Watch now   AG Kris Mayes is Fighting Back Against the Trump-Musk 'Coup' Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joins MeidasTouch to discuss efforts she is taking to fight back against Donald Trump and Elon Musk's violations of the Constitution Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network Feb 23 I had the privilege of speaking with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who didn’t mince words: Donald Trump and Elon Musk are engaged in a full-blown attack on democracy. And while spineless Republicans in Congress refuse to stand up to them, state attorneys general are leading the fight to hold them accountable in court. Both we here at the MeidasTouch Network and our millions of viewers and listeners have demanded action. Well, attorneys general like Kris Mayes are stepping up. At least five major lawsuits have been filed by Democratic AGs against Trump and Musk, with Arizona leading the charge. Their actions are so egregious that federal judges have already issued multiple Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) to stop them—yet they continue to ignore court orders, pushing the country into uncharted legal and constitutional waters. “This is a coup against our Constitution, against our way of governing ourselves,” Mayes told me. “They are violating over and over and over again… What do you do when the people running the federal government aren’t playing by the rules?” Mayes and other Democratic attorneys general have filed lawsuits challenging some of the most egregious and unconstitutional actions of the Trump regime and Musk’s influence over the government. Among them: Trump’s Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship – This blatant violation of the 14th Amendment is nothing more than MAGA authoritarianism, and state AGs are taking it to court. Elon Musk’s Takeover of Government Agencies – Lawsuits are challenging Musk’s unconstitutional role in the Treasury Department and USAID, where he’s exerting influence despite never being appointed or confirmed to any position. The Federal Funding Freeze – Trump tried to freeze federal funding to states, threatening firefighters, law enforcement, rural hospitals, and social programs like Meals on Wheels. AGs successfully won a TRO to stop it. Trump and Musk Violating the Appointments Clause – The lawsuits argue that Musk and Trump have installed unqualified loyalists into positions of power, sidestepping the constitutional requirement for Senate confirmation. Contempt of Court Violations – Federal judges have ordered Trump and Musk to stop their unlawful actions, but they continue violating those rulings. And that’s just the beginning. “We’ve never been in a more dangerous place than we are today, at least since the Civil War,” Mayes warned. One of the biggest concerns Mayes raised was what happens when Trump and Musk outright ignore federal court rulings. If judges hold them in contempt, will Trump just pardon his allies? Will Musk keep defying subpoenas, protected by a corrupt federal government? Mayes made it clear: state attorneys general aren’t backing down. These cases will likely reach the Supreme Court, and when they do, the justices will have to decide whether they stand with America—or with authoritarianism. One of the most outrageous aspects of Trump’s government is Elon Musk’s unchecked access to Americans’ personal data. Under Musk, DOGE has become into a tool for government surveillance, with teenage hackers and unqualified tech bros accessing sensitive private information. In Arizona alone, Mayes’ office has been flooded with calls from furious citizens—Republicans, Democrats, and independents—who are outraged that their tax records, medical files, and Social Security information have been accessed by Musk’s lackeys. Meanwhile, Musk—who is bragging about gutting government agencies—is running around at tech conferences wielding a chainsaw like some kind of deranged movie villain. “I don’t think Elon Musk has ever used a chainsaw in his life,” Mayes said, mocking the bizarre stunt. “At the same time, what he’s doing is devastating real people’s lives.” Here’s where the hypocrisy of Trump’s MAGA movement is on full display. While Trump and Musk rant about stopping drug cartels, their own actions are making it easier for them to operate. The federal funding freeze that AGs fought against would have eliminated critical drug task forces working to stop fentanyl and cartel operations. In Arizona, police just seized over 1.5 million fentanyl pills, along with meth, guns, and cash—but if Musk and Trump had their way, those operations would have been defunded. Trump claims to want “border security,” but his reckless, unconstitutional executive orders have weakened law enforcement’s ability to do their jobs. One of the biggest questions I get from viewers: When is Elon Musk going to be forced to speak under oath? Mayes couldn’t reveal everything about legal strategy, but she confirmed that AGs are already working to subpoena Musk, demand documents, and expose the truth about how he’s infiltrated federal agencies. The Appointments Clause lawsuit—which Mayes filed alongside 12 other state AGs—is the most likely case to force Musk into testifying under oath. And when that happens, his entire corrupt arrangement with Trump will finally be exposed. The message from Mayes was clear: This is a fight for democracy itself. And Americans are stepping up. The Democratic attorneys general are launching a nationwide town hall tour, giving people a chance to voice their anger over the corruption, lawlessness, and invasion of privacy happening under Trump and Musk. “If your Congress member isn’t holding a town hall, demand one,” Mayes urged. “Make your voice heard. Call their offices. Let them know you’re not okay with a billionaire weirdo having access to your personal data.” Mayes made one thing clear: Americans—regardless of party—are waking up. Arizonans didn’t vote for a dictatorship. They voted for a better economy, a secure border, and functional government. What they’re getting instead is authoritarianism, corruption, and an all-out assault on democracy. “We still believe in America,” Mayes said. “And we still believe in our Constitution. But we need to fight for it before it’s gone.” Watch my full interview with AG Mayes above and consider joining us now as a paid member to keep us going. Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. 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