ICE agents are continuing efforts to detain people in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. We'll hear from members of the Southeast Asian community who say that, while the Trump administration is employing new tactics, many Southeast Asians in Rhode Island have been living under the threat of detention and deportation for over 20 years. Also, with the wrecking ball coming for Pawtucket’s McCoy Stadium, some PawSox fans tell us how they’re feeling, and share a few favorite memories. And a new documentary, “Westerly’s Gold: Sweet, Spicy, and Full of Tradition,” tells the story of the local delicacy, soupy sausage, and the families who have been making it for decades.

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A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to hire back fired government workers. They’re getting paid, but they’re not doing any work for now. Our South Coast Bureau reporter Ben Berke tells us how federal employees are reacting. Also, is enough being done to hold government officials accountable for the Washington Bridge debacle? We dive deeper into that question with Michelle San Miguel from Rhode Island PBS Weekly. And in this week’s Artscape: we meet North Providence knifemaker, artist and fishmonger Joyce Kutty. That and more on this week’s show.

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Recent job cuts by the Trump Administration could have a negative impact on New Bedford’s huge fishing industry. Our South Coast Bureau reporter Ben Berke tells us how. Also, Rhode Island has spent millions battling lawsuits from people challenging books. Since 2021 there have been more than 30 such challenges. We’ll learn about a bill before the General Assembly that would protect schools and libraries from litigation and censorship. And in the midst of a trade war between the U.S. and Canada sparked by the Trump administration, a local museum is celebrating ties between the Ocean State and French Canadian culture. That and more on this week’s show.

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The Trump administration’s cuts in science research have led to lost jobs and stalled research in the Ocean State. Protesters showed up to the State House on Friday as part of a national movement called Stand Up For Science. We hear from one of the protest’s organizers. Also, there is a lot of fear and anxiety in the majority-Latino city of Central Falls. Business owners say they’re already feeling the impact because people without legal status are avoiding public places. Plus, the campus of UMass Dartmouth is built in the architectural style of Brutalism. We’ll take a look at why that style was used and why it’s gonna cost the school hundreds of millions to fix up its campus. That and more on this week’s show.

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The issues with the Washington Bridge have affected all of us, and will for years to come. This week we launched Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge, a new, community-centered project exploring how we got here, the impact of the bridge on our lives, and what the future holds. And we want to hear from you. Also, the threat of climate change is making it harder and more expensive for Rhode Islanders to insure their homes. How can the state and homeowners prepare? Plus: We hear about Track 15, a food hall opening in March that will transform Providence's historic Union Station, featuring seven restaurants from local chefs. That and more on this week’s show.

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The Trump administration has threatened to cut back or even eliminate the Department of Education, which is responsible for enforcing civil rights protections, overseeing student loans, and funding things like special education. What would those cuts mean for Rhode Island? Also, scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs are on the rise. We learn about a new law that would regulate crypto kiosks in Rhode Island – and we hear from a Brown professor who explains how he was recently scammed out of more than $2000. Plus, the WaterFire Arts Center is hosting an exhibit of over one hundred posters spanning 70 years and a dozen countries throughout Latin America. That and more on this week’s show.

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A judge has temporarily blocked a major policy change announced last week by the National Institutes of Health. It would have significantly reduced payments to universities, hospitals, and other research institutions. If the change goes through, how will it affect Rhode Islanders, and the many places here that get funding from the NIH? Also, we hear about a project from the Boston Globe, highlighting more than 300 New England locations featured in the Green Book, the famous guide that listed safe places for Black travelers from the 1930s to the 1960s. Plus, a conversation with writer and director Dave Solomon, the latest artist-in-residence at Westerly Library and Wilcox Park. That and more on this week’s show.

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So far, two dozen of the more than 50 executive orders President Trump has signed have been met with lawsuits. Democratic leaders and other critics are calling some of his directives unconstitutional, but Republicans have been supportive of the president's actions. We hear from one of Trump's supporters in the Ocean State: State Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz. A record number of marine mammals have washed up along Massachusetts’ south coast this past year. While some speculate that offshore wind is playing a role in the deaths, scientists say they haven’t found evidence to back that up. And we talk with the new leader of LitArts RI, Christina Bevilacqua. All that and more – on this episode of The Weekly Catch.

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President Trump issued an astounding number of executive orders and policy changes in the first two weeks of his second term. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is one of many AGs around the country who have promised to check the president’s power. Also, after Trump froze and later unfroze federal funding this week, some local nonprofits who rely on federal money are anxious about their future. We hear from the CEO of Sojourner House, which provides services to survivors of abuse. Plus, a studio session with emerging shoegaze pop artist Rel. That and more on this week’s show.

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This week President Trump suspended the country's refugee program for at least four months. As a result, a local refugee support nonprofit says they've already lost funding and had to cut staff. And Trump issued an executive order declaring he would not permit any new offshore wind farms. We hear from a maritime lawyer about what this could mean for the offshore wind projects under development in our region. Also, in a world of smartphones and GPS, why run a store that sells maps? The owner of The Map Center in Pawtucket says that, unlike the apps, the maps he sells are works of art that tell stories about our world. That and more on this week’s show.

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