Hi you,

At long last, my feet are firmly planted in very hot Southern California soil. No more flight updates or trips to report, at least for now. In this issue, I’m focusing on the dual union strikes in Hollywood, with a close look at how A.I. is playing a role in these bitter negotiations. But first, here’s a brief tour of some other things on my mind:

• I’ve watched the French World Cup ad at least five times. There’s a chance you haven’t seen it yet, so I’ll say less and just encourage you to watch it.
• I also saw Barbie, and it was way more interesting than any movie about a toy has a right to be. I laughed. I had thoughts. I was impressed with the performances. They missed an opportunity in the end that...