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Today we're covering America’s farm crisis, why Zuckerberg has set his sites on iPhone, and career advice from Steven Spielberg.

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American farmers face their worst crisis in decades as debt reaches a record $561.8 billion in 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chapter 12 bankruptcies nearly doubled in the first quarter, with officials attributing pressures to tariffs and declining commodity prices.

Trade policies have reduced foreign demand for U.S. crops, with corn futures falling 15 percent this year. Labor shortages exceeding 400,000 jobs compound difficulties as immigration enforcement disrupts farm operations during harvest season, industry leaders reported. Ag and food sectors in the economy.

Higher food prices and reduced grocery store choices could result from ongoing farm struggles, the California Farm Bureau warned. While Trump's recent spending package provides $66.4 billion in farmer subsidies over ten years, advocates say comprehensive reform remains needed.

What will it take for US citizens to work farms?

More than 3,200 Boeing defense workers begin striking today after rejecting a contract offering 20 percent wage increases over four years, the International Association of Machinists announced Sunday. This marks the first strike at Boeing's St. Louis facilities since 1996.

The walkout will halt production of F-47 fighter jets and other military aircraft at three Missouri and Illinois plants. Boeing called the rejected offer their "richest contract" ever, including improved medical benefits and pension provisions (NYT).

The strike adds pressure to Boeing amid ongoing safety concerns and production issues. Boeing activated contingency plans with no additional union talks scheduled, potentially delaying critical defense programs including Next Generation Air Dominance.

Over 3,000 workers are set to strike.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined plans to challenge Apple's iPhone dominance through AI-powered smartglasses, calling them future "primary computing devices." He envisions "personal superintelligence" combining advanced AI with augmented-reality glasses that understand users' context throughout the day (WSJ).

Meta joins Amazon and OpenAI in developing post-smartphone devices as AI creates new opportunities. Zuckerberg's smartglasses currently work with phones but could eventually replace them through voice interaction and visual interfaces, eliminating touchscreen dependency. Meta Rayban review here.

Apple CEO Tim Cook pushed back Thursday, saying iPhones remain essential for connecting people and running apps. The competition intensifies as Meta spends heavily on AI talent while Apple faces criticism for lagging behind rivals in artificial intelligence development.

How Zuck and Cook became enemies (NYT).

In 1965, 17-year-old Steven Spielberg jumped off a Universal Studios tour bus during a bathroom break and never got back on. Instead of returning to the tour, he wandered the backlot for hours, exploring sound stages and meeting filmmakers. When security found him, he'd already made connections.

Soon after, he returned again, uninvited. Wearing a suit and carrying an empty briefcase, Spielberg set up an unofficial office in an abandoned trailer. For three months, he showed up daily, learning from professionals who assumed he belonged there.

Key lessons:

This bold move launched the career of cinema's most successful director. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from respectfully bending the rules.

Spielberg shares the full story here. Learn more about this mindset in the Jaws 50th anniversary documentary here.

Actor Ed Helms delivered one of television's most poignant observations through his character Andy Bernard in The Office's final season. In a moment of unexpected wisdom, Andy reflects on nostalgia and missed awareness, saying he wishes there was a way to know you're in "the good old days" before you've actually left them. The line captures the universal human tendency to only recognize life's precious moments in retrospect, when we're looking back with longing rather than living with presence.

Rainn Wilson and Ed Helms discuss here.

> Russian volcano erupts for first time in 400 years, days after magnitude 8.8 earthquake (More).

> Delta denies using AI for flight pricing after congressional criticism, says prices dictated by competition (More).

> China approves 183 Brazilian coffee exporters after US announces 50% tariffs starting August 6 (More).

> Disney scraps AI deepfake of Dwayne Johnson for "Moana" after 18-month contract negotiations (WSJ).

> Chevron stock rises 0.4% after record production despite earnings falling to $1.77 per share (More).

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