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
OA91: More Sex (& Also Asset Forfeiture)
For today's show, we revisit the topic first discussed in Opening Arguments Episode #60, namely, whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964's prohibition of discrimination on the basis of "sex…
00:59:57 |
Tue 01 Aug 2017
OA90: Pardon Me? Yes, Donald Trump Can Pardon Himself
In today's episode, Andrew definitively opines that the Presidential pardon power includes the right to self-pardon. We begin, however, with "Andrew Was Wrong." This time, he was wrong about Thor He…
01:07:56 |
Fri 28 Jul 2017
OA89: The "W" is Silent - Powlitics & Mwedia with Northpod Law UK
Today's show features an in-depth interview with Kirstin Beswick and Ben Knight of NorthPod Law UK, often referred to (by us) as the "Opening Arguments of England." Join all four of us as we discuss…
01:11:08 |
Tue 25 Jul 2017
OA88: Noah's Ark & How Private Is The Stuff You Do On Your Computer?
In today's episode, we discuss a recent court case involving an individual's expectation of privacy while browsing the Internet. We begin, however, with the question so many of our listeners wanted t…
01:10:50 |
Fri 21 Jul 2017
OA87: Revenge Porn & Parol Evidence
For today's show, we take a deep dive into the law of contracts, featuring the "parol evidence" rule. First, however, we answer a question from special listener Lydia S. who wants to know all about B…
01:00:51 |
Tue 18 Jul 2017
OA86: If Donald Trump, Jr. Commits Treason, Is It A Mini-Yodel?
In today's episode, we discuss the recent controversy over Donald Trump, Jr.'s contact with Russian officials during the 2016 election. We begin, however, with a follow-up from Dave (and others) who …
01:09:00 |
Fri 14 Jul 2017
OA85: More with Andrew Seidel on Trinity Lutheran & the First Amendment
For today's show, we dive deeper into the Supreme Court's recent decision in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer with guest lawyer Andrew Seidel from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. First, however, we an…
01:30:33 |
Tue 11 Jul 2017
OA84: #CNNBlackmail, John Oliver's lawsuit, and more on Maajid Nawaz
In today's episode, we discuss the recent controversy over CNN's handling of a Redditor who posted a Trump meme online. Is this really "blackmail" by CNN? We begin, however, with a follow-up from Pa…
01:09:07 |
Fri 07 Jul 2017
OA83: Law of the Fourth of July! (and Maajid Nawaz)
In this special holiday episode, Andrew and Thomas talk about fireworks law across the U.S. Where can you go for a cherry-bombin' good time? Listen and find out! First, however, we take a look at M…
01:01:54 |
Tue 04 Jul 2017
OA82: Trinity Lutheran, Trump's Executive Order & More (w/guest Andrew Seidel)
For today's show, we break down the Supreme Court's recent decision in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer with guest lawyer Andrew Seidel from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. We begin, however, with a p…
01:07:21 |
Fri 30 Jun 2017
OA81: 😒😜🐿️😎 Emoji Law with Denise Howell (also: Voting Rights, Draft Kings, and FanDuel)
In this episode, Thomas and Andrew interview Denise Howell from the This Week in Law podcast. First, however, we take a look at the Supreme Court's recent decision denying certiorari in an appeal of …
01:10:33 |
Tue 27 Jun 2017
OA80: Flashback Friday (featuring Health Care, The Slants, and Gerrymandering!)
It's our first Flashback Friday! On today's episode, we revisit topics from previous episodes that are once again back in the news. We begin with the breaking-est of breaking news, the new Senate ve…
01:03:04 |
Fri 23 Jun 2017
OA79: The Thomas Was Right Show! (Featuring Climate Change and the Paris Accords)
In this episode, Thomas and Andrew break down the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement regarding climate change. First, however, we celebrate Thomas being prescient in…
01:03:06 |
Tue 20 Jun 2017
OA78: Jeff Sessions, "Preemptive Executive Privilege," & More on Emoluments
If it's Friday, it's a current events episode, and if it's current events, we're probably talking about Donald Trump. We begin, however, with Breakin' Down the Law, in which Andrew answers the questi…
01:13:29 |
Fri 16 Jun 2017
OA77: Oh No Ross and Carrie (and Matthew!)
In this episode, Thomas and Andrew talk to the co-host of one of their favorite podcasts, Oh No Ross and Carrie, along with the show's lawyer, Matthew Strugar -- proving once and for all that other p…
01:03:12 |
Tue 13 Jun 2017
OA76: "I Hope" James Comey's Senate Testimony Shows Obstruction of Justice
If it's Friday, it's a current events episode, and if it's current events, we're probably talking about Donald Trump. We begin, however, with the second installment of a hopefully infrequent segment …
01:02:25 |
Fri 09 Jun 2017
OA75: Opening Arguments Über Alles (Understanding Non-Compete Clauses)
In this freewheeling episode, Andrew walks through a recent decision in California regarding a key employee who worked on self-driving cars and was recruited by a competitor. First, however, the guys…
01:04:46 |
Tue 06 Jun 2017
OA74: Sippin' #Covfefe With Trump's Severed Head
If it's Friday, it's a current events episode, and if it's current events, we're probably talking about Donald Trump. We begin, however, with a hopefully infrequent segment about stuff Andrew gets wr…
01:09:39 |
Fri 02 Jun 2017
OA73: Berkeley, Ann Coulter, and Free Speech (w/guest Travis Wester)
In this episode, the guys engage in a discussion with actor Travis Wester, who criticized the show's coverage of the Berkeley College Republicans' lawsuit back in the "C" segment of Episode #65. Tra…
01:40:54 |
Tue 30 May 2017
OA72: Body Slamming Journalists PLUS Political vs. Racial Gerrymandering
In this episode, we revisit what Andrew has called the worst problem in American politics: gerrymandering -- but this time with a twist. We begin, however, with a listener question from Anna Bosnick…
01:06:03 |
Fri 26 May 2017
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