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Trump administration offers first-ever deep-sea mining leases near…
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will lease two areas for twenty years each, with an auction set for November nineteenth; the starting bid is three million dollars.
On air: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on The Midday ShowPublished
At a glance
- First reported by Washington Examiner: “Trump administration offers first-ever deep-sea mining leases near American Samoa”.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 12:38 PM ET on The Midday Show, by Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock.
- Topics: American, Trump.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe Trump administration will offer the first-ever deep-sea mining leases, off American Samoa, and the Washington Examiner says the rocks on the seafloor look like potatoes.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorPotatoes! I love where this is going. They contain cobalt, copper, iron, manganese and nickel, so it's a very well-seasoned side dish.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorTwo areas, twenty-year leases, and a minimum bid of three million dollars each. That is a bargain bin for a seafloor, folks.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThree million. I've spent more at a farmers market.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe governor of American Samoa opposes the auction, and the first leases would only allow surveys and sampling. Auction day is November nineteenth.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorMake mine fries.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBrock, is there any chance of rain over the potatoes?
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 19, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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