1/200 by 1/200

Josephine and Kieran host Dr Jeremy Moses to discuss the upcoming protest 'No more wars: A national day of Action' which is going to be held in various parts of the country on April 11. 

We talk Cabinet Shuffle and National Party machinations, NZ First got their anti-trans bill drawn from the ballot, greyhound racing is being banned, and we round up the global situation.

Kieran talks to Sina Rahmani to get the latest news on the US/Israeli assault on Iran. We discuss the strength of Iran’s response. Iran’s determination has taken the world by surprise and has galvanised a resistance movement that is taking hold in other countries of the region. The world may never be the same.

We update on Iran, the impacts in NZ and the failures of opposition political groups to effectively advocate against NZ involvement. NZ policing seems to be following the US, UK and AUS by increasing surveillance and anti-protest powers. Media in NZ continues to become more openly corrupt and controlled by far right billionaire interests.

We consider the ability of the National coalition to effectively crisis plan in the face of the US/Israel war on Iran, and discuss the ways in which US integration is multivariant with reference to digital IDs, age restrictions and policy choices across government.

We round off the week’s events with National Party turmoil, covid disinformation the incoming oil crisis and the ferry debacle.

We discuss the NZ political response to Iran, the multiple public failures by Ministers this week on everything from foreign policy to Gloriavale, and the cruel decision to push through legislation to ‘claw back’ welfare payments.

Kieran and Josephine discuss the anti-imperialism of Iran in the face of western meddling. We go through the history of US and English interference and how that has brought us to the current day. What has been happening over the last 2 weeks, and where next?

We discuss the latest developments in education, as child poverty increases and government attacks rough sleepers with 'move on orders'.

We discuss the genocidal actions the US is taking against Cuba, the use of terrorism allegations to crush dissent in the west, buying citizenship in NZ and the importance of energy sovereignty in relation to the unfolding LNG scandal.

Dr Josephine Varghese and Kieran Kelly chat about her participation at the 60th anniversary of the Tricontinental Conference in Havana Cuba, during which the US strike on Venezuela and the kidnapping of the Venezuelan president happened. 

The government coalition have heavily signaled their 2026 campaign approaches but this has gone mostly missed by the media. NZ infrastructure is on its last legs and there’s no overt push to bring that into a national conversation.

1/200 is back for 2026! We round-up education possibilities for the year, discuss climate discourse, modern slavery and the utter failure of establishment media to interrogate or even present the truth in the face of far-right acceleration in NZ politics.

Simone hosts Jennifer Shields to discuss in depth the interim order regarding the puberty blocker ban, what led up to it and what the next steps might be.

We discuss the Manage My Health breach as of 5/01/2026, what could be verified, what has happened and what the consequences might be.

We attempt to identify a unifying thread on recent National government reforms in water and local government, alongside the RMA and now a new “mega ministry”.

New Zealand First is against the Regulatory Standards Act they just voted for. Maybe National is too. Judge Aitken spoke up against Winston Peters and is now in a kangaroo court process. Most schools in the country have committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

If you're not involved in Māori politics, there's a good chance you haven't known what to make of the conflict in Te Pāti Māori. We spoke with Jack McDonald about the history of the Party, the underlying issues, and paths forward from here.

We speak with Jen Shields about the ideologically motivated, against all evidence, decision by the National coalition government to effectively ban puberty blockers specifically for trans children.

Over 700 university community members have signed an open letter demanding that Uni Saver Pension Scheme Divest from genocide.

IPCA findings and criminal cases against top police figures are again revealing the rot at the heart of elite power in NZ. At the same time a new tranche of Epstein files are doing the same internationally.

As we await a ruling from the Human Rights Review Tribunal, Jen and Angela give us a rundown on what’s been happening during the hearings. Progressive populism, including trans rights, now seems a vote winner for left politicians in both the UK and US - how is the NZ left positioned to make the same moves?

New Zealand's 2 top economists* discuss Labour's first policy announcement this term - a Future Fund! Comparisons with other funds in NZ and overseas, debate over whether detail is important and most importantly... what is it for? Recorded on 24/10/25.

Back for current events! We open with the Pike River film and discuss work safety policy under the coalition. The far right is being given free reign to AI-ify NZ’s curriculum while removing NZ history and making it evidentially more white supremacist alongside awful charter school attempts.

We talk with Dr Cassandra Mudgway about the increase in online violence over the last decade, the ways in which it is presenting in NZ and some of the possible solutions.

Economy! Te Pāti Māori! Freedom of Expression vs Stochastic incitement! Imperialism! If you like listening to podcasts about things of this nature you are in the right place!

Josephine interviews Joseph Bray from Peace Action Ōtautahi about the need for direct action against the US military industrial complex as it intensifies in Aotearoa NZ.

Western governments continue to become more fascist, with the US leading the way. NZ isn’t immune, with NZ PM Christopher Luxon engaging in open voter suppression and attacking the electoral commission. The UK Labour party continues to become rapidly more rightwing, a worrying sign for western Labour parties. NZ refuses to recognise Palestine, and continues to be complicit in genocide.

The UN has accepted that a genocide is occurring in Gaza, will this have any impact? The far right is weaponising the assassination of a far right Youtuber, led by the US regime, to crack down on free speech - with rightwingers across the west trying to follow suit. The NZ economy is getting EVEN WORSE and there continue to be zero consequences for the people causing it.

We host members of Aotearoa for Palestine and Kaiāwhina to discuss the September 13 March for Humanity.

We speak with Kate Stone and Nick Miller from the Better Taxes campaign and Tax Justice Aotearoa about the recent report showing that tech giants are making billions of dollars in NZ and using tax minimising practices.

We chat with journalist, disinformation expert and Dark Times Academy facilitator, Brooke Binkowski about fascism, the role establishment media plays in disinfo and the warning signs of authoritarian acceleration.

NZ media is continuously failing us, both in coverage of geopolitical events as they follow the US lead against China, and more nastily in local politics as they do stenography for rightwing parties, while actively and abusively attacking the left.

In one of our more academic episodes, we interview Kieran Kelly about humanitarian law, war vs genocides, rules of engagement, and the definition of a 'combatant'. With war crimes in the news, we look at the history and context around what these 'crimes' actually are.

Western media continues to be complicit even as Israeli atrocities get slightly more coverage. In NZ more details come out about the FBI office - who is leading the country when security details are actively hidden from the PM? And there are serious questions to be asked about what’s happening at the Reserve Bank.

This week we discussed austerity and attacks on the public sector. This government has declared war on teachers and healthcare workers, alongside renters, young people and the working class in general. Now even the big business community is noticing. On top of that, establishment media is isolating issues and blaming young people for not having enough kids.

We speak with Mardi O’Connor about her time working with ISM as a ‘protective presence’ in Masafer Yatta, the West Bank.

Greens coleader Chlöe Swarbrick was kicked out of the house this week for speaking against the genocide in Gaza. Meanwhile NZ media aligns itself against teachers and healthcare workers to support the lies of the National coalition government in increasingly overt ways.

Uh oh! The dads are away and the children will play! A heavily edited version of 1/200 for you this weekend (at least 293 libelous bits cut) that covers this weeks current events from NCEA changes to a brief stint on Tim Jago reporting, or lack thereof

Voter Suppression, RNZ failing to report on genocide and the FBI have popped their horrid little head up in NZ’s Parliament. Things aren’t looking good as NZ’s right-wing government hurtles towards overt vassal status.

Climate Liberation Aotearoa are currently leading a direct action in Denniston Plateau on the west coast of the South Island where two activists are stopping the mining operation by literally putting their bodies on the line - they are dangling on coal buckets above the pristine forests of the West Coast. We speak with Rosemary Penwarden about what’s happening.

We host Jen Shields and Alice Soper to discuss the sudden Ministerial direction to Sport NZ to remove transgender inclusion guidelines. We discuss the impact of this for trans people against a media backdrop that has failed to either adequately challenge anti-trans proponents or platform experts.

Local Govt NZ had their conference and it's becoming clear that central government only likes local democracy when it's convenient. Cost of living and homelessness increases for everyone except the elite. The Epstein and McSkimming cases in the news prompt a discussion about power, broader political risks and perverse incentives in a hierarchy.

We discuss the filthiness of right-wing discourse and strategy, particularly the latest targeting and smears by Ray Chung in Wellington. The ACT Party is moving openly further right, pulling NZ pol along with the aid of media. And across the West the “centre left” parties continue to accelerate rightwards themselves, could new parties and messaging ameliorate this?

We connect changes to early childhood regulations and criminal laws. The school to prison pipeline is being strengthened, with tragic effects. Finally, we briefly debate the story of New Zealanders being referred to the ICC.

Political communication, media and the divide in reality between the left and right of politics. We discuss Mamdani’s NYC Dem primary win, David Seymour’s attacks on public figures, the horrific behaviour by RNZ in their reporting on the death of a young transman and the transformation of the western elite into weird slop.

We interview Kieran Kelly about his recent trip to Egypt for the Global March to Gaza. The story of thousands of activists descending on Egypt tells us something about Israel's need to keep the international community on side. Then we discuss Gaza, the American Empire and Iran. How is the Israel/ USA/ Iran dynamic playing out? Where to next?

Covering domestic and international politics this week, we look at the way in which existing power structures, and even accountability measures, predominantly protect the status quo and the accelerating radicalism of capital. NZ is chucking out the census, ACT is becoming more brazen in its attacks on public figures, and the West gets ever twitchier about encroachments on “their turf”.

We host Jeremy Moses to talk about the events following Israel’s unprovoked attack on Iran, the complicity of Western powers and the historical imperialism that led us here.

We catch up on the week’s political news. We look at the updates on the suspension of Te Pāti Māori MPs and the ways in which it is radicalising voters, the Michael Forbes case and the urgent need for an update to NZ legislation and the apparent battle between Musk and Trump.

We host Malcom Harris to discuss his new book “What’s Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis”

We discuss personality politics in NZ. Chris Bishop had an outburst at the AMAs. Our Deputy Prime Minister has passed the baton. Jacinda Ardern's book is out. Usually we try to avoid focusing on personalities in politics, but this week we ask... what if they matter? with Philip, Stephanie, Simone

We discuss Budget 2025 and how god awful it is alongside the media coverage and analysis.

We discuss the multitude of ways in which the establishment, both political and media, is aligning against opposition from progressive groups. From the suspension of Te Pāti Māori MPs to the full press against the Green’s alternative budget, it has never been clearer that these institutions are acting in class solidarity with the powerful.

We extensively discuss the newly announced changes to pay equity legislation and processes. Who is being affected? What does it mean for society, the Government, political parties and factions? What opportunities does this provide to fight back?

As the US hurtles into fascism under Trump we look at the mechanisms being used to accelerate this and the historical precedents that got us here, including the slower moves towards this scenario under successive Republican and Democratic presidents.

CW: Discussion of sexual violence from ~32:05

1 /200 doesn't usually get former US State Department officers as guests, but Dr. Annelle Sheline is no ordinary former State Department officer. Having famously quit her job in protest at the Biden administration's unequivocal backing for Israel's war on Gaza, she recently sat down with Branko Marcetic to talk about how a US foreign policy that puts military power over human rights hurts everyone - including the United States itself.

We discuss the failed Treaty Principles Bill and potential for a geopolitical restructuring in the political economy instigated by Trump's tariffs. Where to from here? How can we make the most of the moment?

We guest Paris Marx for thoughts about the upcoming Canadian Election with parallels to the electoral situations across the rest of the west.

We discuss the continuing atrocities in Gaza, the blackbagging of activists across the west and declining US hegemony accelerated by an absurd tariffs regime. Closer to home we touch on the Treaty Bill submissions and the horrific hit job on a Green MP by far right muckrakers and politicians.

We spoke with Kate from Justice for Palestine and Lulu from Stop Arming Israel about the ongoing genocide and apartheid in Palestine. They took us through the strategy and purpose of their current BDS Divestment campaign targeting ASB Bank for its investments in Motorola.

FROM THE ARCHIVES!

Waning trust in media alongside a failure to uphold standards and whitewashed investigations has NZ outlets in a bad spot. We discuss the examples of negative framing for Tamatha Paul’s comments about police, and the direct engagement between media leadership and far-right astro-turf groups. When will NZ political and media leadership pull in line with the electorate and reject the accelerating fascism in the US under Trump?

We start with a school lunch update. The NZ Govt is trying to take back control of the economic narrative with an Infrastructure Summit, amid global trade uncertainty. The UK Labour Party is abolishing 'NHS England' and making life harder for disabled people.

As Callaghan Innovation prepares to shut up shop it’s making one last pitch - a hackathon to design a “NZ DOGE”. What the fuck does that even mean? And what is happening with the transplant of US tech culture and propaganda into the NZ discourse?

We get the chance to swing at Labour for their latest fumbled PR and what looks like a signal of further centrism. School lunches remain on the agenda as one student gets second degree burns. And multiple high profile political roles are on the way out.

We discuss genocide, tracking the history of the concept and definition into the present day.

The media/pol class are finally admitting that Luxon is not fit for purpose, while his coalition partners go from disaster to disaster, and his own Ministers propose wildly destructive policy. Meanwhile, NZ still isn’t anywhere near close to the speed of decline faced by the US.

Last weekend Destiny Church was directed by their leader, Brian Tamaki, to undertake terrorism. They duly complied, storming a library to attack a children’s story event, injuring at least one person and forcing children and caregivers to barricade themselves in a room. We discuss the conditions that led to this and the need for a strong, ongoing response in the face of a political and media climate that, at best, isn’t interested.

We discuss the destruction of public services in Education and Health and the purely extractive nature of neoliberal privatisation. We then peer through time (at the current situation in the US) to understand where these decisions by the National Party coalition government are going to end up.

We weigh in on the accelerating fascist destruction of the administrative state in the US and consider how this impacts NZ, possible steps to take, and the way that media and politics here is being set up in a way to clear the path for rabid extraction and decline, particularly via the ACT Party.

We talk education and ECE reforms, the issues with Labour alongside the role of unions, and the news about ex ACT Party President Tim Jago having name suppression lifted after 2.5 years, following his convictions for sexually abusing two teenage boys in the 1990s.

We discuss the current state of western politics, modern day fascism and its roots.

With Trump’s inauguration so close what did the Biden presidency offer the world and what impacts might we see under a president roundly labelled as an outright fascist? Why are all the political parties in “western democracies” so avidly breaking institutional norms for reactionary reasons?

We speak with Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab about the history of Palestine and the work of Palestinians and Palestine advocates in NZ over the last 18 months.

What are the early signs of discourse for 2025, and what might they signal in politics and culture for the year ahead?

Will the rightwing implode in 2025 or is it all theatre? What’s on the cards for Western and NZ politics as we enter a new year.

In the final(??) current events episode for the year we discuss the ways in which western politics, especially on the rightwing, is intentionally creating a policy framework to support fascism. We talk education, criminality, the alignment of capital with the far right, and try to think of some high points.

Oliver Neas spent months this year investigating and conducting interviews to reveal what happened behind the scenes before & after the Wellington council debated selling shares in their own airport. We discussed what processes & principles were at play, how the issue connects to local economy governance, and how best to treat these debates in your community.

Pmax’s thoughts on students and teachers at the TPB hīkoi.

The Commerce Commission gets slightly more aggressive as the supermarket duopoly and government lean into failed, repressive carceral policy. The alleged UHC shooter has been caught -what does this mean for populism? TPM’s vote share looks to be on the rise, Māori continue to be the most likely electoral party for driving change. And the spectre of climate change is becoming a very violent poltergeist.

We host freelance reporter Glen Johnson and genocide researcher Kieran Kelly to discuss the recent events in Syria and what it might mean for the region.

Join us for the week that was! We talk about the death of the United Health Care CEO, the concept of Social Murder, political issues in South Korea and France and the (willing) appropriation of legacy media as a propaganda network alongside Western government authoritarianism.

We’re joined by Jathan Sadowski, AI critic and co-host of This Machine Kills to discuss his “ruthless criticism of AI and Capitalism and how it fits into the NZ context.

Back with current events after a few midweek episodes! We talk proxy wars, the fascist turn, and the increasing propensity of “centre left” parties in the west to be the ones moving towards authoritarian policy - particularly in regards to immigration and freedom of speech.

CW: Suicide

We’re back with current events as we hurtle towards the end of 2024. Civil liberties, “libertarians”, hīkoi, haka and the ICC arrest warrants.

Pmax gives us the rundown on school lunch policies and realities.

We post-mortem the US election and discuss the impact on media, information and NZ politics.

Pmax discusses the NZ History curriculum and the impact on students.

We’re joined by Tech Won’t Save Us host Paris Marx to talk Canadian politics and NZ parallels. We discuss the rise of right-wing ideology and PR as well as the influence of tech venture capital and western alignment around “security partnerships” like AUKUS.

We’re joined by Vijay Prashad to round up world events. We discuss the realignment starting to take shape via BRICS, the escalation of violence and imperialism in Palestine, and how organising for anti-imperialism is desperately needed in the Pacific.

Pmax talks school curriculum, assessments and policy.

We discuss the escalating genocide, war crimes and atrocities of the US and Israel in the Middle East with particular focus on the new front opened up with Lebanon and the counterstrike by Iran.

Episode 100 of Season 2 has hit us far too quickly, but there’s just too much news! We give an overview of the current state of NZ politics - what we’ve got an eye on and possible solutions for the left.

We speak with long covid advocate Hayley Wolters about the current state of public health policy for the ongoing pandemic. In a few days the NZ government will be removing free RAT tests and there is no consolidated plan for action in the event that NZ faces a similar summer wave to the US.

Performance pay for educators is terrible and here's why.

We’re joined by Associate Professor Jeremy Moses to discuss Israel’s terrorist attacks in Lebanon and the implications for Rules Based International Order, the Middle East, and global stability.