Send us Fan Mail

Bill Bartholomew welcomes independent Rhode Island gubernatorial candidate Ken Block.

Key topics:

 

• Ken Block's background in software engineering and political activism

 

• His previous efforts to create a centrist political party and advocacy for good government

 

• The surprising and personal journey leading to his gubernatorial run

 

• The disconnect and lack of traction among current candidates, and how he aims to stand out

 

• Critical issues facing Rhode Island such as infrastructure failures, fiscal management, and project mismanagement

 

• The importance of decisive leadership, especially regarding the Washington Bridge collapse

 

• Management failures in Rhode Island's government projects and how to address them

 

• The potential for AI and technological disruption impacting state policy

 

• Fiscal strategies, including potential reallocation of funds and critiques of tax policies

 

• The influence of party politics, coalition building, and the shift toward independent support

 

• His commitment to transparency, accountability, and pragmatic solutions for long-term stability

 

Timestamps: 00:00 - Introducing Ken Block and his diverse background 00:24 - Ken's career in software and political activism 00:50 - Past political efforts and advocacy for good governance 01:18 - Journey from opposition to running for governor 02:44 - How polling and fundraising influenced his decision 03:15 - The weak current political landscape and his outsider message 04:01 - The impact of his campaign on the Democrat primary 06:22 - Rhode Island's unique challenges and broader macroeconomic issues 07:35 - Why Ken Block believes he is qualified to lead through disruption 08:05 - Management failures in major Rhode Island projects 09:30 - Critical analysis of the Washington Bridge failure and accountability 10:56 - Building a political coalition in a polarized environment 11:36 - The importance of decisiveness and political courage 12:29 - Lessons from Bruce Sundlun's decision-making style 13:55 - The need for fact-based, quick decision-making in government 15:12 - Lack of political courage and transparency in government failures 16:08 - The recurring mistakes like the Washington Bridge and fiscal mismanagement 17:30 - Infrastructure neglect and dysfunction 18:28 - Budget management, reallocations, and fiscal responsibility 20:11 - Managing large projects and the importance of skilled oversight 21:35 - Addressing state spending inefficiencies 22:28 - The importance of smarter government spending 23:24 - Challenges of housing development and infrastructure costs 24:36 - The unrealistic scope of housing targets and pragmatic solutions 26:14 - The potential of private investments like the Superman Building 28:48 - Rhode Island's economic and demographic challenges compared to Boston 29:55 - The impact of tax policies and the flight of high earners 31:00 - Building a broad political coalition across party lines 33:24 - The disconnect between community needs and government response 35:56 - The failure to maintain infrastructure and deliver public services 38:34 - The political landscape, party fragmentation, and independent prospects 39:57 - Ken Block's commitment to fixing core government issues and future outlookResources & Links:

 

• Rhode Island Infrastructure Crisis

Support the show

Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube