Podcasts about Royal commission

After the Royal Commission exposed widespread misconduct, how did the banks pull off their reputation revival - and can we really trust them? 

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Heston Russell – a public speaker, author and former Australian Special Forces officer – to discuss the 2025 Veteran Games and the recent regional heat held in Darwin on 22 August and later this year on the Gold Coast (11 and 12 October). Russell has previously served in 2nd Commando Regiment as a Commando Platoon commander, was deployed to four combat operational deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, served in Iraq as a Special Operations joint lead planner within the Special Operations Joint Task Force and completed a year-long exchange within the United States Special Operations Command. He holds a bachelor of arts from the University of NSW, majoring in history and Indonesian. The pair discuss a range of issues, including: The Veteran Games, veterans support services and why Russell founded the games in 2022 in response to findings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Returning home and the reality of living in Australia as a military veteran, the challenges associated with reacclimatising to civilian life and how the defence industry can help veterans return with life of purpose outside the Australian Defence Force. Russell's own experience navigating media scrutiny after service and his recommendations to other veterans in their interactions with journalists. His experience as a young veteran in relation to traditional support associations in Australia. The pair also look at whether these organisations have the draw and support needed to attract younger veterans. The podcast wraps up by discussing the need to improve Australian leadership, take a bigger role in peacekeeping operations and how Australia can be a force for good in peacekeeping across the globe. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode, Gary Comerford interviews Sara Ridley, Engineering and Quality Director at Autocraft Solutions, about the remanufacturing and repair of electric vehicle batteries. They discuss the importance of battery health, common misconceptions about EV batteries, and the challenges faced in the repair ecosystem. Sara emphasizes the need for education and skills development in the EV repair industry, highlighting the environmental benefits of repairing rather than replacing batteries. The conversation also touches on the future of battery technology and the importance of building a robust repair ecosystem to support the growing EV market.Guest Details: Sara Ridley - Dr Sara Ridley is the Engineering & Quality Director of Autocraft Solutions Group. She has worked in remanufacturing for more than 20 years and is passionate about the ecological and economic benefits of remanufacturing. Much of her focus is on improving processes and controls. Sara was awarded an Industrial Fellowship for her doctoral research from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 whilst working for Caterpillar Remanufacturing. Her research has been published in both remanufacturing and production journals, and she has received international awards for her academic papers. She joined Autocraft in 2018 as they recognised the need to expand remanufacturing from internal combustion engines into alternative powertrains, and Sara has been part of the team turning this ambition into reality working within the business to recognise the huge potential: in environmental terms, but also in terms of improving the end user experience. Sara's WebsiteSara on YouTubeThis season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the free to download app that helps EV drivers search, plan, and pay for their charging.Links in the show notes:Construction starts on Merredin Battery Energy Storage System | Western Australian Government - Cool ThingEpisode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk(C) 2019-2025 Gary Comerford Support me: Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusingsKo-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings The Books:'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X'So, you've gone renewable?' on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIckSocial Media:EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEvInstagram: @EVmusingsOctopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free...

A lot has changed over the past ten years, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is no exception! From the 2016 capability review, the COVID pandemic, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and the second capability review in late 2022, DoHAC stands at a critical point in its history, having evolved considerably in how it approaches change and prepares itself for the future. Rachel Balmanno, First Assistant Secretary of the People, Communication, and Parliamentary Branch, at the department, joins us to discuss a future-oriented approach to change in our latest episode.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins denies that the Labour Party will lose support over his refusal to give evidence in a public session for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19. Dame Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson and Dr Ayesha Verrall had refused to front up publicly. But, Hipkins told Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings that he doubts it will affect his party's reputation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Politics Wednesday, the Covid Inquiry is still at the top of mind for many. Chris Hipkins, Dame Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall have declined to publicly answer questions for the Royal Commission's second Covid Inquiry. Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell delved into the situation, as well as touching on Trevor Mallard's ousting from the role of Ambassador to Ireland. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Catherine Hynes brings Neuroscience and Neuropsychology underpinnings to her Clinical work with trauma and dissociation. Lisa and Catherine discuss the impact of trauma on memory, the controversies around repressed memories, recovered memories and false memories, and explore best practice guidelines for therapists working in this space. www.catherinehynes.net/training/ to learn more about Catherine's training and workshops. Recommended reading and research in this topic: Callus, E., Gallina, E., & Fernandez, I. (2024).EMDR: dispelling the false memory creation myth in response to Otgaar et al. (2022a). Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1366137. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1366137 Dalenberg, C. J., Brand, B. L., Gleaves, D. H., Dorahy, M. J., Loewenstein, R. J., Cardeña, E., Spiegel, D. (2012). Evaluation of the evidence for the trauma and fantasy models of dissociation. Psychological Bulletin, 138(3), 550-588. Freyd, Jennifer (1996). Betrayal Trauma: The Logic of Forgetting Childhood Abuse. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Geraerts, E., Schooler, J. W., Merckelbach, H., Jelicic, M., Hauer, B. J. A.,& Ambadar, Z. (2007). The reality of recovered memories: Corroborating continuous and discontinuous memories of childhood sexual abuse. Psychological Science, 18, 564 –568. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01940.x Goodman-Delahunty, J., Nolan, M. & van Gijn Grosvenor, E. Empirical guidance on the effects of child sexual abuse on memory and complainants' evidence, Report for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2017. Houben, S. T. L., Otgaar, H., Roelofs, J., & Merckelbach, H. (2018). Lateral eye movements increase false memory rates. Clinical Psychological Science, 6, 610–616. doi:10.1177/2167702618757658. Lee, C., de Jongh, A., & Hase, M. (2019). Lateral eye movements,EMDR, and memory changes: A critical commentary on Houben et al. (2018) [Letter]. Clinical Psychological Science, 6, 403–404. doi:10.1177/216770261983039 Loftus, E. (1993) The Reality of Repressed Memories. American Psychologist. 48(5):518-37 Pezdek, K., Finger, K., & Hodge, D. (1997). Planting false childhood memories: The role of event plausibility. Psychological Science, 8(6), 437–441. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00457. Ross CA, Ridgway J, Neighbors Q, Myron T. Reversal of Amnesia for Trauma in a Sample of Psychiatric Inpatients with Dissociative Identity Disorder and Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. J Child Sex Abus. 2022 Jul;31(5):550-561. doi: 10.1080/10538712.2022.2067096. Epub 2022 Apr 19. PMID: 35437119.a van der Hart, O. & Nijenhuis, E.R.S. (1995) Amnesia for traumatic experiences. Hypnosis 1995; 22:73-86 van der Hart, O. & Nijenhuis, E.R.S. (1999) Bearing Witness to Uncorroborated Trauma: The clinician's development of reflective belief. Professional Psychology, Research and Practice. Vol 30, Number 1, pp 37-44.

It seems hard to believe, but the Maxim Institute reckons New Zealand can lead the world in sustainable AI infrastructure. They warn, however, that the window of opportunity is closing quickly because everybody wants to be in on it. Every other country wants the rewards that come from hooking their carriages to the AI machine, the choices we make now will determine whether New Zealand becomes a leader in the AI economy or is stuck in competing for the rats and mice that are left. Much hinges on being able to generate the electricity needed to power the massive warehouse sized computers driving the AI economy. Right now, those data centres use 2% of global electricity - more than 10 times New Zealand's annual generation capacity and demand is only going to get greater. The institute argues that New Zealand has nearly 90% renewable electricity, a temperate climate that reduces cooling costs and strict privacy laws, and thus that makes us an attractive destination for global tech firms. ‘But we haven't got any electricity' I hear you cry. We're having to burn coal to keep the lights on. Nanas going to bed at 6pm because her power bill is so high. And here is where the Maxim Institute makes its recommendations. We need to double geothermal generation, explore emerging energy sources such as supercritical geothermal. Small modular reactors, which are next generation nuclear technology that offer safe, scalable zero carbon power. We need to streamline, consent and incentivise investment. Speaking to the Mike Hosking Breakfast, Thomas Scrimgeour, researcher at the Maxim Institute, is all for exploring the nuclear energy option. ‘Small nuclear reactors are an excellent source of energy that we should be exploring. The International Energy Agency's report earlier this year was titled A New Era for Nuclear Energy. The world is heavily, heavily investing in nuclear power. Over 30 countries have signed a pledge to triple nuclear power production by 2050. The world is returning to nuclear power because it is clean, because it is reliable, because it is always there for you. Nuclear power is something we should be looking at. New Zealand's opposition to nuclear power is quite recent. In the 1970s, so not that long ago, we had a Royal Commission on Nuclear Power, and it released a report in 1978 that was expecting a significant nuclear power programmes in New Zealand by the early 21st century. It's only since the 1980s that we became a country that reacted against nuclear power because of its associations with weapons testing in the Pacific. But nuclear energy is not the same thing as a nuclear bomb, and New Zealand hasn't always been opposed to nuclear energy. Once upon a time, we were expecting to get nuclear power, and we can talk people back into that.' Can we though? That was Thomas Scrimgeour, one of the researchers at the Maxim Institute, talking to Mike Hosking this morning. He says, basically, that the David Lange ‘no nukes' identity around which we wrap ourselves, it's an anachronism, a thing of the past, it was a blip in history. One moment we were all for nuclear power, next thing we decided it was absolutely abhorrent. We were never going to have anything to do with nuclear power ever again, even though we have X-rays, and even though our hospitals leak more radiation than the most efficient nuclear-powered vessels, he thinks that we can forget about those Lange years. He thinks that we can forget about the fact that much of how New Zealand sees itself – pragmatic, humble, innovators, #8 wire mentality, no nukes, no nonsense, give everyone a fair go - he thinks that we can differentiate between no nuclear weapons and the need for nuclear power. On the surface, it would solve all of our problems. If we can make ourselves an attractive market to global tech firms and being able to store all this massive amount of data in our country, it would solve our problems around electricity too. Is it worth having the discussion or are you not prepared to even talk about it? S Surely the younger generation, those who weren't around when we got this frisson of excitement when David Lange took us to the world. We took a stand, and we were noble, and we were principled and the whole world knew who we were. Surely the younger generation don't have their identity as a Kiwi tied up in that. Or do they? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Robertson takes a seat with Jake Tame on Q+A as his memoir drops and the Royal Commission into C19 ramps up again.The decisions of Luxon's govt are not favoured by the business community with a scathing article released in the Sunday Star TimesMajor building consent changes and Seymour goes after helmets, all in the name of cutting red tape.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 18th of August, we've got conflicting reports on the cost of food at the supermarket - but none of it helps the fact our country's debt is nearing $1trillion. The Prime Minister says whether or not he would appear at a Royal Commission if called upon and how close we are with a deal with Winston Peters about foreigners being able to buy a home. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the Warriors, the All Blacks and whether they have better dance moves by the PM. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think we are all served best by transparency in government. Leaders should be accountable for their decisions, and they should be willing to take our questions and answer them in a public format. But it's pretty clear to me the Covid Inquiry has fallen victim to bad and even cynical design, shaped by politics rather than a sincere desire to get a full accounting of our response. It's a shame, because it threatens to undermine some of the inquiry's more useful conclusions. It is a missed opportunity. In my view, there's plenty of blame to share. I think the first phase of the Covid Inquiry, introduced by the last government, missed some critical elements in its terms of reference. Worst of all was the decision not to include vaccine efficacy. For something so fundamental to the response, and so important to some New Zealanders that they were willing to lose relationships, jobs, and livelihoods over it, I think the effectiveness of vaccines and whatever slim risk they carried, should have been included. I think it's clear that different vaccines had different impacts on different variants. You can see how this might impact our procurement decisions in future. In principle, I supported expanding the inquiry until I saw the refreshed terms of reference. If it was to be a sincere effort to consider our Covid response, the good calls and the bad, in order to move forward and better prepare for the next pandemic shock, how could you leave out the first year of the response? Sure, much of the second phase of the Inquiry might have focused on vaccines, but it also focused on lockdowns and control measures. If you really cared about our Covid response, you'd start that line of inquiry with, you know, the start of the pandemic. To exclude the period when it wasn't just Labour in government and to exclude what have proved to be the more popular components of the government's response was disingenuous and cynical. The Covid-19 response was vast and complex. It's almost impossible to unpick every decision because you have to try and separate the information we have now from the information we had at the time. The virus has cast a long shadow in New Zealand. Our response undoubtedly saved a lot of lives, but it wasn't without costs. The pandemic might have been over ages ago, but the economic and social impacts endure. One thing I'd add to the Royal Commission's conclusions is that next time we need to find a better, respectful way to hear and consider dissenting views. Media obviously plays a critical role in this. But although I think we did a reasonable job last time, I reckon next time is going to be much more difficult. Depending on the circumstances, it may not massively change government policy or the public health response. Given the conspiratorial nature of the fringiest elements, it may be an impossible task. Nevertheless, I think one of the key lessons from the Covid years is that somehow making people feel heard and respected instead of ostracised is a vital part in preventing the worst of the societal division that still afflicts us, years on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins, Ayesha Verrall, Dame Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson have refused to front at public hearings for the second phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response. Are they dodging accountability, or have they answered enough questions? Also, Kiwirail have paid nearly $150 million to Hyundai over the cancelled iRex ferry deal. Is this better than expected? To answer those questions, Infrastructure NZ chief executive and former Porirua mayor Nick Leggett and PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons joined Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final fee to settle the cancellation of the i-Rex ferries has been announced: $144m which brings the cost of the cancelled ferries to $671m with nothing to show for it.Documents release reveal that Department of Internal affairs prompted Brooke Van Velden with specific talking points for the chair of the Royal Commission into the Covid-19 Response.Wayne Brown and Auckland council tell govt to "stick it" sharing their frustration with govt overreach into what Local Councils can and can't do.That and your weekly meme round up to send you off into the weekend.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

Emile Donovan speaks to constitutional lawyer Graeme Edgeler about why former ministers weren't compelled to attend the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 14 August 2025, should the Royal Commission into Covid reconsider summonsing ex-Ministers Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins and co? Constitutional lawyer Graeme Edgeler reveals what he thinks could happen next. Israel's deputy foreign Minister Sharren Haskel speaks to Heather about Chris Luxon's call that Netanyahu has 'lost the plot'. Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Heather speak about the future of armed police officers after police shot two people overnight, one of them died. The overseas-born Kiwi dad on the bureaucratic nightmare getting his kids citizenship - and why he thinks those with Maori ancestry should be fast-tracked. Plus, the Huddle reacts to the Israeli foreign Minister - and are teachers losing the room with their strike next week? 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners and AUT Chancellor Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Israel has hit back at Chris Luxon's comment that Netanyahu has 'lost the plot'. What does this mean for the overall Gaza situation? Should the Royal Commission of Inquiry summons the ex-Ministers? Do you think the teachers are misjudging the public mood with their strike? Or do we have patience for their demands? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A constitutional lawyer says the Royal Commission of Inquiry has the power to summons ex-ministers to front for its Covid enquiry. It's called off its second week of hearings after Chris Hipkins, Dame Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall declined to appear. It says it shouldn't diminish the inquiry - as all have privately given evidence. Lawyer Graeme Edgeler says the Commission just needs to consider if it'll miss out on key information without a summons. "If the answer to that was yes, then they should exercise it. They seem to think at the moment that they don't need need to have the summons, but it's something they have in their back pocket." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an old saying, one generally used by mothers: I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed. Yesterday, hearing that the unholy Triumvirate of Ardern, Robertson, and Hipkins —Ayesha Verrall doesn't count— were choosing not to appear publicly at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 Response, I was both angry and disappointed. The second set of public hearings for the Royal Commission has been axed after key witnesses, including the aforementioned, refused to appear. Chairman Grant Illingworth has the power to summon people to appear before the Inquiry, those living in New Zealand, but said he would not use it. On balance, he said “we are of the view that a summons is undesirable given that the former ministers continue to cooperate with the evidence gathering of the Inquiry”. The writing was on the wall back in early July that Hipkins would not be showing his face publicly, when I asked him about attending to give his evidence in person. You could hear on the 8th of July that there was no way he was going to show his face. It may be true that government ministers have in the past given their evidence privately to Royal Commissioners. The Covid-19 response, I would argue, is different. The “most honest and transparent government ever” relied hugely on the trust and faith of the public to implement the nationwide wholesale measures that they did. We all sacrificed to varying degrees, and with varying degrees of willingness, personal freedoms, livelihoods, children's schooling, mental wellbeing, because the government engaged with us, talked at us, cajoled us, threatened us, reassured us it was a relationship. Every single day those people were up in our grills, in public, telling us what we needed to do, how we had to do it, and giving their reasons for why we had to do it. Enormous sacrifices were made by many, many people, and many of them are still counting the emotional toll. Ardern, Hipkins, and Robertson used their public profiles to ensure compliance with the decisions they were making, which grew ever more ridiculous and unworkable as time went on. I believe they have a moral obligation to front the public and answer the Commissioners questions publicly. Without manipulating the public trust, for better and worse, they couldn't have got away with what they did. Their objections to appearing appear to be Dentons', the law firm's, objections to appearing, but their objections include the convention that ministers and former ministers are interviewed by inquiries in private, and departing from that convention would undermine confidence. In what exactly? I hope I've put up a case that they do have an obligation to answer publicly because the Covid-19 response was unlike any other event where there's been a Commission of Inquiry. They were also concerned that the live streaming and publication of recordings of the hearing creates a risk of those recordings being tampered with, manipulated, or otherwise misused. For heavens sake, any time you open your mouth in public your words and image can be manipulated and misused. Look at Neil Finn's erections for heavens sake. Anytime you appear talking about anything, AI can use your image, your words – it's not exclusive to the Commission of Inquiry. They have form, these people, as spineless decision makers, so it should be no real surprise they haven't showed publicly. They never once ventured to Auckland during the pointless, unreasonable lockdowns of 2021. So no huge surprise that they're not willing to stand by the decisions they made then, now. Ardern and Robertson have moved on. They don't need the New Zealand public. They don't need the New Zealand public to have confidence in them, Hipkins does. He wants to be Prime Minister again. He wants another bash at it. He'll point to the polls and say he's a third of the way there, that most New Zealanders have got over Covid, moved on. Some of us haven't. We are living with the decisions the economic, medical, and social decisions that this unholy triumvirate made every single day. And our children will live with those decisions, and our grandchildren. The very least they could do is appear before the same public, whose faith and trust they exploited and explain how and why they made the decisions that they did. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I can recall a conversation I had about a month ago with Labour leader and former Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins about Part 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into his government's pandemic response. And he was saying that he was waiting to be invited to appear, and wouldn't be asking for an invite, and wouldn't be gate-crashing. That was around the time that he was also saying the Inquiry was a platform for conspiracy theorists. And I said at the time that, if Chris Hipkins was eventually invited and he declined, then he could forget about being Prime Minister again. Since then, it turns out he has been asked to front-up to the inquiry in person - and he has declined. Dame Jacinda Ardern, former finance minister Grant Robertson and former health minister Ayesha Verrall have also been asked to appear. And they've all declined as well. All of them, on the basis of advice from lawyers who are being paid by the taxpayer, that appearing at the Inquiry could attract abuse towards family members and that images and recordings from the Inquiry hearings could be “tampered with and misused”. All of that's probably true. But, even then, this is nonsense. Maybe Hipkins, Dame Jacinda, Robertson, and Verrall need to be reminded that former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson fronted up in person to the Covid Inquiry in Britain. He didn't hide behind written responses. Which, as we know, are always full of weasel words that go unchallenged. It wasn't a holiday for Boris, but he fronted. And because Chris Hipkins, especially, isn't fronting, he is political toast. Imagine if he had said to the others, “Okay, you guys aren't going, but I'm still the leader of the Opposition, so I am going to front”. If he'd taken that approach, he would've had a few days where it might have been uncomfortable for him, but it would be over and done with. Because if you have a very low opinion of the way Labour handled the pandemic, your low opinion isn't going to get any worse if Hipkins is grilled in-person at the Inquiry, is it? In fact, you might even admire him for fronting up. You might even give him credit for it. But he's not. And in doing so, he's written-off whatever he chance he had of leading Labour to victory next year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry aims to find lessons from the government response to better prepare for future pandemics. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Corin Dann.

Public hearings in the Covid-19 Royal Commission have been abandoned after key witnesses, including Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former Finance Minister Grant Robertson, refused to appear. Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is standing by her decision to skip a public hearing for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 Pandemic. Political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

In today's episode, Public hearings in the Covid-19 Royal Commission have been abandoned after key witnesses, including Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former Finance Minister Grant Robertson, refused to appear; Auckland's mayor is renewing his call for a bed tax for the supercity, as it deals with some serious economic troubles; For decades, rules around water quality under the Resource Management Act have protected waterways from scums, foams, colour or clarity changes and becoming unsafe for livestock; Tinā has surpassed Whale Rider at the box office.

Current and former Labour leaders and ministers deciding not to appear at the Royal Commission's Covid inquiry is being described as 'disgraceful'. Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson and Ayesha Verrall, who were all involved in Covid decisions - have declined invitations to appear. They say it would have been performative - not informative - and there's a risk livestream recordings could be manipulated and misused. National MP Chris Bishop says they should front up because New Zealanders deserve answers over the scale of Covid spending, which is still having impacts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern and other former Labour ministers have declined a request to appear publicly to give evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19.The Speaker has 'named' Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick for refusing to leave the House. Fellow politicians including Te Pāti Māori's Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and New Zealand First's Winston Peters have spoken in her defence, the former re-using the 'C-word' in Parliament, and the latter defending Swarbrick despite voting to have her ejected.Education Minister Erica Stanford has imposed a near-total ban on Māori words in new additions to a series of books used to teach five-year-olds to read. She says the inclusion of Māori words can confuse young readers. But Primary school principals say the evidence doesn't support that=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

Former ministers Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, Grant Roberston and Ayesha Verrall have refused to front up for public hearings at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19. Are they ducking for cover, or is there a good reason not to show up? Also, yesterday Green's co-leader Chloe Swarbrick was 'named' and booted from the house for a week for saying some government MPs needed to “grow a spine” and support her bill. Was this punishment justified? To answer those questions, Labour's health and Wellington issues spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall and National's Otaki MP Tim Costley joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACT Party's laying into the former Ministers who lead our Covid-19 response for refusing to front public hearings. Labour leader Chris Hipkins, and former Ministers Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall have declined to appear as part of the Royal Commission's Inquiry. Commissioners are confident it won't hamper efforts. Act's Brooke van Velden, who's in charge of the inquiry, told Ryan Bridge these Ministers stood publicly and made huge decisions about people's lives. She says it's confusing for many members of the public who are still feeling the effects of the Covid lockdown. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 14th of August 2025, Jacinda Arden and Chris Hipkins won't show face at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19, Minister responsible Brooke Van Velden shares her thoughts. Property owners are seeing the lowest resale profits in over a decade, Matt Ball from the NZ Property Investors Federation tells Ryan why. New NCEA achievement data shows mixed results, Darfield school Principal Andy England breaks it down. Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the Trump and Putin meeting. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Engineering has moved inside the body to innovate like never before. In neuro-science, brain implants can provide ‘psychic' communication for people with locked-in syndrome. In medication a new technology aims to deliver chemo therapy and other drugs directly to the parts that need them by bubbles in the blood stream. And ingestible electronics are being made to fight disease by sending antibody-directing messages straight from the gut to the brain. The BBC and the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 have come together to stage a special event. Presenter Caroline Steel is joined by Tom Oxley, professorial fellow at Melbourne Medical School; Eleanor Stride, OBE, professor of Biomaterials at the University of Oxford; Khalil Ramadi, director of the Ramadi Lab for Advanced Neuro-engineering and Translational Medicine in Abu Dhabi; Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, New York University.

In this series, we're going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert layered in 200,000 years of human history.  But, until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to this day only a handful of visitors have ever been.  If you haven't listened to our three-part on location documentary series, the Elements of Alula, scroll back in the feed and check it out: hot air balloon crashes, stargazing with bedouins, curious camels with a taste for microphones … It's a lot of fun. But today, we're sharing a special bonus episode from that series. Because AlUla was closed to outsiders for so long, the archeology that's happening there is unearthing incredible treasures we had no idea even existed. Jonathan Wilson: Arts and Culture Administration Senior Manager at the Royal Commission for AlUla is going to share some of those secrets with us today. And just to set the scene:  we'd just got back from an afternoon riding Arabian horses through the desert. It was an incredible experience, but it was hot - so we stepped inside Jonathan's office where archeologists were working day and night to document the treasures of this lost kingdom of alula … this is the tour he gave us, and the interview we did afterwards.    FIND OUT MORE Our on-location documentaries are designed so that you can experience everything we did in this episode. Find out more at ExperienceAlula.com. Check out @experiencealula on Instagram, Facebook and X more inspiration and ideas.   CONNECT WITH US If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.    Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast   Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented this episode show, Jason Paton did the audio editing and sound design.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The backers of the second official inquiry into the Covid response say it's crucial for preparing us for the next pandemic - but the media mostly zeroed in on whether big-name politicians would show up. Also: TVNZ checking itself for bias, a fresh flurry of media French-ification; and do we need to brace for more ‘fiscal hole' fury in Election 2026? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:1:22 The backers of the second Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response said it was crucial to learning lessons for the future, as well as allowing people to have a say. But the media mostly zeroed in on whether big-name politicians would show up at hearings that are still six weeks away.17:03 Remember in the campaign for the last election - and the one before that - how the big political parties made big claims in the media about billion dollar-deep holes in each others' policies? We might have to brace for more in 2026.32:50 TVNZ says it's planning to check itself for bias. But why - and why now?37:21 A fresh flurry of French-ification in our media inspired by Les Bleus on tour.Learn more:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/mediawatch/566737/mediawatch-pandemic-probe-media-focus-flipped-to-politiciansGuests: Dan Brunskill, economics reporter for Interest.co.nzIf you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You'll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The second phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into New Zealand's Covid-19 response, got underway this week in Auckland. The first phase was last year when Commissioners concluded that vaccine mandates were "reasonable" but were applied "more broadly than envisaged". RNZ reporter Victor Waters speaks to Mihingarangi Forbes about what came out of this week's discussions which focused on Auckland and Northland.

Three years after 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by a police officer in Yuendumu, a coronial inquest has found his death was 'avoidable'. The 683-page report makes 32 key recommendations, including strengthening anti-racism strategies and reviewing police firearm policies in Aboriginal communities. Human rights advocates say it's time for real action that includes recommendations from the 1991 Royal Commission on Aboriginal deaths in custody. In this episode, we explore the findings and community response.

Public hearings for the second phase of the Covid-19 inquiry got under way this week, and there's been speculation if Jacinda Ardern will make an appearance. Ardern says she will provide evidence to assist the Royal Commission of Inquiry, if asked to. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says key decision makers and senior public servants are set to speak next month. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Andie McCombs and Heather Roy. They discuss evidence given to the Royal Commission on the Government's response to Covid-19 and they hear from the country's biggest provider of support to unenrolled children.

Chris Hipkins won't commit to appearing before the second phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into New Zealand's Covid response. The Labour leader earlier said the terms of reference for the second stage - which is currently underway - provide a platform for conspiracies. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says Hipkins has some good points - but the Government at the time did make decisions that intruded on people's rights. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business leaders, community groups, health sector workers and churches are among those due to give evidence at public hearings held by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first public hearings of the inquiry's second phase got underway in Auckland today, with commissioners hearing from business people hit hard by the Covid lockdowns. Amy Williams reports.

The Royal Commission into the country's Covid-19 response could request former Prime Minister, Dame Jacinda Ardern, to appear for questioning in its August hearings. Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Melissa Chan-Green. *An earlier version stated Dame Jacinda Ardern had been asked to appear before the inquiry. A Covid-19 Inquiry spokesperson has clarified in a statement that no decisions have yet been made by Commissioners about who will appear at its hearing for key decision makers and senior public servants in August, with the witness list still under consideration.

In today's episode, Shayne Iti said his 15-year-old daughter Katie Margaret Iti died on Saturday in Hutt Hospital from complications of influenza B, the Royal Commission into the country's Covid-19 response has requested former prime minister Jacinda Ardern to appear for questioning, the government is considering placing a cap on how much local councils can increase rates, the second day of hearings on the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill will get underway at Parliament on Tuesday, and ongoing parking issues in Mount Maunganui - including being completely full at peak times - has led Tauranga City Council to try and find out-of-the-box solutions.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 7 July 2025, the jury has found mushroom cook Erin Patterson guilty on all charges - three cases of murder, and one case of attempted murder. 1 News correspondent Aziz Al Sa'afin tells Ryan Bridge there were several pieces of slam dunk evidence. Should former PM Dame Jacinda Ardern give evidence before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid response? Its chair says she can't be compelled while overseas. Auckland Council is throwing Takapuna Golf Course a lifeline - but it might not result in the golf course keen golfers want. Plus, the Huddle debates whether shopkeepers should be allowed to citizens arrest thieving kids. 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.

Should Jacinda Ardern return to the country and face the Covid inquiry music? The answer, I think, must be yes. I confirmed this morning on my Herald NOW show that the Royal Commission has reached out to Jacinda and asked her to attend in August. The KC running the show would not answer whether she'd replied or whether she'd lawyered up, but he did say that the only way to get out of attending is if you're not the in the country because they don't have jurisdiction. So the question is: as a former Prime Minister who wielded more power than Muldoon - war-time executive powers - as somebody who's always claimed their intentions were good, and as somebody who's claimed they were in politics for the children, will the former PM front this inquiry and be honest? Honest about what really went on behind closed doors and behind those PPE masks? Boris Johnson appeared at his country's inquiry, and twiddled his fingers and answered all that was put before him. Isn't there a moral obligation to the people of New Zealand, too? They still live with the consequences of decisions that she and her Cabinet made. She's making money off books and all sorts while many businesses here never recovered from lockdowns. Isn't a little truth-telling in order? I was one of just a handful of interviewers who grilled her on a weekly basis during this time period. I'm saving the best bits for a book one day, but there was image and stage control happening behind the scenes you wouldn't believe. The problem for Jacinda if she decides not to front is this - and it's a question Kiwis will be asking themselves - what has she got to hide? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second phase of the Covid-19 inquiry has begun, with many voices from business, tourism, and events venting frustration over the response. The Royal Commission of Inquiry will run until Thursday - and many are wondering if former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be called up to weigh in. Sir Ian Taylor says it would be 'wonderful' if Ardern found a way to give some answers. "It would perhaps reinforce the concept that everything she did was to be kind, to be part of the team of five million - and this is the time for the team of five million to come together to figure out how we deal to this better next time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Heine welcomes Kon Costas, Managing Director of The Principals' Community, for a wide-ranging chat on the future of financial advice. With decades of leadership experience across Westpac, BT and now a national self-licensed adviser network, Kon offers powerful insights on what makes businesses grow, merge successfully, and remain resilient. They discuss trusted leadership, why self-licensing is rising, and how cultural alignment is key to any successful M&A deal. Kon also shares how his team supports 135 advice firms and 1,300+ advisers through governance, CPD and peer-driven growth. A must-listen for anyone navigating change or thinking about the next evolution of advice. 00:01:12 – Entering financial services Kon Costas shares how his career began in banking with Westpac in 1989, eventually transitioning into financial advice and later leadership and licensee roles. 00:03:13 – Reflecting on industry change Kon discusses the evolution of financial planning, the Royal Commission, and the ongoing challenge of adviser shortages despite increased professionalism. 00:05:07 – Lessons in change management Kon reflects on his experience navigating industry change, emphasising transparency, trust, and leading from the front during both tough and growth periods. 00:07:06 – The Principals' Community Now Managing Director of The Principals' Community, Kon explains its mission to support successful self-licensed practices through governance, education, and scale. 00:11:38 – The rise of self-licensing Kon explores trends in self-licensing, highlighting flexibility, control, and the importance of capability—while cautioning that cost should not be the primary driver. 00:21:45 – Business performance and growth He shares key data points from member firms, such as average client load (105 per adviser), profitability benchmarks, and the push for greater efficiency and organic growth. 00:23:47 – M&A trends and traps Kon unpacks the current M&A landscape, warning against rushed deals and stressing the need for cultural alignment, thorough due diligence, and clear expectations. 00:32:38 – Building the future of advice He calls for industry-wide collaboration to attract and train the next generation of advisers, boost the profession's reputation, and increase the reach of quality advice. 00:36:24 – Looking ahead Kon closes with optimism, encouraging advisers to embrace the abundant opportunities ahead, especially with technology enabling broader client reach.

Phase two of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the official response to Covid-19 gets underway in Auckland on Monday, and will run until Thursday. Ella Stewart reports.

The second phase of the Covid Inquiry starts today, with vaccine mandates proving to be a hot topic. The hearings will be held in Auckland, available to watch online and will be chaired by KC Grant Illingworth. Phase two is focused on aspects of the Covid response like vaccine mandates, the approval process and vaccine safety. Illingworth told Heather du Plessis Allan that there are 31-thousand submissions, with a fair chunk focused on the mandates. He says there's a number of people who think the mandates protected them, and many others who have an opposite view. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DJ Albo picks his favourite dad-rock. Emerald and Tom talk about recent news on protests for Palestine (9:17) - former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas might lose sight in an eye after police intervened in a peaceful protest, and UK catches fire after Bob Vylan and Kneecap speak out at Glastonbury. Then they are joined by Greens spokesperson for early childhood education and senator for Victoria, Steph Hodgins-May (47:06), to discuss the horrifying revelations of abuse and neglect in the childcare industry. Why is childcare an industry? How can we restore faith? Is the answer another Royal Commission? Finally, a call to action (1:20:28). NOTE: This episode was recorded before the Federal Government provided additional information about proposed childcare reform legislation, including that new entry permissions for authorised officers will relate to CCS fraud, rather than safety. It was also recorded before the arson attack on a synagogue in East Melbourne. ---------- Just released on Patreon - “Talking Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, Live in Brisbane” The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over SEVENTY-FIVE past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU ---------- Links - Dedicated advice hotline regarding alleged child sex abuse cases in Victorian childcare centres: 1800 791 241 https://www.vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation Steph’s socials and contact info - https://greens.org.au/vic/person/steph-hodgins-may Contact Greens MLC Anassina Gray-Barberio: https://greens.org.au/vic/person/anasina-gray-barberio Sexual assault support lines: 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732 Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114 Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578 Bravehearts: counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse: 1800 272 831 Child Wise: counselling provider: 1800 991 099 Hannah Thomas’s call to action - support: PARA: https://para.org.au/give-support/ Addi Road Community Centre: https://addiroad.org.au/donate/ Redfern Legal Centre’s statewide Police Accountability team: https://rlc.org.au/donate Produced by Michael Griffin https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clancy Overell, Errol Parker and Wendell Hussey wrap up all the biggest stories from the week - live from the Desert Rock FM studio in downtown Betoota. Subscribe to the Betoota Newsletter HERE Betoota on Instagram Betoota on TikTokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode we’ll be discussing family violence and domestic abuse. These are important conversations, but they can also be distressing or triggering for some listeners. If this episode feels too difficult to listen to right now, please take care of yourself and consider coming back to it when you feel ready—or just skipping it altogether. And if you or someone you know is currently experiencing domestic abuse, please know that you're not alone and that support is available. We’ve included links and resources below if you need help or someone to talk to. This week we’re speaking to Patricia Gallagher about domestic and family violence. Patricia is a neuro-affirming registered psychologist, EMDR Accredited Practitioner with EMDRAA, and a Board Approved Supervisor, with over 16 years of experience across diverse settings. She currently works with clients from her private practice based in Melbourne, Gallagher Psychology. Patricia’s niche is in working with women affected by domestic violence, family violence, and childhood trauma; supporting them to heal and rise above the ashes of shame and trauma. In addition to her clinical work, Patricia is a sought-after trainer, supervisor, and speaker in the fields of trauma and family violence. In this episode we cover: What neurodivergence means to Patricia + her experience of being at the early stages of her exploration of her own neurodivergence. The definition of family and domestic violence and the different forms of abuse that come under this definition. What is ‘covert’ abuse. Understanding the cycle of abuse that commonly occurs, and factors that play into this. Common traits and emotional experiences of perpetrators. What is ‘coercive control’. The factors that increase the likelihood of disabled, neurodivergent, and / or previously traumatised folk being targeted for domestic and family abuse. Logistical and emotional barriers to leaving situations of domestic abuse. Patricia’s approach to supporting people’s recovery from domestic and family violence. The shark cage exercise for building boundaries. Tips and resources for anyone experiencing domestic or family violence. Things we mentioned: Australian statistics on the prevalence of domestic and family violence. Study on the prevalence of intimate partner violence in Australia. Royal Commission into rates of family, domestic, and sexual violence of women and girls with disability. Australian Government Coercive Control Fact Sheet Ursula Benstead’s Shark Cage Connect with Patricia through her Instagram @gallagherpsychology or @patriciagallagher, Facebook page, Gallagher Psychology, and her website, www.gallagherpsychology.com.au. Looking for support with situations of domestic or family violence? Try these resources: Australia wide 1800RESPECT (Ph. 1800 737 732) - National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. Offers phone and online chat support 24/7. Relationships Australia (Ph. 1300 364 277) - Counselling and support for individuals and families experiencing relationship breakdown or violence. Women's Legal Services - Provide free legal advice and assistance on domestic and family violence, family law, child protection. QLife (Ph. 1800 184 527 - 3pm–midnight daily) - LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral. Are You Safe at Home? Ask Izzy - Search tool for nearby shelters, food, legal help, and more. Some state based services Safe Steps (Victoria) (Ph. 1800 015 188) - 24/7 family violence response line for women and children in Victoria. InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence (Victoria) (Ph. (03) 9413 6500 / 1800 755 988) - Culturally sensitive family violence support for migrant and refugee women in Victoria. DVConnect (Queensland) (Women's line: 1800 811 811; Mensline: 1800 600 636) - Crisis counselling and referrals for people experiencing domestic and family violence. Immigrant Women's Support Service (Queensland) (Ph. (07) 3846 3490) - Support for migrant and refugee women experiencing domestic and sexual violence. Domestic Violence Crisis Service (ACT) (Ph. (02) 6280 0900) - Services for people affected by domestic violence in the ACT. Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline (NSW) ( only: 1800 019 123) - A dedicated line for Aboriginal victims of crime who need counselling, information, and referrals. Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question! Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod. Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BestPodcastintheMetaverse.com Canary Cry News Talk #841 - 05.14.2025 - Recorded Live to 1s and 0s TRUMP ALCHEMY | CERN Gold, Lion Leopard Prophecy, Doomsday Bunkers Deconstructing World Events from a Biblical Worldview Declaring Jesus as Lord amidst the Fifth Generation War! CageRattlerCoffee.com SD/TC email Ike for discount   Join the Canary Cry Roundtable This Episode was Produced By:   Executive Producers Sir LX Protocol V2 Baron of the Berrean Protocol*** Rebecca V***   Producers of TREASURE (CanaryCry.Support) Sir Morv Knight of the Burning Chariots, Sir Marty K Knight of the Wrong Timeline, Andy J, Cage Rattler Coffee, American Hobo, Ms TinfoilHat Man, Veronica D, Sir Scott Knight of Truth, Sir Casey the Shield Knight   Producers of TIME Timestampers: Jade Bouncerson, Morgan E Clippy Team: Courtney S, JOLMS, Kristen Reminders: Clankoniphius Links: JAM   SHOW NOTES/TIMESTAMPS HELLO WORLD EFNO   GATES OF THE GODS/ALCHEMY 1:29 ALICE detects the conversion of lead into gold at the LHC (CERN) Wait... Did the Large Hadron Collider Just Do Alchemy? (Pop. Mechanics) Clip: Optimus dancing going viral. Agility improving (X)   BEAST SYSTEM 13:25 → Apple to Support Brain-Implant Control of Its Devices (WSJ)   EXECS 20:39   TRUMP/BEAST SYSTEM 33:15   Clip: Trump Royal Carpet, greeted by MBS (X) Clip: Arabian Horse Escort Limo (X) Clip: Trump sparks Conspiracy theories by not drinking the cofee Clip: …Trump drinks coffee…. (X) Clip: Mohammed and Trump Bromance  Clip: Royal Family  Gifts America Leopards- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute To Welcome Critically Endangered Arabian Leopards In a Major Conservation Cooperative Agreement With Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla (Smithsonian) Clip: Trump America is hot, but Saudi Arabia is hotter (X) Clip: Trump preaches peace in the ME (X) Saudi $600 billion investment into america → Trump signs agreements with Qatar on defense and Boeing purchases (Fox) → Clip: Trump deal allows UAE to buy Nvidia chips, Bloomberg reports   PRODUCERS 1:19:48   BBB 1:44:36 US spent $21T to build underground 'doomsday' bunkers for elites (Econ Times)   TRANSHUMANISM 1:53:21 Improving human beings to make them better: Why is transhumanism so harmful? (Conversation)   BREAKING NEWS: RFK JR HECKLERS 1:53:33   PRODUCERS 1:56:47   TALENT/MEET UP TIME/END 2:01:29