SAMWISE
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Monday, June 08, 2026
RACE RESULT
Antonelli Claims Fifth Consecutive Win at Chaotic Monaco Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli delivered a masterful performance in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix, converting pole position into his fifth consecutive victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Mercedes driver controlled the race from the front despite a chaotic backdrop featuring seven retirements, multiple red flags, and a penalty frenzy. Lewis Hamilton crossed the line second for Ferrari, with Isack Hadjar taking the final podium step for Red Bull. The result extends Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points over Hamilton, with teammate George Russell falling from second to third in the standings after a torrid afternoon in Monte Carlo.
Verstappen Suffers Engine Failure in Monaco, Retires on Lap One
Max Verstappen suffered a devastating engine failure that ended his Monaco Grand Prix on lap one. The four-time world champion was running second on the grid when the lights went out, but immediately dropped to the back of the field as his Red Bull lost power. Verstappen later revealed he had sensed the problem on the formation lap, saying there was 'just no consistency and then the engine just dropped dead.' The retirement is his second of the 2026 season, adding to his earlier DNF in China, and leaves him 113 points behind championship leader Antonelli with 16 rounds remaining.
Technical Flaw Behind Monaco Pit Lane Speeding Penalty Wave
Six drivers received pit lane speeding penalties at the Monaco Grand Prix — all related to how drivers took the entry to the pit lane, not actual speeding. Five of the infringements were measured at just 0.1 km/h above the 60 km/h limit. The root cause: drivers cutting the white line marking the fast lane slightly shortened the measured distance between timing loops, making them appear fractionally faster. George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, and Lewis Hamilton were among those penalized. Russell was additionally penalized for failing to serve his initial five-second penalty correctly.
Wolff Admits Pit Wall Confusion Behind Costly Russell Penalty at Monaco
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted a communication breakdown on the pit wall cost George Russell a potential podium at the Monaco Grand Prix. Russell had picked up a five-second time penalty for pit lane speeding earlier in the race, but when he pitted under the safety car, his team began the tyre change immediately instead of allowing him to serve the penalty first. This error turned a five-second penalty into a drive-through, dropping Russell to 14th at the flag. Russell now sits third in the drivers' championship, just two points behind second-placed Lewis Hamilton.
Alpine Submits Right of Review Request After Gasly Penalties Cost Monaco Podium
Alpine has submitted a formal right of review petition to the FIA following pit lane speeding penalties that cost Pierre Gasly a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix. Gasly crossed the line third on the road but received two separate five-second penalties, dropping him to seventh, after stewards ruled he exceeded the pit lane speed limit on two occasions. Speaking after the race, Gasly said he was 200 percent sure he had not exceeded the limit and that he was heartbroken. The FIA reviewed its timing equipment and found no abnormalities, attributing the violations to the line drivers took when entering the pit lane.
Perez Penalty Denies Cadillac Historic First F1 Points Finish at Monaco
Cadillac's dream of securing its first-ever Formula 1 championship point ended in heartbreak at Monaco when Sergio Perez received a 10-second post-race time penalty for starting out of position at the race's second standing start. Perez had finished 10th on the road, which would have been a landmark result in just the team's sixth race. The penalty dropped him to 11th and last, promoting Fernando Alonso to 10th and gifting Aston Martin its first championship point of the 2026 season. Stewards found clear video evidence that the front right wheel of car 11 was outside its designated grid box.
FIA Names Red Bull Engine as 2026 Benchmark; Mercedes and Ferrari Awarded Upgrade Tokens
The FIA has released its first ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) performance rankings for the 2026 season, with Red Bull's power unit named as the benchmark. Under the regulation, the strongest engine manufacturer receives no upgrades while rivals are granted development opportunities based on the performance gap. Mercedes, more than 2% behind Red Bull's unit, has been awarded one engine upgrade for 2026. Ferrari, Audi, and Honda — each rated more than 4% adrift of Red Bull — have each been granted two upgrades. The announcement surprised the paddock, with several outlets describing the result as a shock given Red Bull's poor championship standing in 2026.
Leclerc Signs New Multi-Year Ferrari Contract, Reveals Rival Team Approaches
Charles Leclerc signed a new multi-year contract extension with Ferrari ahead of his home race at Monaco, with the Italian team confirming the deal secures the Monegasque driver at Maranello for the coming seasons. The announcement ended speculation about Leclerc's future, with reports indicating he rejected last-ditch approaches from rival F1 teams. Ferrari did not disclose the contract length, though The Race reported Leclerc's previous deal ran to 2029 and the new agreement extends his Ferrari tenure into the 2030s. Leclerc currently sits fourth in the drivers' championship with 75 points, 81 behind leader Antonelli.
Drivers' Championship
1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli — 156 pts
2. Lewis Hamilton — 90 pts
3. George Russell — 88 pts
4. Charles Leclerc — 75 pts
5. Oscar Piastri — 60 pts
6. Lando Norris — 58 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 43 pts
8. Isack Hadjar — 29 pts
9. Liam Lawson — 26 pts
10. Pierre Gasly — 26 pts
11. Oliver Bearman — 18 pts
12. Franco Colapinto — 15 pts
13. Arvid Lindblad — 13 pts
14. Carlos Sainz Jnr — 6 pts
15. Alexander Albon — 5 pts
16. Nico Hülkenberg — 2 pts
17. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
18. Esteban Ocon — 2 pts
19. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
20. Fernando Alonso — 0 pts
21. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 244 pts
2. Ferrari — 165 pts
3. McLaren — 118 pts
4. Red Bull — 72 pts
5. Alpine — 41 pts
6. Racing Bulls — 39 pts
7. Haas — 20 pts
8. Williams — 11 pts
9. Audi — 4 pts
10. Cadillac — 0 pts
11. Aston Martin — 0 pts
GAME RECAP
Golden Knights Survive Epic Game 3 to Take 2-1 Series Lead
The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, taking a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Mitch Marner’s second-period hat trick built a 4-0 Vegas lead before the Hurricanes mounted a stunning third-period comeback to force overtime. Shea Theodore earned the winner at 5:38 of the second overtime after his shot caromed off the end boards, was touched by Carolina’s Jordan Martinook, and deflected off goaltender Brandon Bussi’s skate into the net. Theodore was credited as the last Golden Knight to touch the puck. Game 4 is Tuesday, June 9 in Las Vegas.
Marner Sets Fastest Hat Trick in Stanley Cup Final History
Mitch Marner made Stanley Cup Final history during Saturday’s Game 3, scoring three goals in 6 minutes and 10 seconds of the second period — the fastest hat trick in Final history, eclipsing a record held for 69 years by Maurice “Rocket” Richard. The Vegas Golden Knights forward also became the first player to record four points in a single Cup Final period, adding an assist on a Tomas Hertl power-play goal. It was only the seventh natural hat trick in Final history. Marner leads all skaters in the 2026 playoffs with 28 points, including 10 goals and 18 assists, the most by any Golden Knight in a single postseason.
Hurricanes Mount Historic Third-Period Comeback But Fall Short in Double Overtime
The Carolina Hurricanes became just the second team in Stanley Cup Final history to erase a four-goal deficit, rallying from 4-0 down in the third period of Game 3 Saturday before falling 5-4 in double overtime. Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall, and Jordan Staal scored three goals in 39 seconds — the fastest three goals in Cup Final history — to trim the lead to 4-3. Andrei Svechnikov added the tying power-play goal with the goalie pulled and 1:42 left in regulation. Despite dropping to 6-1 in overtime this postseason, Hurricanes players said the historic effort strengthened their belief heading into Tuesday’s Game 4.
Brind’Amour Undecided on Goalie for Game 4 After Andersen Struggles in Final
The Carolina Hurricanes face a crucial lineup decision ahead of Tuesday’s Game 4, with coach Rod Brind’Amour undecided on whether to start Frederik Andersen or Brandon Bussi against Vegas. Andersen started every playoff game for Carolina before being replaced by Bussi to begin the third period of Saturday’s loss. His Cup Final numbers stand at a 4.44 goals-against average and .815 save percentage. Bussi, 27, stopped all 18 shots he faced in his first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance, including Mitch Marner’s penalty shot in the third period, before allowing the double-overtime winner.
Carrier, McNabb Both Questionable for Tuesday’s Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final
Carolina Hurricanes forward William Carrier and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb carry uncertain injury statuses into Tuesday’s Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Carrier suffered an upper-body injury in Game 3 Saturday, appearing to hurt his left arm while hitting Vegas defenseman Jeremy Lauzon in the first period. He returned for four shifts in the second period before exiting for good. Coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed optimism about Carrier’s availability. McNabb suffered a facial injury after a shot struck him near the visor in Game 2, was taken to a local hospital, and coach John Tortorella offered no update on his status ahead of Game 3.
McKenna Tops VO2 Max at NHL Scouting Combine as Buffalo Draft Approaches
The 2026 NHL Scouting Combine concluded Saturday in Buffalo after a six-day run from June 1 to 6, with Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna — ranked No. 1 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting — topping the VO2 Max aerobic fitness test among 90 prospects evaluated. McKenna also placed in the top eight in four different physical testing categories. McKenna revealed that Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka visited him in his hometown of Whitehorse before the combine began. Toronto holds the first overall pick and will choose at the draft set for June 26–27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
Golden Knights Backed by History as Series Shifts to Vegas for Game 4
The Vegas Golden Knights enter Tuesday’s Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 series lead and history firmly in their favor. Teams that take a 2-1 lead in the Cup Final have gone on to win the Stanley Cup 46 of 57 times, a rate of 80.7 percent. Vegas has thrived on special teams throughout the playoffs, converting on 23.9 percent of power plays and scoring a postseason-best four short-handed goals. Carolina’s penalty kill ranks at 92.5 percent, while their defense has allowed an average of 22.3 shots per playoff game. Game 4 is 8 p.m. ET on ABC, SN, CBC, and TVAS.
RECAP
Harris Pinch-Hit Double Completes Braves Sweep of Pirates as Atlanta Reaches 45-21
The Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3-2 victory Sunday, improving to 45-21 — the best record in the majors. The Braves trailed 2-0 entering the seventh inning when pinch hitter Michael Harris II, facing Evan Sisk with the bases loaded and one out, drove the first pitch into the right-field corner for a three-run double. Reynaldo López earned the win with a scoreless seventh, Tyler Kinley ended a bases-loaded threat in the eighth, and rookie Didier Fuentes stranded two runners in the ninth for his first career save. Atlanta has won eight of its last 10 games.
Backup Catcher Rivero Goes 5-for-5 with 6 RBI as Angels Rout Dodgers 13-5
Backup catcher Sebastián Rivero went 5 for 5 with six RBI, leading a dominant performance from the Los Angeles Angels’ bottom four batters as the Angels defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-5 Sunday. Jo Adell was 4 for 5 with a two-run homer in the seventh and scored four times. The bottom four batters in the Angels’ order combined for 10 runs and 10 RBI. Starter José Soriano improved to 7-4, allowing five runs — four earned — on eight hits in six innings. The NL West-leading Dodgers won five of six games in the Freeway Series, outscoring the Angels 46-18 overall.
Bellinger’s Tiebreaking Homer Caps Five-Run 8th as Yankees Top Red Sox 6-1
Cody Bellinger’s tiebreaking home run sparked a five-run eighth inning as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-1 Sunday, improving to 38-26 — within percentage points of first-place Tampa Bay at 37-25. Bellinger drove a cutter from Justin Slaten into the right-center seats for a 2-1 lead. Trent Grisham added an RBI single, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. connected on a cutter from Joe La Sorsa for a three-run home run. Tim Hill earned the win with a perfect eighth inning. The Yankees remained shorthanded, with Aaron Judge (fractured rib), Giancarlo Stanton (calf strain), and Austin Wells (cervical headaches) all on the injured list.
Marsh Homers for Third Straight Day as Phillies Top White Sox 9-5
Brandon Marsh homered for the third consecutive day and drove in two runs as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 Sunday, moving to 35-30 — five games above .500 for the first time this season. Marsh connected for his eighth home run in the third inning off David Sandlin and added an RBI single in the sixth. Rafael Marchán hit a two-run homer in the second. The Phillies went ahead for good in the fifth against Tyler Davis, with Alec Bohm doubling to tie the score before Bryson Stott’s RBI single put Philadelphia in front. José Alvarado earned the win, improving to 3-1 with a scoreless sixth.
Piñango Homer Opens Five-Run Sixth as Blue Jays Rally Past Orioles 6-4
The Toronto Blue Jays rallied from a deficit with a five-run sixth inning Sunday to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4. Yohendrick Piñango opened the sixth-inning surge with his fourth home run of the season off Shane Baz, and pinch hitter Nathan Lukes drove in Andrés Giménez with an infield single to give the Blue Jays the lead. Brandon Valenzuela added a solo home run in the eighth. Adam Macko (2-0) earned the win in relief, and Louis Varland recorded the final four outs for his 11th save in 11 chances. For Baltimore, Taylor Ward hit a two-run home run and Colton Cowser added a solo shot.
McGonigle Walks Off Mariners with Two-Run Single in 9th as Tigers Rally from 4-1
Trailing 4-1 through six innings, the Detroit Tigers rallied to beat the Seattle Mariners 5-4 Sunday on Kevin McGonigle’s walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and runners at second and third, McGonigle lined a pitch from All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz off the glove of leaping second baseman Cole Young. Wenceel Pérez had sparked the comeback with a two-run triple in the seventh. McGonigle also hit a 420-foot home run in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Will Vest (2-4) earned the win as Detroit took two of three from Seattle.
Moreno’s Two-Run Homer Leads Diamondbacks Past Nationals 5-1 to Avoid Sweep
Gabriel Moreno’s two-run home run powered the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, preventing a three-game sweep. After falling in the first two games of the series, Arizona salvaged the finale behind Moreno’s long ball, the key blow in the Diamondbacks’ five-run offensive effort. The win moved Arizona to 33-31. The Nationals dropped to 33-32. Arizona remains 8.5 games back of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, who sit at 42-23. The Diamondbacks needed the win to keep pace in a competitive NL West race.
Padres Release Nick Castellanos After Career-Worst .191 Average in 39 Games
The San Diego Padres officially released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Friday after designating him for assignment earlier in the week. San Diego had signed the veteran outfielder following his release by the Phillies during Spring Training, but Castellanos posted a career-worst .191/.221/.339 slash line in 39 games, striking out 34 times in 122 plate appearances — a 28 percent strikeout rate. In the same roster moves, the Padres placed reliever Jeremiah Estrada on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation, reinstated pitcher Jhony Brito from the 60-day IL, and transferred outfielder Ramón Laureano to the 60-day IL after hip surgery.
American League
1. Tampa Bay — 37–25, —
2. NY Yankees — 38–26, 0.0 GB
3. Toronto — 32–34, 7.0 GB
4. Baltimore — 31–35, 8.0 GB
5. Boston — 27–36, 10.5 GB
1. Cleveland — 37–29, —
2. Chicago White Sox — 34–31, 2.5 GB
3. Minnesota — 30–37, 7.5 GB
4. Kansas City — 27–39, 10.0 GB
5. Detroit — 26–39, 10.5 GB
1. Seattle — 34–31, —
2. Texas — 31–33, 2.5 GB
3. Athletics — 31–34, 3.0 GB
4. Houston — 30–37, 5.0 GB
5. LA Angels — 24–40, 9.5 GB
National League
1. Atlanta — 45–21, —
2. Philadelphia — 35–30, 9.5 GB
3. Washington — 33–32, 11.5 GB
4. Miami — 31–35, 14.0 GB
5. NY Mets — 28–35, 15.5 GB
1. Milwaukee — 39–23, —
2. St. Louis — 34–28, 5.0 GB
3. Chicago Cubs — 34–31, 6.5 GB
4. Pittsburgh — 34–32, 7.0 GB
5. Cincinnati — 31–32, 8.5 GB
1. LA Dodgers — 42–23, —
2. Arizona — 33–31, 8.5 GB
3. San Diego — 32–30, 8.5 GB
4. San Francisco — 26–39, 16.0 GB
5. Colorado — 24–41, 18.0 GB
HARDWARE
Fixing The Failure Of The Reevo
The Reevo is a hubless electric bike that launched to considerable fanfare but struggled with hardware shortcomings and a proprietary controller accessible only through an unavailable app. YouTuber Berm Peak undertook a full overhaul, starting with jailbreaking the locked controller — whose PCBs were surprisingly well-labelled, enabling reverse-engineering of its communication protocols. Beyond the firmware, nearly every physical component needed work: shrouds and buttons were overhauled, fasteners replaced, and a digital touch display integrated via the jailbroken interface. Even the brakes required attention. The complete repair methodology and firmware modifications are now published on GitHub for other Reevo owners.
Pi Pico Puts Bluetooth Keyboards On The I2C Bus
Roberto Alsina’s bt2i2c project converts a Pi Pico W into a Bluetooth-to-I2C keyboard bridge. Once flashed, the Pico pairs with any standard Bluetooth keyboard and relays its keystrokes onto the I2C bus, presenting itself to downstream devices as a BlackBerry BBQ20/BBQ10 keyboard at address 0x1F — a well-documented interface with extensive existing library support. An optional ST7789 display connected over SPI gives visual confirmation of pairing status. With Bluetooth keyboards now connectable to any I2C-capable microcontroller, the project opens doors for writerdeck builds and embedded terminals that lack USB host capability but could benefit from a comfortable wireless keyboard.
3D Printing A Miniature CoreXY Printer
Alex Yu’s Encore is a self-replicating CoreXY printer built almost entirely from 3D-printed parts, with a 120 mm print bed and every component sized to fit within a 225 mm build volume. The frameless design mounts linear rails directly onto printed side panels, which proved sufficiently rigid without a traditional aluminium extrusion frame. Drive motors are NEMA 17 steppers with sliding-mount belt tensioning; a Bambu-style hotend pairs with a Bowden extruder. Tuning required a stronger hotend cooling fan and redesigned ventilation shroud to resolve thermal issues, but the resulting prints show impressive quality. All design files and documentation are on GitHub.
Desalinating Seawater With Solar And No Brine
A solar-thermal desalination method that eliminates brine discharge entirely has been demonstrated by Luheng Tang and colleagues in a paper published in Light: Science and Applications. The system uses specially treated wicking panels that draw seawater across their surface, with solar radiation evaporating fresh water while a self-cleaning surface treatment prevents salt crystal accumulation — a key failure mode in earlier designs. Extracted materials including table salt, lithium, gold, and uranium can be recovered as usable byproducts rather than dumped as waste. Tests across multiple ocean sources achieved 74% solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency with nearly 100% salt extraction; scaling to industrial capacity remains the next challenge.
An Ethernet WiFi Router On A Pi Pico 2W
Matt Deeds demonstrates that the Pi Pico 2W can serve as a functional WiFi-to-Ethernet router using entirely bit-banged 10BASE-T networking — no dedicated Ethernet silicon required. The project, written in Rust as a partial port of an earlier implementation, uses Ethernet magnetics on the physical layer while handling all framing and protocol logic in software. Transmit runs at full 10BASE-T speed; receive achieves around 100 kB/s. For applications where raw throughput is secondary, the Pico may now be the cheapest Ethernet-to-wireless bridge possible. The firmware is available as pico-10base-t-rs on GitHub, showcasing how far the RP2350’s programmable I/O can be pushed.
Bluetooth Gramophone Has Surprisingly Contemporary Roots
JGJMatt’s project adds Bluetooth audio playback to a vintage gramophone without modifying any of its original mechanicals. The contemporary roots in the title refer to an actual 1920s commercial product — the Dulce-Tone Radio Speaker — which used the same principle: a weak speaker placed under the gramophone needle, using the horn as an amplifier for radio signals. The modern version substitutes a neodymium magnet and voice coil from a 3W speaker, driven by an MH-M38 Bluetooth module, in a 3D-printed needle holder and battery-backed enclosure. The modification is fully reversible, allowing the instrument to play original shellac 78s at any time.
How Small Can You Make A C Executable?
A simple C program that does nothing but return 0 compiles to a surprisingly bloated 15,816 bytes with gcc defaults. Weineng documents a step-by-step campaign to slash that size: stripping debug info and pre-main boilerplate brings it to 13,632 bytes, aggressive linker flags reduce it to 8,704, removing error-handling sections yields 4,320, and cutting dynamic memory allocation overhead gets to 400 bytes — a 97% reduction from the default build. The write-up is a practical guide to compiler and linker flags many developers have never reached for, with techniques applicable to embedded systems where flash space budgets are tight.
POLICY
Commentary: More Than 300 Proposed Changes To Federal Grant Rules
The federal Office of Management and Budget and awarding agencies have proposed 323 changes to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations—the rules governing how federal grant dollars flow to nonprofits. Grant management expert Henry Flood calls the package “a stick of dynamite” aimed at a stable 52-year system. Among the most alarming changes: agencies could terminate active grants for convenience or political reasons, and political appointees would gain final say over awards, overriding expert reviewers. Small nonprofits would face higher barriers competing for funding. Public comments are due July 13, 2026, with a projected effective date of October 1.
MissionWired Expands With Acquisition of BWF
Nonprofit fundraising firm MissionWired—formerly Anne Lewis Strategies and backed by Stone-Goff Partners—has acquired BWF, formerly Bentz Whaley Flessner, a provider of campaigns, donor engagement, analytics, and technology services for higher education, healthcare, and nonprofits. BWF will merge with Zuri Group, which MissionWired acquired in 2023 and which holds accredited partner status with Blackbaud, Salesforce, and Kindsight, to form BWF Zuri. MissionWired CEO Kate Kline said the acquisition combines strategy, data, and human discernment across all fundraising channels. BWF CEO Josh Birkholz was also quoted. The deal’s financial terms were not disclosed.
5 Health Conversion Funders to Watch
Health conversion foundations—created when nonprofit hospitals or insurers were sold to for-profit buyers—number in the hundreds across 44 states and collectively hold roughly $13 billion. Many have raised their payout rates in response to federal Medicaid and ACA cuts. Inside Philanthropy spotlights five to watch: California Endowment ($4.4B assets, $141M granted in 2024), Mother Cabrini Health Foundation ($3.9B, $172M in 2024), Colorado Health Foundation ($2.8B, $102M in 2024), Missouri Foundation for Health ($1.37B), and California Wellness Foundation ($1B, $50M in 2024). Several lean into racial equity as a core grantmaking priority.
NPT’s Executive Session: AI Might Damage Your Ability To Raise Money
Nonprofits risk losing control of their public narrative as AI bots scrape website content and surface it in donor searches—often inaccurate or stripped of context. Bennett Weiner, president and CEO of BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org), sounded the warning in an NPT Executive Session interview. When a prospective donor uses an AI tool to research a charity, the response is built from scraped data, not the organization’s own messaging—potentially undermining the fundraising relationship before it starts. Weiner also flagged common financial reporting mistakes in nonprofit statements and confirmed new BBB accountability guidelines are in the pipeline.
Beware Because Donors Don’t Feel Financially Fulfilled
Only 16% of U.S. adults feel financially fulfilled, while 83% experience financial stress, strain, or uncertainty, according to a Gallup and Edward Jones survey of 5,075 U.S. adults conducted in March–April 2026. For fundraisers, the finding carries a direct implication: just 19% of respondents say giving, helping, or caring brings them joy. Among the financially stressed group, 52% say finances “often” or “always” control their lives. The survey also found gratitude is the most common financial emotion, cited by 63% of respondents. Top sources of joy include travel and experiences (41%) and togetherness with others (26%), with charitable giving ranked third at 19%.
Nonprofit Finance Teams Seem To Be Staying In Place
Nonprofit finance departments appear to be stabilizing, according to a new BTQ Financial survey of 100 nonprofit finance and accounting leaders. The survey found 76% reported zero voluntary turnover in the past year, and the share filling open roles within one to three months jumped from 38% in 2025 to 80% in 2026. Among organizations using an outsourced finance partner, 98% reported at least moderate improvement, with 59% calling the impact significant or transformational. A cautionary note: 85% of nonprofits can sustain operations for six months or less on unrestricted reserves, and 40% would face disruption if government funding were delayed 60 to 90 days.
Report: Donors Provide More Than Money
Fundraising campaigns create lasting value well beyond the dollars raised, according to a new report from Twin Point Insights and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy analyzing 58 U.S. and Canadian hospital systems. More than 60% of surveyed organizations saw yearly gift commitment volume grow moderately or significantly during campaigns. Most added dedicated donor relations staff, and at one participating institution, 70% of campaign donors were first-time contributors. Organizations also overhauled policies—two-thirds revised campaign counting rules and 71% revised gift acceptance policies. While naming rights for physical spaces remain the most valued recognition form, campaigns now routinely incorporate programmatic and endowment priorities.
CAMPAIGN
Scary Movie Opens to Franchise-Best $55 Million Behind a Viral Marketing Blitz
Paramount’s Scary Movie opened to a franchise-best $55 million domestically and $105.5 million globally in its debut weekend, surpassing the prior franchise record set by Scream 7. The marketing campaign included a Subservient Ghostface website generating 200 million views, a Nike parody tied to NBA playoff conversation, and a first trailer debuted exclusively in theaters ahead of Scream 7 that generated more than 300 million views. The official campaign trailer delivered 410 million views in its first seven days, becoming the second-biggest trailer debut in Paramount history, with total social content topping 1 billion views . The campaign was led by Josh Goldstine , Paramount’s Global Marketing and Distribution chief.
Masters of the Universe Opens to a Disappointing $29.3 Million Despite $200 Million Budget
Masters of the Universe debuted at No. 2 with a soft $29.3 million in North America in its opening weekend, an underwhelming result for a film that cost nearly $200 million to produce. Opening audiences skewed 66 percent male and nearly 40 percent above the age of 45, indicating that mostly fans of the original 1980s property turned out. The film earned $25 million from 86 overseas markets for a global start of $54 million. The pic debuted on 3,677 screens. By contrast, Scary Movie opened to $105.5 million globally the same weekend with a far broader audience composition.
Supergirl Tracking at $55M-Plus Domestic Opening as Ticket Sales Launch
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow , the DC Studios and Warner Bros. feature directed by Craig Gillespie , arrived on three-week tracking with an opening projection of $55 million or more when it opens on June 26. Unaided awareness for the Milly Alcock-led film is tracking higher than recent comparables including The Mandalorian and Grogu ($81.6 million domestic opening), Thunderbolts*, and Shazam!. The official trailer has clocked 27 million views on YouTube alone, while the earlier teaser pulled 24 million. Based on the Tom King and Bilquis Evely graphic novel, the film stars Jason Momoa as new antihero Lobo. Advance tickets went on sale Wednesday.
Backrooms Becomes A24’s Highest-Grossing Film Ever at $212 Million Worldwide
A24’s Backrooms broke the studio’s all-time worldwide box office record this weekend, surpassing $212 million globally to eclipse Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme as A24’s highest-grossing release ever. Domestically, the horror film earned $25.9 million in its second weekend, a 68 percent drop from its debut, for a North American cumulative total of $135 million. The film had opened to $81 million in its first frame. Backrooms played on 3,565 screens in North America during its second session, arriving at the global milestone on the same weekend that Scary Movie opened to a $55 million domestic debut.
Michael Becomes Lionsgate’s Highest-Grossing Film Ever and Threatens Bohemian Rhapsody’s Record
Michael , the Lionsgate biopic of Michael Jackson , earned $7.7 million in its seventh domestic weekend, pushing its North American cumulative total to $354.2 million and crossing a historic threshold to become the studio’s highest-grossing release of all time. The film, which opened in April to a record-setting $97 million domestic debut, is now approaching $800 million worldwide and challenging Bohemian Rhapsody’s standing as the all-time highest-grossing musical biopic. Globally, Michael had surpassed $788 million as of this weekend, with the Queen biopic’s $911 million final gross now within striking distance.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Becomes the First Film of 2026 to Cross $1 Billion Globally
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie , from Illumination, Nintendo and Universal , became the first 2026 release to cross $1 billion at the global box office this weekend, reaching the milestone in its tenth weekend of release. The animated feature opened to $190 million domestically in April, with its domestic total at $428.5 million and international grosses pushing the global figure past the billion-dollar mark. Now playing on 642 screens, the film added $600,000 domestically this weekend while crossing the milestone. No other 2026 release has yet reached the $1 billion threshold globally.
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