In this episode of Daybreak – positive updates on the school lunch programme, where complaints have decreased significantly and reliability has improved; closure of several regional newspapers; Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins blames the “Tory” media for declining numbers of ram raids; Winston Peters’ proposed bill to ban ‘woke’ flags from government buildings, with little coverage from mainstream media; high truancy rates in schools continue; a cultural tipping point regarding gender issues continues with increasing mainstream media coverage of gender-critical perspectives; Jaguar goes woke, goes broke; and more…
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In this episode, Bob starts by updating viewers on his improving health and wishing American viewers a happy Independence Day. He then shares the tragic news of Diego Jota, a Liverpool footballer, who was killed in a car accident after being advised not to fly due to medical reasons. Jota had recently married his childhood sweetheart, adding to the tragedy.
Bob reports the success of the school lunch program, where complaints have decreased by 92% and reliability is at 98%. He criticises the media for misleading headlines regarding the program and highlights how improved lunches have reduced leftovers, much to the dismay of a local pig owner mentioned in Hawke’s Bay Today.
He discusses the closure of several regional newspapers, attributing this to persistent media negativity, and expresses relief over the shutdown of certain papers he found irrelevant.
Moving to political commentary, Bob criticises former Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins for his baseless claim that media bias explains fewer reports on ram raids and argues the decrease is due to effective policing under the National Party. He then discusses Winston Peters’ proposed bill to ban ‘woke’ flags, such as LGBT and Palestinian flags, from government buildings and public places, noting mainstream media’s lack of coverage on this bill.
Bob raises concerns over school truancy, citing a 71% attendance rate and suggesting surveys to understand why students are skipping school. He speculates that reasons could range from dislike of school to parental ineffectiveness.
The discussion shifts to a cultural tipping point on gender issues, with Bob citing articles from mainstream media like the New York Times and the Washington Post that now allow gender-critical commentary. He mentions cases like U.S. Supreme Court decisions, a cycling competition where a male athlete won a female race, and Jaguar’s failed ‘woke’ advertising campaign leading to a significant sales drop as examples of cultural backlash.
