Briefing

THE WEEK

ALL EYES WERE ON SYRIA

‘This is a whole effort by the Administration, across the board, to squelch their opponents.’

MITCH MCCONNELL, Senate minority leader, criticizing the White House amid allegations that the Internal Revenue Service targeted conservative groups

‘TODAY LOVE WINS.’

TONY LOUREY, Minnesota state senator, after his state became the 12th in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage on May 13

$6 billion

Amount collected by U.S. airlines in baggage and reservation-change fees in 2012, the largest total amassed since the fees were introduced

42%

Percentage of Americans who have an unfavorable opinion of hipsters, according to a recent poll

GOOD WEEK

Commander Chris Hadfield

The astronaut returned to earth after five months in space

BAD WEEK

Richard Branson

The billionaire dressed as a female flight attendant after losing a bet

‘There’s no there there.’

BARACK OBAMA, dismissing reports of a Benghazi conspiracy as a “sideshow” that “defies logic”

78,000

People who applied for a one-way trip to Mars as part of a private venture

‘I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.’

ANGELINA JOLIE, writing about her double mastectomy, which she says dramatically lowered her risk of breast cancer

‘I hope he rots in that jail.’

ONIL CASTRO, brother of Ariel Castro, who allegedly held three women captive in his Cleveland house for about a decade

Sources: National Review; CBS; UPI; New York Times; AP