95bFM: The Wire

Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, and Producer Evie to discuss Fandoms and Micro-Fandoms in light of Laneway a couple of weeks ago!

In light of RFK Jr, a notorious, prominent anti-vaxxer, being appointed as the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, many are concerned about what direct consequences we could see as a result of this move.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to vaccinologist and Professor in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, about the appointment of RFK Jr, and what consequences we could see not only in the US, but internationally, due to this decision.

They started off by asking who RFK Jr is, and how he was able to take up this role.

This week on the Monday Wire...

For our weekly catch up with the ACT party, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about critiques he’s received for ‘mansplaining’ period products, the Destiny Church pride protests and the Director General of Health’s resignation.

News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to the Co-Director at the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education and Social Work, Professor Jay Marlowe, about a recent report, which is a collaboration between the University and the New Zealand Red Cross, which expresses concerns into the country’s seven-year backlog of the family sponsorship system.

They also speak to vaccinologist and Professor in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, about the concerns with prominent anti-vaxxer, RFK Jr, being appointed as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.

And Matt Hart joins us in studio to discuss fandoms and micro-fandoms, following on from Laneway the week before last.

Whakarongo mai!

The report ‘Reuniting Families, a path forward for Aotearoa New Zealand’; a collaboration between the University of Auckland and the New Zealand Red Cross, was recently released, with the report highlighting the concerns with Aotearoa’s family sponsorship system regarding the intake of those forcibly displaced from their home countries, and the 7-year backlog of those a part of the system.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Co-Director at the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education and Social Work, Professor Jay Marlowe, about the report, and what the report details to better correct the system.

Firstly, they started by asking how the family sponsorship system works.

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles drew attention to the hundreds of firefighters who came from California’s prison system.

The California Department of Corrections has claimed their “Fire Camp Program” is voluntary but this has come into question by prison reform advocates and ex-incarcerated individuals.

Advocates have called for stronger protections for incarcerated workers, especially as climate change creates a need for an expanded labour force to respond to natural disasters.

For our inaugural International Desk, 95bFM’s segment focused on breaking and under-reported news from around the globe, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Brock University’s Dr Jordan House about this programme and its potential in other jurisdictions such as Canada.

The US government is cutting or limiting rafts of funding for science and health research. 

Some of the executive actions from President Donald Trump include freezing federal loans and grants, capping maintenance costs for labs (a move that has been temporarily blocked in court), and specific cuts targeting health and climate agencies.

Sofia spoke with co-President of the New Zealand Association of Scientists and Principal Investigator in Te Pūnaha Matatini Centre of Research Excellence, Troy Baisden, about this decision, and the potential implications it could have in the United States as well as globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Last week's Waitangi Day had a notable absence, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Instead, he chose to spend the day with Kāi Tahu. The move drew some criticism, particularly as all other political leaders were present at Waitangi.

It comes after National Minister Tama Potaka overhauled the Waitangi Tribunal earlier this year. Eight members of the tribunal were replaced with controversial new appointments.

And the Salvation Army has released their latest State of the Nation report. The report showed an increase in families struggling with the cost of living, forcing them onto the benefit in record numbers.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden spoke to Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about Waitangi Day and the new ‘State of the Nation’ report from the Salvation Army.

And for the inaugural International Desk, 95bFM’s new segment focused on breaking and under-reported news from around the globe, they speak to Brock University’s Dr. Jordan House about California’s use of incarcerated individuals as firefighters.

For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia catches up with Councillor Fairey about further criticism regarding Auckland Council’s proposed restrictions on dog walking, as well as further criticism on the decision process to move the Western Springs speedway to Waikaraka Park. 

And she speaks to co-President of the New Zealand Association of Scientists and Principal Investigator in Te Pūnaha Matatini Centre of Research Excellence, Troy Baisden, about US President Donald Trump cutting and limiting rafts of funding for science and health research and its implications.

A recent study at the University of New Mexico has found that there could be a spoon’s worth of microplastics in the human brain.

The study found that the extent of the harm to human health is unclear, although an increased inflammation and risk of future adverse cardiovascular events is likely.

Producer Amani spoke to Senior Lecturer of Chemical Sciences at the University of Auckland, Dr Joel Rindelaub, about the prevalence of microplastics in the human body, and what its impacts might be.

For their weekly catch up with the Green Party, Oto spoke to Ricardo Menendez March about US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians in Gaza. We also spoke about the Overhaul of the Public Works Act and The government's plan to change climate reporting laws for companies.

And Amani spoke to Dr Joel Rindelaub, Senior Lecturer of Chemical Sciences at the University of Auckland, about the prevalence of microplastics in the human body, especially in brain tissue.