The Wire with Manny

For over two centuries, political leaders in the United States of America have been fixated on the idea of bringing the island nation of Cuba into the American sphere of influence. Now, under the leadership of Donald Trump, direct military intervention in Cuba seems more likely that it has since the early ‘60s.

The former Cuban president Raul Castro has recently been indicted by a grand jury in Miami, leading to speculation that the Trump administration may use the same strategy deployed in the indictment and subsequent abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

To discuss the history of US-Cuba relations and the prospect of military intervention by Trump, producer Toby spoke to US history expert Dr. Paul Taillon.

This week on the Wednesday Wire...

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the two Green Party members' bills that were recently drawn and concerns corporate lobbying at the highest levels may be undermining our core democratic processes.

Producer Toby spoke to US history expert Paul Taillon about the Trump administration’s stance on Cuba, and the possibility of military action.

Then Producer Theo spoke to trustee and founder of the Better Public Media Trust, Myles Thomas, on their petition calling for the strengthening of the Broadcasting Standards Authority, instead of the government’s plan to disestablish the authority.

Finally Theo also spoke to Dr Justin Nairn, a plant protection scientist at Scion and the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science, about the government’s recent funding boost for wilding pine control.

Last week, the government announced that it would intensify AI usage in the public sector, in a move to further reduce spending in the sector. The government have defended this move, but concerns have been raised about the safety, regulation, and vulnerability of AI services.

Last week also saw the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill pass its first reading. The member’s bill would seek to, in New Zealand law, define genders, in a move that has been criticised by many as transphobic.

Last week also saw the change of government agencies’ names to give primacy to their English names, rather than te reo Māori first.

This week, Wire Host Alex spoke with National MP Ryan Hamilton about these topics.

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman speaks with us about electricity from ambient moisture, bananas in smoothies, and whether or not we can cool the earth with tiny particles.

For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Host Alex spoke with MP Ryan Hamilton about the Government’s increasing use of AI, The Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill, and the government changing agency names to English before Māori.

Alex also spoke with Dr Chris McMillan, a Professional Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland, about the dangerous temperatures facing athletes at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, how they will affect the game, and what FIFA's role in this is.

And for Green World this week, Producer Thomas spoke to the University of Waikato’s Associate Professor in Law Nathan Cooper, on New Zealand’s role in the United Nation’s latest resolution affirming the International Court of Justice’s ruling that states have a legal duty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment from the climate crisis.