The Wire with Castor

The Supreme Court of the United States has reached international news for recent, controversial judgements. This includes for granting Trump immunity for his role in the January 6th insurrection, and the overturning of Chevron which could have huge consequences for things like environmental protection laws.

These decisions are part of a recent series of Supreme Court decisions that overturn decades of judicial and legislative progress from the 20th Century, infamously including Roe v Wade in 2022.

Wire Host Caeden speaks about these recent, and longer-term decisions, from SCOTUS with University of Auckland History Professor Jennifer Frost.

They started by asking why the recent SCOTUS rulings are so significant.

A new poll has highlighted that 82% of National voters said it was important to them to protect lakes, rivers, and drinking water. 54% cited specific concerns for nitrate contamination in water.

This is despite proposed Government rollbacks on fresh water protection, which Greenpeace claims will lead to “more polluted lakes, more unswimmable rivers, more contaminated drinking water, and more extinction.”

Caeden spoke with Greenpeace’s Will Applebe about why there is such a disconnect between what voters are saying in polls versus what the Government is actually doing.

Australia recently passed new legislation regarding the sale of e-cigarettes, only allowing those over the age of 18 to purchase them from pharmacies and requiring those under the age 18 to have a prescription to buy them.

Discussing the new legislation with the Wire, Bob Hancox, Medical Director of the Asthma and Respiratory foundation, said that the government of New Zealand should look into implementing similar policies, and do more overall to combat the youth vaping epidemic here in Aotearoa.

For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the government’s recent Q3 action plan for 2024.

He spoke to Professor Bob Hancox, Medical Director for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation to discuss Australia’s new vape laws and his calls to the New Zealand government to tackle the youth vaping epidemic.

And he spoke to professor Chris Ogden, also from the University of Auckland, to discuss the recent general elections in India.

Caden spoke to Greenpeace’s Will Applebe about the government rolling back fresh water protections despite their strong public support

Castor spoke to President of the New Zealand Council for Trade Unions, Richard Wagstaff, about a new law disallowing private contractors from challenging their employment through the courts