The Wire with Alex

We are now about six months away from the 2026 mid-term election in the United States, in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be up for grabs. This election has the potential to transform the political landscape in the States by overturning the Republican majority in the House and rendering Trump a sitting duck president for the remainder of his term.

Producer Toby spoke to Auckland University’s Dr. Jennifer Frost about the so-called ‘redistricting war,’ in which multiple states vie to redraw their electoral boundaries ahead of the vote in November.

Last week, the Green Party released a statement highlighting the recently released Dental For All report, which they say confirms that New Zealand can afford a free, universal public dental service.

And the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand is being touted as a pivotal moment, garnering support from both Labour and National parties, however, NZFirst MP and coalition minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, expressed his opposition to the agreement with derogatory comments against potential indian immigrants that have drawn the ire of other parliamentary parties.

So for our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, I spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Green Party’s Dental policy and their stance on the Free trade agreement with India.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, speaks with us about molecules on mars, Schrödinger's cat, and the link between learning and living a longer life.

For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Host Alex spoke with Ryan Hamilton about the derogatory comments made last week by NZ First Minister Shane Jones, and other barbs traded between Winston Peters and the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the Treasury revisiting forecasts for the budget, and changes to infrastructure oversight.

Thursday Wire host Caeden spoke to Benjiman Law from the University of Auckland about an email he mistakenly sent to all undergraduate students. 

And Producer Liam spoke with Scott Burnett, Regional Conservation Manager for the Top of the South Island and Forest and Bird’s climate spokesperson, about the Climate Change Commission's recent advice to the government that the Emissions Trading Scheme is in a precarious state and in need of reform, what the consequences of the government's current approach are for New Zealand and what can be done to improve the situation.

New Zealand First is proposing to break up one of the country’s biggest supermarket players, Foodstuffs, into two competing nationwide cooperatives. The move is being pitched as a way to increase competition in a sector long criticised for high prices and limited choice. 

To unpack what that could actually mean in practice, Producer Pranuja spoke with Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Auckland, Tim Hazledine.