JOE CONCHA: Jen Psaki: Professional gaslighter on defunding the police.

Here’s how bad things are: In New York, murders are up nearly 50 percent compared to this point in (pre-pandemic) 2019. In Atlanta, the murder rate is up 60 percent from last year. Chicago has recorded more than 1,900 shootings, a 53 percent increase over 2019. In Portland, murders are up 800 percent. Seattle is seeing its highest homicide rate in 26 years.

And over the holiday weekend, at least 150 people were shot and killed during more than 400 shootings across this country.

Those are just a few examples. But all have a common thread: These cities are all run by Democratic mayors.

This recent New York Times headline sums up the overall situation: “With Homicides Rising, Cities Brace for a Violent Summer; Homicide rates in large cities were up more than 30 percent on average last year, and up another 24 percent for the beginning of this year, according to criminologists.”

As for keeping cops on the beat, someone should ask Psaki why police retirements are up 45 percent, while resignations are up 18 percent this year nationwide.

Someone should ask, but it isn’t like she has to face actual reporters each day.