MJL Morning Briefing |
| From Matt Leonard · Tuesday, June 2, 2026 |
TOP STORY President Trump is backing away from his proposed $1.8 billion fund for people he calls victims of unfair prosecution; the DOJ told a federal court June 1 it won't activate the fund before a June 12 hearing, defusing a Senate GOP standoff that had stalled a $70 billion border bill. Punchbowl News |
National Politics Iran nuclear talks collapse; Trump says he 'couldn't care less' Iranian state media said Tehran suspended U.S. nuclear talks June 1 and the Revolutionary Guard threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil-shipping chokepoint, while Trump said he 'couldn't care less' if the talks end. Politico Playbook |
PA & NJ Politics Dems launch eight-figure PA ad blitz hitting Republicans on utility and gas costs House Majority Forward is opening an eight-figure TV and digital campaign across four Pennsylvania swing districts (PA-1, -7, -8, -10), tying Republicans including Rep. Rob Bresnahan (co-op: Claverack) to Trump on gas, grocery, and utility costs. Politico Playbook New Jersey holds first congressional primaries since scrapping the 'county line' New Jersey voters pick congressional nominees June 2 in the first cycle since courts abolished the party-boss 'county line' ballot, with heavy super PAC spending in the open NJ-12 and the Democratic race to challenge Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in NJ-07. Politico Playbook |
Energy Industry A Concentric Energy Advisors report released June 1 warned data-center-driven load growth could shift $120-169 billion in transmission costs onto other ratepayers over 30 years, while projecting $239 billion in U.S. utility grid investment in 2026. Utility Dive Duquesne Light told the Post-Gazette that a new dynamic line-rating system could increase its existing transmission lines' carrying capacity by roughly 25% without building new lines, easing grid constraints across its Pittsburgh-area service territory. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Pennsylvania PUC issued a consumer reminder June 1 that electricity default-service rates changed with the start of summer, urging customers to review their utility's new 'price to compare' and consider shopping for a competitive supplier. PA PUC |
Pittsburgh Sports Braxton Ashcraft struck out 11 over six innings and Ryan O'Hearn and Nick Gonzales homered as the Pirates beat the Twins 9-3 at home Sunday to complete a sweep; Pittsburgh was off Monday and faces Houston on Tuesday. ESPN The Steelers begin their three-day mandatory minicamp June 2, the offseason's only required workout; quarterback Aaron Rodgers joined OTAs in May rather than waiting for June as in 2025, giving him added reps with DK Metcalf and the receiving corps. Steelers.com |
Market Snapshot | PJM West Hub (RT) | $15.78/MWh -28.6% | | PJM AEP-Dayton (RT) | $15.57/MWh -29.3% | | PJM Capacity 27/28 | $333.44/MW-day | | Henry Hub | n/a | | WTI Crude | $90.62/bbl -1.7% |
As of Jun 2, 8:09 a.m. EPT (PJM RT) |
Curated by Matt Leonard. Numbers from real endpoints only. |