JIM: THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT.

WHEN SHOULD THE STATE TURN THE CONTROL OF SCHOOLS BACK TO THE CITY.

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

I’M A PROUD SUPPORTER.

JIM: JOINING US ON THE PANEL, NICK GORHAM, PAIGE CLAUSIUS-PARKS AND BROWN UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR WENDY SCHILLER.

RHODE ISLAND’S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER RECEIVED APPROVAL THURSDAY EVENING TO EXTEND THE STATE TAKEOVER OF THE PROVIDENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS.

THE RECOMMENDATION CAME AFTER MONTHS OF SPECULATION AND FOLLOWED A RECENT VOTE OF THE PROVIDENCE SCHOOL BOARD TO END THE TAKEOVER WHICH BEGAN FIVE YEARS AGO.

MAYOR SMILEY SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED.

I AM TORN.

PAIGE: I THINK THE COUNCIL MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

THE WORK IS NOT OVER.

THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE WORK AND A CONCRETE PLAN HOW TO TRANSITION THE DISTRICT BACK TO THE CITY.

IF YOU READ THE SCHOOL WORKS REPORT, IT SAYS OVER AND AGAIN THE NEED FOR MORE COLLABORATION AND CLEAR VISION.

THAT I HOPE WILL BE THE FOCUS OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

HOW TO CREATE A GOVERNING STRUCTURE SO THE RETURN TO THE CITY IS SUCCESSFUL.

OUR KIDS CANNOT AFFORD FOR THIS TO FAIL.

WE HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT SO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND CITY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

JIM: THE COMMISSIONER SAID THE ABSENCE OF LIMITED FOCUS ON IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES TROUBLES ME.

THAT WAS HER REASON.

WENDY: WE CANNOT DISCOUNT THE IMPACT OF COVID, EVEN THOUGH THE DISTRICT STAYED OPEN.

THAT REVERB ON TEACHER RETIREMENT, JUST CATCHING UP PUT EXTRA PRESSURE ON PROVIDENCE TO MAKE THE REFORMS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

THEY NEED MORE TIME.

I DON’T THINK THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TRYING.

THERE WAS A MAJOR INTERRUPTION, ADJUSTMENT.

WE ARE ALL CATCHING UP FROM THAT EVEN IN ’24.

NICK: I CANNOT REMEMBER WHEN THE PROVIDENCE SCHOOL SYSTEM WASN’T IN CRISIS.

IT’S BEEN THE BURDEN OF PROVIDENCE.

TAKEN OVER BY THE STATE.

I DON’T THINK IT’S NECESSARILY THERE ISN’T A GOOD PLAN BY THE STATE OR CITY.

I THINK THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TYPE OF INDUCEMENTS WE OFFERED TO BRING PEOPLE HERE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM IS MANY OF THE KIDS DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH, THEY COME HERE WITHOUT ANY EDUCATION.

THAT’S THE BURDEN OF PROVIDENCE TO FIX ALL THAT.

THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.

I’VE SAID THIS BEFORE ON THIS SHOW.

WE HAVE TO EXAMINE INDUCEMENTS.

EVERYONE’S TO BE A SUPER GENEROUS STATE.

WE ARE SUPER GENEROUS TO EVERYTHING.

REVIEWED REALLY GOOD ATTRACTIVE BENEFITS TO EVERYONE WHO COMES HERE BUT THERE IS A POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO DECIDE, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE TYPE OF INDUCEMENTS FOREVER GIVEN THE FACT PROVIDENCE CONTINUES TO FAIL?

I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU FIX IT UNLESS YOU POUR TONS MORE MONEY INTO IT.

I DON’T THINK WE HAVE THE RESOURCES.

PAIGE: WE HAVE A CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC IN OUR STATE AND IN PROVIDENCE.

IT’S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR CITY, SCHOOL BOARD, STATE TO RESPOND TO THOSE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS.

WE NEED TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT IS COLLABORATIVE WITH CLEAR VISION.

THERE ARE METRICS TO UNDERSTAND TO LET EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT HOW DO WE MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR KIDS?

IT’S NOT ABOUT IN MY OPINION, AND IT SHOULD NEVER BE ABOUT, DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT KIDS HERE?

SHOULD WE BE INCENTIVIZING KIDS COMING?

OUR FAMILIES AND KIDS NEED EVERYTHING THEY CAN GET TO SUCCEED.

THAT MEANS CREATING A SCHOOL STRUCTURE AND SYSTEM THAT RESPONDS TO THOSE KIDS NEEDS, TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO RESPOND AND HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS.

ALL STUDENTS NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY COME FROM OR THEIR LANGUAGE BACKGROUND, KIDS WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE NEED TO CREATE SYSTEMS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WENDY: I DON’T DISAGREE IN PRINCIPLE.

WE HAVE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDED PROGRAM.

NOW WE HAVE MORE LANGUAGES.

WE HAVE A DIVERSE POPULATION.

NOBODY WOULD SAY WE DON’T WANT TO TEACH KIDS COMING HERE BUT WE NEED RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEOPLE WHO CAN DO THAT.

12% NEED ESL SERVICES.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR THAT.

I’M SUPPORTIVE OF PAYING FOR PEOPLE WITH THOSE SILL SETS, TREATING MORE PEOPLE.

IF YOU GO TO A LOT OF OTHER STATES, YOU SEE A DIVERSE SET OF STUDENTS GOING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I NEVER BUY THE ARGUMENT THAT WE ATTRACT TOO MANY PEOPLE.

WE NEED HOUSING.

WE NEED EMPLOYMENT.

IT’S NEVER JUST THE KID SHOWING UP IN SCHOOL.

IF THE ENVIRONMENT THE STUDENT LIVES IN THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO BETTER OUTCOMES.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING, IT WILL COST MORE MONEY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE COMPONENTS, FOOD, HOUSING, STABLE FAMILY AND THE KIND OF PEOPLE TEACHING THEM IN SCHOOL.

THAT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

THAT WILL COST MORE MONEY.

NICK: WE HAVE THE MEANS?

-- DO WE HAVE THE MEANS?

THIS COMES UP ALL THE TIME.

99% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE ARE GENEROUS.

HOW GENEROUS ARE WE GOING TO BE?

ARE WE GOING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO RESOURCES AT ALL?

THEY ARRIVE HERE WITH NOTHING.

THEY NEED HOUSING.

THE CHILDREN DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH.

THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL, MANY OF THEM.

WENDY: THAT’S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE WORK RATE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS, THE VAST MAJORITY WHO COME HERE, WHO ARE ALLOWED TO WORK OR UNDOCUMENTED, THEY WORK.

THEIR FAMILIES ARE WORKING.

NICK: I AGREE.

WENDY: THEY HAVE TO WORK AND THEN THE KIDS DON’T GET THE SUPERVISION AND SAFETY THEY NEED.

THINKING ABOUT THE INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF RHODE ISLAND’S ECONOMY, NOT THE COST EXPENDITURE.

PAIGE: CORRECT.

OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, KIDS WHO ARE COMING INTO OUR SYSTEM WHO SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH, THAT’S AN AMAZING BENEFIT.

THE U.S. IS A WEIRD OUTLIER THAT WE DON’T RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF HAVING MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

WENDY: WE ARE AN AGING POPULATION IN OUR STATE.

WE NEED PEOPLE.

NICK: I WONDER IS THE STATE SITUATED RIGHT NOW TO ASSUME THESE TYPE OF BURDENS?

I DON’T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.

JIM: I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE ALTERNATIVE IS.

NICK: EXACTLY.

JIM: WE HAVE BEEN SO FOCUSED ON PROVIDENCE.

THE HOPKINS REPORT CAME OUT.

I WAS STUNNED.

FIVE YEARS SINCE THE TAKEOVER.

EDUCATION COMMISSIONER WAS BROUGHT IN TO LOOK AT THE STATE.

WE’VE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH TEST SCORES.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH KINGSTOWN AND WHATEVER, SO MUCH OF OUR FOCUS IS ON PROVIDENCE.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

THE PANDEMIC SET US BACK.

IF YOU ARE A KID IN THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY OR SOUTH COUNTY, WHAT ARE THEY DOING FOR THEM?

WENDY: YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE AND LIVE AND GO TO EAST GREENWICH, CUMBERLAND BECAUSE "THE SCHOOLS ARE BETTER."

WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE WAY WE FUND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

PROPERTY TAXES.

COMMUNITIES SPEND RESOURCES AT LOCAL LEVEL.

PROVIDENCE DOESN’T HAVE THE SAME MEANS.

NICK: THEY DON’T HAVE THE MONEY.

WENDY: IT’S HOW WE FUND OUR SCHOOLS.

IT’S MESSED UP.

WE PRIVILEGE COMMUNITIES THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES.

THE HIGHER THE HOUSING COST, THE HIGHER THE TAX IN RHODE ISLAND, THE BETTER THE SCHOOLS.

IT’S A CONSTANT PROBLEM.

JERZY HAD TO RECONFIGURE THEIR ENTIRE FUNDING SYSTEM BECAUSE IT WAS RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN NEW JERSEY.

WE DON’T HAVE THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

PAIGE: I AGREE WITH YOU.

THIS IS A LOT OF WORK.

THERE HAS BEEN NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT KIND OF WORK.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS SUBMITTED TO THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL TO HAVE A SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION SPECIALIST AND THEY HAVE BEEN DENIED THOSE FUNDS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

JIM: NOT ENOUGH MONEY APPARENTLY.

FINALLY, WHAT METRICS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE BEFORE IT GOES BACK TO PROVIDENCE?

WHAT DOES PROVIDENCE NEED TO DO TO SAY OK WE ARE READY?

PAIGE: THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL CHANGE SO WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THOSE CHANGES HAPPEN.

THE NEW FOLKS COMING IN, WE NEED A CLEAR COHESIVE VISION FOR THAT SCHOOL BOARD THAT WORKS TOGETHER STEP-BY-STEP TO TAKE ON THE SCHOOLS AND BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF TRAINING, THAT LEARNING, THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING DURING THE TRANSITION AND TRANSFORMATION SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS WORKED WELL AND WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES?

WE NEED THE CITY TO TAKE ON OWNERSHIP AND THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS ALSO TO TAKE ON THE DISTRICT AND TO FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS, PROVIDING THE FUNDING IT NEEDS.

WENDY: PROVIDENCE HAS NO MONEY.

PAIGE: PROVIDENCE DOES HAVE MONEY BUT IT IS A CHOICE WHERE THEY SPEND IT.

WENDY: NO.

PAIGE: THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

OUR KIDS CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE DENIED THE FUNDING THEY NEED.

JIM: FINAL POINT.

EXECUTIVE DECISION.

WE WILL DO IT TO OUR SHOW JUST ABOUT THIS.

NICK: THE ASSUMPTION IS THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY.

THIS IS LIKE THE ECONOMIST STUCK ON AN ISLAND.

THE ECONOMIST HAS A CAN OF BEANS HE CAN SURVIVE ON.

HE SAYS LET’S ASSUME I HAVE A CAN OPENER.

WE DON’T HAVE THE BEANS OR THE CAN OPENER TO FUND THE SCHOOLS IN PROVIDENCE.

WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY.

WE DON’T HAVE IT.

WENDY: THERE’S A LOT OF PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS INTERESTED IN EDUCATION.

I KNOW WE GET FUNDING BUT I THINK THERE COULD BE MORE EFFORT ON THE PART OF MAYOR SMILEY AND THE CITY TO SAY GIVE US MONEY AS A MODEL.

WE NEED MORE ESL TEACHERS.

FUND THAT FOR FIVE USE.

THERE’S WAYS OF LOOKING AT IT.

I DON’T KNOW THE NUMBERS BUT MY GUESS IS THEY COULD BE HIGHER.

PAIGE: THEY’VE PROVIDED MONEY AND THE PROPERTY TAXES IS A PROBLEM.

IT’S AN EQUITABLE WAY OF FUNDING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN ON BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

INHERENTLY IT’S A BAD SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS INEQUITIES TO CONTINUE HOWEVER THE CITY HAS MONEY, NOT SAYING IT HAS ENOGH TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING THE CITY NEEDS BUT THERE ARE CHOICES THAT ARE MADE.

HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE?

I’M SAYING WE PRIORITIZE OUR KIDS EVERY TIME.

JIM: BACK-TO-SCHOOL, LABOR DAY AROUND THE CORNER.

THOUSANDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE HITTING THE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

LAST SPRING IT WAS TUMULTUOUS, SOME GRADUATIONS WERE UPENDED BECAUSE OF PROTESTS OVER THE GAZA, PALESTINIANS, ISRAEL.

BROWN UNIVERSITY, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD A CHANCE TO THINK OVER THE SUMMER.

WHAT IS THE VIBE COMING BACK?

WENDY: WE STARTED THIS WEEK.

THE FRESHMAN CAME IN.

THE OTHER STUDENTS WILL MOVE IN.

THE UNIVERSITY IS, MY UNDERSTANDING, PUTTING NEW PROTOCOLS IN PLACE FOR PROTESTS.

THEY REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH A KEY PROTEST ACTOR ORGANIZATION SAYING, SCHOOL HAS TO GO ON.

YOU CANNOT BE DISRUPTIVE.

YOU CANNOT DISRUPT ANYONE WAYS OF LIVING HERE.

NO ENCAMPMENTS.

IN RETURN THE PROCESS BY WHICH A DIVESTMENT PETITION IS CONSIDERED BY THE UNIVERSITY WILL HAPPEN.

THEY RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT.

NOW THAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THE INCORPORATION OF BROWN UNIVERSITY AND THEIR MEETING IN OCTOBER AND THEY WILL CONSIDER THE REQUEST TO DIVEST FROM BUSINESSES THAT PROFIT OFF THE WAR IN GAZA.

IT’S IMPORTANT THAT IT IS NOT A COMPLETE BOYCOTT, THE VESTMENT OF ALL THINGS ISRAEL BUT IT IS A REQUEST NOT TO USE A PORTFOLIO IN COMPANIES THAT PROFIT.

THESE ARE COMPLICATED ISSUES.

YOU COULD ARGUE AN ISRAELI SOFTWARE COMPANY MAY PROFIT BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES THE U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT MATERIALS.

DO WE THEN NOT WORK WITH THE DOD?

YOU CAN PROTEST PEACEFULLY, ALL THOSE THINGS STILL HOLD.

I’M ASSUMING THAT AGREEMENT WILL HOLD UNTIL OCTOBER.

JIM: NATIONALLY?

NICK: BROWN UNIVERSITY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AVOIDING THE TYPE OF SITUATIONS THAT ERUPTED AT COLUMBIA AND SO FORTH.

I GIVE PRESIDENT PAXTON CREDIT.

JUST TALKING ABOUT PROVIDENCE.

BROWN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRESENCE IN PROVIDENCE.

BROWN AND RISD.

I’M HOPING THEY HAVE NO TROUBLE.

WENDY: THERE WILL BE PROTESTS.

THERE WILL BE DEMONSTRATIONS, VIGILS.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN FIRM.

THESE ARE FREEDOM OF SPEECH EXERCISES AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT DISRUPT STUDENT LIFE AND CLASSES.

NICK: SOUNDS GOOD.

PAIGE: I COMMEND PRESIDENT PAXTON HOW SHE HAS HANDLED THE SITUATION.

IT TICKLES ME A LITTLE WHEN I HEAR ABOUT THE SCHOOLS WHO HAVE CREATED GUIDELINES FOR ONE’S -- FOR WHEN PROTESTS CAN HAPPEN.

THE NATURE OF A PROTEST IS IT IS DISRUPTIVE.

WENDY: PROTESTS CAN BE EXPRESSIVE.

THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE DISRUPTIVE.

BY MEANS OF EXPRESSING A VOICE, YOU MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY THINKS.

PAIGE: THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND WAYS OF EXPRESSING OR CHALLENGING CERTAIN RULES, LAWS AND INVESTMENTS.

IN SOME STRATEGY IS DISRUPTION.

SOME WILL DO IT AND SOME WILL NOT.

I THINK THE UNIVERSITIES ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO MAKE GUIDELINES AND STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO MAKE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER THEY WANT TO ENGAGE IN CERTAIN NECTARINE.

-- CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.

NICK: HAVE WE BEEN MISSING THE REPUBLICANS IN RHODE ISLAND ALL THESE YEARS?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

I TRIED TO BE DISRUPTIVE.

THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

JIM: OUR WEEKLY CONVERSATION ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

I’VE ASKED EACH PANEL WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN.

YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH IT HAS BEEN UP AND DOWN ON THE BALLOT.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ONE SINCE THE MID-1980’S.

THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION PUT OUT A REPORT.

WHERE ARE YOU ON HOLDING A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION?

NICK: I WILL VOTE FOR IT ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE CAN FIX.

WHEN YOU HAVE A MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, I THINK 30, 33-7, NO, LESS THAN THAT.

IT’S A SMALL NUMBER.

THE HOUSE SIMILAR.

OVERWHELMING NUMBER.

NINE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE, 75, THE REST ARE DEMOCRATS.

IF YOU ARE DEMOCRATS, YOU DON’T SEE ANY NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU HAVE A GOOD GIG GOING SO WHY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION?

I THINK YOU WILL SEE MORE DISCUSSION FROM REPUBLICANS WHO SEE THE THINGS THE DEMOCRATS DON’T SEE.

THEY ARE ON THE OUTSIDE.

THEY SEE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE REFORMED.

I WILL GO FOR IT.

PAIGE: AS AN ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE NOT WEIGHING IN BUT I WOULD SAY WHAT WE ARE IN FAVOR OF HIS A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE A SAY AND THE WAY OUR CURRENT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS, THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT BUT THERE IS A PROCESS FOR PEOPLE TO VOICE THEIR OPINION AND NEEDS.

THE QUESTION IS DOES A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION ALLOW FOR THAT PUBLIC TYPE OF DISCOURSE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS DOES?

WENDY: WELL SAID.

HAVING WRITTEN A BOOK ON THE 17TH AMENDMENT, DESIGNED TO ELECT SENATORS DIRECTLY, THE PROMISE WAS IT WOULD MAKE THE SENATE MORE RESPONSIVE, AND LESS CORRUPT, LESS BEHOLDEN TO BIG BUSINESS.

1913.

IT’S 2024.

NOT SO WELL.

IF YOU ARE PROMISING THINGS ARE BEING MORE RESPONSIVE, THAT’S TOUGH TO KEEP.

IF THAT’S THE INCENTIVE, IT’S OVERPROMISING.

DO WE NEED AN INSPECTOR GENERAL?

TWO POWERS NEED TO CHANGE?

THAT’S WORTH A CONVERSATION.

NICK: WELL PUT.

INSPECTOR GENERAL.

IF THE BRIDGE DOES NOT PROVE WE NEED IT, I DON’T KNOW WHAT DOES.

38 STUDIOS, TAPCO, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENED.

IT’S BAD GOVERNMENT, NOT ENOUGH OVERSIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE IS TOO WEAK.

JIM: YOU’RE GOING TO SEE, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT THE GOVERNOR ITSELF, A LOT OF ADVERTISING BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY.

LAST TOPIC NATIONALLY, KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ COMING OFF THE BOUNCE OF THE DNC.

THEY DID A SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW THURSDAY EVENING.

I ASSUME YOU WATCHED.

WENDY: THEY SAID NOTHING.

PERFECT.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: DO NO HARM.

WENDY: SHE WAS MORE RELAXED THAN I THINK WE HAVE SEEN HER IN MANY YEARS.

I THINK THAT CAME THROUGH.

THAT’S THE VIBE SHE’S SENDING.

JIM: I’M UNDER CONTROL.

WENDY: I’M NOT GOING TO ANSWER SPECIFICALLY BUT I WILL BE APPROACHABLE.

WOMEN HAVE A DIFFERENT TASK.

THERE IS A WOMAN RUNNING.

THAT IS NO SMALL THING.

A WOMAN OF COLOR RUNNING, NO SMALL THING.

THE PRESSURE ON HER TO BE PERFECT AND APPROACHABLE AND FIRM IS ENORMOUS.

IT DIFFERS FROM WHETHER IT IS A MAN RUNNING.

SHE IS DISPELLING ALL THESE PRIORS.

BACK CAMPAIGN -- SHE’S PRESENTED AS SUCCESSIVE, ENTHUSIASTIC.

SO FAR SHE HAS BEEN PITCH PERFECT.

NICK: SHE HAS NOT SAID ANYTHING.

JIM: THAT IS THE GOAL.

TRUMP EVERY TIME HE OPENS HIS MOUTH, IT’S A NEW HEADLINE.

NICK: YEAH.

WENDY: I’M NEW PROMISE WE CAN EXPECT HE WILL NOT KEEP.

FUNDING IVF FOR EVERY AMERICAN, HIS PARTYIS LIKE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

NICK: WHAT IS SHE AFRAID OF?

WHY DIDN’T SHE SAY I AM OK WITH FRACKING NOW?

SHE PLAYED THIS GAME.

JUST TELL US WHERE YOU STAND.

AFTER THAT INTERVIEW, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE SHE STANDS?

SHE WOULDN’T PUT A BAN ON FRACKING.

WENDY: I DON’T CARE WHAT SHE THINKS.

WHAT IS SHE GOING TO DO?

PAIGE: FOR EITHER CANDIDATE, I CARE ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES.

I’M INTERESTED IN THEIR VISION OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY FOR KIDS.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REDUCE CHILD POVERTY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY?

HOW WILL THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS WE KNOW ARE GOOD FOR KIDS?

HEADSTART, EARLY HEAD START, K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.

THOSE ARE ALL EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

WHAT ARE THEIR VIEWS ON JUVENILE JUSTICE?

HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING KIDS IN FOSTER CARE FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND HOW DOES THAT TRICKLE DOWN TO THE STATE?

JIM: NICK AND I WERE TALKING.

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO SAY LOOK, I KNOW INFLATION IS A BIG THING, MAYBE WE SHOULDN’T HAVE SENT OUT THAT SECOND ROUND OF STIMULUS BECAUSE IN RETROSPECT WE WERE OPERATING WITHOUT A HANDBOOK, AND THAT MIGHT HAVE FUELED IT.

WE SHOULD HAVE APPROACHED THE BORDER TO TAKE THE ISSUE AWAY FROM THE REPUBLICANS.

YOU WILL NEVER HEAR ANYBODY SAY THAT.

WENDY: IT WAS THE THIRD ROUND.

TRUMP SENT OUT TWO CHECKS.

IT WAS THE THIRD ROUND.

I DON’T THINK THE CHECKS WERE THE ISSUE.

PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE EXTENSION OF THE SUBSIDY ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

THAT WAS THE BIGGER PROBLEM FOR THE JOB MARKET.

RHODE ISLAND SUFFERED A LOT.

YOU COULDN’T GET PEOPLE TO WORK THAT SUMMER.

THERE ARE LITTLE THINGS THEY DID THAT WERE EXPENSIVE THAT WE DIDN’T NEED TO DO BUT I THINK THE CHECKS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED WERE PROBABLY FINE.

PEOPLE WANT TO LOOK FORWARD IN A CAMPAIGN WHETHER TRUMP OR HARRIS OR ANYBODY.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR ME NEXT?

IF YOU RELITIGATE WHAT YOU DID BEFORE, IT IS A WASTE OF BREATH.

YOU HAVE A LIMITED ATTENTION SPAN.

COME WITH ME, I WILL TAKE YOU ON A BETTER JOURNEY.

RIGHT NOW THE GDP GROWTH IS 3%, INFLATION IS 2.6%.

IT WAS 7%.

SHE CAN SAY WE ARE DOING WELL NOW AND WE WILL DO BETTER LATER.

THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

REPUBLICANS BLOCKED THE EXTENSION, THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE ALLEVIATE HER OF POVERTY FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

WHERE ARE YOU STANDING ON THAT?

NICK: I WANT TO ADDRESS.

[LAUGHTER] JIM:JIM: HE’S GOING TO PIVOT.

WENDY: YOU ARE PULLING A KAMALA HARRIS.

NICK: YOU HAVE A POINT OK.

I WILL NOT CONCEDE ENTIRELY.

THE REPUBLICANS AREN’T ALWAYS RIGHT IN CONGRESS.

KAMALA HARRIS IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF A PRESIDENT SO UNPOPULAR HE HAD TO DROP OUT AT THE BEHEST OF HIS PARTY.

IT’S OK FOR HER TO SAY YOU KNOW THAT $2.1 TRILLION, MAYBE WE SHOULD RETHINK THAT BUT IT IS TOO LATE.

UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN IT WENT THROUGH AND WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE EXAMINED IT MORE CAREFULLY.

SHE’S THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT RUNNING IN THE SITUATION SHE’S IN SINCE GEORGE H W BUSH.

REAGAN WAS POPULAR.

BIDEN IS NOT.

JIM: OK. PAIGE: KUDOS TO FAMILIES WHO ARE HELPING THEIR KIDS GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

BIG KUDOS TO OUR TEACHERS GETTING THEIR CLASSROOMS PREPARED.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE AN AWESOME SCHOOL YEAR.

MAJOR KUDOS.

NICK: KUDOS THIS WEEK, WELL, I WANT TO COMPLEMENT THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE FOR TRYING TO GET THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, I TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME.

WE NEED IT.

WE HAVE TOO MANY PROBLEMS IN THE STATE THAT DO NOT GET SOLVED THE RIGHT WAY.

BRIDGE, ON AND ON.

WENDY: MY OUTRAGE WAS THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SUPPORTED, AND THE GOVERNOR MADE A BIG DEAL ABOUT GETTING $241 MILLION FOR 95 SOUTH OF PROVIDENCE.

OBVIOUSLY WE NEED HIGHWAY MONEY.

YOU HAVE THIS BIG CELEBRATION, THEN THE BRIDGE IS STILL BROKEN AND NO ONE IS WILLING TO APPLY TO FIX IT AND THE STATE’S SPENDING MONEY GOING AFTER COMPANIES WHEN THE STATE WON’T LOOK INSIDE THE DOT.

IT’S AN OUTRAGE THAT THE DELEGATION IS CELEBRATING ONE THING AND DOING NOTHING ON THE THING THAT IS KILLING THE ECONOMY, PARTLY IN PROVIDENCE.

THE EASTSIDE ECONOMY, DOWNTOWN ECONOMY, IT IS HAVING SERIOUS EFFECTS.

BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING.

THERE ARE REAL EFFECTS HERE AND NO ONE IN STATE GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO BE DOING ANYTHING.

THE FEDERAL DELEGATION SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THEM AND THEY ARE NOT.

NICK: ASSUMING THAT IS NOT A KUDOS.

JIM: THAT IS OUTRAGE.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IF YOU DON’T CATCH US FRIDAY AT 7:00 OR SUNDAY AT NOON, ALL OF OUR SHOWS ARE ON PBS.ORG/LIVELY.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

WE WILL BE BACK HERE WITH A BRAND-NEW SHOW AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

♪ ANNOUNCER: A LIVELY EXPERIMENT GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES FACING RHODE ISLANDERS.