This is how you do it America

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, November 7th, 2020 - 79 comments
Categories: us politics - Tags: ,

Cori Bush is the first Black woman from Missouri to be elected to Congress.

Lots of good stuff in here. Rousing speech, love of place and community, diverse class consciousness, affirming that she is gaining power because of the people and she will take them with her.

Full speech text here.

Meanwhile, another extraordinary moment was yesterday watching media live feeds interrupt Trump’s latest batch of lies about the vote. MSNBC anchor Brian Williams as he crosses to the network’s lawyer 30 secs into Trump’s speech.

Here we are again in the unusual position of not only interrupting the president of the United States but correcting the president of the United States.

(video clip)

The Irish Daily Mirror was less subtle on Thursday.

CNN presidential results live page

Arizona

Nevada

Pennsylvania

Georgia

North Carolina

Enjoy the discussion.

UPDATE:

Decision Desk HQ called it this morning.

Decision Desk HQ projects that @JoeBiden has won Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral college votes for a total of 273.

Joe Biden has been elected the 46th President of the United States of America.

Race called at 11-06 08:50 AM EST

 

79 comments on “This is how you do it America ”

  1. Andre 1

    Biden is ahead in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona and other states adding up to 306 Electoral College votes.

    Georgia is still on a knife edge. Biden's lead is currently 1500ish. There's still some votes to be counted, mostly from Dem stronghold counties, and up to 8900 overseas and military ballots still to come in and be counted (which may lean Repug)

    Pennsylvania is looking secure, and some news orgs have called it for Biden. His lead is currently about 10,000, with the remaining votes mostly from Dem strongholds. Notably, even the mail-in ballots from Repug stronghold counties have favoured Biden.

    Nevada is looking secure for Biden. His lead in now up to around 22,000 with most of the remaining votes to come from Clark County (Las Vegas) which are expected to favour Biden.

    Arizona is looking likely for Biden. His lead is still around 45,000. Almost all the remaining votes to come are from Maricopa County (Phoenix). These last ballots to be counted have been slightly going against Biden, but not anywhere close to enough to put Biden behind in the final count.

    • millsy 1.1

      Networks are taking their time in calling. I guess they don't want a repeat of 20 years ago, but agonizing. I have been stressing about this for days.

      • Andre 1.1.1

        Stressing about it for days? Tell me about it. /

        I kinda agree with those that have held off calling it early in these tense times. The consequences of having to withdraw a call could be quite disproportionate. Those networks that called Arizona a couple of days ago certainly look premature to me, even now. Even though it's looking very unlikely they'll be wrong, there's still just a bit too much uncertainty still left.

  2. WeTheBleeple 2

    Called it Thursday morning. Pennsylvania from the outside for the win. Math rules but really, the composition of mail-in votes, known early, gave it away.

    While America faces tremendous problems it is my opinion their biggest issue is lack of critical thinking. The inability to determine fact from fiction in a market full of cowboys has seen them drop from international cop to international joke.

    The scorn and derision is entirely earned. Their international cop image is akin to their domestic cop image. Murderous and ignorant bullies drunk on power and misguided self adoration.

    Education, and its sources, must be addressed. Or they'll keep acting like the bulk of them are as dumb as fuck, because the bulk of them are as dumb as fuck.

    Well and truly over giving them any benefit of the doubt. Biden is now in the largely impossible position of herding insane cats.

    Yes, they have some amazing people. And nearly 70 million Trumpers.

    • Treetop 2.1

      Lack of critical thinking sums up the fake president. This is why Trump cannot remain for another 4 year term.

    • happynz 2.2

      Harsh, but true.

    • RedLogix 2.3

      Education, and its sources, must be addressed.

      The best educated Americans are exceptionally capable; the problem is that most ordinary people can only access a rather second rate system that serves them very poorly. It's a very patchy system, great in parts, bloody awful most other places.

      Their entire university system is under considerable stress; ridiculously expensive, too many poor value badly conceived courses and increasing online competition. Plus COVID is complicating campus life a lot. Altogether not a rosy outlook.

      • WeTheBleeple 2.3.1

        It's like the education divide reflects the economic divide. OK, it's not like it does – it does.

        I reckon a huge part of white angst, reflected as Trumpism, is the broken promise of the American dream disproportionately hurts white Americans as their expectations were a lot higher than POC who are used to being suppressed or at best overlooked.

        All the drongos running around advising that you don't need an education because: look at me I'm an influencer/you tuber/useless stain on humanity and I make a living…

        Education as a path to overwhelming debt. Capitalism eating itself.

        • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.1

          Education as a path to overwhelming debt. Capitalism eating itself.

          And we're heading down the same path of massive debt with no way out unless this government finally starts working from the assumption that capitalism doesn't work.

          All the drongos running around advising that you don't need an education because: look at me I'm an influencer/you tuber/useless stain on humanity and I make a living…

          It also doesn't help when many with an education also don't get ahead.

      • Stuart Munro 2.3.2

        I think the media's role in education has been neglected too. Fox has been leading people astray, not cultivating an informed and critical audience.

        • woodart 2.3.2.1

          rupert murdoch, an aussie who jumped ship to be british, then jumped ship again to be an american, has, through fox, single handedly caused the divided states of america to take the greatest leap backwards of any major country, since the late ayotolah khomeini, took iran backward.

    • Treetop 2.4

      Do you think that social media plays a part in people not using critical thinking?

      • WeTheBleeple 2.4.1

        Absolutely. I recall the early days of the web. We were in forums/interest groups learning at an unprecedented pace. Then social media arrives… my science forums barely see me anymore, too busy being distracted by nonsense.

        So many idiots pushing idiocy. Unprecedented levels of dickhead.

        • Treetop 2.4.1.1

          So true what you say about social media. It is hard to tell the difference sometimes between fact and fiction.

    • Anne 2.5

      Said it in a nutshell WTB. About time somebody did.

      I've been getting heartily sick of media commentators – especially the US – skirting around the edges of the truth about Trump and letting him get away with verbal murder. Many were so weak and insipid and allowed themselves to be bullied and terrorised by him.

      They should have come to me for advice. An American (ex Marine Corps) bullied and terrorised me when I worked at the RNZAF base at Whenuapai back in the Eighties and early 90s. I stood up to him and eventually won. 😉

    • Craig H 2.6

      I posted this elsewhere but may as well copy it here too…

      https://www.votespa.com/About-Elections/Pages/Counting-Dashboard.aspx is the Pennsylvania election reporting dashboard. According to that, there are 9,091,371 registered voters, of whom 4,229,163 are Democrat, 3,543,158 are Republican and 407,519 are "other". CNN's exit polling for Pennsylvania shows that registered voters are voting for their party at a rate of 90%+, but that independents are voting for Biden by 51%-43%.

      The dashboard is updating as reporting continues, but as I write this, there were 3,099,581 mail ballots issued, 2,629,342 (28.9% of registered voters) cast, 2,465,841 counted and 163,501 remaining to count. Of those, 1,702,207 were issued to Democrats, 624,732 for Republicans, 210,946 no affiliation, 80,889 other, 8,051 for Libertarians, 2,517 for Greens.

      The biggest county is Philadelphia with 1,129,425 registered voters (12.42% of all registered voters), of whom 857,041 are registered as Democrats and 130,590 as Republicans.

      If it is accepted that:

      • the largest urban area will fully report last (it's still counting and reporting a few polling stations for election day votes)
      • mail-in votes will report later because Pennsylvania counts them after the election day ballots because they take longer (each ballot has to be checked for validity as well as counted)
      • mail-in votes make up 28.9% of registered voters (so will be a higher portion of actual votes cast because not all registered voters will have voted)
      • registered Democrats voted 90% for Biden according to exit polling
      • registered Democrats make up 64.7% of mail in voters and 78.9% of registered Philadelphia voters

      To me it follows that a large portion of later votes will go Democrat, even in Republican counties because Democrats were a huge majority of mail in voters.

  3. Dennis Frank 3

    Looking good for Biden now, and Trump's claims of voter fraud seem desperate. I presume he's just recycling what he learnt from his dad as a kid – dad being in thick with the NYC Dem machine, back when US democracy was the best that money could buy.

    But what a pathetic shambles the US vote count system still is. No wonder folks don't trust it. And yet they don't trust internet voting either. The Swiss have been using it almost 20 years and folks there still don't trust it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_voting_in_Switzerland

    the credibility of American elections is being questioned again, and this time, the doubts are coming in from the POTUS himself. And somewhere we agree with him. Voting as we know it cannot be fully trusted.

    Traditional voting is often subject to speculations for either corruption if there are paper votes or phishing malpractices if it is an online voting system. While both the mechanisms have their pros and cons, one huge step towards securing our elections could be with blockchain e-voting – a concept popularized by Thailand in 2018.

    A Blockchain voting app would naturally offer transparency in terms of validating the accuracy of the trail of inputted votes. In such a blockchain-based e-voting system the entries would be time-stamped and encrypted before being secured with private keys. This might sound futuristic to baby boomers and Gen-X, yet, the truth is that the upcoming elections will be dominated by millennials and Gen-Z.

    The Bitcoin Blockchain… takes a minimum of 10 minutes to update and broadcast the new transactions to the network. Ethereum is still faster. Imagine hearing who the public elects as its leading representative, within minutes of concluding the final round of votes. It’s possible with Blockchain.

    https://appinventiv.com/blog/role-of-blockchain-in-voting/

  4. Phillip ure 4

    Cnn is reporting the trump camp 'in a frenzy' as it sinks in that it is nearly all over..and as an aside..I have been relaxed about this since day one…it has all unfolded as predicted..

    • Ad 4.1

      Very little of either the Senate or Presidential vote has gone as predicted.

      • Andre 4.1.1

        I think perhaps our various Nostradumbasses are making assertions about how good their personal 'predictions' have been.

        • Phillip ure 4.1.1.1

          No nostrodamus-style predictions…just math..and a basic knowledge of the american political systems..and the demographics there…but sneer on macduff..eh..?…

      • Phillip ure 4.1.2

        Red wave followed by blue wave was predicted/happened…the massive amount of early voting..(with trump telling his supporters not to early vote..) just underlined that blue wave..and when I say 'as predicted' I am talking about how I read it…not what the pundits/pollsters said…those pollsters/pundits who again got it so wrong…this really is a dark moment for that dark art…I wasn't paying close enough attention to the senate races to have a call on them…and isn't it kinda interesting how both nz and u.s. are 50/50 divided on progressive/reactionary lines…we are not that different..

        • WeTheBleeple 4.1.2.1

          If you paid enough attention, you could have set up a bookies and cleaned up. A lot of it was predictable. Not via crystal ball, but math, and patterns. The mail-in votes gave 'seers' a huge advantage in most states. Only Arizona was still up in the air (not following pattern) when others called it.

          And you also sneered at me accusing me of smoking something when I called it Andre. A little investigation was right at your fingertips.

        • Phillip ure 4.1.2.2

          And actually I wouldn't have a clue what the pundits were saying…I switched off all online/media a couple of years ago ..a marker of that 'off' is that it was only about a week ago that I saw an image of the covid guy who has been appearing next to ardern all this year…I had him with blond/sandy hair .and chubbier..heh..!..(I relied on rnz audio as my only source of 'news')…and I have rediscovered reading books…and in a big way..I have been/am wallowing in them…I was aware pollsters were predicting a big win for biden..but that is about all the attention I have paid to them.

  5. Ad 5

    Putin's impending resignation will be one of the bigger gifts President-Elect Biden will ever be given.

    He will be able to re-set that relationship from a position of greater strength.

    Looking forward to the WHO Covid-19 Report coming out so Biden can royally shank Xi Jinping as well.

    That would be a good start for State.

  6. Phillip ure 6

    Red wave followed by blue wave was predicted/happened…the massive amount of early voting..(with trump telling his supporters not to early vote..) just underlined that blue wave..and when I say 'as predicted' I am talking about how I read it…not what the pundits/pollsters said…those pollsters/pundits who again got it so wrong…this really is a dark moment for that dark art…I wasn't paying close enough attention to the senate races to have a call on them…and isn't it kinda interesting how both nz and u.s. are 50/50 divided on progressive/reactionary lines…we are not that different..

  7. dv 7

    This is an interesting site

    https://alex.github.io/nyt-2020-election-scraper/battleground-state-changes.html

    Updates every 15 mins, shows the lead, and the % needed for the looser to win and the % of the vote they are getting.

    • dv 7.1

      The site shows that Trump looks like only getting Alaska and N Caroline, while Biden gets Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona.

    • Treetop 7.2

      Trump hates the postal votes, over 100 million postal votes. As long as there is a date stamp of 3 November 2020 the vote is legal. As for the counting rules each state has their own process. Trump did nothing about the counting process prior to the election. Notice how he is being selective about which states he wants a recount on.

      • greywarshark 7.2.1

        The trouble with the closing dates re the postal votes is that different states have different rules; they are self-governing in many things. So it requires questioning and further thought to ascertain which states are being referred to when Trump makes a general announcement.

        That stretch of thought is beyond people who have their minds fixed and decided on what is true and right, and filter everything through that calcified stone.

  8. Whispering Kate 11

    Even if Trump is frogmarched out of the Whitehouse he will still continue to keep influencing and ruling the Trump followers from his Twitter Account. He is a master at it and is addicted to his daily edicts he pours out to his people. Unless he can be removed from Twitter I cannot see this cretin shutting up any time soon. It is going to be a difficult time for the new President to keep the ship steady if the witterings and mutterings of this cretin continue on Twitter influencing his faithful to protest and cause mayhem throughout the four year term.

    Its time for my family to quit the US while they can. I can see a storm abrewin' in the land of "the free".

    • weka 11.1

      Twitter will probably be more willing to apply its rules once DT is no longer president.

      • RedBaronCV 11.1.1

        Twitter have a policy about not saying awful things and they ban if it goes on.

        Major public figures though get their posts labelled as incorrect and they halt the spread of them. Done I guess on the grounds that you have a right to know if your leader is racist sexist etc. So when Trump is no longer president the harder outcomes apply – banning etc. I saw some where in the media that a third party had created an account that just simply copied all Trumps tweets and the bans on posting etc where apparently pretty swift.

    • ianmac 11.2

      Read today that important people like the President gets a license to say dodgy stuff – up to a point, then a warning label can be pasted on the item.

      But once the President is defrocked, then the rules of banning and/or fining apply like the do for mortals.

    • McFlock 11.3

      Look on the incredibly optimistic side – they're not supposed to have twitter access in prison…

  9. AB 12

    Unless both the two Georgia Senate races which will now go to runoff in January, flip to the Democrats, shouldn't we be talking about 'President Elect Mitch McConnell'? Biden inherits a catastrophic mess with constrained ability to do much about it. As the economic fallout from Covid deepens and deaths climb past 300k in January, why would the psychopath McConnell support any new stimulus bill – rather than let Biden take the blame for the carnage? While it's a huge relief that Biden has squeaked through with the presidency, the down-ballot under-performance of his campaign is a looming disaster.
    And yes – Cori Bush is fabulous, but still represents a tiny sector of that party.

    • weka 12.1

      she's not on her own.

    • ianmac 12.2

      Be interesting to see if there is a significant shift of support one way or the other in such a by-election. Could be a resounding win/defeat with a vital effect on being to operate or not with/without Senate.

    • happynz 12.3

      Doubtful that there would be "president-elect Mitchell McConnell ". The line goes VP, Speaker of the House (currently Pelosi) and then the Senate Pro Tem dumbfuck Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley.

  10. WeTheBleeple 13

    The American liberals dream is nihilistic oblivion. They've made their bed but they won't be getting any sleep.

    Each half of the binary screwing the populace while extracting all that they can. They've got nothing left and will turn on others soon as they can to detract from an utterly failed state. Plenty of limp-wristed liberals already gurning to start shit with China. Like they've got some high ground to stand on. Pathetic as usual aka BAU.

    Biden had one thing he ran on – Not Trump. That is the foundation upon which he plans to rebuild America. Ridiculous.

    • Anne 13.1

      Biden had one thing he ran on – Not Trump. That is the foundation upon which he plans to rebuild America. Ridiculous.

      OK. There's an element of truth he is going to win because he isn't Trump. But give him a chance to prove his worth as President. With Obama back on stage to assist him I'm hopeful. As for the Senate: I don't think they'll get much kudos if they try and obstruct his presidency too much and there's a few Senate seats up for grabs in the near future.

      • WeTheBleeple 13.1.1

        'Good Presidents' dole out crumbs. 'Bad Presidents' take them away again. Meanwhile the entire loaf is being carved up behind the facade.

        Yes, those crumbs are meaningful to those who have nothing. But the robbery is still being committed.

        I can see the Senate shooting themselves in the foot. Then they can flip it, and shoot the other foot.

      • Phillip ure 13.1.2

        Maybe biden will have the opposite of obamas' time…in that he lost the senate so was kinda impotent after that…save for invading countries/toppling governments…maybe biden will gain the senate midway on his term…and I wonder if biden will follow obamas' or trumps' lead as far as invasions etc. go..?..I hope he follows the only good example trump displayed…he didn't invaded countries/start wars…whereas obama..?..not so much…eh..?..something else of interest is to see the roles bernie and Elizabeth warren get…remember how warren stood aside at just the right time..and biden was suddenly a contendor..?…promises will have been made…

      • Gabby 13.1.3

        Not sure that Bitch McTurtle gives much of a shit for kudos. He's set for the next 6 years.

  11. joe90 14

    Flinging poo as instructed but I can't say anything about the poo.

    https://twitter.com/Biden_Army/status/1324842003524390915

    • weka 14.1

      fuck that's desperate. I can understand she doesn't want to be out there on her own though, lol.

  12. greywarshark 15

    This is one fro the good people of America who care about each other, and their country's progress to better… whatever it needs.

  13. Trying to find the cartoon president intro to Colbert's election night show and found this new one instead

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    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet


    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te PokapĆ« Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kƍrero, he kƍrero, he kƍrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kƍrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatƫ rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. â€œFor too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

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