It's Only Been 18 Days, But That's An Eternity in DOGE Years
Opening Arguments
OA1122 - We’re not even three weeks into the second Trump administration and already well into our first Constitutional crisis. How was the world’s richest man given access to the nation’s checkbook and the total authority to shut down a $40 billion federal agency with 10,000 employees--and can he be stopped? After a quick review of some recent good news, we try to understand how Donald Trump and Elon Musk are illegally reshaping the federal government before closing out the news sandwich with a big L for the Proud Boys. (2/4/25) (1/20/25) Zach Beauchamp Vox...
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The Pro-vaccine Republican Doctor Who Just Just Gave His Vote to RFK, Jr.
Opening Arguments
OA1121 and T3BE57 - Senator Bill Cassidy is one of the few remaining Republicans in national politics that resembles a normal human being. He is a doctor, and is very pro-vaccine. And he had a critical hand in RFK Jr.'s confirmation process. There seemed to be a decent chance he might not vote for the brain worms that run RFK Jr.'s flesh suit, but in the end, he did. How did he get there? How did he justify it? It's an interesting story and it says a lot about where we are right now. If you'd like to play along with T3BE, here's what to do: hop on Bluesky, , find the post that has...
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Rudy Giuliani and the Possibly the Worst Legal Document Ever Filed
Opening Arguments
OA1120- This episode was first published on our sister show, , and has been made available at no charge for our wonderful Opening Arguments patrons! Folks, we and you deserve a little treat. And let me tell you, this is a treat. Mwuah! Chef's kiss. Here's a triple episode for ya! Rudy Giuliani is such a piece of shit that the last real lawyers he could find quit. And so, enter... some guy from Staten Island. He gave us, and the world, truly one of the stupidest, worst written legal documents in recorded history. And in such a serious case, as well! We spend the entirety of this recording...
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People Are Fighting Back Against Trump’s Fascist Agenda in the Courts, and They’re Already Winning
Opening Arguments
Brought to you by Trade Coffee! Get up to 3 bags free with any new Trade subscription at OA1119 - Trump's executive orders are bad for humanity--and just plain badly written. We survey some of the 20 major legal challenges which have been filed against this nonsense--including two early wins, and a few others which might be wins soon. Matt then explains a recent proposed Trump enforcement tactic with concerning new potential for integration of local and federal authorities with immigration enforcement which the media seems to have missed. In related news, Trump has announced that a...
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Key Figure Behind Project 2025 Lies His Way Through Confirmation
Opening Arguments
OA1118 and T3BE56 - Russell Vought lied in his confirmation hearing, but who is Vought and why should we care? Lydia gets us up to speed on this capital-d Doozy, with his background, some highlights from his confirmation hearing, and the great reporting that lets us confidently state that he lied in his hearing with the Senate Budget Committee. Then Heather Varanini joins for the answer to T3BE question 55 and brand new question 56! , New York Times Opinion , ProPublica , Centre for Climate Reporting If you'd like to play along with T3BE, here's what to do: hop on Bluesky, , find...
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The Vacancies Act - How Trump Has Used and Abused It, and Might Again
Opening Arguments
Brought to you by Trade Coffee! Get up to 3 bags free with any new Trade subscription at OA1117 - As Donald Trump’s executive branch nominees continue to work their way through the confirmation process, we welcome Stanford Law professor Anne Joseph O’Connell to learn more about one of the most important legal protections we have against a fully imperial presidency. Professor O’Connell is one of the leading academic experts on the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, the legislation which Trump may or may not have intentionally circumvented in his last term to install acting heads of...
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Triaging All the Horrible
Opening Arguments
OA1116 - We take stock a few days into the second Trump administration to consider the current state of ICE enforcement, Trump’s blatantly unlawful overrule of the recent Supreme Court decision forcing the divestiture of TikTok, and the President’s new venture in cryptocurrency. Finally, today’s footnote honors the efforts of one person who is doing her part to write history as it happens. (1/23/25) (1/17/2025) (1/20/2025) (original ICE “sensitive locations” memo)(10/24/2011) (sent to the President 1/24/25) in U.S. v. Gregory...
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Trump's Executive Orders Are All Absurd and Horrible. But Which of them Actually Matter?
Opening Arguments
OA1115 - Matt joins for a special Wednesday to provide an initial review of some of the most notable of the 26 executive orders which Donald Trump signed after his inauguration on Monday. We go beyond the headlines to take a closer look at what is actually in these things, and try to sort the routine bluster from the very real threats. Center for Climate Reporting (8/15/2024) (1/20/2025) (1/20/2025) (1/20/25) (1/20/25) (1/20/25) (1/20/25) (1/20/25) Check out the OA for all the places to go and things to do! If...
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We (Disrespectfully) Dissent.
Opening Arguments
OA1114 - “We are now faced, my friends, with the fact that tomorrow is today.” --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (April 4, 1967) We begin the second Trump administration exactly where we intend to remain for the next four years: in dissent. Today’s Inauguration Day counter-programming features two of the most powerful dissenters in modern American history: Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We begin with commentary on Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s defiantly inspiring July 1, 2024 dissent as read from the bench in the Supreme Court’s immunity...
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We've Had One Jack Smith Report, Yes. But What About Second Report?
Opening Arguments
OA1113 - Special counsel Jack Smith recently resigned and turned final reports in each of Donald Trump’s federal cases to Attorney General Merrick Garland. We examine the enigma of the man and the complexity of his mission before reviewing his final conclusions and charging decisions. How does this compare to the Mueller Report? Why was Trump never charged under the Insurrection Act? And will Aileen Cannon really get away with keeping the second volume on Trump’s illegal retention of classified documents from ever reaching the four (4) people the AG has decided should be allowed to read...
info_outlineOA1103 - Is human intelligence necessarily more rational and just than artificial intelligence? How involved should AI be in our law and government? Professor Aziz Huq of the University of Chicago School of Law joins for a fascinating conversation about everything from the “right to a human decision” to the dystopian terrors of Tinder.
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“A Right to a Human Decision,” Aziz Huq, Virginia Law Review (2020)
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“The Geopolitics of Digital Regulation,” Aziz Huq (2024)
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“Chinese scientists develop AI ‘prosecutor' that can press its own charges,” Steven Chen, South China Morning Post (2021)
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