It's Complicated

Join former federal prosecutor and CNN Legal Analyst Renato Mariotti and former Special Agent at the FBI and Legal Analyst Asha Rangappa as they dive deeper into complicated issues in the news.

News
Government
51
GameStop Frenzy: Do the Traders or Companies Ha...
Renato and Patti discussed the legal implications of the massive trading interest in GameStop stock. They were joined by former SEC Attorney Jerome Tomas.
59 min
52
Second Impeachment Trial: How Will It Unfold (...
Renato and Patti discuss the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump after the presentation of the article of impeachment to the U.S. Senate. They were joined by Daniel Goldman, who was lead counsel for House Democrats during the first impeachment of Donald Trump.
64 min
53
Aftermath of the Attack: Can All the Insurrecti...
Renato and Patti discuss the federal and state indictments and investigations arising from the assault on the U.S. Capitol. They were joined by former federal prosecutor Ken White, who writes and tweets under the pseudonym "Popehat."
68 min
54
Attack on the Capitol: Can All the Perpetrator...
Renato and Patti discussed the pro-Trump terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol and the legal liability faced by the perpetrators and instigators of the attack. They were joined by Michael Zeldin, a former senior U.S. Department of Justice official and former Deputy Chief Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.
106 min
55
Trump on Tape: Did He Commit a Crime? (with Joy...
Renato and Patti discuss Trump’s attempt to push the Georgia Secretary of State to change the election results in his favor. They were joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Joyce White Vance, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.
54 min
56
Indicting Trump: How Should the Biden Administ...
Renato and Patti discussed how the Biden Administration should handle the issue of investigating and considering criminal charges against Donald Trump after he leaves office. They were joined by former FBI counterintelligence agent Asha Rangappa, a CNN Legal and National Security Analyst.
69 min
57
Pardon Scheme: Can Trump Pardon Himself, His Fa...
Renato and Patti discuss recent reports that Trump is considering pardoning his family and his attorney Rudy Giuliani. They were joined by NYU Law Professor Rachel Barkow, who has written about Trump's use of the pardon power.
54 min
58
Combating Division and Disinformation: What Can...
Renato and Patti discuss the division, strife, and distrust caused by Donald Trump and the disinformation spread by Trump and his allies, and how the nation can recover in the wake of Joe Biden's victory. They were joined by John Mitnick, former General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security, who was fired by Trump after he reportedly pushed back against some of Trump's illegal proposals and later publicly supported Biden.
68 min
59
Republicans Prepare to Challenge Results: Coul...
Renato and Patti discussed Republican attempts to make voting more difficult and their plans to dispute the voting results. They were joined by former Federal Election Commission Chair Trevor Potter, who is the founder and president of the Campaign Legal Center.
50 min
60
Special Episode: Re-examining James Comey, Don...
Renato discussed the hit Showtime series “The Comey Rule” with Writer/Director Billy Ray and Executive Producer Shane Salerno. They discussed the Clinton and Russia investigations with special guests Frank Figliuzzi (former FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence), Barb McQuade (former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan), Asha Rangappa (former FBI counterintelligence agent) and Mimi Rocah (former federal prosecutor).
91 min
61
Tax Avoidance: What Should We Make Of Trump's T...
Renato and Patti discussed the blockbuster New York Times report discussing Donald Trump's tax returns. They were joined by MSNBC Legal Analyst Barb McQuade, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.
49 min
62
Investigating Trump: How is Trump Compromised, ...
Renato and Patti discuss the counterintelligence investigation of Donald Trump, as well as the decisions in the Clinton email investigation that led to Trump's election in 2016. They were joined by former FBI agent Peter Strzok, who led both investigations.
74 min
63
Whistleblower Retaliation: Will His Report Matt...
Renato and Patti discuss the recent whistleblower report alleging that the Trump White House pushed the Department of Homeland Security to downplay Russian election interference in intelligence reports. They were joined by attorney Brad Moss, who represents the whistleblower.
51 min
64
Illegal Orders: What Happens When Trump Orders ...
Renato and Patti discussed Trump's instructions to his aides to break the law, as well as his fitness to hold office, with Miles Taylor, former Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Trump Administration.
71 min
65
Post-Convention Horserace: How do we Beat Donal...
Renato and Patti discussed the presidential race in the wake of the party conventions. They were joined by former Clinton chief strategist Paul Begala, the author of You’re Fired: The Perfect Guide to Beating Donald Trump.
43 min
66
Defunding the Postal Service: Trump Admits Vote...
Renato and Patti discussed Donald Trump’s stunning admission that he was defunding the U.S. Postal Service to stop mail-in voting. They were joined by Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), chair of the appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the U.S. Postal Service.
38 min
67
Dissecting Donald: Trump’s Niece Helps Us Expla...
Renato and Patti discussed the bizarre behavior of Donald Trump. They were joined by his niece Mary Trump, author of Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.
64 min
68
Redrawing the Lines: The Battle Over State Leg...
Renato and Patti discussed how state legislative races will control which party redraws Congressional district maps, and which states are being targeted by Democrats this cycle. They were joined by Jessica Post, President of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
45 min
69
Making a Difference: How Can We Get Involved Th...
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.
51 min
70
Federal Executions: Is the Death Penalty Consti...
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.
64 min
71
No Absolute Immunity: Is Trump Above the Law? (...
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.
64 min
72
Politicizing the Justice Department: What Can W...
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.
48 min
73
Landmark LGBTQ Rights Decision: What Does It M...
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.
39 min
74
Black Lives Matter: How Should the Criminal Jus...
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).
35 min
75
Soldiers in Cities: Can Trump Use Our Military ...
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.
40 min