To suggest that there is considerable turmoil across the globe is an understatement.

“Nature abhors a vacuum” is constantly given new reign.

Following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1989, political scientist Francis Fukuyama announced history was dead.

His best selling “The End of History and the Last Man” is updated, still in print and nowhere near death.

Then in 2018 Fukuyama’s book “Identity” announces that “fragmentation based on alignment of interest into identity groups, has emerged as a new threat to democracy”.

On September 3, 2025 retired barrister Louise Clegg wrote an opinion article drawing on all the above, called “Sliding into technocracy”.

After thirty years in the legal profession, she guests in Podcast 302.

From Nietzsche to Charlie Kirk, it is a worthy discussion.

There’s more on the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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Canadian born Law Professor James Allan holds a New Zealand passport and taught at University of Otago for eleven years.

He is also an Australian passport holder and professor at the University of Queensland.

In this discussion we start with which Anglo based country is doing best in a difficult global climate.

We discuss the legacy media (and whether it is broken), judicial activism, the threat of immigration, politicisation of police, and we finish on his views on Israel and Gaza.

We visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer, and comment finally on the ugliest crime in America not to get national coverage.

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After six weeks north of the Equator, it’s good to be back.

"Two years ago, New Zealanders voted for change. Not just a change of government but a change of direction. They were promised fiscal discipline, economic renewal and a productive economy.

The New Zealand government has shown it can reform when it wants to. Now it must also reform what matters most: the unsustainable growth in public spending.”

This quote came from The Australian (August 28), and it was written by Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director of the NZ Initiative.

In Podcast 300, he provides us with a very good analysis of the challenge facing the NZ economy.

We spend the second half of this interview discussing one of the most extraordinary human beings of all time, Leonardo Da Vinci.

The reason is explained fulsomely and you’ll understand my enthusiasm as it unfolds.

I can only suggest that what you’ll hear provides a greater perspective of the present.

And finally, we are back with Mrs Producer and The Mailroom.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz

Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide.

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Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.