MJL Morning Briefing |
| From Matt Leonard · Tuesday, June 16, 2026 |
TOP STORY ⚡U.S. and Iran sign framework to end war; 60 days to negotiate nuclear deal The U.S. and Iran signed a framework to halt 3½ months of war and open a 60-day window for talks on long-term nuclear limits and sanctions relief; oil prices fell and a reopening Strait of Hormuz could ease U.S. energy costs, though the terms remain secret. The New York Times |
National Politics GOP presses Trump to pivot from Iran to affordability With Trump's approval at 39% and 140 days to the midterms, Senate GOP leaders urged him to refocus from Iran to food, housing and electricity costs — though a reopened Strait of Hormuz may only partly unwind wartime gas-price spikes. Punchbowl News Primary day: Trump-backed Collins favored in Georgia Senate runoff Voters decide GOP primaries Tuesday, led by Georgia's Senate runoff where Trump-endorsed Rep. Mike Collins is favored over Derek Dooley to challenge Sen. Jon Ossoff; Alabama, Oklahoma and D.C. also hold contests. Politico Playbook Fed's Warsh chairs first meeting; rate decision Wednesday Kevin Warsh leads his first Fed policy meeting Tuesday, with Wednesday's decision widely expected to hold rates steady even as sticky inflation keeps a future hike in play — and Trump watching closely. Politico Playbook |
PA & NJ Politics Pa. Supreme Court rules skill games are illegal slot machines The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Monday that 'skill games' are unlicensed slot machines under the Gaming Control Act, but blocked enforcement for 120 days — giving the General Assembly a window to regulate or tax the machines amid the budget fight. Spotlight PA Reelection year seen as pressure for an on-time Pa. budget With the state budget due June 30 and last year's plan 135 days late, observers say 2026 reelection pressure on Gov. Shapiro and lawmakers could grease a faster agreement this time. The Center Square Pa. House votes near-unanimously to ban 'gas station heroin' The Pennsylvania House passed a near-unanimous bill Monday to ban tianeptine — 'gas station heroin' — an opioid-like supplement sold at gas stations and head shops across the commonwealth. Penn Capital-Star |
Energy Industry The Pennsylvania PUC detailed its 2025-year distribution of roughly $243.8 million in Act 13 unconventional gas-well impact fees — $133.8M to counties and municipalities, $89.2M to the Marcellus Legacy Fund, $20.9M to state agencies. Central Penn Business Journal Fitch sours on U.S. utility-sector outlook over affordability Fitch Ratings said its outlook for the U.S. utility sector is deteriorating as customer-affordability pressure weighs on regulated utilities — a backdrop facing PJM-region co-ops and IOUs amid surging data-center load growth. Utility Dive Federal judge overturns DOE grant cancellation A federal judge overturned the U.S. Energy Department's cancellation of a previously awarded grant, rebuffing the administration's bid to claw back funds it had already committed. Utility Dive DOE extends emergency order keeping TransAlta's Centralia coal unit online The Energy Department extended a Section 202(c) emergency order requiring TransAlta to keep its Centralia, Wash., Unit 2 coal plant available — the latest use of emergency authority to delay a generator retirement for grid reliability. Utility Dive |
Pittsburgh Sports The Pirates fell to 36-37, routed 11-2 at the Athletics on Monday as Nick Kurtz homered twice and drove in five; Jared Jones took the loss (4 IP, 5 ER) and E. Rodriguez homered for Pittsburgh. ESPN With OTAs and minicamp wrapped, the Steelers signed ex-Seahawks rookie wide receiver Levi Wentz on Monday and waived punter Aidan Laros and linebacker Daylan Carnell. Heavy |
Market Snapshot | PJM West Hub (RT) | $17.41/MWh -7.3% | | PJM AEP-Dayton (RT) | $16.75/MWh -8.1% | | PJM Capacity 27/28 | $333.44/MW-day | | Henry Hub | $3.10/MMBtu +1.6% | | WTI Crude | $78.37/bbl -2.9% |
As of Jun 16, 8:09 a.m. EPT (PJM RT) |
Curated by Matt Leonard. Numbers from real endpoints only. |