The US sent the USS George Washington to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent a modern record of 250 consecutive days at sea amid the prolonged war with Iran.

The aircraft carrier houses over 5,000 troops and has been responsible for more than 10,000 attacks during the conflict.

The development came days before Centcom Commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited the aircraft carrier this weekend amid allegations of poor conditions on the ship. In recent days:

Senate Democrats have begun investigating the physical and mental state of the crew, prodding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers last week.

The reports are contested: The Navy says it has not seen evidence of an increase in suicide attempts, while Hegseth claims the reports were "completely misrepresented." Adm. Cooper claimed the Lincoln had some of the lowest numbers of mental health cases among US aircraft carriers, but acknowledged that months at sea can be challenging.

Meanwhile, the war continues: With peace talks stalled, Iranian officials said they would resume attacks in the Strait of Hormuz if it cannot produce a deal with the US. Separately, President Trump threatened to bomb longtime ally Oman if it interferes with negotiations.

🌎 Why is this important? If the conflict begins again, Americans could quickly feel it through higher gas prices and more expensive goods as energy and shipping costs rise. A prolonged crisis could also fuel inflation and add uncertainty for households already dealing with elevated living costs.

Get more updates on the war, plus all of our previous briefings, below.

Can you blame them in this economy?? US retail sales unexpectedly fell 0.6% last month, marking their first decline in nine months and the steepest drop since last spring.

Because the Commerce Department’s report doesn’t adjust for inflation, last month’s lower gas prices naturally pulled the number lower (see how retail sales are calculated). But the decline doesn't necessarily mean Americans suddenly stopped spending.

The decline in spending is partially due to a few unusual factors:

Despite its peculiarity, it’s still not a good sign: Consumer spending is a crucial indicator since it drives roughly 70% of all economic activity, so when it falls, it usually means households are running out of money, which can eventually trigger an economic slowdown or recession.

It’s not the only red flag flying: Consumer sentiment fell roughly 8% this month, the US unexpectedly lost 23,000 jobs last month, and the labor force participation rate is at a 50-year low (excluding the pandemic). Additionally, while inflation eased, it still sits well above the Fed’s 2% target.

🌎 How does this affect you? Falling retail sales could lead to more discounts and promotions as stores compete for more budget-minded shoppers. If Americans keep cutting back, businesses could respond by slowing hiring and cutting hours, adding another potential weakness to the job market.

Check out live updates on other key economic indicators, like inflation and interest rates, with our Money index.

College students are steadily reconsidering what they should study as AI seems to make some majors useless… and others more important.

Students and parents are searching for majors that will still be relevant in the AI age, while colleges scramble to incorporate AI literacy into degrees that were designed for, well, not that.

It’s giving students an existential crisis. According to a recent survey:

AI is having a bigger impact than you think: 13% of bachelor’s students and 19% of associate degree students have changed their field of study because of the technology, while 47% have at least considered doing so.

Those job market worries aren’t unfounded, either: Hiring has become much more competitive for entry-level positions as employers now expect younger workers to start further up the skills ladder, since AI now handles the more mundane tasks typically assigned to fresh graduates.

Well, that’s not clear either. Computer science used to be the go-to industry for securing your future, but enrollment in the field dropped 8.1% last year after 15 years as the fastest-growing major.

The current solution? Just get a degree in AI:

Try not to worry too much… as OpenAI’s VP of education believes skills that translate across jobs, including critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration (along with AI proficiency), will become increasingly important to employers.

🌎 Why is this important? As the effects of the AI boom continue to ripple throughout society, simply earning a degree may no longer be enough for many young graduates as they’re expected to arrive ready to manage AI, solve complex problems, and take on responsibilities once reserved for more experienced workers.

See what's changed, recent data, what we're watching next, and every other major story that affects you on our Watchlist… completely free.

Clint Brauer grew up on his family's Kansas farm. His dad sprayed the same chemicals every American farmer sprays. Years later: Parkinson's. Clint walked away from a tech career to build a different way. Today his company, Greenfield Robotics, runs a patented fleet of autonomous bots that slice weeds with centimeter precision, day or night, herbicide-free. 

Greenfield is now opening shares to everyday investors under Reg A+. Reserve during Test the Waters and you lock in a 5% bonus that can grow to 20% the week the round goes live. The US has 250 million acres at stake.

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_{Greenfield Robotics is Testing The Waters under tier 2 of Regulation A. No money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent in response will not be accepted. No offer to buy the securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received until the offering statement filed by the company with the SEC has been qualified by the SEC. Any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of acceptance given after the date of qualification. An indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment of any kind. “Reserving” shares is simply an indication of interest. There is no binding commitment for investors that reserve shares in this manner to ultimately invest and purchase the shares reserved of the company, or to purchase any shares of the company whatsoever.}

More than $100 billion in tariff refunds has started flowing back to businesses after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s emergency tariffs earlier this year.

Consumers (I’m talking about you) might be able to claim some of the cash.

After the Supreme Court overturned President Trump’s blanket tariffs in February, businesses started rushing to reclaim what they had paid:

Who got the most money back? More than 40 S&P 500 companies received a combined $9.6 billion in refunds last quarter, with Apple taking home the most at $2.2 billion, followed by Ford with $1.3 billion, Nike with $986 million, FedEx with $800 million, and Amazon with $640 million.

I’m going to hold your hand when I say this. It depends on how you originally paid the tariff and whether the company receiving the government refund chooses (or is able) to pass it along.

Don’t lose hope on a check just yet… UPS, FedEx, and DHL have all promised to hand out direct refunds as they get reimbursed from the government, since they have the ability to track shipments that were affected by tariffs. See more on how to claim your money (if you can) here.

🌎 Why does this matter? The rollout could set an important precedent for future cases, potentially leaving consumers with the short end of the stick when tariffs are overturned after their costs have already rippled through the economy.

Track the latest updates on government fiscal policy, trade, affordability, and more with the Watchlist.

It’s getting to the point where youngins just don’t care anymore. An increasing number of young people are embracing a rather untraditional financial approach called “soft saving” that prioritizes enjoying life over saving.

The financial strategy approach is essentially the opposite of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) method used by many millennials, which is based upon aggressively cutting expenses and investing as much as possible to retire decades early.

While it may seem counterintuitive, Gen Z is simply budgeting for other priorities like travel, restaurants, and experiences… with a little going to their savings. But that’s partly because it’s a hard time to save:

Why not just try and save? Gen Z has entered adulthood amid high housing costs, rising everyday expenses, and high inflation, while goals like buying a house seem impossible. That environment is making young adults question whether sacrificing today’s experiences for a potentially uncertain future is worth it, financial counselor Kumiko Love told ABC.

Soft saving doesn’t forgo all saving: The idea is to establish a manageable savings habit (like automating part of each paycheck, getting a 401(k) employer match, or using a high-yield account) without rearranging your entire lifestyle around maximizing savings.

🌎 Why should you care? While soft saving may help young adults find a better balance between their financial and personal lives, those who take the approach too far could reach their 30s or 40s with considerably less retirement savings and have to contribute much more later to catch up.

We track a wide range of topics that affect young adults on our Watchlist. Click below for new developments on the housing market, affordability, inflation, and more.

> Hundreds of twins gathered at the appropriately named Twinsburg, Ohio, last week for one of the world’s largest annual twin gatherings. See photos here.

> Scientists say they've discovered a new kind of cosmic object called a “black hole star,” a supermassive black hole wrapped in a dense, star-like cloud of gas that could explain mysterious red dots that have puzzled astronomers.

> Our mammal ancestors may have evolved to give birth roughly 90 million years earlier than scientists previously thought, an analysis of a newly found 236-million-year-old fossil suggests.

> An emergency military unit evacuated the remains of three kings and several historic paintings from a monastery threatened by wildfire in northeastern Spain, temporarily moving them to a museum about 50 miles south.

> For the first time, astronomers have directly observed material from a dying star being recycled back into its galaxy, a process that could provide the building blocks for new stars and planets.