In today’s episode – Education Minister wants to cut Maori words from junior books; Willow Jean Prime Strike 2 – fails to back up claims of fight clubs in youth facilities; Palestinians prefer Hamas to Abbas; Chloe says anger won’t get us anywhere – and then gets angry; Luxon is criticised for promoting trans-Tasman relationships and tourism; Bob shows why Luxon’s preferred PM stats are actually not all bad; journalists are feeling “bruised and exhausted” according to a survey; Trump mixes medicinal marijuana with recreational dope as he considers liberalising the law in the US – and despite disturbing new research on cannabis and psychosis; and a UK football fan is banned from watching her team because of gender critical ‘hurty’ comments on X.
Show summary auto-generated by Descript app:
- **Maori language Education Policy**: Erica Stanford, Minister of Education, proposes removing Maori words from junior books, claiming mixed evidence that they confuse children learning English. Bob disagrees with the energy spent on this debate, stressing that words like ‘whanau,’ ‘tamariki,’ and ‘kai’ are part of New Zealand’s vernacular.
- **Willow Jean Prime Strike 2**: Willow Jean Prime of the Labour Party faces criticism for ignoring inter-party discussions on NCEA changes and making unsupported claims about meth use and fight clubs in youth justice facilities. Bob emphasizes the importance of credible evidence for such claims.
- **Chloe’s confusion on Palestine**: Chloe Swarbrick’s controversial call for sanctions against Israel and her speech about Gaza lead to tensions in parliament. Bob highlights the double standards in parliament regarding offensive language and insults.
- **Prime Minister Christopher Luxon**: Bob discusses media criticism of Luxon’s meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Queenstown and polls suggesting declining support. Bob points out that despite media narratives, Luxon remains a preferred prime minister, and strategic alliances still hold power.
- **Media Wellbeing Survey**: A survey by Media Chaplaincy New Zealand reveals widespread journalist burnout, emotional exhaustion, and job insecurity. The survey indicates that biased reporting and the spread of disinformation contribute to declining trust in media.
- **Football fan for hurty tweets**: A Newcastle Club soccer fan seeks damages after being banned for transphobic tweets. Bob comments on the challenges of free speech and compares it to the bad behaviour seen at football games!
- **US Cannabis Legalisation Debate**: Bob critiques former President Trump’s stance on reclassifying marijuana, cautioning against conflating recreational use with medicinal benefits. A study from the Canadian Medical Journal is highlighted, showing increased potency and psychosis risks associated with cannabis.
