

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

Aug 30, 2023 • 1h 11min
OA800: Mark Meadows Forfeits The Fifth; Will He Soon Flip on Trump?? (feat. Mitchell Epner)
It's our 800th Episode! Surprisingly, Mark Meadows testified at his removal hearing in Georgia, which means that he has likely waived his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. To understand what happened and why, Liz and Andrew welcome back friend of the show Mitchell Epner. Could this mean that Meadows will flip on Trump -- and if so, when?? Listen and find out! Notes GA v. Meadows federal docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67694389/the-state-of-georgia-v-meadows/ Judge Jones order re: supplemental briefing in Meadows https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.319225/ Meadows emergency motion for removal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.319225/gov.uscourts.gand.319225.17.0_1.pdf Meadows motion to dismiss on supremacy clause grounds https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.319225/gov.uscourts.gand.319225.16.1.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

Aug 28, 2023 • 1h 8min
OA799: Trumpland: Come for the Federal Court Follies, Stay for the Glaring Ethical Conflicts
Today, Liz and Andrew tell you everything you need to know about Mark Meadows's efforts to remove the Fulton County, GA RICO indictment to federal court; about Sidney Powell's efforts to demand a speedy trial; and about the rising tension between Donald Trump and the rest of his co-conspirators. After that, the duo break down the impending ethics crisis in the Southern District of Florida documents retention case, and discuss how Judge Aileen Cannon, FSW, is on the verge of ignoring very real conflicts that could prevent Trump's two co-defendants from getting a fair trial. Notes Fulton County GA docket https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/142 Georgia v. Meadows removal (federal) docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67694389/the-state-of-georgia-v-meadows/ State of Georgia v. Clark (federal removal docket) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67713789/the-state-of-georgia-v-clark/ GA v. Latham federal removal docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67730534/the-state-of-georgia-v-latham/ Latham removal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.319599/gov.uscourts.gand.319599.1.0.pdf Chesebro speedy trial motion https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23925099/23sc188947-demand-for-speedy-trial.pdf Sidney Powell speedy trial motion https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2126/DEMAND-FOR-SPEEDY-TRIAL-SIDNEY-POWELL Meadows reply sup removal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.319225/gov.uscourts.gand.319225.45.0_1.pdf Ulbrich v. State, 870 S.E.2d 859 (2022) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=8364812589412216761 CNN on identity of 30 unindicted co-conspirators https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/17/politics/trump-georgia-30-unindicted-co-conspirators/index.html -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

Aug 25, 2023 • 1h 6min
OA798: Mugshotpalooza: And Trump Makes 19!
Exploring the legal implications of moving the trial to federal court, recent arrests, Mark Meadows' removal hearing, and Cheesebrow's motion for a speedy trial. The hosts also discuss presidential pardons, false facts in court, and the interesting character of Matthew Calamari in the Trump Organization.

Aug 23, 2023 • 1h 5min
OA797: All My Indictments - As the Trump Turns
This podcast explores the latest developments from the Trump indictments in Fulton County, GA, Washington, DC, and the Southern District of Florida. Topics include RICO charges, problematic court decisions, a civil criminal hybrid argument, challenges of handling a massive amount of discovery, conflicts of interest, and speculating on potential witness flips and DOJ pressure.

Aug 21, 2023 • 1h 7min
OA796: Will Trump's Big Mouth Land Him In The Big House? (feat. Chris Regan)
Liz and Andrew discuss developments in the Fulton County, Georgia indictment with respect to Mark Meadows before welcoming guest Chris Regan to discuss the "two systems of justice" in our country: one for every other criminal defendant, and one for Donald Trump. The interview ends with a discussion of West Virginia politics and the future of Joe Manchin that you don't want to miss! Notes Meadows motion to dismiss on supremacy clause https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.319225/gov.uscourts.gand.319225.16.1.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

Aug 18, 2023 • 56min
OA795: The X Filings - Elon Musk's Plan to Leave No Lawyer Behind
Liz and Andrew bring you a (mostly) Trump-free show discussing all things Twitter, including the recent sanctions imposed for failure to comply with a search warrant, a lawsuit against the former Twitter lawyers, and a truly oppressive lawsuit designed to deter a charity that's critical of... Elon Musk's policies. NotesX v. Wachtell, Complaint https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/dwvkdolbxpm/X%20Corp%20v%20Wachtell%20-%2020230705.pdf X v. CCDH Amended Complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.416212/gov.uscourts.cand.416212.10.0.pdf July 20, 2023 X Cease and Desist letter to CCDH https://counterhate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07.20.2023-Letter-to-Imran-Ahmed.pdf Twitter search warrant trial transcript https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/sites/dcd/files/23sc31%20Attachment%20A%20-%20Documents%20unsealed%20with%20redactions.pdf New York Times reporting on hate speech on Twitter https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/02/technology/twitter-hate-speech.html CCDH, Toxic Twitter https://counterhate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Toxic-Twitter_FINAL.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

Aug 15, 2023 • 1h 6min
OA794: Trump Has 91 Problems, And A RICO Is One
It's here! Liz and Andrew break down the 41-count, 19-defendant indictment of Donald Trump on state criminal charges in Fulton County, Georgia. Notes Trump Fulton County, GA indictment https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000189-f730-dc32-ab89-f7fc1f760000 -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

Aug 13, 2023 • 57min
OA793: The Right-Wing Freakout, Or, Why Hunter Biden Rejected His Plea Deal (feat. Mitchell Epner)
Liz and Andrew welcome back friend of the show Mitchell Epner for an episode dedicated to understanding the right wing's latest distractions, including their bizarre and wrong argument that the DOJ corruptly agreed to funnel a sweetheart deal to Hunter Biden. Find out the truth - including why Hunter Biden's lawyers rejected the plea deal! - in this episode. You won't want to miss it! -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

Aug 11, 2023 • 1h 7min
OA792: Eastman & The Cheese - The Anatomy Of Co-Conspirators Two and Five
We're back to a Trump show as Liz and Andrew break down the latest Trump filing in the Southern District of Florida documents case before moving on to DC to discuss Co-Conspirators 2 and 5, John Eastman and Ken Chesebro, particularly in light of the latest email discovered in which the Cheese suggests everybody ought to do some light criming! Notes US v. Trump (SDFL documents) docket https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/ SDFL order striking GJ evidence https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.100.0_1.pdf Trump Objection to Proposed Protective Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.104.0.pdf Eastman motion to stay disbarment https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23901160/sbc-23-o-30029-respondents-motion-for-abatement-of-state-bar-disciplinary-proceeding-declaration-of-zachary-mayer.pdf Trump DC docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67656604/united-states-v-trump/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc Greg Jacob Jan 6 testimony https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-TRANSCRIPT-CTRL0000040479/pdf/GPO-J6-TRANSCRIPT-CTRL0000040479.pdf Chesebro Dec. 6 memo https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/chesebro-dec-6-memo/ce55d6abd79c2c71/full.pdf OA 782, Debunking Hawaii 1960 Precedent https://openargs.com/oa782-no-shut-up-republicans-do-not-get-to-steal-elections-because-of-hawaii-in-1960/ -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

Aug 10, 2023 • 46min
OA791: Trump Judge Orders Religious "Sensitivity" Training From A Hate Group
Yes, you read that correctly. This is a classic OA deep dive, in which Liz and Andrew break down a disturbing sanctions order issued by a Trump-appointed judge in Texas who, all on his own, decided to order Southwest Airlines to fly out a bigot from the Alliance Defending Freedom to teach their lawyers how to be bigots. It's bad. Notes Geidner substack https://www.lawdork.com/p/judge-orders-adf-religious-liberty-training Carter Amended Complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215.9.0.pdf Carter Jury verdict https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215.348.0.pdf Court Dec. 5, 2022 Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215.374.0_1.pdf Southwest email of “Recent Court Decision” https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215.383.2.pdf Southwest Opposition https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215/gov.uscourts.txnd.292215.394.0.pdf SPLC on ADF https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/alliance-defending-freedom ADF intervention brief https://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/adf-ap-and-others-v-france-echr-brief.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


