SAMWISE
Good morning Janine. Here is your personal morning briefing · samwise.agency
Thursday, June 25, 2026
CHAMPIONSHIP
Mercedes Admits Title Threat Real, Brings Austrian GP Upgrades After Barcelona Reality Check
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged that Lewis Hamilton’s Barcelona win was a “reality check” for his team, and the Silver Arrows are responding with a new performance and reliability upgrade package at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton’s June 14 victory was the first time Mercedes had been beaten in seven 2026 races, ending six straight wins from Melbourne. Wolff admitted Ferrari and Hamilton are genuine title contenders. The Austrian upgrades will target both aerodynamic performance and the power unit battery reliability issues that forced Kimi Antonelli and George Russell to retire in Montreal and Barcelona, costing Mercedes an estimated 43 championship points across two failures.
FIA Expected to Rule on Controversial Mercedes Diffuser Design at Austrian Grand Prix
The FIA is reportedly closing in on a ruling over the legality of Mercedes’ controversial diffuser, with Italian outlet AutoRacer.it reporting a decision could come as early as the Austrian Grand Prix. Mercedes introduced the unusual design at the Canadian GP, featuring serrated edges along the upper diffuser section and an additional flow deflector on the waterfall section. Rivals claim the concept resembles ideas rejected during pre-season scrutineering. Ferrari raised the matter formally in Monaco, with Hamilton personally inspecting Antonelli’s W17 rear. A technical directive before Saturday qualifying would force Mercedes to revert the design, altering the championship picture currently led by Antonelli with 156 points.
Verstappen Cannot Hit July 1 Exit Clause Target as Red Bull Shareholders Split Over Contract Buyout
Max Verstappen is now mathematically unable to meet the top-two championship position reportedly required to trigger a performance exit clause in his Red Bull contract by July 1. Verstappen sits seventh with 55 points, 101 behind leader Kimi Antonelli, after a winless start to 2026 in which Red Bull have fallen to fourth in the constructors’ standings. However, German outlet Bild reports the clause can be invoked through to October. Red Bull shareholders are reportedly split on buying out the clause, with Thai stakeholder Chalerm Yoovidhya favouring a buyout while Mark Mateschitz and Oliver Mintzlaff are said to oppose the move.
McLaren to Trial Inverted Rear Wing in Austrian GP Friday Practice
McLaren will trial an experimental inverted rear wing during Friday practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, one of the more unconventional technical developments seen from the Woking team in recent seasons. The design reverses the standard orientation of the wing’s main plane and flap assembly to explore a different aerodynamic load profile on the Red Bull Ring’s high-speed layout. McLaren confirmed the wing will run in both FP1 and FP2 for evaluation but is unlikely to race until later in the season. The team has also modified front suspension geometry and reworked aerodynamic devices at the car’s rear corners as part of the broader upgrade package.
Red Bull Brings Weight-Reduction Package to Home Race but Boss Warns Wins Still Out of Reach
Red Bull arrives at its home race with a significant upgrade package that Max Verstappen described as “exciting,” though team boss Laurent Mekies has publicly warned the updates will not be sufficient to challenge for victories. The package centres on a weight reduction and revised floor geometry, aimed at addressing the traction and balance issues that have blighted the RB22. Verstappen has scored just 55 points across seven races this year without a win after dominating the previous three seasons. The Austrian GP carries additional significance as the team’s home event, with speculation over Verstappen’s future intensifying ahead of a reported contract decision deadline.
Ferrari Debuts First ADUO Engine Upgrade in Austria but Downplays Competitive Impact
Ferrari will debut its first ADUO-influenced power unit upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix, though the team has swiftly managed expectations over its immediate competitive impact. The update is estimated to deliver fewer than ten additional horsepower, with Ferrari framing it as a foundational step ahead of a larger package planned after the summer break, including a revised turbocharger. Alongside the engine change, Ferrari has made aerodynamic revisions: the floor edge, fences, and bodywork have been updated, with the diffuser reworked to operate with the new floor. The effect will be scrutinised on the Red Bull Ring’s long straights, where Ferrari acknowledges a continuing power deficit.
Briatore Sets Summer Deadline for Alonso to Decide on Alpine Return as F1 Future Hangs in Balance
Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s de facto team chief, has set a pre-summer break deadline for Fernando Alonso to decide whether he wishes to return to the French team from Aston Martin. Briatore is prepared to offer the two-time world champion a race seat for 2027 but requires a commitment before teams finalise their driver lineups. Alonso, who holds one championship point from seven races as Aston Martin struggles competitively, is reportedly “leaning towards” a major decision on his F1 future and may be weighing retirement. Briatore’s public deadline increases pressure on the 44-year-old and could trigger a driver market reshuffle heading into the summer break.
Three Teams Name Rookie Drivers for Austrian GP FP1: Beganovic, Browning, and Aron Step In
Three teams have confirmed young driver substitutions for Friday’s first practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix. Ferrari will replace Charles Leclerc with Swedish prospect Dino Beganovic, continuing the team’s reserve program. Williams has confirmed Luke Browning will take Carlos Sainz’s car, his second FP1 appearance of the season. Audi has selected Alpine reserve Paul Aron to replace Gabriel Bortoleto, an unusual cross-team arrangement given Aron’s lack of a 2026 race seat. All three changes comply with 2026 regulations obliging teams to field a driver with fewer than three grand prix starts in at least two practice sessions per season.
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 Jnr — 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
Le Maple Leaf [III, Monaco, avril 1911, bateaux de course] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]</div> — Agence Rol, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
DRAFT
Maple Leafs Expected to Select McKenna No. 1 as Draft Opens Friday in Buffalo
The 2026 NHL Draft opens Thursday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, with Round 1 at 7 p.m. ET. Toronto holds the No. 1 pick and is expected to select Brendan McKenna, 18, a Penn State left wing from Whitehorse, Yukon, and a member of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation. McKenna posted 51 points (15G, 36A) in 35 NCAA games and ranked No. 1 among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting. San Jose holds No. 2 and their GM says they’re “not afraid” to trade it. The top four picks belong to Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver, and Buffalo (from Chicago). Buffalo is hosting the Draft for the fourth time.
Blues Trade Jordan Kyrou to Washington; Blues Net Four First-Round Picks
The Washington Capitals made a significant move Wednesday, acquiring right wing Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues. Washington sent centre Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and the No. 16 pick in this week’s Draft to St. Louis. Kyrou, 28, is a three-time 30-goal scorer under contract for the next five seasons. The Blues now hold four first-round picks at Nos. 11, 15, 16, and 29. Kyrou said he has “a lot to prove” following the move. The deal further cements Washington’s status as an aggressive off-season buyer ahead of the draft.
Buffalo Trades Byram to Chicago for the No. 4 Pick; Blackhawks Add Mobile Blueliner
The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday in a significant pre-draft deal. Chicago sent Buffalo the No. 4 overall pick, defenseman Louis Crevier, and the No. 45 pick. The Sabres also included forward Jordan Greenway in the move. Byram, 25, posted career highs of 42 points and 11 goals in 82 games, carrying a $6.25M cap hit through 2026–27. He said he is “just scratching the surface” and views Chicago as a “huge opportunity.” The Blackhawks, rebuilding around Connor Bedard, add a mobile offensive defenseman to their core.
Alex Tuch Signs 8-Year, $84M Deal with Washington in Sabres Sign-and-Trade
Buffalo added more cap flexibility Wednesday, shipping winger Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade. Tuch agreed to an eight-year, $84M contract ($10.5M AAV) with Washington. The Sabres received centre David Kampf (a UFA as of July 1) and a 2027 third-round pick in return. It marked the second major trade in as many days to send players to Washington, following Jordan Kyrou’s arrival from St. Louis. Buffalo appears to be using draft eve to clear salary and stockpile assets while the franchise reshapes its roster heading into 2026–27.
Zach Benson Signs 7-Year, $52.5M Extension to Stay in Buffalo
The Buffalo Sabres locked up one of their brightest young forwards Wednesday, signing Zach Benson to a seven-year, $52.5M contract extension ($7.5M AAV). Benson, 21, was approaching restricted free agency on July 1 following a breakout 2025–26 campaign: 43 points (13G, 30A) in 65 regular-season games and 9 playoff points (5G, 4A) in 13 games. In 211 career games since being selected 13th overall in 2023, he has accumulated 101 career points (34G, 67A). GM Jarmo Kekalainen said Benson and Josh Doan will help fill voids left by the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram this week.
Dynasty or One-Time Wonder? Experts Divided on Hurricanes’ Chances at Back-to-Back Titles
Can the Carolina Hurricanes repeat? That’s the question the hockey world is debating after Carolina’s second Stanley Cup in franchise history. Historian Stan Fischler argues it’s a long shot, citing the absence of a McDavid- or MacKinnon-level superstar. The Canes’ core — Slavin, Aho, Svechnikov, Jarvis, Ehlers, and K’Andre Miller — is deep but lacks a transcendent name. Undrafted goalie Brandon Bussi went 3–1 with a 1.60 GAA and .931 SV% in the Final. Jordan Staal, 37, earned Conn Smythe honors with 12 points in 19 playoff games. Bobby Holik called a dynasty “a very long shot.” Ottawa coach Travis Green countered: “The Canes are for real — for sure.”
Wild Owner Publicly Commits to Re-Signing Quinn Hughes as Priority No. 1
Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold confirmed Wednesday the team plans to re-sign defenseman Quinn Hughes. Hughes, 26, is in the final year of a six-year, $47.1M deal originally signed with Vancouver in October 2021. Acquired by Minnesota on December 12 in a trade involving Rossi, Ohgren, Buium, and a first-round pick, Hughes put up 76 points (7G, 69A) in 74 games — including 53 points in 48 games post-trade and 15 in 11 playoff games before the Wild fell to Colorado in the Western Conference Second Round. GM Bill Guerin called re-signing Hughes “priority No. 1.” Hughes said in May: “I really like it here.”
RECAP
Betts Hits 300th Career Homer, Ohtani Pitches Dodgers Past Twins for Sweep
Mookie Betts hit his 300th career home run and Shohei Ohtani pitched six strong innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 4-3 victory Wednesday night. Betts connected in the second inning for a solo shot off Joe Ryan, marking the milestone. Ohtani (8-2) surrendered three runs in the second but retired his final seven batters, finishing with eight strikeouts. He then sparked a three-run third with an RBI single. Max Muncy and Alex Call drove in the tying and go-ahead runs, and Tanner Scott recorded his 11th save. The MLB-leading Dodgers improved to 52-29.
Swanson Sets Cubs Franchise RBI Record with 11 in Doubleheader Sweep of Mets
Dansby Swanson set a Cubs franchise record with 11 RBI in a single doubleheader as Chicago swept the New York Mets 10-3 and 10-5 on Wednesday. In Game 1, Swanson hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth and a grand slam in the eighth. In Game 2, he added a go-ahead RBI triple and finished with four more RBI. The previous franchise record of 10 was set by Hall of Famer Ron Santo in 1970. New York fell to a season-high 12 games under .500 and lost its fifth consecutive game. Francisco Lindor made his return from a left calf strain in Game 2, going 0-for-4.
Mets Trade David Peterson to Cubs for Prospect Cole Mathis
The New York Mets traded left-hander David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night for 22-year-old first base prospect Cole Mathis. Peterson, 30, posted a 6.09 ERA in 60 innings this season split between the bullpen and rotation. He spent his entire seven-year MLB career with New York, going 40-36 with a 4.31 ERA lifetime. In Mathis, New York receives a High-A player batting .272 with a .981 OPS, 10 home runs and 39 RBI in 39 games. Cubs president Jed Hoyer had said Tuesday the front office was exploring the trade market for depth arms. The deal was announced during Chicago's four-game series at Citi Field.
Goldschmidt Homers Twice, Yankees Beat Tigers 4-2
Paul Goldschmidt hit two home runs and Jasson Dominguez delivered a go-ahead two-run shot in the sixth inning off Tarik Skubal as the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 on Wednesday. Skubal (3-4) tied a career high by surrendering three home runs, equaling a mark he had not reached since 2021. The reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed just four hits total, walked nobody and struck out nine over six innings. Ryan Weathers (3-5) went six frames for the Yankees, scattering six hits with two runs allowed. David Bednar closed it out for his 16th save. New York has now won two of three in the series.
Guardians Survive Rain Delay and 9th-Inning Collapse to Tie White Sox Atop AL Central
Khalil Watson singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning Wednesday, and the Cleveland Guardians survived a stunning ninth-inning collapse to beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 and tie them atop the AL Central. After a 2-hour, 40-minute rain delay, Tanner Bibee threw six shutout innings extending his scoreless-inning streak against Chicago to 15. With Cleveland leading 3-1, Braden Montgomery and Randal Grichuk each homered off closer Cade Smith to tie the game. In the 10th, Watson singled to left off Grant Taylor to score automatic runner Petey Halpin from third. Watson finished with three RBI. Shawn Armstrong (2-1) earned the win.
Back-to-Back 9th-Inning Homers from Devers and Bericoto Give Giants Walk-Off Win Over A's
Rafael Devers led off the ninth with a tying home run and Victor Bericoto followed with a walk-off shot one out later as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Oakland Athletics 2-1 Wednesday. Both connected off Elvis Alvarado (3-3), who blew the save. Max Muncy of the Athletics had broken a scoreless tie with a home run in the eighth inning. Giants starter Tyler Mahle carried a no-hitter into the fifth before Jacob Wilson singled. Erik Miller (1-0) earned the win with a scoreless ninth. Bericoto also threw out a runner at home plate during the game, providing both the offensive and defensive highlight of the evening.
Derek Hill's Pinch-Hit Homer in 9th Lifts Phillies Past Nationals 5-4
Derek Hill hit a pinch-hit two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies over the Washington Nationals 5-4 on Wednesday. Kyle Schwarber, out with lower back tightness, pinch hit and walked off Orlando Ribalta before Hill connected on a 1-2 pitch to right center. Brandon Marsh collected three hits and went 7-for-13 in the series with two homers and four runs. Curtis Mead hit a pinch two-run homer for Washington in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. Seth Johnson (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and Jhoan Duran struck out the side for his 19th save.
Back-to-Back Homers Lead Brewers Past Reds 6-5, Complete Sweep at 20 Games Over .500
William Contreras and Jake Bauers hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep and improving to a season-high 20 games over .500 at 49-29. Contreras drove a two-run shot off Rhett Lowder, then Bauers connected for his team-leading 14th homer. Chad Patrick (5-3) earned the win. Shane Drohan pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings on 98 pitches. Milwaukee extended its lead to 6-1 in the seventh on Andrew Vaughn's bases-loaded double. Joel Kuhnel recorded his third save, inducing a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. Cincinnati was swept at home for the first time since August 2024.
Padres Sweep Division-Leading Braves; JP Sears Wins Season Debut
JP Sears won his season debut and Ty France homered as the Padres beat the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves 5-2 Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep. Sears (1-0), recalled from Triple-A after Lucas Giolito went on the injured list, held Atlanta to two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. France hit his ninth homer in the third, added a sacrifice fly in the fourth and doubled in the sixth, scoring on Samad Taylor's two-run single. Joey Bart hit a two-run homer for Atlanta. San Diego now hosts the Dodgers this weekend, having won five of its last seven games.
Rockies Rally with Five Late Runs to Beat Red Sox 8-6
Tyler Freeman's sacrifice bunt drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as Colorado rallied with five late runs to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-6 Wednesday at Coors Field. The Rockies trailed 6-3 entering the seventh, tied it with three runs, then took the lead in the eighth when Mickey Moniak and Willi Castro singled off Justin Slaten (0-4), and Freeman bunted Moniak home. Cole Carrigg added an RBI double and finished with three RBI. Antonio Senzatela (8-0) struck out two in two perfect innings, and Jimmy Herget recorded his second save. Kyle Freeland allowed six runs on 11 hits in five innings for Colorado.
American League
1. Yankees — 48-30, —
2. Rays — 44-33, 3.5
3. Orioles — 38-40, 10.0
4. Blue Jays — 39-41, 10.0
5. Red Sox — 34-43, 13.5
1. White Sox — 41-38, —
1. Guardians — 41-38, —
3. Twins — 38-41, 3.0
4. Tigers — 31-47, 9.5
5. Royals — 30-47, 10.0
1. Mariners — 41-39, —
2. Athletics — 36-43, 4.5
3. Rangers — 35-38, 4.5
4. Astros — 34-41, 5.5
5. Angels — 36-42, 5.0
National League
1. Braves — 48-31, —
2. Phillies — 44-36, 4.5
3. Nationals — 38-38, 9.0
4. Marlins — 43-39, 5.5
5. Mets — 31-43, 14.5
1. Brewers — 49-29, —
2. Cardinals — 42-35, 6.5
3. Cubs — 43-37, 6.0
4. Pirates — 36-41, 13.0
5. Reds — 37-42, 12.5
1. Dodgers — 52-29, —
2. Padres — 39-34, 12.0
3. D-backs — 37-39, 13.5
4. Giants — 35-43, 16.5
5. Rockies — 27-47, 24.0
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HARDWARE
A Look At A Gaggle Of Transputer Boards
Before supercomputer clusters and multi-core CPUs dominated, the transputer explored distributed task-level parallelism in the 1980s. [Lance Harvie] dusted off his university-era collection and recently expanded it with an eBay find, walking through boards including the single-processor T400 and a T425 quad-processor card bearing late-1990s ST Microelectronics date codes. Designed by UK firm Inmos and programmed in the concurrent Occam language, transputers communicated via high-speed serial links to form parallel computing clusters. Getting them running today requires adapters bridging the ISA bus to modern USB interfaces, but the effort reveals a fascinating and largely forgotten chapter of European semiconductor history.
Laser Scanning a Cave With Homebrew Gear
Mapping a cave with homebrew lidar is already a niche pursuit; [9nl] pushed it further by building the entire scanning rig from the ground up. The core sensor is a surplus Ouster VLP-16 lidar unit, but its 40-degree vertical field of view proved too narrow for capturing real cavern geometry. The fix: mount the unit sideways on a custom rotating belt-drive shaft, sweeping a full 360-degree plane on a second axis and stitching together complete spherical point clouds. Everything — mounting hardware, rotation control, data capture pipeline — was hand-built, yielding dense 3D scans of underground spaces no commercial scanner could practically reach.
VFD Clock Runs on a Single AA
Running a vacuum fluorescent display from a single AA cell is a deceptively tricky power challenge. VFDs need tens of volts to illuminate their phosphor segments, making them an odd match for a 1.2 V NiMH cell — but that is exactly what [Sciter_] built. The design pairs an ATmega328P microcontroller with a 32.768 kHz timing crystal, a salvaged calculator VFD, and an HV5812 shift-register driver chip. A custom transformer-based boost converter steps the cell up to high voltage, while an LM2576-ADJ buck converter handles USB charging separately. Addressable RGB LEDs under the PCB add color underglow, turning a genuine power engineering puzzle into an elegant, compact clock.
Raspberry Pi Locator Website to Shut Down in July
Andre's rpilocator.com — once the definitive stock tracker for finding Raspberry Pi boards at retailers worldwide — is shutting down in July. The site served around 11,000 monthly users during and after the chip shortage, helping makers track down boards that vanished from shelves for years. The problem: most online retailers have now blocked the monitoring bot that powers the service, likely caught in the same anti-scraper defenses deployed against AI crawlers. With data feeds drying up, reliable stock tracking has become impossible. Andre has not ruled out a future return if technical conditions change, but for now, Pi hunters are without their most trusted radar.
A T9 Keyboard for Your Smartphone
[Jarrett] missed the speed and feel of T9 texting enough to build a dedicated Bluetooth keyboard for his modern smartphone. The build salvages a Nokia E52 keypad, fitting the keys over a custom PCB using Alps SKRK tactile switches wired through a diode matrix to prevent ghosting. An ESP32-C6 handles Bluetooth HID pairing; a TP4200 charger IC and LiPo battery keep the device self-contained. First tests with 0.98 N actuation switches felt mushy; swapping to 1.57 N units nailed the right tactile response. The completed device pairs wirelessly with any modern phone and revives a text-entry style many found faster than touchscreen keyboards.
A BIOS for Your ESP32-C6
[Rompass] built what amounts to a BIOS for the RISC-V ESP32-C6 microcontroller. The project, openc6-bios (github.com/Rompass/openc6-bios), sits between the hardware and user applications, providing a bootloader, a system call API, and the ability to load executables dynamically from RAM — eliminating the need to reflash the chip for every code update. Network loading is supported too, meaning new programs can be pushed wirelessly without a cable. The work pushes the ESP32-C6 beyond its usual role as a fixed firmware target toward something closer to a general-purpose computing environment, with runtime extensibility that opens the door to dynamic application stacks on small embedded hardware.
OSHWA's Open Hardware Summit 2026: Hottest Hardware Event of the Year?
The annual Open Hardware Summit touched down at Technische Universitat Berlin last weekend for a packed day of talks followed by a full Sunday of workshops. Highlights included a proposal for standardized Maker Resilience Kits (MaRK) for community emergency preparedness, a flow battery research project aiming to let makers fabricate their own stationary energy storage, and a frank talk from Mitch Altman on open hardware's future now that Qualcomm owns Arduino. A CircuitPython butterfly-PCB workshop let attendees take their code home. Seeed Studio demoed the reBot arm and the expanding XIAO microcontroller line. All talks are on the OHS YouTube channel.
IMPACT
Ballroom Culture as Democratic Model: Philanthropists Investing $1.4 Million in Black Trans Femme-Led Organizations
Ballroom culture — the underground dance and performance world that Black and Latino queer and trans communities created decades before mainstream recognition — is being reframed as a model for democracy and civic belonging. NPQ’s Lupe Mahida explores how ballroom’s structures of chosen family, mutual support, and radical inclusion prefigured the inclusive democracy its members were denied. The philanthropic stakes are real: only 3.5 cents of every $100 in philanthropy currently reaches trans communities. The Fund for Trans Generations doubled its grant amount in 2026, committing $200,000 to 25 trans-led organizations, while the Flower Crown Project is investing $1.4 million over two years in 10 Black trans femme-led groups.
MIT’s Schwarzman College of Computing Marks Seven Years: $1 Billion Raised, 50 New Faculty, Ongoing Ethics Questions
When Stephen Schwarzman gave $350 million to MIT in 2018, he launched what became one of the most significant efforts to reshape how artificial intelligence is taught and governed. The Chronicle of Philanthropy revisits that gift seven years on, finding a mixed but consequential legacy. The Schwarzman College of Computing raised $1 billion in total, hired 50 new faculty across 19 departments, and introduced a new undergraduate major in AI and decision making. Its ethics counterpart, the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing institute, now engages more than 300 students across 25 departments and reaches over 1,000 students annually — but key questions about AI’s societal impact remain open.
Giving USA 2026 Reports Record $617 Billion in Charitable Donations as Donor Base Shrinks for Fifth Year
Giving USA’s 2026 report puts American charitable giving at a record $617.2 billion, but Tiltify CEO Michael Wasserman argues the headline misses the real story. The donor base shrank for the fifth consecutive year, falling 3.6 percent even as total dollars climbed. More critically, Giving USA’s methodology is blind to the explosion of digital and peer-to-peer fundraising: platforms powered by streamers are generating tens of millions per campaign. Piotr Hancke raised $70 million in nine days; Ryan Trahan brought in $11.6 million for St. Jude; TeamWater raised $40 million. A sector measuring success in dollars while losing donors may be reading its own health backwards.
LA Event Producer Tammy Dickerson Marks 25 Years in Philanthropic Events, Eyes World Cup and Olympics Opportunities
Tammy Dickerson, founder of LA-based tbg Events, has spent 25 years producing philanthropic gatherings that blend storytelling with high-impact fundraising. Her clients include the Milken Institute, Magic Johnson Foundation, LA84 Foundation, and Dodgers Foundation. In a conversation with Inside Philanthropy, Dickerson reflects on how nonprofit events work has grown to represent 30 percent of her firm’s portfolio — and why that growth has changed how she thinks about the purpose of a room. With the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics converging on Los Angeles, she sees a rare opportunity to embed equity-focused programming into the city’s biggest moment on the global stage.
Living Billionaire Founders Now Lead 20 of America’s 50 Largest Foundations, Up From Six in 2000
The face of American philanthropy has changed dramatically in a generation: 20 of the 50 largest U.S. foundations now have living founders, compared to just six in 2000 and one in 1984. Inside Philanthropy’s Michael Kavate traces the arc of this shift, which reflects the extraordinary wealth creation of the tech era. Today’s roster of founder-led philanthropies includes the Gates Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Elon Musk’s foundation, and the new Huang Family Foundation linked to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The concentration of philanthropic power in the hands of living individuals raises questions about accountability, institutional independence, and whether big-donor priorities are crowding out other voices.
Billionaire Women Commit Over $1 Billion to Women’s Health Research as Funding Gap Persists
Women’s health has been chronically underfunded in medical research — just 5 percent of R&D dollars were dedicated to women’s health as recently as 2020. Inside Philanthropy profiles four billionaire donors working to close that gap. Melinda French Gates has committed $215 million in new funding for menopause and midlife health, part of more than $600 million over two years. MacKenzie Scott directed $275 million to Planned Parenthood. Alexandra Cohen has focused on menopause research, giving $4.7 million in 2024. Nicole Shanahan pledged $100 million for reproductive longevity. Meanwhile, the Gates Foundation has made a separate $2.5 billion five-year commitment to global women’s health through 2030.
AWARDS
Academy Invites 529 New Members for 2026, Including Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, and Josh O’Connor
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members to join its ranks for 2026 — the most global class in years. Headlining the Actors branch: Jacob Elordi , Jenna Ortega, Josh O’Connor, Mia Goth, and Simu Liu, alongside directors Josh and Benny Safdie and musician Sara Bareilles. Animation brings in Spider-Verse veterans Michael Lasker and Sharon Bridgeman. Artist Representatives include powerhouses Aleen Keshishian and Jimmy Miller. Among Executives, new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro joins the Academy. In Marketing and Public Relations, among 25 honorees is David Gray Edwards of Thanks Pictures — a well-deserved nod to the awards campaign community. Of the class, 42% are women and 53% come from outside the U.S.
Toy Story 5 Eyes $88M–$96M Second Weekend as Supergirl Heads for $40M–$50M Debut
Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is tracking for an $88 million–$96 million second weekend as it holds the domestic top spot, its cumulative gross now past $200 million after seven days—a milestone that earned praise from Disney chairman Alan Bergman. Analysts project a 40–45 percent sophomore decline. Opening against it is Warner Bros./DC’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow , tracking $40 million–$50 million across more than 3,600 theaters—a figure that would place it firmly in franchise-launch territory. Paramount’s Jackass: Best and Last is eyeing approximately $10 million as a third new opener, targeting a dedicated fanbase at a lower screen count.
Netflix Sets 28-Day Theatrical Window for Cannes Acquisition La Bola Negra
Netflix will release Spanish-language film La Bola Negra —its major acquisition from the 2026 Cannes Film Festival—in theaters on November 6 before arriving on the streaming platform on December 4, a 28-day window that signals the platform’s continued push for theatrical credibility with prestige titles. The film, directed by the team that won the Cannes Best Directors prize and set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, stars Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close. It received a 20-minute standing ovation on the Croisette, with U.S. distribution rights acquired for a reported $4 million–$5 million .
Invincible Renewed for Season 6 at Prime Video, Tying Record for Longest-Running Streaming Animated Series
Prime Video has renewed animated superhero series Invincible for a sixth season—announced at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 24—tying it with BoJack Horseman as the longest-running streaming animated series in history. The series, with Season 4 recently charting in the top 10 across more than 50 territories and accumulating more than 7 billion TikTok views , also confirmed that actor Jack Quaid will join the cast in Season 5, which is due next year. Creator Robert Kirkman and showrunner Simon Racioppa made the announcement alongside studio Skybound Entertainment.
Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn Sets Netflix Debut for December 18
Netflix has set a December 18 release date for animated feature Ray Gunn —the first directorial feature from Brad Bird since Incredibles 2 in 2018—revealed during the platform’s session at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 24. Sam Rockwell voices Raymond Gunn, a private detective navigating Metropia, an alternate-future city imagined through a 1939 aesthetic; Scarlett Johansson plays femme fatale Venus Nova and Tom Waits also appears in the cast. The film is produced by Skydance’s David Ellison and Dana Goldberg alongside former Pixar chief John Lasseter and Lisa Beroud.
Amazon Drops Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2 Trailer at Annecy, Sets July 31 Premiere
Prime Video unveiled the first trailer for Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2 at Annecy on June 24, confirming a July 31 premiere for the Bad Robot production. Hamish Linklater returns as Bruce Wayne in the noir-inflected animated series. In the same session, Prime Video confirmed Helluva Boss Season 3 , Part 1 will debut October 14, and announced Conan the Barbarian, an animated series in development from Cartoon Network Studios and Genndy Tartakovsky. Amazon and Netflix held competing Annecy sessions on the same day, with both platforms revealing major animation slates to an industry audience.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas Discusses The Bluff’s Global Streaming Success at Cannes Lions
Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas took the stage at the Cannes Lions advertising festival on June 24 to discuss the global streaming performance of The Bluff , her Prime Video period action film about female pirates, which topped the platform’s global charts across dozens of countries following its late-February release. Produced through her company Purple Pebble alongside the Russo Brothers’ production company AGBO , the film is being cited as a case study in cross-cultural streaming reach. She also referenced director S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, now set for April 2027 .
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