>> COMING UP, IT’S ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

LOCAL LEADERS RELEASE BILLS AND AT FORTIFYING -- AIMED AT FORTIFYING HEALTH CARE IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS PROVIDED BY -- >> I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM.

JIM: JOINING THE PANEL, ALLAN FUNG, BILL LYNCH AND WENDY SCHILLER.

HELLO, WELCOME.

I’M JIM HUMMEL.

SUPER TUESDAY LEFT THE REALITY OF WHAT WE PROBABLY KNEW WAS COMING THIS FALL.

THE REMATCH.

THURSDAY EVENING, THE PRESIDENT SPENT MORE THAN ONE HOUR OUTLINING HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE AND DODGING THE ISSUES THAT MANY AMERICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

WENDY, I WAS FOLLOWING YOU LIVE.

I COULD HAVE HEARD MORE ABOUT INFLATION.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

THAT’S ONE ISSUE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT.

WENDY: HE BLAMED FOOD COMPANIES.

HE’S COUNTING ON INFLATION CONTINUES DOWN.

IT IS THERE BUT WAY LESS THAN IT HAS BEEN.

THEY ARE COUNTING ON THE SUMMER SHOWING IT IS STEADY AND PEOPLE GET USED TO IT AND NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT IT AS THEY ARE NOW.

THIS WAS A PITCH TO HIS BASE TO REMIND THEM HE IS ON THEIR SIDE AND HE PRESENTS A CONTRAST TO TRUMP.

>> THAT WAS THE MOST PARTISAN STATE OF THE UNION I HAVE HEARD.

HE DID MENTION THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

HOW MANY TIMES DID HE GO IN ON THE PLATFORM?

ALMOST 20 MINUTES BEFORE HE GOT TO SAY, THE STATE OF THE UNION IS GOOD.

IT WAS HIS NIGHT TO DELIVER, IN A FIERY WAY, TO SHOW HIS BASE, I’M READY FOR THIS.

WENDY AND I WERE CHATTING.

HE MADE AN OVERTURE.

KMAAMALA WILL BE MY VICE PRESIDENT.

JIM: HE SLID THAT IN.

>> IT WAS NOT YOUR TYPICAL STATE OF THE UNION.

AFTERWARD, HE SHOOK HANDS WITH MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

JIM: YOU THINK JILL TOOK AN UBER BACK?

BILL: I AM OLDER THAN ALLAN.

THE PRESIDENT DID WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.

IT WAS PARTISAN.

THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

PEOPLE WILL GET ENGAGED.

SUPER TUESDAY WASN’T SUPER.

EVERYONE KNEW IT WOULD COME DOWN TO BIDEN AND TRUMP.

PRIMARY PROCESS DIDN’T ENGAGE THAT MUCH.

THERE WASN’T MUCH INTEREST.

IT WAS KIND OF A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.

FINALLY, WE HAVE THE HEAVYWEIGHTS.

THE PRELIMS ARE BEHIND THEM.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SENT THAT MESSAGE CLEARLY ANDREW DISTINCTIONS -- AND DREW DISTINCTIONS, WHICH IS WHAT ANY ELECTION SHOULD BE ABOUT.

THERE WILL BE A CLEAR DEMARCATION.

PEOPLE WILL MAKE A DECISION HAVING SEEN THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THE PRESIDENT WILL GET REELECTED.

AT LEAST THERE WON’T BE CONFUSION BETWEEN THEM.

JIM: WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A CAMERA IN THE GREEN ROOM.

SOME OF THE BEST DISCUSSIONS.

I TRIED TO GET THEM NOT TO PEEK BEFORE WE COME OUT ON SET.

LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT, HE’S TALKING MORE TO DEMOCRATS THAN HE IS TO INDEPENDENTS HE NEEDS.

THERE HAVE BEEN FRACTURES WITH THE PROGRESSIVE END OF THE PARTY.

WENDY: NO QUESTION.

HE NEEDED HIS PEOPLE TO COME HOME.

HE NEEDED THE PROGRESSIVE WING, THE SENIOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEMBERS, A LOT OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN OUT THERE FOR HIM.

A LOT OF DISSENT.

THE NEW YORK TIMES, IF THEY RUN ONE MORE ARTICLE -- HE WAS THERE LAST NIGHT TO SAY, I AM YOUR GUY AND I CAN DO THIS.

I SHARE YOUR VALUES.

I WILL TAKE THE FIGHT TO TRUMP.

NO ONE ELSE WILL DO IT BETTER THAN I CAN.

THAT’S WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.

HE DID THAT WELL.

I DON’T THINK THIS APPEALS TO INDEPENDENTS.

THEY ARE WAITING TO SEE WHICH TRUMP EMERGES OVER THE SUMMER, TO FIGURE OUT IF HE IS THE SAME GUY THEY VOTED AGAINST IN ’20.

JIM: I WOULD HAVE LIKED MORE ON INFLATION AND THE BORDER.

EVERYBODY THINKS, TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

WHERE WERE YOU TWO YEARS AGO?

>> YOU ARE SEEING THAT POLICY IMPACT, IT ISN’T JUST THE BORDER ANYMORE.

HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW YORK.

A LOT OF PLACES THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM THE BORDER.

JIM: AND HAVE BEN DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE DEMOCRATIC, PROGRESSIVE MAYORS SAYING, THIS IS HAVEING A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON MY CITY, THAT’S A REAL ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED DURING ELECTIONS.

PEOPLE VOTE BASED ON WHAT THEY SEE AND XAVIER BECERRA DID IN THEIR DAILY LIVES -- AND XAVIER BECERRA IN THEIR DAILY -- AND HOW THEY ARE IMPACTED IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.

THE MAJORITY WILL VOTE BASED ON THEIR POCKETBOOKS, THEIR BACKYARDS, THEIR COMMUNITIES.

HE WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

HIS OPPONENT IS OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN A MONUMENTAL WAY, WHETHER IN PERSON OR ON SOCIAL.

JIM: WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO?

>> JUST WHEN HE STARTED TO DO LAST NIGHT.

DRAW DISTINCTIONS.

REMIND PEOPLE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIM AND WHAT HE WILL DO WITH FOUR MORE YEARS VERSUS TRUMP, WHO WAS THERE FOR FOUR YEARS.

IT’S EASY UNTIL NOW.

NOW, THE TWO OF THEM WILL MAKE IT CLEAR WHERE THEY STAND ON ISSUES.

INFLATION WAS 9%.

IT’S 3%.

JIM: PRICES AREN’T GOING LOWER.

>> THINGS ARE CHANGING.

GNP IS UP.

MORE JOBS.

TRUMP IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO LOSE JOBS IN FOUR YEARS SINCE HOOVER.

THE BORDER IS AN EXAMPLE.

IT’S A MESS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE TED KENNEDY AND JOHN MCCAIN PUT LEGISLATION FORWARD 40 PLUS YEARS AGO THAT DIDN’T PASS, WE HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE CHANGES AT THE BORDER.

MAYBE NOT FIX EVERYTHING BUT IT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ORCHESTRATED BY THE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE SENATE UNTIL TRUMP SAID DON’T PASS THIS.

IT HURTS MY CHANCES IN THE ELECTION.

THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE BILL WALKED AWAY FROM IT.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

JIM: DO PEOPLE SEE THROUGH THAT?

REPUBLICANS ARE WITH TRUMP.

PEOPLE ON THE FENCE OR SITTING OUT, ON IMMIGRATION, WHAT DO REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DO?

ALLAN: THE DYSFUNCTION IN CONGRESS, IN STATEHOUSES, EVEN FRUSTRATION PEOPLE FEEL IN GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL, IS BECAUSE OF THE DYNAMICS NOW, WHERE IT’S NOT ABOUT COMPROMISE OR WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE.

PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED AT GOVERNMENT.

THAT’S GENERATIONAL.

I GREW UP IN THE ERA OF LET’S GET THINGS DONE.

MIGHT NOT BE PERFECT.

IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES .

REPUBLICANS NEED TO GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.

THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THE BORDER, INFLATION.

JIM: WHAT DID YOU DO AS OPPOSED TO CRITICISM?

ALLAN: PEOPLE WANT TO SEE INITIATIVES.

PROGRESS TOWARD THEM.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN D.C., IT’S BECOME MORE ABOUT FUNDRAISING.

WHETHER PASSING OR KILLING A BILL.

JIM: YOU KNOW ABOUT FUNDRAISING?

ALLAN: A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

EVEN POST LAST NIGHT, REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS ARE USING CLIPS TO FUND RAISE.

IT’S BECOME TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT INSTEAD OF GETTING THINGS DONE.

AS A REPUBLICAN, YOU HAVE TO PUT INITIATIVES FORWARD.

NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT.

TRY TO GET THESE PAST.

WENDY: WE WILL SEE ADS LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL THAT WILL SHOW PEOPLE IN CAGES.

THAT’S WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL DO.

IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO A GUY WHO ITS PEOPLE IN CAGES -- WHO PUTS PEOPLE IN CAGES, THAT IS WHAT TRUMP WILL DO.

THE VISUALS, THE DEMOCRATS SUFFER NOW, THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE HAS PUT THE NATIONAL GUARD AND STATE POLICE AND CITY SUBWAYS.

I GREW UP ON LONG ISLAND.

I SAW POLICE.

YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE WITH MACHINE GUNS IN THE MAJOR STATIONS.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE USED TO.

THAT IS SUPPOSED TO QUELL CRIME.

IT MAKES PEOPLE BELIEVE THERE IS MORE CRIME AND IT MAKES PEOPLE NERVOUS.

REPUBLICANS BLAME MIGRANTS, WHICH IS STEREOTYPICAL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE FLEEING TRAUMATIC, VIOLENT SOCIETIES.

THAT’S WHY THEY ARE COMING HERE.

THEY ARE RELEASED IN A NEW COUNTRY AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FUNCTION.

THERE’S A BIG DISCONNECT TRANSITIONING PEOPLE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB EXPLAINING AND TRANSITIONING PEOPLE, IF THEY ARE GOING TO CATCH AND RELEASE, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN FUNCTION IN THE U.S. JIM: GEN Z AND MILLENNIALS.

THEY CAME OUT FOR BIDEN.

PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN THE 2012 ELECTION, SAT OUT 2016.

I WAS ONE OF THEM, DIDN’T VOTE FOR TRUMP OR CLINTON.

DOESN’T BIDEN HAVE TO REEL IN THE YOUNGER VOTE?

BILL: IT’S THE FIRST TIME I’VE HEARD YOU REFER TO YOURSELF AS GEN Z. JIM: NOT ME!

I AM A BOOMER BABY.

BILL: BIDEN HAS TO REACH OUT TO EVERYBODY.

NO QUESTION, YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ENERGIZED.

THAT’S WHAT THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE ABOUT.

IT’S OUR JOB, EVERYBODY, TO SEE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

IF THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN, THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS.

THE ELECTION WILL BE CLOSE ANYWAY.

I DON’T THINK IT WILL BE A RUNAWAY EITHER WAY.

THE WAY THINGS BREAK DOWN ELECTORALLY, IT’S GOING TO COME DOWN TO FIVE STATES AGAIN.

EVERYONE WILL BE ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS.

SMALL NUMBERS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IF PEOPLE STAY HOME, THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN A BIG ISSUE WITH ME, WHEN PEOPLE AFTER A PRIMARY SAY, MY PERSON DIDN’T GET THROUGH, THEREFORE I DON’T CARE OR I WILL SHOW MY UNHAPPINESS BY NOT VOTING, WHICH IS A VOTE FOR THE OTHER MAN OR WOMAN.

IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

BIDEN AND THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ARE AWARE OF THAT AND WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN.

JIM: NATIONAL.

WENDY: THE HOUSE IS UP FOR GRABS.

DEMOCRATS ARE COMPETITIVE IN CALIFORNIA FOR SEATS THEY LOST IN ’22.

KATHY HOCHUL IS BEING AGGRESSIVE ON CRIME.

THAT’S HOW THEY LOST SEATS IN NEW YORK.

IT COMES DOWN TO EIGHT SEATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT’S UPPER GRABS.

THE SENATE LOOKS REPUBLICAN NOW.

JIM: JUST BASED ON WHO IS UP.

WENDY: THEY’VE DONE WELL ON GETTING REASONABLE PEOPLE AS NOMINEES.

KARI LAKE, WE COULD DEBATE THAT IN ARIZONA.

UNLIKE ’22, YOU’RE GETTING EXPERIENCED POLITICIANS VYING FOR THE NOMINATION.

SHOUT OUT TO BOB CASEY LAST NIGHT BY THE PRESIDENT.

THAT’S ON PURPOSE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SWING STATE SENATE RACES THAT HELP TRUMP AND BIDEN TO BRING OUT VOTERS.

>> REPUBLICANS HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT THE SENATE.

HOUSE WILL BE IS A TOSSUP.

JIM: WHAT WAS GEORGE SANTOS DOING LAST NIGHT?

ALLAN: GIVE ME A BREAK.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR IMAGE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE NEED SOME CANDIDATES WILLING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

JIM: THE LEADERSHIP OF THE RHODE ISLAND SENATE RELEASED BILLS THIS WEEK AIMED AT HEALTH CARE BIG ISSUE.

THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE BUDGET.

THIS IS A NICE CONCEPT.

THE HOUSE USUALLY GENERATES BILLS THAT HAVE A PRICE TAG.

YOU HAVE TO GET THEM ON BOARD.

GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

REIMBURSEMENT FOR DOCTORS, PAYING OFF MEDICAL DEBT.

THE QUESTION IS THE PRICE.

BILL: TWO THINGS ARE ENCOURAGING AT THE STATEHOUSE.

YOU GOT THE SENATE TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS PACKAGE, WHICH IS LONG OVERDUE.

JIM: 20 YEARS.

BILL: IT’S DESIGNED TO START A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT CHANGES.

WE HEAR COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME ABOUT DOCTORS LEAVING.

THE LACK OF NURSES.

ISSUES THAT AFFECT PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES.

ON THE HOUSE SIDE, YESTERDAY, THE SPEAKER RELEASED A SERIES OF BILLS TO FURTHER ADDRESS THE HOUSING ISSUES IN RHODE ISLAND, WHICH HAS HE HAS BEEN A LEADER ON.

30 BILLS HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED BY THE HOUSE.

THE GOOD THING, I THINK, IS THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT ARE GETTING ALONG, WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER ON THESE TO TRY TO COME UP WITH COMPROMISES THAT WILL ACTUALLY SEE LEGISLATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE.

BOTH THOSE ISSUES, BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE, YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF WORK TO SEE THOSE BILLS GET PAST.

JIM: HEALTH CARE?

WENDY: REIMBURSEMENT RATES, IF YOU TALK TO DOCTORS, IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF WHY IT IS HARD TO BE A DOCTOR IN RHODE ISLAND.

THEY HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO UP THOSE RATES.

WE ARE TOUTING HOW GREAT A PLACE IT IS TO LIVE.

IF YOU CAN MAKE MORE MONEY IN MASSACHUSETTS, WHY WOULDN’T YOU LIVE THERE?

YOU DON’T WANT THE BRAIN DRAIN.

THE BROWN MEDICAL SCHOOL IS IMPROVING.

THERE’S GOOD HEALTH CARE IN RHODE ISLAND TO BEEF UP THE SYSTEM AND ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM EASTERN CONNECTICUT OR SOUTHERN MASSACHUSETTS WHO DON’T WANT TO GO TO BOSTON FOR HEALTH CARE.

>> IT’S ABOUT TIME.

THIS IS A CRISIS WAITING TO HAPPEN.

IT’S HAPPENING.

WE ARE IN IT.

GOOD LUCK TRYING TO FIND A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.

ONE OF THE STRESS POINTS IS REIMBURSEMENT RATES, GETTING PAYMENTS, COMPARED TO MASSACHUSETTS/CONNECTICUT OVER THE BORDER.

MY WIFE IS AROUND THE HOSPITAL EVERY DAY.

SHE SEES IT.

SHE SEES THE IMPACT ON THE HOSPITAL SETTING AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THE BILLS WILL HELP.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE NEXT GENERATION STAYS HERE, HAVING A PROGRAM WHERE LOANS ARE EITHER FORGIVEN OR ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO HELP THEM OUT SO YOU ARE GETTING YOUNGER DOCTORS.

THAT’S A GREAT THING.

WE NEED THE NEXT GENERATION OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

WE HAVE TO DO MORE ON THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE.

THAT’S A BIG DRIVER.

WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE MORE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FLEEING.

JIM: AND BINDING UP THE MEDICAL DEBT.

BILL: ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES BELOW THE SURFACE IS THE COST THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FACE NOW TO BECOME DOCTORS.

BY THE TIME THEY GET THROUGH COLLEGE AND MED SCHOOL, THEY ARE SUFFOCATING WITH THE COST THEY HAD TO INCUR.

HAPPY TO SEE, THERE’S BEEN RESISTANCE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN WASHINGTON TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT FORGIVING AND GETTING RID OF COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL DEBT THESE PEOPLE HAVE SO THEY CAN MAKE IT EASIER.

YOU HEAR STORIES ALL THE TIME IN RHODE ISLAND.

LOVE IT HERE.

WENT TO BROWN.

LOVE TO STAY HERE.

MY DEBTS ARE SO SIGNIFICANT -- ALLAN: LET ME PUSH BACK.

BILL IS WEARING TOO MUCH OF HIS DEMOCRATIC HAT.

THE REPUBLICAN MANTRA IS THIS -- GIVE CREDITS, DEFERMENTS.

WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HELP KEEP KIDS IN RHODE ISLAND.

DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

NOT JUST FORGIVENESS.

NOT JUST MEDICAL, LEGAL, GRAD SCHOOL DEBT.

THERE WILL BE OTHER MECHANISMS THEN JUST FORGIVING DEBT.

THAT’S THE POLICY DEBATE.

BILL: TARGETED.

JIM: TO KEEP PEOPLE HERE.

ALLAN: CORRECT, ESPECIALLY THE AREAS OF NEED, LIKE PCPS THAT WE NEED IN RHODE ISLAND.

IT CANNOT BE A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

IS NOT HEALTHY.

BILL: IF WE HAD YOU IN WASHINGTON, WE COULD TALK TO YOU.

ALLAN: ABSOLUTELY.

BILL: THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT.

THEY DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING WITH THESE INCREDIBLY LARGE COLLEGE DEBTS.

THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE IT.

IT’S BEING CONTESTED.

ALLAN: IT’S HOW HE DOES IT.

WENDY: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, MESSAGING LOST IN THIS STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS IS THE PRESIDENT, THIS STARTED WITH OBAMA, EVEN IN TRUMP, THEY WERE STALLING, BUT SOME OF IT HAPPENED, MORE IS HAPPENING NOW, PEOPLE TOOK OUT LOANS TO GO TO TRADE SCHOOLS.

OR THESE ONLINE PLACES.

THEN THEY CLOSE.

THEY SHOW UP TO GO TO SCHOOL, THEY ARE CLOSED.

THEY LOST $5,000 THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY BACK WITH INTEREST.

THEY GET NO EDUCATION FOR IT.

THAT’S THE BULK OF WHAT’S BEEN IF YOU GO TO A PUBLIC INTEREST PROFESSION, IF YOU ARE NURSING, MAKING LESS MONEY, YOU CAN APPLY FOR FEDERAL LOAN FORGIVENESS THAT CUTS SOME OF YOUR LOANS.

THE THIRD THING, MANY YEARS AGO YOU WERE ALLOWED TO DEDUCT THE INTEREST ON YOUR STUDENT LOANS.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TOOK THAT AWAY.

YOU COULD PUT THAT BACK.

PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS MORE FAIR.

RIGHT NOW IT IS MESSAGING ON THE PART OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THEY ARE NOT EXPLAINING WHO THEY ARE FORGIVING.

THERE’S AN ARGUMENT ABOUT, WHO MIGHT GET A TAX BREAK FOR THE INTEREST.

THAT AFFECTS LESS THAN 40% OF AMERICA GOES TO COLLEGE.

JIM: LET’S DO OUR GREATEST OR KUDOS FIRST.

>> TOURNAMENT TIME.

SHOUT OUT TO MY ALMA MATER HIGH SCHOOL, THE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM JUST WON THEIR STATE TITLE.

JIM: UNDEFEATED.

BILL: ONE OF MY LAST SHOTS AT MITCH MCCONNELL.

[LAUGHTER] HERE’S A GUY WHO I THOUGHT MIGHT HAVE SAVED SOME GRACE BY CALLING TRUMP OUT AFTER ANUARY 6.

AFTER A FEW MONTHS LATER, DESPITE TRUMP’S ATTACKING, NOT ONLY HIM BUT HIS WIFE, IN A PERSONABLE WAY, WHICH WAS HORRIBLE, TO SEE MCCONNELL SHUFFLE THROUGH AND ENDORSE TRUMP, TO HOLD ONTO SOME SENSE OF POWER IN THE SENATE WAS JUST TO ME -- SHE’S NOW LOWER THAN LINDSEY GRAHAM.

JIM: HE IS STEPPING DOWN BUT STAYING UNTIL ’27.

JUST GO HOME.

WENDY: HE MAY ULTIMATELY LEAVE.

DEPENDS.

MINE IS OUTRAGE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY AGAINST WOMEN.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHOOTINGS, ONE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, ONE IN BOSTON.

WE HAVE TOO MANY GUNS AND TOO MANY VIOLENT OFFENDERS WHO ARE NOT PROSECUTED.

I APPLAUD RHODE ISLAND FOR PUSHING THE LEGISLATURE ON GUN SAFETY.

THEY ARE PUSHING FOR AN ASSAULT WEAPON BAN.

THEY WILL GATHER WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK AT THE STATEHOUSE FOR HEARINGS.

I CAN UNDERSTAND THE WORD BAN.

PEOPLE DON’T LIKE IT.

YOU CAN STILL DO THINGS TO MAKE IT SAFER IN A SOCIETY THAT HAS TOO MANY GUNS.

JIM: THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

THE D.O.T.

DIRECTOR WILL REPORT.

ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD WHEN WE WERE WAITING TO BILL GET HERE FROM TRAFFIC.

[LAUGHTER] BILL: I AM THE NEW EXPERT.

JIM: I HAVEN’T DRIVEN ON 95 IN 10 YEARS.

WAKE-UP CALL.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTH CARE AND TRANSPORTATION.

IF YOU ARE TIRED OF GETTING, MAYBE YOU WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS.

ALLAN: MY WIFE HEARS IT EVERY DAY.

A LOT OF COLLEAGUES HAVE TO ADENAUER COMMUTE TIME IN, AND THEN GOING BACK OUT -- ADD AT LEAST ONE HOUR COMMUTE TIME IN.

YOU MIGHT HAVE HEALTH CARE WORKERS SAY I AM DONE WITH THIS CRAZINESS BECAUSE I CANNOT FLEX TIME.

IT’S A DIFFERENT WORK ENVIRONMENT.

I MIGHT GO TO FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON, WHERE I CAN GET HIGHER PAID, NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS CRAZY STRESS OF SITTING IN TRAFFIC AT LEAST ONE HOUR EACH WAY.

JIM: WE HAVEN’T HAD YOU ON SINCE RIGHT AFTER IT CLOSED.

WENDY: I’M LOOKING AT POLITICS.

PEOPLE NEVER FORGET THEY ARE SITTING IN TRAFFIC.

THEY GET ANGRIER.

I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNOR’S RESPONSE.

TREAT IT AS A CRISIS.

BE OUT THERE EVERY DAY TALKING ABOUT IT.

I DON’T KNOW HOW PETER STILL HAS HIS JOB.

HE DID A GOOD JOB TRYING TO FIX BRIDGES AND ROADS.

THIS IS A COLOSSAL MISTAKE.

IT’S OVERSIGHT.

IT’S THE WAY D.O.T.

HAS BEEN RUN.

HE HAS TO GO.

UNLESS MCKEE MAKES THAT HAPPEN BY THE SUMMER, HE BECOMES THE BIGGEST LIABILITY FOR THE GOVERNOR IN ’26.

JIM: WHERE DOES THE GOVERNOR LIVE?

WENDY: NOT IN THE EAST BAY.

JIM: CUMBERLAND.

YOU HAVE TO SIT IN TRAFFIC FIVE IS A WEEK TO APPRECIATE IT.

YOU LIVE IN PAWTUCKET.

WENDY: GINA WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT THERE ALL THE TIME.

IT’S A BIG CONTRAST.

HE’S GOT TO SHOW THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

PEOPLE’S’S LIVES ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.

>> I CAN’T SAY ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT THE BRIDGE.

OBVIOUSLY.

[LAUGHTER] IT’S NOT A PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED OVERNIGHT.

IT’S BEEN COMING ALONG TIME.

JIM: GINA?

WILL YOU PINPOINT THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS?

BILL: LOOK AT GOVERNOR KATERI.

[LAUGHTER] ALLAN: GOING WAY BACK.

JIM: THE SWITCH.

BILL: IT’S A HUGE PROBLEM.

MESSAGING IN THE POLITICAL BUSINESS IS CRITICAL.

MESSAGING HASN’T BEEN AS GOOD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

IT’S A BAD SITUATION.

IT IMPACTS PEOPLE.

I USED TO GO OVER THAT BRIDGE 10 TIMES A DAY.

I’M GLAD IT DIDN’T FALL IN THE RIVER.

THERE WAS SLOW RECOGNITION ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST THE GOVERNOR, A LOT OF PEOPLE, HOW SEVERE THIS WAS AND HOW NEGATIVELY IT WOULD IMPACT SUCH A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

PEOPLE HAVE COME TO GRIPS WITH THAT.

WE ARE NOT OUT OF IT YET.

THAT’S THE OTHER PROBLEM.

WENDY: WE ARE JUST BEGINNING.

IT WILL BE AT LEAST TWO YEARS TO FIX THIS.

MAYBE $300 MILLION.

PEOPLE WILL BE LIVING THIS.

EVERY TIME THEY LIVE IT, THEY WILL THINK, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN AND WHO AM I GOING TO BLAME?

JIM: IT SPILLS INTO ’26.

ALLAN: ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.

FOR MAYORS, PLOWING OR TRASH.

FOR GOVERNORS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION.

JIM: QUICK 30 MINUTES WITH THIS PANEL.

EXTRA OXYGEN FOR THE SHOW.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

A LOT GOING ON, THE HEIGHT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.

FULL RECAP NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ANNOUNCER: A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGHT TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES FACING RHODE ISLANDERS.