PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT LAWMAKERS GOT THEIR CHANCE TO SEE WHAT LED TO THE CLOSURE OF THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

AND OVER RHODE ISLAND BS IS ON THE INCREASING RISK OF GIVEN -- A RHODE ISLAND PBS SERIES ON THE INCREASING RISK OF GIVING BIRTH.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> I AM JOHN HAYES AND WHITE JUNIOR.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS DIVIDED INSIGHT INTO ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

>> JOINING US ON THE PANEL IS WEAYONNOH NELSON-DAVIES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE, BOSTON GLOBE REPORTER AMANDA MILKOVITS AND DR. PABLO RODRIGUEZ FROM THE WARREN ALPERT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THE RHODE ISLAND DOT DIRECTOR WAS ON THE HOT SEAT FOR HOURS MONDAY AS MORE THAN TWO DOZEN LAWMAKERS SAT ON A JOINT HOUSE-SENATE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

AT TIMES EXCHANGES WERE CONTENTIOUS AS HE TRIED TO REMIND LEGISLATORS OF THE BODY OF WORK THE DOT HAS HAD SINCE HE TOOK THE HELM YEARS AGO.

WHILE TRYING TO EXPLAIN HOW SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF OVERSIGHT COULD LEAD TO THE CLOSURE OF WESTBOUND LANES.

AMANDA, WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING HERE A WHILE AND I AM TRYING TO SINK -- THINK OF A STORY THAT HAVE DOMINATED THE NEWS CYCLE WEEK AFTER WEEK.

THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE IT WILL GO FOR A WHILE.

AMANDA: BECAUSE WE ARE ALL LIVING IT.

IT’S NOT OVER.

IF ANYTHING CAME OUT OF THAT HEARING IS THAT THERE IS A LACK OF ANSWERS AS TO WILL THIS BE REPAIRED?

WHEN WILL IT BE REBUILT?

DID DIRECTOR PETER ALVITI KNOW ABOUT IT AND WHY WASN’T HE INFORMED IN REAL-TIME THAT FRIDAY SO HE AND THE GOVERNOR COULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED?

REMEMBER THE DECEMBER DEBACLE WHEN WE HAD THE GIANT SNOWSTORM AND CHILDREN WERE STUCK ON SCHOOL BUSES.

DATA DOMINATED.

THE -- IS THAT DOMINATED.

THE STATE EMA DIRECTOR AND PROVIDENCE EMA DIRECTOR LOST HIS JOB.

PABLO: THIS IS A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE NO INNOCENT MISTAKES.

WHAT I MEAN IS WE HAVE KNOWN FOR OVER A LONG TIME THAT MANY RHODE ISLAND’S ARE DEFICIENT.

SO, SOMETIMES WE TEND TO LAME THE PERSON NOW -- BLAME THE PERSON NOW BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT DOING WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WITH THESE PROJECTS -- BRIDGES FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT THAT IS IT.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR AND PETER ALVITI HAS BEEN ATROCIOUS.

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DOCTOR HAS A MISTAKE.

FIRST WE ARE SUPPOSED TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE MISTAKE.

IF IT IS OUR FAULT, IMMEDIATELY APOLOGIZED THE PATIENT.

IN THIS CASE WE HAD DEFENSIVENESS.

WE HAD, IT’S NOT THAT BAD.

WE HAD, WE DID A GREAT JOB CLOSING THE BRIDGE ON TIME.

YOU CANNOT PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK WHEN SOMETHING AS DISASTROUS AS THIS HAPPENS.

FROM THE BEGINNING, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THIS IS OUR FAULT.

THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED AND WE WILL WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN AND FIX THE SITUATION NOW.

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN UNTIL WEEKS LATER.

WHEN, INSTEAD OF CONGRATULATING THEMSELVES.

JIM: CONGRATULATING THEMSELVES BECAUSE THE BRIDGE DID NOT COLLAPSE.

AMANDA: I AM PROUD OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR SENDING A MESSAGE.

BUT WE STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WHETHER WE WILL REPAIR THE BRIDGE OR REBUILD IS.

WHETHER IT WILL TAKE THREE MONTHS OR 1-2 YEARS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION HERE.

I THINK OUT OF THAT HEARING CAME THE SENTIMENT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT TRUST WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THIS.

IT IS NOT A MERE INCONVENIENCE.

IT’S IMPACTING PEOPLE’S LIVES.

THEY CAN’T GET TO WORK ON TIME, SCHOOL ON TIME, OR CHILDCARE.

THEY CAN’T PREDICT HOW THE TRAFFIC WILL BE.

THIS IS A SERIOUS AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH OTHER BRIDGES.

THE PUBLIC IS LOSING TRUST IN WHETHER WE ARE HANDLING THIS WELL.

WE ARE HEARING REPORTS ABOUT OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS.

IS THAT MISMANAGEMENT?

SHOULD WE HAVE MORE INTERNAL PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS TO CATCH THE ISSUES SOONER?

JIM: WHO IS INSPECTING THE INSPECTORS?

AMANDA: MY COLLEAGUE BRIAN AMARAL HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH UNION LEADERS ABOUT FUNCTION AND A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT AT THE DOT.

HOW MUCH HAS ANY REMAINING PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE IN THE DOT DON’T TRUST EACH OTHER, DON’T TRUST LEADERSHIP, ARE NOT INFORMING MANAGEMENT?

JIM: WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS EVERY WEEK PROBABLY SINCE DECEMBER.

THE CLOSURES.

I LIVE IN THE EAST BAY SO IT AFFECTS ME AND ALL OF YOU ARE ON THE WEST SIDE AND IT IS AFFECTING YOU IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AMANDA, EVERY WEEK WE HAVE HAD A PANELIST LATE AND IT IS NOT THE PEOPLE ON THE EAST SIDE.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THE RESIDUAL BACKUP.

PABLO: ONE THING THAT REALLY WORRIES ME IS THE FACT THAT SURVEILLANCE AND SAFETY, SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ONGOING ALL THE TIME, WE ARE COMING TO ACCEPT REPORTS THAT ARE COOKIE-CUTTER.

WE PICKED THIS LANGUAGE BECAUSE NOTHING CHANGED.

THIS IS NOT HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SAY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MOMENT.

YOU CANNOT CONVINCE ANYONE.

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE AN ENGINEER TO KNOW A BRIDGE CANNOT BE COLLAPSING.

AND SIX MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS PERFECTLY FINE.

PEOPLE DON’T TRUST THE SYSTEM FOR GOOD REASON.

AMANDA: NOW WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT OTHER BRIDGES ARE AT STAKE.

WEAYONNOH: AND I WANT TO LOOK FURTHER.

LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE OF TRANSPORTATION.

ISSUES WITH BIKING AND WALKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ANOTHER BIG ISSUE.

RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE PROPOSING A BUDGET GIVING 10 MILLION INSTEAD OF THE $80 MILLION THEY NEED AND THEY SAY THEY WILL CUT SERVICES IMPACTING HOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING AROUND THIS STATE.

JIM: YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT ABOUT RIPTA AND THAT’S JUST THE BAND-AID.

THEY ARE TAKING FEDERAL ARPA MONEY.

THEY HAVE TO CUT ROOTS.

THEY CAN’T GET DRIVERS.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A SOCIETY THAT IS FUNCTIONING AND YOUR ECONOMY IS HUMMING YOU NEED A GOOD TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

WEAYONNOH: AND RIPTA IS SAYING THAT THIS MONEY IS TEMPORARY.

WE NEED TO INVEST A GENERAL REVENUE IN THAT SYSTEM.

IT’S A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.

WE IGNORED THE BRIDGE ISSUE AND NOW WE ARE IGNORING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHEN PEOPLE WERE IN CRISIS.

WE NEED TO THINK MORE SERIOUSLY ABOUT HOW WE GENERATE REVENUE IN THE STATE TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, OR EDUCATION.

I SEE THESE ISSUES AS VERY INTERTWINED.

JIM: THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR CAME HERE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER MONEY HAS GONE.

AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF MONEY INVESTED IN THAT BRIDGE FOR YOUR THERE’S AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON -- BRIDGE.

PABLO: THERE’S AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON AND THE INVESTIGATORS WON’T TOLERATE COOKIE-CUTTER APPROACHES TO SAFETY BECAUSE ITS FEDERAL MONEY BEING INVESTED.

AMANDA: SO IF THE PUBLIC DOES NOT GET THOSE ANSWERS THE FED CERTAINLY WILL.

JIM: THAT WOULD MAKE OUR LIVES A LOT EASIER.

WEAYONNOH: YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY.

[LAUGHTER].

JIM: THERE’S A GENERAL OR SIMPLY SESSION GOING ON AND A LOT OF LEGISLATION MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH.

WELCOME.

YOU WERE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ECONOMIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE LOOKING AT A LOT OF LEGISLATION.

ONE THING YOU WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS TEMPORARY CAREGIVERS INSURANCE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS YEAR THERE WAS A LOT.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT THE LEGISLATION DOES.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS MOMENTUM THIS YEAR.

WEAYONNOH: YES.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE EXPAND THE TEMPORARY CAREGIVER INSURANCE PROGRAM, TCI.

THE PROGRAM PROVIDES WORKERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR LOVED ONES.

IN RHODE ISLAND NOW IN 2024 ALL WORKERS CAN TAKE SIX WEEKS OFF TO TAKE CARE OF A SPOUSE, CHILD, OR PARENT.

WHAT THIS BILL IS DOING HIS THREE BIG THINGS.

IT IS EXPANDING THE WEEKS FROM 6-12 -- FROM SIX WEEKS TO 12 WEEKS.

SO WORKERS CAN TAKE THAT OFF TO SPEND TIME WITH LOVED ONES.

IT IS ALSO EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF FAMILY.

AS WE HAVE IMMIGRANTS COME IN, THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, FOSTER CHILDREN, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MAY NOT HAVE IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

THIS BILL WOULD EXPAND THE DEFINITION SO WORKERS CAN TAKE CARE OF GRANDCHILDREN, SIBLINGS, AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR PRIMARY CARE.

THE OTHER THING IT WILL DO IS EXPAND THE DEPENDENT ALLOWANCE FROM $10 PER DEPENDENT TO $20 PER DEPENDENT.

PATIENT -- PAID LEAVE IT’S IMPORTANT FOR MANY REASONS.

THE 12 WEEKS IN AND OF ITSELF IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE DOCTORS HAVE SAID THAT’S A GOOD ENOUGH TIME TO BOND WITH A NEW BABY.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFANT HEALTH OUTCOMES.

HEALTH OUTCOMES POSTPARTUM.

IT ALSO LEADS TO RECOVERY TIME TO HAVE THAT 12 WEEKS.

THIS BILL WOULD IMPACT THE LIVES OF WORKERS AND FAMILIES.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THE SENATE LEADERSHIP HAS MADE THIS A PRIORITY AND ENDORSED IT.

WE ARE HOPING THIS IS THE YEAR WE GET IT DONE IN RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: SEEMS PRETTY BASIC.

PABLO: IT IS PRETTY BASIC.

OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE INCREDIBLE LEAVE POLICIES, UP TO ONE YEAR IN SOME COUNTRIES AND THEY HAVE NOT GONE BROKE OR SOMETHING TO THE OCEAN.

AND OTHER STATES.

CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS HAVE BETTER LEAVE POLICIES THAN WE HAVE.

WE ALWAYS SAY WE WANT TO IMPROVE EDUCATION LIKE MASSACHUSETTS AND DO LIKE MASSACHUSETTS.

THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS.

YOU MENTIONED MATERNAL DEATH.

MOST MATERNAL DEATH OCCURS POSTPARTUM.

PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THAT.

PEOPLE THINK IT IS DURING PREGNANCY.

53% OF THEM OCCUR BETWEEN SEVEN DAYS POSTPARTUM AND UP TO ONE YEAR.

LEAVE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SPECIFICALLY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

THE CHILDREN THAT ARE CARED FOR BY THEIR PARENTS IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF LIFE.

IT IS DETERMINANT IN THE HEALTH OF THAT CHILD.

JIM: AND EVEN THAT 12 WEEKS GOES BY SO QUICKLY.

AMANDA: THIS REALLY FEELS LIKE A GAME CHANGER FOR RHODE ISLAND WORKERS.

IN ORDER TO STAY COMPETITIVE.

IT IS IMPRESSIVE THAT EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF FAMILY AND WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.

CAN YOU FIND ANYBODY THAT HAS NOT BEEN IMPACTED BY LEAVE?

I CANNOT.

I CAN THINK OF A NUMBER IF YOU WILL THAT REALLY COULD HAVE USED THE EXTRA TIME.

IF YOU ARE A WORKER IT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR FAMILY FOR SURE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BENEFIT THE STATE.

JIM: YOUR COMPANY ALREADY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND.

A FEW OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD CHILDREN AND THEY ARE GONE FOR A LONG TIME.

AMANDA: IT’S A MASSACHUSETTS COMPANY.

WEAYONNOH: USED TO BE A LEADER IN THE COUNTRY.

WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO PAST PAID LEAVE, THE THIRD STATE IN THE NATION TO PASS IT.

NOW WE HAVE ONE OF THE WORST POLICIES FOR STATES THAT HAVE PAID LEAVE AT SIX WEEKS IN WITH 60% OF WAGES PEOPLE RECEIVE.

THIS WILL BE A GAME CHANGER.

TO CATCH UP WITH OTHER STATES.

JIM: YOU PUT OUT A SHEET COUPLE WEEKS GO FOR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

WHAT OTHER THINGS?

WEAYONNOH: WE HAVE A LOT.

JIM: TRIED TO CONTAIN IT.

WEAYONNOH: PAY DEAL ENDED REFORM IS ANOTHER ONE.

FOR 13 YEARS IN RHODE ISLAND WE HAVE THOUGHT TO REFORM THE PAYDAY LENDING PRACTICE.

EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT THIS PEOPLE SAY IT HAS NOT PASSED?

WHAT IS IT?

PAYDAY LENDERS IN RHODE ISLAND HAVE A CARVEOUT IN LAW BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED CHECK CASHERS.

THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED LENDERS.

BUT WHAT THAT CARVE OUT AND A SPECIAL TREATMENT DOES IS ALLOW THEM TO CHARGE LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UP TO 260% INTEREST RATES WHILE OTHER SMALL LENDERS CAN ONLY CHARGE 36%.

FOR 13 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE STATEHOUSE TO SAY WE HAVE TO PROTECT LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS PREDATORY LENDING.

THEY ARE PREYING ON THESE COMMUNITIES TO RELY ON THESE LENDERS THAT ARE KEEPING PEOPLE IN A CYCLE OF DEBT.

JIM: IT ALMOST GOT THROUGH LAST YEAR.

A TIP FROM A GUY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND A WHILE.

HIRE A FORMER SPEAKER.

THEN, MAYBE IT WILL GO THROUGH ON YOUR SIDE.

IT ALMOST WENT THROUGH LAST YEAR.

PEOPLE SAY 260% INTEREST.

AMANDA: LOANSHARKING IS LEGAL.

NEW?

PABLO: I DON’T UNDERSTAND.

WHO HAS THE POWER TO AFFECT THIS LEGISLATURE FOR SO LONG?

I REMEMBER JUAN FOR CHARTER PUT IT THERE YEARS AGO AND YET WE ARE THERE AGAIN.

AMANDA: WHY ISN’T IT GOING THROUGH?

WEAYONNOH: LAST YEAR WE GOT A HISTORIC WIN.

IT WENT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WE KNOW LEATHER -- LEGISLATURES WANT THIS.

NOW WE HOPE THE SENATE WILL ALSO MOVE THIS YEAR.

EVERYBODY IS ASKING WHY NOT.

THIS IS A NO-BRAINER.

WE DO NOT HAVE A FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

JIM: GET ON THIS.

WEAYONNOH: I WILL.

JIM: WE WILL GET BACK TO LEGISLATIVE STUFF LATER.

LAST MONTH RHODE ISLAND PBS RAN A THREE PART SERIES CALLED THE RISK OF GIVING BIRTH CHRONICLING THE STEADY INCREASE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS OF PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS AND DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES, RIGHT DRAMATICALLY HIGHER THAN OTHER WEALTHY NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

BLACK WOMEN THAT ARE PREGNANT HAVE A RATE OF DEATH THREE TIMES THAT OF WHITE WOMEN.

HERE’S A SHORT RECAP OF THE SERIES.

♪ >> IN 2023 THE MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS IS NOT GETTING BETTER.

IN FACT, IT’S GETTING WORSE.

>> PEOPLE GIVING BIRTH IN THE U.S. ARE INCREASINGLY MORE LIKELY TO DIE NOW THAN THEY WERE DECADES AGO.

>> WHY DO SO MANY OF US HAVE THESE ISSUES?

>> WE CANNOT CONTINUE ON THIS PATH.

WE ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

INSTEAD OF GETTING BETTER, WE ARE GETTING WORSE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL THE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE FOR LATINAS JUMPED BY 54% 2020-2021.

>> IF WE CAN GET WOMEN HEALH LITERATE THAT WILL SAVE THE WORLD.

IF WE BETTER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SURROUND THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AT RISK WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER.

JIM: WATCHED THE ENTIRE SERIES ON THE RHODE ISLAND PBS YOUTUBE CHANNEL BY GOING TO YOUTUBE.COM/RHODEISLANDPBS.

PABLO, YOU WERE FEATURED IN THE SERIES.

YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE RHODE ISLAND PBS BOARD.

YOU WERE FEATURED IN THE THIRD SERIES ABOUT LATINA HEALTH.

BUT JUST THE LARGER PICTURE FOR THOSE THAT DON’T KNOW, IT SEEMS THE U.S., THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED TO HAVE A GREAT HEALTH SYSTEM, THIS IS A REAL CHEEK IN ARMOR.

PABLO: 10 TIMES THE RATE OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES LIKE JAPAN, SPAIN, AND GERMANY.

THE INTERESTING PART IS PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT POVERTY AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AS A CAUSE FOR THESE MORTALITIES AND MORBIDITIES.

YES, THEY DO CONTRIBUTE.

BUT, WHEN YOU SEPARATE THOSE ISSUES, WHEN YOU HAVE WOMEN OF COLOR THAT HAVE POWER, THAT HAVE MONEY LIKE SERENA WILLIAMS, LIKE THE OLYMPIC RUNNER THAT DIED FROM CHILDBIRTH.

THESE ARE WOMEN THAT HAVE POWER, HAVE INSURANCE.

THE ONLY THING THEY HAD AGAINST THEM IS THEY WERE BLACK.

THERE COMPLICATIONS ARE 80% PREVENTABLE.

80% OF MATERNAL DEATH COMPLICATIONS IN THE COUNTRY ARE PREVENTABLE.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR DIFFERENTIALLY.

IT’S NOT JUST INSURANCE.

IT’S NOT JUST POVERTY.

IT’S RACISM.

WEAYONNOH: THIS SERIES RESONATED WITH ME FOR SO MANY REASONS.

I AM A MOTHER OF TWO.

I AM ALSO AN ATTORNEY.

PRIOR TO COMING TO EPI I WORKED WITH DOCTORS.

I WORKED IN A MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP WORKING WITH DOCTORS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS ON THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, ON HEALTH CARE EQUITY, UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THEN I GOT PREGNANT.

THE STORY, ESPECIALLY EPISODE TWO, ALMOST FELT LIKE MY STORY.

I WAS NOT LIVING IN POVERTY.

I WAS EDUCATED.

I WAS A PROFESSIONAL, AN ATTORNEY AND AN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH THIS.

YES, I STILL ALMOST LOST MY CHILD BECAUSE I WAS NOT LISTENED TO.

WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT BLACK WOMEN IN THE SERIES NOT BEING LISTENED TO IT HIT ME HARD.

FOR A MONTH BEFORE I HAD AN EMERGENCY C-SECTION I TOLD MY DOCTORS MY BABY WAS NOT MOVING.

NO ONE WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO ME.

I REALIZED SHE WAS STARVING BECAUSE SHE WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO ME.

I ALMOST LOST HER.

SHE HAD TO SPEND TIME IN THE NICU.

THAT WAS PREVENTABLE AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH POVERTY.

I FELT GUILTY.

I CAN ADVOCATE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

WHY CAN’T I ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF?

THIS THE RAYS SHOWED IT’S A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.

MORE STORIES WE HEAR HOPEFULLY IT WILL LEAD TO SOLUTIONS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

AMANDA: I AGREE.

WATCHING ALL THREE PARTS, IT FELT LIKE THIS WAS MUST-SEE TV FOR THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.

EVERYBODY IS IN HEALTH CARE STARTING WITH THE RECEPTIONIST, THE STAFF, THE NURSES, THE DOCTORS, TO UNDERSTAND SYSTEMIC RACISM AND HOW IT COULD BE AFFECTING HOW THEY ARE HEARING WHAT WOMEN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR PREGNANCIES.

HOW THEY ARE PREPARING TO PREVENT ANY ISSUES.

PREPARING TO PREVENT ANY POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

EVERYTHING PABLO JUST SAID IS SOMETHING THAT BLEW ME AWAY.

WHEN YOU SEE IT PUT TOGETHER 80% OF THE DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE?

HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?

THAT’S ASTOUNDING TO ME.

WHAT I ALSO FOUND INTERESTING WAS HOW SOME OF THE LEGISLATION PASSED FOR INSTANCE FOR DULAS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

JIM: THAT REPRESENTATIVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH HER TWINS LMOST THREE DECADES AGO.

WHAT ABOUT THE DULA LEGISLATION?

WEAYONNOH: I WISH I HAD A DULA.

I MISSED OUT ON THAT.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING.

I THINK DULA’S AND MIDWIVES, TRAINING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE BIASES ARE COMING FROM WHAT HELP.

LEGISLATURES CAN GET INVOLVED.

THAT WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF LAWMAKERS GETTING INVOLVED.

>> -- JIM: HOW FRUSTRATING WASN’T IT TO NOT BE HEARD?

WEAYONNOH: IT ALMOST LEAD TO DEATH.

I COULD HAVE LOST MY CHILD AND MAYBE MY LIFE JUST BY NOT BEING LISTENED TO.

CHANGING THOSE DYNAMICS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

PABLO: SURROUNDING THAT ISSUE 23% OF MATERNAL DEATHS ARE CAUSED FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

IT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CAUSE OF DEATH OF OTHERS.

THOSE KINDS OF EXPERIENCES, SHE FELT GUILTY.

SHE FELT GUILTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER.

THAT IS JUST MAGNIFIED THROUGH THE WHOLE POPULATION.

SHE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, EDUCATED.

IMAGINE SOMEONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE.

EXPERIENCING WHAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED.

THAT IS WHAT LEADS TO MATERNAL DEATH AS A RESULT OF DEPRESSION.

JIM: YOU TALKED IN THE THIRD PART ABOUT CENTRAL FALSE, PARTICULARLY, LATINA WOMEN.

IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING, MAYOR RIVERA A LATINA WOMAN HERSELF.

TALK ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY.

PABLO: IN RHODE ISLAND MATERNAL DEATH RATES ARE DIFFICULT TO MEASURE BECAUSE WE ARE SO SMALL.

BUT MORBIDITY, WE HAVE MUCH HIGHER MORBIDITY FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN OF COLOR IN RHODE ISLAND.

AND IN CENTRAL FALSE, THIS SITUATION WAS A RESULT OF COVID.

WITH COVID, YOU HAD ALL THESE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE DEVELOPING COMPLICATIONS.

FOR EACH MATERNAL DEATH, 80 COMPLICATIONS HAPPEN.

IN RHODE ISLAND WE HAVE TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF COMPLICATIONS IN PREGNANCY.

JIM: AGAIN, I COMMAND YOU TO WATCH THAT SERIES.

THE THREE PARTS ARE 30 MINUTES EACH AND EXCELLENT, BEAUTIFULLY PRODUCED.

LET’S GO TO OUTRAGE AND/OR KUDOS.

AMANDA WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

AMANDA: I HAVE KUDOS.

AS SHOUT OUT TO MY UNSUNG HERO, KATHY IN THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH PROVIDENCE POLICE.

WITHOUT WHOM I COULD NOT HAVE OBTAINED MORE THAN SEVERAL HUNDRED PAGES OF RECORDS OF ALL OF THE POLICE CALLS TO ST. MARY’S OME FOR CHILDREN, WHICH IS SEVERAL HUNDRED CALLS OF CHILDREN RUNNING AWAY.

ST. MARY’S HOME FOR CHILDREN IS UNDER A GREAT DEAL OF SCRUTINY BECAUSE OF A CHILD ADVOCATES INVESTIGATION THAT FOUND ABUSE, NEGLECT, GENERAL CHAOS, AND DYSFUNCTION.

THIS WAS ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BEHIND EVERY INVESTIGATION IS SOMEONE LIKE A KATHY MAKING SURE THE PUBLIC RECORDS ARE PRODUCED.

JIM: I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AT OUR LAST TOPIC BUT LET’S TALK NOW.

YOU DID AN AMAZING SERIES.

THE PUBLIC RECORDS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SOFTWARE.

SO FUNDAMENTAL IN THE BRIDGE, IN THE FULL DAY FIASCO LAST YEAR.

GOVERNMENT SEEMINGLY WANTS TO PUT UP THAT BARRIER INCREASINGLY.

THERE SHOULD BE MORE KATHY’S, RIGHT?

AMANDA: THERE SHOULD BE MORE KATHY IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I TOLD HER WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR AND SHE WOULD SAY, I WILL GET EVERYTHING FOR YOU.

YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS ADDRESS, DID YOU?

LET ME GET THIS AND THAT IN A COUPLE DAYS.

THANK GOD.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE ST. MARY’S HOME FOR CHILDREN IS, LIKE THE BRIDGE, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ALLOWED TO FESTER FOR YEARS.

I AM TALKING TO FAMILIES OF KIDS WHO ARE THERE, THAT HAVE BEEN THERE, THAT ARE THERE NOW THAT SAID NONE OF WHAT WAS IN THE CHILD ADVOCATES REPORT WAS ANY SURPRISE.

THE NEIGHBORS AND POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS NO SURPRISE BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO EXPOSE IT.

PABLO: MY OUTRAGE IS REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS REJECTING A COMPROMISE BIPARTISAN BILL ON IMMIGRATION BEFORE THEY EVEN READ IT.

BECAUSE --.

PABLO: HE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR, YOU MIGHT GET IT.

PABLO: IT’S AMAZING.

ONLY BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP SAID YOU CAN PROVE IT BECAUSE I DON’T WANT BIDEN TO HAVE AN ELECTION YEAR WIN.

IT’S ABSOLUTELY ATROCIOUS.

IT SHOWS THEY ARE NOT HONEST IN CONGRESS.

JIM: THE UNFORTUNATE THING THAT I HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE IS IT’S TOO BAD THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DID NOT EMBRACE THIS AND YEAR AGO.

PABLO: ABSOLUTELY.

JIM: SO CLOSE.

IF FOR NOTHING ELSE, TO TAKE THE ISSUE AWAY FROM YOUR OPPONENT READ I THINK BIDEN HAS HAD A REAL BLIND SPOT ON THIS.

YOU SEE HIS DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES IN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO WITH ALL OF THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS.

BORDER STATES ARE KIND OF STICKING IT TO HIM READ BIDEN DID NOT ACT SOONER.

HE COULD HAVE TAKEN THE WHITE OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN SALES.

PABLO: WE HAD A COMPROMISE 20 YEARS AGO AND IT WAS KILLED AGAIN BECAUSE OF POLITICS.

THE BORDER IS IT THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE CHOSEN TO MAKE IT THAT WAY.

IT’S LIKE THE BRIDGES.

IF YOU DO NOT FIX THE BENCHES -- THE BRIDGES, THEY WILL COME DOWN.

SAME WITH THE BORDER.

IF YOU DON’T INVEST IN JUDGES, IN GUARDS, IF YOU DON’T MAKE SURE THE ASYLUM SYSTEM WORKS, YOU WILL HAVE THE PROBLEM FOREVER.

REGARDLESS OF WHO IS PRESIDENT.

JIM: WEAYONNOH NELSON-DAVIES DO YOU HAVE AN OUTRAGE OR KUDOS?

WEAYONNOH: I HAVE AN OUTRAGE BUT I WILL SAY KUDOS TO THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FOR WINNING THE SUPER BOWL.

BUT MY OUTRAGE IS RELATED.

WE HAD VIOLENCE AT THE PARADE WITH ONE PEOPLE KILLED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE INJURED.

I HAVE OUTRAGE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN THE COUNTRY AND MAKING SURE WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IN HATE -- AND HATE CRIME.

IN NORTH PROVIDENCE WE HAD A GOSPEL TEMPLE THAT WAS A VITIM OF ON ARSON.

-- AND ARSON.

THAT’S AN OUTRAGE.

JIM: THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS DON’T GO THAT FAR.

WEAYONNOH: WE NEED POLICY AND ACTION.

JIM: WE HAVE ABOUT 45 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH ST. MARY’S?

AMANDA: THEY HAVE A NEW INTERIM CEO THAT IS SO FAR REALLY IMPRESSING PEOPLE, PLEDGING TRANSPARENCY AND SHOWING IT.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW IT WILL BE TURNED AROUND BUT NOW ALL EYES ARE ON THIS.

THERE IS SOME HOPE.

JIM: IS THAT AN ISSUE GOING THROUGH?

AMANDA: IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH.

BUT THE GROUNDBREAKING HAS BEEN PUT OFF.

THEY SAY IT’S BECAUSE OF SOIL REMEDIATION.

JIM: MIGHT JUST BE SOMETHING ELSE?

AMANDA: THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT NEXT MONTH.

PABLO: WE WILL GET A BIGGER TRUCK.

NO.

JIM: THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU WATCHING.

PABLO AND AMANDA.

WEAYONNOH NELSON-DAVIES WE HOPE YOU COME BACK.

IF YOU DON’T CATCH AS FRIDAY OR SUNDAY AT NOON ALL OUR SHOWS ARE ARCHIVED.

FACEBOOK, TWITTER, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT X THAT’S OK TOO OR WHERE YOU GET YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTS.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

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♪ >> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> FOR OVER 30 YEARS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL ISSUES FA