Newsom Signals A Shift On Supreme Court

Man in suit speaking at a podium with American and California flags — Photo: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock

California Governor Gavin Newsom said he is now “more open” to expanding the Supreme Court and called the Electoral College “perverted,” sharpening his attacks on President Trump and Washington power.

Story Snapshot

Newsom told Don Lemon he is more open to expanding the Supreme Court.
He said the Electoral College has “perverted” politics and should be rethought.
His remarks came amid a wider critique of Trump, his family, and Washington corruption.
Court expansion is legal under the Constitution but remains politically explosive.

Newsom Signals Openness to Expanding the Supreme Court

Governor Gavin Newsom used a new interview with Don Lemon to say he has shifted on Supreme Court expansion. He said his “initial instinct” was no, but he is “more open” to it now and “evolving” on the idea. The comments marked his clearest public openness to enlarging the Court. They also placed him in a longer debate over how to respond to rulings that have reshaped abortion, guns, and federal power. He did not outline a bill or a timeline.

Newsom paired the court remarks with a sharp critique of the Electoral College. He said the system has “perverted” politics and that the Constitution was “conceived to be amended”. He argued the current structure can dull the power of the popular vote. His stance fits long-running Democratic frustration after elections where the popular vote winner lost the presidency. He did not endorse a specific reform plan but framed change as legitimate under the Constitution’s rules for amendments.

A Broader Attack on Trump and Washington Power

During the conversation, Newsom went after President Trump, members of Trump’s family, and what he called corruption and chaos in Washington. He cast Trump’s approach as dangerous and self-serving. He also urged Democrats to fight harder in the media and in policy fights. The interview continued Newsom’s strategy of taking messages to high-visibility shows. He has used podcasts and video platforms to reach national audiences beyond California’s borders.

Democrats and Republicans both see high stakes in this posture. Democrats hear a call to confront a conservative Court and a Republican-led federal government. Republicans see a push to change rules to gain power they have not won at the ballot box. Many Americans, across parties, hear the same old power struggle in Washington while prices, health costs, and public safety still hit home. The clash feeds the view that elites protect their turf while daily problems pile up.

What Court Expansion Would Mean in Law and Politics

The Constitution does not set the number of Supreme Court justices. Congress has the power to change it, and the size of the Court shifted several times in the nineteenth century, before settling at nine in 1869. Legal scholars note that Congress’s authority here is broad, though using it to shape outcomes is seen as risky. The failed attempt by President Franklin Roosevelt left a lasting warning about backlash and long-term damage to the Court’s standing.

CA Gov. Gavin Newsom admitted that democratic socialist ideas are now “pretty aligned” with the Democrat Party during a recent interview with PBS NewsHour, as reported by Fox News. The governor said these views are especially strong on universal healthcare and climate change. pic.twitter.com/M7Ljs5tbAw

— John Burtis (@burtis_john) September 13, 2026

That history explains why Newsom’s “more open” line matters. Changing the Court is lawful, but it moves the fight from the courtroom to raw politics. Backers say expansion could restore balance after a run of conservative rulings. Critics say it would start a cycle where each party adds seats when it can. Either way, the idea forces a bigger question: do leaders fix rules, or do they win arguments within the rules? Voters will decide which path feels more faithful to American tradition.

Why This Moment Resonates Beyond One Interview

Newsom’s message also tracks with how modern media rewards conflict. Studies show posts that hit the “other side” get more shares than posts that praise allies. Politicians respond by turning up the temperature, because that is how they get seen. That cycle draws clicks, but it can leave people cold. Many Americans believe the system serves itself first, while families face high costs, weak services, and little accountability. This clip fits that loop: sharp words, big stakes, and no quick fixes.