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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:

OA718: Why Fox News "Has a Nuanced Approach to Falsity" Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew break down the latest ruling in Delaware granting Dominion partial summary judgment in its defamation lawsuit against Fox. Learn exactly why this is a devastating ruling and what it means for the future of everyone's favorite "Fair and Balanced" news channel.

In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew update everyone on the latest between Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and clueless goon Gym Jordan.

Notes OA 705 https://openargs.com/oa705-can-dominion-really-take-down-fox-news/

Summary Judgment Order https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23738695/dominion-fox-summary-judgment-order.pdf

Pitch Deck https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23731963/dominion_3-21-23_hearing_slides-used-at-hearing_redacted.pdf

3/31 Bragg Letter https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000187-37d2-dd77-a1cf-7ff7d0920000

-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

OA717: LOCK HIM UP 4: Trump Gets Indicted, DeSantis Gets Spanked Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

HERE IT IS! Liz and Andrew begin the show by reacting to the news of Trump's indictment while we await the actual copy of the document.

After that, the team breaks down how Disney outmaneuvered that dumpy Trump knockoff (Ron DeSantis) with the aid of every law student's worst nightmare: the Rule Against Perpetuities!

Notes OA 710 https://openargs.com/oa710-lock-him-up/

OA 711 https://openargs.com/oa711-lock-him-up-2-the-secret-of-the-ooze/

OA 712 https://openargs.com/oa712-lock-him-up-3-rise-of-the-machines/

Text of “Don’t Say Gay” law, HB 1557 http://laws.flrules.org/2022/22

FL Stat. Ch. 189 http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0100-0199/0189/Sections/0189.012.html

RCID Charter https://www.rcid.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/RCID-Charter.pdf

HB 9B https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0009Ber.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0009B&Session=2023B

Reedy Creek Declaration of Restrictive Covenants https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23734248-disney-board-covenant

-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 716: Jim Jordan is Not Alvin Bragg's Daddy Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew break down several developments in the ongoing effort to hold Trump accountable, including the back-and-forth between Jim Jordan's "Committee on Oversight" and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. Oh, and is Mike Pence going to testify to Jack Smith's Grand Jury? Listen and find out!

Along the way we take a deep dive into Congress's power to conduct investigations, the Tenth Amendment, how bad originalism is, and much, much more!

Notes OA 708 https://openargs.com/oa708-stormy-daniels-strikes-back/

Politico: Manhattan Trump grand jury set to break for a month https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/29/manhattan-trump-grand-jury-set-to-break-for-a-month-00089422

AMI non-prosecution agreement https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1119501/download

Liz Wonkette https://www.wonkette.com/new-house-committee-to-answer-burning-questions-what-did-nancy-pelosi-coup-and-when-did-she-coup-it

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

Bragg Response Letter March 23, 2023 https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23720988/20230323-letter-response-from-manhattan-da.pdf

Jordan Response Letter March 25 https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2023-03-25-jdj-bs-jc-to-bragg-re-subpoena-and-response.pdf

Watkins v. US, 354 U.S. 178 (1957) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=562722361999206621

-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

OA715: Fox Blunders Into Dumpster Fire Lawsuit. No, A Different One. Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew break down (former) Fox News producer Abby Grossberg's lawsuit against Fox, and what implications it may have for Dominion's pending $1.6 billion defamation suit against Fox.

Notes OA 694: Dominion v. Fox: Defamation Suits Are Hard But Shutting Up is Harder https://openargs.com/oa694-dominion-v-fox-defamation-suits-are-hard-but-shutting-up-is-harder/

OA 705: Can Dominion Really Take Down Fox News?? https://openargs.com/oa705-can-dominion-really-take-down-fox-news/

FMLA https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/chapter-28

Upjohn v. US, 449 U.S. 383 (1981) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5153750416071396937

Front, Inc. v. Khalil, 24 N.Y.3d 713 (2015) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=12991806128851668843

Dominion MSJ https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/redacted-documents-in-dominion-fox-news-case/dca5e3880422426f/full.pdf

Fox TRO Motion v. Abby Grossberg https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=qP3YkE2tdjchZ45eMXvjLA==

Fox Emergency Motion to Seal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.595940/gov.uscourts.nysd.595940.9.0.pdf

Order Denying Motion to Seal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.595940/gov.uscourts.nysd.595940.11.0.pdf

Grossberg Amended Complaint v. Fox https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.595940/gov.uscourts.nysd.595940.12.0.pdf

Grossberg Original Complaint v. Fox https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.595940/gov.uscourts.nysd.595940.1.0.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

OA714: Gonna Be Hard for Steve Bannon's Sugar Daddy to Write Those Checks From Prison Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew break down the strange criminal indictment of Guo Wengui a.k.a. a lot of other names, grifter to the stars and patron to Steve Bannon, and discuss the larger implications of the far-right merger with anti-CCP grifters. You won't want to miss it!

Notes OA700 https://openargs.com/oa700-rumors-of-trumps-testimony-in-strzok-suit-may-be-greatly-exaggerated/

Steve Wynn indictment https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63317117/attorney-general-of-the-united-states-of-america-v-wynn/

Guo Wengui bankruptcy docket (CT) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ctb.307068/gov.uscourts.ctb.307068.78.0.pdf

Guo Wengui indictment https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1574491/download

-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

OA713: State AGs Sue Anthony Fauci For... Booting Them Off Twitter?? Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

With a slight break from Trump, Liz and Andrew turn to the pernicious effects of Trump's many, many appointments to the federal judiciary and how it's almost impossible to distinguish nonsense from reality any more. Specifically, the two break down Missouri v. Biden, an absolutely insane lawsuit that somehow has convinced the attorneys general of two states to sign on with a cavalcade of weirdo anti-vax COVID deniers and losers. We talk about what that development means for the future of the rule of law.

Notes OA 25 https://openargs.com/oa25-jill-stein-decide-presidency-no/ OA 689 https://openargs.com/oa689-lawsuit-or-interpretive-dance-why-not-both/

OA 707 https://openargs.com/oa707-peter-navarro-gets-spanked-by-government-in-presidential-records-case-with-major-implications-for-trump/

OA 708 https://openargs.com/oa708-stormy-daniels-strikes-back/ OA 710 https://openargs.com/oa710-lock-him-up/

Doughty opinion in Louisiana v. Becerra (COVID vaccine mandate injunction) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.185837/gov.uscourts.lawd.185837.28.0_1.pdf

Missouri v. Biden Complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520.84.0.pdf

Missouri v. Biden Order Denying Motion to Strike https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520.219.0.pdf

Missouri v. Biden Plaintiffs’ Supplemental Brief Supporting PI https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520.214.0.pdf Missouri v. Biden Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 1 (Proposed Findings of Fact) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520.214.1_1.pdf

Defendants’ Motion to Strike in Missouri v. Biden https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520.219.0.pdf

Order in Missouri v. Biden Denying Motion to Strike https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520.224.0.pdf

Washington Post debunking Media Research Center and “The Polling Company” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/21/lawmakers-cite-fishy-poll-suggest-laptop-tale-would-have-swayed-vote/

Pew Research 2021 survey https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2021/06/14/facebook-posts-in-early-days-of-biden-administration-reflect-ideological-divide/

-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

OA712: LOCK HIM UP 3: Rise of the Machines Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

In our third of three episodes about potential criminal charges against Donald Trump, Liz and Andrew break down recent developments in the Jack Smith grand juries, including an order by Judge Beryl Howell requiring one of Trump's lawyers to testify against him, as well as an update on those other cases.

In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew break down the recent Report and Recommendation by Special Master Barbara Jones in the search warrant of James O'Keefe and Project Veritas.

Notes OA 710 https://openargs.com/oa710-lock-him-up/

OA 711 https://openargs.com/oa711-lock-him-up-2-the-secret-of-the-ooze/ NY Article 175 https://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article175.php NY CPL 30.10(2)(b) https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/30.10

Bobb certification https://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022.08.30-DOJ-Exhibits.pdf DC Circuit Notice on Preferred Typeface https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/home.nsf/Content/Announcement+-+Notice+-+Preferred+Typefaces+for+Briefs/$FILE/noticePreferredTypefacesForBriefs.pdf FRAP 35 https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frap/rule_35

Special Master Barbara Jones Report and Recommendation https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.569993/gov.uscourts.nysd.569993.52.0.pdf

NYT on Manhattan GJ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/nyregion/trump-grand-jury-delay.html?smid=tw-share

-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

OA711: LOCK HIM UP 2: The Secret of the Ooze Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

Yesterday, Liz and Andrew brought you a bit of a bummer - but an accurate one - regarding the pending indictment of Donald Trump in New York. Today, they bring you the good news about yet another pending indictment in Fulton County, Georgia and Trump's desperate (and likely failing) attempts to stop it. You won't want to miss it!

Notes Anna Bower Lawfare explainer https://www.lawfareblog.com/everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-georgia-special-purpose-grand-juries-were-afraid-ask

Atlanta Journal-Constitiution interview with foreperson https://www.ajc.com/politics/exclusive-behind-the-scenes-of-the-trump-grand-jury/6CXLKTFMKNDU7O6TER4B7UTZPE/

Georgia RICO statute, Title 16, Chapter 14 https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2021/title-16/chapter-14/

Ga. Code 16-14-3 https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2021/title-16/chapter-14/section-16-14-3/

Ga. Code 16-10-20 https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2021/title-16/chapter-10/article-2/section-16-10-20/

Trump motion to quash https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23718113-ex-parte-fulton-county-grand-jury-03-20-2023-102331-37306996-f8b43da6-144b-4544-ab53-4095c1c5f36d

State v. Lampl, 770 S.E.2d 629 (Ga. 2015) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13555564276998303856

Connally v. General Construction Co., 269 U.S. 385, 391 (1926) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=9143673394692693115

Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1557224836887427725

Skilling v. U.S., 561 U.S. 358 (2010) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=6709078768346680936

State v. Bartel, 479 S.E.2d 4 (1996) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2075548165303328436

Kenerly v. State, 715 S.E.2d 688 (Ga. App. 2011) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3363311285530927015

-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

OA710: LOCK HIM UP (?!) Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

THIS IS IT! Liz and Andrew answer all your legal questions regarding the anticipated imminent indictment of Donald Trump.

Notes OA 708 https://openargs.com/oa708-stormy-daniels-strikes-back/

OA 621 https://openargs.com/oa621-the-fbi-goes-to-mar-a-lago-this-is-big/

18 U.S.C. § 2071 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2071

NY Section 570 https://ypdcrime.com/cpl/article570.php

CPL 190.50 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/190.50

18 U.S. Code § 3056 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3056

Tekni-Plex v. Meyner & Landis, 674 NE 2d 663 (NY 1996) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=10926959041167260833

Liz ATL on Tacopina https://abovethelaw.com/2023/03/trump-lawyer-joseph-tacopina-formerly-consulted-with-stormy-daniels-whoopsie/

Rice and Nuzzi New York Magazine article https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/hunter-biden-laptop-investigation.html

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘Who Can Be President of the United States?: Candidate Hillary Clinton and the Problem of Statutory Qualifications,’ 5(1) British Journal of American Legal Studies 95 (2016) (peer review)

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘Secretary Clinton Can Relax Because Section 2071 Disqualification Does Not Apply to the Presidency: A Response to Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey and Cause of Action (with a Short Reply from Attorney General Mukasey)’ (2015)

-Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law

–Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and share our videos!

-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

OA709: The Law of "March Madness!" Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew take a break from the world of politics (except for Patrons) to bring you the history and law surrounding "March Madness," including whether it was legal to fill out your bracket and how the NCAA approaches its trademarks. Along the way, we'll learn how the current right-wing Supreme Court is going to use a gambling decision to further its activist agenda. If you like basketball -- and even if you don't! -- you won't want to miss it!

The Patreon bonus is all about Jenna Ellis and Trump's legal team, and Liz brings the funny.

Notes NBC Sports, History of March Madness https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/where-did-march-madness-name-come

NCAA Trademarks https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2013/12/2/ncaa-trademarks.aspx

15 U.S.C. § 1125 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1125

Kizzang lawsuit https://dlbjbjzgnk95t.cloudfront.net/0899000/899955/https-ecf-insd-uscourts-gov-doc1-07315826374.pdf

Mitchell Stabbe https://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2023/03/articles/march-madness-and-advertising-use-of-ncaa-trademarks-2023-update-part-1/

NCAA Brackets guidelines https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2021/10/12/2021-22_Use_of_NCAA_Championship_Brackets_and_Limits_on_Advertising.pdf

28 U.S.C. § 3701 et seq. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/part-VI/chapter-178

49 U.S. Code § 41713 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/41713

Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 138 S. Ct. 1461 (2018) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=6336903476694992840

-Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law

–Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and share our videos!

-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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