HELLO, YOU IDIOTS.

Welcome to the first Spin Cycle dispatch. One email a week, the political news read closely so you don't have to, and no begging for the algorithm.

This week ran on a single word: "technically". Corporate tax came in $700 million above forecast and the Government is technically correct that the economy is improving, for the people who file corporate tax returns. Immigration NZ handed back $44,000 in fines it was technically not allowed to issue. Parliament technically read 23 bills in 80 hours. And the Foreign Minister was technically united with the Prime Minister on a trade deal they publicly disagree about. Here's the week in full.

THIS WEEK'S SPIN

Government Books Improving, Your Books Not Consulted Corporate tax came in $700 million above forecast. Households are invited to feel the recovery at their earliest convenience.

Immigration NZ Refunds $44k in Fines Nobody Was Authorised to Issue The fines were real. The payments were real. The authority to issue them was, on review, not.

Parliament Passes 23 Bills in 80 Hours, Scrutiny Reportedly Doing Fine Urgency exists for emergencies, which is why it is now used for everything.

Foreign Minister Unavailable for Foreign Affairs, PM Relaxed About It The first Indian prime ministerial visit in 40 years. The Foreign Minister will be elsewhere.

Pay Gap Reporting 'Worth a Conversation', Says Man Declining to Commit to One A phrase from the same family as "watching it closely" and "not ruling anything out".

Road Cone Crackdown 'Gathers Pace', Presumably Through a 30km/h Zone NZTA says the new approach has already saved $46 million, raising questions about what the cones were earning before.

DEEP DIVE

How to Read a Political Poll Without Being Had A single poll is a snapshot with a margin of error most headlines quietly ignore. This is how to spot the difference between a real shift and statistical noise dressed up as news. Two more explainers are up as well: a field guide to MMP, and a taxonomy of the New Zealand political apology.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE, YOU IDIOTS.

Counterspun Media. Where truth doesn't matter, and facts and evidence just go up in flames.