OA444: Going Out of Business Pardon Sale

Trump is looking poised to pardon everything not nailed down on his way out of the White House. You’ve got pardons in exchange for bribes, run-of-the-mill corrupt pardons, preemptive pardons(?), family pardons, and god knows what else. Andrew breaks it all down for us!

Also an update on state certification (IT’S OVER, BEAST!)

Links: Election results certification dates 2020, Court filing on DOJ pardon investigation, Trump Has Discussed With Advisers Pardons for His 3 Eldest Children and Giuliani, Can Trump Pre-emptively Pardon Allies or Himself? Clemency Power, Explained, Flynn Pardon, Clint Lorance pardon, FIRST BLACK ARMY OFFICER IS PARDONED BY CLINTON

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Transcript of OA443: The (Terrible) Case Against Indicting Trump

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Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 443.  I’m Thomas, that’s Andrew, how’re you doing, sir?

Andrew:         I am fantastic, Thomas, how are you?  Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?

Thomas:         I didn’t really have a Thanksgiving.

Andrew:         [Laughs] Well, I think a lot of us didn’t.

Thomas:         Didn’t even – probably first time in years I didn’t have any Thanksgiving food, really.

Andrew:         Yeah.

Thomas:         My wife made a few things but, you know, we’re just by ourselves so we didn’t really wanna do it, so that was me!

Andrew:         Your children didn’t demand roast turkey?

Thomas:         They don’t understand anything. [Laughs]

Andrew:         Yaaay!

Continue reading “Transcript of OA443: The (Terrible) Case Against Indicting Trump”

OA443: The (Terrible) Case Against Indicting Trump

Friend of the show Randall Eliason wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post called “The case against indicting Trump.” Both of us on the show strongly disagree with the arguments presented and humbly submit our enthusiastic rebuke of it.

Before that, Andrew answers the clickbaity question of whether or not Trump made a major mistake in pardoning Flynn. As with all clickbait, the answer is no. Finally, we briefly touch on the terrible new decision out of the Amy Coney Barrett era that is our new hell.

Links: Last election nail, Biden hopes to avoid divisive Trump investigations, Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses Seventh Edition May 2007, REPORT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE UNITED STATES SENATE, 20A87 Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo (11/25/2020)

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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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Transcript of OA442: Lindsey Graham Is A Criminal

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Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 442.  Gobble gobble gobble!

Andrew:         [Laughs]

Thomas:         How’s it going, Andrew?

Andrew:         It’s going fantastic, Thomas, how are you?

Thomas:         Oh, great.  Recording a little earlier than normal because of the holiday.

Andrew:         Yeah, you know.  Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

Continue reading “Transcript of OA442: Lindsey Graham Is A Criminal”

OA442: Lindsey Graham Is A Criminal

Happy Thanksgiving! Just like the criminals of the Trump era, Opening Arguments never stops. Just as we went to record, Trump pardoned Flynn via Tweet. Andrew gives us his thoughts on that. Then we cover a couple more things Andrew was right about that should reduce your blood pressure a little! (and one thing that might raise it..)

Our main segment is about how Lindsey Graham likely broke several laws in his attempts to influence the vote counting in this election. What’s more, there are several things we can do about it! Find out!

Links: 3rd Circuit letter, GSA ascertainment letter, Election results certification dates, 2020, OA325: Putin’s Puppet? The Open Skies Treaty, Trump administration pulls out of Open Skies treaty with Russia, False Positive Rate for Signature Matching, 52 US Code § 10307 – Prohibited acts, 52 US Code § 10308 – Civil and criminal sanctions, 2010 Georgia Code :: TITLE 21 – ELECTIONS, 2010 Georgia Code :: TITLE 45 – PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, US Senate: About Expulsion, No Senator Has Been Expelled Since 1862

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-And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com



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Transcript of OA441: Trump Still Lost

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Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 441, I’m Thomas, that’s Andrew.  How’re you doing?

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

Thomas:         I might be fantastic as well.

Andrew:         [Laughs] Good!

Thomas:         Yeah, I mean lots of Andrew Was Right’s to talk about today, which are, you know, those are fun.  I like when you’re right.

Andrew:         They’re fun for me too!

Continue reading “Transcript of OA441: Trump Still Lost”

OA441: Trump Still Lost

He still lost, folks! It’s over. In our main segment today, we discuss the Electoral College calendar and when things are finally set in stone. But what about faithless electors??? We’ve got an Andrew for that too. This episode should help you feel fine about the fact that Trump still lost.

In the first segment we talk about a few things Andrew nailed his predictions on, including Chad Wolf and Kathryn Kimball Mizelle.

Links: Chad Wolf not lawfully appointed, Chris Krebs, List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump, OA420: DoJ Defending Trump in Carroll Case?, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on Twitter: “She is also the wife of Chad Mizelle“, OA379: Trump’s Contempt for the Press & Husch Blackwell, Trump campaign agrees to drop its defamation lawsuit against a tiny Wisconsin TV station, The Electoral College, Election results certification dates, 2020, Arizona Revised Statutes § 16-648 (2019).

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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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Transcript of OA435: Why Your Vote Matters in EVERY State!

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Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 435, and, uh, if you’re a non-patron and you’re listening to this that means its election day.  It’s election day, Andrew, how are you doing?

Andrew:         Yeah!  I’m nervous.  Are you nervous, Thomas?

Thomas:         Yeah.  Well I’m a patron so that means I’m hearing this on Sunday.

Andrew:         [Laughs]

Thomas:         Currently I’m fine.

Andrew:         Yeah.  [Laughs]

Thomas:         Totally different!

Continue reading “Transcript of OA435: Why Your Vote Matters in EVERY State!”

Transcript of OA440: Rudy’s Literal Meltdown

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Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         [Singing] Hello Andrewww!  It’s episode 440!  Opening Arguments, A-440!  Music joke.  How’s it going?  It’s Opening Arguments, it’s episode 440, I’m Thomas, that’s Andrew, how’re you doing?

Andrew:         Was that a 4/4-time joke?

Thomas:         No, A-440 is used for tuning, it’s a reference note for tuning, but not all music is based on 440, I guess it would be Hz?  Sometimes people tune a little differently, they’ll tune A to something a little lower, a little higher.  But A-440!  If you’re tuning your guitar while listening [Sings] Dooooooo!  It’s something like that.  Okay.  Anyway, how’re you doing, Mr. Fantastic?

Andrew:         Well, I learned something here today, Thomas. 

Thomas:         Oh, that’s what the show’s for.

Andrew:         I’m doing even better than fantastic.

Thomas:         [Laughs] I’m not sure how I’m doing until you explain what’s happening.  That’s been true many weeks, I assume Trump’s still trying to steal the election?  I think they’re like – technically they’re like 1 for 30 or something on the lawsuits.  I actually don’t remember what the one is?  I wanna know, that’s gonna be my first question.  But we got more legal shenanigans to cover. 

Andrew:         We do.

Continue reading “Transcript of OA440: Rudy’s Literal Meltdown”

OA440: Rudy’s Literal Meltdown

Rudy Giuliani is as bad at being a lawyer as he is at wearing a believable human suit. Both of these shortcomings were on full display this week as Trump’s top lawyer continued to not only lose case after case, but also display an impressive ability to not have any idea what any legal term actually means. Also in this episode, Andrew tells us about the Kim Davis of this election – GSA Administrator Emily Murphy. Murphy can’t seem to understand which number is bigger than the other. Then ace associate Morgan Stringer joins us to provide a few highlights of Giuliani’s insane ramblings. She listened so that none of us have to!

Links: 3 U.S.C. 102, CFPB Announces Additional Member of Taskforce, The Law of Presidential Transitions and the 2000 Election, Lawsuit tracker: Trump’s battle faces skepticism from judges, Marks v. Stinton.

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