NPR's Nina Totenberg Apologizes for False Report about Alito Retiring
NPR Correspondent Nina Totenberg Apologizes for False Report about Justice Alito Retiring
Nina Totenberg, American Legal Affairs correspondent for NPR, apologized on Tuesday after she falsely reported that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is retiring.
Totenberg issued her apology on NPR’s All Things Considered podcast, chalking her false report down to a “rookie mistake.”
“It’s entirely on me. It’s not anybody else’s fault,” she said.
Totenberg then read the text apology that she personally sent to Justice Alito:
Dear Justice Alito, there are no words to adequately apologize for today’s error in reporting your retirement,” she said. “It was entirely my fault. I rushed out of the courtroom after the opinion announcements, and when I realized that the usual rush of folks after a few minutes had not happened, I asked somebody was going on inside, to which the answer was, ‘retirement announcements.’
“I didn’t hear the ‘s’ on ‘announcements,’ and I assumed something no reporter should ever do, that you were retiring. It was the worst professional mistake of my more than 50 years in journalism. I could go on, but I don’t know what else to say, except that I am so, so sorry,” she added.
NPR had a news report about Alito’s retirement already written by the time Totenberg informed the newsroom, which many publications keep on hand for immediate publication in case of sudden retirement or possible death.
“Totenberg spoke with both her intern, who was at the court with her, and NPR Executive Editor Krishnadev Calamur and told them what she heard,” per NPR. “Calamur surfaced the story that NPR had previously prepared for the day Alito did announce his retirement and published it. The information was also broadcast on NPR’s airwaves. NPR was offering special live coverage of the court’s decision on the birthright citizenship case.”
“The story was published on NPR’s website at 10:51 a.m. ET and it was live for about five minutes. It was up for longer periods on some member station websites. It was taken down and replaced with an editor’s note by 10:57 a.m. The error was corrected on the broadcast at 11:07 a.m. ET,” it added.
Inside the most lavish wedding of year: Influencer wears four gowns
German fashion influencer Leonie Hanne has tied the knot with her longtime partner Alexander Galievsky in one of the most lavish weddings of the year.
Hanne, who boasts 4.7 million Instagram followers and graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar Bride in 2024, celebrated the extravagant wedding weekend on the French Riviera after the couple married in an intimate London civil ceremony in May.
Their destination wedding took place at the famed Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - one of the Côte d'Azur's most breathtaking and historic venues.
The pastel-pink Belle Époque estate, known for its manicured gardens, elegant fountains and sweeping Mediterranean views, provided a picture-perfect backdrop for the couple's vows.
Set against the villa's signature pink façade, the ceremony featured dreamy white floral installations.
The lavish reception was equally opulent, with designer crockery and masses of white flowers adorning the dining tables where guests gathered beneath the Riviera sky.
German fashion influencer Leonie Hanne has tied the knot with her longtime partner Alexander Galievsky in one of the most lavish weddings of the year
The bride wore four custom Dolce & Gabbana gowns - including this racy halter-neck design that featured sheer lace panels and an open neckline
Their destination wedding took place at the famed Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - one of the Côte d'Azur's most breathtaking and historic venues
The pastel-pink Belle Époque estate, known for its manicured gardens, elegant fountains and sweeping Mediterranean views, provided a picture-perfect backdrop for the couple's vows
Guests were also handed elegant white lace fans to help cool down in the European summer heat.
An enormous eight-tier wedding cake served as one of the evening's centrepieces, towering over the glamorous reception setup.
Among the glamorous guests were Emily in Paris star Ashley Park, supermodel Ashley Graham, influencer Jess Hunt, content creator Milena Karl and celebrity interior designer Theresa Obermoser, who all served as bridesmaids.
For the celebrations, Hanne collaborated with Dolce & Gabbana to create four custom bridal looks across the wedding weekend - each featuring intricate lace detailing.
'For me, it was an absolute 'pinch me' moment. As a fashion enthusiast, to collaborate with a house like Dolce & Gabbana, whose founders are still so actively involved in the creative process, was a tremendous honour,' the bride told Vogue Germany.
'It was important to me that I felt in my wedding dress the way I see myself as a woman: soft, feminine, elegant, but also fashionable and perhaps a little unexpected. And I wanted the dresses to suit me and not the other way around,' she added.
Galievsky was also dressed by Dolce & Gabbana throughout the celebrations.
The wedding festivities began with a glamorous opening night event at Château Saint-Martin, where Hanne wore a dramatic sheer gown adorned with handcrafted 3D flowers.
The lavish reception was equally opulent, with designer crockery and masses of white flowers adorning the dining tables where guests gathered beneath the Riviera sky
Among the glamorous guests were actress Ashley Park, supermodel Ashley Graham, influencer Jess Hunt, content creator Milena Karl and celebrity interior designer Theresa Obermoser, who all served as bridesmaids
An enormous eight-tier wedding cake served as one of the evening's centrepieces, towering over the glamorous reception setup
Guests were also handed elegant white lace fans to help cool down in the European summer heat
For the main ceremony the following day, Hanne stunned in a daring halter-neck lace wedding gown that revealed flashes of skin beneath intricate sheer embroidery
The ethereal ensemble also featured matching gloves and a scarf styled almost like a veil, while Galievsky wore a coordinating floral detail in his buttonhole crafted from the same material.
For the main ceremony the following day, Hanne stunned in a daring halter-neck lace wedding gown that revealed flashes of skin beneath intricate sheer embroidery.
The racy look was paired with a cathedral-length veil and sparkling Chopard jewellery.
The gown featured a form-fitting silhouette rather than a traditional princess-style skirt, allowing the intricate lacework to take centre stage.
'We combined two different types of lace to create our own unique lace composition. Even my shoes were covered in lace,' Hanne revealed.
The veil - embroidered with the couple's initials - added the grand finishing touch as she walked down the aisle.
Meanwhile, Galievsky opted for a classic white tuxedo.
For the wedding dinner, Hanne changed into a more relaxed but equally glamorous gown that featured thigh-high slits, sheer fabrics, feathers and delicate lace accents.
Before walking down the aisle, Leonie shared a video of her skin-baring bridal look as well as her dramatic veil
The veil - embroidered with the couple's initials - added the grand finishing touch as she walked down the aisle
For the wedding dinner, Hanne changed into a more relaxed but equally glamorous gown that featured thigh-high slits, sheer fabrics, feathers and delicate lace accents
Leonie shared an endless stream of photos documenting the festivities on social media
Sharing photographs from the celebrations online, Hanne wrote: 'I married my soulmate. We’ve known each other for 15 years, been together for more than 10, and truly grew up together.' 'To marry each other in our dream venue, surrounded by everyone we love, feels like a real-life fairytale. A lifetime will never be enough,' she added
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Later, she slipped into a short party dress dripping in pearls and intricate lace for the afterparty.
The sparkling mini featured sheer detailing, matching lace gloves and an ornate headpiece.
Sharing photographs from the celebrations online, Hanne wrote: 'I married my soulmate. We’ve known each other for 15 years, been together for more than 10, and truly grew up together.'
'To marry each other in our dream venue, surrounded by everyone we love, feels like a real-life fairytale. A lifetime will never be enough,' she added.
Before jetting off to the South of France, the pair had already celebrated with a lavish civil ceremony at The Dorchester in May.
For the London celebration, Hanne wore a sculptural silk bridal gown by Milla Nova, while the reception featured neutral-toned styling with beige drapery and white floral arrangements.
