FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for fraud tied to the collapse of his digital exchange. Less than two years ago‚ Bankman-Fried was the crypto king. He hung around with heads of state‚ had a $30 million penthouse in the Caribbean and vowed to use his wealth to better […] The post Sam Bankman-Fried Gets a 25-Year Sentence appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

If you appreciated the slow-motion video of the Dali crashing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge by Sal Mercogliano‚ you might want to read this article.  Sal Mercogliano is the Chair of the Department of History‚ Criminal Justice‚ and Political Science. He is also a Faculty Athletic Representative at Campbell University. Prof. Mercogliano is a Maritime […] The post US Abandoned Shipping‚ Relies on Foreign-Flagged Ships appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

From Controversy To Compassion: Daniel Snyder's Jaw-Dropping Gift Leaves Nation In Awe

The prop door from the James Cameron blockbuster film “Titanic” just sold at auction for more than $700‚000. Ever since the movie was released in 1997‚ viewers have argued over whether there was enough room for both Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) to fit onto the door‚ using it as a makeshift raft until they could be rescued from the frigid sea. Many movie fans claim that the door may not have been buoyant enough to support two adults‚ even if there was sufficient physical space. In the film‚ Rose survived‚ and Jack died from hypothermia. The prop piece of balsa wood‚ which the auction listing says came from part of the door frame above the ship’s first-class lounge entrance‚ was one of several movie props sold at the Heritage Auctions Treasures from Planet Hollywood event‚ per The Guardian.  Other significant items included Winslet’s dress in “Titanic‚” which fetched $125‚000‚ and Indiana Jones’s bullwhip from “The Temple of Doom‚” which went for more than half a million. The outlet also noted that Jack Nicholson’s axe from The Shining sold for $125‚000. Cameron and other “Titanic” stars have discussed the door controversy in the past‚ with the Canadian director admitting that the character of Jack was doomed to die because the story demanded it. “We have since done a thorough forensic analysis with a hypothermia expert who reproduced the raft from the movie … We took two stunt people who were the same body mass of Kate and Leo and we put sensors all over them and inside them and we put them in ice water and we tested to see whether they could have survived through a variety of methods and the answer was: there was no way they both could have survived. Only one could survive‚” Cameron told The Toronto Sun in 2022‚ as The Daily Wire previously reported. “[Jack] needed to die‚” he added. “It’s like Romeo and Juliet. It’s a movie about love and sacrifice and mortality. The love is measured by the sacrifice.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Winslet also shared her opinions in 2022‚ the 25th anniversary of the film’s release.  “I have to be honest: I actually don’t believe that we would have survived if we had both gotten on that door‚” the actress said. “I think he would have fit‚ but it would have tipped and it would not have been a sustainable idea.” “So‚ you heard it here for the first time‚” Winslet added. “Yes‚ he could have fit on that door‚ but it would not have stayed afloat. It wouldn’t.”

In a decision that may affect the swing state of Pennsylvania and possibly other swing states‚ the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals reversed on Wednesday the order of a federal district court and handed the Republican National Committee (RNC) a victory regarding signature verification for mail voting in Pennsylvania. The case centered around whether mail-in ballots that were mailed in time but either possessed an incorrect date or no date at all under the voter’s signature should be counted‚ NPR noted. Democrats argued that the Materiality Provision established in Section 10101(a)(2)(B) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964‚ applies in this case and that the ballots could therefore be counted. The Materiality Provision prohibits denial of the right to vote because of an “error or omission” on paperwork “related to any application‚ registration‚ or other act requisite to voting‚” if the mistake is “not material in determining whether [an] individual is qualified” to vote. The RNC countered that enforcement of the date requirement for a ballot “does not impinge on the right to vote” because the Materiality Provision “only prohibits immaterial requirements affecting the qualification and registration of a voter‚” not additional requirements for casting a ballot. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The 3rd Circuit decision‚ in which two of the three judges concurred (all three appointed by Democrats)‚ explained: States have separate bodies of rules for separate stages of the voting process. One stage‚ voter qualification‚ deals with who votes. To register and thus be authorized to vote‚ applicants must follow prescribed steps and meet certain requirements. It’s like obtaining a license to drive. Another stage deals with how ballots are cast by those previously authorized to vote‚ which is governed by a different set of rules. To cast a ballot that is valid and will be counted‚ all qualified voters must abide by certain requirements‚ just like those authorized to drive must obey the State’s traffic laws like everyone else. The Materiality Provision is an important federal overlay on state election requirements during the “who” stage: voter qualification. It prohibits States from denying an applicant the right to vote based on an error or omission in paperwork involving his application if that mistake is immaterial in determining whether he is qualified to vote. That is‚ it is triggered when conduct or laws restrict who may vote. But it leaves it to the States to decide how qualified voters must cast a valid ballot. Pennsylvania has made one such rule—the date requirement—mandatory. The federal Materiality Provision‚ in our view‚ does not interfere. In the wake of the decision‚ RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated: This is a crucial victory for election integrity and voter confidence in the Keystone State and nationwide. Pennsylvanians deserve to feel confident in the security of their mail ballots‚ and this 3rd Circuit ruling roundly rejects unlawful left-wing attempts to count undated or incorrectly dated mail ballots. Republicans will continue to fight and win for election integrity in courts across the country ahead of the 2024 election.

Sacramento’s city council unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday declaring it a “sanctuary city” for trans-identifying people. The resolution declares the city a “place of safety” for trans-identifying people and says Sacramento will not cooperate with states seeking to enforce laws relating to transgender medical services. “California has been a leader in protecting the rights of transgender individuals to access care‚ but many states across the nation are moving in the opposite direction‚” the resolution reads. “In preparation of future legislation that may criminalize those providing or seeking gender-affirming care and given the Council’s stated values of equity and inclusion‚ it is important for the City of Sacramento to be proactive in reiterating our commitment to transgender rights and equal protections for transgender people by declaring ourselves a sanctuary city and a place of safety for transgender people.” The resolution states that “no city resources — including staff time — would be used to detain individuals seeking care‚ or otherwise to cooperate with jurisdictions seeking to enforce laws criminalizing gender affirming care in other jurisdictions.” “The City of Sacramento is already a sanctuary city for immigrants; this proposed resolution would enact the same protections for transgender individuals‚” the resolution notes. More than 30 people showed up at City Hall‚ some supporting and some opposing the resolution during more than an hour of public comment. “We cannot be giving children cross-sex hormones. We can’t give them surgeries to change their sex‚” Beth Bourne‚ a member of a Sacramento chapter of Moms for Liberty‚ told KCRA 3. “This sanctuary city is saying that we will promote the idea that people can be born in the wrong body.” Councilmember Katie Valenzuela‚ who introduced the resolution and is a member of Sacramento’s Democratic Socialists of America‚ said it is “the sort of thing that you hope is never necessary‚” but “it’s important to be realistic.” “You hope it never gets triggered. That there’s never anyone coming to Sac who is potentially fleeing law enforcement for the sole reason of looking for health care‚” said Valenzuela. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The same day the resolution passed‚ Valenzuela conceded her race for re-election to her opponent. So far‚ 24 states have enacted restrictions on children accessing transgender medical services like puberty blockers‚ cross-sex hormones‚ and gender surgeries like double mastectomies and genital surgeries. Those states are Alabama‚ Arkansas‚ Arizona‚ Florida‚ Georgia‚ Idaho‚ Indiana‚ Iowa‚ Kentucky‚ Louisiana‚ Mississippi‚ Missouri‚ Montana‚ Nebraska‚ North Carolina‚ North Dakota‚ Ohio‚ Oklahoma‚ South Dakota‚ Tennessee‚ Texas‚ Utah‚ West Virginia‚ and Wyoming. The city adopted the resolution just days before “Transgender Day of Visibility” on March 31.