Died

Rush Limbaugh, the conservative commentator who transformed the media landscape, died Feb. 17 at age 70. His fans saw him as a conservative hero, deserving of the nation’s highest civilian honor. At the 2020 State of the Union address, President Donald Trump awarded Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Accusations of racism, sexism, and hypocrisy also followed him throughout his career, and at times he apologized for hurtful remarks. But even Limbaugh’s critics could not deny his lasting influence on how American media outlets talk about politics—and life. His success became a road map for how AM radio could survive as a talk show platform. Limbaugh  encouraged listeners to give to various charities. In 2008, he ranked fourth on the Forbes list of most generous celebrities. Last year Limbaugh announced he had lung cancer but said he was relying on God.

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