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 […]
Political Roundtable
Political Roundtable: RI House Speaker Joe Shekarchi on Omicron, state spending, marijuana and more
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 […]
Political Roundtable: a closeup on progressive politics in RI
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 […]
Political Roundtable: Schiff on hunger in the COVID age; Runyon on preservation and racial justice
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 […]
Political Roundtable: Foulkes on opioids, campaign contributions, hospital merger & more
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. […]
Political Roundtable: Brown on his run for RI governor, Medicare for All, the Co-op & more
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 […]
Political Roundtable: McKee on COVID, ARPA money, ILO Group, schools, 195 District & more
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 […]
Political Roundtable: the debate over South Water Street & expanding bicycle infrastructure in RI
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 […]
Political Roundtable: Muñoz on his gubernatorial campaign, single-payer, jobs & more
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 […]
Politcal Roundtable: Chippendale on Foulkes, Trump, progressives & more
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 […]

