Democratic leaders push for expanding the Supreme Court to 13 seats
House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn said a baker’s dozen would be an appropriate size for the Supreme Court, echoing former Vice President Kamala Harris’s earlier suggestion to add four justices. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the Court as operating like a "subsidiary of MAGA extremists," while Rep. Pramila Jayapal blamed corporate interests for influencing the justices. Representatives Hank Johnson and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez advocated expanding the bench to 13 members, and Rep. Wesley Bell said term limits should be considered. Climate expert Michael Mann urged that support for Court expansion become a requirement for Democratic candidates, linking the issue to progressive climate policies.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning outlets covered this 19h later
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
Why it matters
Changes to the Court’s composition could affect future decisions on voting rights, climate policy and other issues that impact everyday Americans.
How this story developed
- Aug 27 Rep. Jake Auchincloss Discusses Congressional Reform and Supreme Court Changes
- Aug 30 A climate researcher introduced a Supreme Court‑expansion litmus test for Senate Democrats.
- Sep 1 Jim Clyburn publicly advocated expanding the Supreme Court to 13 justices.
