New Government, same problems.

Transport Minister was three weeks late in responding to an extraordinarily simple request.
documentcloud.org/documents/2454…

Finally read the Uri Berliner piece on NPR biasand I'm baffled by how little the enormous media controversy it spawned has resulted in scrutiny of its claims for factual accuracy. There are significant problems with the piece including obvious, verifiable falsehoods

A new report outlining how Chinese authorities have forced alleged criminals back to the country thru extrajudicial methods – including from NZ – has led one MP to call for a dedicated parliamentary committee to tackle foreign interference. More (Pro $): newsroom.co.nz/2024/04/16/chi…

In one episode of Utopia, Rob Sitch's character talks to a primary school about future infrastructure projects. Some of the kids' ideas make it to the PM's desk.

The episode ends with the PM keen on building a bridge to Tasmania.

Anyways it's a funny totally fictional show.

We’ve become used to this, but it’s absolutely insane that this has become normal and the failure to control such rampages could trigger a major escalation in the West Bank, after months of lockdown and persistent violence

Very notable that while your classics like 'lol' and 'lmao' have hung around there's no longer any real use case for 'brb' or 'g2g'. Where are you going to go. We're all here. Everywhere is here

This is an amazing story by Tal Shalev: Ahead of a possible attack from Iran Netanyahu moved over the weekend to the house of Simon Falic in Jerusalem which according to previous reports has a fortified bunker. Falic is a U.S. billionaire, a GOP donor and the owner of Duty Free…

The Ministry of Health told Casey Costello the smokefree reforms she wanted to repeal would save New Zealanders $46 billion over the next three decades.

She says she didn't tell Cabinet this because it was based on out-of-date and incomplete information.
newsroom.co.nz/2024/04/12/min…

Blocking an online troll deprives them of the oxygen of argument on which they exist. Instead, engage with the many more who are curious or even concerned, but haven't connected what's happening to why it matters to them + what we can do about it.

Explaining is not losing.

In the newsletter today I lay out why I think trust in the NZ news media is crashing - and one way to address it.

henrycooke.news/p/one-solution…

Excellent analysis of the latest turn in the very long saga of NZ's attempts to reduce agricultural emissions

When Newsroom reported on children being uplifted from their 'forever homes' in 2020, the Government changed its policy. But then Oranga Tamariki went to court to scrub our journalism from the internet.

Today we've won the right to republish it. newsroom.co.nz/2024/04/10/cou…

In other media news today:

Newsroom had success in the Court of Appeal in overturning a High Court injunction that forced us to remove a Melanie Reid video investigation on Oranga Tamariki's 'reverse uplift' of four kids. Three years ago.

Judges said we did not identify kids.

Unbleached reefs this year are coloured blue.

This is the most widespread and most severe mass bleaching and mortality event ever recorded on the Great Barrier Reef.

This is really bad. As I have said to my Arab, Palestinian, & Muslim friends before, criticizing & opposing Israel is fine. Joining hands with antisemites, white nationalists, & Holocaust deniers isn’t.

Fuentes is no friend of Arabs, Jews, or Muslims. He’s a far-right extremist.

Paywall now lifted: The Climate Change Commission has issued a stern and not-so-subtle warning that there is no reason to water down goals to slash climate pollution from livestock.
newsroom.co.nz/2024/04/09/cli…

Analysis: The commission has issued a stern and not-so-subtle warning that there is no reason to water down goals to slash climate pollution from livestock, writes Marc Daalder newsroom.co.nz/2024/04/09/cli…

If you like experiencing emergency events not historically common to your geographic area then I have great news for you about the rest of the 21st century