Well.

As Trump builds his administration, Democratic governors and attorneys general from across the country are plotting their resistance, either through lawsuits or legislation, to thwart some of the president elect's most controversial proposals, especially when it comes to issues like immigration, reproductive and LGBTQ, plus rights.

New Jersey's AG Matt Platkin this weekend posted on social media that he's ready to take on the Trump administration, vowing if the future president unlawfully attacks the rights of Garden State residents, he'll see him in court.

Attorney General Matt Platkin joins me now.

Attorney General, thanks for your time.

You had some tough words for the President- elect, both this weekend at a rally in Jersey city, as well as through statements online.

What do you see as the potential sources for litigation or maybe new legislation in New Jersey?

What issues are you most concerned about coming out from the White House?

Well, first of all, as I've said, we respect the outcome of an election.

We had a free, fair and most importantly, safe election here in New Jersey.

And some of the things that President Trump has said on the campaign trail and that have been said in the 920 some odd page project 2025 document, clearly violate what would clearly violate people's rights.

We're prepared to step in and stand up for them if, in fact, his administration undermines their rights in ways that violate the law.

So, all right, let me just take one topic, then.

Immigration.

Are you prepared to have, say on enforcement stand down if, in fact, the Trump administration calls for mass deportations or deportations of of any sort?

What would that look like here?

Well, we've had rules in the of the road with respect to law enforcement, on immigration enforcement, for several years now.

It predates my time in office.

And those rules had been in here, too.

And it's hard for me to give a blanket answer.

We will obviously take it each issue on a case by case, analysis.

First and foremost, we want to ensure public safety, which we have done.

You're safer in new Jersey now than you've literally ever been.

Gun violence is at historically low levels, and we will continue to fight for that.

But we've also fought for the rights of our residents.

And we have stood up, for instance, for our dreamers.

And there are hundreds of thousands of dreamers.

These are people who.

All they know is this country who are lawfully contributing to this country through the DACA program.

We have stood up for them and we will continue to do so.

You made a point of of noting that out of all of the lawsuits, of which there were hundreds that were brought on the Trump administration during his first term, three quarters, more than three quarters were successful.

Do you still feel that that will be the case with the Republican controlled Congress and potentially more positions on the bench that are selected by Republicans?

Well, as I've said, and, you know, 80% of the cases filed in the first administration were successful.

That's because they routinely violated the law, and these cases were impactful.

There are millions of people with health care today and access to reproductive health care today.

Because of those lawsuits, there are millions of people who are safer from gun violence because of our willingness to stand up for constitutional gun violence prevention laws.

There are kids who drink clean water and breathe clean air.

Thanks to our lawsuits upholding common sense environmental regulations.

But I don't wake up every morning trying to sue the federal administration.

It's when his actions cross over and violate the laws and undermine rights of our residents in ways that violate those laws or our Constitution.

That's when we will step in, and we are prepared to do so.

Let me just bring up two more points you brought up.

I believe it was in a Politico article that potentially an aggressive reading of the Comstock Act could thwart, even some of the, the codification of, of abortion laws here in new Jersey.

How so?

Or, I mean, are you really concerned about that becoming an issue?

Well, you have to be, because they've talked about it both on the campaign campaign trail and in project 2025.

So you have to take their words at face value and aggressive reading of the Comstock Act, by the way, could extend beyond even abortion care to all forms of reproductive or contraceptive health care.

And we've made clear in New Jersey that reproductive health care is a right enshrined in our state law.

I've had a reproductive rights strike force stood up since just the days immediately following the Dobbs decision.

We have protected using criminal and civil authorities, as well as our regulatory tools, all access to reproductive health care in the state, and safeguarded information from people who might seek to abuse it and threaten people who would take advantage of what's their lawful right here.

Given some of the stringent laws new Jersey has, I mean, you named reproductive rights, but also, more protections for for LGBTQ community.

Gun restrictions, gun regulations.

What do you say to critics who are thinking you're being too aggressive?

He's not in office yet.

You're jumping the gun.

Well, we haven't filed anything.

All we've said is we're prepared.

And I think the residents of the state should rest easy knowing that we're prepared and that we take a reading of the law.

Attorney General Matt Platkin, thanks so much for your time.

Thank you for having me, Brianna.