Opening Arguments
OA1094 - Denaturalization and an executive order revoking birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents have both been in the news a lot recently, and Matt would like everyone to take a breath and do some realistic risk assessment. We review what it actually takes to denaturalize someone under our current system, and what it would take for a majority of even this Supreme Court to say that the Fourteenth Amendment doesn’t say exactly what it says. Agenda 47 (2024) (2018) Check out the OA for all the places to go and things to do! If you’d...
info_outline Drakesgiving SpecialOpening Arguments
OA1093 - In this episode recorded on Thanksgiving Day, two vegetarians carve up the Canadian turkey born Aubrey Drake Graham. Are Drake’s exploratory legal actions against Universal Music in response to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” the weakest move in the history of rap beefs? Matt shares some of his favorite diss tracks before we consider these filings and how Drake thought he could possibly come out of this looking good. We also take a look at Jack Smith’s motion to dismiss both of the federal criminal cases against the 47th President-elect of the United States, and what we...
info_outline "The Right Way" Part 2Opening Arguments
OA1092 plus T3BE49 - we continue our conversation with Somali-American author and advocate Abdi Nor Iftin. Then, it's answer time for T3BE question 48, and our new question 49! Play along on BlueSky! Check out the OA for all the places to go and things to do! If you’d like to support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at !
info_outline What It Really Takes To Immigrate "The Right Way"Opening Arguments
OA1091 - We are honored to welcome Somali-American author and advocate Abdi Nor Iftin for the first of a 2-part Thanksgiving episode dedicated with gratitude to the incredible efforts that so many naturalized Americans have made to be a part of this country. Abdi has recorded the full story of his life in his book Call Me American, in which he details the long journey from his escape from being forced into service as a child soldier in war-torn Somalia to his years as a refugee in Kenya before winning the U.S. diversity visa lottery and building a thoroughly American life in one of the last...
info_outline Trump Takes MAGA Senators on Field Trip, Allowing Dems To Confirm More JudgesOpening Arguments
OA1090 - It's an ALL GOOD NEWS EPISODE! It exists, and there is plenty of it. Positive vibes only for today's dose of practical hope. And right when you think it can't get any better, the Footnote Fetish returns! Matt has found yet another bizarre RFK Jr animal-related scandal, this one far from the headlines at the intersection of election and avian law. Also Thomas Takes the Bird Exam! , Cook Political Report ) “” (11/21/24) (11/18/24) “ (11/5/24) Check out the OA for all the places to go and things to do! If you’d like to support the show (and...
info_outline All the President's... Defense AttorneysOpening Arguments
OA1089 - Trump's Staff Infection, part 3 plus T3BE48! In this installment of Fashwatch’s continuing review of Trump’s incoming legal team, we take a closer look at what we know about the top spots in his DOJ and some of the other most important lawyers in any Presidential administration: White House counsel, Solicitor General, and the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. 1. “ (8/25/22) Check out the OA for all the places to go and things to do! If you’d like to support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at !
info_outline Enter the Gaetz of HellOpening Arguments
OA1088 - Trump's Staff Infection Vol. 2 With special guest Lydia Smith! Matt explains why only lawyers can truly destroy the rule of law before Lydia reviews what Project 2025 has planned for the Department of Justice. We then consider Donald Trump’s intention to make his favorite Florida (Congress)man our next Attorney General without or without Senate approval. Who is America’s Worst Matt, and could this weird loser really be the angel of Trump’s retribution? “,” Tampa Bay Times (11/15/24) Check out the OA for all the places to go and things to...
info_outline Trump's Picks Are So Bad He Wants To Subvert His Own Congress. Can He?Opening Arguments
OA1087 - We examine how the incoming President and his administration are already breaking the law with his transition team before taking on his announced intention to subvert the Constitution--and his own political party--through an unprecedented clown car of forced recess appointments. From the Defense Secretary the National Guard determined they couldn’t trust with a gun around Joe Biden to the Attorney General who just resigned from Congress to avoid the details of what he has been doing with high school students to the deputy chief of staff who is Stephen Miller, there are plenty...
info_outline Trump's Staff InfectionOpening Arguments
OA1086 - We're modifying the schedule a little! Introducing fash-watch with Lydia. We're going to keep a very watchful eye on Trump's incoming government. We're starting this week with the EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and UN Ambassador Elise Stefanik. But don't worry! After that, we're still on with Heather and the regularly scheduled bar exam failure! Make sure to find openargs on Bluesky and play T3BE there! Check out the OA for all the places to go and things to do! If you’d like to support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at !
info_outline How Joe Biden Can Go Out a LegendOpening Arguments
OA1085 - Matt has put together a preliminary list of things Joe Biden can and should do in the lame duck period. Will he? Let's make him. After that, we examine something that he should absolutely not do courtesy of the aspiring fascists of the National Review. As a little treat. (11/6/24) Check out the OA for all the places to go and things to do! If you’d like to support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at !
info_outlineOA1094 - Denaturalization and an executive order revoking birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents have both been in the news a lot recently, and Matt would like everyone to take a breath and do some realistic risk assessment. We review what it actually takes to denaturalize someone under our current system, and what it would take for a majority of even this Supreme Court to say that the Fourteenth Amendment doesn’t say exactly what it says.
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Departure Statement of Wong Kim Ark, National Archives San Francisco
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Trump announcement on birthright citizenship executive order, Agenda 47 (2024)
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Birthright Citizens: a History of Race and Rights in Antebellum History, Martha Jones (2018)
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