law

Suing the CIA Over MKUltra

OA1057

We’re giving ourselves a break this week from Trump, the Supreme Court, and all things 2024 to indulge in one of Matt’s all-time favorite subjects: CIA mind control experiments! In this extra-carefully-researched episode, Matt breaks down the history of the federal government’s...

The SCOTUS Embarrassment That Was the EMTALA Case

OA1056

As the Trump campaign celebrates the “demise” of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, we check in on reports of its death to see just how exaggerated they might be. Does it even matter that the ultra-conservative push to remake the personnel and policies of the federal gover...

#RapidResponseFriday Time!

Tell us - what do you want to hear OA cover this week?

Please let us know below! And also, please use that heart button on comments to give us an indication of numbers, so we can gauge interest!

And, if you have specific legal questions on a given topic, feel fre...

OA Bar Prep With Heather! T3BE34

The answer for T3BE33 is coming your way, and we launch our next Bar Prep question with Heather! 

Patrons, submit your answers below! But also, feel free to double up and submit on reddit.com/r/openargs!

2024-07-31 05:53:07 +0000 UTC View Post

Rap on Trial

OA1055

Charis Kubrin is a professor of criminology at University of California Irvine whose extensive analysis of rap lyrics has provided the basis for her expert testimony in cases around the U.S. in which an artist’s work has been used against them as criminal evidence. Professor Kubrin...

Setting the Record Straight on Kamala's Record

OA1054

As the Democratic Party comes together around presumptive nominee Kamala Harris after Joe Biden's surprise exit, we take another look at the Vice President”s career and political record. Is she any more of a “cop” than any other career prosecutor? How will history remember this...

It's Already Time for Another #RapidResponse?!

Time is flying. What do you want to hear OA cover this week?

Please let us know below! And also, please use that heart button on comments to give us an indication of numbers, so we can gauge interest!

And, as always, if you have specific legal questions on a give...

OA Bar Prep With Heather! T3BE33

The answer for T3BE32 is coming your way, and we launch our next Bar Prep question with Heather! 

Patrons, submit your answers below! But also, feel free to double up and submit on reddit.com/r/openargs!

2024-07-24 06:57:57 +0000 UTC View Post

Biden is OUT! Republicans Cry Foul and Lie About the Law

OA1053

We had a different episode ready, but this development warranted an emergency episode. Matt answers many of the most pressing questions about what happens next. Can Harris get on the ballot? Does she get access to the funds Biden had? What happens with Biden's delegates? And is it il...

Welp. Emergency episode. Biden drops out

Give us your questions and thoughts and Matt will do his best to answer them! Hit the heart on things you want to hear.

I Think This Judge Cannon Might Not Be on the Level

OA1052

CAAAANNNONNNNNBALLLLLL! Judge Aileen Cannon has just made a major splash in the Trump trials by dismissing the entire federal classified documents case based on her findings that special prosecutor Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed.  We try our best to pretend that this 93-pag...

#RapidResponseFriday is Coming Up!

It's that time again. Incredible patrons, what do you want to hear OA cover this week?

Please let us know below! And also, please use that heart button on comments to give us an indication of numbers, so we can gauge interest!

And, if you have specific legal ques...

OA Bar Prep With Heather! T3BE32

The answer for T3BE31 is coming your way, and we launch our next Bar Prep question with Heather! 

Patrons, submit your answers below! But also, feel free to double up and submit on reddit.com/r/openargs!

2024-07-17 07:34:19 +0000 UTC View Post

"Don't Say Gay" Bills Must Violate the 1st Amendment... Right? RIGHT?!

OA1051

In the wake of... one of the many moral panics likely started by Chris Rufo, many "Don't Say Gay" laws were passed. I don't know about you, but I had just figured these had to be unconstitutional. After all, we have freedom of speech, right? There's an Amendment about that, right? We...

They Finally Killed Chevron Deference

OA1050

Legal podcaster Charles Star (ALAB, Mic Dicta) joins to share his administrative law expertise as we consider the end of the Chevron doctrine and what comes next. Why is everyone so worked up about the overturning of a ruling reached by a conservative SCOTUS at the ...

OA Bar Prep With Heather! T3BE31

The answer for T3BE30 is coming your way, and we launch our next Bar Prep question with Heather! 

No Matter How Stupid And Evil You Think Qualified Immunity Is, It's Worse

OA1049

Qualified Immunity is insane. It's one of several ways that police evade accountability for truly monstrous acts. As unpleasant as that is, we're fortunate to have an amazing guest to take us through the history of it, as well as a new case that may be cause for optimism!

From ...

It’s almost new intro quotes time!

So give me your best suggestions! Remember, they need to be short, like 2-3 seconds kind of thing. And if you can link with a timestamp to something that is decent audio quality, that will increase your chances!

It Is Impossible to Be Too Alarmed About the Immunity Decision

OA1048

This decision is absolutely outrageous. It is in the hall of fame of worst Supreme Court Decisions in our nation's history. It's that bad. As such, we recorded a ton, there is yelling involved. And cursing. And we even did an extra length patron episode to answer some of your questio...

Young Thug Contempt BS Part 2 (ft. Ashleigh Merchant!)

OA1047

We continue our coverage of the contempt hearing against Young Thug attorney Brian Steel with a very special guest! Attorney Ashleigh Merchant is not only the president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, but most recently known for her work in seeking to recuse F...

A Different Kind of #RapidResponse Friday

We've got our topic but would love to hear from you all!

For Friday's episode, we'll be covering the Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity. What questions do you have? And be sure to heart your favorites in the thread to help us prioritize coverag...

The Young Thug Contempt BS Was Even Worse Than We Knew

OA1046

Bit of a special schedule this week, for reasons that I over-explain in the first 5 minutes of this episode. But it's good reasons! Hope you enjoy.

This is a part 1 of an extremely good Gavel Gavel episode. If you are a Gavel Gavel patron, you can listen to the full version in ...

OA Taking Monday off

Hey folks, sorry for the late notice, but we’re taking one off. If you’re missing Matt and I too much, there’s a ton of new Gavel Gavel! See you on Wednesday.

Patron Only Bonus! Judge Jackson's Brilliant Dissent

Here it is, the promised bonus, a reading of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's dissent in Snyder!

I... Hate the Supreme... COURT!

OA1045

As the Supreme Court gives itself an extension on its homework, we review two of its most recent completed assignments: 

• Department of State v. Munoz (6/21/2024...

  2024-06-28 07:05:13 +0000 UTC View Post

It's Almost #RapidResponseFriday!

Amazing Patrons! What do you want to hear OA cover this week?

Please let us know below! And also, please use that heart button on comments to give us an indication of numbers, so we can gauge interest!

And, if you have specific legal questions on a given topic, f...

OA Bar Prep with Heather! T3BE30

The answer for T3BE29 is coming your way, and we launch our next Bar Prep question with Heather! Submit your answers on Reddit.com/r/openargs, AND below!

2024-06-26 09:13:07 +0000 UTC View Post

What on Earth Is Happening in the Young Thug Trial?

OA1044

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has used Georgia’s RICO statute against everyone from public school teachers to environmental protesters to a former President of the United States. This week we examine Willis's massive 88-page RICO indictment of rapper Young Thug and 27...

Did Biden Do a Good Immigration Thing?

OA1043

This week: good immigration news! The Biden administration announced on June 17th that it will be moving forward with a plan to offer a pathway to citizenship for immigrants married to U.S. citizens who have been in the country for more than 10 years through a special “parole-in-pl...

What Should OA Cover This #RapidResponseFriday?

It's that time again! What do you want to hear OA cover this week?

Please let us know! And also, please use that heart button on comments to give us an indication of numbers, so we can gauge interest!

And, if you have specific legal questions on a given topic, fe...