The video discusses the major events of 2016, including the US presidential election, the UK's Brexit referendum, and the Panama Papers leak. The speaker criticizes the tone and tactics of the US election, particularly Donald Trump's campaign. They also mention other viral trends and memes of 2016, such as Pokémon Go, the Mannequin Challenge, and the Harambe the gorilla incident.
The video also touches on various anniversaries, including the 10-year anniversary of Twitter and YouTube, and the 50-year anniversary of Star Trek. Additionally, the speaker mentions significant events in 2016, such as the failed coup in Turkey, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall, and the detection of gravitational waves.
The video concludes by highlighting some positive aspects of 2016, including advancements in astronomy and space exploration, such as the discovery of an earth-like exoplanet and the detection of gravitational waves. Overall, the speaker describes 2016 as a challenging and divisive year, but one that also saw significant scientific progress.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Donald J. Trump officially announced his presidential run in June 2015.
2. Trump was officially selected as the Republican Party's nominee in July 2016.
3. Trump won the presidential election in November 2016.
4. Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee.
5. Trump's campaign focused on making America great again and building walls.
6. Clinton's campaign focused on relatability.
7. The UK voted to leave the European Union in a referendum known as Brexit.
8. The Panama Papers, a leak of 11.5 million documents, revealed financial information about shell corporations owned by or connected to powerful individuals.
9. Pokémon Go became a widespread phenomenon in 2016.
10. The Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 were released 10 years ago.
11. Twitter was launched 10 years ago.
12. Google acquired YouTube 10 years ago.
13. The two sitcoms That '70s Show and Malcolm in the Middle concluded 10 years ago.
14. Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet 10 years ago.
15. Star Trek began 50 years ago.
16. The animated show The Flintstones concluded 50 years ago.
17. The attack on Pearl Harbor took place 75 years ago.
18. The Battle of the Somme claimed the lives of over a million soldiers 100 years ago.
19. Samsung released the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in August 2016.
20. The phone had severe issues with overheating and was eventually discontinued.
21. The company lost an estimated $17 billion due to the mishap.
22. Gravitational waves were detected and observed for the first time in February 2016.
23. A 30-tonne meteorite was discovered in Argentina in September 2016.
24. An earth-like exoplanet was found orbiting within the habitable zone of Proxima Centauri.
25. The ExoMars mission was launched to find life on Mars.
26. The world's largest radio telescope was completed in China.
27. The spacecraft Juno began orbiting Jupiter and photographed the planet's north- and south pole for the first time.
28. SpaceX performed a vertical landing on a floating platform after numerous failed attempts.
29. Ken Bone became a viral sensation during the presidential debates.
30. The Mannequin Challenge became a viral trend in 2016.