US democracy is under threat
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- Date published:
11:44 am, January 7th, 2021 - 43 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, Donald Trump, uncategorized, us politics -
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Short post to update on developments in Washington.
Short take, the US authorities appeared to be appallingly under prepared and allowed a group of Trump supporters to take over Congress after Mike Pence respected the constitution and indicated he would fulfill his role in accepting the results of the election.
I cannot believe how weak the response was.
Sure this was a bunch of wide eyed white trash with guns but surely the authorities could have done better.
Imagine if the crowd was black?
43 comments on “US democracy is under threat ”
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- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...1 day ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. âI am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...1 day ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. âPets are important members of many Kiwi families. Itâs estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...1 day ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...2 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iranâs shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.  âThese attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.  "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...2 days ago
- Huge interest in Governmentâs infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...4 days ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand â Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.  âDame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,â says Dr Reti. âI have asked her to ...4 days ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Governmentâs 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âBoosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Governmentâs plan to ...4 days ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âOur country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,â Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.  âWe cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...4 days ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...4 days ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. âThis is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...4 days ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âThe strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...5 days ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin itârule ...5 days ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. Â âNew Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...5 days ago
- Government redress for Te Korowai o WainuiÄruaThe Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o WainuiÄrua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. âHistorical grievances of Te Korowai o WainuiÄrua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...5 days ago
- Focus on outstanding minerals permit applicationsNew Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. âWhile there are no set timeframes for ...5 days ago
- Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research CallThe New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Irelandâs ...5 days ago
- Tenancy rules changes to improve rental marketThe coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. âThe previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...5 days ago
- Boosting NZâs trade and agricultural relationship with ChinaTrade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. âChina is one of New Zealandâs most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealandâs products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...5 days ago
- Freshwater farm plan systems to be improvedThe coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. âA fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...6 days ago
- New Fast Track Projects advisory group namedThe coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. âOur Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...6 days ago
- Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talksForeign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.  âSmall states in the Pacific rely on collective ...7 days ago
- Government honours Taranaki Maunga dealThe Government is honouring commitments made to Taranaki iwi with the Te Pire Whakatupua mĆ Te KÄhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its first reading Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. âThis Bill addresses the commitment the Crown made to the eight iwi of Taranaki to negotiate ...1 week ago
- Enhanced partnership to reduce agricultural emissionsThe Government and four further companies are together committing an additional $18 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealandâs efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the strength of the New Zealand economy relies on us getting effective and affordable emission reduction solutions for New Zealand. âThe ...1 week ago
- 110km/h limit proposed for KÄpiti ExpresswayTransport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin consultation this month on raising speed limits for the KÄpiti Expressway to 110km/h. âBoosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Governmentâs plan to rebuild the economy and this proposal supports that outcome ...1 week ago
- New Zealand Biosecurity Awards â Winners announcedTwo New Zealanders whoâve used their unique skills to help fight the exotic caulerpa seaweed are this yearâs Biosecurity Awards Supreme Winners, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. âStrong biosecurity is vital and underpins the whole New Zealand economy and our native flora and fauna. These awards celebrate all those in ...1 week ago
- Attendance action plan to lift student attendance ratesThe Government is taking action to address the truancy crisis and raise attendance by delivering the attendance action plan, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today.  New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards. Regular attendance, defined as being in school over 90 per cent of the ...1 week ago
- World must act to halt Gaza catastrophe – PetersForeign Minister Winston Peters has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.  âPalestinian civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israelâs military actions,â Mr Peters said in his speech to a ...1 week ago
- Speech to United Nations General Assembly: 66th plenary meeting, 78th sessionMr President, Â The situation in Gaza is an utter catastrophe. Â New Zealand condemns Hamas for its heinous terrorist attacks on 7 October and since, including its barbaric violations of women and children. All of us here must demand that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately. Â At the ...1 week ago
- Government woolshed roadshow kicks offToday the Government Agriculture Ministers started their national woolshed roadshow, kicking off in the Wairarapa. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said it has been a tough time for farmers over the past few years. The sector has faced high domestic inflation rates, high interest rates, adverse weather events, and increasing farm ...1 week ago
- PM heads to Singapore, Thailand, and PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines this week (April 14-20), along with a senior business delegation, signalling the Governmentâs commitment to deepen New Zealandâs international engagement, especially our relationships in South East Asia. âSouth East Asia is a region that is more crucial than ever to ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister launches Government TargetsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced further steps to get New Zealand back on track, launching nine ambitious Government Targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders. âOur Government has a plan that is focused on three key promises we made to New Zealanders â to rebuild the economy, ...1 week ago
- Natural hydrogen resource should be free of Treaty claims entanglementNatural hydrogen could be a game-changing new source of energy for New Zealand but it is essential it is treated as a critical development that benefits all New Zealanders, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones is seeking to give regulatory certainty for those keen to develop natural, or geological, ...1 week ago
- Government responds to unsustainable net migration...1 week ago
- New Zealand on stage at global Space SymposiumSpace Minister Judith Collins will speak at the Space Symposium in the United States next week, promoting New Zealandâs rapidly growing place in the sector as we work to rebuild the economy. âAs one of the largest global space events, attended by more than 10,000 business and government representatives from ...1 week ago
- After a second knife attack in Sydney, how can parents talk to their kids and help them feel safe?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Westrupp, Associate Professor in Psychology, Deakin University In the space of three days, there have been two devastating knife attacks in Sydney. Your child may have seen these on the news or social media. Or they might be hearing about it ...39 mins ago - Why is the Sydney church stabbing an act of terrorism, but the Bondi tragedy isnât?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Just days after the deadly Westfield Bondi attacks, a second knife attack in Sydney has generated widespread shock and grief. This time, a 16-year-old entered an ...1 hour ago
- Masses of scalloped hammerheads have returned to one of Australiaâs busiest beaches. But we donâ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science and Manager Whales & Climate Program, Griffith University A juvenile hammerhead at Burleigh Beach, watched by snorkellers Olaf Meynecke, CC BY-NC-ND For the second year in a row, over 100 hammerheads have gathered at one ...2 hours ago
- Have New Zealanders been misled about AUKUS, is involvement a foregone conclusion?
Analysis - New Zealand involvement in pillar two of the military deal would represent a seismic shift. ...3 hours ago - How the Lehrmann v Channel 10 defamation case shone an unflattering light on commercial news gatheri...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinsonâs victory in the defamation action brought against them by Bruce Lehrmann is the second big win inside a year for the Australian media using ...3 hours ago
- Pharmacists should be able to dispense nicotine vapes without a prescription. Hereâs whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Coral Gartner, Director, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, The University of Queensland Zamrznuti tonovi/Shutterstock The Australian government is currently considering a bill to implement the next stage of reforms to vaping regulation. At present, vaping products ...3 hours ago
- For 600 years the Voynich manuscript has remained a mystery. Now we think itâs partly about sexSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keagan Brewer, Macquarie University Research Fellow, Macquarie University Yale University Library The Voynich manuscript has long puzzled and fascinated historians and the public. This late-medieval document is covered in illustrations of stars and planets, plants, zodiac symbols, naked women, and blue ...4 hours ago
- Can AI read our minds? Probably not, but that doesnât mean we shouldnât be worriedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Baron, Associate Professor, Philosophy of Science, The University of Melbourne Iconic Bestiary / Shutterstock Earlier this year, Neuralink implanted a chip inside the brain of 29-year-old US man Noland Arbaugh, who is paralysed from the shoulders down. The chip has ...5 hours ago
- 5 reasons why the Fast-track Approvals Bill threatens NZâs already fragile ecosystemsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Stanley, Professor of Ecology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Conservation âgood newsâ stories â the release of native birds into new habitats, for example â are always welcome. They recognise the work of conservation staff and volunteers ...5 hours ago
- Stuff to provide news bulletins to replace Newshub on ThreeBy Colin Peacock, RNZ Mediawatch presenter Warner Bros Discovery has done a deal with Stuff to provide news to replace Newshub. It will keep news on TV channel Three from July 6 and help Three retain some viewers. It also means important income for Stuff, but it will also stretch ...5 hours ago
- Stuck in fight-or-flight mode? 5 ways to complete the âstress cycleâ and avoid burnout or depres...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Theresa Larkin, Associate professor of Medical Sciences, University of Wollongong Shutterstock Can you remember a time when you felt stressed leading up to a big life event and then afterwards felt like a weight had been lifted? This process â the ...6 hours ago
- Ministry of Education job cuts may affect school lunch programmeThere is concern the team delivering the programme could be halved, while RNZ has also been told it will be "decimated". ...6 hours ago
- From forced kisses to power imbalances, violence against women in sport is endemicSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Giles, Research Fellow, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University Former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales may face significant consequences for his non-consensual kiss of Spanish soccer star Jenni Hermoso. But this is not the norm for perpetrators ...6 hours ago
- As Chinaâs influence on Pacific media intensifies, Australia canât afford to lose the regionâs...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Morieson, Lecturer in Politics and Communication , RMIT University When the people of Solomon Islands go to the polls on Wednesday, they will be voting for more than just a new prime minister. The election will also be a referendum on ...6 hours ago
- The best moments from the outrageous final episodes of MAFS AU
From the Jono and Ellie bombshell to the return of Collins, we look at back at the final episodes of Married at First Sight Australia 2024. When John Aiken told us back in February that we were in for a âquite shockingâ season of Married at First Sight Australia, little ...6 hours ago - Expanding Coal Mining In 21st Century An âabsurd, Selfish Decisionâ Says WWF
Resources Minister Shane Jones announced today that the Government will ease the consenting process for setting up new coal mines or expanding existing ones. ...7 hours ago - The Boy in the Water nominated for best podcast
Newsroom has received five nominations for the 2024 Voyager Media Awards, including best podcast for Melanie Reidâs popular nine-part in depth investigation The Boy in the Water. ReadingRoomâs Steve Braunias has been nominated for best columnist, opinion or critique, and Aaron Smale is up for the Te Tohu Kairangi award. ...7 hours ago - Watch: Christopher Luxon faces questions in SingaporeThe Prime Minister is speaking to media on his second day of a tour around South East Asia. ...7 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions in SingaporeThe Prime Minister is speaking to media on his second day of a tour around South East Asia. ...8 hours ago
- How The Lost Boys of Dilworth brought a âhorrendous nightmareâ to lifeAlex Casey talks to the makers of TVNZâs new docudrama retelling the stories of Dilworth survivors. This story contains reference to sexual abuse, please take care. When she first saw the child actors that would be playing the young versions of Dilworth survivors, Mary Durham nearly burst into tears on ...8 hours ago
- Pro-independence activist issues dire warning to France over Kanaky New CaledoniaBy Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A pro-independence activist in New Caledonia is warning France to immediately halt its planned constitution amendments or face âwarâ. The call for a u-turn follows proposed constitutional changes to voting rights which could push the number of eligible anti-independence voters up. Pacific Independence Movement ...8 hours ago
- The last days of motorsport at Pukekohe Park Raceway | Checkered Flag | The SpinoffIn the final months of the Pukekohe Park Raceway, the father and daughter duo managing the grassroots racecourse want to give everyone a last chance to go fast. This asphalt has been a part of New Zealandâs motorsport community and history for 60 years. Checkered Flag is made with the ...9 hours ago
- Watch: David Seymour announces early childhood education centre changesACT's leader read to children while sitting next to a book featuring Jacinda Ardern, before telling reporters the former prime minister was an authoritarian. ...9 hours ago
- Smaller agencies cutting deepest into staffing, data to date showsSmaller agencies are making deepest cuts as they look to save costs, RNZ data shows. ...9 hours ago
- The last days of motorsport at Pukekohe Park RacewayIn Checkered Flag, the father and daughter duo managing the Pukekohe Park Raceway want to give everyone one last chance to go fast before its closure. Since it opened in 1962, the Pukekohe Park Raceway has hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix, the Tasman Series, and Supercar Championships as ...9 hours ago
- Labour Productivity Falls 0.9 PercentLabour productivity fell 0.9 percent in the year ended March 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. The 0.9 percent fall in labour productivity was the largest fall since 2009. It follows a rise of 1.0 percent in the year ended March ...10 hours ago
- Shane Jones Throws A Lump Of Coal To The Mining LobbyistsCoal Action Network Aotearoa (CANA), the national organisation campaigning for an end to coal mining and coal use, says Resources Minister Shane Jones needs to understand the world has moved on from the industrial revolution, and coal - and siding with ...10 hours ago
- Jeepers creepers: the climbing cost of climate change compoundsKiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr explains what effect climate change will have on inflation, housing and policy â and whether thereâs a way out. Climate change. Itâs a gigantic force and itâs coming into play at a time when New Zealand is already struggling with inflation. Weâve gone from a ...10 hours ago
- New deal intends to make trade with Singapore simplerCustoms has signed a cooperation agreement with its Singaporean counterpart. ...11 hours ago
- Will pet bonds really be a win-win? Iâm not holding my breathMaking it easier for people with pets to find rentals is a good thing. But the pet bonds policy is just one proposal in a suite of many that overwhelmingly favour landlordsâ rights, argues Kristin Kelly. Renting in New Zealand, generally speaking, sucks. At the time of the last census, ...11 hours ago
- Shane Jones announces easier coal mine consentingThe Resources Minister says changes to coal mine consenting will reduce barriers to extraction. ...11 hours ago
- How a global crisis, drift racing and Memphis hip-hop gave us phonk â the music of the TikTok gene...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Ward, Senior Lecturer in Music, School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the Sunshine Coast Shutterstock Whatâs that sound you hear â a combination of down-tempo hip-hop, menacing bass, distorted drums and plucky synths? Itâs phonk! Still ...12 hours ago
- Watch live: David Seymour announces early childhood education centre changesThe government has announced changes to the ECE sector, which it says will make it easier for new centres to be set up. ...12 hours ago
- The cost of being: A skint student waiting anxiously to start a new jobAs part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 30-year-old whoâs just finished his studies will be breathing a sigh of relief when that first paycheck comes in. Gender: Male Age: 30 Ethnicity: MÄori/European Role: Student/trainee, volunteer for a youth organisation. Salary/income/assets: Me: $400pw ...12 hours ago
- Breaking: Stuff wins race to replace Newshub with a new 6pm bulletin for ThreeSources familiar with the deal say the print news giant has beaten out NZME to create a 6pm bulletin to replace Newshub at Three. Less than a week after Three confirmed that its proposal to completely shutter Newshub will be going ahead, it will today confirm that Stuff has won ...12 hours ago
- Can playing Tetris help prevent PTSD if youâve witnessed something traumatic?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Bressington, Professor in Mental Health, Charles Darwin University In the wake of witnessing tragic events, many people turn to online communities such as Reddit to discuss and process their experiences. A common bit of advice users give each other is to ...12 hours ago
- Have New Zealanders really been âmisledâ about AUKUS, or is involvement now a foregone conclusio...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marco de Jong, Lecturer, Law School, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images When former prime minister Helen Clark spoke out against New Zealand potentially compromising its independent foreign policy by joining pillar two of the AUKUS security pact, foreign minister ...12 hours ago
- With democracy under threat in Narendra Modiâs India, how free and fair will this yearâs electio...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priya Chacko, Associate Professor, International Politics, University of Adelaide Indiaâs prime minister, Narendra Modi, is favoured to win reelection when Indiaâs 970 million voters start heading to the polls on April 19 in the countryâs massive, six-week general election. Modi, who has ...12 hours ago
- What happens when I stop taking a drug like Ozempic or Mounjaro?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natasha Yates, General Practitioner, PhD Candidate, Bond University Diva Plavalaguna/Pexels Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about them? This month, The Conversationâs experts explore their rise, ...12 hours ago
- Climate change is causing marine âcoldwavesâ too, killing wildlifeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicolas Benjamin Lubitz, Researcher in marine ecology, James Cook University Ryan Daly The effects of ocean warming are profound and well-documented. But sometimes changes in the patterns of winds and ocean currents cause seawater to suddenly cool, instead. Surface temperatures ...12 hours ago
- Our research suggests eating an unhealthy breakfast could have a similar effect on your childâs sc...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew J. Martin, Scientia Professor and Professor of Educational Psychology, UNSW Sydney Haley Owens/Unsplash, CC BY Many parents know it is important for their teenagers to have breakfast before they go to school. Even though young people can be reluctant ...12 hours ago
- NZ joins call for Israel not to escalate tensions with IranForeign Minister Winston Peters says now is not the time escalation, but rather for calmness. ...13 hours ago
- Chinaâs forced returns prompt call for foreign interference committeeA report sheds new light on NZ residents pressured into returning to China to face its legal system The post China’s forced returns prompt call for foreign interference committee appeared first on Newsroom. ...13 hours ago
- Mega tunnel idea prompts anger and satire but finds a couple of championsOne proponent has suggested the minister give Elon Musk a call about the newly resurrected mega tunnel idea for Wellington, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoffâs morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. âWeâre having a really good look ...13 hours ago
- Costs of PĆ«hoi to Warkworth motorway not to be finalised until 2025The divvying up of costs for the billion-dollar PĆ«hoi to Warkworth motorway will not be finalised until next year. ...14 hours ago
- Air NZ calls for Govt mandates to help drive sustainable aviation fuel useNew Zealandâs national carrier has taken a leap towards its net zero 2050 goal, with its biggest ever purchase of sustainable aviation fuel. But Air NZ chair Dame Therese Walsh said it was now time for the Government to step in with policies that would help level the playing field ...14 hours ago
- Public service cuts: $6.3m in payouts at one ministry so farThe total cost of redundancies across the public service is not yet known and the Finance Minister has not asked for an estimated price tag. ...15 hours ago
- A flagpole, a failed space, and a confused history of white fragilityWellingtonâs Flagstaff Hill has a strange, dark historyâŠ. or does it? Max Rashbrooke uncovers the truth about a historical myth. I pass it almost every day, yet never see it used. The flagpole, placed on a grassy hill above Wellingtonâs CBD, surrounded by trees and houses, and accessible only by ...16 hours ago
- A series of alternative, equally ambitious, transport options for WellingtonYou want to build a giant underground tunnel? Dream a little bigger. On Monday, news broke that the government is investigating the prospect of a mega-tunnel, running from Wellingtonâs The Terrace to Kilbirnie, designed to reduce the car load on State Highway 1 and speed trips up by an astounding ...16 hours ago
- Beyond the DoC job cuts: âThe worst is yet to comeâLosing staff is just the beginning of a coming storm for the Department of Conservation, environmental groups warn The post Beyond the DoC job cuts: âThe worst is yet to comeâ appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- âReverse upliftâ foster parents still waiting to hear from OTThe foster couple at the centre of a Newsroom video investigation ordered removed from our website by the High Court are hopeful a Court of Appeal ruling means they finally hear back from Oranga Tamariki, who have been giving the couple the âsilent treatmentâ. âWeâre still in limbo. Our lives ...16 hours ago
- Environment Court shuts down PÄkiri sand mining appealThe court found the ‘clear benefits’ of continuing to take sand from PÄkiri didn’t outweigh environmental concerns The post Environment Court shuts down PÄkiri sand mining appeal appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- Man in the middleItâs no easy task leading a company that supplies fossil fuels in this day and age, and no one gives Z Energy chief executive Lindis Jones a harder time about it than his own kids. His work skating the friction zone â maintaining steady fuel supply while supporting the transition ...16 hours ago
- Carers want out from disability ministry over funding fiascoCarers want to use their funding as they see fit The post Carers want out from disability ministry over funding fiasco appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- Swiss climate ruling full of holesOpinion: European Court of Human Rights rules that Switzerlandâs climate policy violates human rights of its citizens The post Swiss climate ruling full of holes appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 16 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 16 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- Rhapsody in feijoaThe greatest book ever written about the feijoa may well be the only book ever written about the feijoa but there is no doubting that the recently published Feijoa by Kate Evans qualifies as a New Zealand natual history classic, a deep and knowledgeable dive into the life story of ...16 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Tuesday 16 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Tuesday 16 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- Principals on the truth behind truancyBad parenting – or are there a million other reasons that a child might not make it to school? Ask Ash Maindonald, the principal of Western Heights School, a primary school in West Auckland. He’ll tell you that every principal he speaks to has a litany of war stories they ...16 hours ago
- Security steals focus in Luxonâs Singapore swingOne of New Zealandâs closest defence partners has warned of the possibility of âcalamityâ if countries didnât come together to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict. âIt is a very troubled world. And in particular, it is a very very troubled Middle East,â said Singapore Prime Minister ...21 hours ago
- Rideshare giant Ola has abruptly exited the Australian market. What does this mean for the future of...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Neil G Sipe, Honorary Professor of Planning, The University of Queensland Diego Thomazini/Shutterstock Last week, Indian rideshare giant Ola announced that it would abruptly cease operations in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. A competitor to Uber, the company ...23 hours ago
- Recession, high interest rates take toll on construction industryTony Boyce threw "mega bucks" into his company to try keep it afloat but with no work coming in, he has to close it down for good. ...23 hours ago
- New Wellington tunnel: 'An astonishing misunderstanding of transport priorities'A new underground mega-tunnel in the capital would be a colossal waste of money, opponents of the government's suggestion for the tunnel say. ...24 hours ago
- Singapore PM warns against Middle East 'calamity', signs NZ agreementSingapore's PM has warned small countries cannot solve the Middle East situation but efforts must be made to push for peace, after promising closer cooperation with NZ. ...1 day ago
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This is caused by just a few hundred Trump supporting idiots-hardly a threat to democracy.
It will blow over by the end of the month when Biden will be ensconced in the White House and the Democrats will also have control over the Senate and House
….at least for the next two years.
Donald who?
There were far more violent anti-democratic riots by the extreme right in Venezuela. Most of the legislators in Washington either vociferously supported them or said nothing.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article239965673.html
Couldn't agree more Morrissey….and there were demos in Bolivia to get MAS back in power that were mostly ignored.
The lesson here is simple, there are extremists at the margins of every cause who believe that disruption, rioting and violence are justified by the righteousness of their beliefs.
The vast majority of all other people condemn them.
The vast majority of all other people condemn them.
You and I condemn them, RedLogix*, and I'm sure most other people on this site do as well. But not the majority of U.S. congressmen and women. They gave a standing ovation for the ridiculous failed coup leader Juan Guaidó one year ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOibfOxrbd4
* Please accept my apology for my mean-spirited comment on the Waikeria Prison thread yesterday. I'm sure you do have a deal of expertise on the matter, contrary to my claim then.
No apology was expected or required Morrissey, nor was I assuming any special expertise. If I gave that impression I was wrong.
I saw a poll result suggesting that 45% of Republican supporters approved of the storming of Congress …
Which goes to show what a bunch of low IQ cretinous individuals nearly half of the Republican voters are.
Anne – intellectual snobbery never seemed so good. I fully agree.
A visit to KB is always such a nice reality check đ
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1346959738479718400
https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1346920198461419520
https://twitter.com/cevansavenger/status/1346920924310867968
https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/1346969164246900740
Fact to be aware of: the US Capitol Police is a separate police force that reports solely to Congress. It is separate to DC Metropolitan Police (that reports to city government) and other federal police agencies that also have jurisdiction in the area, that report to the Justice Department or other executive branch agencies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol_Police
https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/1346969164246900740
https://twitter.com/traceyecorder/status/1346962474357063683
That's one way of collecting evidence.
I thought that too.
Hopefully they'll track most of them down and jail them.
Do you really believe that? The FBI warned in 2006 about police departments being riddled with white supremacist views. As we saw yesterday, there seems to have been no improvement.
https://law.lclark.edu/live/files/28080-lcb231article2johnsonpdf
If Sanders was president elect, the police would probably be facing the other way, and the media outrage much more muted.
Threat my ass.
Congress, Senate, and White House have democratically elected people in them.
Supreme Court rejected the appeals.
Conservative commentators unanimous in condemnation.
Order restored.
What will Biden do with this political gift of a crisis?
Thereâs only one response unequivocally clear enough for Trump and his âtroopsâ to understand:
That order surely must be given to the police there as well.
This is about Trump, heâs acting as a detonator. He lost the Election, he needs to concede, heâs been fired.
Agreed.
The way tensions are currently, hair triggers and all, hollering 'fired' would be ill advised.
One thing you have to give these protesters is that they are at least on the streets fighting for what they perceive to be right ( they are wrong of course).. ..nothing wrong with that, putting a little fear into the political class is essential and good thing in my opinion, especially when it comes from organized workers movements, not so great when it comes from a bunch of this lot…..I have always thought it is a real shame that our own political class don't have a bit of historical fear of the masses embedded deeply at the back their brains.
Except they were not on the streets protesting Adrian. They were inside the Capitol doing this:
This is not protest. This is illegal entry, vandalism, and sedition. Idiots egged on by a narcissistic sociopath who needs to be removed from access to the nuclear codes immediately.
"This is illegal entry, vandalism, and sedition"….. that sounds a lot like direct action protest to me, you (and I) might not agree with their cause, but it is still protest.
Here is a great bit of direct action protest from yesterday, I guess you don’t approve….
McConnell, Pelosi homes vandalized after $2,000 relief fails
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/03/mcconnell-pelosi-homes-vandalized-relief-453691
No I don't approve.
I can understand why McConnell is the victim of these actions, but Pelosi always wanted the $2000 stimulus package. It was McConnell who held up the approval and amended the amount from $2000 to the measly $600. Pelosi only agreed in order that desperate families would at least get something, and aid packages that were due to expire would continue. When Trump – hoping to curry favour with his supporters – called for the sum to be raised to $2000 (the sum initially proposed by the House before the package went to the Senate) – Pelosi immediately agreed (as that was the sum they had already sent to the Senate) and asked for the House to rubber stamp the increased funding. This proposal was not agreed by some Repugnant Reps in the House, and so the funding remained at $600.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/24/house-votes-on-2000-stimulus-checks-after-trump-supports-them.html
https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/mitch-mcconnell-rebuffs-trump-democrats-by-blocking-2-000-cheques-120123100077_1.html
Pelosi used the stimulus as a political football without a thought for the suffering US citizens, that is just a fact…they should have burnt her house down…and McConnell’s while they were at it…
“fellow Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were responsible for delaying urgently needed coronavirus relief by walking away from the White House’s offer of a $1.8 trillion coronavirus package.”
https://nypost.com/2020/12/08/bernie-sanders-admits-democrats-stalled-covid-19-relief/
Pelosi ADMITS She Held Up Stimulus Before Election To Help Biden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kt7QAiEUhA
There is good reason why Pelosi is one of the most unpopular politicians in the USA today…yuk.
Poll: Majority wants Pelosi out as House speaker
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/22/poll-people-want-pelosi-out-449788
Amazing. We have a situation where a rabble of coup-coup clown cosplayers made up of a rabble of neo-nazis, white supremacists, Qooks, and other right wing nutcases actually successfully disrupted one of the most important functions of democracy, the peaceful transfer of power, and all you can think of is somehow to make up some completely unrelated fantasy so you can whine about Democrats.
Idiot.
Andre, if maybe you could just control your lizard brain for a moment you would have seen that I was clarifying some obvious misinformation about Pelosi…Now we all know that it is just completely normal and in character for you to excuse and/or ignore the failings of the Democrat’s because of your belief that everything bad in the USA started in 2016..ironically, it was largely because of the failings of liberals just like you that Trump won in the first place and because of people just like you that we will probably get something much worse next time….however you liberals have shown the world you are so fucking narcissistic that you are incapable of conducting any self-analysis…no you blame anything and everyone else for your failures…the Russians, Bernie, Nader, Jill Stein.
So don’t come on here and attack me you sad sycophant.
You're reminding me of the recent Mt Maunganui new years riot where the Council and business 'elite' blames it all on the deplorables and refuse to take any responsibility whatsoever for the society they're in charge of.
Angela Merkel’s comments on today's developments:
Angela Merkel
@Queen_Europe
I can assure you that my departure from office is going to be very boring. (my bold)
Isn't it strange that we are all supposed to be so concerned with American Democracy….the very corrupted Democracy that led to Trump being elected in the first place…meantime…under the cover of the Covid Bill…. "$33 million “for democracy programs for Venezuela” (page 1498) "…ah yes, America and its helping hand bringing 'Democracy' to those folk who insist on voting for the wrong guy….maybe they need to spend money on their own Democracy Program
https://wnynewsnow.com/2020/12/21/congress-reaches-deal-securing-900-billion-for-stimulus-relief-package/
Four dead as police storm the US Capitol.
I think you are a little confused as to who did the storming. But keep trying.
By no means – some of the police let the trumpsters in, even took selfies with them, but were obliged to storm the place to get the rioters out some hours later.
Well Chris Liddle seems to be hanging in there. I'm baffled as to what would need "considering" – other than the quickest way to the exit door. Wonder what Simon thinks?
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/06/politics/national-security-adviser-resigns-trump-protest/index.html
What Jacinda calls a 'mob', Hilary called 'deplorables'.
It may be hard to see through the smoke and broken glass but Trump and the Republicans are on the exact same team as Joe Biden and the Democrats. The shrill hysteria over Trump and his supporters is all part of an elaborate theatrical display of democracy – where the 2 political parties and their supporters pretend that they are fundamentally different when in reality they serve identical interests.
The Democrats now have control of Congress and the White House and they will spend the next couple of years twisting themselves into all kinds of intricate knots in order to avoid making any significant changes to Trumps corporate friendly policies.
Real political change does not happen through democracy and beneficent leadership from the top it comes from a genuine fear of violent revolution from the bottom. Which is why watching US citizens (albeit with misdirected motives) smashing their way into the heart of government is a sign that things are at a tipping point and this can only be a good thing for the future of the country.