
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

Jan 10, 2020 • 56min
Iran Attack: Can the President Start a War without Congress? (with Stephen Vladeck and Ro Khanna)
Renato discussed Trump's recent attack that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani and Congressional efforts to ensure that Trump did not lead the nation into war with Iran. He was joined by Stephen Vladeck, A. Dalton Cross Professor in Law at the University of Texas School of Law and Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), who recently introduced the No War With Iran Act in the House.
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

Jan 3, 2020 • 54min
Looking Forward to 2020: What Legal Developments Will Come? (with Mimi Rocah)
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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

Dec 13, 2019 • 1h 29min
Articles of Impeachment and OIG Report: What Does It Mean? (with Asha Rangappa)
Renato and Patti discuss the articles of impeachment introduced in the House Judiciary Committee and the Justice Department OIG report on the Russia investigation. They’re joined by former FBI counterintelligence agent Asha Rangappa, 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

Nov 27, 2019 • 45min
Impeachment in Historical Perspective: What Articles of Impeachment Should House Judiciary Include? (with Jill Wine-Banks)
Renato discusses the recent court decision rejecting Trump’s “absolute immunity” argument and the new phase of the impeachment inquiry before the House Judiciary Committee. He is joined by Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks, a 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.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

Nov 18, 2019 • 1h 3min
First Week of Impeachment Hearings: What Mattered? (with Maya Wiley)
Renato discussed the first week of public impeachment hearings. He was joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Maya Wiley, the former chief legal advisor to the Mayor of New York City.On Topic WebsiteOn Topic on Patreon
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

Nov 13, 2019 • 1h 9min
Impeachment Hearings Begin: What Should We Expect? (with Asha Rangappa)
Renato discusses what we can expect from the upcoming public impeachment hearings. He is joined by former FBI counterintelligence agent Asha Rangappa, a CNN Legal and National Security Analyst and professor at Yale University.On Topic WebsiteOn Topic on Patreon
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

Nov 2, 2019 • 1h 5min
Impeachment Goes Public: How Should House Democrats Put on Their Case? (with Barb McQuade)
Renato and Patti discuss the public phase of the impeachment inquiry and how House Democrats can best make their case. They’re joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Barb McQuade, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.On Topic WebsiteOn Topic on Patreon
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

Oct 25, 2019 • 1h 3min
Quid Pro Quo Established: Does Trump Have Any Defense Left? (with Ned Price)
Renato and Patti discuss the bombshell testimony of Ukraine envoy Bill Taylor, the Republican Members of Congress barging into the SCIF, and other developments in the impeachment inquiry. They are joined by former CIA officer and National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price, a NBC News contributor.On Topic's new websiteOn Topic's new Patreon
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

Oct 18, 2019 • 1h 2min
Giuliani Under Investigation: What Does This Mean for Trump? (with Mimi Rocah)
Renato discusses the implications of recent news that former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani is the subject of a federal criminal investigation. He is joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Mimi Rocah, a 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

Oct 9, 2019 • 1h 3min
Obstruction of Congress: What Happens Next in the Impeachment Inquiry? (with Sam Vinograd and Mike Quigley)
Renato and Patti discuss recent events in the House impeachment inquiry, including Trump ordering a witness against him not to appear. They are joined by former National Security Council advisor Sam Vinograd and Congressman Mike Quigley, a member of the House Intel 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_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