Newsmakers | WPRI 12 News

This week on Newsmakers: U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who is now a senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, discusses the looming Supreme Court confirmation fight to replace the late Justice Ginsburg. Then Tim White and Ted Nesi discuss the week in politics, including an upcoming trial that could include some key General Assembly figures.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers, Democratic state senate candidates Tiara Mack and Cynthia Mendes on their progressive policy goals, and why they want to see a leadership change in the general assembly. Then House Minority Leader Blake Filippi on the GOP's hopes to expand their footprint in the legislature.

Attorney General Peter Neronha discusses his office's role in police use of force investigations and where he stands on officer worn body camera. Then John Marion of Common Cause R.I. on what Primary Day means for the November elections and how things might be improved.

With Massachusetts voters set to go to the polls on Tuesday - and thousands of mail ballots already cast - Newsmakers takes a look at two hotly contested races in the Commonwealth: The matchup between incumbent Senator Ed Markey and Challenger Congressman Joe Kennedy, as well as the race to replace Kennedy in the 4th District of Massachusetts. The first half is a potion of a debate moderated by Te...

Gov. Gina Raimondo looks back at thee state’s response to the pandemic over the last six months, weighs in on what schools may look like opening up, unemployment, nursing homes, politics and more. The interview with Tim White was conducted in the state room of the R.I. State House.

Common Cause R.I. Executive Director John Marion tells Tim White why his organization is suing the state of Rhode Island over mail ballots. Then Steph Machado interviews Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza as part of her new program "The Pulse of Providence."

Tim White discusses what school reopening may look like with teacher's union leader Robert Walsh of the National Education Association of R.I.'s Executive Director Robert Walsh. Then Ted Nesi talks to Ihssane Leckey about why she wants to replace U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy in congress.

This week on Newsmakers: Dr. Ashish Jha of the Harvard Global Health Institute, who is taking over as dean of Brown University's School of Public Health this fall, breaks down the latest on coronavirus; Michael DiBiase, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure council, gives his take on the state budget outlook.

his week on Newsmakers: an exit interview with two departing college presidents. First, in an interview with WPRI 12 anchor Mike Montecalvo, Father Brian Shanley - the longest serving president of Providence College - reflects on his 15 years at the helm of P.C., and what he plans to do next. Then on the second half, reporter Kait Walsh sits down with retiring Bryant University president Ron Macht...

R.I. Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green discusses her new plan to turn around the Providence school system and weighs in on what K-12 public schools could look like when they reconvene in the fall. She addresses the challenges of reopening during a pandemic, from class sizes to transportation.

This week on Newsmakers: state Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence. Metts weighs in on the chances of his push to remove “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s name, an idea that was rejected by voters 10 years ago. He also discusses his bill that would examine overhauling the controversial Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights, and his perspective on the protests in the wake of the killing o...

Incumbent U.S. Senator Ed Markey faced off against his challenger Congressman Joe Kennedy Monday night in the WPRI 12 studios. This week on Newsmakers, highlights from the hourlong debate, moderated by Tim White and Ted Nesi.

Tim White and Ted Nesi are joined by UMass Dartmouth professor Shannon Jenkins and Politico Massachusetts editor Stephanie Murray to preview Monday’s WPRI 12 U.S. Senate primary debate between Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy; then, Tim and Ted recap the week’s news in Rhode Island.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers, R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha. The judiciary has quietly been coming back up to speed as the rest of the state slowly reopens. Neronha discusses the grand jury process in the pandemic and the types of cases his office is seeing. Then Ted Nesi joins Tim White to discuss the week in news, including the upcoming Phase 2 of reopening.

This week on Newsmakers: U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, discusses his primary race against challenger Congressman Joe Kennedy III, the coronavirus crisis, and prospects for another stimulus bill in Washington. On the second half, WPRI 12 politics editor Ted Nesi joins Tim White live from the State House for a breakdown of the week's headlines in Rhode Island.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: R.I. Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey, D-Warwick. Leader McCaffrey talks about the steep budget challenges ahead for the general assembly and what is on the table to make up for a projected $800 budget shortfall. Then Ted Nesi joins Tim White live from the state house to break down the week in news including a new setup for reporters covering the...

Congressman David Cicilline joins Tim White via Zoom to discuss plans for another federal aid package. Cicilline is calling for hazard pay for frontline workers and money for struggling municipalities to help balance their budgets. Then Ted Nesi joins Tim White live from the State House to talk about a rocky week in COVID-19 data from state health officials.

With the crushing effect of COVID-19 on the nursing home population, Tim White interviews the head of the R.I. Health Care Association, Scott Fraser. His group represents 64 of the 81 nursing homes in Rhode Island. Fraser discusses the need for a "strike team" to help staff nursing homes. Then Ted Nesi joins Tim White to discuss a new Bryant University poll that looks at voter's opinion...

R.I. Dept. of Administration Director Brett Smiley discusses running state government during a pandemic, if furloughs are a possibility for state workers, and how federal emergency aid is being spent. Then Ted Nesi joins Tim White live from the State House to break down the week in news including the governor releasing Coronavirus projections.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers R.I. Gen. Treasurer Seth Magaziner discusses the options for small businesses who have been hit hard during the pandemic, and how much borrowing state government has done to stay afloat. Then Ted Nesi joins Tim White live from the State House to discuss the week in news and the pandemic's impact on politics.

his week on the first half of Newsmakers, R.I. Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea talks to Tim White live from the State House about what the pandemic means for the elections calendar, and how open meetings are getting impacted. Then Eyewitness News Politics Editor Ted Nesi breaks down a chaotic week of news, including answers to common questions from those on unemployment.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: the CEO's of the state's largest hospital groups; Dr. Tim Babineau of Lifespan and Dr. James Fanale of Care New England, discuss their preparedness for dealing with COVID-19. Then Ted Nesi live from the State House about the politics of a pandemic.

Congressman David Cicilline. With federal lawmakers proposing various stimulus packages, Cicilline discusses what he thinks is the best plan for the country and Rhode Island.

In this Newsmakers podcast extra, Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy III talks with Ted Nesi about the response to COVID-19 in Washington and what needs to happen next, as well as how it's affecting his Senate bid.

WPRI reporters Tim White, Ted Nesi, Steph Machado and Eli Sherman break down the evolving development throughout the week on the coronavirus.