>> THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," BEFORE WE PUT 2023 IN THE BOOKS, LOOK AT THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS AND WE GET THE PRODUCTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US WITH THE ANALYSIS, WENDY SCHILLER.

IAN DONNIS, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR PUBLIX RADIO, AND PROFESSOR MAUREEN MOAKLEY.

I AM JIM HUMMEL AND WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

SETTLE IN WHILE WE TAKE A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE AS OUR PANEL OFFERS UP ITS OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS ON THE KEY MOMENTS THAT AFFECTED THOSE OF US WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE.

IT WOULD NOT BE A YEAR IN REVIEW WITHOUT THOSE ON THE ANTI-RHODE ISLAND MOMENTS.

IAN, WE ALL HAVE THESE TOPICS TATTOOED ON OUR HEADS.

TOP LOCAL STORY FOR 2020 THREE.

IAN: PHILADELPHIA FIASCO, TWO RHODE ISLAND OFFICIALS WENT TO CHECK OUT THE -- ARMORY.

ONE WAS ACCUSED OF BEHAVING BADLY IN A HARASSING AND INAPPROPRIATE MANNER.

HE LEFT HIS ESTATE JOB, RHODE ISLAND GOT BAD PUBLICITY.

IT WAS A BLACKEYE FOR THE STATE AND IT IS MY TOP STORY OF THE YEAR.

JIM: I THINK THE COROLLARY WAS THERE WAS ANY OPEN RECORDS FIGHT BECAUSE PETER NERONHA RULED THAT THAT EMAIL WHICH GIVES THE DETAILS, THE GOVERNOR WAS NOT INCLINED TO RELEASE THAT.

JIM: -- IAN: EXCELLENT POINT.

IT SHOWS ANOTHER SUBTEXT TO THE ARGUMENT WE HAVE SEEN BETWEEN CORONA AND AVNER MCKEE.

HE DID COME OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE PUBLIC AND WE GOT IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS SAID TO HAVE HAPPENED.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

MAUREEN: MY KNEES THE CD1 RACE.

WE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC CITY ABOUT THAT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF COVERAGE, A LETTER OF INTEREST.

THE RESULT WAS INTERESTING IN THAT WE HAD THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED TO THE CONGRESS.

HE CARRIED WITH ALL -- HE CARRIED ALL BUT THREE OF THIS CITIES AND TOWNS.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC AS FAR AS THE PRIMARY WAS CONCERNED AND I THINK IT WAS AN INTERESTING STORY.

I AM HAPPY TO SAY WE HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AS PART OF OUR CONTINGENT.

JIM: I ALSO THINK IF IT HAD BEEN REAGAN BURKE OR SABINA MATOS, THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE LINING UP TO RUN NOW.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THERE IS OPPOSITION TO GABE AMO.

WENDY: I THOUGHT THE ELECTION OF GABE AMO WAS THE TOP STORY, THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO BE IN OUR DELEGATION.

THERE IS A LOT OF SUBTEXT THAT IS IMPORTANT GOING TO 2024 WHICH IS THE DEFEAT OF A VERY PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE, ALSO A WOMAN OF COLOR CONSIDERED TO BE MORE MODERATE.

SANGHA CAN KNOW AS WELL.

-- SONDRA CANO AS WELL.

IT IS NOT MONOLITHIC AT ALL, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR DEMOCRATS TO KEEP IN MIND, AND REPUBLICANS.

WOMEN CA STILL ZERO EACH OTHER OUT.

WHEN MULTIPLE CAPABLE WOMEN RUN IN A RACE AND ONE OR TWO MEN, THE WOMEN DON'’T SHARE THE SPOILS.

THEY HAVE A HARDER TIME WINNING.

THERE ARE LESSONS FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY GOING INTO THE PRIMARY SEASON TO TAKE FROM THAT.

JIM: -- IAN: IT WAS THE CONTROVERSY THAT UNDERMINES SABINA MATOS CAMPAIGN.

THAT DAMAGED HER CAMPAIGN.

JIM: AND AARON REGUNBERG GETTING ENDORSED BY BERNIE SANDERS AND ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ.

THAT DID NOT FLY WITH THE MODERATES.

WENDY: THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

I TALKED TO SOMEONE AFTER THE RACE AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS VERY LIBERAL BUT HE HAD BEEN THERE SO LONG, THEY THOUGHT HE WOULD ALONG WITH IT.

IN TERMS OF ELECTION TIME, I THINK YOU MOVED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT.

JIM: LET'’S GO TO TOP NATIONAL STORY.

MAUREEN: SO MANY.

I WILL START WITH THE DYSFUNCTION IN CONGRESS, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE GOP.

THIS HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE YEAR IN TERMS OF POLITICS ON THE HILL.

CONGRESS IS JUST ABOUT IMMOBILIZED AND SOME OF THE ISSUES WE TALKED ABOUT THEIR FOCUSING ON IS REVENGE POLITICS, THE ABSURDITY AND ALL THE ELECTIONS AND FAILURES OF THE HOUSE.

I THINK THAT WAS A TOP STORY.

WENDY: I THINK THE ECONOMY IS THE TOP STORY.

THE AMERICAN ECONOMY MOST OF THE TIME IS MUCH MORE RESILIENT THAN ANYBODY SEES IT AS BEING.

THE BALANCE BETWEEN TAXES, INTEREST RATES, PERSONAL DEBT IS GOING UP, THE SHIFT FROM ANY FACTORY TO SERVICE AND TECH AND THE TRANSITION TO AI AND THE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

THIS ECONOMY HAS ROLLED OVER AND CHANGED IN A WAY THAT IS DYNAMIC.

JIM: WHY ISN'’T BIDEN GETTING CREDIT FOR THAT?

MAUREEN: DEMOCRATS ARE HISTORICALLY BAD AT MESSAGING.

THEY HAVE FIGHTS THAT SWALLOW THEM UP.

THE NEWS HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE REPUBLICANS.

THEIR DYSFUNCTION IN THE HOUSE HAS BEEN THE SINGLE BUSINESS STORY -- SINGLE BUSIEST -- SINGLE BIGGEST STORY.

PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED BY WORLD NEWS AND THE ECONOMY.

THAT IS PARTIALLY DO TO BIDEN'’S POLICIES.

THE ECONOMY SEEMS TO BE MORE DIVERSIFIED AND MORE RESILIENT THAN ANYONE EXPECTS.

JIM: GAS IS ALMOST UNDER THREE DOLLARS PER GALLON, BUT INFLATION IS GOING TO BE THERE BRICK.

MAUREEN: INFLATION HAS BEEN COMING DOWN.

JIM: COMING DOWN ON THE INCREASES.

WE ARE STILL 10% OVER WHERE WE WERE.

MAUREEN: GAS IS DECREASING.

FUEL WAS SUPPOSED TO GO SKYROCKETING, IT IS NOT GETTING ANY HIGHER.

THE IDEA OF INFLATION, THINGS WILL INFLATE.

AS THE ECONOMY IS DOING WELL, THANKS WOULD GET INFLATED.

YOU CAN LIVE WITH 2% OR 3%, YOU CANNOT LIVE WITH 6%.

IAN: MY TOP NATIONAL STORY IS WHAT WE MIGHT CALL THE NEW AGE OF ANXIETY WITH THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND HAMAS IN GAZA, THE ONGOING WAR IN UKRAINE, THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE LOOKING LIKE BIDEN AND TRUMP BARRELING TOWARD US.

THE SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY THAT MANY AMERICANS FEEL.

JIM: THAT COULD BE A TOP INTERNATIONAL STORY, TOO.

LET'’S GO TO BIGGEST WINNER AND BIGGEST LOSER.

MAUREEN: LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY?

>> -- JIM:.

.

IT IS YOUR CHOICE.

MAUREEN: THE BIGGEST WINNER IS DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE HE IS STILL IN THE GAME.

HE IS UNDER INDICTMENT, CIVIL INDICTMENTS, TRIALS EVERYWHERE, AND HE IS STILL ABLE TO RALLY SOME PORTION OF HIS PARTY AND RESIST ALL OTHER OBSTACLES.

HE IS NOT SECURED DENOMINATION, -- THE NOMINATION, BUT THAT HE IS IN THE MIX IS STUNNING.

JIM: HE HAS PAINTED HIMSELF AS THE MARTYR.

I AM TAKING THESE ALL ON FOR YOU.

MAUREEN: I DON'’T KNOW IF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOOR LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR TEAM LOST IN 2020 AND THEY WANT REVENGE.

JIM: DO YOU HAVE A BIGGEST LOSER?

MAUREEN: ALL OF THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF CHILDREN KILLED BY GUNS IN TERMS OF DATA RECORDING.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE HORRIFIC SHOOTINGS.

WHY WE LIVE THIS WAY IS PERPETUALLY MY QUESTION.

WE ALL LOSE WHEN WE HAVE THIS KIND OF UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO WEAPONS OF WAR.

JIM: BIGGEST WINNER AND BIGGEST LOSER.

IAN: MY BIGGEST LOSER IS GABE,.

-- GABE AMO.

NO ONE WOULD EXPECT THAT -- WOULD FOLLOW IN LEAVING CONGRESS.

THERE WERE A HUGE FIELD OF DEMOCRATS THAT TRIED TO SUCCEED CICILLINE.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT IF GABE AMO WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH NAME RECOGNITION AND WIN.

CONSIDERING THE SIZE OF THE FIELD.

HE IS SEEN AS HAVING A BRIGHT FUTURE IN POLITICS.

HE IS MY BIG WINNER.

BY THIS OR IS ELON MUSK.

HE HAS DONE BRILLIANT THINGS WITH SATELLITES AND ROCKETS THAT HE CANNOT GET OUT OF HIS OWN WAY.

HE HAS A HUGE CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER FROM WHEN HE WAS PICKED ON AS A KID.

HE IS -- HE HAS DEVALUED MY FAVORITE MEDIA PLATFORM, X FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER, AND HE IS RUNNING IT INTO THE GROUND TO THE DETRIMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PEOPLE WHO FIND VALUE IN USING IT.

HE SHOULD JUST BE ABLE TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE SELF-AWARENESS HEADING INTO 2024.

JIM: BIGGEST WINNER, BIGGEST LOSER.

MAUREEN: GABE AMO WAS THE BIGGEST WINNER, BUT BESIDES THAT, THE FIREMEN.

THE DISABILITY CONTRACT.

JIM: IT IS PRESUMED IF YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, THAT CAN LEAD TO DISABILITY PENSION?

MAUREEN: EXACTLY.

GOVERNOR MCKEE SIGNED THAT A BILL AND IT IS GOING TO REVERBERATE.

BEYOND GAVE -- BEYOND GABE AMO, THE BIGGEST WINNER BY THE FIREMEN.

BIGGEST LOSER, I HAD AARON REGUNBERG AND I MEAN THIS IN A SYMPATHETIC WAY.

HE WAS A TALENTED GUY, HE COULD REVISITED TO.

HE MOVED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT.

HE WAS A CAPABLE LEADER.

I WISH HIM WELL.

IT WAS A BIG LOSS.

JIM: DO YOU THINK HE WAKES UP THE DAY AFTER THE PRIMARY, AFTER SABINA MATOS SHOT HERSELF IN THE FOOT, HE WAS THE FRONT RUNNER THE POSITIONS HIMSELF, "I AM NUMBER TWO."

DO YOU THINK HE REPLAYS THAT IN HIS MIND?

WHAT WENT WRONG?

MAUREEN: I AM SURE.

BRINGING BERNIE SANDERS IN.

WHEN YOU ARE IN A CAMPAIGN LIKE THAT, YOU CANNOT BE AS LIBERAL.

YOU HAVE SOME CONSTITUENT SERVICE UNDER YOUR BELT AND A COUPLE OF YEARS, THEN YOU CAN GO OFF.

AS FAR AS THE CAMP AND WAS CONCERNED, I THINK YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE.

WENDY: THERE IS A LIKABILITY FACTOR, HE IS A VERY LIKABLE GUY.

HE DID A TREMENDOUS -- GABE AMO IS A TREMENDOUSLY -- IS A TREMENDOUSLY LIKABLE GUY.

AARON REGUNBERG, PEOPLE THAT HE JUMPED THE LINE, HE GOT OUT THERE TOO QUICKLY.

ALSO, I THINK IT WAS TIME.

RHODE ISLAND IS A DIVERSE STATE AT PROVIDENCE HAS BECOME MORE DIVERSE IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC AND NATIONALITIES.

PEOPLE THOUGHT IT IS TIME TO NOT HAVE AN ALL WHITE DELEGATION TO CONGRESS.

JIM: THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

WENDY: OR LATINO OR WHATEVER IT IS.

JIM: ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND'’S MOMENT, LET'’S DELIVER.

IAN: IS HOW WE EXPERIENCED MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURE IN THE LAST MONTH OF 2023, SIX YEARS AFTER GOVERNOR RAIMONDO LAUNCHED ROADWORKS TO INCREASE THE -- DECREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF DEFICIENT BRIDGES.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING RHODE ISLANDERS ARE GOING TO FORGET SOON.

JIM: THIS HAS OVERSHADOWED A A LOT OF WHAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF YOU GO ANYWHERE IN THE STATE, I THOUGHT THE WHOPPER KNOCK TRAIL -- I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT THE WAMPANOAG TRAIL WOULD HAVE BEEN PAVED IN MY LIFETIME.

THE DOT HAS BEEN DOING MORE WORK THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

MAUREEN: MY MOMENT IS THAT WE HAVE FIRE DISTRICTS ENVIRONMENT THAT DON'’T PUT OUT FIRES.

WHAT THEY DO IN SOUTH COUNTY IS PREVENT PEOPLE AT THE WILL OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS FROM ACCESSING THE BEACH.

THAT IS THEIR BIG JOB.

I THINK THAT IS AN ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND STORY.

THE OTHER ONE I HAVE TO MENTION IS FRANK CAPRIO LIT THE LIGHTS ON THE BIG BLUE BOOK.

JIM: HAVE THEY EVER ASK YOU?

I ALWAYS SAY YOU HAVE NOT MADE IT IN THIS STATE UNLESS CHARLIE WHOLE IS A CARTON ON YOU OR YOU ARE FEATURED IN YOUR LOCAL PAPER.

MAYBE THE BIG BLUE BOOK IS THE THIRD ONE.

WENDY: I HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ONES.

I THINK THE PRIMARY FOR CITY ONE WITH EVERYONE RUNNING.

THERE WERE SO MANY QUALIFIED PEOPLE RUNNING.

THAT SEEMS ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A SMALL STATE.

IN TERMS OF BEACH ACCESS, YOU HAVE LAWSUITS IN CALIFORNIA BUT NOT USUALLY FISTFIGHTS OR HITTING PEOPLE WITH UMBRELLAS.

HAVING A CONFLICT OVER A FAMILY SITTING ON THE BEACH IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, THAT IS A VERY RHODE ISLAND THING.

I THOUGHT THAT CONFLICT WAS UNFORTUNATE.

WE HAD A SUPER RAINY SUMMER.

RHODE ISLANDERS WERE EXTRA CRANKY GOING INTO THAT PRIMARY BECAUSE IT HAD RAINED ALL SUMMER.

JIM: IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT UP WITH THE WINTERS, WE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE A GOOD SUMMER.

ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND CAN YOU WIN WITH 13,000 VOTES AND SPENT UNDER $1 MILLION TO GET A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

WE ARE RACKING UP THE TAPE, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE PREDICTIONS FOR THIS YEAR FOR 2023.

WE WILL SEE HOW OUR PANEL DID.

PROFESSOR MOBLEY, WE BEGIN WITH YOU.

ROLL THE TAPE ON MAUREEN'’S PRODUCTION.

MAUREEN: I THINK TRUMP IS GOING DOWN.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE INDICTED.

TRUMPISM MAY STAY IN THE FORM OF RON DESANTIS IN FLORIDA.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO LOSE.

I DON'’T THINK HE IS GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE.

FOR ABIDING, -- FOR JOE BIDEN, I THINK HE WILL BE REMEMBERED WELL FOR HIS PRESIDENCY.

I PREDICT HE WILL NOT RUN AGAIN.

I PREDICT HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE A LAME-DUCK.

I THINK IN THE END HE WILL BOW OUT.

JIM: IF YOU SAY NOW I AM NOT RUNNING, ARE YOU A LAME-DUCK?

IF YOU GET OUT TOO LATE, IT IS NOT A LOT THE DEMOCRATS -- THAT IS A TOUGH CALL.

MAUREEN: I PREDICT HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN.

JIM: A MIXED PREDICTION THERE, AND DO YOU STILL THINK BIDEN IS GOING TO RUN?

SOME PEOPLE STILL HAVE DOUBTS.

MAUREEN: THEY MAY HAVE DOUBTS, BUT I THINK HE IS GOING TO RUN.

IT IS TOO LATE TO GET OUT.

HE HAS COMMITTED.

HE HAS CHANGED HIS CAMPAIGN, HE IS GOING AFTER TRUMP.

I THINK HE IS IN THE RACE.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU HAVE PREDICTION FOR 2024.

MAUREEN: MY PREDICTION FOR 2024 IS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD YEAR.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE FISCALLY SOUND.

THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME PROSPERITY.

I ALSO THINK THANKS TO OUR FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME GOOD POLICY OPTIONS AND GOOD POLITICS GOING ON.

WE HAVE IN RHODE ISLAND THE LEAST POLARIZED TATE LGISLATURE IN THE COUNTRY.

I THINK WITH SCORECARD SHE AT THE WHEEL, IT WOULD BE A GOOD YEAR AS FAR POLICY IS CONCERNED AND AS FAR AS PROSPERITY.

AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, IT IS GOING TO BE A CRISIS OF MULTI-PROPORTIONS AS FAR AS THE WAR IN ISRAEL AND HAMAS, AS FAR AS FIGHTING WITH THE RUSSIANS AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND THE PROBLEMS ON THE BORDER.

JOE BIDEN HAS GOT TO GET IN THE IMMIGRATION DEAL.

I THINK THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE GOING TO BE SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT.

JIM: LET'’S GO TO WENDY'’S PREDICTION FOR 2023.

ROLE IT.

WENDY: MY PREDICTION FOR 2023, THE ECONOMY, WE WILL HAVE A MILD RECESSION, IF AT ALL.

I THINK THE ECONOMY WILL REMAIN RESILIENT.

UNEMPLOYMENT WILL STAY LOW AND WE WILL WEATHER WHATEVER STORM IS COMING.

I DON'’T THINK IT IS GOING TO MATERIALIZE.

THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WILL OVERREACH.

SPEAKER MCCARTHY WILL OWE HIS RIGHT WING FLANK A LOT.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AFTER HUNTER BIDEN, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

IN DESCENDANT, -- IN THE SENATE, PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL SEE THE REST OF HIS JUDICIAL NOMINEES CONFIRMED AND HE WILL OVERTAKE DONALD TRUMP IN HOW MANY JUDGES HE GETS CONFIRMED.

AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE STATE WILL APPEAL THE CASE BUT THEY WILL LOSE IN COURT AND HAVE TO REVISIT THIS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND EXPAND TOLLS TO ALL TRUCKS IF THEY WANT TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE IN RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: YOU MOSTLY GOT THAT RIGHT.

THE TRUCK TOLLS, WE STILL DON'’T KNOW.

THE FEDERAL JUDGES, WHAT IS THE TALLY?

WENDY: BIDEN HAS FALLEN BEHIND TRUMP.

WE HAVE VACANCIES AT THE DISTRICT COURT LEVEL, THE APPEALS COURT, AND THE SUPREME COURT LEVEL.

JOE BIDEN HAD FALLEN BEHIND BUT DESCENDANT CONFIRMED MORE OF HIS JUDICIAL NOMINEES.

HE IS DOING ALMOST AS WELL AS TRUMP.

HE HAS A WHOLE ANOTHER YEAR.

HE WILL EXCEED TRUMP.

THE SENATE HAS LEARNED WITH TOMMY TUBERVILLE BLOCKING MILITARY PROMOTIONS FOR 10 MONTHS AND 400 OF THOSE PROMOTIONS, THE APPETITE FOR HAVING THESE THINGS STALLED CONTINUOUSLY IS GETTING LESS AND LESS IN DESCENDANT.

-- IN DESCENDANT.

-- THE SENATE.

JIM: AND THE GREAT RECESSION AND NEVER CAME.

WENDY: THE RECESSION NEVER CAME.

JIM: LET'’S DOVETAIL INTO 2024.

WENDY: THE BIGGEST COST TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOT CAPITALIZING ON THE FACT THAT THE COUNTRY DID NOT GO INTO RECESSION.

FOR RHODE ISLAND, I THINK THE HOUSING CRISIS COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS ALMOST NO INVENTORY AND THE PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING EVERYWHERE REALLY COULD BE CALAMITOUS FOR RHODE ISLAND.

WE WANT TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE AND THERE'’S NOT ENOUGH HOUSING DOWNTOWN.

THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL BUT THAT WILL NOT COME TO FRUITION FOR FIVE YEARS.

WE DON'’T HAVE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND LIVE WHO WANT TO WORK HERE AND REPOPULATE OUR DOWNTOWN.

JIM: DID YOU HAVE A PREDICTION FOR 2024?

WENDY: I PREDICT KAMALA HARRIS WILL NOT BE THE CANDIDATE ALONGSIDE JOE BIDEN.

JIM: REALLY?

WENDY: SHE WILL STAY VICE PRESIDENT BUT THOSE POLL NUMBERS COULD GET DIFFICULT FOR BIDEN.

HE MIGHT TURN TO GRETCHEN WHITMER OR RAFAEL WARNOCK.

THERE IS NO ONE UNDER THE TICKET IN GEORGIA IN 2024.

THERE IS NO AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE TICKET.

IF HE WAS ON THE TICKET, HE WOULD LOSE THE SENATE SEAT WOULD YOU MIGHT WIN GEORGIA, WIN MICHIGAN, WIN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT WOULD DRIVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS UP AND YOU COULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN OHIO.

IF THINGS DO NOT TURN AROUND BY EARLY SPRING, I SEE HIM MAKING A CHANGE.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAN STILL NOMINATE SOMEBODY OTHER THAN BIDEN AT THE CONVENTION.

YOU HAVE UNTIL THE CONVENTION AND THEN STATES PRINTED THEIR BALLOTS.

-- PRINT THEIR BALLOTS.

YOU NOMINATE SOMEBODY ELSE, THOSE BALLOTS GETS PRINTED WITHIN YOUR NAME.

JIM: HE IS HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME WITH PROGRESSES, WHAT ARE THE OPTICS OF DROPPING ANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN?

WENDY: IF YOU REPLACE HER WITH RAFAEL WARNOCK WHO IS COMPELLING, CAN WIN OTHER STATES, VERY PROGRESSIVE, YOU DON'’T SUFFER.

MAUREEN: I DISAGREE.

SHE CHECKS ALL OF THOSE BOXES.

IT IS INTERESTING TO ME THAT HER PROFILE HAS CHANGED.

THEY ARE PUSHING HER OUT THERE.

SHE IS GOING ON ALL OF THE FOREIGN TRIPS.

I THINK AT THIS POINT BIDEN IS SOLIDLY BEHIND HER.

I DON'’T SEE HIM DROPPING HER.

WENDY IS BETTER AT PROJECTIONS.

JIM: I WILL HOLD YOU TO IT.

LET'’S GO TO EN.

-- TO IAN.

LET'’S SEE'’S PREDICTION FOR 2023.

IAN: EVEN WITH THE MERGER BETWEEN LIFESPAN AND CAREGIING, WE SEE HOW THEY ARE WORKING CLOSER TOGETHER WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY.

I THINK THE JEWELRY DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME A MORE DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

JIM: IS THIS YOUR PREDICTION FOR 2023?

IAN: IT IS.

AS BROWN CONTINUES TO EXPAND, CITY COUNCIL WILL MOVE IN A MORE PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION WITH A LOT OF TURNOVER AND WE WILL SEE MORE COMMUNITIES USE THESE SPEED CAMERAS AND PLATE READERS TO ENHANCE REVENUE.

JIM: THAT IS A FULL PLATE.

YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BE RIGHT OR WRONG.

CHECK, CHECK, CHECK.

THAT WAS A GOOD.

IAN: IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO REPLICATE.

2024 WILL FUTURE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS AND I THINK THE PARTISAN MAKEUP OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL REMAIN MUCH AS IT IS WITH REPUBLICANS HOLDING ONLY NINE OF 113 SEATS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

THE NATIONAL GOP HAS BEEN A DRAG ON THE FORTUNES ON REPUBLICANS.

I DON'’T SEE THAT CHANGING ANYTIME SOON.

ONE OTHER PREDICTION, I THINK THE STATE IS SLOWLY STARTING TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE LONG-TERM CHALLENGES IT FACES IN TERMS OF HEALTH CARE AND HOSPITALS, TURNING -- ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER NERONHA HAS BEEN BEATING THE GERM ON THAT NEXT BEATING THE DRUM ON THAT -- BEATING THE DRUM ON THAT.

-- IS LOOKING TO BUY THE PARENT OF ROGERS MEDICAL CENTER IN PROVIDENCE, TWO BIG EMPLOYERS AND TWO BIG LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

THEY ARE GETTING START FOR MONEY BY THEIR CURRENT OWNER.

I THINK YOU WILL SE STATE OFFICIALS PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THIS WITH THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION DOING A STUDY ON POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO RHODE ISLAND'’S LONG-TERM HEALTH CHALLENGES.

JIM: ONE OF OUR LONG-TIME PANELISTS, DAVE, IS NOT JOINING US.

HE IS TRAVELING.

WE WANTED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT HIS PREDICTION AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT HIM.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT HIM INSTEAD OF TO HIM.

HERE IS DAVE'’S PREDICTION.

>> I AM GOING TO PICK UP ON WHAT I SAID THERE AND I WILL BE BRIEF.

PEOPLE THINK I AM CRAZY FOR PREDICTING THIS.

I THINK WHAT IS IN THIS YEAR, DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED.

HE WANT GO TO TRIAL BY THEN BUT HE WILL PROBABLY GET NAILED BECAUSE OF THE SECRET DOCUMENTS HE TOOK OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR HE IS GOING TO BE CHARGED.

JIM: HOW DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS HIS CAMPAIGN?

>> THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY DON'’T WANT TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BEING POLITICAL.

BRINGING IN THIS NEW SPECIAL COUNSEL, THEY ARE ON A TRACK TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE HIM CHARGED WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

JIM: OKAY, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT.

LET'’S GO TO PEOPLE TO WATCH IN 2024.

MAUREEN: HELENA FOX IS ONE.

ALBERT GINA AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

THERE SHE IS.

SHE IS SOMEONE TO WATCH.

JIM: MIGHT SHE BE ON THE VP LIST?

DOES SHE BRING ENOUGH TO THE TABLE?

MAUREEN: I DON'’T THINK YOU TRADE KAMALA HARRIS FOR GINA RAIMONDO.

I AM WATCHING GAME,.

-- GABE AMO.

HE HAD A HICCUP BUT HE HANDLED THAT WELL.

I AM CURIOUS.

I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU THAT IF HE CAN MAKE AN IMPRESSION BY MARCH OR APRIL, I DON'’T THINK HE GETS PRIMARY CHALLENGED.

THIS IS THE BIG THING I AM WATCHING.

HOW DOES HE NAVIGATE?

HOW DOES HE SHORE UP HIS VICTORY BY BUILDING OFF OF THAT?

JIM: IAN?

IAN: HOUSE SPEAKER JOE SCHUCHARDT SHE.

HE HAS A HUGE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT.

HE SAYS THE SPEAKER IS NOT A TERMINAL POLITICAL OFFICE SO HE IS WORTH KEEPING AN ION.

JIM: WERE YOU SURPRISED HE DID NOT RUN FOR EITHER CONGRESSIONAL SEATS?

IAN: I WAS NOT SURPRISED.

WHY GIVE UP BEING PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL POLITICAL FIGURE IN RHODE ISLAND TO BE THE MOST JUNIOR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER IN RHODE ISLAND?

I THINK HE MADE A STRATEGIC CHOICE.

JIM: IT IS A QUICK SHOW AT IT HAS BEEN A QUICK YEAR.

WE WILL TAKE THESE PREDICTIONS AND PUT THEM IN BOLD.

WE WILL REROLL THEM NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR LOYALTY TO THIS SHOW.

WE LOVE BRINGING IT TO YOU.

WE ARE ALWAYS THERE TO BRING YOU THE LATEST.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE GREAT HOLIDAY SEASONS.

WE WILL BE OFF NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH A REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY, PEOPLE WHO COVER THE STATEHOUSE, AND THE LEGISLATURE SHOW AFTER THAT.

WE HAVE A PACKED 2024 COMING UP.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

♪ [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.