Episode 112 | Is the Rule of Law Doomed Under This Administration?

In today's all-new episode, our hosts Renato Mariotti and Asha Rangappa discuss the imminent danger that the rule of law in the United States faces from the Trump administration's extreme overreaching actions.

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Asha Rangappa — Yale University National Security Law professor and former FBI special agent—breaks down the increasingly tumultuous landscape for legal professionals, warning that lawyers are one of the last guardrails standing between us and tyranny. 

Renato Mariotti, legal analyst and a former federal prosecutor, outlines the unorthodox aggression of the Trump administration, noting a recent executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie. This move, seemingly in retaliation for their past involvement with the Democratic Party, opens the discussion to the broader implications of politicized legal battles. Renato warns that such actions send a chilling message to other law firms, raising real concerns about freedom of association and due process.

Asha also notes a troubling silence from law schools and other institutions, which normally champion the rule of law—even amidst its most intense threats. She echoes frustrations with groups like the American Bar Association, who are finding themselves silenced or threatened. 

Despite the grim outlook, both hosts see a growing resistance even within the legal community—hinting that there might yet be collective action on the horizon. Particularly if Trump’s policies backfire and disrupt economic stability, motivating lawyers to align for protection and survival.

In this episode, as always, It's Complicated urges our listeners to remain vigilant and cohesive in these trying times. As our hosts navigate the discussion, they remind us that attorneys and legal professionals still have the power to stand firm against Trump's tyranny.

Be sure to tune in again next week, as Asha and Renato continue to unravel complex legal narratives that can’t be broken down into headlines or simple soundbites.

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