This week on Newsmakers: House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, D-Warwick, responds to Governor McKee's criticism of the budget bill, explains his decision on the assault weapons law, shares his latest thinking on a run for governor and more.
Jun 27, 2025•23 min•Ep. 332
This week on Newsmakers: Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by The Providence Journal's Patrick Anderson and Rhode Island Current's Nancy Lavin to break down the $14.3 billion state budget and peel back the curtain on the closing week of this year's General Assembly session.
Jun 20, 2025•23 min•Ep. 331
This week on Newsmakers: Cindy Coyne, a newly announced Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, discusses why she's running; then, Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by political strategist Cara Cromwell to break down some of the latest headlines.
Jun 13, 2025•23 min•Ep. 330
A new book explores how the wealthy and politically powerful have attempted to leverage the courts to chill press freedoms. This week: New York Times Deputy Investigations Editor David Enrich, author of 'Murder the Truth: Fear, The First Amendment, and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful'
Jun 05, 2025•23 min•Ep. 329
This week on Newsmakers: Attorney General Peter Neronha talks about his sweeping new health care proposals, his political future, litigating against the Trump administration, the Aaron Thomas case and more.
May 30, 2025•23 min•Ep. 328
This week on Newsmakers: Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by Target 12's Eli Sherman and Alexandra Leslie to break down the week in the news, including flag and budget controversies at Providence City Hall, the U.S. House reconciliation bill, next year's World Cup and more.
May 23, 2025•23 min•Ep. 327
This week on Newsmakers: Senate President Val Lawson and Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone make their first appearance since winning the race to succeed the late Dominick Ruggerio. The two Democrats discuss their backgrounds, their policy priorities, the budget, the proposed Assault Weapons Ban Act and much more.
May 16, 2025•23 min•Ep. 326
Reporters Tim White, Eli Sherman and Amanda Milkovits break down testimony in the criminal trial of Aaron Thomas, including testimony from the defendant. This episode was recorded on location from outside Washington Superior Court in South Kingstown.
May 12, 2025•23 min•Ep. 325
This week on Newsmakers: Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos reveals she almost stepped down from her position two years ago amid the signature scandal that derailed her campaign for Congress in a one-on-one with Kim Kalunian; then, state Sens. Val Lawson and Frank Ciccone were elected as senate president and majority leader, respectively, after the death of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio....
May 03, 2025•23 min•Ep. 324
Apr 25, 2025•23 min•Ep. 323
This week on Newsmakers: Dr. Mariah Stump and Dr. Thomas Bledsoe of the Rhode Island Medical Society discuss the closure of Anchor Medical and how to address the state's primary care crisis; plus, Kim Kalunian talks one-on-one with House Speaker Joe Shekarchi.
Apr 18, 2025•23 min•Ep. 322
This week on Newsmakers: Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by The Providence Journal's Patrick Anderson and Rhode Island Current's Nancy Lavin to break down the week in the news, including tariffs and the stock market, the closure of Anchor Medical, State House happenings, the state's new Catholic bishop and more.
Apr 11, 2025•23 min•Ep. 321
URI President Marc Parlange joins us to talk about the state of higher education and the school's recent achievements. In the second half, Eli Sherman and Tim White look at the Aaron Thomas trial underway in Washington County Superior Court.
Apr 04, 2025•23 min•Ep. 320
This week on Newsmakers: Rhode Island Congressman Seth Magaziner discusses President Trump's first two months in office, the Signal chat scandal, divides among Democrats, his change of plans on moving to his district and more.
Mar 28, 2025•23 min•Ep. 319
This week on Newsmakers: Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by The Boston Globe's Steph Machado for a look at the latest headlines; then, a preview of next week's special coverage commemorating the 70th anniversary of WPRI 12, featuring vintage clips from Newsmakers' nearly half-century on the air
Mar 21, 2025•23 min•Ep. 318
This week on Newsmakers: Brown Health CEO John Fernandez and Care New England CEO Dr. Michael Wagner discuss their opposition to the governor's budget bill, how to get more Medicaid funding for Rhode Island, the future of their hospitals and more.
Mar 14, 2025•23 min•Ep. 317
This week on Newsmakers: Marc Dunkelman, a fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute, discusses his new book "Why Nothing Works" and what Democrats need to do to run government more effectively; plus, Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by 12 News political analyst Joe Fleming to break down Gov. Dan McKee's campaign launch video.
Mar 07, 2025•23 min•Ep. 316
This week on Newsmakers: Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz and House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale discuss their legislative priorities at the State House, the GOP's ongoing struggles in Assembly races, the first month of the new Trump administration and more.
Feb 28, 2025•23 min•Ep. 315
This week on Newsmakers: Rhode Island Congressman Gabe Amo discusses how Democrats are handling the new Trump administration, pushback from both sides of the aisle, the upcoming budget fight and more.
Feb 21, 2025•23 min•Ep. 314
This week on Newsmakers: Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard discusses the state's new goal for adding more houses and apartments, how she'll address community opposition, the pallet shelters and more; plus, Kim Kalunian's one-on-one interview with Gov. Dan McKee about President Trump, Hasbro, his reelection and more.
Feb 14, 2025•23 min•Ep. 313
This week on Newsmakers: Maj. Gen. Christopher Callahan sits down with 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian for an exit interview during his final days leading the Rhode Island National Guard; then, Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by The Providence Journal's Patrick Anderson to break down how the local congressional delegation is responding to President Trump's early moves.
Feb 07, 2025•23 min•Ep. 312
This week on Newsmakers: Attorney General Peter Neronha discusses his office's early legal challenges against the new Trump administration on federal funding and immigration, as well as the future of Roger Williams and Fatima hospitals, the Washington Bridge, politics and more.
Jan 31, 2025•23 min•Ep. 311
This week on Newsmakers: Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux discusses President Trump's new policies on immigration, how his agency currently handles the issue, politics and more; then, Kim Kalunian talks one-on-one with former White House press secretary Sean Spicer about what he expects from the new administration.
Jan 24, 2025•23 min•Ep. 310
This week on Newsmakers: Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by The Boston Globe's Steph Machado and The Providence Journal's Patrick Anderson for a reporters' roundtable on Gov. Dan McKee's State of the State speech and his newly release $14 billion state budget bill.
Jan 17, 2025•23 min•Ep. 309
This week on Newsmakers: House Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Majority Leader Chris Blazejewski discuss the new General Assembly session, the budget deficit, housing and homelessness, truck tolls, the Washington Bridge, politics and more.
Jan 10, 2025•23 min•Ep. 308
This week on Newsmakers: Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi discusses his recent reelection victory, the funding crisis in the city schools, new housing construction, the airport and more; then, Target 12's Eli Sherman joins Tim White and Ted Nesi to discuss the cyberattack on a state IT system.
Jan 03, 2025•23 min•Ep. 307
This week on Newsmakers: a New Year's reporters roundtable looks back at the top local news of 2024 and ahead to what will make headlines in 2025. Ted Nesi is joined by Dan McGowan, Antonia Noori Farzan and Ian Donnis.
Dec 27, 2024•23 min•Ep. 306
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a sweeping civil case against CVS this week, alleging unlawful prescriptions that fueled opioid crisis. Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha talks about that case, his future as new presidential administration is poised to take over, and what he expects with a Trump-era DOJ.
Dec 20, 2024•23 min•Ep. 305
This week on Newsmakers: Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO David Cicilline discusses the organization's newly released five-year plan, his priorities for 2025, politics and more; plus, Attorney General Peter Neronha talks to Kim Kalunian about the Washington Bridge, his political future and more.
Dec 13, 2024•23 min•Ep. 304
This week on Newsmakers: former Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, the honorary Massachusetts chairman of President-elect Trump's campaign, discusses the incoming administration's immigration policy and why Trump did so well in Bristol County; plus, Target 12's Eli Sherman and Globe RI's Steph Machado join Tim White and Ted Nesi to discuss the one-year anniversary of the Washington Bridge closure and the Providence Place mall's turnaround plan.
Dec 06, 2024•23 min•Ep. 303