SAMWISE
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Friday, June 19, 2026
DRIVER MARKET
Verstappen exit clause confirmed as champion flies to Red Bull UK factory
Max Verstappen visited Red Bull's UK factory in Milton Keynes on Thursday as his Formula 1 future grew increasingly uncertain. Manager Raymond Vermeulen publicly confirmed the existence of a performance-linked exit clause in Verstappen's contract that will activate if the four-time world champion is not among the top two in the championship standings at the summer break. With Verstappen sitting seventh on 55 points, 101 behind leader Kimi Antonelli, the clause's activation appears near-certain. Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes throughout 2026. Following a meeting with Red Bull company chiefs, the champion declined to publicly commit his long-term future to the team.
FIA reviewing ADUO engine findings as surprised Red Bull disputes benchmark verdict
The FIA has yet to officially confirm the results of its first Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities assessment, with the governing body reviewing findings ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix and holding discussions with all power unit manufacturers. Red Bull, whose power unit was judged the strongest in the field, expressed surprise at the finding. The team stated no single data sample indicates it holds an advantage over Mercedes. Under ADUO rules, Mercedes will receive one additional power unit upgrade this season, while Ferrari, Audi and Honda each receive two, having been assessed as more than four percent below Red Bull's benchmark performance.
Ferrari bringing new power unit elements to Austrian GP to boost Hamilton's title bid
Ferrari is set to introduce new power unit elements for Lewis Hamilton at next week's Austrian Grand Prix, providing a horsepower boost as the team targets championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes. Ferrari has been classified under the FIA's ADUO system as more than four percent below Red Bull's benchmark combustion engine performance, making the team eligible for two additional power unit upgrades during the 2026 season. Hamilton closed within 41 points of Antonelli following last Sunday's Barcelona Grand Prix, when Antonelli retired with a mechanical failure. Ferrari and Hamilton hope the new elements will narrow the car's power deficit heading into the European summer races.
Mercedes abandons Monaco penalty review petition, accepting Russell's championship damage
Mercedes has abandoned its petition to review George Russell's Monaco Grand Prix time penalty, which dropped the British driver out of the points. The team filed the petition after new evidence emerged that Monaco's pit lane timing equipment had measured incorrect distances, which led to rival Pierre Gasly's own penalties being cancelled. However, team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the petition had a low chance of succeeding before Mercedes informed the FIA stewards on Thursday evening of its decision to withdraw, ahead of a virtual hearing that had been scheduled for Saturday morning. Russell's championship points total remains unaffected by the withdrawal.
Wolff calls ADUO the correct approach for F1 and warns against Balance of Performance
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has urged Formula 1 to maintain the ADUO engine equalization system and resist pressure to adopt a Balance of Performance approach to managing power unit performance gaps. Speaking this week, Wolff strongly opposed Balance of Performance in motorsport, calling it a 'political mess' in other racing series. He argued F1's data-driven ADUO methodology is the correct framework and should not be replaced by subjective evaluation. Wolff's comments followed the FIA's ADUO assessment, which granted Mercedes one additional upgrade token and Ferrari, Audi and Honda two each, while Red Bull — identified as the benchmark engine — receives no additional upgrades.
Sainz proposes radical format in which drivers race each manufacturer's car to crown a champion
Williams driver Carlos Sainz has proposed a radical restructuring of Formula 1 to separate driver and constructor championships, imagining a format in which each driver runs two races with each manufacturer's car across a 20-event season. Sainz said he has 'always envisioned a Formula 1 where the manufacturers and drivers are separate,' describing a hypothetical structure he acknowledged 'will never happen, of course.' The proposal reflects Sainz's ongoing concerns about how manufacturer performance advantages shape championship outcomes, a debate intensified in 2026 as the new power unit regulations have produced a competitive hierarchy influenced largely by each constructor's engine performance.
Tsunoda completes two race distances in Red Bull TPC test at Barcelona
Yuki Tsunoda completed the equivalent of two race distances during a Red Bull Testing of Previous Cars session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this week, running as the team's 2026 reserve driver. Tsunoda lost his full-time race seat at the end of the 2025 season when Isack Hadjar was promoted to the senior Red Bull line-up. The Japanese driver continues to receive regular TPC running to maintain racecraft and remain available should the team require a late substitution during the season. Red Bull's session at Montmelo came during the calendar gap between the Barcelona Grand Prix and next week's Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
Leclerc, Zhou, Stevens and Fornaroli complete reserve driver test programmes at Barcelona and Monza
Ferrari deployed two reserve drivers at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for Formula 1 testing sessions this week. Arthur Leclerc completed 141 laps over 657 kilometres with a best lap of 1 minute 17.430 seconds, while former Sauber driver Guanyu Zhou ran 130 laps covering 605 kilometres. McLaren also conducted a Testing of Previous Cars session at the Monza circuit during the same week, running reserve drivers Will Stevens and Leonardo Fornaroli. The sessions form part of each team's permitted TPC allocation and provide reserve drivers with valuable mileage and feedback opportunities during the calendar break before the Austrian Grand Prix.
Drivers' Championship
1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli — 156 pts
2. Lewis Hamilton — 115 pts
3. George Russell — 106 pts
4. Charles Leclerc — 75 pts
5. Lando Norris — 73 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 68 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 55 pts
8. Pierre Gasly — 41 pts
9. Isack Hadjar — 34 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 28 pts
11. Oliver Bearman — 18 pts
12. Franco Colapinto — 16 pts
13. Arvid Lindblad — 13 pts
14. Carlos Sainz Jr — 6 pts
15. Alexander Albon — 5 pts
16. Esteban Ocon — 3 pts
17. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
18. Fernando Alonso — 1 pts
19. Nico Hülkenberg — 0 pts
20. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
21. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 262 pts
2. Ferrari — 190 pts
3. McLaren — 141 pts
4. Red Bull — 89 pts
5. Alpine — 57 pts
6. Racing Bulls — 41 pts
7. Haas — 21 pts
8. Williams — 11 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Aston Martin — 1 pts
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
DRIVER NEWS
Nasr on Standby for Penske as Newgarden Continues Foot Injury Recovery
Team Penske has placed Porsche Penske Motorsports IMSA GTP champion Felipe Nasr on standby for the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America as Josef Newgarden continues to recover from the foot injury he sustained in a crash at the Indianapolis 500. Nasr, a former Formula 1 driver who has completed multiple IndyCar tests since 2019, was previously activated for the Detroit Grand Prix before a determined Newgarden drove from last to 10th. Nasr was in the Team Penske simulator two days before the Road America weekend. “Being called up as the first option again, it’s a really big honor for me,” Nasr told RACER.
IndyCar Caps Hybrid Power Output for Remainder of 2026 Season
IndyCar has directed its teams to reduce hybrid power output by 10 to 25 percent on a track-by-track basis for the remainder of the 2026 season. The reduction begins this weekend at Road America and follows ongoing reliability problems with spec energy storage systems and motor generator units that created supply concerns for the series. On ovals the hybrid is the only power adder available; on road and street courses it supplements the push-to-pass system, which together can generate upwards of 100 horsepower for brief periods. “I think we’re talking a few tenths, not seconds of difference in lap time,” Andretti Global team principal Ron Ruzewski told RACER.
Palou Eyes Record-Setting Fourth Victory at Road America
Alex Palou arrives at this weekend’s XPEL Grand Prix at Road America with a chance at history. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has won two of the past three Road America races and three of the past five on the 14-turn, 4.014-mile Wisconsin road course. A fourth victory would move him past Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi and Michael Andretti — who each won three times — making him the most successful driver in the track’s IndyCar history. It has been 40 years since Road America last saw a three-time winner, Michael Andretti in 1986. Palou also leads the championship by 49 points over Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood.
Kirkwood Seeks First Road Course Win as Title Bid Enters Critical Phase
Kyle Kirkwood enters Road America facing the most significant challenge of his IndyCar career. Five of his six career victories have come on street circuits, but seven of the final nine races on the 2026 calendar are on permanent road courses and ovals. The Andretti Global driver must secure a road course victory to credibly contest the title against Alex Palou, who leads by 49 points. A Kirkwood championship would be the first for Andretti Global since Ryan Hunter-Reay’s title in 2012. Kirkwood sits second with 293 points heading into Sunday’s 55-lap race at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
O’Ward Winless Despite Six Top-Five Finishes as Second Half Begins
Pato O’Ward has six top-five finishes in the first nine races of 2026 — tied with Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood for the most in the series — yet the Arrow McLaren driver has not stood on the podium once. The nine-time race winner is seeking his first victory of 2026 as the second half opens at Road America. O’Ward was the championship runner-up last year, his fifth top-five points finish in six IndyCar seasons. He enters Road America fifth with 239 points, seven behind teammate Christian Lundgaard, who leads the McLaren squad in the standings.
Lundgaard Emerges as Arrow McLaren’s Dark Horse Title Contender
Christian Lundgaard won the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 9 and has added two further podium finishes this season, along with one more top-five result. The Arrow McLaren driver sits fourth in the championship with 246 points heading into Road America, seven points clear of teammate Pato O’Ward. Lundgaard is targeting a milestone that has eluded the team: he could become the highest-scoring Arrow McLaren driver not named Pato O’Ward since O’Ward arrived in 2020. Lundgaard finished fifth in the standings during his first full season with the team in 2025.
Malukas Chases Breakthrough Win in Debut Season at Team Penske
David Malukas heads into Road America third in the championship with 274 points, but has yet to win his first IndyCar race. In his debut season driving the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet, Malukas has accumulated four runner-up finishes across 70 career starts — two of them in 2026 — but has not reached Victory Lane. The second half of the season provides nine more opportunities as Malukas continues to build experience at one of the sport’s most storied teams. A first career victory is the key prerequisite before he can mount a serious title challenge.
Rahal’s Three Podiums Highlight Strongest Season Since 2020
Graham Rahal is enjoying his best IndyCar campaign in recent memory. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver has recorded three third-place finishes in 2026 — the most podium appearances in a single season since 2020. He started and finished third at Barber Motorsports Park, advanced from seventh to third on the IMS road course, and charged from 12th to third in Detroit. Those results have him bidding for his first IndyCar victory since 2017, a gap of 152 races, and a return to the top 10 in championship points for the first time since 2022.
Drivers’ Championship
After Race 9 — WWT Raceway, June 8
1. Alex Palou — 342 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 293 pts
3. David Malukas — 274 pts
4. Christian Lundgaard — 246 pts
5. Pato O’Ward — 239 pts
6. Josef Newgarden — 238 pts
7. Scott McLaughlin — 222 pts
8. Felix Rosenqvist — 221 pts
9. Marcus Ericsson — 196 pts
10. Marcus Armstrong — 196 pts
11. Graham Rahal — 193 pts
12. Scott Dixon — 192 pts
13. Rinus VeeKay — 175 pts
14. Alexander Rossi — 152 pts
15. Kyffin Simpson — 147 pts
16. Santino Ferrucci — 146 pts
17. Will Power — 145 pts
18. Dennis Hauger (R) — 133 pts
19. Louis Foster — 131 pts
20. Romain Grosjean — 117 pts
21. Nolan Siegel — 116 pts
22. Christian Rasmussen — 112 pts
23. Caio Collet (R) — 99 pts
24. Sting Ray Robb — 89 pts
25. Mick Schumacher (R) — 89 pts
26. Conor Daly — 24 pts
27. Takuma Sato — 20 pts
28. Jack Harvey — 8 pts
29. Jacob Abel (R) — 6 pts
30. Helio Castroneves — 5 pts
31. Ed Carpenter — 5 pts
32. Ryan Hunter-Reay — 5 pts
33. Katherine Legge — 5 pts
Teams’ Championship
After Race 9 — WWT Raceway, June 8
1. Team Penske — 591 pts
2. Chip Ganassi Racing — 576 pts
3. Andretti Global — 509 pts
4. Arrow McLaren — 507 pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 417 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 351 pts
7. ECR — 264 pts
=8. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 264 pts
9. Dale Coyne Racing — 250 pts
10. A.J. Foyt Enterprises — 245 pts
11. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing — 32 pts
12. Abel Motorsports — 6 pts
13. HMD Motorsports — 5 pts
GT WORLD CHALLENGE
Haase Keeps Prologue Benchmark as Güven Tops Rain-Affected Day 2 at Spa
The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa Prologue concluded Thursday and Friday at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Ayhancan Güven set the fastest Day 2 time — a 2m16.953s in the #22 Schumacher CLRT Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO — but fell short of Christopher Haase’s overall benchmark from Tuesday morning. Haase’s 2m16.535s in the #84 Eastalent Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II stands as the quickest combined time from the two-day test, with Alessio Picariello second in a Boutsen VDS Porsche. The event’s 70-car GT3 field representing 10 manufacturers will contest a revised qualifying format in the main race.
Laudenbach: Porsche Sees 2030 WEC Rules as “Significant Step” but Rules Out Near-Term Return
Porsche Motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach has welcomed the planned 2030 WEC regulations — which would converge the LMH and LMDh platforms into a single technical framework — as “a significant step,” calling the move to eliminate the two-class structure “very positive in our view.” However, Laudenbach stopped short of committing Porsche to a return to the World Endurance Championship under the new rules. “Does that mean we’re coming back? No,” he said. Asked whether the regulations could bring Porsche back before 2030, he stated: “Don’t expect us to be there next year.” The 2030 rules will nonetheless play a role in any future evaluation.
Aston Martin Evaluating First Major Valkyrie Upgrade for 2027 WEC and IMSA Season
Aston Martin is evaluating whether to introduce evo joker upgrades to its Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar, with The Heart of Racing team principal Ian James confirming discussions are ongoing. The British manufacturer carried its existing Valkyrie package through 2026 to maximise performance before considering changes. If approved, the upgrades would arrive in what would be the V12-powered prototype’s third season in both the WEC and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. “We have ideas that will help us where we see the weakness of the car,” said James, adding that the goal is to stay level with rival manufacturers.
IMSA’s “Summer Stretch” Opens with Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen
IMSA has outlined its summer road-course run with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International headlining a quartet of upcoming events on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar. The event, set for June 25–28 at the New York road course, will count as the third round of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, with additional points awarded at three hours and at the finish. The championship enters a stretch of road-course events following the Detroit Street Course race, with GTP, GTD Pro, and GTD classes all on the card at Watkins Glen.
Two-Time GTD Champion Farnbacher Returns to Magnus for Watkins Glen
Two-time IMSA GTD champion Mario Farnbacher will rejoin Magnus Racing for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, his first race with the team since 2021. Farnbacher will share the No. 44 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo with team owner-driver John Potter and Spencer Pumpelly, with Watkins Glen representing the team’s first start since the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona. Farnbacher’s previous Magnus outing came in the Rolex 24 at Daytona that year, when the team ran an Acura NSX GT3 Evo with Archangel Motorsports. The Sahlen’s Six Hours carries Michelin Endurance Cup points, with scoring at three hours and at the finish.
Watkins Glen Lineup Tweaks: Manthey Calls Up Hartog and Christensen
A series of driver lineup changes for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen were announced as teams finalised their Watkins Glen rosters. Manthey Racing brought in Loek Hartog — making his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut — and Michael Christensen to join Klaus Bachler in the No. 911 GTD Pro Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, with two regular Manthey drivers competing at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Laurin Heinrich has been confirmed in the No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 for the GTP class. Alec Udell joins Af Corse USA’s No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in GTD.
British GT and FFSA France Join 55-Car Spa Weekend Alongside GT World Challenge
The British GT Championship and FFSA French GT4 Championship head to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this month to race alongside the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, creating a combined 55-car grid across both series. The Spa-Francorchamps weekend brings together British GT, FFSA France GT4, and GT World Challenge Europe teams on the same circuit. British GT’s presence at Spa gives UK-based teams and drivers an opportunity to race internationally as part of the 24 Hours of Spa weekend package, one of European GT racing’s premier landmark events of the 2026 season.
Car Collection Reshuffles Spa 24H Lineup as Krahn Makes Belgian Debut
Car Collection Motorsport has revised its driver lineup for the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, adding Reinhold Krahn to the No. 8 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo alongside Joel Sturm, Niccolo Shiro, and Nicolo Rosi. The 59-year-old Canadian replaces Kenzie Beecroft, who had appeared on the original entry list, and will make both his Spa 24 Hours and GT World Challenge Europe debut in the race on 27–28 June. Krahn brings experience from the 24H Middle East series and currently races a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the Michelin Le Mans Cup.
WEC Hypercar — Drivers
1. Kamui Kobayashi / Mike Conway / Nyck de Vries — 75 pts
2. René Rast / Robin Frijns — 71 pts
3. Sheldon van der Linde — 61 pts
4. Brendon Hartley / Ryo Hirakawa / Sébastien Buemi — 56 pts
5. Alessandro Pier Guidi / Antonio Giovinazzi / James Calado — 39 pts
6. António Félix da Costa / Charles Milesi / Ferdinand Habsburg — 28 pts
7. Louis Delétraz / Norman Nato / Will Stevens — 26 pts
8. Kevin Magnussen / Raffaele Marciello — 25 pts
9. Antonio Fuoco / Miguel Molina / Nicklas Nielsen — 23 pts
10. Harry Tincknell / Tom Gamble — 22 pts
1. Toyota — 132 pts
2. BMW — 96 pts
3. Ferrari — 62 pts
4. Alpine — 38 pts
5. Cadillac — 32 pts
6. Aston Martin — 26 pts
7. Peugeot — 15 pts
8. Genesis — 6 pts
IMSA GTP — Drivers
1. Jack Aitken — 1760 pts
2. Laurin Heinrich — 1616 pts
3. Felipe Nasr / Julien Andlauer — 1606 pts
4. Nick Yelloly / Renger van der Zande — 1552 pts
5. Kevin Estre / Laurens Vanthoor — 1501 pts
6. Earl Bamber — 1412 pts
7. Colin Braun / Tom Blomqvist — 1391 pts
8. Dries Vanthoor / Sheldon van der Linde — 1385 pts
9. Marco Wittmann / Philipp Eng — 1383 pts
10. Tijmen van der Helm — 1379 pts
1. #31 Cadillac Whelen — 1760 pts
2. #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport — 1606 pts
3. #93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing — 1552 pts
4. #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport — 1501 pts
5. #60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing — 1391 pts
6. #24 BMW M Team WRT — 1385 pts
7. #25 BMW M Team WRT — 1383 pts
8. #5 JDC-Miller MotorSports — 1379 pts
9. #40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing — 1335 pts
10. #10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing — 1235 pts
11. #23 Aston Martin THOR Team — 1203 pts
NHL
Jonathan Toews Retires After 16 NHL Seasons
Jonathan Toews officially retired from the NHL on Friday at a press conference in Winnipeg, closing a 16-season career defined by three Stanley Cups and a captaincy record with the Chicago Blackhawks. The 38-year-old centre spent 15 seasons as Chicago’s captain before missing two years managing Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and Long COVID. He returned in 2025 on a one-year deal with his hometown Jets, appearing in all 82 games and recording 29 points alongside a league-leading 62.1 percent faceoff win rate in his final season. Toews finishes with 383 goals, 529 assists, and 1,149 NHL regular season games.
Sharks Acquire Gasseau and Pick from Bruins in Pre-Draft Trade
The San Jose Sharks continued their active pre-draft period Thursday, acquiring the rights to forward Andre Gasseau and a fourth-round selection from the Boston Bruins in exchange for fourth- and fifth-round picks in the 2026 draft. Gasseau, 22, is a 6-foot-4 centre who posted 23 points in 23 games as a senior at Boston College. Originally a seventh-round pick of the Bruins in 2021, Gasseau declined to sign an entry-level contract in Boston. The deal follows Wednesday’s trade in which San Jose moved down in the first round to acquire defenceman Michael Kesselring from the Buffalo Sabres.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Goaltender Connor Ungar to Two-Way Deal
The Edmonton Oilers announced the signing of goaltender Connor Ungar to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level on Thursday. Ungar, 24, spent last season split between the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, where he went 9-2-2 with a .923 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average in 13 appearances, and three ECHL affiliates. The Calgary native originally signed with Edmonton out of Brock University in 2024. The Oilers continue to build their roster depth as the 2026 offseason gets underway, with the NHL Draft one week away in Buffalo.
2026 NHL Draft One Week Away as Teams Map Prospect Pipeline Needs
With the 2026 NHL Draft a week away at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, the NHL released the current order of selection Thursday while analysts mapped every team’s pressing prospect pipeline needs. Gavin McKenna remains the consensus first overall pick, expected to head to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Several franchises enter the draft with notable gaps: the Rangers need a projectable NHL centre, the Islanders have no right-shot defenceman projecting to the NHL, and the Red Wings need left-side defensive help. San Jose holds pick No. 2 while Vancouver and Chicago pick third and fourth. The first round is June 26.
NHL Buyout Window Opens: Teams Have Until June 30 to Act
The NHL’s buyout window opened following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final and runs through June 30 at 5 p.m. ET, giving teams the opportunity to shed unwanted contracts at a reduced cap cost. The Hockey News identified Jesperi Kotkaniemi as a potential buyout candidate for the Carolina Hurricanes if no trade partners emerge — he posted just nine points in 42 regular-season games this season and did not appear in the playoffs. The Anaheim Ducks are also weighing options, while goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has been discussed but is considered an unlikely buyout candidate for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
RECAP
Royals pound Cardinals 14-6 as Witt exits with knee injury
Bobby Witt Jr. hit the first of Kansas City’s three home runs before leaving with a sore right knee, and the Royals smacked a club-record five doubles in a six-run second inning Thursday night on the way to a 14-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Witt homered in the first inning and added an RBI single in the second, but he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth after a sliding stop at shortstop. Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez also went deep for the Royals, who set season highs for runs and hits with 17.
Benintendi grand slam lifts White Sox past Yankees 5-1
Andrew Benintendi broke a 1-1 tie with a grand slam off Camilo Doval to give the Chicago White Sox a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday. Colson Montgomery also homered and tagged out Anthony Volpe trying to stretch a double in the seventh, with left fielder Junior Perez delivering a strong one-hop throw. Yankees starter Ryan Weathers allowed one run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one. The White Sox won in the Bronx for the first time since June 8, 2023, snapping a long road skid against New York.
Soto homers twice as Mets edge Phillies 6-4
Juan Soto hit two solo homers and made a sliding catch in the left-field corner to rob Bryce Harper of a run-scoring hit as the New York Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4 on Thursday night. Pinch-hitter Eric Wagaman provided the tiebreaking single with two outs in the seventh inning, and Marcus Semien followed with a two-run triple off reliever Jose Alvarado. Soto took Phillies starter Aaron Nola deep in his first two at-bats to reach 16 homers this season, his 30th career multihomer game. Huascar Brazoban earned the win in relief of Sean Manaea, and Devin Williams notched his 11th save.
Bryan Woo throws seven scoreless as Mariners blank Orioles 3-0
Bryan Woo pitched seven shutout innings, Colt Emerson drove in two of Seattle’s three first-inning runs and the Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 on Thursday. Woo allowed just three hits and matched his season high with nine strikeouts, walking one. The Mariners scored all of their runs in the first with two outs against Shane Baz. Josh Naylor singled and reached second on an error, Dominic Canzone walked, and Cole Young doubled before Emerson singled both home. Andres Munoz recorded three outs for his 12th save. Baltimore was shut out for the first time this season and dropped the series.
Twins belt three homers, complete sweep of Rangers 9-3
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins completed a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday. Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter. Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to center, and Ryan Kreidler added a two-run homer in the eighth. Joe Ryan struck out seven over five scoreless innings. Minnesota outscored Texas 25-7 across the series and has hit 23 home runs over its past 13 games.
Blue Jays rally in ninth to sweep Red Sox 4-3
Brandon Valenzuela hit a go-ahead RBI double off Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 4-3 win Thursday. Valenzuela’s hit off the Green Monster came after catcher Connor Wong misplayed a foul pop-up that would have ended the inning. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Nathan Lukes homered for Toronto. Trailing 3-1, Boston tied it in the eighth on back-to-back homers by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Caleb Durbin. Mason Fluharty pitched a perfect ninth for his first save as the Red Sox fell to 12-25 at Fenway Park.
Bazzana’s seventh-inning homer lifts Guardians over Brewers 4-2
Travis Bazzana hit a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning, Parker Messick pitched six effective innings and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Thursday. David Fry and Kyle Manzardo also homered for the Guardians, who had lost the first two games of the series. Messick held the Brewers to two runs and four hits while striking out nine over a 96-pitch outing. Bazzana’s towering home run off Grant Anderson gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead, and the Guardians added a run on Drew Rom’s bases-loaded wild pitch. Cade Smith recorded four outs for his 24th save in 26 chances.
Athletics blank Angels 5-0 as Trout lands on injured list
Gage Jump gave up one hit over seven innings, and Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom hit back-to-back homers in a five-run first that sent the Athletics to a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night. The Angels placed star outfielder Mike Trout on the 10-day injured list before the game with a right hamstring strain. The first six Athletics batters got hits off Ryan Johnson, recalled from Double-A Rocket City. Langeliers drove a three-run shot 430 feet for his 19th homer, and Soderstrom followed with his 13th. Mason Barnett and Hogan Harris finished a four-hitter, the team’s fifth shutout this season.
Braves acquire catcher Joey Bart from Pirates for Hunter Stratton
Atlanta acquired catcher Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton on Thursday night, a homecoming for the 29-year-old who grew up less than an hour from Atlanta and played college ball at Georgia Tech. The Braves made room on the 40-man roster by designating catcher Sandy Leon for assignment. Bart hit .259 with two homers and six RBIs in 21 games for the Pirates this year before landing on the injured list in mid-May with a left foot infection. He went 4-for-16 over five minor league rehab games in the past week. The Braves had designated Stratton for assignment on June 17.
American League
1. New York Yankees — 45–28, —
2. Tampa Bay Rays — 41–30, 3.0
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 37–38, 9.0
4. Baltimore Orioles — 35–41, 11.5
5. Boston Red Sox — 29–43, 15.5
1. Chicago White Sox — 39–34, —
2. Cleveland Guardians — 40–35, 0.0
3. Minnesota Twins — 36–40, 4.5
4. Kansas City Royals — 31–45, 9.5
5. Detroit Tigers — 30–44, 9.5
1. Seattle Mariners — 39–37, —
2. Athletics — 37–38, 1.5
3. Texas Rangers — 35–39, 3.0
4. Houston Astros — 35–41, 4.0
5. Los Angeles Angels — 30–46, 9.0
National League
1. Atlanta Braves — 46–27, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 40–35, 7.0
3. Washington Nationals — 39–36, 8.0
4. Miami Marlins — 37–38, 10.0
5. New York Mets — 34–41, 13.0
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 45–27, —
2. St. Louis Cardinals — 40–33, 5.5
3. Chicago Cubs — 39–36, 7.5
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 38–37, 8.5
5. Cincinnati Reds — 35–38, 10.5
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 48–27, —
2. San Diego Padres — 38–35, 9.0
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 38–36, 9.5
4. San Francisco Giants — 31–43, 16.5
5. Colorado Rockies — 28–47, 20.0
AI
OpenAI Recruits Transformer Co-Inventor Noam Shazeer and Trump AI Policy Chief Dean Ball
OpenAI landed two high-profile recruits this week ahead of its anticipated public offering. Noam Shazeer, a co-inventor of the Transformer architecture that underlies virtually all modern large language models, joins from Google DeepMind, where he led research on Gemini. Dean Ball, who served as artificial intelligence policy director in the Trump White House, also joins as a senior policy adviser. The dual hires signal OpenAI’s intent to bolster both its technical research bench and its Washington relationships as it navigates a regulatory environment that has grown increasingly active throughout 2026.
Massachusetts Awards $2M to Six Robotics Companies to Build Publicly Accessible Digital Twins
Massachusetts’ Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded nearly $2 million across six local robotics companies through the Massachusetts Robotic Digital Twin Initiative on June 18. Grants ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 require recipients to create publicly accessible digital twins of their products, broadening ecosystem-wide access to simulation data. Grantees also secured over $1.3 million in additional matching funds from industry and academic partners. Supported activities include high-quality dataset curation, AI model training, and deployment planning. The initiative is part of Governor Healey’s Mass Wins Act, which earmarks $25 million for robotics research and commercialization, positioning Massachusetts as a national leader in advanced robotics manufacturing.
Arbor Framework From Microsoft Research Beats Claude Code and Codex by 2.5x Using Isolated Hypothesis Testing
Researchers at Renmin University of China and Microsoft Research published Arbor on June 18, an open-source framework that upgrades AI-driven optimization from iterative guessing to cumulative learning. Arbor treats each tuning lever as an isolated hypothesis, running retrieval strategies, prompt variants, and search methods in separate git worktrees so their effects can be cleanly attributed. In evaluations against Claude Code and OpenAI Codex, Arbor achieved 2.5 times greater performance on the same compute budget. The researchers argue that current AI coding agents repeatedly rediscover the same improvements session to session, wasting resources, and that Arbor’s memory across runs breaks that cycle.
Anthropic Launches Claude Code Artifacts, Turning AI Coding Sessions Into Live Shared Enterprise Dashboards
Anthropic has launched Claude Code Artifacts, a new capability for Team and Enterprise subscribers that converts coding sessions into live, shareable web pages. Announced June 18, the feature lets Claude Code generate a real-time interactive HTML page — a dashboard, app prototype, or workspace — accessible via private URL by any teammate. Pages update live as Claude works or as connected data sources change, enabling collaborative AI-assisted workflows without separate tooling. The update extends Anthropic’s original Artifacts system from June 2024, which has produced hundreds of millions of static outputs. The feature is currently in beta via Claude Code’s CLI and desktop app.
Nature Studies Find AI Tool Reliance Measurably Degrades Diagnostic Skills in Physicians and Engineers
Two studies published June 18 in Nature conclude that reliance on AI tools measurably degrades professional capability in high-skill workers. Physicians who routinely consulted AI diagnostic assistants showed reduced accuracy on clinical reasoning tasks completed without AI support, compared with a control group. Software engineers showed a similar pattern, performing worse on debugging tasks after periods of heavy AI assistance. The researchers caution that the findings do not argue against using AI but suggest that organizations need deliberate practice programs to preserve baseline human competency as AI assistance becomes standard in professional workflows.
Adobe Embeds Agentic AI Workflows Across Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator in Creative Cloud Overhaul
Adobe on June 18 embedded its agentic AI system across the full Creative Cloud suite, moving from standalone generation tools to production workflow orchestration. The upgraded Firefly AI studio, now in public beta, integrates into Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Frame.io, enabling multi-step creative tasks that span multiple applications without manual handoffs. Adobe describes the shift as moving from generating individual media assets to coordinating complete creative pipelines. The update arrives as Adobe faces intensifying competition from AI-native design tools that have captured significant market share in the two years since generative AI tools reached mainstream adoption.
YC Spring 2026 Demo Day: Defense AI and Counter-Drone Startups Lead Investor Picks
Y Combinator’s Spring 2026 Demo Day drew strong investor interest in eleven standout startups, with defense technology and AI infrastructure leading the cohort. Counter-drone company 9 Mothers claims its AI-powered robot can intercept drones traveling at 60 mph — already boasting $1.6 million in sales with a pending $35 million contract expansion. Multiple cohort companies surpassed $175 million valuations on Demo Day, reflecting growing institutional appetite for dual-use AI and autonomous systems. The batch also featured strong AI agent and space manufacturing entries. VCs interviewed by TechCrunch cited defense and agentic AI as the most competitively oversubscribed categories of the Spring season.
TELEHEALTH
Telehealth Use Climbs 10.1% in Q1 2026 as Mental Health Tops All Diagnoses Nationwide
The FAIR Health Quarterly Telehealth Regional Tracker—the first of its kind—found that telehealth utilization rose 10.1% nationally from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026, measured as a share of medical claim lines (from 5.01% to 5.51%). Mental health conditions ranked first in every age group nationally and in every U.S. Census region, representing 52.1% of patients with telehealth claims. Regional growth was strongest in the Midwest, at 12%, and the Northeast, at 11.8%, while rural areas outpaced urban areas. The report, released June 15 by the independent research organization FAIR Health, tracks telehealth expansion using a database of more than 49 billion private healthcare claims.
Varist Launches AI-Scale Malware Detection to Protect Medical Imaging and EHR Systems
Varist has launched its DICOM Detection Engine, a malware detection system built to protect healthcare communications networks, electronic health records, and picture archiving and communication systems used in medical imaging. The engine combines large-scale file scanning with real-time simulation of suspicious files to detect threats within milliseconds, including AI-powered malware designed to automate and customize attacks. As PACS and radiology workflows face growing cyberattacks, the system targets infection vectors specific to DICOM-format medical imaging files—a format traditional antivirus tools were not designed to scan. Varist announced the product on June 16, 2026.
Epic Systems Forces Healthcare Staffing Firm to Rebrand in Trademark Settlement
Epic Systems has reached a trademark settlement requiring healthcare staffing firm Epic Staffing Group to rebrand under a new name. Epic Systems filed suit in 2024 in U.S. District Court in Wisconsin, arguing that Epic Staffing’s use of “Epic Travel Staffing,” “Epic Specialty Staffing,” and “Epic Government” branding was likely to confuse healthcare customers and trade on Epic Systems’ established reputation. The settlement dismisses the case without prejudice; financial terms were not disclosed. Epic Staffing has not yet announced a replacement name or transition timeline. The case highlights Epic Systems’ active defense of a trademark that is among the most recognized in healthcare IT.
NuraLogix Receives FDA Clearance for Contactless Heart Rate and Respiration Monitoring SDK
NuraLogix has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Anura Mobile Core SDK, enabling smartphone cameras to measure heart rate and respiration rate in adults without physical sensors or wearables. The cleared technology works in adults aged 18 and older for health monitoring purposes and is not intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions. NuraLogix, a Canadian company with global operations, says the SDK can be embedded into healthcare applications to support remote monitoring workflows and reduce reliance on contact-based vital sign measurement devices. The clearance represents regulatory recognition for a new class of camera-based physiological measurement tools in U.S. clinical settings.
AGS Health Launches InnovationWorks to Deliver AI-Driven Revenue Cycle Outcomes
AGS Health has launched InnovationWorks, a dedicated center of excellence for building AI and automation solutions in healthcare revenue cycle management. The company says InnovationWorks draws on more than a decade of RCM, AI, data management, and clinical expertise to produce ROI-driven tools—rather than experimental pilots—focused on denial prevention, clinical documentation integrity, and billing accuracy at scale. Healthcare providers face intensifying financial pressure from insurer claim denials, which rose significantly in 2025, making revenue cycle automation a growing investment priority. AGS Health serves major provider organizations across the United States as a tech-enabled RCM partner.
Bridge Releases Patient Access and Revenue Suite to Automate Intake and Payments
Bridge, a provider of white-labeled patient engagement technology, has launched its Patient Access and Revenue Suite within the BridgeInteract platform, integrating intake, scheduling, and payment automation for healthcare clinics. The suite is designed to remove friction for patients and caregivers by combining digital intake forms, automated scheduling reminders, and contactless payment processing in a single system. Bridge says the launch addresses healthcare organizations’ need to consolidate patient-facing tools rather than managing multiple point solutions with separate vendor relationships. The product launch comes as patient access and revenue cycle technology continues to attract strong investment across the health IT sector.
MedeAnalytics Expands Analytics Portfolio with New Medicare Advantage and Employer Group Tools
MedeAnalytics has announced enhancements to its cross-domain enterprise analytics portfolio, adding new capabilities for Medicare Advantage and employer group health plan performance management. The updated Medicare Advantage modules give health plans improved visibility into risk adjustment accuracy, utilization trends, and quality performance, addressing growing pressure on MA plans as CMS continues to revise star rating calculations and tighten reimbursement. The employer group tools help health plans demonstrate financial outcomes for self-insured clients. MedeAnalytics, which serves health plans and integrated delivery networks, says the enhancements span all lines of business to deliver a unified analytics view across its customer base.
Carta Healthcare Extends Lighthouse Platform to 21 Additional Clinical Registries
Carta Healthcare has expanded its Lighthouse clinical data management platform to support 21 additional clinical registries across eight registry families, including the ACC/NCDR, Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database, AHA Get With The Guidelines, and ACS quality programs. Carta now supports more than 70 clinical registries in total. The platform automates extraction and submission of structured clinical data to registries, reducing the manual chart abstraction burden for hospitals and health systems that must report to multiple national programs. The expansion also adds coverage for oncology, perinatal care, core measures, and vascular quality initiatives.
HARDWARE
Commodore Unveils Linux-Powered Flip Phone Running Sailfish OS
The revived Commodore brand has unveiled the Callback 8020, a Linux-powered flip phone designed with hardware enthusiasts and privacy-focused users in mind. The device runs Sailfish OS, a Linux-based operating system compatible with Android apps, giving users a genuinely open-source-friendly smartphone platform. Key hardware specifications include a replaceable battery pack, a 48MP Sony camera sensor, and a Cirrus Logic digital-to-analog converter for high-quality audio output. The flip form factor is a deliberate design choice, physically separating the display from the keyboard. Sailfish OS support for Android apps ensures compatibility with the wider mobile software ecosystem despite the Callback 8020's non-Android foundation.
3Dresyn's Depolymerizable Resin Makes Photopolymer Recycling Possible
Photopolymer resins used in SLA and MSLA 3D printing permanently harden under UV light and cannot normally be recycled or reprocessed. A new approach from 3Dresyn addresses this with depolymerizable resin formulations and additives that allow the cured polymer to break back down with heat and be reformed for reuse. The system comes in two temperature variants: one depolymerizes at 80°C and another at 150°C. Both the compatible resins and the required additives are available directly from 3Dresyn. The process could substantially reduce photopolymer waste from desktop resin printers, addressing a recognized environmental concern with the format.
Builder Creates Two-Way Holographic Display With ESP8266 and Beam-Splitter Cube
Maker Julius Makes has built a compact two-way holographic display using a Wemos D1 development board with an ESP8266 microcontroller driving two OLED displays over I2C. The displays are mounted in a 3D-printed assembly aimed at a beam-splitter cube, which routes each display's image along a separate optical path through the cube. The result is a device that shows a different image depending on the angle from which a viewer approaches, creating a simple holographic effect with entirely off-the-shelf components. The project demonstrates how low-cost microcontrollers, inexpensive OLED modules, and a beam-splitter cube can combine to produce striking optical illusions.
Qualcomm Linux 2.0 Brings Upstream-First Open Development to Dragonwing IoT
Qualcomm has announced Qualcomm Linux 2.0 for its Dragonwing IoT platform lineup, committing to an upstream-first open development model and a unified, scalable Linux framework across all Dragonwing IoT hardware. The upstream-first approach means kernel patches will be submitted directly to the mainline Linux kernel rather than maintained in separate downstream forks, which historically fragment support and complicate long-term maintenance. The new framework replaces per-device kernel trees with a single consistent software stack across the Dragonwing portfolio. For embedded developers using Qualcomm IoT hardware, the shift should simplify software bring-up, reduce maintenance burden, and improve long-term platform support reliability.
Open Healthware Conference 2026 Approaches: San Francisco, July 9–10
The Open Source Hardware Association is hosting the 2026 Open Healthware Conference on July 9 and 10 in San Francisco, and Hackster.io flagged the event this week as it draws near. The conference explores ways to democratize health technology and make it more accessible through open hardware principles. It brings together medical professionals and open-source developers working on health-related hardware projects, with demonstrations and discussion covering assistive technologies and health-focused open hardware. For makers and engineers working at the intersection of open-source development and medical device design, the event represents a concentrated gathering on applying maker methodologies to healthcare technology.
Snap-Fit ESP32-C3 Super Mini Enclosure Joins the #3DThursday Collection
Adafruit's weekly 3DThursday feature this week showcases a snap-fit enclosure designed specifically for the ESP32-C3 Super Mini, one of the smallest members of the ESP32 microcontroller family. The case uses a tool-free snap-fit mechanism to secure the board without screws, making it easy to open for prototyping and snap shut for deployment. The ESP32-C3 Super Mini is widely used in maker projects for its small footprint, integrated wireless connectivity, and low cost. Providing an open 3D-printable case for the board extends its usability into projects requiring clean, protective housing, and the design can be printed on any standard FDM desktop printer.
Maker Solves the Panel-Mount OLED Display Problem With Custom PCBs
Maker Galopago has solved a recurring frustration in electronics builds: cleanly mounting inexpensive OLED display modules into a panel. Standard bare OLED PCBs vary slightly in size and leave exposed edges, making neat installation difficult without additional hardware. The solution uses an off-the-shelf 48 by 29mm power panel meter enclosure as the housing, paired with two custom PCBs — one holding a voltage regulator and supporting components, and the other providing screw terminals for easy wiring connections. The assembled unit slots into a panel cutout with a bezel covering any gaps. The complete project and design files are shared on Hackaday for others to reproduce.
LAYOFFS
Robinhood Lays Off 290 Workers in Drive for “Absolute Elite” Performance
Robinhood Markets cut approximately 290 employees — roughly 10% of its full-time workforce — on June 16, in a restructuring the company framed as raising its performance bar rather than a response to financial weakness. CEO Vlad Tenev told employees the company has never been stronger, pointing to record average daily trading volumes across equities, options, and prediction markets in June month-to-date. The reduction will generate approximately $20 million in cash restructuring charges and $8 million in share-based compensation costs in the second quarter of 2026. Tenev described the goal as cementing an absolute elite performance bar for the organization’s culture going forward.
2026 Tech Layoffs Average 1,115 Jobs Per Day as AI Justifications Fail to Boost Returns
Tech sector layoffs are averaging approximately 1,115 jobs cut per day in 2026, with 267 layoff events affecting 185,894 workers through mid-June, according to an analysis published June 16 by TechTimes. The article notes that artificial intelligence has become the dominant justification cited by companies announcing reductions, yet the data shows that layoff-driven firms have not outperformed peers on stock returns — raising questions about whether AI displacement is the real driver. Meta, Oracle, and Block are among the companies cited as major contributors to the year’s total. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged earlier this year that some companies are using AI to explain reductions they would have made regardless.
lastminute.com Cuts 25% of Workforce in AI Transition; Bungie Reduces Studio by Half
Travel technology firm lastminute.com announced plans to eliminate 25% of its global workforce — approximately 400 employees — in an artificial intelligence transition, according to TrueUp’s layoffs tracker, which logged the announcement on June 17, 2026. The Switzerland-headquartered company operates online travel booking platforms across Europe. Separately, video game developer Bungie, a studio owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment, announced layoffs affecting around 400 employees — representing approximately 50% of the company’s total workforce. Both announcements came on June 17, contributing to a mid-June period that has seen multiple technology and entertainment companies announce significant workforce reductions.
SHRM26 Annual Conference Opens in Orlando with Recruiting AI as Top HR Priority
The SHRM Annual Conference and Expo 2026 opened in Orlando on June 16, drawing more than 25,000 HR and talent acquisition professionals across 375 expert-led sessions and more than 650 exhibitors. The conference programming reflects the industry’s pivot toward artificial intelligence: according to SHRM’s State of AI in HR 2026 report, recruiting is now the number-one AI use case, deployed by 27% of organizations. The report also found that 57% of CHROs expect reducing bias in AI hiring tools to grow as a priority through the year. Conference tracks cover AI advancements, emerging regulations, and best practices shaping the field of HR.
Employ and VONQ Bring Responsible AI Candidate Screening to JazzHR Platform
Employ Inc. expanded its AI-powered candidate screening capabilities on June 17, bringing VONQ AI Screening into its JazzHR applicant tracking system, following an earlier rollout in the Lever platform. The integration automates early-stage screening and generates a structured assessment record for each applicant, detailing how they were evaluated against role criteria — a design the companies describe as addressing growing regulatory scrutiny of AI in hiring. The system has been tested across 50 languages, with voice-based screening available in 15. Employ and VONQ plan to showcase the integrated solution in a joint webinar on June 30. Lever went live with the integration in May.
Dice June 2026: AI Skills Required in 73% of Tech Job Postings, Up 192% Year-Over-Year
Artificial intelligence skills are now listed as a requirement in 73% of U.S. technology job postings as of May 2026 — up from 71% in April and a 192% increase from the same month in 2025 — according to Dice’s June 2026 Tech Job Report. Overall tech job postings rose 2% month-over-month and 23% year-over-year in May, the strongest annual comparison of 2026 so far. Staffing industry postings showed the largest sector gain, climbing more than 100% month-over-month, consistent with analyst forecasts pointing to 2026 as the first meaningful recovery year for tech staffing after several years of contraction.
Pay Transparency Laws Now Active in 16 States as Salary Disclosure Becomes Standard Practice
Pay transparency laws now cover 16 U.S. states plus Washington D.C., requiring salary range disclosure in job postings, according to guidance published by Jackson Lewis in 2026. The share of job postings including salary ranges climbed from 45% in 2023 to 68% in 2025, as employer compliance accelerated ahead of legal requirements. California tightened its pay transparency rules in 2026, requiring actual expected compensation ranges rather than broad placeholder figures. Massachusetts and New Jersey have moved to active enforcement, issuing penalties for non-compliant postings. Delaware’s pay transparency law, already passed, is set to take effect in 2027.
Microsoft’s Copilot-First Reorg Accelerates Exodus of Senior Executives Across Product and Engineering
Microsoft’s ongoing AI-driven restructuring has prompted an acceleration in senior executive departures spanning product, engineering, and AI divisions, according to reporting published in June 2026. Notable exits include Vishnu Nath, who spent nearly 16 years running the Office product group before leaving to lead product for Google Chat, and Eric Boyd, who spent nearly 17 years as Microsoft’s president of AI platform before joining Anthropic as head of infrastructure. Julia Liuson announced her departure effective June with no successor named. The pattern reflects Microsoft’s broader shift of replacing domain generalists with AI-credentialed specialists across gaming, Office, Windows, developer tools, and GitHub.
RESEARCH
Report: Only 3% of Eligible U.S. Adults Donate Blood Despite 62% Meeting Criteria
A new report from America’s Blood Centers and the Association for Blood Donor Professionals finds only 3% of Americans who are eligible to donate blood actually do so, despite 62% of the U.S. population meeting eligibility criteria. The research covers 2023 data — the most recent available — which counted approximately 6.54 million donors, a 0.1% decline from 2021. Researchers also tracked growth in donor diversity: Black or African American donors increased 37.6%, Hispanic or Latino donors rose 8.5%, and Asian donors grew 7.8% over the period. The report highlights a persistent gap between donation eligibility and actual participation across the nonprofit blood services sector.
Study: Naming Rights Top Donor Recognition Rankings as Healthcare Campaigns Scale Up
A study by Twin Point Insights and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, drawing on 58 hospital and health system campaigns across the U.S. and Canada, finds naming rights for physical spaces are the most impactful form of donor recognition, cited by 91% of respondents. The report, “Donor Relations and the Post-Campaign Period,” examines how recognition practices must evolve as fundraising campaigns diversify to include programmatic, endowment, and community health priorities. Authors say healthcare facilities must provide acknowledgment that reflects the scale of each donor’s investment. The findings carry implications for major-gift fundraising across the broader nonprofit sector.
FoodCorps Cut Its Budget by 45% After Federal Funding Collapsed. A Foundation’s $1M Bet Changed Its Trajectory.
FoodCorps, a national nonprofit advancing child nutrition through school food programs, lost its primary federal funder — AmeriCorps — after 14 years, as the Department of Government Efficiency terminated those grants. Facing a 45% budget reduction, FoodCorps narrowed its flagship program from 56 communities to 15, launched a Kindred Fellowship for school food practitioners, and partnered with Teachers College at Columbia University on a nutrition microcredential. The Healy Foundation, which had previously given $20,000 to $50,000 gifts, stepped in with a $1 million grant over four years. Writing in the Chronicle, both leaders describe the partnership as a model for trust-based philanthropy under pressure.
A $100M Fund for Black-Led Nonprofits Fell Short of Its Goal — But the Movement It Sparked Continues
A fund that set an ambitious $100 million goal to support Black-led nonprofit organizations fell short of its target despite early efforts to replicate a successful regional model, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported June 16. Modeled on the California Black Freedom Fund, which attracted buy-in from more than a dozen donors and foundations, the initiative could not sustain similar momentum after seed funder Open Society Institute Baltimore shut down. The Chronicle finds the shortfall has not extinguished the broader movement: advocates continue to press philanthropic institutions for larger, sustained investments in Black-led organizations, and new grantmaking vehicles for that purpose remain in development.
Supreme Court Rules 9–0 That Demands for Donor Records Chill Free Speech Rights
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a New Jersey attorney general’s subpoena demanding donor records from a crisis pregnancy center organization unconstitutionally chilled the right to free speech and association. Writing for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch stated that “demands for private donor information inevitably carry with them a deterrent effect on the exercise of First Amendment rights,” drawing a comparison to the historic 1958 NAACP ruling. The case, brought by First Choice Women’s Resource Centers of New Jersey, was remanded to federal district court. The ruling has broad implications for nonprofits that face state regulatory investigations involving donor disclosure.
Playbook: Treat Younger Donors as Ambassadors First — and Watch Giving Follow
Gen Z and Millennial donors are skeptical of traditional fundraising appeals, more likely to find causes through social media than direct mail, and less motivated by tax incentives than by personal connection, according to a Chronicle of Philanthropy playbook published June 15. The guide advises nonprofits to treat young supporters as ambassadors first and financial contributors second. Evan Ehlers, CEO of food-rescue nonprofit Sharing Excess, reports that after adding Apple Pay as a giving option, the organization’s online donations surged by more than 200%. The playbook urges fundraisers to prioritize long-term relationship-building over immediate gifts from younger donors.
Grant Consultant: Call Program Officers Before Submitting — Replace Fear With Curiosity
Nonprofit grant consultant Jan Rodusky argues that organizations approach funder conversations with too much fear — waiting until after a rejection to call a program officer, when a pre-submission inquiry could save significant time and resources. Writing in The NonProfit Times, Rodusky says calls before a grant submission should be driven by self-directed curiosity rather than a need to win approval. She recommends that nonprofits demonstrate research into the funder’s website, Form 990, and other data; ask open-ended questions about organizational fit and priorities; and treat the call as a relationship-building opportunity rather than a pitch. Rodusky is principal of Venn There Grants Consulting in Florida.
BOX OFFICE
Disclosure Day Opens to $44M Domestic, $93M Global
Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor’s political thriller Disclosure Day launched to a $44 million domestic opening weekend , with a $93 million global total across 3,824 theaters . The performance came against a $115 million production budget plus $80 million marketing outlay. Thursday night previews totaled $9.2 million , signaling strong audience demand heading into the weekend. Trade coverage centered on the film’s adult-skewing subject matter and the industry’s bet that politically charged thrillers can draw moviegoers away from streaming. The opening ranks among this year’s stronger performances for a non-franchise, non-IP title.
Mike Myers Confirms Austin Powers 4 Is Happening
Mike Myers confirmed a fourth Austin Powers film is in the works, making the announcement at a Trevor Noah World Cup Watch Party in New York. The franchise’s last installment, Austin Powers in Goldmember , was released in 2002—a potential 24-year gap between entries. Myers offered no production timeline, studio attachment, or additional cast. Both Deadline and Variety confirmed the announcement independently. The news arrives the same week Verizon launched a major Dr. Evil marketing campaign and days after Scary Movie ’s strong second-weekend hold demonstrated that nostalgia-driven IP retains substantial summer box office power.
Emmy Nomination Voting Closes Sunday, Nominations Announced July 8
Emmy nomination voting reaches its final stretch this weekend, with ballots due June 22 and nominations set to be announced July 8 . The Television Academy has fielded over 450 FYC screening invitations this cycle, reflecting the crowded prestige drama landscape. Leading the contention race: Pluribus with 24 potential nominations, The Pitt at 21, and Beef at 19. FYC campaign spending is visible across every platform this cycle, as streaming services and networks compete for voter attention in a fragmented marketplace. Nominations could reshape upfront conversations still underway between buyers and sellers across broadcast, cable, and streaming.
Toy Story 5 Tracks to $150M Domestic, $275M Global Opening
Disney’s Toy Story 5 opens next weekend with tracking suggesting a $150 million domestic opening and $275 million globally . The Pixar sequel is set for 4,425 theaters beginning June 26, with Thursday night previews projected at $14 million or more—which alone would rank among the franchise’s best single-night numbers. Industry analysts project it to set a new Toy Story opening-weekend record. The film arrives amid a broader ongoing conversation about Pixar’s theatrical recovery after a difficult streaming-first era, making next weekend a meaningful test of the studio’s long-term big-screen strategy.
Verizon Launches Bilingual Austin Powers / Betty la fea Campaign
Verizon launched a bilingual marketing campaign pairing a Dr. Evil “Menace Mobile” parody with Betty la fea characters to promote its Simplicity plan. The English-language ad features Rob Lowe, Seth Green, and Mindy Sterling reprising Austin Powers roles; the Spanish-language version draws on Ugly Betty’s original telenovela cast. The campaign runs across Fox, Telemundo, Disney, Paramount, Netflix, YouTube, Roku , and select theaters—a deliberately multi-platform strategy targeting both English and Spanish-speaking households simultaneously. The dual-IP approach is notable for its licensing complexity and its timing alongside the Austin Powers 4 confirmation this week.
Scary Movie’s International Campaign Tops 1 Billion Social Views
The Scary Movie reboot’s international marketing strategy drove over one billion social media views ahead of its June 13 global release, with the interactive “Subservient Ghostface” campaign alone generating 200 million views and 53 million interactions . A theater-exclusive first trailer compounded the momentum, growing from 300 million to 410 million views organically. The film opened to a $50.5 million international record for the franchise, with localized campaigns in Brazil, Mexico, and the UK driving regional overperformance. The campaign is being studied as a model for fan-participation marketing and the continued value of theatrical exclusivity as a promotional tool.
Curated daily by Samwise · samwise.agency