SAMWISE
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Thursday, June 18, 2026
DRIVER MARKET
Verstappen Exit Clause Confirmed as Manager Hints at Pre-Summer Decision
Max Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen has publicly confirmed the four-time world champion holds an exit clause in his Red Bull contract. The clause allows Verstappen to leave after 2026 if he is not inside the top two in the standings at the summer break. With Verstappen seventh on 55 points — 101 behind leader Kimi Antonelli — activation is highly likely. Vermeulen indicated a decision on Verstappen's future could come before the summer break. Mercedes, holders of the dominant 2026 car, have been strongly linked. Toto Wolff has publicly pursued Verstappen for consecutive seasons, and this summer represents the most realistic opportunity yet for a move to the Silver Arrows.
FIA Grants Mercedes Hearing on Russell's Monaco Penalty as Right of Review Process Continues
FIA stewards have confirmed a virtual hearing on Saturday to assess Mercedes' Right of Review request over George Russell's Monaco Grand Prix penalties. The hearing will first determine whether Mercedes has presented new and significant evidence unavailable at the time of the original decision. Russell received a five-second penalty for pitlane speeding at Monaco and a subsequent drive-through after stewards ruled it had not been correctly served. Alpine's successful review for Pierre Gasly — which restored his third-place finish after FOM acknowledged an error in the timing system's distance measurement — gives Mercedes grounds to argue the same discrepancy affected Russell's penalty.
Madrid GP Promoters Prepare Night Shifts to Complete Madring Circuit Before September Debut
Madrid Grand Prix organisers say they are prepared to run 24-hour construction shifts at the Madring circuit to ensure the venue is ready for its September Formula 1 debut. A circuit director told Reuters the site's licence permits night working and that buffer time has been built in. The FIA has completed two mandatory circuit inspections, with a third scheduled for mid-August. Organisers also confirmed the asphalt will be water-blasted before the race to improve grip. Race ambassador Carlos Sainz unveiled the official event poster and his personal Team Fifty5 fan zone grandstand at a ceremony earlier this week.
Leclerc and Zhou Log Over 2,800 Kilometres in Barcelona Pirelli Tyre Development Test
Ferrari reserve Arthur Leclerc and Cadillac's Zhou Guanyu completed a Pirelli tyre development test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Wednesday. Leclerc set 141 laps across 657 kilometres with a best time of 1:17.430, while Zhou logged 130 laps over 605 kilometres, best 1:19.321. The sessions form part of Pirelli's 2026 tyre evaluation programme as the Italian manufacturer refines its compounds mid-season. Over the two days, more than 2,800 kilometres were accumulated at the venue across all participating cars. The Barcelona circuit hosted what is likely its final Formula 1 race last weekend ahead of Madrid taking over the Spanish Grand Prix from 2027.
Hamilton Tells Ferrari He Wants More Red on the Car After Childhood Livery Nostalgia
Lewis Hamilton has told Ferrari the current car's livery does not carry enough red, singling out the white cockpit area as an element he wants returned to the team's traditional colour. Hamilton joined the Scuderia this season after twelve years at Mercedes and made the comments in an interview published Wednesday, days after his first Ferrari race victory in Barcelona. The win ended a five-race run of victories for Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes. Hamilton said the white cockpit does not resemble the classic Ferrari liveries he remembers from his childhood, adding that he will continue working with the team on future livery decisions.
Drivers' Championship
1. 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 pt
19. Nico Hülkenberg — 0 pts
20. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
21. Sergio Perez — 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 pt
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
PLAYOFFS
Hurricanes Victory Parade Set for Saturday in Downtown Raleigh
Raleigh will host the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup championship parade on Saturday, June 20, beginning at 11 a.m. in downtown. The route starts at Hillsborough and St. Mary's Street and ends at Davie Street, followed by a rally at City Plaza. Mayor Janet Cowell has proclaimed June 20 as Carolina Hurricanes Day in honour of the franchise's second Stanley Cup title, won four days earlier with a 3-0 shutout of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 at T-Mobile Arena. Free parking is available at five city-owned decks. Fans without access to City Plaza can watch on screens along Fayetteville Street.
Sabres Move Up Seven Spots, Ship Kesselring to Sharks for 20th Overall Pick
The Buffalo Sabres moved up seven spots in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Tuesday, trading defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 20th overall selection, originally acquired by San Jose from Edmonton. Kesselring, 26, recorded two assists in 34 games for Buffalo this season and was frequently a healthy scratch. The Sabres, hosting the draft at KeyBank Center on June 26-27, now hold picks 20th, 124th, 156th, and 188th. The deal allows Buffalo to target a higher-profile prospect in a draft class headlined by wing Gavin McKenna and defender Chase Reid.
Maple Leafs Deal Goalie Woll and Benoit to Flyers in Pre-Draft Four-Player Swap
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in exchange for goalie Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a 2026 third-round pick. The deal is the first notable move for new Leafs general manager John Chayka. Woll, who went 15-16-7 with a .899 save percentage this past season, will pair in Philadelphia with Dan Vladar, whom the Flyers are nearing a long-term extension with. Ersson, 26, posted an .870 save percentage in 30 games with the Flyers in 2025-26. Andrae, 24, contributed two goals and 13 points in 61 games.
Ross Colton Heads to Nashville as Predators' New GM MacFarland Makes First Move
The Nashville Predators acquired forward Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday for goaltender Magnus Chrona and third-round picks in 2026 and 2027. The move is the first by new Predators general manager Chris MacFarland, who previously served four seasons as Colorado's GM before joining Nashville on June 2. Colton, 29, posted 24 points in 73 regular-season games with the Avalanche in 2025-26. MacFarland called Colton a versatile, two-way winger who adds sandpaper and grit to Nashville's middle-six forward group as the Predators begin rebuilding under new leadership ahead of July 1 free agency.
NHL Buyout Window Opens Wednesday; Teams Have Until June 30 to Cut Contracts
The NHL's first buyout window of the 2026 offseason opened Wednesday, June 17, and runs through June 30 at 5 p.m. ET. Teams may buy out players on their reserve list as of the 2026 trade deadline carrying a cap hit of at least four million dollars. For players 26 and older, buyouts are two-thirds of remaining salary, spread across twice the remaining contract length. The window opened 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final concluded June 14 with Carolina's victory. With free agency starting July 1 and the draft set for June 26-27 in Buffalo, teams face critical roster decisions over the next two weeks.
McKenna or Stenberg? Experts Split on No. 1 Pick with Draft Eight Days Away
With the 2026 NHL Draft eight days away in Buffalo, scouts and analysts remain divided over whether the Toronto Maple Leafs should select Penn State winger Gavin McKenna or Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg with the first overall pick. NHL.com's scouting panel sees McKenna as the frontrunner owing to his 84-point, 67-game OHL season with Brantford, while others favour Stenberg for a more complete two-way game. San Jose holds the second pick, with most projections targeting OHL defenseman Chase Reid. Centre Caleb Malhotra of Brantford is projected to go third, to Vancouver. The first round takes place Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Hurricanes Offseason: Andersen Decision Headlines Cup Champions' Roster Questions
Fresh off their second Stanley Cup title, the Carolina Hurricanes enter the 2026 offseason with two key roster decisions headlining their summer. Goaltender Frederik Andersen is an unrestricted free agent after posting a .931 save percentage, 1.41 goals against average, and three shutouts through the first three playoff rounds. The 36-year-old's future with Carolina is uncertain given the team's commitment to 2025-26 All-Rookie Team selection Brandon Bussi, who is under contract through 2028-29. Restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin is also due a new deal. Carolina holds an estimated eleven million dollars in projected cap space entering the offseason.
RECAP
Freeman Homer Lifts Dodgers Past Rays To Complete Sweep
Freddie Freeman hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep. Freeman’s 407-foot drive to center off reliever Kevin Kelly came after Shohei Ohtani surrendered five hits and four runs in the fifth inning. The Dodgers had led 2-0 on two-out RBI singles by Alex Call and Alex Freeland in the fourth before Tampa Bay answered. According to ESPN, it was just the second time the Dodgers have ever swept the Rays and their first sweep of Tampa Bay since August 2013. Los Angeles improved to 48-27.
Bellinger, Goldschmidt Power Yankees Past White Sox
Cody Bellinger hit an early homer and finished a triple shy of the cycle, Paul Goldschmidt homered for the third time in four games and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 10-5 on Wednesday night. The Yankees won their fourth straight and for the ninth time in 13 games since losing slugger Aaron Judge indefinitely to a fractured right rib. New York equaled its largest lead atop the AL East by moving 3 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay. Bellinger hit a two-run homer in the first off Anthony Kay, doubled in the third and started a five-run fifth with a single, finishing with three hits.
Stowers Homers Twice As Marlins Rout Phillies To Avoid Sweep
Kyle Stowers homered twice and drove in five runs as the Miami Marlins avoided a series sweep with a 12-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Stowers hit a two-run homer in the first off Phillies starter Andrew Painter, then a solo shot in the sixth for his seventh of the season, adding an RBI double in the second and a run-scoring single in the eighth. Owen Cassie homered in a four-run second inning, Joe Mack added a two-run homer and Jakob Marsee went deep in the ninth. Sandy Alcantara pitched six innings, allowing four runs, two earned, to improve to 7-4.
McLean, Bichette Lead Mets To 9-1 Win Over Reds
Rookie Nolan McLean struck out nine over seven innings and Bo Bichette continued his hot streak with three hits as the New York Mets averted a sweep with a 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Francisco Alvarez and Juan Soto also had three hits apiece as New York piled up 15 hits, tied for its second-highest output of the season. Bichette has multiple hits in six straight games and went 8 for 14 in the series. McLean, now 4-4, allowed one unearned run and three hits. JJ Bleday drove in Cincinnati’s only run on a third-inning sacrifice fly.
Tatis, Merrill Drive In Two Each As Padres Top Cardinals
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill each drove in two runs and finished with three hits as the San Diego Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 on Wednesday to avoid a sweep. Merrill capped his effort with a two-run homer in the ninth inning, his eighth of the season. Tatis, who also stole a base, has gone 17 for 48 with four doubles and a home run over his last 11 games. San Diego pounded out 14 hits but went 4 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base. Alec Burleson extended his hitting streak to 17 games with an RBI single.
Pena Homers, Lambert Dominates As Astros Edge Tigers
Jeremy Pena homered and added an RBI single, and Peter Lambert allowed just one run on two hits over seven innings as the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 on Wednesday. Yordan Alvarez extended his on-base streak to 24 games and doubled home Christian Vazquez for his 55th RBI of the season. Lambert, now 6-4, retired nine of his first 10 batters and set down 11 straight before Kerry Carpenter’s solo homer in the seventh, finishing with five strikeouts and no walks. Pena homered in the third inning off Detroit starter Casey Mize, who fell to 2-4.
Royals Hit Four Early Homers To Beat Nationals
Luinder Avila carried a shutout into the sixth inning and the Kansas City Royals hit four solo homers in the first three innings to beat the Washington Nationals 6-2 on Wednesday and avoid a three-game sweep. Carter Jensen led off the game with a home run, and John Rave, Lane Thomas and Michael Massey also went deep. Avila, now 2-3, allowed a run and three hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Rave tripled to lead off the sixth and scored on Isaac Collins’ squeeze bunt, with Bobby Witt Jr. adding an RBI single later in the inning to pad the Kansas City lead.
Yelich, Chourio Homer As Brewers Beat Guardians
Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio homered and the Milwaukee Brewers scored seven runs in the first four innings in a 9-4 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night. Chourio’s two-run shot in the fourth gave him six homers in his last seven games. Cleveland wasted a grand slam from Daniel Schneemann as Gavin Williams allowed a career-high seven earned runs in five innings, falling to 9-4. Chad Patrick struck out seven and allowed one hit over 3 1/3 innings of relief. Cooper Pratt, one night after his major league debut, singled for his first hit and later drove in his first run in the eighth.
Cubs Erupt For Seven-Run Inning To Beat Rockies
Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong homered as the Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies 8-6 on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field to take the series. The Cubs batted around in a seven-run second inning against Rockies starter Sean Sullivan, tying a season high for runs in a frame. Alex Bregman drew a leadoff walk, Ian Happ singled and Matt Shaw drove a 102.4-mph triple into the right-center gap to score both runners. Seiya Suzuki added a run-scoring double. Crow-Armstrong’s 15th home run came in the fourth. Chicago, now 39-36, clinched back-to-back series wins for the first time since May 6.
Braves Transfer Strider To 60-Day IL, Add Carrasco And Camargo
The Atlanta Braves transferred right-hander Spencer Strider to the 60-day injured list and designated right-hander Hunter Stratton for assignment, opening two 40-man roster spots to select right-hander Carlos Carrasco and catcher Jair Camargo. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Strider had landed on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation, and the club said he would be shut down for four weeks before a follow-up MRI; the 60-day transfer rules him out until at least mid-August. Carrasco, 39, cannot be optioned to the minors and has repeatedly been added for fresh relief. Camargo, 26, signed a minor league deal with Atlanta and has played five career big league games.
American League
1. Yankees — 45–27, —
2. Rays — 41–30, 3.5
3. Blue Jays — 36–38, 10
4. Orioles — 35–40, 11.5
5. Red Sox — 29–42, 15.5
1. White Sox — 38–34, —
2. Guardians — 39–35, —
3. Twins — 35–40, 4.5
4. Tigers — 30–44, 9
5. Royals — 30–45, 9.5
1. Mariners — 38–37, —
2. Athletics — 36–38, 1.5
3. Rangers — 35–38, 2
4. Astros — 35–41, 3.5
5. Angels — 30–45, 8
National League
1. Braves — 46–27, —
2. Phillies — 40–34, 6.5
3. Nationals — 39–36, 8
4. Marlins — 37–38, 10
5. Mets — 33–41, 13.5
1. Brewers — 45–26, —
2. Cardinals — 40–32, 5.5
3. Cubs — 39–36, 8
4. Pirates — 38–37, 9
5. Reds — 35–38, 11
1. Dodgers — 48–27, —
2. Padres — 38–35, 9
3. Diamondbacks — 38–36, 9.5
4. Giants — 31–43, 16.5
5. Rockies — 28–47, 20
ROBOTICS
Brandon Lai Designs Custom Cycloidal Actuators for DIY Humanoid Robot
Brandon Lai is building a humanoid robot from scratch and, rather than rely on off-the-shelf components, designed his own actuators from the ground up. Inspired by an MIT research paper, Lai modified the original design by swapping the planetary gearbox for a cycloidal variant, targeting 40 to 60 rpm with a sustained 20 Newton-meters of torque running continuously for up to one hour. He fabricated and tested the prototype, documenting both successes and failures in detail on Hackaday. The project is notable for tackling one of the hardest mechanical challenges in robot construction — producing compact, high-torque, low-speed drives without sourcing expensive proprietary parts.
Steampunk Tachyscope Uses Century-Old Vacuum Tubes for 360° Laser Oscilloscope Display
Daniel Ross entered the Hackaday 2026 Frikkin Lasers Contest with a 360-degree oscilloscope display called the Tachyscope. The build uses a helium-neon laser tube — a rarity in an era dominated by solid-state diodes — shining up a hollow shaft onto a galvanometer mirror mounted on a platform spinning at roughly 100 RPM. Line-level audio feeds a power amplifier built from four UV-201 vacuum tubes dating back over a century. The galvanometer sweeps the beam across a translucent cylindrical target, generating waveform images by persistence of vision as the platform rotates. A multi-pole slip ring carries signals between the stationary electronics and the spinning display assembly.
SCINTIX P4 Brings ESP32-P4 Compute Module Compatibility to Raspberry Pi CM4 and CM5 Boards
The SCINTIX P4 is a new crowdfunding campaign offering a compute module based on Espressif’s ESP32-P4 chip that slots into Raspberry Pi CM4 and CM5 carrier boards. The module pairs the ESP32-P4’s dual-core Xtensa LX9 processor and RISC-V coprocessor with Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and enhanced HMI capabilities, targeting developers who want AI-assisted display and camera processing on existing CM4-compatible hardware. The design maintains compatibility with most CM4 and CM5 carrier boards, though the campaign notes a caveat for certain configurations. SCINTIX P4 is aimed at makers seeking an affordable path to ESP32-P4 functionality without migrating their current hardware platform.
Zhihe A210 Octa-Core RISC-V SoC with 12 TOPS NPU Powers Compact SoM Dev Board
Zhihe’s A210 is an octa-core RISC-V system-on-chip integrating a 12 TOPS neural processing unit, now powering a compact system-on-module development board aimed at edge AI applications. The SoC combines eight RISC-V cores with a high-performance NPU configuration uncommon in maker-accessible RISC-V hardware, making the A210 notable for embedded vision, voice recognition, and inference workloads. The development board exposes standard peripheral interfaces for rapid prototyping. RISC-V continues gaining traction in embedded development as an open architecture alternative to Arm, and the A210’s 12 TOPS NPU marks a significant step in performance for boards targeting makers and independent hardware developers.
Markforged Adds Four New Colors to Its Onyx GF Industrial 3D Printing Material Line
Markforged has expanded its Onyx GF material lineup with four new color options for the chopped glass fiber-filled nylon used exclusively in its FX-series industrial 3D printers. The addition gives the material, known for stiffness and dimensional stability, greater visual flexibility for customer-facing parts and prototypes that would otherwise require painting. Onyx GF delivers improved surface quality over standard Onyx, with the glass fiber fill providing enhanced rigidity compared to unfilled nylon. The new colors follow growing demand from product designers using industrial-grade filament printers for end-use components. Exact color names and updated material pricing were not disclosed in the announcement covered by All3DP.
Rockchip RK3539 Quad-Core Cortex-A55 SoC Debuts in Low-Cost Android 14 4K TV Stick with AV1 Support
A new low-cost Android 14 TV stick has appeared featuring the Rockchip RK3539, a quad-core Cortex-A55 system-on-chip marking the chip’s debut in a consumer device. The stick delivers 4K output with hardware AV1 codec decode support, placing it competitively in the budget streaming hardware market. For makers and single-board computer enthusiasts, the RK3539 platform is notable given Rockchip’s consistent track record of releasing hackable development boards alongside consumer product launches. AV1 hardware decode is a meaningful addition as the codec becomes standard across streaming services. Full connectivity specifications including USB, HDMI, and wireless interfaces were published by CNX Software following the device’s announcement.
Amlogic A311Y3 Targets Edge AI with Cortex-A78 Cores, 8 TOPS NPU, and LPDDR5 Memory
Amlogic has announced the A311Y3, an octa-core system-on-chip combining Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 CPU clusters with an 8 TOPS neural processing unit and LPDDR5 memory support. The chip targets edge AI compute for smart cameras, robotics, and intelligent IoT devices, following the market traction of Amlogic’s widely used A311D chip found in boards such as the Khadas VIM3. LPDDR5 support provides a substantial memory bandwidth improvement for NPU inference tasks compared to LPDDR4-equipped predecessors. CNX Software published specifications covering codec support, peripheral interfaces, and display output capabilities. The A311Y3 positions Amlogic competitively in the 8 TOPS edge performance tier alongside competing silicon from Rockchip and NXP.
POLICY
OMB Proposes Major Overhaul of Federal Grant Rules Governing Nonprofits
The Office of Management and Budget proposed sweeping changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal grants to nonprofits, drawing more than 14,800 public comments since the proposal dropped May 29. The revision would grant the administration unprecedented discretion to withhold, suspend, or terminate grants, raising alarm across the sector. The National Council of Nonprofits is urging organizations to submit comments before the July 13 deadline. Museums and other cultural institutions face particular exposure, according to the American Alliance of Museums, which warned member organizations of the risks. Sector advocates say the changes would upend decades of stable grant administration practices.
One Big Beautiful Bill Reshapes Charitable Giving Incentives for Donors at Every Level
Congress’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, with key provisions taking effect June 11, fundamentally reshapes the tax incentives driving charitable giving. For the first time, non-itemizers may deduct up to $1,000 (or $2,000 for joint filers) in charitable contributions—but itemizers face a new 0.5% AGI floor, and the deduction is capped at 35% for top earners. Executives earning over $1 million now trigger a 21% excise tax. The Council of Nonprofits projects the package will reduce sector resources by $81 billion over ten years, while Medicaid and food assistance cuts simultaneously drive up demand for nonprofit services.
Donor-Advised Funds Deliver 75% Revenue Growth as DAF Share of Philanthropy Climbs
Donor-advised funds are reshaping nonprofit revenue at a remarkable pace, according to a new report from K2D Strategies and Chariot covering 54 nonprofits and $3.3 billion in DAF revenue. Organizations receiving DAF gifts saw 75% median revenue growth between 2022 and 2025, compared to just 12% growth from non-DAF sources. The median DAF gift is now 12 times larger than a non-DAF donation. DAFs have grown from 7% to 11% of total nonprofit revenue during that period. More than 50,000 donors shifted to DAF giving between 2021 and 2025, the report found, signaling a structural transformation in how major philanthropic dollars flow to the sector.
PSLF Rule That Could Strip Nonprofit Workers of Loan Forgiveness Takes Effect July 1
A new Department of Education rule takes effect July 1 that allows the federal government to strip Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility from employees of nonprofits deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose.” The rule, finalized last October, would cover organizations whose work involves DEI programs, immigration legal services, gender-affirming care, or protest-related activities. Employees at affected organizations would lose the ability to count future loan payments toward the program’s 120-payment requirement. A coalition led by the National Council of Nonprofits and state attorneys general has challenged the rule in court, but legal proceedings have not blocked its scheduled implementation.
CharityWatch Releases Guide to Top-Rated Civil Rights Charities Ahead of Juneteenth
With Juneteenth arriving Friday, CharityWatch has released its guide to top-rated civil rights and racial justice charities for donors seeking to mark the holiday with impact. The watchdog group recommends organizations including the ACLU Foundation, Center for Constitutional Rights, National Urban League (National Office), Electronic Frontier Foundation, Fortune Society, and Institute for Justice—all earning high marks for financial efficiency and transparency. CharityWatch updated its guide on June 16 to reflect the latest ratings across its Black American and Civil Rights & Social Justice categories. The timing offers donors a vetted list as Juneteenth grows into one of the year’s most significant giving occasions.
Federal Funding Crisis Deepens as Nonprofit Sector Absorbs $425 Billion in Cuts
The nonprofit sector is absorbing a multi-front financial crisis, with more than $425 billion in federal funds canceled or frozen since January 2025, according to the National Council of Nonprofits. A recent NCN survey found 66% of nonprofits now have concerns about financial stability, 34% report reduced federal funding, and 29% report cuts from state and local government. Payment delays compound the strain, creating growing wait lists for essential services including food assistance, housing support, and crisis intervention. NCN leaders say service disruptions are spreading across the country and warn the situation will worsen if Congress passes further cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs.
Independent Sector Launches Nonpartisan Voter Engagement Series Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Independent Sector is launching “Voices in Action,” a monthly nonpartisan email series providing nonprofits with practical guidance for civic engagement ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. The initiative draws on recent IS research showing that significantly fewer nonprofits report engaging in advocacy or lobbying compared to 20 years ago—even as polls show strong bipartisan public support for the sector’s civic role. An IS poll conducted in April 2026 found broad support across party lines for nonprofits helping communities participate in elections. IS emphasized the series will not endorse candidates, positioning it as a tool to help nonprofits exercise their full legal right to voter education.
BOX OFFICE
Toy Story 5 Eyes Franchise-Record $275M Global Opening Weekend
Disney -Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is tracking for a franchise-record $275 million global debut when it opens in 4,425 North American theaters on June 19 , with domestic projections of $140 million—the biggest start of 2026. Presales have already hit $25 million, running slightly ahead of Super Mario Galaxy but behind Moana 2. The Juneteenth holiday is expected to lift Thursday night previews above normal. The film finds Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the gang navigating a tablet-obsessed Bonnie. Some international markets, including Japan (July 3) and Germany (July 23), open on staggered dates.
DOJ Clears Paramount–Warner Bros. Merger Over Staff Lawyers’ Objections
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division approved Paramount ’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery , but the clearance drew immediate backlash after reporting revealed senior DOJ officials overrode career staff lawyers who had been “leaning” toward recommending a lawsuit to block the deal. Senator Elizabeth Warren called the move “reeks of corruption” on Bluesky, citing a Wall Street Journal account that the antitrust staffers who investigated the merger “didn’t participate in writing” the department’s clearance statement. The deal, expected to close by September 2026 , still faces European Commission scrutiny under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation, with a provisional July 14 vetting deadline.
DGA Secures Four-Year Deal With Streaming Residual Hikes and New AI Protections
The Directors Guild of America reached a four-year contract with the major studios and streamers, winning streaming residual increases, health plan improvements, and sweeping new artificial intelligence protections. All AI-generated footage must remain under a director’s creative control, with studios required to provide advance notice and transparency around any AI training use. The deal also limits actors and non-directors from helming TV episodes—a provision responding to the 40 percent downturn in TV production jobs over four years. The DGA’s 19,500 members must still ratify the agreement. The AI and residuals language closely mirrors terms won earlier by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
WIF and ReFrame Release Emmy FYC ‘Who to Watch’ Guide With Ballots Closing June 23
Women in Film and gender equity advocate ReFrame have jointly published a “Who to Watch” Emmy FYC guide spotlighting female, nonbinary, and trans creators in the least gender-diverse nomination categories. The guide highlights directors, writers, cinematographers, composers, and VFX supervisors—among them writer-producers Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky of “Hacks,” Quinta Brunson of “Abbott Elementary,” and director Jamie Babbit of “Only Murders in the Building.” The release is a targeted final push, arriving as Emmy nomination ballots close June 23 —the last week of the voting window for Television Academy members ahead of the official nominations announcement.
Prime Video Bets on ‘Entertainment Hub’ Model With 600-Plus APAC Partnerships
Amazon Prime Video is repositioning itself as an “entertainment hub” rather than a standalone streamer, executives revealed at the APOS (Asia-Pacific Online Streaming) conference in Bali. The platform now works with more than 600 content partners worldwide—including over 70 in Japan , 50 in Australia, and 30 in India—many of whom treat Prime Video as their primary distribution route. The hub model layers add-on subscriptions and transactional rentals atop the core Amazon Prime tier, offering customers the widest selection through a single app while giving smaller content partners Amazon’s global audience without requiring independent technology or payments infrastructure.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Tracking $55M-Plus Opening as DC Studios’ Second Feature
Warner Bros. and DC Studios have opened advance ticket sales for “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” arriving in theaters on June 26 with initial tracking showing a domestic opening above $55 million . Craig Gillespie directs Milly Alcock (“House of the Dragon”) as Kara Zor-El, with Jason Momoa as antihero Lobo. Unaided audience awareness already runs higher than pre-release figures for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” ($81.6M domestic opening) and “Thunderbolts*” ($74.3M). The official trailer has accumulated 27 million YouTube views over two months. The film is the second release from James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios reboot.
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