Tim White and Ted Nesi for years have covered politics on all levels and together they moderate some of the most highly watched political debates each year.

The duo discussed the current state of affairs in the much-anticipated 2026 gubernatorial race for Democrats and Republicans, and analyze the value of polls in political reporting.

White and Nesi, who also host the political affairs show "Newsmakers," also talked about what goes into preparing for debates, how they think about the value of those discussions and what affect they can have on a candidate's position in a race.

Later in the show, White and Nesi, along with host Eli Sherman, discussed "The Stories We Wish We Wrote," including:

Eli's picks

• Touro Synagogue fight leads to painful rupture, separate services by Antonia Noori Farzan and Katie Mulvaney, The Providence Journal

Tim's picks

• Gubernatorial candidates are split on proposed overhaul of R.I. public records law by Edward Fitzpatrick, Boston Globe
• Did Taylor Swift pay off a bride to get her wedding date? Ocean House pours cold water on the latest rumor by Steph Machado, Boston Globe

Ted's picks

• Blood Feuds: The Fight Over Who Gets to Be Native American by Bill Donahue, Boston Magazine

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.