It's Complicated

By Renato Mariotti & Asha Rangappa

Society & Culture

What's It's Complicated about?

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.

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LAST EPISODE

Episode 52 - Trump Gag; Mus...

12.01.2023

This week there are 1st Amendment issues to consider with Trump’s appeal of Judge Chutkan’s gag order; Elon Musk went venue shopping in Texas to file a lawsuit against Media Matters; plus Santa Claus home security.

It's Complicated episodes:

12.01.2023 Episode 52 - Trump Gag; Musk Suit; Santa Home Security This week there are 1st Amendment issues to consider with Trump’s appeal of Judge Chutkan’s gag order; Elon Musk went venue shopping in Texas to file a lawsuit against Media Matters; plus Santa Claus home security.
11.17.2023 Slow Roll in Mar-a-Lago; Powell and Ellis Roll Over; and Home Improvement Judge Aileen Cannon is up to some shenanigans in Mar-a-Lago. CIPA expert Brian Greer joins us to go over the recent delays and the impact on the government’s case against Trump. We get bits of the proffer sessions from Jenna ...
11.10.2023 Trump's Circus Performance Donald Trump acted very oddly on the stand in his New York civil fraud trial. No, it was not a savvy legal maneuver. But in DC, Trump does have some legal arguments that are likely to go to the Supreme ...
11.03.2023 Episode 49 - Mark Meadows Makes a Deal; Trump Gets Re-Gagged; A Dog with a Job Mark Meadows is trying to thread the needle between saving his own skin and maintaining an appearance of loyalty to Trump. Judge Chutkan reinstated her partial gag order on Trump in the DC case. Plus, Halloween at the Mariotti house.
10.27.2023 Episode 48 - Let’s Make a Deal; Absolute Immunity; Aging Reality Fani Willis has taken a 4th guilty plea in the Fulton County Rico case; does she have more deals to give? In DC, Judge Chutkan will review Trump’s motion to dismiss based on his argument that he’s absolutely immune from ...
10.20.2023 Episode 47 - Trump Gets Gagged; Jordan Gets Dragged; The Band Played On This week: Judge Chutkan issues a narrowly-tailored gag order on Trump, is it narrow enough to not violate the 1st Amendment? Jim Jordan does not get the votes to become Speaker; will Republican voters make their representatives govern? The thought ...
10.13.2023 Episode 46 - Are You With Hur; Motion Grab Bag; and Corking It This week: Asha and Renato catch us up on the current state of Special Counsels and the latest filings in Trump’s criminal trials; plus Asha is wine-ing down for a bit.
10.13.2023 Episode 46 - Are You With Hur; Motion Grab Bag; and Putting a Cork in It This week: Asha and Renato catch us up on the current state of Special Counsels and the latest filings in Trump’s criminal trials; plus Asha is wine-ing down for a bit.
10.06.2023 Episode 45 - Trump Org Fraud Trial; Sam Bankman-Fried; Book Club This week: Trump’s civil fraud trial commences in New York; jury selection is underway in Sam Bankman-Fried’s fraud trial as he sits in pre-trial detention; plus Asha tells us her secret to doing more with less sleep.
09.29.2023 Episode 44 - Bribery Indictment; Donald Trump Incitement; and Fashion This week: Democratic Senator Bob Menendez is indicted for accepting bribes and other corrupt acts; Trump continues to normalize violent rhetoric without reprimand from Republican voters or leaders; plus fashion when Asha and Renato were kids and what kids are ...
09.22.2023 Episode 43 - Wisconsin Impeachment Power Play; Jeffrey Clark; Plus Halloween This week: Wisconsin Republicans may impeach the Justice-Elect Protasiewicz for the crime of –– winning the election; Jeffrey Clark makes a half-hearted attempt to have his Fulton County case removed to federal court; plus pet costumes.
09.15.2023 Episode 42 - Recuse? This week: Trump’s attorneys asked Judge Chutkan to recuse herself; Georgia released its Special Purpose Grand Jury and it shows that Fani Willis didn’t indict everyone that they recommended, plus a reminder to call your mother!
09.08.2023 The 14th Amendment Trick This week: Some great legal scholars put forth the argument that the 14th Amendment is self-executing and Trump is already barred from being re-elected; but what does that look like? Also, Mark Meadows wants his trial moved out of state ...
09.01.2023 Episode 40 - These Trials Are Happening This week: a date is set for Trump’s January 6th trial and it's soon; Chesebro and Powell request a speedy trial in Georgia, separate from the other co-defendants. Plus Henry uncovers some baby bunnies.
08.25.2023 Episode 39 - Is Mark Meadows Going to Weasel Out of This? This week: Fani Willis indicted Trump and 18 co-conspirators, including Mark Meadows. Meadows is trying to get his case out of Georgia state court and into a federal court. Can his play work? Plus Asha and Renato talk about how ...
08.18.2023 Episode 38 - Trump Gets RICO'd; Hunter Gets a Special Counsel; When to Quit This week: Trump gets indicted along with 18 others on RICO charges in Georgia - that’s a lot of defendants in one courtroom; Hunter Biden’s plea deal disintegrates and the prosecutor who wrote the deal gets appointed Special Counsel to ...
08.11.2023 Episode 37 - Legal Voodoo: From Chesebro's Memo to Aileen Loose Cannon Asha and Renato dive into Trump's lawyers' legal strategies, The Wisconsin Memo, legitimizing propoganda, coconspirators and Jack Smith's next indictments, Mar-a-Lago and Aileen Loose Cannon, Henry the Coyote Killer and Pancake the Fetching Cat.
08.03.2023 Trump's Third Indictment; National Reckoning This week: Jack Smith lays another indictment on Trump, this time for his attempts to thwart the peaceful transition of power. Asha and Renato talk about that and what this moment means for the history of The United States.
07.28.2023 The Deal With Hunter’s Deal; X This week: Hunter Biden’s plea deal hit a bit of a SNAFU; Musk continues to mess Twitter up.
07.20.2023 Jack Smith Targets Trump For Jan. 6; Michigan Charges Phony Electors; The Seltzer Wars This week: Trump received a target letter from Jack Smith; Trump is expecting his third indictment very soon; Michigan charged the phony electors from 2020; plus some hot takes on lightly flavored bubbly water.
07.14.2023 Trump is Stallin’; Garland Dumps Trump; Leaving the Country and Twitter This week: Trump's team requests a very long delay to the start of the documents trial; Garland decides DoJ will no longer defend Trump in his defamation case; Asha left the country, again; Renato goes all in on Threads.
07.07.2023 Supreme Upheaval This week: SCOTUS handed down some rulings, Asha and Renato go over the crux of the cases and their consequences.
06.30.2023 This Is Highly Secret; Prigozhin Marches; Boys State This week: Asha and Renato discuss the newly released Trump at Bedminster audio and its potential evidentiary value to Jack Smith; “Putin’s Chef” marches on Moscow, but then doesn’t; plus Asha’s son gets elected.
06.24.2023 From Trump’s Mouth to Jack’s Ears (feat. Brian Greer) This week: Brian Greer (@secretsandlaws on Twitter) joins Renato to discuss Trump’s appearance with Brett Baier on Fox News and what parts, if any, might be used by Jack Smith in the trial; Hunter Biden got indicted and pled guilty; ...
06.16.2023 Judge Cannon Could Be a Disaster; Leaving the Country This week: explore the worst-case scenario with Judge Cannon assigned to the Trump documents case, then explore Italy on a Vespa with Asha.
06.09.2023 Trump's First Federal Indictment (feat. Brian Greer) This week: Trump just got indicted, again. This time it’s federal. Asha and Renato bring in former Associate General Counsel to CIA, Brian Greer to discuss what the next steps will be.
06.02.2023 Mar-a-Lago Endgame; What SCOTUS is Up To; Reunions This week: it looks like the Mar-a-Lago investigation is reaching its conclusion– what does that look like; SCOTUS is set to rule on some very important cases; plus how to have fun at your college reunion.
05.27.2023 (re-upload) Lordy There are Notes; Jim "Failure" Jordan; Henry's Backstory Some pod players received a version missing audio. This one is fixed. This week: One of Trump’s attorneys in the Mar-a-Lago case turned over his notes to Jack Smith and they seem pretty bad for Trump; Jim Jordan holds a ...
05.26.2023 Lordy There are Notes; Jim "Failure" Jordan; Henry's Backstory This week: One of Trump’s attorneys in the Mar-a-Lago case turned over his notes to Jack Smith and they seem pretty bad for Trump; Jim Jordan holds a hearing with “whistleblowers” and we find out why they didn't want their ...
05.19.2023 Rudy is Vile; Trump is Liable; Santos Wants a Trial; Durham Drops a Steaming Pile This week: Rudy Giuliani is accused of disgusting behavior - including rape; Trump won’t stop defaming E. Jean Carroll; George Santos gets indicted for fraud; Jon Durham finally produces his 300-page glorified blog post; plus learn how your hosts stay ...
05.12.2023 Fake Electors Get Immunity; Seditious Conspiracy Convictions; and Media Distorts Justice This week: Eight fake electors get immunity deals in Georgia; DoJ gets rare convictions on seditious conspiracy charges; plus we’re not going to call her Liz Holmes. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Subscribe to our podcast https://link.chtbl.com/its-complicated Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's ...
05.05.2023 SCOTUS v The Regulatory State; Tacopina v Tact; Social Trust This week: SCOTUS is set to hear a case that may not be sexy but could have major consequences for the government’s ability to regulate industries; Tacopina looks like a bully in Trump’s rape/defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll; ...
04.28.2023 Tucker and The Fox News Hydra; Trump Goes to Trial This week: Tucker gets the ax at Fox News; Trump goes to trial for rape and defamation of E. Jean Carroll; plus Monticello is being more honest about its history, and it’s cold where Asha and Renato live. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ ...
04.22.2023 Mifepristone; Discord; and That's Entertainment This week, mifepristone is blocked by a federal judge in Texas but the ban is stayed until SCOTUS sorts it out; Teixiera is arrested for putting top secret documents online; plus Asha and Penato share some of their legal/criminal entertainment. ...
04.14.2023 Bragg Sues Jordan; The Case Against Trump in Manhattan This week, Alvin Bragg sues Jim Jordan over his attempt at “oversight”; Bragg’s case against Trump is still complicated; plus why Renato doesn’t talk about judges. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Subscribe to our podcast https://link.chtbl.com/its-complicated Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: ...
04.07.2023 What's in the Manhattan Indictment The Trump indictment was unsealed and Asha and Renato have thoughts. Plus, what does a big news day like Tuesday look like for our hosts? Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Subscribe to our podcast https://link.chtbl.com/its-complicated Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://asharangappa.substack.com/ ...
04.01.2023 Trump Indicted in Manhattan; the Coup Chart; plus Henry is Growing Up This week, Trump gets indicted in Manhattan; Meadows will have to testify; plus Henry the dog is weighing employment options.. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Subscribe to our podcast https://link.chtbl.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 ...
03.24.2023 Trump Bump Up; Crime Fraud Exception; Princeton This week: Asha and Renato discuss Alvin Bragg’s possible legal theory for a Trump indictment - the bump up; Jack Smith piercing attorney-client privilege based on the crime-fraud exception; plus Princeton wins and someone is sneaking into Asha’s Zoom. Youtube: ...
03.17.2023 Hush Money; Bank Runs; Plus Military Academies This week: Asha and Renato discuss the real possibility of Alvin Bragg indicting Trump; the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank; military academies. Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@Its.Complicated/ Subscribe to our podcast https://link.chtbl.com/its-complicated Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Asha's Substack: https://asharangappa.substack.com/ Follow Renato on ...
03.10.2023 Weaponization of Government; Defamation; Trash TV This week: Asha and Renato discuss Jim Jordan’s committee and his “whistleblowers”; more Dominion lawsuit information; and trash TV. GOP WITNESSES: WHAT THEIR DISCLOSURES INDICATE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE REPUBLICAN INVESTIGATIONS DemocraticStaffReport https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2023-03-02_gop_witnesses_report.pdf Subscribe to our podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/its-complicated Follow ...
03.03.2023 Fulton County Foreperson; Jan 6 Propagandist; Creepers in The Comments This week: Asha and Renato discuss whether the foreperson of the Fulton County Special Grand Jury fouled up any possible case by going on a speaking tour; Tucker Carlson gets access to more than 40k hours of footage from Jan ...
02.28.2023 Dominion Defamation; Fani Willis; Right Wing Identity Politics In this episode: Dominion's defamation case against Fox News looks very strong; part of the Special Grand Jury report is released in Fani Willis' investigation into election interference in Georgia in the 2020 election; plus identity politics from the right, ...
02.17.2023 Mike Pence's Dumb Privilege; Jim Jordan's Circus Committee; Rihanna Pence gets a subpoena and tries a novel, but dumb argument to get out of testifying. The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government is a circus sideshow. Rihanna puts on a great show. Subscribe to our podcast: ...
02.10.2023 What's So Complicated About Hush Money, Spy Balloons, and Satanic Music Pomerantz wrote a book saying he really wanted to prosecute Trump. Now Bragg seems like he might be resurrecting Trump's hush money case. But the prosecution could still be complicated. A Chinese balloon captivated the United States and made many ...
02.03.2023 Reforms to Policing is Complicated Holding Police accountable for their actions is very complicated. Changing right-wing conspiracy theorists' minds is complicated. Staying active and healthy is complicated. Asha and Renato discuss what prosecution of the people who beat Tyre Nichols so severely that he died ...
01.27.2023 What's So Complicated About Subverting Sanctions; Firing Blanks; and International College? This week: Asha and Renato discuss the indictment of the former head of the FBI Counter Intel Division in New York Charles McGonigal; the charges against Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez Reed - Rust's armorer; plus the benefits of sending ...
01.20.2023 What's So Complicated About Storing Classified Documents; Taking a Flight Asha and Renato discuss whether Biden has criminal liability with the documents found at his home and office. Plus Asha gets grounded. Subscribe to our podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/its-complicated Follow Asha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_ Follow Renato on Twitter: https://twitter.com/renato_mariotti Follow Asha on ...
01.12.2023 What's So Complicated About A Special Grand Jury; Copycat Coup in Brazil This week Asha and Renato delve into the Special Grand Jury that just wrapped up in Georgia. Does Fani Willis have the goods? Also, Brazil faced a January 6th-style attack on January 8th. How will they handle the aftermath of ...
01.07.2023 What's So Complicated About The Jan. 6 Report; Electing a Speaker of the House Happy New Year! Renato is back from his COVID Cruise in time to talk with Asha about the Jan. 6 Committee's Report and House Republicans' historic inability to elect a Speaker. Subscribe to our podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/its-complicated Follow Asha on Twitter: ...
12.19.2022 What’s So Much More Complicated about Arresting Trump Than SBF? What is taking DoJ so long to indict Trump? Why did it only take them a few weeks to nab SBF? What will be the impact of the Jan 6. Committee criminal referrals? In loving memory of Dolly. Subscribe to ...

Older episodes

It's Complicated

What's It's Complicated about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

It's Complicated episodes:

Episode 52 - Trump Gag; Musk Suit; Santa Home Security

Slow Roll in Mar-a-Lago; Powell and Ellis Roll Over; and Home Improvement

Trump's Circus Performance

​Episode 49 - Mark Meadows Makes a Deal; Trump Gets Re-Gagged; A Dog with a Job

Episode 48 - Let’s Make a Deal; Absolute Immunity; Aging Reality

Episode 47 - Trump Gets Gagged; Jordan Gets Dragged; The Band Played On

Episode 46 - Are You With Hur; Motion Grab Bag; and Corking It

Episode 46 - Are You With Hur; Motion Grab Bag; and Putting a Cork in It

Episode 45 - Trump Org Fraud Trial; Sam Bankman-Fried; Book Club

Episode 44 - Bribery Indictment; Donald Trump Incitement; and Fashion

Episode 43 - Wisconsin Impeachment Power Play; Jeffrey Clark; Plus Halloween

Episode 42 - Recuse?

The 14th Amendment Trick

Episode 40 - These Trials Are Happening

Episode 39 - Is Mark Meadows Going to Weasel Out of This?

Episode 38 - Trump Gets RICO'd; Hunter Gets a Special Counsel; When to Quit

Episode 37 - Legal Voodoo: From Chesebro's Memo to Aileen Loose Cannon

Trump's Third Indictment; National Reckoning

The Deal With Hunter’s Deal; X

Jack Smith Targets Trump For Jan. 6; Michigan Charges Phony Electors; The Seltzer Wars

Trump is Stallin’; Garland Dumps Trump; Leaving the Country and Twitter

Supreme Upheaval

This Is Highly Secret; Prigozhin Marches; Boys State

From Trump’s Mouth to Jack’s Ears (feat. Brian Greer)

Judge Cannon Could Be a Disaster; Leaving the Country

Trump's First Federal Indictment (feat. Brian Greer)

Mar-a-Lago Endgame; What SCOTUS is Up To; Reunions

(re-upload) Lordy There are Notes; Jim "Failure" Jordan; Henry's Backstory

Lordy There are Notes; Jim "Failure" Jordan; Henry's Backstory

Rudy is Vile; Trump is Liable; Santos Wants a Trial; Durham Drops a Steaming Pile

Fake Electors Get Immunity; Seditious Conspiracy Convictions; and Media Distorts Justice

SCOTUS v The Regulatory State; Tacopina v Tact; Social Trust

Tucker and The Fox News Hydra; Trump Goes to Trial

Mifepristone; Discord; and That's Entertainment

Bragg Sues Jordan; The Case Against Trump in Manhattan

What's in the Manhattan Indictment

Trump Indicted in Manhattan; the Coup Chart; plus Henry is Growing Up

Trump Bump Up; Crime Fraud Exception; Princeton

Hush Money; Bank Runs; Plus Military Academies

Weaponization of Government; Defamation; Trash TV

Fulton County Foreperson; Jan 6 Propagandist; Creepers in The Comments

Dominion Defamation; Fani Willis; Right Wing Identity Politics

Mike Pence's Dumb Privilege; Jim Jordan's Circus Committee; Rihanna

What's So Complicated About Hush Money, Spy Balloons, and Satanic Music

Reforms to Policing is Complicated

What's So Complicated About Subverting Sanctions; Firing Blanks; and International College?

What's So Complicated About Storing Classified Documents; Taking a Flight

What's So Complicated About A Special Grand Jury; Copycat Coup in Brazil

What's So Complicated About The Jan. 6 Report; Electing a Speaker of the House

What’s So Much More Complicated about Arresting Trump Than SBF?

Other shows like It's Complicated:

Episode 49 - Mark Meadows Makes a Deal; Trump Gets Re-Gagged; A Dog with a Job