Explore groundbreaking insights into the Milky Way's dynamics and assembly in this 35-minute plenary talk from the APS Physics conference. Delve into the revolutionary findings from the Gaia mission's 2nd data release, which has transformed our understanding of our galaxy and its components. Learn about Galactic Archaeology and discover how merger debris is identified in the galactic halo. Examine the chemistry of the "blob" and understand the connection between Gaia-Enceladus and the formation of the thick disk and stellar halo. Investigate other substructures and debris in the galaxy, as well as the disk's composition. Conclude by exploring dark matter granularity and streams, with a focus on the GD-1 case study.