The Wire with Caeden

Yesterday, the ACT Party held their annual rally, being called the “Free and Equal Rally”.

Notably, US author, James Lindsay, was a keynote speaker at the event.

Lindsay is the author of ‘Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity—and Why This Harms Everybody’ - among other titles, such as ‘Race Marxism: The Truth About Critical Race Theory and Praxis’ and ‘The Queering of the American Child: How a New School Religious Cult Poisons the Minds and Bodies of Normal Kids’.

Party Leader, David Seymour, says Lindsay is a “prominent advocate for free speech”. Prior to the event, a spokesperson for the party said Lindsay would discuss “reclaiming liberalism in an age of extremes”.

For our weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about the rally, why the party chose Lindsay as a keynote speaker, and we address some of the concerns with Lindsay’s previous comments.

They also discussed the first public hearings into the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the former government’s Covid-19 response, and what to expect heading into the next hearings in Wellington next month.

But first, they discussed ACT’s 2025 “Free and Equal” Rally.

This week on the Monday Wire: 

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the party’s annual rally that happened yesterday, and the choice of US author, James Lindsay, as a keynote speaker, as well as the recent public hearings into the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the government’s Covid-19 response.

Following up with their chat with MP Simon Court, Joel spoke to the Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition’s Anne Campbell, about James Lindsay, and his controversial views.

Joel spoke to Dr Collin Bjork — a senior Communications lecturer at Massey University, about the government’s recently released AI strategy. 

And Joel spoke to AI and technology governor, Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, about how the government’s AI strategy coexists with te ao Māori.

Producer Samantha spoke to University of Auckland Geology Professor, Phil James, about the sustainbility issues with modern society in the global north.

Whakarongo mai!

United States President Donald Trump’s mega-spending bill passed its final vote in the House of Representatives and is now set to become law.

Despite its controversy and universal opposition from the Democrats, the bill has been supported by the vast majority of Republicans.

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Associate Professor of Political Science at Boise State University, Charlie Hunt, about the bill and Republican support.

This week’s second phase of the national covid-19 inquiry has seen public hearings from the community and experts talking about the wider impacts of mandates and lockdowns during the pandemic.

As health experts are urging the government to anticipate and better prepare for a future pandemic, and people in all sectors across New Zealand still work through the ongoing effects of Covid-19, this inquiry needs to inform critical decision making and processes for the central government. 

Speaking more about the inquiry and the general effects of Covid-19, I spoke with public health expert Sir Collin Tukuitonga about his research findings and the importance of pandemic preparedness, as well as Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois about the need to support businesses and hospitality in New Zealand