The Wire with Alex

Last week, Daniel Ortega won his fourth consecutive election for Nicaragua's presidency. However, the election was marred by controversy, as eighty percent of eligible voters abstained, while seven of Ortega's opponents were arrested before voting began. 

Louis spoke to the University of California, Santa Barbara's Kai Thaler about the election, Nicaragua's slide towards dictatorship, and what action he was expecting pro-democracy, western powers to take. 

The government has announced they are revoking the 'Three Strikes Policy' introduced by the National Party in 2010. The policy imposes the maximum punishment on a violent offender after their third offence. While it aimed to keep the worst criminals out of society, it has since been criticised for absurd and disproportionate sentences on offenders. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Professor Andrew Geddis from the University of Otago about the policy, its potential flaws, and future improvements he would like to see to Aotearoa's criminal justice system.

A recent study published by the University of Auckland has highlighted how misinformation has spread throughout communities since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. The study, which began in February 2020, analysed various social, mainstream and other forms of physical and digital media to see how dis and misinformation is transmitted across platforms. In addition, the study also showed how since the beginning of the Delta outbreak back in August, there has also been a sharp increase in COVID-19 related misinformation being spread throughout New Zealand. Joe talks to Kate Hannah, one of the project researchers, on the matter.

On their weekly chat, Justin and Health and GCSB Minister Andrew Little talked about the GCSB retiring the satellite dishes at Waihopai, home isolation for postive Covid community cases, and drugs to treat Covid.

Justin also spoke to Anti-Base Campaign's Murray Horton on retiring the Waihopai satellite dishes.

Producer Joe Wickins spoke to the University of Auckland's Kate Hannah on the spread of misinformation and disinformation since the Delta outbreak.

He also spoke to Judy Lawrence of Victoria University of Wellington on said how local leaders and planners can reduce risks from coastal threats without waiting for law reform.