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Sunday, August 17, 2025

Category: News
August 5, 2025
Economy
News

Trump to Sign Executive Order Targeting Banks Accused of Debanking Conservatives.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized major banks for allegedly discriminating against conservatives through debanking, where financial institutions close or refuse accounts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and other financial institutions. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan also commented on the issue.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Comments were made during an interview with CNBC on August 5, following reports of a potential executive order addressing debanking.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They discriminated against many conservatives,” said President Trump during the CNBC interview.

🎯IMPACT: The issue highlights growing concerns over political bias in financial services, with calls for regulatory clarity and fair market access.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump confirmed on August 5 that he will soon sign an Executive Order targeting major banks that discriminate against conservatives through debanking practices. In his comments made Tuesday, Trump claimed JPMorgan Chase gave him 20 days to close his account, though he did not specify the timing or reasoning behind the decision. He also stated that Bank of America refused to do business after he left JPMorgan.

The issue of debanking has been raised by conservatives who argue that financial institutions are unfairly targeting individuals based on political views. While banks often cite regulatory compliance or risk management as reasons for account closures, Trump and others believe these explanations mask ideological discrimination. “They discriminated against many conservatives,” Trump said.

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, in an earlier interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” denied allegations of bias. Moynihan emphasized regulatory pressures and risk management as key factors in banking decisions. “We look at it based on risk. People may feel those decisions are made for some other reason, but we always make it on what’s best for our company, what’s best for our client,” he said.

The practice of debanking has also been criticized in Congress. During a Senate hearing in February, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina argued that debanking harms individuals and the economy, violating principles of fair market access. Crypto investors have also testified about abrupt account closures, claiming bias against cryptocurrency transactions.

JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have both denied closing accounts for political reasons. JPMorgan stated, “We agree with Mr. Trump that regulatory change is desperately needed,” while Bank of America reiterated that political beliefs are not a factor in account closures.

The National Pulse reported in March that Brexit leader Nigel Farage successfully resolved his long-standing debanking dispute with NatWest Group, nearly two years after the closure of his accounts at the bank’s Coutts subsidiary. The settlement, which includes an apology from NatWest, brings closure to a saga that led to the resignation of the bank’s former chief executive, Dame Alison Rose, in 2023.

Image by Joyce N. Boghosian.

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August 5, 2025
News

Trump Targets Russian Shadow Fleet with Fresh U.S. Sanctions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is considering additional sanctions on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers if Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine by Friday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the shadow fleet of oil tankers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sanctions under consideration as of this week; targeting Russia’s maritime oil export operations.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Further measures against the fleet are viewed as a relatively straightforward way to increase pressure on Russia,” according to sources familiar with White House discussions.

🎯IMPACT: Potential sanctions could target a significant generator of Russia’s export revenue, further pressuring Moscow’s wartime economy.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is reportedly considering new sanctions on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, with the decision tied to whether President Vladimir Putin agrees to a ceasefire in Ukraine by Friday.

Sources claim that cracking down on the shadow fleet is viewed within the White House as “a relatively simple way to increase pressure on Russia.” Another insider noted that while a broader range of sanctions is under discussion, targeting these tankers remains a primary focus.

This shadow fleet has been critical for Moscow in circumventing the G7-led price cap on seaborne oil, allowing Russia to continue generating substantial export revenues even under extensive Western sanctions. The broader sanctions regime has aimed to cut off these energy revenues, which are key to sustaining Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Though Russia’s piped gas exports have declined significantly since the start of the war, its seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to the European Union have increased. More of the vessels involved in these exports are Russian-built and operate within the shadow fleet, which operates without Western insurers, flag registries, or maritime services. This setup has made enforcement of existing sanctions more difficult.

The deadline comes as Russai has been making key gains in the strategic city of Pokrovsk in recent weeks. Recent reports state that the city has become a hub of intense fighting between both sides and could give Russia control over the central Donetsk region if it falls.

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August 5, 2025
Economy
News

Trump Fires Five Members of Controversial Govt Board Managing Puerto Rico’s Debt.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration dismissed five of seven members from Puerto Rico’s federal control board, sparking concerns over the island’s financial future due to potential board malfeasance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The White House, dismissed board members Arthur Gonzalez, Cameron McKenzie, Betty Rosa, Juan Sabater, Luis Ubiñas, and remaining members Andrew G. Biggs and John E. Nixon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The dismissals were announced Tuesday, affecting Puerto Rico’s federally appointed financial oversight board.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s time to restore common sense leadership,” said a White House official, citing inefficiency and secrecy within the board.

🎯IMPACT: The move raises questions about the board’s future and Puerto Rico’s ongoing financial restructuring efforts.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has removed five of the seven members of Puerto Rico’s federally appointed financial oversight board, raising alarms over the island’s economic recovery and governance. The board, established by Congress in 2016 to manage the U.S. territory’s public finances, has been overseeing efforts to restructure tens of billions in debt following years of financial mismanagement.

The dismissed members, all Democrats, included board chair Arthur Gonzalez, along with Cameron McKenzie, Betty Rosa, Juan Sabater, and Luis Ubiñas. Remaining on the panel are Andrew G. Biggs and John E. Nixon, both Republicans.

A White House official justified the dismissals by accusing the board of operating inefficiently and lacking transparency, saying it “has been run inefficiently and ineffectively by its governing members for far too long and it’s time to restore common sense leadership.”

The official also criticized the board’s spending, citing excessive consulting and legal fees as well as “exorbitant salaries to staff.” According to the same official, the decision reflects dissatisfaction with the board’s progress, which the administration believes has “prolonged Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy.”

During the Obama administration, the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). At the time, the island had declared it could not repay its more than $70 billion in public debt, triggering the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Currently, Puerto Rico continues to face significant hurdles, particularly with the restructuring of $9 billion in debt held by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), a process mired in legal disputes with creditors seeking full repayment.

The dismissals will likely face legal challenges. However, Puerto Rico bond expert Cate Long argues there are clear grounds for the for-cause dismissals. “The level of the Puerto Rico OBoard’s incompetence is evident to people on both sides of the aisle. Ask yourself how they could pay their executive director, Robert Mujica, $625,000 [a year] while the US president only makes $400,000 [a year],” Long wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). She added: “Meanwhile, the OBoard allowed Mujica to moonlight for the Greater New York Hospital Association and Mets owner Steve Cohen. This, while the [Puerto Rico] electric utility was on its knees.”

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August 5, 2025
William Upton
News

Trump Says He Will ‘Federalize D.C.’ If Violent Crime Continues.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: In a post on Truth Social, President Donald J. Trump said he will move to federalize the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., unless the city government, led by Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), reins in violent crime.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Washington, D.C. city officials, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), criminals, and victims of violent crime.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in a post on Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control. Local “youths” and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released.” — President Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump and Congress could move to revoke home rule for the capital and re-exert federal control entirely over the city.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced on Tuesday that he will move to federalize the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., unless the city government, led by Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), reins in violent crime. In a post on Truth Social, Trump lambasted the lack of action by city officials to handle a recent wave of violent and deadly assaults and muggings.

“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control. Local “youths” and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released,” President Trump wrote. He added: “They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now! The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these “minors” as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14. The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs.”

Trump insists that the capital “must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans,” and if Mayor Bowser does not act, “we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore.” Significantly, the President added: ” If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.”

Washington, D.C. has been plagued with waves of violent crime—especially during the summer months—in recent years. Recently, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old college student interning for Representative Ron Estes (R-KS), died after being struck by a stray bullet in a drive-by shooting in the downtown area of the capital. Over a month earlier, far-left pro-Palestinian activist Elias Rodriguez murdered two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum.

Already, the Trump administration has ramped up nuisance arrests for public drinking and drug use in public parks under federal control. This effort stems from a presidential directive issued in March aimed at clearing D.C.’s homeless encampments and open-air drug markets, which have fueled—in part—the crime wave.

The National Pulse reported last month that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) confirmed Michael Pulliam, a Washington, D.C. police commander, is under investigation for allegedly doctoring crime statistics. The investigation began after the Fraternal Order of Police complained that the department was deliberately falsifying crime data. The police union claims that supervisors are manipulating data to show a significant decrease in violent crime compared to the previous year.

Image by Burkhard Mücke.

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August 5, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
News
UK

Tommy Robinson Arrested Over Alleged Railway Station Assault.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: British anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson was arrested by police after a physical altercation at a train station in London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tommy Robinson, British police, unidentified injured man.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The altercation took place on July 28, while Robinson’s arrest occurred several days later.

💬KEY QUOTE: “RELEASE THE FOOTAGE.” – Tommy Robinson on social media.

🎯IMPACT: The arrest could lead to potential charges and yet another possible prison sentence for Robsinson, who has been hounded by UK authorities for years.

IN FULL

British anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson was arrested on the night of August 4 on suspicion of assaulting a man at St. Pancras train station in London. The 42-year-old was detained by police at Luton Airport, just outside London, as he returned from Portugal.

Although police generally do not confirm the identities of individuals who haven’t been formally charged, the British Transport Police said in a statement that a 42-year-old Bedfordshire man had been arrested in connection with a July 28 assault at St. Pancras. The police later confirmed the man had been released on bail until September 2.

Footage published by British media showed police officers meeting Robinson as he exited the plane and escorting him into a waiting van.

Authorities had sought Robinson since July 28, when a man was discovered unconscious at the central London train station. A video circulated widely on social media shows Robinson walking nearby, but it does not reveal how the man was injured. In the clip, Robinson is heard telling someone off-camera, “He come at me, bruv.”

On Tuesday morning, a post on Robinson’s X account (formerly Twitter) read, “RELEASE THE FOOTAGE,” and tagged London’s Metropolitan Police Service.

Following the incident, British Transport Police issued a statement saying a man had suffered serious injuries in an assault at the station and was taken to the hospital. They also said the suspect had boarded a flight to Tenerife in the early hours of July 29, and urged witnesses to come forward with any information.

The case comes just months after Robinson was released from prison after serving time behind bars for contempt of court relating to a case involving a young Syrian asylum seeker. Robinson received an 18-month sentence for releasing a documentary that defended his own allegations against the Syrian migrant, which were previously ruled as libelous by a British court.

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August 5, 2025
News

Ghislaine Maxwell Fights to Keep Grand Jury Transcripts Sealed.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ghislaine Maxwell’s legal team opposed the unsealing of grand jury transcripts in her criminal case.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ghislaine Maxwell, her defense attorneys, and the Trump Department of Justice.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Court proceedings on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Jeffrey Epstein is dead. Ghislaine Maxwell is not,” her attorney wrote.

🎯IMPACT: Maxwell’s appeal to the Supreme Court could be affected, and concerns over grand jury secrecy remain central.

IN FULL

Ghislaine Maxwell‘s defense team has voiced opposition to a judge’s potential decision to unseal grand jury transcripts in her criminal case. This move comes after the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) sought to make the documents public.

In court filings, Maxwell’s attorneys argued that unsealing the transcripts could jeopardize her appeal to the Supreme Court. They also emphasized that their client is unable to take an “informed position” on the matter since the court has not allowed her legal team to review the transcripts in advance.

“Jeffrey Epstein is dead. Ghislaine Maxwell is not,” her attorney wrote in the filings. “Whatever interest the public may have in Epstein, that interest cannot justify a broad intrusion into grand jury secrecy in a case where the defendant is alive, her legal options are viable, and her due process rights remain.”

While the implications of this decision could have a significant impact on her appeal, the ruling could potentially set precedent for the broader handling of grand jury materials in similar cases.

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August 5, 2025
Health
News

A Federal Investigation is Raising Serious Concerns for Organ Donors.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal investigation has revealed that organ procurement teams have sometimes initiated procedures before death was fully established.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), organ procurement organizations (OPOs), and medical professionals across multiple states.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Findings were released in July 2025, with cases spanning across 19 states, including Kentucky and Alabama.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life, and this is horrifying.” – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

🎯IMPACT: Public trust in organ donation is at risk, with lawsuits and ethical concerns rising as donation after circulatory death (DCD) becomes more prevalent.

IN FULL

New evidence has emerged raising concerns about organ transplants, revealing that procurement teams have sometimes begun procedures before death was fully established. This practice, which has drawn sharp criticism, was confirmed in a July 2025 federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stated, “Hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life, and this is horrifying.” The investigation uncovered at least 28 cases where patients may not have been dead when organ removal began. This has occurred under a protocol known as donation after circulatory death (DCD), which differs from donation after brain death. Unlike brain death, where all brain function has irreversibly ceased, DCD involves patients who are near death but not biologically confirmed as deceased.

The urgency to expand organ availability has led to significant growth in DCD procedures, which now account for a substantial share of transplants. However, the federal report highlighted disturbing cases, including 73 patients in Kentucky who exhibited neurological signs incompatible with organ donation but were still prepared for harvesting. In Alabama, a patient declared dead was found to have a beating heart and gasping respirations during surgery.

The ethical and philosophical implications of these practices have sparked broader concerns. Critics argue that the line between life and death is being treated as a flexible variable, driven by institutional performance metrics. Charles Camosy, a bioethicist, noted that many medical professionals lack the philosophical and theological training to navigate such profound decisions, leading to what he described as “moral anthropology made up on the fly.”

Public trust in the organ donation system is eroding. In Arkansas, advocates are suing to block a law requiring family authorization even when someone is a registered donor. Without transparency and accountability, the organ donation process’s legitimacy and individuals’ willingness to participate may collapse. As one surgical technician, who quit after witnessing a troubling case, said, “I felt like I was part of killing someone.”

Image by Focal Foto.

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Smartmatic OANN
August 5, 2025
Corruption
Election Integrity

Smartmatic Co-Founder Charged with Bribing Top Venezuelan Official.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors accused Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate of bribing Venezuela’s top election official with a luxury residence in exchange for political favors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Roger Piñate, election chief Tibisay Lucena Ramírez, and unnamed co-conspirators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Allegedly between April and July 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We have always operated lawfully, ethically, and transparently. We stand by our two-decade track record of integrity.” – Smartmatic statement

🎯IMPACT: The allegations raise further scrutiny of Smartmatic’s business practices globally and its involvement in elections.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors have charged Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate with multiple counts of bribery and money laundering. They allege he provided a luxury residence in Caracas to Tibisay Lucena Ramírez, Venezuela’s top election official at the time, in exchange for political favors.

Prosecutors claim the property was transferred to Lucena Ramírez through a foreign shell company between April and July 2019, allegedly facilitated by an unnamed co-conspirator. This transfer reportedly occurred despite Smartmatic’s public claim that all business activities in Venezuela had ceased in 2017.

Smartmatic had pulled out of Venezuela after accusing the Maduro regime of committing electoral fraud during the 2017 National Constituent Assembly election. The company said it terminated operations in the country following that incident.

Prosecutors included these Venezuela-related allegations in a separate court filing connected to a $1 million bribery scheme involving Philippine election official Juan Andrés Donato Bautista. In that case, Piñate is accused of inflating the prices of voting machines and diverting the surplus into secret accounts used for bribes.

The U.S. government submitted the Venezuelan allegations to illustrate what they describe as a “pattern of alleged criminal behavior” by Piñate.

Smartmatic has strongly denied the claims. In a statement, the company said: “As an example, the government’s citation of an alleged bribe in Venezuela in 2019 is untethered from reality. Smartmatic ceased all operations in Venezuela in August 2017 after blowing the whistle on the government and has never sought to secure business there again.” The company added, “We have always operated lawfully, ethically, and transparently. We stand by our two-decade track record of integrity.”

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August 5, 2025
News

Woody Allen Likens Epstein’s Manhattan Home to ‘Castle Dracula’ in Newly Uncovered Letter.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan home were revealed, including a note from filmmaker Woody Allen and other personal items.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Epstein, Woody Allen, Donald Trump, Ehud Barak, Noam Chomsky, and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Photos from Epstein’s seven-story Manhattan home were published on Tuesday by The New York Times.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I say well-served—often it’s by some professional houseman and just as often by several young women, reminding one of Castle Dracula where Lugosi has three young female vampires who service the place.” – Woody Allen

🎯IMPACT: The revelations add further scrutiny to Epstein’s associations with high-profile figures and his controversial lifestyle.

IN FULL

On Tuesday, new images from the late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein‘s residence in Manhattan were released, exposing new celebrity correspondence with the deceased billionaire. Among the photographs is a handwritten message from the contentious director Woody Allen, whose current wife, Soon-Yi Previn, is also his adopted daughter with ex-wife Mia Farrow.

Epstein, who passed away in 2019 amid accusations of sex trafficking, was notorious for organizing gatherings frequented by prominent individuals. Allen’s note likened these events to “Castle Dracula,” alluding to the young females who acted as servers. “I say well-served—often it’s by some professional houseman and just as often by several young women, reminding one of Castle Dracula, where Lugosi has three young female vampires who service the place,” Allen wrote.

Other items discovered within Epstein’s expansive seven-floor property were a rare first-edition copy of Vladimir Nabokov’s provocative book Lolita, an Israeli map, and a security camera positioned in what was reportedly his bedroom. Additionally, the residence included a massage area decorated with artwork depicting nude females.

The publication also drew attention to congratulatory notes sent to Epstein on his birthday from notable personalities. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, President Donald J. Trump purportedly drew an image of a nude woman and penned a birthday greeting to Epstein back in 2003. However, Trump refutes the claim and is pursuing legal action against the outlet. This alleged note is not among the new images, and The Wall Street Journal has yet to produce the actual letter or drawing.

Further correspondences include letters from Noam Chomsky, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Barak’s spouse, who referred to Epstein as a “collector of people.” In his message, Barak remarked, “There is no limit to your curiosity. You are like a closed book to many of them, but you know everything about everyone.”

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August 5, 2025
News

Titan Probe Faults Multiple Failures, ‘Toxic Workplace Culture’ in Submersible Disaster.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. Coast Guard report has concluded that a “toxic workplace culture” and negligence contributed to the implosion of the Titan submersible, which resulted in the deaths of five people.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The victims included Titan operator Stockton Rush, Pakistani nationals Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on June 18, 2023, during a dive to the Titanic wreck, with the wreckage found five days later about 500 meters from the sunken ship.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The loss of five lives was preventable,” stated the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation in its report.

🎯IMPACT: The report identified eight primary causal factors, including negligence, regulatory failures, and a lack of proper oversight, raising concerns about future submersible operations.

IN FULL

A damning report by the U.S. Coast Guard has revealed that a “toxic workplace culture” and negligence at OceanGate contributed to the implosion of the Titan submersible on June 18, 2023. The tragedy claimed the lives of five individuals during a mission to explore the wreck of the Titanic.

The victims included Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate and operator of the Titan, along with Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet. The submersible’s wreckage was discovered five days after it went missing, approximately 500 meters from the Titanic.

The 335-page report from the Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) concluded that “the loss of five lives was preventable” and identified eight primary causal factors behind the incident. These included OceanGate’s flawed design and testing processes, a lack of proper inspections, and the continued use of the Titan despite prior incidents compromising its structural integrity.

In addition, the report also highlighted OceanGate’s “toxic workplace culture,” insufficient regulatory frameworks for novel submersible designs, and an ineffective whistleblower process. Investigators noted that Stockton Rush “exhibited negligence that contributed to the deaths of four individuals” and may have been subject to potential criminal liability. The National Pulse previously reported that Rush prioritized diversity over experience when putting together crews. “When I started business… other sub operators [were] out there but they typically [had] gentlemen who are ex-military submariners… a whole bunch of 50-year-old white guys,” he said during a 2020 interview.

Lead investigator Thomas Whalen and marine board chairman Jason Neubauer wrote, “By strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion and oversight challenges, OceanGate was ultimately able to operate Titan completely outside of the established deep-sea protocols.” The absence of third-party oversight and experienced staff during the 2023 operations was cited as a critical factor leading to the catastrophic event.

Image by Roderick Eime. 

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