Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The number of people on a benefit has reached a new record and could keep rising, despite an uptick in sanctions.   June quarter data shows 11.9% of working-age people are receiving a benefit - the highest since December 2020.   It's an annual increase of 8.3%.   Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Rennie told Ryan Bridge the number of people on Jobseeker will keep rising.   He said unemployme...

Joe Biden's under increasing pressure to stand aside as the Democratic presidential candidate as Donald Trump prepares to formally accept the Republican nomination.   Sources have told the Associated Press that both Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi have privately called for Biden to step aside.   It comes as the US President continues to isolate with Covid.   Meanwhile, Marco Rubio's former Chief of...

There are concerns tax cuts on heated tobacco will make the product much easier for young people to access.   Customs quietly cut 50% from the excise tax at the start of the month.   Customs Minister Casey Costello says it's a trial, aiming to give smokers a cheaper alternative.   Health Coalition Aotearoa spokesperson Chris Bullen told Ryan Bridge it comes with a risk.   He says once the price dr...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 19th of July, it's the last day of the Republican National Convention - we cross live to the US and speak to Marco Rubio's former Chief of Staff.   The Government has quietly cut the excise tax on heated tobacco products by 50%, Ryan gets the thoughts of Health Coalition Aotearoa’s Chris Bullen.   Benefit numbers for the June quart...

Rate cuts could arrive early as next month, banks are predicting.   Inflation fell to a 3-year low yesterday, reaching 3.3% in the June Quarter.   Although that falls outside of the Reserve Bank’s target band of 1-3%, banks have reacted positively to the move.   ANZ have cut their three year home loans rates to 6.35% and the two year rates to 6.49%.   ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Ryan Brid...

Auckland Airport is being urged to be responsible with its charging of airlines.   A Commerce Commission draft investigation has found the airport's planned expansion is justified, and some price increases are necessary to fund the investment.   However, it found the organisation's targeted returns from airlines is around $200 million over what's reasonable.   It found that travellers would most l...

A US poll finds the attempted assassination of Donald Trump has had little impact on voting intention.   A Reuters poll by Ipsos shows of around 1200 voters, 43% are in favour of the Republicans and 41% intend to support the Democrats.   Of all voters, 80% agreed the country was spiralling out of control.   US correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge prominent Democrat Adam Schiff has written a...

The confirmation Tiwai Point is going to reduce its electricity usage next month isn't proving to be great news for everyone.   The aluminium smelter's usage agreements means Meridian Energy can request it scale back production to meet electricity demands.   But Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie told Ryan Bridge production shouldn't have to be reduced, and it's a sign the gas...

Have you seen the story floating around about the U.S. Secret Service?   After the assassination attempt on Trump, the internet's been going nuts.   Not just because, how did this happen? What a monumental cock-up. Who's responsible?   But also because a number of the agents trying to protect the president were women.   According to Time magazine, based on video of the shooting, one of these agent...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 18th of July, inflation data is out, and it's much better than expected - banks are now predicting rates cuts as early as August. Ryan speaks to ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith.   Tiwai aluminium smelter has been asked to reduce their electricity output to help with hydro levels - do we need to find renewable alternatives?   The...

Dozens of Indian farmers have been freed from “slave-like” working conditions in Northern Italy.   The 33 workers were lured to the country with the promise of jobs and a better future.   Allegedly, they were forced to work more than ten hours a day, seven days a week, their tiny wage used to pay off debts to the alleged gangmasters.   Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge that when the...

Latest data due out this morning is expected to show inflation is slowing down faster than expected but will it be enough to bring down interest rates?   ANZ's Henry Russell and Infometrics' Brad Olsen expect a headline rate of 3.3%, but driven by offshore factors.   Russell says a lot of the decline in inflation is being driven by things like food prices, fuel and airfares and Olsen says the Rese...

There’s confidence Māori health outcomes won't be impacted by Pharmac focussing on health determinants rather than ethnicity.   In a letter of expectations to Pharmac Board Chair Paula Bennett, David Seymour says he doesn't think its commitment to embedding the Treaty of Waitangi is appropriate, and it’s no longer expected.   Seymour says the drug-buying agency's burnt a lot of energy doing that o...

The rolling out of more speed camera signs has support from the AA.   Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced more than 100 signs will go up across the country, giving people the opportunity to check their speed and avoid tragic consequences.   AA Road Safety Spokesperson Dylan Thomsen told Ryan Bridge it's a positive move.   He says they expect to see a reduction in tickets being dished out...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 17th of July, the Consumer Price Index is out - most banks are predicting a drop, but what does it mean for you? Ryan finds out.   New expectations for our drug buying agency Pharmac, what do patient advocates think of David Seymour's letter?   Speed camera warning signs are being put up across the country - are we going to see...

I'm not a huge fan of former PMs sticking their oar into the water of current political debates.   Not only are their thoughts rooted in briefings given by officials long ago, but when attacking a sitting Prime Minister, they tend to sound a bit whingy and out-of-touch.   This is the case of Helen Clark and Don Brash, who've issued a statement condemning Christopher Luxon for comments he made to t...

Australia’s Opposition leader is edging ahead in the polls amid growing economic concerns.   A national Resolve poll saw Peter Dutton eclipse Anthony Albanese as preferred Prime Minister for the first time, backed by 36% of voters compared to Albanese’s 35%.   Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge support for the Coalition lifted from 36% to 38%, while Labour remains on 28%.   She...

There's a belief the Government's new service for young job seekers is a nudge in the right direction.   Social Development Minister Louise Upston's announced a new phone case management service for people on the Jobseeker Benefit, due to expand to 4000 people.   18-24-year-olds will receive monthly calls, with benefit sanctions if the person misses the call without good reason.   Employment Relat...

The Republican National Convention is beginning in the United States after the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Donald Trump.   Trump's expected to pick his running mate today.   Meanwhile, a Florida judge has dismissed the criminal case accusing the former president of illegally keeping classified documents after leaving office.   FSN correspondent Ira Spitzer told Ryan Bridge th...

The Police Minister is defending the Government's pay increase for police, despite concerns of a mass exodus.   An independent arbitrator has ruled in favour of the Government's offer which includes a $1500 lump payment, an at least $5000 backdated wage increase, and increased overtime pay from July next year.   However, many cops are unhappy.   Mark Mitchell told Ryan Bridge while he understands...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 16th of July, Donald Trump has had his classified documents case dismissed by a judge, we cross live to the US.   The Government wins the long running Police pay dispute - Ryan asks Police Minister Mark Mitchell if he's expecting more police to move to Australia as a result.   Young people on the job seeker benefit now have to do...

We've just adopted a hope, wait, and see approach to policing in this country.   This at a time when crime is out of control, people don't feel safe in their own homes and on city streets. 150-thousand retail crimes were reported last year.   Despite their best efforts, our cops are struggling to keep up and they've just been delivered a slap in the face by the government.   The Police Association...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday the 15th of July, Donald Trump is shot in an assassination attempt - Ryan speaks with a presidential historian. An increase in Kainga Ora evictions, but is community-run housing the way forward? The All Blacks narrowly won against England over the weekend . We cross to Auckland where the pubs are already busy ahead of the Euro fina...

Barring any other major, ugly affronts to democracy this U.S. election season, the image of a bloodied former president surrounded by Secret Service agents gripping his fist and pumping it into the air after narrowly avoiding an assassination attempt will be one of the most enduring and iconic. He's reported to be saying fight, fight. fight, with a somewhat understandably angry look on his face. D...

There's growing debate about what the alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump will do to a politically turbulent America. Trump was hit in the ear by a bullet after a shooter opened fire at a Republican rally in Pennsylvania. Presidential historian Allan Lichtman says the political violence may well have a silver lining, as it did after the shooting of Ronald Reagan in 1981. "Instead of seek...