Mayor Smiley on Trump’s effect, Providence schools and what’s ailing Democrats

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.

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