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NPR retracts article mistakenly reporting Justice Alito’s retirement, citing misunderstanding

NPR said the story was based on a misunderstanding and retracted it within minutes after the false retirement report spread widely online.

  • On Tuesday, NPR erroneously reported Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring, prompting confusion in the high court's press room shortly after the term's final opinion was released.
  • End-of-Term retirement speculation often surrounds long-serving members like Alito and Clarence Thomas, while publishing pre-written stories has become common due to intense demands for digital speed.
  • At 10:51 ET, Nina Totenberg's byline appeared on the report; about 15 minutes later, NPR removed the story and issued an Editors Note clarifying Alito has not announced his retirement.
  • Alito, who wrote the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, has served for 20 years, though the retracted article included a lengthy profile lacking actual departure details.
  • The incident likely will not end speculation regarding a potential high court vacancy, which would grant Donald Trump an opportunity to nominate a fourth justice, potentially exceeding Ronald Reagan's record.
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‘I am so, so sorry’: NPR reporter explains SCOTUS retirement error

NPR’s eminent Supreme Court correspondent Nina Totenberg says she made a “rookie mistake” on Tuesday morning, and that’s why she reported that Justice Samuel Alito was retiring.

·Atlanta, United States
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TMZ broke the news in Los Angeles, United States on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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