For the Record

‘The Russians are not our friends.’

Mitch Mcconnell, Republican Senate majority leader, announcing a joint congressional investigation of potential Russian interference in the U.S. election but rejecting calls for a special select committee; his statement came after the CIA reported to lawmakers it believed the Kremlin worked with the aim of electing Donald Trump, who called the CIA findings “ridiculous”

78.8 years

The 2015 average American life expectancy–down a tenth of a year from 2014, the first decline since 1993, during the AIDS epidemic

1.4 inches

Length of a dinosaur’s tail feather preserved in amber, discovered by paleontologists at the China University of Geosciences, considered further proof that dinosaurs were birdlike

‘So-called fake news can have real-world consequences.’

Hillary Clinton, former Democratic nominee for President, in her first public appearance since the presidential election, cautioning against the spread of untrue information online

19

Age of Lamar Jackson, Louisville quarterback, who became the youngest ever Heisman Trophy recipient on Dec. 10

Wahoo

The Cleveland Indians mascot will stay on team hats, despite reports of the chief’s removal

GOOD WEEK

BAD WEEK

Yahoo

The tech company revealed hackers stole data from over 1 billion users in 2013

‘Death hung above us; the world turned their backs.’

Mohamed Al-Halabi, one of the thousands of civilians trapped in Aleppo, criticizing world powers for not doing more to stop the Syrian government (aided by Russian forces) from repeatedly bombing the rebel-held city in an attempt to retake control after almost six years of civil war; more than 1,000 people have died in Aleppo since November’s failed cease-fire, including many children

‘I think the most controversial thing I have ever done is to stick around.’

Madonna, calling out sexism and ageism in the music industry while accepting Billboard’s 2016 Woman of the Year award on Dec. 9

‘I’m deeply sorry to the people.’

Park Geun-hye, President of South Korea, after lawmakers voted to impeach her for allegedly colluding with a friend to extort money and abuse political power; Park denies any wrongdoing

SOURCES: CDC; CURRENT BIOLOGY; NEW YORK TIMES; WASHINGTON POST