Hit and Run
The book’s synopsis, background, and Q and A from Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson.
Politics
Abuse of power
Nick Smith is a disgrace
In a functioning democracy Nick Smith’s handling of the Resource Management Bill should result in him losing his ministerial warrant.
Vault 7: CIA Hacking Tools Revealed
Some very quick initial thoughts on expected reactions.
Who would have thunk that Government’s approach to housing is inadequate
Radio New Zealand has reported on a review of the Government’s housing policy which described it as fragmented and lacking a robust plan but it took intervention by the Ombudsman to have the review released.
Trump Whitehouse bans critical media from briefing
It is day 37 of Donald Trump’s reign as POTUS. Today he decided to attack elements of the press that have been critical of him by banning them from a press conference.
Forest and Bird takes it the Government in the Supreme Court
The Crown is seeking to overturn the Court of Appeal decision obtained by Forest and Bird which is preventing Conservation land in the Hawkes Bay from being used for the controversial Ruataniwha dam.
Government will not support victims of domestic violence
The Government is refusing to support Jan Logie’s bill aimed at helping the victims of domestic violence despite the bill receiving support from the ANZ and Business New Zealand supporting the bill going at least to select committee.
We Are All ‘Identarian’ Now
There has been an unfortunate trend developing in recent weeks, of negatively labelling people who dare to have a different opinion on equality to the labeller, as identarian. This description is something to be appreciated in these times when dark forces appear to be on the rise again.
Bloomberg warns world of New Zealand’s toxic trusts
Bloomberg magazine has highlighted how foreign trusts are damaging New Zealand’s reputation and are being used for criminal activity.
The Peter Thiel citizenship grant
The Peter Thiel paper dump raise more questions than they answer and hints at ongoing communication with National ministers and that John Key approached Thiel to make the donation subsequently made to Key’s earthquake fund.
Shock after shock
Understanding shock events is part of the solution.
Peter Thiel’s citizenship and consequent questions of corruption
Journos have been looking at how Peter Thiel gained citizenship. Not because he shouldn’t have been made a citizen. But it was done without any public notice using a special section of the immigration act. That reeks of a corruption route by a minister or officials. Reasons need to be made public for this and other decisions done this way.
Punching Nazis, and practicing resistance
Being human, Linda Tirado, and lessons for New Zealand.
Postcards from the Trumpocalypse
This is what an unfettered right-wing government looks like.
The CIA Director confirmation hearings
Mike Pompey is Donald Trump’s chosen head for the CIA. He is someone who believes in the mass collection of all metadata and combining it with all publicly available information. Are we going to see the unprecedented destruction of rights of privacy?
Refining that dog whistle
Bill English has used a proposal for timing of his Waitangi speech to wrongly claim that he is being silenced. And most of the media bought it.
Wikileaks unravels
In the space of a day Wikileaks managed to complain about another entity leaking information, threaten to dox pretty well every reporter, delete the tweet and then sound like Donald Trump.
The St Johns Industrial Dispute – #HealthyAmbosSaveLives
St Johns is one of the first organisations to use new Industrial powers brought in by the Government and is attempting to refuse to negotiate with First Union and is docking workers pay for wearing a campaign t-shirt.
NRT: Even more expensive
NoRightTurn: The police’s illegal raid on Nicky Hager’s home has got even more expensive
StandWithPike – it’s always “later”
Bill English tells the families he’ll meet them “later”. They’ve waited for justice for six years. It’s always “later”.
America’s broken democratic system
Through partisan control of the electoral system and continuing attempts to suppress votes America’s electoral system is in clear need of an overhaul.
TPP: An epitaph for self-interested treaties done in secret
The misogynist buffoon, under-skilled charlatan and ignorant bigot that the Americans have elected to be their constitutional monarch for the next four years appears to have effectively killed the constraint of trade agreement known as the TPP. From a freer trade advocate, avid exporter, and labour movement supporter with a touch of green :- Good riddance.
Nats politicising earthquake response
Oh look, National are nakedly politicising government earthquake response.
Democracy can be refined
Democracy is difficult. Government is far too complex and ordinary people have neither the time nor the inclination to spend time to understand it properly. So what are the alternatives?
So sheepgate was Key’s fault
According to Fran O’Sullivan the cause of Sheepgate was Key’s decision to abandon leadership of a business mission in 2010. As to the subsequent scandal – Watkin and Hooton voice the anger we should all be feeling.
The Greens on National’s data collection enforcement and Community Groups
Jan Logie addresses some of the problems with forcing community groups to share confidential information with the government, plus a link to the petition.
Be afraid!
Reports of an unconvincing “domestic terrorism” plot, and of further illegal GCSB spying.
Standing Rock update
The Standing Rock water protection movement continues in the face of increasing state violence.
Sheepgate: Government celebrates finding that McCully is not corrupt
The Auditor General’s report into Sheepgate has been released and there has to be questions about the accuracy of what Murray McCully has told Parliament and his ability to fullfil his role as a Minister.
Police launch moral crusade against old people
Police subjected a group of elderly people attending a meeting on assisted dying to random breath tests so that they could collect the identities of each person who attended.
Darren Watson 2 John Key 0
The Court of Appeal has ruled that Darren Watson’s Planet Key song should not have been banned during the 2014 election campaign.
Clinton vs Trump; Debate 2
Round 2 of the Presidential debates. Trump is on the ropes, can Clinton land the knockout blow? Certainly, there’s a lot of Republican Party grandees hoping Hillary puts them out of their misery. Seconds out at 2PM, NZ time.
UPDATE: Obama nailed Trump’s real issue a few minutes ago; it’s insecurity. Video in post.
UPDATE 2: LIVE STREAM now in post.
Trump physically slams WWE billionaire McMahon to the ground, mercilessly mutilates him
Definitive documentary evidence of Trump the violent, volatile, unpredictable sociopath revealed.
The Chief Prison Inspector’s report on Serco and MECF
The Chief Prison Inspector’s report on Mount Eden Corrections Facility has now been released and has presented a damning judgment on Serco’s management of the prison.
Colinoscopy
In which we learn that Colin Craig had already lost another case months before being done over in his defamation trial.
Ombudsman to investigate John Key’s dirty politics communications
The Ombudsman is to investigate John Key’s failure to disclose communications with David Farrar and Cameron Slater