6/23 WAKE-UP CALL: Doomed Crew Never Knew What Hit Them

A deep-sea submersible carrying five people on a voyage to the century-old wreck of the Titanic was found in pieces from a "catastrophic implosion" that killed everyone aboard, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Thursday, ending a multinational five-day search for the vessel. A robotic diving vehicle deployed from a Canadian ship discovered a debris field from the submersible Titan on Thursday morning on the seabed some 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, 2 1/2 miles beneath the surface, in a remote corner of the North Atlantic, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger told reporters.

The doomed Titanic sub would have imploded and killed its crew so fast the five people aboard “never knew it happened,” an expert in submersibles told The Post. Expert Ofer Ketter said the implosion would occur within a millisecond, if not a nanosecond, if something breached the hull of the vessel to cause a loss in pressure.

Debris that rescuers found near the Titanic shipwreck in the North Atlantic was “consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber” of the OceanGate Expeditions craft, according to the Coast Guard. The men aboard the Titan submersible, which was on a trip to the Titanic wreck, were OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush; Paul-Henry Nargeolet, considered a leading authority on the Titanic; Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, members of one of Pakistan’s richest families; and British aviator and explorer Hamish Harding. Even before the debris field was discovered, hopes of finding the group alive had dimmed due to the difficulties involved in finding and retrieving the submersible and the limited oxygen supply on board.

The U.S. Coast Guard says the debris discovered near the bow of the Titanic is that of the missing submersible.

"The debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber," he said, adding, "I offer my deepest condolences to the families." pic.twitter.com/GfH9fJDlcL

— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 22, 2023

➤NAVY DETECTED SOUND OF IMPLOSION: A top secret military acoustic detection system designed to spot enemy submarines first heard what the U.S. Navy suspected was the Titan submersible implosion hours after the vehicle began its mission, officials involved in the search said. The Navy began listening for the Titan almost as soon as the sub lost communications, according to a U.S. defense official. Shortly after the submersible’s disappearance Sunday, the U.S. system detected what it suspected was the sound of an implosion near the debris site discovered Thursday and reported its findings to the commander on site, U.S. defense officials said. “The U.S. Navy conducted an analysis of acoustic data and detected an anomaly consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the Titan submersible was operating when communications were lost,” a senior U.S. Navy official told The Wall Street Journal in a statement. “While not definitive, this information was immediately shared with the Incident Commander to assist with the ongoing search and rescue mission.” The Navy asked that the specific system used not be named, citing national security concerns.

‘Titanic’ director James Cameron on the ‘catastrophic implosion’ of Titan submersible: “I’m struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field." pic.twitter.com/vO8JkCXS5f

— ABC News (@ABC) June 22, 2023

Canada Forces Google, Facebook to Pay For News LInks

 The Canadian Parliament has passed a law that will require technology companies to pay domestic news outlets for linking to their articles, prompting the owner of Facebook and Instagram to say that it would pull news articles from both platforms in the country.

The NY Times reports the law, passed on Thursday, is the latest salvo in a push by governments around the world to force big companies like Google and Facebook to pay for news that they share on their platforms — a campaign that the companies have resisted at virtually every turn.

With some caveats, the new Canadian law would force search engines and social media companies to engage in a bargaining process — and binding arbitration, if necessary — for licensing news content for their use.

The law, the Online News Act, was modeled after a similar one that passed in Australia two years ago. It was designed to “enhance fairness in the Canadian digital news marketplace and contribute to its sustainability,” according to an official summary. Exactly when the law would take effect was not immediately clear as of Friday morning.

Soros Management Among Groups Acquiring Vice Media

Vice Media is set to be acquired by a group of its lenders including Fortress Investment Group and Soros Fund Management, capping off a sale process for a once thriving digital-media company that failed in a difficult environment for publishers.

The Wall Street Journal reports a group of Vice Media’s lenders led by Fortress and Soros offered $225 million to take over the company, which filed for bankruptcy last month. On Thursday, Vice filed a notice of an amended bid from the lender group that showed its takeover would value the company at $350 million.

Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Vice was soliciting outside bids, but no offers that the company considered superior emerged, the company’s co-chief executives said.

“While we received multiple bids for the company, none of the other bids rose to the level of being deemed a superior bid,” Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, Vice’s co-CEOs, said Thursday. 

The winning bid needs to be approved by a bankruptcy court. Vice is scheduled to have a hearing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York on Friday about its sale to Fortress and Soros.

Disney's Woke Diversity Chief Walks

Walt Disney Company Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Latondra Newton will be leaving her position, reports Fox Business. 

"I'm writing to share the news that Latondra Newton has decided to leave The Walt Disney Company to pursue other endeavors," an employee value proposition and chief human resources officer said in an internal company note obtained by FOX Business. "Latondra has led the company’s strategic diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including partnering with stakeholders across the enterprise to amplify stories of the world by people around the world."

"[Newton] has been dedicated to ensuring every person sees themselves and their life experiences represented in a meaningful and authentic way," the memo continued. "I know you all join me in thanking Latondra for her many contributions, including the lasting impact she has had on our employees and our culture."

Newton has been with the company since 2017 and has led Disney's diversity, equity and inclusion programs for six years. 

Disney's diversity initiatives, under Newton's leadership, have proved divisive as the company has sought to position itself as a progressive and inclusive company.

Last year, Disney axed gendered language such as "boys and girls" in their park greetings to promote gender inclusivity.

The company began a public feud with the Republican Party after Disney CEO Bob Chapek took a stand against a Florida bill that prohibits teachers from providing instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade classrooms.

Media Coverage of Titanic Submersible Tragedy Criticized

As news came in this week of the missing OceanGate submersive — a tragedy that led to its five passengers’ presumed death Thursday, per an official statement from the Coast Guard — many online became critical of mainstream media’s emphasis on the tourist attraction’s fatalities in comparison to another tragedy at sea that unfolded just days before: the migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean that led to hundreds of lives lost.

According to TheWRAP, Many took to social media and accused the 24/7 news cycle of catering more airtime to the Titanic submersible than they were to the hundreds of shipwrecked Egyptian, Pakistani, Syrian and Palestinian migrants off the coast of Greece while en route to Italy. Only 104 passengers survived the June 14 wreckage and over 500 remain missing.

“The role PR and journalism are playing in multiple countries deciding to come together to save billionaires on #OceanGate, while hundreds of migrants drowned, is sickening,” one Twitter user wrote on Thursday, just hours before the U.S. Coast Guard announced it believed the vessel’s passengers died following an implosion and confirmed sub debris. 

Reports of the migrant shipwreck began June 15, and the submersive was declared missing on June 18. While both events mark historic tragedies, many online raised concern that they were not given comparable news coverage in the following days. The debate picked up speed and was trending on Wednesday and Thursday.

“Although I am also guilty of paying close attention to the #OceanGate tragedy, I think it’s important to recognize the bias in our media,” said one Twitter user. Another pointed out the apparent imbalance of resources given to the group of men on the submersive compared to the hundreds of migrants. 

“Why did this Titanic OceanGate receive this much media coverage and global aid? Are the lives of the ridiculously wealthy more valued?,” they questioned.  

2023 Kennedy Center Honorees Unveiled

Dionne Warwick (from left), Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, Billy Crystal and Renée Fleming

The recipients of the 46th Kennedy Center Honors have been announced.

The award for lifetime artistic achievement will recognize actor and comedian Billy Crystal; celebrated soprano Renée Fleming; singer-songwriter and Bee Gees band member Barry Gibb; actress, singer and rapper Queen Latifah; and singer Dionne Warwick.

NPR reports Queen Latifah said she was beyond grateful for the recognition. "When we started on this journey decades ago, we were often told 'No.' No, you won't be able to leave New Jersey. No, if you rap you can't sing. No, singers can't become actresses. No, actors can't also produce," she said in a statement. "To now be recognized amongst so many multi-hyphenates feels unbelievable, not for just me and my team, but for our community."

Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said in a statement that the honorees each "explored new terrain, stretched artistic boundaries, and most importantly, committed to sharing their gifts with the world."

June 23 Radio History

➦In 1891...Nikola Tesla granted patent 454,622 for the coupled tuned circuit radio-frequency oscillator.

Nikola Tesla

Tesla gained experience in telephony and electrical engineering before emigrating to the United States in 1884 to work for Thomas Edison in New York City. He soon struck out on his own with financial backers, setting up laboratories and companies to develop a range of electrical devices. His patented AC induction motor and transformer were licensed by George Westinghouse, who also hired Tesla for a short time as a consultant. His work in the formative years of electric power development was also involved in the corporate struggle between making alternating current or direct current the power transmission standard, referred to as the war of currents.

Tesla went on to pursue his ideas of wireless lighting and electricity distribution in his high-voltage, high-frequency power experiments in New York and Colorado Springs and made early (1893) pronouncements on the possibility of wireless communication with his devices. He tried to put these ideas to practical use in his ill-fated attempt at intercontinental wireless transmission; his unfinished Wardenclyffe Tower project.

In his lab he also conducted a range of experiments with mechanical oscillator/generators, electrical discharge tubes, and early X-ray imaging. He even built a wireless controlled boat which may have been the first such device ever exhibited.

Tesla was renowned for his achievements and showmanship, eventually earning him a reputation in popular culture as an archetypal "mad scientist." His patents earned him a considerable amount of money, much of which was used to finance his own projects with varying degrees of success.  He lived most of his life in a series of New York hotels, through his retirement. He died on 7 January 1943.

Tesla's work fell into relative obscurity after his death, but has experienced a resurgence in interest in popular culture since the 1990s.

Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone

➦In 1905...Mary Livingstone was born Sadye Marks in Seattle.  She was the wife and radio partner of comedian Jack Benny.  They married in 1927, and she joined him in some of his vaudeville routines, though she suffered attacks of stage fright.  The affliction continued when they moved into radio beginning in 1932.  In the mid 1950’s, at the height of his popularity she retired from show business, but lived another thirty years.  She died from cardiovascular disease June 30 1983 at age 74.

Edward P. Morgan 1954

➦In 1910...Edward P Morgan born (Died  – January 27, 1993) was a journalist and writer who reported for newspapers, radio, and television media services including ABC, CBS networks, and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

A native of Walla Walla, Washington, Morgan began his news career with The Seattle Star in 1932. He worked in print journalism for two decades, for United Press International, The Chicago Daily News, and Collier's Weekly before joining CBS as a radio and TV reporter.

From 1955 to 1967, Morgan broadcast an evening radio program of news and commentary, "Edward P. Morgan and the News," that won him the George Foster Peabody Award, broadcasting's most venerable honor, in 1956.

In 1956, Morgan was based in New York City and working for the ABC Radio Network. He broadcast a professional news report of the collision of the ocean liners S.S. Andrea Doria and S.S. Stockholm off the Massachusetts coast, not telling listeners that his 14-year-old daughter had been aboard the Andrea Doria and was believed to have been killed.

Chicago Radio: Dash Joins B96, Line-Up Tweaked

Dash

Audacy has announced a new weekday lineup for B96 (WBBM-FM) in Chicago, effective June 29. 

The station welcomes Dash (Jordan Orman-Weiss) as afternoon drive host. Dash will be heard weekdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT.

“We are so thrilled to welcome Dash to the B96 family,” said Molly Cruz, Brand Manager, B96. “As a lifelong Chicagoan, Dash has an authentic love for his city and a deep appreciation of the legendary B96. This new chapter feels like a perfect fit.”

“When my mother would let us take control of the radio dial growing up, we would always spin it down to B96,” said Dash. “It was and still is the cool station. To be from Chicago and now get an afternoon show on a station I've grown up loving…I'm living my dream. Under the leadership and talent that are Molly Cruz and Greg Solk, I know we can create an electric afternoon show listeners won't want to miss!”

Dash joins B96 from Hubbard's WTMX Chicago, where he has been doing nights for the past three years. He also previously served as a Social Media Manager for Second City and on-air talent and Producer for WSHE-FM in Chicago.

The new weekday lineup is as follows.

• 5:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. CT: “The Morning Mess”
• 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT: Julia Lepidi
• 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. CT: Dash
• 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. CT: Bru

📻Listeners can tune in to B96 (WBBM-FM) on air in Chicago and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

FNC's Bret Baier Trump Interview Scored 2.6M Viewers

Bret Baier’s interview with former President Donald Trump drew an audience of 2.6 million viewers Monday night, making Special Report with Bret Baier the highest-rated show in cable news among viewers 25-54, the key demographic valued by advertisers. The show finished second overall among total viewers—up 50 percent from its average for the month of June.

Forbes reports the interview drew intense interest, as Baier confronted Trump with his election lies about the 2020 presidential election—when Trump insisted that he won re-election, Baier told Trump “you lost the 2020 election.”

Baier also pressed Trump on his time in the White House, why so many of the people he hired to work in his administration had become fierce critics, and how he thought he could bring independent voters to support him given his legal woes, including the federal case accusing Trump of mishandling government documents.

Asked about the documents and why Trump hadn’t simply returned them when he was asked to, the former president said he was “too busy.” The only way the National Archives could get documents back, he said, would be to say “please, please, please, could we have it back?”

Boosted by the Trump interview, which was covered extensively on Fox and the other cable news networks, Fox News Channel won in prime time Monday night, with an average audience of 1.9 million viewers, and 235,000 viewers in the key demo. FNC’s The Five was the highest rated show in cable news among total viewers, with an audience of 2.8 million viewers.

CBS Reporter Talks About His Time Aboard The Titan Submersible

A CBS reporter who last year rode the Titan submersible that vanished off the coast of Canada this week with five people inside told USA TODAY parts of the vessel seemed "less sophisticated" and described the safety features meant to avoid a crisis like the one it's currently facing.

"I was anticipating a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I got it," CBS correspondent David Pogue told USA TODAY's "5 Things" podcast.

Pogue boarded submersible for a CBS report that aired in November alongside OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who is among the five missing passengers on the voyage to tour the wreckage of the Titanic.

Pogue's account has drawn attention not just because it's a rare first-hand look at the experience of being in a submersible, but because of the snags it hit along the way. Pogue told USA TODAY on Tuesday afternoon that the Titan got "lost" for a few hours and couldn't find the wreckage of the Titanic during one of the dives on that trip, but unlike the current situation, it never lost all communication with crews on the surface.

His report also highlighted some of the "jerry-rigged" parts helping the vessel operate.

"There were parts of it that seemed to me to be less sophisticated than I was guessing. You drive it with a PlayStation video controller... some of the ballasts are old, rusty construction pipes," Pogue told USA TODAY. "There were certain things that looked like cut corners."

In a tweet of the report, Pogue linked to video of himself describing the submarine as having as much room as a minivan. Pogue said the vessel was the only five-person sub that could reach Titanic depths.

Rush, CEO of the company that owns the submersible, argued against the description of the Titan as being "MacGyvery" in the CBS report.

Report: ESPN Radio Pulls Plug On Morning Show

ESPN is scrapping its national morning radio show featuring Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman, The NY Post is reporting.

This is part of the restructuring of the company that will include significant on-air layoffs as early as next week, according to sources.

It doesn’t mean that Johnson, Williams or Kellerman will be let go, though Kellerman is in jeopardy as a big-money guy who now is going to be out on radio and has “The Pat McAfee Show” this fall moving into the same time slot as Kellerman’s TV program, “This Just In”

ESPN signed Johnson to a four-year contract worth around $18 million last year, according to sources.

As part of the upcoming layoffs, ESPN is expected to buy out some deals.  This is a corporate way of reducing numbers on the books, while still actually paying people the money they are owed.

ESPN could do that, which could grant Johnson free agency and make him a possible sparring partner for Skip Bayless as a replacement for Shannon Sharpe on FS1’s “Undisputed." Johnson lives in Los Angeles, where Fox Sports is located.

ESPN and Johnson would have to negotiate an agreement to allow this possibility to fully play out.

ESPN could also choose to expand Johnson’s NFL role, especially with “Monday Night Countdown” expected to be hit by layoffs.

Johnson is already a regular on ESPN’s daily program, “NFL Live.”