Political Playback - 28 May 2026

Daybreak - 8 June 2026

In this episode of Daybreak – the Greens are having a bad time with petitions, capitalism & speeding; the Women’s Refuge, Grant Robertson and Christchurch City Council need help defining what is a woman; latest political poll that the media don’t want to talk about; but the media are keen to talk about the faaaar right Pauline and Nigel; an apology from 1News and the BBC for making stuff up; the disturbing case of Henry Nowak and the response; US support for LGBT issues continues to decline; the danger of euthanasia based on a diagnosis or prognosis which is wrong; and how long should bereavement leave be in NZ.

Family Matters: Is Meta silencing Jewish voices?

In this episode of Family Matters, Simon speaks with Yifat Goddard who has just had her Meta account cancelled because she was talking about antisemitism. Yifat is a New Zealander and also Israeli citizen, and she shares how one morning she found that her Facebook, Instagram and Messenger accounts were fully disabled by Meta after a period of restrictions and vague claims she breached “community standards,” with no clear explanation or right of appeal.

CounterCulture - Is AI dangerous?

Is AI dangerous? Here's latest episode of CounterCulture - a fascinating discussion about AI. Samuel Bilton hosts the show, with panellists Jake Stowers, Ethan Aloiai, and Christian Edwin

Solid Ground - 2 June 2026

In this episode of Solid Ground, Simon shares a story of a 17-year-old New Zealand girl who was told by doctors she wouldn’t make three years – a reminder that a doctor’s prognosis is not always right. He then discusses some of the wider dynamics occurring around gender ideology, noting a UN Special Rapporteur has condemned Australia for silencing a doctor – Jillian Spencer – when she spoke out against what is happening to children. He also shares how a New Zealand school is actively promoting gender fluidity to five-year-olds, and encourages parents and grandparents to check carefully what schools are teaching their kids. Simon also discusses a recent court case that insists employers must to pay more respect to employees cultural and religious values. He notes the irony somehow employers are to respect employees’ culture, but the court doesn’t appear to think it goes the other way. Simon also points out this is yet another obligation and cost on employers, whose work is already hard enough.

Bilton Truth: Richard Dawkins is Coming to New Zealand

Richard Dawkins has spent his life not only studying biology but also arguing that God is a delusion. He sits down with Jack Tame and speaks about the pandemic and how it has affected public trust in science. He also discusses what he hopes one day science will solve, and he gives the examples of the origin of life and the nature of consciousness. One day he might be willing to accept the evidence and see these were solved a long time ago.