Kamala Harris's Supreme Court expansion plan is dangerous and historically doomed to fail
Source: "Kamala Harris calls for expanding Supreme Court, echoing FDR's failed plan | Fox News." May 18, 2026. www.foxnews.com
The Gist
The author argues that Kamala Harris's idea to add more justices to the Supreme Court is terrible because FDR tried the same thing and failed miserably, even with huge Democratic support. Politicians usually avoid messing with important institutions because they know it could backfire when the other party is in charge.
Conclusion
Kamala Harris's proposal to expand the Supreme Court is a seriously awful idea that should be rejected
Premises
- FDR attempted court packing in 1937 at the height of his popularity and got his head handed to him
- Even Democrats at the time thought FDR's plan would fatally undermine the independence of the judiciary
- Congress refused to approve FDR's bill despite Roosevelt enjoying a big Democratic majority
- Harris's proposal is motivated by partisan goals to neutralize conservative opposition rather than principled reform
- Politicians typically avoid messing with foundational institutions like the Supreme Court due to fear that the same powers could be used against them when out of power
- Harris is acting like a candidate again after losing all seven swing states to Trump, suggesting political opportunism rather than genuine reform
Assumptions
- Historical precedent is a reliable guide for predicting future political outcomes
- Institutional stability and independence are more valuable than partisan political advantage
- Harris's motivations are primarily political rather than based on constitutional principles
- The current Supreme Court structure is fundamentally sound and should be preserved
- Political parties should consider how institutional changes might affect them when out of power