A weekly podcast about the political landscape in New Zealand and around the world. Proudly going beyond the headlines, looking at the structural challenges, challenging the status quo and explaining our place in the complex geopolitical stage. Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson. crosspartylines.substack.com (https://crosspartylines.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
What this show covers
New Zealand politicselection campaignBrexitUS midtermsNZ politicsParliamentPopulismMMPtactical votingpolitical leadershipElection campaignsNicky HagerTrumpElection policyPublic debt
What listeners will find here
A sharp election-week takedown, from policy fantasy to Brexit fallout
This episode weighs the final campaign’s biggest claims against what Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson see as political reality. It also takes aim at tactical voting by wealthy backers and explores whether Andy Burnham’s stance could turn Brexit into a live political reckoning.
From empty seats to blue-wave math: a brisk tour through NZ and US politics
Party launches, Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work, and the US midterms drive this episode’s agenda. Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson compare Labour and National’s campaign energy, weigh whether Hager’s latest lands any real blows, and map out what a Democratic surge could mean for Donald Trump.
Policy promises meet fiscal reality as campaign chaos heats up
New Zealand election policy, public debt and parliamentary conduct drive this episode’s sharpest exchanges. Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson sort serious proposals from wacky ones, debate when borrowing makes sense, and reflect on a bruising final sitting of Parliament.
From 9/11 memories to election skirmishes and stark AI alarms
September 11 anchors this episode with Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson reflecting on where they were and what followed. It then shifts to New Zealand campaign politics, from KiwiSaver and supermarkets to transport policing, before ending on a serious discussion about AI risk and global regulation.
A live Christchurch debate on Pacific strategy, campaign lies, and long-term planning
This live Christchurch episode ranges from Pacific geopolitics to election misinformation and the bigger question of how New Zealand plans beyond a three-year term. Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson mix sharp criticism with audience-driven questions on superannuation, trade, and populism.
