Gavin Newsom’s $787 million lawsuit against Fox News just cleared a massive legal hurdle, mirroring their Dominion payout and putting conservative media on the defensive just as Trump faces potential rifts with his longtime ally.
Story Snapshot
- Delaware judge rules Fox acted with “actual malice” in 2024 Trump-Newsom call coverage, advancing suit to discovery.
- Newsom appears on Bill Maher’s HBO show May 2, 2026, urging Fox to settle or apologize while tying it to Trump’s “corruption.”
- Maher calls out Newsom for mimicking Trump’s media-suing tactics, exposing tactical similarities.
- Unverified reports claim Trump bashed Fox for promoting the interview, calling Maher a “moron” and Fox “weak.”
- Suit amount symbolically matches Fox’s $787 million Dominion settlement, heightening pressure.
Disputed 2024 Phone Call Ignites Defamation Firestorm
Los Angeles protests in 2024 sparked a heated phone exchange between Donald Trump and Gavin Newsom. Fox News broadcast claims that Newsom lied about the call’s content, citing audio from a different conversation. Newsom demanded an apology. Fox refused. He filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit in 2025, deliberately echoing Fox’s 2023 Dominion Voting Systems settlement for election misinformation. This set the stage for prolonged legal combat.
Delaware Judge Clears Path for Discovery
A Delaware judge ruled in late April 2026 that Fox’s reporting showed “actual malice,” making it reasonably conceivable they knowingly aired falsehoods to defend Trump. The decision advances the case to discovery, where internal Fox communications could expose vulnerabilities. Newsom’s team argued Fox ignored evidence of the call mix-up. Fox now faces mounting costs and settlement risks, much like the Dominion precedent.
Newsom Confronts Maher on HBO Stage
On May 2, 2026, Newsom joined Bill Maher on Real Time. He defended his lawsuit, stating Fox should “don’t defame, don’t lie.” Maher pressed: your suing media mirrors Trump’s playbook against CNN and others. Newsom countered by framing it as retaliation against Trump’s “unprecedented corruption” in his second term. The exchange highlighted hypocrisies, with Maher positioning as centrist provocateur exposing both sides’ tactics.
Maher’s platform amplified Newsom’s narrative beyond conservative outlets. Newsom positioned himself as Trump’s foil, boosting his speculated 2028 ambitions. The interview underscored shifting power: Newsom leverages judicial wins while Fox grapples with legal echoes of past scandals.
https://twitter.com/realTuckFrumper/status/2050730979422073100
Stakeholders Locked in Proxy War
Trump seeks to maintain Fox alliance amid tensions, defending his narrative against critics. Newsom advances his profile through anti-Trump aggression. Fox executives protect pro-Trump coverage while dodging liability. Maher critiques hypocrisies on left and right. A Delaware judge emerged as key decision-maker, greenlighting the suit. Newsom’s legal team pushed the malice argument successfully.
Implications Reshape Media and Politics
Short-term, Fox incurs discovery expenses and settlement pressure, eroding viewer trust if resolved like Dominion. Newsom gains anti-Trump credibility for 2028. Long-term, the case could chill aggressive conservative reporting, setting precedents for politician-media suits. Conservatives face internal rifts; Democrats see Newsom elevated. Broader cable news industry braces for heightened defamation risks, fueling bias debates.
Sources:
California Governor Gavin Newsom Shuts Down Bill Maher for Comparing Him to Donald Trump
