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Opening Arguments

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Jun 8, 2023 • 55min

OA756: Twitter's Lawyers Dunk on Musk in Trump LOLsuit

Liz and Andrew break down the latest filing by Twitter proving that the Twitter Files don't say anything like what Elon Musk said they did. So, to summarize: Twitter still isn't in cahoots with the Deep State to censor conservatives. Then, it's time for some great news out of Florida as a federal judge blocks Florida's obscene law prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for three trans kids. In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew further debunk that Twitter is being paid $$$BILLIONS$$$ to... censor conservatives. Notes Trump Motion for Indicative Ruling https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.387133/gov.uscourts.cand.387133.191.0.pdf  Trump Motion for Relief From Judgment https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.387133/gov.uscourts.cand.387133.191.1.pdf Twitter reply to Indicative Motion https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.387133/gov.uscourts.cand.387133.195.0.pdf O’Handley v. Weber https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2023/03/10/22-15071.pdf FL PI Injunction https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flnd.460963/gov.uscourts.flnd.460963.90.0_1.pdf Twitter Admits in Court Filing: Elon Musk Is Simply Wrong About Government Interference At Twitter www.techdirt.com/2023/06/05/twitter-admits-in-court-filing-elon-musk-is-simply-wrong-about-government-interference-at-twitter/  -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
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Jun 6, 2023 • 55min

OA755: Alan Dershowitz Would Like New Ethics Rules To Benefit... Alan Dershowitz

Liz and Andrew update you with breaking news about the ChatGPT case, Mata v. Avianca, as well as developments in the Trump documents and George Santos cases. But all of that is mere appetizer for the main course: Alan Dershowitz's ongoing tilting at windmills to convince a court to rewrite the attorney sanctions rules so that Alan Dershowitz can continue to represent monsters and idiots without consequences. Learn how Dersh is continuing to peddle the lie that he was merely "of counsel" to Kari Lake and therefore shouldn't be held responsible for the fact that her complaint was a grab-bag of lies wrapped in more lies. Notes Lake v. Fontes docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63260463/lake-v-fontes -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
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Jun 5, 2023 • 1h 5min

OA 754: Trump Drags Bragg To Federal Court; Bragg Drags Back (feat. David Lurie)

Liz and Andrew welcome NY practitioner David Lurie to the show to discuss Trump's efforts to remove his New York indictment to federal court.   Notes NY Crim Law 175.10 https://casetext.com/statute/consolidated-laws-of-new-york/chapter-penal/part-3-specific-offenses/title-k-offenses-involving-fraud/article-175-offenses-involving-false-written-statements/section-17510-falsifying-business-records-in-the-first-degree 28 USC 1442 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/1442 In re Commonwealth, 790 F.3d 457 (3d Cir. 2015) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5539437264593415986 Trump notice of removal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311.1.0_2.pdf Bragg Motion to Remand https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311.19.0.pdf Morgan Lewis White Paper https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311.1.1_1.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
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Jun 2, 2023 • 1h 5min

OA753: Gonzalez v. Google: The Case That (Didn't) Break The Internet (feat. Corbin Barthold)

Liz and Andrew break down the recent Supreme Court decisions in Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh with help from Corbin Barthold. Notes Section 230 - 47 U.S.C. § 230 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/230 OA 698 https://openargs.com/oa698-will-clarence-thomas-break-the-internet-probably-not/ -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   
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Jun 1, 2023 • 49min

OA752: Ticket, Boarding Pass... Weight Check??

After discussing some breaking news, Liz and Andrew break down that viral "hey, are the airlines forcing passengers to step on scales before boarding the plane" story. Then, the duo update you on the impeachment of Texas AG Ken Paxton. In the Patreon bonus, Andrew gets angry as we talk about the latest maneuvering by the guy who sold out his country for Donald Trump, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. Notes Mata v. Avianca - Motion for Extension of Time Granted in Part, Denied in Part https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.38.0.pdf New Zealand Civil Aviation Act of 1990 https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0098/latest/DLM214687.html United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1428365285620704265 State v. Loomis, 881 N.W.2d 749 (Wis. 2016) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3222116451721963278 Paxton Articles of Impeachment  https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HR02377I.pdf#navpanes=0  Senate Resolution Impeachment https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SR735/2023 ProPublica article on COMPAS https://www.propublica.org/article/machine-bias-risk-assessments-in-criminal-sentencing -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
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May 30, 2023 • 1h 3min

OA751: ChatGPT Writes Fake Opinions; Real Judge Is Not Amused

Today, Liz and Andrew tackle the case that's burning up the Internet: did a lawyer really use AI to write a legal brief? Turns out no, it's even worse!   The duo also update you on the latest from Peter Navarro's (losing) efforts to protect Donald Trump, and in the Patreon bonus, we learn what the legal architect of the January 6th Insurrection, John Eastman, has been up to.   It's a super-sized episode!   Notes OA 748 https://openargs.com/oa748-everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-debt-ceiling-but-were-afraid-to-ask/ OA 707 https://openargs.com/oa707-peter-navarro-gets-spanked-by-government-in-presidential-records-case-with-major-implications-for-trump/  Mata v. Avianca dockethttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63107798/mata-v-avianca-inc/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=asc Mata v. Avianca complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.18.0.pdf Mata v. Avianca Opposition to Motion to Dismiss https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.21.0.pdf Mata v. Avianca First Show Cause Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.25.0.pdf Mata v. Avianca  4/25 LoDuca affidavit https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.29.0.pdf LoDuca affidavit, Exhibit 1, “Varghese v. China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd.” https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.29.1.pdf Mata v. Avianca defense counsel letter 4/26 https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.30.0.pdf Mata v. Avianca Second Show Cause Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.31.0_1.pdf Mata v. Avianca, LoDuca affidavit 5/25 https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.32.0.pdf Mata v. Avianca, Schwartz affidavit 5/25 https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.32.1_1.pdf Mata v. Avianca, Court Third Show Cause Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368/gov.uscourts.nysd.575368.33.0_1.pdf
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May 29, 2023 • 1h 14min

OA750: Carroll v. Trump III ??!? (feat. Mitchell Epner)

On today's show, Mitchell Epner returns to help Andrew and Liz break down two New York stories: first, the allegations surrounding Trump's media company that produces "Truth Social," and second, E. Jean Carroll's efforts to amend her pending defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump to add claims related to Trump's comments at the CNN "Town Social" in light of the prior verdict. Oh, and the "Truth Social" story involves Devin Nunes because of course it does. Notes OA 732 https://openargs.com/oa-732-court-calls-bullsht-on-devin-nunes-cowsuit/ E. Jean Carroll Motion to Amend https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.543790/gov.uscourts.nysd.543790.156.0_1.pdf TMTG v. WP Company https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23819045-trump-media-v-wapo-complaint Nunes v. Guardian https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23828415/nunes-v-guardian-complaint.pdf WaPo article, “Trust linked to porn-friendly bank could gain a stake in Trump’s Truth Social” https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/05/13/trump-truth-social-loan-questions/ Guardian Article https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/15/trump-media-investigated-possible-money-laundering  -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
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May 26, 2023 • 54min

OA749: Clarence Thomas Grifts. Kari Lake Sinks. Stewart Rhodes Comes To The End

Liz and Andrew update you on a bunch of stories, including today's breaking news regarding the sentencing of Stewart Rhodes and the Texas Legislature committee referring out articles of impeachment for AG Ken Paxton. Notes OA 693 https://openargs.com/oa693-mike-pence-cant-testify-against-trump-cause-hes-a-senator-now/ OA 698 https://openargs.com/oa698-will-clarence-thomas-break-the-internet-probably-not/ OA 723 https://openargs.com/oa723-right-wing-judges-take-the-money-and-run-away-with-your-civil-rights/ OA 746 https://openargs.com/oa746-derp-off-dersh-off-2-sidney-powell-vs-kari-lake/ Investigators detail years of alleged misconduct by Texas AG Ken Paxton in stunning House committee hearing https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-abuse-power-house-investigation-texas/ Kari Lake ruling https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CV2022-095403-926-05222023-PDF.pdf Kari Lake War Room tweet 5/23 tweet https://twitter.com/KariLakeWarRoom/status/1661095473695035392?s=20 May 8 Senate Judiciary Letter to Harlan Crow https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/May%208,%202023%20letter%20to%20Harlan%20Crow16.pdf  May 22 letter from Gibson Dunn to Durbin re Harlan Crow https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23822175/crow-letter.pdf 5 U.S.C. § 13103 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/13103 -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
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May 25, 2023 • 1h 3min

OA748: Everything You Wanted To Know About the Debt Ceiling (But Were Afraid to Ask)

This is it! Liz and Andrew break down the debt ceiling and what can be done about it, including the Fourteenth Amendment. You'll want to share this far and wide! In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew tackle a stupendously bad article arguing against the application of the 14th Amendment. NOTES OA 736 https://openargs.com/oa736-scotus-tees-up-rancid-herring-case-to-gut-the-administrative-state/ 31 U.S.C § 3101 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/3101 Congressional Research Service, Debt limit votes 1978 to present https://sp.fas.org/crs/misc/R41814.pdf Congressional Research Service, The Gephardt Rule https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL31913 HR 3877 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3877/text Perry v. U.S., 294 U.S. 330 (1935) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3388791031923623137 EO 6102 notice https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Executive_Order_6102.jpg Laurence Tribe, “A Ceiling We Can’t Wish Away,” New York Times, July 7, 2011 https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/opinion/08tribe.html
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May 23, 2023 • 47min

OA747: Ready For Ron (DeSantis)? NOT SO FAST

In this (almost entirely!) Trump-free episode, Liz and Andrew break down two major steps backwards for Meatball Ron DeSantis: an own goal in his ongoing losing Woke War Against Disney, and a major setback by a group looking to aid his (doomed) 2024 Presidential bid. You won't want to miss it! In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew give an update on the ongoing efforts to hold MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell accountable for his $5 million "Prove Mike Wrong" challenge when he was, in fact, very very wrong. Notes OA 734 https://openargs.com/oa-734-disney-v-desantis-you-mess-with-the-mouse-you-get-the-ears/ OA 717 https://openargs.com/oa717-lock-him-up-4-trump-gets-indicted-desantis-gets-spanked/ OA 614 https://openargs.com/oa614-the-fec-is-corrupt-and-broken-biden-has-inexplicably-neglected-to-fix-it/ Disney MTD CFTOD complaint https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23816386/disney-mtd.pdf Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. §§ 30101 et seq. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30101 11 C.F.R. § 100.72 https://www.fec.gov/regulations/100-72/2022-annual-100 Ready For Ron v. FEC docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65639515/ready-for-ron-v-federal-election-commission/ Ready For Ron complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.248664/gov.uscourts.dcd.248664.1.0_1.pdf Ready For Ron rulinghttps://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.248664/gov.uscourts.dcd.248664.30.0.pdf Carey v. FEC, 791 F.Supp.2d 121 (D.D.C. 2011) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2459277047400624208 (Hilariously, the Ready for Ron complaint manages to cite the wrong Carey case and also gets the year wrong.)

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