It was almost three years ago when Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana. Supporters praised the move as a way to generate state revenue, keep money from migrating to Massachusetts and ensure a safe product for users. Rhode Island’’s approach was touted for including so-called social equity elements to help people hurt by the war on drugs. Three years later, though, the state has yet to move ahead with issuing licenses for 24 new pot shops. There are also questions about the effect of legalizing recreational marijuana. So what does a key state official have to say about driving while stoned? When will Rhode Island actually move ahead with awarding licenses for new pot shops? And will the state’s legalization law really live up to the billing about promoting social equity? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with Kim Ahern, chairwoman of the state Cannabis Control Commission.

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Advocating for low- and moderate-income Rhode Islanders can be an uphill battle during the best of times. Now, with the Trump administration cutting various federal programs, the challenge is steeper. When it comes to promoting economic fairness, progressives have argued for years that the richest Rhode Islanders should pay a little more in taxes. They say their latest proposal would deliver much-needed revenue as Rhode Island once again confronts annual budget deficits far into the future. Executive director of the Economic Progress Institute Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies is among those supporting this approach. But the state budget has grown dramatically over the last 10 years, so should the focus be on finding savings and efficiency before considering new taxes? How will Rhode Island respond if Trump administration policies pose a wallop for low- and moderate-income people? And with legislative leaders unwilling to consider new taxes on the rich, what would it take to convince them to support a change? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with head of the Economic Progress Institute Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies.

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State Senator Alana DiMario of Narragansett is a mental health counselor who first won election in 2020. She’s one of a number of progressive policy-oriented Democratic women lawmakers who have moved the General Assembly a bit to the left over the last decade. But Rhode Island still faces familiar challenges, including an uneven economy, a tough fiscal outlook and underperforming public schools. In the Rhode Island Senate, change will come at some point since the chamber’s president, Dominick Ruggerio, is 76 and recovering from pneumonia. And there’s a lot of uncertainty on the national scene, with the Trump administration promoting tariffs, threatening traditional U.S. alliances and remaking the federal government. So how can Rhode Island make progress on crucial issues amid this instability? And what does the future hold for the Rhode Island Senate? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with state Senator Alana DiMario.

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Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is among a number of Democratic attorneys general suing the Trump administration. The litigation covers a range of issues: Elon Musk and his leading role in wielding a chainsaw against the federal government; Trump’s attempt to freeze billions in federal funding for the states; and the ability of transgender people to serve in the military. While Neronha is a Democratic elected official, he says these lawsuits are responding to violations of the law. But it’s unclear how courts will ultimately respond in our polarized age, particularly if and when cases reach the U.S. Supreme Court, which moved to the right over the last decade. So what happens to the rule of law in the second Trump administration? Are we on the cusp of a constitutional crisis? And how did Democrats fail to win enough support from Americans to maintain control of the White House? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

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Republicans are riding high in Washington, with control of the White House, the U.S. Senate and the House. Back here in Rhode Island, the GOP faces a very different situation. The party holds just 14 of 113 legislative seats -- a number that remained unchanged after November’s elections. One bright spot for the local GOP: the Republican leader in the Rhode Island Senate, Jessica de la Cruz. She’s among the most visible members of her party in the state and she offered a sharp response to Democratic Governor Dan McKee’s State of the State address last month. But de la Cruz has not been able to build the Republican presence in the Senate and it’s unclear who will represent the GOP in the fast-approaching 2026 race for governor. So what are de la Cruz’s plans? Can she form her critique of McKee into legislation? And what does she have to say about Democrats’ voluminous criticism of President Trump? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with Rhode Island Senate GOP Leader Jessica de la Cruz.

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Rhode Island’s capital city, Providence, is overwhelmingly Democratic. But that doesn’t mean the city is beyond reach of the sweeping changes in government being promoted by President Donald Trump and his supporters. Even under the best of circumstances, Providence struggles to generate enough revenue to pay for city government. And despite decades of talk about the need to improve Providence schools, that goal remains elusive. The man responsible for taking on these challenges is Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. He emphasized a so-called back to basics approach when he won election in 2022. But what can Providence do if cuts in Washington, DC, have a big local impact? Does Smiley have a real plan for improving city schools? And what does the first-term mayor think Democrats need to do to raise their national appeal? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with the mayor of Providence, Brett Smiley.

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Rhode Island’s largest hospital group, Lifespan, changed its name last June to Brown University Health. The name change and related agreements were billed as a way to improve patient care, medical education and biomedical research in the state. But making headway against Rhode Island’s healthcare challenges is more difficult than changing a name. The state suffers from a lack of primary care doctors. Reimbursement rates for Medicaid and Medicare are lower than in neighboring states, putting Rhode Island at a competitive disadvantage. And the Hospital Association of Rhode Island advocacy group warns that Governor Dan McKee’s recent budget proposal would hurt hospitals and the patients who rely on them. As president/CEO of Brown University Health, John Fernandez is on the frontline of facing these issues. So can Rhode Island improve healthcare while reducing costs? What is the answer for the state’s medical reimbursement problem? And how is the financial outlook for the state’s top two hospital groups?

This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with president/CEO of Brown University Health John Fernandez.

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Linda Ujifusa, a Portsmouth Democrat, first won election to the Rhode Island Senate in 2022. As a progressive woman, she exemplifies how the General Assembly has changed over the last 10 years. Ujifusa is a California native and Harvard-educated lawyer. She was among the senators who pushed unsuccessfully during a November caucus for different leadership in the chamber. The concern was that Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, now 76, was dealing with too many health issues to effectively lead the Senate. But Ruggerio maintained the presidency, and some of those who opposed him fell out of favor with his leadership. So can the Senate make progress now on key issues facing Rhode Island? Is there a role for state lawmakers in responding to the Trump administration? And what is the way forward on such issues as healthcare and the environment?

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A new era in American politics started with the return of Donald Trump to the White House this week. The effect is already being felt across the country due to a volley of executive orders signed by Trump. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, a Democrat, was an early supporter of Joe Biden in 2020 and he now faces the task of leading the state’s response to the Trump administration. During his State of the State address last week, McKee offered a positive message about the future. While it’s true that the state hit an all-time high for jobs last year, Rhode Island still faces persistent challenges with issues like the economy, housing, transportation, public schools and technology. This is an important year for McKee, 73, since he hopes to win re-election next year. So does he have the right stuff to move the state forward? And at what point is McKee willing to stand up to Trump?

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Elected officials in Rhode Island have been trying to reinvent the state’s economy practically since the Great Depression -- and it remains a work in progress. During his State of the State speech on Tuesday, Governor Dan McKee cited an upbeat message. He says Rhode Island is flipping the script on outdated narratives about being an economic laggard. But polling shows Rhode Islanders do not share McKee’s optimism about the state being headed in the right direction. The state still lacks the kind of more diversified economy found in Massachusetts. And the possible move out of state by Hasbro shows how unexpected changes can quickly emerge. As president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce since 2005, Laurie White has a front row seat on these issues. So what are the top obstacles to building a better economy -- and does the chamber have any bright ideas for making things better?

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