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Political Roundtable
Hosted by The Public's Radio · ENGLISH
Political Reporter Ian Donnis moderates a spirited discussion on local politics. Heard every Friday morning during Morning Edition on The Public's Radio.
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R.I. House Speaker Joe Shekarchi on the state budget, economy, and his next move
Jun 27, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeThough the 2025 General Assembly session is over in Rhode Island, all eyes remain on House Speaker Joe Shekarchi. The Warwick Democrat is a potential candidate for governor, potentially setting the stage for a three-way primary with incumbent Dan McKee and former CVS executive Helena Foulkes. Back and forth between McKee and Shekarchi over the state budget this week may be a preview of more clashes to come. This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi. The post R.I. House Speaker Joe Shekarchi on the state budget, economy, and his next move appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →Common Cause of Rhode Island’s John Marion on good government, Trump, and more
Jun 20, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeThe rise of Val Lawson as president of the Rhode Island Senate put questions of conflict of interest front and center at the Statehouse this year. That’s because Lawson also serves as president of one of the state’s largest teachers’ unions. Lawson says she’s capable of policing her own potential conflicts, and the Rhode Island Ethics Commission offered an ok for her dual roles as president. But Lawson’s number two is a longtime former labor official and labor remains an influential special interest at the Statehouse. That’s a place where corporate lobbyists significantly outnumber advocates for nonprofit groups. In related news, efforts to modernize the state’s open records law once again ran into a brick wall on Smith Hill this year. So what did this legislative session show us about the outlook for good government in Rhode Island? How can everyday citizens make their voices heard in the corridors of power? And what can be done about the broader problem of political violence in our polarized world? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with John Marion, executive director of the nonpartisan good government group Common Cause of Rhode Island. The post Common Cause of Rhode Island’s John Marion on good government, Trump, and more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →Ashley Kalus on her plans for 2026, President Trump and what’s holding back the GOP in Rhode Island
Jun 13, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeRepublicans run the show in Washington, D.C., these days, but the GOP remains on the margins in Rhode Island. The state hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2006 and the party holds just 14 of 113 seats in the General Assembly. Back in 2022, Ashley Kalus got almost 39 percent of the vote as the GOP alternative to Democrat Dan McKee. But Kalus faced a handicap since she was a recent transplant to Rhode Island, and her share of the vote was similar to what a generic candidate might receive. Four years later, Kalus is more ensconced in the state and she continues to use social media posts to criticize the status quo. So is Kalus gearing up for another run for governor? What does she make of the Trump administration? And what is Kalus’ prescription for increasing GOP representation in Rhode Island? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with former Republican candidate for governor Ashley Kalus. The post Ashley Kalus on her plans for 2026, President Trump and what’s holding back the GOP in Rhode Island appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →State Rep. Jason Knight on the uncertain outlook for banning ‘assault weapons’ in Rhode Island
Jun 6, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeFor people who want to ban new sales of so-called assault weapons in Rhode Island, this is the best of times AND the most uncertain of times. For years, supporters called on lawmakers to take a vote. This week, the House of Representatives put its support behind the bill. The legislation to ban new sales of guns defined as assault weapons is seen as having the support to make it through a vote by the full state Senate. But therein lies the rub. To get to the Senate floor, the bill first has to win approval from the closely divided Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate President Val Lawson could use her power to move the legislation to a different committee with more support. But Lawson’s deputy, Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, is a staunch gun rights supporter -- and it remains unclear if the effort to ban so-called assault weapons will make it to the Senate floor this year. So has the effort in the House been for nothing? If the Senate kills the bill, what comes next? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with state Representative Jason Knight, Democrat of Barrington, who sponsored the assault weapon ban in the House. The post State Rep. Jason Knight on the uncertain outlook for banning ‘assault weapons’ in Rhode Island appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →R.I. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos on responding to Trump, food deserts and Providence taxes
May 30, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeRhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos is expected to face competition from fellow Democrats when she seeks re-election next year. That is due to how a signature-gathering controversy dragged down her First Congressional District campaign in 2023. She finished fourth in the 12-way Democratic primary, with just 8% of the vote. But Matos is already staking out the ground to defend her job as lieutenant governor and perhaps one day climb higher in local politics. She’s speaking out about immigrant rights and small businesses, and drawing attention to the problem posed by so-called food deserts. The lieutenant governor in Rhode Island has just a few official functions, and some Rhode Islanders question the value of the office. So is Matos now making more of a difference as the state’s second ranking elected official? And can people like her do more to tackle Rhode Island’s biggest challenges? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos. The post R.I. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos on responding to Trump, food deserts and Providence taxes appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →Providence Foundation Executive Director David Salvatore on city finances, downtown’s future, and more
May 23, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeRhode Island’s capital city of Providence has experienced dramatic ups and downs over time. These days, the city is still trying to bounce back from the loss of office workers and shrinking foot traffic caused by the pandemic. Providence has a lot of assets, including a strong sense of place, a great restaurant scene and […] The post Providence Foundation Executive Director David Salvatore on city finances, downtown’s future, and more appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →State Sen. Meghan Kallman on Pawtucket soccer, responding to Trump and top legislative issues
May 16, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizePawtucket got a recent lift when the city’s newish soccer team, Rhode Island FC, played to a sold-out crowd during the home opener at the new stadium there. There are plans for new housing to be built near the Centerville Bank Stadium and boosters of the stadium hope it will catalyze more growth. But Pawtucket has also wrestled with challenges in recent years, including the loss of the PawSox and the closing of Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is causing uncertainty for the state budget outlook as lawmakers approach the end of the legislative session. And the state Senate is working to make up for lost time after a recent change in leadership. Big issues hang in the balance, including a proposed ban on new sales of assault style weapons and a potential tax hike on Rhode Island’s richest one percent. So how’s the outlook amid uncertainty in DC? And does the new soccer stadium signal brighter days for Pawtucket? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with Pawtucket state Senator Meghan Kallman. The post State Sen. Meghan Kallman on Pawtucket soccer, responding to Trump and top legislative issues appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →Steven Brown of the RI ACLU on civil liberties in the age of Donald Trump
May 9, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeStanding up for civil liberties tends to be a busy job. That’s even more true with President Trump pushing the bounds of executive power on a variety of fronts. Trump has raised the focus on deportations, cut funding for elite universities and targeted his opponents. A series of court battles will decide the outcome of some of these conflicts. For now, it’s unclear how Trump’s second tenure in the White House will change America and if the president and his allies can succeed in moving the country to the right. One group involved in responding is the American Civil Liberties Union. In Rhode Island, the local ACLU chapter has kept a close eye on the General Assembly for years. So can the civil liberties group still do that while standing up to the Trump administration? And how is the outlook for safeguarding civil liberties and small-d democracy? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with executive director of the Rhode Island ACLU Steven Brown. The post Steven Brown of the RI ACLU on civil liberties in the age of Donald Trump appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →RI Young Republicans’ Ken Naylor + Young Democrats of RI’s Autumn Guillotte on organizing, young voters’ concerns + our aging political leaders
May 2, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeAbout 47 percent of registered voters ages 18 to 29 cast ballots in the U.S. presidential election last year. That’s less than the overall voting participation of 64 percent, but it shows how young people are playing a bigger role in national elections. At the same time, a recent Harvard Youth Poll found that more than 4 in 10 Americans under age 30 say they’re barely getting by financially, and just 15 percent believe the country is headed in the right direction. Fewer than one-third of these young people approve of President Trump or either party in Congress. Here in Rhode Island, organizing by young political activists has waxed and waned over time. So what role can youth groups play in influencing the direction of politics in the state? And what do activists have to say about the dissatisfaction of young people with both major parties? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with chairman of the Rhode Island Young Republicans Ken Naylor and board member of the Young Democrats of Rhode Island Autumn Guillotte. The post RI Young Republicans’ Ken Naylor + Young Democrats of RI’s Autumn Guillotte on organizing, young voters’ concerns + our aging political leaders appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
Transcribe →RI Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard on what’s next with the new state housing plan
Apr 25, 202500:03:47Tap to summarizeThe median price of a home in Rhode Island is now the once unimaginable sum of almost $500,000. State leaders have tried for a few years to address the housing crisis, and tens of millions of dollars have been directed against the problem. But progress has been slow. The housing crisis began a long time ago, so it’s understandable that moving forward takes time. But that offers little solace for people hurt by the high cost and lack of housing they can afford, and the situation restricts efforts to grow Rhode Island’s economy. This week, the state unveiled a new plan for adding 15,000 new housing units over the next five years. But some communities have resisted attempts to add more housing. So does the new state plan have the right stuff, and what will it take to make more progress? This week on Political Roundtable, I'm going in depth with Rhode Island Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard. The post RI Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard on what’s next with the new state housing plan appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.
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