On Topic With Renato Mariotti

Renato and Patti discuss Trump’s frequent false and misleading statements and how the media’s coverage of Trump’s lies could contribute to the distortion of public debate caused by his false statements. They are joined by Daniel Dale, the Washington Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star and a frequent fact checker of Trump’s speeches. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato discussed the Trump Administration’s decision to suspend the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia, and whether the Trump Administration’s foreign policy has put Russian interests ahead of our own. He was joined by Samantha Vinograd, a CNN National Security Analyst who was a former National Security Council official and held numerous foreign policy roles in the Obama and Bush Administrations. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the recent indictment of Trump associate Roger Stone, who was indicted for lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstructing the investigation of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. They are joined by Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), a member of that committee, and Barb McQuade, the former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the recent Buzzfeed News report that indicated there was substantial evidence that Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress as well as the public statement by Mueller that the article is inaccurate and calls for Congress to investigate this and other matters. They are joined by former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the recent news that the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation to determine if Trump was compromised by Russia and whether he was working for Russia to advance their interests ahead of our own. They are joined by former FBI counterintelligence agent Asha Rangappa and former CIA officer John Sipher, who ran the CIA’s Russia’s operations. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the president’s “emergency” powers, including the limits of those powers, how they can be challenged, and how they should be reformed, with Syracuse Law Professor William C. Banks. They also speak at length with MSNBC Legal Analyst Mimi Rocah about many recent developments in the Mueller investigation, including the revelation that former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort provided private polling data to a Russian intelligence operative. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss gerrymandering, which dilutes the power of voters to choose representatives, as well as campaign finance reform with Paul Smith, who has represents citizens in important gerrymandering and campaign finance reform cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. They also speak with Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) about the legislation introduced by House Democrats to combat gerrymandering and reform campaign finance, as well as the agenda for House Democrats in the year ahead. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the most important legal news from the past year and what we can expect in the year ahead from the investigations of Donald Trump and his associates. Patti asks many questions from listeners to Renato and Joyce Vance, the former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss three topics related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation--the hearing regarding General Michael Flynn's sentencing (and whether he committed treason), Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's decision not to recuse from supervising the Mueller investigation, and the lengthy memo written by Attorney General nominee William Barr and sent to Justice Department officials and Trump's lawyers. They're joined by Matthew Miller, former Justice Department spokesperson and MSNBC contributor (regarding Whitaker and Barr) and Carlton Larson, Professor of Law at University of California at Davis (regarding treason). 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_mariotti Follow Asha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.rangappa/ Follow Renato on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renato.mar

In this special episode, Renato and Patti discuss in depth the allegations that Trump committed a campaign finance crime when he caused hush money payments to be made to two women during his campaign. They are joined by POLITICO reporter Josh Gerstein, former Federal Election Commission Chairman Trevor Potter, and former White House Counsel Bob Bauer. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the sentencing of Michael Cohen, the non-prosecution agreement with the company that owns the National Enquirer, and the potential cooperation of Russian spy Maria Butina. They are joined by Mimi Rocah, a former federal prosecutor and 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the recent filings by federal prosecutors in New York and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, including the conclusion by federal prosecutors that Donald Trump directed Michael Cohen to commit federal crimes. They are joined by Neal Katyal, the former Acting Solicitor General who authored the Special Counsel regulations. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the revelation in Michael Cohen’s sentencing memorandum that Cohen discussed his false testimony with Trump’s lawyers. They also discuss the sentencing memorandum in Michael Flynn’s case, which was filed as the podcast was recorded. They are joined by former federal prosecutor Ken White, who tweets as @Popehat. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss Michael Cohen’s plea to the crime of lying to Congress and his cooperation deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. They also discuss the news that Manafort’s lawyers shared confidential information from Mueller with President Donald Trump’s lawyers. They are joined by Asha Rangappa, a CNN Legal Analyst, former FBI counterintelligence agent, and professor at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss Mueller’s allegation that former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort repeatedly lied to Mueller and the FBI after he agreed to cooperate. They also discuss the news that Manafort allegedly met with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange multiple times. They are joined by Joyce Vance, the former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss Trump’s criticism of Chief Justice Roberts as well as the asylum decision that prompted Trump’s attack on the judge that prompted Chief Justice Roberts to act. They also discuss the Trump Administration’s unusual decision to seek early Supreme Court review of the transgender ban. They are joined by Chris Geidner, Legal Editor and Supreme Court Correspondent at Buzzfeed News. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the revocation of the press credential of CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta and a federal judge’s ruling that excluding Acosta violated the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. They discuss what the judge’s decision meant, how Trump’s attacks on the press endanger the First Amendment, and how future government actions will pose unique First Amendment issues. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato discusses whether Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker was lawfully appointed, whether he must recuse himself, and whether his extreme legal views should disqualify him from serving. He is joined by Asha Rangappa, a CNN Legal Analyst, former FBI counterintelligence agent, and professor at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the appointment of Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. They are joined by Mimi Rocah, a MSNBC Legal Analyst and former federal prosecutor. 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_mariotti Follow 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

Renato and Patti discuss the racist ad released by Donald Trump depicting immigrants as dangerous and falsely blaming Democrats for permitting criminals to enter our country. They are joined by Kimberly Atkins, the Washington Bureau Chief of the Boston Herald and a MSNBC Contributor. 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_mariotti Follow 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