It's Politics Wednesday, which means Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to dig into the biggest stories of the week thus far. 

With the election just under two weeks away, they discussed how things are faring in their electorates and the ongoing drama around voter registrations. 

They also touched on the situation around Rakesh Naidoo and the resignation of Fire and Emergency's CEO. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

It's Politics Wednesday, which means Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to dig into the biggest stories of the week thus far.&nbsp;
With the election just under two weeks away, they discussed how things are faring in their electorates and the ongoing drama around voter registrations.&nbsp;
They also touched on the situation around Rakesh Naidoo and the resignation of Fire and Emergency's CEO.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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, 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

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen on their electorates, the Fire and Emergency CEO's resignation, Rakesh Naidoo

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/94247aea-0efc-4d00-bd39-b4f001546926/transcript

John Key not only appeared on our show Friday, having put out a video reminding us all what is at stake this Saturday, he also appeared on a podcast suggesting Luxon has been the victim of a hit job by the left and the media. 

I think he is right. I would also suggest the media is the left, and the left is the media. 

But, and it's a big "but", it makes no difference. It is what it is, and to his credit, Luxon has not complained about his treatment, often using the line "it's like a farmer complaining about the weather". 

I do worry about John Key and his role. He left office ten years ago and he clearly is still the National Party's greatest asset. 

What's that say about the National Party?   

I thought about this last week when I watched Obama get rolled out as part of the midterms. He is as electric as he ever was. 

But you can equally ask the question, given Trump got to the White House also a decade ago, why hasn’t he been replaced by someone new and just as charismatic? 

Is it the times? Does the world not produce leaders anymore of any real consequence? 

A similar thing happens in Australia. They still roll John Howard out and he still carries more weight than you might want to admit in a party that has badly fallen by the wayside. 

Is it nostalgic? Is it not so much the character of the individual but the times themselves? They just happened to be at the top during those times so when we hear them, we are transported back to a better place. 

It's memory lane and we like it better than what we have now. 

And is what we have now the result of leaders who aren't up to much, or is it the march of the modern world? Whether it be social media and AI and humanoids, could any leader could make it any different? 

Howard is too far removed to be an issue for the current leader of the coalition and for Obama, he is still current because the Democrats don’t have a leader. Would Obama fade if Gavin Newsom officially ran? 

But does Key haunt Luxon just a little bit much? 

Has Luxon not shone because he never lived up to the Key reputation? 

Or is Key right, and no one could have survived the beating of the left and the media?     

John Key not only appeared on our show Friday, having put out a video reminding us all what is at stake this Saturday, he also appeared on a podcast suggesting Luxon has been the victim of a hit job by the left and the media.&nbsp;
I think he is right. I would also suggest the media is the left, and the left is the media.&nbsp;
But, and it's a big "but", it makes no difference. It is what it is, and to his credit, Luxon has not complained about his treatment, often using the line "it's like a farmer complaining about the weather".&nbsp;
I do worry about John Key and his role. He left office ten years ago and he clearly is still the National Party's greatest asset.&nbsp;
What's that say about the National Party? &nbsp;&nbsp;
I thought about this last week when I watched Obama get rolled out as part of the midterms. He is as electric as he ever was.&nbsp;
But you can equally ask the question, given Trump got to the White House also a decade ago, why hasn’t he been replaced by someone new and just as charismatic?&nbsp;
Is it the times? Does the world not produce leaders anymore of any real consequence?&nbsp;
A similar thing happens in Australia. They still roll John Howard out and he still carries more weight than you might want to admit in a party that has badly fallen by the wayside.&nbsp;
Is it nostalgic? Is it not so much the character of the individual but the times themselves? They just happened to be at the top during those times so when we hear them, we are transported back to a better place.&nbsp;
It's memory lane and we like it better than what we have now.&nbsp;
And is what we have now the result of leaders who aren't up to much, or is it the march of the modern world? Whether it be social media and AI and humanoids, could any leader could make it any different?&nbsp;
Howard is too far removed to be an issue for the current leader of the coalition and for Obama, he is still current because the Democrats don’t have a leader. Would Obama fade if Gavin Newsom officially ran?&nbsp;
But does Key haunt Luxon just a little bit much?&nbsp;
Has Luxon not shone because he never lived up to the Key reputation?&nbsp;
Or is Key right, and no one could have survived the beating of the left and the media? &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Are we out of charismatic leaders?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a207dde8-eb3b-44c1-a175-b4f50159cf15/transcript

The stakes are high for Donald Trump and his Republican Party as American's head to the polls just before us next week, on Wednesday.  

The midterm elections will determine control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, shaping how much power Trump has to push through his agenda for the remainder of his presidency. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Trump's approval rating is at an all-time low, with the worst numbers for any president before a midterm. 

As a result, he says, the Democrats look to have a strong likelihood of taking control of the House. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The stakes are high for Donald Trump and his Republican Party as American's head to the polls just before us next week, on Wednesday. &nbsp;
The midterm elections will determine control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, shaping how much power Trump has to push through his agenda for the remainder of his presidency.&nbsp;
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Trump's approval rating is at an all-time low, with the worst numbers for any president before a midterm.&nbsp;
As a result, he says, the Democrats look to have a strong likelihood of taking control of the House.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the latest ahead of the midterms

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/19c1057e-c1cb-4742-a7d2-b4f5015653d1/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 2nd of November, we dig into the AA report showing we've hit the lowest road toll in over a century. 

The Prime Minister and National Party leader Christopher Luxon joins Mike for two hours for his Leader's Breakfast, discussing what he's achieved, broken promises, and looking ahead to a new government. 

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 Monday 2nd of November, we dig into the AA report showing we've hit the lowest road toll in over a century.&nbsp;
The Prime Minister and National Party leader Christopher Luxon joins Mike for two hours for his Leader's Breakfast, discussing what he's achieved, broken promises, and looking ahead to a new government.&nbsp;
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 02 November 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/75af783c-ebb2-43c3-9cdb-b4f5014cef95/transcript

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen on their electorates, the Fire and Emergency CEO's resignation, Rakesh Naidoo

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