June 13 at 5:31PM
BREAKING: New York Times Reports Tim Russert Has Died of a Heart Attack
Update: From Huffington Post…
Russert suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed Friday afternoon in NBC's Washington bureau, according to the New York Post
Russert was in the tracking booth, recording a track, when he collapsed. He returned from Italy Thursday night. His wife, Maureen Orth, and son Luke, are still in Italy.
TVNewser reminds us that "Around 1pmET this afternoon, Russert was conducting a political Q&A on MSNBC.com."
The New York Times currently has a breaking news banner claiming that Tim Russert has died of a heart attack.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and colleagues. We will update as we receive information.
Below the fold, watch some of Jon Stewart's interviews of Tim Russert from happier times.
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It's an insult that such a great journo was cut down in his prime while Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and the rest of the "terrorist fist-jab" crew at Fox News continue to pollute the airwaves. An invaluable loss for the modern media.
Tim was Awesome! One of the best journalists I've ever come across. I can't imagine Sundays (or the election) without him.
A massive loss.
It really is like losing a friend. Such a terrible loss to his family and his father. My heart goes out to all of them.
I've watched Meet The Press, and he's one of the best journalists I've seen. This is a huge loss.
A rare soul about whom nothing bad can be said
What a fantastic tribute! As someone else has already posted, thank you so much for putting this together! Tim Russert–what an incredible journalist and person. You can hear the love he had for his family and work in his voice and words, can't you?
There's an old saying that goes – live your life so that even the mortician will be sad.
Tim was the epitome of that saying.
I cannot even imagine election night without Tim and his whiteboard. You will be so missed.
My prayers our with his family and numerous friends and all of us who didn't know you, but felt we did. God Bless.
The third clip from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is so poignant and really showcases what made Tim Russert so special ~ his humanity. He gave Meet The Press that human quality while asking the hard questions without slamming people or trying to embarrass anyone. A guest could be humiliated only when Russert showcased previous statements by the guest contradicting what they were now saying. But Russert was reasonable and always gave the guest a chance, a real chance, to explain him/her-self.
Sundays will no longer be the same nor will MSNBC coverage with Keith Olbermann be as eloquent any longer.
I think America has lost a true journalist. When I look at the stuff on Fox and Look at Tim on Meet the press I realize we lost someone special!
If there are two things this man should be remembered for, it would be his interview with Dick Cheney on the whole "We'll be greeted as liberators" meshugas, and his openness about his family.
I can't imagine how his son Luke must be feeling right now. Just two days before Father's Day. What a sad time. He needs all the support he can right now.
There is, I think, some cruel irony in this when recalling Terry McAuliffe's appearance on "Meet the Press" last month when he claimed that Big Russ was dead.
His interviews with Jon (on The Daily Show) and sit-down with Stephen (on "Meet the Press") showed a sense of humor that is lacking among most heavyweights. It seems like the top guys, the guys like Russert, Brokaw, Koppel, and the like, all have an astonishing sense of humor every time they come on The Daily Show, but Russert seemed the heartiest.
Tim, we'll miss you.