Bill Maher credited Trump's tough-on-crime approach and Democratic safety-net policies for contributing to declining U.S. crime and drug overdose rates
On September 25, 2026, Bill Maher used his HBO "Real Time" closing monologue to argue that both Democratic policies (Narcan availability, safety-net expansion) and Trump administration actions (border enforcement, deportations) contributed to recent declines in crime and drug overdose deaths. Maher called it "accidental bipartisanship" and said it would be "childish to pretend" Trump's combative governing style had no effect on crime. The FBI reported violent crime fell nearly ten percentage points from June 2025 through May 2026.
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Divergence score
4 outlets covered it, splitting into 4 framing camps across 1 bias group.
4 camps
1 bias group
The spectrum · how 4 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
Washington Examiner
Washington Times
Breitbart
NY Post
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
Washington Examiner
Bill Maher says Trump's 'no more Mr. Nice Guy' approach partially drove steep crime decline
Trump toughness credited for crime drop · positive
Washington Times
Bill Maher says Trump toughness, safety net may have curbed crime
Balanced with research caveat · neutral
First to report
- Breitbartfirst
- Washington Times+4.9 h
- NY Post+6.1 h
- Washington Examiner+11.0 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Breitbart leads with closing the border, deporting gangbangers while the Washington Times adds a Council on Criminal Justice report complicating the narrative; the Examiner and Post foreground Trump's toughness.
How each outlet covered it
Only the right is covering this
One side of the spectrum has stayed silent. That absence is itself a signal.
0
LEFT OUTLETS
0 of 4 outlets covering this story sit on that side of the spectrum.
0LEFT OUTLETS
THE RIGHT
“Maher: Trump Closing Border, Deporting Criminals, Striking Boats Helped Lower Drug Deaths, as Did Biden's Work on Narcan”B Breitbart RIGHT
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 4 outlets put it
RIGHT4
WEWashington Examiner Bill Maher says Trump's 'no more Mr. Nice Guy' approach partially drove steep crime decline 45d ago WTWashington Times Bill Maher says Trump toughness, safety net may have curbed crime 45d ago BBreitbart Maher: Trump Closing Border, Deporting Criminals, Striking Boats Helped Lower Drug Deaths, as Did Biden's Work on Narcan 45d ago NYPNY Post Bill Maher credits 'f–k around and find out president' Trump for steep drop in crime 45d ago 6 tracked claims across 4 outlets
Fact ledger
All6Claimed2Corroborated4
1/4
Claimed
Violent crime fell nationwide by almost ten percentage points from June 2025 through May 2026 per FBI data
Corroborated
Disputed
5 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger