Political Roundtable

Ward 3 Providence City Councilor Nirva LaFortune, one of four Democrats running to be the next mayor of Providence, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include: LaFortune’s case for why she’s the best choice; Her plan for improving public schools in Providence; LaFortune’s views on the proposal for the ‘Superman Building’ […] The post Political Roundtable: LaFortune on...

Republican candidate for governor Ashley Kalus is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include: — How Kalus would address jobs and the economy; — Why the former Illinois resident decided to run for office; — Her approach on housing affordability; — Whether her short time living in Rhode Island is long enough […] The post Political Roundtable: Kalus on her campaign for gove...

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include: — The timeline for concluding an investigation into a controversial contract awarded by the McKee administration; — How cases involving allegations of school officials preying on students hint at the frequency of sexual assaults on children; — The […] The post Political Roundtable:...

State Sen. Jessica de la Cruz (R-North Smithfield), one of three Republicans seeking an open seat in Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District, is my guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include: The post Political Roundtable: de la Cruz on her CD2 campaign, the ‘Big Lie,’ the economy & more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Brett Smiley joins Political Roundtable this week to discuss his campaign as one of four Democrats running to the next mayor of Providence. The others are Gonzalo Cuervo, Nirva LaFortune, and Mike Solomon. Topics in the interview include: — Whether Smiley can make more progress on familiar problems than past mayors; — How he would […] The post Political Roundtable: Smiley on his campaign, sc...

State Sen. Josh Miller (D-Cranston) is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include his role as the Senate sponsor of a bill to legalize recreational marijuana starting in October, including questions about whether the legislation does enough to address issues of equity and expungement. Other points for discussion including redistricting, the state’s […] The post Political...

Lisa Ranglin, founder and president of the RI Black Business Association, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include: The post Political Roundtable: Ranglin on Black business, overcoming redlining, Charlestown official’s remark & more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

State Rep. David Place (R-Burrillville) and former state Sen. Dawson Hodgson of North Kingstown, who is now unaffiliated, join Political Roundtable this week for a discussion about GOP politics. The topics include why Place is a Republican, and why Hodgson left the GOP; What should be done about the threats and harassment faced by election […] The post Political Roundtable: Place and Hodgson...

The guests on Political Roundtable this week are Dr. Michael Fine, a former director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, and Chris Koller, who served as the country’s first health insurance commissioner. Topics include: What’s next for Care New England after the recent rejection of its merger with Lifespan; Whether an out of state […] The post Political Roundtable: What’s next fo...

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include Ukraine, President Biden, the outlook for elections this year in the U.S. House and more. Cicilline, a Democrat, has represented the First Congressional District since first winning election in 2010. Transcript: IAN DONNIS: You say Vladimir Putin should pay a […] The post Political Roundtable: Cicill...

State Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Newport) is the guest on Political Roundtable this week The post Political Roundtable: Euer on climate change, infrastructure and ‘gilded age 2.0’ appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Political Roundtable features two separate guests this week. Patrick Quinn, executive vice president of SEIU, District 1199NE, discusses why unions representing workers at Lifespan and Care New England are rallying behind the proposed merger of the state’s two largest hospital groups. And Charles “Chas” Calenda talks about why he’s running as a Republican against Democratic […] The post Poli...

Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos is the guest this week on Political Rountable. Matos was president of the Providence City Council when Gov. Dan McKee appointed her last April as lieutenant governor. Topics include: The post Political Roundtable: Matos on her record, ILO Group, snow removal & more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Blake Filippi (R-New Shoreham), the Republican minority leader in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, is the guest on Political Roundtable this week. Topics include: — The race in Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District; — Why Republicans are having trouble fielding candidates for state general offices; — Filippi’s criticism of the proposed merger between Lifespan […] The post Po...

RI Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, a Democratic candidate for governor, joins Political Roundtable this week. The topics include her decision to not run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin; Gov. Dan McKee’s budget priorities; why Gorbea thinks she’s a better fit for governor; and more. The post Political Roundtable: Gorbea on CD2, McKee’s budget, her campaign & more a...

Brown University President Christina Paxson is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org. Follow him on Twitter @IanDon. Sign up here for his weekly RI politics and media newsletter. The topics include the proposed academic health system between Brown and the state’s two largest hospital groups, Lifespan and […] The post Political Roundtable:...

RI House Speaker Joe Shekarchi (D-Warwick) is the guest on Political Roundtable this week. The topics include the state’s response to the Omicron surge, the outlook for spending more of Rhode Island’s federal COVID aid, and the potential legalization this year of recreational marijuana. Sheksarchi is serving his first two-year term as speaker after winning […] The post Political Roundtable:...

Georgia Hollister Isman, New England regional director for the Working Families Party, and state Sen. Cynthia Mendes (D-East Providence) are the guests for separate interviews this week on Political Roundtable. Hollister Isman discusses the emergence of WFP in 2016 and her view of how it’s changed politics in Rhode Island. Mendes talks about the move […] The post Political Roundtable: a clos...

Two guests are featured on Political Roundtable this week. Hunger was already a big problem in Rhode Island before the pandemic. Andrew Schiff, CEO of the RI Community Food Bank, discusses how COVID has affected the situation and what the outlook is for this winter. Next, the Providence Preservation Society launched an initiative recently to […] The post Political Roundtable: Schiff on hunge...

In her first detailed comments on the subject as a gubernatorial candidate, former CVS Health executive Helena Foulkes said she moved quickly to change the giant retailer’s approach to dispensing opioids after learning of potential problems. During an interview at The Public’s Radio, Foulkes blamed Purdue Pharma for being dishonest with CVS and other retailers. […] The post Political Roundta...

Democrat Matt Brown, who announced his run for governor earlier this year, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Topics include: Why he’s running; Whether he has an answer for how much his proposal for Medicare for All would cost; Whether his proposed $19 minimum wage would be a burden for small business; The […] The post Political Roundtable: Brown on his run for RI governor, Medi...

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is the guest this week on Political Roundtable Topics include: How he expects Rhode Island to fare during the pandemic this winter; Calls to begin spending RI’s American Rescue Plan Act money; The controversy involving the ILO Group; Whether the state will make progress in creating jobs in the 195 […] The post Political Roundtable: McKee on COVID, ARPA money, ILO...

The legal fight over making South Water Street more welcoming to bicyclists and pedestrians is over, following an announcement last week by the state Department of Transportation. But debate continues over how Providence is implementing citywide plans for more bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Political Roundtable this week features interviews with two people with opposing views […] The...

Luis Daniel Muñoz, one of six announced or expected Democrats running for governor of Rhode Island, is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. Topics include: Why Muñoz, 36, is running and how he sees his path; How he would pursue his vision for a single-payer health system in RI; Muñoz’ approach to jobs and […] The post Political Roundtable: Muñoz on his gubernatorial campaign, single-...

The second-ranking Republican in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Rep. Michael Chippendale (R-Foster), is the guest this week on Political Roundtable. The topics include: Helena Foulkes’ entry to the Democratic side of the race for governor; Whether the state should move quicker or slower in spending American Rescue Plan Act funds; Former President Trump’s […] The post Politcal Rou...