TLDR & TLDL: This week I talked in the podcast above with Interest.co.nz’s Jenee Tibshraeny and the NZ Herald’s Thomas Coughlan about the week’s events in the political economy around the Parliamentary Press Gallery, including:

* the debates over National’s ‘squeezed middle’ tax cut proposal;

* the Government’s April 1 benefit increases, why they’re inadequate and why PM Jacinda Ardern is not using the Crown’s balance sheet;

* the opening of Transmission Gully and whether it will be our last motorway;

* China’s deal to station troops and ships in the Solomon Islands;

* whether Globalisation is ending and what it might mean for Aotearoa-NZ; and,

* Ardern’s latest one-on-one interviews.

This is a weekly feature where I talk with the other ‘wonks’ in the Parliamentary Press Gallery interested in the political economy, including Stuff Political Editor Luke Malpass, along with Thomas and Jenee.

I welcome questions from subscribers in the comments below over the episode, and for next week’s version. This was recorded on the afternoon of Friday, April 1.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekaka.substack.com/subscribe