Former FBI director James Comey is standing by his innocence after being targeted by US President Donald Trump. 

Comey was indicted last month and made his first court appearance in Virginia today.
 
He's pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.

US correspondent Nick Harper told Ryan Bridge Trump has described Comey and other political enemies as 'guilty as hell'. 

But he says Comey's lawyers are calling it a selective and malicious prosecution. 

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Former FBI director James Comey is standing by his innocence after being targeted by US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;
Comey was indicted last month and made his first court appearance in Virginia today. &nbsp; He's pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.
US correspondent Nick Harper told Ryan Bridge Trump has described Comey and other political enemies as 'guilty as hell'.&nbsp;
But he says Comey's lawyers are calling it a selective and malicious prosecution.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Nick Harper: US correspondent on James Comey pleading not guilty to federal charges

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/95dff26f-3972-4f08-89d9-b370011d8ae5/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, the Government’s forking out $200 million to keep its majority stake in Genesis Energy, Major Electricity Users' Group Chair John Harbord tells Ryan if this is a good investment. 

Warnings that staffing shortages could spell big problems for our airline industry, Aviation Industry Association CEO Simon Wallace shares his concerns.

Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina tells Ryan why he wants Police stationed at the City Rail Link long-term. 

Plus Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Anthony Albanese writing to Sir Keir Starmer supporting laws to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession and a monsoon low is heading across three Australian states, bringing torrential downpours and flash flooding. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, the Government’s forking out $200 million to keep its majority stake in Genesis Energy, Major Electricity Users' Group Chair John Harbord tells Ryan if this is a good investment.&nbsp;
Warnings that staffing shortages could spell big problems for our airline industry, Aviation Industry Association CEO Simon Wallace shares his concerns.
Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina tells Ryan why he wants Police stationed at the City Rail Link long-term.&nbsp;
Plus Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Anthony Albanese writing to Sir Keir Starmer supporting laws to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession and a monsoon low is heading across three Australian states, bringing torrential downpours and flash flooding.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 24 February 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/48411e9f-2284-411e-930d-b3fa011a897a/transcript

Police say they can't keep an ongoing presence at Auckland's new City Rail Link long term. 

The country's largest transport project is scheduled to open to passengers sometime in the second half of the year. 

But a Police official told an Auckland Council Safety Committee this month, they're preparing to ramp up operations in quarter three. 

Auckland Councillor Alf Filipaina tells Ryan Bridge conversations need to be had. 

Police say they can't keep an ongoing presence at Auckland's new City Rail Link long term.&nbsp;
The country's largest transport project is scheduled to open to passengers sometime in the second half of the year.&nbsp;
But a Police official told an Auckland Council Safety Committee this month, they're preparing to ramp up operations in quarter three.&nbsp;
Auckland Councillor Alf Filipaina tells Ryan Bridge conversations need to be had.&nbsp;

Alf Filipaina: Auckland Councillor wants Police presence at Auckland's new City Rail Link

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/47e42e20-ee0b-46a3-ae8f-b3fa011b2d83/transcript

Kiwis are known around the world for their kindness. 

We open doors, we say please and thank you, we help out our neighbour. We leap in to help when help is needed. 

It’s one of the traits we’re most proud of.

But one thing we hate more than anything else is when that kindness is taken for granted.

Then it’s no more Mr Nice Guy.

We say this with kids stealing from dairies and ram-raiding poor old hard-working dairy owners. The minute they started destroying livelihoods and beating people with screw drivers and hammers, sympathy evaporated.

Sure, some of these kids may have had hard upbringings, but there are plenty of kids with tough upbringings who chose not to drive a Nissan Gidda through a four-square window at 3am.

So, we voted for boot camps. We reversed our ‘no chase’ police pursuit policy. 

We cracked down.

Kindness has its limits. 

A long time ago, for those who frequent the city, we crossed the same line with beggars and rough sleepers.

We care about them. We donate our time and money to the city mission. We pay our taxes knowing they should be going to help in some way, improve their lives.

But there are also a bunch of idiots taking advantage with squirted bottles at traffic lights. They can be aggressive and dangerous.

Same goes for the rough sleepers on the footpaths in some of our big cities. 

It’s costing businesses m. It’s destroying the reputation of entire swaths of city shops.

These shops provide jobs for the rest of us. Especially in our biggest city, where foreign tourists first impressions should not be a punch up between two roughies on the footpath.

So, while the headlines about this ‘’move on” policy, like the crackdown on ram-raiders before it, or the hardline on Kainga Ora tenants before it, will scream cruel and mean. 

They’re out of step with the reality people are facing in their own lives.

The good grace cup hath runnith empty.

Kiwis are known around the world for their kindness.&nbsp;
We open doors, we say please and thank you, we help out our neighbour. We leap in to help when help is needed.&nbsp;
It’s one of the traits we’re most proud of.
But one thing we hate more than anything else is when that kindness is taken for granted.
Then it’s no more Mr Nice Guy.
We say this with kids stealing from dairies and ram-raiding poor old hard-working dairy owners. The minute they started destroying livelihoods and beating people with screw drivers and hammers, sympathy evaporated.
Sure, some of these kids may have had hard upbringings, but there are plenty of kids with tough upbringings who chose not to drive a Nissan Gidda through a four-square window at 3am.
So, we voted for boot camps. We reversed our ‘no chase’ police pursuit policy.&nbsp;
We cracked down.
Kindness has its limits.&nbsp;
A long time ago, for those who frequent the city, we crossed the same line with beggars and rough sleepers.
We care about them. We donate our time and money to the city mission. We pay our taxes knowing they should be going to help in some way, improve their lives.
But there are also a bunch of idiots taking advantage with squirted bottles at traffic lights. They can be aggressive and dangerous.
Same goes for the rough sleepers on the footpaths in some of our big cities.&nbsp;
It’s costing businesses m. It’s destroying the reputation of entire swaths of city shops.
These shops provide jobs for the rest of us. Especially in our biggest city, where foreign tourists first impressions should not be a punch up between two roughies on the footpath.
So, while the headlines about this ‘’move on” policy, like the crackdown on ram-raiders before it, or the hardline on Kainga Ora tenants before it, will scream cruel and mean.&nbsp;
They’re out of step with the reality people are facing in their own lives.
The good grace cup hath runnith empty.

Ryan Bridge: Kindness has its limits

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b2bbe42b-63bd-4cdf-9a49-b3fa01193572/transcript

Nick Harper: US correspondent on James Comey pleading not guilty to federal charges

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