Ian Donnis: Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, welcome back to The Public’s Radio. Joe Shekarchi: Always a pleasure to be here, Ian. Donnis: Rhode Island has an estimated $610 million surplus headed into the next fiscal year. How can the state best use that money? Shekarchi: Well, I don’t like to call it a […] The post Political Roundtable: Shekarchi on legislative priorities, a $610 million budget surplus and more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Dec 16, 2022•4 min
Rhode Island moves ahead with legal adult-use recreational cannabis. Plus, the problem of hunger in the Ocean State. The post Political Roundtable: Matt Santacroce, head of RI’s Office of Cannabis Regulation; Andrew Schiff, CEO of RI Community Food Bank appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Dec 02, 2022•3 min
State Representative Gregg Amore, an East Providence Democrat, won election last week as Rhode Island’s next secretary of state. He will succeed outgoing Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea in January. Amore stopped by our studio to discuss his approach to the office, the issue of denialism in elections and more. The post Political Roundtable: Secretary of State-elect Gregg Amore appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Nov 18, 2022•4 min
Democrats defied expectations in the midterm election that ended Tuesday. In Rhode Island, Seth Magaziner shocked Republican Allan Fung by winning the open seat in the Second Congressional District, and as expected, Governor Dan McKee defeated GOP rival Ashley Kalus. Democrats pretty much ran the table in Rhode Island. But Republicans are expected to win control of the U.S. House, and that would mean big obstacles for President Biden’s agenda in Congress. Both parties will fight for advantage in...
Nov 11, 2022•7 min
Rhode Islanders will decide a series of key political races when the current campaign season ends Tuesday. Will Allan Fung become the first Republican to win a U.S. House seat in Rhode Island in about 30 years? And will Democratic Governor Dan McKee win a full four-year term? And what does the relatively tepid turnout of mid-term elections say about the health of our democracy? The end of the election next week is a prelude to the 2024 presidential contest, and this comes at a time of heightened...
Nov 04, 2022•7 min
The race in Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District continues to heat up, with a flurry of new campaign ads this week, more national coverage and a visit by First Lady Jill Biden. There are now less than two weeks before voters choose between Democrat Seth Magaziner and Republican Allan Fung. All indications point to a close race, although Fung has had a small lead in a series of polls. The longtime former mayor of Cranston hopes to become the first Republican to represent Rhode Island in C...
Oct 28, 2022•7 min
IAN DONNIS: Welcome to Political Roundtable: Election 2022. Fewer than three weeks remain until voters will choose a new congressman in Rhode Island’s Second District. The battle between Republican Allan Fung and Democrat Seth Magaziner has attracted national attention. That’s because both parties are pressing for control of the U.S. House. And Fung, the longtime […] The post On Political Roundtable: Election 2022, Democratic CD2 candidate Seth Magaziner; Michael DiBiase on RI’s education crisis...
Oct 21, 2022•7 min
IAN DONNIS: Welcome to Political Roundtable, Election 2022. The top responsibility of the Rhode Island general treasurer is managing the state pension fund. But the General Treasurer’s Office also serves as a political springboard. The latest example is how the current treasurer Seth Magaziner, is running for Congress in the second district. Two candidates with […] The post On Political Roundtable: Election 2022, General Treasurer candidates James Lathrop and James Diossa; and a new documentary ...
Oct 14, 2022•7 min
The last Republican lieutenant governor in Rhode Island was Bernie Jackvony – and he was appointed to fill that role back in the late 1990s. And a lot of people question whether Rhode Island really needs a lieutenant governor. That question notwithstanding, Dan McKee was in the right place at the right time when, thanks to his being lieutenant governor, he succeeded Gina Raimondo as governor in March 2021. McKee ran a contest to come up with the next lieutenant governor, and he chose Providence ...
Oct 07, 2022•7 min
The Democratic mainstream in the Rhode Island General Assembly was typified for years by lawmakers who opposed abortion rights and supported gun rights. Over time, that began to change. Grassroots energy fueled the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2013. Six years later, in 2019, Rhode Island passed a state-based law protecting abortion rights. And earlier this year, the ruling Democrats on Smith Hill backed bills imposing new restrictions on guns. At the same time, voters earlier this month ...
Sep 30, 2022•7 min
This week, I’m going one on one with Ashley Kalus. I’ll talk with one of the leading legislative supporters of ranked choice voting. And we’ll hear about the role diversity plays in the Westerly political arena. The post On Political Roundtable: Election 2022, GOP candidate for governor Ashley Kalus; the appeal of ranked choice voting; and more from Westerly with One Square Mile appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Sep 23, 2022•7 min
Welcome to Political Roundtable: Election 2022. For this election season, we’re presenting a half-hour weekly show exploring the key races, the issues in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, and we’ll hear from you, the voters, about what’s most important to you in this election year. The post On Political Roundtable: Election 2022, an interview with Brett Smiley; journalists analyze RI primary results; One Square Mile takes us to Westerly appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Sep 16, 2022•7 min
This election season, we’ll be presenting a half-hour weekly show exploring the key races and the issues in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, and we’ll hear from you, the voters, about what’s most important to you in this election year. The post Political Roundtable: Election 2022 debuts with Elorza Q&A, MA primary results, preview of RI primary appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Sep 09, 2022•7 min
This week on Political Roundtable, we hear from a progressive RI Senate candidate and the GOP leader in that chamber. First up, Jennifer Rourke, a co-founder of the RI Political Cooperative. She’s making her third run for the state Senate as a Democrat from Warwick. Later, we’ll hear from RI Senate Minority Leader Jessica de […] The post Political Roundtable: Rourke and de la Cruz on the RI Senate appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Sep 02, 2022•4 min
The guest on Political Roundtable this week is RI House Speaker Joe Shekarchi (D-Warwick). Shekarchi won election to what is often called the most powerful role in state government in 2021. The speaker has significant influence over state spending and related issues. Here’s a transcript of the interview: Ian Donnis: Rhode Island House Speaker Joe […] The post Political Roundtable: Shekarchi on housing, abortion, the race for governor + more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Aug 26, 2022•4 min
State Rep. Michael Chippendale (R-Foster), who became the Republican leader in the Rhode Island House of Representatives earlier this year, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include Chippendale’s priorities, the outlook for GOP legislative candidates, CD2 Republican Allan Fung’s visits with U.S. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, and more. Republicans hold […] The post Political Roundtable: Chippendale on the ’22 campaign season, GOP priorities, and Fung’s visits with McCa...
Aug 19, 2022•4 min
James Diossa, one of two Democrats running in the Sept. 13 primary for general treasurer is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Diossa is the former mayor of Central Falls and he was the first Latino to hold that post. His primary opponent is former state Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor. Here’s a transcript of […] The post Political Roundtable: Diossa on his run for RI general treasurer appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Aug 12, 2022•14 min
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is the guest this week on the Political Roundtable. Topics include his primary battle with four other leading Democrats, his record as governor, controversies involving the ILO Group and former chief of staff Tony Silva and more. Here is a transcript of the uncut version of the interview. (The audio […] The post Political Roundtable: McKee on his campaign, Pawtucket soccer stadium, AG’s Silva report and more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Aug 05, 2022•5 min
Stefan Pryor, one of two Democrats running to be RI’s next general treasurer, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Pryor recently stepped down after seven-plus years as the state’s top economic development official. He faces a Sept. 13 primary with former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, who will appear on Political Roundtable in […] The post Political Roundtable: Pryor on Tidewater Landing, Superman building & his run for general treasurer appeared first on TPR: The Public's Rad...
Jul 29, 2022•14 min
Democratic candidate for governor Nellie Gorbea, Rhode Island’s secretary of state, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Topics include her case for the job, her approach on jobs, education and healthcare, and what steps should be taken to ensure the future of American democracy. Gorbea is among five major Democrats seeking to be […] The post Political Roundtable: Gorbea on her case for RI governor appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jul 22, 2022•4 min
Helena Buonanno Foulkes, one of five major Democratic candidates for governor, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Topics include the economy, education, the race for governor, and much more. This is Buonanno Foulkes’ second appearance on Political Roundtable. You can listen to the first here. Here is a transcript of this week’s interview: […] The post Political Roundtable: Buonanno Foulkes on jobs, education, the race for governor & more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio...
Jul 08, 2022•14 min
Rhode Island General Treasurer, a Democrat running in the 2nd Congressional District, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include a new Boston Globe poll and his potential November showdown with Republican Allan Fung. Magaziner is serving his second term as general treasurer. IAN DONNIS: General treasurer Seth Magaziner. Welcome back to […] The post Political Roundtable: Magaziner on CD2 race, Globe poll, a showdown with Fung & more appeared first on TPR: The Public's ...
Jul 01, 2022•4 min
Sarah Morgenthau, one of six Democrats running for an open seat in Rhode Isalnd’s 2nd Congressional District, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Topics include why she’s running, questions about her residency in Rhode Island, what she thinks accountability should look like for January 6 and more. The primary is September 13. The post Political Roundtable: Morgenthau on her run in CD2, RI residency, January 6 & more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jun 24, 2022•13 min
Republicans have struggled to win more elective offices in Rhode Island, but the GOP hopes this year will be different. Today on Political Roundtable, we hear from two Republican candidates, James Lathrop, who is running for general treasurer and Jeann Lugo, who wants to be lieutenant governor. The post RI GOP candidates James Lathrop and Jeann Lugo appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jun 17, 2022•4 min
The former director of communications to Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo is running on the Democratic side for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District. The post Political Roundtable: Joy Fox, Democratic candidate for RI CD-2 appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .
Jun 10, 2022•4 min
Allan Fung is running for an open seat in Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District. The Republican former mayor of Cranston talks with Ian Donnis for this week’s Political Roundtable. Topics include: The post Political Roundtable: Fung on abortion, inflation, and his bid for RI’s second congressional district appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jun 02, 2022•4 min
Providence Public Safety Commission Steven Pare is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Topics include: The distinctly American problem of mass shootings; The low death rate from guns in Rhode Island; Whether Providence police should be moving ahead with a plan to use license plate readers. The post Political Roundtable: Pare on mass shootings, gun legislation, and license plate readers appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
May 27, 2022•4 min
David Segal, one of six Democrats running for an open seat in Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Segal served four years each as a city councilor and a state rep before helping to establish the activist group Demand Progress. Topics covered in the interview include: — Why […] The post Political Roundtable: Segal on inflation, changing government and his run in RI’s Second Congressional District appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
May 20, 2022•4 min
Gonzalo Cuervo is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. With Nirva LaFortune, Brett Smiley and Michael Solomon, Cuervo is one of the four Democrats running to be the next mayor of Providence. The election will be decided through a primary on September 13. Topics covered in the interview include Providence’s under-funded pension plan, the […] The post Political Roundtable: Cuervo on gentrification, Providence pension, schools and the ‘Superman Building’ plan appeared first on TPR: The Publ...
May 13, 2022•4 min
State Rep. Deb Ruggiero (D-Jamestown) joins Political Roundtable this week to discuss her run for lieutenant governor and the news about how the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn Roe v Wade. Ruggiero was first elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 2008. She is one of four Democrats running for lieutenant governor, along […] The post Political Roundtable: Ruggiero on her run for lieutenant governor appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
May 06, 2022•4 min
