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Ruth Bader Ginsburg, supreme court justice and champion of women's rights, dies aged 87 – live Ruth Bader Ginsburg, supreme court justice and champion of women's rights, dies aged 87 – live
(30 minutes later)
Beloved justice, who was a crucial liberal vote on the court, became a legal, cultural and feminist iconBeloved justice, who was a crucial liberal vote on the court, became a legal, cultural and feminist icon
Will Trump react on live TV to Ginsberg’s death? Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life in Pictures
Trump is currently speaking to a campaign rally in Minnesota, and has been speaking since just before the news of Ginsberg’s death was made public just minutes ago. It’s not clear what the president might know or not know about Ginsberg’s death, or whether he might react to the news of Ginsberg’s death in real time, while on live television. A powerful collection of images from the trailblazing lawyer and Supreme Court justice’s life.
Timeline of Ginsburg’s illness: May, July, September
My colleague Tom McCarthy has a more in-depth look at the timeline of statements about Ginsburg’s illness before the sudden announcement of her death:
In mid-July, Ginsburg had been admitted to hospital with a fever and chills but was released after about 24 hours, with the court reporting that she was recovering well.
After her discharge, Ginsburg announced that she had been undergoing chemotherapy since May to treat cancerous lesions on her liver. A scan on 7 July had revealed “reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease”, she said.
Ginsburg had survived four cancer treatments going back to 1999. She participated in oral arguments in May from a hospital bed while receiving treatments believed at the time to be for a malignant tumor on her pancreas diagnosed in 2019. Ginsburg had announced in January that she was cancer-free.
Reactions to the death of ‘Notorious RBG’ continue to roll in
NBC: Trump, onstage, still hasn’t been told about Ginsburg’s death
Before Ginsburg’s death, Murkowski said she would not confirm a replacement
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is a key swing vote in the Republican- controlled senate.
Hillary Clinton, others React to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Death
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death just over six weeks before Election Day is likely to set off a heated battle over whether President Donald Trump should nominate, and the Republican-led Senate should confirm, her replacement, or if the seat should remain vacant until the outcome of his race against Democrat Joe Biden is known, the Associated Press reports.
Ginsburg spent her final years on the bench as the unquestioned leader of the court’s liberal wing and became something of a rock star to her admirers. Young women especially seemed to embrace the court’s Jewish grandmother, affectionately calling her the Notorious RBG, for her defense of the rights of women and minorities, and the strength and resilience she displayed in the face of personal loss and health crises.
She resisted calls by liberals to retire during Barack Obama’s presidency at a time when Democrats held the Senate and a replacement with similar views could have been confirmed. Instead, Trump will almost certainly try to push Ginsburg’s successor through the Republican-controlled Senate — and move the conservative court even more to the right.
When Justice Antonin Scalia died in 2016, also an election year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to act on Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to fill the opening. The seat remained vacant until after Trump’s surprising presidential victory. McConnell has said he would move to confirm a Trump nominee if there were a vacancy this year.
Reached by phone late Friday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, declined to disclose any plans. He said a statement would be forthcoming.
Supreme Court press release on Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death
“Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died this evening surrounded by her family at her home in Washington, D.C., due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. She was 87 years old. Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the Court and served more than 27 years...
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. said of Justice Ginsburg: “Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature. We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her -- a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”
Justice Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, New York, March 15, 1933. She married Martin D. Ginsburg in 1954. She received her B.A. from Cornell University, attended Harvard Law School, and received her LL.B. from Columbia Law School. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable Edmund L. Palmieri, Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, from 1959–1961. From 1961–1963, she was a research associate and then associate director of the Columbia Law School Project on International Procedure. She was a Professor of Law at Rutgers University School of Law from 1963–1972, and Columbia Law School from 1972–1980, and a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in Stanford, California from 1977–1978.
In 1971, she was instrumental in launching the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, and served as the ACLU’s General Counsel from 1973–1980, and on the National Board of Directors from 1974–1980. She was appointed a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1980. During her more than 40 years as a Judge and a Justice, she was served by 159 law clerks.
While on the Court, the Justice authored My Own Words (2016), a compilation of her speeches and writings.
A private interment service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.”
Will Trump react on live TV to Ginsburg’s death?
Trump is currently speaking to a campaign rally in Minnesota, and has been speaking since just before the news of Ginsburg’s death was made public just minutes ago. It’s not clear what the president might know or not know about Ginsburg’s death, or whether he might react to the news of Ginsburg’s death in real time, while on live television.
He’s now talking about his list of potential Supreme Court nominees, including Ted Cruz.He’s now talking about his list of potential Supreme Court nominees, including Ted Cruz.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a beloved justice and a crucial liberal vote on the Supreme Court, died this evening from complications of pancreatic cancer, the Supreme Court just announced in a news release. She was 87 years old. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a beloved justice and a crucial liberal vote on the supreme court, died this evening from complications of pancreatic cancer, the supreme court just announced in a news release. She was 87 years old.
National Public Radio reports that one of Ginsberg’s final messages was a statement dictated to her granddaughter: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” National Public Radio reports that one of Ginsburg’s final messages was a statement dictated to her granddaughter: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
Trump now has the power to nominate a replacement for Ginsberg, and the Republican-controlled Senate to confirm a replacement. Trump now has the power to nominate a replacement for Ginsburg, and the Republican-controlled Senate to confirm a replacement.
When conservative supreme court justice Antonin Scalia died in the last year of Barack Obama’s last presidential term in 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked Obama from confirming a replacement for months, arguing that the appropriate choice was to wait for the voters to choose a new president. When conservative supreme court justice Antonin Scalia died in the last year of Barack Obama’s last presidential term in 2016, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell blocked Obama from confirming a replacement for months, arguing that the appropriate choice was to wait for the voters to choose a new president.
McConnell, who still controls the senate, is not expected to apply that standard now that it would disadvantage Republicans, even though the election is in weeks, rather than months.McConnell, who still controls the senate, is not expected to apply that standard now that it would disadvantage Republicans, even though the election is in weeks, rather than months.
Trump leads campaign crowd in booing Somali refugeesTrump leads campaign crowd in booing Somali refugees
More than 50,000 people in Minnesota report Somali ancestry, the most of any state. The state’s Somali community has been there for thirty years.More than 50,000 people in Minnesota report Somali ancestry, the most of any state. The state’s Somali community has been there for thirty years.
Trump opened his campaign rally in Bemidji, Minnesota, by talking about Somali refugees as a threat, encouraging the crowd to boo the idea of more Somali Americans in their state, and celebrating the accomplishment that “just today we deported dozens of Somali refugees.”Trump opened his campaign rally in Bemidji, Minnesota, by talking about Somali refugees as a threat, encouraging the crowd to boo the idea of more Somali Americans in their state, and celebrating the accomplishment that “just today we deported dozens of Somali refugees.”
“Sleepy Joe will turn Minnesota into a refugee camp,” Trump said.“Sleepy Joe will turn Minnesota into a refugee camp,” Trump said.
New York City’s school reopening is a mess. So is the NYC mayor’s leadership.New York City’s school reopening is a mess. So is the NYC mayor’s leadership.
A new report from the New York Times highlights yet another example of the dysfunction of New York City mayor Bill de Blasio.A new report from the New York Times highlights yet another example of the dysfunction of New York City mayor Bill de Blasio.
CDC director pulled strings to get a Nevada Trump supporter a scarce COVID testCDC director pulled strings to get a Nevada Trump supporter a scarce COVID test
In early March, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention personally called the chief medical officer of Nevada to arrange a Covid-19 test for Adam Laxalt, a prominent Nevada Republican politician, National Rifle Association ally, and Trump supporter, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports.In early March, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention personally called the chief medical officer of Nevada to arrange a Covid-19 test for Adam Laxalt, a prominent Nevada Republican politician, National Rifle Association ally, and Trump supporter, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports.
Laxalt “believed he was exposed to the coronavirus while attending the Conservative Political Action Conference”, but he was not showing any symptoms at the time, so he could not get approved for a test through normal channels, the paper reported.Laxalt “believed he was exposed to the coronavirus while attending the Conservative Political Action Conference”, but he was not showing any symptoms at the time, so he could not get approved for a test through normal channels, the paper reported.
In 2017, Trump tossed rolls of paper towels into the crowd of people at a disaster relief distribution center in Puerto Rico, which was still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. In 2019, he told Republican lawmakers that he thought Puerto Rico had already received too much aid compared with Texas and Florida, and he did not want to give any more.In 2017, Trump tossed rolls of paper towels into the crowd of people at a disaster relief distribution center in Puerto Rico, which was still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. In 2019, he told Republican lawmakers that he thought Puerto Rico had already received too much aid compared with Texas and Florida, and he did not want to give any more.
Earlier today, just weeks before election day, Trump announced a $13bn aid package to help Puerto Rico rebuild, in what is being widely reported as a transparent bid to pick up more support in Florida, where hurricane refugees are now considered a vital voting bloc in a state where just tens of thousands of voters could make a crucial difference.Earlier today, just weeks before election day, Trump announced a $13bn aid package to help Puerto Rico rebuild, in what is being widely reported as a transparent bid to pick up more support in Florida, where hurricane refugees are now considered a vital voting bloc in a state where just tens of thousands of voters could make a crucial difference.
Trump himself said as much today.Trump himself said as much today.
So did Biden’s Latino adviser, who called the aid package a “desperate political stunt”.So did Biden’s Latino adviser, who called the aid package a “desperate political stunt”.
For a Democratic candidate, Biden is getting record support from white votersFor a Democratic candidate, Biden is getting record support from white voters
A new poll finds that Joe Biden has support from 49% of white voters. That would be a record: the majority of white voters vote Republican, and exit poll data shows that going back to 1972, Democrats have never gotten more than 47% of the white vote, and it’s sometimes dropped into the 30s.A new poll finds that Joe Biden has support from 49% of white voters. That would be a record: the majority of white voters vote Republican, and exit poll data shows that going back to 1972, Democrats have never gotten more than 47% of the white vote, and it’s sometimes dropped into the 30s.
But the poll, from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist, also has what NPR reporter Domenico Montanaro calls a “warning sign” for Biden: his support among voters of color in the poll is much lower than the support Hillary Clinton received in 2016.But the poll, from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist, also has what NPR reporter Domenico Montanaro calls a “warning sign” for Biden: his support among voters of color in the poll is much lower than the support Hillary Clinton received in 2016.
Biden leads Trump only 60% to 34% with nonwhite voters, “a smaller margin than the 74% to 21% Democrat Hillary Clinton won with them in 2016”, Montanaro notes.Biden leads Trump only 60% to 34% with nonwhite voters, “a smaller margin than the 74% to 21% Democrat Hillary Clinton won with them in 2016”, Montanaro notes.
Read the full NPR story here.Read the full NPR story here.
Poll finds Biden has lead over Trump among both registered and likely votersPoll finds Biden has lead over Trump among both registered and likely voters
This is Lois Beckett in the Guardian’s Los Angeles bureau picking up live political coverage for this evening.This is Lois Beckett in the Guardian’s Los Angeles bureau picking up live political coverage for this evening.
A new poll finds that Biden has a 52% to 43% lead over Trump among likely voters, as well as a substantial lead among registered voters. (The poll’s margin of error among likely voters is +/- 4.3 percentage points.)A new poll finds that Biden has a 52% to 43% lead over Trump among likely voters, as well as a substantial lead among registered voters. (The poll’s margin of error among likely voters is +/- 4.3 percentage points.)
The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll focused for the first time on a subset of “likely voters,” those actually most likely to cast a ballot, as well as surveying a sample of people registered to vote.The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll focused for the first time on a subset of “likely voters,” those actually most likely to cast a ballot, as well as surveying a sample of people registered to vote.
That’s it from me today. The Guardian’s west coast team will take over the blog for the next few hours.That’s it from me today. The Guardian’s west coast team will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed its widely criticized recommendation on coronavirus testing. The CDC said today that anyone who has had contact with someone who tested positive for the virus should receive a test, virtually reinstating the agency’s previous recommendation. The announcement came one day after after the New York Times reported that CDC scientists did not write the altered August guideline and actively raised objections to it.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed its widely criticized recommendation on coronavirus testing. The CDC said today that anyone who has had contact with someone who tested positive for the virus should receive a test, virtually reinstating the agency’s previous recommendation. The announcement came one day after after the New York Times reported that CDC scientists did not write the altered August guideline and actively raised objections to it.
The Trump administration will ban downloads of TikTok and WeChat starting Sunday. US intelligence officials have warned the Chinese apps pose a national security threat. Normal use of the TikTok app is expected to be blocked starting 12 November.The Trump administration will ban downloads of TikTok and WeChat starting Sunday. US intelligence officials have warned the Chinese apps pose a national security threat. Normal use of the TikTok app is expected to be blocked starting 12 November.
Trump and Biden are both campaigning today in Minnesota, as early voting begins in the state. Biden delivered a speech at a union training center in Duluth, once again criticizing Trump by characterizing the presidential election as a race of “Park Avenue versus Scranton”. Trump will speak at a campaign rally in Bemidji this evening.Trump and Biden are both campaigning today in Minnesota, as early voting begins in the state. Biden delivered a speech at a union training center in Duluth, once again criticizing Trump by characterizing the presidential election as a race of “Park Avenue versus Scranton”. Trump will speak at a campaign rally in Bemidji this evening.
Trump announced his administration would send $13bn in aid to Puerto Rico, as the island continues to recover from Hurricane Maria. A reporter asked the president at his press conference why the administration was sending the aid now, when the hurricane struck in 2017. Trump insisted it was because his administration had been working on the plan for a while, dodging a question about whether it was related to Puerto Rican voters in the crucial swing state of Florida.Trump announced his administration would send $13bn in aid to Puerto Rico, as the island continues to recover from Hurricane Maria. A reporter asked the president at his press conference why the administration was sending the aid now, when the hurricane struck in 2017. Trump insisted it was because his administration had been working on the plan for a while, dodging a question about whether it was related to Puerto Rican voters in the crucial swing state of Florida.
A firefighter died battling the wildfire in California’s San Bernardino national forest, the US Forest Service said today. The devastating wildfires have already killed at least three dozen people and destroyed thousands of homes.A firefighter died battling the wildfire in California’s San Bernardino national forest, the US Forest Service said today. The devastating wildfires have already killed at least three dozen people and destroyed thousands of homes.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Joe Biden has wrapped up his campaign speech at a union training center in Duluth, Minnesota.
The Democratic nominee closed the speech by calling for the country’s wealthiest citizens and companies to be taxed fairly.
“I’m not looking to punish anyone,” Biden said. “But dammit, it’s about time the super wealthy and corporate America start paying their fair share.”
The Democratic nominee also reminded Minnesotans to vote, given early voting in the state started today.
Joe Biden criticized Trump for not yet releasing his plans on infrastructure or health care, despite repeated promises to do so.
“He has no plan,” the Democratic nominee said of the president.
Speaking in Duluth, Biden made an experience-based pitch for his candidacy, saying he knows “how to do the job of being president.”
Biden said of Trump, “He doesn’t have a clue how to be president.”
Joe Biden began his Duluth speech by talking about the importance of union jobs, but the Democratic nominee quickly pivoted to criticizing Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden said if Trump had acted earlier to mitigate the spread of the virus, tens of thousands of Americans would not be dead and would instead be “sitting at the dinner table tonight”.
Echoing his comment at his CNN town hall last night, Biden said the presidential election was a race of “Park Avenue versus Scranton”.
“All Trump sees from Park Avenue is Wall Street,” Biden said, arguing the president only cares about the stock market and not average Americans.
Joe Biden is now speaking at a union training center in Duluth, Minnesota, as early voting begins in the state.
The Democratic nominee was introduced by the state’s two Democratic senators, Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar.
Biden’s remarks are expected to focus on creating more union jobs in the US and preventing manufacturing jobs from being outsourced.
During his press conference, the president was asked if he believes he knows better than the experts in his administration, after Trump contradicted the directors of the CDC and the FBI this week.
“Yeah, in many cases, I do,” Trump replied.
Trump contradicted the Senate testimony of CDC director Robert Redfield on Wednesday, claiming Redfield was “confused” when he said a coronavirus vaccine would not be widely available until mid- to late 2021.
Last night, the president also took issue with the congressional testimony of FBI director Christopher Wray, who told the House that Russia was interfering in the 2020 elections “primarily to denigrate vice-president Biden and what the Russians see as kind of an anti-Russian establishment”.
Trump told reporters today, “I think we have a bigger problem with China than we do with Russia.”
Trump closed his press conference by once again spreading falsehoods about voting by mail, which he described as “the scam of all time”.
The president also implied he was expecting federal judges to interfere with the election results to prevent fraud, even though voter fraud is very rare.
“I think it’s going to be a terrible time for this country, and we’re counting on federal judges to do a great constitutional job,” Trump said. “Hopefully they’ll be able to see this clearly and stop it.”
Exiting the briefing room, Trump ignored a reporter who asked, “Is it still a scam if you win, sir?”
Trump dodged a question about reports that the US Postal Service scrapped a plan to send 650 million masks to Americans.
“I don’t know. I don’t run it,” Trump said.
The president went on to criticize the management of USPS, claiming it had been “a mess for many, many generations”.
Tom Perez, the chairman of the Democratic national committee, quickly released a statement criticizing Trump’s announcement about sending $13bn in aid to Puerto Rico.
“Donald Trump has consistently treated Puerto Ricans as second-class citizens. His administration failed Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria made landfall and the people desperately needed help, and throughout the recovery process,” Perez said.
“Puerto Ricans will not be fooled by his empty promises – the deaths, the suffering, and the struggles Puerto Ricans still face are a constant reminder that Trump talks plenty but does very little.”
As Trump announces $13bn in aid to Puerto Rico, it’s important to remember how he has repeatedly disparaged the island’s leaders since Hurricane Maria struck in 2017.
Last year, the president attacked Puerto Rican leaders as “corrupt” and claimed the US territory had “squandered away or wasted” much of its aid money in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Trump announced his administration was sending $13bn in aid to Puerto Rico, as the island continues to recover from Hurricane Maria.
After announcing the aid, Trump quickly pivoted to attacking his election opponent, Joe Biden.
“Biden’s devastated the island of Puerto Rico,” Trump said. “I’m the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico.”
Taking questions from reporters, Trump was asked why he was only sending the aid to Puerto Rico now, when Hurricane Maria struck the island in 2017.
The president claimed his administration had been working on the package for a while. When asked whether the announcement had anything to do with Puerto Rican voters in the crucial swing state of Florida, Trump did not directly answer, instead attacking Biden’s tenure as vice-president under Barack Obama.