PoliticoConservative media pioneer Rush Limbaugh dead at 70
- The controversial radio host’s wife announced his death at the beginning of his show on Wednesday
- Limbaugh, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer, left his stamp on US political debate for decades
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by David Cohen on politico.com on February 17, 2021.
Rush Limbaugh, a scathing conservative voice who made himself into a powerhouse political figure on talk radio for the past three decades, died on Wednesday. He was 70 years old.
The long-time radio host's wife announced her husband's death at the beginning of his show on Wednesday.
Limbaugh disclosed last February that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. One day after that disclosure, then president Donald Trump surprised Limbaugh by awarding him a Presidential Medal of Freedom at the State of the Union address.
“He is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet,” said Trump, whose caustic style on Twitter seemed to owe something to Limbaugh’s on-air outbursts.
I know the liberals call you the most dangerous man in America, but don’t worry about it. They used to say the same thing about me
On October 20, he said his cancer had progressed. “I never thought I would see October 1st. I never thought I would,” Limbaugh said. On Christmas Eve, he thanked his listeners for sticking with him. “You have no idea what you all have meant to me and my family,” he said.