Podcast appearances and mentions of ben thomas

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports the president's making good on his promise to "drill baby drill" in one of the nation's environmental jewels. ((opens with actuality))

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports dinosaur mummies are helping scientists recreate their prehistoric lives.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports new findings in the debate over whether dinosaurs were already in decline when they were wiped out by an asteroid.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports federal agents are now being sent to San Francisco.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports the Trump administration has struck a deal with another university.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump says the federal government owes him "a lot of money."

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump has a court victory as he seeks to deploy more National Guard Troops to Democrat-led cities. ((opens with actuality))

Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital.

Ben and Andrew discuss recent events in politics including the death of former Prime Minister Jim Bolger. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports a former national security adviser to President Trump has been charged with mishandling classified information.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports an AP source says Venezuela floated a plan for President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports a different kind of trade war has erupted, over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports Alaska is airlifting hundreds from storm-devastated coastal villages.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump awarded America's highest civilian honor to Charlie Kirk. ((opens with actuality))

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports several prominent news organizations are refusing sign new Pentagon rules on coverage.

This week on the Sunday Panel, Director at Capital, Ben Thomas, and NZ Herald senior writer, Simon Wilson, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The local body elections wrapped up this weekend and recent data is showing the voter turnout was historically low. Why don't people take local body elections seriously? Is it a lack of decent candidates? Is it a thankless task? Do we need to change the way we vote? Both Andrew Little and Wayne Brown have mentioned working with central Government as being part of their plan - does there need to be a stronger relationship between local and central Government to get things done? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports the Trump administration has begun another round of mass firings.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports a federal judge has put a halt on President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump says Illinois governor and Chicago mayor should be jailed. ((opens with actuality))

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the 'first phase' of his peace plan.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 8 October 2025, the Reserve Bank has pulled out the big guns and cut the official cash rate by 50 basis points today. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr speaks to Heather. Former National Party staffer Ben Thomas says National polling in the 20s is not good news for Chris Luxon. NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson explains why rugby unions across the world don't want players playing for a new rival league backed by Saudi Arabia. New Zealand's best big airport is .... Queenstown Airport! Heather is surprised? She speaks with Queenstown Airport Chief Operating Officer Todd Grace. Plus the Huddle debates that poll and Tory Whanau's final speech as Wellington mayor - surprising? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's claims a rebounding economy could propel National to another election win. But a former senior National staffer also says next year's election is looking like a toss-up. The recent Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll has the party on just 29.6 percent - one of its lowest results since returning to Government. Ben Thomas says that's not a good place to be. "That is a psychological threshold - we used to be thinking that anything in the middle-low 30s was a disaster for a National Party leader." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump's efforts to deploy National Guard to U.S. cities is setting up a legal clash testing presidential power.

Ben Thomas is @Sisyphus55, a YouTuber creating videos about philosophy, existentialism, nihilism, absurdism, and meaning. His new book, So You're Having an Existential Crisis: a Roadmap for Lost Souls, is available now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports it's time to get a flu shot. ((opens with actuality))

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports former FBI director James Comey has been indicted. ((opens with actuality))

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump is escalating his campaign against political rivals.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports the president say he'll be imposing more tariffs next week.

Today on America in the MorningComey Indicted The Justice Department in an unprecedented move has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for perjury and obstruction.  America in the Morning's Jeff McKay has details, and reaction from Washington.   Trump's TikTok Order President Trump has signed an executive order that paves the way for a TikTok deal that could transfer majority ownership of the app to Americans. Correspondent Rich Johnson reports.   Targeting Political Violence In the Oval Office, President Trump says he's going after groups that encourage political violence.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.   Judge Tosses Strozk Case A federal judge has thrown out a former FBI agent's claims that he was wrongfully fired for disparaging texts he allegedly sent about President Trump.  The details from correspondent Ben Thomas.    Diddy Heads To Court The prosecution and the defense in the Sean "Diddy" Combs prostitution case are preparing for the Grammy-winning hip-hop producer's sentencing.  Correspondent Donna Warder reports.   Wildfire Response Flaws A scathing report finds serious flaws in the response to January's Los Angeles area wildfires.  Ed Donahue reports a lack of communications and outdated policies need to be addressed.    Latest On Dallas ICE Sniper We're learning more about the motive behind a "sniper-style" shooting on an ICE facility in Dallas that left a detainee dead and two others critically injured.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.   Bolton Could Face Charges James Comey is not the only former government official who is being investigated for possible wrongdoing and could face possible criminal charges.  Correspondent Donna Warder reports on the documents seized from the office of President Donald Trump's former national security adviser.   Trump-Erdogan Meeting On Thursday afternoon, President Trump welcomed Turkey's President Erdogan to the White House for a discussion on trade, the war in Ukraine and the Middle East.  John Stolnis has more from Washington on their wide-ranging discussion.   Hegseth Orders Military Meeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered nearly 800 top senior military leaders who are stationed around the world to come back to Washington for a meeting set for Tuesday.    Fed Chairs Back Cook Every living former Fed chair has joined in an amicus brief, warning the Supreme Court against allowing the removal of Board Governor Lisa Cook. Correspondent Jennifer King reports.   9-1-1 Troubles Two southern states are slowing returning to normal after their 9-1-1 emergency lines suddenly stopped working.  Lisa Dwyer reports.  GDP Report The US economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years, sparked by a decrease in imports.  Correspondent Paul Wiseman has the numbers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports mass firings might be the Trump administration response to a government shutdown.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports AP sources say a former FBI director may soon been indicted. ((opens with actuality))

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports a federal judge has ruled states can't be required to cooperate on immigration to get disaster aid.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports a federal judge has thrown out a former FBI agent's claims that he was wrongfully fired for disparaging texts about President Trump. ((opens with actuality))

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Ben Thomas and Niki Bezzant. First up, Canada, Australia and the UK have announced they recgonise the Palestinian state. Will New Zealand follow suit? Then, 16 percent of candidates in the local government elections have signed up to a Taxpayer's Union pledge to keep rates rises below the the level of inflation - but economists warn that may not be feasible.

In part two, a PWC receiver says businesses should be wary of making big up front investment in a climate of high insolvencies. Then, friends of the Onehunga Community House are taking a trip down memory lane, holding an afternoon tea "like your grandmother used to have" - think scones, asparagus rolls, the works.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine advisory panel has voted for new restrictions on a childhood vaccine.

Celebrations for a big and bodacious Oriini Kaipara byelection victory were shortlived for Te Pāti Māori thanks to Tākuta Ferris's decision to double down on a social media post aghast at a multicultural group of Labour supporters for Peeni Henare on the campaign trail. That was compounded by party president John Tamihere entering the breach, and a mysterious reollaction of the role of party whip. Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire talk through the fallout and ask what it means for TPM and their relationship with Labour. Plus: a bigger-than-expected contraction in the economy has seen GDP shrink by 0.9%: is the government running out of time for the weather to change? In other defeat from the jaws of victory news, New Zealand First's new champion Stuart Nash enjoyed about 10 minutes of acclaim before putting his foot in it. And as Winston Peters gives David Seymour yet another dressing down, what explains the government's refusal to simply announce its position on a Palestinian state? Oh, and we issue a formal apology for propagating disinformation in last week's audiocast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump says he's going to designate antifa as a terrorist group.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show indefinitely over his remarks about Charlie Kirk's death.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports Ford is cutting jobs in Europe.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports Rivian is breaking ground on a plant in Georgia.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports the Federal Reserve meets this week on interest rates amid unprecedented pressure from President Trump.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports on a record-setting Emmy haul for "The Studio." ((opens with actuality.))

Political commentators Ben Thomas and Gareth Hughes.

AP corresondent Ben Thomas reports Qatar's prime minister is accusing his Israeli counterpart of 'killing any hope' of a Gaza hostages release after a strike on Doha.

AP corresondent Ben Thomas reports Brazil former president has been convicted and sentenced for trying to overturn his electon loss. ((opens with sound of verdict being announced))

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump says he's "not thrilled" about Israel's strike on Hamas leaders.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports President Trump's effort to exert more control over the Federal Reserve has suffered a legal setback.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports the Department of Homeland Security is trumpeting the start of a new immigration operation in Chicago.

AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports the U.S. and Europe are discussing new sanctions on Russia.