Podcast: Why national security is missing from the election campaign
Dr Oliver Hartwich
Major General John G Howard, MNZM (Ret)
20 October, 2026
In this episode, Oliver talks with Major General (Ret) John Howard about the White House reversing its own sanctions to import Russian diesel and pressuring Ukraine to replace its president, even as Russia continues striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. They discuss the protests and debt pressure destabilising France, and what a weakening Europe would mean for New Zealand's trade and energy. They end by questioning why national security and defence policy have been missing from the election campaign.