Marc Daalder
@marcdaalder.bsky.social
Senior Political Reporter at newsroom.co.nz covering climate change, health, energy and violent extremism | He/him ✡️
Pinned
Marc Daalder
@marcdaalder.bsky.social
· Aug 13
We strangled our rivers; now they're fighting back
Special report: We forced NZ's braided rivers into tiny channels so we could build our homes and farms in their riverbeds – now we're seeing the consequences. Marc Daalder investigates.
newsroom.co.nz
Paywall now lifted: My special report this morning is about how we spent generations strangling our rivers to make room for our homes and farms, only to find we've ended up supercharging their flows.
What do we do when we realise we've built a society in a riverbed?
newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/13/l...
What do we do when we realise we've built a society in a riverbed?
newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/13/l...
Reposted by Marc Daalder
Every prompt to chatbot software is “generate me some text.” If it generated you some text, it performed its function correctly. It never lies, it never wants anything, it’s text generating software that generates text.
Not wanting to disappoint you so much that it lies is the last quality I want in a computer.
November 28, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Every prompt to chatbot software is “generate me some text.” If it generated you some text, it performed its function correctly. It never lies, it never wants anything, it’s text generating software that generates text.
Reposted by Marc Daalder
Today's Love Letter is a stunning meditation on birdwatching and the loss of a friendship, from the one and only @amalelmohtar.com
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
Why I Need the Birds
A Love Letters Feature by Amal El-Mohtar - November 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
November 25, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Today's Love Letter is a stunning meditation on birdwatching and the loss of a friendship, from the one and only @amalelmohtar.com
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
New: Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says the Government is no longer committed to advocating for a global phase-out of fossil fuels, marking a significant change in position.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/g...
Govt backtracks on fossil fuel phase-out
Australia, the UK, the EU and Pacific nations backed a roadmap away from fossil fuels at COP30, but New Zealand didn't sign up
newsroom.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 12:26 AM
New: Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says the Government is no longer committed to advocating for a global phase-out of fossil fuels, marking a significant change in position.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/g...
Paywall now lifted: Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would ‘draw the line at’ using AI video ads, but after National published two AI videos in the past month, his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
National deletes AI video of police seizing gang patches
Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would 'draw the line at' using AI video ads, but his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Paywall now lifted: Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would ‘draw the line at’ using AI video ads, but after National published two AI videos in the past month, his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
November 25, 2025 at 8:06 AM
New: Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would ‘draw the line at’ using AI video ads, but after National published two AI videos in the past month, his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
National deletes AI video of police seizing gang patches
Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would 'draw the line at' using AI video ads, but his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 8:37 PM
New: Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would ‘draw the line at’ using AI video ads, but after National published two AI videos in the past month, his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
Mike Hosking is wrong about the results of the UK Covid Inquiry this morning. The inquiry found an earlier lockdown could have saved 23k lives. It did find that "stringent restrictions short of a mandatory lockdown" if imposed earlier could have avoided a lockdown – which is diff from "unnecessary".
November 23, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Mike Hosking is wrong about the results of the UK Covid Inquiry this morning. The inquiry found an earlier lockdown could have saved 23k lives. It did find that "stringent restrictions short of a mandatory lockdown" if imposed earlier could have avoided a lockdown – which is diff from "unnecessary".
Reposted by Marc Daalder
"The main legacy of Merrick Garlandism isn’t failure to mete out justice for past crimes; its that he created incentives for future ones. If they could transgress as far as they did and get away with it, why not go further?"
I *think* the attempt to speedrun authoritarianism has failed. The new acute danger is greater political violence (Trump calling for hangings, etc). But the concerted danger is down the line, when MAGA realizes the bill for all this corruption will come due. www.offmessage.net/p/maga-disar...
MAGA Disarray And The Accumulated Debt Of Corruption
They'd bring America down rather than face accountability, but accountability is not optional.
www.offmessage.net
November 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
"The main legacy of Merrick Garlandism isn’t failure to mete out justice for past crimes; its that he created incentives for future ones. If they could transgress as far as they did and get away with it, why not go further?"
Reposted by Marc Daalder
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
November 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
Reposted by Marc Daalder
I love him. “The first time I caught up to [ICE], I could tell that they already knew who I was. They had seen me before, so they thought they were just going to speed away. I was like, ‘Ha ha, bitches, I got a new scooter!’”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I love him. “The first time I caught up to [ICE], I could tell that they already knew who I was. They had seen me before, so they thought they were just going to speed away. I was like, ‘Ha ha, bitches, I got a new scooter!’”
Reposted by Marc Daalder
Some say the swastika is a symbol of hate. Others disagree. We'll have to leave it there.
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Some say the swastika is a symbol of hate. Others disagree. We'll have to leave it there.
Simon Watts says he announced back on Oct 12 that the Govt would reject the Climate Commission's advice to have a carbin negative 2050 target.
That surprised many, including, presumably, Simon Watts, who on Oct 14 told me that announcement would come "in due course".
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/21/c...
That surprised many, including, presumably, Simon Watts, who on Oct 14 told me that announcement would come "in due course".
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/21/c...
Confusion reigns as climate minister appears unaware of own announcement
The Govt says it rejected the Climate Change Commission's advice a month ago, but the commission says it hasn't heard anything from the Govt.
newsroom.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Simon Watts says he announced back on Oct 12 that the Govt would reject the Climate Commission's advice to have a carbin negative 2050 target.
That surprised many, including, presumably, Simon Watts, who on Oct 14 told me that announcement would come "in due course".
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/21/c...
That surprised many, including, presumably, Simon Watts, who on Oct 14 told me that announcement would come "in due course".
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/21/c...
Reposted by Marc Daalder
Between the booths flooding and a fire breaking out in the Blue Zone, feels like maybe someone is trying to tell us something at #COP30
BREAKING: COP30 Blue Zone venue is being evacuated after a firealarm was triggered. Smoke visible.
November 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Between the booths flooding and a fire breaking out in the Blue Zone, feels like maybe someone is trying to tell us something at #COP30
A new report from consultancy BCG finds the influence of gas over power prices could fall from 90 percent last year to 25 percent by 2030, as New Zealand builds out more renewables in the coming years.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/n...
No 'gas renaissance' in landmark report charting NZ's energy future
NZ is on track for a 98 percent renewable power system by 2030, a sweeping new report on the energy system has found.
newsroom.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 9:46 PM
A new report from consultancy BCG finds the influence of gas over power prices could fall from 90 percent last year to 25 percent by 2030, as New Zealand builds out more renewables in the coming years.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/n...
Reposted by Marc Daalder
If the President can impose his own taxes and use the proceeds to spend on his own projects, all without Congress, we have a dictatorship not a constitutional republic.
BREAKING: Deputy White House Chief of Staff James Blair said the administration is eyeing ways to give millions of Americans $2,000 dividend checks from tariff revenue without congressional approval, per Bloomberg.
November 19, 2025 at 2:46 AM
If the President can impose his own taxes and use the proceeds to spend on his own projects, all without Congress, we have a dictatorship not a constitutional republic.
NZ’s electric car sales dropped 70% last year while global sales rose, but the Transport Minister says his policies aren’t to blame.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/18/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/18/g...
Behind the Govt's urgent move to make it cheaper to import dirty cars
Analysis: NZ's electric car sales dropped 70% last year while global sales rose, but the Transport Minister says his policies aren't to blame, writes Marc Daalder
newsroom.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 2:55 AM
NZ’s electric car sales dropped 70% last year while global sales rose, but the Transport Minister says his policies aren’t to blame.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/18/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/18/g...
New: A follow-up to the major 2022 BCG report into the future of the energy system finds NZ is on track for 98 percent renewable electricity by 2030, with work needed to shore up existing gas fields but no "gas renaissance" on the cards.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/n...
No 'gas renaissance' in landmark report charting NZ's energy future
NZ is on track for a 98 percent renewable power system by 2030, a sweeping new report on the energy system has found.
newsroom.co.nz
November 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM
New: A follow-up to the major 2022 BCG report into the future of the energy system finds NZ is on track for 98 percent renewable electricity by 2030, with work needed to shore up existing gas fields but no "gas renaissance" on the cards.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/n...
Reposted by Marc Daalder
Chicago Trib on teenage anti-ICE activists: "If I get the opportunity to fight like this for the rest of my life, I would be totally OK with that."
The future of our country depends, in part, upon whether the Democratic Party does or does not have space for young people like that.
archive.ph/qsazc
The future of our country depends, in part, upon whether the Democratic Party does or does not have space for young people like that.
archive.ph/qsazc
November 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Chicago Trib on teenage anti-ICE activists: "If I get the opportunity to fight like this for the rest of my life, I would be totally OK with that."
The future of our country depends, in part, upon whether the Democratic Party does or does not have space for young people like that.
archive.ph/qsazc
The future of our country depends, in part, upon whether the Democratic Party does or does not have space for young people like that.
archive.ph/qsazc
Reposted by Marc Daalder
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
November 15, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
Reposted by Marc Daalder
your dead AI mother loves you so much ❤️
November 15, 2025 at 12:50 AM
your dead AI mother loves you so much ❤️
Reposted by Marc Daalder
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops