In today's all-new episode, our hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Rangappa discuss the dangers of Elon Musk's unchecked power and influence, and whether or not the traditional mechanisms in place will be enough to curtail his power. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia The last two weeks have been a bustling whirlwind of Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s audacious reshaping of the federal government. Through...
Feb 10, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 108
In today's all-new episode, our hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Rangappa discuss the secret and very public machinations that Donald Trump and Elon Musk are employing in their bid to remake the FBI into an organization more focused on vengeance than on justice, with little to no oversight. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Renato and Asha break down how Trump is shifting the FBI’s focus from justic...
Feb 04, 2025•54 min•Ep. 107
In today's all-new episode, our hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Rangappa discuss the dangers behind a slate of horrendous executive orders signed during Trump's first week in office. In what was meant to be a show of "shock and awe," turned out to be just "shocking and awful." Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Also, listen in for more info on a chance to join our hosts on a scenic, North Atlantic F...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 106
This week, our hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Rangappa discuss Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report, with a focus on its significance-or lack thereof-on the future political landscape. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Also, listen in for more info on a chance to join our hosts on a scenic, North Atlantic Frontiers voyage from Copenhagen to Reykjavik. It’s sure to be a wonderful trip with lots of g...
Jan 21, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 105
Our hosts, Yale Professor and former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa, along with former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti, discuss Trump’s unconditional discharge sentencing, which is laden with complex implications for the American legal system. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia While a guilty verdict was reached, as Asha and Renato explain, the lack of concrete punishment opens a whole line of ...
Jan 13, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Welcome back to an all-new episode of It’s Complicated , where our hosts Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti help us navigate the complexities of the American criminal justice system. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Asha, a national security law lecturer at Yale University and former FBI special agent, teams up with Renato, a seasoned former federal prosecutor and esteemed legal analyst, to propos...
Jan 06, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 103
Welcome back to another must-listen episode of It's Complicated , where our hosts Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti grapple with this unsettling question: How bad is it going to get for our democracy in the new year? Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Asha Rangappa, a national security law professor at Yale and former FBI special agent, alongside Renato Mariotti, a legal analyst and former federal ...
Dec 30, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Welcome back to It’s Complicated , where we unravel the tangled web of recent developments threatening American democracy. Asha Rangappa is a former FBI special agent who teaches national security law at Yale. Along with renowned attorney and activist George Conway, and Norm Eisen, a CNN legal analyst and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, they explore the weaponization of defamation law and its implications for democracy. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get acces...
Dec 23, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 101
In this centennial episode of our show, hosts Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti share their insights on who President Biden should consider pardoning, and unravel the complex implications of these decisions. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Asha, a national security law educator at Yale and former FBI special agent, and Renato, a former federal prosecutor and legal analyst, navigate through the i...
Dec 09, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Welcome back to another episode, with our hosts Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti. Today, they bring their legal expertise to tackle a very compelling question: How much damage can Trump's nominees do if given the chance? Well, as usual, it’s complicated. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Asha, a former FBI special agent and Yale law professor, alongside Renato, a seasoned federal prosecutor, seek...
Nov 25, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 99
In this very special episode, hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Rangappa are joined by seasoned legal expert and commentator Ken White to discuss the perplexing legalities and terrifying consequences of Trump’s new unchecked presidential power. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Renato, a former federal prosecutor, and Asha, a Yale law professor, recap Trump’s remaining legal battles, and explore the ...
Nov 14, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 98
In today's all-new episode, our hosts-former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti and Yale law professor Asha Rangappa-uncover Donald Trump's nefarious plans to overthrow the Department of Justice and transform it into his own personal score-settling machine. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia In the aftermath of Trump's shocking win, concerns about the abuse of presidential power have once again tak...
Nov 11, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 97
Welcome back to our Election Edition of It’s Complicated! In this very special episode, hosts Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti are joined by attorney, author, and former U.S. Ambassador Norm Eisen. They discuss the potential chaos Trump could unleash on election night, as well as the complexities of reforming U.S. election laws. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia Norm Eisen, a veteran election law...
Nov 04, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Welcome back to another exciting episode, with hosts Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti. We’re back to dive into the new potential election law violations and national security issues surrounding Elon Musk. Musk, known for his innovative business ventures and disruptive technologies, now finds himself at the center of intense legal scrutiny. From allegedly violating campaign finance laws with his sweepstakes scheme, to newly reported intriguing conversations with Vladimir Putin, Musk’s actions co...
Oct 28, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Can Jack Smith’s new filing secure a conviction of Donald Trump? Spoiler alert: it's complicated. In this all-new episode, legal experts Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti dive deep into the complexities of the latest unsealed filing in the Washington D.C. district federal court seeking to break through presidential immunity and put Donald Trump on criminal trial for crimes stemming from his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get...
Oct 07, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 94
This week New York Mayor Eric Adams was indicted for allegedly receiving illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, using straw donors and a quid-pro-quo arrangement. So just how strong are the charges? As hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Ranagga explain, It’s Complicated. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia We’ll discuss the multifaceted elements of the charges, including campaign finance...
Sep 30, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 93
In this episode, hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Rangappa analyze the bombshell arrest of music mogul P. Diddy, and the shocking charges he faces of sexual assault, kidnapping, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Find out how Diddy’s indictment is a part of a growing Department of Justice trend of applying the RICO statute to prosecute celebrity-involved scandals and domestic terrorism. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon....
Sep 23, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 92
In this all-new episode, Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, and Asha Rangappa, a national security law professor, dissect the recent dismissal of three felony charges against Trump and his co-defendants in Georgia, two of which directly implicated the former president. Why does any of this matter in the grand scheme of things? Well, it's complicated. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia As...
Sep 16, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 91
In this all-new episode, national security law professor Asha Rangappa and former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti delve into the murky waters of Russian disinformation campaigns. Discussing last week’s indictment of two Russian nationals for a malign influence operation in the U.S. by the Department of Justice, you'll hear how well-known commentators like Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Laura Southern, and Dave Rubin were ensnared with windfall payments from Russia’s government. Subscribe to our Pat...
Sep 09, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Special Counsel Jack Smith just filed a superseding indictment against former President Donald Trump in the wake of the Supreme Court's historic presidential immunity ruling earlier this summer. In today's all-new episode our hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Rangappa give their expert analysis of Trump’s brand new indictment. Before diving in, make sure to subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive access to deeper insights and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia . You’ll learn ...
Sep 02, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 89
How Screwed is George Santos? It’s Complicated. Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti and Yale national security law professor Asha Rangappa examine the numerous criminal schemes perpetrated by expelled former Rep. George Santos’ (R-NY). Our hosts discuss how his likely sentencing will measure up to typical white-collar criminals in the wake of his guilty plea deal last week. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show: patreon.com/rea...
Aug 26, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 88
In this AWESOME episode, our hosts - former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti and Yale law professor Asha Rangappa - dive into the complex dilemma of sentencing Donald Trump before the November election. Subscribe to our Patreon here, where paid members will get access to exclusive portions of this show. patreon.com/reallyamericanmedia We’ll examine Trump's lawyer's recent request to delay sentencing, the impact the Supreme Court's immunity decision will have on the hearing’s outcome, and the l...
Aug 19, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 87
Why is Jack Smith asking for more time in the Jan 6th case? Well, it’s complicated. And we have some very exciting news to share. We have recently partnered with Really American Media to take our podcast to the next level. They are going to exponentially speed up our production times and help us deliver more exclusive, hard-hitting content like this. “And what it means is that we're going to have conversations together and you're going to see the results very quickly,” Renato said. “Not only in ...
Aug 13, 2024•45 min•Ep. 86
In a bit of a departure from the usual subjects Asha and Renato weigh in on politics. In particular, how the label of “weird” is sticking to JD Vance. Also, what it must be like for Usha to ride along with her husband’s new-found love of Trump. Plus, Renato is a bit of a swinger…on the dance floor. Questions for the pod? https://formfacade.com/sm/euYIPJdVe Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: ht...
Jul 31, 2024•44 min
Asha and Renato go over the current state of Trump’s criminal trials. Renato shares his surprise prediction about the Manhattan conviction. Plus, Asha barely made it home from her vacation! Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZWzalIusTr0 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://asharangappa.substack.com/ Follow Renato on Twitter: https://twitter.com/renato_mariotti Follow Asha on...
Jul 26, 2024•48 min
Dahlia Lithwick joins Renato to discuss what’s next for Jack Smith now that the Florida indictment has been thrown out?President Biden has reportedly said that Court reform is going to be a priority in his re-election campaign. What would that look like? Plus, there were some difficulties getting this episode together! Keep up with our Guest: Dahlia Lithwick https://twitter.com/dahlialithwick Dahlia Lithwick Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicat...
Jul 19, 2024•43 min
Norm Eisen joins Renato and Asha to talk about how this shiny new presidential immunity works when applied to Trump’s current prosecutions. Plus, Renato changed firms and Asha is exploring her options. Keep up with our Guest: Norm Eisen https://twitter.com/normeisen Sate Democracy Defenders Action Questions for the pod? https://formfacade.com/sm/euYIPJdVe Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: htt...
Jul 12, 2024•52 min
Presidential Immunity and Chevron Deference were among two of the most consequential Supreme Court rulings this session. What does Presidential Immunity mean for Biden and for Trump’s criminal trials? Renato and Asha are joined by Kim Wehle to discuss the end of Chevron. Keep up with our Guest: Kim Wehle twitter.com/kimwehle Simple Politics with Kim Wehle Pre order: Pardon Power: How the System Works – And Why Questions for the pod? https://formfacade.com/sm/euYIPJdVe Subscribe on Youtube: https...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 13 min
In Mar-a-Lago, Judge Cannon held a 2 day hearing and invited amici to argue whether Special Counsels are Constitutional. Trump responds to Jack Smith’s request to modify Trump’s pretrial release conditions. SCOTUS gets Rahimi right by ignoring its own precedent. Plus, kids behind the wheel. Questions for the pod? https://formfacade.com/sm/euYIPJdVe Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://as...
Jun 28, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Hunter Biden was found guilty of a felony. What’s next? How is Trump handling his felony conviction as he awaits sentencing? Plus, Asha really nails it. Questions for the pod? https://formfacade.com/sm/euYIPJdVe Trump Court Cases Cheat Sheet https://asharangappa.substack.com/p/your-trump-court-cases-cheat-sheet?r=3od4c&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack:...
Jun 21, 2024•56 min
