

Opening Arguments
Opening Arguments Media LLC
Opening Arguments is a law show that helps you make sense of the news! Comedian Thomas Smith brings on legal analysts to help you understand not only current events, but also deeper legal concepts and areas!
The typical schedule will be M-W-F with Monday being a deep-dive, Wednesday being Thomas Takes the Bar Exam and patron shoutouts, and Friday being a rapid response to legal issues in the news!
The typical schedule will be M-W-F with Monday being a deep-dive, Wednesday being Thomas Takes the Bar Exam and patron shoutouts, and Friday being a rapid response to legal issues in the news!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 27, 2023 • 1h 12min
OA812: Classified Information and Judge Aileen "Loose" Cannon (feat. Kel McClanahan)
Today, Andrew and Liz welcome back to the show National Security Counselor Kel McClanahan to break down a bunch of filings pursuant to the Classified Information Procedures Act, and tell us how to keep our eyes on Judge Cannon! Notes Chris Geidner "Law Dork" on the Fifth Circuit https://www.lawdork.com/p/fifth-circuit-adf-training-book-ban-social-media CIPA - Appendix 13 to Title 18 of the US Code https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18a/compiledact-96-456 Trump’s motion for CIPA Section 4 scheduling https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.160.0.pdf DOJ CIPA Section 3 Brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.162.0.pdf Nauta/DeOliveira CIPA Section 3 Brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.163.0.pdf DOJ CIPA Motion Under Seal in DC ( cover page) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67656604/59/1/united-states-v-trump/ -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 25, 2023 • 1h 6min
OA811: Bob Menendez is NOT Being Indicted For Bribery
Liz and Andrew break down the recent indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez plus much, much more. Notes Menendez indictment https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-09/u.s._v._menendez_et_al_indictment.pdf McDonnell v. US, 136 S.Ct. 2355 (2016) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7646544289520795258 -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 22, 2023 • 1h 8min
OA810: So Major League Baseball And A Unicorn Walk Into The Supreme Court...
Liz and Andrew break down the week's developments before heading into a deep dive about baseball's antitrust exemption and a new petition for certiorari filed by... unicorns? Even if you're not a sports fan, you won't want to miss this one! Notes OA 696 https://openargs.com/oa696-in-which-james-okeefe-pretends-to-be-a-journalist/ Fulton County GA - DA Willis Motion notifying Judge McAfee of potential conflicts https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23986592/23-0920-notice-of-potential-conflicts-of-interest-concerning-attorneys.pdf Anna Bower, Fake Crocodiles and Fake Electors in Fulton County https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/fake-crocodiles-and-fake-electors-in-fulton-county Project Veritas Suspends All Operations Amid Devastating Layoffs and Fundraising Struggles https://www.mediaite.com/news/new-project-veritas-suspends-all-operations-amid-devastating-layoffs-and-fundraising-struggles/ Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, 259 U.S. 200 (1922) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5457794249908053604 Toolson v. New York Yankees, Inc., 346 U.S. 356 (1953) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1315902585984637212 Flood v. Kuhn, 407 U.S. 258 (1972) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1568944639886480553 -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 20, 2023 • 52min
OA809: Will This One Weird Trick Keep Trump Out of the White House? (Part 1)
In this Episode, Andrew and Liz outline the issues underlying the recent law review article by Professors Will Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen suggesting that Trump can be disqualified from the Presidency by virtue of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. After that, the two return to the linkroll to discuss the many, many developments in and around Trumpworld, including whatever happened to that guy Ray Epps that Tucker Carlson insists is a federal agent plant? (Hint: he's not.) In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew describe more of the sad legal trevails of David Shafer, cosplay elector. Notes OA 35 https://openargs.com/oa35-emoluments-clause-wseth-barrett-tillman-part-1/ OA 36 https://openargs.com/oa36-emoluments-clause-wseth-barrett-tillman-part-2/ Baude & Paulsen, “The Sweep and Force of Section Three”, 172 U. Pa. L. Rev. (forthcoming 2024) https://deliverypdf.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=995103073068092081092071118086002065023073053045056031120084030066073022088005028078011036036121038023044082013118012025083101019006033017032126091082092002112010046001043008098085115025107069005116107119092023024116117112126020097081101012025127123&EXT=pdf&INDEX=TRUE In re Griffin (Griffin’s Case), 11 F. Cas. 7 (1869) https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F.Cas/0011.f.cas/0011.f.cas.0007.html US v. Ray Epps docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67807327/united-states-v-epps/ Anna Bower, On Clerks and Caimans: Jeffrey Clark’s Removal Hearing https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/on-clerks-and-caimans-jeffrey-clark-s-removal-hearing -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 18, 2023 • 58min
OA808: Ken Paxton Acquitted & You Won't Believe Who's Stumping for Trump's Lawyers
Liz and Andrew talk about the surprising acquittal of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment before discussing the companion efforts to gum up the works in the attempt to hold Donald Trump and his co-conspirators responsible for trying to steal the 2020 Presidential Election. In the Patreon Bonus, Liz and Andrew set the record straight on Michael Flynn in light of the government's recent motion to dismiss Flynn's attempt to sue for wrongful prosecution. (Hint: he was not wrongfully prosecuted.) Notes Middlebrooks order dismissing Trump's motion to disqualify https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.610157/gov.uscourts.flsd.610157.342.0.pdf DOJ motion to dismiss in Flynn v. US https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flmd.411523/gov.uscourts.flmd.411523.38.0.pdf DOJ’s reply to Trump’s motion for Chutkan recusal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.54.0_2.pdf Trump reply brief supporting DQ Chutkan https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258148/gov.uscourts.dcd.258148.58.0.pdf Clark reply sup removal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.319419/gov.uscourts.gand.319419.41.0.pdf Meese amicus in lawsuit against MLB https://theacru.org/wp-content/uploads/Job-Creators-Network-Amicus-Brief.pdf Axios, “Scoop: How GOP pressured Texas senators over Paxton's impeachment trial” https://www.axios.com/2023/09/17/ken-paxton-texas-impeachment-gop -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 15, 2023 • 54min
OA807: Hunter Biden Indicted, Cheese Gets Cut & Rudy... Is Still Rudy
Hunter Biden was indicted; what does it mean? Liz and Andrew bring you that, plus an extra-length linkroll today to cover all the week's developments, all before tackling a listener question about the federal removal statute. In the Patreon bonus, the two talk more about the social media case of Missouri v. Biden, which heads to the Supreme Court. Notes SCOTUS administrative stay in Missouri v. Biden https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63290154/333/missouri-v-biden/ Trump SDFL Docket https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/ Cannon order granting protective order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.150.0.pdf Willis brief on federal removal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca11.84175/gov.uscourts.ca11.84175.20.0_4.pdf 2018 GAO gun report https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-440.pdf OA 778 https://openargs.com/oa778-geese-ganders-affirmative-action-are-we-overreacting-to-sffa-v-harvard-feat-guha-krishnamurthi/ OA 790 https://openargs.com/oa790-the-trump-prosecutions-a-tale-of-two-courtooms/ -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 13, 2023 • 52min
OA806: Person Woman Man Camera... RICO
Liz and Andrew begin with a discussion of Kevin McCarthy's efforts to impeach Ice Cream Joe before the linkroll roundup of all the major developments over the past few days. Then, in the main segment, the two discuss the fate of the right-wing nonsense suit in Missouri v. Biden, in which a Trump-appointed judge essentially prevented the Biden administration from reporting nonsense on social media. Did the Fifth Circuit save the day?? Listen and find out! In the Patreon bonus, the duo dive deeply into the Fulton County Special Purpose Grand Jury report that Donald Trump tried so hard to disappear. What... good news for Trump might it hold?? Notes OA 713 https://openargs.com/oa713-state-ags-sue-anthony-fauci-for-booting-them-off-twitter/ OA 739 https://openargs.com/oa739-5-million-says-mike-lindell-is-full-of-stuffing/ OA 771 https://openargs.com/oa771-trump-judge-burns-down-first-amendment-to-save-free-speech/ In re Lindell Mgmt LLC Litigation Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67410449/in-re-lindell-management-llc-litigation/?order_by=desc Trump DC Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67656595/united-states-v-trump/ Trump Motion to recuse Chutkan https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.50.0_10.pdf Chesebro MTD Fulton County https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23972733-23sc188947-motion-13-chesebro-mtd Missouri v Biden docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67563473/state-of-missouri-v-biden/ Missouri v Biden 5th Circuit opinion https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.214640/gov.uscourts.ca5.214640.238.1.pdf Liz ATL on Trump’s Motion to Recuse Chutkan https://abovethelaw.com/2023/09/trump-quits-shitposting-about-federal-judges-to-demand-they-recuse-to-promote-faith-in-judiciary/ 2019 OLC Memo on Impeachment https://www.justice.gov/d9/opinions/attachments/2020/01/20/2020-01-19-impeach-invest.pdf -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 11, 2023 • 55min
OA805: Why Mark Meadows Getting Tossed Back To State Court Is Very Bad News For Trump
Liz and Andrew break down all the latest developments before taking a deep dive into the significance of Mark Meadows's stunning loss in trying to remove his criminal indictment from state court in Fulton County, Georgia to federal court. What does that mean for Donald Trump? Listen and find out! In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew discuss the testimony of a key upcoming witness who definitely has the goods on Donald Trump. Notes OA 785 https://openargs.com/oa785-all-gerrymandering-is-local-feat-joe-dye/ Coomer v. Lindell Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63296393/coomer-v-lindell/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc State of GA v. Clark, Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67713789/the-state-of-georgia-v-clark/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc Order granting injunctive relief in Milligan v. Allen https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.alnd.179302/gov.uscourts.alnd.179302.272.0.pdf Giuliani Motion for Indictment Perfect in Form https://cms.themessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Giuliani-motion-9.8.23.pdf Donaghue Jan 6th testimony https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-TRANSCRIPT-CTRL0000034600/pdf/GPO-J6-TRANSCRIPT-CTRL0000034600.pdf -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 8, 2023 • 1h 9min
OA804: Trump Lawyers Enter the Find Out Phase
Liz and Andrew try a lightning round segment, answer a listener question, and then update you on the travails of Trump's lawyers as defendants in Fulton County, Georgia and as conflicted-out scoundrels in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Notes Hunter Biden Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67511701/united-states-v-biden/?order_by=desc US v. Abbott Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67630985/united-states-v-abbott/?order_by=desc Rejection Trump Boys’ Motion for Stay https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=7VeIswUTaqJ_PLUS_2jqwndUGqQ==&system=prod Fulton County docket https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/142 Chesebro Motion to dismiss https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2159/MOTION-TO-DISMIS-UNDER-THE-SUPREMECY-CLAUSE---CHESEBORO DA Fani Willis letter to Jim Jordan https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23941366/jim-jordan-letter.pdf -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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

Sep 6, 2023 • 59min
OA803: Will Trump Get To Ditch Those Other 18 Losers Who Got Indicted With Him??
Okay, so it's an all-Trump episode... but you won't want to miss Liz and Andrew breaking down whether Donald Trump can sever his case from his co-defendants in Fulton County, along with updates on the Trump DC case and the impending disbarment of Trump's little buddy and insurrectionist mastermind, John Eastman. In the Patreon bonus, the duo update you on Day 1 of Trump lackey Pete Navarro's trial for failure to comply with the January 6th Committee's congressional subpoena. Notes Trump DC docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67656595/united-states-v-trump DOJ reply Opp Motion to Vacate https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258148/gov.uscourts.dcd.258148.49.0.pdf Perry DC Cir docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66700176/in-re-sealed-case/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc Willis Motion to Advise Defendants https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2143/MOTION-08-31-2023-111043-39243051-4DD6F39C-4CF9-485F-B790-F0FC73AC40C5 Trump Motion to Sever https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23933074/23sc188947-motion-6.pdf Jan 10 2021 Eastman email to Valerie Moon https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.841840/gov.uscourts.cacd.841840.350.8_4.pdf Liz Wonkette on Gohmert https://www.wonkette.com/p/dumbest-man-in-congress-files-election-lawsuit-that-would-make-a-krakenhead-blush -Support us on Patreon: https://www.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


