‘Nothing short of miraculous.’

National Border Patrol Council president Brandon Judd on the drop of more than 50 percent in apprehensions of illegal immigrants at the border this year. “If you look at the rhetoric that President Trump has given,” he said, “it has caused a number of illegal border crossings to go down.”

‘We just can’t keep up.’

Massachusetts health official Katherine Hsu on the growing number of syphilis cases. Hsu said it is difficult to track down and inform sexual partners of many patients because they are anonymous users of dating apps.

‘When you like what you do, it’s not work.’

American Airlines mechanic Al Blackman, 91. Blackman celebrated his 75th year on the job in July, and the company did a commemorative flight in his honor over the Hudson River in New York, where he works. He began earning 50 cents an hour in 1942, on AA planes that were just beginning transatlantic routes.

‘I’d say the only thing more difficult than peace between Israel and the Palestinians is healthcare.’

President Donald Trump on a healthcare bill he supported that failed in the Senate in mid-July.

‘We as humans have a built-in defense mechanism where you just bury this. For myself, I didn’t say anything for 37 years.’

Sexual abuse victim Scott Cross on the time it takes for victims of sexual abuse to speak about their abuse. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert left prison on July 18, released early from a 15-month sentence for financial crimes. Hastert had admitted to sexually abusing boys in the 1970s, but the statute of limitations had passed in Illinois. Cross testified that he was one of the boys sexually abused.