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Artwork for Opening Arguments
Trump Administration
Supreme Court
Donald Trump
ICE
Jeffrey Epstein
Department Of Justice
Immigration Law
First Amendment
Contract Law
Eric Adams
Ghislaine Maxwell
Executive Orders
Trans Rights
Disability Rights
Bar Exam
Immigration Policy
Alan Dershowitz
Miranda Rights
Antifa
Solitary Confinement

Opening Arguments is a law show that helps you make sense of the news! Comedian Thomas Smith brings on legal analysts to help you understand not only current events, but also deeper legal concepts and areas! The typical schedule will be M-W-F with Monday being a deep-dive, Wednesday being Thomas Takes the Bar Exam and patron shoutouts, and Friday being a rapid response to legal issues in the news!... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1245Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Opening Arguments

Latest Episodes

OA1268 - Patents, trademarks, and copyrights, ach mein! How did the Fender Stratocaster, a guitar that has been in continuous manufacture since 1954, Suddenly become the subject of an intellectual property dispute? Well, maybe this didn’t exactly com... more

OA1267 - Is Trump’s 1.8 billion dollar “anti-weaponization” fund really done, or is there something else going on here? Also can a few dozen federal judges really reopen any given civil suit with one magic filing? We take a closer look before going b... more

VR34 - This week in Vapid Response: Vanilla Ice provides the platonic ideal of an amuse douche before we order up an excerpt of the worshipful new Alito biography by the editor-in-chief of The Federalist. We then take a closer look at MAGA’s desperat... more

OA1266 - Can wearing a corset be considered a “public” use of the product? What makes someone (or some thing) an inventor? What is it exactly that makes the Super Soaker so rad? Get the answers to these questions and more from… patent law? Jenessa wa... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sherise Doyley
Pregnant patient discussed in the ProPublica clip
Hospital case subject
Episode: Woman in Labor Spent 3 Hours Fighting a Judge on Zoom to Avoid a Forced C-Section
Ian Crossland
Guest introduced as a speaker on Tim Pool-related discussions
Episode: MAGA Says the ’60s Were Too Woke and Wants Racial Immigration Quotas Back
Todd Blanche
Attorney representing prosecutors/defense in Comey-related matters
Blanche Law (as referenced in discussion)
Episode: James Comey, Seashell Assassin
Matthew Bergman
Founder, Social Media Victims Law Center
Social Media Victims Law Center
Episode: Is Social Media the Asbestos of the Internet? with Matthew Bergman
Sean Fleetwood
Staff writer for The Federalist, invited guest
The Federalist
Episode: Go to Hell, Swalwell.
Ed Whelan
Conservative advisor, invited guest
The Federalist
Episode: Go to Hell, Swalwell.
Xavier de Janon
Attorney with the People's Law Collective; Director of Mass Defense for the National Lawyers Guild
People's Law Collective; National Lawyers Guild
Episode: Peaceful Protestors Are Facing Decades in Prison - Inside the Prairieland Trial
Cecilia Wang
ACLU attorney arguing for birthright citizenship protections
ACLU
Episode: Trump's Birthright Citizenship Arguments Were Laughed Out of Court
John Sauer
Solicitor General presenting the government's position
U.S. Department of Justice
Episode: Trump's Birthright Citizenship Arguments Were Laughed Out of Court

Hosts

Thomas Smith
Host of Opening Arguments; long-running legal analyst and commentator.
Matt Cameron
Co-host providing legal analysis and breakdowns; real-life attorney.
Lydia Smith
Producer/Co-host; handles production and on-air banter.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 6.6k ratings
  • Please stop the Irish jokes

    I'm a fan!

    I know the anti-Irish comments are just jokes but you may be alienating part of your audience.

    Also it would be great if the attorney could speak more loudly and clearly.

    Thanks for keeping tabs on the U.S. legal system and explaining it so well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Woodland Creature Trash Panda
    United States21 days ago
  • Educational and hysterical

    I love everything about the show. It’s funny but it breaks things down so that way it’s easily digestible for people that don’t understand how convoluted and complicated legal terminology and procedures can be. Thomas ranting and being angry about something every episode makes me giggle and yet I completely identify with his anger and frustration and so it is all entirely relatable.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Casey Marie's Music
    United States3 months ago
  • Very happy to see the return of OA and introduction of Matt. It is hard to overlook the difference in volume in voices, however...Matt speaks softly and Thomas's nasally, brash voice is irritating. To Thomas: love ya dude, but PLEASE speak about 50% less, and whenever you're about to go into one of your stream of consciousness things - just don't. It will save all the editing you do. And quit interrupting Lydia! She's way nicer to listen to and has lots of information to share.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    TheRealMister-K
    4 months ago
  • Totally normal amount of ads

    It’s 3 ad breaks for an hour show. That’s absolutely normal or below normal. It’s almost like a bunch of people want to just lie about the show for some reason.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Serious Pod
    United States5 months ago
  • Adds and Asses

    Ten minutes of adds, ten minute of l vacuous vamping and snark as an intro, and then another ad break? This has to be the least idea-rich podcast in the category. Congrats, folks.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mark Bobster
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many enjoy the mix of deep-dive legal analysis and commentary on current events.
Audience notes a heavy ad load at times but praise the host banter and insight.
Listeners appreciate clear legal explanations paired with humor.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#203
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#247
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#224
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#59
Colombia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#103
Poland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#107
Finland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Social Media the Asbestos of the Internet? with Matthew Bergman
Q: What safeguards or changes do you see as most feasible to reduce harm without destroying the internet?
Practical steps include turning off addictive algorithms, avoiding gratuitous gamification, implementing real age verification, providing clear warnings about risks, and educating families on safe online practices while preserving free expression.
Is Social Media the Asbestos of the Internet? with Matthew Bergman
Q: Could you explain how this California win changes the way courts view social media liability compared to Section 230 protections?
It reframes the issue from a content-based immunity to a design-based product liability, showing that when platforms design features to maximize engagement with vulnerable users, they can be held liable even if third-party content is involved.
Clarence Thomas Delivers An Incomprehensibly Stupid Speech
Q: What is the central premise of the speech being analyzed?
The speakers argue that the speech centers on natural rights and critiques progressive interpretations of liberty, suggesting that rights come from God and should limit government power, but they worry about misinterpretations that could undermine the Constitution.
Subnautica Part 2 - It Does Not Go Well for Idiot Krafton CEO
Q: Are you telling me the judge is ruling now?
Jenessa explains that the judge is outlining the framework and will decide on specific questions like whether there was for-cause termination and whether the remedy should be monetary or include specific performance, with the parties still awaiting final rulings.
All of a Sudden SCOTUS Cares About the Real World Effects of Their Decisions
Q: What's the status of that funding bill and all that?
The hosts discuss the looming threat of a government shutdown over the funding bill, emphasizing the need to take a stand against inadequate funding for DHS and the implications of recent violent events.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Opening Arguments

What is Opening Arguments about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, law-focused show that breaks down complex legal developments and current events with wit and accessible analysis. Episodes frequently blend courtroom concepts, constitutional debates, and high-profile cases with pop-culture references and humor, making intricate topics more digestible for a broad audience. Notable strengths include a dynamic host duo bolstered by legal analysts, a willingness to tackle timely political and policy questions, and a format that alternates between deep dives, rapid responses, and audience-driven segments. The show likely stands out for its energetic delivery, practical explanations of legal procedures, and punchy takes on contemporary issues, which can be appealing to legal professionals, policymakers,... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Opening Arguments has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Opening Arguments?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Opening Arguments:

1. Where There's Woke
2. The Skepticrat
3. Cognitive Dissonance
4. The Scathing Atheist
5. Dear Old Dads

How many episodes of Opening Arguments are there?

Opening Arguments launched 10 years ago and published 1245 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Opening Arguments?

Recent guests on Opening Arguments include:

1. Sherise Doyley
2. Ian Crossland
3. Todd Blanche
4. Matthew Bergman
5. Sean Fleetwood
6. Ed Whelan
7. Xavier de Janon
8. Cecilia Wang

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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