Titan Sub Investigation, Clinton Subpoenas, & "Dude" Etymology

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Adam Rogers
August 06, 2025

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The 2023 Titan submersible disaster that killed five people was preventable, according to a Coast Guard investigation that found CEO Stockton Rush "exhibited negligence" and would have faced criminal charges if he had survived the implosion.
OceanGate created a 'toxic workplace culture' where employees were fired for raising safety concerns. The company exploited regulatory gaps to operate “completely outside established deep-sea protocols.” Financial pressures led to storing the Titan outdoors through the Canadian winter, compromising the hull's integrity.
The sub implosion killed Rush and four others during the descent to the Titanic wreck. The family of French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet filed a $50+ million wrongful death lawsuit against OceanGate, alleging the crew experienced 'terror and mental anguish' before death. The case is still ongoing.

The House Oversight Committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein issued subpoenas Tuesday to Bill and Hillary Clinton and former attorneys general and FBI directors for testimony about the convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019. Committee Chairman James Comer also subpoenaed the DOJ for "full, complete, unredacted Epstein Files" by August 19.
The subpoena calls for Bill Clinton to testify on October 14 about his relationship with Epstein, noting Clinton flew on Epstein's private plane four times in 2002-2003. Clinton also attended an intimate dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2014, three years after public reports revealed her involvement in Epstein's abuse of minors. Clinton has denied visiting Epstein's private island.
The subpoenas follow DOJ's announcement last month that no other people would be charged in the Epstein case and no further information would be released. The committee wants to question officials about prosecutorial decisions over the years, including Epstein's controversial 2008 non-prosecution agreement that let him avoid federal charges.

Crime decreased in every category in 2024, according to FBI data covering 95.6% of the US. Murder and manslaughter dropped 14.9% while motor vehicle thefts fell 18.6% - the largest one-year decrease ever recorded. The property crime rate hit the lowest level since 1961.
The declines reverse pandemic-era spikes from 2020-2021, bringing murder rates to their lowest point in a decade. Most violent crime categories now sit below pre-COVID levels, though aggravated assaults remain elevated above 2019 levels. The downward trend has continued through the first half of 2025.
FBI officials said it's 'difficult if not impossible' to explain the widespread decreases. Some experts suggest criminals may be shifting to online crimes like identity theft rather than street offenses. However, the data only captures crimes reported to police, missing many unreported incidents.

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A statue of Confederate Officer Albert Pike, toppled and burned by protesters in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder, will be reinstalled in D.C. this fall under Trump’s monument restoration initiative. (More)

Austin Robert Drummond, 28, was arrested Tuesday in Jackson, ending a weeklong manhunt. He’s accused of killing four family members and abandoning a baby in rural Tennessee. Charges are pending. (More)

An AP-NORC poll found young Americans less politically engaged than older generations, with only 20% following politics closely despite high youth voter turnout. (More)

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced a February election, aiming to hold it before Ramadan, as the country marks a year since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster following a student-led uprising. (More)

NATO launched a new $1 billion military aid initiative for Ukraine under the PURL program, with the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden funding US-sourced equipment to bolster Ukraine’s defense. (More)

Switzerland's president made an emergency trip to Washington seeking relief from Trump's 39% tariffs on Swiss exports starting Thursday. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -0.49%, Nasdaq -0.65%, Dow -0.14%). Markets pulled back on weaker-than-expected economic data and new tariff comments from President Trump. (More)

BP announced its biggest oil and gas discovery since 1999, striking major reserves off Brazil’s coast as it doubles down on fossil fuels and scales back investments in renewable energy. (More)

Americans owe a near-record $1.21 trillion on credit cards as high living costs force more people to rely on debt and fall behind on payments. (More)

Teddy Bridgewater, 32, has signed with the Buccaneers after visiting Tampa and passing a physical. He’ll bolster the QB lineup as Michael Pratt recovers and Baker Mayfield returns from a hand injury. (More)

Augusta National’s new “Official Masters Hospitality” program offers ultra-luxury packages costing up to $220,000 per week, including private homes, drivers, catering, tee times, and full-time staff for elite guests. (More)

Lady Gaga leads the 2025 MTV VMAs with 12 nominations, followed by Bruno Mars (11) and Kendrick Lamar (10). The show airs live on September 7 from Long Island’s UBS Arena. (More)

Roku launched Howdy, a $2.99 monthly ad-free streaming service, shifting from its free model while keeping the ad-supported Roku Channel available. (More)

Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus causing fever and severe joint pain, has infected over 7,000 people in China’s Guangdong this year. South American and African countries have also reported outbreaks. (More)

Young chimpanzees learn their communication style mainly from their mothers and maternal relatives, showing little influence from their fathers, suggesting these behaviors are learned rather than genetically inherited. (More)

Flesh-eating bacteria and brain-eating amoebas 101.

The wild history behind the word “dude.”

What’s the difference between hot and cold sweat.

How much speeding tickets cost in each state.

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