SAMWISE
Good morning John. Here is your personal morning briefing · samwise.agency
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
RACE RESULT
Lewis Hamilton Claims Maiden Ferrari Grand Prix Victory at Barcelona
Lewis Hamilton claimed his first Formula 1 victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, ending a 686-day winless streak with his 106th career win. The 41-year-old executed a three-stop strategy that comprehensively outpaced the field, capitalising on a virtual safety car when Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin stopped with a suspected battery issue on lap 40. Hamilton crossed the line almost 20 seconds clear of George Russell, with Lando Norris completing a historic all-British podium in third — the first since 1968. Hamilton also became the seventh oldest grand prix winner in Formula 1 history and the 16th driver to win for three different teams.
Antonelli's Championship Lead Intact Despite Barcelona Retirement as Wolff Warns on Reliability
Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers' Championship by 41 points over Lewis Hamilton after a power unit failure ended his race in Barcelona, costing him a likely podium finish. Toto Wolff said afterwards that Mercedes “can't compete for a championship” with its current power unit reliability, as Antonelli's shutdown marked the second race-ending mechanical failure for a Mercedes driver in recent rounds — George Russell retired while leading the Canadian Grand Prix in similar fashion. Wolff confirmed the cause of Antonelli's Barcelona failure was not yet known, but noted the symptom of the car simply switching off was consistent with the Montreal incident.
FIA Reviews ADUO Engine Results After Red Bull Challenges Benchmark Finding
The FIA is reviewing its first ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) engine assessment after Red Bull Powertrains challenged findings that rated its new power unit as the 2026 benchmark. The outcome surprised the paddock, where Mercedes had been widely considered the strongest engine supplier this season. Under the ADUO framework, Mercedes — deemed more than two per cent behind Red Bull — will receive one upgrade allocation, while Ferrari, Audi and Honda, each more than four per cent adrift, will earn two apiece. Red Bull, as the benchmark, receives no upgrades. The FIA says it will verify sensor data before confirming final allocations ahead of Austria.
Verstappen Exit Clause Set to Activate at Summer Break as Manager Confirms Details
Max Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen has publicly confirmed for the first time that Verstappen holds an exit clause in his Red Bull contract that can be activated at the summer break if he is outside the top two in the Drivers' Championship. Currently seventh on 55 points — more than 100 behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli — Verstappen appears set to trigger the clause, which would open a three-month window through October for him to decide his future. Speculation about a move to Mercedes has intensified in the paddock. Verstappen's current deal officially runs through 2028, but the clause represents a clear off-ramp.
Colapinto Handed 10-Second Penalty for Yellow Flag Breach at Barcelona
Franco Colapinto was demoted from eighth to 10th in the final Barcelona Grand Prix classification after the FIA applied a 10-second time penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under a local yellow flag. The incident occurred when Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin stopped at Turn 9 on lap 40, before the situation escalated to a virtual safety car. Colapinto was deemed not to have reduced his speed adequately during the yellow period, and was also issued two penalty points on his superlicence — his first in the previous 12 months. The penalty promoted Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad one place each, into eighth and ninth.
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 — 6 pts
15. Alexander Albon — 5 pts
16. Esteban Ocon — 3 pts
17. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
18. Fernando Alonso — 0 pts
19. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
20. Nico Hulkenberg — 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 — 0 pts
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
TECHNICAL
IndyCar to Cut Hybrid Power Output by 10-25 Percent for Rest of Season
The NTT IndyCar Series has informed teams it will reduce the power output of its hybrid systems for the remainder of the 2026 season, RACER reported June 16. The reduction begins this weekend at Road America, with technical staff making race-by-race adjustments to lower hybrid horsepower by 10 to 25 percent depending on the circuit. The move follows reliability problems with the spec energy storage systems and motor generator units that created supply concerns. By dialing energy harvesting and deployment back toward 2024 debut levels, IndyCar hopes to safeguard its pool of units. Andretti principal Ron Ruzewski expects only a few tenths of lap-time difference.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Founder Dennis Reinbold Dies at 65
Dennis Reinbold, whose Dreyer & Reinbold Racing fielded cars in the INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis 500 for more than 25 years, died June 13 surrounded by family, IndyCar announced June 14. He was 65. Reinbold, an Indianapolis automobile dealer, formed the team in 1999, naming it for grandfather Floyd “Pop” Dreyer. DRR won its first series start in January 2000 at Walt Disney World Speedway with Robbie Buhl, its only victory. All 53 cars the team entered in the Indianapolis 500 qualified. Drivers including Ryan Hunter-Reay, Simon Pagenaud, Buddy Rice and Al Unser Jr. raced for Reinbold over the years.
Palou Resumes Title Pursuit as IndyCar Returns at Road America
The NTT IndyCar Series resumes its season Sunday with the 55-lap XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, kickstarting the second half after nine completed races, IndyCar wrote June 15. Four-time series champion Alex Palou carries a 49-point lead and remains the prohibitive title favorite, having won three of the past five Road America races, including last year’s. Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, second in points, is best positioned to challenge after finishing fourth there a year ago. Team Penske’s David Malukas stands third, 68 points back. Five drivers have won races in 2026, leaving 20 still seeking their first victory of the year.
Myles Rowe on Team Penske Radar for End-of-Season IndyCar Test
Indy NXT race winner Myles Rowe is on Team Penske’s radar for an end-of-season IndyCar evaluation test, RACER reported June 15. Rowe’s drive from 24th to victory at the recent NXT round at World Wide Technology Raceway drew attention across both paddocks, with the Georgia native winning for Abel Motorsports under the Force Indy banner. Funded by Roger Penske, Rowe and Force Indy have been part of a multi-year initiative to help the former USF Pro 2000 champion reach IndyCar. Team president Jonathan Diuguid said nothing official has been decided but a post-season test would fit after Rowe concludes his third NXT season.
Palou Early Favorite at Road America as Contenders Line Up
Alex Palou is the early betting favorite for the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, FOX Sports reported June 16. The reigning champion has four wins and five poles and leads the standings with 342 points after winning the 2025 race despite leading only six laps. Kyle Kirkwood, second and 49 points behind, has one win this year at the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington in March. Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard owns a victory at the Sonsio Grand Prix and sits seven points clear of teammate Pato O’Ward, who has six top-five finishes but no podiums and still seeks his first 2026 win.
IndyCar Returns to Road America With Four Days of Racing June 18-21
The NTT IndyCar Series returns to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the XPEL Grand Prix presented by AMR, a four-day event beginning June 18, the Sheboygan Press reported June 15. The main race is set for 1 p.m. Sunday on FOX, with practice and qualifying on FS1, FS2 and FOX One and radio on SiriusXM channel 218. The field includes defending Road America winner Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward, Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Kyle Kirkwood and Indianapolis 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist. The 4-mile, 14-turn circuit is known for long straightaways, fast corners and dramatic elevation changes.
Indy NXT Doubleheader Headlines Support Card for Road America Weekend
A full support card joins the IndyCar weekend at Road America, with Indy NXT by Firestone staging a doubleheader, the Sheboygan Press reported June 15. The first Indy NXT race is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday on FS1, with the second at 11 a.m. Sunday, also on FS1. The June 18-21 event also features USF Pro 2000, USF2000, Radical Cup North America and Vintage Indy, which showcases historic IndyCar machines. Off track, the 640-acre property offers public karting, a disc golf course, a family fun zone and camping. Children 16 and younger receive free general admission with a paying adult.
Drivers’ Championship
1. Alex Palou — 342 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 293 pts
3. David Malukas — 274 pts
4. Christian Lundgaard — 246 pts
5. Pato O’Ward — 239 pts
6. Josef Newgarden — 238 pts
7. Scott McLaughlin — 222 pts
8. Felix Rosenqvist — 221 pts
9. Marcus Ericsson — 196 pts
10. Marcus Armstrong — 196 pts
11. Graham Rahal — 193 pts
12. Scott Dixon — 192 pts
13. Rinus VeeKay — 175 pts
14. Alexander Rossi — 152 pts
15. Kyffin Simpson — 147 pts
16. Santino Ferrucci — 146 pts
17. Will Power — 145 pts
18. Dennis Hauger — 133 pts
19. Louis Foster — 131 pts
20. Romain Grosjean — 117 pts
21. Nolan Siegel — 116 pts
22. Christian Rasmussen — 112 pts
23. Caio Collet — 99 pts
24. Sting Ray Robb — 89 pts
25. Mick Schumacher — 89 pts
26. Conor Daly — 24 pts
27. Takuma Sato — 20 pts
28. Jack Harvey — 8 pts
29. Jacob Abel — 6 pts
30. Helio Castroneves — 5 pts
31. Ed Carpenter — 5 pts
32. Ryan Hunter-Reay — 5 pts
33. Katherine Legge — 5 pts
Teams’ Championship
1. Team Penske — 591 pts
2. Chip Ganassi Racing — 576 pts
3. Andretti Global — 509 pts
4. Arrow McLaren — 507 pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 417 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 351 pts
7. ECR — 264 pts
7. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 264 pts
9. Dale Coyne Racing — 250 pts
10. A.J. Foyt Enterprises — 245 pts
11. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing — 32 pts
12. Abel Motorsports — 6 pts
13. HMD Motorsports — 5 pts
WEC
Toyota Ends Four-Year Le Mans Drought as Kobayashi, Conway and De Vries Win 94th Edition
Toyota Racing's No. 7 GR010 Hybrid of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Nyck de Vries claimed victory at the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14, ending the Japanese manufacturer's four-year drought at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The trio crossed the line 10.913 seconds clear of the No. 20 BMW M Hybrid V8 of Robin Frijns, René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde after 381 laps. The No. 8 sister Toyota of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa completed a one-three finish. De Vries claimed his first Le Mans win, while Kobayashi and Conway each took their second. Toyota's sixth overall victory equals Bentley's tally.
BMW Misses Historic Le Mans Upset by 10.9 Seconds as Frijns, Rast and Van der Linde Finish Second
The No. 20 BMW M Hybrid V8 of Robin Frijns, René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde came within 10.913 seconds of victory at the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours, finishing second after the car led through portions of the race before momentum shifted toward the No. 7 Toyota in the closing stages. A late Full Course Yellow period emerged with the Toyota in control, sealing the result for Kobayashi, Conway and de Vries. The sister No. 15 BMW of Kevin Magnussen, Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor had taken Hyperpole but fell further back in the final classification. BMW sits second in the Manufacturers' Championship with 96 points.
TF Sport Corvette Ends Porsche's Le Mans LMGT3 Stranglehold with Comeback from P17
The No. 33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 of Nicky Catsburg, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating won the LMGT3 class at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, ending Porsche's stranglehold on the category. Starting 17th on the LMGT3 grid, TF Sport employed an unconventional strategy by placing Bronze-rated Keating in the car for the opening phase, completing his mandatory driving time early while keeping Catsburg and Edgar fresh for the decisive stages. The No. 78 Akkodis ASP Lexus finished second, with the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin completing the podium. The result gave Corvette its first LMGT3 win and its tenth class victory at Le Mans.
Inter Europol Competition Locks Out LMP2 Podium for Third Le Mans Victory in Four Editions
Inter Europol Competition sealed a dominant one-two finish in the LMP2 class at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 43 Oreca 07 Gibson of Tom Dillmann, Kuba Smiechowski and Nick Yelloly won class honours, with the sister No. 343 car of Nico Müller, Reshad de Gerus and Bijoy Garg completing the lockout in second. The result marks Inter Europol's third LMP2 victory at Le Mans in the last four editions, giving the Polish team more Le Mans LMP2 wins than any other outfit in the current era of the championship, which dates to 2017.
Genesis Magma Racing Completes Historic Le Mans Debut in 13th Despite Overnight Mechanical Issues
Genesis Magma Racing completed a landmark Le Mans debut at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 13th overall with drivers Paul-Loup Chatin, Mathieu Jaminet and Dani Juncadella. The team became the first South Korean car manufacturer to start and finish the race in the Hypercar class. Despite the GMR-001-Hypercar stopping twice during the night with mechanical issues before continuing, the car completed 372 laps over 24 hours. Genesis had contested only three WEC races before Le Mans. The team also unveiled the Genesis Magma GT3 concept car at the race, outlining plans for further motorsport involvement in the coming decade.
Toyota Surges to Top of WEC Manufacturers' Championship with 132 Points after Le Mans Haul
Toyota leads the 2026 WEC Manufacturers' Championship with 132 points following its Le Mans one-three result, ahead of BMW with 96 and Porsche with 62. Alpine holds 38, Cadillac 32, Aston Martin 26, Peugeot 15 and Genesis 6. In the Drivers' Championship, the No. 7 Toyota crew of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Nyck de Vries lead with 75 points. The No. 20 BMW trio of René Rast, Robin Frijns and Sheldon van der Linde are second with 71, with the No. 8 Toyota of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa fourth with 56 points. The next round is the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo on July 12.
WEC Hypercar — Drivers
1. K. Kobayashi / M. Conway / N. de Vries — 75 pts
2. R. Rast / R. Frijns / S. van der Linde — 71 pts
3. S. Buemi / B. Hartley / R. Hirakawa — 56 pts
4. A. Pier Guidi / A. Giovinazzi / J. Calado — 39 pts
5. A.F. da Costa / C. Milesi / F. Habsburg — 28 pts
6. L. Delétraz / N. Nato / W. Stevens — 26 pts
7. K. Magnussen / R. Marciello / D. Vanthoor — 25 pts
1. Toyota — 132 pts
2. BMW — 96 pts
3. Porsche — 62 pts
4. Alpine — 38 pts
5. Cadillac — 32 pts
6. Aston Martin — 26 pts
7. Peugeot — 15 pts
8. Genesis — 6 pts
IMSA GTP — Drivers
1. J. Aitken — 1760 pts
2. L. Heinrich — 1616 pts
3. J. Andlauer — 1606 pts
4. F. Nasr — 1606 pts
5. R. van der Zande — 1552 pts
6. N. Yelloly — 1552 pts
1. Porsche Penske Motorsport (#7) — 755 pts
2. Cadillac Whelen (#31) — 675 pts
3. Porsche Penske Motorsport (#6) — 654 pts
4. BMW M Team WRT (#24) — 606 pts
5. Acura Meyer Shank Racing (#93) — 567 pts
PLAYOFFS
Hurricanes to Hold Stanley Cup Victory Parade in Raleigh on June 20
The Carolina Hurricanes will celebrate their 2026 Stanley Cup championship with a victory parade through downtown Raleigh on Saturday, June 20, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, the city announced. Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell declared Saturday to be Carolina Hurricanes Day. The parade begins at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and St. Mary’s Street, proceeds east down Hillsborough Street toward the state Capitol, and concludes at City Plaza, where a rally will be held. Several downtown streets will close between 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. Carolina clinched its second title, and first in 20 years, with a 3-0 Game 6 win at Vegas on June 14.
Maple Leafs Trade Goaltender Joseph Woll to Flyers in Five-Piece Deal
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. It was the first major move of new Toronto general manager John Chayka’s tenure. Woll, 27, went 15-16-7 with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage in 39 games last season and carries two years left at a $3.67 million cap hit. Benoit, a 6-foot-4 left-shot defenseman, recorded six points in 73 games. Chayka said the deal creates cap flexibility for Toronto’s offseason plans.
Predators Acquire Forward Ross Colton From Avalanche for Picks, Goalie
The Nashville Predators acquired forward Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday in exchange for goaltender Magnus Chrona, Nashville’s third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and Colorado’s third-round pick in 2027. Colton, 29, is a versatile two-way winger who recorded 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 73 games for Colorado last season. He won the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2021. The move marked the first significant transaction for Nashville since the club hired Chris MacFarland as general manager on June 2. MacFarland previously served as the Avalanche’s general manager for four seasons.
Chayka Says Maple Leafs Are in Final Stages of Head Coach Search
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said Tuesday the club is in the final stages of its head coaching search and expects to name a hire within the next several days. “I think we are on the final phases at this stage,” Chayka said, adding the process has been thorough and included recent in-person meetings. A short list of candidates advanced to a second round of interviews, including former players Joe Pavelski and Patrick Roy. Toronto is seeking a replacement after parting ways with previous coach Craig Berube. The update came the same day Chayka completed his first trade as general manager, sending goaltender Joseph Woll to Philadelphia.
Scouts Split on McKenna or Stenberg for No. 1 in 2026 NHL Draft
Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna sits atop NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters for the 2026 NHL Draft, while Ivar Stenberg leads the International skaters list, leaving scouts divided on the No. 1 pick. In a poll NHL.com conducted of 10 NHL scouts asked which player they would choose, McKenna earned a 7-3 advantage. The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the first pick after winning the draft lottery. The Upper Deck 2026 NHL Draft will be held June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, with the first round June 26 and rounds two through seven on June 27.
Devils Gauging Trade Market for Goaltender Jacob Markstrom
The New Jersey Devils are gauging the trade market for goaltender Jacob Markstrom, according to reports surfacing Tuesday. Moving the 36-year-old netminder would clear his $6 million average annual value, signed through 2027-28, and create cap space the Devils could use toward a contract extension for center Nico Hischier. Markstrom’s age, cap hit and uneven season could weigh on his trade value. However, with quality goaltending scarce in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets, some clubs could still pursue him. The chatter arrives as the NHL offseason ramps up ahead of the June 26-27 draft in Buffalo and July 1 free agency.
RECAP
Yankees Pound Out 16 Hits in 12-2 Rout of White Sox
Spencer Jones hit his first home run at Yankee Stadium in the second inning, and Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt each added two-run drives in the fourth as the New York Yankees routed the Chicago White Sox 12-2 on Tuesday night. Cody Bellinger had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run single with the bases loaded in the third. Goldschmidt homered for the second time in three games. Gerrit Cole allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, improving New York to 8-4 since losing Aaron Judge indefinitely to a right rib stress fracture. The Yankees finished with 16 hits and scored double digits for the eighth time.
Ohtani’s 15th Homer Lifts Dodgers Past Rays 1-0
Shohei Ohtani hit his 15th home run of the season and Justin Wrobleski threw six scoreless innings to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night. Ohtani drove a first-pitch solo home run off Drew Rasmussen to center field in the sixth inning to break a scoreless game, providing the only run Wrobleski needed. Wrobleski, who improved to 8-2, allowed just three hits, struck out five and walked none. Tanner Scott earned his ninth save after retiring the side in the ninth. Rays starter Rasmussen worked seven innings, allowing one run on six hits with seven strikeouts.
Springer Hits 300th Career Homer as Blue Jays Down Red Sox 6-1
George Springer added a two-run homer, the 300th of his career, and drove in three runs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1 on Tuesday night at Fenway Park. Springer opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the third and went deep in the ninth. Davis Schneider and Andres Gimenez hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth, the first time Toronto went back-to-back this season, with Schneider’s drive clearing the Green Monster off rookie Payton Tolle. Dylan Cease scattered four hits over five shutout innings, striking out seven. Louis Varland recorded four outs for his 13th save.
Raleigh’s Return Sparks Mariners to 3-1 Win Over Orioles
Cal Raleigh hit a two-run single in his return from the injured list, and Logan Gilbert struck out a season-high 10 over seven innings as the Seattle Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 on Tuesday night. Raleigh, who had been out since May 14 with an oblique strain, broke a 1-all tie in the seventh with a bases-loaded single off reliever Grant Wolfram. Julio Rodriguez added an RBI single for Seattle, which holds a slim lead in the AL West. Gilbert, who improved to 5-4, combined with two relievers on a three-hitter. Taylor Ward doubled and scored Baltimore’s only run.
Trout Homers, Detmers Shuts Out Diamondbacks in 7-0 Angels Win
Mike Trout hit a two-run home run and an RBI double, and Reid Detmers tossed seven scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Angels blanked the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0 on Tuesday night. Trout’s 436-foot two-run shot to center came in the fifth and gave the Angels a 5-0 lead, and his sixth-inning double drove in Denzer Guzman. Detmers, who improved to 3-5, allowed three hits and struck out three. Wade Meckler hit an RBI single in the second to open the scoring, followed by a solo home run from Zach Neto in the third. Arizona managed just three hits in the shutout loss.
Reynolds Homers Twice as Pirates Rally Past Athletics 6-5
Bryan Reynolds went deep from both sides of the plate and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat the Athletics 6-5 on Tuesday night in West Sacramento. Reynolds finished with four hits, three RBIs and three runs scored in the ninth multihomer game of his career. He connected on a solo shot to center in the sixth and a two-run drive in the seventh. Brandon Lowe provided the go-ahead home run in the ninth inning to complete the comeback. Zack Gelof homered and drove in two runs for the Athletics, who saw their early lead slip away.
Twins Rout Rangers 12-2 to Clinch Another Series in Texas
Trevor Larnach led off the game with a home run, Kody Clemens added a three-run shot, and the Minnesota Twins routed the Texas Rangers 12-2 on Tuesday night to clinch another series in Texas. Larnach drove the game’s second pitch 425 feet into the right-field seats, and Clemens’ 11th homer made it 5-0 in the third. Josh Bell, who grew up nearby in Irving, had two hits and two RBIs. Zebby Matthews, who improved to 3-4, struck out four without a walk over seven innings. Rangers starter Kumar Rocker was pulled after 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs, six earned.
Stewart’s Three-Run Homer Spoils Senga’s Return as Reds Beat Mets 5-3
Sal Stewart hit a three-run homer and Spencer Steer added a solo shot during a four-run first inning as the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 5-3 on Tuesday night. Stewart drove in four runs, adding a run-scoring single in the fifth after Edwin Arroyo doubled, pushing the Cincinnati lead to 5-1. Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, reinstated from the injured list before the game, allowed four earned runs over four innings in his first start since April 26. Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer in the sixth. Tony Santillan recorded the final out for his fourth save.
Mariners Place Arozarena on Injured List With Hamstring Strain
The Seattle Mariners placed outfielder Randy Arozarena on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, the team announced. The move was made retroactive to June 13, and an MRI showed mild inflammation. The Mariners expect a minimal stay, with Arozarena first eligible to return June 23. As a corresponding move, Seattle selected the contract of outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. from High-A Everett. The transaction came on the same day the Mariners activated Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford from the injured list. Separately, Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter is playing through a small rib fracture and remains day to day.
American League
1. New York Yankees — 44–27, –
2. Tampa Bay Rays — 41–29, 2.5
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 35–38, 10
4. Baltimore Orioles — 34–40, 11.5
5. Boston Red Sox — 29–41, 14.5
1. Chicago White Sox — 38–33, –
2. Cleveland Guardians — 39–34, –
3. Minnesota Twins — 35–40, 5
4. Detroit Tigers — 30–43, 9
5. Kansas City Royals — 29–45, 10.5
1. Seattle Mariners — 38–36, –
2. Athletics — 36–37, 1.5
3. Texas Rangers — 35–38, 2.5
4. Houston Astros — 34–41, 4.5
5. Los Angeles Angels — 30–44, 8
National League
1. Atlanta Braves — 46–25, –
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 40–33, 7
3. Washington Nationals — 39–35, 8.5
4. Miami Marlins — 36–38, 11.5
5. New York Mets — 32–41, 15
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 44–26, –
2. St. Louis Cardinals — 40–31, 4.5
3. Chicago Cubs — 38–36, 8
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 37–37, 9
5. Cincinnati Reds — 35–37, 10
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 47–27, –
2. San Diego Padres — 37–35, 9
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 37–36, 9.5
4. San Francisco Giants — 29–43, 17
5. Colorado Rockies — 28–46, 19
REGULATION
U.S. Export-Control Order Forces Anthropic to Disable Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for All Users Globally
The U.S. government issued an export-control directive on June 12 ordering Anthropic to immediately suspend all access to its two most advanced AI models — Fable 5 and Mythos 5 — for any foreign national anywhere in the world, including Anthropic’s own foreign national employees. Because Anthropic cannot verify the nationality of every user in real time, the company was forced to disable both models for all customers globally. The government reported it had become aware of a jailbreak technique that could be used to elicit sensitive outputs. Fable 5 had launched publicly just three days earlier, on June 9.
Macron and Modi Warn G7 That Washington Can ‘Turn Off the Switch’ on American AI Access
At the G7 Summit on June 17, French President Emmanuel Macron warned leaders and AI executives — including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman — that if the U.S. “from one day to the next can turn off the switch,” it risks damaging not only European economies but the AI companies themselves. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised similar concerns. Macron and Modi are reacting to the Trump administration’s June 12 order blocking Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 exports. G7 leaders also discussed a proposed “trusted partners” scheme that would grant allied nations access to advanced American AI models for developing defenses against China.
SpaceX Agrees to Acquire Cursor in $60 Billion Stock Deal Days After Blockbuster IPO
SpaceX agreed to acquire AI coding startup Cursor in a $60 billion all-stock deal, days after completing its blockbuster IPO that valued the company at $2.6 trillion, TechCrunch reported June 16. The acquisition closes out an April option SpaceX had secured — either buy Cursor for $60 billion or pay a $10 billion break-up fee. Cursor, which had been on track to close a $2 billion fundraise from Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive, and Nvidia at a $50 billion valuation, chose the buyout. SpaceX’s AI division is built around xAI, which merged with SpaceX earlier this year. The deal is expected to close in Q3.
Genesis AI Unveils Eno, a Wheeled General-Purpose Robot Powered by GENE Foundation Model
Genesis AI unveiled Eno on June 17, a general-purpose robot that avoids bipedal humanoid design in favor of a wheeled base with a tower of articulated panels that adjust its height and reach in real time, then fold flat for compact storage. Its robotic hands match the form and function of human hands, allowing Eno to use existing tools and operate in spaces built for people. Eno is powered by GENE, Genesis AI’s foundation model, which can reason, retain memory, and execute multi-step tasks autonomously. Genesis plans to begin production with industrial and logistics customers by end of 2026. The company has raised $105 million in seed funding.
XDOF Emerges With $70M to Fix What It Calls AI’s Next Great Bottleneck: Robot Training Data
XDOF (pronounced “ecks-doff”) emerged from stealth on June 17 with $70 million in funding to tackle what it calls the next great bottleneck in AI: the data feedback loop needed to teach robots how to interact with the physical world. The startup builds data pipelines, collection tools, and annotation systems that frontier AI labs and robotics companies struggle to build themselves. The $70 million round was backed by Thrive Capital, Spark Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Lux, and WndrCo. XDOF argues that without better robot training data infrastructure, advances in model quality and chip performance will not translate into reliable real-world robotic systems.
NewCore Raises $66M to Authenticate and Govern AI Agents as They Become Enterprise Workers
NewCore emerged from stealth on June 15 with $66 million in seed funding to address what it says is an emerging enterprise challenge: as AI agents take on worker-like roles, companies lack infrastructure to authenticate, govern, and control them at scale. The round was led by Cyberstarts, a cybersecurity-focused venture firm, with participation from Index Ventures and Evolution Equity Partners, valuing NewCore at $300 million post-investment. The company aims to solve what it calls the AI identity gap — giving agents verifiable credentials so enterprises can manage and audit them the same way they do human workers.
Weibo’s VibeThinker-3B Matches 671B-Parameter Models on AIME 2026, Sparking Benchmark Debate
Sina Weibo’s research team released VibeThinker-3B on June 16, a 3-billion-parameter reasoning model that scored 94.3 on the AIME 2026 mathematics benchmark — matching DeepSeek V3.2, which has 671 billion parameters and is 224 times larger. With a test-time technique called Claim-Level Reliability Assessment applied, the score climbs to 97.1, surpassing Gemini 3 Pro’s 91.7. VibeThinker-3B also posted an 80.2 Pass@1 on LiveCodeBench v6 and a 96.1 percent acceptance rate on LeetCode weekly contests. The results have sparked debate about whether AIME and competitive coding benchmarks meaningfully reflect real-world AI capability or can be gamed by specialist training.
AI/ANALYTICS
Houston Methodist Scales Ambient AI Across Enterprise, Cuts Documentation Time by 44%
Houston Methodist has moved ambient AI documentation beyond pilot stage into full enterprise deployment using the Ambience Healthcare platform. According to Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Jordan Dale, clinician utilization rates now exceed 85% across recorded encounters, with ambulatory and emergency settings showing specialty utilization above 70%. Providers report a 44% reduction in total documentation time and a 35% decline in after-hours charting time. Clinicians who have used the system for three or more months report increased patient encounters per day. The deployment spans ambulatory, emergency, and inpatient settings, establishing Houston Methodist as a benchmark for scaling AI-assisted clinical documentation at the health system level.
Stryker Takes Temporary Financial Hit From March Cyberattack
Medical technology company Stryker disclosed that a March 2026 cyberattack by a pro-Iran hacker group caused significant operational and financial disruption, though the company considers the impact temporary. Approximately 40,000 employee laptops were wiped as part of the attack, forcing manufacturing operations to pause for roughly three weeks. The financial fallout included first-quarter revenue being shifted to Q2. CEO Kevin Lobo and CFO Preston Wells confirmed the damage in public disclosures, framing the disruption as contained. The incident underscores growing cyberthreats to healthcare supply chain companies that produce critical surgical and medical equipment used across hospital systems nationwide.
Epic Files Federal Lawsuit After Unauthorized TEFCA Access Exposed Michigan Medicine Patient Records
Epic Systems has filed a federal lawsuit in the Central District of California against Health Gorilla, alleging the health data company exploited the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) network using fictitious provider credentials to improperly access patient records. The breach affected approximately 551 Michigan Medicine patients, with unauthorized access occurring between October 2023 and November 2025, and again in March 2026. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center patients were similarly affected. The case highlights a significant vulnerability in the TEFCA interoperability framework, raising urgent questions about how third-party data brokers gain access to protected health information through national health information exchange networks.
ONC and SAMHSA Launch $20M Initiative to Make Behavioral Health Records Interoperable
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have launched a $20 million Behavioral Health IT Initiative aimed at making mental health and substance use records interoperable by year’s end using FHIR data exchange standards. The program targets a significant gap in EHR adoption: while 97% of federal government mental health treatment facilities have certified EHR systems, adoption drops to 73% among local and community government facilities and 68% among private for-profit behavioral health organizations. The initiative seeks to bridge these disparities and enable secure, standards-based exchange of behavioral health data across care settings.
Conflicting State AI and Privacy Laws Threaten Patient Data, Challenge EHR Developers
As 50 states adopt divergent approaches to AI regulation and health data privacy, technology developers and clinicians face a fragmented legal landscape that threatens patient safety. Leigh Burchell, SVP at Altera Digital Health and chair of the EHR Association, warns that states like Mississippi and Utah are moving in opposite directions while Texas’s attorney general has sued Epic. Adding urgency: patients are increasingly loading their own medical records into consumer AI chatbots, and state data restrictions risk creating fragmented pockets of HIPAA-protected information. A 2025 White House executive order acknowledged the problem by decrying the growing regulatory patchwork, with industry coalitions calling for a unified federal framework.
Memorial Hermann Partners With Cadence for AI-Driven Remote Patient Monitoring
Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System has launched a partnership with Cadence to deploy AI-powered remote patient monitoring for patients managing hypertension, congestive heart failure, and type 2 diabetes. The program provides 24/7 at-home support through continuous tracking of blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and glucose levels. The initiative specifically targets patients aged 65 and older, a population at elevated risk for acute episodes and avoidable hospitalizations. By combining real-time biometric data with AI-driven clinical decision support, Memorial Hermann aims to keep patients stable between office visits and reduce emergency department utilization, extending proactive care well beyond traditional clinical settings.
FDA Clears Dexcom Stelo as First Over-the-Counter Continuous Glucose Monitor for Children
The FDA has cleared the Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System for over-the-counter use in people aged 2 and older who do not use insulin, making it the first OTC continuous glucose monitor available to children under 18. Previously cleared for adults 18 and older in March 2024, the expanded indication now covers pediatric non-insulin users managing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. The Stelo sensor measures glucose readings every 15 minutes with a 15-day wear life and transmits data to a smartphone app without requiring a prescription. Regulatory approval removes a major access barrier for families managing pediatric glucose conditions outside of specialist clinical settings.
FBI’s Kinetic Cyber Range Fake Hospital Trains Agents for Healthcare Ransomware Attacks
The FBI has revealed its Kinetic Cyber Range, a 22,000-square-foot simulated town on its Redstone Arsenal campus in Huntsville, Alabama, that includes a fully wired mock hospital used to train agents for ransomware and cyberattack response. The facility replicates real infrastructure — Active Directory, email, and firewalls — across a simulated hotel, courthouse, power company, and hospital. Managed by the Bureau’s Operational Technology Division, it has trained more than 1,400 students including FBI personnel and federal and local agency partners. The program comes as healthcare remains the top target among U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, with 460 ransomware attacks recorded against the sector in 2025.
3D PRINTING
Bike-Powered Shredder Tackles 3D Printer Plastic Waste
Donald Papp at Hackaday reported on June 16 that Brogan M. Pratt and his students built a bike-powered plastic shredder that converts human pedaling into the force needed to break waste plastic into small bits. The group does a lot of 3D printing and generates significant plastic waste, and shredding is the necessary first step before any reprocessing into new filament or stock. Between the bicycle and the shredder sits a large gear reduction, a fifteen-kilogram flywheel, and a heavy-duty frame to anchor everything against the considerable mass and torque involved. Pratt frames the build as both practical and educational for students.
Researcher Exploits Honda Civic Infotainment Using AOSP Test Keys
Maya Posch at Hackaday detailed on June 16 how researcher Eric McDonald reverse-engineered the Android-based infotainment system in a 2021 Honda Civic. McDonald found that the head unit, running an older Android Open Source Project build, can be updated over USB using standard AOSP test keys that were left present on the file system. Because those publicly known test keys are accepted, anyone with physical access to the in-car USB port can in theory load and run arbitrary code signed with them. McDonald calls the technique the EvilValet attack, since a valet or anyone briefly alone with the vehicle could exploit it.
ADLINK COM-HPC-mPTL Module Packs 180 TOPS Panther Lake Silicon
CNX Software reported on June 16 that ADLINK introduced the COM-HPC-mPTL, a COM-HPC R1.3 Mini computer-on-module built around Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 Panther Lake family, topping out with a 16-core Core Ultra X7 358H rated at up to 180 TOPS. The module supports up to 64GB of LPDDR5x and optional BGA NVMe SSD storage, and carries two 2.5GbE controllers, optional MIPI CSI camera connectors, and a 40-pin debug header. All I/O routes through a 400-pin board-to-board connector, including four display interfaces and up to 16 PCIe Gen4/Gen5 lanes. ADLINK lists support for Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
AMD Opens Pre-Orders for $4,000 Ryzen AI Halo Developer Platform
CNX Software reported on June 16 that AMD has opened pre-orders for its Ryzen AI Halo Developer Platform, a first-party reference system built on the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor delivering up to 126 TOPS. Priced at $3,999.99 at Micro Center, it ships with 128GB of LPDDR5x memory and a 2TB NVMe SSD, plus 10GbE and Wi-Fi 7 networking, HDMI 2.1, and USB-C DisplayPort output. The Max+ 395 is a chiplet design pairing two eight-core Zen 5 dies with an integrated RDNA 3.5 GPU and XDNA 2 NPU over a 256-bit bus. The system runs Windows 11 or Linux for AI workloads.
OneThingCloud OEC Box Pays Users for Spare Home Bandwidth
CNX Software covered on June 16 the OneThingCloud OneThing Edge Cube (OEC), a small home device built around the Rockchip RK3566 SoC and running Android that turns a user’s spare internet bandwidth into passive income. Buyers install the OEC or OEC-Turbo at home, where it joins a distributed peer-to-peer content delivery network, caching data for other nearby nodes. The hardware has no user-facing functionality beyond participating in the CDN. CNX Software notes the model resembles HoneyGain, a comparable service that operates outside China and requires only an app rather than dedicated hardware. The writeup examines the device’s specifications and the bandwidth-sharing economics behind it.
Maker Builds Animatronic Velociraptor With Moving Eyes and Snapping Jaw
The Adafruit blog highlighted on June 16 an animatronic velociraptor built by maker Magic Marcus, who documented the project in detail on Hackster.io. Rather than a static sculpture, the build began with the goal of an animated dinosaur head featuring moving eyes and a snapping jaw. The head was 3D printed in PET-G filament using FDM technology, then fitted with the mechanisms that drive its motion. Adafruit notes the project drew interest tied to Jurassic Park screenings. The documentation walks through the design choices behind the moving components, making it a reference point for other makers attempting articulated animatronic heads of their own.
Raspberry Pi Begins Beta Testing a Refreshed Desktop With Icon Dock
The Adafruit blog reported on June 16 that the Raspberry Pi team is rolling out a refreshed desktop for beta testing. The Raspberry Pi Desktop began over a decade ago as a customized LXDE environment and has since evolved into a Wayland and labwc-based desktop, with little visually in common with the original LXDE. The look has been refreshed several times with new icons, themes, and backgrounds. Beta testers can install the new desktop components from the beta repository. According to the post, the biggest change in the refreshed desktop is the introduction of an icon dock alongside the existing taskbar.
Hackaday Traces the Long History of Unix Commands on Windows
Al Williams at Hackaday published a piece on June 16 examining how commands like ls, cat, grep, and awk now frequently work in a Windows terminal, something that was not always true. The article traces the history of bringing Unix-style command-line utilities to the Windows platform, returning to the CoreUtils story to chart how these tools became commonplace. It walks through the various efforts over the years that made the familiar Unix toolset available to Windows users, framing the present state where typing a classic Unix command on Windows has a good chance of doing something useful. The piece is part of Hackaday’s ongoing software coverage.
HIRING
US Tech Firms Step Up Q3 Hiring as 74% Report Trouble Finding AI Talent
U.S. technology and IT employers plan to ramp up hiring in the third quarter even as most report difficulty finding qualified people, according to the latest Experis Tech Talent Outlook released June 17 by ManpowerGroup’s Experis brand. The U.S. net employment outlook rose to 47%, up six points from the prior quarter and 13 points since the start of the year, but 74% of employers said they struggled to find talent as AI skills became a top priority. The most in-demand skills were AI literacy at 34%, AI modeling and app development at 33%, and traditional IT and data at 29%. Globally, the outlook fell seven points to 35%.
Forward Deployed Engineer Becomes AI’s Most Fought-Over Role as Labs Race to Hire
The Forward Deployed Engineer has become artificial intelligence’s most fought-over role, with the biggest labs paying six-figure salaries to hire engineers who embed inside client companies and wire AI models into their data and workflows. In May 2026, OpenAI launched a standalone deployment business backed by more than $4 billion and acquired applied-AI firm Tomoro, bringing roughly 150 FDEs aboard. Google Cloud posted 59 FDE openings across the U.S. and abroad; New York and Atlanta applied-AI roles list base pay of $127,000 to $183,000, with senior bands reaching the low $200,000s. Anthropic is recruiting founding FDEs and embedding engineers at financial-technology firm FIS, Tech Times reported June 13.
Tech Layoffs Average 1,115 a Day in 2026 as Companies Cite AI Without Showing Returns
Tech layoffs reached an average of 1,115 job cuts per working day in 2026, nearly double 2025’s pace, with 247 layoff events displacing 183,966 workers as of June 14, Tech Times reported June 16. Meta cut roughly 8,000 roles in May while planning over $100 billion in AI spending, and Oracle executed the year’s largest single cut at about 30,000 jobs. Yet a May 2026 Gartner survey of 350 executives at billion-dollar companies found that firms cutting the most showed nearly identical financial returns to those cutting least. Separately, MIT’s NANDA study found 95% of enterprise generative-AI initiatives produced zero measurable return, fueling charges of “AI washing.”
Nearly Half of US Workers Plan a Job Search, With Tech Among the Most Likely to Move
Nearly half of American workers plan to look for a new job in the second half of 2026, with young tech and healthcare professionals most likely to move, according to a Robert Half survey of more than 2,000 workers released in June and reported June 16. The firm found 46% planned a job search within six months, a 19% increase from a year earlier. Healthcare professionals led at 56% and tech workers followed at 49%, while 55% of Generation Z employees said they would look. Top motivators were benefits and perks at 47%, career advancement at 43%, and remote-work options at 39%. Nearly half called AI an obstacle.
Employment Confederation and IOM Form Pact to Advance Global Talent Mobility
The World Employment Confederation and the International Organization for Migration have formalized a partnership to advance ethical labor mobility across borders, Staffing Industry Analysts reported June 16. The agreement will focus on skills matching, employer engagement and worker support across the migration cycle, the organizations said. The pact comes as employers worldwide, particularly in technology, contend with persistent talent scarcity and look beyond domestic markets to fill specialized roles. Cross-border mobility has become a growing lever for filling AI and engineering positions that local pipelines cannot supply, even as immigration policy tightens in several major economies. The partnership aims to support both employers seeking talent and workers moving between countries.
PHILANTHROPY
Council on Foundations Launches ‘Generosity Builds’ Campaign to Counter Scrutiny of the Sector
The Council on Foundations launched a 250th-anniversary storytelling campaign Monday called “Generosity Builds,” urging its roughly 1,000 member nonprofits to emphasize their everyday contributions to American life. CEO Kathleen Enright said the effort aims to close a “perception gap” as foundations face heightened federal and populist scrutiny, citing last year’s tax-bill proposals to levy new taxes on private foundations and the Justice Department’s recent fraud charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center. Enright noted that only about 1 in 20 adults said their family used nonprofit services in the past year, per a 2023 Indiana University report. The campaign will spotlight ordinary donors and community foundations rather than billionaire givers.
Baltimore’s $100 Million Fund for Black-Led Groups Falls Short, Pivots to Local Donors
A fund envisioned to raise $100 million for Baltimore’s Black-led nonprofits has not matched even its original $10 million, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported. The Open Society Institute Baltimore seeded the effort with $6 million for the fund and $4 million for a fellowship program as it closed in 2022. Jamye Wooten, who leads the nonprofit CLLCTIVLY managing the campaign, has shifted toward small donations from city residents, raising more than $1 million annually for three years and establishing a $500,000 low-interest loan fund. After Trump’s executive order declaring race-based grants illegal, the fund was renamed the Kindred Abundance Infrastructure Fund, dropping the word “Black.”
New Polling Shows Bipartisan Support for Nonprofit Voter Engagement Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Independent Sector released polling showing broad, bipartisan public support for nonprofits’ role in voter engagement ahead of the 2026 midterms. In the survey, conducted by Tunnl in April, 80 percent of Americans agreed nonprofits should help people register to vote, with 48 percent strongly agreeing, and 84 percent agreed nonprofits should help people understand their voting rights. Some 81 percent said nonprofits should help people understand sample ballots and voting machines, including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans. The group also found that more than twice as many Americans believe their community would be hurt rather than helped if nonprofits could no longer assist with voter registration.
Duke Energy Foundation Closes America250 Grantmaking With $77,500 to Seven Florida Nonprofits
The Duke Energy Foundation distributed $77,500 in a final round of America250 grants to seven Florida nonprofits expanding civic learning and remembrance, the foundation announced. Projects include a youth civics competition, a reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the revitalization of a memorial honoring the state’s Medal of Honor recipients. A $15,000 award is helping the Marion County Board of County Commissioners host a gala, parade and fireworks display. The Osceola Chamber Foundation used $8,000 to stage a regional National Civics Bee, and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation received $5,000 for a 5K run in Orlando honoring those lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
Late Lethbridge Couple Leaves $3.2 Million Bequest for Youth Leadership Programs
The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta announced a gift of almost $3.2 million from the estates of Dr. David and Mrs. Shirley Hughes, a couple who both died in 2024. The endowment will support charitable work focused on developing youth leadership and enriching the lives of young people in southwestern Alberta, including the foundation’s Youth in Action grant program, which the Hugheses helped launch. Executive director Charleen Davidson said the couple wanted their giving known publicly to inspire others. “They believed that helping others was the best source of happiness,” she said during the announcement of the legacy gift.
CAMPAIGN
Verizon Reunites Austin Powers and Betty La Fea Casts for World Cup Push
Verizon is debuting a dual-franchise World Cup marketing push targeting rival carriers’ complicated pricing. An English-language spot reunites Mike Myers, Rob Lowe, Mindy Sterling, and Seth Green as their Austin Powers characters, with Dr. Evil unveiling “Menace Mobile.” A parallel Spanish-language campaign revives the cast of Yo Soy Betty, la Fea — the Guinness World Record holder as television’s most successful telenovela — premiering a new season after 25 years. Both spots launched June 17 across Fox, Telemundo, Disney, Paramount, Netflix, Hulu, and Roku , with out-of-home placements in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Verizon’s “Simplicity Plan” push targets peak World Cup viewership across English and Spanish-language networks simultaneously.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer 2 Reveals Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk
Sony Pictures unveiled the second trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day , delivering the film’s most anticipated casting reveal: Mark Ruffalo returning as Bruce Banner / Hulk alongside Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. The footage arrived as Holland completed a European press circuit, with a Madrid press appearance on June 15, and the Hulk inclusion converts months of unconfirmed rumor into confirmed casting. Zendaya also appears in the trailer. The reveal deepens Sony and Marvel Studios’ ongoing strategy of tethering the Spider-Man franchise to the broader MCU, positioning Brand New Day as an Avengers-adjacent tentpole event ahead of its theatrical release.
Mike Myers Confirms Austin Powers 4 Is Happening
Mike Myers confirmed that Austin Powers 4 is happening — breaking a 24-year franchise silence at Trevor Noah’s World Cup Watch Party on June 17. When a fan asked whether a fourth installment was in the works, Myers gave a single word: “Yes.” He declined to elaborate further. The confirmation arrives as Myers reprises his role as Dr. Evil for a Verizon World Cup campaign, giving the moment the texture of a coordinated franchise revival rather than an offhand remark. Both the campaign and the sequel confirmation signal that Myers and his studio partners are actively rebuilding the Austin Powers IP — the last installment, Goldmember, was released in 2002.
WIF and ReFrame Release Emmy FYC “Who to Watch” Guide
Women in Film (WIF) and ReFrame have released their annual Emmy FYC guide spotlighting women and gender-diverse creators ahead of Television Academy nominations. The “Who to Watch” guide is designed as a direct tool for Emmy voters navigating the current season’s candidates in underrepresented categories. The release targets the current peak FYC screening window, when Academy members are actively evaluating eligible titles. WIF and ReFrame frame the guide not as an industry-trade announcement but as a practical voter resource aimed at closing longstanding representation gaps in Emmy nominations across categories where women have historically been underrepresented.
Trump DOJ Clears Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Over Staff Objections
Senior Trump DOJ officials cleared the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery , overruling career department lawyers who formally objected to the approval. Staff attorneys described the clearance as a process that “reeks of corruption,” arguing the deal poses competitive harms that standard antitrust review would reject. Paramount and WBD have maintained the combination is necessary for survival in a streaming-dominated market. The clearance moves the deal past a major hurdle; it still requires FCC review . If completed, the merger would unite the two studios’ combined streaming, film, and broadcast portfolios under a single parent company.
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