It's Complicated

Asha and Renato go over the current state of Trump’s criminal trials. Renato shares his surprise prediction about the Manhattan conviction. Plus, Asha barely made it home from her vacation!

Published: 26 July 2024

Dahlia Lithwick joins Renato to discuss what’s next for Jack Smith now that the Florida indictment has been thrown out? President Biden has reportedly said that Court reform is going to be a priority in his re-election campaign. What would that look like? Plus, there were some difficulties getting this episode together!

Transcribed - Published: 19 July 2024

Norm Eisen joins Renato and Asha to talk about how this shiny new presidential immunity works when applied to Trump’s current prosecutions. Plus, Renato changed firms and Asha is exploring her options.

Transcribed - Published: 12 July 2024

Presidential Immunity and Chevron Deference were among two of the most consequential Supreme Court rulings this session.What does Presidential Immunity mean for Biden and for Trump’s criminal trials?Renato and Asha are joined by Kim Wehle to discuss the end of Chevron.

Transcribed - Published: 4 July 2024

In Mar-a-Lago, Judge Cannon held a 2 day hearing and invited amici to argue whether Special Counsels are Constitutional. Trump responds to Jack Smith’s request to modify Trump’s pretrial release conditions. SCOTUS gets Rahimi right by ignoring its own precedent. Plus, kids behind the wheel.

Transcribed - Published: 28 June 2024

Hunter Biden was found guilty of a felony. What’s next? How is Trump handling his felony conviction as he awaits sentencing? Plus, Asha really nails it.

Transcribed - Published: 21 June 2024

Trump has been found guilty on all 24 counts. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on July 11th. What kind of sentence should we expect? Hunter Biden is on trial for a gun charge in Delaware. What is his team’s strategy? Plus. Henry really likes cicada season!

Transcribed - Published: 7 June 2024

The jury in Trump’s Manhattan trial is deliberating. What do they have to find in order to convict Trump? Did prosecutors do enough to convict?

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2024

Trump called his only witness and it was kind of a disaster.The jury of the first ever criminal trial of a former US President will be deliberating soon. Their instructions are somewhat complicated.Plus, a criminal haircut?

Transcribed - Published: 24 May 2024

Michael Cohen has a story to tell. He also has a lot of baggage. It remains to be seen whether the jury will find his story credible. Also, why isn’t everything he’s saying Trump said hearsay? Plus, we hope you had a better Mother’s Day than Melania.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2024

Stormy Daniels’ testimony in Trump’s trial may be problematic for the prosecution.Judge Merchan admits that he is treating Trump differently from most other defendants.Other than Trump not being there, what are you looking for in a hotel?

Transcribed - Published: 10 May 2024

The Supreme Court has heard the immunity arguments and some justices seem to want to answer a question that isn’t before them. Trump has slept through much of his trial in Manhattan, but Asha is riveted. She even made a chart! Plus, what kind of person kills a pet?!

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2024

The People of the State of New York against Donald J. Trump has begun. Asha and Renato break down the first couple of days of the trial–– from opening statements to jury selection, The People’s first witness, and Trump’s continued violation of Judge Merchan’s gag order. Plus, Asha is open to becoming a Swifty.

Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2024

*The original upload of this episode had some sync issues. Those issues are fixed in this version. Jury selection and seating in Trump’s election interference trial in Manhattan; people are confused about FISA– Asha will straighten them out. Plus, what does it take to be “camera ready?”

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2024

Jack Smith responded to Judge Cannon’s jury instruction request as the Mar-a-Lago case continues to go off the rails; Trump is still arguing that he has immunity before, during, and after his presidency; plus, maybe Asha should have been a doctor.

Transcribed - Published: 12 April 2024

This week: Truth Social hit the NASDAQ and its share price seems untethered from its financials; Trump gets gagged by the judge in the hush money case; plus Asha has an HOA issue.

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2024

This week: Trump catches a break and gets his bond reduced by almost 70%. Hears arguments on the mifepristone injunction that came from Judge Kacsmaryk in Texas. The Judicial Conference puts an end to judge shopping. Plus, we find out what kind of nerd Renato was before his glow-up.

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2024

This week: Judge Cannon is over-complicating issues in the documents case; Trump can’t get bonded; plus Asha did some sneaky stuff back in the day.

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2024

This week: Judge McAfee ordered several charges in the Fulton County case dismissed for lack of specificity in the indictment; Hur issued his report and testified to Congress; Trump hints that he may use an advice-of-counsel defense; and Asha is busy doing admissions at Yale.

Transcribed - Published: 15 March 2024

This week: The Supreme Court reverses Colorado’s Supreme Court and tells them they can’t keep Trump off of the ballot; Allen Weisselberg, Trump Org’s CFO, pleads guilty to perjury. Plus Bob Barker is still alive!

Transcribed - Published: 8 March 2024

In Fulton County, Fani Willis’ and Nathan Wade’s cell phone location data show a lot of contact between the two; exactly when their relationship began is still in question.Trump files motions in limine in the the Manhattan DA (hush money) case.Smirnov is re-arrested.Plus Asha went to Disney World.

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2024

This week, Judge Engoron hands down a massive verdict in Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York; Fani Willis takes the stand in a hearing about alleged conflict of interest; plus, our hosts talk about their favorite breakfast cereals.

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2024

This week, with Trump’s hush money trial about to start, it’s a good time to recap the status of all of his criminal trials; Trump views NATO as a protection racket; plus the PSyOp Bowl.

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2024

This week, Colorado argues in front of the Supreme Court to keep Trump off the ballot; Special Counsel Robert Hur finds no prosecutable crimes and issues his report in the Biden classified documents investigation; DC Circuit issues its ruling against Trump’s immunity claim; plus Valentine’s Day. Correction: Robert Hur was appointed as Special Counsel on January 13, 2023, to investigate Biden’s handling of classified material. Jack Smith was appointed Special Counsel on November 18, 2022, to investigate Trump’s retention of classified documents and the events around January 6, 2001.

Transcribed - Published: 9 February 2024

This week, Governor Abbott is refusing to comply with a Supreme Court Ruling and not allowing federal agents unfettered access to the border; Trump loses bigly in court and will eventually have to pay a lot of money to E. Jean Carroll; plus Turd Blossom in Florida.

Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2024

This week, Trump’s lawyers make an argument that Judge Chutkan agrees with and tells Jack Smith to stop producing discovery while the case is stayed pending a ruling on Trump’s immunity claim; there may be something to the allegations of a conflict of interest against Fani Willis in Fulton County. Plus, staying true to your alma mater.

Transcribed - Published: 26 January 2024

This week, Hunter Biden pulled a bit of a stunt to try to control the narrative; Trump’s legal strategy continues to be to distract and delay. Plus, it’s cold cold.

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2024

This week, Trump’s lawyers argue for presidential immunity in front of the DC Circuit Court; one of Trump’s co-defendants in Fulton County makes some big allegations against Fani Willis; plus Henry’s the boss, and Pancake has bad manners.

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2024

This week, Trump is taken off another ballot when Maine’s Secretary of State rules him ineligible– how will SCOTUS treat the issue? Also, Jack Smith filed a motion to limit Trump’s defense from using political persecution and other frivolous arguments in the DC case. Renato and Asha share some of their goals for 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 5 January 2024

This week, Supreme Court expert Steve Vladeck joins Asha to discuss Jack Smith’s attempt to bypass the DC Circuit; Colorado’s 14th Amendment case; and how the next SCOTUS term might shape up. Renato is on vacation.

Transcribed - Published: 22 December 2023

This week, Jack Smith seeks an immediate review of Judge Chutkan’s ruling on Trump’s motion to dismiss based on his “total presidential immunity” argument. Showing uncharacteristically good judgment, Trump does not testify in his New York civil fraud trial. Plus, Renato needs a vacation. We’d like to thank Noom for their support. Sign up for your trial today at Noom.com. And check out Noom's first-ever cookbook, The Noom Kitchen, for 100 healthy and delicious recipes to promote better living. Available for pre-sale wherever books are sold.

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2023

This week; Judge Chutkin rules on Trump’s motions; she will not be dismissing the case. Jack Smith introduces evidence that goes to Trump’s intent to cause the insurrection and ongoing sympathy and support for insurrectionists.Plus Asha and Renato talk about getting fit for winter.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2023

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 Ellisa and Sidney Powell. Plus, home improvement

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2023

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 Court. They’re losing arguments, but they will set precedents.Plus, how Asha and Renato will be spending their winter holidays.

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2023

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 criminal prosecution. It’s nonsense, but it’s novel nonsense and will have to be adjudicated; plus The Golden Bachelor.

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2023

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 of Jordan being 2nd in line to the presidency was very distressing so let’s talk about music!

Transcribed - Published: 20 October 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 October 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 October 2023

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 wearing these days.

Transcribed - Published: 29 September 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 22 September 2023

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!

Transcribed - Published: 15 September 2023

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 court and into federal court; is it because he’s camera shy? Plus, the debate over the best candy is settled.

Transcribed - Published: 8 September 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 September 2023

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 they stay grounded and centered.

Transcribed - Published: 25 August 2023

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 continue his investigation; plus knowing when to quit.

Transcribed - Published: 18 August 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 11 August 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 August 2023

This week: Hunter Biden’s plea deal hit a bit of a SNAFU; Musk continues to mess Twitter up.

Transcribed - Published: 28 July 2023