Courts liberal block through the decades, also a pop culture icon, the subject of books, documentaries, and movies. 65 years ago, it would have been unimaginable that my daughter would aspire to a career. And while americans mourn her passing, this morning, the fight has already begun over filling her seat on the nations highest court. Ginsburg saying on her deathbed, the decision should be left to the next president , but Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell says hes ready to move ahead, as a battle brews in washington, well look back at Ruth Bader Ginsburgs life and the legacy she leaves behind. Today, saturday, september 19th, 2020. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with peter alexander, kristen welker, and dylan dreyer. And welcome to today and thank you so much for joining us on this saturday morning. It is a somber day. Flags are here in the nations capital, from the white house to the Supreme Court, all in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she was small in stature, peter, but a towering figure in american history. Yeah, youre exactly right. 87 years old, but celebrated by a new generation as the notorious rbg. She dedicated her life to expanding rights, and her dissents, i think, were even more powerful because of the discrimination, the sexism that she herself experienced as a young woman and as a young lawyer. This was the emotional scene on the steps of the Supreme Court last night. Look at the crowd there. People coming to mourn, to pay their respects. Their numbers swelling as the night went on. And as ginsburg is remembered, attention is already turning to what happens next. Who will fill her seat. And as importantly, who will make that decision. Yeah, that is the big question. Our team is covering all of it from those landmark rulings to justice jiginsburgs lasting legacy. But we do want correspondent, Pete Williams. He is outside of the Supreme Court on this somber morning. Pete, good morning. Reporter kristen, Justice Ginsburgs death ends one of the most remarkable careers in american legal history, and it means that the Supreme Court will begin its new term just two weeks from now with great uncertainty, about who will put her successor on the court and how soon that will happen. In her final days, Justice Ginsburg herself weighed in on how that should work. The Supreme Court says Ruth Bader Ginsburg died friday at her home in washington, surrounded by family members. The court said her death was caused by complications of pancreatic cancer. One of her closest friends, Nina Totenberg of npr says a few days this statement to her anaughte. Quote, my fervent wish is that i not be replaced until the new president is installed. Justice ginsburg was consistently one of the Supreme Courts moderate to liberal members. As first a lawyer, and then a judge and justice, she believed the constitution guaranteed women greater rights. Over the course of now two centuries, it has grown and developed so that more and more people are included in that concept, we the people. Reporter rejected after law school for a Supreme Court clerkship because she was a woman, she began her career as a law professor and pioneering advocate for womens legal rights, successfully arguing a string of cases before the Supreme Court that made it easier to sue for sex discrimination. It was president carter who first appointed her to be a federal judge. She has genuinely distinguished herself. Reporter hen Supreme Court, making her the second woman justice. It contributes to the end of the days when women, at least half the talent pool in our society, appear in high places only as oneatatime performers. Reporter at her conformation hearing, she clearly stated her support for the right to abortion. This is something central to a womans life, to her dignity. Reporter and as a justice, she voted to uphold abortion rights. She wrote the courts opinion, putting an end to the menonly policy at vmi, the Virginia Military institute, saying it was based on outmoded stereotypes. She joined the courts majorities in striking down the Death Penalty for juveniles and in ruling, quote, death is not a suitable punishment for a mentally retarded criminal. And she voted to roll back Bush Administration policies on the war on terror, a blistering opinion in the case on equal pay for women renewed her icon. We welcome today justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Reporter she was nicknamed notorious rbg and featured in a documentary movie. I am 84 years old and Everyone Wants to take a picture with me. Reporter she married a fellow student in college, Martin Ginsburg. They had two children. Years later, she recalled receiving pays, mother said, its sometimes to be a little. I have followed that a not only at home but the places i have worked and even relating to my colleagues at the Supreme Court. A passionate opera fan she appeared in several washington productions, in full costumes but silent roles early interventions helped her recover from cancer a doctor inserted a stent in her heart. Now the courts most powerful liberal justice is gone. Theres no word yet on any public memorial for Justice Ginsburg john roberts called her a jurist of stature who will be remembered by future generations. Kristen . You lay out the stakes so well, pete including right now there are just eight justices on the court so what does that mean from a practical matter for the court moving forward the last time that happened we had a 44 tie with liberals and conservatives and basically punted on the most difficult cases. Now you have 5 liberals and 3 conservatives. Will they punt on cases . Just a week after the election the court will hear the case on the future of obamacare, thats part of the uncertainty of it. Pete williams outside the Supreme Court. Pete, thank you so much for joining us this morning. We want to bring in michael beschloss, historian and betsy west film maker behind the documentary rbg. Michael, ill start with you. Good morning. And ginsburg, they said she used to teach her clerks to keep it tight and get it right. Ill try to do the same thing. Why did she have such an impact and how will she be remembered for doing so much for womens rights in the course of her entire career and the last ten years being the progressive leader of the Supreme Court after the retirement of john paul stevens, but this is probably one of the most famous Supreme Court justices in history, which cant be said for most of u worked on thisetsy, yo spend time with her, what was she like and where did the strength that she had come from . Well, she was a very quiet person and yet, she had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh and i think at the core, her most important characteristic was determination. This woman was determined to do the job that she loved she loved being a Supreme Court justice. She loved the law and she gave it her all michael, you know, this is an era where there is so many divisions in the way that we view our politics. And some of the best stories being shared about ginsburg right now are about the remarkable relationship she can with one of the most conservative justices, Justice Scalia, what does that tell me us about that by gone era of politics they loved opera, had a wonderful personal relationship although they disagreed over just about everything politically. Thats what the founders wanted, they wanted americans to fight with each other over policy but at the end of the day loved each other. I hope thats not a by gone era and its not on the Supreme Court, even though there are big divisions today, there are great relationships among the justices now. It is just remarkable to look back at pictures of the two of them together. Betsy, she became a wildly popular figure for this next generation of women. Why is that, the notorious rbg i think that as Justice Ginsburg was writing these stinging decents to decisions that the Supreme Court was issuing as it became more conservative, young women, and others, progressives, really gravitated to the notorious rbg, the idea she was speaking truth to power, there was something appealing about that the tshirts, the mugs, when we would go to film Justice Ginsburg giving speeches to law schools, the line would be around the block people would say i dont have a ticket, i just want to see her you just remember that image, theres a period of time when you would walk into the court and see these eight men and at the end there would be this small, petite woman, but she was such a power house michael, betsy, we thank both of you for your reflections this morning. Thanks. There is a looming question, who will appoint the next Supreme Court justice . As we mentioned, Justice Ginsburg said she wanted the naming of her successor to wait until after the election but senator Mitch Mcconnell is vowing to bring the President Trumps nomination to a vote on the senate floor right now Geoff Bennett has more reporter the news of Justice Ginsburgs death sets up a brutal, partisan nomination fight in the end of the 2020 campaign both President Trump and joe biden learned the news of her passing while on the campaign trail. President trump reacting with surprise upon learning about the death of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg friday night. Justice ginsburg has died she just died yes. Wow i didnt know that youre telling me now for the first time she led an amazing life. What else can you say . She was an amazing woman whether you agreed or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life actually sad to hear that. I am sad to hear that. Reporter as word of her death sent shock waves around b the country, the president was speaking at a campaign rally, unaware of ginsburgs passing. The next president will get one, two, three or four Supreme Court justices i had two. Many president s have had none because theyre there for a long time they tend to be appointed young. Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us. Reporter democratic president ial nominee joe biden speaking to reporters after returning from his own Campaign Trip to minnesota friday we should focus on the loss of the justice and her enduring legacy. But there is no doubt let me be clear that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the senate to consider reporter ginsburgs death sparking a historic and seeded political battle with Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell vowing to move forward with President Trumps nominee to replace her. Offering a chance for a right tilt of the Supreme Court for a generation and mcconnell said the senate will act to fill the vacancy, even though he spent most of 2016 denying a confirmation hearing to merrick garland, former president Barack Obamas pick to fill the seat of justice a lina meantime, former president s are paying tribute to the late justice. George w. Bush said ginsburg dedicated many of her 87 remarkable years to the pursuit of justice and equality and she inspired more than one generation from barack obama, she fought to the end through her cancer with unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals he said, a basic principle is we apply rules with consistency and not based on whats convenient in the moment. And bill clinton, who appointed ginsburg in 1993 said this, her landmark opinions advancing gender equality, marriage equality, the rights of people with disabilities, the rights of immigrants and so many more moved us closer to a more perfect union. Kristen, peter geoff thank you for that. We want to turn to kasie hunt, she covers congress for us at nbc the divisions in congress as you witnessed are already so deep and now you have what is potentially a combustible moment there. What happens now peter, good morning it is almost impossible to overstate just what a moment this could be for the u. S. Senate they are already incredibly divided over President TrumpSenate Republicans have been under enormous pressure as many of them are facing reelection many of them facing pressure to potentially divide themselves from President Trump theyve refused to do that and come under intense criticism so to have a battle likee alway 40something days ahead of an election we are reaching new territory. One question were asking our sources and what were starting to hear is that Mitch Mcconnell, the majority leader, might actually wait until after election day to hold a final vote now, there are some who would say, isnt that what Ruth Bader Ginsburg wanted . She asked for a new president to be installed before her successor was chosen so why would Mitch Mcconnell wait until after the election . Sp the senate in republican hands thats another key question at stake when voters go to the polls on election day. If this continues to be an issue voters are focused on because the question hasnt been answered yet, that could energize, especially religious voters perhaps people wh focuse the Supreme Court as their vo issue that could help republicans hang onto the Supreme Court so i think everyone should keep that in mind as they make the decisions. But we cannot state how angry democrats are because of the treatment of merrick garland, this is again potentially a cat liz mick moment. You can see lawmakers held to account for past comments on this very issue. We want to turn to chuck todd, nbcs political director good morning, we appreciate yol morning. Lets pick up where kasie left off, the politics of this. This puts the issue of the Supreme Court squarely at the center of an already contentious election cycle what does it mean for the election and which voters will it energize, chuck think about where we are in the situation. President trump is behind, Senate Republicans are behind. Theyve been desperate to try to change the trajectory of this compan campaign so theres no doubt in my mind youre going to see at least the party leadership, mcconnell and trump, get everybody behind this idea behind a pick what i think i would be im guessing that the president is going to end up doing, a conservative judge already, somebody i think they believe will fire up, particularly shes catholic the president would like to improve his standing with catholics, particularly in the upper mud western states i think the entire Republican Party is going to get behind this strategy. Because i believe, and they believe donald trump was elected as president of the Supreme Court opening. However, kristen, i think the left is so fired up to a point that i think the right ought to be careful here this doesnt boomerang. I think if the senate and republicans decide to ignore the virus, look at how the United States senate is running now, they cant negotiate for a relief bill but can move quickly for a confirmation hearing i think this is tricky politics for republicans. I do i think they ought to be careful it doesnt boomerang on them chuck thank you for joining us we appreciate it well look for more on the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg tomorrow on meet the press and well have more throughout the morning as well. As you consider 2020 theres been so much news. Today just the latest example of it, this week began with hurricane sally. We want to get a check of the forecast with dylan this morning. We continue to break records this hurricane season, in fact, we are now into the greek alphabet as far as naming the storms is concerned. Thats a month earlier than we did it in 2005 we now are focused on beta, which is in the gulf of mexico, that is going to continue to bring some of those heavier downpours to areas like southern texas. We have hurricane watches, Tropical Storm watches in effect as the storm gets closer most of the heavy rain were seeing is falling across eastern louisiana, heavy rain in new orleans as well. Winds up to 60 miles an hour, it is a Tropical Storm at this time, it is forecast to become a hurricane. Watch as it slowly scrapes the coast of texas and possibly moves to southwestern louisiana by the