Opening Arguments Media LLC
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!
Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: openargs.com
Author
Opening Arguments Media LLC
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Oct 29, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
OA251.5 Abortion Special - More on June Medical Services v. Gee 10.02.2019 46:11
This rapid-response bonus episode tackles the Supreme Court's late-breaking stay of the 5th Circuit's opinion in June Medical Services v. Gee , with a particular emphasis on dissecting Justice Brett Kavanaugh's dissent. What does it all mean? Listen and find out! We have also continued the episode with a deep dive into res judicata and the truly ominous implications of Kavanaugh's dissent at...
OA251: Gerrymandering in Maryland Heads Back to SCOTUS 08.02.2019 1:23:00
Today's episode returns to one of the most critical political issues of our time: gerrymandering of congressional districts, and in particular, the state of MD-6, which pits the Democrats as villains and Republican voters as the plaintiffs alleging disenfranchisement. Will that role reversal be enough to win approval from SCOTUS? Listen and find out! We begin, however, with an update on the Ju...
OA250: One Quarter of a Thousand Episodes! 05.02.2019 1:24:12
Today's very special episode is our 250th! To celebrate, we've assembled a compilation of some of our favorite moments over the past two and half years. If you've ever wanted to share the show to friends and family, this is the episode to do it. In this episode, we explain: What the show's all about How liberal we are (or aren't) Whether we talk about non -political stuff How Trump changed t...
OA249: Overturning Roe v. Wade Starts Today 01.02.2019 1:25:22
Today's episode sounds the alarm as to whether our activist right-wing Supreme Court is ready to effectively overturn Roe v. Wade and essentially permit the entire state of Louisiana to all but ban the right to an abortion in that state. We're NOT an alarmist podcast, but this is something you need to be watching. We also follow up on the Trump Shutdown, answer a listener question regarding our...
OA248: The Cert(iorari) Show! 29.01.2019 1:13:42
Today's episode features a deep dive into a bunch of different issues around granting the writ of certiorari -- "cert" -- and some of the intricacies of how the Trump administration is trying to take advantage of the activist Supreme Court. Oh, and we also tackle a lawsuit that's being grossly misrepresented by the media. We begin with a discussion of the unique procedure of "cert before judgment...
OA247: Status of the Trans Ban 25.01.2019 1:34:56
Today's episode tackles the recent Supreme Court orders in the Trump ban on transgender service members. How did we get here and what's next? Listen and find out. We begin, however, with a brief Andrew Was Wrong segment regarding the history and modern politics of the State of the Union. After that, it's time for the main segment, which dives deeply into the history of trans service in the U.S....
OA246: Alex Jones & Sandy Hook 22.01.2019 1:18:15
Today's episode features a deep dive into the latest developments in the lawsuit brought by parents of the victims in the Sandy Hook Massacre against Alex Jones and Infowars for repeatedly portraying the school shooting as a hoax. We begin, however, with a question regarding our views of the 2016 Presidential Election from a Trump supporter who's hate-funding us. Hey, we're good to our word! Afte...
OA245: More on Barr and the Shutdown 18.01.2019 1:22:52
Today's episode covers the William Barr confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee to become the next Attorney General, as well as the ongoing legal battles regarding Trump’s shutdown of the government. We begin with Barr, who’s proven to be a complex individual. How did he fare in his testimony before the Senate? Are there reasons for optimism? Is his notorious memorandum (whic...
OA244: Clarence Thomas vs. Thurgood Marshall 15.01.2019 1:07:17
Today's episode features a little more about Corey Robin, including the argument addressed on the show that criticisms of Clarence Thomas's competence are a racist echo of similar claims made against Thurgood Marshall. Find out why Andrew made the mistake he did in Episode 242 , and also why Andrew still stands behind his answer to that question. We begin with Robin, winding our way from his blo...
OA243: Build That Wall!! 11.01.2019 1:20:17
Today's episode tackles the mechanics of the shutdown and whether (and how) Donald Trump can build that wall despite widespread opposition. We begin with an Andrew Was Wrong about the identity of Corey Robin and the incorporation doctrine. Enjoy a fun segue to Gitlow v. New York and why you should never repeat the trope that free speech doesn’t include the right to shout ‘fire’ in a crowded theat...
OA242: Larry Klayman is Still Crazy After All These Years 08.01.2019 1:08:51
Today's episode features a deep dive into the Bivens action, with a little help from everyone's favorite nutso conspiracy theorist lawyer, Larry Klayman -- and his newest client, Roger Stone sidekick Jerome Corsi. Find out what sorts of wacky shenanigans these guys have been up to, and why they think they've hit a $350 million jackpot. (Hint: they haven't.) First, though, we begin with an insi...
OA241: Is This The C-Hook That Could Send PG&E To Prison?? 04.01.2019 1:21:19
Today's episode takes a deep dive into the potential criminal liability for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in connection with the 2018 California Wildfires and the c-hook that just might be the linchpin to the whole thing. Are people going to prison? Listen and find out! We begin by celebrating a brand-new holiday: Oversight Day, with the inauguration of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. We...
OA240: Libertarianism is Still Bad & You Should Still Feel Bad 01.01.2019 1:04:15
Today's special, hangover-free New Years' episode follows up on some of the things we discussed during our Episode 238 interview with Matt Donnelly of the Ice Cream Social podcast , including the never -controversial subject of libertarianism. Strap in; it's been an interesting year! We begin with a listener question from Ricardo, who asks some follow-up questions to our original hot take on...
OA239: The Fourth Circuit's Puzzling Emoluments Ruling 28.12.2018 1:23:56
Today's episode takes a deep dive into the just-released one-page order by the Fourth Circuit staying all discovery in the Emoluments litigation brought by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh. How do we fill more than an hour's worth of time on one page? Why is this ruling really, really bad for everyone?? Listen and find out! We begin, however, with a brief foray up Yodel Mountain to discus...
OA237: Lowering the... Barr (Memo) 21.12.2018 1:29:05
Today's Rapid Response episode takes a look at the just-released Law'd Awful Memo written by Attorney General nominee Bill Barr and sent to Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein concerning the Mueller investigation. Are the argument(s) raised in the memo any good? What does this mean for the future of the Mueller investigation? Listen and find out! We begin, however, with a brief foray into everyone's favo...
OA236: Stairway to... the Supreme Court?? 18.12.2018 1:29:14
Today's deep-dive Tuesday tackles a long-running lawsuit by the estate of Randy California -- the founder, lead singer, and guitarist for the band Spirit -- alleging that Led Zeppelin stole the iconic riff for "Stairway to Heaven" from Spirit's 1968 song "Taurus." With assistance from Thomas on guitar, we tackle all of the fun issues that are currently pending before the 9th Circuit... and possib...
OA235: Corporations Are People, My Friend... Criminal People 14.12.2018 1:21:23
Today's Rapid Response episode takes a look at three breaking stories related to the White House: (1) the recent ruling requiring Stormy Daniels to pay Trump's attorneys' fees; (2) the sentencing of Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen; and (3) most importantly, the plea deal signed by American Media, Inc. -- parent company to the National Enquirer -- to cooperate with the Special Counsel's Offi...
OA234: Civil Forfeiture, Berkeley & More! 11.12.2018 1:15:58
Today's deep-dive Tuesday tackles a viral oral argument before the Supreme Court in Timbs v. Indiana regarding civil forfeiture -- and a delightful question (that inspired the graphic for the show notes) about whether the state can seize your Bugatti for speeding. Oh, and we check back in on the Ann Coulter v. Berkeley lawsuit that was recently settled. What happened? Listen and find out! We b...
OA233: [REDACTED] & Wisconsin 07.12.2018 1:26:12
Today's Rapid Response episode takes a look at two pressing issues: (1) Mueller's [REDACTED] sentencing memorandum with respect to Michael Flynn, and (2) the naked power grab by lame-duck Republicans in Wisconsin. Along the way, we'll also cover a bunch more legal stories, but you knew that already! We begin high atop Yodel Mountain, where we cover not only the [REDACTED] Flynn memorandum but als...
OA232: Trump's Plan to Weaponize the Census (& Bridgegate!) 04.12.2018 1:11:02
Today's deep-dive Tuesday takes us back to a time in which politically-motivated revenge was actually seen as a scandal; namely, Chris Christie's Bridgegate. There's a new ruling out of the Third Circuit that affects two Christie staffers, and... well, you'll just have to listen and find out! Then, it's time to take a long look at ongoing litigation surrounding the Trump Administration's efforts...
OA231: The End of the Beginning (for Trump) 30.11.2018 1:22:09
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." - Winston Churchill. And yes, today does, in fact, mark the end of the beginning of the Mueller Investigation... and perhaps for Donald Trump. Why? You'll just have to listen and find out! In this super-sized episode, we tackle: (1) Michael Cohen's just-announced plea to a new count...
OA230: TOO MUCH MEAT! 27.11.2018 1:09:27
Today's deep-dive Tuesday tackles that viral case caption you've probably seen floating around Twitter: "United States v. 1,855.6 pounds of American Paddlefish Meat." Is the sack of fish meat really going to have to show up in court? Will it have a lawyer??!? Listen and find out! We begin, however, with a roundup of all the lawsuits filed against Matthew Whitaker, including the most recent one...
OA229: Andrew Miller & the Appointments Clause 22.11.2018 1:17:27
Today's Thanksgiving Special / Rapid Response episode takes a look at the single most important Yodel Mountain case pending right now: Andrew Miller's lawsuit before the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Find out what it all means! We begin, however, with a brief Andrew Was Right and roundup on the status of the Jim Acosta lawsuit, which has been mooted thanks to the injunct...
OA228: Jim Acosta, Sovereign Immunity & More! 20.11.2018 1:09:07
Today's Deep Dive Tuesday tackles the motion for preliminary injunction and underlying lawsuit brought by CNN and Jim Acosta against the Trump White House for revoking his press credentials. You'll get to hear about how Andrew Was Right... last Thursday (!) As a bonus, you'll get a listener question that segues into a mini-deep-dive on the "sovereign immunity" doctrine! We begin, however, with s...
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