NPR retracted a report on July 1, 2026, that incorrectly stated Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring. The error originated from a miscommunication during a report by legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, who misheard Chief Justice John Roberts' announcement regarding retirements. NPR had prepared a detailed story about Alito's career in anticipation of potential retirements, a common practice in journalism. Totenberg acknowledged her mistake on-air, stating it was 'entirely on me' and described it as a 'rookie mistake.' She issued a personal apology to Alito, which NPR Executive Editor Krishnadev Calamur confirmed. The erroneous report was published at 10:51 a.m. ET and was corrected within minutes, with an editor's note replacing the original story by 10:57 a.m. ET. Alito, who has served on the Supreme Court since 2006, has not announced his retirement, and sources indicated he is preparing for the next term.
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NPR Retracts False Report on Justice Alito's Retirement
NPR retracted a false report claiming Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring due to a misheard announcement by correspondent Nina Totenberg. The report was published briefly on July 1, 2026, before being corrected within minutes. Totenberg apologized for the error, which NPR's executive editor confirmed.
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NPR reveals how a misheard announcement led to it falsely claiming Justice Alito was retiring
NPR Retracts False Report on Justice Alito's Retirement