The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Australia's unemployment rate rose over 4% as the country added more than 43,000 full-time jobs Economists had previously expected 20,000 roles but the job-market is significantly tighter than thought to be. Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Mike Hosking the cost of living is biting harder too. He says more people are looking for extra work and wish to work longer hours, but explains that could cause some problems next month when the Reserve Bank contemplates new cash rates and interest rates   LISTEN ABOVE        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Democrats may be too late to choose a new Presidential candidate. President Biden has not given a clear sign of considering quitting the race, but those around him are beginning to lose confidence in his chances for a re-election. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking campaign funds have dropped drastically, and Biden's polls are slipping terribly. He says Biden's recent public appearances have cast further doubt amongst voters, as he shows clear lapses in memory. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are set to play their next match at a bit of an unexpected location.   San Diego is set to get a taste of Tier 1 international rugby with this weekend’s match between Fiji and the All Blacks.  Normally a home fixture would be played in New Zealand, but NZR CEO Mark Robinson has been upfront about the commercial opportunities provided by taking the game stateside.  Former NZ Rugby Union player and Kansas City Blues Coach James Patterson told Mike Hosking that in the States, the love of rugby is more regional.  He said that anyone who loves the game knows it's on, but with the high volume of sports America has on offer, rugby falls pretty far down the list.    Patterson said there’s a shift happening with the introduction of professional rugby, and people seeing that there is a career in the sport.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the week comes to a close, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to wrap the week that was.  They discussed the latest in the US Presidential Race, the cost of GPs, and whereabouts Mike fits on the spectrum as his mind moves 100 miles a minute.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s concerns Donald Trump's change of tune since his assassination attempt may not last long.  Trump will formally accept the Republication nomination about 2pm today, the first time he's spoken since surviving the attack.  FSN correspondent Simon Marks says since the Republican National Convention started this week, they've been suggesting it's time for American voters to rethink their definition of the party.  He told Mike Hosking Trump's been strongly campaigning for unity but wonders whether this is a real change of behaviour, or if it's a one-night wonder.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 shooting: 7/10  Because it's changed the race, possibly changed the world, put a spotlight on America and focused in on all that is wrong and right about the place.    Donald Trump: 9/10  Survived a shooting, may or may not have involved God and got another court case delayed while getting his party's nomination. So a pretty good week then.    Joe Biden: 3/10  This time last week he held a press conference to reassure everyone, except he ended up doing the opposite, then went and got Covid while his party panics and passes open letters around the place.    Arbitrators: 7/10  Say whatever you want about the police pay decision, but it’s a hell of a lot better than a year's worth of back and forward going nowhere, isn't it?    The King and Queen: 4/10  Not coming. Booo.    Our motor racers: 8/10  Liam Lawson in RB20 testing, Scott McLaughlin winning in Indy and the first time on an oval, plus Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy looking to win the Formula E title this weekend. That's a lot of talent in a big world from a small country.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This has been the week the world changed.  Like it or not, America affects us all and the President affects America.  The Republican Party has nominated Donald Trump as their man and this afternoon our time he will accept.  If you want to zoom out just a bit, the party is run these days by Lara, his daughter-in-law.  "Make America Great Again" has been officially adopted by the party as its slogan and all the people within the party who swore he was trouble lined up this week to praise him.  It’s the Donald Trump party and say whatever you want about him and his politics, but what he has managed to do is little short of miraculous. He is a force of nature.  After Saturday, he will most likely win the election and create more history.  God has played a role this week and whether you believe or not, something extraordinary has happened. Not only did he survive a shooting, the courts have turned as well.  Florida is off until after the election, Georgia is delayed until after the election and the Supreme Court kind of agrees with him on immunity. Even New York and the sentencing, which really has nothing to do with his presidential life, is delayed.  You can't write this stuff.  Then in a turn of events you also can't write, we have a week where the conspiracy theorists went literally more mental than they already were.  Biden says he might step aside if a medical issue prevented him from running, and then promptly goes and gets Covid, which, you guessed it, will lead to him having complications, which will lead to speculation, which will lead to him pulling out.  And, and, and surely, it's at this point Michelle Obama joins in and saves the day.  Oh also, the kid who shot Trump had no profile, no background, he's a plant that was paid off. As I say, you can't write this stuff.  And yet, at least some of it is real and some of it will drive the world who-knows-where over the next handful of years  Oh, and JD Vance, to cap it off, is a poor kid who wrote a book, got it made into a movie, went into business and became Vice President, potentially. He lived the American dream. Can you make a movie about the movie?  It’s a mix between Shakespearian mystery and high farce. A complex drama and a circus act.  It's so good you can't take your eyes off it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 19th of July, the number of people on benefits just keep going up to record levels, despite the sanctions coming down from this Government.  All eyes will be back on Trump and the Republican National Convention ahead of his speech about unity. Our man on the ground in Milwaukee is back to give us his insight.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson try and figure out whereabouts on the spectrum Mike fits while Wrapping the Week.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief tax cuts to heated tobacco products will make a big difference for smokers.  Customs Minister Casey Castello has faced criticism for cutting the excise tax by 50%.  There are concerns over the lack of evidence to support the product and its possible appeal for young nonsmokers.  Action for Smokefree 2025 Director Ben Youdan told Mike Hosking it's an effective cessation tool.  He says for smokers who can't get into vaping, the tax cut will make this option very appealing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Social Development Minister's admitting the number of beneficiaries may keep growing this year.  The number on the benefit's reached a new record for the June quarter, with 11.9% of working-aged people receiving it.  This is despite a more than 50% rise in benefit sanctions in the last year.  Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking Treasury expects Jobseeker numbers to peak around the end of the year.  She says they've set an ambitious target to reduce the number of people on Jobseeker by 50 thousand within six years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data suggests demand for owning a small business is booming.  ABC Business Sales reveals store ownership sales in the last three months were nearly 40% higher compared to the same period last year.  It's also received more than 20 thousand enquiries from potential business owners in the last 12 months, ending June.  Managing Director Chris Small told Mike Hosking an influx of new immigrants is a large proportion of the new business owners.  He says the majority are coming from the Philippines, India, and China, and it seems they're keen to work for themselves.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for a review of the funding model used for General Practice, amid more price hikes for patients.   Health New Zealand is forging ahead with a 4% increase to core General Practice funding.  General Practice Chair Bryan Betty is adamant the sector needs an increase more like 7.7%.  He told Mike Hosking the reality is some practices are unviable.   Betty says we've seen that problem across the country, and it's happening every year now.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.