On Topic with Renato Mariotti

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this special episode before a live audience at Georgetown Law Center, Renato and Patti discuss efforts to make it more difficult to vote, including recent government actions that reduce registration and voting by minorities. They are joined by Hannah Fried, co-founder and Executive Director of Access Democracy.

Renato and Patti discuss the bombs sent to targets of Donald Trump by one of his supporters as well as the mass murder at a synagogue by an anti-semite. They are joined by James Gagliano, a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and CNN Law Enforcement Analyst.

Renato and Patti discuss the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi operatives and the Trump Administration’s response to the murder. They are joined by Max Boot, Washington Post columnist and Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Renato and Patti discuss the Trump Administration’s family separation policy and the legality of young children signing away their rights. They are joined by David Leopold, the past president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a frequent commentator on immigration issues on CNN and elsewhere.

Renato and Patti discuss what Democrats could have done differently to oppose the Kavanaugh nomination, and whether Democrats should change their tactics to match Republican strategies that shatter well-established norms. They are joined by Matthew Miller, former spokesperson for the Justice Department and MSNBC Contributor, who argues that Democrats should have been more aggressive in attacking the limited FBI investigation of Kavanaugh.