A bit of a change, but let’s dive in.

I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed by what’s been happening in Cincinnati lately. So, here we go. Buckle up.

Are we at a point where we need to question the effectiveness of a female police officer?

I’ve watched the disturbing video. A group is shown attacking a lone white man, repeatedly stomping on his head. This, quite clearly, is attempted murder. When a white woman tries to intervene, she also gets knocked out. Bystanders cheer and record the violence. It’s striking how the police are nowhere in sight.

A friend of mine, Jeff, commented earlier this week about the state of today’s violence and how it’s managed—or mishandled. My focus, however, lies on the local leadership’s response. In particular, the police chief addressed the public about this incident.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresategge seemed to sidestep responsibility during her press conference, urging the public not to circulate the videos of the attack. She argued that “mainstream” journalists misrepresent events and claimed that sharing the videos complicates police efforts.

“What we see on social media doesn’t capture the full incident. It’s just one perspective,” she stated. “Without proper context, these snippets can lead to misunderstandings, which ultimately hinders investigations.”

She also mentioned that about 100 people were present during the incident, but only one person called the police. If this video wasn’t shared widely, can we truly say her department is taking this seriously? It makes you wonder how many witnesses tried to protect the attackers. Perhaps a simple “thank you” would be more appropriate than just noting the chaos.

Let’s discuss the “context” for a moment. Chasing someone down the street and violently assaulting them takes on a train of thought that’s unsettling to unpack. It seems chaotic, perhaps fueled by alcohol or something else.

After her baffling remarks, more details about Chief Theetge surfaced. She’s currently facing a lawsuit from within her department, alleging discrimination based on gender and racially biased promotion practices.

The lawsuit claims, “The city and Chief Theetge have systemically pushed decisions favoring women and minorities, while sidelining white men.”

Strange, isn’t it? You have to question why she might be quick to excuse the mob mentality.

I tweeted earlier about how I’m not exactly pleased with the idea of female police officers as a whole. I think some do great work, but with only 3% of police chiefs in the U.S. being women, it’s frustrating to see such inappropriate public statements from some in those positions.

One study revealed that women in policing might be more cautious and aware of potential dangers in the community. Another found that they might be more likely to face assault in domestic situations. A different piece of research showed that while female officers are less likely to engage in fatal encounters, they also might miss opportunities to intervene when necessary. There’s data pointing toward women actively avoiding conflicts that could spiral out of control. Some argue this is a good thing, calling it a de-escalation approach. However, from a public safety perspective, it leaves certain gaps.

So, what else is on my radar?

Trump’s been vocal about Sen. Josh Hawley, accusing him of hindering reviews of Nancy Pelosi’s stock trades. This warning shot might stir up some significant discussions on the right.

Pelosi has expressed support for a stock trading ban, following Trump’s inquiries about her investigations.

Biden’s been under scrutiny too, with questions being raised by various members of his administration…

NPR’s Steve Inskeep confronted Pete Buttigieg about whether there’s been any conspiracy to cover up Biden’s decline.

There’s a lot of conversation going on, some of it quite heated, but it seems to stem from a growing divide.

Two journalists from the New York Times are reportedly collaborating to criticize conservative women based on superficial criteria.