Opening Arguments

Opening Arguments Media LLC

Supreme Court

ICE

Donald Trump

Jeffrey Epstein

Trump Administration

Immigration Law

Department Of Justice

Ghislaine Maxwell

First Amendment

Immigration

Antifa

Miranda Rights

Qualified Immunity

Fourth Amendment

Solitary Confinement

Charlie Kirk

Clarence Thomas

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Incarceration System

The Rainmaker

Opening Arguments is a law show that helps you make sense of the news! Comedian Thomas Smith and lawyer Matt Cameron help you understand not only current events, but also deeper legal concepts and areas! The schedule is M-W-F, with the main show on Monday and Friday and Vapid Response on Wednesday!

6.6k ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	1301	Founded	10 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	PoliticsNews

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Latest Episodes

Tommy Teepell Gets Publicly Owned, and the Worst Cornell 7 Take Yet

VR48 - Today on Vapid Response Wednesday: the extremely believable backstory of some guy named Tommy who got publicly owned by Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, and the single worst take on the Cornell 7 case from within the Ivy Le... more

21 Oct 2026 • 1 hr 15 min

Can You Sue a Drug Company When You Don't Know Which One Made the Pill?

OA1306 - We're on a winning streak! ...because we picked the winners. This week we cover two cases where the little guy comes out on top against the big corporation, and learn some key torts concepts along the way. Maybe your neighborhood billboard p... more

19 Oct 2026 • 51 min

NY Defense Attorney Calls the Tompkins County DA's Cornell Decision "Truly Stunning"

OA1305 - Matt's under the weather, so no normal Friday show this week. But don't panic, because we've got a treat instead: a crossover from Gavel Gavel where criminal defense attorney Liz Skeen joins Thomas to talk about the Cornell case, and she is ... more

16 Oct 2026 • 57 min • Most popular

What the Media Are Getting Wrong About the Ilhan Omar Raid

VR47 - Federal agents raided Ilhan Omar's house this week, possibly over a decades-old conspiracy theory. Matt Explains what the media are getting wrong about the incident. Along the way we hear from Russian foreign correspondent Benny Johnson and hi... more

14 Oct 2026 • 1 hr 2 min • Popular

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Recent Guests

Matt Cameron

Guest on Lot Awful Movies discussion

Episode: The Real Reason Coyote v. Acme Was Buried (It's So Much Worse Than a Tax Write-Off)

Dave Wedge

Boston journalist and author of Blizzard of Lies

Blizzard of Lies

Episode: A Blizzard of Lies - Dave Wedge on the Karen Read Trial

Milo Yiannopoulos

British commentator and author known for controversial public persona

Self-employed; formerly Breitbart News

Episode: Milo Yiannopoulos Lied About His Immigration Status (And We Can Prove It)

Haley Moss

Autonomous advocate, author, and attorney focusing on neurodiversity in law

Autism advocacy, author

Episode: The First Openly Autistic Lawyer in Florida on What Law Firms Get Wrong

Carmela Mantello

Mayor of Troy, New York

City of Troy, New York

Episode: A Mayor Declared a State of Emergency to Save Flock Cameras

Melissa Murray

Frederick I. N. Grace Stokes Professor of Law at NYU; co-host of Strict Scrutiny

New York University School of Law; Strict Scrutiny podcast

Episode: Melissa Murray Gives the Constitution Some Strict Scrutiny

Peter O'Neill

Author of My So-Called Disorder, Autism, Exploding Trucks and the Big Daddy of Rock and Roll

Author, Book Club Guest

Episode: Law on the Spectrum, with Peter O'Neil

Jeff Jacoby

Boston Globe columnist, centrism advocate

Boston Globe

Episode: Ben Shapiro is having AI write his columns, and apparently not even the good models

Peter Kanellis

Author; discussed in book-club segment

Episode: The New Cover on Alito's TPS Reports Is for Racism

Hosts

Thomas Smith

Host with deep legal analysis; recurring host on multiple episodes, often leading deep-dives.

Matt Cameron

Co-host described as co-host and real-life attorney; adds practical legal perspective.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 6.6k ratings

Matt uses AI
Using AI in any capacity demonstrates a lack of care and competence
Apple Podcasts
1
Ali H
United Kingdom23 days ago
Lindsay Clancy episode isn’t the one to start with
The episode on the laws related to the Lindsay Clancy trial is maddening to listen to. Both hosts repeatedly state they don’t know enough about the case to draw conclusions and then proceed to conclude that LC was in psychosis. One host repeatedly refers to a podcast he listened to where a woman who experienced PSS discussed what she went through and then suggests LC could’ve experienced those things, too, and that killing your kids is by definition insane. I take the point, but also, that’s not... more
Apple Podcasts
4
vicbeth830
United States2 months ago
Great 👍
Podcast Addict
5
JesusGotWhatHeDeserved
3 months ago
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 States5 months 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 States8 months ago

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Listeners Say

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

Engaging, smart legal analysis with lively debate.

Accessible explanations of complex law without sacrificing depth.

High ad density can be a turn-off for some listeners; strong guest chemistry saves episodes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#132	United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#102	Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#103	Colombia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#159	Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#164	Sweden/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#183	United Arab Emirates/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Milo Yiannopoulos Lied About His Immigration Status (And We Can Prove It)

Q: What is the real basis Milo used to come to the United States, and how does it relate to the O1 visa?

The speakers explain that Milo initially relied on an O1 visa, which can fund a presence in the U.S. through an agent and gigs, but the evidence suggests that over time his status may have shifted toward a marriage-based path, with ongoing questions about whether he maintained residency.

Why Is Alito Like This? with Peter Canellos

Q: Can you just give some background here?

Canellos explains his background as a journalist who has studied and written about the conservative legal movement and Sam Alito, and describes how his prior books and research shaped the framing of Revenge for the Sixties as a biography of Alito and a broader study of the movement.

Did Trump’s DHS Just End Green Cards? Not Exactly.

Q: Who is most affected by the memo according to the hosts?

The discussion suggests spouses and close relatives of U.S. citizens, people with dual intent visas, and individuals who overstayed visas could be significantly affected, with potential burdens such as needing to leave the U.S. to process visas and risk of long re-entry bars, depending on individual circumstances.

Did Trump’s DHS Just End Green Cards? Not Exactly.

Q: What does the memo actually say about adjustment of status and its relation to consular processing?

The hosts explain that adjustment of status remains a discretionary process governed by the INA, not an automatic entitlement, and it is not meant to override or eliminate the regular consular processing pathway; the memo emphasizes discretion and administrative grace, but does not declare a universal requirement to process residency abroad.

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.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Opening Arguments

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

Two hosts analyze high-profile legal stories and core constitutional questions with sharp, accessible explanations. Across episodes, the show blends timely courtroom developments, civil rights issues, and current events with clear legal context and occasional humor. A standout is the strong chemistry between seasoned hosts and a rotating roster of legal guests, making complex topics approachable for listeners who want practical insight into how law shapes news and policy.

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Which podcasts are similar to Opening Arguments?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Opening Arguments:

1. Where There's Woke
2. Law and Chaos
3. The Skepticrat
4. Dear Old Dads
5. The Scathing Atheist

How many episodes of Opening Arguments are there?

Opening Arguments launched 10 years ago and published 1301 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. Matt Cameron
2. Dave Wedge
3. Milo Yiannopoulos
4. Haley Moss
5. Carmela Mantello
6. Melissa Murray
7. Peter O'Neill
8. Jeff Jacoby

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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