Maui Death Toll Climbs

Fires have decimated the island. [For the best experience, read in browser.]( August 10, 2023 The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined the Supreme Court 30 years ago today, so we’re [looking back at her celebrated (and complicated) legacy](. For more female inspiration, we’re highlighting [incredible trailblazers you probably didn’t learn about]( in school and examining [a big shift in Hollywood for actresses over 50](. Then, we’ll take you from the high court to the pickleball court with [my Pilates teacher's pre-game warm-up](. But first, we’re sharing [the latest on the devastating wildfires in Hawaii](. Thanks for waking up with us.   In the News [A wildfire blazes in Maui]( Photo Credit: County of Maui/Photo by Zeke Kalua On Tuesday, brush fires on the Hawaiian island of Maui were exacerbated by winds from Hurricane Dora — which is hundreds of miles away — resulting in massive wildfires that have prompted evacuations. Since then, the fast-moving fires have destroyed homes and businesses and forced people to jump into the ocean to escape the flames. At least 36 people are dead. Parts of Maui are without cell service, landlines, and 911, and more than 11,500 people remain without power. Hawaii’s Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke called the fires “unprecedented.” The inferno has decimated the economic hub of Lahaina, which was once the capital of the kingdom of Hawaii. “We just lost a large part of our heritage,” Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran told USA Today. Here’s [what we know about this calamitous situation](. [READ MORE]( PASS THIS STORY ALONG: mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Wake-Up%20Call%21&body=https%3A%2F%2Fkatiecouric.com%2Fnews%2Fhawaii-wildfires-maui%2F   The Notorious RBG [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]( KCM/Getty Images Exactly 30 years ago, on Aug. 10, 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined the Supreme Court. To honor this historic day, we’re taking [an intimate look at this iconic woman]( — and why she's become a controversial figure in recent years. Her legacy: Ginsburg became a pop-culture icon in large part due to her scathing dissents, like the one in the 2013 voting rights case Shelby County v. Holder. But even before she joined SCOTUS, her work as a lawyer helped reshape American law by challenging the high court’s approach to women’s rights and gender equality. Her reputation: Just 5-foot-1, the Brooklyn native was known to be soft-spoken and shy, but those who knew her personally saw a different side. “She had a very quick wit and she was funny,” says Shannon Gilreath, a law professor at Wake Forest University. Her controversy: Some critics say RBG's decision not to retire under Obama led to SCOTUS's conservative supermajority, since Donald Trump ultimately got to pick her replacement when she passed away. "Her most consequential decision from 1993 to 2020, when she died, was staying on beyond her sell-by date,” says lawyer and pundit Linda Hirshman. Others vehemently disagree. We're unpacking the complicated relationship between the timing of Ginsburg's death and the restriction of abortion across the U.S. — and [the surprising reason she wasn't a huge fan of Roe v. Wade](. [READ MORE]( PASS THIS STORY ALONG: mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Wake-Up%20Call%21&body=https%3A%2F%2Fkatiecouric.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-and-policy%2Fruth-bader-ginsburg-legacy-controversy%2F   More Stories [Fernando Villavicencio]( Getty Images Shock assassination: Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was fatally shot during a political rally on Wednesday. Villavicencio, a former journalist, was famous for speaking out against cartels and political corruption. His death coincides with a spike in gang-driven violence. “I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” President Guillermo Lasso said in a statement. Trump legal latest: Special counsel Jack Smith, who's Donald Trump on four federal charges](, has secured a search warrant for Trump's Twitter account. Twitter's already been fined $350,000 for failing to comply in time. Meanwhile, the prosecutor investigating the former president’s [alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia]( is expected to present her case to a grand jury next week. And in the [classified documents case](, Trump is arguing that he should be allowed to discuss evidence in the “secure facility” that he used for restricted material while he was in office. Montgomery brawl: Two men have turned themselves in following a riverfront fight in Montgomery on Saturday that began when a group of white men attacked the Black co-captain of a riverboat. Allen Todd, 23, and Zachary Shipman, 25, both face charges of third-degree assault. A third suspect, 48-year-old Richard Roberts, was already in custody. One witness has reportedly told the police under oath that she heard a racial slur during the fight.   Must-Reads [illustration of young Black women looking at books]( Heavy Burden The $2 trillion student loan crisis unfairly targets Black women. Here’s why — and what one woman is doing to change that. [Read More »]( [Empress Theodora, Nellie Bly, and Ida B Wells]( Unsung Heroes Women are too often history’s silent partners, and it's time for that to end. We’re highlighting 6 female figures you should know. [Read More »]( [Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steenburgen take a selfie at the Trevi Fountain]( Changing the Game When you hear about a new buddy comedy, who do you picture in it? We look at how women over 50 are carving out a space in the genre. [Read More »](   Extra Credit Open wide: Everyone wants the shiniest smile possible, but many of the tools designed for that purpose come with unfortunate downsides, like painful sensitivity. We found another option called Lumineux, which won't cause those problems — and we spoke with the company's founder about [how to avoid the side effects of conventional whitening products](. Sideline stretch: Just like any sport, if you start playing pickleball without warming up your muscles, it could lead to injury. My Pilates instructor Ashley Patten shares [the moves you need to do before hitting the court](. Fabulous finds: Whether you’re hoping to score seasonal trends at a discount (bucket hats, anyone?) or get ahead for next season, [lululemon’s “We Made Too Much” section]( is a treasure trove of deals.   Sneaky Savings [32 Degrees men's teal cooling shirt, maroon skort, and lavender t-shirt dress]( KCM There are two types of people who work out in the summer: The ones who rise before 6 a.m. to get in a run before the sun starts beating down… and everyone else. Whichever person you are, 32 Degrees is helping you cool off with a [huge sale on cool gear](. Right now you can grab everything from [$6 workout shirts]( for him to [$8 T-shirt dresses](. [SHOP HERE](   [Know it all, and help your friends catch up, too. Share Wake-Up Call and you'll earn some superb swag.]( Thanks for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! 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