When a Big Story Is Taken Down: The NPR–Alito Retraction

On June 30, 2026, NPR published and then retracted a story that reported Justice Samuel Alito was retiring. Nina Totenberg, NPR's Supreme Court and Legal Affairs correspondent, wrote the piece. The story was posted at 10:51 a.m. Eastern and it was removed within minutes.

NPR's editor has said the error occurred because of a misunderstanding of an announcement by Chief Justice John Roberts, and prewritten copy was posted live. Totenberg has apologized on air and in a letter and she has taken responsibility. The public editor at NPR has published an explanation while newsrooms have discussed verification steps.

Several stations that shared NPR material corrected their reports, and the network said an on-air correction was broadcast. The episode has prompted conversations about speed versus accuracy in journalism, although newsrooms often prepare drafts for major expected events. Neither Justice Alito nor the Supreme Court's public information office announced a retirement. NPR said it regretted the error and any confusion. The episode was discussed on radio programs and social media.