Christopher Luxon can’t catch a break. His prime ministerial house is shabby. His prime ministerial plane is borked. But, ask Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas, how foreseeable was the blowback to his decision to take the $52k accommodation allowance to stay in his own mortgage-free Wellington apartment, how tin-eared was it to declare, repeatedly, that he was entitled to his entitlements, thank you very much, and the swift talkback-driven U-turn?
It came hot on the heels of a whiplash week in parliament, with legislation to bin the Māori Health Authority, roll back smokefree legislation and unban pseudoephedrine. Is the government stretching the use of urgency to its legitimate limit?
Elsewhere in a new edition of the Spinoff politics podcast Gone By Lunchtime: Warner Brothers Discovery has issued a death warrant for Newshub, all of Three’s news operations and a bunch of other local content. What does it mean for democracy, and how was the response from Melissa Lee and the rest? Plus: A word on Grant Robertson, who is leaving politics.
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Megapod 4: A special Auckland Central debate / shock moderator walkout
Megapod 3: Michael Wood on a hellish year and the campaign ahead
Megapod 2: Highlights and lowlights of the first leaders’ debate
Megapod 1: The first TVNZ leaders' debate, assessed
A conversation with Act leader David Seymour
Is Chris Luxon the new Paul Newman?
Bonus episode: Everybody was Prefu Fighting
A conversation with Green leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw
From the gelateria to the murder house
Live from Word Christchurch with special guest Lianne Dalziel
Man bites underdog
Live from Boondogglepalooza
Bonus episode: Steven Joyce on how to win elections
Bonus episode: A conversation with the prime minister
The giant hole election
Bonus episode: Kiri Allan resigns
Hipkins scratches the switch
One hundred days to go. Or is it?
Bonus episode: Direct from the Great Hall of the People
Bonus episode: Chris Hipkins and the China Challenge
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