Baier and Pritzker Spar Over Chicago Murder Rate

On Wednesday, Fox News anchor Bret Baier had a tense exchange with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker regarding the murder rate in Chicago. During an interview, Baier presented data that countered Pritzker’s claims that Chicago doesn’t rank among the top 30 cities in the U.S. for murders.

Baier highlighted a crime map, stating, “Chicago ranks first, ahead of Philadelphia, Houston, and several other major cities,” as he noted that the city had a murder rate of 17.47 per 100,000 residents.

Pritzker disagreed with this assertion, asserting, “Well, we’re not in the top 30.” However, Baier pressed on, suggesting that the data shows otherwise. Pritzker claimed that the murder rate had significantly declined over the past four years, but Baier interrupted with the statistics from the map that contradicted him.

In 2024, Chicago led major U.S. cities with a total of 573 homicides. Following Chicago, New York City reported 377 and Houston 322. When comparing homicide rates, St. Louis had a higher rate at 52.9 per 100,000 people, despite having fewer total murders (149 that year).

Baier pointed out that, despite Pritzker’s comments, the homicide statistics remained concerning. “This isn’t just a talking point; it’s a serious issue for the city,” he remarked, to which Pritzker maintained that Illinois’s overall murder rate had been cut in half.

As the conversation continued, Baier emphasized the focus on murder rates rather than overall crime statistics. Pritzker attempted to shift the narrative, stating that the state has been working hard to mitigate crime.

Recent police data showed a one-third decrease in homicides in Chicago from January to August 2025 compared to the previous year. Yet, the statistics remain stark, raising questions about crime management in a city grappling with violence.