In a stunning and brutally honest admission that lays bare the catastrophic failure of liberal governance in America’s cities, actor and comedian Michael Rapaport delivered a damning indictment of the crime-ridden streets of New York City. Appearing on Bill Maher’s podcast, the liberal-leaning Rapaport shocked listeners with harrowing, firsthand accounts of the lawlessness that has become a daily reality for law-abiding citizens, a direct result of the Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies and their relentless push to defund the police.
Rapaport, revealing a common-sense perspective that is increasingly prevalent among those who actually have to live with the consequences of progressive ideology, expressed his profound concern for the safety of his own family. “I want people to feel safe in New York City. You know, I want my wife to feel safe. My wife is a tough broad. She doesn’t feel safe in Midtown Manhattan during the day,” he stated, a powerful testament to how far the once-great city has fallen. The fact that a “tough broad” feels vulnerable in the heart of Manhattan in broad daylight is an indictment of the current leadership.
The actor then detailed a litany of horrifying incidents that his wife has endured, painting a picture of a city descending into anarchy. “My wife, in the last two or three years, has been groped in Times Square, has had a f—ing shoe thrown at her, has been called the n-word, and got proposed to on the train by a homeless person, all between 11 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.” This is the grim new normal in Democrat-run cities, where criminals operate with impunity and victims are left to fend for themselves. These are not isolated events; they are the direct consequence of a political agenda that prioritizes the rights of criminals over the safety of citizens.
Rapaport’s frustration extended to the utter lack of consequences for those who assault law enforcement, a hallmark of the left’s disdain for authority. “It’s also not cool that, under any circumstances, you could touch a police officer, not be from this country, come out the next day and walk out of the court like f—ing Tupac like those guys did when they jumped, you know, like f—ing giving the middle finger to photographers,” he said. This perversion of justice, where perpetrators are celebrated and police are vilified, has created a culture of brazen disrespect for the law.
Drawing on his own childhood experiences, Rapaport highlighted the dramatic decline in public order. “I grew up on the New York City subway system. I grew up taking the subway. You got to pay attention. It’s not Disneyland. It’s not the Central Park Zoo. But people like — it shouldn’t be a thrill, it shouldn’t be a house of horrors,” the actor rightly declared. His comments expose the lie perpetuated by the liberal media that these crime waves are normal or acceptable. They are not. They are the direct result of specific, failed policies that have dismantled public safety.
🚨NEW: Bill Maher *STUNNED* as Actor Michael Rappaport tells him how unsafe NYC feels🚨
RAPPAPORT: "I want people to feel safe in New York City. I want my wife to feel safe. My wife is a tough broad — she doesn't feel safe in Midtown Manhattan during the day!"
MAHER: "Really!?"… pic.twitter.com/6xMwi4b2hu
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) November 3, 2025
This is the America that the radical left has built, an America where streets are unsafe and citizens live in fear. It stands in stark contrast to the vision and record of President Donald J. Trump, who consistently championed law and order, fully supported our brave police officers, and implemented policies that kept our communities safe. The situation in New York City is a powerful argument for the strong, America-First leadership that President Trump provides, and a dire warning of the chaos that ensues when his principles are abandoned.