Posts

Posted on

Transcript of OA329: Gun Buying and Jury Duty in America

Listen to the episode and read the show notes

Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 329, I’m Thomas Smith that over there is P. Andrew Taurus, how’re you doing?  Mooooo!

Andrew:         Are you purposefully saying Taurus like the cow?

Thomas:         I thought – I’m sorry I thought I had the cow on for this episode, but if it’s just you then we’ll make it work.

Andrew:         [Laughs]  

Thomas:         P. Andrew human, how ya doin’?

Andrew:         Well I am probably not doing as well as the cow, right?

Continue reading “Transcript of OA329: Gun Buying and Jury Duty in America”
Posted on

OA329: Gun Buying and Jury Duty in America

Today’s show is something we absolutely love to do, which is listener questions! Our listeners pose some truly intelligent, well thought-out, and deep-dive worthy questions. Today’s episode features two such deep dives inspired by our listeners. The first is regarding DC v Heller, and whether it applies to gun ownership or gun sales, or both. The second question is a chance for Andrew to talk about jury duty, and what makes a good juror. Classic OA Tuesday deep dives!

-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



Download Link
Posted on

Transcript of OA328: The Impeachment Inquiry Resolution! (H.R. 660)

Listen to the episode and read the show notes

Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 328, still cruising!

Andrew:         [Laughs]  

Thomas:         I’m Thomas, that’s Andrew, always on a ship, on a boat, how’s it going Andrew?

Andrew:         It is going fantastically well, obviously the time I picked to take a vacation I am pleased that world events decided to take a vacation with us-

Thomas:         Yeah.

Andrew:         -and absolutely nothing is happening.

Thomas:         It’s not like the President’s being impeached or anything like that.

Continue reading “Transcript of OA328: The Impeachment Inquiry Resolution! (H.R. 660)”
Posted on

OA328: The Impeachment Inquiry Resolution! (H.R. 660)

This week’s Rapid Response Friday breaks down exactly what’s in H.R. 660, the impeachment inquiry resolution, and what it means for the ongoing process. We also help you digest the legal significance of Alexander Vindman’s testimony and much, much more, so strap in!

We begin, however, with Thomas’s favorite segment — Andrew Was Wrong. Here, Andrew issues a correction regarding baseball law and the chemistry of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from our popular Pizza, Beer & Guns episode.

After that, it’s time for a trip up Yodel Mountain where we digest H.R. 660, the soon-to-be-passed resolution authorizing the House Intelligence Committee to take the lead on the impeachment inquiry. Is it “still without any due process for the President,” as the White House claims? [No.] As a bonus, we also break down the companion change to the rules adopted by the House Rules Committee pursuant to the resolution that’s managed to confuse a number of media outlets.

But that’s not all! While we’re high atop Yodel Mountain, we also break down the significance of Alexander Vindman’s testimony this week regarding the Trump administration’s holding hostage of aid to Ukraine pending an “investigation” into Burisma, and Hunter and Joe Biden.

After all that, it’s time for #T3BE, in which Thomas tackles a dreaded real property question — this one about whether a grantee can revoke an easement. Those are words! Will Thomas decipher them?

Upcoming Appearances

None! If you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

  1. Click here to read H.R. 660, and here for the companion change to the rules. Here’s the Democratic summary of those changes.
  2. This is the transcript of Alexander Vindman’s opening statement, plus more on his testimony from the Washington Post and the (failing) New York Times, as well as the Politico story on how some Republicans are pushing back against attacks on Vindman.

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

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-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!



Download Link
Posted on

Transcript of OA327: Pizza, Beer, and Guns!

Listen to the episode and read the show notes

Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 327, I’m Thomas Smith, that over there is P. Andrew Taurus.  I didn’t even say that right.  Torah?  Torass? 

Andrew:         [Laughs]  

Thomas:         Anyway, P. Andrew Torrez, esquire.  Moo!  How are you doing?

Andrew:         Moooo to you too, Thomas! [Laughs]  

Continue reading “Transcript of OA327: Pizza, Beer, and Guns!”
Posted on

OA327: Pizza, Beer, and Guns!

It’s an all American episode, complete with 3 dives! First we have a 9th Circuit ruling on Domino’s Pizza to discuss, related to accessibility concerns with their app. Then, you know those horrible, unfunny, obnoxious Bud commercials with the knights and the king and all that? Turns out in addition to being terrible, they may also be potentially tortious! They made some very specific claims about MillerCoors beers using corn syrup in their beer they have gotten them into legal trouble. And finally, we round out this all-American ep with guns – a breakdown of the Dickey Amendment.

-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



Download Link
Posted on

Transcript of OA326: When the SCIF Hit the Fan

Listen to the episode and read the show notes

Topics of Discussion:

Announcements

[Show Intro]

New Show Intro

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 326.  I’m your host Thomas Smith, that over there is Andrew Torrez, your legal expert and Andrew how are you doing?  And I just remembered we all just heard a brand new intro that was so funny, I don’t even.  I was laughing the whole time and I don’t even remember what the new quotes were!

Andrew:         [Laughs]  

Thomas:         In this timeline I haven’t done it yet, but they were great, weren’t they? [Laughs]  

Continue reading “Transcript of OA326: When the SCIF Hit the Fan”
Posted on

OA326: When the SCIF Hit the Fan

Today’s episode tackles all your latest developments from high atop Yodel Mountain, including the national security-threatening stunt led by America’s Dumbest Congressman, Matt Gaetz, as well as the significance of Bill Taylor’s testimony to the House Intelligence Committee.

We begin with a brief overview of the “due process” argument throughout history with an eye towards how it applies to the Trump impeachment.

From there, we move to a specific application: the (false) claim by Matt Gaetz and others that the House impeachment inquiry violates Trump’s rights of due process. Along the way, we’ll learn what a SCIF is and why it was such a big deal — a criminal big deal — that Gaetz and others violated it.

Then, it’s time to dive deeply into Bill Taylor’s testimony and how that fits into the overall impeachment picture and whether Trump is guilty of bribery with respect to Ukraine. (Hint: yes.)

After all that, it’s time for another fabulous #T3BE about an inexperienced innkeeper and a cleaning company that doesn’t work on Sundays. Play along on social media, and remember to #T3BE in your answer!

Upcoming Appearances

None! If you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

  1. Share out the Episode 324 super-transcript with your favorite Uncle Frank today!
  2. This is the WIRED article we referenced on the technical data regarding SCIFs, and these are the 174-page technical guidelines set forth by the DNI.
  3. Laws! Obstruction of justice is 18 U.S.C. § 1505, bribery is 18 U.S.C. § 201, and the relevant portion of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act is 2 U.S.C. § 683.

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

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-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!



Download Link
Posted on

Transcript of OA325: Putin’s Puppet? The Open Skies Treaty

Listen to the episode and read the show notes

Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 325. 

Andrew:         Woo!

Thomas:         Nice round number, I always like multiples of five, that’s good.  Feels meaningless but-

Andrew:         Yeah, aren’t we due for a new show intro?

Thomas:         [Gasps]  That’ll be next episode, then. 

Andrew:         Yeah!

Thomas:         So teaser alert!  I know I’m pretty sure you’ve already put up the patron thread, right Andrew?

Continue reading “Transcript of OA325: Putin’s Puppet? The Open Skies Treaty”
Posted on

OA325: Putin’s Puppet? The Open Skies Treaty

Today’s show features a few segments from the LA live show, including a medium dive on the Open Skies Treaty. We break down what it is, what Trump is intending to do with it, and why his behavior is incredibly… weird. We also break down a story involving Covington and Burling winning legal fees against the government.

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

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-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!



Download Link