A security intelligence analyst says the US has got what it needed from Julian Assange. 

The Wikileaks founder has struck a deal with the US and will soon plead guilty to an espionage charge before being sentenced to time already served. 

Paul Buchanan told Mike Hosking that Assange has spent the last 14 years in some sort of confinement. 

He says the US has won its pound of flesh out of him, adding that he's a broken guy and this sounds like a fair way to end the entire thing. 

Buchanan doubts Assange will get the pardon he is seeking.

LISTEN ABOVE

A security intelligence analyst says the US has got what it needed from Julian Assange.  
The Wikileaks founder has struck a deal with the US and will soon plead guilty to an espionage charge before being sentenced to time already served.  
Paul Buchanan told Mike Hosking that Assange has spent the last 14 years in some sort of confinement.  
He says the US has won its pound of flesh out of him, adding that he's a broken guy and this sounds like a fair way to end the entire thing.  
Buchanan doubts Assange will get the pardon he is seeking. 
LISTEN ABOVE

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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

Paul Buchanan: Security Intelligence Analyst on the release and guilty plea of Julian Assange

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dd2af139-515e-4858-a2d7-b19a016aba44/transcript

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. 

 

The trifecta: 8/10  

He got the White House, the other House and the Senate. That is as comprehensive as it gets. 

 

The reaction: 7/10 

Because people are nuts. Elections always have winners and losers and there is always another election. Social media has shown us how often people forget that. 

 

Fonterra: 9/10 

Right now it's as good as it gets. $9.50 could become $10, a sale worth billions, and an effect on the economy that is so fantastically welcome. 

 

The All Blacks: 7/10 

It looks increasingly like the Robertson era is going to be a very good thing. Beating England and Ireland, with France for good measure, that’s a good way to head to Christmas. 

 

The apology: 7/10 

Because it was heartfelt and came from the right place. But that was the easy bit. 

 

The protest: 1/10 

More depressing than the immigration numbers. 

 

The media covering the protest: 2/10 

Between singing reporters and reporters making up numbers, it's not hard to see why the media is where it is and is held in the sort of contempt it is. They have brought it on themselves. 

 

LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW 

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.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The trifecta: 8/10 &nbsp;
He got the White House, the other House and the Senate. That is as comprehensive as it gets.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The reaction: 7/10&nbsp;
Because people are nuts. Elections always have winners and losers and there is always another election. Social media has shown us how often people forget that.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Fonterra: 9/10&nbsp;
Right now it's as good as it gets. $9.50 could become $10, a sale worth billions, and an effect on the economy that is so fantastically welcome.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The All Blacks: 7/10&nbsp;
It looks increasingly like the Robertson era is going to be a very good thing. Beating England and Ireland, with France for good measure, that’s a good way to head to Christmas.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The apology: 7/10&nbsp;
Because it was heartfelt and came from the right place. But that was the easy bit.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The protest: 1/10&nbsp;
More depressing than the immigration numbers.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The media covering the protest: 2/10&nbsp;
Between singing reporters and reporters making up numbers, it's not hard to see why the media is where it is and is held in the sort of contempt it is. They have brought it on themselves.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW&nbsp;

Mark the Week: The Robertson era looks to be a very good thing

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cb469113-b7b1-4ee2-8609-b22801726ab1/transcript

If you watched Parliament, as I did yesterday afternoon, you could feel it building. 

Question Time focused largely on the Treaty Principles Bill. There was a growing angst, Gerry Brownlee the Speaker spent far too much time calling for order, it was low rent, which isn't unheard of, but full of needless aggro. 

Then came the so-called debate. 

There were 11 speeches, lead off by architect of the bill David Seymour who spoke, as he has through this whole shambolic process, very eloquently. 

He was followed by Willie Jackson, who also spoke very passionately, until he called Seymour a liar and got booted out of the House. 

Most of the rest of the speeches were boring and said what you thought they might say, depending on what side of the House the speaker came from. 

National were in the invidious position of defending their position while not defending the bill. They can blame Christopher Luxon for this because how he let it find its way to the place it has is beyond me. 

As a coalition deal you either let it ride or kill it before you sign a deal in the first place. But this half-way House is the worst of all possible worlds, and it looked like it, as he was on a plane to South America and the poor sods, he left behind had to do their best. 

The whole affair, sadly, was not what you might want, or expect, from our House of Representatives. 

Beyond anything else, we appear to have lost the ability to debate cordially, to agree to disagree, to listen to other views, to be mature, to be adult and to accept that we don’t all have to be on the same page. 

By the time the Māori Party burst into a haka and wrecked it all, Gerry rolled his eyes and suspended proceedings for the day. 

I caught up with the fall out on Sky TV. God knows what the Australians make of it. This sort of stuff also goes global, so more embarrassment there as well. 

We look ridiculous. We look like amateurs, we look like petty, little children b*tching at each other. 

We look like Kamala Harris supporters on TikTok. 

I think, and hope, we are better than this. That lot yesterday in the House of Representatives is not us. It's not representative. 

Because if they are, we are buggered. 

If you watched Parliament, as I did yesterday afternoon, you could feel it building.&nbsp;
Question Time focused largely on the Treaty Principles Bill. There was a growing angst, Gerry Brownlee the Speaker spent far too much time calling for order, it was low rent, which isn't unheard of, but full of needless aggro.&nbsp;
Then came the so-called debate.&nbsp;
There were 11 speeches, lead off by architect of the bill David Seymour who spoke, as he has through this whole shambolic process, very eloquently.&nbsp;
He was followed by Willie Jackson, who also spoke very passionately, until he called Seymour a liar and got booted out of the House.&nbsp;
Most of the rest of the speeches were boring and said what you thought they might say, depending on what side of the House the speaker came from.&nbsp;
National were in the invidious position of defending their position while not defending the bill. They can blame Christopher Luxon for this because how he let it find its way to the place it has is beyond me.&nbsp;
As a coalition deal you either let it ride or kill it before you sign a deal in the first place. But this half-way House is the worst of all possible worlds, and it looked like it, as he was on a plane to South America and the poor sods, he left behind had to do their best.&nbsp;
The whole affair, sadly, was not what you might want, or expect, from our House of Representatives.&nbsp;
Beyond anything else, we appear to have lost the ability to debate cordially, to agree to disagree, to listen to other views, to be mature, to be adult and to accept that we don’t all have to be on the same page.&nbsp;
By the time the Māori Party burst into a haka and wrecked it all, Gerry rolled his eyes and suspended proceedings for the day.&nbsp;
I caught up with the fall out on Sky TV. God knows what the Australians make of it. This sort of stuff also goes global, so more embarrassment there as well.&nbsp;
We look ridiculous. We look like amateurs, we look like petty, little children b*tching at each other.&nbsp;
We look like Kamala Harris supporters on TikTok.&nbsp;
I think, and hope, we are better than this. That lot yesterday in the House of Representatives is not us. It's not representative.&nbsp;
Because if they are, we are buggered.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: My thoughts on the chaos in the House

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1f28be44-58de-4573-9013-b228016d4a50/transcript

It looks to be a still but chilly night as the All Blacks take on France. 

They’re entering the pitch with two major wins under the belt, after defeating both Ireland and England. 

Newstalk ZB’s Voice of Rugby Elliott Smith told Mike Hosking that if they get through this week, the pressure valve releases a little. 

He says there’s a bit of a steely resolve in the team now that they’ve got a couple of wins behind them. 

“I don’t think they’d want to leave the tour with the old rocks and beach towels over summer.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

It looks to be a still but chilly night as the All Blacks take on France.&nbsp;
They’re entering the pitch with two major wins under the belt, after defeating both Ireland and England.&nbsp;
Newstalk ZB’s Voice of Rugby Elliott Smith told Mike Hosking that if they get through this week, the pressure valve releases a little.&nbsp;
He says there’s a bit of a steely resolve in the team now that they’ve got a couple of wins behind them.&nbsp;
“I don’t think they’d want to leave the tour with the old rocks and beach towels over summer.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB Rugby Journalist ahead of the match between the All Blacks and France

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fe1d49b6-28da-4580-98d1-b228016a729b/transcript

Paul Buchanan: Security Intelligence Analyst on the release and guilty plea of Julian Assange

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