On today’s Political Playback, Bob and Simon discuss – latest political polls; cancelling the Census; the tragic case of the young girl dying of starvation in emergency accommodation on her own, and the disturbing narrative being pushed by transgender activists; another Government ‘plan’ to combat suicide; are China and the US threats to NZ, and should we fund the Cook Islands if China is involved with the island nation?; plus a few lighter topics on disinformation and fake news.

There’s a new online course available in NZ by the Dark Times Academy entitled “Unmasking Theocracy: Project 2025 and the Christian Nationalist Agenda”. No – not a cooking course. It’s a 'cooker' course. They seem to be wanting to 'import a culture war'! We check it out.

On Solid Ground this morning, Simon talks about a new proposed law that might come with some unintended consequences around free speech. He also highlights anti-life happenings in the UK and Australia before sharing a mostly good new story coming out of Georgia, USA.

The Maxim Institute's Research Manager, Maryanne Spurdle, joins Simon to discuss her latest research - Interrogating Choice: Euthanasia and the illusion of autonomy. Simon and Maryanne discuss how the underfunding of palliative care is removing genuine choices from individuals at the end of life. They also talk about the increased push by the likes of the Ministry of Health and others to remove doctors, nurses, and hospices' conscience rights - that is, force people to participate in something they do not want too.

Today on Daybreak – Wanna-be journalist Daid Farrier sinks to a new low, this time targeting parents of a troubled teen with anorexia, childhood trauma, autism, gender confusion and OCD who died alone in the state’s (absent) care; Radio NZ gets called out for (false) climate alarmism; new polling on transgender sports, abortion and IVF suggests that the US (like NZ) has reached a tipping point and is getting more conservative on key moral issues; another sports star pushes back on ‘Pride’; and why isn’t the media (and the Greens) talking about the genocide-like attacks on Christians in Nigeria?

Here's Solid Ground with Simon O'Connor - 17 June 2025

You know those horrific "imported culture wars" that Chloe Swarbrick, Chris Hipkins and the media all go on about? You won’t believe which culture war they want to import here now. We examine a Stuff article from last week which discusses the argument for incest - and gets completely muddled in the process.

Here’s StraightTalk for 16 June 2025. In today's show we discuss: Is MMP failing?; Christianity in decline. Should we be concerned?; Kicking (truant) families while they’re down?; Should we ban fireworks? North v South - the Northern Exodus?