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Bill Bartholomew sits down with Christopher Gavin of the The Boston Globe to unpack the controversy surrounding a Ukrainian solidarity mural in Providence—and how a local story can quickly become part of a much larger national narrative.

What began as a piece of public art tied to global events soon sparked questions about public space, messaging, and civic process. But as the reaction grew, so did scrutiny over how and why the story spread—raising broader questions about amplification, influence, and the role of decentralized, well-funded networks in shaping modern culture war flashpoints.

In this conversation, Bartholomew and Gavin separate fact from reaction, examine how local issues get pulled into national discourse, and explore what the Providence mural moment reveals about media ecosystems, political narratives, and the forces that drive them.

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Following a newportFILM presented screening of The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist at The Jane Pickens Theater Bill Bartholomew moderates an expert panel on AI's growth and impact on Rhode Island.

David Altounian (Associate Professor, Business & Economics, Salve Regina University), 

Timothy H. Henry (Chair, Computer Science and Information Systems, Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies, Rhode Island College), 

Michael Littman (Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence, University Professor of Computer Science, Brown University) 

Briana Vecchione (Technical Researcher with the AI on the Ground team at Data & Society Research Institute) 

presented by newportFILM

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Dr. Amy Nunn — CEO of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and Open Door Health — joins Bill Bartholomew for a wide-ranging conversation on the current state of public health in Rhode Island.

Dr. Nunn shares what she’s watching most closely in healthcare policy and politics across the state, including growing concerns about Rhode Island’s primary care shortage and what it means for access, equity, and long-term system stability. The discussion explores why Rhode Island has recently ranked as one of the worst states for physicians to practice, and what structural challenges are driving that reality.

Drawing on her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Nunn reflects on what she learned about operating as a nimble, community-focused practitioner in times of crisis — and how those lessons apply today. She also discusses navigating federal-level constraints on science and public health under the current political climate, and how local institutions can remain resilient and mission-driven.

A grounded, insightful look at where Rhode Island public health stands — and where it may be headed next.

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Nikolas Gvosdev, a national security fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and professor at the U.S. Naval War College, and speaking on his own behalf, joins Bill Bartholomew to examine how The Iran War could impact Rhode Island—both in the immediate term and over the long haul.

The conversation explores the economic ripple effects of global conflict, including energy prices, supply chain disruptions, and federal spending priorities that could directly influence local economies. Gvosdev highlights how national security decisions made in Washington can cascade down to states like Rhode Island, shaping everything from job markets to infrastructure investment.

A key focus is the potential downstream impact on major projects such as the Washington Bridge, where shifts in federal funding and attention could delay or reshape critical repairs and development.

The discussion also delves into the psychological dimension—how prolonged geopolitical instability can affect public sentiment, civic life, and the broader sense of security within local communities.

In this episode:

•  How global conflict with Iran could affect Rhode Island’s economy 
•  The connection between war, federal spending, and infrastructure projects 
•  Why local projects like the Washington Bridge could feel global pressure 
•  The psychological toll of geopolitical instability at the community level

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Preserving the Past: Culture, Power and the Stories That Shape a Nation

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, join JWU’s Cultural Life Series for a timely conversation on who preserves history — and why it matters. Drawing on Rhode Island’s revolutionary past and framed by the broader American experience, this discussion examines how culture, power and perspective shape the stories that endure.

About Bill Bartholomew and C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D.

Bill Bartholomew

Bill Bartholomew is a Providence-based journalist, musician and producer, best known as the host of Bartholomewtown. A trusted local media voice, he covers topics ranging from politics and public policy to arts, culture and community life, with more than 900 episodes featuring conversations with local, state and federal leaders.

C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D.

C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Rhode Island Historical Society and a historian specializing in U.S. social, cultural and public history. Her work focuses particularly on the carceral history of the United States, and she lectures widely on Rhode Island’s history while authoring and co-authoring numerous publications, including a forthcoming book on historic prison museums.

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Episode Title: Reason & Freedom: Rhode Island’s Next Chapter

Description:
A conversation with Rhode Island Atheists' Brian Cardoza and John Mertus about the state’s first-ever Day of Reason, the meaning of secular advocacy in a place defined by religious freedom, and the group’s growing role in civic and political life.

Topics Covered:

• Rhode Island’s first Day of Reason
• The state’s legacy of religious freedom
• Atheism and public identity
• Advocacy, policy, and political engagement
• Building community outside of religion

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Rhode Island’s proposed Rhode Island Green Bond includes funding for climate resilience, parks, and water infrastructure — but no money for land conservation.

Two leading environmental organizations say that omission could halt decades of progress protecting farmland, forests, and community open space.

In a recent op-ed, Jeffrey Hall of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Kate Sayles of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council warned that without a $10 million addition to the Green Bond, Rhode Island risks stalling conservation projects across the state.

They argue the funding gap could jeopardize efforts to preserve working farms, protect forests, and expand local open space at a time when development pressure continues to grow.

On this episode, Hall and Sayles explain:

• Why conservation funding was left out of the Green Bond proposal
• What projects could be lost without new funding
• How Rhode Island’s long-running land protection programs work
• Why they’re asking lawmakers to add $10 million during the current budget session
• What the debate says about the state’s environmental priorities

The decision ultimately rests with the Rhode Island General Assembly, which must finalize the bond proposal before it goes to voters.

If conservation funding isn’t restored, they say, Rhode Island could see farmland, forests, and community open spaces slip out of reach.

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Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha joins Bartholomewtown to discuss his office’s newly released report detailing decades of child sexual abuse allegations within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.

The investigation identified more than 130 alleged abusers and hundreds of victims, with cases spanning generations.

Neronha explains how investigators assembled the report, what it reveals about institutional failures inside the Church, and what accountability and reforms may come next.

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Food insecurity affects thousands of Rhode Islanders—but the issue is often misunderstood.

This week on the show, Amanda Missimer, a nutrition professor at the University of Rhode Island, joins the conversation to discuss the scope of food insecurity in Rhode Island and the systems behind how food is produced, distributed, and accessed across the state.

We explore:

• Who is most affected by food insecurity in Rhode Island
• How food systems shape access to healthy food
• The role of universities, nonprofits, and policymakers in addressing the issue
• URI’s upcoming food summit and what it aims to accomplish
• Policy and community solutions that could make a real difference

It’s a deeper look at the structural issues behind hunger in Rhode Island—and the work underway to build a more resilient and equitable food system.

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Topic: Former Newport Mayor and Current Councilor Xay Khamsyvoravong Enters the Lieutenant Governor Race — Why It Matters

1. Who Is Xay Khamsyvoravong?

• Former Mayor of Newport
• Current Newport City Councilor
• Part of a younger generation of Democratic leadership
• Known for coalition-building and pragmatic governance

2. Why the Lt. Governor’s Race Matters More Than It Seems

• The Lt. Governor role in Rhode Island has often been politically ambiguous
• It can function as a policy platform, a visibility boost, or a stepping stone
• Historically a launching pad for higher office or broader statewide influence

3. The Generational Shift Question

• Rhode Island Democrats are in transition
• A new bench is emerging beyond the long-dominant political names
• Does this signal the start of a wider reshuffling in 2026?

4. Geographic and Demographic Strategy

• Newport base vs. broader statewide appeal
• How coastal politics translate to urban and suburban voters
• Coalition math: progressive lane? pragmatic lane? something in between?

5. The Bigger Chessboard

• Who else gets in now?
• Does this clear or crowd lanes for other statewide candidates?
• How does this affect down-ballot and congressional ambitions?

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