As Howard did with the Tampa and 9/11, Ardern has done with COVID. Howard first stoked fear and then rallied voters ‘round the flag. This is exactly the same playbook that delivered Ardern’s thumping 2020 win.

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Punk rock philosopher. Liberalist contrarian. Grumpy old bastard. I grew up in a generational-Labor-voting family. I kept the faith long after the political left had abandoned it. In the last decade...