In 1992, Barenaked Ladies released “If I Had $1,000,000,” a track detailing all the things they’d buy with those stacks of cash. Offering little in the way of social commentary and more in the way of silly fun, the song became a crowd favorite despite never being a single nor having a video made for it. And at the time, it was accurate. One could buy quite a few things with $1,000,000 in 1992. Arguably, $1,000,000 in 1992 would make one rich. In 2026, not so much. To achieve comparable purchasing power in 2026, one would need $2,361,684.28, a 137% increase. And not everything is staying on track with that inflationary level. For example, had Barenaked Ladies bought the house mentioned in the song in 1992, the median price was around $120,000. Since that time, the cost of housing has increased by 158%. Medical care is up 211%. Food and beverage grew by 148%. One bright spot is that the emu they considered purchasing has gone in the opposite direction. Back in 1992, emu farming was a highly speculative business. To buy one, you’d have to pony up between $18,000 and $25,000. Today, you can get an emu for a mere $800-$2,500, making it one of the few times Homer was correct to ignore Marge’s advice. If your job at the nuclear power plant forces you to go back to college, though, you’re facing an entirely different animal. In 1992, the average tuition for a state school was $2,349. Today, it’s $10,340, an increase of 340%. On the plus side, though, universities have drastically watered down course difficulty, making it that much easier to earn a degree that doesn’t truly prepare kids for a rapidly changing world. The problem isn’t really the inflation, though inflation in healthcare and education is an issue. The problem is that we haven’t inflated our definitions of wealth since 1992. Financial reporters and businesses, for example, love to discuss the changing behaviors of affluent shoppers. For example, did you know that people earning over $100,000 annually shop at Walmart? Does anyone think $100,000 is really that much money, though? Because it’s not. The median individual income in the United States is $62,088. Household income pushes that number up to $83,730. The individual number may be farther from $100,000 than the household number, but are we really going to pretend that an additional $17,000-38,000 is the difference between average and affluent? On the business side, it’s easy to understand why frugal companies want to appeal to all shoppers. Wealthy people don’t experience economic downturns the same way as those working paycheck to paycheck. The wealthy can continue making discretionary purchases when the economy heads south, helping maintain profits, while those with tighter budgets cut back. When it comes to members of the media who parrot those lines about the price of affluence, it does a disservice to the public, at least the portion of the public that still trusts mainstream media. (Current level: 28%, a decrease of 51.72% from 1992.) As such, it’s time to update the way we talk about these things. For a while, Barenaked Ladies were just singing songs. We as a people need accurate information, including accurate information about what constitutes true wealth. To retire, you’re going to need at least a million. The median cost of a house isn’t quite half a million, but it’s close. We now have the world’s first trillionaire, which is super impressive, but it is important to keep things in perspective. Because having $1,000,000 isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in 2026. It’s important that you shouldn’t turn it down if you get the opportunity, but it’s not going to make you wealthy. So instead of mischaracterizing what it means to be a millionaire, let’s aspire to join their ranks, if for no other reason than we want to enjoy our golden years. And while we’re at it, let’s also refrain from using the word “rich” to denote having large amounts of financial resources. Instead, say “wealthy.” I’m Rich and, like Elon the trillionaire, there is only one of me. Unlike the trillionaire, though, I cannot fund interplanetary travel, especially not when gas is so expensive. *** Rich Cromwell is a writer living in Northwest Arkansas. He produces the Cookin’ Up a Story podcast, which you can listen to here. You can also follow him on X: @rcromwell4

President Donald Trump arrived in France on Monday for the Group of Seven (G7) summit, where he is expected to hold a series of high-profile meetings against the backdrop of a newly announced agreement with Iran, an Ebola outbreak, ongoing fighting in Ukraine, and renewed disputes with several European allies. Shortly before his first meeting, Trump signaled tensions with some members, posting a sharp critique of some European countries’ immigration policies.  “Sadly, if you import people from Third World Countries, you quickly become a Third World Country — And there’s not a thing you can do about it. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote. Trump has frequently criticized several European governments over mass migration and border security, including G7 members France and the United Kingdom.  Trump’s first major bilateral meeting will be with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday before joining fellow G7 leaders for the summit’s opening events in Evian-les-Bains, a resort spa town on the shores of Lake Geneva near the Swiss border. Over the next three days, Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Macron, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  Trump will also join fellow G7 leaders and invited guests, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for a series of working sessions focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, economic development, and global trade before concluding the trip on Wednesday. The summit comes at a pivotal moment for the international community, with Trump announcing that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran has been reached and Vice President JD Vance announcing he will attend a signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday. In a phone interview with Fox News, Vance said President Trump may also make an appearance, pending logistical planning. “I certainly plan to be there. It’s possible the president himself could be there,” Vance said. “We got a lot of work to do, but a very big win for the American people tonight.” On Sunday evening, Trump announced that negotiators had finalized a long-sought agreement with Iran that would allow for the immediate reopening of the critical shipping lane. “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The precise terms of the agreement remain unclear, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program. According to The New York Times, Trump suggested in an interview on Sunday that he could accept a deal under which Iran suspends uranium enrichment for 15 years. Such a provision would mark a significant shift from the administration’s previously stated position. As recently as April 8, Trump declared on Truth Social that there would be “no enrichment of Uranium.” The fallout from the Iran conflict and the newly announced agreement with Tehran is likely to loom large over discussions at the G7, particularly after tensions flared between Trump and several member states that declined his calls to participate in efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz and instead criticized the U.S. military operation. Trump publicly expressed frustration with the United Kingdom for its reluctance to become involved, blasted France after officials criticized the strikes, said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lacked courage, and lashed out at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after the German leader suggested Iran had “humiliated” the United States. “The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Following the dispute, Trump announced the withdrawal of thousands of U.S. troops from Germany, though part of that move was later offset by deployments to Poland. France, which holds the current G7 presidency, is seeking areas of cooperation to cool tensions. According to Politico, Macron plans to pursue consensus on critical mineral supply chains, cancer research, child online safety, international development, social impact investing, and efforts to reduce investment risks in developing nations. The war in Ukraine will also be a central focus of the summit. Zelensky is expected to attend as Kyiv is making notable territorial gains against Russia, but is seeking more U.S. missiles. Here’s a look at Trump’s public schedule for the three-day summit: (Times listed in Eastern Time) Monday, June 15 11:30 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron 1:00 p.m. — Official greeting with G7 leaders 1:30 p.m. — G7 leaders’ working dinner Tuesday, June 16 3:00 a.m. — Working session with G7 leaders and Ukraine 4:30 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani 5:15 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan 6:00 a.m. — Working lunch with G7 leaders and the Middle East 9:00 a.m. — Working session with G7 leaders and developing countries 1:15 p.m. — Cultural performance and concert 2:15 p.m. — G7 leaders’ social dinner Wednesday, June 17 3:30 a.m. — Working session with G7 leaders and developing countries 5:30 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi 6:30 a.m. — Working lunch with G7 leaders, developing countries, and global technology CEOs 8:45 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 9:30 a.m. — Press conference 1:00 p.m. — Bilateral dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles TBD — Departure from France for Washington, D.C. Trump arrived in Europe accompanied by a large delegation of senior administration officials and advisers. According to the White House, those traveling aboard Air Force One included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Counselor to the President Alina Habba, and several other top aides involved in foreign policy, trade, and economic negotiations.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that his government plans to pursue a social media ban for children under 16, aligning Britain with Australia and other countries that have moved to tighten regulations on major technology platforms. Starmer said the government plans to introduce the legislation in Parliament before Christmas, paving the way for the ban to take effect in early 2027. The restrictions would cover platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and other streaming and social media services.  Messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal will be exempt from the ban, according to the government. The restrictions also will not apply to educational services or music-streaming platforms. In a social media video, the embattled and historically unpopular prime minister argued the ban is about improving the lives of children.  We are banning social media access for under 16s. These days kids must find their feet in a world where technology intrudes into every area of their life. I just can’t let that go on anymore. So we’re giving children their childhoods back. pic.twitter.com/jn7iQrcwk8 — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 15, 2026 “Every parent wants the best for their kids. That’s what being a parent means. And for me, for my two kids, all I’ve ever wanted is for them to be safe and for them to be happy, and the rest is up to them,” he said. “These days, kids have to find their feet in a world that changes so quickly, where technology intrudes into every area of their lives, and we know that harms them.”  Starmer admitted the proposal is a “big step” and “not an easy thing to do.”  “It’s fair to say that this decision has been resisted, and it will face resistance from some of the most powerful companies in the world, but we will take them on, and we will win, because the need for action could not be any clearer,” Starmer said. “Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe, and as a parent, as much as a Prime Minister, I just cannot let that go on any more.”  Immediately, YouTube and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, pushed back and warned against unintended consequences.  “Blanket bans push kids out of curated, supervised, and beneficial online experiences and toward anonymous, less-safe services,” a YouTube spokesman said, according to the Associated Press, arguing that such a ban could drive teens to platforms that lack parental controls and other safety features. The British government cited a nationwide consultation that garnered over 116,000 submissions from parents, children, and experts, with overwhelming support for the crackdown. According to the government, nine out of ten parents said they support a social media ban for children under 16.  Nigel Farage, leader of the Right-wing Reform UK party, raised questions about whether the proposed ban would be effective. “Whilst the social media ban is well-intentioned, it’s unlikely to work given the mass adoption of VPNs. It will also mean the introduction of Digital ID via the back door,” he said. “The real answer here is handsets for children with limited features.”  If enacted, the ban would follow similar measures adopted in Australia and reflect a growing global push to restrict minors’ access to social media. France and Norway have also moved to tighten rules for young users. The movement is gaining traction in parts of the United States as well, with several states and school districts passing laws that restrict cellphone use in classrooms. It remains unclear whether a full-scale ban, as seen in Europe and Australia, would pass constitutional muster in the United States. Across the pond, however, kids appear to be dreading the looming ban.  “You’re going to have a lot more time to fill. What will you do?” a reporter asked a student. “Stare at a wall,” she replied.

One of the oldest and most sacred Christian monasteries in the world was set ablaze overnight Monday when Russia launched a massive missile and drone assault on Kyiv, damaging the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra — a site that has stood as the spiritual heart of Eastern Orthodox Christianity for nearly a thousand years. Russia hit Kiev Pechersk Lavra tonight—intentionally or not doesn’t matter. Lavra is one of the most important monasteries in Russian Orthodoxy. It was founded in a cave in the 11th century and important historical personalities are buried there, including Nicholas II Prime… pic.twitter.com/7lI9XPmFj8 — Katya Sedgwick (@KatyaSedgwick) June 15, 2026 The Lavra, founded in 1051 by a monk named Anthony who had trained on Mount Athos, is not merely a Ukrainian landmark. It is among the founding institutions of Christian civilization in the Slavic world, the monastery where the region’s earliest written histories were composed, where saints are entombed in underground caves, and where pilgrims have traveled for centuries from across the Orthodox world. UNESCO had already placed it on its World Heritage in Danger list since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Ukraine’s emergency services reported that 800 square meters of the Dormition Cathedral’s roof were destroyed in the blaze, with a separate fire consuming 1,000 square meters of an adjacent national cultural complex. Firefighters battled through the night beneath the monastery’s iconic towers and domes. At least nine people were killed across Ukraine in the overnight assault — four in Kyiv, and five rescue workers in Kharkiv responding to an earlier strike — after Russia launched 611 drones and 70 missiles. President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the smoldering site Monday, calling the attack “one of Russia’s most serious crimes against Christian culture to date.” Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv called it “a crime against humanity, against history, against Christianity.” Ukraine’s foreign minister called Russian dictator Vladimir Putin “the 21st century’s worst barbarian.” Russia denied responsibility, claiming a stray Ukrainian Patriot missile caused the damage. Ukraine’s security service rejected that, citing drone wreckage recovered at the scene. The attack carries a grim historical echo. This is not the first time the Dormition Cathedral has been destroyed on Moscow’s orders. In 1941, retreating Soviet NKVD operatives mined much of central Kyiv before abandoning it, demolishing the cathedral and killing thousands of civilians in the process. The Soviet Union blamed the Nazis for the Katyn massacre — and that lie held for decades. The cathedral was only fully rebuilt after Ukrainian independence, consecrated in the year 2000. The monastery has endured Mongol sackings, Golden Horde raids, Soviet secularization, and World War II destruction. Each time, it was rebuilt. Its underground caves still hold the naturally mummified remains of medieval saints, including Nestor the Chronicler, author of the region’s earliest histories. Its bell towers and baroque churches have defined the Kyiv skyline for centuries. Whether this latest assault represents another wound from which the Lavra will recover — or something more final — will depend on how the war ends. What is not in question is what was attacked: not just a Ukrainian building, but one of the living roots of Christian civilization.

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States would celebrate its 250th birthday with the “largest fireworks show of all time.”  Trump said on Truth Social that he plans to host “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all” at the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in the nation’s capital on July 4. The event, called a “Tribute to America” will feature military bands, military flyovers, and fireworks.  Trump said that a variety of military bands would play patriotic classics in the “largest formation of Joint Military Music and Ceremonial performances in History” and a “playlist” selected by him as well.  “Starting at 7 P.M. EST, this HUGE Celebration will honor our Country’s People, Spirit, Strength, Resolve, and Triumphs,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “With the backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial and surrounding the beautifully new Reflecting Pool, more than 300 Members of our strong and talented Military Bands, Orchestras, and Ceremonial Units, will perform Patriotic Melodies and American Classics, and my Playlist (We will have none of those people that put you to sleep and constantly complain!), as we celebrate our Country, and Rally into the next 250 years.” Trump said the event would include an air show featuring “incredible flyovers” and said that he would give a speech. “To conclude the program, and commemorate this Historic Occasion, I will be launching, what will be, the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY, right here in our Nation’s Capital. Do not miss it,” Trump added.  The president’s promise of a historic fireworks show appeared to follow the advice of Founding Father John Adams, who once said that America’s independence should be celebrated with “bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.” In a separate post, Trump said that the kickoff for the summer of celebrating America’s 250th anniversary would take place on June 24 with music performed by the Army and Marine Corps military bands and Lee Greenwood. He said that Air Force fighter jets and stealth bombers would fly over for the ceremony taking place on the National Mall.  “This Patriotic Tribute will take place on the Main Stage at the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair located on our Majestic National Mall, in what is now one of the safest Cities in the World, Washington D.C., which we are beautifying to levels never seen before,” Trump said.  Trump’s announcement of the Fourth of July celebration comes after he hosted a UFC fight at the White House punctuated by a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.