Opening Arguments
Episodes
This Guy Beat Qualified Immunity Twice, in Two Different Circuits
In this episode, hosts Thomas and Janessa discuss Rosales v.
Florida Judge Says Congress Can't Make Noncitizen Voting a Federal Crime
Opening Arguments episode 1303 covers a federal judge striking down the statute criminalizing non-citizen voting, arguing Congress lacks constitutional authority to set voter qualifications.
Samuel Alito's Victory Lap and Douglas Murray's Deportation Jetpack Fantasy
The 5th Circuit Denied a Cop Qualified Immunity, So We Might Be in the Afterlife
Opening Arguments discusses the Fifth Circuit decision in Rosales v.
DOJ Wants Every Federal Judge in Minnesota Recused (Good Luck With That)
Hosts Thomas and Matt Cameron discuss the DOJ’s unprecedented complaint against Minnesota federal judges for criticizing administration policies,…
John Yoo Wrote the Torture Memos and Never Paid for It. At All.
Hosts Thomas and Matt Cameron discuss the legal legacy of 9/11, focusing on Alan Dershowitz’s 2001 column arguing for legalizing torture via judicial warrants.
The So-Called Insanity Defense Is Older (and Weirder) Than You Think
In episode 1300 of Opening Arguments, hosts Janessa and Matt explore the history and legal mechanics of the insanity defense, debunking common myths about its frequency and success rates.
He Went to Prison for Bribing Susan Collins. She's... Totally Fine Somehow?
Opening Arguments episode 1299 analyzes the ProPublica report on Senator Susan Collins, detailing why she will likely escape criminal charges despite…
The Real Reason Coyote v. Acme Was Buried (It's So Much Worse Than a Tax Write-Off)
Host Thomas and guests Lydia and Matt Cameron discuss the animated film Coyote vs.
The USPS Ballot Scheme Was Even Worse Than You Thought
Hosts Thomas and Janessa discuss the Supreme Court’s decision allowing mail-in ballots to proceed, analyzing the ruling’s implications and the Court’s internal dynamics.
Kash Patel Screws the Pooch
Opening Arguments episode 1297 features host Thomas and immigration attorney Matt Cameron discussing the Supreme Court's ruling against a last-minute…
Manosphere's Favorite Juror Had Active Restraining Order During Clancy Trial
Hosts Thomas and Matt analyze the Lindsay Clancy trial, correcting widespread misconceptions about Massachusetts insanity defense laws and the burden of proof.
A Blizzard of Lies - Dave Wedge on the Karen Read Trial
In this episode, host Thomas Smith and guest Matt discuss Dave Wedge’s book *Blizzard of Lies*, which chronicles the Karen Reed trial and the death of John O’Keefe.
The 5th Circuit Says You Have No Right to Clean Water
Hosts Thomas and Matt discuss a Massachusetts immigration attorney’s efforts to shut down a "notario" who defrauded the Brazilian community,…
Milo Yiannopoulos Lied About His Immigration Status (And We Can Prove It)
Immigration attorney Matt Cameron joins Thomas to dissect Milo Yiannopoulos’s Piers Morgan interview, arguing that Milo is lying about his immigration status and the circumstances of his deportation.
The First Openly Autistic Lawyer in Florida on What Law Firms Get Wrong
In this episode, hosts Thomas and Matt introduce guest Haley Moss, the first openly autistic woman in Florida to pass the bar.
Most Lindsay Clancy Coverage Has the Law All Wrong
Hosts Thomas and Matt discuss the Lindsay Clancy trial, critiquing Massachusetts’ outdated insanity laws and the media’s misinformation.
ICE Went Undercover To Expose a Vast Antifa "Conspiracy"
Hosts Thomas, Lydia, and Matt dissect a federal indictment alleging a vast Antifa conspiracy in Minneapolis, revealing it as a baseless ICE undercover operation.
Supreme Court Says Why Prevent Trump Violating the Constitution Before It Even Happens?
Hosts Thomas and Janessa analyze the Supreme Court’s shadow docket decision lifting injunctions against Trump’s executive order directing the USPS to verify voter eligibility.
Meta Must Pay, Bannon's Judge Pushes Back, and a Dolly Parton Shoutout from the Bench
Opening Arguments hosts Thomas Smith and Matt Cameron discuss Meta’s record $17.
Stephen Miller's America First Legal Has a YouTube Show (and it sucks real bad)
Opening Arguments hosts Thomas, Matt, and Lydia critique America First Legal’s “Bad Legal Takes” segment, mocking its flawed arguments on Virginia’s…
A Mayor Declared a State of Emergency to Save Flock Cameras
Opening Arguments hosts Thomas and Janessa discuss the backlash against Flock surveillance cameras, highlighting a lawsuit in Troy, NY, where the…
Trump Messed With the Mouse. Now He Gets the Ears.
Hosts Thomas and Matt discuss ABC’s unprecedented First Amendment lawsuit against the FCC’s retaliatory license review, the imminent termination of…
Baseball Crank Asks "What Have Refugees Done for Me Lately"
Hosts Thomas and Matt critique Tim Pool’s false equivalence between left and right-wing violence, exposing his pro-Russian talking points.
Police Sued for Blatant Misuse of Facial Recognition. It's NUTS.
Hosts Thomas and Janessa discuss a civil lawsuit against Florida police for wrongful arrest based on flawed facial recognition technology.
The Tates Seek Release, Super-Duper Promise They Won't Flee
Hosts Thomas and Matt discuss ICE’s illegal denial of bond hearings, the Tate brothers’ extradition fight, and the prosecution of SPLC’s CFO.
Ross Douthat Leaves NYT for Bari Weiss. Here Were Some of His Worst Columns.
Opening Arguments hosts Thomas and Lydia, joined by guest Matt Cameron, mark Ross Douthat’s departure from the New York Times for CBS News.
Melissa Murray Gives the Constitution Some Strict Scrutiny
Host Thomas Smith interviews NYU Law professor Melissa Murray about her new book, *The U.
Cornyn and Tillis Negotiate Meaningless Concession from Blanche
Hosts Thomas and Matt discuss the legal nuances of Todd Blanche’s rescinded anti-weaponization fund order, noting that a separate, broad immunity release for Trump remains intact.
Did Mamdani Wipe Little Italy Off the Map?
Hosts Thomas and Matt Cameron return for Vapid Response, mocking Bill Maher’s Mark Twain Award acceptance.
How a Bank Robbery Became a Fourth Amendment Landmark
In this episode, hosts Thomas and Janessa analyze Supreme Court rulings on digital privacy, focusing on US v.
The Most Brazen and Corrupt Heist in American History (GG Crossover!)
Hosts Thomas and Lydia introduce a four-part mini-series on the "slush fund" lawsuit, where Donald Trump sued the IRS over leaked tax returns.