Midday Report Essentials for Friday 6 March 2026

A crisis of confidence looms for National: can Christopher Luxon survive: his party sinks to just 28 percent in the latest Taxpayers Union Curia Poll; And former National Party MP Jackie Blue has left the party after 25 years: we'll talk to her about why she is joining The Opportunity Party; Donald Trump says he should help pick Iran's new leader: we talk to a leading scholar of Iranian history about why he thinks that won't work and what is next for the theocracy as it fights for its life under the fire of Operation Epic Fury ; We wrap up a big week in politics with Paddy Gower.