Ryan Bridge’s latest Newstalk ZB piece, “It’s three strikes for Chippy,” is an exercise in sloppy punditry, slinging mud at Labour leader Chris Hipkins with flimsy claims and zero evidence. His so-called “three strikes” propaganda, claiming that Hipkins’ ambiguity on the Green Party’s alternative budget, not locking in a 50% GDP debt ceiling, and push for lighter Maori Party MP suspensions, are political suicide is complete tabloid rubbish more suited to far right echo chambers. You only have to scratch the surface, and Bridge’s article collapses under the weight of its own contradictions.
First, Bridge calls Hipkins’ non-committal stance on the Greens’ alternative budget a blunder, labelling it a “mad-hatter” plan that’ll “kill growth like roundup on your weeds.” Sounds dramatic, but where’s the proof? The Greens’ $88.8B budget, with its free healthcare, targets poverty and underinvestment, policies that are hardly a middle-voter repellent. RNZ reports that Hipkins has distanced Labour, saying their tax policy is yet to be announced, a savvy coalition play, not an endorsement. Bridge’s claim that this alienates voters is pure speculation, with no polling to back it up. He’s banking on fear-mongering, not facts, to smear Hipkins.
Then there’s the debt ceiling gripe. Bridge says Hipkins’ refusal to commit to 50% GDP debt or less lets National brand Labour a “debt monster.” Rubbish. Labour’s fiscal record under Grant Robertson kept net debt at 43.1% of GDP in 2023, far below OECD averages post-COVID. Hipkins told RNZ borrowing for infrastructure isn’t reckless, it’s strategic. Meanwhile, National’s current net debt has climbed to 47.5% of GDP in 2025, per Treasury forecasts, with no significant growth to show for it. The wealthy are hoarding their windfall, because trickle down economics doesn't work. We all agree that our debt to GDP could be beter, but this really isn't the political win NewstalkZB’s resident fool implies.
Even National’s Nicola no boats Willis is delaying surpluses, admitting economic headwinds...headwinds that the coalition of chaos has largely created for New Zealand by sacking thousands of public servants and halting much needed infrastructure projects. Bridge ignores these facts, pushing a narrative that only Labour’s fiscally irresponsible. Most voters will see through this type of dishonest propaganda. Besides, where’s the data showing voters care more about arbitrary debt caps than housing or healthcare? Nowhere.
The “gun-gesture-gate” jab is the weakest link in Bridge's hubris filled hit-job. The claim that Hipkins’ wanting more appropriate punishment looks “soft-on-crime” is complete nonsense! Labour’s record, boosting police funding in 2023 and properly equipping our border control authorities, hardly screams soft on crime. Besides, Hipkins argued for proportionality, but the deluded Ryan Bridge spins it as a PR disaster for Labour without a shred of public backlash evidence.
Why the slant? Bridge’s piece of tripe reeks of Newstalk ZB’s right-leaning bias, a platform dutifully republishing National’s unhinged talking points until they are blue in the face. His “mad-hatter” and “debt monster” rhetoric mirrors coalition attacks, like National’s “Marxist” jabs at the Greens, the type of insult that only those without an argument resort to. The right-wing hack is just parroting the government’s playbook to try and undermine Labour. His lack of originality or primary sources such as any economic models, or even quoting Chris Hipkins properly, suggests he’s more interested in throwing a bone to National voters rather than reasoned debate. This isn’t journalism; it’s a hit job dressed up as analysis that only the truly deluded extreme right-winger would believe.
Of course Labour and the Greens deserve scrutiny, but Bridge’s cherry-picked “strikes” are built on hot air. Hipkins’ moves are strategic, not blunders, and voters care about real issues like the cost-of-living crisis, accessible housing and properly funded healthcare, not Ryan Bridge’s pathetic and manufactured outrage that NewstalkZB should have thrown in the bin.
