This week, we’re unpacking the shifting realities of both the global stage and the American dream. At home, a new analysis finds that living out the American dream—from homeownership to raising kids—now carries a lifetime price tag of $5 million. And as costs rise, another trend deepens: fewer Americans are having sex, with birth rates projected to fall far below replacement levels over the next three decades. What does it mean when both family formation and affordability are in freefall? Abroad, Australia, Canada, and the UK have joined forces to recognize Palestinian statehood, piling international pressure on Israel and putting them at odds with the U.S.—while France signals it will follow at the UN General Assembly. Meanwhile in Washington, massive pro-Trump banners draped across federal buildings spark alarm over authoritarian undertones. And in Prince George’s County, Maryland, residents celebrate a temporary pause on data center development after tens of thousands signed a petition to protect community space. From the price of the dream to the politics of power, this episode dives into the choices shaping our lives at home and abroad.