It was a highly divisive speech from Benjamin Netanyahu as thousands protest his visit to the US.   The Israeli Prime Minister is meeting Vice President Kamala Harris today.   His talks to the US Congress yesterday were boycotted by dozens of senior lawmakers due to his role facilitating the war and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.   US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking the Republicans who showed up were largely supportive, with some calling it 'epic'.   Whereas he says the Democrats were unhappy, with Nancy Pelosi calling it one of the worst speeches by a foreign dignitary invited to speak to Congress.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    Tech: 3/10  For all that it's changed we have become hopelessly reliant on a thing we don’t get and can't cope with when it doesn’t work right.    The All Blacks: 6/10  We won and we saw some new talent. Whether it swept America is another issue.    The NBA: 9/10  Amazon won over Warner Brothers in a battle worth billions. Now that’s how you run sport.    Joe Biden: 3/10  For all the nice words it ends in a sort of pathetic whimper.    Donald Trump: 5/10  Took a lot of the good will out of Butler and blew it up by being so uncool with a movie length rant.    Kamala Harris: 7/10  Winner for the week. Raised the money, looked energetic and stitched up the delegates, but didn’t move the polls though and that is your worry.    The Olympic medal chances: 2/10  They predict 14 medals. Isn't that a worry?    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's opposing proposals for infant formula label changes while Australia is adopting them.   Dairy industry groups raised concern it could impact exports of the product.   Ministers from both countries met to discuss the proposal written by the collective Food Standards Authority.  Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard sought a review but failed.   He told Mike Hosking he didn't expect he'd be successful.  Hoggard said that asking for a review is unusual, and is hardly ever agreed to, but he decided to fight the good fight anyway.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of the week the Government's much debated military academies for young offenders will be underway.  They are probably the headline aspect of this weird, overall scrap we seem to have been having post the election around ideas that are to be enacted and yet don’t have a level of acceptance from the opponents, despite the fact that what those opponents propose and support doesn’t, and hasn’t, worked.  Crime and its offenders fit neatly into the category of issues that we face where we can all agree there is a major problem.  The stats are indisputable, so the idea is that, in part, if you take the most recidivist of these operators and put them in some kind of environment and try and turn their lives around you might well be making a decent sort of dent in said problem.  The soft approach, the hug-a-thon of the past six years, has been an abject failure. Yet, those who love the hug-a-thon cannot bring themselves to believe that trying something new might, just might, help.  There was another sneering piece on TV3 the other night in which, yet again, they rounded up the same tired, old favourites who run the line that this has been tried before and it didn’t work. They even went as far as to find a bloke who had been sent to one of these camps decades ago and was abused.  But they completely missed the possibility that in the ensuing decades the world might just have moved on a little bit and what we did in the 60's and 70's might just look slightly different now.  There is none so blind as those who will not see.  This is not to say the academies will be a hit or a revelation. They might be, they might not.  But like a lot of ideas in life, execution is the key and simply bagging an idea and ignoring its modern subtleties is lazy debate and lazy journalism.  Just for a minute think about this - what if it works? What if it helps? What if all the hand wringers are wrong?  This is how you solve issues. You don’t solve them by doing the same thing you know has failed. You try something different.  You shake it up.  Time will tell of course. But given we all know the state of crime and the kids who perpetrate it, how about we pause long enough to let them give it a crack. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 26th of July, one of our two flagbearers Aaron Gate is on the show to talk the honour of leading our Olympic squad.    Mike has discovered a brand new condiment - but you better get in quick before it sells out!  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrap the Week, and there's bets flying around as we get an insight into the questions in Mike's mind.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking once more to Wrap the Week that was.  They talked kimchi sprinkles, the CrowdStrike outage and bets were flying as we got an insight into the questions floating around in Mike’s mind.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nelson's proposed sandwich board ban is being viewed as a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.  The city council's looking at banning the signs, requiring businesses to have a resource consent to display them in a public place.  One sandwich board is allowed under existing rules.  Mayor Nick Smith told Mike Hosking it's not something he supports but acknowledges boards can create issues for the disabled community.  He says the odd retailer has multiple signs, and the council could go harder on rule enforcement.  A final recommendation will be considered in September.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government wants to override a Court of Appeal decision over Māori claims to coastlines.  The Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister has announced plans to tighten restrictions, requiring iwi seeking Customary Marine Titles to prove they've had continuous exclusive use and ownership of the area since 1840.  Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking a 2023 court ruling went too far in weakening the eligibility test, and now they're having to tidy it up.  He says while it is unusual for the Government to override the courts, a high threshold must be reinstated.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns are rising in Otago over a lack of transparency from the regional council about new freshwater rules.   Federated Farmers Otago has written to councillors, district mayors, and ministers, demanding the latest draft of the council's Land and Water Plan be made public.  The rules are scheduled to come into force in October and will have immediate legal effect.  Former President of Otago Federated Farmers Simon Davies told Mike Hosking there are too many unknowns.   He says they had great concerns with the last plan they saw, but since then it's gone away and changes have been made, but they're not aware of the details.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a proud moment for two athletes after being named New Zealand's flag bearers for the 2024 Olympic games.  Track cyclist Aaron Gate and sailing athlete Jo Aleh were formally announced at a ceremony this morning.  Two-time Olympian Jo Aleh won gold at London 2012 and Silver in Rio 2016, while four-time Olympian Aaron Gate won Bronze at London 2012.  Gate told Mike Hosking it's a special moment, and one that's taken him by surprise.  He says 1956 was the last time a track cyclist was named New Zealand's flag bearer, so it's great for his team and for cycling in general.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The British Government has suspended seven Labour MPs for six months after they voted against an amendment to scrap the UK’s two-child benefit cap.  The Scottish National Party had voted to end the policy, which prevents almost all parents from claiming child tax credit for more than two children.  The amendment was rejected by 363 votes to 103, but seven MPs from the ruling Labour Party voted in favour of the amendment.  UK correspondent Rod Liddle says among those suspended included ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reality TV series Match Fit is back for its fourth season, with the first episode airing last night. The series involves ex-rugby union and rugby league stars getting back into shape both physically and mentally, coached by Sir Graham Henry and Tawera Nikau respectively. Stars of the new series Pita Alatini and Louie Anderson joined Mike Hosking to discuss the new season. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials in Italy's Capri are planning a crackdown on overtourism to the Isle. One of the isle's mayor is proposing a barrier of 40 buoys to be placed 100 metres offshore for a distance of around 6km around its western side. It comes after Venice wrapped up a pilot programme charging entrance fees to day-trippers. Italian correspondent Jo McKenna says Capri was also forced to temporarily suspend visitor arrivals in June when its water supply broke down. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hopeful part in this Royal Commission into Abuse in Care seems to be that everyone who can now do something about it starts on the same page.  There seems universal agreement we have a national disgrace, it never should have happened and redress is needed as fast as possible.  It hopefully means, for now anyway, that those who have told their stories know they have been heard and are believed. What happens next is the bit that could go well. Or not.  As the Prime Minister and Erica Stanford, the minister tasked with leading this, gave their initial responses, early signs were that agendas were already at play.  A number of questions were asked about gangs. Some members of gangs are the victims of the abuse in the report.  The other questions were around potential legal action. How that is handled will be critical.  The report deals to events up until 1999 that, comparatively speaking, is the very recent past and there are those still working in Government departments that were allegedly involved in the abuse, or in the Lake Alice case, torture.  The legal system isn't well acquainted with the sort of charges that might come out of that, not to mention the level of detail involved in criminal investigations and the complexities around a case in 1959 and its evidence and witnesses vs 1999 almost two generations later.  Where it could get ugly around gangs, and the Prime Minister tried to walk the line, was the suggestion that this Government in their gang crackdown might have misread why we have gangs. That gangs are an outworking of abuse and therefore the hardline approach might be brutish.  We could put it this way - not all victims became gang members, not all victims turned to crime and not all victims went on to terrorise communities, pedal drugs and cause mayhem.  So although what happened to these people cannot be excused in any way, neither can your background be excused for gangs and illegal activity.  But that’s not going to stop the narrative and the politics of all this.  Yesterday was a decent and honourable day because it was driven by acceptance and intent.  What the Government does, how they do it and to what extent they do it is the far more tricky journey and that has just begun. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 25th of July, Erica Stanford has a massive job in front of her as she responds to the Abuse in Care report and what we do going forward. Are you an athlete if you participate in e-sports? The olympic committee has announced a 2025 e-sports games in Saudi Arabia. Ex-All Black and ex-Warrior and Kiwi Louie Anderson join the show to talk being part of season four of Match Fit as ex athletes work through physical and mental issues. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preparations for the next Olympics are already underway, in the form of the inaugural Olympic Esports.  The International Olympic Commitee has announced the competition will take place next year, with Saudi Arabia just named as hosts.  It'll have gold medals just like Paris, but it will also have NZ$100 million worth of prize money.  New Zealand Esports chief executive Jonathan Jansen joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Emissions Trading Scheme could soon stop Kiwis from eating their greens.  Greenhouse tomato, cucumber and capsicum growers are set to be affected by changes to industrial allocation.   Major producers could be lumped with a $200,000 fee, and Vegetables New Zealand says that will put some out of business.  Vegetables New Zealand chair John Murphy joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An NZIER report finds New Zealand's inadvertently discouraging talented people from moving here.  Our current tax laws make expat Kiwis and migrants pay for the investments they made before coming here.  The rules impose tax on the paper value of those investments, even if they are still in start-up phase and not making any income.   Founder of US-based capital firm Shasta Rob Coneybeer told Mike Hosking the rules are out of step compared to other OECD countries.  “Among the returning Kiwi expat community, the talented people that can help build technology startups, this is something that people are very aware of and has had an impact over time.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Tsar of the health system says the agency has an over-spending problem, not an under-funding problem.   The Government's sacked the board of Health New Zealand, replacing it solely with the chair Lester Levy and giving him a new title of commissioner.  Levy intends to appoint four regional leaders.  The Government claims its overspending at a rate of about $130 million a month.   Incoming Commissioner Lester Levy told Mike Hosking they need to fix the over-spend.  “Because if you don’t do that, then when more money comes in from the Government on behalf of the taxpayer, that money simply goes to fund deficits; it doesn’t actually fund additional health services.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erica Stanford says the Government will do everything it can to get faith-based groups to apologise for the part they played in the abuse of thousands.  The Royal Commission of Inquiry estimates 200,000 of around 655,000 people in care were abused between 1950 and 2019.   Abuse and neglect was widespread in state and faith-based institutions.   It makes 138 recommendations.   Stanford is the Minister Responsible for the Government's Response, and told Mike Hosking faith-based institutions need to be held responsible.  “If you look at Australia and other countries, they have managed to bring the churches on board in a redress system where the churches chip in and the Government runs the system.”  LISTEN ABOVE  WHERE TO GET HELP https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/for-survivors/counselling-and-support/ SEXUAL HARM Where to get help:If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:• Call 0800 044 334• Text 4334• Email support@safetotalk.nz• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nzAlternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list. If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault. MALE SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS Where to get help:If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.• If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline Safe to Talk on 0800 044 334 or text 4334. (available 24/7)• Male Survivors Aotearoa offers a range of confidential support at centres across New Zealand - find your closest one here.• Men and Trauma New Zealand: 0800 636 263• Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list. If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.