>> THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, WE WILL SOON KNOW WHO WILL BE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE THIS FALL.

MORE TROUBLE FOR HE PROMISED A SENATOR.

WILL HE HOLD ONTO HIS POSITION AND SEAT?

>> HI.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT'’S PROVIDED INSIGHT TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM.

>> JOIN US FOR THE ANALYSIS.

MAUREEN, STEVE AND TED.

WELCOME TO A LIVELY EXPERI MENT.

WITH OVER SEVEN WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER PRIMARY, CANDIDATES FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, MORE THAN 30 OF THEM HAVE BEEN BUSY GETTING SIGNATURES TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

ON THE FIELD IS SET NEXT WEEK, THEN WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AT A TIME WHEN VOTERS ARE NOT ENGAGED?

WE ARE ENGAGED.

IF YOU HAD ONE OR TWO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THIS RACE, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

TED: SLEEPY.

THEY FEEL THEY ARE WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF.

THIS IS THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL RACE I HAVE COVERED SINCE I GOT MY JOB.

THE STAKES FELT HIGH LAST YEAR.

IT DOESN'’T FEEL LIKE THAT THIS YEAR.

PEOPLE DO NOT EXPECT THERE IS A RISK OF FLIPPING.

IT IS ABOUT WHICH DEMOCRAT.

MAUREEN: IT IS PERCEIVED AS SLEEPY BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CANDIDATES ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ENHANCE THEIR REP. AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU CAN SECURE YOUR BASE.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON.

IT IS SO UNFOCUSED.

>> IF YOU HAVE 15 DEMOCRATS ON THE BALLOT AND 10 OR MORE HAVE A CLAIM TO CREDIBILITY -- FORGET THE PRESS -- I THINK VOTERS CAN GET FATIGUED WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE.

JIM: WE ARE TAPING ON THURSDAY MORNING.

THE DEADLINE'’S FRIDAY.

SECRETARY OF STATE'’S OFFICE SAID THEY SHOULD CERTIFIED BY THE END OF THE DAY TUESDAY.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH THE RACE TO ME.

JIM: WE WILL GET TO YOUR PEOPLE IN THE SECOND.

>> I HAVE MY ISSUES.

THEY DON'’T STAND OUT TO EACH OTHER.

THEY ALL SOUND SIMILAR.

SOME OF THEM HAVE SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS.

THE BIGGEST FIGHTS ARE SILLY STUFF.

JIM: WHO CARES ABOUT THAT?

MAUREEN: IT'’S GOING TO FOCUS.

NEXT WEEK, THERE WILL BE DROPOUTS.

THESE SKIRMISHES GO ON.

PEOPLE CAN'’T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY UNTIL THEY KNOW THERE ARE SERIOUS CANDIDATES.

>> REMINDS ME OF MASSACHUSETTS, 2020, TO REPLACE JOE KENNEDY.

IT WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THE SENATE.

IT FELT LIKE PEOPLE DIDN'’T CARE.

THAT WAS WITH JAKE.

TO STEVE'’S POINT, EVERYONE AMONG THE MAIN CANDIDATES IS RUNNING AS A GENERIC DEMOCRAT.

FOR THE VOTERS, YOU HAVE 10 FLAVORS OF VANILLA.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT DEBATES?

WHAT IS THE LINE OF DEMARCATION?

TED: A PIECE OF IT IS OUT OF OUR HANDS.

THEY HAVE SET NATIONAL STANDARDS.

THEY ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.

I HAVE A SPREADSHEET.

THERE ARE 12 METRICS.

THE MAIN ONES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A BALLOT, YOU HAVE TO HIT $50,000 IN RECEIPTS.

IF THERE IS PULLING, WE LOOK.

DO YOU HAVE A CAMPAIGN OFFICE?

THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE THRESHOLD ISN'’T THAT HIGH.

I WOULDN'’T BE SURPRISED IF A DOZEN PEOPLE QUALIFY.

NO JOKE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, MAYBE WE NEED TO BORROW PODIUMS FROM OUR SISTER SATIONS IN CONNECTICUT.

MY BIGGER CONCERN IS HOW YOU FIND A FORMAT THAT IS USEFUL TO VOTERS?

52 MINUTES OF DEBATING TIME.

DIVIDE THAT BY NINE.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE BIG EXCHANGES.

STEVE: JUST ASK THE QUESTION.

DO YOU HATE TRUMP?

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN '’16.

IT WAS A FREE-FOR-ALL AT THE END.

THERE WERE AT LEAST 12.

>> I THINK THERE WAS 16.

MAUREEN: IT WILL WINNOW DOWN.

YOU WILL FIGURE OUT WHO IS MORE SERIOUS.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

WITH ALL THOSE CANDIDATES, A DEBATE IS NOT THAT CONSTRUCTIVE.

TWO LINES, THAT KIND OF THING.

JIM: LET'’S GET TO YOUR CANDIDATE, MR. LEONARD.

I WAS STUNNED.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME GETTING PUBLIC TRACTION.

THERE WAS NO PRESS ALLOWED AT HIS EVENT.

IF THE REPORTERS ARE NOT THERE, IS IT REALLY AN EVENT?

STEVE: I TEND TO BE REPUBLICAN THAT GETS ALONG OK WITH THE MEDIA.

SOME REPUBLICANS SEE THE MEDIA AS ADVERSRIAL.

>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT ME.

[LAUGHTER] >> THE MANTRA OF THE MEDIA IS LIBERAL AND WILL BUILD A NARRATIVE.

REPUBLICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TALKING WITH THE MEDIA.

THEY FEEL THEY WILL BE SLANTED IN A CERTAIN WAY.

I DON'’T THINK THAT IS AN EXCUSE.

YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC.

IF YOU ARE THE MINORITY PARTY, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT.

RAISE THE MONEY, WHICH IS HARD.

OR USE MEDIA.

GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT BY TALKING TO REPORTERS.

I DON'’T THINK IT WAS A GOOD STRATEGY.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUTION IN THE CAMP -- IS HE READY?

BASICALLY, IF YOU'’RE RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC.

>> HE HAS A GREAT RESUME.

>> ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONFUSIONS AS A REPORTER, WHO HAS COVERED QUITE A FEW RACES -- WHY NOT JUST CALL A CONFERENCE THE DAY YOU KICK OFF?

YOU KNOW HOW TO NEWSROOM'’S ARE.

YOU ARE GOING TO TRY AND GET A CAMERA THERE IN THE SUMMERTIME.

IT IS ALMOST YOUR ONE MOMENT, IF YOU ARE AN UNDERDOG, THAT YOU CAN GET TV CAMERAS THERE.

WE WILL PUT SOMETHING ON THE 6:00 NEWS.

MAUREEN: THE OTHER THING.

STARTING WITH THIS CAMPAIGNING, THIS IDEA OF ENCOURAGING REPUBLICANS TO VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, YOU COULD GET SOME WACKY RESULTS.

CASEY WAS THE ONE, HE WAS THE FORCE BEHIND THE FIREMAN'’S DISABILITY BILL.

HE'’S GOT THE FIREMEN.

HE IS PRO-GUN, ANTI-CHOICE.

IT IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY THAT HE COULD BE A CONTENDER.

THAT PUTS A REASONABLE REPUBLICAN -- >> HOW MANY VOTERS KNOW WHO HE IS?

>> IF YOU'’VE GOT THE REPUBLICANS MOBILIZED -- >> STEVE CASEY IS THE MOST INTERESTING STORY OF THE PRIMARY TO ME.

HE IS PRO-LIFE, PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT.

IT IS LIKE ARRANGING.

IT CAN BE DONE.

IT IS USUALLY DONE SUCCESSFULLY UNDER THE RADAR SCREEN.

2006, JP, LAFFEY, 5000 DEMOCRATS BECAME INDEPENDENTS TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY TO VOTE FOR JP TO BEAT HIM.

SAME IN 1976.

A FEW HUNDRED REPUBLICANS CAME OUT AND VOTED ON THE U.S. SENATE PRIMARY.

IT CAN BE DONE.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT STEALTHY.

YOU CANNOT MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

HELLO CONSERVATIVES, COME OUT AND VOTE!

THEN DEMOCRATS GET REVVED UP.

>> THIS RACE, WHAT DO YOU FIGURE?

15,000 TO WIN?

IN THE PRIMARY?

>> 10,000 MIGHT BE ENOUGH.

>> DIDN'’T LAFFEY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE?

>> THE UNIONS OVERPLAYED THEIR HAND.

THAT WAS '’04.

HE WON 2-1.

THEY TRIED TO GET PEOPLE.

LAFFEY USED THAT TO MOBILIZE GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS TO VOTE FOR HIM IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

EXTREMELY UNUSUAL.

>> LET'’S TALK ABOUT THE CANDIDATES AT THE TOP.

ERIN RAGAN BERT, GABE, SARAH.

BEYOND THAT, WHO WAS IN THE UPPER TIER?

>> DON CARLSEN FROM JAMESTOWN, BECAUSE OF MONEY, OBVIOUSLY.

STEVE CASEY.

YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF OFFICIALS WHO CURRENTLY HOLD ELECTED OFFICE, WHO HAVE SHOWN ABILITY TO RUN A CAMPAIGN, UNDERSTAND POLITICS.

JOHN OUT OF PROVIDENCE.

IN THE CASE OF ABNEY, HE'’S DONE SO LITTLE OTHER THAN SAY HE IS RUNNING -- HOW SERIOUS IS HE?

>> LET'’S GET THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OUT.

ABNEY STILL HADN'’T RESPONDED.

YOU DON'’T HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR LIVING ROOM TO DO THAT.

>> I DON'’T, I THOUGHT SOME FOLKS WOULDN'’T PULL PAPERS.

THEY HAD JUST PUT THEIR NAME OUT THERE.

EVERYONE PULLED THE PAPERS.

A TON OF THEM RETURNING IN THE 500 SIGNATURES AS WE TAKE THIS.

>> WITH SEVEN WEEKS LEFT, DON CARLSEN, PEOPLE SAY MONEY SHOULDN'’T BY THE ELECTION.

WHERE DOES HE SPEND THE MONEY?

WHEN IS HE GOING TO START?

MAUREEN: HE'’S GOT TO DO IT ON TV.

>> OR DOES HE?

MAUREEN: I DON'’T KNOW.

MATOS HAS $250,000 AND SHE WILL BE ON AIR.

THAT WILL BE HER STRATEGY.

IT'’S PROBABLY A GOOD ONE GIVEN THE MARGINS.

THAT POLL WASN'’T HERS BUT IT BENEFITED HER.

SHE IS LOOKING FOR NEGATIVE ADS.

SHE CAN RUN A COMPETENT CAMPAIGN VIA THE MEDIA.

>> WITH ALL DO RESPECT TO YOUR STATION, IT'’S NOT AS MANY PEOPLE.

IS IT MORE SOCIAL MEDIA?

YOUTUBE?

>> YOU'’RE NOT TRYING TO REACH THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

WHO IS THE MEDIAN VOTER IN A RACE THAT WILL GET THIS LOW OF A TURNOUT?

OLDER ELECTOR.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO STILL BE WATCHING TV NEWS AND LOCAL BROADCASTS, THE OLDER DEMOGRAPHIC IS.

THAT IS WHO VOTES.

LAST YEAR, ANALYSIS SHOWED OVER HALF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED WERE OVER 50, A LARGE PERCENT OVER 60.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO REACH A TON OF YOUNG PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SHOW UP.

MAUREEN: IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF AIRTIME, THAT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> COME BACK NEXT THREE.

WE WILL KNOW WHO IS ON THE BALLOT.

THEN TED AND TIM CAN TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT.

SENATOR JOSH BECKER, THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

LONGTIME SENDER -- HIS STORY CHANGED WITH THE POLICE.

HE IS NOW FACING OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CHARGES.

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SENATE HAS BEEN DISTURBINGLY QUIET ON THIS.

>> WHEN I SAW THAT, IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST INFANTILE THINGS I EVER SAW IN MY LIFE.

>> YOU HAVE THREE KIDS.

>> IF ONE OF MY KIDS DID THIS, THEY WOULD BE IN TROUBLE.

>> THEY WOULD BE IN STOCKS.

>> DO IT IN THE STATEHOUSE, PEOPLE ARE LIKE, NO COMMENT.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE.

WE KNOW THE SENATOR HAS HAD LEGAL PROBLEMS IN THE PAST.

HE KEYED A CAR 30 YEARS AGO.

THAT IS MAKING HIM RELUCTANT TO CALL OUT WHAT THIS IS, WHICH IS SOMEONE WHO GOT TRIGGERED BY A BUMPER STICKER, DECIDED TO KIA CAR AND THEN LIED ABOUT IT TO THE POLICE.

>> IF HE HAD JUST FESSED UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, MOMENT OF WHATEVER, DISORDERLY CHARGE.

>> THESE ARE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES.

IT SHOWS VERY POOR JUDGMENT.

HE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS FAR AS THE LAW IS CONCERNED.

HIS CONSTITUENTS SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

I WOULDN'’T EXPECT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE SENATE TO YELL FOR HIM TO RESIGN.

>> HE'’S A DEMOCRAT.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

YOU DO NOT CRITICIZE FELLOW MEMBERS NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO.

MAUREEN: THESE ARE MISDEMEANORS.

INFANTILE.

THEY DISPLAY A SIGN OF QUIRKY CHARACTER, A FLAWED CHARACTER.

>> IT'’S A MISDEMEANOR.

THE SOLICITOR DECIDES.

I DISAGREE WITH MAUREEN.

WATCHING A STATE LAWMAKER LIE TO POLICE ON VIDEO IS QUITE A SIGHT.

IT'’S PARTLY THE RISE OF HAVING POLICE BODY WORN CAMERAS.

YOU WOULD READ A REPORT IN YEARS PAST.

MAYBE IT WOULD BE MURKIER.

YOU ARE WALKING JOSH MILLER -- WATCHING JOSH MILLER FIB IN REAL TIME.

IT'’S A MISDEMEANOR.

MAYBE PEOPLE IN HIS SECTION OF CRANSTON WON'’T THINK IT IS THAT BAD BUT I DON'’T KNOW.

THE FACT THAT IT HAS MADE NATIONAL NEWS.

DEMOCRATS PRIVATELY HAVE SAID THEY ARE APPALLED HE DIDN'’T FESS UP.

WE WILL SEE.

MAUREEN: I WOULDN'’T EXPECT LEADERSHIP AT THIS POINT, I WOULDN'’T FAULT THEM FOR ASKING HIM TO RESIGN.

>> A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE HAD A STATE REP WHO ASKED A STUPID QUESTION, ARE YOU A PEDOPHILE?

FOR ONE WEEK, THERE WAS A COMPLETE FIASCO.

EVENTUALLY THE SPEAKER REMOVED HIM FROM THE COMMITTEE.

AT A MINIMUM, HE SHOULD BE REMOVED AS CHAIRMAN.

>> THEY DECLINED TO COMMENT YESTERDAY.

>> BECAUSE HE WAS A REPUBLICAN?

>> THERE WE GO.

CRANSTON, THIS COUNCILMAN WAS FOUND, THAT WAS A MISDEMEANOR, POSSESSION OF CRACK COCAINE.

WITHIN DAYS, DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR HIM TO RESIGN.

EVERYONE WAS GOING BANANAS.

HE RESIGNED.

JOSH MILLER LIES TO THE POLICE.

BASICALLY PEOPLE ARE LIKE, LEAVE IT TO THE CONSTITUENTS.

>> PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT OF SESSION.

REMEMBER THE SUSPECTED DUI?

CHACONNE WAS THREATENING THE PENSIONS OF THE OFFICERS.

REPORTERS WERE THERE EVERY DAY BECAUSE THEY WERE IN SESSION.

BASICALLY SAYING, WE CANNOT REMOVE HIM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO BE IN SESSION TO IN THE THING THAT REMOVED HIM.

>> IF IT GOES THROUGH AND HE REACHES A PLEA OR IS FOUND GUILTY OR WHATEVER, DOES THAT COST HIM HIS LEADERSHIP?

HIS SEAT?

MAUREEN: I DON'’T THINK SO.

HE HAS A STRONG CONSTITUENCY.

HE REPRESENTS, HE'’S A PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATOR.

I THINK HE'’S BEEN POPULAR.

I DON'’T KNOW.

I SUSPECT IT WOULDN'’T COST HIM A SEAT.

>> ONLY IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

THAT IS PRETTY DEMOCRATIC.

COULD HE BE TOPPLED BY A YOUNG PROGRESSIVE COMING ALONG USING THIS AS AN ISSUE LIKE HE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT?

POSSIBLY.

I DON'’T KNOW.

>> WE WERE OFF LAST WEEK.

AT THE END OF THE SESSION, THERE WAS A BILL THAT WENT THROUGH.

SOME CALL IT CONTROVERSIAL.

THE FIRE FIGHTERS HYPERTENSION BILL.

THERE WAS A BILL PROPOSED FIRE FIGHTERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET LIFETIME DISABILITIES FOR PTSD.

THAT WENT DOWN.

THE HYPERTENSION BILL WENT THROUGH, DESPITE THE HEAD SCRATCHER ON THIS -- THE FORMER MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THE MAYOR CABAL AND HE BASICALLY SAID I DIDN'’T LISTEN.

THEY DIDN'’T ARGUE HARD ENOUGH.

MAUREEN: ONE LEGISLATOR SAID WE DID THE WRONG THING IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING THE BILL.

WE EXPECTED THE GOVERNOR TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN TERMS OF VETOING IT.

YEAH.

WAIT A MINUTE.

>> HE CAN BE THE BAD GUY.

MAUREEN: OK BUT THE THING IS -- >> ENCOURAGED.

[LAUGHTER] MAUREEN: GINA RAIMONDO DID THE SAME THING.

THEY DIDN'’T OVERRIDE THE VETO.

THE EXPECTATION WAS HE WOULD VETO AND THEY WOULDN'’T OVERRIDE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LACK OF LEADERSHIP.

IT'’S TOUGH.

YOU DON'’T WANT TO MESS WITH FIRE FIGHTERS.

STILL, THAT BILL IS APPALLING.

>> I WAS SINCERELY SURPRISED ON THIS.

THERE IS TRULY NOTHING MORE SYNONYMOUS WITH DAN MCKEE THEN I LOVE THE MAYORS.

>> CHARLIE IS CRYING FROM THE ROOFTOPS.

TED: THE IDEA THAT DAN MCKEE WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS BILL WHEN IT'’S COME UP BEFORE -- THEY DIDN'’T TELL HIM ENOUGH TO VETO IT.

WE SEEN WITH GOVERNORS, THE MORE A GOVERNOR SAYS THE GENERAL WAS EMILY, I CAN'’T GET -- GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THAT IS ACTUALLY WITHDRAWING PART OF THE POWER.

PART OF THE GAME THERE IS SOME REPS HOLD THEIR NOSE ON A BILL THEY DON'’T WANT TO BECOME LONG KNOWING THE GOVERNOR WILL VETO IT AND TAKE THE HEAT, WHICH GINA DID, IF DAN MCKEE DOESN'’T PLAY HIS PART IN THAT >> PLAY THAT SCENARIO OUT.

HE'’S ONE YEAR INTO HIS TERM.

IF YEAR TAKES THE UNIONS, HE CAN TAKE THE BAD GUY, HE GIVES COVER TO THE GUYS HE HAS TO DO DEALS WITH.

IT'’S A WIN-WIN.

MAUREEN: I QUESTION HIS LEADERSHIP.

THAT AND THE WAY THEY BEHAVED WITH THE ARMORY.

I KNOW THE THING IN PHILADELPHIA.

THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH.

HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT.

I DON'’T CARE ABOUT L. IF THEY TAKE A $500 CHECK FOR LUNCH TOWARD HIS CAMPAIGN, THEN HE LET THIS THING GO.

I MEAN, SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT'’S A REALLY GOOD PROJECT.

I THINK HE IS BACKING OFF A LITTLE BECAUSE HE IS EMBARRASSED.

I THOUGHT HE WAS DOING A REASONABLE JOB.

I DON'’T KNOW.

HE HASN'’T STRUCK ME AS BEING A STRONG LEADER.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH DAN MCKEE IS HE STARTED OUT IN '’14 AS A STRONG PRO-MAYOR GUY RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT THE UNIONS REFUSED TO ENDORSE.

THEY ENDORSED THE REPUBLICAN.

VERY RARE.

WITHIN EIGHT YEARS, HE TRANSFORMED.

THIS IS A MILESTONE IN THAT TRANSFORMATION TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOW BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY SPECIAL INTEREST WHO IS INTERESTED IN HOW DO I GET REELECTED?

IN THE OLD DAYS, PARTY BOSSES WANTED SOMEONE STRONG ENOUGH TO WIN ON ELECTION DAY, WEEK ENOUGH TO CONTROL AFTER THE ELECTION.

NOW WE HAVE UNION BOSSES.

DAN MCKEE IS CONTROLLED BY UNION BOSSES.

HE FAILED TO VETO THAT BILL.

>> IT ALL CAME TOGETHER.

HE WAS MR. CHARTER SCHOOL.

THEY WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.

BOB WALSH WAS ONE OF HIS INSIDE GUYS RUNNING THE CAMPAIGN.

>> THERE WAS TALK BOB MIGHT JOIN THE INNER CIRCLE.

BOB IS A CUMBERLAND GUY.

WHICH IS A BIG WAY TO GET INTO THE INNER CIRCLE WITH DAN MCKEE.

MOST POLITICIANS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU KNOW THAT IS CORE TO THEM AND YOU DON'’T THINK THEY WILL TRADE ON.

I DID THING FOR DAN MCKEE, IT WAS ANYTHING THE MUNICIPAL LEADERS CARED ABOUT, HE WAS GOING TO STAND UP FOR THEM BECAUSE HETALKS ABOUT IT SO MUCH.

I WAS SURPRISED.

>> THEY WERE THERE FOR HIM DURING THE ELECTION.

>> IN A BIG WAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO TO GET HIS FOOTING BACK?

MAUREEN: I DON'’T KNOW.

IN MY OPINION, HE SHOULD PICK UP ON THIS CRANSTON ARMORY THING AND START BEING POSITIVE ABOUT DOING DEVELOPMENT.

HE CUTS RIBBONS EVERY DAY.

HE'’S SAID ALL THESE THINGS.

I GET NOTICES.

HE'’S OUT THERE.

HE'’S GOT TO SHOW SOME STRONG LEADERSHIP ON ISSUES.

HE'’S GOT TIME.

IT WASN'’T LIKE HE WAS UP FOR ELECTION IN 4 MONTHS.

HE'’S GOT SOME MENDING TO DO AS FAR AS HIS PERSONA AND VISION.

>> THE FOUR-YEAR TERM GIVES YOU COVER.

IN THIS CASE HE DIDN'’T USE IT.

>> HE MIGHT NOT RUN FOR REELECTION.

HE IS SIX YEARS IN.

HE COULD RUN.

>> HE WILL BE IN HIS 70'’S.

>> ALL THE MORE REASON TO THINK, THIS WAS ONE.

>> LET'’S BEGIN WITH YOU.

TED: MY OUTRAGEOUS WAS ELON MUSK.

SOMEONE WHO THOUGHT TWITTER WAS GREAT, DESPITE ITS FLAWS, FORGET THE STUFF ABOUT CENSORSHIP AND POLITICS -- PUT THAT TO ONE SIDE.

HE KEEPS BREAKING THE TECH THAT MADE TWITTER USEFUL OVER THE YEARS.

THE WAYS TO TRACK TWEETS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO PUT INTERESTING STUFF UP, LIMITING HOW MANY YOU CAN READ.

I FIND IT FRUSTRATING.

HE'’S MAKING IT WORSE AND COSTING HIMSELF MONEY IN THE PROCESS.

>> YOU ARE ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN WHEN YOU THOUGHT TWITTER WAS GOING DOWN.

TED: I JOINED THREADS.

PEOPLE MAKE A VALID POINT.

DO WE WANT TO GIVE MARK ZUCKERBERG EVEN MORE CONTROL?

IF ELON MUSK IS REFUSING TO CREATE A FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM TECHNOLOGICALLY -- IT SEEMS LIKE A RICH PERSON WITH A TOY WHO DECIDED TO BREAK SOMETHING.

MAUREEN: EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> THE MOST BAFFLING THING WAS LIMITING.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING WHERE YOU HAVE ADVERTISERS, DON'’T YOU WANT MORE EYEBALLS?

TED: IT'’S AN ADDICTING SERVICE.

DON'’T CUT US OFF!

STOP WITH THE SLOT MACHINE?

MAUREEN: THERE'’S ANOTHER BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT COMING OUT FROM THE PEOPLE HE OWED BACK PAY TO.

>> HE PAID $44 BILLION FOR IT.

IT JUST SEEMS UNNECESSARY.

[LAUGHTER] MAUREEN: IF THE INDULGENCE OF THE VERY RICH.

JIM: STEVE?

STEVE: MY OUTRAGEOUS WAS THE LACK OF OUTRAGE OVER JOSH MILLER.

pWHEN SENATE LEADERSHIP DOES NOTHING, CAN'’T EVEN SAY THEY ARE GOING TO REMOVE HIM FROM CHAIRMANSHIP AFTER HE KEYED A CAR WITH A BUMPER STICKER THAT SAYS BIDEN SUCKS, THEN LIES TO THE POLICE SO BLATANTLY, COMING UP WITH RIDICULOUS COMMENTS LIKE GUN NUTS, THERE IS ZERO OUTRAGE.

WHEN REPUBLICAN DOES SOMETHING IN THIS STATE, THERE IS AUTOMATIC OUTRAGE.

WHEN THEY SAY SOMETHING STUPID, THERE ARE CALLS TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE COMMITTEE SEAT.

THIS GUY IS GLIDING ALONG AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO IGNORE IT.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH OUTRAGE.

MAUREEN: HAVE THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS CALLED FOR HIS -- >> JOE POWERS DID.

STEVE: THE PARTY DID.

MAUREEN: I'’M WONDERING ABOUT THE LEGISLATORS.

STEVE: I DON'’T KNOW.

TO BE HONEST, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT STUFF AT THE STATEHOUSE IS EVERYONE DOES NOT LIKE TO SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT THE OTHER UP THERE.

I REALLY DON'’T CARE ABOUT THAT STUFF.

JIM: THEY DIDN'’T WANT YOU ELECTED.

STEVE: THEY DIDN'’T WANT ME UP THERE.

CALL IT THE WAY IT IS.

JIM: THAT WAS A BLESSING THAT YOU LOST.

MAUREEN: I HAVE A FUNNY SEGUE.

IT'’S MORE OF A SLIGHT KUDOS FOR OUR LEGISLATURE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL SCENE, WHAT'’S GOING ON IN KANSAS, IOWA, TENNESSEE, THESE FEARS PARTISAN DIVISIONS WHERE IT IS REALLY RAUCOUS AND NOT REPRESENTATIVE, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS HERE IS A MORE OR LESS CIVIL KIND OF EXCHANGE.

I KNOW THERE ARE UNDERLYING DEALS.

I'’M AWARE OF THAT.

THERE WAS RESEARCH THAT ADAM MYERS POINTED OUT.

WE HAVE THE LEAST IDEOLOGICALLY DIVIDED LEGISLATURES IN THE COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

>> STEVE ONCE MORE.

>> THEY HAVE A CHOICE.

MAUREEN: RELATIVELY SPEAKING, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE LEVEL OF CIVILITY THAT GOES ON.

JIM: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

QUICK HALF-HOUR.

WE ARE GLAD TO BE WITH YOU AFTER THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

FOLKS, MUCH MORE CLARITY ON THE CD1 RACE NEXT WEEK.

COME BACK FOR THAT AND ALL THE ANALYSIS, AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

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

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

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