After acting like a catnip addicted cat hyped up after catching a mouse over Labour’s Streaming Levy plan they shelved, Simeon is acting like suddenly the National Party are the bastion of truth and moral fortitude in a campaign they are lying through their teeth throughout. Maybe the fake podcast content was a warning…

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©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

Our election donation laws may need an overhaul but one thing they do allow is for us to see who is willing to pay through the nose keep life feeling like shit for majority of us - and you’ll never guess which floaters have been doing that. But good news - you’d need to guess - RNZ have been really on to it tracking it all for us.

Looking for clear, independent election insights? 🗳️ Check out www.election2026.co.nz for tools to help you decide your vote.

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Massive thank you for all the support!

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

The latest news around the 2026 General Election campaign, and this week, in the wake of the announcement distraction around another harbour crossing, I catch up with Labour's Northcote based list MP and Candidate, Shanan Halbert to discuss what the continued can kicking means for North Shore communities.

Looking for clear, independent election insights? 🗳️ Check out www.election2026.co.nz for tools to help you decide your vote.

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This work is entirely listener-funded. If you want to help keep the lights on and fuel the push for a change of government in 2026, consider joining as a paid supporter here: https://buymeacoffee.com/paul.theotherone ☕

Massive thank you for all the support!

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

From awkward interviews, to softball media platitudes to announcing a nothing announcement - the distraction machine at the National Party is working overtime.

Looking for clear, independent election insights? 🗳️ Check out www.election2026.co.nz for tools to help you decide your vote.

Catch the award-winning podcast, weekly newsletter, and more here: https://linktr.ee/paul_barlownz

This work is entirely listener-funded. If you want to help keep the lights on and fuel the push for a change of government in 2026, consider joining as a paid supporter here: https://buymeacoffee.com/paul.theotherone ☕

Massive thank you for all the support!

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

The National Party in tail spin… again. Deputy PM has a big sook, new social sciences curriculum forgets it’s not meant to be racist and what are we watching?

🗳️ Get ready for election day: Head over to www.election2026.co.nz to explore free resources and interactive tools designed to help you cut through the noise and decide your vote.

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Every bit of support makes a massive difference as we push for a change of government in 2026! 🇳🇿

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

In media theory, we call it the salience effect - where there’s so much coverage we accept a story must be important. But that almost always over shadows our  ability to focus on other news and we need that to help create a balanced view of the world around us.

Real, independent political commentary requires a strong community behind it.

First up, make sure you're equipped for the voting booth: visit www.election2026.co.nz for practical tools and resources to help you choose who to vote for.

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Your backing means everything. Thank you.

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

If I had a penny for every time Chris Luxon has had to get his fiends together to prove they still like him and he should keep his job after an MP named Chris seemingly tried to get rid of him, I’d have two pennies - which isn’t much but it is weird it happened twice.

Looking for clear, independent election insights? 🗳️ Check out www.election2026.co.nz for tools to help you decide your vote.

Catch the award-winning podcast, weekly newsletter, and more here: https://linktr.ee/paul_barlownz

This work is entirely listener-funded. If you want to help keep the lights on and fuel the push for a change of government in 2026, consider joining as a paid supporter here: https://buymeacoffee.com/paul.theotherone ☕

Massive thank you for all the support!

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

Got the popcorn ready? It’s time for another leadership vote for National - a good sign having two in a year, after a year of rumours about the PM’s leadership in crisis mode, right? And no matter what happens, the outcome will impact the election in 87 days

Looking for clear, independent election insights? 🗳️ Check out www.election2026.co.nz for tools to help you decide your vote.

Catch the award-winning podcast, weekly newsletter, and more here: https://linktr.ee/paul_barlownz

This work is entirely listener-funded. If you want to help keep the lights on and fuel the push for a change of government in 2026, consider joining as a paid supporter here: https://buymeacoffee.com/paul.theotherone ☕

Massive thank you for all the support!

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

There was big news on Sunday… no not the new policies from political parties, not the cut off date for the local government amalgamation but data that showed the coalition has been underfunding staff in our health sector for years.  But the media coverage on it seemed to be missing outside of Q&A itself…

Looking for clear, independent election insights? 🗳️ Check out www.election2026.co.nz for tools to help you decide your vote.

Catch the award-winning podcast, weekly newsletter, and more here: https://linktr.ee/paul_barlownz

This work is entirely listener-funded. If you want to help keep the lights on and fuel the push for a change of government in 2026, consider joining as a paid supporter here: https://buymeacoffee.com/paul.theotherone ☕

Massive thank you for all the support!

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026

We start the week knowing we have been lied to. Lied to on TV by the health Minister. Lied to online by the Prime Minister. And lied to as ratepayers. So it must be another typical Sunday then.

Looking for clear, independent election insights? 🗳️ Check out www.election2026.co.nz for tools to help you decide your vote.

Catch the award-winning podcast, weekly newsletter, and more here: https://linktr.ee/paul_barlownz

This work is entirely listener-funded. If you want to help keep the lights on and fuel the push for a change of government in 2026, consider joining as a paid supporter here: https://buymeacoffee.com/paul.theotherone ☕

Massive thank you for all the support!

©️ Paul… The Other One, 2026