Donald Trump continues to lash out over the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. 

The US President's turned his attack on Attorney for Washington DC Jeanine Pirro – claiming she choked and folded like an umbrella in moving to drop charges over the pool's restoration.  

After initially charging four people with vandalism, the Justice Department found damage to the $14 million lining instead came from a flawed, rushed contractor installation. 

US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the damage was due to the incompetence of Trump's "pool guy" from Florida. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Donald Trump continues to lash out over the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.&nbsp;
The US President's turned his attack on Attorney for Washington DC Jeanine Pirro – claiming she choked and folded like an umbrella in moving to drop charges over the pool's restoration. &nbsp;
After initially charging four people with vandalism, the Justice Department found damage to the $14 million lining instead came from a flawed, rushed contractor installation.&nbsp;
US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the damage was due to the incompetence of Trump's "pool guy" from Florida.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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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

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool charges, Trump's attack on Attorney Jeanine Pirro

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4fb3f6c9-4de1-418a-898f-b49c0166e4d2/transcript

I think we can turn off the alarms and stand down the cavalry. 

The changes to enrolment for this year's election have not turned out to be the cataclysmic disaster the misery merchants claimed it was going to be. 

There are a number of rule changes passed late last year. The most significant one is when you enrol. 

Previously you could enrol on the day. That now is changed to 12 days before election day – in this year's vote that’s October 25th. 

It's important to point out enrolling on the day has not been a thing forever, or anywhere close. Not that you would realise that from the gnashing of teeth when the current Government looked to change it. 

In really simple terms it was a half decent idea. But we couldn’t cope with it, results got delayed and the machinery got overwhelmed. Sort of like the tech, where once we thought we might be voting with our phones, it's never seemed further away. 

So as of the end of June is there a vast catchment of New Zealanders who have missed out and will no longer be part of our democratic process? No, and it's not even close. 

89% of us are enrolled. Is that good? Yes, it is. It's higher than at this time in any of the past three elections. 

The message got through, we made the effort, so job done. 

And not just that, but as I said, we still have until October 25th, which is eons away even if you haven't thought about it or quite got around to it. 

It's a very good example of the predilection in this country to make a mountain out of a molehill or to paint the worst possible scenario for any change at all. 

The argument was, and still is, that there is no shortage of time to get yourself sorted. Elections are not a surprise. There is no scandal. No one is missing out. 

I would also argue that even with all the advertising and promotion and the huge gap between election days, if you are in fact one of the very few who doesn’t quite get around to it, you know what? Tough luck. 

The real test of democracy is, can you vote? And what value do you place on that right? 

A lot of it is in your hands and no one is stopping you. 

So not really a problem after all, is it? 

I think we can turn off the alarms and stand down the cavalry.&nbsp;
The changes to enrolment for this year's election have not turned out to be the cataclysmic disaster the misery merchants claimed it was going to be.&nbsp;
There are a number of rule changes passed late last year. The most significant one is when you enrol.&nbsp;
Previously you could enrol on the day. That now is changed to 12 days before election day – in this year's vote that’s October 25th.&nbsp;
It's important to point out enrolling on the day has not been a thing forever, or anywhere close. Not that you would realise that from the gnashing of teeth when the current Government looked to change it.&nbsp;
In really simple terms it was a half decent idea. But we couldn’t cope with it, results got delayed and the machinery got overwhelmed. Sort of like the tech, where once we thought we might be voting with our phones, it's never seemed further away.&nbsp;
So as of the end of June is there a vast catchment of New Zealanders who have missed out and will no longer be part of our democratic process? No, and it's not even close.&nbsp;
89% of us are enrolled. Is that good? Yes, it is. It's higher than at this time in any of the past three elections.&nbsp;
The message got through, we made the effort, so job done.&nbsp;
And not just that, but as I said, we still have until October 25th, which is eons away even if you haven't thought about it or quite got around to it.&nbsp;
It's a very good example of the predilection in this country to make a mountain out of a molehill or to paint the worst possible scenario for any change at all.&nbsp;
The argument was, and still is, that there is no shortage of time to get yourself sorted. Elections are not a surprise. There is no scandal. No one is missing out.&nbsp;
I would also argue that even with all the advertising and promotion and the huge gap between election days, if you are in fact one of the very few who doesn’t quite get around to it, you know what? Tough luck.&nbsp;
The real test of democracy is, can you vote? And what value do you place on that right?&nbsp;
A lot of it is in your hands and no one is stopping you.&nbsp;
So not really a problem after all, is it?&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Calm down, the election enrolment changes aren't a problem

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/01bf442b-7dfa-4810-9f96-b49c01687348/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 5th of August, we preview the latest unemployment figures and discuss the now-halted prison massage plan.  

Sarah Kennedy from Calocurb gives us the lowdown on the price of the GLP-1s in this country, access, and how far behind we are the rest of the world. 

And Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell spar on the social media bill, the prison massage plan, and Luxon's business comments on Politics Wednesday. 

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 Wednesday 5th of August, we preview the <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sharon-zollner-anz-chief-economist-on-the-expectation-the-unemployment-rate-will-increase-to-55/">latest unemployment figures</a> and discuss the <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/todd-stephenson-act-spokesperson-on-the-corrections-minister-halting-the-plan-to-roll-out-rongoa-m%C4%81ori-health-services-for-prisons-including-massages/">now-halted prison massage plan</a>. &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sarah-kennedy-calocurb-ceo-on-the-cost-of-weight-loss-drugs-in-the-us-versus-nz-long-term-use/">Sarah Kennedy from Calocurb</a> gives us the lowdown on the price of the GLP-1s in this country, access, and how far behind we are the rest of the world.&nbsp;
And <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-on-the-social-media-ban-bill-prison-massage-plan-luxons-business-comments/">Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell</a> spar on the social media bill, the prison massage plan, and Luxon's business comments on Politics Wednesday.&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: 05 August 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4c108f41-57a9-419d-8bfb-b49c016194aa/transcript

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to dig into the biggest stories of the week so far. 

Labour has received more details on National’s social media ban bill – how are they feeling about it now? 

They also discussed the now-paused plan to roll Rongoa Māori health services to all prisons, including traditional massages, and Christopher Luxon’s comments to Rotorua business owners.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to dig into the biggest stories of the week so far.&nbsp;
Labour has received more details on National’s social media ban bill – how are they feeling about it now?&nbsp;
They also discussed the now-paused plan to roll Rongoa Māori health services to all prisons, including traditional massages, and Christopher Luxon’s comments to Rotorua business owners. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen on the social media ban bill, prison massage plan, Luxon's business comments

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7e04e2ae-755a-4860-b48b-b49c015e9a1e/transcript

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool charges, Trump's attack on Attorney Jeanine Pirro

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