“I created a TV network for people 55 to dead,” Ailes boasted to us. “Nobody believed it could be done, but I did it. It’s for guys who sit on their couch with the remote all day and night.” That seemed a condescending way to talk about his audience—not to mention, much of the Republican base—but it was fascinating anyway.
“And they don’t want to see anyone like you,” he continued, looking directly at me. I wasn’t sure whether he meant a liberal, or a brunette newswoman in a dark pantsuit. “They don’t want to see you — they don’t even want to know that you exist!” And he was obliging them: he’d created a world where women were blonde and wore short tight skirts, men were in charge, and articulate, principled, complicated liberals – especially women — didn’t exist.
The serious question raised by McCarthy’s “joke” about Putin paying Trump: what did the GOP leadership know about Trump connections to Russia and when did they know it?
Why fear of Trump and his Trumpkins will stop the Repugs from doing anything about him. If there weren’t so many real-life consequences flowing out of it, it would be fun watching the Repugs squirm.
A well written piece from Bloomberg on the intent, effect, and positioning of China’s great “Belt and Road” project:
“Aimed at building infrastructure to connect China to a range of Asian countries, it’s sometime described as a Marshall Plan. But that analogy doesn’t go far enough. Infrastructure is how you dominate. Thus, Belt and Road is more like the 19th-century creation of railroads across continents — or an effort to build an Eisenhower Interstate System for an entire region of the planet.”
The American obsession with President Donald Trump and the investigation into untoward Russian influence is distracting us from China’s bid to displace the U.S. when it comes to global leadership. The latest major step is the “Belt and Road” initiative, which officially kicked off this week.
That’s the US’s biggest concern. The that China and Russia are replacing them as world leader, that the US has become irrelevant.
While true in GDP terms measured in US dollars, it ignores the facts that Russia has over 150 million people who overall are well educated and technically proficient, is a vast nation in terms of land area, and has a powerful military with the ability to operate at least as far as Syria.
On your measure Russia should not have been able to defeat Germany in WW2 and Napoleonic France, but it did.
Mind you if the UK and US were not also in the war, maybe Germany might have defeated Russia, or at least pushed it back to the Urals, but then again perhaps not.
How decisive were western supplies in the Battle of Stalingrad? The impressive thing about that battle is not just the defeat of the German 6th army, but also the sheer scale of the Russian encirclement involving millions of fresh troops who were well equipped. Who then went on to defeat the Germans in the Kursk tank battle a few months later.
Large area provides depth to defend in, but it doesn’t help you rule the world.
That requires, as the neocons liked to call it, “blood and treasure”, lack of which meant the Soviet Union collapsed and disintegrated before the US did.
Russia is a significant regional power, but the rest of the BRICS are better set up to be global powers than Russia is. At the moment Russia is developing some high tech items, but it can barely operate a legacy fleet aircraft carrier on a short duration, and even then their operational skills have atrophied.
True. Russia is and has always been essentially a poor country, with a culture of totalitarianism – whether under Tsars or Stalin. But it is big enough to pack a big punch, and its victory over Hitler despite suffering 80% of his war effort (yes – we bravely coped slowly with only 20%) is remarkable. Also remarkable was how long such a poor country competed with the USA as a super-power. But that was never a fair contest… Only ignorant right-wingers foolishly claim that Socialism failed in Russia.
The USA was richer and more powerful from the start, and able to tilt the field in its favour. And Russia became too totalitarian to be truly socialist.
The American obsession with President Donald Trump and the investigation into untoward Russian influence is distracting us from China’s bid to displace the U.S. when it comes to global leadership. The latest major step is the “Belt and Road” initiative, which officially kicked off this week.
What seems to be their biggest concern is that the US is losing its dominant position and becoming irrelevant.
Hi dtb, your last sentence hits the spot.
All my life, the US has interfered, destabilise, toppled, replaced governments.
Not a peep, or at most shrug of shoulders from the populace.
Now.. the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming… trump trump, look out for the Chinese….
I suppose it is a reflection of who controls our media.
The CIA has decades of interfering in the democracies of other countries. Even assassination when “they” do not understand the American ideas on democracy. Weird that Americans are obsessed with Russian interference. Perhaps the population has no idea of what the CIA does in their name. Torture? Kidnapping? Assassination? Bribery? Arming rebels?
This graverobbing arsehole needs to be prosecuted – he’s got no training, is not qualified and is a racist scumidiot.
“A self-proclaimed historian in Northland has been accused of grave-robbing after admitting to taking Māori skulls from grave sites.
Noel Hilliam told the Northern Advocate he had found skulls that pre-date Māori. He then sent human remains overseas for forensic examination and facial reconstruction.”
Why isn’t he prosecuted??? For too long this celtic bullshit has been tolerated – put this dude in court to answer for his desecration of sacred sites.
Hilliam should be prosecuted and the Northern Advocate should be printing a full page apology to its readers for publishing this racist rubbish – and so should the Herald online for keeping it up for three days.
I know – it seems like any deranged idiot can say anything and someone will publish it. This dude has been discredited at every point yet still some seem to want to hang onto their racist fantasies about who they are and where they came from and give this noel hilliman oxygen. He is a scum racist bigot graverobber and has been for years
I don’t agree with his methods at all no matter what he says, but he has a point there is evidence of pre-maori peoples living here. I’ve heard it from Kaumatua in Northland as well as several others in the media that have shot stories covering the topic. (disclosure: I work in the media myself so have talked to these people directly, many of them brought up the subject, not me.)
I could go on but why is this topic so frightening to some, whats wrong with finding out about our past? Only a closed mind will shout that it’s about being racist, I’m not at all, just interested in the history of our land.
Have a watch of this, he’s probably off the mark and guessing at some links but still worthy of a look, Maori have been here since roughly the 12C, is it so hard to acknowledge others may have journeyed here beforehand ?
Citing those frauds Hilliam or Doutre as a basis for anything would be operating on the same intellectual level as citing “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” as a basis for a theory that leprechauns were the indigenous people of Ireland.
Well, given that all anyone’s seen is the identikit “reconstruction” and no skull, dating analyses, or forensic pathologist has actually appeared, with any luck he just photoshopped the pic from scratch and spun the Northern Advocate a line of utter bullshit, no graverobbing involved.
He’s a liar. We know this. He didn’t deal with the University of Edinburgh. He would have lied on the customs forms if he had sent human remains overseas. The only question is where his lies start.
Yep I agree with karen above that this is unacceptable – I mean really WTF?
“A guard then checked on Mr Lightbody and found him totally unresponsive despite shaking him and shouting at him.
Both guards did nothing else initially. They sat at their base for 20 minutes, with one continuing to file while the other made himself a hot drink and ate a sandwich.
During this time, the prison wing’s manager and supervisor left the unit. The supervisor told the guards that he was off for the next week and that it was up to them to “sort it out”, the report said.”
Crikey stever. Not only journalists but simple people like me.
And yet English/Key have been insisting that a surplus is so good. Are they exactly 180 degrees wrong. And same call in Australia. Wonder why.
Being nice to a friend or a none too subtle reminder?.
Saddled with steep legal bills, Flynn wanted to reconnect with old friends and talk about potential future business opportunities. But one overriding question among those present were his views on the president who had fired him from his national security advisor post.
Flynn left little doubt about the answer. Not only did he remain loyal to President Trump; he indicated that he and the president were still in communication. “I just got a message from the president to stay strong,” Flynn said after the meal was over, according to two sources who are close to Flynn and are familiar with the conversation, which took place on April 25.
[…]
But friends of Flynn insist the president’s comment could also be viewed not as a deliberate effort to obstruct justice but a personal plea — however ill-advised — on behalf of a down-on-his luck friend who had stood by Trump throughout his campaign and is now ostracized by former associates and struggling to find new consulting work. “Basically what [Trump] was saying is, ‘Can you take it easy on my buddy?,’” said one friend of Flynn who has stayed in touch with him.
Take some coffee in a thermos or just some water and serve it to him. Once he’s drunk it, tell him which polluted river the water came from. If he refuses to drink it, ask him why he won’t.
I’ve been inspired by the Emoji Poo, and have something extra special lined up for his Street Corner meetings closer to the election. Will have to ask someone to film it, so I can put it on the youtube for you fellas that idea is going to be epic.
Ah, normal transmission under a National government. Lightly enforced regulations brought about by privatising inspection services and underfunding what remains (brings back memories of leaky building syndrome). Anything to ‘make business easier’ for dodgy developers. Except real lives are put in danger under National government policies and Pike River taught us that.
This could have been much worse than it was but thankfully the fire service was up to it. How long before the fire service is privatised, I wonder?
Cinny, you lucky thing. Unfortunately my tory is not as stupid as your tory .But anyway if there is a 2 dollar shop open in the morning I suggest you visit it and buy a 3 dollar plastic face disguise mask,–well worth doing. Full face includes a false mustache ,false glasses ,and full beard. For extra impact clip on ears ( 2 dollars extra) work a treat, much more impact I find. In fact I wonder also if you even need a sign. If you hover around the caravan -or even get a selfie with nick wearing your “I vote for nick” t shirt and the face disguise kit you will have a good day I’m sure. Looking forward to any reports. The decrypter
DC, LMFAO.. funnily enough we’ve a whole area at home dedicated to dressups, no need to go to the $2 shop. You know what would be funny, to dress up as Agent Orange with a trump message of support for Nickoff. Imagine lololz
Would rather not wear a mask, can’t smile back at people with a covered face.
It’s freezing here today, wind blowing off snow covered mountains and a bit of rain, on the bright side if the weather is not suitable today, there is always tomorrow, 2 chances in one weekend, dang that should always happen.
“Angry West Coast senior doctors say the Government’s plans for a public/private partnership to fund Westport’s new integrated family health centre (IFHC) will suck millions of dollars from health care.”
Civilian exploration may be the official mission of a Chinese deep-sea research ship that sailed clockwise around Australia over the past week and is now loitering west of the continent. But maybe it’s also attending ...
South Korea’s internal political instability leaves it vulnerable to rising security threats including North Korea’s military alliance with Russia, China’s growing regional influence and the United States’ unpredictability under President Donald Trump. South Korea needs ...
Here are 5 updates that you may be interested in today:Speed kills and costs - so why does National want more of it?James (Jim) Grenon Board Takeover Gets Shaky - As Canadian Calls An Australian Shareholder a “Flake” Billionaire Bust-ups -The World’s Richest Men Are UncomfortableOver 3,500 Australian doctors on ...
Australia is in a race against time. Cyber adversaries are exploiting vulnerabilities faster than we can identify and patch them. Both national security and economic considerations demand policy action. According to IBM’s Data Breach Report, ...
The ever brilliant Kate Nicholls has kindly agreed to allow me to re-publish her substack offering some under-examined backdrop to Trump’s tariff madness. The essay is not meant to be a full scholarly article but instead an insight into the thinking (if that is the correct word) behind the current ...
In the Pacific, the rush among partner countries to be seen as the first to assist after disasters has become heated as part of ongoing geopolitical contest. As partners compete for strategic influence in the ...
The StrategistBy Miranda Booth, Henrietta McNeill and Genevieve Quirk
We’ve seen this morning the latest step up in the Trump-initiated trade war, with the additional 50 per cent tariffs imposed on imports from China. If the tariff madness persists – but in fact even if were wound back in some places (eg some of the particularly absurd tariffs on ...
Weak as I am, no tears for youWeak as I am, no tears for youDeep as I am, I'm no one's foolWeak as I amSongwriters: Deborah Ann Dyer / Richard Keith Lewis / Martin Ivor Kent / Robert Arnold FranceMorena. This morning, I couldn’t settle on a single topic. Too ...
Australian policy makers are vastly underestimating how climate change will disrupt national security and regional stability across the Indo-Pacific. A new ASPI report assesses the ways climate impacts could threaten Indonesia’s economic and security interests ...
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Hi,Back in September of 2023, I got pitched an interview:David -Thanks for the quick response to the DM! Means the world. Re-stating some of the DM below for your team’s reference -I run a business called Animal Capital - we are a venture capital fund advised by Noah Beck, Paris ...
I didn’t want to write about this – but, alas, the 2020s have forced my hand. I am going to talk about the Trump Tariffs… and in the process probably irritate nearly everyone. You see, alone on the Internet, I am one of those people who think we need a ...
Maybe people are only just beginning to notice the close alignment of Russia and China. It’s discussed as a sudden new phenomenon in world affairs, but in fact it’s not new at all. The two ...
The High Court has just ruled that the government has been violating one of the oldest Treaty settlements, the Sealord deal: The High Court has found the Crown has breached one of New Zealand's oldest Treaty Settlements by appropriating Māori fishing quota without compensation. It relates to the 1992 ...
Darwin’s proposed Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct is set to be the heart of a new integrated infrastructure network in the Northern Territory, larger and better than what currently exists in northern Australia. However, the ...
Local body elections are in October, and so like a lot of people, I received the usual pre-election enrolment confirmation from the Orange Man in the post. And I was horrified to see that it included the following: Why horrified? After all, surely using email, rather ...
Australia needs to deliver its commitment under the Seoul Declaration to create an Australian AI safety, or security, institute. Australia is the only signatory to the declaration that has yet to meet its commitments. Given ...
Ko kōpū ka rere i te paeMe ko Hine RuhiTīaho mai tō arohaMe ko Hine RuhiDa da da ba du da da ba du da da da ba du da da da da da daDa da da ba du da da ba du da da da ba du da da ...
Army, Navy and AirForce personnel in ceremonial dress: an ongoing staffing exodus means we may get more ships, drones and planes but not have enough ‘boots on the ground’ to use them. Photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning:PM Christopher Luxon says the Government can ...
If you’re a qualified individual looking to join the Australian Army, prepare for a world of frustration over the next 12 to 18 months. While thorough vetting is essential, the inefficiency of the Australian Defence ...
I’ve inserted a tidbit and rumours section1. Colonoscopy wait times increase, procedures drop under NationalWait times for urgent, non-urgent and surveillance colonoscopies all progressively worsened last year. Health NZ data shows the total number of publicly-funded colonoscopies dropped by more than 7 percent.Health NZ chief medical officer Helen Stokes-Lampard blamed ...
Three billion dollars has been wiped off the value of New Zealand’s share market as the rout of global financial markets caught up with the local market. A Sāmoan national has been sentenced for migrant exploitation and corruption following a five-year investigation that highlights the serious consequences of immigration fraud ...
This is a guest post by Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog, Adventures in Transitland, which we encourage you to check out. It is shared by kind permission. Rail Network Investment Plan quietly dropped While much media attention focused on the 31st March 2025 announcement that the replacement Cook ...
Amendments to Indonesia’s military law risk undermining civilian supremacy and the country’s defence capabilities. Passed by the House of Representatives on 20 March, the main changes include raising the retirement age and allowing military officers ...
The StrategistBy Alfin Febrian Basundoro and Jascha Ramba Santoso
So New Zealand is about to spend $12 billion on our defence forces over the next four years – with $9 million of it being new money that is not being spent on pressing needs here at home. Somehow this lavish spend-up on Defence is “affordable,” says PM Christopher Luxon, ...
Donald Trump’s philosophy about the United States’ place in the world is historically selfish and will impoverish his country’s spirit. While he claimed last week to be ‘liberating’ Americans from the exploiters and freeloaders who’ve ...
China’s crackdown on cyber-scam centres on the Thailand-Myanmar border may cause a shift away from Mandarin, towards English-speaking victims. Scammers also used the 28 March earthquake to scam international victims. Australia, with its proven capabilities ...
At the 2005 election campaign, the National Party colluded with a weirdo cult, the Exclusive Brethren, to run a secret hate campaign against the Greens. It was the first really big example of the rich using dark money to interfere in our democracy. And unfortunately, it seems that they're trying ...
Many of you will know that in collaboration with the University of Queensland we created and ran the massive open online course (MOOC) "Denial101x - Making sense of climate science denial" on the edX platform. Within nine years - between April 2015 and February 2024 - we offered 15 runs ...
How will the US assault on trade affect geopolitical relations within Asia? Will nations turn to China and seek protection by trading with each other? The happy snaps a week ago of the trade ministers ...
I mentioned this on Friday - but thought it deserved some emphasis.Auckland Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan has responded to Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa, saying police have cleared Brian Tamaki of all incitement charges relating to the Te Atatu library rainbow event assault.Hassan writes:..There is currently insufficient evidence to ...
With the report of the recent intelligence review by Heather Smith and Richard Maude finally released, critics could look on and wonder: why all the fuss? After all, while the list of recommendations is substantial, ...
Well, I don't know if I'm readyTo be the man I have to beI'll take a breath, I'll take her by my sideWe stand in awe, we've created lifeWith arms wide open under the sunlightWelcome to this place, I'll show you everythingSongwriters: Scott A. Stapp / Mark T. Tremonti.Today is ...
Staff at Kāinga Ora are expecting details of another round of job cuts, with the Green Party claiming more than 500 jobs are set to go. The New Zealand Defence Force has made it easier for people to apply for a job in a bid to get more boots on ...
Australia’s agriculture sector and food system have prospered under a global rules-based system influenced by Western liberal values. But the assumptions, policy approaches and economic frameworks that have traditionally supported Australia’s food security are no ...
Following Trump’s tariff announcement, US stock values fell by the most ever in value terms (US$6.6 trillion). Photo: Getty ImagesLong story shortest in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning:Donald Trump just detonated a neutron bomb under the globalised economy, but this time the Fed isn’t cutting interest rates to rescue ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 30, 2025 thru Sat, April 5, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...
This is a longer read.Summary:Trump’s tariffs are reckless, disastrous and hurt the poorest countries deeply. It will stoke inflation, and may cause another recession. Funds/investments around the world have tanked.Trump’s actions emulate the anti-economic logic of another right wing libertarian politician - Liz Truss. She had her political career cut ...
We are all suckers for hope.He’s just being provocative, people will say, he wouldn’t really go that far. They wouldn’t really go that far.Germany in the 1920s and 30s was one of the world’s most educated, culturally sophisticated, and scientifically advanced societies.It had a strong democratic constitution with extensive civil ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Mars warming? Mars’ climate varies due to completely different reasons than Earth’s, and available data indicates no temperature trends comparable to Earth’s ...
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...
I was interested in David Seymour's public presentation of the Justice Select Committee's report after the submissions to the Treaty Principles Bill.I noted the arguments he presented and fact checked him. I welcome corrections and additions to what I have written but want to keep the responses concise.The Treaty of ...
Well, he runs around with every racist in townHe spent all our money playing his pointless gameHe put us out; it was awful how he triedTables turn, and now his turn to cryWith apologies to writers Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack.Eight per cent, asshole, that’s all you got.Smiling?Let me re-phrase…Eight ...
In short this morning in our political economy:The S&P 500 fell another 5.6% this morning after China retaliated with tariffs of 34% on all US imports, and the Fed warned of stagflation without rate cut relief.Delays for heart surgeries and scans are costing lives, specialists have told Stuff’s Nicholas Jones.Meanwhile, ...
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While there have been decades of complaints – from all sides – about the workings of the Resource Management Act (RMA), replacing is proving difficult. The Coalition Government is making another attempt.To help answer the question, I am going to use the economic lens of the Coase Theorem, set out ...
2027 may still not be the year of war it’s been prophesised as, but we only have two years left to prepare. Regardless, any war this decade in the Indo-Pacific will be fought with the ...
Australia must do more to empower communities of colour in its response to climate change. In late February, the Multicultural Leadership Initiative hosted its Our Common Future summits in Sydney and Melbourne. These summits focused ...
Questions 1. In his godawful decree, what tariff rate was imposed by Trump upon the EU?a. 10% same as New Zealandb. 20%, along with a sneer about themc. 40%, along with an outright lie about France d. 69% except for the town Melania comes from2. The justice select committee has ...
Yesterday the Trump regime in America began a global trade war, imposing punitive tariffs in an effort to extort political and economic concessions from other countries and US companies and constituencies. Trump's tariffs will make kiwis nearly a billion dollars poorer every year, but Luxon has decided to do nothing ...
Here’s 7 updates from this morning’s news:90% of submissions opposed the TPBNZ’s EV market tanked by Coalition policies, down ~70% year on yearTrump showFossil fuel money driving conservative policiesSimeon Brown won’t say that abortion is healthcarePhil Goff stands by comments and makes a case for speaking upBrian Tamaki cleared of ...
It’s the 9 month mark for Mountain Tūī !Thanks to you all, the publication now has over 3200 subscribers, 30 recommendations from Substack writers, and averages over 120,000 views a month. A very small number in the scheme of things, but enough for me to feel satisfied.I’m been proud of ...
The Justice Committee has reported back on National's racist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, and recommended by majority that it not proceed. So hopefully it will now rapidly go to second reading and be voted down. As for submissions, it turns out that around 380,000 people submitted on ...
We need to treat disinformation as we deal with insurgencies, preventing the spreaders of lies from entrenching themselves in the host population through capture of infrastructure—in this case, the social media outlets. Combining targeted action ...
After copping criticism for not releasing the report for nearly eight months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released the Independent Intelligence Review on 28 March. It makes for a heck of a read. The review makes ...
After copping criticism for not releasing the report for nearly eight months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released the Independent Intelligence Review on 28 March. It makes for a heck of a read. The review makes ...
In short this morning in our political economy:Donald Trump has shocked the global economy and markets with the biggest tariffs since the Smoot Hawley Act of 1930, which worsened the Great Depression.Global stocks slumped 4-5% overnight and key US bond yields briefly fell below 4% as investors fear a recession ...
Hi,I’ve been imagining a scenario where I am walking along the pavement in the United States. It’s dusk, I am off to get a dirty burrito from my favourite place, and I see three men in hoodies approaching.Anther two men appear from around a corner, and this whole thing feels ...
Since the announcement in September 2021 that Australia intended to acquire nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with Britain and the United States, the plan has received significant media attention, scepticism and criticism. There are four major ...
On a very wet Friday, we hope you have somewhere nice and warm and dry to sit and catch up on our roundup of some of this week’s top stories in transport and urbanism. The header image shows Northcote Intermediate Students strolling across the Te Ara Awataha Greenway Bridge in ...
On a very wet Friday, we hope you have somewhere nice and warm and dry to sit and catch up on our roundup of some of this week’s top stories in transport and urbanism. The header image shows Northcote Intermediate Students strolling across the Te Ara Awataha Greenway Bridge in ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and Elaine Monaghan on the week in geopolitics and climate, including Donald Trump’s tariff shock yesterday; and,Labour’s Disarmament and Associate ...
I'm gonna try real goodSwear that I'm gonna try from now on and for the rest of my lifeI'm gonna power on, I'm gonna enjoy the highsAnd the lows will come and goAnd may your dreamsAnd may your dreamsAnd may your dreams never dieSongwriters: Ben Reed.These are Stranger Days than ...
With the execution of global reciprocal tariffs, US President Donald Trump has issued his ‘declaration of economic independence for America’. The immediate direct effect on the Australian economy will likely be small, with more risk ...
The StrategistBy Jacqueline Gibson, Nerida King and Ned Talbot
AUKUS governments began 25 years ago trying to draw in a greater range of possible defence suppliers beyond the traditional big contractors. It is an important objective, and some progress has been made, but governments ...
I approach fresh Trump news reluctantly. It never holds the remotest promise of pleasure. I had the very, very least of expectations for his Rumble in the Jungle, his Thriller in Manila, his Liberation Day.God May 1945 is becoming the bitterest of jokes isn’t it?Whatever. Liberation Day he declared it ...
Beyond trade and tariff turmoil, Donald Trump pushes at the three core elements of Australia’s international policy: the US alliance, the region and multilateralism. What Kevin Rudd called the ‘three fundamental pillars’ are the heart ...
So, having broken its promise to the nation, and dumped 85% of submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill in the trash, National's stooges on the Justice Committee have decided to end their "consideration" of the bill, and report back a full month early: Labour says the Justice Select Committee ...
The 2024 Independent Intelligence Review offers a mature and sophisticated understanding of workforce challenges facing Australia’s National Intelligence Community (NIC). It provides a thoughtful roadmap for modernising that workforce and enhancing cross-agency and cross-sector collaboration. ...
OPINION AND ANALYSIS:Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier’s comments singling out Health NZ for “acting contrary to the law” couldn’t be clearer. If you find my work of value, do consider subscribing and/or supporting me. Thank you.Health NZ has been acting a law unto itself. That includes putting its management under extraordinary ...
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their ‘Royal assent’ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...
Thousands of New Zealanders’ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...
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The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill today that will remove the power of MPs conscience votes and ensure mandatory national referendums are held before any conscience issues are passed into law. “We are giving democracy and power back to the people”, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. ...
Welcome to members of the diplomatic corp, fellow members of parliament, the fourth estate, foreign affairs experts, trade tragics, ladies and gentlemen. ...
In recent weeks, disturbing instances of state-sanctioned violence against Māori have shed light on the systemic racism permeating our institutions. An 11-year-old autistic Māori child was forcibly medicated at the Henry Bennett Centre, a 15-year-old had his jaw broken by police in Napier, kaumātua Dean Wickliffe went on a hunger ...
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...
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Slug begone.
“I created a TV network for people 55 to dead,” Ailes boasted to us. “Nobody believed it could be done, but I did it. It’s for guys who sit on their couch with the remote all day and night.” That seemed a condescending way to talk about his audience—not to mention, much of the Republican base—but it was fascinating anyway.
“And they don’t want to see anyone like you,” he continued, looking directly at me. I wasn’t sure whether he meant a liberal, or a brunette newswoman in a dark pantsuit. “They don’t want to see you — they don’t even want to know that you exist!” And he was obliging them: he’d created a world where women were blonde and wore short tight skirts, men were in charge, and articulate, principled, complicated liberals – especially women — didn’t exist.
https://www.thenation.com/article/my-only-meeting-with-roger-ailes/
Good, another sexual pervert “bites the dust”.
Rolling Stone:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/taibbi-roger-ailes-was-one-of-the-worst-americans-ever-w483013
Roger Ailes Was One of the Worst Americans Ever
“Fox News founder made this the hate-filled, moronic country it is today”
The serious question raised by McCarthy’s “joke” about Putin paying Trump: what did the GOP leadership know about Trump connections to Russia and when did they know it?
http://www.salon.com/2017/05/18/kevin-mccarthys-explosive-joke-points-toward-a-darker-questions-how-long-have-leading-republicans-known-about-donald-trumps-russia-problem/
Why fear of Trump and his Trumpkins will stop the Repugs from doing anything about him. If there weren’t so many real-life consequences flowing out of it, it would be fun watching the Repugs squirm.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/05/trump-congressional-republicans-russia-comey-flynn-scandals
A well written piece from Bloomberg on the intent, effect, and positioning of China’s great “Belt and Road” project:
“Aimed at building infrastructure to connect China to a range of Asian countries, it’s sometime described as a Marshall Plan. But that analogy doesn’t go far enough. Infrastructure is how you dominate. Thus, Belt and Road is more like the 19th-century creation of railroads across continents — or an effort to build an Eisenhower Interstate System for an entire region of the planet.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-05-17/china-is-building-its-way-to-an-empire
That’s the US’s biggest concern. The that China and Russia are replacing them as world leader, that the US has become irrelevant.
Russia economy is smaller than California, with oil on the way out their future leading anything looks pretty bleak
Red
While true in GDP terms measured in US dollars, it ignores the facts that Russia has over 150 million people who overall are well educated and technically proficient, is a vast nation in terms of land area, and has a powerful military with the ability to operate at least as far as Syria.
On your measure Russia should not have been able to defeat Germany in WW2 and Napoleonic France, but it did.
Mind you if the UK and US were not also in the war, maybe Germany might have defeated Russia, or at least pushed it back to the Urals, but then again perhaps not.
How decisive were western supplies in the Battle of Stalingrad? The impressive thing about that battle is not just the defeat of the German 6th army, but also the sheer scale of the Russian encirclement involving millions of fresh troops who were well equipped. Who then went on to defeat the Germans in the Kursk tank battle a few months later.
Kursk was a draw but the Germans couldn’t afford anything other than a big win because they were losing any attritional continuation of the war
Large area provides depth to defend in, but it doesn’t help you rule the world.
That requires, as the neocons liked to call it, “blood and treasure”, lack of which meant the Soviet Union collapsed and disintegrated before the US did.
Russia is a significant regional power, but the rest of the BRICS are better set up to be global powers than Russia is. At the moment Russia is developing some high tech items, but it can barely operate a legacy fleet aircraft carrier on a short duration, and even then their operational skills have atrophied.
True. Russia is and has always been essentially a poor country, with a culture of totalitarianism – whether under Tsars or Stalin. But it is big enough to pack a big punch, and its victory over Hitler despite suffering 80% of his war effort (yes – we bravely coped slowly with only 20%) is remarkable. Also remarkable was how long such a poor country competed with the USA as a super-power. But that was never a fair contest… Only ignorant right-wingers foolishly claim that Socialism failed in Russia.
The USA was richer and more powerful from the start, and able to tilt the field in its favour. And Russia became too totalitarian to be truly socialist.
What seems to be their biggest concern is that the US is losing its dominant position and becoming irrelevant.
Hi dtb, your last sentence hits the spot.
All my life, the US has interfered, destabilise, toppled, replaced governments.
Not a peep, or at most shrug of shoulders from the populace.
Now.. the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming… trump trump, look out for the Chinese….
I suppose it is a reflection of who controls our media.
The CIA has decades of interfering in the democracies of other countries. Even assassination when “they” do not understand the American ideas on democracy. Weird that Americans are obsessed with Russian interference. Perhaps the population has no idea of what the CIA does in their name. Torture? Kidnapping? Assassination? Bribery? Arming rebels?
This graverobbing arsehole needs to be prosecuted – he’s got no training, is not qualified and is a racist scumidiot.
“A self-proclaimed historian in Northland has been accused of grave-robbing after admitting to taking Māori skulls from grave sites.
Noel Hilliam told the Northern Advocate he had found skulls that pre-date Māori. He then sent human remains overseas for forensic examination and facial reconstruction.”
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/05/northland-historian-admits-grave-robbing-maori-burials.html
Why isn’t he prosecuted??? For too long this celtic bullshit has been tolerated – put this dude in court to answer for his desecration of sacred sites.
Hilliam should be prosecuted and the Northern Advocate should be printing a full page apology to its readers for publishing this racist rubbish – and so should the Herald online for keeping it up for three days.
I know – it seems like any deranged idiot can say anything and someone will publish it. This dude has been discredited at every point yet still some seem to want to hang onto their racist fantasies about who they are and where they came from and give this noel hilliman oxygen. He is a scum racist bigot graverobber and has been for years
http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2010/03/why-is-kiwibank-honouring-grave-robbing.html
Fortunately he’s also been daft enough to incriminate himself in public, so hopefully someone with enough clout will make a complaint to the police.
Not surprisingly, overseas media nailed it (journo is a kiwi though),
https://www.vice.com/en_nz/article/a-group-of-far-right-grave-robbers-could-be-digging-up-sacred-maori-sites
While we’re at it why aren’t these prison guards being prosecuted?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/331104/guards-delay-after-prison-attack-unacceptable
I don’t agree with his methods at all no matter what he says, but he has a point there is evidence of pre-maori peoples living here. I’ve heard it from Kaumatua in Northland as well as several others in the media that have shot stories covering the topic. (disclosure: I work in the media myself so have talked to these people directly, many of them brought up the subject, not me.)
I could go on but why is this topic so frightening to some, whats wrong with finding out about our past? Only a closed mind will shout that it’s about being racist, I’m not at all, just interested in the history of our land.
Have a watch of this, he’s probably off the mark and guessing at some links but still worthy of a look, Maori have been here since roughly the 12C, is it so hard to acknowledge others may have journeyed here beforehand ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfve2lVMQk0
[Martin Doutre is another with links to white supremacy. Please do some research on this if you are going to put up links to his work – weka]
doutre is as much a douche and fraud as hilliman – only an
imbecilevery gullible person would be sucked in by these demented ravings of racist bigotsthe topic isn’t frightening – it has been debunked time and time again yet dim witted people still believe – go figure???
So, all the Kaumatua that told me stories too were lying?
Must be..
Are they citing Doutre?
“all the Kaumatua that told me stories”
think you may have answered that one yourself lol
Much if not Most of ‘history’ is distorted by gatekeepers who control information along with the funding of research and publication channels
Entire frameworks, industry and reputations are built around the distortions and inaccuracies, which then will fight to enshrine their own existence…
This is the world we live in..
give me an example of a distorted history? because i think you are wrong about that.
Citing those frauds Hilliam or Doutre as a basis for anything would be operating on the same intellectual level as citing “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” as a basis for a theory that leprechauns were the indigenous people of Ireland.
Well, given that all anyone’s seen is the identikit “reconstruction” and no skull, dating analyses, or forensic pathologist has actually appeared, with any luck he just photoshopped the pic from scratch and spun the Northern Advocate a line of utter bullshit, no graverobbing involved.
He’s a liar. We know this. He didn’t deal with the University of Edinburgh. He would have lied on the customs forms if he had sent human remains overseas. The only question is where his lies start.
Yep I agree with karen above that this is unacceptable – I mean really WTF?
“A guard then checked on Mr Lightbody and found him totally unresponsive despite shaking him and shouting at him.
Both guards did nothing else initially. They sat at their base for 20 minutes, with one continuing to file while the other made himself a hot drink and ate a sandwich.
During this time, the prison wing’s manager and supervisor left the unit. The supervisor told the guards that he was off for the next week and that it was up to them to “sort it out”, the report said.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/331104/guards-delay-after-prison-attack-unacceptable
if you run it like a business for profit then this is the sort of shit that happens.
Could all journalists please watch this, understand…and then ask more intelligent questions? Thanks.
Crikey stever. Not only journalists but simple people like me.
And yet English/Key have been insisting that a surplus is so good. Are they exactly 180 degrees wrong. And same call in Australia. Wonder why.
So has labour and, yes, they’re wrong.
They don’t seem to be willing to accept that the private banking system is a Ponzi scheme and needs to be stopped.
Being nice to a friend or a none too subtle reminder?.
Saddled with steep legal bills, Flynn wanted to reconnect with old friends and talk about potential future business opportunities. But one overriding question among those present were his views on the president who had fired him from his national security advisor post.
Flynn left little doubt about the answer. Not only did he remain loyal to President Trump; he indicated that he and the president were still in communication. “I just got a message from the president to stay strong,” Flynn said after the meal was over, according to two sources who are close to Flynn and are familiar with the conversation, which took place on April 25.
[…]
But friends of Flynn insist the president’s comment could also be viewed not as a deliberate effort to obstruct justice but a personal plea — however ill-advised — on behalf of a down-on-his luck friend who had stood by Trump throughout his campaign and is now ostracized by former associates and struggling to find new consulting work. “Basically what [Trump] was saying is, ‘Can you take it easy on my buddy?,’” said one friend of Flynn who has stayed in touch with him.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/investigators-circled-flynn-got-message-trump-stay-strong-145442727.html?
Looking for some weekend entertainment?
Come and join Nick Smith for a coffee in his caravan tomorrow Saturday at 3:30 and Sunday at 1:30pm, Bateup’s Rd in Richmond.
See you then Nickoff, I might even make a new sign just for the occasion.
Any sign ideas from TS readers would be very much appreciated.
Take some coffee in a thermos or just some water and serve it to him. Once he’s drunk it, tell him which polluted river the water came from. If he refuses to drink it, ask him why he won’t.
Stay home
Yeah… Nah.. Nationals greatest enemy is a well informed public and I’m a helpful girl who likes to share information and knowledge.
I know that will never sit well with your agenda Red, but hey, you’ll get over it, eventually.
That’s a good idea for a sign. You could add “for good, no-one will miss you, Nick”
Nickleodious?
Sounds like it’s gonna be, “Beatups Road”, Cinny
How about something sculpted in cow shit?
It’s worked before.
I’ve been inspired by the Emoji Poo, and have something extra special lined up for his Street Corner meetings closer to the election. Will have to ask someone to film it, so I can put it on the youtube for you fellas
that idea is going to be epic.
Ah, normal transmission under a National government. Lightly enforced regulations brought about by privatising inspection services and underfunding what remains (brings back memories of leaky building syndrome). Anything to ‘make business easier’ for dodgy developers. Except real lives are put in danger under National government policies and Pike River taught us that.
This could have been much worse than it was but thankfully the fire service was up to it. How long before the fire service is privatised, I wonder?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/331123/fire-service-slams-non-regulation-construction
Cinny, you lucky thing. Unfortunately my tory is not as stupid as your tory .But anyway if there is a 2 dollar shop open in the morning I suggest you visit it and buy a 3 dollar plastic face disguise mask,–well worth doing. Full face includes a false mustache ,false glasses ,and full beard. For extra impact clip on ears ( 2 dollars extra) work a treat, much more impact I find. In fact I wonder also if you even need a sign. If you hover around the caravan -or even get a selfie with nick wearing your “I vote for nick” t shirt and the face disguise kit you will have a good day I’m sure. Looking forward to any reports. The decrypter
DC, LMFAO.. funnily enough we’ve a whole area at home dedicated to dressups, no need to go to the $2 shop. You know what would be funny, to dress up as Agent Orange with a trump message of support for Nickoff. Imagine lololz
Would rather not wear a mask, can’t smile back at people with a covered face.
It’s freezing here today, wind blowing off snow covered mountains and a bit of rain, on the bright side if the weather is not suitable today, there is always tomorrow, 2 chances in one weekend, dang that should always happen.
“Angry West Coast senior doctors say the Government’s plans for a public/private partnership to fund Westport’s new integrated family health centre (IFHC) will suck millions of dollars from health care.”
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/west-coast/doctors-angry-secret-westport-deal