The 2024 Olympic Games are set to begin. 

President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to the Olympic Village that France is “ready and we will be ready throughout the games”.

Security has been ramped up in the lead up to the games, France Correspondent Catherine Field telling Mike Hosking that it’s difficult to get anywhere in the centre of Paris.

She said that for the people living there, it’s a bit like being under lockdown, as they need a special pass just to get home.

Hotels are also half-empty, tourists being pushed away by the intense security measures and the high accommodation costs. 

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The 2024 Olympic Games are set to begin.  
President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to the Olympic Village that France is “ready and we will be ready throughout the games”. 
Security has been ramped up in the lead up to the games, France Correspondent Catherine Field telling Mike Hosking that it’s difficult to get anywhere in the centre of Paris. 
She said that for the people living there, it’s a bit like being under lockdown, as they need a special pass just to get home. 
Hotels are also half-empty, tourists being pushed away by the intense security measures and the high accommodation costs.  
LISTEN ABOVE

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Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.

The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more.

The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.

Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.

The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Catherine Field: France Correspondent on the situation in Paris ahead of the Olympic Games beginning

Media outlets around the world rolled out the predictable articles yesterday post the announcement, with the headline "Who is Kamala Harris?"

They rolled out the same articles several years ago when she got picked as Vice President.

Depending on whether those articles are applicable in America depends a bit on whether she can now go on and win.

The Vice President isn't really a thing. They say it is, but Mike Pence was a good example before Kamala Harris that, really, it’s a figurehead job.

Yes, you are one heartbeat away from the presidency, but no one honestly expects that to mean anything. Except in the Harris case, you remember, she was meant to be something. She was meant to be the replacement when Biden bailed, either at the end of the first term, or anointed her at the start of the second.

She was the succession because Biden's job was to beat Trump, then retire.

The reason it never came to pass was because Harris turned out to be a dud and the problem with that is the job she never got handed on merit, she now potentially gets handed by default.

So the question is: can she run on a record that isn't Biden, given she is inextricably linked to the administration, or does she sink because of it?

How much of Biden's lack of support was because he was old and befuddled? How much did Americans not see the good stuff in the economy because of Biden and maybe they can now see it under Harris?

Is Harris so much better known than any of the other possibilities like Gavin Newson or Gretchen Whitmer, that she has too much of an inbuilt advantage to risk a real unknown?

Plus, a very real question, even though many would argue it shouldn’t be.

It's the Clinton question. Is America ready for a female president? Did Clinton lose because she was a woman, a Clinton, or because Trump was better?

These are all live questions. The upside is the big money is starting to flow for Harris that wasn’t flowing for Biden. She knows how the White House works, and the others don’t.

She might, might, be able to grow the Democrat turnout from those who would have stayed at home because Biden was too old to take seriously. Also, none of the others are so obviously better than her that you can't go past them.

So you can make a case for Kamala.

But make no mistake. This is now, and still, Trump's to lose.

Media outlets around the world rolled out the predictable articles yesterday post the announcement, with the headline "Who is Kamala Harris?" 
They rolled out the same articles several years ago when she got picked as Vice President. 
Depending on whether those articles are applicable in America depends a bit on whether she can now go on and win. 
The Vice President isn't really a thing. They say it is, but Mike Pence was a good example before Kamala Harris that, really, it’s a figurehead job. 
Yes, you are one heartbeat away from the presidency, but no one honestly expects that to mean anything. Except in the Harris case, you remember, she was meant to be something. She was meant to be the replacement when Biden bailed, either at the end of the first term, or anointed her at the start of the second. 
She was the succession because Biden's job was to beat Trump, then retire. 
The reason it never came to pass was because Harris turned out to be a dud and the problem with that is the job she never got handed on merit, she now potentially gets handed by default. 
So the question is: can she run on a record that isn't Biden, given she is inextricably linked to the administration, or does she sink because of it? 
How much of Biden's lack of support was because he was old and befuddled? How much did Americans not see the good stuff in the economy because of Biden and maybe they can now see it under Harris? 
Is Harris so much better known than any of the other possibilities like Gavin Newson or Gretchen Whitmer, that she has too much of an inbuilt advantage to risk a real unknown? 
Plus, a very real question, even though many would argue it shouldn’t be. 
It's the Clinton question. Is America ready for a female president? Did Clinton lose because she was a woman, a Clinton, or because Trump was better? 
These are all live questions. The upside is the big money is starting to flow for Harris that wasn’t flowing for Biden. She knows how the White House works, and the others don’t. 
She might, might, be able to grow the Democrat turnout from those who would have stayed at home because Biden was too old to take seriously. Also, none of the others are so obviously better than her that you can't go past them. 
So you can make a case for Kamala. 
But make no mistake. This is now, and still, Trump's to lose.

Mike's Minute: Is America ready for a female president?

The next three months of the US Election are likely to be more vicious than we've seen before.

Republican strategist Amy Tarkanian says American politics is no longer just about views and issues.

She says both campaigns will be setting their sights on the growing number of non-partisan independent voters. 

Tarkanian told Mike Hosking that in Nevada, where she's based, many voters have been feeling disenfranchised and unsure of where they stand.

LISTEN ABOVE

The next three months of the US Election are likely to be more vicious than we've seen before.
Republican strategist Amy Tarkanian says American politics is no longer just about views and issues. 
She says both campaigns will be setting their sights on the growing number of non-partisan independent voters.  
Tarkanian told Mike Hosking that in Nevada, where she's based, many voters have been feeling disenfranchised and unsure of where they stand. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Amy Tarkanian: Republican Strategist says the next months of the US Election are likely to be vicious

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 23rd of July, the Health NZ board is so useless they're getting dumped for a commissioner. 

The Prime Minister is back and gets a grilling on putting a commissioner in to manage our health system, and what we're going to do about electricity volumes in this country.

Long time friend of Joe Biden and former US Ambassador to New Zealand, Mark Gilbert tells us the next steps for the Democrats and how they go about trying to win this election now.

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 23rd of July, the Health NZ board is so useless they're getting dumped for a commissioner.  
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-on-the-replacing-of-the-health-nz-board-with-a-commissioner/">The Prime Minister is back</a> and gets a grilling on putting a commissioner in to manage our health system, and what we're going to do about electricity volumes in this country. 
Long time friend of Joe Biden and former US Ambassador to New Zealand, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mark-gilbert-former-us-ambassador-to-new-zealand-on-kamala-harris-gaining-traction-in-the-us-election/">Mark Gilbert</a> tells us the next steps for the Democrats and how they go about trying to win this election now. 
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Catherine Field: France Correspondent on the situation in Paris ahead of the Olympic Games beginning

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