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Shorting the Grid: Bloom Energy’s $25B AI Power Play

Written by Jeffrey Neal Johnson

Hyperscalers are colliding with a severe physical boundary in the artificial intelligence arms race. While silicon manufacturers can produce advanced chips at scale, utility providers routinely quote interconnection timelines of three to five years for new data center projects.

For technology sector giants locked in an existential battle for AI supremacy, waiting half a decade to power a server farm is a non-starter. This infrastructure bottleneck is forcing a massive capital pivot toward off-grid, islanded power solutions. The AI supercycle is rapidly transitioning from a software narrative into a heavy-industry reality, demanding immediate, scalable electricity to keep development pipelines flowing.

Rewiring Data Center Finance

Validating this structural shift, Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) and Brookfield Corporation (NYSE: BN) just expanded their strategic power-financing framework from an initial $5 billion to $25 billion. The market immediately recognized the magnitude of this fivefold capital injection, sending Bloom Energy shares up 10% in trading to top $300.

Understanding this partnership requires looking beyond the immediate price action and examining the permanent shift underway in the data center landscape. Capital is flowing directly into operations capable of generating scalable baseload power, bypassing the legacy utility grid to meet insatiable computing demands.

Building the AI Factory: Power on Demand

The traditional data center development model is fundamentally broken. Historically, developers secured land, built the physical shell, installed the compute racks, and then plugged into the local utility grid. Today, the immense power density required for artificial intelligence training clusters instantly overwhelms legacy utility infrastructure.

Bloom Energy solves this bottleneck with solid oxide fuel cell technology. Rather than waiting on localized grid upgrades, Bloom servers convert natural gas or hydrogen into electricity through an on-site electrochemical reaction. This process provides hyperscalers with immediate, deployable electricity that operates independently of the broader utility grid.

Brookfield Corporation plays an equally critical role in this equation. Sourcing billions of dollars for independent power generation drastically changes the risk profile of a massive data center build. Through a dedicated $100 billion AI Infrastructure Fund, Brookfield is stepping in to finance the entire package.

Bloom and Brookfield are pioneering an integrated AI factory model. This framework allows developers to finance land, liquid-cooling infrastructure, compute hardware, and islanded fuel-cell power as a single, cohesive entity from day one.

High-Voltage Volatility: Bloom’s Breakout Fundamentals

The fundamental story for Bloom is undeniably accelerating. Bloom Energy recently reported quarterly revenueof $751.05 million, up 130.4% year over year. The market has responded positively to this growth trajectory, boosting Bloom’s valuation by more than 1,100% over the trailing 12 months and pushing its market capitalization past $75 billion.

Beneath the surface fundamentals, a complex technical setup is acting as a massive upside catalyst. Bloom currently has a short float of about 11%, with a days-to-cover ratio of about 3.25. In a vacuum, this metric suggests a healthy amount of market skepticism. When combined with the sheer volume of institutional capital rotating into Bloom, this dynamic creates the perfect mechanics for a compound short squeeze.

As the Brookfield Corporation news hit the wire, intraday options flow saw aggressive call buying, pushing the 10-day call-to-put volume ratio to 1.62. When retail and institutional buyers flood the options chain with out-of-the-money calls, market makers are forced to buy the underlying stock to delta hedge their positions.

This mechanical buying pressure, paired with short sellers scrambling to cover their negative bets, creates healthy upside momentum. Wall Street is adjusting its models to account for this new reality. On July 1, 2026, UBS raised its price target from $322 to a new street-high of $350, challenging the Royal Bank of Canada’s reiterated Outperform rating and its previous street-high target of $335. In both situations, the targets offer a nice upside for investors who decide to accumulate at current levels.

Execution risk remains the primary headwind. Bloom trades at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 220. Bloom operates with extremely thin net margins of 0.25% and carries a leveraged balance sheet displaying a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.90.

Recent insider selling from executives like Chief Commercial Officer Aman Joshi and former CEO John Chambers might raise investor eyebrows, but these dispositions are largely tied to pre-arranged tax plans, a standard operating procedure after a valuation run. Even so, at this premium valuation, Bloom must execute its $25 billion project pipeline flawlessly to prevent severe multiple contractions.

Heavy Lifting: Financing the AI Power Surge

While Bloom Energy offers high-octane growth potential, Brookfield Corporation represents the foundational bedrock of the AI infrastructure trade. Committing $25 billion to a single technological framework requires an almost unfathomable level of balance sheet liquidity.

First-quarter data highlights exactly why Brookfield is uniquely positioned to act as the primary financier of the physical technology buildout. Brookfield now oversees more than $1 trillion in total assets under management, anchored by $614 billion in fee-bearing capital. The company generates over $4 billion in trailing 12-month distributable earnings, providing the necessary cash flow to aggressively fund its massive mandates without dangerously stretching its leverage profile.

Trading at 14.2 times forward earnings, Brookfield offers a distinctly different value proposition than its high-flying technology partners. Brookfield boasts a projected earnings growth rate of 34% and pays a modest 0.65% dividend yield, choosing to reinvest the lion’s share of its capital into high-conviction real assets.

For capital allocators, Brookfield should be seen as a lower-volatility, defensive vehicle used to gain exposure to data center expansion, allowing investors to extract toll-road-style fees from the global computing supercycle.

Plugging in: Capitalizing on the Power Shift

The artificial intelligence boom is fracturing into two distinct investment camps. Semiconductor sectordesigners and software platforms dominated the first wave. The second wave, unfolding right now, is defined by concrete, copper, cooling, and kilowatts.

The expanded alliance between Bloom Energy and Brookfield Corporation proves that hyperscalers are willing to bypass the traditional power grid entirely to maintain their compute deployment schedules. Bloom provides the necessary localized hardware, while Brookfield supplies the capital required to scale these operations globally.

Investors looking to capitalize on this shift in physical infrastructure might consider adding both ends of this partnership to their watchlists. Those with a higher risk tolerance could monitor Bloom for continued momentum as it scales manufacturing to meet the new $25 billion mandate. Cautious market participants may prefer to look at Brookfield as a diversified, cash-flowing anchor for long-term alternative asset exposure. READ THIS STORY ONLINE

Read this or regret it forever. (Ad)

Three forces converged in 1776 to create the modern world – and according to Porter Stansberry, founder of one of the largest financial research firms in the world, they’re converging again right now.

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SanDisk’s Volatility May Be Telling Bulls What They Want to Hear

Written by Sam Quirke

Not many stocks in the market can boast the kind of 10-day stretch SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) has had. Between June 22 and June 24, shares of the memory and storage giant dropped a full 20% from an intraday high to an intraday low, only to snap back with a 24% single-session pop the very next day.

Just a few days later, the stock dropped another 18% over two sessions, before bouncing back 19% between June 29 and June 30. And then yesterday, shares slumped another 10%, leaving them trading around $2,032.

For most stocks, that kind of price action would be a serious cause for concern. For SanDisk, though, the pattern is arguably telling investors something rather different. Every time the shares have sold off hard in recent weeks, buyers have appeared almost immediately with enough force to push the stock back up. That kind of behavior doesn’t happen by accident and is actually a very bullish dynamic to see right now.

What’s Driving the Recent Volatility in SanDisk Stock?

Before getting into why the setup is more encouraging than it looks, it’s worth understanding what’s actually been driving the selling pressure. The honest answer is that not much of it has been specifically about SanDisk. Instead, the drops have been driven largely by broader weakness across the tech and AI space, where bigger fears have been building.

The benchmark NASDAQ index itself fell around 5% between June 22 and June 24, and is still down more than 2.5% from the June 22 close. The primary concerns have been mounting fears about the enormous amount of debt-funded AI infrastructure spending, alongside worries that the Federal Reserve may keep rates higher for longer than the market had hoped.

Neither of those is a SanDisk-specific issue, but a stock that’s had the kind of run SanDisk has enjoyed over the past 12 months, where it’s enjoyed gains of almost 4,300%, is always going to be one of the more exposed names when the broader mood turns.

The Bounces Say More Than the Drops

The setup becomes intriguing here. Although SanDisk experienced several sharp declines over the past two weeks, each was quickly followed by a remarkably strong rebound. Notably, there was a 24% surge in a single session from June 24 to June 25, and a 19% bounce between June 29 and June 30.

That kind of price action doesn’t happen in stocks that the market doesn’t want to own. It happens in stocks, where there’s a wall of buyers waiting on the sidelines for exactly the pullbacks sellers create. In other words, the drops are being interpreted by long-term buyers as an opportunity, not a warning, and the sheer force of the bounces is proof that the underlying demand for the stock is not just intact, but arguably stronger than ever.

Compare that to what usually happens when a stock lacks that kind of conviction, such as Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ: QCOM). Sharp declines get met with tepid bounces, and each new low tends to invite fresh selling rather than fresh buying. That’s the opposite of what’s happening with SanDisk right now.

Bank of America Just Told Us Why SanDisk Buyers Keep Showing Up

Perhaps the clearest confirmation of the underlying story came from Wall Street this week. Even as SanDisk shares remained volatile, analysts continued to look through the recent swings and focus on the longer-term NAND supply-demand setup. Bank of America raised its price target on the stock to $2,500 and reiterated its Buy rating, citing expectations that the NAND supply-demand imbalance will persist through calendar 2027 and that pricing will remain strong for longer.

That view fits with the broader analyst backdrop. SanDisk currently carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating, suggesting Wall Street remains constructive even after the stock’s enormous run and recent volatility.

The reasoning is compelling. The supply crunch driving SanDisk’s extraordinary run this year has not disappeared. If anything, analysts see signs that tight NAND conditions could last longer than earlier bull cases had assumed.

That helps explain why every drop has been met with quick and forceful buying. The buyers stepping in may not simply be chasing short-term bounces. Some appear to be positioning for a supply-demand story that could continue well into next year.

The Bigger Picture: SanDisk Bulls Still Look in Control

To be sure, SanDisk isn’t a stock for the faint-hearted, and yesterday’s 10% drop is a reminder that the volatility is very real. There’s always the risk that the broader tech sell-off could gain steam, and stocks priced for as much success as SanDisk is right now do stand to get hit hardest if and when the mood eventually sours.

But until then, while volatility might look scary on the surface, the market’s recent reaction confirms that the bulls remain firmly in control. READ THIS STORY ONLINE

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Meta’s AI Compute Push Could Turn Its Massive CapEx Bill Into a Competitive Weapon

Written by Jeffrey Neal Johnson

Mega-cap technology sector leaders are fundamentally altering the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure by transforming internal compute clusters into highly scalable revenue channels.

When Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) builds an internal compute cluster for research and development, the enterprise eventually hits a point where physical infrastructure outpaces immediate internal utilization.

Wall Street traditionally hates this dynamic. Analysts view heavy capital expenditure (CapEx) cycles as a severe drag on free cash flow, compressing near-term margins and draining liquidity. Meta Platforms is currently projecting capital expenditures between $125 billion and $145 billion through 2026 to secure hardware.

Investors initially punished the stock for this heavy outlay, fearing an endless cash burn with no immediate return on invested capital. This tension creates a structural disconnect between visionary technology builds and quarterly market expectations.

Deploying the Megacluster: Turning CapEx Into Cash

The narrative shifts violently when those sunk costs become a zero-marginal-cost product. Meta Platforms is pivoting to monetize its surplus graphical processing unit capacity by selling raw compute directly to third-party developers.

Markets actively validated this transition on July 1, sending shares up 8.81% to close at $612.91. By externalizing its surplus capacity, Meta Platforms is rewriting its return-on-invested-capital equation and repricing an operational liability into a highly scalable revenue stream.

Investors can review SpaceX’s (NASDAQ: SPCX) recent strategic pivots as the structural precedent. SpaceX leveraged its vast internal satellite routing infrastructure to externalize excess capacity for cash flow. When tech giants operate with zero reliance on cloud-leasing margins for their survival, they can price surplus bandwidth or compute at highly disruptive levels, establishing a formidable competitive advantage against standalone providers.

Margin Collapse: Pure-Play Lessors Face Extinction

This influx of subsidized bare-metal compute supply from a $1.55 trillion tech giant introduces a severe deflationary force to the broader infrastructure-as-a-service market. Bare-metal compute refers to leasing raw, unconfigured server hardware directly to developers, completely free from layers of proprietary enterprise software. It is a highly commoditized product, and pricing power dictates survival.

Because Meta Platforms has already financed its data centers for internal development, any external sales act as pure margin expansion. This dynamic establishes a deflationary pricing floor that heavily penalizes pure-play artificial intelligence infrastructure providers.

Mid-tier hardware lessors recently experienced severe multiple contractions, with CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) shares tumbling nearly 15% as investors discounted the viability of independent providers operating in the shadow of Big Tech.

Specialty hardware lessors require high leasing rates to finance ongoing data center build-outs and service heavy debt loads. They simply cannot sustain pricing power against a competitor possessing a 36.93% return on equity and a pristine 0.24 debt-to-equity ratio.

Meta Platforms uses its 32.84% net margins to provide the financial insulation needed to dump raw compute into the open market, forcing a necessary structural market correction among highly levered peripheral infrastructure plays.

Trench Warfare: Why Amazon and Microsoft Survive

While the injection of cheap compute decimates single-layer hardware providers, it exposes a critical bifurcation within the cloud sector. Legacy hyperscalers remain better insulated from this specific pricing war. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN)and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) offer compute through Amazon Web Services and Azure, respectively, but those platforms are far more than raw infrastructure. They bundle compute with sticky cybersecurity frameworks, platform-as-a-service tools and complex corporate integration software.

Large enterprises gladly pay a premium for compliance guarantees, data security, and seamless workflow integrations that bare-metal providers cannot offer. Meta Platforms lacks this deep business-to-business software stack.

Entering the raw compute market heavily pressures hardware leasers but currently leaves the high-margin enterprise moats of legacy hyperscalers completely intact. Investors must also monitor a potential regulatory friction point arising from the current administration’s recent push for voluntary reviews of artificial intelligence models. This introduces a compliance bottleneck that could temporarily complicate the speed-to-market for hosted proprietary models, keeping Meta Platforms focused purely on raw open-source hosting in the near term.

Spoils of War: Cheaper Compute Boosts AI Software

The most compelling aspect of this infrastructure reset is the downstream catalyst it provides to the broader technology sector. Cheaper raw compute dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for application-layer artificial intelligence development.

For software-as-a-service companies, server and compute costs represent a significant portion of their total cost of goods sold. When Meta Platforms weaponizes its excess capacity and drives down the market rate for compute, software developers experience immediate margin expansion.

Lower development costs accelerate product deployment, freeing up capital for user acquisition and feature engineering. This dynamic actively transfers enterprise value away from infrastructure middlemen and funnels it directly into high-margin software platforms.

The resulting commoditization acts as a powerful tailwind, aggressively supporting a bullish thesis for the wider software and end-user application ecosystem. Investors looking beyond the direct hardware impact should focus on agile software firms poised to capitalize on plummeting hosting fees.

Trading the Compute Wars

The strategic externalization of raw compute marks a critical evolution in how markets value technology infrastructure. With institutional sentiment holding a moderate buy consensus and an average price target of $840.64, attention now shifts directly to execution.

Options market makers are pricing in extreme implied volatility ahead of Meta Platforms’ July 29 earnings call, with 1.14 million contracts traded around the catalyst. Heavy accumulation in August 2026 $720 calls indicates that the market is demanding forward revenue guidance and concrete timelines regarding the cloud monetization pivot.

The risk of a potential equity raise to comfortably finance the $145 billion capital expenditure cycle also remains a near-term liquidity concern. Investors assessing this structural shift may consider reweighting portfolios to capture the downstream benefits of deflationary infrastructure pricing.

Application-layer developers poised to capitalize on cheaper development costs present a compelling opportunity, while cautious participants might prefer to wait for Q2 projections before establishing new positions in the underlying infrastructure layer. READ THIS STORY ONLINE

The Elon comment that’s worth $5,000 (Ad)

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Watch the free presentation to hear the full story and the number-one way Lango would play it today.WATCH THE FREE PRESENTATION AND DISCOVER LANGO’S TOP PLAY NOW

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Link of the Day: Read this or regret it forever.(From Porter & Company)

Hello! 

June came and went, and all of a sudden we’re halfway through 2026. We are ending the month with full hearts and a whole lot of gratitude for everyone who helped us celebrate six amazing years of impact. Whether you made a donation, supported one of our round-up or giveback partners, or simply helped spread the word, you’re part of what makes this community so special. Thank you!

​

And now, it’s time to shuffle up and deal. ♠️ Poker season is here, and the Bet on Arizona Charity Poker Tournament & Casino Night is around the corner. Seats are filling up fast — if you haven’t locked in your ticket, this is your all-in moment.

Mark your calendars for July 18th at the Scottsdale Stadium Fieldhouse, because we’re going bigger and bolder than ever. Here’s a taste of what’s in store:

• ♠️ Dream Dealers keeping the poker & casino games going all night long
• 📸 MisGif baseball-themed photo booth provided by OneAZ Credit Union
• ✒️ Rising Ink fine-line tattoo appointments
• 🎁 Silent Auction & Raffle
• 💫 ModCo charm-making activation
• 🀄 Phoenix Mahjong Club will be leading two instructor-led Mahjong games
• ⛳️ Devereux Golf Pop-up 
• ✨ and MORE!

This is our biggest tournament yet, and we want you at the table.

The theme? Pinstripes & Pearls​— baseball swagger meets glam, all set against one of Arizona’s most iconic ballparks. Dust off your pearls, sharpen your baseball pinstripes, and get ready for a night unlike any other.

Tickets are going fast at betonaz.org. Grab yours before the deck’s stacked against you. See you at the table! 

​Thanks for being part of our community and for following along on this journey. 

​

And as always, if anything comes to mind or you’d like to connect, my inbox is open—I’d love to hear from you.

With gratitude and excitement, 

kp@statefortyeight.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

LEADING THE WAY

2026 brings renewed energy and visionary leadership to State Forty Eight Foundation. This year, we’re excited to introduce you to the people behind the work, sharing their perspectives on entrepreneurship, what drives their connection to our mission, and any wisdom they’ve gained along the way.

We’re excited to spotlight Tim Regan, who joined our board in 2021 and has since been a driving force behind our annual Poker Tournament & Casino Night. Tim is one of the Foundation’s biggest champions and a true advocate for the community we’ve built together. Click the video below to hear from him and his advice for entrepreneurs.

Check out our full Board of Directors here.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

This month, we shine the spotlight on our partners at Arizona Lottery, a statewide organization that embodies the spirit of community investment and opportunity across Arizona.

​

“We are proud and grateful to partner with State Forty Eight Foundation as a champion of local dreams and economic growth. Their ongoing support—highlighted by our exciting, collaborative State Forty Eight scratcher tickets—goes far beyond a logo; it represents a shared commitment to the people who make Arizona work. By channeling vital proceeds directly back into business and economic development, the Arizona Lottery helps fuel the capital that empowers our local entrepreneurs and builds a lasting legacy,” says Cydeni Carter, PIO for Arizona Lottery.

​

Get ready! The next State Forty Eight x Arizona Lottery Scratchers® ticket is coming soon.

SUPPORT

AROUND ARIZONA

These events are not hosted by State Forty Eight Foundation, but they’re right up our alley, and we think you’ll love them.

​July 8 – Entrepreneur’s Guide to Redefining Work/Life Balance

June 16 – Tucson July Lunch Mixer: Ready, Set, Vend!, Local First Arizona

July 22 – Entrepreneurs on Stage: Pitch Competition & Procurement Connect, Presented by US Bank

July 22 – Small Business Workshop, Phoenix Business Journal 
July 22 – Music and Business Networking | Elevating Your Potential
June 30 – July Biz Brew Mixer, Local First Arizona

Our mission is to fuel Arizona dreams and drive local prosperity through entrepreneurship.

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TOP NEWS 

Last chance to vote for All-Star Game starters!

Phase 2 voting closes noon ET, so there’s precious little time to submit your ballot and help the game’s top players earn a trip to Philadelphia for the Midsummer Classic. 

How will the logjam in AL postseason race impact Trade Deadline?

D-backs’ undefeated run vs. Giants ends as Gallen searches for answers

Rays ‘running out of words’ to describe Caminero’s 6-game HR streak

Dansby shines (3 HRs, 8 RBIs) in Cubs’ historic 23-run, 8-HR romp

Turner, Phils pass elite-pitching test after tagging Skenes for 8 runs

‘Keep stacking ’em’! Mitchell mashes southpaws to log first 4-hit game

Upcoming schedule means Miz unlikely to pitch in All-Star Game

Montero’s brilliance, 4-run 11th seal Tigers’ first Bronx sweep since ’08

Guess who’s back? López returns to 2024 form with 1-run showing

Moniak again comes up single shy in bid for cycle history at Coors

Straw, Miles add to Canada Day celebrations in dominant Blue Jays win 

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A team-by-team breakdown of every player headed to Futures Game

The best prospect showcase of the year is less than two weeks away, and the initial American and National League rosters include 38 members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list, including each of the nine best prospects in the game. 

Miz maintains grip on Pitcher Power Rankings perch

Jacob Misiorowski once again leads the way in an NL-heavy top 10 ranking of the best pitchers right now.

Never fear, Captain America is here: Prospect aids fainting child

Twins Minor Leaguer Walker Jenkins got his nickname due to his baseball acumen and obsessive work ethic, but he played the part of a superhero for a young fan who was on the verge of falling over.

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To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we’ve selected nine of the most notable baseball cards in the hobby’s history, broken down into distinct eras.

MLB Network Showcase: Padres vs. Dodgers 

Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres are in L.A. to open a series against Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers in an MLB Network Showcase presented by Goodyear at 10 p.m. ET.

Thursday afternoon baseball on MLB Network

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DAN GARTLAND 

Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. If the USMNT game wasn’t so interesting, I would have had space in here to try to make sense of the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade. (Also, just a quick note that there won’t be an SI:AM tomorrow. Happy Fourth!) 

In today’s SI:AM:

🇺🇸 U.S. moves on to last 16

☘️ Celtics dump Brown in stunner

⚾ Schwarber’s derby decision 

Good news, bad news

Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated

The U.S. men’s national team has won a World Cup knockout stage match for the first time in 24 years, but it isn’t all good news. 

The U.S. earned a 2–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday night to set up a round of 16 meeting with Belgium in Seattle on Monday. But the U.S. will be without its red-hot striker Folarin Balogun on Monday after he was shown a controversial red card in the win. 

⚽ Check out SI’s World Cup Daily

Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute after a hard challenge on Tarik Muharemović. Balogun stepped on the back of the defender’s leg as they battled for the ball, and Muharemović needed medical attention. Balogun was not cautioned for the play on the field, but the video assistant referee called for a review of the incident. After viewing the replay, Balogun was shown a straight red card by referee Raphael Claus of Brazil. 

The decision was widely criticized for being excessively harsh. Balogun did not intentionally step on Muharemović, nor did he stomp forcefully on his leg. He was simply trying to regain his footing as the two players jostled for position. (You can watch the play here and decide for yourself whether it was worthy of a red.) It was certainly a foul. It was probably deserving of a yellow card. But a straight red was too severe a punishment. CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI 

Sports Illustrated

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Ranking America’s Best Athletes from All 50 States

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👀 The top five …

… things I saw yesterday: 

5. Dansby Swanson’s grand slam for his third homer of the game. Sure, it came off a position player, but it was his fifth homer in a span of 24 hours after he hit two on Tuesday. He has nine homers in his last 13 games, during which time the Cubs are 11–2. 

4. All the English fans in Atlanta for their team’s World Cup match doing soccer-style chants for Braves outfielder Michael Harris II. 

3. Harry Kane’s impressive go-ahead goal for England against DR Congo. 

2. Ismaïla Sarr’s goal to put Senegal up 2–0 on Belgium. Here’s another look at the incredible long-range pass from Moussa Niakhaté and Sarr’s soft touch to bring the ball down with his chest. 

1. Malik Tillman’s free-kick goal to stretch the United States’ lead over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here’s what Tillman’s right foot (the one he used to score the goal) looked like after the match. He had gotten stepped on just before the free kick and his foot was bleeding through his sock.  

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In the latest episode of Others Receiving Votes, Pat Forde, Bryan Fischer and Kevin Sweeney break down the most intriguing college football teams, coaches, players and games in the Power 4 conferences. 

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 Engagement Opportunities 

ASU Ranks Among Top 15 Institutions For Research 

Arizona State University has surpassed $1 billion in annual research expenditures in FY24, according to the National Science Foundation’s latest Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey. ASU joins the top 4% of research universities nationwide and ranks ahead of Princeton University and California Institute of Technology. This milestone reflects not only the scale of our research enterprise, but its purpose: translating discovery into real solutions that advance the health, safety, innovation and economic competitiveness of our world.

“We have remained steadfast and determined in our goal to build a new model of a great American research university,” ASU President Michael Crow said. “Surpassing $1 billion in research expenditures underscores our unwavering commitment to be a new gold standard of service to the community, our state and our nation.” Dr. Crow explains how ASU achieved this milestone  here. 

To learn more about the HERD rankings and ASU’s impact: Click Here

Hayden Library Tour

Join ASU Library for a guided walking tour of Hayden Library on the Tempe campus.

Open to all, this tour is designed to explore one of ASU’s most dynamic academic spaces. 

Originally built in 1966 and thoughtfully reimagined for today’s learners and researchers, Hayden Library blends historic architecture with modern design to support collaboration, discovery and inclusive access to knowledge.

Explore the five-story tower and discover interdisciplinary learning labs, curated collections, inspiring reading rooms, and research and support services that serve the broader ASU community.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (MST)
300 E. Orange Mall Tempe Arizona 85287
Meet inside the Level 1 west lobby door of Hayden Library.

Questions? Contact Patty OdleRegister

Arizona PBS Presents Resolve to Solve with Miles O’Brien

Join Arizona PBS in Flagstaff at the Orpheum for a special screening of its new show, Resolve to Solve with Miles O’Brien. Resolve to Solve with Miles O’Brien is a new Arizona PBS produced show, set to debut nationally on August 19. This new science series aims to bring light to some of the most pressing issues facing our globe, and those determined to find innovative solutions. Miles O’Brien is a veteran, award-winning journalist who focuses on science, technology, aerospace, and the environment. He is the science correspondent for PBS NewsHour, a producer and director for the PBS science documentary series NOVA, and a correspondent for the PBS documentary series FRONTLINE.

The Orpheum Theater is a historic, indoor venue located on Aspen Street in downtown Flagstaff next to the Weatherford Hotel and Residence Inn.

Tickets will go on sale 7/10/2026 10:00:00 AM MST

Questions? Contact Megan SlatteryLearn More

July

15

Curated Travel with ASU Art Museum

Questions? Contact Adriana Duenas

September

7

Easy Company: England to the Eagle’s Nest

Questions? Contact Kathleen Montalvo

September

9

2027 D-Day: Invasion of Normandy and Liberation of France

Questions? Contact Kathleen Montalvo

October

3

Cruise the Douro River with ASU Travel and Tours

Questions? Contact ASU Travel and Tours Office

December

13

2026 Holiday Markets Cruise ~ The Festive Rhine River

Questions? Contact Kathleen Montalvo

January

16

2027 Patagonia Explorer

Questions? Contact Kathleen Montalvo

Michael M. Crow’s reading recommendations

Advice for ASU’s Class of 2026 from Howard Buffett

Student research in Yellowstone could help scientists understand life on other planets

New ASU certificate lets students add AI expertise to any major

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Hello Peter,

Celebrate Independence Day weekend with us in the best way we know how—great wine, great beer, and even better company. We’re kicking things off Friday evening with an Italian Wine Tasting & Craft Beers to Celebrate the 4th lineup made for summer sipping, from crisp Prosecco and zesty whites to bold Barbera and Nebbiolo, plus patriotic pours like Narragansett’s America 250 Lager and Honor Brewing Freedom IPA.

Then join us Saturday afternoon for a 4th of July tasting featuring bright Provence whites, elegant Spanish and Italian selections, juicy Malbec, and a classic California Cabernet to round it all out. Whether you’re stocking up for the holiday, heading to a cookout, or just relaxing at home, we’ve got everything you need to toast the 4th in style.

Friday Evening Italian Wine Tasting & Craft Beers to Celebrate the 4th!

2025 Adami Prosecco Brut (Black Label) – Bright straw yellow with fine bubbles and fresh aromas of yellow apple, peach, and white flowers. Crisp and lively with ripe fruit notes and a smooth, balanced finish. BUY NOW

2023 Pietrame Edizione Limitata Chardonnay Passerina – Warm citrus aromas of lemon, lime, and Cara cara oranges join tropical fruit on the nose before a palate of melon and pineapple spritzed with more citrus leads to a nutty, salty finish. BUY NOW

2022 Rocca del Principe Fiano di Avellino DOCG – Fresh and lively with aromas of white peach, lemon, lime, crushed stone, and subtle floral and herbal notes. Crisp and juicy with bright acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish. BUY NOW

Vietti Barbera d’Asti Trevie 2023 – Ruby red with aromas of sour cherry and vanilla. Medium-bodied and balanced with bright acidity, soft tannins, and a red cherry finish.BUY NOW

2022 Vietti Perbacco Langhe Nebbiolo (93 pts, Wine Advocate) – “Not too far off from tasting and smelling like a full-fledged Barbaresco, or even a Barolo for that matter, since it does technically have the DNA of both. The fruit is delivered with fresh, vertical intensity, and the wine’s texture is firm and tensile.” BUY NOW

Narragansett Lager America 250 Edition – Clean, crisp, and refreshing with balanced malt character and a smooth finish. A classic American lager that is easy-drinking and highly approachable. ABV = 5% BUY NOW

Honor Brewing Freedom IPA – A modern twist on the West Coast IPA, a clear, pale beer US hops, delivering the expected IPA flavors with compelling bitterness. ABV = 6.4% BUY NOW

Tasting Table Specials!

10% off all tasting table wine & beer.
15% off if you purchase a mix & match case.

Available in-store and online all weekend long!

4th of July Saturday Afternoon Wine Tasting

LoveR Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Blanc 2025 – Bright, pale yellow color. The nose boasts white fruits with a touch of citrus. The mouth reveals nice notes of peach, exotic fruits and citrus. BUY NOW

Ossian Vides y Vinos Quintaluna Castilla y León 2020 (92 pts, Wine Enthusiast) – “Light yellow in the glass, this wine has aromas of tangerine and lemon zest. Full on the palate, it conveys flavors of bergamot, yellow currant, aniseed and a touch of crumbled sage. Refreshing acidity bathes the palate from first sip through finish.” BUY NOW

Doña Paula High Altitude Malbec 2024 – Intense aromas of blackberry, violet, and spice with subtle mineral notes. Rich yet fresh, with soft tannins and a smooth, persistent finish. BUY NOW

Turning Point Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – Rich and full-bodied with blackberry, cassis, and cedar aromas layered with ripe plum, dark chocolate, and espresso notes. Firm tannins lead to a smooth, velvety finish. BUY NOW

See you this weekend and thank you for shopping local!

Kate, Donna P., Heidi, Valerie, Beth, Melanie, Mari, Patty, Donna B., Matt, Bill, Steve, Rande and Mike

The Wine Cabinet

1416 North Point Village Center

Reston, VA 20194

(703) 668-9463 (WINE)

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A Night Prayer

Jesus Christ, my God, I adore You and thank You for all the graces You have given me this day. I offer You my sleep and all the moments of this night. I place myself and all my loved ones, wherever they may be, in Your sacred side and under the mantle of Our Blessed Mother. Let Your holy angels stand watch and keep us in peace. Amen.

Quote of the Day

“I have no desire for the honors of this world but solely for the glory of God and the salvation of my soul.”

— St. Bernardino Realino

Today’s Meditation

“People who say Our Lord’s Prayer carefully, weighing every word and meditating upon it, may indeed call themselves blessed for they find therein everything that they need or can wish for. When we say this wonderful prayer we touch God’s heart at the very outset by calling Him by the sweet name of Father – Our Father. He is the dearest of fathers: all-powerful in His creation, wonderful in the way He maintains the world, completely lovable in His Divine Providence – always goo and infinitely so in the Redemption. We have God for our Father, so we are all brothers – and heaven is our homeland and our heritage. This should be more than enough to teach us to love God and our neighbor and to be detached from the things of this world.” —St. Louis de Montfort, pg. 39An excerpt from The Secret of the Rosary

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Examination of Conscience

The daily examination of conscience is an ancient Catholic practice. It’s very simple, and it’s designed to help us identify our sins and weaknesses so that we can improve and grow stronger in the spiritual life, while providing an excellent ongoing preparation for regular Confession. It consists of taking a few minutes at the end of the day to prayerfully review our actions in the light of God’s commandments, followed by the Act of Contrition.1. Reflect on the victories and losses

Actively reflecting on the high and low points of the day can help you live more intentionally and bring a renewed sense of resolve into the following day.

• Review your actions, words, and thoughts today. Did you actively guard yourself against temptation? Where did sin creep in?
• In what moments did you practice virtue and moral courage?
• Were you attuned to the Holy Spirit’s promptings today? Where did you feel His inspiration?
• Ask Him for the graces necessary to follow His Will more purposefully tomorrow.

2. Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.3. Practice gratitude

It is God’s love that has brought you into existence and to this exact moment. Practice looking for His hand in your day. 

• Where did you feel His loving gaze upon you today?
• What people or moments helped you see God in your life?
• Thank God for all these moments!
• Ask Him to help you recognize His blessings and providence tomorrow.

4. Renew your commitment to Christ

Remember: our Faith is founded upon a Person—Christ! Renew your personal love and devotion to Him.

• Thank God for the gift of His Son Jesus and our call to be His disciples.
• Tell the Lord of your desire to know Christ more personally.
• If possible, set an intention for your day tomorrow. Ask Our Lord to guide you in this act.
• Pray a Hail Mary, Our Father, or another beloved prayer.

Rest with God

[He] made the Bear and Orion, the Plei′ades and the chambers of the south; Who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.— Job 9:9-10Compline (Night Prayer)Want to help your organization reach thousands of Catholics? Click here to consider sponsoring future Night Prayers.

Please add NightPrayer@goodcatholic.com to your address book or list of approved senders.

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2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

(7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 
King James Version   Change email Bible version

A major question about II Thessalonians 2 is the scope of the described events. One interpretation is that it is a localized occurrence, in the sense of it happening just within the “little flock”—the church. A second interpretation is that since “the falling away” contains the definite article, it refers to a unique event in man’s history, far greater than anything that has happened before. In contrast, the church has had periods of strength and weakness all throughout its history—it goes through cycles of rallying around truth and then gradually letting it slip. This second, universal interpretation is a better fit because, when we look at the whole passage, the events and personalities are worldwide in scope.

Remember, this falling away sets the stage for the man of sin, who will have tremendous influence over humanity. Paul is not writing about apostasy in a small group of people that will give rise to an international personality, but an event on the world scene that creates the right environment to catapult this figure, backed by the power of Satan, to the heights of power.

Paul, then, is letting the church know that it need not be concerned about missing the end time. The events leading up to the Day of the Lord will be unmistakable to those with eyes to see. What will happen will affect the entire world, even though the world will not grasp the spiritual significance.

A falling away is taking place right now. Whether it turns out to be the falling away remains to be seen. Right now, though, we are witnessing a steady defection from the basic principles of the Bible, away from what we call the Judeo-Christian ethic. This is not brand new, but it is picking up speed. We need to be reminded of it because it can have a detrimental effect on us.

Apostasy is a defection from truth—a forsaking of one spiritual approach in favor of another. In the Old Testament, many of the kings and eventually the whole nation of Israel rebelled against God and chose opposing belief systems. We are seeing the same thing today, but at times, it is harder to recognize because we are accustomed to it, and it is not happening overnight. In the books of Kings and Chronicles, we can read the record of a given king who turned away from God and served the Baals, and the foolishness sounds quick and casual because we are reading a summary. But when a falling away happens around us, perhaps even beginning before we were born, it is easy for our minds to adjust to the point that we almost forget the continuing rebellion against God and His way.

— David C. Grabbe

To learn more, see:
The Falling Away

Topics:

Baal Worship

Day of the Lord

Defection from Truth

Falling Away

Man of Sin

Rebellion against God

Satan as Deceiver

Satan as the Author of Rebellion

The Falling Away

Commentary copyright © 1992-2026  Church of the Great God

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Thursday, July 02

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Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today’s games, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. 

This is our last newsletter before the Fourth of July weekend. We’ll be back on Monday.

Now that the calendar’s flipped to July, it’s officially trade season. We’ll have you covered with the latest Trade Deadline buzz all month long.

Today Mark Feinsand takes a look at the biggest trade questions facing American League clubs ahead of the Aug. 3 Deadline. 

He’s got a whole top 10 in his article, so check out the full list, but here are five of the most interesting: 

1) Will the Yankees’ internal “additions” be enough? 

The Yankees have been scuffling lately with stars like Aaron Judge, Max Fried and Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list, but they’re still one of the best teams in the AL. They should be even better once those guys come back … but that doesn’t mean they’ll stand pat at the Trade Deadline. Feinsand expects the Yanks to at least add a relief arm or two, and maybe do even more.

2) Will the Rays go all-in? 

The Rays have taken back first place from the Yankees in the AL East and currently boast the best record in the American League. President of baseball operations Erik Neander has been aggressive in the past when his team’s in contention, so will he push his chips in again in 2026? Tampa Bay has multiple areas of need, especially some depth for a top-heavy lineup. Feinsand thinks Luis Arraez might make sense as a trade target.

3) Can the Tigers find a way to hold onto Skubal? 

The biggest fish on the trade market is still Tarik Skubal. But what once seemed like a lock that the back-to-back reigning Cy Young winner would get traded is now more of a question, with the Tigers playing better and both the AL Central and Wild Card races wide open. Whatever Detroit ultimately decides to do, expect to hear Skubal’s name a whole lot between now and Aug. 3.

4) Will the surprise White Sox be buyers? 

The White Sox are the big surprise of that aforementioned wide-open AL Central. They lead the division at 45-40 after three straight 100-loss seasons. Chicago might already be good enough to win the Central, but if the team wants to swing some trades to really make the leap, the pitching staff will likely be the focal point. 

5) Do the Rangers have enough to add any difference-makers? 

The AL West is also wide open, and the Rangers have used their recent hot streak to get to the top — they’re tied with the Mariners for the division lead at 44-43. Last time they were a playoff team, in their World Series-winning 2023 season, president of baseball operations Chris Young made several big moves at the Trade Deadline, adding players like Max Scherzer, Aroldis Chapman and Jordan Montgomery. Texas might want to do that again, but the team doesn’t have a ton of high-end prospects. So the Rangers might have to get creative to make trades.

See all the biggest questions facing AL teams ahead of the Trade Deadline here >> 

ALL-STAR ROSTERS REVEALED ON SATURDAY

All-Star voting is now over. All that’s left is to reveal the teams. 

The American League and National League rosters for the 2026 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard will be announced on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

That includes the players who will join Shohei Ohtani and Ernie Clement in the starting lineups after winning the fan vote, as well as the pitchers and reserves for both teams. 

Ahead of the announcement, Anthony Castrovince has a handy FAQ on how the All-Star rosters are selected.

If you need a reminder of which players were finalists to be All-Star starters (and where the standings stood at the final ballot update), you can check that out here.

The All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.  

GAMES TO WATCH THIS 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND

We’ve got a ton of great games to watch this holiday weekend. Here’s something for every day. 

Tonight: Rays at Royals (7:40 p.m. ET, MLB.TV) 

Save some for the Derby, Junior Caminero! The first confirmed 2026 Home Run Derby participant has now gone deep in six consecutive games, and the Rays are running out of words to describe their young superstar slugger. The 22-year-old Caminero is the youngest player ever to homer in six or more straight games, ahead of a 23-year-old Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993, a 24-year-old Willie Mays in 1955 and a 24-year-old Nolan Arenado in 2015. 

“Probably call him an All-Star, maybe a Home Run Derby champion,” teammate Shane McClanahan said. “Junior is the best.”

Tomorrow: Padres at Dodgers (10:10 p.m. ET, MLB.TV) 

Shohei Ohtani is preparing for his sixth straight All-Star Game, where he’ll be the starting DH for the NL. But you might recall he’s also a pitcher who’s 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA, and he returns to the mound tomorrow nightas the Dodgers face the rival Padres in L.A. Ohtani has a strong case to make the All-Star team as a pitcher as well as a hitter, as he’s been one of the best aces in the league all year.

4th of July: Mets at Braves (8:08 p.m. ET, FOX)

The national pastime will get a slate of national broadcasts over Fourth of July weekend, and this one should bring the … fireworks. Two longtime division rivals clash on Baseball Night in America, with Braves ace Chris Sale headlining the matchup. Sale is 8-6 with a 2.10 ERA and 109 strikeouts this season for the NL East leaders and is rocketing up our Starting Pitcher Power Rankings.

Sunday: Cardinals at Cubs (2:30 p.m. ET, Peacock / NBCSN Extra)

To end the weekend, we get a “Star-Spangled Sunday,” with NBC and Peacock broadcasting all 15 MLB games on the schedule throughout the day. Here, we’ll highlight the series finale between the Cardinals and Cubs, two classic NL Central rivals who are both in playoff contention. Ahead of their weekend clash, the Cubs are in the top NL Wild Card spot, while the Cardinals hold the third Wild Card spot. 

50 STATES, 50 STORIES: BASEBALL IN AMERICA

Fourth of July weekend is here, and in honor of the 250th birthday of the United States, we’re reflecting on the best stories of Baseball in America. 

Baseball is America’s pastime for a reason, and each pocket of the country has its own unique connection to the sport. So this summer, we’re bringing you 50 stories from all 50 states.

You can read about baseball played under the Midnight Sun in Alaska. Mickey Mantle hitting his first professional home run into a zoo of monkeys in Kansas. The first baseball game ever recorded in New Jersey, and the longest baseball game ever played in Rhode Island. How Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe got their start in a tiny town in New Hampshire, or how Tim Lincecum became the whirling dervish of Washington. 

There are so many great American baseball stories, and we have a lot more still to come.

See the collection of Baseball in America stories here >> 

ODDS AND ENDS

• One of the best bits of Americana has to be the baseball card. And spanning back through the generations, there are certain baseball cards that simply stand out — from the early-1900s T-206 Honus Wagner to the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle to the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card.

With an assist from none other than Bob Costas, we identified the most iconic baseball cards of every era. Check them out here >>

• Why did a host of English soccer fans start an impromptu fan club for Braves outfielder Michael Harris II? Some questions need no answers.

• Cubs hurler Jordan Wicks preserved a one-run lead for his second career save on Sunday. And then last night, Wicks helped Chicago hang on to a narrow 20-run victory with a three-inning outing vs. the Padres. Both outings counted as saves.

How rare is it to earn a save in a game your team won by 20? Thomas Harrigan has the details right here. 

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