Janine Digest — Friday, July 3, 2026

Hamilton Reveals Ferrari Losing Four Tenths Per Lap to Mercedes in Silverstone Power Deployment Crisis

Lewis Hamilton has revealed Ferrari is losing around four tenths of a second per lap to Mercedes on the straights at Silverstone, warning of an “unprecedented weekend in terms of power deployment.” Hamilton confirmed drivers have formed a WhatsApp group to discuss the super-clipping energy crisis. “We run out of battery power and the K motor will be switched off for a large portion of the lap,” he explained, adding that through Maggots-Becketts the deficit could effectively double. Ferrari sits 98 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ standings, and Hamilton admitted Silverstone’s layout does not naturally favour the SF-26.

Drivers Warn Silverstone's Famous High-Speed Character at Risk From Super-Clipping Energy Crisis

Multiple drivers have warned that super-clipping is set to erode Silverstone’s famous high-speed character at this weekend’s British Grand Prix. Super-clipping describes the phenomenon where cars exhaust their electrical energy reserves and lose hybrid power through sustained fast corners, with Silverstone offering few heavy braking zones to recharge the battery. Alexander Albon said the circuit is “less special” than it once was. Charles Leclerc noted that “high-speed corners become more like medium-speed corners,” while Franco Colapinto expressed hope conditions would prove better than feared. The FIA is making operational changes but cannot alter the fundamental track layout driving the problem.

Hamilton Details Year-Long Battle to Earn Ferrari Engineering Trust After Barcelona Breakthrough

Lewis Hamilton has described a year-long process of rebuilding trust with Ferrari engineers following his arrival from Mercedes. Hamilton fought for front suspension geometry changes, brake modifications, and an engineer realignment before finally achieving results. “People tend to listen to you less” when results are poor, he said. The breakthrough came at Barcelona, where Hamilton took his first Ferrari victory in the team’s first win in nearly two years. He now sits third in the championship with 125 points, 46 behind leader Kimi Antonelli, and arrives at Silverstone targeting a record tenth British Grand Prix victory. “The trust is now there and things I ask for get done,” he said.

Ferrari Bring Targeted Silverstone Upgrades After Pinpointing Root Causes of Austria Failures

Ferrari has identified the root causes of its Austrian Grand Prix struggles and is bringing targeted aerodynamic upgrades to Silverstone. The SF-26 suffered from a combination of factors in Austria: soft Pirelli compounds that did not suit the car, a corner-entry fix that induced rear tyre overheating, and power unit performance degradation at altitude and in high temperatures. For Silverstone, Ferrari benefits from harder Pirelli compounds and cooler conditions. The update package includes a revised Macarena wing and a low-drag diffuser configuration. Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth and Charles Leclerc eighth in Austria despite showing strong pace in earlier sessions.

Alonso's F1 Retirement Decision to Hinge on Aston Martin Upgrade Performance This Summer

Fernando Alonso will make his Formula 1 retirement decision during the summer break, with his choice reportedly contingent on the performance of Aston Martin’s upcoming upgrade packages. Aston Martin is bringing aerodynamic upgrades to Silverstone this weekend, with Honda separately confirming a power unit improvement targeting the Dutch Grand Prix in August. Alonso and the team hold a 2027 contract option, but Alonso has indicated results over the next several races will heavily influence his thinking. The Spaniard has scored just one championship point in 2026, leaving him eighteenth in the standings. Technical director Adrian Newey is overseeing a comprehensive engineering recovery programme.

Honda Confirms Dutch Grand Prix Power Unit Upgrade to Aid Aston Martin Championship Recovery

Honda has confirmed a significant power unit upgrade targeting the Dutch Grand Prix in August, part of a phased development programme aimed at boosting Aston Martin’s championship recovery. Power unit director Shintaro Orihara disclosed the programme covers combustion chamber shape changes, pre-chamber modifications, and lubrication system friction reduction. “Our target is the Netherlands,” Orihara said. Aston Martin, which has scored just a single championship point from 2026’s opening eight races, is relying heavily on Honda’s development roadmap as Adrian Newey simultaneously restructures the team’s engineering and manufacturing operations ahead of a critical second half of the season.

Button Warns Mercedes Against Complacency as Sprint Weekend Format Adds Silverstone Complexity

Jenson Button has issued a warning to Mercedes ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, urging the championship leader not to assume Silverstone will be a straightforward victory. Mercedes enters as heavy favourite on a circuit that should maximise the W16’s straight-line advantage, with Kimi Antonelli 40 points clear of team-mate George Russell. However, Button pointed out that the sprint weekend format — with only one free practice session before Friday’s Sprint Qualifying — compresses the development window and leaves less margin for error. Lewis Hamilton, third in the standings on 125 points, arrives chasing a record tenth British Grand Prix victory and adds further threat to Mercedes’ expected dominance.

Bearman Admits Austria Was a 'Punch in the Face' as Haas Seek Silverstone Recovery

Oliver Bearman has admitted that Haas’s Austrian Grand Prix performance was a “punch in the face,” delivering a frank assessment of the team’s difficult outing at the Red Bull Ring. Bearman acknowledged the squad is working to understand why its Austria pace fell short of expectations and what adjustments can be made to recover at Silverstone this weekend. Haas has scored 21 points in 2026, with Bearman contributing 18. The team arrives at the British Grand Prix hoping a circuit that better suits its aerodynamic package can help them reverse recent form ahead of a sprint weekend that compresses the usual preparation time available to engineers and drivers.

Formula 1's Lego Parade Cars Return to Silverstone Following Miami Grand Prix Format Issues

Formula 1’s Lego drivers’ parade cars are returning to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix this weekend following the format’s troubled debut at the Miami Grand Prix. The promotional concept, in which drivers are escorted around the circuit in oversized Lego vehicles ahead of the race start, generated controversy in Miami with some drivers expressing frustration over elements of the arrangement. The British Grand Prix represents the format’s second appearance of the 2026 season and takes place in front of one of F1’s biggest and most enthusiastic home crowds. The event is round nine of twenty-two in the 2026 world championship.

RECAP

Miller Takes No-Hit Bid into Seventh as Mariners Blank Angels 1-0 to Complete Sweep

Bryce Miller took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and the Seattle Mariners shut out the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 Thursday night to complete a three-game series sweep. Nolan Schanuel’s blooper to right-center in the seventh ended Miller’s bid, his only hit allowed as he struck out eight and walked none. Cal Raleigh coaxed a bases-loaded walk from rookie starter Walbert Ureña with two outs in the sixth to force home the game’s only run. The Mariners (40-39) completed the sweep while the Angels (32-47) continued to struggle in the AL West, their offense held to just one hit in the series finale.

INJURY

Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez Enters Concussion Protocol After Taking Throw to Helmet

Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez entered the concussion protocol Thursday night after being struck in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball during the Mariners’ 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels. In the first inning, Rodríguez was running from first to third on a ground ball when Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel threw toward second attempting a double play; the throw struck the back of Rodríguez’s helmet at 78.2 mph. Rodríguez stayed in through the third inning before exiting. Manager Dan Wilson said the team will monitor him and he will be re-evaluated Friday. Victor Robles also departed Thursday’s game with an injury.

TRANSACTIONS

Contreras, Cavalli Each Handed Seven-Game Bans After Fenway Bench-Clearing Brawl

Major League Baseball suspended Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli and Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras for seven games each Thursday for their roles in a bench-clearing altercation the previous night at Fenway Park. The dustup began in the fourth inning Tuesday when Cavalli struck out Contreras on a full-count pitch and shouted at him, prompting Contreras to advance toward the mound and throw his helmet. Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas received a five-game suspension and Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton was handed three games. All four players were also fined. MLB senior vice president Michael Hill announced the discipline, which takes effect Friday.

RECAP

Dodgers Erase 6-0 Deficit, Outscore Padres 12-0 in 12-7 Rout; Vasquez Taken to ER

The Los Angeles Dodgers erased a six-run deficit to defeat the San Diego Padres 12-7 Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Padres built a 6-0 lead on home runs from Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth, but the Dodgers stormed back to score 12 unanswered runs. Kyle Tucker, Dalton Rushing and Mookie Betts each homered during the Dodgers’ surge. Padres starter Randy Vásquez was struck by a 99 mph comebacker in the first inning but remained for three innings before being removed; Vásquez fainted after the game and was taken to the emergency room as a precaution, though he was reported stable.

RECAP

Cardinals Erase 2-Run Deficit with Seven-Run Seventh, Down Braves 11-5

The St. Louis Cardinals erased a two-run deficit with a seven-run seventh inning to beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5 Thursday night, winning two of three in the series. Jordan Walker homered and drove in four runs, while Nathan Church hit a tying two-run homer off Tyler Kinley (4-3) to ignite the decisive frame. JJ Wetherholt added a go-ahead run-scoring single off Dylan Lee, and Walker knocked in another run in the big inning. Gordon Graceffo (6-1) pitched a scoreless sixth to earn the win. Alec Burleson added a ninth-inning homer and Masyn Winn finished 3-for-4 for St. Louis. Dominic Smith drove in three runs with a first-inning double for Atlanta.

RECAP

Eovaldi Takes No-Hitter into Fifth as Rangers Rout Tigers 10-4

Nathan Eovaldi took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and the Texas Rangers defeated the Detroit Tigers 10-4 Thursday night in Arlington. Eovaldi carried his no-hit bid through the first four innings before the Tigers broke through with three runs in the fifth, but Texas had already built a comfortable advantage. Elias Díaz, Josh Smith and Evan Carter each connected on solo home runs to power the Rangers’ offense. Texas improved to 37-40 while Detroit dropped to 33-44. Eovaldi’s near-no-hitter was one of two taken deep into games Thursday, with Seattle’s Bryce Miller also carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels.

RECAP

Pirates Beat Phillies 6-1 to Split Four-Game Series; Rodriguez, Gonzales Homer

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 Thursday night to split their four-game series, with Endy Rodriguez and Nick Gonzales homering and Esmerlyn Valdez driving in two runs. Valdez tripled and singled to contribute to a balanced Pittsburgh effort at Citizens Bank Park, while Gonzales finished with three hits and two RBI. Jake Mangum added three hits and Brandon Lowe reached base three times for the Pirates. Carmen Mlodzinski pitched three scoreless innings in relief. The Phillies, who had won 11 of their previous 15 home games, managed just four hits as the Pirates’ pitching staff held them in check.

RECAP

Rockies Pound Marlins 14-4 in Denver to Earn Series Split

The Colorado Rockies pounded the Miami Marlins 14-4 Thursday night in Denver, earning a split of their four-game series. Jake McCarthy drove in four runs and Mickey Moniak added two RBI and finished a triple shy of the cycle to lead Colorado’s attack. Marlins outfielder Otto Lopez went 3-for-4 and came a home run shy of the cycle himself, maintaining his MLB leads in hits (115), batting average (.336) and multi-hit games (36). Colorado improved to 30-48 on the season while the Marlins dropped to 40-38 in the NL East standings, where they continue to contend for a National League wild-card spot.

SECURITY

Hackers Breach DHS Intelligence-Sharing Network Used for World Cup Security

Hackers breached the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) during late May and early June, DHS officials confirmed. The platform, used by federal, state, and local agencies to share intelligence and coordinate emergency response, was struck in what DHS called “a recent cyber incident involving a specific, unclassified legacy information sharing environment.” Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, warned the accessed information “risks national security,” noting HSIN is actively supporting FIFA World Cup operations in the U.S. The breach adds to a string of federal cybersecurity failures following deep cuts to CISA and federal security budgets.

Zuckerberg Tells Staff Meta’s AI Agent Overhaul Is Behind Schedule

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told staff at an internal town hall Thursday that AI agent development has not “accelerated in the way” executives had anticipated. Meta laid off approximately 8,000 employees — about 10 percent of its corporate workforce — in May and reassigned 7,000 to AI groups, including a unit called Agent Transformation. Zuckerberg acknowledged the job cuts were not as “clean” as they should have been, driven by concern the company was not moving fast enough. He said the restructuring’s benefits have not yet “come to fruition,” though he expects improvements in three to six months. Meta plans to spend up to $145 billion on AI infrastructure this year.

REGULATION

OpenAI Proposes Donating 5% Equity Stake to U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman proposed donating 5 percent of the company’s equity to a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, the Financial Times reported. Under the plan, other major AI companies would contribute similar stakes. Altman described the move as a way to “secure good relations with the administration and address political blowback” as OpenAI continues its transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit company. The proposal would require congressional approval. Separately, Sen. Sanders introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which would impose a one-time 50 percent tax on AI company profits to seed a federal public investment fund.

ROBOTICS

Apptronik Unveils Apollo 2 Humanoid and 90,000-Sq-Ft Robot Park Training Facility

Austin-based robotics company Apptronik unveiled Apollo 2, an upgraded humanoid robot featuring both bipedal and wheeled configurations, alongside a new 90,000-square-foot training and data collection facility in Austin it calls Robot Park. The company, backed by a Google DeepMind Gemini Robotics partnership, announced customers Mercedes-Benz and GXO among early Apollo 2 commercial deployments. CEO Jeff Cardenas said the company is focused on “what they can do every day on the job.” Apptronik employs approximately 300 staff and has raised roughly $1 billion in total funding. Robot Park is designed to generate the real-world operational data needed to train robots for manufacturing and logistics environments.

INDUSTRY

Together AI Raises $800 Million at $8.3 Billion Valuation Led by Aramco Ventures

Together AI, a cloud platform for open-source AI model training and inference, raised $800 million in new funding at an $8.3 billion valuation, led by Aramco Ventures. The company reports annual bookings exceeding $1.15 billion and has seen open-source model usage on its platform triple industry-wide over the past year. Major customers include coding tool Cursor, agentic AI startup Cognition, and enterprise AI company Decagon. Together AI previously raised $305 million at a $3.3 billion valuation approximately 16 months ago. The company was co-founded by Vipul Ved Prakash, who sold Topsy to Apple, Percy Liang of Stanford, and Ce Zhang of ETH Zürich.

HARDWARE

UCLA Launches $125 Million Hub to Accelerate Next-Generation AI Chip Design

A new $125 million semiconductor research hub at the University of California, Los Angeles will focus on designing AI chips optimized for edge inference, targeting the growing gap between rapidly evolving AI models — which update every few months — and chip development cycles that take 18 to 48 months. Partners include Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries, Meta, Synopsys, and Broadcom. Dean Ah-Hyung “Alissa” Park is leading the initiative. The hub will co-advise PhD students with both academic and industry supervisors, aiming to accelerate a new generation of hardware designed specifically for on-device AI inference. The facility reflects broader industry concern about AI hardware lagging model development.

LAYOFFS

Tech Accounts for Nearly a Third of All U.S. Layoffs in H1 2026

Technology companies cut 139,156 jobs in the first half of 2026, an 83% surge from the 76,214 tech layoffs recorded in the same period a year earlier, according to data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Artificial intelligence was cited as a cause in 101,743 of all U.S. job cuts through June—approximately 23% of the national total—making AI the leading stated reason for workforce reductions for four consecutive months. Tech accounted for nearly a third of all 443,604 U.S. layoffs recorded in H1 2026. The sector shed 15,503 jobs in June alone.

HIRING

June 2026 Jobs Report: Economy Adds Just 57,000 Jobs

The U.S. economy added just 57,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in June 2026, falling well short of the 115,000 consensus forecast from Dow Jones and marking a significant softening in labor market momentum. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2%, but largely because the labor force participation rate fell 0.3 percentage points to 61.5%, its lowest level since March 2021. Prior months were also revised downward: April by 31,000 and May by 43,000, a combined reduction of 74,000 jobs. Professional and business services led gains at 36,000, while leisure and hospitality shed 61,000 jobs.

TALENT

AI Coding Startups Adopt Radical Recruiting: Bootcamps, Work Trials, Token Burn

A growing cohort of AI coding startups is abandoning résumés and LeetCode tests in favor of unconventional recruiting methods. Cursor uses unpaid multi-day work trials on real codebases, with CEO Michael Truell personally scouting GitHub and other platforms for engineers. Kilo Code holds weeklong overseas bootcamps—one Amsterdam session yielded five hires. Rocket, backed by Accel, asks candidates to share their weekly AI token burn rate as a proxy for adoption. Replit and Base44 rely on public GitHub projects over formal applications. Cognition, valued at $26 billion, sent its head of people on a cross-world flight to meet a single candidate in person.

HR TECH

HR Still ‘Experimenting at the Margins’ on AI, Not Redesigning Work

Most HR departments are still “experimenting at the margins” with artificial intelligence rather than fundamentally redesigning how work gets done, according to a July 2 report from the Institute for Corporate Productivity. After surveying more than 1,300 global business and HR leaders, i4cp researchers found that even as workplaces move past “isolated AI use cases,” implementation remains a “series of disconnected experiments.” Organizations with a strong AI culture reported 4.5 times the HR impact compared to peers—and were more likely to actively coach managers on AI adoption—suggesting the gap between leaders and laggards is widening fast.

POLICY

Protect Democracy: Civil Society Must Fight for Proportional Representation, Not Just Defend Against Authoritarianism

Cyrena Kokolis and Farbod Faraji, advocates at Protect Democracy, write in NPQ’s “In Defense of Civil Society” column that the nonprofit sector is playing defense against authoritarianism — and that defense alone will not be enough. Their structural solution is proportional representation, or ProRep, in American elections. Under the current winner-take-all system, they argue, partisan gerrymandering and minority rule are built in. ProRep would replace single-member districts with multi-member ones, ensuring legislative seats reflect the actual distribution of votes. Kokolis and Faraji describe it as the reform most likely to sustain a multiracial, pluralist democracy against authoritarian capture.

ANALYSIS

The National Park Foundation’s Latino Heritage Fund: How Philanthropy Built Real Work — Then Dismantled It

Midy Aponte-Vargas, appointed founding executive director of the American Latino Heritage Fund at the National Park Foundation by Obama Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in 2011, reflects on a pattern she calls philanthropy as extraction. The Fund’s work was real — including the designation of the Cesar Chavez National Monument and commissioning a comprehensive Latino history theme study for the National Park Service. But after the 2012 election cycle passed, the Fund was wound down alongside the African American Experience Fund. Writing for America’s 250th, Aponte-Vargas warns: visibility without infrastructure is fragile. Recognition without redistribution of power repeats the same pattern.

SUCCESS

Sikh Coalition Executive Director: 25 Years After 9/11, Sikh Identity Is Resilience — Not a Liability to Conceal

Harman Singh, Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition, reflects on 25 years since 9/11 and the civil rights movement born from post-9/11 hate crimes against Sikhs and South Asians. The Sikh Coalition was founded in direct response to that violence. Writing for America’s 250th anniversary as part of NPQ’s WetheCivic series, Singh argues that Sikh identity — turbans, kirpans, and uncut hair — should be claimed as a source of resilience, not concealed for safety. The community’s path forward, he writes, requires expecting rights rather than merely requesting them — a shift from deference to assertion.

ANALYSIS

Black Innovation Alliance CEO: Civil Society Is Summoned to Refound Democracy, Not Simply Defend It

Kelly Burton, CEO of the Black Innovation Alliance, centers her essay for America’s 250th anniversary on the Constitution’s Preamble and the phrase “a more perfect Union,” which she attributes to Gouverneur Morris. Writing for NPQ’s WetheCivic series, Burton argues that those words are a summons — not to preserve a flawed democracy but to continually refound it. Civil society cannot limit itself to playing defense against authoritarianism; it must articulate a bold, structural vision for what America could become. Burton is also the author of the forthcoming book “The Price of Union.”

IMPACT

Youth250 Initiative: Young Americans Were Never Waiting — Civic Disengagement Is a Structural Failure

Dillon St. Bernard, co-founder of Youth250 and founder of Team DSB, rejects the narrative that young people are civically disengaged. Writing for America’s 250th anniversary as part of NPQ’s WetheCivic series, St. Bernard argues that young Americans were never waiting for permission — they have been building, creating, and organizing all along. The real failure, he writes, is structural: civic institutions invite youth participation without granting real decision-making authority. Youth250, launched by the nonprofit Made By Us, positions Gen Z creators as genuine civic infrastructure rather than token participants. The moment calls for transferring actual power to young Americans.

IMPACT

Drag Queen Pattie Gonia’s “Save Her” Climate Tour Hits 20+ Cities and Has Raised $1 Million for Nonprofits

Environmental activist and drag queen Pattie Gonia — Wyn Wiley out of drag — is touring more than 20 American cities on the “Save Her” show, merging climate advocacy with LGBTQ+ performance. The tour partners with local drag artists at each stop and draws crowds exceeding a thousand. Wiley previously completed a 100-mile trek in full drag from Point Reyes National Seashore to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, raising $1 million for environmental and social justice nonprofits. Wiley has also co-founded Outdoorist Oath, an environmental equity organization. The clothing brand Patagonia has sued Pattie Gonia over a trademark application, sparking a public dispute.

Supergirl Tracking 60% Second-Weekend Drop as DC Studios Projects $125M Overall Loss

Supergirlis tracking an estimated60% dropin its second weekend, as analysts now project the DC Studios release will incur an overall loss of approximately$125 million. The film opened last weekend to$37.1 milliondomestically — well below pre-release tracking of $55 million-plus — and earned a weakB− CinemaScore. DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran acknowledged the debut fell below expectations. The underperformance accelerates pressure on the studio to recalibrate its character rollout strategy under the new DCU leadership and draws scrutiny to whether the female-led chapter of the DC Universe was launched prematurely.

Young Washington Opens for America’s 250th Birthday, Angel Studios Projects $15-20M Four-Day

Angel Studios’ historical biopicYoung Washingtonopens in theaters today, timed to coincide with America’s250th anniversaryon July 4. Directed byJon Erwin, the film follows the early life of George Washington and starsWilliam Franklyn-Millerin the title role alongside Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, and Kelsey Grammer. Angel Studios is projecting a$15–20 million four-day opening, leaning on the patriotic timing and a grassroots ticket-preorder campaign urging audiences to “make this the No. 1 movie in America” on the nation’s 250th birthday. The release positions the studio as patriotic counter-programming against the family-animation of Minions & Monsters.

A24 Returns Backrooms to Theaters with 16 Extra Minutes as Backrooms: Everything Must Go

A24returned Backrooms to theaters Friday under the expanded titleBackrooms: Everything Must Go, adding16 minutes of new footageand bringing the runtime to 2 hours and 6 minutes. The re-release is a bold ancillary play for A24’s biggest domestic hit, which earned$184 millionin North America on a $10 million production budget. DirectorKane Parsons, who is 20 years old, adapted his own YouTube horror series for the big screen. The new cut adds lore and Easter eggs for repeat viewers, capitalizing on the July 4 holiday corridor and the film’s sustained Gen Z fanbase.

YouTube Horror Series The Mandela Catalogue Lands at Spielberg’s Amblin and Amazon MGM After 11-Studio Bidding War

Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment,Amazon MGM Studios, and United Artists won the film rights to YouTube analog-horror seriesThe Mandela Cataloguein a competitive11-studio bidding war, according to Deadline. CreatorAlex Kisterwill direct the feature adaptation from a screenplay he co-wrote with Tyler Clifton; Spielberg and Holly Bario produce alongside Aaron B. Koontz and Scott Stuber. The deal follows theatrical breakouts from YouTube-origin genre films Obsession and Backrooms, which together grossed over $700 million worldwide, accelerating studios’ appetite for creator-native IP. The Mandela Catalogue has amassed more than 100 million views on YouTube.

Emmy Nominations Drop July 8: Netflix Projects 124 Nods, Pluribus and The Pitt Lead Programs

Emmy nominations for the2026 Primetime Emmy Awardswill be announcedWednesday, July 8at 11:30 a.m. ET, with final-round predictions from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter projectingNetflixto lead all distributors with124 nominations. Apple TV+’s sci-fi dramaPluribusis forecast to top all individual programs with 22 nominations, ahead of HBO Max’s The Pitt at 21 and Netflix’s Beef Season 2 at 17. Returning HBO Max comedy Hacks and first-year contender Widow’s Bay are also projected for breakout Emmy showings, with the announcement just five days away.

Project Hail Mary Arrives on Prime Video Today, 105 Days After $340M Domestic Theatrical Run

Project Hail Mary, theRyan Gosling-led sci-fi adventure that grossed$340 million domesticallyin theaters, began streaming onPrime Videotoday, exactly105 days after its theatrical debut. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film follows astronaut Ryland Grace on a solo mission to prevent an extinction-level solar event. The Prime Video arrival follows an exclusive window on MGM+. Amazon MGM Studios timed the streaming premiere to the Fourth of July holiday weekend, positioning the acclaimed sci-fi adventure as a high-profile tentpole event for subscribers.

Wednesday Producer Tommy Harper Wants His AI Platform VeYou to Become the HBO of Vertical Video

Tommy Harper, executive producer of Netflix’s Wednesday and the film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, launched AI-powered microdrama platformVeYouin April and told Deadline he aims to make it “the HBO of vertical.” Harper described the category as “TV in your pocket with a global passport” and compared the current moment to “Spotify in 2008.” Lead investor isS32, the Silicon Valley venture firm founded byBill Marisof Google Ventures, with per-series budgets ranging from$100,000 to $250,000. The platform’s latest title, Rival Hearts, is a soccer romance created with Rivr Films, owned by Cleveland Browns owner Dee Haslam.