WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison spoke with MS NOW’s Ali Velshi and Don Lemon to discuss the ongoing threats from the Trump administration to interfere with the midterm elections, and how Democratic AGs have been on the frontlines protecting their constituents from his harms.

Key highlights from MS NOW: 

• “Yeah, [sending election monitors] is just an intimidation tactic, but, you know, we have a system to monitor the monitors. They pulled this during the primary, back on August 11th, and our people kept a close eye on them.” 
• “He’s trying to divide people, but his real goal is to grift America of people of all colors. He’s trying to make people indulge in prejudice and scapegoating and stereotype […] It is pure distraction, designed to turn one American against another, so that he and his friends can try to take advantage of all of us.” 
• “The biggest, and the best thing we can do as Americans, is have meaningful solidarity.”

Key highlights from Don Lemon: 

• “This is the single most corrupt presidency in the history of the United States. And we have to stand up against it.” 
• “We’ve heard what Trump had to offer. He said no new wars and lower prices. We got new wars and higher prices. And people are just, they’re coming out in record numbers and I think they’re about to give Trump a big fat no.”

• “People are turning out, man. We’re not supposed to be competitive in Texas. We’re not supposed to be competitive in Florida and Ohio. We’re not supposed to be competitive in Kansas and Iowa. I mean, I’m telling you, I believe people are showing up big time. And they have seen the ugly. They see through the false promises” 
• “We have fundamental institutions that protect American democracy […]And our states, federalism, many of them are bringing a check on the president. So we are fighting against this authoritarianism. It is working. I’m optimistic because I believe in the American spirit of independence.” 
• “The core function of the attorney general job is to be your consumer advocate […] But the real difference maker that we are in the lives of people is to be shoulder to shoulder with you when you walk into the arena that is this economy, whether it’s bad lenders, whether it’s bad landlords, whether it’s unfair people trying to drive up your prices and flat and take your wages. The attorney general is there for you. That’s what I do. And that’s why I’m running again, because it’s never been more urgent.” 

###