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Opening Arguments

Opening Arguments is a law show that helps you make sense of the news! Comedian Thomas Smith and lawyer Matt Cameron help you understand not only current events, but also deeper legal concepts and areas! The schedule is M-W-F, with the main show on Monday and Friday and Vapid Response on Wednesday!

Latest Episodes:

OA748: Everything You Wanted To Know About the Debt Ceiling (But Were Afraid to Ask) May 25, 2023

Show notes

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 Andrew tackle a stupendously bad article arguing against the application of the 14th Amendment.

NOTES OA 736 https://openargs.com/oa736-scotus-tees-up-rancid-herring-case-to-gut-the-administrative-state/

31 U.S.C § 3101 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/3101

Congressional Research Service, Debt limit votes 1978 to present https://sp.fas.org/crs/misc/R41814.pdf

Congressional Research Service, The Gephardt Rule https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL31913

HR 3877 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3877/text

Perry v. U.S., 294 U.S. 330 (1935) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3388791031923623137

EO 6102 notice https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Executive_Order_6102.jpg

Laurence Tribe, “A Ceiling We Can’t Wish Away,” New York Times, July 7, 2011 https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/opinion/08tribe.html

OA747: Ready For Ron (DeSantis)? NOT SO FAST May 23, 2023

Show notes

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 setback by a group looking to aid his (doomed) 2024 Presidential bid. You won't want to miss it!

In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew give an update on the ongoing efforts to hold MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell accountable for his $5 million "Prove Mike Wrong" challenge when he was, in fact, very very wrong.

Notes OA 734 https://openargs.com/oa-734-disney-v-desantis-you-mess-with-the-mouse-you-get-the-ears/

OA 717 https://openargs.com/oa717-lock-him-up-4-trump-gets-indicted-desantis-gets-spanked/

OA 614 https://openargs.com/oa614-the-fec-is-corrupt-and-broken-biden-has-inexplicably-neglected-to-fix-it/

Disney MTD CFTOD complaint https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23816386/disney-mtd.pdf

Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. §§ 30101 et seq. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30101

11 C.F.R. § 100.72 https://www.fec.gov/regulations/100-72/2022-annual-100

Ready For Ron v. FEC docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65639515/ready-for-ron-v-federal-election-commission/

Ready For Ron complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.248664/gov.uscourts.dcd.248664.1.0_1.pdf

Ready For Ron rulinghttps://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.248664/gov.uscourts.dcd.248664.30.0.pdf

Carey v. FEC, 791 F.Supp.2d 121 (D.D.C. 2011) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2459277047400624208

(Hilariously, the Ready for Ron complaint manages to cite the wrong Carey case and also gets the year wrong.)

OA746: Derp Off Dersh Off 2: Sidney Powell vs. Kari Lake May 22, 2023

Show notes

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-denying weirdo, Kari Lake, has been up to. (Spoiler alert: nothing good.)

Notes OA 673 https://openargs.com/oa673-dont-sanction-me-im-old-dersh/

OA 678 https://openargs.com/oa678-dershs-sanctions-defense-somehow-keeps-getting-worse/

OA 728 https://openargs.com/oa728-fox-blinks-first/

King v. Whitmer sanctions video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWiuX9CPOSA

King v. Whitmer sanctions transcript https://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/Sanctions-hearing-transcript.pdf

King v. Whitmer sanctions ruling https://casetext.com/case/king-v-whitmer-7

King v. Whitmer docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18693929/king-v-whitmer/

Texas attorney grievance procedures https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Disciplinary_Process_Overview&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=29470#reciprocal

Lake v. Hobbs state docket https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/records/election-2022/cv2022-095403 Lake v. Hobbs complaint https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/4151/638064516668500000

Arizona Supreme Court ruling in Lake v. Hobbs https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23720629/orderrepetitionforreview-4731530-0.pdf

Lake v. Fontes https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.azd.1294569/gov.uscourts.azd.1294569.3.0_1.pdf

Lake v. Fontes Sanctions order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.azd.1294569/gov.uscourts.azd.1294569.106.0_2.pdf

Lake v. Fontes attorneys’ fees https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.azd.1294569/gov.uscourts.azd.1294569.107.6.pdf

-Support us on Patreon at: 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

OA745: Not Even Republicans Are Buying What John Durham is Selling May 19, 2023

Show notes

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 peddle long-debunked conspiracy theories about how the FBI is in cahoots with Hillary Clinton. Sure, Jan.

Notes Durham report https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23813392/durhamreport.pdf

Durham Appointment Order https://www.justice.gov/d9/fieldable-panel-panes/basic-panes/attachments/2021/02/26/durham.order_.pdf

Durham Statement On IG Report https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/statement-us-attorney-john-h-durham

New York Times, “How Barr’s Quest to Find Flaws in the Russia Inquiry Unraveled” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/us/politics/durham-trump-russia-barr.html

-Support us on Patreon at: 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

OA744: Georgia Fake Electors Scheme Gets Real (feat. Lawfare's Anna Bower) May 18, 2023

Show notes

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 motion to quash the Special Purpose Grand Jury report, DA Fani Willis's response, and more!

Notes Fulton County docket http://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/94?Grid-orderBy=LastModifiedDate-desc Anna Bower, Lawfare, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Georgia Special Purpose Grand Juries But Were Afraid to Ask" https://www.lawfareblog.com/everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-georgia-special-purpose-grand-juries-were-afraid-ask

Anna Bower's columns: https://www.lawfareblog.com/contributors/abower

-Support us on Patreon at: 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

OA743: Trump Hallucinates Gag Order as DOJ Blocks Testimony in Strzok Suit May 16, 2023

Show notes

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 https://openargs.com/oa700-rumors-of-trumps-testimony-in-strzok-suit-may-be-greatly-exaggerated/

OA 716 https://openargs.com/oa-716-jim-jordan-is-not-alvin-braggs-daddy/

Trump Protective Order https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23807787/protective-order-5-8-23.pdf

Trump notice of removal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311.1.0_1.pdf

5 U.S.C. § 552a https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/552a

28 U.S.C. § 1442 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/1442

28 U.S.C. § 1455 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/1455

In re Commonwealth, 790 F.3d 457 (3d Cir. 2015) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5539437264593415986

Jordan 3/20 Letter to Bragg https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2023-03-20-jdj-bs-jc-to-bragg-re-trump-investigation.pdf

-Support us on Patreon at: 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

OA742: Twitter Can't Violate the First Amendment, But Fox Can Definitely Defame a Gov't Official May 15, 2023

Show notes

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 by Nina Jankowicz.

Happy Mother's Day!

For the Patreon bonus, we discuss beer, the Superbowl, and Rule 62.1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, because of course we do.

Notes OA 551 https://openargs.com/oa551-trump-may-out-of-office-but-his-federal-judges-are-not/

Donato dismissal Trump v. Twitter https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.387133/gov.uscourts.cand.387133.165.0_6.pdf

Trump v. Twitter, Motion for Indicative Ruling https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.387133/gov.uscourts.cand.387133.191.0.pdf

FRCP 62.1 https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/rule_62.1

Jankowicz federal docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67365497/jankowicz-v-fox-news-network-llc/

Jankowicz complaint https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23809394-jankowicz-v-fox-complaint

-Support us on Patreon at: 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

OA 741: It's a Derp-Off! Trump vs. Santos vs. Dersh May 12, 2023

Show notes

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 George Santos. Be there, will be wild!

NotesOA 738 https://openargs.com/oa-738-trump-flops-proud-boys-drop/

Surveillance footage of Cathy Latham https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/09/20/coffee-county-georgia-cathy-latham/

SPGJ report sections made public http://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/1706/EX-PARTE-ORDER-OF-THE-JUDGE-2-16-2023-Report

Willis Modification of Motion to Disqualify Debrow http://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/1918/SPGJ--STATES-MODIFICATION-OF-MOTION-TO-DISQUALIFY-5-10-23

Shafer letter Fulton County https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23800972/shafer-final-march-26-letter-to-da-willis-w-exhibits.pdf

FEC Complaint - Santos https://campaignlegal.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/Campaign%20Legal%20Center%20-%20Santos%20Complaint%20%28Final%29.pdf

Santos indictment https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-05/santos.indictment.pdf

18 U.S.C. § 1343 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1343

Federal Sentencing Guidelines https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/guidelines-manual/2021/GLMFull.pdf

-Support us on Patreon at: 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

OA740: BREAKING - E. Jean Carroll, $5 Million; Trump, ZERO (feat. Mitchell Epner) May 10, 2023

Show notes

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 subsequent defamation. We go WAY beyond the regular media coverage; you won't want to miss this episode!

This episode is a paid post on Patreon and was released early to supporters.

Notes Carroll verdict form (blank) https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23808239/carrollvtrumpverdictform.pdf Screenshots of actual verdict form (Pagliery tweet) https://twitter.com/Jose_Pagliery/status/1656020932031389697?s=20

Trump depo testimony - full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkU49iYkw2A

-Support us on Patreon at: 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

OA739: $5 Million Says Mike Lindell Is Full Of Stuffing May 09, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew interview Cary Joshi and Brian Glasser of Bailey Glasser, who successfully won a $5 million arbitration award against Mike Lindell for claims of election fraud data. Notes Prove Mike Wrong Challenge Official Rules https://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/Prove-Mike-Wrong-Challenge-Official-Rules.pdf Arbitration Award https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/a68b42f4-d5dc-4ff9-b34e-84d52fa3fc32.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_11

-Support us on Patreon at: 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

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