Goddamnit 2016
November 14, 2016 1:53 PM   Subscribe

 
Gwen Ifill, the longtime PBS news anchor who had served as a co-host of PBS’s NewsHour and as moderator of “Washington Week,” has died after a battle with cancer, PBS has confirmed. She was 61.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:54 PM on November 14, 2016


The last adults in the room are slowly filing out . . .
posted by Think_Long at 1:54 PM on November 14, 2016 [18 favorites]


DAMMIT!!
.
posted by Floydd at 1:54 PM on November 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


Sad news.

And damn I don't like it when people my age die.
.
posted by Bee'sWing at 1:54 PM on November 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


.
posted by Melismata at 1:55 PM on November 14, 2016


Too many fucking .s this year.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:55 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


.

Fuck cancer.

Even for 2016, November is shaping up to be a hell of a month. :-(
posted by mosk at 1:56 PM on November 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


TPM
posted by lazaruslong at 1:56 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by supermedusa at 1:57 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


The best. The absolute best.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:59 PM on November 14, 2016 [12 favorites]


.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 2:02 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by glhaynes at 2:02 PM on November 14, 2016


Oh dammit.
.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 2:05 PM on November 14, 2016


2016, you're fired.
posted by adamrice at 2:06 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


*weeps*
.
posted by gusandrews at 2:07 PM on November 14, 2016


RIP. She was an amazing reporter.
posted by jonmc at 2:11 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


And we need her brand of journalism now more than ever.

.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:13 PM on November 14, 2016 [20 favorites]


.
posted by Elly Vortex at 2:14 PM on November 14, 2016


.

This made me weep.
posted by sockermom at 2:14 PM on November 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


PBS Newshour has a nice tribute: Remembering Gwen

.
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:15 PM on November 14, 2016 [4 favorites]


.
posted by FuturisticDragon at 2:17 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Silverstone at 2:17 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by /\/\/\/ at 2:18 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by ikahime at 2:23 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:25 PM on November 14, 2016


She was, apparently, talked into TV journalism by Tim Russert. I don't believe in an afterlife, but if one exists I don't think I could bear to hear their analysis of the situation as it stands.


.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:26 PM on November 14, 2016 [18 favorites]


.

I wish I'd heard her voice earlier, more often, and for a much longer time.
posted by Caxton1476 at 2:27 PM on November 14, 2016 [4 favorites]


.
posted by procrastination at 2:29 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by carter at 2:31 PM on November 14, 2016


I said "oh no" out loud when I read this. Damn cancer. Damn 2016.
posted by Akhu at 2:32 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


I watched the News Hour's coverage on Election Night and wondered where she was. I had no idea she was struggling with endometrial cancer. I imagine that is the way she wanted it. She was a dedicated, resolutely objective journalist whom I watched less than I should have.

.
posted by enjoymoreradio at 2:32 PM on November 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


.
posted by aught at 2:36 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by cashman at 2:38 PM on November 14, 2016


At this point the phrase "Giant Meteor" springs to mind.


For Gwen Ifill:

.
 
posted by Herodios at 2:40 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by drezdn at 2:41 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by adamvasco at 2:42 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by tilde at 2:50 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by bryon at 2:50 PM on November 14, 2016


I had noticed she had gone quiet on twitter (she had an interesting and personable feed) but didn't think much of it. She was a professional, warm, incisive voice. What a tremendous loss. My thoughts are with her family, friends, and colleagues. She will be deeply, deeply missed.

.
posted by missmary6 at 2:52 PM on November 14, 2016 [6 favorites]


.
posted by BobtheThief at 2:55 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by adamsc at 2:55 PM on November 14, 2016


Wow...I know everyone keeps saying "dammit, 2016" but it started with Bowie in January and apparently the shittiness will continue till December, and then some.

.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 3:01 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:01 PM on November 14, 2016


Ma Ardship has been sick as a dog lately, on top of being super depressed about us having to put Pa in a care home because of his dementia.
So I turn on NPR for her, and they start talking about Gwen Ifill in the past tense.
I'm with John Oliver on this one. Seriously, go fuck yourself, 2016.
.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 3:08 PM on November 14, 2016 [7 favorites]


.

Phew.
posted by rokusan at 3:16 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:18 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by charred husk at 3:20 PM on November 14, 2016


.

and for 2016.
posted by fraula at 3:22 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


.
posted by neutralmojo at 3:25 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by lalochezia at 3:25 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 3:26 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Cash4Lead at 3:31 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by bearwife at 3:37 PM on November 14, 2016


.

This was it, the thing that finally made me cry at work.
posted by Flannery Culp at 3:38 PM on November 14, 2016 [5 favorites]



posted by bz at 3:39 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by treepour at 3:40 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by tonycpsu at 3:42 PM on November 14, 2016


All the heroes are dying.
posted by chaoticgood at 3:43 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


.

She was my favorite news person ever, and I'm old enough to remember Walter Cronkite. What a sad, sad loss.
posted by Corvid at 3:46 PM on November 14, 2016 [4 favorites]


.
posted by Davenhill at 3:50 PM on November 14, 2016


Today, I saw the tweets below from Tom Tomorrow and was like, oh this is nice!

Then I saw the context for why he was posting them. Because, of course. 2016.

Oh man. Gwen Ifill gave the keynote address the year I won the Herblock.

Ceremony was at Library of Congress. My wife was taking pix, caught this sequence

This is the cartoon that had her cracking up in the second photo
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:54 PM on November 14, 2016 [22 favorites]


I learned about this from the President during his press conference this afternoon.
I missed Gwen's presence last Tuesday and in the preceding weeks. She was almost certainly my favorite television newsperson.

.
posted by obloquy at 4:00 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


Way too early, way to sad the lowering of that light.
posted by Oyéah at 4:10 PM on November 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


.
posted by photo guy at 4:19 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by interrupt at 4:19 PM on November 14, 2016


She did not suffer fools gladly...

.
posted by jim in austin at 4:20 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ach.

.
posted by Kinbote at 4:22 PM on November 14, 2016


I was sad to hear this. She was the best.
posted by y2karl at 4:26 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by blurker at 4:33 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Etrigan at 4:34 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Fizz at 4:37 PM on November 14, 2016


Loved her!
posted by oh posey at 4:50 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 4:50 PM on November 14, 2016


Oh, goddammit. She was the best. Tragic loss of an outstanding journalist.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 4:52 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Loudmax at 4:56 PM on November 14, 2016


::crying::

.
posted by skye.dancer at 5:06 PM on November 14, 2016


I said "oh no" out loud when I read this.

So did I.

.
posted by bricksNmortar at 5:16 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


.

No words.......
posted by bjgeiger at 5:18 PM on November 14, 2016


.
What a loss.
I guess 2016 is gonna 2016.
posted by maryrussell at 5:19 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:22 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 5:22 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by amelliferae at 5:32 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Mouse Army at 5:34 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by redbeard at 5:46 PM on November 14, 2016


.
I have such fond, fond memories of watching her on News Hour. One of the greats in journalism.
posted by gracenote at 5:51 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by pearlybob at 5:51 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Kangaroo at 5:53 PM on November 14, 2016




For years after, a grizzled sergeant would gaze at a hard day's work worth of mutilated corpses and mutter, "Aye, that was a proper 2016, that was..."
posted by tspae at 6:00 PM on November 14, 2016 [6 favorites]


As the MacNeil/Lehrer Report turned into the PBS NewsHour, Ifill served as a steady, intelligent and reassuring voice for truth, fairness and accuracy. If she said it, I believed it. She projected integrity every time I saw her on screen. I realize this has been a dreadful year and this is hyperbolic, but I can't help but feel like her death is also the death knell for integrity in journalism.

There are not enough "." in the world for her.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:01 PM on November 14, 2016 [15 favorites]


oh god. this broke me tonight.

I can't think of a newsreader more needed to be here, still, right now...

.
posted by cluebucket at 6:13 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


Damn it. She was the reason that I stayed with TV show political coverage and Washington Week is/was a fave. My deepest condolences to her friends and family. I am simultaneously saddened by their loss and jealous they had her for more hours than the too meagre amount of time she had in front of PBS's cameras.

Fuck you 2016. What whirlwind did we sow that we should reap so?

.
posted by jadepearl at 6:15 PM on November 14, 2016


She brought more class and dignity to television news than the medium deserved.

My morbid thought is that she'd still be alive if not for the stress of this awful 2+ year long presidential campaign.
posted by riruro at 6:16 PM on November 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


.
posted by batbat at 6:16 PM on November 14, 2016


I've said it elsewhere, but a year that can take Prince away from us is a year that is capable of anything.

.
posted by ersatzkat at 6:18 PM on November 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:18 PM on November 14, 2016


When I was little, I lived near my grandparents and frequently stayed over. Each evening they watched NewsHour (then presented by Jim Lehrer, with Gwen Ifill as one of the correspondents). Eventually, I realized that I would be allowed to stay up later if I watched with them. I'm doubtful I understood most of the show, but its tenor made an impression. Ifill and the rest of the NewsHour crew are certainly the reason I can recognize and appreciate serious journalism today.

RIP.
posted by cichlid ceilidh at 6:27 PM on November 14, 2016 [6 favorites]


.

The Rapture apparently just takes a really long time to select the chosen.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:31 PM on November 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


Like others, I vaguely wondered where she had been during this election season. Now I learn, to my sorrow.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:32 PM on November 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


She will be sorely missed.

.
posted by jaruwaan at 6:51 PM on November 14, 2016


I can only hope that she lost consciousness before last Tuesday, that she can, in fact, rest in that peace.
posted by Dashy at 6:52 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


.
posted by supermassive at 6:55 PM on November 14, 2016


.

2016 is just not letting up...
posted by SisterHavana at 6:55 PM on November 14, 2016


When the president-elect (whose name I cannot utter) would malign the press during the campaign, I'd often think about Gwen, who brought such dignity and professionalism to the Fourth Estate, and how her very presence was such a powerful rebuttal to his weak-ass argument. There are still others like her, there will be others like her, but she was such a profound force. When I watched her on Newshour or Washington Week, I knew that there were wise and compassionate people at the helm. I know there are still a few there, but losing her is a pretty deep loss.
posted by vverse23 at 6:59 PM on November 14, 2016 [5 favorites]


.
posted by k8bot at 6:59 PM on November 14, 2016


I was just gutted when I heard this news. I'd missed her on Washington Week in Review the past few weeks, and abstractly imagined she was off somewhere working on an election special. So shocked to hear of her passing. Just when we really need journalists of her caliber and integrity. My heart goes out to her family, friends, coworkers, and fans.

.
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 7:01 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


.
posted by demonic winged headgear at 7:08 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by meinvt at 7:10 PM on November 14, 2016


I'm totally bereft. There was a tad of foreshadowing because some random dude was in the pilot's seat on Washington Week a few days ago, but then I missed the evening news today and was completely out of the loop until hitting the end of Rachel Maddow's show just now when she memorialized Gwen.

.
posted by XMLicious at 7:16 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


In tonight's tribute to her on PBS NewsHour they showed a clip of her from the 2004 VP debate. That election was full of Swiftboating and the Iraq War and Mission Accomplished and constant references to 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11. Ifill said: "I want to talk to you about AIDS, and not about AIDS in China or Africa, but AIDS right here in this country, where black women between the ages of 25 and 44 are 13 times more likely to die of the disease than their counterparts. What should the government's role be in helping to end the growth of this epidemic?"

That says it all about her. That and how much Pete Williams (always calm, always the ultimate professional) choked up and lost his composure talking about her.

.
posted by sallybrown at 7:28 PM on November 14, 2016 [8 favorites]


I no longer have any space for the grief.

.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:31 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


.
posted by RakDaddy at 7:33 PM on November 14, 2016


.
2016, one long nightmare I can't escape.
posted by Gadgetenvy at 7:33 PM on November 14, 2016


One of my favorite journalists.

.
posted by Roger Dodger at 7:34 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 7:39 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by marimeko at 7:45 PM on November 14, 2016


> PBS Newshour has a nice tribute: Remembering Gwen

Thanks for the link, ZeusHumms. I especially liked this paragraph near the end:
Gwen loved all music, especially gospel, rock and show tunes, and was especially smitten with the Broadway show, Hamilton. She was a connoisseur of Maryland crabs and always had a jar of Twizzlers in her office that she shared with staff.
.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 8:37 PM on November 14, 2016 [5 favorites]


.
posted by dougfelt at 8:43 PM on November 14, 2016


And as was said above, when we need her and hers most, too.

.
posted by seyirci at 8:54 PM on November 14, 2016


.

After seeing my doctor today, at which he attempted to reassure me that my slowly declining health is not cancer or anything immediately life-threatening, just the semi-common compounding of the cardio-vascular issues I've been dealing with for years, I read this thread and the links and since Gwen was noted as being 61 - my age - I looked up her age... and she was born ONE DAY before me. Sorry for making it about me, but issues of mortality and how it has taken so many finer persons than I during this disaster of a calendar year...
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:32 PM on November 14, 2016 [3 favorites]


.
posted by buzzman at 9:32 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by lizjohn at 10:10 PM on November 14, 2016


Here's the full 2011 interview with Gwen Ifill for the Archive of American Television that's mentioned in the NYT obit. It's about an hour long.

(At the end, there's a now sad moment where the interviewer Karen Herman says she hopes they can record another interview in the future, but as far as I know this was the only one they got to do...)

I remember when Gwen Ifill started hosting/moderating Washington Week; it was so awesome to see her with her own show on PBS -- as she said in the interview, the first woman and the first African American in that role.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 10:16 PM on November 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


This was very sad news, to lose such a valuable journalistic voice at this time in our history.

I used to watch the NewsHour on PBS all the time as a teenager, it's probably my real introduction to thinking about American politics at all. Gwen Ifill was definitely the highlight, the one with the clearest voice, and she will be missed.

.
posted by airish at 10:41 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 10:54 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by Lynsey at 10:58 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by ghharr at 11:05 PM on November 14, 2016


.
"Journalism is about asking the questions, not assuming the answers. It is about being skeptical, not cynical." - Gwen Ifill
posted by 404 Not Found at 11:34 PM on November 14, 2016 [7 favorites]


.
posted by datarose at 11:39 PM on November 14, 2016


.
posted by saysthis at 1:45 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by one teak forest at 2:31 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by colin.jaquiery at 3:00 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:56 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by schmod at 5:01 AM on November 15, 2016


“We can’t expect the world to get better by itself,” she said. “We have to create something we can leave the next generation.”

.
posted by killy willy at 6:24 AM on November 15, 2016 [5 favorites]


.
posted by fremen at 6:48 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by benzenedream at 7:02 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by crepesofwrath at 7:44 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by erattacorrige at 8:08 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by droplet at 8:18 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by allthinky at 8:20 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by sa3z at 9:13 AM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by hooray at 10:16 AM on November 15, 2016


This set me over the edge, I started weeping again when I first learned of her passing. We need her journalistic integrity and wisdom more than ever.
posted by boofidies at 11:52 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


.
posted by homunculus at 12:11 PM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 12:18 PM on November 15, 2016


A great broadcaster and journalist.

.
posted by Artful Codger at 12:49 PM on November 15, 2016


We just watched last night's Daily Show, and she was the moment of Zen. That was very very nice.

.
posted by joycehealy at 4:41 PM on November 15, 2016


I am so very grateful for her work.

.
posted by mixedmetaphors at 5:02 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


The tribute tonight on News Hour was touching and exactly the right notes. It also shredded my heart. I simply cannot believe she is gone.

.
posted by mostly vowels at 5:05 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


And here's the full episode of NewsHour in tribute to Gwen Ifill.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 9:41 PM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


In last night's Charlie Rose, Michele Norris (of NPR) shared some background on her passing and talked at length about their friendship.

Every week since she's been offscreen I've been wondering and worrying about and missing her. It's a tragedy for all of us that she was dying in the midst of the political story of her lifetime.

And goddammit she was good and just what we need more than ever now.
posted by Camofrog at 11:27 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


.
posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 11:34 PM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by riverlife at 11:39 PM on November 15, 2016


.
posted by gamera at 5:00 PM on November 16, 2016


In a few more tribute clips from her colleagues shown tonight on PBS Newshour, people listing off things Gwen taught them, one that made me chuckle was: [she taught me] "...that leopard print is business casual."

They're saying that there will be a special episode of Washington Week tonight memorializing her, hosted by Michele Norris.
posted by XMLicious at 4:56 PM on November 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm watching the tributes right now and it's glorious. To be so remembered - what a special gift.


.
posted by double bubble at 5:22 PM on November 18, 2016


« Older Bal Diwas   |   "Free bananas in the NHS staff kitchen!!!" Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments