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Bill Bartholomew talks with Liam Freaney and Peter Brown about Brown University's plan to demolish four historic homes on Brook Street for a new economics building. They also cover what it means for Providence's housing stock and finances.

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Bill Bartholomew sizes up the governor and lieutenant governor races, recorded October 28.

• 0:00 Intro: where do the races stand heading into the final weekend?
• 0:17 Governor, lane one: the common-sense read on money, vibe and early voting. Helena Foulkes looks like the winner.
• 1:28 How Foulkes built her grassroots groundwork after 2022, with the state Democratic Party shifting its focus to her and away from McKee.
• 4:03 Governor, lane two: unfavorability numbers and the case that the race is less certain.
• 5:03 Ken Block's campaign alleges campaign finance violations over in-kind mailers from the state Democratic Party. Bill compares it to Mattiello's 2018 car-tax moment.
• 7:11 The Costco announcement and what it might mean for Foulkes.
• 8:51 "A lane to look at this as uncertain," and why the math is hard for Block.
• 9:48 The Republican candidate could land around a 6.6–6.8% return.
• 10:50 Lieutenant governor: why the Laughlin–Matos race is likely less close than the 44–43 polls.
• 11:40 The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association's national emails list other states and leave out Rhode Island for the third week in a row.
• 13:24 Why people underestimate Sabina Matos, Laughlin's "governor Matos" article, and how the race's tone has settled.
• 14:39 Why Laughlin has little top-of-ticket help, and the Vic Miller AI ads in the Congressional District 2 race.
• 16:52 Other races to watch: Megan Cotter vs. Jasmine Roy (District 39), anti-incumbent sentiment, and the Lincoln state Senate race.
• 19:05 Recap: two ways to read the governor's race, and a call for listener input.
• 20:19 Coverage plans: a PBS appearance this weekend, more pods next week, and a call for listener ideas for exit interviews ([email protected] or Apple fan mail).
• 21:54 Closing: a political era is ending (McKee, Smiley and others), and "this time next week, we should know."

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Bill Bartholomew welcomes WPRI's Ted Nesi for a conversation on the 2026 Rhode Island election season.

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Gina Picard on bullying, school governance, and what Chariho needs next

Bill Bartholomew speaks with Gina Picard, superintendent of the Chariho Regional School District and a North Providence School Committee member, about the fallout from recent online harassment surrounding state Rep. Megan Cotter and what it reveals about school culture, leadership, and public discourse. The conversation also gets into school committee structure, student safety, communication during incidents, and the bigger challenge of regionalization and school funding in Rhode Island.

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Inside Communications presented by Half Street Group: Closing Messages, Debate Strategy, and the Rhode Island Election Home Stretch

Bill Bartholomew speaks with Mike Raia of Half Street Group about the final stretch of Rhode Island’s election cycle, with a focus on how candidates are shaping closing messages as early voting gets underway. The conversation breaks down the governor’s race, the lieutenant governor’s race, and what debate moments can still move undecided voters.Raia also explains why this cycle feels more like a communications contest than a traditional persuasion sprint, with campaigns narrowing in on turnout, contrast, and organization rather than broad conversion.

Key topics

• In this episode, Raia says every major campaign is now focused on the same thing: the closing message and the call to action that gets supporters to the polls.
• The governor’s race is discussed as a debate-driven final push, with Raia noting that televised debates still matter because they reach the remaining undecided voters and late-engaged audience.
• Raia argues that a nine-point lead is not a toss-up, and says Ken Block would need to win nearly all undecided voters without losing any to truly close the gap.
• The conversation covers whether Aaron Guckian should have dropped out, with Raia saying publicly pressuring a candidate to leave a race is a disservice to voters.
• Raia says the strongest path for challengers is not just attacking opponents, but clearly defining how they would govern differently on healthcare, housing, budgeting, and state management.
• In the lieutenant governor’s race, Raia describes Sabina Matos and John Laughlin as engaged in a respectful, substantive contest that stands out for its lack of personal attacks.
• Matos is described as leaning into personal narrative and coalition-building with other Democrats, while Laughlin is targeting independent and moderate voters with a pocketbook and tax message.
• Raia says the lieutenant governor’s race may come down to organization, turnout operations, and which campaign is better positioned to execute in the final days.
• The discussion broadens to why local politics has struggled to break through in a nationalized media environment, with fewer gatekeepers and more fragmented attention.
• Raia closes by praising debate moderation, especially Brian Crandall’s performance, saying strong moderation keeps candidates substantive and on point.

Timestamps

00:00 - Mike Raia returns to discuss the final stretch of Rhode Island’s election cycle
 00:46 - Why campaigns are now focused on turnout, not just persuasion
 01:54 - Why debate prep matters most in the governor’s race right now
 02:50 - Why early voting limits how much a debate can still change the race
 04:20 - Can Ken Block turn a nine-point deficit into a real contest?
 05:02 - Why asking a candidate to drop out is, in Raia’s view, a disservice to voters
 06:11 - The missing piece in the debates: a real explanation of how candidates would govern
 07:15 - What Ken Block has said well, and where he still needs a clearer governing vision
 08:19 - Why early voting makes polling a snapshot, not a final verdict
 09:34 - Why the lieutenant governor’s race feels old-school in the best way
 10:57 - How Sabina Matos is closing with personal story and coalition politics
 11:37 - How John Laughlin is targeting independents and moderate voters
 12:06 - Why organization and turnout could decide the lieutenant governor’s race
 13:14 - Why change may be the dominant message of the cycle
 14:52 - The idea of a broader “Ken Block Plus” coalition
 15:39 - Why every campaign needs a specific audience and a clear call to action
 17:02 - Why Helena Foulkes’s message is landing with voters who want direct problem framing
 18:09 - Why problem articulation without solution is not enough for Ken Block
 19:23 - The coaching analogy: don’t bring a problem unless you also bring a solution
 20:23 - Is local politics still breaking through, or is it mostly inside baseball?
 21:13 - Why this cycle felt sleepy, but still had interesting undercurrents
 22:59 - Why local campaigns struggle in a nationalized attention economy
 24:05 - How campaigns now have to think in micro-audiences and targeted outreach
 25:07 - Why different debate formats reach different voter groups
 26:25 - A shoutout to Brian Crandall’s debate moderation
 27:40 - Why Seth Magaziner has run a disciplined campaign
 28:34 - Why Rhode Island is heading toward a different style of government regardless of outcome

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Bill Bartholomew talks with Jason Dodier, co-founder of Fountainhead Rhode Island, about building stronger connections between Rhode Island’s people, industries, and global opportunities.

They explore how the state can compete in the emerging AI and data-infrastructure economy—not by chasing massive data-center campuses, but by investing in local talent, practical AI adoption, resilient infrastructure, and industries such as ocean technology, healthcare, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.

In this conversation

• Jason’s path from Rhode Island to international work in energy, climate, and technology
• The founding mission of Fountainhead Rhode Island
• Why relationships, mentoring, and emotional intelligence matter as much as innovation
• Rhode Island’s opportunity to lead in AI, ocean technology, and clean-energy infrastructure
• Making AI practical for small businesses, healthcare providers, nonprofits, students, and workers
• The case for locally focused, lower-impact computing infrastructure
• Balancing economic development with community, environmental, and ratepayer concerns
• Keeping the value created by the blue economy in Rhode Island
• What Rhode Island can learn from smaller places—including Kenya—competing globally

Guest

Jason DOdier is a Rhode Island-based entrepreneur and the co-founder of Fountainhead Rhode Island, an organization focused on connecting leaders, companies, nonprofits, and civic institutions to create opportunity in the state.

FountainHead Rhode Island will host Phase II of its annual AI & Data Infrastructure Summit on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 1:00 to 8:30 PM ET at the Providence Marriott Downtown (1 Orms Street, Providence, RI 02904).

The Summit builds on a successful Phase I in June, which drew hundreds of attendees and featured speakers from Amazon, Microsoft, Barclays, Schneider Electric, AlixPartners, and Alvarez & Marsal. Phase II brings together business executives, technology leaders, policymakers, developers, investors, and educators to discuss how Rhode Island can compete for the next wave of AI and data infrastructure investment.

Topics include:
- Energy and power generation for AI and data centers
- Data center development, investment, and permitting
- Workforce development and education
- Cybersecurity and emerging technologies

The program features an executive keynote, fireside chats with national leaders, main stage expert panels, a live technology and exhibitor showcase, a hackathon running throughout the day, and a closing networking reception.

Event details:
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Time: 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET (exhibition floor opens at 1:00 PM; main stage panels 4:00 to 6:00 PM; networking reception to follow)
- Location: Providence Marriott Downtown, 1 Orms Street, Providence, RI 02904

Links:
- Summit website: https://summit.fountainheadri.org/
- Phase I recap video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQwNkSSMvc

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Bill Bartholomew moderates a debate for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island featuring incumbent, Democrat nominee Sabina Matos and Republican nominee John Loughlin

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Bill Bartholomew moderates a debate for Governor of Rhode Island.

WPRO x BTOWN debate series.

Featuring Democrat nominee Helena Buonanno Foulkes, Republican nominee Aaron Guckian, independent Ken Block.

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Bill Bartholomew speaks with Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island, about the ALICE study and why the old federal poverty measure misses a huge share of working families. They discuss how nonprofits are filling gaps in state services, why funding is under strain, and what policy and system changes could better support Rhode Islanders.

https://unitedwayri.org/alice/

In this episode

• Nicolato explains ALICE—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—a framework developed because the federal poverty level doesn’t reflect the real cost of living.
• She says 43% of Rhode Island families, or about 190,000 households, fall into the ALICE bracket.
• A family of four in Rhode Island needs about $111,000 just to survive, while median income in key sectors such as hospitality, retail, call centers, and childcare is about $87,000.
• The conversation explores what a survival budget includes: housing, health care, taxes, child care, elder care, and unexpected costs like copays and medical bills.
• Nicolato says the federal poverty measure is outdated: it was created in the 1960s to measure food costs, not modern household needs.
• They discuss frontline workers—including childcare workers, construction laborers, cashiers, wait staff, and landscapers—who are essential to Rhode Island’s economy but still struggle financially.
• Nicolato points to equity gaps: 63% of Hispanic households, 56% of Black households, and 64% of households headed by someone 65 or older are in the ALICE category.
• She describes United Way’s Family Stability Initiative, which supports families over about 18 months and helps participants move from crisis toward stability.
• She highlights other programs, including the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, 211, SNAP navigation, and VITA, which brought $23 million back into Rhode Island last year.
• The discussion considers nonprofits’ role as a quasi-public infrastructure layer, especially as funding tightens and demand increases.
• Nicolato argues nonprofits should be treated as mission-driven businesses, with more stable planning, accountability, and support from state and federal government.

Timestamps

00:00 — Introducing the ALICE study and Rhode Island’s cost-of-living crisis
 01:19 — Why ALICE captures need better than the federal poverty level
 02:00 — A family of four needs $111,000 just to survive in Rhode Island
 03:18 — What goes into a survival budget beyond rent and groceries
 04:45 — Why the 1960s poverty formula no longer fits modern life
 05:37 — Frontline workers who keep Rhode Island running but still struggle
 06:32 — Multiple jobs, shame, and barriers to upward mobility
 07:44 — The equity gap for Hispanic, Black, and older households
 08:35 — Turning data into action through United Way’s Family Stability Initiative
 09:31 — Helping families move from crisis to stability with financial coaching and housing support
 10:00 — Utility aid, 211, SNAP help, and $23 million returned through VITA
 11:25 — How nonprofit funding strain compounds the state’s social problems
 12:24 — Why nonprofits need to be treated like essential infrastructure
 13:50 — Supporting nonprofits with legal help, resource sharing, and advocacy
 15:16 — The case for long-term planning instead of yearly budget chaos
 17:14 — Why nonprofits often run state programs better, cheaper, and faster
 18:27 — Collaboration between nonprofit, private, and government sectors
 19:03 — Where to find the ALICE data and Rhode Island-specific report

Notable quotes

• “Data is knowledge, but what you do with it matters.”
• “They are trying their damnedest and doing the most that they can. It is the system that has not allowed them to do the things that they need to do.”
• “We’re running it better, cheaper, faster.”

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Aaron Guckian on staying in the Rhode Island governor’s race ahead of the first debate

Bill Bartholomew interviews Republican gubernatorial nominee Aaron Guckian just hours before the first of three major statewide debates. The conversation centers on whether Guckian will stay in the race, how he differentiates himself from independent candidate Ken Block and Helena Foulkes, and what his governing pitch looks like on taxes, energy, infrastructure, and cost of living.Guckian says repeatedly that he is “all in” and frames his campaign around a pragmatic, center-right message aimed at lowering the burden on Rhode Islanders while leveraging federal and state partnerships for economic growth.

Key topics

• In this episode: Guckian directly says he is staying in the race and commits to a three-way contest through Election Day.
• He addresses the swirl around Ken Block’s efforts to position himself as the stronger anti-Democratic option, including the report that a Guckian team member floated a possible meeting.
• Guckian identifies Robert Anderson as the volunteer who accompanied him and says Anderson is a strategist and supporter, not an official campaign insider.
• He lays out his governing pitch around Quonset Point, Electric Boat, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, the Naval War College, and defense-related investment as a major Rhode Island opportunity.
• He emphasizes his personal background: married with three daughters, East Greenwich roots, a mother who is a respiratory therapist, and a father who is a union plumber.
• He argues Rhode Island is overtaxed and overburdened by fees, electricity costs, and natural gas bills, and says the state needs a “massive change.”
• He highlights Rhode Island Works Smarter, a platform focused on process improvement, frontline worker input, consultant savings, and a 24/7 anonymous idea portal.
• He proposes an advanced energy commission, federal grant pursuit, and exploration of small modular reactors and other energy infrastructure strategies.
• He says his experience includes former chairmanship of the Warwick Sewer Authority, an MBA, nonprofit fundraising, healthcare work, and broad government familiarity.
• He argues that his campaign can still be competitive despite weak polling and limited cash on hand, citing his prior 150,000-vote run for lieutenant governor and the possibility that debate performance will drive donations and polling movement.
• He critiques Providence politics, opposing rent control and warning about tax increases, public safety risks, and what he sees as unrealistic promises from young or inexperienced incoming leaders.
• He discusses affordability, the gas tax, healthcare workforce retention, and a proposal to use loan repayment incentives to keep doctors in Rhode Island.

Timestamps

00:00 - Opening setup: first debate looming and the race’s intraparty tension
 00:42 - Responding to Ken Block’s pressure and the “stay in or get out” question
 01:41 - Why Guckian says Rhode Island needs major change on taxes and costs
 02:27 - Clarifying the “ghost” figure and the confusion around the campaign visit
 03:43 - Identifying Robert Anderson and redirecting to the campaign platform
 04:03 - What a Guckian governorship would look like
 05:02 - Personal biography and why his background matters to voters
 06:26 - Defense, energy, and federal investment as Rhode Island’s growth engine
 07:53 - Why he says his infrastructure and government experience translate to the governor’s office
 08:31 - Polling, fundraising, and why he thinks debate night could change the race
 09:49 - Comparing his path to past Rhode Island three-way races
 10:46 - Providence politics, rent control, and the case against leftward city leadership
 11:45 - Taxes, budget pressure, and why he says local promises may not pencil out
 13:09 - Arriving late to a meeting and the campaign’s response
 14:54 - Rhode Island Works Smarter and the role of frontline workers
 15:49 - Cutting consultant dependence and rethinking transportation leadership
 16:43 - His identity as a pragmatic centrist Republican and why he thinks that matters
 17:41 - Final commitment: staying in the race through the end
 18:47 - His public-service pitch, charity work, and healthcare advocacy
 19:45 - Personal recovery, financial stress, and why affordability is central
 20:13 - Gas tax suspension, healthcare incentives, and doctor retention
 20:54 - Closing banter, harmony, and a lighter note before the debate

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