Great chat with columnist for @stuff.co.nz Verity Johnson about idea NZ Govt is too indebted & we can’t have nice things.We’re actually rich & have low debt/gdp. The budget cutting obsession is ideological, moves wealth from young to old, & stunts NZ Inc. #nzpol open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

For those who think the Iran war oil crisis has been a bit of a nothing burger, thats because the real pain hasn't begun to hit yet. @bernardchickey.bsky.social

We're on lettuce watch now.

Nailed it.

Ha! The wig(s)

My cartoon on today's www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3610... A lot of people are feeling despondent & rightfully angry. The opposition needs to get its shit together as many don't believe they're doing anything to push back on the destruction of our motu. #NzPol #Cartoon #WheresWally

Early Bird out: Winston says Govt to end fees-free in Budget; Luxon says National would raise retirement age immediately; 144 Police officers leave for Australia in last year; Renters give up on home-ownership. #nzpol open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

My #cartoon today #NZpol #CostOfLiving #Fuel

How NZ's economy really works: "There were also some land bankers looking to hold the property until the zoning changed to allow multiple dwellings on the site." www.oneroof.co.nz/news/90s-tv-...

Seems on again.

Minister for Media and Communications Paul Goldsmith plans to do away with the Broadcasting Standards Authority Te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho. My cartoon today #NZpol #Media #Broadcasting #BroadcastingStandardsAuthority

Here it is. Today: nada. www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...

the end.....

Indeed

Two U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz came under renewed attack on Thursday, enduring what American officials described as a fiercer and more sustained Iranian assault than the barrage the warships faced only days earlier. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-des...

Best batten down the hatches: we're in for a doozy of an El Niño. Models now align on a high-impact trajectory, with forecasts that this event could become the strongest El Niño in modern history, perhaps surpassing the record-breaking event of 1877-1878. www.severe-weather.eu/long-range-2...

Early Bird briefing out ahead of 9am Substack Live of today’s Chorus: Protesters to call for fuel tax cuts in marches in 43 towns next Saturday; OECD calls for electricity & stock market reforms; TOP releases UBI & Kiwisaver 2.0 detail; Picks 'n Mixes thekaka.substack.com/p/fridays-ea...

FYI

"In a maximum-gerrymandering scenario, more than 400 seats in the House could be safe and essentially uncontestable, delivering to voters year after year an unresponsive and unimpeachable class of lazy representatives with little incentive to represent them" www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

EXCLUSIVE: My latest story for @theatlantic.com : www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

The Ministry of Propaganda. Today's cartoon by @danboriscreates.bsky.social. More cartoons: www.cartoonmovement.com #Trump #Iran #misinformation

Project Freedom (from reality) @theageaustralia.bsky.social

Smashed. My cartoon in today's @theageaustralia.bsky.social

To help us visualize the new European Centre El Niño forecast I added a little color and category. The average of the ensemble members is ~ +3C sea surface temperature anomaly in the Pacific El Niño region. That means the average for late 2026 is as high or higher than the any recorded El Niño! 1/

Our tracker with YouGov shows Donald Trump's approval rating at the lowest level of either his first or second terms, tied with Joe Biden's lowest rating www.economist.com/interactive/...

Is it Iran he's talking about? Or the US?

From today's @financialtimes.com #straitofhormuz #fuel #trump

Oh how I laughed...

Here’s a sampler of what you get as a full subscriber. open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

Stratosphere. My @smh @theage cartoon.

Here’s how the economy actually works.

2027 will almost certainly be the warmest year on record for Earth - by a long shot - and perhaps even 2026 may reach a record too. That’s due to the big boost of heat released from El Niño, on top of the long term warming… 1/

UKMTO WARNING ATTACK 052-26

My take: someone is lying, either Iran or Trump, and any attack on a U.S. vessel would collapse the ceasefire. Otherwise, we’re about to risk U.S. forces to reopen the strait. It’s around 4 a.m. in the Gulf, and the next eight hours will be crucial in determining the trajectory of the conflict.

Projection much.

Mine. Today’s @theageaustralia.bsky.social @sydmorningherald.bsky.social cartoon

Should someone tell him?

Senator Blumenthal said on CNN tonight: “I do have the impression, from some of the briefings that I have received, as well as other sources, that an imminent military strike is very much on the table.”

CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper and the chairman of the joint chiefs General Dan Caine briefed President Trump for 45 minutes today on new plans for possible military action against Iran, two U.S. officials said.-Axios

On the impending lagged effects [🎁 link]

WSJ reports "Trump is comfortable with an indefinite blockade", and "the lack of a clear, decisive pathway has some U.S. officials saying the eight-week conflict will likely end with neither a nuclear deal nor a resumption of the war". www.wsj.com/world/middle...

And the damage to everyone else?

Zombie politics. The inevitable result in captured democracies.

Food For Thought. Newsday.com

Cartoon

Unnamed GOP senators connected to JD Vance are losing confidence in Pete Hegseth after ousters of Army Chief of Staff Randy George & Navy Secretary John Phelan. “The hollowing out of incredible leadership at the Pentagon has been a big concern,” said one GOP senator.