Political scientist and commentator Wilfred C. Reilly joined Chicago’s Morning Answer to discuss urban crime policy, progressive cultural debates, and his new business venture aimed at reshaping workplace practices.
Reilly, an associate professor of political science at Kentucky State University and author of Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me, said progressive leaders in major U.S. cities continue to deny the scale of violent crime despite clear evidence. “Chicago is generally the most violent large city in the country, averaging around 800 murders a year,” he said, adding that political leaders refuse to acknowledge root causes. Instead, they deflect blame toward systemic racism or inadequate funding, even as city budgets run into the billions.
According to Reilly, the refusal to confront crime directly leads to misguided policies such as decarceration and limited prosecution of repeat offenders. He argued that stronger policing and even the use of the National Guard could help reduce violence in cities like Chicago and Washington, D.C. He suggested that leaders resist such measures less out of concern for public safety than for fear of political backlash from within their own party.
Turning to education, Reilly criticized the Chicago Public Schools system, which operates on a multibillion-dollar budget while still reporting shortfalls in areas like special education staffing. He argued that money is not the real issue, pointing instead to governance problems and what he described as misplaced political incentives.
Reilly also highlighted his new venture, Unified Solutions America, a consulting firm he co-founded with colleagues from academia, business, and the military. The firm seeks to counter the influence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) frameworks in corporations and replace them with what he called “merit-based, military-tested methodologies” for hiring and management. The company, he explained, is not simply anti-DEI but pro-merit, aiming to help organizations focus on their core missions rather than political or cultural agendas.
As urban violence and cultural debates continue to dominate headlines, Reilly said both issues share a common problem: leaders unwilling to state hard truths. “The root cause of crime is criminals,” he said bluntly, adding that until policymakers confront reality, both public safety and institutional trust will continue to suffer.