It's Complicated - podcast cover

It's Complicated

Renato Mariotti & Asha Rangappa
Join former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti and former FBI Special Agent and Yale Law School lecturer Asha Rangappa as they break down for Legal AF the biggest legal and political stories with sharp insight, real experience, and an unapologetic pro-democracy perspective. No spin, no both-sides nonsense — just the facts, the law, and what it all means for our democracy.
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Episodes

Military Spending at a Trump Resort: What Can be Done About This Apparent Corruption? (with Natasha Bertrand)

Renato discusses the breaking news that Air Force personnel stayed in a Trump resort in Scotland that was over 50 miles from the airport they landed at and that the Air Force has failed to produce any documents in response to a House Oversight investigation. He is joined by the reporter who broke the story, Politico National Security Correspondent and MSNBC Contributor Natasha Bertrand. Air Force crew made an odd stop on a routine trip: Trump’s Scottish resort Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.y...

Sep 09, 201937 minEp. 61

Trade War Escalates: Is Trump Causing an Economic Crisis? (with Austan Goolsbee)

Renato and Patti discusses Trump’s growing trade war with China and his verbal attacks on the Fed Chairman. They are joined by Austan Goolsbee, former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and a member of President Obama’s cabinet. 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 Instagram:...

Aug 28, 20191 hrEp. 60

Epstein’s Death: What Happens to his Accomplices and his Victims? (with James Gagliano)

Renato and Patti discuss the ongoing investigations of billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s death and his accomplices. They are joined by former FBI Supervisory Special Agent James Gagliano. 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/ Fol...

Aug 19, 20191 hr 4 minEp. 59

Fighting for Gun Regulation: What Can Be Done? (with Shannon Watts)

Renato and Patti discuss the fight over gun regulation after recent tragic massacres in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. They are joined by Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action. Moms Demand Action 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ash...

Aug 09, 201947 minEp. 58

Separating Families: How Can the Legal System Stop Illegal Activity by the Executive Branch? (with Lee Gelernt)

Renato and Patti discuss recent news that the Trump Administration has separated over 900 children from their parents despite a court order prohibiting that practice. They are joined by Lee Gelernt, Deputy Director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, who brought that disturbing fact to light in a court filing. 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 Ren...

Aug 01, 201952 minEp. 57

Mueller Testifies: What Does This Mean for Trump? (with Asha Rangappa and Jennifer Rodgers)

Renato and Patti discuss former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before the House Judiciary and House Intel Committees. They are joined by Asha Rangappa, former FBI counterintelligence agent and CNN Legal and National Security Analyst, and Jennifer Rodgers, former federal prosecutor and CNN Legal Analyst. Listener Survey Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://asharangappa.substac...

Jul 25, 20191 hr 22 minEp. 56

Interference in the Justice System: How Can We Ensure Politics Doesn’t Play a Role in Prosecutorial and Judicial Decisions? (with Sheldon Whitehouse)

Renato and Patti discuss recent news that federal prosecutors failed to charge Hope Hicks and others despite evidence that they were involved in Trump’s hush money payments. They are joined by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who discusses his views on protecting the Justice Department and judiciary from political interference. Listener Survey Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://...

Jul 23, 201952 minEp. 55

Jeffrey Epstein Indicted: Will He Finally be Brought to Justice? (with Mimi Rocah)

Renato discusses the recent indictment of Jeffrey Epstein as well as the prior non-prosecution agreement that caused the resignation of former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta. He is joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Mimi Rocah, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. Listener Survey 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...

Jul 14, 20191 hr 4 minEp. 54

Census Questions: Can Trump Add a Citizenship Question to the Census Despite the Supreme Court Ruling? (with Daniel Jacobson)

Renato and Patti discuss the Trump Administration’s reaction to the Supreme Court ruling on adding a citizenship question to the census, including the apparent reversal of its decision to remove the question after Trump tweeted about the issue. They are joined by former Associate White House Counsel Daniel Jacobson, who represents plaintiffs in the census lawsuit that was the subject of the Supreme Court ruling. Listener Survey Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Foll...

Jul 06, 20191 hr 8 minEp. 53

Insanitary Conditions: What is Wrong With Our Immigration System? (with Anthony Enriquez)

Renato and Patti discuss the recent death of Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his daughter Valeria, the Trump Administration's defense of insanitary conditions, and recent calls to repeal the illegal entry statute. They are joined by Anthony Enriquez, Director of the Unaccompanied Minors Program for Catholic Charities Community Services. Listener Survey Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: htt...

Jun 29, 201954 minEp. 52

Opening an Impeachment Inquiry: Would It Help Democrats Obtain Evidence? (with Laurence Tribe)

Renato discusses what an impeachment inquiry would look like and whether opening an impeachment inquiry would help the House of Representatives obtain documents and testimony. He is joined by Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe, the author of To End A Presidency: The Power of Impeachment, who has publicly called for the House to open an impeachment inquiry. Listener Survey To End a Presidency: The Power of Impeachment Impeach Trump. But don’t necessarily try him in the Senate. Subscribe on Yout...

Jun 24, 201941 minEp. 51

Trump Welcomes Foreign Aid: How Can We Stop Future Election Interference? (with Asha Rangappa)

Renato and Patti discuss Donald Trump's recent comments that he would accept aid from foreign nations and discuss whether our laws adequately protect our elections from foreign interference in the future. They are joined by former FBI counterintelligence agent, CNN Legal and National Security Analyst, and Yale University professor Asha Rangappa. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://ashar...

Jun 16, 201958 minEp. 50

Attack on the Free Press: How does the First Amendment protect the press from Trump? (with Kristy Parker)

Renato and Patti discuss Trump recent call for a boycott of AT&T due to CNN’s coverage, Trump’s attempt to prevent the AT&T-Time Warner merger to punish CNN, and other ways in which Trump has attacked the free press and undermined the First Amendment. They are joined by Kristy Parker, former Justice Department Deputy Chief and Counsel for non-profit Protect Democracy, who has sued Trump on behalf of writers and journalists. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ ...

Jun 06, 20191 hr 3 minEp. 49

Mueller Speaks: What Do His Carefully Chosen Words Tell Us? (with Garrett Graff)

Renato and Patti discuss the first public statement of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and what his words tell us about his decision not to reach a prosecutorial judgment as to obstruction of justice, his message to Congress, and more. They are joined by Garrett Graff, the author of The Threat Matrix: Inside Robert Mueller's FBI and the War on Global Terror. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: h...

May 30, 201943 minEp. 48

Attack on Reproductive Rights: How Will the Legal Battle Play Out? (with Caroline Frederickson)

Renato and Patti discuss new state laws that radically restrict reproductive rights, including new laws in Alabama and Missouri, and how these laws will fit into the nationwide legal battle over reproductive rights. They are joined by Caroline Frederickson, President of the American Constitution Society and former General Counsel of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: ...

May 20, 201938 minEp. 47

Aggressive Use of Executive Privilege: Will Trump Block McGahn's Testimony (with Bob Bauer)

Renato discusses the White House's use of executive privilege to keep former White House Counsel Don McGahn from complying with a House Judiciary Committee subpoena. He is joined by former White House Counsel Bob Bauer. 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 Instagram: https://www.instag...

May 15, 201954 minEp. 46

Fight Over Oversight: How Can Congress Fight Stonewalling? (with Josh Chafetz)

Renato and Patti discuss the Trump Administration’s strategy of stonewalling all subpoenas for documents issued by Congress as part of its oversight responsibilities. They are joined by Josh Chafetz, Professor of Law at Cornell Law School. 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 Instagram...

May 06, 201946 minEp. 45

Unprecedented Obstruction: Can Trump Stonewall the House Indefinitely? (with Ro Khanna)

Renato and Patti discuss the Trump Administration's attempts to stonewall the House investigations, including the investigations of the facts underlying the Mueller report. They are joined by Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), a member of the House Oversight Committee. 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...

Apr 29, 201945 minEp. 44

Redacted Mueller Report: What Does a First Read Tell Us? (with Jennifer Rodgers and Asha Rangappa)

Renato and Patti discuss some of the important findings and conclusions in the redacted Mueller report, as well as Attorney General Bill Barr’s deceptive and misleading statements prior to his release of the report. They are joined by former federal prosecutor and CNN Legal Analyst Jennifer Rodgers and former FBI counterintelligence agent and CNN Legal and National Security Analyst Asha Rangappa. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twit...

Apr 20, 20191 hr 15 minEp. 43

Arrest of Assange: Does His Indictment Implicate Press Freedom? (with Barb McQuade)

Renato and Patti discuss the indictment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, including whether there are implications for press risk and potential obstacles for the Justice Department posed by the charges. They are joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Barb McQuade, the former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://asharangappa.substack....

Apr 14, 201948 minEp. 42

Full Disclosure: Will We See the Full Mueller Report and Trump’s Tax Returns? (with Asha Rangappa and Mimi Rocah)

Guest host Asha Rangappa (former FBI agent and CNN Legal Analyst) and Patti discuss the disclosure of the full Mueller report as well as Trump’s tax returns. They’re joined by former federal prosecutor and MSNBC Legal Analyst Mimi Rocah. 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 Instagram: ...

Apr 09, 201954 minEp. 41

Following the Money: What Potential Financial Crimes Could Ensnare Trump? (with Asha Rangappa and Shan Wu)

Guest Host Asha Rangappa, a former FBI agent and CNN Legal and National Security Analyst, and Patti discuss potential financial crimes that could create liability for Trump. They are joined by former federal prosecutor and CNN Legal Analyst Shan Wu. 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...

Apr 01, 201950 minEp. 40

The Barr Letter: What Questions Does it Raise? (with Barb McQuade)

Renato and Patti discuss the implications and aftermath of the letter of Attorney General Bill Barr purportedly describing the contents of the Mueller report, as well as Barr's own conclusion that Trump did not obstruct justice. They are joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Barb McQuade, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://asharangappa...

Mar 27, 201959 minEp. 39

Mueller Report Arrives: What Does It Mean? (with Natasha Bertrand, Jennifer Rodgers, Shan Wu, and Asha Rangappa)

Renato discusses the questions raised by the transmission of the Mueller report to Attorney General Bill Barr, as well as what we can expect to happen next. He is joined by Atlantic reporter and MSNBC Contributor Natasha Bertrand, former federal prosecutors and CNN Legal Analysts Jennifer Rodgers and Shan Wu, and former FBI counterintelligence agent and CNN Legal and National Security Analyst Asha Rangappa. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: h...

Mar 24, 20191 hr 19 minEp. 38

Unexpected Prosecutions: Manafort's State Charges and the College Admissions Scandal (with Joyce Vance)

Renato and Patti discuss the charges brought against Manafort by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance as well as the wide-ranging college admissions fraud charges brought by federal prosecutors in Massachusetts. They are joined by Joyce Vance, former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and MSNBC Legal Analyst. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://asharangappa.s...

Mar 16, 201950 minEp. 37

Manafort Sentenced: Does Manafort's Lenient Sentence Tell Us How Federal Sentencing Should Be Reformed? (With Ken White)

Renato and Patti discuss the lenient sentence given to former Trump chair Paul Manafort by federal judge T.S. Ellis, as well as sentencing disparities and other structural inequities in federal sentencing law. They are joined by former federal prosecutor Ken White, who tweets and blogs as "Popehat." 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:...

Mar 09, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 36

Michael Cohen Testifies: Evidence of Financial Crimes? (with Mimi Rocah and Ro Khanna)

Renato and Patti discuss the Congressional testimony of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, including his discussing potential evidence of financial crimes as well as the evidence underlying his campaign finance convictions. They are joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Mimi Rocah, a former Southern District of New York prosecutor, and Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), a member of the House Oversight Committee. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://t...

Mar 02, 20191 hr 15 minEp. 35

Facilitating Lies: What Should Trump Administration Lawyers Do When They’re Asked to do Something Unconstitutional or Immoral? (with Erica Newland)

In this special episode, Renato interviews Erica Newland, who quit the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel because she believed that by aiding unconstitutional and dishonest policies, she was assisting the Trump Administration by legitimizing lies. Erica is now a counsel for the nonprofit group Protect Democracy. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://asharangappa.substack.com/ Fo...

Feb 27, 201948 minEp. 34

End of the Mueller Investigation: What Will We Learn and What Will It Mean for Trump? (with Asha Rangappa)

Renato and Patti discuss recent reports that the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller will end soon and that Attorney General William Barr will release a summary of Mueller’s report but not the full report. They are joined by former FBI counterintelligence agent and CNN Legal Analyst Asha Rangappa. 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 o...

Feb 23, 201956 minEp. 33

State of Chaos: What Comes Next for Mueller and for Trump’s “Emergency”? (with Barb McQuade and William Banks)

Renato and Patti discuss numerous new legal developments, including the confirmation of Bill Barr as Attorney General, comments by Senator Richard Burr about evidence of “collusion” allegedly not found by his investigation, and the “national emergency” declared by Trump. They are joined by Barb McQuade, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and a MSNBC Legal Analyst, and Syracuse Law Professor William C. Banks. Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Compl...

Feb 16, 20191 hr 26 minEp. 32
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