Opening Arguments Podcast
@openargs.bsky.social
Explaining law in the news to non-lawyers every Mon/Fri and responding to the right's worst legal takes on video every Weds. Join the community at patreon.com/law!
This week's conversation with author, jorunalist, & convicted murderer John J. Lennon calling in from Sing Sing is one of the most interesting we've ever had. John's new book has so much to say about the true crime industrial complex, and what it is doing to us all
www.amazon.com/Tragedy-True...
www.amazon.com/Tragedy-True...
The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us
The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us [Lennon, John J.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us
www.amazon.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:46 AM
This week's conversation with author, jorunalist, & convicted murderer John J. Lennon calling in from Sing Sing is one of the most interesting we've ever had. John's new book has so much to say about the true crime industrial complex, and what it is doing to us all
www.amazon.com/Tragedy-True...
www.amazon.com/Tragedy-True...
Michael Wolf: "In many of the emails that I got from Jeffrey Epstein, I thought, I do not know what he’s talking about.“
Glad it's not just us! It's Epstein emails week on OA, so check out both episodes and what we can learn about the people who wheedled, enabled, and/or fully covered for him
Glad it's not just us! It's Epstein emails week on OA, so check out both episodes and what we can learn about the people who wheedled, enabled, and/or fully covered for him
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Michael Wolf: "In many of the emails that I got from Jeffrey Epstein, I thought, I do not know what he’s talking about.“
Glad it's not just us! It's Epstein emails week on OA, so check out both episodes and what we can learn about the people who wheedled, enabled, and/or fully covered for him
Glad it's not just us! It's Epstein emails week on OA, so check out both episodes and what we can learn about the people who wheedled, enabled, and/or fully covered for him
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
lmao the comeuppance 👨🍳👌
November 18, 2025 at 1:33 AM
lmao the comeuppance 👨🍳👌
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
THIS IS BIG
For non-academics who might not understand why:
1. Sen. Warren is still a Harvard professor so this is a call coming from inside the house
2. As a tenured law prof, Warren knows it is a VERY big deal from a labor standpoint to call on Harvard to ignore tenure. The bar for this is HIGH.
For non-academics who might not understand why:
1. Sen. Warren is still a Harvard professor so this is a call coming from inside the house
2. As a tenured law prof, Warren knows it is a VERY big deal from a labor standpoint to call on Harvard to ignore tenure. The bar for this is HIGH.
Per CNN, Elizabeth Warren is calling on Harvard to cut ties with Larry Summers after Jeffrey Epstein's emails released last week by House Dems featured Summers making sexist comments + asking for Epstein’s romantic advice.
November 18, 2025 at 12:43 AM
THIS IS BIG
For non-academics who might not understand why:
1. Sen. Warren is still a Harvard professor so this is a call coming from inside the house
2. As a tenured law prof, Warren knows it is a VERY big deal from a labor standpoint to call on Harvard to ignore tenure. The bar for this is HIGH.
For non-academics who might not understand why:
1. Sen. Warren is still a Harvard professor so this is a call coming from inside the house
2. As a tenured law prof, Warren knows it is a VERY big deal from a labor standpoint to call on Harvard to ignore tenure. The bar for this is HIGH.
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
Of the many things that Trump--or really any president in history--ever could have been impeached for, I am starting to allow myself to believe that this attempted DOJ/FBI coverup has been so obvious, so corrupt, and about something *so universally toxic* that it could actually go to conviction
1/ THE EPSTEIN IMPEACHMENT
The Trump admin's *known* efforts to obstruct the release of information & evidence connecting the sitting president to the most notorious sex trafficker in modern history are as impeachable as anything a president has ever done.
Some drafting suggestions:
The Trump admin's *known* efforts to obstruct the release of information & evidence connecting the sitting president to the most notorious sex trafficker in modern history are as impeachable as anything a president has ever done.
Some drafting suggestions:
November 13, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Of the many things that Trump--or really any president in history--ever could have been impeached for, I am starting to allow myself to believe that this attempted DOJ/FBI coverup has been so obvious, so corrupt, and about something *so universally toxic* that it could actually go to conviction
1/ THE EPSTEIN IMPEACHMENT
The Trump admin's *known* efforts to obstruct the release of information & evidence connecting the sitting president to the most notorious sex trafficker in modern history are as impeachable as anything a president has ever done.
Some drafting suggestions:
The Trump admin's *known* efforts to obstruct the release of information & evidence connecting the sitting president to the most notorious sex trafficker in modern history are as impeachable as anything a president has ever done.
Some drafting suggestions:
November 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM
1/ THE EPSTEIN IMPEACHMENT
The Trump admin's *known* efforts to obstruct the release of information & evidence connecting the sitting president to the most notorious sex trafficker in modern history are as impeachable as anything a president has ever done.
Some drafting suggestions:
The Trump admin's *known* efforts to obstruct the release of information & evidence connecting the sitting president to the most notorious sex trafficker in modern history are as impeachable as anything a president has ever done.
Some drafting suggestions:
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
Fantastic interview of @katmabu.bsky.social . Lots of good stuff on how things are going in Chicago and what we can do to face the moment.
Also, podcast link for those of us who prefer audio:
pca.st/episode/9717...
Also, podcast link for those of us who prefer audio:
pca.st/episode/9717...
November 12, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Fantastic interview of @katmabu.bsky.social . Lots of good stuff on how things are going in Chicago and what we can do to face the moment.
Also, podcast link for those of us who prefer audio:
pca.st/episode/9717...
Also, podcast link for those of us who prefer audio:
pca.st/episode/9717...
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
I just walked out of federal court where I pleaded NOT GUILTY to the charges against me.
I will continue to stand up to authoritarianism and call this out for what it is: a political prosecution.
I will continue to stand up to authoritarianism and call this out for what it is: a political prosecution.
November 12, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I just walked out of federal court where I pleaded NOT GUILTY to the charges against me.
I will continue to stand up to authoritarianism and call this out for what it is: a political prosecution.
I will continue to stand up to authoritarianism and call this out for what it is: a political prosecution.
We had a great time with Illinois Congressional candidate @katmabu.bsky.social talking about her unique campaign, what ICE is doing to Chicago right now, and what it is going to take for Democrats not to suck. All kinds of hope in here, you won't want to miss this one!
youtu.be/U7OEJJwsajA?...
youtu.be/U7OEJJwsajA?...
Kat Abughazaleh - Indicted by Trump's DoJ for Protesting ICE while running for Congress
YouTube video by Serious Pod Network
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
We had a great time with Illinois Congressional candidate @katmabu.bsky.social talking about her unique campaign, what ICE is doing to Chicago right now, and what it is going to take for Democrats not to suck. All kinds of hope in here, you won't want to miss this one!
youtu.be/U7OEJJwsajA?...
youtu.be/U7OEJJwsajA?...
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
Queuing up today's podcasts, I don't think I can stomach NYT's The Daily interviewing Greg Bovino. But happy to listen to @openargs.bsky.social talk to @katmabu.bsky.social for sure. In real life, I'd rather hear from the heroes than the villains.
November 12, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Queuing up today's podcasts, I don't think I can stomach NYT's The Daily interviewing Greg Bovino. But happy to listen to @openargs.bsky.social talk to @katmabu.bsky.social for sure. In real life, I'd rather hear from the heroes than the villains.
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
Great interview of @katmabu.bsky.social on the best damn law podcast out there @openargs.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7OE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7OE...
Kat Abughazaleh - Indicted by Trump's DoJ for Protesting ICE while running for Congress
YouTube video by Serious Pod Network
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Great interview of @katmabu.bsky.social on the best damn law podcast out there @openargs.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7OE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7OE...
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
Aaaaaand here it is, the patent for the Skeleton Confessor!
The men have tiny feet.
The men have tiny feet.
November 1, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Aaaaaand here it is, the patent for the Skeleton Confessor!
The men have tiny feet.
The men have tiny feet.
Ty to everyone who has told us about the ICE recruitment ads which have been running on the only general-interest US legal podcast co-hosted by a practicing deportation defense attorney.
We trust that these ads are wasted on our listeners in a way that they would be wasted on few other audiences
We trust that these ads are wasted on our listeners in a way that they would be wasted on few other audiences
October 31, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Ty to everyone who has told us about the ICE recruitment ads which have been running on the only general-interest US legal podcast co-hosted by a practicing deportation defense attorney.
We trust that these ads are wasted on our listeners in a way that they would be wasted on few other audiences
We trust that these ads are wasted on our listeners in a way that they would be wasted on few other audiences
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
lawyers who are appointed to represent people in federal criminal cases (these are private practice lawyers who handle public defender overflow - about 40% of all cases) haven't been paid since july. we barely have a government right now.
October 29, 2025 at 7:41 PM
lawyers who are appointed to represent people in federal criminal cases (these are private practice lawyers who handle public defender overflow - about 40% of all cases) haven't been paid since july. we barely have a government right now.
Can't wait for our annual Halloween episode? Check out last year's, in which Matt and Thomas discussed the true legal horror story that was the Salem Witch Trials and what happens when a society lets paranoia drive policy
podcasts.apple.com/pe/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/pe/podcast/b...
Believe Absurdities, Commit Atrocities
Episodio de podcast · Opening Arguments · 21/10/2024 · 49 min
podcasts.apple.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Can't wait for our annual Halloween episode? Check out last year's, in which Matt and Thomas discussed the true legal horror story that was the Salem Witch Trials and what happens when a society lets paranoia drive policy
podcasts.apple.com/pe/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/pe/podcast/b...
COMING THIS HALLOWEEN: take a break from the daily horrors of American law and enter the COURTHOUSE OF HORROR, our cabinet of macabre legal curiosities including
SO I TRADEMARKED AN AXE MURDERER
ATTACK OF THE TORTIOUS CLOWNS
CANDYMAN 5: SUMMARY JUDGMENT
And more!
SO I TRADEMARKED AN AXE MURDERER
ATTACK OF THE TORTIOUS CLOWNS
CANDYMAN 5: SUMMARY JUDGMENT
And more!
October 30, 2025 at 3:30 AM
COMING THIS HALLOWEEN: take a break from the daily horrors of American law and enter the COURTHOUSE OF HORROR, our cabinet of macabre legal curiosities including
SO I TRADEMARKED AN AXE MURDERER
ATTACK OF THE TORTIOUS CLOWNS
CANDYMAN 5: SUMMARY JUDGMENT
And more!
SO I TRADEMARKED AN AXE MURDERER
ATTACK OF THE TORTIOUS CLOWNS
CANDYMAN 5: SUMMARY JUDGMENT
And more!
What is the current state of US immigration law? Where can we still find hope? The American Immigration Council's Aaron @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social watches these issues like no one else, & joins Matt for a unique conversation between policy & practice
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Trump’s All Out Assault on Immigrants Continues in Incompetent but Horrifying Fashion
Podcast Episode · Opening Arguments · 10/27/2025 · 1h 2m
podcasts.apple.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
What is the current state of US immigration law? Where can we still find hope? The American Immigration Council's Aaron @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social watches these issues like no one else, & joins Matt for a unique conversation between policy & practice
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
"Nine months into the 2nd Trump administration the Opening Arguments podcast* introduced a new segment called 'Can They REALLY Do That?" to which the answer was invariably: 'they ARE.'"
*early 21st century audio programming favored by the liberal intelligentsia
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
*early 21st century audio programming favored by the liberal intelligentsia
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Trump Says DOJ Should Pay Him $230 Million Because Why the F*** Not at This Point
Podcast Episode · Opening Arguments · 10/24/2025 · 58m
podcasts.apple.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:56 PM
"Nine months into the 2nd Trump administration the Opening Arguments podcast* introduced a new segment called 'Can They REALLY Do That?" to which the answer was invariably: 'they ARE.'"
*early 21st century audio programming favored by the liberal intelligentsia
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
*early 21st century audio programming favored by the liberal intelligentsia
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
This is & so many other things I have been able to do in the past 18 months are exactly what I wanted OA to be when I joined, and I can't thank @seriouspod.bsky.social and @seriouslydiaonly.bsky.social enough for the vision and values which make this show something special. Pls support indie media!
COMING SOON: excited to announce that we have just scheduled interviews with two different incarcerated authors in the coming months about each of their outstanding books
October 22, 2025 at 1:48 AM
This is & so many other things I have been able to do in the past 18 months are exactly what I wanted OA to be when I joined, and I can't thank @seriouspod.bsky.social and @seriouslydiaonly.bsky.social enough for the vision and values which make this show something special. Pls support indie media!
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
There are shows which break down bad movies, shows which break down classic SCOTUS cases, shows which break down terrible rightwing content, & shows which cover the rise of American fascism without breaking down. But just one which does all of that, and you can listen ad-free here
Patreon.com/law
Patreon.com/law
Get more from Opening Arguments on Patreon
Creating the legal podcast that helps you make sense of the news
Patreon.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:59 AM
There are shows which break down bad movies, shows which break down classic SCOTUS cases, shows which break down terrible rightwing content, & shows which cover the rise of American fascism without breaking down. But just one which does all of that, and you can listen ad-free here
Patreon.com/law
Patreon.com/law
COMING SOON: excited to announce that we have just scheduled interviews with two different incarcerated authors in the coming months about each of their outstanding books
October 22, 2025 at 1:43 AM
COMING SOON: excited to announce that we have just scheduled interviews with two different incarcerated authors in the coming months about each of their outstanding books
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
SCOOP: Suzy Weiss — Bari Weiss's sister & The Free Press co-founder — is set to appear on CBS airwaves tomorrow, to talk about her recent piece on lab-grown diamonds.
Would be the second Free Press writer to appear on CBS this week, despite CBS staff concerns the outlet doesn't meet CBS standards.
Would be the second Free Press writer to appear on CBS this week, despite CBS staff concerns the outlet doesn't meet CBS standards.
NEW: Management’s “cringe” fawning of Bari Weiss. Guards escorting her everywhere. The Drudge Report inspiring story ideas. A softball interview with an accused war criminal. Staff suspicions of how far “collaboration” between The Free Press & CBS will go.
Inside Weiss’s first 10 days leading CBS:
Inside Weiss’s first 10 days leading CBS:
Inside Bari Weiss’s First 10 Days as the Controversial Head of CBS News
After a softball Netanyahu interview, newsroom sources tell Zeteo the start of Weiss's tenure at CBS has been chaotic and has underscored her own pro-Israel biases.
zeteo.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:48 AM
SCOOP: Suzy Weiss — Bari Weiss's sister & The Free Press co-founder — is set to appear on CBS airwaves tomorrow, to talk about her recent piece on lab-grown diamonds.
Would be the second Free Press writer to appear on CBS this week, despite CBS staff concerns the outlet doesn't meet CBS standards.
Would be the second Free Press writer to appear on CBS this week, despite CBS staff concerns the outlet doesn't meet CBS standards.
Reposted by Opening Arguments Podcast
This was a fun episode, but the contempt that you will hear from me for everyone involved in this wanton butchering of *everything* that made the source material good is very real. This appalling adaptation makes a strong case for opening a special division of the Hague for crimes against literature
Law'd Awful Movies is back in classic form! Coming soon: is the USA network's loose serialization of a 30-year-old John Grisham legal thriller the densest adaptation in Hollywood history? Thomas, Lydia, and Matt make the case
October 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
This was a fun episode, but the contempt that you will hear from me for everyone involved in this wanton butchering of *everything* that made the source material good is very real. This appalling adaptation makes a strong case for opening a special division of the Hague for crimes against literature
Law'd Awful Movies is back in classic form! Coming soon: is the USA network's loose serialization of a 30-year-old John Grisham legal thriller the densest adaptation in Hollywood history? Thomas, Lydia, and Matt make the case
October 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Law'd Awful Movies is back in classic form! Coming soon: is the USA network's loose serialization of a 30-year-old John Grisham legal thriller the densest adaptation in Hollywood history? Thomas, Lydia, and Matt make the case