Two years ago, in podcast 151, we interviewed Ashley Rindsberg on “The Gray Lady Winked”, his book critiquing the New York Times.

At the time he was domiciled in Israel. The interview was peppered with the occasional sound of rockets.

With the recent outbreak of conflict, talking with Rindsberg again was an obvious decision.

We visit a very good Mailroom this week with Mrs Producer. Thanks, as always, to all of you who contribute.

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Dr Paul Marik belongs to a group of physicians who have devoted their lives to their patients survival, and effectively been punished for it.

How can a man with a reputation as the “most published and influential clinician and researcher in critical care medicine in the United States" be forced from his career?

And we introduce a simple but useful addition to the podcast, after the Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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Kamala Harris, the Democrat contender for the U.S. presidency was the most socialist member of the Senate.

Further left than Bernie Sanders, she has more recently been tagged a Marxist.

But is she? In fact, what is she? That is the most asked question amongst undecided voters.

For answers, who better to consult than a Professor of Marxism. Michael Rectenwald was a devout Marxist until he saw the light and recanted.

After guesting on podcasts in 2021 & 2022, Rectenwald returns to give us answers to the above, and what a Harris administration would be like.

And, of course, The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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The Sir John Graham Lecture 2024 guest speaker was Professor Nicholas Aroney, from the University of Queensland.

The speech was entitled “The Compass of Character”. It explored law, education and religion, and their roles in the formation of character.

In a most interesting conversation we covered the talk and, amongst other things, the threat on democracy.

There’s a brief analysis of Kamala Harris and yet another great mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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New Zealand men and women are being encouraged to pay attention to the court decision in the case of “Tickle v Giggle”.

Why be interested in a comedic sounding Australian judge's decision?

Well, the ruling has been labelled “dystopian" and "distorting key concepts of sex and discrimination, while dodging Australia’s human rights obligations vis a vis women. If unchallenged this decision would set a dangerous precedent”.

New Zealand is in danger of falling into the same human rights trap.

The incomparable Professor James Allan analyses the Tickle case as only he can.

And as always, we finish in The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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“Without an anchor in biological reality, laws based on ’sex’ become meaningless and justice cannot be served.” So wrote evolutionary biologist Colin Wright.

Jill Ovens, National Secretary and Co-Leader of the Women’s Rights Party, responds to the ruling of an Australian Judge that sex is changeable in a case involving ‘gender identity’.

And common-sense rules mightily in her favour.

Plus, exactly five years to the day after we interviewed Behnam Ben Taleblu on the Middle East, Iran in particular, he returns with much insight into the current crisis – or should that be crises.

As always, Mrs Producer joins us in the Mailroom.

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Last Friday Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the new Chief of the Human Rights Commission.

As always, there will be disagreement over the appointment. Dr Stephen Rainbow brings broad experience to the task before him.

Controversy is no stranger. After an hour of discussion, you’ll have a good idea of Rainbow’s stance on some critical issues that, like it or not, influence the society in which we live.

We make comment on corporate involvement in social activism; for example, "diversity, equity and inclusion”, which has become a minefield for companies.

And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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Robert MacCulloch has a resume to be envied.

He began his tertiary education at the University of Auckland, continued it at London School of Economics and Princeton University,

He was Director of the PhD Program at Imperial College London. He has been awarded numerous prizes along the way, and returned to NZ twelve years ago.

He is Professor of Macroeconomics at Auckland University and publishes widely, including his own site, Down To Earth Kiwi.

And in spite of his career success he appears modest, but with the ability and intent to ruffle feathers.

This was a wide ranging and very enjoyable discussion.

And we finish of with The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz

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