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The contrast was stark. In the nation’s capital, tens of thousands came Saturday to the National Mall to cheer on a military parade marking the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army—which also happened to fall on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

Elsewhere around the country, in small towns and large cities, far greater numbers—organizers say millions—gathered to chant “No Kings” and protest Trump’s deployment of military might against protestors inLos Angeles, as well as his expansive use of Presidential power to intimidate elected officials and judges, purge the government ofindependent watchdogs,blockCongressional funding to agencies anduniversities, and ignore Constitutional guarantees ofdue process.

The protests unfolded first—some taking place in the morning, others midday and in the afternoon—creating the largest mass opposition to Trump since his inauguration 145 days ago. The parade kicked off in the evening, with a contingent heavy with MAGA hats and shirts lined up at the National Mall and along Constitution Avenue to watch paratoopers jumping out of an airplane and World War II fighters escorting a bomber past the Washington Monument. Through it all Trump was seated at a reviewing stand in front of the Washington Monument, alongside his wife, and much of his Cabinet, all of them behind bullet-proof glass.

The parade showcased America’s military history through thousands of Army troops marching past in historical uniforms—starting with the American Revolution and continuing through both world wars and on to the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The narration of the parade, which alternated between history lesson and recruiting ad for the Army, occasionally thanked private companies such as Lockheed Martin, Coinbase and Palantir.

"Whenever duty calls, whatever danger comes, the American soldier will be there,” Trump said in his speech later that evening, just before a fireworks show.

It’s unclear if Trump viewed the event as living up to its inspiration—the Bastille Day parade he witnessed in Paris in 2017 alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, with marching troops and military vehicles parading past the iconic Arc de Triomphe toward him. The grandiose display transfixed Trump, who came back to Washington and was set on organizing his own version. But the planning proved expensive and city officials were concerned about the damage tanks and military equipment would do to the streets of the capital.

In a second term where he has knocked down many of the guardrails he encountered in the first, plans for the military parade came together quickly.

It was hard to predict how Trump’s long-desired military parade would unfold at such acharged momentin which he had deployed federal troops onUS soiland was grappling with anescalating direct conflictbetween Israel and Iran. Apolitical assassination in Minnesotafurther added to the tension.

Yet for many attending the parade, the focus was on the nation’s strength and not its challenges.

"It is just a day to be a proud American,” says Crystal Sykes, 58, a nurse who took the train from her home in North Carolina to be at the parade. She wore the red Make America Great Again hat that she's had since Trump's first term, with a pin attached to it that displays Trump's name and the American flag in sparkling rhinestones. "If the military doesn't have our support, nobody will want to join."

The Army estimated the events, which included Army fitness demonstrations and activities on the National Mall, would ultimately cost somewhere between $25 million to $45 million. That included the costs to repair damage to Washington, D.C. streets from Abrams tanks.

"I wish it cost less, but I like it,” says Joey Ink, a 19-year-old college student from Maryland, who attended "to show support for the military, theveterans.” Ink says he voted for Trump but wouldn't call himself a Trump supporter.

Trump’s long-sought parade proved to be an effective rallying point for hundreds of protests around the country—with estimates of100,000in Philadelphia,50,000in New York City,30,000in L.A. and 20,000 in Chicago. The lead organizers purposely didn’t plan an event in Washington, but some protesters showed up there as well anyway.

Read more:Inside Trump's Mass-Deportation Operation

In front of the White House that afternoon, a banner read “All Hail Commander Bone Spurs.” as a crowd of about 500 people chanted “Trump must go now!” The location of the protest—Lafayette Park—was the same area where five years earlier, Trump had infamously used the National Guard to clear protestors so he could walk over to a nearby church and pose with a Bible. “We have to do something or it’s going to be the end of democracy,” says Jill Taylor, 60, a speech pathologist who traveled to Washington from Kansas to protest Trump’s military parade.

Earlier in the day on Saturday, in nearby Takoma Park, Maryland, hundreds of people packed the sidewalks of a major road holding signs reading “No Kings” and “F–k ICE”. Martha Dominguez, 25, a mental health professional living in nearby Landover, says she was there because of Trump's immigration policies. Federal agents pulling people from jobs and off the street has left her afraid, even though she is a U.S. citizen. “I feel targeted every time I go out of the house,” says Dominguez. “Trump thinks he’s all that,” she says. “He thinks he’s a king. We are going against that because no one is above the law.”

Even farther out from Washington and other major cities, people gathered in smaller communities like Mountainside, N.J., where roughly 500 people lined both sides of a busy, four-lane divided highway and spanned a footbridge adorned with a sign reading, “No Kings Since 1776.” Those who braved the rain in the town of 7,000 included Lex and Sean, who brought their two kids—ages five and three—to their first protest, and Connor 25, who was visibly upset as they talked about having queer friends and a trans sister. “People I care about are getting attacked by the administration, and that's just not something that I can live with if I sit by and do nothing.”

Back in Washington, the parade was followed by a performance by country musician Warren Zeiders and Trump delivering the Oath of Enlistment to a group of soldiers. “Welcome to the United States Army and have a great life,” Trump told them.

Not far away, one of the few protesters still in downtown Washington found themselves surrounded by a small crowd chanting "Trump Trump!" A park police officer walked over and the crowd eventually dispersed.

—Leslie Dickstein contributed reporting from Mountainside, N.J.

The U.S. has repeatedly denied involvement inIsrael’s initial attack against Iran—a position that Iran has disputed as missiles continue to fly between the two countries and the risk of further escalation looms should the world’s biggest military be pulled into the fight, which has already killed hundreds and wounded more than a thousand since Friday in Iran and killed 19 and injured hundreds in Israel,as of Monday morning.

A number of reports, however, suggest that the U.S. may have played a greater role than has officially been admitted.

Unnamed U.S. officials told multiple news outlets on Sunday that President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” one official toldReuters.

Israel has denied such a plan, but the reported rejection by Trump would indicate some amount of coordination between the U.S. and Israel.

The attack on Iran came amid protracted talks between the U.S. and Iran centered aroundIran’s nuclear program. Trump hasemphasizedfinding a diplomatic solution to the conflict, touting his self-professed ability to broker peace, but Iran and Israel have so far shrugged off international calls for deescalation as both sides launched new attacks early Monday.

Iran has vowed to retaliate against the U.S., too, while Trump haswarned: “If we are attacked in any way, shape, or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.”

Here’s what to know about U.S. involvement so far.

Israel launched its attacks, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” early Friday, targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities as well asmilitary leaders and nuclear scientistsand promising that strikes “will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat” of Iran’s nuclear program. Iran launchedretaliatory strikesat Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Friday evening and have continued to fire missiles at the country.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas AraghchisaidIran has “solid evidence” that the U.S. provided support for Israel’s attacks. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in astatementthat the attacks “could not have been carried out without coordination with and approval of the United States,” adding that the U.S. will be “held responsible for the dangerous consequences of Israel’s adventurism.”

The U.S. has denied any involvement in Israel’s strikes, a position that the Trump Administration has repeated multiple times since Friday.

“We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in astatementreleased soon after the strikes started, describing the attack as “unilateral action” by Israel. Rubio admitted Israel had informed the Trump Administration of the attack, which both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have alsoreiterated. The U.S.evacuatedembassy staff from across the region the day before the attack last week.

In a post on Truth Social urging Iran to “make a deal,” TrumpsuggestedFriday that he was also aware of “the next already planned attacks,” which would be “even more brutal.” Later that day, when asked by theWall Street Journalif he was given a heads-up about the initial attacks by Israel, he suggested that description was an understatement,responding: “Heads-up? It wasn’t a heads-up. It was, we know what’s going on.”

But on Saturday night, following further strikes, Trump againposted: “The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight.”

Israel’s attackhad been months in the making. Reports in May ofIsrael’s preparations to strike Iransuggested that the Trump Administration would not assist Israel in such an operation, especially as Washington was in the midst of negotiating a nuclear agreement with Tehran.

But news outletAxios reportedFriday that Israeli officials said the strikes were in fact coordinated with the U.S., claiming that the Trump Administration publicly pretended to oppose an Israeli attack but gave Israel a “clear U.S. green light” in private.

According to the latest reports, the U.S. has even intervened to shape the attack. U.S. officials told Reuters, theAssociated Press,CNN, and others that Israel had informed the Trump Administration of a credible plan to assassinate Khamenei and that the White House waved Israel off the plan.

Netanyahu spokesperson Omer Dostri later denied those reports,callingthem “fake.” “There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that,” Netanyahu said when asked about it onFox Newson Sunday. “But I can tell you,” he continued, “we’ll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.”

The unclear messaging about the extent of U.S. involvement, however, could reflect mixed priorities between the U.S. and Israel.

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and an expert on U.S.-Iran relations,toldNPR that “clearly there had been coordination and some form of a green light” by the Trump Administration for the Israeli strikes.

“Trump is making a major gamble here, thinking that this actually will soften the Iranian position and make them capitulate,” Parsi added. “If they don’t, what are his options? And this is where I think the Israelis are hoping that the Iranians will not capitulate and that will force the United States into the war.”

There’s so much going on in the world—a newwar between Israel and Iran, ongoing wars inGazaandUkraine,tariffsupending theglobal economy,riots in Los Angeles,planes falling out of the sky,political violenceandterrorist attacks—it can be hard to know where to look.

Experts say that’s what authorities in Hong Kong may be counting on, as they intensify a democratic crackdown in the semi-autonomous Chinese region, quietly building off of moves that began years ago to align the once-democratic stronghold with the more authoritarian government of Beijing.

On June 12, Hong Kong authoritiesconducteda joint operation with China’s national security officials in the city, raiding the homes of six people and the office of an organization suspected of “collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.” Just days before, Hong Kong policewarnedagainst downloading a “seditious” mobile video game deemed to be “endangering national security.” And on June 10, the city’s leader, John Lee,saidHong Kong will ramp up “national security” screenings of food and entertainment establishments.

Since the Chinese Central Government passeda controversial law in 2020in response to widespreadanti-establishment proteststhe year before, Hong Kong has steadily transformed from a place known for freer expression to one that Benedict Rogers, a British human rights activist focused on Asia, described last month as a “police state.”

When the law, which penalizes a swathe of actions deemed critical of Hong Kong and China, was passed, officials from both parties in the U.S. at the time saw it as an infringement on democratic rights, and the U.S. imposed sanctions to try to mitigate the effects.

Trump’s second-term Administration, however, has said little about what’s unfolding in Hong Kong. Secretary of State Marco Rubiosaid in Marchthat “Beijing has broken its promises to the people of Hong Kong” amid the crackdowns, and on March 31, the State Departmentsanctionedsix individuals related to the erosion of freedom in Hong Kong, including national security officials and the city’s former police commissioner.

But critics say the U.S. response seems to end there, and the latest wave of actions in June have not been addressed.

The turmoil around the globe may be proving helpful for Hong Kong to fasttrack its crackdown. Eric Yan-ho Lai, a research fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, tells TIME that “the rising geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, has favoured the Hong Kong government to expand national security governance in the city.”

Lai also said the latest developments show that Hong Kong officials have since shifted to “executive-led” regulatory approaches to quell dissent, rather than arrests en masse.

Under Trump’s second-term Administration, U.S. policy has so far focused on China, with Hong Kong often lumped in with the mainland. For example, enhanced scrutiny ofChinese students’ visasalso covered those from Hong Kong. Hong Kong was also included in U.S.tariffs on Chinese goods.

Expertspreviously told TIMEthat Trump’s second-term Administration, in hopes of negotiating with China on priorities like trade, may avoid measures aimed at non-economic areas, such as China’s domestic democratic and human-rights concerns, that could potentially ruffle Trump’s relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Ja Ian Chong, associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore,  tells TIME he thinks members of the Trump Administration like Rubio are “aware” of what’s happening in Hong Kong but that the Administration is “most focused” at the moment on its own domestic issues.

On that front, Beijing may also benefit, observers have noted in recent days, as increasingly authoritarian-resembling moves by the Trump Administration, includingsending troops to quell protests in Los Angelesearlier this month andhosting a military paradeover the weekend, cast the U.S. as comparatively hypocritical and weak, according to Chinese media.Said one state-run outletabout Saturday’s lackluster parade: “Democracy is struggling in the mud.”

As Alex Colville and David Bandurski of the China Media Projectput it: “Trump’s assault on democratic norms is an unexpected gift for China’s leaders, and one that may in the long term prove costlier than any trade war or diplomatic standoff.”

In the United States, maternity leave is a patchwork of policies. Some are generous, but most are lacking in adequate time, pay, flexibility, or realistic expectations. Almost all are failing to account for one of the hardest parts of postpartum recovery: thereturn to work.It’s during the first four weeks back in the office after maternity leave—the “transition month”—that many new mothers struggle the most. From logistics involving pumping, newly established childcare, and shifting to a completely different daily routine—to the mental battle of actually leaving their baby for the first time combined with sleepless nights and surging hormones—it’s a very challenging and crucial time in the postpartum journey. It’s also the time when the pendulum swings and many decide they cannot continue, having to give up their career altogether. In fact, an average of1 in 4 womenexit the workforce during their first year of motherhood.

This is not because they don’t want to work. It’s because the system, which was never designed with mothers in mind, expects them torapidly transform overnight. One day, they are entirely consumed with the demands of caring for a newborn: navigating feeding schedules, sleep routines, postpartum hormone surges and physical recuperation, a new family dynamic, and more changes that only new moms can understand. The next day, as soon as their leave is up—if they even have leave to begin with—it’s back to meetings, emails, and expectations that they perform at their pre-baby level, if not higher, without any period of adjustment.

A transition month offers a realistic compromise. Instead of forcing mothers to choose between quitting or returning at full speed, a structured, reduced-hours model allows them to reintegrate while reestablishing career momentum.

I’ve learned this from personal experience. During my first pregnancy, I thought I was prepared to return to work after maternity leave. I had built my career in high-pressure environments after all—starting in the White House Social Office during the Bush Administration, later moving to Dallas to lead global events for the George W. Bush Presidential Center, where I spent nearly a decade of my career. But it wasn’t until those early post-partum months that I was faced with the conflict of how my life as a mother and my career could co-exist.When I had my first child, I planned to take just the “standard” 12 weeks of maternity leave and jump back into my role early and ahead of the game, as I had done so often in my career. I loved my job and was eager to return. I believed and trusted that the standard policy would give me enough time to adjust. But in reality, as 12 weeks passed, I was just starting to get into a routine with my baby. I hadn’t even begun to figure out logistics like pumping schedules and nap routines, or started to consider the emotional weight of leaving my newborn behind each day. It wasn’t just physically exhausting; it was mentally destabilizing.

It was even harder when I was diagnosed with postpartum OCD, which I had never even heard of. Fast forward to today, and nearly 75% of my full-time team has also experienced postpartum depression, anxiety, or OCD, which goes to show how commonly these struggles affect working mothers and how little support we receive in navigating them.

Once I gave myself permission to take our company’s full 16 weeks off, plus a transition month working at 50% capacity, I came to realize just how vital that time was to my mental health and my ability to return to work. It felt like the air I needed to survive. I eased back in with reduced hours, a flexible schedule, and remote work. It gave me the time and space to gradually adjust, troubleshoot childcare issues, and figure out how this new version of my life could work. I still struggled, of course. But I didn’t break.

Read More:The Heart-Shattering Feeling of Going Back to Work After Having a Baby

This concept of a phased return isn’t radical. Many European countries already have policies that allow for a gradual re-entry into the workforce after parental leave, recognizing that postpartum recovery isn’t just about physical healing—it’s about restructuring your entire life. Yet in America, where workplace culture has often prized productivity over personal well-being, even suggesting a transition period can feel like asking for too much, rather than advocating for a necessity.

This model also doesn’t just benefit mothers; it benefits employers, too. Studies done pre and post-pandemic show thatworkplace flexibilityreduces turnover and increases employee engagement. When working parents are given the time and space to adjust, they are more likely to remain in their jobs and perform at a higher level. Something companies should pay attention to, as research shows that the highest-achieving, highest-earning women are often themost likelyto leave their jobs after maternity leave.

We remain hopeful that federal mandates for fair, reasonable leave will one day become the new standard in the U.S. Until then, it’s up to employers to implement policies that protect the longevity of mothers in the workforce. And a transition month is a cost-effective solution where employee retention and company culture intersect.

For some companies, this could mean offering intentional career pauses or sabbaticals. For others, it could be hybrid models that allow phased returns, such as a 50% transition month where employees work reduced hours for part-time pay, or have the option to work remotely, reducing logistical burdens like commuting and childcare. Additional support could include dedicated lactation spaces, childcare stipends, or mentorship programs for returning parents. This kind of support isn’t just for large corporations with extensive resources either, it’s achievable for companies of all sizes.

My own experience running a company proves that. Despite launching just before the pandemic in 2019, navigating five team pregnancies within 13 months between 2020 and 2021, and having four core members—including myself—on maternity leave last year, our boutique event company has remained profitable and retained our talent each year since COVID.

At the end of the day, whatever it looks like, it’s a model that pays for itself. The investment in proper support is minimal compared to the high cost of losing, replacing, and re-training top talent. Because when we fail to provide adequate support for new mothers, we lose them.

America’s current workplace policies treat new mothers as if they should be grateful for having any leave at all. But survival is not the standard we should be striving for. The transition month is a small, reasonable adjustment with a massive impact—not just on individual families, but on workplace culture as a whole. A transition month is not an indulgence; it’s the missing piece of a system that was never designed with working mothers in mind.

President Donald Trump said he wants to “expand efforts to detain and deport illegal Aliens in America’s largest cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside” in a lengthy Sunday nightTruth Social postaimed at Democrats.

“These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State,” he added.

Trump also said he had directed his entire administration “to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration.”

The comments follow widespread “No Kings” protests that swept across the U.S. on Saturday—including in Washington D.C.alongside a military parade organized by the President—in response to what demonstrators say are his authoritarian excesses.

Sunday's post came after Trump had earlier expressed concerns about deportations harming businesses in the American heartland. “Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,” hewroteon Thursday.

According to The New York Times, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official Tatum King sent an email to regional leaders on Thursday that, “Effective today, please hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels.”

The Trump Administrationis reportedly dividedon immigration raids. On Wednesday, Trump took a call from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins who relayed alarm from farmers and agricultural groups. But other officials, including Stephen Miller, have urged a hardline approach.

ICE raids in Los Angeles have sparked major demonstrations, which prompted Trump todeploy 4,000 National Guards and 700 Marines last week, against the wishes of state officials.