JIM: INTROSPECTIVE ON THE 2024 ELECTIONS.

HOW DID THE YOUTH VOTE IN RHODE ISLAND AND NATIONAL?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US ON THE PANEL WITH AN ACADEMIC EXPECTED, EMILY LYNCH, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND.

URI GRADUATE STUDENT MARY LIND.

AND JULIANA LEPORE, EDITOR FOR THE URI NEWSPAPER THE GOOD FIVE CENT CIGAR.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

WHILE THE PUNDITS AND CANDIDATES CONTINUE TO DISSECT THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS, THE FOCUS IS BEGINNING TO SHIFT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS TO THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE.

THIS WEEK WE HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR YOUTITLES IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND WHAT ARE THE ISSUES FUTURE CANDIDATES SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AFFECTING MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z.

PROFESSOR, YOU HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

WHAT WERE YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE ELECTION?

JIM: THE BIGGEST -- EMILY: THE BIGGEST TAKE AWAY WAS WE DID NOT SEE THE RED WAVE THAT WAS EXPECTED WITHIN THE MEDIA AND FROM PENDANTS.

-- FROM PENDANTS -- PUNDITNTS.

JIM: WERE YOU SURPRISED IT WAS A 20 PORT -- A POINT MARGIN?

EMILY: I WAS NOT SURPRISED.

IF WE LOOK BACK TO 2018, LIEUTENANT GOV.

MCKEE EARNED 61% OF THE VOTE.

COMING INTO THIS ELECTION, HE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT.

OF COURSE, THERE IS ALWAYS THIS COVERAGE AND CONCERN OVER IF KAYLA'’S MAY -- AS A NEW POLITICIAN -- AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE MODERATE PARTY IN 2014 AND 2018, TAKING AWAY VOTES FROM THE MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES.

THAT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE OF KALUS.

JIM: WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY, MARY?

MARY: I WAS NOT SURPRISED MICKEY WON BY SUCH A BIG AMOUNT.

EVEN IF HE IS NOT EVERYONE'’S FAVORITE CANDIDATE, HE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND ASHLEY KALUS IS NEW HERE.

WITH SOME OF THE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY LIKE ROE V. WADE, RHODE ISLAND HAS CODIFIED THAT ALREADY, BUT HAVING A REPUBLICAN IN THE GOVERNOR'’S OFFICE WOULD NOT SIT RIGHT WITH A LOT OF RHODE ISLANDERS.

RHODE ISLAND IS A BLUE STAGE TRADITIONALLY.

IT WAS VERY MUCH VOTED WITH THE PARTY -- VOTING WITH THE PARTY.

SO I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO SEE HE WON BY THAT MUCH.

BUT I WAS SURPRISED ASHLEY KALUS WAS ABLE TO GET AS MUCH AS SHE DID.

JIM: ANY SURPRISES FOR YOU?

JULIANA: I WAS NOT TOO SHOCKED.

WE ARE A BLUE STATE.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL VOTE BLUE NO MATTER WHAT.

IT WAS A LITTLE SHOCKING, THE STAGGERING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VOTES.

I WASN'’T TOO SHOCKED TO SEE THAT BECAUSE ASHLEY KALUS IS NEWER TO THE STATE.

JIM: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF RETROSPECTION.

THE REPUBLICANS NOW SAYING WE WERE NOT REALLY PREDICTING A RED WAVE, AND SOME DIDN'’T.

AS YOU BREAK THAT DOWN, IS IT AS SIMPLE AS THERE IS MORE YOUNG PEOPLE?

20 YEARS AGO, YOU WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE OLDER VOTERS BECAUSE THOSE WERE THE ONES WHO ALWAYS WENT TO THE POLL, NO MATTER WHAT.

TO THEIR PERIL, SOME CANDIDATES HAVE IGNORED THE GEN Z AND MILLENNIALS.

WHERE DO THEY FACTOR INTO THIS ELECTION?

>> I THINK GEN Z HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE SELECTION.

AS I AM LEARNING IN SCHOOL, THE RED WAVE WAS LOCKED BY THE YOUNGER GENERATION THAT WENT OUT TO VOTE.

I WILL SAY US BECAUSE I AM INCLUDED IN THAT.

I THINK WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE AND TOPICS-BASED RATHER THAN PARTY BASED.

WE CARE A LOT ABOUT CERTAIN ISSUES AND WE WILL DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.

I THINK WE PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN THIS ELECTION.

JIM: YOU ARE RIGHT ON IT IN THE LOVE THAT, TOO.

MARY: I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH GIULIANA -- WITH JULIANA LEPORE.

I WAS 16 WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED, I WENT TO THE WOMEN'’S MARCHES, I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THE PARK THEN SHOOTING HAPPENED.

I WENT TO A BUNCH OF PROTESTS AROUND THAT.

PEOPLE OUR AGE HAVE BEEN GETTING INVOLVED WITH THAT.

COVID HIT WHEN WE WERE IN COLLEGE.

EVERYTHING THAT HAS COME OUT OF THAT, WE HAVE ALL BECOME MUCH MORE AWARE OF THINGS HAPPENING IN POLITICS.

WE ARE SEEING HOW IT AFFECTS US AND WE ARE REALIZING WE ARE A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT OFTEN GETS IGNORED AND THAT IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE ARE SUCH A BIG PART OF THE ELECTORATE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE EVEN MORE SOON THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.

IT IS FRUSTRATING TO SEE THAT WE ARE OFTEN BEING IGNORED BY CAMPAIGNS AND I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER THING MOTIVATING US TO GET INVOLVED.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE I KNOW WENT TO VOTE AND WAS ENCOURAGING OTHER PEOPLE TO VOTE WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE IN 2018.

IN 2020 AND 2022, IT HAS GOTTEN STRONGER.

JIM: DID THAT PLAY OUT NATIONALLY?

EMILY: WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE DATES ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS WHERE WE LOOK AT BATTLEGROUND STATES AND THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA AND AN INCREASE IN YOUNG ADULTS VOTING THERE.

WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT IT -- THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SURVEYS AND EXIT POLLS -- RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE EXIT POLLS WE ARE LOOKING AT.

WE WANT TO POSIT AND MAYBE WAIT UNTIL ALL THE ELECTION RESULTS COME OUT BEFORE WE MAKE A BROAD ASSUMPTION THAT IT WAS DUE TO YOUNG ADULTS.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN 2018, THERE WAS A RECORD LEVEL OF THE VOTING IN 2018 AND 2020.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS SLIGHTLY LESS OF A TURNOUT COMPARED TO 2018.

ONE THING THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME IS THAT OF THE GLOBE COVERED REGISTRATION RATES OF YOUNG ADULTS AND THEY SHOWED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022.

RHODE ISLAND HAS THE SECOND LARGEST DECLINE IN REGISTRATION RATES FOR YOUNG ADULTS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'’S OFFICE AND THEIR DATA, WHEN YOUNG ADULTS ARE REGISTERED, THEY TURN OUT.

THEY ARE AT HIGHER LEVELS OF TURNOUT AMONG GEN Z GENERATION VERSUS MILLENNIALS IN 2020.

JIM: BUT YOU HAVE TO BE REGISTERED TO TURN OUT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

IT SURPRISES ME.

>> THAT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE AMONG PEOPLE I KNOW, WAY MORE VOTED IN 2018 AND THEN IN 2022.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE WAY DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN RUNNING THINGS AS THE STATE LEVEL AND NATIONAL LEVEL.

JOE BIDEN RENT ON ALL OF THESE CAMPAIGN PROMISES LIKE CANCELING STUDENT DEBT AND THEY HAVE NOT REALLY FOLLOWED THROUGH.

THEY ARE NOT AS WILLING TO STAND UP TO REPUBLICANS.

I THINK A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND FEELING LIKE THEIR VOTE WOULD NOT MATTER IS WHAT IS LEADING TO THAT.

PEOPLE ARE LIKE, I VOTED BLUE IN 2020 AND NOTHING HAPPENED, SO WHAT IS THE POINT?

>> THAT IS CONCERNING FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHEN THEY ARE NOT DEVOTING, THERE IS STILL THE GAP OF TURNOUT AMONG YOUNGER GENERATIONS.

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHO ARE THEY GOING TO PAY MOST ATTENTION TO?

THOSE WHO GO OUT AND VOTE.

THEY ARE IGNORING ON ADULTS AND THE ISSUES OF STUDENT MONTHS.

STUDENTS IN MY CLASSES ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT EDUCATION.

NOT ONLY HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT K-12 EDUCATION.

I DID NOT SEE THAT AS A BIG TALKING POINT IN ELECTIONS.

JIM: HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> I THINK IT IS LARGELY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS MY GENERATION CARES ABOUT.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING TO GET EVERYTHING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND FIX WHAT WE HAVE CAUSED.

THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE.

JIM: IT IS INTERESTING WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT WHAT DID MY VOTE DO IN 2020.

NOW THAT PAST THE, CHANGE PACKAGE, SOME OF THIS IS INCREMENTAL.

I WONDER IF THAT FACTORED IN?

WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THIS YEAR IN CANDIDATES LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY?

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE ISSUES TOP FOR YOU?

>> I THINK ROE V. WADE HAD A HUGE EFFECT ON THE WAY PEOPLE -- SOMETHING PEOPLE LOOKED OUT FOR AS THEY WERE VOTING THIS YEAR.

I THINK WOMEN'’S RIGHTS AND ABORTION'’S RIGHTS AND ALL OF THAT WAS A HUGE THING FOR ME.

ALSO THE ECONOMY WAS HUGE FOR ME AS WELL.

I AM GRADUATING IN TWO YEARS, I WANT TO ABLE TO GET A JOB, I WANT THE ECONOMY TO BE IN A GOOD STATE.

THIS SEMESTER I MOVED INTO OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING.

I AM A FIRST TIME RENTER.

JIM: HOW IS THAT GOING?

HOW IS WRITING THAT CHECK EVERY MONTH?

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT IS THE THING, OUR ELECTRICITY BILL COMES IN AND WE SAY THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY.

I WOULD LIKE GAS TO NOT BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

JIM: ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL, BUT WOULD BE INFERRED AND RETROSPECT IS IT IS NOT ONLY ROE V. WADE, IT IS A GUN RIGHTS THINGS.

SOME PEOPLE SEE THE SUPREME COURT -- THE REPUBLICANS, IT WAS ABOUT FEDERAL JUDGES ENDED THEIR VERSION OF PACKING THE COURT, NOT LITERALLY.

I WONDER IF VOTERS LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID WE NEED A CHECK AND BALANCE BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT IS OUT OF STEP WITH A LOT OF AMERICANS OPINIONS -- A LOT OF AMERICANS'’ OPINIONS.

>> RIGHT, WE CAN LOOK AT THE DOCKET THIS YEAR AND SEE WHAT ARE THE KEY ISSUES.

IT IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN HIGHER ED, LGBTQ RIGHTS, ANTIDISCRIMINATION RIGHTS VERSUS FREE-SPEECH.

THERE IS ANOTHER CASE LOOKING AT REDISTRICTING AND THE EFFECT ON PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER CASE ON WETLANDS, WETLAND PROTECTION.

JIM: BIG STUFF.

>> YEAH, THESE ARE BIG ISSUES AND THEY COULD HAVE BIG CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT IS GOING TO BACK TO A JULIANA SAID ABOUT ABORTION, THAT IN THE NATIONAL POLLS WAS THE MAIN ISSUE FOR YOUNG ADULTS.

IF WE LOOK AT A BROADER SCALE OF WHAT THE POSTERS WERE FINDING OF THE MAIN ISSUES, THE THREE MAIN ISSUES WERE THE ECONOMY IN GENERAL, INFLATION, COST OF LIVING, DEMOCRACY -- IN STATE OF DEMOCRACY.

A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY.

ABORTION BEING THE THIRD MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE ELECTORATE.

WE HAVE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TRIED TO OWN EACH OF THESE ISSUES.

IT IS WORKING WITH THEIR VOTERS WITH WHO IS TRYING TO OWN WHAT IS GOING TO DO THE BEST WITH OUR ECONOMY.

WHO IS GOING TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY?

MARY: IN TERMS OF CAMPAIGN ADS, ONE OF THE THINGS I SAW WAS ABOUT ABORTION SPECIFICALLY AND TALKING ABOUT HOW EFFECT -- NOT PROTECT YOUR RIGHT TO GET AN ABORTION IF HE WAS ELECTED.

A LOT OF ALLAN FUNG ADS WERE ABOUT RAISING COST OF LIVING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE PLANS HE HAS.

WHILE COST OF LIVING IS DEFINITELY HIGH, MY RENT IS CRAZY.

I HAVE SINGLE FAIR PRICES GO UP, ELECTRIC BILL PRICES GO UP.

I THINK A LOT OF US WERE FORCED TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN TO BE TO HAVE THESE RIGHTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE BE PROTECTED OR DO WE WANT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHERE THAT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN AND OUR COST OF LIVING GO DOWN.

IT WAS A DIFFICULT CHOICE TO MAKE.

FROM TALKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE MY AGE OR STUDENTS I WORK WITH IN YOUR CLASS, ABORTION WAS THE TOP ISSUE.

JIM: NATIONALLY, 14%, ABORTION IS ABOVE -- UNIQUE THAT POINT ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IT GETS BACK TO OUR THOSE THE PEOPLE GOING TO THE POLLS.

EMILY: EXACTLY.

JIM: WHERE DOES SOCIAL MEDIA FIT IN?

JULIANA: SOCIAL MEDIA HAS DONE A LOT OF GOOD BUT I THINK IT HAS ALSO DONE A LOT OF HARM.

I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA POLARIZED EVERYTHING AND IT IS VERY HARD.

IT IS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

IF YOU LIKE ONE THING ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT IS ABOUT A REPUBLICAN, SOMETHING ABOUT RIGHTS REPUBLICANS VIEW, THE ALGORITHM PHYSICALLY WILL NOT LET YOU SEE ANYTHING ON THE OTHER SIDE.

JIM: IT IS MANIPULATION.

JULIANA: YES, IT IS WIRED TO NEVER SHOW YOU ANYTHING FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

PEOPLE HAVE BECOME POLARIZED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT SEE THE OTHER SIDE AND THEY PHYSICALLY CANNOT GET INTO CONVERSATIONS WITHOUT IT BEING VERY INTENSE.

I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA HAS PLAYED A LARGE ROLE INTO IT.

HOWEVER, I THINK MOST PEOPLE NOWADAYS TO GET THEIR NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

JIM: AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DIDN'’T KNOW IN YOUR CLASS, YOU SEE THOSE SURVEYS, THEY ARE EITHER GETTING NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA ARE WATCHING LATE-NIGHT COMEDY SHOWS?

NOT ALL OF US HERE ARE PLUGGED IN, BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON GOING TO CLASS AND MAYBE THEY HAVE A PART-TIME JOB AND DO ALL OF THAT, THAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GET IT WHICH IS KIND OF DEPRESSION.

EMILY: RIGHT.

I THINK THAT IS THE CONCERN OF ADULTS NOT GOING TO THEIR NEWSPAPERS, GOING TO TV, RADIO, THE TRADITIONAL NEWS SOURCES AND RELYING ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE THEY MAY NOT BE GETTING THE FULL STORY, JUST THE SOUND BITES, JUST THE HEADLINES.

THERE IS A CONCERN FOR MISINFORMATION.

JIM: THE ALGORITHM IS TELLING THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.

EMILY: EXACTLY.

JIM: YOU GREW UP IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, IT IS PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.

MARY: I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT MY LIFE WOULD BE LIKE WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AT THIS POINT, FOR BETTER OR WORSE.

I SEE A LOT OF NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE I FOLLOW LEGACY NEWS OUTLETS LIKE THE NEW YORK TIMES, LOCAL RHODE ISLAND NEWS SOURCES, SOURCES FROM A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REALLY LOOK FOR SOURCES THAT ARE NOT IN LINE WITH YOUR VIEWS.

YOU GET CAUGHT IN AN AGO CHAMBER.

WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE LATE-NIGHT SHOWS OR SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE ARE A LOT OF PAY WALLS AROUND PROMINENT REAL SOURCES THAT ARE NOT REALISTIC FOR STUDENTS TO PAY FOR.

REALLY GOOD NEWS IS BEHIND PAY WALLS.

SOME OF THE LINEN SHOWS DO A GOOD JOB REPORTING THANKS.

"LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER," HE IS VULGAR BUT HE DOES SOME IN-DEPTH REPORTING ABOUT IMPORTANT TOPICS.

BECAUSE IT IS SO FUNNY AND THE EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE, IT IS A THING A LOT OF PEOPLE MY AGE WATCH BECAUSE IT IS ACCESSIBLE.

IT IS FUNNY, IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE A TYPICAL NEW SHOW -- TYPICAL NEWS SHOW.

IT IS ATTRACTED TO YOUNGER VOTERS AND YOUNGER PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

EMILY: THERE IS POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH THAT SHOWS YOUNG ADULTS CAN LEARN THROUGH THESE LATE-NIGHT SHOWS, THEY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT POLITICS AND HAVE HIGHER LEVELS OF POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE.

THEY MAY BECOME MORE CYNICAL, THE.

-- WAS AN AGO, THOUGH.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: I WAS ON VACATION ONCE IN A SPOT WHERE I DID NOT GET CELL PHONE RECEPTION.

IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

I THOUGHT AS THE DISCUSSION GOES ON ABOUT TWITTER THIS WEEK, IN TWITTER GOES DOWN, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THE REPORTERS IN THE MARKET AND OTHERS, WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO HAVE TWITTER GO DOWN FOR FIVE DAYS?

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, RIGHT?

BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE, THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE WE GET THIS STUFF.

JULIANA: EXACTLY.

IT WOULD BE CHAOS.

JIM: I WONDER, EMILY, IF PEOPLE WERE JUST TIRED OF THE CHAOS.

THE RIGHT WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH CRAZINESS UNDER THE TRUMP YEARS AND COMING OUT.

I WONDER WHAT SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES LIKE THE PERSON RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN PENNSYLVANIA AND KARI LAKE -- SHE CAME WITHIN A HAIR.

SHE IS A BIG ELECTION DENIER.

YOU WONDER IF SOME OF VOTERS ARE JUST TIRED OF ALL OF THAT AND SAY LET'’S GET BACK TO NORMALITY.

EMILY: I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE TAKEAWAY OF THE LACK OF THE RED WAVE.

PEOPLE WERE PUSHED BACK AGAINST ELECTION DENIERS.

THOSE CANDIDATES SUPPORTED BY TRUMP OR WERE ELECTION DENIERS, A LOT OF THEM LOST.

THAT IS A KEY TAKE AWAY FROM THE ELECTION.

JIM: WE WERE LOOKING LOCALLY.

MATT BROWN PUT TOGETHER THE RHODE ISLAND POLITICAL COOPERATIVE WHICH DID NOT DO THAT WELL.

TO SUCCEED MICHAEL MCCAFFREY AS MAJORITY LEADER, THERE WERE ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRATS THAT BACK TO THE REPUBLICAN RATHER THAN THE PROGRESSIVE.

WHY DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

MARY: I FOUND THAT VERY FRUSTRATING.

I AM MORE OF A PROGRESSIVE MYSELF.

IF YOU ARE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, YOU SHOULD BACK THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

IT LOOKS BAD FOR YOU TO BACK THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

IT MAKES YOU WONDER, DO THEY CARE ABOUT ISSUES FOR THE DEMOCRAT IT -- FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENTS OR BODY JUST TRYING TO PUSH THEIR LEGISLATION THROUGH?

INPUTS OFF OF VOTERS AND IT HAS GOTTEN TO STING -- AND IT PUTS OFF VOTERS.

IT DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH ME THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS NOT BACKING THEIR OWN CANDIDATES.

IT IS UNKIND.

JIM: IT DOESN'’T SEEM RIGHT TO YOU?

SO ON CAMPUS, WHAT WAS THE GET OUT THE VOTE LIKE?

YOU HAVE VARIOUS LEVELS.

YOU HAVE STATE REP. DID THEY MAKE ANY EFFORT, THE CANDIDATES, TO A THE STUDENT POPULATION?

JULIANA: NOT REALLY.

THE CITY FORUM WAS AT URI SO THAT WAS SORT OF AN EFFORT TO CONNECT TO THE CAMPUS.

BUT I DID NOT SEE MUCH OF THAT.

I THINK MORE PEOPLE ACTUALLY IN TERMS OF HOW MANY STUDENTS VOTED , MOST REGISTERED TO VOTE AND SAKE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL ELECTIONS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN THIS ONGOING BATTLE WITH THE THREE-PERSON ORDINANCE AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE AT URI BECAUSE OF THAT.

WHAT I UNDERSTAND, OVER 400 STUDENTS REGISTERED TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD AGAINST THE RESIDENCE.

JIM: POLITICS IS LOCAL.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?

EMILY: I THINK HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

IT SHOULD BE A TOPIC THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE HANDLING STRAIGHT ON.

THIS HAPPENS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVEL.

IT NEEDS TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT.

IF YOU LOOK AT URI STUDENTS, IT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON THE LACK OF HOUSING AND THE KINGSTON AREA FOR THE YOUNG ADULTS.

IT IS HAPPENING IN PROVIDENCE AS WELL AS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBERS, COUNT COUNCILMEMBERS TRYING TO RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT CAN BE IN HOUSES.

THIS IS AN ISSUE AFFECTING EVERYONE.

PERHAPS THERE IS A BIPARTISAN WAY TO REACH AN AGREEMENT OR SOMEHOW COME UP WITH THE CONFERENCE OF PLAN AT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT LEVELS TO SUPPORT LOWER INCOME HOUSING.

JIM: COUPLED WITH STUDENT LOANS, IF YOU HAVE STUDENT LOANS AND YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO GET OUT AND FIND A PLACE TO LIVE, THEY USED TO SAY 25% OR 30% OF YOUR INCOME SHOULD GO TO HOUSING.

THAT IS GOING OUT OF THE WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE PRICES.

LEAVE IT OR NOT, THE SHOW IS MOVING ALONG.

WE WILL COME BACK TO SOME NATIONAL STUFF.

LET'’S START WITH AN AVERAGE OR A KUDO.

MARY, DID YOU BRING ONE?

JULIANA: IT IS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DOWNFALL OF TWITTER.

JIM: AN OUTREACH OR KUDO?

[LAUGHTER] MARY: IT IS AN OUTRAGE.

I HAVE A PROFESSIONAL ONE AND A PERSONAL ONE.

MY PERSONAL ONE, I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN DIFFERENT STATES, I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH CELEBRITIES, THAT TYPE OF THING.

ON MY PROFESSIONAL TWITTER, I FOLLOW LOCAL JOURNALISTS AND PEOPLE IN THE FIELD I WANT TO GET INTO.

I THINK LOSING TWITTER IS GOING TO BE A HUGE LOSS NOT ONLY FOR SOCIALIZING BUT FOR NEWS AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND FOR THE PURPOSES OF RESEARCH.

I SAW SOMETHING ON TWITTER ABOUT HOW IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO DO RESEARCH PAPERS OR RIGHT BOOKS ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THE LAST HOWEVER MANY YEARS SINCE TWITTER HAS BEEN ANYTHING IF TWITTER GOES DOWN.

THOSE THINGS WILL NOT BE AROUND.

JIM: JULIANA, WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

EMILY: -- JULIANA: I HAVE A KUDOS TO THE YOUNG VOTERS THAT GOT OUT IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE OR NOT.

SOME OF US ARE CAST TO BE ABLE TO VOTE AND A LOT OF US MADE OUR VOICES HEARD.

JIM: THAT IS A GOOD ONE.

EMILY: MY KUDOS IS THE SAME AS JULIANA'’S.

I AM REALLY EXCITED THAT STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN POLITICS.

WE HAD STUDENTS THAT ATTENDED THE FORUM AT URI.

WE HAVE STUDENTS HERE THAT ARE ENGAGED IN POLITICS.

I THINK THAT IS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE.

JIM: I HEARD THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXTRA CREDIT INVOLVED FROM PROFESSORS TO GIVE INCENTIVE?

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

YOU WERE ON THE PANEL FOR THE CD2.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE YOU BEING THERE WITH THE OLDER GUYS ASKING QUESTIONS?

JULIANA: IT WAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

I HAD NEVER DIPPED MY TOES INTO POLITICAL JOURNALISM BEFORE THAT.

IT WAS NERVE-RACKING AND I WAS DOING A LOT OF RESEARCHING AND ASKING AROUND TO MY FRIENDS TO SEE WHAT THEY CARED ABOUT THE MOST TO BASE MY QUESTIONS OFF OF WHAT A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WOULD CARE ABOUT.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING AND CRAZY EXPERIENCE.

JIM: I AM MAKING AN EXECUTIVE DECISION.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SO WE ARE GOING TO DO ANY ONLINE BONUS SEGMENT.

WE CALL IT "LIVELY EXTRA."

WE ARE GOING TO DO MORE ONLINE.

FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT JOIN US, EMILY, MARY, AND JULIANA, THE GIVER JOINING US.

GO TO RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY.

WE ARE INTO THE HOME STRETCH, WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK NEXT WEEK.

JOIN US ONLINE IF YOU CAN.

IF NOT, 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 -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.