Transcript of OA473: In Praise of John Roberts and Joe Manchin?!

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Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 473.  I’m Thomas, that’s Andrew.  How’re you doing, sir?

Andrew:         Hi!  I am fantastic, how are you?

Thomas:         Doing great, I am excited.  You teased this episode on our Stereo Q&A recently, which is every Wednesday.

Andrew:         I did, yeah.

Thomas:         I am actually very excited for this, this could be quintessential Opening Arguments, I can’t wait.  We’re gonna talk about this 8-1 decision in which Roberts was the dissent and maybe Roberts was right?  According to the teasing that you teased, teasingly.  [Laughs]  

Andrew:         [Laughs]  

Thomas:         I can’t wait, we’re also gonna talk about the Manchin news that he recently said something along the lines of he wants to make the filibuster more painful.  Anything he admits that’s gonna be a change is probably good to the filibuster, but we’re excited about that.  Alright, we’ve gotta get right into it Andrew, I can’t wait.  Tuesday deep dive, here we go!

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Transcript of OA472: The American Rescue Plan – You Made This Happen!

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Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 472.  I’m Thomas, that’s Andrew, how’re you doing, sir?

Andrew:         [Laughing] I’m fantastic, Thomas, how are you?

Thomas:         I’m doing great, I am over the moon about this COVID relief bill!  It’s such a good bill, it’s incredibly progressive.  I cannot believe that we got Joe Manchin to vote for this thing, it’s incredible!

Andrew:         It is.  And I don’t know what you’re going to wind up calling this show, because it’s a well-known secret that you get final vote on-

Thomas:         We’ll see how it goes, yeah.

Andrew:         Yeah.  I have tentatively titled this the “You Made This Happen” show, and I mean that to our listeners.  The fact that we have 50 Democrats in the Senate plus Kamala Harris as Vice President means that we passed a bill that is markedly different than what we had to go through during the Trump administration and we’re gonna break that down.

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OA478: Why Biden’s Judicial Picks Are Hardball

If you’re looking for evidence that Joe Biden is ready and willing to play hardball and not give a shirt about Republican votes, his first batch of judicial nominees are a great example. Andrew breaks down for us why they signal that he isn’t messing around! Before that, we discuss the 9th circuit decision Young v. Hawaii about open carry.

Links: Memorandum on International Transgender Day of Visibility, Biden Announces Intent to Nominate 11 Judicial Candidates, Biden Won’t Give ABA Advance Role in Vetting Judicial Nominees, ABA 2019 Report: Lawyer Demographics, Examining the Demographic Compositions of US Circuit and District Courts, Biden borrowed the Federalist Society’s tactics

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-For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki

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OA477: No, Judges Should NOT Be Originalists

A recent episode of the Rationally Speaking Podcast featured Originalist Law professor William Baude arguing for why judges should be originalist. Needless to say, it was not a good case and strawman arguments abounded. Andrew is here to give us part 1 of the deep-dive that will set the record straight on why originalism is still bad.

Then we’ve got Ace Associate Morgan Stringer on for some pop-law! She gives us the breakdown on the lawsuits filed against DeShaun Watson which allege sexual assault.

Links: Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992), Gamble Decision with Thomas quote

-Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

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-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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OA476: Sidney Powell’s Defense Is Even Worse Than You Think

Sidney Powell’s response to the Dominion Defamation suit is too batshirt to miss! Andrew brings us the full breakdown. Also, a jury has been selected in the Derek Chauvin trial so we’ve got some updates there. And finally, Andrew explains the gun control bills that have passed congress.

Links: Dominion response to Powell motion to extend time, Dominion complaint, Powell motion to dismiss, Minn. Sentencing Guidelines, Batson v. Kentucky (1986), Jurors In Derek Chauvin’s George Floyd Murder Trial, Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, Texas mass shooting, Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021

-Support us on Patreon: https://www.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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OA475: Citibank’s $900 Million Oopsie

It’s a no takesies backsies deep dive! We all know the law is pretty reasonable and there’s no way you get to keep millions of dollars that a bank wires you by accident, right? Wellllllll ordinarily yes, but sometimes no! Andrew’s got the full breakdown on Citibank’s big oopsie.

Before that, we talk about Alan Dershowitz’s (s)hit new podcast and how he’s lying about the My Pillow guy.

Links: OA198: What Is Alan Dershowitz Thinking?, Former Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz is advising MyPillow CEO

-Support us on Patreon: https://www.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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OA474: FBI “Faked” Kavanaugh Investigation?!

Remember sniveling weasel Brett Kavanaugh and the serious allegations against him by Dr. Ford and how he was “cleared” by an FBI investigation into the matter? Well according to Sheldon Whitehouse, that investigation might have been not just inadequate but perhaps FAKE.
In our main story, Andrew breaks down the Ohio lawsuit attempting to block the American Rescue Plan. It involves a deep dive into anti-commandeering doctrine, which might not be what you think it is.

Links: FBI facing allegation that its 2018 background check of Brett Kavanaugh was ‘fake’, Whitehouse Releases Letter to Garland on Oversight Matters, OLC Politicization, Ohio attorney general sues Biden administration over $1.9 trillion stimulus

-Support us on Patreon: https://www.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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OA473: In Praise of John Roberts and Joe Manchin?!

You read that right, and no it’s not opposite day! At least… I don’t think it is. Anyway, Manchin has said some things about the filibuster that are incredibly encouraging! We’ve got the full breakdown and a mini filibuster dive for you. Then in our main segment, Andrew breaks down a decision in which Roberts dissented from the entire court… and in Andrew’s opinion, he has it right!

Links: Brookings.edu, “The History of the Filibuster,”, 19-968 Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski

-Support us on Patreon: https://www.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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Transcript of OA471: Republican Lawyer Shouts Quiet Part on Voting Rights

Listen to the episode and read the show notes

Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas: Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 471.  I’m Thomas, that’s Andrew, how’re you doing, sir?

Andrew: I’m fantastic, Thomas, how are you?

Thomas: I’m great.  You know, we’ve got some law to break down for you, why don’t we get to it?

Andrew: Let’s hit it.

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Transcript of OA470: Can Harris Just Overrule the Parliamentarian?

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Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas: Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments.  This is episode 470, I’m Thomas, that’s Andrew.  How’re you doing, Andrew?

Andrew: I am fantastic, Thomas!  Happy Donald Trump actual inauguration day to you.

Thomas: [Laughs]  I don’t even know what this is about!

Andrew: [Laughs]  

Thomas: Is this a thing?

Andrew: It’s a real thing.  The idea is it is Q Anon mixed with sovereign citizens.  No President since, I dunno, like 1875 has been legitimate.  

Thomas: Ahh.

Andrew: And they used to swear in presidents on March 4th back then.

Thomas: Oh my god.

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