In this episode of Daybreak – the latest data on year 8’s ability in maths and English are not good; Bob makes the argument against four-year parliamentary terms; can Labour and National work together on anti-slavery laws; Radio NZ finds three women who don’t want to have children – a “growing movement” apparently!; farmers argue that Greenpeace aren’t a charity; interesting data out of a US survey of Gen Z; Nokia maker HMD creates new ‘porn free’ phone to protect children; and the Minister for Women in NSW struggles to define what a woman actually is.

In this episode of Solid Ground, Simon discusses social media and cellphone use by young people, noting that Nokia are now using AI tools to help keep kids away from harmful content. He also criticises ACT’s new euthanasia amendment Bill, noting the very slippery slope opponents have long warned. From effectively wanting to force doctors and nurses, care homes and hospices to participate in euthanasia to removing the six months terminal illness requirement, Simon warns New Zealand is on a parallel journey to Canada. Speaking of Canada, Simon also raises how a committee of MPs there are recommending expanding euthanasia even further to include young people and children, and in some circumstances no requiring parental input or involvement.

Here's StraightTalk for 25 August 2025. In this episode we discuss: is there a cost of living crisis – or are we simply living beyond our means; David Seymour says that Maori wards should go, and religion and politics don’t mix. Is he right, half right, or totally wrong; the teachers went on strike last week – do the panelists support the action; and there’s two new terms that keep popping up – tradwife and now “mankeeping” – we check with our panelists whether they qualify for either or both of those terms.

In today’s episode – ACT want to expand euthanasia in NZ even more; another child death; Labour is confused about the merits of the gang patch ban; political commentators are concerned about the Greens and TPM as coalition partners for Labour; illegal drugs continue to enter the country – but so does illegal tobacco – the responses are very different; age verification laws are attacked - for the wrong reason; up to 25 US states limit smartphone use in schools now; a new report reveals how UNICEF programmes sexually groom children; and a restaurant chain in the US called Cracker Barrel goes woke & broke - we enjoy a great country western song to finish off the episode!

In today's episode - we pay tribute to Dr James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family; a Canadian nurse is fined for backing women-only spaces; name suppression for possession of child p*rn images should be scrapped; violence against female MPs is condemned but not against male MPs?; research shows that more babies born at 22 weeks are surviving; President Trump talks about heaven but shows a basic misunderstanding; brothel plan rejected in Hastings thanks to the mayoral candidates; and we reveal the newest dumb term - "mankeeping"!

In this episode – more leadership pressure on Luxon, and is Nicola Willis manoeuvring for the job; Luxon skips a ‘coalition of the willing’ phone call – is this a terrible look?; David Seymour and Winston Peters separate themselves from Luxon’s comments about Benjamin Netanyahu; euthanasia’s process of killing under the spotlight; Helen Clark raises the abuse of female politicians – hasn’t she spoken to Andrea Vance; are MPs allowed to have naps; should former MPs become ambassadors; former Labour MP Richard Prebble says Labour should say nothing and they could win the next election; and is the alcohol industry influencing government policy.

In this episode of Solid Ground, Simon discusses the disturbing news that a New Zealander was likely euthanised without proper sedation, as reported in the media. He then highlights his most recent podcast with anaesthetist, Dr Sharon Quick, where she talks about the complex and often misconstrued realities of euthanasia – including how drugs are given to completely paralyse a patient, raising the real possibility that someone may be conscious but unable to communicate.  

Simon also touches on Costco's decision in the U.S. to stop selling the abortion pill Mifepristone and criticises some local church leaders for being vocal on politically comfortable topics like climate change and indigenous rights but largely silent on ethical issues such as euthanasia and abortion. 

In this episode: the scary notion of 'tradwife' earns a definition in the Cambridge dictionary; NZ's disturbing fertility rate; wealth keeps a pedophile's identity secret; Australia struggles with the definition of 'woman'; the UK wants to muzzle a pro-life grandmother; are the media campaigning for Nicola Willis to replace Luxon despite her struggles as Minister of Finance; alcohol consumption is dropping - yet the alcohol industry is still influencing public policy in NZ according to official documents; a patient being euthanised may not have been sedated properly - and what does 'sedation' actually even mean; Australian PM Anthony Albanese gets a serve from Netenyahu; and we destroy a super-dumb claim in a Radio NZ article about marriage.

In this episode of Solid Ground, Simon previews Kirralie Smith who is speaking at the upcoming Forum on the Family. He discusses her recent court case (which she lost) where she has been hauled over the coals for correctly identifying someone’s biological sex. According to the court, identifying a person’s sex is an act of violence. Simon draws attention to Kirralie’s own words that if society can change the meaning of the word ‘woman’, it can also change the meaning of the world ‘violence’. Staying with Australia, Simon discusses recent protests in Melbourne where women discussing their rights were assailed by far-left groups who sought to disrupt the gathering and attacked police – ironically, all in the name of tolerance. He also discusses the State of Victoria introducing school lessons for children as young as five about how they can be born in the wrong body, nothing how destructive such ideology is for young children.

In this episode of StraightTalk, we discuss: the Trump Putin summit in Alaska – success, failure, nothing to see here, or progress; more bad behaviour in Parliament – but is “spineless” really an insult – and haven’t the standards of our politicians’ behaviour already gone well below an insult like that; Ardern, Hipkins, Robertson & Verrall – the Four COVIDteers – don’t want to front up in public to the COVID inquiry – but would their appearance actually make any difference anyway?; should school uniforms be in or out – a Christchurch school is reintroducing them – we find out what the panelists think; when are crying babies okay – and when are they not – a young British woman’s tennis player has an opinion; and is the proposed road user charges on vehicles just a way for Big Government to monitor everytime Bob visits KFC.