California Governor Gavin Newsom’s $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News cleared a critical legal hurdle this week, signaling potential trouble for the conservative network as Democrats sharpen their attacks on media allies of President Trump.
Story Snapshot
- Delaware judge ruled Fox News may have acted with “actual malice” in airing false claims about Newsom-Trump 2024 phone call
- Newsom’s lawsuit mirrors Fox’s $787 million Dominion settlement, advancing to discovery phase with settlement pressure mounting
- Bill Maher compared Newsom’s legal tactics to Trump’s media lawsuits during contentious HBO interview
- Case centers on Fox’s disputed reporting that defended Trump during 2024 Los Angeles protests controversy
Legal Victory Advances Newsom’s Fox News Battle
A Delaware judge ruled in late April 2026 that Newsom’s defamation lawsuit can proceed, finding it “reasonably conceivable” that Fox News acted with actual malice when broadcasting false statements about a 2024 phone call between Newsom and President Trump. The ruling clears a significant legal barrier, pushing the case into discovery where Fox’s internal communications will face scrutiny. This development mirrors the 2023 Dominion Voting Systems case, where similar actual malice findings led to Fox’s historic $787 million settlement. Newsom deliberately matched that amount in his lawsuit, underscoring the symbolic stakes.
Disputed 2024 Phone Call Sparked Defamation Claims
The lawsuit stems from Fox News coverage during 2024 Los Angeles protests, when the network reported that Newsom lied about a phone conversation with Trump. Fox aired what they claimed was proof of Newsom’s dishonesty, but the evidence referenced a different call entirely. After Fox refused to issue an apology or correction in 2025, Newsom filed suit, arguing the network knowingly broadcast false information to defend Trump’s narrative. The case raises concerns about media accountability when networks prioritize political allegiances over factual accuracy, a pattern conservatives have long criticized in mainstream outlets but now see potentially weaponized against right-leaning media.
Trump Bashes Fox News for Promoting ‘MORON’ Bill Maher’s Interview With Gavin Newsom: ‘You Look Weak, Stupid, and Ineffective’ #Mediaite https://t.co/iJo2PMqHXp
— #TuckFrump (@realTuckFrumper) May 3, 2026
Maher Challenges Newsom’s Trump-Style Tactics
During his May 2, 2026 appearance on HBO’s Real Time, Newsom defended his aggressive approach against Fox News, telling host Bill Maher the lawsuit responds to what he called Trump’s “unprecedented corruption.” Maher pushed back sharply, noting “that sounds exactly like what [Trump] does” in reference to the former president’s history of media lawsuits. The exchange highlighted a growing concern among observers across the political spectrum: politicians increasingly using litigation to intimidate press outlets, whether justified or not. Newsom insisted his case differs because Fox “defamed” and “lied,” but the tactic mirrors the very behavior Democrats criticized when Trump employed it.
Conservative Media Faces New Litigation Risks
Fox News now confronts the same discovery process that exposed damaging internal communications in the Dominion case, where executives and hosts privately acknowledged broadcasting election fraud claims they knew were false. Legal analysts note the actual malice standard—requiring proof of knowing falsehood or reckless disregard for truth—is difficult to meet in defamation cases involving public figures, yet the judge found sufficient evidence to proceed. For conservative media outlets, this case signals escalating legal risks when defending Republican officials, potentially chilling aggressive reporting that challenges liberal politicians. The broader media landscape faces questions about whether deep-pocketed politicians will increasingly weaponize defamation law to silence unfavorable coverage, undermining press freedoms that serve as a check on government power regardless of partisan orientation.
The case enters discovery with Fox facing pressure to settle rather than endure another public trial exposing internal deliberations. Newsom’s legal strategy appears designed not just to win damages but to score political points ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run, positioning himself as a Trump antagonist willing to fight conservative media. Whether this lawsuit represents legitimate accountability for journalistic malpractice or a dangerous precedent for politically motivated litigation remains a dividing question, though many Americans frustrated with both major parties increasingly see elites on both sides manipulating institutions for partisan advantage rather than serving the public interest.
