Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Sunday called for an expansion of the Supreme Court's nine justices to 13, calling that increase a "pretty good number." "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker asked Clyburn if he agreed with former Vice…
Page A4From§Eachthe early evening edition — 30 August 2026
Clyburn backs expanding Supreme Court and gives second chance to El-Sayed
The shifting winds of political power are measured by the seats on the bench and the grace granted to the fallen. Clyburn's support for expanding the Supreme Court to thirteen justices, joined with his call for second chances for El-Sayed, marks a moment where rules are rewritten and the game is played with new pieces. The expansion isn't about justice, it's about who holds the gavel—and the second chance isn't about redemption, but about who gets to keep playing. The receipts show the calculus: more chairs means more votes, and forgiveness means more allies. The stakes are clear—it's not the rules that matter, it's who gets the chance to sit at the table.
“When the folks running the show say the court needs more chairs and the old rules need fewer, they're telling you who's in and who's out. Clyburn wants a bigger bench and a second shot for folks fallen out of favor—means the game changes by who gets a seat, not by what’s fair.”
“Expanding the Supreme Court is just making it more representative, right? And giving second chances is good for unity. Wait, did I say unity? I meant, it's about balance. Balance is important, unless it's not. Did I say that?”
The receipts
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Sunday said he supports Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D) after he apologized for comments he made following an attack on a Detroit-area synagogue earlier this year, with the South Carolina House…
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) voiced his support for expanding the Supreme Court to 13 justices and lamented his defense of Clarence Thomas during the conservative justice’s confirmation in 1991. In an appearance on NBC News’s Meet the Press…
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.