Opening Arguments
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!
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 65 minutes
- Episodes
- 1132
- Years Active
- 2016 - 2025
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 Andr…
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 s…
OA746: Derp Off Dersh Off 2: Sidney Powell vs. Kari Lake
It's Sanctions Day! After a quick listener question, Liz and Andrew discuss the recent attorney grievance complaint against the Krakenlawyers in Michigan and what everyone's favorite li'l election-…
OA745: Not Even Republicans Are Buying What John Durham is Selling
Liz and Andrew break down Special Counsel John Durham's report, which resulted in zero convictions in four years and makes no new recommendations for any change to any FBI policy - but continues to …
OA744: Georgia Fake Electors Scheme Gets Real (feat. Lawfare's Anna Bower)
Liz and Andrew welcome Lawfare's Anna Bower to the podcast to break down everything going on with the potential indictment of Donald Trump in Fulton County, Georgia, with a focus on Trump's recent m…
OA743: Trump Hallucinates Gag Order as DOJ Blocks Testimony in Strzok Suit
Liz and Andrew update you on the latest developments in Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's criminal case against Donald Trump as well as Peter Strzok's ongoing civil suit against the DOJ.
Notes OA 700 ht…
OA742: Twitter Can't Violate the First Amendment, But Fox Can Definitely Defame a Gov't Official
In light of Linda Yaccarino being named CEO of Twitter, Liz and Andrew break down Trumpworld's never-ending lawsuits against social media, and yet another defamation suit against Fox News, this one …
OA 741: It's a Derp-Off! Trump vs. Santos vs. Dersh
Liz and Andrew break down the latest developments in Fulton County, GA; some truly terrible takes on the E. Jean Carroll verdict by Alan Dershowitz; and the indictment of Congressman Astronaut Rabbi…
OA740: BREAKING - E. Jean Carroll, $5 Million; Trump, ZERO (feat. Mitchell Epner)
Liz and Andrew bring on former sex crimes prosecutor and New York attorney Mitchell Epner for a discussion of the breaking civil verdict awarding E. Jean Carroll $5 million for Trump's assault and su…
OA739: $5 Million Says Mike Lindell Is Full Of Stuffing
OA 738: Trump Flops, Proud Boys Drop
Today, Liz and Andrew check in on three stories we've previously covered: the conclusion of the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit against Donald Trump; the recent convictions of the Proud Boys in connection w…
OA 737: Bad Judges, Bad Judges, Whatcha Gonna Do?
Today, Liz and Andrew discuss the latest ethical lapse from Clarence Thomas, as well as the horrible activism of the next Republican Supreme Court nominee, Stu Duncan.
In the Patreon bonus, Liz and …
OA736: SCOTUS Tees Up Rancid Herring Case to Gut the Administrative State
OA 734: Disney v. DeSantis: YOU MESS WITH THE MOUSE, YOU GET THE EARS
Liz and Andrew break down the just-filed lawsuit by Disney with respect to Ron DeSantis and his Republican buddies' shenanigans in Florida. Who will prevail? Listen and find out!
This photograph o…
OA 733: Trump Phones A Friend As Document Indictment Looms (feat. Kel McClanahan)
Liz and Andrew take a look at a letter sent by Donald Trump's lawyers to House Republicans and bring back expert National Security Lawyer Kel McClanahan to help answer all their questions about Trum…
OA 732: Court Calls Bullsh*t on Devin Nunes Cowsuit
Liz and Andrew give a brief update on how it's going for Donald Trump in the E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit. (Spoiler alert: not good! Like, contempt of court not good.)
Then, the duo break do…
OA 731: And the Loser of the Week Award Goes to TUCKER CARLSON, With Runner-Up Mike Lindell
Liz and Andrew break down the other Fox News lawsuit (by Abby Grossberg) that probably contributed to Tucker Carlson's firing, and then a hilarious arbitration loss for The Pillow Guy. You won't wan…
OA730: You Wouldn't Like Sam Alito When He's Angry (Or Ever)
OA729: Bragg Loses A Round, Trump Loses Five
Today, Liz and Andrew disagree over a recent ruling from Judge Vyskocil denying Alvin Bragg's motion for injunctive relief, and then break down recent developments in the E. Jean Carroll litigation.
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