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This is America

Stories of justice and action across America

Fri Nov 6 2026

While the Trump administration and some states want to expand the death penalty, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is using his executive powers to strike a major blow against capitol punishment.

Greetings, This is America readers, this is Phillip M. Bailey, chief political correspondent with USA TODAY.

Newsom is commuting all death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole, which will affect 548 in the country's most populous state at a time when the debate has intensified.

In October, for instance, the nation saw a botched execution in Tennessee and then was promised by the defense secretary that one would be broadcasted online before President Donald Trump changed his mind against the idea.

Newsom, a rumored 2028 presidential contender, imposed a moratorium on executions when he first took office in 2019. Now with just a few months left until he leaves office -- and likely makes a White House bid -- he says the state's death penalty is unjust, error-prone and incompatible with California's values.

"I know we cannot execute people in our imperfect legal system and remain true to our core values, first among them justice and human decency," Newsom said.

But while the Golden State might be seeking to slow, if not eventually end, the policy others states are rushing to execute those convicted of murder, which 68% of Americans support, according to a Pew Research Center poll released in August.

Newsom commutes California death sentences for 548 people on Nov. 5, 2026.

Gettyimages/da-kuk & REUTERS/file

For more on the death penalty, check out USA TODAY Network's coverage:

Three killers executed on same day in U.S. for 2nd time this year: Three executions in one day is rare in the modern era of the death penalty. Before this year, the last triple execution in the U.S. was 16 years ago.

After California bombshell, Florida could have biggest death row in U.S.: Gov. Ron DeSantis has been pushing to execute prisoners who have been on death row for decades.

Alabama man on death row for 3 decades gets clemency: 'Thank you, Lord'

What's next for the Supreme Court after Democratic blue wave?

Democrats had a decisive midterm election in their favoring, capturing the majority in both the House and Senate, which make it difficult if another vacancy pops up on the U.S. Supreme Court.

As USA TODAY's Maureen Groppe reports, the Nov. 3 election results have created plenty of conversation about the high court, specifically what Justice Samuel Alito, 76, and Justice Clarence Thomas, 78, two of the most conservative members, will do next.

It is possible for the Senate to confirm a new justice before the end of the year during the 119th Congress' lame duck session, Democratic allies admit.

But that gambit depends on who Trump would nominate and also his post-election relationship is with Senate Republicans, including a handful of so-called "free agents" he pushed out of office or who lost their re-elections due in part to his rising unpopularity.