Benjamin Schiffrin of Better Markets argues that the SEC’s enforcement record under Chair Paul Atkins shows a retreat from its responsibility to protect investors. His criticism follows the agency’s release of enforcement results for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. He rejects officials’ claims that case counts are not the best way to assess enforcement, saying those claims distract from sharply reduced activity. The SEC brought 25% fewer cases in 2026 than in 2025, which had already marked a 20-year low.
The statement also points to a steep fall in financial remedies: the SEC obtained orders for nearly $18 billion in monetary sanctions in 2025, compared with about $1 billion in 2026. Atkins has argued that case numbers and financial penalties are not the only or most telling measures, and that the agency wants to emphasize individual accountability. Schiffrin counters that the SEC has not demonstrated a stronger alternative: it has pursued cases involving serious misconduct without holding individuals responsible. He concludes that the agency is failing on both the volume and quality of enforcement, prioritizing corporate interests over accountability and leaving investors exposed to misconduct.
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Hungarian investigators uncovered $19.5 million in cash hidden in buildings and buried in forests during a corruption probe. Former development minister Miklos Sesztak is suspected of taking more than $37 million in bribes and kickbacks under Viktor Orban’s government. (aljazeera.com)
An Israeli airstrike on Nasser hospital in southern Gaza killed six people, including a surgeon, and wounded 28, the hospital director said. Israel said it targeted Hamas fighters; the strike damaged one of Gaza’s few remaining medical facilities. (theguardian.com)
Quahuru is a two-player dice strategy game played on a six-spoked wheel, where players race pieces to safety and use others to block their opponent. It features a neural-net computer opponent, tutorials, and browser and free Android versions. (quahuru.com)
An Nvidia director reportedly sold nearly $1 billion in stock weeks before a scandal involving Jensen Huang. The provided page contains no details about the sale or the scandal. (finance.yahoo.com)
The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop after a communications issue affected all air traffic control centers. The disruption delayed flights, while planes already airborne continued to their destinations. (washingtonpost.com)
The FAA canceled its nationwide ground stop at 01:19Z on November 14, 2026. The stop had applied to all destinations and facilities. (fly.faa.gov)
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