Top 10 for Wednesday, December 20

A must-read exposing NZ First’s funding-for-policy history; A deep ACC failure on neo-natal brain damage; Our science investment disaster zone; Clarence Thomas’ money needs; Wankpanzers ahoy

NZ First enjoys the financial and political support of a section of the natural health sector, which is now celebrating as the party takes a renewed interest in regulation of the industry. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā

TL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news, analysis, commentary and data links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December 20, including:

1. Must read of the day: Farrah Hancock reveals in an investigation via RNZ some connections between NZ First and one of its funders, and what that meant for NZ First’s policy stances and the election result.

2. Local scoop of the day: An ACC taskforce to reduce preventable brain damage in babies by 10% over six years failed and has been disestablished. Newsroom Pro-$$$ Emma Hatton.

3. Local deep-dive of the day: Massive job losses and financial turmoil in our universities are threatening the future of science in New Zealand. NZ Herald-$$$ Jamie Morton

4. Global scoop of the day: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas privately pushed in 2000 for a higher salary and to allow justices to take speaking fees. Pro Publica

5. Global deep-dive of the day: How cars turned into giant killers. Slate David Zipper

6. Op-Ed of the day: Toby Moore on why changing the RBNZ’s mandate hurts the poor and jobless most. NZ Herald-$$$

7. Column of the day: Simon Wilson unpacks the Government’s ‘Build Corollas not Ferraris’ argument on big transport projects. NZ Herald-$$$

8. Thread of the day: Amanda Kvalsig on her growing concerns about Long Covid X

9. Paper/survey/report of the day: ANZ’s December business confidence survey showing rising wage, cost and price expectations.

10. Substack of the day: Thomas Pueyo on his big year via Uncharted Territories

Fun thing of the day: A dad joke of a cartoon

More detail, links, excerpts and analysis is below the fold for paying subscribers.

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Must read of the day