CAFE Insider

CAFE

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Co-hosts Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance help you to make sense of law and politics each week, plus weekly notes and bonus content exclusive to CAFE Insider members.

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1126 episodes

Note from Elie 3/29: The Texas Immigration Law is Doomed

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

8m
Mar 29
Stay Tuned Bonus 3/28: Fareed Zakaria

In this bonus from , Preet and political commentator Fareed Zakaria discuss what Democrats can learn from the backlash politics of the past. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community. Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #askpreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail. is brought to you by CAFE https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

5m
Mar 28
Note from Rachel 3/27: Sam Bankman-Fried and the Absurdity of Federal Sentencing

Rachel Barkow is the Charles Seligson Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, where she focuses on issues of criminal justice and prison reform. For a transcript of Rachel’s note, as well as the full archive of contributor notes, head to CAFE.com.

9m
Mar 27
CAFE Insider 3/26: Bond. Trump’s Bond.

On the docket:  – A New York appellate court’s decision to lower the bond amount from $464 plus interest to $175 million in NY Attorney General’s civil fraud case against Donald Trump; – Hearing in the Manhattan DA’s hush money criminal case against Trump where Judge Merchan set April 15 as the first day of trial; – A Supreme Court brief filed by Trump in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s election case arguing that former presidents are absolutely immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken while president; and – The legal battle over SB4, a controversial Texas immigration law, that makes it a state crime to, among other things, illegally enter Texas and authorizes local police to arrest anyone suspected of violating the law. We hope you’re finding informative. Email us at letters@cafe.com with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Joyce.  Give the gift of CAFE Insider: cafe.com/gift http://cafe.com/gift Shownotes & transcript can be found at CAFE.com https://cafe.com/insider-podcast/. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.  Tamara Sepper – Executive Producer; Jake Kaplan – Editorial Producer; Nat Weiner – Audio Producer; Celine Rohr – Deputy Editor

44m
Mar 26
Note from Elie 3/22: Will We See Any Trump Trials Before the Election?

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

9m
Mar 22
Stay Tuned Bonus 3/21: Vinod Khosla

In this bonus from , Preet and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla discuss the promise of new climate technology and what the American dream means to him.  Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community. Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #askpreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail. is brought to you by CAFE https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

5m
Mar 21
Note from Asha 3/20: The Clock is Tik-Tok-ing

Asha Rangappa is a lawyer, former FBI Special Agent, and current CNN analyst. She's also a Senior Lecturer at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. Head to CAFE.com for a full transcript of Asha's Note. Notes from Asha are exclusive to the CAFE Insider membership. For the text of this note, along with the full archive of contributor notes, head to CAFE's website.

9m
Mar 20
CAFE Insider 3/19: Trump Delays, Willis Survives & Cannon’s Crazy Orders

On the docket:  – The 30-day adjournment of former President Donald Trump’s trial in the Manhattan DA’s hush money case as Trump’s lawyers review new evidence provided to them by federal prosecutors, and the judge’s decision to permit Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to testify at trial;  – The resignation of a special prosecutor handling Trump’s Fulton County, Georgia prosecution after a judge ruled that DA Fani Willis could remain on the case only if the prosecutor, with whom she had a romantic relationship, stepped down; and – A federal judge’s rejection of one of Trump’s motions to dismiss the Mar-a-Lago documents prosecution. We hope you’re finding informative. Email us at letters@cafe.com with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Joyce.  Give the gift of CAFE Insider: cafe.com/gift http://cafe.com/gift Shownotes & transcript can be found at CAFE.com https://cafe.com/insider-podcast/cafe-insider-3-19-trump-delays-willis-survives-cannons-crazy-orders/. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE Studios https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

46m
Mar 19
Note from Elie 3/15: The Failure of DOJ’s Special Counsel System — From Robert Mueller to Robert Hur, It Simply Hasn’t Worked

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

9m
Mar 15
Stay Tuned Bonus 3/14: Mark Leibovich

In this bonus from , Preet and staff writer Mark Leibovich answer audience questions at SXSW about polarization, the use of political media, and the potential for Texas to ever go blue.  Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community. Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #Askpreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail. is brought to you by CAFE https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

14m
Mar 14
Note From Joyce 3/13: Trump’s Flirtation with Fascists

Joyce Vance is a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, a professor at the University of Alabama Law School, and an MSNBC legal analyst. Notes from Joyce are exclusive to the CAFE Insider membership. For the text of this note, along with the full archive of contributor notes, head to CAFE's website.

7m
Mar 13
CAFE Insider 3/12: Trump’s Pretrial Games

On a new episode of , Preet and Joyce discuss the latest developments in former President Donald Trump’s criminal prosecutions:  – Trump’s motions seeking to delay the hush money criminal trial in Manhattan and exclude certain evidence and witness testimony from being presented at trial, including testimony from his former lawyer Michael Cohen; and – Special counsel Jack Smith’s opposition to Trump’s motions to dismiss the criminal charges stemming from Trump’s retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, and the addition of two appellate lawyers to Smith’s prosecution team in Florida. We hope you’re finding informative. Email us at letters@cafe.com with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Joyce.  Give the gift of CAFE Insider: cafe.com/gift http://cafe.com/gift Shownotes & transcript can be found at CAFE.com https://cafe.com/insider-podcast/cafe-insider-3-12-trumps-pretrial-games-hush-money-manhattan-trial/. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE Studios https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

44m
Mar 12
Note from Elie 3/8: Joe Biden's Looming Nightmare Pardons

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

9m
Mar 08
Stay Tuned Bonus 3/7: David Lat

In this bonus from , Preet and David Lat discuss Lat’s experience working for Chris Christie in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the art of public speaking. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community. Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #Askpreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail. is brought to you by CAFE https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

7m
Mar 07
Note From Barb 3/6: No, You’re Violating My First Amendment Rights!

Barb McQuade is the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, a law professor at the University of Michigan, and an NBC News/MSNBC legal analyst. To access the full written version of Barb's note, head to CAFE.com.

7m
Mar 06
CAFE Insider 3/5: A Predictable SCOTUS Ruling

On the docket:  – The Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling that states cannot disqualify former President Donald Trump from the ballot for his role in the January 6 insurrection and seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election;  – The Court’s decision to grant review of Trump’s immunity defense appeal in the election subversion criminal prosecution; and – Trump’s request to delay the Mar-a-Lago documents criminal trial until after the November election. We hope you’re finding informative. Email us at letters@cafe.com with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Joyce.  Give the gift of CAFE Insider: cafe.com/gift http://cafe.com/gift Shownotes & transcript can be found at CAFE.com https://cafe.com/insider-podcast/cafe-insider-3-5-scotus-trump-14th-amendment/. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE Studios https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

46m
Mar 05
Note from Elie 3/5: Crash and Burn — The Cost of the Doomed, Hubristic 14th Amendment Campaign

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

7m
Mar 05
Note from Elie 2/29: The Supreme Court Doesn’t Give a Damn About Jack Smith’s Timeline (And It Shouldn’t)

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

9m
Feb 29
Stay Tuned Bonus 2/29: Barb McQuade

In this bonus from , Preet and former US Attorney Barb McQuade discuss Donald Trump’s $355 million fine in the New York civil fraud judgment.  Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community. Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #askpreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail. is brought to you by CAFE https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

4m
Feb 29
Note from Rachel 2/28: The Birth of a New Era in Reproductive Regulation

Rachel Barkow is the Charles Seligson Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, where she focuses on issues of criminal justice and prison reform. For a transcript of Rachel’s note, as well as the full archive of contributor notes, head to CAFE.com.

8m
Feb 28
CAFE Insider 2/27: Embryos & Gag Orders

On the docket:  – Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s request for a partial gag order against former President Donald Trump in the hush money prosecution, citing his history of attacking those involved in legal proceedings against him; –Trump’s motions to dismiss the Mar-a-Lago documents charges, based on the Presidential Records Act and presidential immunity in addition to challenging special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment; and – The Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children under state law, and individuals may be held liable for destroying them. We hope you’re finding informative. Email us at letters@cafe.com with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Joyce.  Give the gift of CAFE Insider: cafe.com/gift http://cafe.com/gift Shownotes & transcript can be found at CAFE.com https://cafe.com/insider-podcast/cafe-insider-2-27-alabama-embryos-trump-gag-orders/. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE Studios https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

50m
Feb 27
Note from Elie 2/23: Michael Cohen’s Moment of Truth Has Arrived

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

9m
Feb 23
Stay Tuned Bonus 2/22: Jake Tapper

In this bonus from , Preet and Jake Tapper discuss Tapper’s writing process and the subject of his new book.  Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community. Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #AskPreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail. is brought to you by CAFE https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

7m
Feb 22
Note from Asha 2/21: Smirnov on Ice

Asha Rangappa is a lawyer, former FBI Special Agent, and current CNN analyst. She's also a Senior Lecturer at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. Head to CAFE.com for a full transcript of Asha's Note. Notes from Asha are exclusive to the CAFE Insider membership. For the text of this note, along with the full archive of contributor notes, head to CAFE's website.

10m
Feb 21
CAFE Insider 2/20: Trump’s NY State of Mind

On the docket:  – The ruling by a New York judge ordering former President Donald Trump and his company to pay nearly $355 million plus interest in fines as part of the judgment against him in the civil fraud case brought by NY Attorney General Letitia James; – The March trial date set for Trump’s hush-money criminal trial in Manhattan; and – The hearing in Fulton County, Georgia where District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand to rebut allegations that her romantic relationship with a lead prosecutor in the Trump case should disqualify her from handling the matter. We hope you’re finding informative. Email us at letters@cafe.com with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Joyce.  Give the gift of CAFE Insider: cafe.com/gift http://cafe.com/gift Shownotes & transcript can be found at CAFE.com https://cafe.com/insider-podcast/cafe-insider-2-20-trumps-ny-state-of-mind/. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE Studios https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

47m
Feb 20
Note from Elie 2/16: The Real Biden Documents Scandal (It’s Not the Old Man Stuff)

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

10m
Feb 16
Stay Tuned Bonus 2/15

In this bonus from , Preet answers a listener's question about Judge Aileen Cannon’s recent order in Trump’s classified documents case and how she might rule on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s motion for reconsideration.  Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community. Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #askpreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail. is brought to you by CAFE https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

3m
Feb 15
Note From Joyce 2/14: Prosecuting the Parents isn’t Enough

Joyce Vance is a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, a professor at the University of Alabama Law School, and an MSNBC legal analyst. Notes from Joyce are exclusive to the CAFE Insider membership. For the text of this note, along with the full archive of contributor notes, head to CAFE's website.

6m
Feb 14
CAFE Insider 2/13: The Hur Report

On the docket:  – Special counsel Robert Hur’s report detailing his findings from the investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents; – The Supreme Court oral arguments in the case challenging former President Donald Trump’s eligibility to run for president again based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment; and – Trump’s petition asking the Supreme Court to temporarily freeze proceedings in the election subversion case while he continues to litigate the question of a former president’s immunity from criminal prosecution. We hope you’re finding informative. Email us at letters@cafe.com with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Joyce.  Give the gift of CAFE Insider: cafe.com/gift http://cafe.com/gift Shownotes & transcript can be found at CAFE.com https://cafe.com/insider-podcast/cafe-insider-2-13-the-hur-report/. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE Studios https://cafe.com/about-us/ and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

50m
Feb 14
Note from Elie 2/9: Donald Trump Has a Jury Problem

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie’s Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

7m
Feb 09