Good Morning, and Happy Saturday! Welcome to The Flag's Five, your nonpartisan breakdown of the week’s five most pressing headlines. Dive into what happened, why it matters, and how perspectives from the left and right shape the conversation.

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1. Baby Born Amid Georgia Abortion Law

Here's what happened: A premature baby boy was delivered by emergency C-section after 31-year-old Adriana Smith, declared brain-dead since February, was kept on life support at Emory University Hospital because Georgia’s six-week abortion ban was believed to bar removal of life-sustaining treatment. (Associated Press, ABC News)

Here's why it matters: Here's why it matters: The case spotlights medical-ethics gray zones created by strict abortion laws, pitting fetal-life protections against end-of-life autonomy and family wishes while raising questions about who pays for months-long critical care and neonatal treatment. Bioethicists warn similar conflicts could arise in other states with fetal-heartbeat bans. (Associated Press, AP News)

Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: New York Post columnists frame the birth as “a triumph of life” and argue Georgia’s law worked as intended, crediting doctors for valuing both patients and calling critics “radical abortion absolutists” unwilling to protect viable fetuses. They predict the healthy outcome will bolster pro-life momentum nationwide. (Miranda Devine, New York Post)

Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: The Daily Beast condemns the episode as “reproductive horror,” contending Smith’s family was effectively forced into months of grief-by-proxy so politicians could prove a point. Columnists argue cases like this illustrate how abortion bans can override basic bodily autonomy and disproportionately harm Black women. (AJ McDougall, Daily Beast)

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2. ‘No Kings’ Protests Meet Trump Parade

Here's what happened: As President Trump staged a lavish U.S. Army 250th-anniversary parade on the National Mall June 14, millions joined “No Kings” rallies in more than 2,000 U.S. locations, denouncing what they view as creeping authoritarianism. (Zoe Law et al., Reuters)

Here's why it matters: The parallel celebrations and demonstrations underscored deep divisions over Trump’s expanded use of federal power—from immigration raids to troop deployments—while previewing potential flashpoints for the 2026 midterms. Analysts say turnout rivaling the 2017 Women’s March signals a newly energized opposition. (Lisa Baumann, PBS NewsHour)

Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: New York Post opinion writers hail the parade as “a long-overdue salute” that boosted troop morale, scold “No Kings” activists for “griping about patriotism,” and praise Trump for reminding allies and adversaries of U.S. military muscle. (Miranda Devine, New York Post)

Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian depicts the parade as “authoritarian pageantry” echoing strong-man spectacles abroad and celebrates protest crowds chanting “Democracy, not dynasty!” Writers warn the price tag and National Guard deployments show Trump’s willingness to blur civilian-military lines. (Rachel Leingang et al., The Guardian)

3. ICE Deportation Push Targets Cities

Here's what happened: A new Trump directive ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to prioritize mass deportations in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and other Democratic-led “sanctuary” cities, aiming for 3,000 arrests daily. (Aamer Madhani, AP)

Here's why it matters: The crackdown escalates an immigration standoff between the White House and blue-state officials, testing federal-local authority boundaries and stoking fears of labor shortages in industries reliant on undocumented workers. Polls show public support for deportations slipping as economic costs mount. (Jason Lange, Reuters)

Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: Washington Examiner argues Trump is simply fulfilling a core 2024 campaign promise; columnists dismiss “sanctuary” leaders’ objections as political theater and say aggressive enforcement will deter future crossings and restore rule of law. (W. James Antle III, Washington Examiner)

Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian highlights reports of U.S. citizens caught in LA sweeps, labeling the raids “racial profiling writ large.” It says expanding ICE operations amid budget strains risks civil-rights abuses and fuels urban unrest already visible in “No Kings” protests. (Sam Levin, The Guardian)

4. Washington Debates Striking Iran

Here's what happened: Here's what happened: After Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities on June 17, congressional hawks urged the U.S. to consider direct action, while doves pressed President Trump to keep America out of another Middle-East war. (Alexander Ward, Politico)

Here's why it matters: Here's why it matters: Analysts warn U.S. strikes could trigger regional escalation, endangering troops and global oil routes. The Pentagon has quietly repositioned refueling tankers and carriers, signaling readiness even as officials insist Israel acted alone. (Phil Stewart, Reuters)

Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: National Review contends Washington should back Israel militarily if it cannot finish the job itself, arguing a limited U.S. strike on Iran’s Fordow site would prevent a nuclear breakout and deter wider conflict. (Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review)

Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: The Nation calls bipartisan saber-rattling “Iraq 2.0 déjà vu,” praising a Sanders–Massie resolution to bar U.S. involvement and urging diplomacy over “another war of choice.” (John Nichols, The Nation)

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5. Juneteenth 2025: Measuring Freedom

Here's what happened: Communities across the U.S. marked the fourth federal Juneteenth with parades, voter-registration drives, and calls to tackle racial-wealth gaps, even as Trump skipped issuing a proclamation. (Associated Press, AP News)

Here's why it matters: Leaders used the holiday to assess progress since emancipation, noting Black unemployment has fallen to record lows yet wealth disparities persist. Historians say Juneteenth’s elevation has intensified debates over teaching slavery’s legacy and over state-level voting-rights rollbacks. (Toluse Olorunnipa, Washington Post)

Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox News op-eds celebrate economic gains under Trump but criticize corporate “symbolism over substance,” urging policymakers to focus on school choice and job creation instead of DEI mandates. (Harris Faulkner, Fox News)

Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: The Daily Beast argues that despite the holiday’s growth, Black Americans still face voter suppression and policing disparities; writers call on Congress to revive stalled federal voting-rights and reparations bills. (Kalyn Belsha, Daily Beast)

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