Opening Arguments cover image

Opening Arguments

Latest episodes

undefined
Aug 1, 2023 • 51min

OA786: Can Donald Trump Really Overturn New York Times v. Sullivan?

Liz and Andrew begin by discussing the latest developments in Fulton County, Georgia. No, it's not a Trump indictment - but it is the next best thing! After that, the duo break down Trump's latest LOLsuit loss in Trump v. CNN, and discuss how Trump may aim to leverage that loss into an argument to overturn the most important Supreme Court case in terms of press freedom: New York Times v. Sullivan. Notes OA 744 https://openargs.com/oa744-georgia-fake-electors-scheme-gets-real-feat-lawfares-anna-bower/ McBurney order denying Motion to Quash, Preclude, and Recuse https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2057/EX-PARTE-FILING-7-31-23 Fulton County docket http://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/94?Grid-orderBy=LastModifiedDate-desc Trump v. CNN complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.621239/gov.uscourts.flsd.621239.1.0.pdf Order dismissing Trump v. CNN https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.621239/gov.uscourts.flsd.621239.31.0_1.pdf State v. Lampl, 770 S.E.2d 629 (Ga. 2015) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13555564276998303856 Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476, 484 (1957) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14778925784015245625 Carson Holloway, “Overturn New York Times v. Sullivan”, The American Conservative, Sep. 9, 2022. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/overturn-new-york-times-v-sullivan/ -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 31, 2023 • 53min

OA785: All Gerrymandering is Local (feat. Joe Dye)

Liz and Andrew welcome a very special guest expert to break down redistricting in Alabama, Miami, and elsewhere in light of Allen v. Milligan. This is an unpaid post on Patreon. Notes Grace, Inc. v. Miami https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.625372/gov.uscourts.flsd.625372.94.0.pdf Merrill v. Milligan (2022) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21a375_d18f.pdf Allen v. Milligan (2023) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-1086_1co6.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 28, 2023 • 52min

OA784: Trump Sends Goons To Destroy The Evidence: Is That Bad?

HERE IT IS! Liz and Andrew break down a rapid response to the superseding indictment of Donald Trump in the Mar-a-Lago documents case. As a bonus, the duo also discuss today's DOJ filing for a protective order and what it tells us about Trump's strategy (hint: it's greymail). Notes Trump Superseding Indictment https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653.85.0_1.pdf Trump Superseding indictment summary https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653.86.0.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 27, 2023 • 58min

OA783: Hunter Biden Plea Goes Sideways, Fox News Goes Nuts

Liz and Andrew break down the latest developments in Hunter Biden's plea deal and help inoculate you against the coming right-wing storm of misinformation suggesting something nefarious. In the Patreon bonus, Andrew and Liz take a deep look at the Trump SDFL docket and discover something very interesting about Special Counsel Jack Smith. Notes Liz’s ATL on Giuliani https://t.co/CN4aal5bx9 DOJ Press release https://www.justice.gov/usao-de/pr/tax-and-firearm-charges-filed-against-robert-hunter-biden DOJ Information 2 - tax https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/rhb_information_2.pdf DOJ Information 1 - firearm https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/rhb_information1.pdf DOJ Agreement to produce Weiss https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23886334/doj-letter-weiss-testify.pdf Fed R. Crim. Pro. 11 https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcrmp/rule_11 Jason Smith amicus brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82801/gov.uscourts.ded.82801.7.3.pdf Email correspondence between Kittila and Biden's counsel https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82801/gov.uscourts.ded.82801.8.1_1.pdf Ted Kittila's (Jason Smith's counsel) letter to the Court https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82801/gov.uscourts.ded.82801.8.0_1.pdf Clerk's office email to Ted Kittila (Jason Smith's counsel) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82801/gov.uscourts.ded.82801.13.0_1.pdf Salerno letter in response to show cause order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82801/gov.uscourts.ded.82801.14.0_3.pdf Affidavit of Jessica Bengels, the litigation specialist: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82801/gov.uscourts.ded.82801.14.1_4.pdf Unsealed Search Warrant Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.617854/gov.uscourts.flsd.617854.146.0_2.pdf 26 U.S.C. § 6531 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6531 NY Times on Hunter Biden Plea Deal Hearing https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/us/politics/hunter-biden-plea-deal-charges.html?smid=url-share -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 25, 2023 • 1h 2min

OA782: No, Shut Up, Republicans Do Not Get To Steal Elections Because of Hawaii in 1960

Indictment Watch(TM) continues as Liz and Andrew update you as to what's new with Bernard Kerik before debunking the false arguments being made in defense of the fake electors who plotted with Trump to try and steal the 2020 election. If you've ever heard anyone dishonestly suggest that "Hawaii in 1960" justifies generating fake electoral certificates, this is the episode for you! Notes Judge Howell Discovery Order re Kerik Motion to Compel https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720.82.0_1.pdf Joint Stipulation re Kerik Discovery https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720.83.0_1.pdf  Chesebro-Troupis Dec. 9, 2020 memo https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/trump-electors-memo-december/eb149df1a68cc512/full.pdf Todd Zywicki, “The Law of Presidential Transitions and the 2000 Election,” BYU L. Rev. https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2031&context=lawreview Zywicki 2023 declaration https://reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Todd-Zywicki-Declaration-07.11.2023.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 24, 2023 • 1h 4min

OA781: Fulton County DA Fani Willis Rosins Up Her Bow; Maybe This Time It Really Is RICO?

As Indictment Watch(TM) continues, Liz and Andrew turn their eyes to Fulton County, Georgia. Will DA Fani Willis beat Jack Smith in the race to indict Donald Trump for a third set of crimes? Will Trump's new lawyer, John Lauro, be less of a dipshit? (No.) And what about the fake cosplay electors who helped Trump try to steal Georgia? What's going to happen to them? Listen and find out! In the Patreon bonus, Liz explains that yes, sometimes it is RICO, and gives us a very special Lizdive into the Georgia standardized test scandal of 2009. Trust us, it's all a seamless web! Notes Lauro on Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/video/6331632263112 3 U.S.C. § 5 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/5 3 U.S.C. § 15 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/15 SUPREME COURT Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23875842/s23o1134_-_original_petition-copy.pdf SUPERIOR COURT Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2046/2023CV382670 Trump Amendment to Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2051/AMENDED-COMPLAINT Judge Glanville order https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23883767/2023cv382670-order-of-recusal.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 21, 2023 • 1h 2min

OA780: SCOTUS Blocked Biden From Cancelling Student Loans Because F--- You Is Why

Liz and Andrew provide a brief update as we continue to wait with bated breath on Trump indictments in DC (for the January 6th insurrection) and possibly in Fulton County, Georgia (for trying to falsify Georgia's election results). In the main segment, Liz and Andrew break down the Supreme Court's recent decision in Biden v. Nebraska on the so-called "major questions" doctrine as to why we can't have nice things like student loan forgiveness. This is a paid post on Patreon. Notes Biden v. Nebraskahttps://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-506_nmip.pdf Dep’t of Education v. Brown https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-535_i3kn.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 20, 2023 • 50min

OA779: Trump's a Target, MI Electors are Defendants & Judge Cannon Keeps Rolling (feat. Mitchell Epner)

Liz and Andrew invite back friend of the show Mitchell Epner to discuss the breaking news today that Jack Smith's Washington, DC grand jury has issued a "target letter" informing Donald Trump that he is likely to be indicted in connection with the January 6 investigation. Find out exactly what all that means & much, much more! This episode is an unpaid post on Patreon & was released a day early for  all Patrons! NOTESMichigan AG Dana Nessel's press release https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2023/07/18/michigan-attorney-general-dana-nessel-charges-16-false-electors -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 18, 2023 • 48min

OA778: Geese, Ganders & Affirmative Action: Are We Overreacting to SFFA v. Harvard? (Feat. Guha Krishnamurthi)

Liz and Andrew welcome Prof. Guha Krishnamurthi to the show to discuss his forthcoming law review article about the future of affirmative action in light of the Supreme Court's recent decision in SFFA v. Harvard. Notes SFFA v. Harvard https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_hgdj.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com
undefined
Jul 17, 2023 • 1h 6min

OA777: Who is Gal Luft? (Or, How I Learned Everything Republicans Say About Hunter Biden is Nonsense)

Liz and Andrew break down Trump's latest doomed efforts to try and suppress the Special Purpose Grand Jury Report in Fulton County, Georgia (because he's probably going to be indicted in the next few weeks). Then, the two tackle the supposed "whistleblower" who can link Hunter Biden to Joe Biden to piles of cocaine to China to... something. Except that's all nonsense and the whistleblower has been indicted for the stuff they accuse Biden of doing. Neat! This is an unpaid post on Patreon. Notes SUPREME COURT Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23875842/s23o1134_-_original_petition-copy.pdf SUPERIOR COURT Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2046/2023CV382670 Fulton County docket http://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/94?Grid-orderBy=LastModifiedDate-desc Trump motion to quash https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23718113-ex-parte-fulton-county-grand-jury-03-20-2023-102331-37306996-f8b43da6-144b-4544-ab53-4095c1c5f36d Order on briefing https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/1941/SPGJ-ORDER-ON-ADDITIONAL-BRIEFING Trump Motion for Reconsideration https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/1953/EX-PARTE-FILING-5-24-23A In re Floyd County Grand Jury Presentments for May Term 1996 https://casetext.com/case/in-re-floyd-county-etc Anna Bower Lawfare explainer on SPGJs https://www.lawfareblog.com/everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-georgia-special-purpose-grand-juries-were-afraid-ask Woolsey article https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/exclusive-fallout-1-billion-biofuel-scam-could-decimate-polygamist-sect/ -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode