Week In The News: Russia Hack, Aleppo Burning, Exxon Mobil And Trump Appointees

Russia and the American vote. Aleppo horror. Exxon Mobil chief to State. The Fed hikes rates. Our weekly news round table goes behind the headlines.

Russia all over the news this week. In Aleppo, crushing a rebellion against the leader Washington opposed. In the USA, accused by the CIA of hacking the election to favor Donald Trump. Putin himself accused. Trump says “ridiculous.” President Obama says there will be U.S. retaliation. At home, the CEO of Exxon-Mobil is Trump’s pick to be Secretary of State. Dylan Roof found guilty. Facebook will push back on fake news. This hour On Point: Our weekly news round table goes behind the headlines. — Tom Ashbrook

Margaret Brennan, foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News. (@margbrennan)

Reid Wilson, national political correspondent for The Hill. (@PoliticsReid)

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. (@JackBeattyNPR)

BBC: Aleppo Syria battle: Evacuation of rebel-held east — "Government forces, backed by Russian allies, took nearly all remaining rebel-held parts of Aleppo this week.It represents a major victory for President Bashar al-Assad. He hailed the "liberation" of Aleppo and said history was being made."

CNN: Trump on Russian hacking: 'I don't believe it'— "President-elect Donald Trump blasted the American intelligence community Sunday, calling its assessment that Russia interfered in the election 'ridiculous.' 'I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it,' Trump said in an interview on Fox News Sunday."

POLITICO: Why Trump picked Rex Tillerson — "Trump had lots of inputs during the process, which was simultaneously haphazard and deliberative, but the final output rested ultimately with a man who has said for decades he is guided more by his instincts than anything else."