The Wire with Joel

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert Dr Cushla McGoverin, joins us in studio to discuss ancient Egyptian mummies smelling good, antidepressants potentially being able to protect against infections and sepsis, and using quantum inspiration to develop methods for classical computing memory, thanks to MOTAT!

For our weekly catchup with the National Party's Tom Rutherford, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to him about the storming of a library in Te Atatū by groups linked to Destiny Church over a lesson into the science of rainbows taught by a drag king to children, the resignation of Director-General of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, and Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, and Tourism Minister, Louise Upston, announcing a $500,000 tourism campaign to incentivise Australian tourism in Aotearoa.

They also speak to the Chief Executive of OutLine Aotearoa; a rainbow support service, Emmaline Pickering-Martin, about the protests at the Te Atatū Library, and the organisation's thoughts regarding this.

Finally, they talk to rangatahi development advocate, Aaron Hendry, about these protests as well, specifically discussing the ‘ManUp’ group, who were involved during the rally.

And Producer Athena speaks to Senior lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland, Dr Jude MacArthur, about the coalition government's move to bring back charter schools.

Whakarongo mai!

In light of RFK Jr, a notorious, prominent anti-vaxxer, being appointed as the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, many are concerned about what direct consequences we could see as a result of this move.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to vaccinologist and Professor in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, about the appointment of RFK Jr, and what consequences we could see not only in the US, but internationally, due to this decision.

They started off by asking who RFK Jr is, and how he was able to take up this role.

The report ‘Reuniting Families, a path forward for Aotearoa New Zealand’; a collaboration between the University of Auckland and the New Zealand Red Cross, was recently released, with the report highlighting the concerns with Aotearoa’s family sponsorship system regarding the intake of those forcibly displaced from their home countries, and the 7-year backlog of those a part of the system.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Co-Director at the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education and Social Work, Professor Jay Marlowe, about the report, and what the report details to better correct the system.

Firstly, they started by asking how the family sponsorship system works.

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles drew attention to the hundreds of firefighters who came from California’s prison system.

The California Department of Corrections has claimed their “Fire Camp Program” is voluntary but this has come into question by prison reform advocates and ex-incarcerated individuals.

Advocates have called for stronger protections for incarcerated workers, especially as climate change creates a need for an expanded labour force to respond to natural disasters.

For our inaugural International Desk, 95bFM’s segment focused on breaking and under-reported news from around the globe, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Brock University’s Dr Jordan House about this programme and its potential in other jurisdictions such as Canada.