It's Complicated
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.
Latest episodes
Jul 25, 2020 • 54min
Making a Difference: How Can We Get Involved This Election Season? (with Tori Taylor and "Tony the Democrat")
Renato and Patti discuss how to get involved during this election season despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They were joined by Tori Taylor, Co-Executive Director of SwingLeft, and "Tony the Democrat," founder of #PostcardsToVoters.
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2020 • 1h 7min
Federal Executions: Is the Death Penalty Constitutional? (with Russ Feingold)
Renato and Patti discuss the first federal executions in 17 years. They were joined by former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, the President of the American Constitution Society.On Topic Website
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11, 2020 • 1h 6min
No Absolute Immunity: Is Trump Above the Law? (with Joyce Vance)
Renato and Patti discuss the recent Supreme Court decisions regarding Trump's tax returns and whether courts can hold Trump accountable. They were joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2020 • 50min
Politicizing the Justice Department: What Can We Do About It? (with Jennifer Rodgers)
Renato and Patti discuss the politicization of the Justice Department, including recent testimony by a federal prosecutor that he was directed to give Roger Stone favorable treatment. They were joined by CNN Legal Analyst Jennifer Rodgers, former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York.
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2020 • 42min
Landmark LGBTQ Rights Decision: What Does It Mean? (with Suzanne Goldberg)
Renato and Patti discuss the Supreme Court's recent landmark decision, which found that Title VII outlaws workplace discrimination against LGBTQ people. They were joined by Professor Suzanne Goldberg, the founding director of Columbia Law School’s trailblazing Sexuality and Gender Law Clinic, who previously worked on two cases that became cornerstone gay rights victories at the U.S. Supreme Court: Lawrence v. Texas, the landmark decision that struck down Texas’s sodomy law, and Romer v. Evans, which overturned an anti-gay Colorado constitutional amendment.
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 6, 2020 • 38min
Black Lives Matter: How Should the Criminal Justice System be Reformed? (with Maya Wiley)
Renato and Patti discuss criminal justice and race in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. They were joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Maya Wiley, former board chair of the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB).
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3, 2020 • 43min
Soldiers in Cities: Can Trump Use Our Military Against Americans? (with Stephen Vladeck)
Renato and Patti discuss whether Trump has legal authority to use the U.S. military domestically against citizens in response to violence and looting. They were joined by Stephen Vladeck, A. Dalton Cross Professor in Law at the University of Texas School of Law.
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23, 2020 • 1h 2min
Unmasking Flynn: What Should We Make of the Republican Investigation of the Russia Probe? (with Asha Rangappa)
Renato and Patti discussed recent GOP allegations about the unmasking of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and other allegations about the origins of the Russia investigation. They were joined by former FBI counterintelligence agent Asha Rangappa, who is also a CNN Legal and National Security Analyst and a professor at Yale University.
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2020 • 54min
DOJ Tries to Drop Flynn Case: What Happens Next? (with Ken White)
Renato and Patti discuss the recent DOJ motion to dismiss the charges against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, as well as Trump’s allegations about the origin of the Flynn investigation. They are joined by former federal prosecutor Ken White, who frequently comments on legal issues under the moniker “Popehat.”All the President's LawyersMake No Law: The First Amendment Podcast
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 2, 2020 • 45min
Trump’s Tax Returns: Will the Supreme Court Allow For Congressional Oversight? (with Kate Shaw)
Renato and Patti discuss the Supreme Court’s consideration of cases regarding subpoenas for Trump’s tax returns. They are joined by law professor and ABC News Supreme Court Contributor Kate Shaw.Strict Scrutiny Podcast
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_mariottiFollow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mariotti/Follow Renato on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@renato.mariotti Opening Theme and Bumper music provided by eitanepsteinmusic / Pond5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
