapper. “That obviously will not be the end of this ... legal campaign against the media,” he added, calling it “wildly ridiculous.” “By having a settlement with ABC, one that many people did not think was going to come to fruition ... has empowered and emboldened Donald Trump,” added CNN contributor Kristen Holmes. “Tapper obviously is concerned because he has been at CNN one of the chief liars about Trump,” says Dave. “He's looking over there, looking at his former employer, ABC News ... and going, ‘Oh, s***.”’ Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

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