Hakeem Jeffries calls for Supreme Court overhaul if Dems capture midterms

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press that while he does not endorse the full policy agenda of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), some of its members could still become part of the broader Democratic caucus if they win their respective elections in November. The remarks came amid growing internal debates within the Democratic Party about the role of progressive groups and their influence on the party’s legislative priorities. Jeffries was directly asked whether Democratic Socialists belonged in the Democratic Party. In response, he clarified that he did not support specific DSA positions such as defunding the police, open borders, or abolishing the Senate. However, he acknowledged that individual DSA members who won Democratic primaries and subsequently secured general election victories would be included in the House Democratic caucus. “It’s going to be a broad caucus,” he said, emphasizing that the party needed to address pressing issues like rising living costs and healthcare affordability. During the interview, Jeffries also addressed several key policy proposals championed by the DSA, including the push for Medicare for All. When asked if he supported that initiative, he said he had not co-sponsored the legislation in recent years and did not currently back it. Instead, he argued that the focus should be on repairing existing systems rather than replacing them entirely. “I do think we need to figure out how to fix our broken healthcare system and then build something better once we repair the damage that has been done,” he said. Jeffries also rejected calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While acknowledging that the agency was operating in a manner that lacked fairness and transparency, he stressed that Democrats were committed to “dramatically reforming” ICE rather than dismantling it. He outlined reforms such as requiring judicial warrants before ICE agents entered homes, mandating body cameras, and implementing stricter use-of-force guidelines. His comments contrasted with those of Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), another prominent Democrat who appeared later on the same program. Khanna defended Medicare for All, citing a recent Yale study suggesting the policy could save $1 trillion in healthcare costs. He argued that even if Jeffries did not personally support the measure, it deserved a vote on the House floor since a majority of House Democrats favored it. Khanna also expressed support for abolishing ICE, though he denied backing defunding the police or open borders. The discussion highlights the deepening divide within the Democratic Party between progressive and moderate wings. While Jeffries positioned himself as a centrist seeking to balance the party’s agenda with pragmatic solutions, others pushed for more radical reforms. This tension became more apparent following a decision by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to back a resolution urging the elimination of ICE, although the measure received less support than a concurrent reform-focused alternative. Jeffries reiterated that the Democratic Party’s immediate goal was to reclaim the House majority in the upcoming midterms. He emphasized that the party’s focus should remain on making life more affordable for American families, particularly in areas such as housing, healthcare, and transportation. He also hinted at potential Supreme Court reforms, stating that Democrats were prepared to pursue “dramatic reform” of the judiciary, starting with establishing an ethical code for justices. The White House responded to the DNC’s resolution against ICE by criticizing it as an example of extreme leftist rhetoric. A White House spokesperson called for unity among Democrats and warned against adopting policies perceived as radical. Meanwhile, the debate over the future direction of the party continues to unfold, with both moderate and progressive voices vying for influence as the November elections approach.