Rhode Island Report

It’s been just over a month since President Trump declared war on Iran. The Constitution gives Congress the power to initiate war, but the president started the surprise airstrikes without their approval. Is that constitutional? Host Edward Fitzpatrick talks to Salve Regina University History Professor William Leeman about the history of presidential war powers. We want to hear from you! Fill out our listener survey, and we’ll send you a Rhode Island Report sticker - https://bit.ly/RIpodsurvey See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Launched nearly three decades ago in a prime location between the State House and downtown as an economic catalyst for Rhode Island's capital city, the Providence Place mall now has more than 20 empty storefronts and restaurant spaces. It's been in receivership since 2024, and is up for sale. What happens next? Globe reporters Steph Machado and Alexa Gagosz have been following this story, and join guest host Megan Hall for an update. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Melania Trump movie is putting first ladies back in the spotlight. How has their role evolved over the years? Salve Regina University Political Science Professor Mary Anderson joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to offer some perspective. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rhode Island recently nearly lost two safety-net hospitals; there’s a shortage of primary care providers, reimbursement rates are lower than in neighboring states, and nursing homes are understaffed. Anna Matos-Mournighan, the graduate program director for healthcare administration at Salve Regina University and board president of a senior center in Newport, R.I., joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to make sense of it all. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this week, in front of a live audience, Globe Rhode Island’s Dan McGowan and Alexa Gagosz moderated a panel discussion about what it really takes to start, fund, and grow a small business in Rhode Island. This is a lightly edited recording of that discussion. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do Rhode Islanders feel about Governor Dan McKee and his Democratic opponent, Helena Foulkes? What about a tax on millionaires? The Rhode Island AFL-CIO recently commissioned a poll to find out. Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to discuss the results: "There is a path to victory for the governor in the numbers from the AFL-CIO poll, it's a narrow path." Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this year, US District Court Judge William Smith retired after 23 years on the bench. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about President Trump's criticism of judges, threats against the judiciary, and some of his key decisions over the years. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

US foreign policy is taking a dramatically different turn under the Trump administration. How is this affecting America's relationships with the rest of the world? "We've heard privately from European diplomats - and some in public - that they will not trust the United States again, period." Salve Regina University Vice President Jim Ludes joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about Greenland, Canada, Venezuela, and the new world order. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump recently floated an idea to nationalize the US elections. That violates the Constitution, according to Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to outline what’s legal and what’s not when it comes to running elections. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, starts on Feb. 6. Like every Olympics, they will showcase the best athletes from around the globe, and reveal something about world politics. Erin Redihan, a lecturer in the history department at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., teaches a course on this subject every two years. She joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about the history of the Olympics, and what to expect at the 2026 games. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Globe Rhode Island’s Dan McGowan and Steph Machado moderated a panel discussion in front of a Rhode Map Live audience earlier this month about a report that aims to reform Rhode Island’s school funding formula. The panel featured David Cicilline, the head of the Rhode Island Foundation; Georgetown University Professor and education economist Nora Gordon; and John Papay, the director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University. This is a lightly edited recording of that conversation. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

US District Court Chief Judge John McConnell was thrust into the national spotlight last year after ruling on some of the most high-profile challenges to Trump administration policies. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk to us about that experience, and the public threats against him and others in the judiciary: "It did shake my faith at the time, but my faith is still there." Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roger Williams University runs prison education and reentry programs for Rhode Islanders who are serving time. Now, he has a master's degree in community development and runs programs to help people re-enter society after being in prison. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick, along with Gena Bianco, the dean of Roger Williams University’s Extension School, to talk about what it means to walk out of prison with a credential. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s the first day of the 2026 legislative session. Lawmakers return to face a series of major issues, including looming cuts in federal funding, the potential closure of two hospitals, and a state budget deficit of more than $100 million. Globe Rhode Island’s Steph Machado and Dan McGowan join host Edward Fitzpatrick to preview the session and what to expect from legislators this year. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brown University has been on our minds a lot since the deadly shooting on campus. So, we're bringing back this conversation with former president Ruth Simmons. She made history in 2001 as the first Black president of an Ivy League institution. She joined us on the podcast to talk about her memoir, “Up Home.” Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're taking a little break for the holidays. While we're gone, enjoy this episode about host Edward Fitzpatrick's memories of chestnut fights at his elementary school. Listen in as he returns to his native Greenville for a showdown with his childhood friend Sue Tremblay. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley sits down with host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about the past 48 hours since the mass shooting at Brown and where the investigation goes from here. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the holiday season, and cities across the country are having tree lighting ceremonies. But how many of them light a bug? Rhode Island's version of the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center is the lighting of the Big Blue Bug off I-95. So, host Edward Fitzpatrick tagged along as they flipped the switch. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever completely messed up a marathon? Or maybe you’re thinking about running one and want to avoid the common mistakes? RISD grad Alen Yen says he’s been “bad” at marathons for more than a decade. But he stuck with it and finally figured out how to conquer the 26.2 miles. He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to share what he’s learned in a new book called “50 Ways to F*** Up a Marathon! An amateur’s guide to #marathonfails.” Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 50 years ago, in a Providence apartment, some of the band members of Talking Heads recorded an early demo of what would eventually become their hit, "Psycho Killer." Over the years, that recording eventually made its way to RISD. And on Friday, fans can finally hear it. The track is included in a new collection of demos and live recordings from the band called "Tentative Decisions." Talking Heads Drummer Chris Franz and RISD Assistant Provost for Academic Engagement Margot Nishimura join host Christopher Gavin to talk about the recording. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you live in Rhode Island, you’ve heard of Roger Williams. But do we really know what our founder was like? Roger Williams University History Professor Charlotte Carrington-Farmer is out with a new book exploring his story through his own writings and what other people wrote about him. She’s also the force behind a new exhibit about his wife, Mary. She joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to dig into what she’s learned about Rhode Island’s first couple. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rhode Island is the only state with its own official coral. Astrangia poculata, also known as Northern Star Coral, isn't like those colorful reefs down in the tropics, but it might play an important role in protecting its more vibrant cousins. To find out more, host Edward Fitzpatrick met with Roger Williams University Professor Koty Sharp, a champion of using Rhode Island’s official state coral for marine research. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The military is supposed to be apolitical, but critics say it’s getting pulled into the Trump administration’s political agenda. Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat and former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to weigh in on what’s happening. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Halloween is upon us, so we thought it’d be a good time to check in on Rhode Island’s most famous haunted location — the Conjuring House. Globe Rhode Island’s Amanda Milkovits spent the night there with her sister. She joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to tell the story of what happened. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coal once powered our country. Now, despite claims by the Trump administration, it’s the dirtiest, most expensive form of energy, according to Bob Wyss, a former Providence Journal reporter. Wyss tracks the history of coal in a new book called “Black Gold: The Rise, Reign, and Fall of American Coal.” He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk more about what he found. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As ICE raids and deportations increase across the country, some Rhode Islanders are pushing back. Maya Lehrer is an organizer with the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Network. She says, "A lot of the time, just us being there and letting our neighbors know ICE is here is enough that they leave." Lehrer joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk more about this work. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump recently said he’d like to use US cities as “training grounds” for the military. And he’s trying to send the National Guard into places like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago. Is that legal? Roger Williams University School of Law professors Peter Margulies and Jared Goldstein join host Edward Fitzpatrick to help unpack that question. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who can get a COVID vaccine? What’s going on with Tylenol? Can we trust the CDC? There’s a lot of confusion right now in the world of public health.Roger Williams University Public Health professor Jacqueline Cottle and Dr. Amy Nunn, the chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and Open Door Health, join host Edward Fitzpatrick to help you navigate the latest news. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Attorney General Peter Neronha has been busy these days, between filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to halt the Revolution Wind project to criticizing the latest health insurance rates. He also placed 2nd in a recent poll for the ic primary for governor. And he hasn’t even decided to run…. yet. He joins host Ed Fitzpatrick in the studio for an update. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does the Trump administration’s decision to halt construction for the Revolution Wind farm mean for Rhode Islanders? Roger Williams University engineering Professor Maija Benitz joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to offer some perspective on this controversial decision. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why are evangelical Christians more likely to own a gun than other Americans? William J. Kole, a Rhode Islander, a journalist, and a former evangelical Christian, investigates this question in a new book called “In Guns We Trust.”  He joins host Edward Fitzpatrick to talk about what he found. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.