<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/4416907/republican-convention-ruth-bader-ginsburg-kate-mckinnon/" -->

---
title: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Kate McKinnon Blasts Donald Trump on SNL
description: Kate McKinnon reprises her Ruth Bader Ginsburg impression for Weekend Update.
canonical: https://time.com/4416907/republican-convention-ruth-bader-ginsburg-kate-mckinnon/
author: Ashley Hoffman
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2016-07-21T14:54:02.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:34:38.263Z
og:title: Kate McKinnon&#x27;s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Back to Own Donald Trump
og:description: She&#x27;s throwing punches and dancing after every Gins-burn
og:url: https://time.com/4416907/republican-convention-ruth-bader-ginsburg-kate-mckinnon/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Kate McKinnon&#x27;s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Back to Own Donald Trump
twitter:description: She&#x27;s throwing punches and dancing after every Gins-burn
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# Watch Kate McKinnon as Ruth Bader Ginsburg Put Donald Trump on Blast

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="347f27d6-1ce4-4ccf-b6e6-b8ddab9f1d1d" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=347f27d6-1ce4-4ccf-b6e6-b8ddab9f1d1d&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=347f27d6-1ce4-4ccf-b6e6-b8ddab9f1d1d&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=347f27d6-1ce4-4ccf-b6e6-b8ddab9f1d1d&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->


by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Jul 21, 2016 2:54 PM UTC

by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Jul 21, 2016 2:54 PM UTC

[Kate McKinnon](http://time.com/4347460/kate-mckinnon-hillary-clinton-ellen-degeneres-impressions/) charmed with her [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](http://time.com/3823889/ruth-bader-ginsburg-2015-time-100/) impression on _Saturday Night Liv_e’s Weekend Update Wednesday night.

“Trump picked a fight with the wrong 15-pound, 200-year-old-marionette baby!” said Kate McKinnon bringing back her Ruth Bader Ginsburg impression during the Republican National Convention special.

[McKinnon’s](http://motto.time.com/4410357/ghostbusters-kate-mckinnon-paul-feig/) fearless Ginsburg dishes out the Gins-burns, going hard on Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Chris Christie and even Merrick Garland with mostly innocent jabs interrupted by dance breaks. Her moves are successful in that they make Jost feel awkward, like most things that happen on Weekend Update.

McKinnon’s Ginsburg impression makes the justice into a tough, self-righteous cutie pie, and she even reveals her cross fit regimen, “that’s when I cross my arms and legs and try to fit inside a soup can.” Most of it got big laughs, even with the small studio audience, and _SNL_ should do this every summer when there’s a convention.

Come Fall, McKinnon will likely continue to impersonate Hillary, but as one of _SNL’s_ quickest rising stars with her new movie star status with _Ghostbusters_, she may not be on the show much longer. The Notorious RBG said it best, “I don’t know how much time I have left Colin. I got to get my pokes in while I have my chance.”

Weekend Update will return for the Democratic National Convention.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4416907/republican-convention-ruth-bader-ginsburg-kate-mckinnon/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4416907/republican-convention-ruth-bader-ginsburg-kate-mckinnon/"},"headline":"Watch Kate McKinnon as Ruth Bader Ginsburg Put Donald Trump on Blast","datePublished":"2016-07-21T14:54:02.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:34:38.263Z","description":"\"His mind is sleeping with the fishes\"","url":"https://time.com/4416907/republican-convention-ruth-bader-ginsburg-kate-mckinnon/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Television","Saturday Night Live","Kate McKinnon","Donald Trump","Republican National Convention"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ashley Hoffman","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4416907/republican-convention-ruth-bader-ginsburg-kate-mckinnon/","name":"Watch Kate McKinnon as Ruth Bader Ginsburg Put Donald Trump on Blast"}}]}]
```