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Opening Arguments - Podcast

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!

News Politics Law
Update frequency
every 2 days
Average duration
65 minutes
Episodes
1133
Years Active
2016 - 2025
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OA403: SCOTUS Demolishes Church State Separation

OA403: SCOTUS Demolishes Church State Separation

While the SCOTUS news last episode was good, this time around it is... not that. We've had a slew of terrible decisions for anyone who believes that taxpayers should not have to fund Christianity. S…

01:17:53  |   Tue 14 Jul 2020
OA402: Good News from SCOTUS!

OA402: Good News from SCOTUS!

Yes, you read that correctly, we've got some good news! You may not quite have seen the two decisions reported that way exactly, but Optimist Prime Torrez believes that 19-635 Trump v. Vance and 19…

01:22:43  |   Fri 10 Jul 2020
OA401: Legal Eagle Sues the Trump Administration!

OA401: Legal Eagle Sues the Trump Administration!

Today we're joined by the Legal Eagle himself, Devin Stone! Devin is suing the Trump administration, with the help of his lawyer Kel McClanahan. Devin and Kel break down for us what the lawsuit is a…

01:09:40  |   Tue 07 Jul 2020
OA400: No, John Roberts Is Not Your Friend

OA400: No, John Roberts Is Not Your Friend

Today's show could also be called "the worst good news possible" because, yes, the Supreme Court declined to completely gut Roe v. Wade (despite the fact that Roe is effectively dead in many ways), …

01:16:40  |   Fri 03 Jul 2020
OA399: The LAMicus Brief

OA399: The LAMicus Brief

We've got a special treat for you fine folks today! This is the Law'd Awful Movies from last month where Thomas delivers his Amicus Brief in the Flynn case and Andrew and Morgan discuss the process …

01:59:11  |   Tue 30 Jun 2020
OA398: The SCOTUS Asylum Ruling, Explained

OA398: The SCOTUS Asylum Ruling, Explained

Plus, Andrew breaks down (or has a breakdown over) the viral photo of a card that purportedly allows the holder to enter any business without wearing a mask. Is it real or... really stupid?

Then w…

01:22:07  |   Fri 26 Jun 2020
OA397: Explaining Bostock v. Clayton County

OA397: Explaining Bostock v. Clayton County

This episode breaks down exactly what happened in the Supreme Court's surprising 6-3 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County holding that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gende…

01:11:44  |   Tue 23 Jun 2020
OA396.5 BONUS Episode: Will You Be Able To Read John Bolton's Book?

OA396.5 BONUS Episode: Will You Be Able To Read John Bolton's Book?

Today's bonus episode takes a deep dive into the lawsuit brought by the Trump Administration to try and block the publication of John Bolton's tell-all book. We break down the legal arguments and te…

01:04:22  |   Sat 20 Jun 2020
OA396: Happy Juneteenth from the Supreme Court!

OA396: Happy Juneteenth from the Supreme Court!

Today's episode might have been titled "Andrew Was Really, Really Wrong," as we break down this rather surprising week in the Supreme Court, including the Title VII cases, the Court's refusal to gra…

01:02:26  |   Fri 19 Jun 2020
OA395: The Andrew Was Already Wrong Show!

OA395: The Andrew Was Already Wrong Show!

Today's show takes a deep dive into the Supreme Court, with the theme of "Shame Justice Roberts," and we recorded this... just before Justice Roberts (and, surprisingly, Neil Gorsuch) voted to affir…

01:03:18  |   Tue 16 Jun 2020
OA394: The Amicus Show!

OA394: The Amicus Show!

Today's episode takes an in-depth look at the concept of an amicus brief, explaining why we filed one in the Flynn case, what it means, and what's next for the guy who sold out his country... and hi…

01:31:53  |   Fri 12 Jun 2020
OA393: Gabe Roth of Fix the Court

OA393: Gabe Roth of Fix the Court

Today we're joined by Gabe Roth, executive director of https://fixthecourt.com/. Fix the Court is a national, nonpartisan organization that advocates for non-ideological “fixes” that would make the …

01:17:53  |   Tue 09 Jun 2020
OA392: In the Aftermath of George Floyd

OA392: In the Aftermath of George Floyd

Today's extra-long show -- two hours if you're a patron! -- tackles all the issues surrounding the state of our Union in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder, including questions about which cha…

01:22:08  |   Fri 05 Jun 2020
OA391: Republicans Are Still Trying To Break the Government, Part Eleven Billion

OA391: Republicans Are Still Trying To Break the Government, Part Eleven Billion

Today's episode takes a deep dive into H.R. 965, which (quite sensibly) permits proxy voting in the House of Representatives in light of the COVID-19 crisis, and the lawsuit filed by various Republi…

01:09:32  |   Tue 02 Jun 2020
Bonus:  George Floyd and Policing the Police

Bonus: George Floyd and Policing the Police

Today's emergency episode breaks down everything you need to know about the death of George Floyd and the charges filed against Officer Derek Chauvin in Minnesota.

Patreon Bonuses

We’ve got an a…

01:07:10  |   Sun 31 May 2020
OA390: Trump's War on Twitter (A Deep Dive on Section 230)

OA390: Trump's War on Twitter (A Deep Dive on Section 230)

Today's episode breaks down the latest temper tantrum and accompanying executive order by our game show host president attacking social media platforms for having the temerity to engage in fact-chec…

01:25:21  |   Fri 29 May 2020
OA389:  #Obamagate (w/guest AG!)

OA389: #Obamagate (w/guest AG!)

Today's episode brings back AG of the Mueller She Wrote and Daily Beans podcasts to help delve in to all the craziness that is #Obamagate. And, as a bonus, we also discuss the five Inspectors Genera…

01:21:41  |   Tue 26 May 2020
OA388: Reinstating the Rule of Law

OA388: Reinstating the Rule of Law

Today's episode checks in on all the latest goings-on in the Trump administration that probably don't violate the law but do undermine the norms of 200+ years of government, from firing Inspectors G…

01:15:43  |   Fri 22 May 2020
OA387: You Pay the Priest (w/Andrew Seidel)

OA387: You Pay the Priest (w/Andrew Seidel)

Today's episode features an interview with one of our favorite recurring guests, Andrew Seidel, who returns to warn us of new regulations pursuant to the CARES Act that are permitting churches to ta…

01:19:04  |   Tue 19 May 2020
OA386: The Opening Arguments Amicus Brief!

OA386: The Opening Arguments Amicus Brief!

Today's episode marks a milestone for the show: we're going to file an amicus curiae brief in the Michael Flynn case. Find out exactly how & why we're doing this!

We begin, however, with a brief u…

01:21:57  |   Fri 15 May 2020
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