Episode
Caucus Chaos and the King of Soft Power
- Podcast
- Cross Party Lines
- Published
- Apr 27, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2776
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson , Cross Party Lines returns with an episode that moves from caucus chaos to media warfare — and lands on the most delicate diplomatic mission of the year: King Charles III heading to Washington to deal with Trump. Thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management . The 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage. In this episode: * Luxon’s confidence vote — solved or deferred? — Christopher Luxon won his caucus vote, but Phil and Chris are divided on what it actually means. Chris thinks a line has been drawn and the malcontents should now knuckle down. Phil is less convinced: you only call a confidence vote when confidence is in doubt, the handling was untidy from start to finish. * Don’t bash the media — and other lessons politicians never learn — Simeon Brown’s complaint against TVNZ and Luxon’s decision to pull out of his weekly Breakfast slot prompted a forensic and at times hilarious discussion about the eternal folly of politicians going to war with journalists. * King Charles goes to Washington — What can King Charles III realistically achieve on his US visit? Phil draws on multiple personal meetings with Charles — including a 45-minute bilateral at Government House where Charles arrived fully briefed, asked exactly the right questions, and left Phil giving him ten out of ten as a diplomat. Whether he can move the dial on a man Chris describes as a three-year-old trapped in the body of an 80-year-old is another question entirely. Sharp, wide-ranging and willing to call things exactly what they are, this episode is a reminder that in politics, the words you use in public — whether you’re a minister, a king or a coalition partner — always end up meaning more than you intended. Cross Party Lines exists to lift political liter…