The MeidasTouch Podcast: Detailed Summary of "California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Lawsuit Against Trump Administration"

Release Date: June 9, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into a significant legal showdown between California's Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Trump administration. The discussion centers around a lawsuit filed by California challenging the federalization of the National Guard by former President Donald Trump, which Bonta argues was executed unlawfully. This episode offers an in-depth analysis of the legal arguments, the implications for state and federal authority, and the broader national impact of this confrontation.

Background of the Lawsuit

Ben initiates the conversation by outlining the core issue:

"California has just said enough is enough and is bringing a massive legal action against the Trump regime for their federalizing of the National Guard in California. Unlawfully. The grounds for this lawsuit is exactly what we predicted it was going to be." (01:30)

The lawsuit, spearheaded by Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom, challenges the Trump administration's invocation of 10 USC Section 12406 to federalize the National Guard. According to Ben, this statute allows for such action only under specific conditions, none of which were met in this instance.

Legal Grounds and Statutory Interpretation

Ben provides a detailed interpretation of 10 USC Section 12406, emphasizing the stringent requirements for federalizing the National Guard:

"...the statute... requires that the Secretary of Defense coordinates with the governors of the states and the National Guard Bureau in identifying and ordering federal service the appropriate members and units of the National Guard. That never happened at all." (01:30)

Ben further elaborates that the statute permits federalization only in cases such as:

• Repelling an invasion by a foreign nation
• Suppressing a rebellion against the authority of the U.S. government
• When the President can no longer execute the laws of the United States (subsection 3)

He argues that none of these conditions were present during the Trump administration's actions, rendering the federalization "on its face, unlawful."

Statements from California Attorney General Rob Bonta

California Attorney General Rob Bonta provides a thorough explanation of the lawsuit:

"...we are filing a lawsuit in the Northern District of California today seeking an order declaring the president's executive order unlawful and also seeking injunctive relief through a restraining order." (04:59)

Bonta emphasizes that the Trump administration bypassed necessary protocols by not coordinating with Governor Newsom. He highlights the unprecedented nature of invoking 10 USC 12406 under these circumstances, noting its rare historical usage:

"The statute that he invokes here, 10 USC 12406, was only used once in the history of the United States... when in 1970 there was a US Postal Office strike..." (06:24)

Bonta asserts that the current invocation is a "fringe theory" not supported by legal precedent, positioning California's legal action as a necessary defense of state authority and constitutional law.

Donald Trump's Involvement and Contradictory Statements

The podcast features direct quotes from former President Donald Trump, highlighting contradictions in his stance on federalizing the National Guard:

"I have... to go by the laws. We can't move in the National Guard. I can call insurrection, but there's no reason to ever do that." (04:42)

Ben underscores the irony of Trump's actions by juxtaposing his statements with his actions:

"He said it right there... This is what he said here, play this clip." (09:19)

Trump's later statements indicate an intent to deploy troops broadly:

"We're gonna have troops everywhere. We're not going to let this happen to our country." (09:54)

These conflicting statements suggest a possible motive behind the lawsuit, as Ben speculates that Trump's actions may have inadvertently created legal grounds for the lawsuit.

Implications Beyond California

Ben raises concerns about the broader national implications of the lawsuit:

"...the implication here is that Donald Trump's memo that invokes this statute does not actually mention California or Los Angeles in it at all... it could be interpreted... as saying the entire country at Trump's discretion." (06:24)

This interpretation suggests that the lawsuit could set a precedent affecting multiple states, limiting the executive branch's ability to unilaterally deploy the National Guard without state cooperation.

Challenges in Law Enforcement Coordination

Rob Bonta discusses the readiness and capability of California's law enforcement agencies:

"The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is the largest sheriff's department in the nation. The Los Angeles Police Department is the third largest police department in the nation... completely under control within the existing resources of the departments." (11:08)

He argues that the state did not require federal intervention due to the effective management by local agencies, further undermining the necessity and legality of Trump's federalization move.

Political Reactions and Future Developments

The hosts touch upon the reactions from Republican Congress members and the political climate surrounding the lawsuit:

"I saw some of these Republican Congress members going on the Sunday show saying, you need to escalate... deceptively... peaceful through strength." (13:28)

Ben and the hosts express their commitment to following the case closely, indicating that the outcome could have significant ramifications for state-federal relations and the balance of power.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a reaffirmation of the importance of the lawsuit in safeguarding democratic principles and state sovereignty. Attorney General Rob Bonta reiterates the state's position and the necessity of the legal challenge:

"So there was a whole bunch of steps that the President blew through. He went from 0 to 60, unnecessarily and unlawfully when he unilaterally deployed the National Guard himself." (11:08)

The MeidasTouch Podcast effectively captures the gravity of this legal battle, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the issues at stake, the legal arguments presented, and the potential nationwide impact of California's challenge to the Trump administration's actions.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben: "California has just said enough is enough and is bringing a massive legal action against the Trump regime for their federalizing of the National Guard in California. Unlawfully." (01:30)

• Rob Bonta: "The authority that he relies on, 10 USC 12406 does not provide for his ability to call on the National Guard unilaterally." (04:59)

• Donald Trump: "We're gonna have troops everywhere. We're not going to let this happen to our country." (09:54)

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