people are drastically unprepared for what the media & discourse environment is going to turn into this year, I think consider the smears on Green & TPM MPs last year, the months long coordinated campaigns between muckrakers, politicians & media that led to death threats 2026 will likely be worse

every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds

We need to talk about the rise of "smol bean fascism" where you have all the guns and the immunity but the really scary people are the ones with whistles and phone cameras and they're giving you generational trauma and ptsd by filming you killing people for no reason

Simply outstanding from @rodemmerson.bsky.social

good Luxon called this out. But it would be helpful if someone in our official public sphere would note that "the people on the margins" disseminating the (sic) "misinformation" include a guy who is the only Twitter friend of his Minister of Foreign Affairs #nzpol www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

I think one might have had the foresight 15 hours ago that having pics of Luxo having a jolly old time in the pub while multiple regions are in a state of emergency miiight not be a great look

So all it took for Shane Jones to find an environmental protection issue he cared about was a racism angle.

The Free Speech Union didn't exist when black ppl couldn't speak. The Free Speech Union didn't exist when LGBTQ ppl couldn't speak. The Free Speech Union didn't exist when disabled ppl couldn't speak. The Free Speech Union existed when racist white ppl were asked to keep their racism to themselves.

That's one fucked up Venn diagram. #nzpol

And what's the influence of Peters' in shaping sentiments targeting Governor of RBNZ? Supporters found vindication, critics found confirmation. Minimal actual persuasion occurred; *maximum polarisation* achieved. This is a signature divisive, & damaging discursive pathology fostered by Peters.

If only people like Josie Vidal (Newsroom, 09/01/2026) who want 'balance' between development and "the environment" would realise that on almost every metric nature has already overpaid its share. e.g. land use (map source: envirohistorynz.com/2009/11/21/2...)

Good news, Shane Jones's boss Peter Talley loses court case. Lets hope the same happens to Julian Batshithitler and Grenon. #nzpol

FELLAS is it UNDERMINING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE POLICE to be a DEPUTY COMMISSIONER searching for CHILD PORN, BESTIALITY AND OTHER HORRIBLE SHIT on your POLICE COMPUTER or is that only when a brown woman repeats concerns her constituents have about how the police treat minority communities.

Would-be mini-Farage Hastings Cllr Steve Gibson - intent on stoking culture wars rather than the job he was elected to do. If this is the way he plans to operate for the next 3 yrs, local democracy, already under threat, will be further weakened. #nzpol www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...

Poverty is a policy choice. Concentrated wealth is a policy choice. Inequality is a policy choice. None of it is natural or inevitable. Remember: We have the power to build a system that serves the many, not the powerful few.

Love this

YESSSSS As I finally assemble my full thesis on anti-environmental culture wars discourse around the Fast-track legislation, I take this as a positive omen. Good people, justice, and evidence can and will trump divisive rhetoric designed to deflect. www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...

Maybe putting Pentecostal Christian cishet men in charge of things is not good, eh?

If I, as a woman, get accused of ruining society by being a woman I’m just gonna keep doing the thing even more. I definitely want to ruin society. These men are dropping bombs and destroying the environment and getting away with it. Ruining society will continue as long as my morale improves.

Casual reminder that the myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a cruel hoax designed to convince poor people from all walks of life that the injustices they face are a result of their own actions, rather than an oppressive system rigged against them.

Remember: There is nothing natural or inevitable about extreme inequality; it’s the result of an economic system that values wealth and power over human dignity and justice. It doesn't have to be this way.

It's brilliant and exciting to see Zohran Mamdani elected. More leaders like him please, and fewer like Cuomo, Schumer and the rest of the oligarch-pleasing, hope-destroying, election-losing, right-centrist political class.

Attended v good online hui on how to take advantage of early researcher opportunities. Few +reducing opportunities in Aotearoa; main take-out for me was we should prob all be looking overseas. 🤔 @islates.bsky.social called out academic precarity - time to stand together or fall apart #joinyourunion

Preliminary results are in and Wendy Schollum has consolidated her lead in the Hastings Mayoral contest - now well over 500 votes in front. www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/.../2025-tri.... Results not even close to the Curia / @taxpayersunion.bsky.social 'poll'. Can't think how they got it so wrong! 🤔 😆

happy sunday, remember that you are completely expendable to your employer and that when you die they will forget you ever existed within weeks and easily replace you

Excellent cartoon by fellow Listener cartoonist Anthony Ellison #nzpol www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener...

I exist for this 💜 #nzpol

Voting for these three is aiding and abetting war crimes. #nzpol

i would again like to remind everyone that NEGATING A FRAME REINFORCES IT "he's not really targeting criminals" makes it an argument about criminality "this is a fascist attack" states what is actually happening START WITH WHAT IT IS not what it isn't

Dystopian. "We for one welcome our *cough* OK, genocidal (but, more importantly, potentially profitable!) start-up overlords" Revise that: sociopathic neoliberalism.

Maybe it's all the Christo-facism in the air, but I can't help but see the absurd Paracetomol announcement in the context of burgeoning Christian nationalism: Genesis 3:16, in which God punishes Eve: 'Bearing children will be bloody painful! (your fault, preggers, also yr husband's in charge').

Using the @nztaxpayersunion.bsky.social handy guide to strike out local govt candidates who said they'd 'cap rates' 🤔 and then another elimination round - those who don't support Māori wards The names left were my starter list for research. Voted, posted 🥳 #localgovtmatters #localleadership

Sad trombones for unfortunate misogynist #stuartnash today as #shanejones is announced heir presumptive to the rightwing populist NZF throne. Nash's bid for power stymied by one (1) p*ssy and (2) t#ts. Women, huh! #nzpol

Education is the enemy of fascism.

#nzpol The minimum wage increased 1.5% this year. Data from Stats NZ shows: - Food prices up 5% - Fruit & Veg up 8.9% - Meat up 9.4% - Bread up 9.5% (white sliced up 41.7%) - Cheese up 14.3% - Milk up 15% - Electricity up 11.4% Laser focused on the cost of living www.stats.govt.nz/information-...

I wish Charlie Kirk never died so that I wouldn't have to hear about his loser ass every single fucking day

Any idea why someone has OIA-ed the *names* of submitters on RMA reform Package 2? @greenpeace.org.nz @nzgreenparty.bsky.social

You don't have to fight fire with fire. It's probably bad to fight fire with fire. But jfc don't fight fire with debate.

Credit where credit's due, here is some genuinely investigative reporting on local govt elections in Hastings, picking apart disinformation from one mayoral candidate, Steve 'swarm of angry hornets in an overcoat, riding a scooter' Gibson @joelmacmanus.bsky.social baybuzz.co.nz/steve-gibson...

When I quoted these vile things to a (much loved and trusted) male family member he said, oh yeah I've heard others too, eg 'if they didn't have c#nts they'd be stacked ten-high at the tip'. Must admit I was speechless. What's animating this anger and hatred? He said it was 'just guys'.

to my mind the woman who dies of sepsis because of antiabortion laws, or the person who dies because they can't afford insulin -- these are just as much victims of political violence as the man shot through the throat while making a racist speech

Women: 'a p^ssy and 2 t!ts' (S Nash) 'If they didn't have a fan&y between their legs they'd have a bounty on their heads' (J Williams) These were the MC choices for the TPU Hastings Mayoral debate apparently. Stu couldn't make it so we got the Bounty Kid. Plus three blokes. #nzpol

society would improve immediately if we just seized the assets of every person who wrote jeffrey epstein a birthday note

Find yourself someone who looks at you like Stu looks at Winnie. Actually, don't.

Underestimation of middle-aged women can be its own gift. Last night I happened to stand by the (male) organiser of a local govt event who, unprompted + w/o asking me anything in return, shared heaps of info. I'm running comms for their strongest opponent. Thanks, buddy. #nzpol

I’ve had time to sit with Doyle’s resignation. What stands out is not only the volume of abuse but the moment abusive narratives were legitimised by mainstream (senior) political actors. That’s when harm scales, and institutions often fall quiet. Some thoughts 🧵 #nzpol newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/05/b...

🍃🌺🌿 Gordon Campbell -On The Lack Of Spine In New Zealand’s Foreign Policy On Gaza #nzpol werewolf.co.nz/2025/08/gord...

Yes. This is exactly why this misinformation is being spread - a deflection that also speaks to the CoC's status anxiety re far more talented, popular MPs. Who probably saved my (+ many other) mum and dad's lives. Thanks again, Labour team. Kia kaha! @nzlabour.bsky.social @nzlabour.nzcow.com

this dc situation looks pretty horrible. i wish i had more to say except that autocracy is always mundane and petty and vicious and encourages you to look away and be safe. and you can live quite normally under it until you're a direct target

so tell me again what the problem with rainbow storytime is