During the discussion (which you can watch in full below), Ginsburg and Totenberg had the following exchange:
Totenberg: On a somewhat lighter note, I want to ask you about the Notorious RBG t-shirt. [Uproarious applause]. I gather there are some people here who’ve worn them. I wear mine on the weekends all the time. And people will occasionally — the guy at the drug store said to me last weekend, he said, “Who is that woman, she looks very familiar, but who is she?” I said, “She’s a supreme court justice.” He said, “Oh good, I’ve learned something today.” So how did you find out about the Notorious RBG t-shirts?
Ginsburg: I think a law clerk told me about this Tumblr and also explained to me what Notorious RBG was a parody on. And now my grandchildren love it and I try to keep abreast of the latest that’s on the Tumblr. I also I have—and in fact I think I gave you a Notorious RBG—
Totenberg: Yes, you gave me two of my three. I bought one.
Ginsburg: I have quite a large supply.
Totenberg: Do you have the one—what’s the one about “Yyou can’t have truth without Ruth'”
Ginsburg: Without Ruth. [nods]
There was also a lot of discussion about the difference between the Israeli and US Supreme Courts and Ginsburg explained her stance on the just-decided Texas voter ID case. Plus, the two women weighed in on how difficult it was to raise a family and have their jobs (“We just did it” seemed to be the shared reasoning behind how they managed to “have it all”). Lastly, Ginsburg (who is a big fan of music, a love she shares with Justice Scalia), is just pleased as punch about the
opera Scalia/Ginsburg which was created in their
honor: she carefully recited some of the words from it for the audience.
Image via the 92nd Street Y
