JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT."

WINTER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, WHAT IS THE STATE DOING TO EXPAND ITS BASE OF SHELTER BEDS?

AND A FORMER RHODE ISLAND POLITICIAN RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY, BUT IT AND BEFORE IT REALLY GETS OFF THE GROUND.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> HELLO, I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR.. "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'’M A GREAT SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US FOR THEIR INSIGHTS, FORMER PROVIDENCE MAYOR ANGEL TAVERAS, SUE CIENKI, FORMER CHAIR OF THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND BOSTON GLOBE REPORTER ED FITZPATRICK.

WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'’S LIVELY.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

COLUMBUS DAY MEANS THE COLD WEATHER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'’T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

ESTATE HAS ADDED MORE SHELTER BEDS BUT HOMELESS ADVOCATES SAY THEY ARE STILL HUNDREDS SHORT OF THE NEED, WHILE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS STILL MONTHS IF NOT YEARS AWAY.

ANGEL, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PERENNIAL PROBLEM.

MONEY CANNOT FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD BUT WE ARE STILL A WAYS FROM SOLVING IT.

ANGEL: TWO THINGS.

IT IS GOOD THAT IT IS A PRIORITY, THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT, BUT IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD, TAKES TIME TO EXPAND.

WE HAVE HAD MORE PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS UNFORTUNATELY SO YOU HAVE MORE NEED.

THE SECOND PART IS THAT THE HOMES ARE NOT ENOUGH, YOU NEED SERVICES.

A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE HOMELESS HAVE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST BUILD A HOME OR PUT THEM IN A HOTEL, IT IS ALSO HOW YOU DEAL WITH THE UNDERLYING ISSUES TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THEM.

THAT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.

WE SEE THE CHALLENGE CONTINUES TO EXIST.

JIM: YOUR SUCCESSOR IS IN A TOUGH PLACE.

ANY MAYOR OF A CITY, THERE IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY -- I KNOW MAYOR SMILEY HAS GOTTEN SOME GRIEF FOR MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESS AND -- BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE CERTAIN PEOPLE LIVING IN CERTAIN PLACES.

ANGEL: WE WENT THROUGH THE OCCUPY PROVIDENCE THERE AND ULTIMATELY HAD TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE HELP US OUT, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

YOU CANNOT HAVE THAT FOR LOTS OF REASONS.

IT IS VERY EASY TO CRITICIZE, NOT AS EASY TO PROPOSE SOLUTIONS.

MAYOR SMILEY IS DOING THE BEST HE CAN WITH A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION, BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE IT FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS.

THERE IS A LOT THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR AND THE CITY ARE WORKING AS HARD AS THEY CAN WITH ADVOCATES TO TRY AND GET MORE BEDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

SUE: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE ALL UNDERSTAND AND RHODE ISLAND NOTHING IS AFFORDABLE.

WE SAW SENATOR SAM BELL SPEAK TO $4000 RENTS IN RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE.

THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE.

I AGREE WITH ANGEL.

IT IS A MULTIFACETED PROBLEM.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT BUILDING HOMES, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH SERVICES?

YOU CAN PLACE PEOPLE IN HOMES, BUT IF THEY HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS, THEY MAY TRY TO ESCAPE FOR WHATEVER REASON.

THE DRUG ABUSE, IF SOMEBODY HAS AN ADDICTION, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE ARE GETTING SAFE INJECTION SITES BUT NO TREATMENT PLAN AFTER THAT.

WE WILL GIVE YOU A PLACE TO SHOOT UP DRUGS BUT WE WILL NOT GIVE YOU THE FACILITY TO TRY AND GET OFF OF YOUR ADDICTION.

IT IS A MULTIFACETED PROBLEM.

THEY ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.

IT GETS COLD HERE.

MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE THE SIGN, WELCOME TO THE BYLINED IT -- RHODE ISLAND, IT IS COLD HERE.

JIM: IS THAT A FIRST ON LIVELY, THAT YOU AGREE WITH SENATOR BELL?

THAT MIGHT BE A HEADLINE.

SUE: HE IS RIGHT, IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE.

TAXES ARE HIGH, COST OF LIVING IS HIGH, INFLATION IS OUT OF CONTROL.

THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAN WHAT THEY ANTICIPATE IS ONLY 562.

THERE WILL BE MORE.

ED: I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD THE HOUSING SECTOR ANNOUNCED 25% MORE BEDS THIS YEAR.

1000 LAST YEAR SO ABOUT 250 MORE.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT WILL NOT MEET THE NEED.

ADVOCATES SAY IT WILL NOT MEET THE NEED.

HOUSING CRISIS IS SEVERE.

THERE ARE STILL OPTIONS OUT THERE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PURSUED, ACHIEVED, LIKE ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR FOUR YEARS.

THE USE OF THE MODULAR HOMES THAT CAN BE ERECTED REALLY QUICKLY.

THERE HAS BEEN LOCAL OPPOSITION.

NOT THE POLITICAL WILL TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

PRIOR SAYS HE IS LOOKING FOR LOCATIONS BUT THAT IS AN EASY SOLUTION THEY COULD DO TODAY.

JIM: THERE WAS A WHOLE PACKAGE THAT SPEAKER SICK ARCHIE DID ABOUT, YOU RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE RELAXING SOME OF THE THINGS.

SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

IF WE HAD MORE HOUSING AVAILABLE THAN THE PRICES COULD DROP OR LEVEL OFF, BUT ISN'’T THAT A PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF CITIES AND TOWNS, NOT IN MY BACK YARD.

THAT IS A PERENNIAL PROBLEM NOT ONLY FOR THAT BUT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS, IT IS A PROBLEM ALL THE TIME.

WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE SPEAKER AND GOVERNOR MCKEE, SECRETARY, MAYORS, YOU HAVE A FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE.

THERE IS FUNDING WHICH SOLVES ONE PART OF IT.

NOW YOU HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO IT.

YOU HAVE TO EXECUTE ON IT.

ED'’S IDEA TALKING ABOUT THE MODULAR HOMES COULD BE A GOOD SOLUTION.

YOU HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO IT BUT THAT COULD BE A SOLUTION FOR THIS WINTER SPECIFICALLY.

SUE: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME COMMUNITIES REJECTING THESE DEVELOPMENTS IT IS NOT JUST WE DON'’T WANT THE DEVELOPMENTS HERE, IT IS WE DON'’T HAVE THE SERVICES TO SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE IF THEY COME HERE.

TAKE FOR EXAMPLE FOSTER.

YOU HAVE LAND OUT THERE BUT THERE IS NO BUS TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE.

IF THESE PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS AND THERE ARE NO JOBS FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF THEIR SITUATION, THAT IS ALSO AN ISSUE.

IS RIPTA GOING TO PROVIDE BUS SERVICES IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES?

JIM: CROSSROADS HAD A STORY TODAY, SAYING THEY ARE TRYING TO PRIVATELY FUND RAISE THE LAST $50 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION COST.

I KNOW YOU CANNOT GIVE IT ALL TO CROSSROADS, BUT YOU HAVE THREE DEVELOPMENT IN THE PIPELINE.

I KNOW THE STATE COMMITTED SOME OF IT, BUT THAT STUNNED ME, WHEN THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO ASK FOR PRIVATE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THIS FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY.

ED: YOU ARE RIGHT, $250 MILLION WAS PUT ASIDE FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.

STATE OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SPREAD THAT OUT.

THEY HAVE 22 PROJECTS ANNOUNCED.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS WILL NEED TO TAP SOME PRIVATE FUNDING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THE BOTTOM LINE DOESN'’T ALWAYS ADD UP.

JIM: ED, LET ME STAY WITH YOU.

FAMILIAR NAME IN RHODE ISLAND BUT NOT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

STEVE LAFFEY, FORMER MAYOR OF CRANSTON, WHO RAN FOR THE SENATE AGAINST SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, NOW HAS ABORTED HIS RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

STEVE LAFFEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTERESTING CHARACTER.

YOU ADDRESSED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, THE DEBT.

HE SAID NOT ONLY IS HE ABANDONING IT BUT HE IS LEAVING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

ED: HE EMPHASIZED THAT HE HAS BEEN A REPUBLICAN SINCE HE WAS 14.

JIM: I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE LITTLE STEVE LAFFEY OUT THERE.

ED: HE CALLED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY A LAUGHINGSTOCK THESE DAYS, FOCUSED A LOT OF HIS IRE ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FEW TO CRITICIZE PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN HE MOCKED THE WOMAN WHO WON THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT AGAINST HIM.

HE REALLY LASHED OUT AT HIM THEN.

CHRIS CHRISTIE HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF TRUMP, TOO, BUT HE HAS BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF TRUMP.

HE ANNOUNCED HE WAS LEAVING THE PARTY AND DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE TWO DAYS AFTER THE GLOBE AND SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY CAME OUT WITH A POLL SHOWING TRUMP SO FAR AHEAD IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

LAFFEY DIDN'’T EVEN REGISTER.

I THINK HE REALIZED HE DIDN'’T STAND A CHANCE.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT HIS COMMENTS ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NATIONALLY?

SUE: STEVE, WHEN HE FIRST GOT INTO THE RACE, HE IS A SMART GUY, HAS BEEN IN POLITICS IN RHODE ISLAND, BUT HAS NO NAME RECOGNITION NATIONALLY.

HE MOVED FROM COLORADO, ATTEMPTED TO RUN AGAINST KEN BUCK, THE SITTING CONGRESSMAN OUT THERE.

SMART GUY, BUT IN ORDER TO RUN A NATIONAL RACE, YOU NEED NAME RECOGNITION AND MONEY.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY, WHO IS RUNNING THROUGH $10 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY, THAT AFFORDED HIM TO PUT A TEAM IN PLACE, TO GET COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE, POLICY PEOPLE, YOUR NAME OUT THERE.

STEVE DIDN'’T DO THAT.

HE DIDN'’T REACH INTO HIS OWN POCKET TO FUND HIS OWN CASE, REALLY DIDN'’T WANT TO SIGN A DATA AGREEMENT WITH REPUBLICANS IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE DATA THAT WE HAVE.

SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR HIS OWN FAULT, BUT AGAIN, I THINK HE IS A SMART GUY.

HE DOES POINT OUT CERTAIN THINGS FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE CANNOT KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ANY LONGER.

HE DID HAVE AN IMPORTANT -- SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO SAY, BUT A LOT OF IT I THINK IS SOUR GRAPES.

ANGEL: I THOUGHT HE HAD GOOD POINTS ABOUT REPUBLICAN PARTY AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS BARELY RECOGNIZABLE.

THEY USED TO BE AGAINST RUSSIA, NOW MANY OF THEM DON'’T SUPPORT UKRAINE.

THEY USED TO BE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

YOU HEAR THEM TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO DEFUND THE FBI.

HISTORY WILL RECORD THIS MOMENT AS A VERY UNIQUE MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY, AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.

I THINK HE IS RIGHT WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, TALKS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY REPUBLICANS WHO I THINK ACTUALLY KNOW BETTER BUT ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST HIM.

JIM: WE WERE TALKING IN THE GREEN ROOM BEFORE HAND.

LAFFEY IS TALKING ABOUT STUFF THAT WILL REALLY COME HOME TO ROOST FOR OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.

THE SPENDING, WHOEVER YOU WANT TO BLAME, THAT WE ARE NOT BRINGING THINGS UNDER CONTROL.

BUT THAT DOESN'’T RESONATE WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT IS TOMORROW'’S PROBLEM.

IT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH PENSIONS IN RHODE ISLAND FOR YEARS.

ANGEL: HE RAISED A LOT OF THE FINANCIAL ISSUES, SOCIAL SECURITY BEING SUSTAINABLE INTO THE FUTURE, BUT HE NEVER MADE IT TO THE DEBATE STAGE, WAS NOT GOING TO.

HE WAS NOT GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THAT.

JIM: WE ARE TAPING ON A THURSDAY.

THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME PICKING A HOUSE SPEAKER.

THAT KIND OF PUTS THE COUNTRY, NOT ONLY REPUBLICANS, IN A TOUGH SPOT.

AS YOU LOOK FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE WOMAN, YOU HAVE BEEN A REPUBLICAN YOUR WHOLE LIFE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, THE DIRECTION THE HOUSE IS IN RIGHT NOW?

SUE: CHAOS.

ON THIS IS EVERY CHAOS -- UNNECESSARY CHAOS.

SPEAKER MCCARTHY'’S ELECTION WAS CHAOS AND THEY HAVE THROWN INTO CHAOS AGAIN.

I DON'’T WANT TO HEAR THE DEMOCRATS COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD THE CHANCE TO SUPPORT KEVIN MCCARTHY, WHO WAS TRYING TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION TO GET THINGS DONE.

NANCY PELOSI HAS BEEN RUMORED TO SAY THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN, THEY WILL NOT TAKE AWAY YOUR SPEAKERSHIP BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE INSTITUTION.

SHE DIDN'’T.

SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS COULD HAVE JUMPED AND SAVED MCCARTHY BUT THEY DIDN'’T.

NOW IT IS JUST CHAOS.

THE TWO LEADING CANDIDATES ARE STEVE SCALISE AND REPRESENTATIVE JIM JORDAN.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE STEVE SCALISE.

I WORRY ABOUT THEM NOT GETTING BEHIND ONE PERSON.

JIM: IF THEY HAVE A SUPPORT, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN VOTED IN ALREADY.

THEY HAVE TO DELAY THE BOAT WHILE THEY COUNT THE HEADS.

SUE: I IMAGINE IT WILL END UP BEING STEVE SCALISE AT THIS POINT.

JIM: IT IS JUST NOT GOOD NATIONALLY FOR US.

IT MAKES US LOOK WEAK OVERSEAS.

PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHAT IS THIS GREAT DEMOCRACY YOU HAVE, AND YOU CANNOT EVEN ELECT A LEADER?

ANGEL: IT DOESN'’T MAKE US LOOK GOOD OVERSEAS OR HERE, AS WELL.

THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT YOU HAVE SEEN WITH THE REPUBLICANS -- I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH SUE.

SHE HAS AGREED WITH SAM BELL, NOW I'’M AGREEING WITH HER.

[LAUGHTER] CHAOTIC.

BUT A LOT OF THAT IS CAUSED NOT BY DEMOCRATS BUT BY THE REPUBLICANS THEMSELVES.

JIM: YOU HAVE THE GANG OF EIGHT, THE OTHER GANG OF EIGHT.

SUE: IT'’S A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE VERY STRICT IDEAS.

JIM: THEY JUST SEEM TO WANT TO BLOW IT UP.

SUE: STRICT IDEAS OF TRYING TO CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS IN WHAT THEY CALL THE SMALL, D.C.

I ALWAYS VIEW POLITICS AS A GAME OF COMPROMISE.

THERE WILL BE A RIGHT SIDE, LEFT SIDE, AND YOU HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER.

THIS GROUP DOESN'’T BELIEVE THAT.

THEY JUST BELIEVE, THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.

ED: FOR THIS ALL TO BE HAPPENING, GIVEN ALL THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, NEVER A GOOD TIME NOT TO HAVE A HOUSE SPEAKER.

BUT WITH HAMAS AND ISRAEL, UKRAINE AND RUSSIA, THERE IS A LOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

SUE: DON'’T FORGET CHINA AND TAIWAN.

THAT IS THE TRIFECTA.

WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE ARE DOING.

IF ANYBODY WAS WATCHING THE NEWS, YOU SAW THE LEADER OF HAMAS COME OUT AND SAY, THE 13TH, LET'’S STRIKE AMERICA.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY.

JIM: SUE, THE CB1 ONE RACE HAS BEEN QUIET.

EVENTUALLY THEY WILL DO TWO DEBATES.

GARY LEONARD WANTED A LOT MORE.

I UNDERSTAND WHY GABE AMO -- I WOULD'’VE THOUGHT FIVE OR SIX WOULD HAVE SERVED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'’T KNOW HIM YET, WILL NOT GET TO KNOW HIM ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL BECAUSE MR. AMO'’S ARE CRUISING TO DO MORE DEBATES.

SUE: THAT IS UNFORTUNATE.

CONSTITUENTS LOSE OUT WHEN YOU DON'’T DEBATE.

I KNOW THAT GABE AMO ANTICIPATED IN SEVERAL DURING THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY CANDIDATES ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, YOU DON'’T REALLY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND OUT.

YOU GET TWO MINUTES, IT IS QUICK.

WHEN YOU HAVE ONE ON ONE, THE REPUBLICAN AGAINST A DEMOCRAT, CERTAINLY YOU CAN DELVE MORE INTO THE ISSUES, UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY STAND.

WE SAW GABE AMO WITH ONE MEMBER OF THE SQUAD, ANNA PRESLEY, TALKING ABOUT GETTING MONEY FROM HER CONSTITUENCY.

SHE SUPPORTS HAMAS.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE VOTERS IN CD1 TO UNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE VOTING FOR.

GARY LEONARD IS A 30-YEAR CAREER MILITARY GUY, A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP.

HE UNDERSTANDS FOREIGN POLICY.

AT A TIME WHEN THE WORLD IS FALLING APART, HE IS CERTAINLY A SUPERIOR CANDIDATE.

JIM: WE GEEK OUT ON THE POLICY STUFF, HEAR THE DEBATES, BUT IT RINGS HOLLOW TO GABE AMO TO SAY PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I STAND.

THIS WHOLE DEBATE, WHO WAS PAYING ATTENTION IN AUGUST OTHER THAN US?

ANGEL: I LOVED ALL OF THOSE PRIMARIES.

MAYBE THAT IS JUST ME.

I THOUGHT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS COULD BRING IN CANDIDATES, ASK ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT, YOU GOT TO SEE THEM THINK ON THEIR FEET, WHERE THEY STOOD ON THESE ISSUES IN THE PRIMARY.

NOT SO MANY NOW IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I WISH THERE WERE MORE.

THERE WILL BE TWO TELEVISED DEBATES LATER ON.

WE WILL HAVE AMO AND LEONARD ON THE PODCAST NEXT WEEK, SEPARATELY, ASKING THEM THE SAME QUESTIONS.

IT WILL SHOW THE DIFFERENCES, I THINK, ON THE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

THE MORE VOTERS KNOW GOING INTO THE BALLOT, GOING INTO ELECTION DAY, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE.

JIM: I UNDERSTAND WHY HE IS DOING THIS POLITICALLY, BUT WHAT IS HE WORRIED ABOUT IN THIS RACE?

SUE: REALITY IS IT IS A D+ 29 DISTRICT.

IT WAS SO HEAVILY GERRYMANDERED, SO HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC, AS OPPOSED TO CD2, WHICH IS A SPLIT DIFFERENT -- DISTRICT.

COME OUT AND TELL THE PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE.

ED: HE IS DEBATING TWICE ON TELEVISION.

HE IS ALSO GOING ON.

ANGEL: HE IS OUT THERE.

HE IS GOING ON TELEVISION, GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SEE HIM.

IT WILL BE ONE ON ONE, A LOT LONGER IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC THAN THE DEBATES IN THE PRIMARY.

JIM: YOU HAVE RUN FOR CD2 MANY YEARS AGO.

WOULDN'’T YOU DO MORE DEBATES?

ANGEL: YOU DO AS MANY AS YOU CAN.

GABE HAS DONE A LOT IN THE PRIMARIES.

HE WILL NOT DO A LOT OF TV DEBATES, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

PEOPLE WILL MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THAT.

POLITICALLY, HE IS MUCH BETTER KNOWN.

D+29 DISTRICT.

HE IS TRYING TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HIM BOTH BUT ALSO NOT NECESSARILY GIVE HIS OPPONENT EXTRA PUBLICITY.

MOST PEOPLE DON'’T KNOW WHO HIS OPPONENT IS.

SUE: MOST PEOPLE DON'’T KNOW WHO GABE AMO IS.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RUNNING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, WE ALL PROBABLY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE SABINA MATTHEWS OR ROTENBERG BECAUSE THEY HAD NAME RECOGNITION.

HE WAS A SLEEPER BEHIND THERE.

PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HE WAS WORKING WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, SO THE POLICIES IN PLACE RIGHT NOW THE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT, HE OWNS THOSE.

HE IS A YES VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

THE DNC DIDN'’T REALLY LIKE AARON.

SABINA KILLED HERSELF WITH THE SIGNATURE FIASCO WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

AARON WAS THE ONE TO BEAT HIM.

THE DNC CAME BEHIND HIM, HE HAS MONEY FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND WALL STREET.

THAT IS WHO THEY VOTE FOR IF THEY ARE GOING OVER GABE AMO.

ED: VERY BLUE DISTRICT.

AMO STANDS A VERY GOOD CHANCE.

JIM: A YEAR AGO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS WORKERS LEAVING.

THE NEWS TAG ON THIS IS, LONG TIME ELECTION BOARD HAD ANNOUNCED HE IS RETIRING IN 2024.

IN RHODE ISLAND WE HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB, BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS NATIONWIDE.

THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME TO PICK SOMEBODY -- HE IS THE ADMINISTRATOR, NOT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS -- WHAT SHOULD THEY BE LOOKING FOR WHEN THEY LOOK TO HIRE SOMEBODY?

ED: A QUARTER OF THE TOP ELECTION OFFICIALS IN RHODE ISLAND HAVE LEFT SINCE 2020.

THEY HAVE BEEN FACING A LOT OF CRITICISM WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP CITING THE ELECTIONS WERE RIGGED AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF QUESTIONS AT LOCAL BOARDS, A LOT OF PRESSURES THAT WERE NOT THERE IN THE PAST.

THE NEXT ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR WILL HAVE TO BE SOMEONE WHO CAN BUILD THE TRUST WITH THE ELECTORATE, COMMUNICATE ABOUT IT, KNOW ABOUT CYBERSECURITY, PERHAPS BE BILINGUAL, AND DEAL WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT VOTING IS TAKING PLACE WITH MAIL-IN BALLOTS, EARLY VOTING.

THE PROPOSAL DID SOME GOOD WORK COMING IN AFTER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATOR, HAVING THE ELECTIONS RUN SMOOTHLY.

LOOKING FORWARD, I THINK YOU NEED SOMEBODY WHO CAN DEAL WITH ALL OF THE NEW DYNAMICS IN ELECTIONS.

ANGEL: I PREPARED BEFORE THE ELECTION BOARD FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THE PROGRESS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS IS TREMENDOUS IN TERMS OF THE WORK OF THE ELECTION BOARD, BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SECRETARY OF STATE, LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS.

ELECTIONS ARE NOT PERFECT.

CERTAINLY THAT IS THE CASE, BUT WE RUN VERY GOOD ELECTIONS IN RHODE ISLAND.

WE ALSO HAVE POST-ELECTION AUDITS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BALLOTS WERE READ THE RIGHT WAY.

I THINK THE NEXT PERSON IS GOING TO BE SOMEONE WHO CAN ADDRESS ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE.

SOME OF THAT IS ABOUT THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON ELECTIONS.

SOME PEOPLE WILL REFUSE TO ACCEPT ELECTION RESULTS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE HAD TIX TO CLOSE CASES IN THE COURTS ABOUT IT.

THE NEXT PERSON NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE, UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE HAVE PAPER BALLOTS, MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE WITH OUR AUDITS, MAKING SURE THAT WE HOLD OUR VENDORS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN APPROPRIATE.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES REGARDING THE PROGRAMMING OF THE MACHINES.

IT WILL BE SOMEONE WHO CAN UNDERSTAND ELECTIONS, AND GENDER CONFIDENCE, CAN ALSO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT IT.

IN TERMS OF MR. RAPOZA, I DIDN'’T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, BUT I THOUGHT BOB DID A GOOD JOB, HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR WELL OVER 20 YEARS.

SUE: THE INTERESTING THING IS THE BOE DOES A GOOD JOB OF INVITING THE PUBLIC INTO WATCH THE PROCESS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE AUDIT THEY DID AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, YOU COULD ACTUALLY GO IN AND WITNESS THAT.

JIM: YOU COULD SIT WITH JOHN MERION.

SUE: THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE THERE, ME AND JOAN.

I SAY TO PEOPLE THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

IF YOU WANT TO CRITICIZE THE PROCESS, YOU HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

WE DO A JOB OF TRYING TO RECRUIT POLL WATCHERS.

YOU CAN COME IN AND WATCH THE PROCESS.

IN 2020, WE HAD 60 PEOPLE THAT CAME IN.

2022, WE HAD 460.

EVERY PRECINCT THERE WERE PEOPLE WATCHING THE PROCESS.

THE MORE PEOPLE THAT GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, THE MORE CONFIDENT YOU WILL HAVE IN THE PROCESS, THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, MAY BE THE ELECTIONS, LET'’S MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLEAN VOTER ROLLS.

WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU WILL NOT HAVE DEAD PEOPLE SIGNING BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ON YOUR VOTING ROLES.

IT WOULD ELIMINATE ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT.

START WITH CLEAN GO TO ROLES AND THEN MOVE ON.

>> LET'’S BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF DEAD PEOPLE VOTING IN RHODE ISLAND.

EVEN IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, THERE WERE MAYBE TWO, AND SOMETIME PEOPLE CAN VOTE BEFORE THEY DIE.

JIM: STATE LAW IS UNCLEAR ABOUT WHETHER YOU COUNT THAT OR NOT.

>> SUE TOUCHED ON SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

RHODE ISLAND, YOU HAVE A RIGHT.

SUE AS THE FORMER HEAD OF THE REBEL CAN PARTY -- REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEY CAN HAVE POLL WATCHERS AT THE POLLS, UNDER STATE LAW, THAT HAS A RIGHT TO BE THERE AND THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS CAN CHALLENGE VOTERS WHO VOTE.

IF THEY THINK THEY ARE NOT THE PERSON THAT THEY SAY THEY ARE.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE THERE.

CAMPAIGNS CAN HAVE PEOPLE THERE, AS WELL.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON THERE.

WE HAVE SIGNATURES THAT WE COMPARE.

WE HAVE SIGNATURES ON BALLOT APPLICATIONS, MAIL BALLOTS.

SO MANY DIFFERENT CHECKS AND BALANCES.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE VERY GOOD ELECTIONS HERE IN THIS STATE, WHY IT IS HARD FOR SOME TO VIOLATE THE LAW.

JIM: LET'’S MOVE ON TO OUTRAGES OR KUDOS.

ED: MY OUTRAGE IS THE BOMB SCARE, THREATS MADE AGAINST TEMPLE BETHEL A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ISRAEL, HAMAS; ATTACK -- HAMAS'’ ATTACK.

THE CONTEXT IS, I JUST INTERVIEWED THE HEAD OF THE JEWISH ALLIANCE OF RHODE ISLAND, TALKED ABOUT A 250% INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITIC THREATS IN RHODE ISLAND OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THAT TO ME IS OUTRAGEOUS.

ANGEL: MY OUTRAGE IS RELATED.

THE VICIOUS MURDER OF JEWS BY HAMAS.

TO ME IT IS SIMPLE HE OUTRAGEOUS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

I READ THAT IT WAS THE WORST DAY IN TERMS OF DEATHS OF JEWS SINCE THE HOLOCAUST.

THAT TO ME IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO NOT FORGET, FOCUS ON, REMIND OURSELVES, KNOW WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE HOLOCAUST, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE BE VIGILANT.

IT'’S BEEN OUTRAGEOUS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

EVERY TIME I HEAR DETAILS, THEY JUST GET WORSE.

JIM: WE ARE ALL PARENTS, AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

SUE: HORRIFIC.

WE ALL AGREE WITH THE OUTRAGE THIS WEEK, AND WHAT HAPPENED AT A PEACE FESTIVAL, YOU SAW PEOPLE COMING IN AND CEREMONIOUSLY MURDERING PEOPLE.

GOING INTO FAMILIES HOMES AND KILLING PARENTS IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILDREN, KILLING CHILDREN IN FRONT OF THEIR PARENTS.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.

>> I WANT TO ADD ONE THING, SOMETHING I KEPT HEARING ABOUT.

THEY HAVE SAFE ROOMS.

A LOT OF THESE HOMES HAVE SAFE ROOMS.

JIM: FOR THIS EXACT THING.

>> I HAVE NOT VISITED ISRAEL, SO I DON'’T KNOW THIS, BUT I HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER.

SOME OF THE SAFE ROOMS WORKED, SOME DIDN'’T.

THAT IS HOW THEY CONSTRUCT THEIR HOMES THERE, BECAUSE OF THAT FEAR.

IT IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS THAT ANYONE HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS.

>> JUST TO BRING IT BACK TO RHODE ISLAND, IF YOU BRING IT BACK TO A SYNAGOGUE, JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU WILL SEE SECURITY.

IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY.

JIM: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

SORRY TO END ON SUCH A SOMBER NOTE.

IF YOU DON'’T CATCH US ON FRIDAY, WE ARE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE ARCHIVE ALL OF OUR SHOWS ONLINE.

WE ARE ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

APPARENTLY WE HAVE A PRETTY POPULAR PODCAST.

IF YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT AND WANT TO LISTEN TO MY VOICE FROM WEEK TO WEEK, TAKE US WITH YOU.

WE WILL BE ALL OVER WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT WEEK.

MAYBE WE WILL HAVE A NEW SPEAKER, MAYBE NOT.

WE HOPE YOU COME BACK AND JOIN US NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HELLO, I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.