Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Spoken On America's State

You may know her as the Notorious R.B.G., a Supreme Court justice famous for her sharp tongue and wit. Today, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has an important message for America.

As a judge, Ginsburg rarely speaks out on current events — but as of late, she's been making exceptions, both during an interview with BBC Newsnight, and during an event at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Ginsburg took part in the event, which was moderated by NPR's Nina Totenberg, alongside the co-authors of her book, "My Own Words."

Ginsburg heavily reference diversity during the event, pointing out that what makes America great is "the idea of our nation being receptive to all people, welcoming all people...those are our ideals; our treasured First Amendment and the notion that in our nation we are many and yet we are one," CNN reported. Ginsburg referenced her own family, including her parents, who moved to the United States from Russia to create a better life and start a family.

In direct contrast to President Donald Trump declaring the "fake news media" the "enemy of the American people," Ginsburg emphasized the importance of a free press in revealing truths to the public, such as in the case of the Watergate scandal. "I read the Washington Post and the New York Times every day, and I think that the reporters are trying to tell the public the way things are," Ginsburg told the BBC.

Without naming any names, Ginsburg told the BBC what most concerns her about the current political climate. "Our legislature - which is the first branch of government - is right now not working," she told the news outlet, potentially referring to Congressional gridlock. "I would say that we are not experiencing the best of times, but there's hope in seeing how the public is reacting to it," Ginsburg said, pointing out the successful turnout at the Women's March on Washington.

Ginsburg is 83, and the oldest current Supreme Court justice, but she has no plans of retiring just yet. “At my age, you have to take it year by year,” she told the BBC. “I’m hopeful however, because my most senior colleague, the one who most recently retired, Justice John Paul Stevens, stepped down at age 90. So I have a way to go.”

Hopefully it will be a while before the Notorious R.B.G. retires, given the amount of struggle it’s taking to fill the currently empty seat on the court. And, of course, because Ginsburg keeps it real, and America will miss her.