Opening Arguments

Opening Arguments Media LLC

Supreme Court

ICE

Donald Trump

Jeffrey Epstein

Trump Administration

Immigration Law

Department Of Justice

Ghislaine Maxwell

First Amendment

ANTIFA

Miranda Rights

Solitary Confinement

Immigration

Bar Exam

Charlie Kirk

Fourth Amendment

Clarence Thomas

Real Property Law

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Incarceration System

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

6.6k ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	1292	Founded	10 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	PoliticsNews

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Latest Episodes

John Yoo Wrote the Torture Memos and Never Paid for It. At All.

VR45 - Today on Vapid Response: 25 years after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, we look back on the Forrest Gump of monstrously bad legal takes: former DOJ lawyer and current UC Berkeley law professor (!) John Yoo. We go back to the primary ... more

30 Sep 2026 • 1 hr 15 min

From Toga Guy to John Hinckley: A History of Pleading Insanity

OA1300 - The “insanity defense” might sound like a relic of a time when mental illness was viewed through the lens of demons and witches, and it turns out it is… but also maybe it’s kind of woke? Jenessa walks us through the history of Old English an... more

28 Sep 2026 • 52 min

He Went to Prison for Bribing Susan Collins. She's... Totally Fine Somehow?

OA1299 - This week on Rapid Response Friday: what crimes might Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) have been complicit in, and why won't she ever be prosecuted for any of them? We go deeper into the law behind the facts exposed in ProPublica's outstanding i... more

25 Sep 2026 • 1 hr 2 min

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

Coyote vs. Acme is such a fun movie. Thomas and Lydia saw it with the kids, Matt tried to borrow some kids to see it with, and has some fun legal observations for us.

BUT! Before that, it's a special series premiere of ACCOUNTING'ed AWFUL MOVIES! B... more

24 Sep 2026 • 1 hr 4 min

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

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

Unspecified patrons/readers

Patrons discussed during book club sections

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

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

Great 👍
Podcast Addict
5
JesusGotWhatHeDeserved
2 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 States4 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 States7 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
7 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 States9 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	#170	United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#206	Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#134	Colombia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#149	United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#217	Switzerland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#249	Sweden/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 1292 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. Dave Wedge
2. Milo Yiannopoulos
3. Haley Moss
4. Carmela Mantello
5. Melissa Murray
6. Peter O'Neill
7. Jeff Jacoby
8. Unspecified patrons/readers

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