Political Roundtable

Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos is expected to face competition from fellow Democrats when she seeks re-election next year. That is due to how a signature-gathering controversy dragged down her First Congressional District campaign in 2023. She finished fourth in the 12-way Democratic primary, with just 8% of the vote. But Matos is already staking out the ground to defend her job as lieutenant governor and perhaps one day climb higher in local politics. She's speaking out about immigrant rights and small businesses, and drawing attention to the problem posed by so-called food deserts. The lieutenant governor in Rhode Island has just a few official functions, and some Rhode Islanders question the value of the office. So is Matos now making more of a difference as the state's second ranking elected official? And can people like her do more to tackle Rhode Island's biggest challenges? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos.

Rhode Island's capital city of Providence has experienced dramatic ups and downs over time. These days, the city is still trying to bounce back from the loss of office workers and shrinking foot traffic caused by the pandemic. Providence has a lot of assets, including a strong sense of place, a great restaurant scene and […]

Pawtucket got a recent lift when the city's newish soccer team, Rhode Island FC, played to a sold-out crowd during the home opener at the new stadium there. There are plans for new housing to be built near the Centerville Bank Stadium and boosters of the stadium hope it will catalyze more growth. But Pawtucket has also wrestled with challenges in recent years, including the loss of the PawSox and the closing of Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is causing uncertainty for the state budget outlook as lawmakers approach the end of the legislative session. And the state Senate is working to make up for lost time after a recent change in leadership. Big issues hang in the balance, including a proposed ban on new sales of assault style weapons and a potential tax hike on Rhode Island's richest one percent. So how's the outlook amid uncertainty in DC? And does the new soccer stadium signal brighter days for Pawtucket? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with Pawtucket state Senator Meghan Kallman.

Standing up for civil liberties tends to be a busy job. That's even more true with President Trump pushing the bounds of executive power on a variety of fronts. Trump has raised the focus on deportations, cut funding for elite universities and targeted his opponents. A series of court battles will decide the outcome of some of these conflicts. For now, it's unclear how Trump's second tenure in the White House will change America and if the president and his allies can succeed in moving the country to the right. One group involved in responding is the American Civil Liberties Union. In Rhode Island, the local ACLU chapter has kept a close eye on the General Assembly for years. So can the civil liberties group still do that while standing up to the Trump administration? And how is the outlook for safeguarding civil liberties and small-d democracy? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with executive director of the Rhode Island ACLU Steven Brown.

About 47 percent of registered voters ages 18 to 29 cast ballots in the U.S. presidential election last year. That's less than the overall voting participation of 64 percent, but it shows how young people are playing a bigger role in national elections. At the same time, a recent Harvard Youth Poll found that more than 4 in 10 Americans under age 30 say they're barely getting by financially, and just 15 percent believe the country is headed in the right direction. Fewer than one-third of these young people approve of President Trump or either party in Congress. Here in Rhode Island, organizing by young political activists has waxed and waned over time. So what role can youth groups play in influencing the direction of politics in the state? And what do activists have to say about the dissatisfaction of young people with both major parties? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with chairman of the Rhode Island Young Republicans Ken Naylor and board member of the Young Democrats of Rhode Island Autumn Guillotte.

The median price of a home in Rhode Island is now the once unimaginable sum of almost $500,000. State leaders have tried for a few years to address the housing crisis, and tens of millions of dollars have been directed against the problem. But progress has been slow. The housing crisis began a long time ago, so it's understandable that moving forward takes time. But that offers little solace for people hurt by the high cost and lack of housing they can afford, and the situation restricts efforts to grow Rhode Island's economy. This week, the state unveiled a new plan for adding 15,000 new housing units over the next five years. But some communities have resisted attempts to add more housing. So does the new state plan have the right stuff, and what will it take to make more progress? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with Rhode Island Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard.

The latest showdown involving President Trump centers on whether the White House violated a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” the release of a Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, after he was mistakenly deported to a prison in El Salvador. A federal judge criticized Trump officials earlier this week for not following up on the order. Democrats say the standoff raises vital questions of due process, while the Trump administration accuses Abrego Garcia of being part of the violent MS-13 gang. Trump this week said his administration is also examining the possible deportation of U.S. citizens to El Salvador. So where are things headed if the Trump administration flouts the rule of law? With Elon Musk overseeing sharp cuts to government programs, how should Democrats respond? And how can people concerned about the Trump administration make their voices heard? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with U.S. Senator Jack Reed.

For now, it's unclear if Trump will be able to deliver on his promise to increase prosperity by bringing more manufacturing back to the US. Rodin was a hub of industry 100 years ago, and state leaders have struggled for decades to bolster the state's economy. So is Trump on the right track by trying to wind back globalization or is his approach a recipe for chaos and uncertainty? Does voter discontent with the status quo offer an opening for Rhode Island Republicans, and is Trump's overall approach good or bad for the state. This week on Political Roundtable, Ian Donnis goes in depth with the Republican leader in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Mike Chippendale. 

The amount of money used to operate state government in Rhode Island has grown by 5 and a half billion dollars over the last 10 years, to $14.2 billion. Now, President Trump has put a spotlight on efforts to cut government agencies and reduce federal spending. Critics say Trump is dismantling vital services, while his supporters mostly tout this as a way to cut waste and fraud. The chainsaw approach embraced by Elon Musk is being felt here in Rhode Island, since almost $100 million in federal funding has already been cut. That's a small amount in the context of the state budget. But it renews questions about why Rhode Island's spending plan has grown so much, and whether the state is making effective use of taxpayers' dollars. So does state government have enough of a focus on boosting efficiency and cutting waste? And how will cuts from the Trump administration affect Rhode Island? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Brian Daniels, director of Rhode Island's Office of Management and Budget.

It was almost three years ago when Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana. Supporters praised the move as a way to generate state revenue, keep money from migrating to Massachusetts and ensure a safe product for users. Rhode Island''s approach was touted for including so-called social equity elements to help people hurt by the war on drugs. Three years later, though, the state has yet to move ahead with issuing licenses for 24 new pot shops. There are also questions about the effect of legalizing recreational marijuana. So what does a key state official have to say about driving while stoned? When will Rhode Island actually move ahead with awarding licenses for new pot shops? And will the state's legalization law really live up to the billing about promoting social equity? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Kim Ahern, chairwoman of the state Cannabis Control Commission.

Advocating for low- and moderate-income Rhode Islanders can be an uphill battle during the best of times. Now, with the Trump administration cutting various federal programs, the challenge is steeper. When it comes to promoting economic fairness, progressives have argued for years that the richest Rhode Islanders should pay a little more in taxes. They say their latest proposal would deliver much-needed revenue as Rhode Island once again confronts annual budget deficits far into the future. Executive director of the Economic Progress Institute Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies is among those supporting this approach. But the state budget has grown dramatically over the last 10 years, so should the focus be on finding savings and efficiency before considering new taxes? How will Rhode Island respond if Trump administration policies pose a wallop for low- and moderate-income people? And with legislative leaders unwilling to consider new taxes on the rich, what would it take to convince them to support a change? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with head of the Economic Progress Institute Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies.

State Senator Alana DiMario of Narragansett is a mental health counselor who first won election in 2020. She's one of a number of progressive policy-oriented Democratic women lawmakers who have moved the General Assembly a bit to the left over the last decade. But Rhode Island still faces familiar challenges, including an uneven economy, a tough fiscal outlook and underperforming public schools. In the Rhode Island Senate, change will come at some point since the chamber's president, Dominick Ruggerio, is 76 and recovering from pneumonia. And there's a lot of uncertainty on the national scene, with the Trump administration promoting tariffs, threatening traditional U.S. alliances and remaking the federal government. So how can Rhode Island make progress on crucial issues amid this instability? And what does the future hold for the Rhode Island Senate? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with state Senator Alana DiMario.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is among a number of Democratic attorneys general suing the Trump administration. The litigation covers a range of issues: Elon Musk and his leading role in wielding a chainsaw against the federal government; Trump's attempt to freeze billions in federal funding for the states; and the ability of transgender people to serve in the military. While Neronha is a Democratic elected official, he says these lawsuits are responding to violations of the law. But it's unclear how courts will ultimately respond in our polarized age, particularly if and when cases reach the U.S. Supreme Court, which moved to the right over the last decade. So what happens to the rule of law in the second Trump administration? Are we on the cusp of a constitutional crisis? And how did Democrats fail to win enough support from Americans to maintain control of the White House? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

Republicans are riding high in Washington, with control of the White House, the U.S. Senate and the House. Back here in Rhode Island, the GOP faces a very different situation. The party holds just 14 of 113 legislative seats -- a number that remained unchanged after November's elections. One bright spot for the local GOP: the Republican leader in the Rhode Island Senate, Jessica de la Cruz. She's among the most visible members of her party in the state and she offered a sharp response to Democratic Governor Dan McKee's State of the State address last month. But de la Cruz has not been able to build the Republican presence in the Senate and it's unclear who will represent the GOP in the fast-approaching 2026 race for governor. So what are de la Cruz's plans? Can she form her critique of McKee into legislation? And what does she have to say about Democrats' voluminous criticism of President Trump? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Rhode Island Senate GOP Leader Jessica de la Cruz.

Rhode Island's capital city, Providence, is overwhelmingly Democratic. But that doesn't mean the city is beyond reach of the sweeping changes in government being promoted by President Donald Trump and his supporters. Even under the best of circumstances, Providence struggles to generate enough revenue to pay for city government. And despite decades of talk about the need to improve Providence schools, that goal remains elusive. The man responsible for taking on these challenges is Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. He emphasized a so-called back to basics approach when he won election in 2022. But what can Providence do if cuts in Washington, DC, have a big local impact? Does Smiley have a real plan for improving city schools? And what does the first-term mayor think Democrats need to do to raise their national appeal? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with the mayor of Providence, Brett Smiley.

Rhode Island's largest hospital group, Lifespan, changed its name last June to Brown University Health. The name change and related agreements were billed as a way to improve patient care, medical education and biomedical research in the state. But making headway against Rhode Island's healthcare challenges is more difficult than changing a name. The state suffers from a lack of primary care doctors. Reimbursement rates for Medicaid and Medicare are lower than in neighboring states, putting Rhode Island at a competitive disadvantage. And the Hospital Association of Rhode Island advocacy group warns that Governor Dan McKee's recent budget proposal would hurt hospitals and the patients who rely on them. As president/CEO of Brown University Health, John Fernandez is on the frontline of facing these issues. So can Rhode Island improve healthcare while reducing costs? What is the answer for the state's medical reimbursement problem? And how is the financial outlook for the state's top two hospital groups? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with president/CEO of Brown University Health John Fernandez.

Linda Ujifusa, a Portsmouth Democrat, first won election to the Rhode Island Senate in 2022. As a progressive woman, she exemplifies how the General Assembly has changed over the last 10 years. Ujifusa is a California native and Harvard-educated lawyer. She was among the senators who pushed unsuccessfully during a November caucus for different leadership in the chamber. The concern was that Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, now 76, was dealing with too many health issues to effectively lead the Senate. But Ruggerio maintained the presidency, and some of those who opposed him fell out of favor with his leadership. So can the Senate make progress now on key issues facing Rhode Island? Is there a role for state lawmakers in responding to the Trump administration? And what is the way forward on such issues as healthcare and the environment?

A new era in American politics started with the return of Donald Trump to the White House this week. The effect is already being felt across the country due to a volley of executive orders signed by Trump. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, a Democrat, was an early supporter of Joe Biden in 2020 and he now faces the task of leading the state's response to the Trump administration. During his State of the State address last week, McKee offered a positive message about the future. While it's true that the state hit an all-time high for jobs last year, Rhode Island still faces persistent challenges with issues like the economy, housing, transportation, public schools and technology. This is an important year for McKee, 73, since he hopes to win re-election next year. So does he have the right stuff to move the state forward? And at what point is McKee willing to stand up to Trump?

Elected officials in Rhode Island have been trying to reinvent the state's economy practically since the Great Depression -- and it remains a work in progress. During his State of the State speech on Tuesday, Governor Dan McKee cited an upbeat message. He says Rhode Island is flipping the script on outdated narratives about being an economic laggard. But polling shows Rhode Islanders do not share McKee's optimism about the state being headed in the right direction. The state still lacks the kind of more diversified economy found in Massachusetts. And the possible move out of state by Hasbro shows how unexpected changes can quickly emerge. As president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce since 2005, Laurie White has a front row seat on these issues. So what are the top obstacles to building a better economy -- and does the chamber have any bright ideas for making things better? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Laurie White.

Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi starts 2025 in an enviable position. He has overwhelming support from the members who make up the House of Representatives -- and won re-election as speaker this week with 62 of 75 votes. Shekarchi has more than $3 million in his campaign account -- and that gives the Warwick Democrat a lot of flexibility if Governor Dan McKee decides against seeking re-election next year. But Rhode Island faces a tougher fiscal climate due to the end of federal COVID aid. Shekarchi has spearheaded efforts to create more housing, but progress has been incremental and the cost of a home or apartment remains unaffordable for many people. The state faces other challenges with healthcare and the economy, including the potential loss of the storied toymaker Hasbro. So what would it take to make up more ground on these difficult issues, and do state leaders have the right plan for moving forward?

Ryan Pearson's term as the second-ranking member of the Rhode Island Senate will formally end Tuesday. During a Democratic Senate caucus in November, Pearson lost a challenge to Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, and Senate Whip Val Lawson won the support to take over Pearson's role in the legislative session starting next week. More fallout is expected. All this comes as legislators will wrestle with a big budget deficit and thorny issues including housing, healthcare and the economy. Pearson and his supporters say they were motivated by how Ruggerio, now 76, missed large parts of the last session due to various health issues. But was it a smart play to pursue the challenge against Rhode Island's longest-serving lawmaker, and will that hurt the Senate's ability to get things done in the new session?

Almost 66 percent of Rhode Island voters approved a November ballot question asking if they wanted to borrow $120 million to create more housing. But there are also signs around the state of a housing backlash, with some residents and local officials opposing the development needed to expand the housing stock. And the median price of a home in Rhode Island is now $480,000, about 12% higher than one year earlier. Here we are as the state tries to dig its way out of a housing crisis that developed over many years. As executive director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island, Melina Lodge is on the frontlines of this issue. The network is a membership group for agencies committed to developing affordable housing. How does the high cost of housing affect Rhode Island? And do advocates like Lodge have a strategy for overcoming obstacles? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with head of the Housing Network of Rhode Island Melina Lodge.

Rhode Island's two-member U.S. House delegation has turned over in the last few years. In the Second District, Congressman Jim Langevin dropped a surprise announcement in 2022 that he would not seek re-election after 22 years in office. Then First District Congressman David Cicilline, initially elected in 2010, made his unexpected departure last year. That latter move opened the door for Gabe Amo, a son of West African immigrants, to become the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress. Along the way, the moderate pro-business candidate beat 10 primary rivals. But Amo now faces being part of the minority party in Washington as Democrats adjust to the new reality of Donald Trump's second term in the White House. What does this Pawtucket native think his party needs to do differently to find its way back? How does Amo expect the Trump administration to affect the federal government? And what level of responsibility does he assign Democrats for the party's struggles?

The intense downpours causing more street flooding in the region in recent years reflect the impact of climate change. At the other end of the weather spectrum, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee this week issued a statewide drought advisory. But there's some good news when it comes to the health of Narragansett Bay. Water quality has improved so much that Crescent Park Beach in East Providence will be reopened as a swimmable beach in 2026, after more than a century of non-use. Jed Thorp is on the frontlines of these issues as director of advocacy for Save The Bay. The nonprofit environmental organization was founded in 1970 to protect Narragansett Bay. More than a half-century later, Rhode Island continues to wrestle with myriad environmental issues. So how does Thorp see the outlook, and is Rhode Island prepared for the environmental future? Political reporter Ian Donnis goes in-depth with Thorp on this week's episode of Political Roundtable.

Nirva LaFortune emerged on Rhode Island's political scene in 2017. That's when she won a special election to represent Ward 3 on the East Side on the Providence City Council. LaFortune brought a new perspective and she was the first Haitian-American to win political office in Rhode Island. Five years later, in 2022, LaFortune placed third while running for mayor of Providence. She now serves as executive director of City Year Providence, a nonprofit that recruits young adults for a year of service in the Providence schools. Last year, 24 City Year Providence Americorps members served full-time in six city schools, reaching thousands of students. So what does she think it will take to improve the Providence schools after years of talk? What are LaFortune's reflections on her time on the City Council? And where does she think Democrats went wrong in taking on Donald Trump, now the president-elect? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with executive director of City Year Providence Nirva LaFortune.

Rhode Island voters recently approved $73 million in borrowing to enhance the Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College. The 60% vote in favor of Question 2 underscores public confidence in the idea that education can help improve the local economy. Voters also approved $87 million for a life sciences center at URI. At Rhode Island College, the man leading the charge is Jack Warner. He is being inaugurated today as RIC's permanent president after more than two years as interim leader. Warner takes on the role at a time when many Americans wrestle with college-related debt. And with the Trump administration vowing to eliminate the federal Department of Education, Republicans and some other critics believe colleges in America have moved too far to the left. How will these issues affect Rhode Island? Can Rhode Island College really play a bigger role in the state's economy? And what is Jack Warner's strategic vision for RIC? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with president of Rhode Island College Jack Warner.

Megan Cotter is a progressive Democratic state representative who first won election by just 32 votes in 2022. Republicans had high hopes this week of winning back Cotter's seat, since voters in her district in Exeter, Richmond and Hopkinton lean conservative. But Cotter scored an eight-point victory over former Republican Representative Justin Price, winning the race by about 700 votes. She was victorious even though Donald Trump this week had his best Rhode Island performance yet and beat Kamala Harris in the three communities making up Cotter's district. So what does the outcome tell us about how Democrats can compete more effectively in the Trump era? How did Cotter overcome her challenges as a candidate? And where does she think Democrats should go from here? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with state Representative Megan Cotter.

Americans will finish voting Tuesday, although it remains unclear when a winner will be declared in the presidential race. It's a more low-key election in Rhode Island, where the race for mayor of Cranston is among the top races. But a close vote is expected on ballot Question 1, which could set the stage for Rhode Island to hold its first constitutional convention since 1986. And next week's election is a prelude to 2026, when Rhode Islanders will vote for governor and other statewide offices. So what do the current political headwinds mean for Governor Dan McKee? How would a Trump administration affect Rhode Island? And even if the state does stage a constitutional convention, would it make a real difference? This week on Political Roundtable, we have an in-depth election preview with two fellow political reporters, senior reporter with the Rhode Island Current Nancy Lavin and politics editor for WPRI-TV, Channel 12, Ted Nesi.

Americans' confidence in elections has been shaken in recent years -- at least for *some*. Donald Trump's false narrative about a stolen election in 2020 has led many of his supporters to doubt the integrity of the process. That's despite evidence given by elections officials and even some members of Trump's administration that the vote was free and fair. With a looming climax to the tight presidential race, the issue of election integrity is likely to surge front and center in the weeks ahead. As Rhode Island's chief elections officer, Secretary of State Gregg Amore is on the frontlines of questions involving voting rights and fair elections. So what is he expecting? How should we combat lies and misinformation about elections? And if one man can popularize a phony narrative about the democratic process, what would it mean if that person regains the White House? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore.

Donald Trump has vowed to go after his political enemies if he wins the presidential election. The U.S. Justice Department is part of the executive branch, so if Trump wins, he would have significant influence over what happens. Closer to home, the timeline for rebuilding the westbound Washington Bridge remains uncertain, although it's likely to take longer than originally expected. And the healthcare landscape in Rhode Island faces a series of challenges, ranging from lower reimbursement rates than in Connecticut and Massachusetts and precarious finances for some hospitals. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha intersects with all of these issues. As a former top federal prosecutor in the state, Neronha previously worked for the Justice Department. He's been an outspoken critic of Governor Dan McKee and his handling of the bridge. And Neronha has been one of the most vocal officials in the state in talking about the need for more urgency in confronting Rhode Island's healthcare challenges. So what does Neronha think about what justice would look like in a Trump administration? What would he do differently on the bridge? And since term limits preventing him from seeking re-election in 2026, what is next for the longtime prosecutor? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

Morgan, a Republican, says she would fight for her constituents and she's trying to capitalize on issues like inflation and immigration. But Whitehouse has vanquished a series of rivals since first winning his Senate seat by beating Lincoln Chafee, a Republican at the time, in 2006. When former state Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders ran […]

When Hamas attacked Israel last October 7th, it raised concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East. This week, Iran fired more than 180 missiles into Israel, in response to Israel's assassination of the head of Hezbollah. The question now is how Israel will respond … and whether the Middle East can step back from the brink of an intensifying war. Providence Journal columnist Mark Patinkin is no stranger to the region. He traveled to the Middle East after the first intifada in the late 80s and returned this year. His conversations with Israelis and Palestinians became part of Patinkin's latest book, “The Holy Land at War: A Journey Through the West Bank, Israel and Gaza.” Patinkin has been a columnist at the ProJo since 1979. Forty-five years later, he's still at it, writing with a mix of humor and outrage about different aspects of life in Rhode Island. So how does Pantikin view the outlook for stepping back from the precipice of wider violence in the Middle East? Does he think Rhode Island politicians are up to the task of building a stronger economy? And how does the longtime columnist feel about the evolving media landscape in the state? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with columnist for The Providence Journal Mark Pantikin.

Rhode Island faces a growing shortage of primary care doctors. Medical specialists make more money than primary care doctors, and the economic conditions for physicians are better in Massachusetts and Connecticut. This is why a legislative panel is studying whether it would help to create a state medical school at the University of Rhode Island. There are a host of other healthcare-related challenges in the state, including the difficult fiscal outlook for some hospitals and Rhode Island's heavy reliance on public payers like Medicare and Medicaid. State Senator Pamela Lauria, a Barrington Democrat, has a front-row seat on these issues since she's a nurse practitioner for Coastal Medical, a primary care practice serving more than 100,000 patients. Lauria is also co-chair of the legislative commission studying the potential of a possible state med school at URI. So what is the freshman senator's prescription for improving healthcare in Rhode Island? As an East Bay resident, how does Lauria assess Governor McKee's performance on the Washington Bridge issue? And as a Democrat and longtime gun safety activist, what is her explanation for why Donald Trump remains a competitive presidential candidate? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with state Senator Pamela Lauria.

Rhode Island's housing crisis is a tough nut to crack. Even though hundreds of millions of dollars have been allocated to promote new housing, progress has been slow and the cost of housing keeps going up. This is a key issue for the future of the state, since Rhode Island needs more housing if the state's economy is going to grow. There are other worrisome signs on the economic front. The iconic toy-maker Hasbro is considering moving its headquarters and hundreds of jobs elsewhere. And the state's fiscal outlook suggests a return to the perennial deficits that in the past have typically greeted lawmakers at the start of every General Assembly session. So what can be done to accelerate progress on housing? Why does Rhode Island still lack engines of new job growth? And what does a respected housing advocate make of all this as she prepares to leave her longtime job? This week on Political Roundtable, an exit interview with president/CEO of nonprofit developer ONE Neighborhood Builders Jennifer Hawkins.

Tuesday's Rhode Island primary featured a rare spotlight on Republican candidates. Cranston was the scene of a hard-fought mayoral campaign — one of the few places in the state with such high-profile GOP competition. The losing candidate, Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, has been a bright spot for the Rhode Island GOP, but she's been taken off […]

The former Providence Journal reporter Elliot Jaspin once called Rhode Island a theme park for journalists. The same could be said for advocates of good government. Although there have been fewer cases of public corruption in recent years, issues of government accountability and transparency remain front and center. One person closely monitoring these issues is John Marion, who has served as executive director of Common Cause of Rhode Island since 2008. He keeps a watchful eye on state government and spends long hours at the Statehouse monitoring the General Assembly. Over time, Marion and predecessors including Phil West have been an important voice for reform in Rhode Island. But is that enough when many people believe democracy is on the ballot this November? What is the effect when Donald Trump perpetuates a false narrative about crooked elections? And why are we not seeing more robust competition for legislative seats in Rhode Island? This week on Political Roundtable, political reporter Ian Donnis goes in-depth with head of Common Cause of Rhode Island, John Marion.

U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner faces a very different election landscape than when he won his congressional seat in 2022. Although Republicans had high hopes, Magaziner beat GOP candidate Alan Fung two years ago by just under four percentage points. This time around, Magaziner faces token opposition, but it's unclear if Democrats will be able to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate may be up for grabs, and polls show a close presidential race between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. Magaziner describes Trump and the election deniers who support him as a threat to democracy. So how should Democrats respond if Trump wins in November and their fears come to fruition? What does Harris need to do to overcome voters' concerns about inflation and other issues? And how does Magaziner see the outlook for strengthening democracy in the US and abroad? This week on Political Roundtable, The Public's Radio political reporter Ian Donnis goes in-depth with the congressman from Rhode Island's 2nd District.

Violent crime in most American cities has generally trended down for decades, except for an uptick during the pandemic. There were 14 homicides in Providence last year, far less than the comparable number in the 1990s and 2000s. The waning of the crack epidemic is part of the explanation for why there's less violent crime in America than in the past. Providence and some other cities have also seen the introduction of nonprofit groups that send streetworkers to promote peace, disrupt conflicts among young people, and offer a connection between the community and the police. The Nonviolence Institute was formed more than 20 years ago and it has become a vital part of the response in Providence. The founding director, Teny Gross, now leads a similar effort in Chicago. And the first woman director of the Nonviolence Institute, Lisa Pina-Warren, was appointed to that role last month. So how is Providence doing in addressing the roots of violent crime? And what would it take to make a bigger impact? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with executive director of the Nonviolence Institute Lisa Pina-Warren.

Keep your eye on Dawn Euer, the Democratic state senator from Newport. She's a potential candidate for attorney general in 2026, along with state Representatives Jason Knight and Robert Craven. Euer is also someone who may be able to move up in Senate leadership next year. The Newport progressive first won office in 2017, when she got more than 60 percent of the vote in a four-way special election. In the time since, she's sponsored a series of bills on healthcare, the environment and other issues. Euer is part of a rising generation of younger leaders in the state, and her time in the Senate has coincided with the chamber's move somewhat to the left. But Rhode Island still faces a host of thorny challenges, from replacing the Washington Bridge to managing a more difficult fiscal outlook. So what does Euer say about the state's ability to take on tough issues? How does she hope to channel her energy in the future? And are state lawmakers bringing enough urgency to the changes needed to improve Rhode Island? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Senator Dawn Euer, chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The amount of U.S. spending on healthcare reached four and a half trillion dollars in 2022, or about $14,000 per person. Despite such massive spending, many aspects of American healthcare are marred by problems. There's the shortage of primary care doctors. An emphasis on treating disease rather than promoting long-term health. Locally, doctors can make more in neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut than they can in Rhode Island. And the state's hospitals are overly dependent on Medicare and Medicaid, rather than the more lucrative reimbursement paid by private insurers. This adds up to a series of complicated challenges, if not a worsening crisis. State government has started making some efforts to respond, but these remain at an early stage. So what will it take to put healthcare in Rhode Island on a better footing? Does the state have too many hospitals? And is it possible to create a system more responsive to everyday people than insurance companies and healthcare executives? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with author, community activist and former state Health Director Dr. Michael Fine.

State Representative Justine Caldwell personifies some of the significant changes that have swept over the General Assembly in the last decade. In 2018, Caldwell, a Democrat, ousted the Republican incumbent in an East Greenwich-based district, Anthony Giarrusso. That change reflects how the legislature has moved a bit to the left and how the former GOP stronghold of East Greenwich now generally elects more Democrats. Caldwell is a fierce supporter of new restrictions on guns. Her time in the General Assembly has coincided with a reduction in the number of pro-gun Democrats. As a result, a series of related measures have become law in recent years, including a House bill sponsored by Caldwell requiring the safe storage of firearms. So how does Caldwell respond to people who believe more laws are the wrong approach? What's her view on what Democrats need to do differently to win over more working class voters? And can a prescription choice bill she sponsored overcome the monopolistic power of pharmacy benefit managers? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with state Representative Justine Caldwell.

Until recently, Steve Frias of Cranston held one of the top posts in the Rhode Island Republican Party -- national committeeman. Frias decided to not seek re-election for that role because he does not support Donald Trump, now the GOP nominee for president. Frias is among a small number of Rhode Island Republicans who have publicly repudiated Trump, and he's been more outspoken than most in calling out the former president's false claims about a stolen election in 2020. So does Frias share Democrats' concerns about Trump's possible return to the White House? What about Trump's pick of JD Vance as his running mate and the theatrics at the RNC in Milwaukee this week? And does the Cranston Republican have any bright ideas for how to improve the meager GOP legislative representation in Rhode Island? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with local historian, past legislative candidate and former Rhode Island GOP National Committeeman Steve Frias.

Presidential threats to democracy are nothing new. Our second president, John Adams, outlawed dissent and tried to prosecute his critics. Andrew Johnson's presidency featured threats against his perceived opponents, and Richard Nixon engaged in a criminal conspiracy. But there are some key differences in our current moment. In a recent decision, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded presidential power, and groups aligned with Donald Trump, like the Heritage Foundation, have ambitious plans for remaking the federal government. As Democrats wrestle with doubts about President Joe Biden, what is the outlook for American democracy? Are the traditional checks and balances of our system out of whack? And does the way in which Americans responded to overreaching presidents in the past offer clues for the future? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in-depth with Brown University political science professor Corey Brettschneider, author of “The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend it.”