JIM: THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, THE CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR FINAL PUSH WITH THE ELECTIONS A FEW DAYS AWAY.

THEN IT WILL BE THE VOTERS TURN TO SPEAK.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> I AM JOHN HAYES ANDW -- HAZ ENWHITE JUNIOR.

A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDES INSIGHT TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES FACING RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE GREAT PROGRAM AND REVISING -- REAL AND.

JIM: THE REPORTERS IN THE THICK OF THE CAMPAIGN FROM THE START.

JOINING US ON THE PANEL IS STATE HOUSE REPORTER PATRICK ANDERSON.

IAN DONNIS, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE PUBLIX RADIO, AND W PRI TARGET 12 INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER STEPH MACHADO.

WELCOME TO A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, I'M JIM HUMMEL.

THE CANDIDATES AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE MADE THEIR LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE BEFORE A STATEWIDE TELEVISION AUDIENCE THURSDAY WITH ASHLEY KAYLA'S ON THE DEFENSE OF THIS WEEK ABOUT CRUDE TEXT MESSAGES SHE SENT A CONTRACTOR WORKING ON HER HOME SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

SHE TRIED TO PUT THE FOCUS BACK ON DAN MCKEE QUESTIONING WHAT HE HAS REALLY DONE FOR RHODE ISLANDERS OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS.

PATRICK, YOU AND IAN HAVE GOTTEN A FRONT ROW VIEW FOR THIS AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT YOUR DEBATE IN A SECOND.

HERE WE ARE INTO THE HOME STRETCH AND I WONDER, THEY ARE TRYING TO TALK TO UNDECIDED VOTERS.

I WONDER HOW MANY ARE LEFT, WHEN THERE ARE DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

PATRICK: IT'S HARD TO KNOW.

I THINK MICKEY CAME INTO THIS RACE -- MCKEE CAME INTO THIS AND THE PANDEMIC BUT THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW HIS AND MICHAELA RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS.

MCKEE CAN BE THIN-SKINNED SOMETIMES.

HE HAS BEEN THIN-SKINNED WITH ME WHEN I ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, TONY SILVA, AND KAYLA'S HAS SAID SALTY THINGS AS PART OF A BUSINESS DISPUTE IN HER TIME IN ILLINOIS.

HOW THIS LANDS ON VOTERS IS HARD TO SAY AND IT PROBABLY TURNS OFF SOME WHO SEE IT AS POLITICS AS USUAL AND IF YOU REALLY WANT CHANGE AND YOU THINK RHODE ISLAND IS ON THE WRONG TRACK YOU WILL PROBABLY SUPPORT KAYLA'S.

IF YOU THINK THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT AND YOU THINK DEMOCRATS, YOU ARE A MCKEE SUPPORTER.

HOST: YOU AND IAN HOST OF THE DEBATE VERBOSE CD2 AND GOVERNORS RACE.

THEY ARE THE SAME TALKING POINTS AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET THOSE ACROSS.

WAS THERE ANY NEW NUANCE YOU HEARD?

IAN: NOT ON ISSUES AND NOT ON POLICY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT WAS HEAVY ON THE SAME TALKING POINTS, A LOT OF QUESTIONS WERE SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN ASKED OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

I THINK THE MAIN THING DIFFERENT IN YESTERDAY'S DEBATE, I THINK MCKEE WAS A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE AND AGGRESSIVE.

HE HAS BEEN FLAT-FOOTED IN SOME OF THE DEBATES AND HAS NOT LOOKED ENTIRELY PREPARED OR COMFORTABLE.

I THINK SHE CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD WITH HER AGGRESSIVENESS TOWARD THE START OF THE CAMPAIGN.

I THINK HE GOT PREPARED AND HAD MORE FRONT FOOTED IDEAS ON HIS MIND YESTERDAY THAN THE PREVIOUS DEBATES BUT I THINK BECAUSE WE ARE GOING OVER GROUND WE HAVE LARGELY GONE OVER BEFORE, I DO NOT THINK IT CHANGED THAT MUCH.

I THINK A LOT OF THE VOTE IS BAKED IN.

THEY HAVE BEEN EARLY VOTING ALREADY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY MADE UP THEIR MINDS BY THIS POINT.

AT LEAST I THINK MAYBE GAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE QUESTIONING SOME OF THE RECENT PERFORMANCES BY THE GOVERNOR MAY BE REASSURANCE HE IS NOT CRATERING OR ANYTHING.

STEPH: IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH SINCE THE LAST POLL IN THE RACE SO IT IS HARD TO KNOW HOW MANY UNDECIDED VOTERS THERE ARE AND HOW MANY FROM THAT OCTOBER POLL ARE STILL DECIDING WHO TO VOTE FOR NOW.

AS IAN MENTIONED, THERE HAS BEEN HEADLINES THIS WEEK ABOUT VULGAR LANGUAGE FROM MISS KAYLA'S, THE GOVERNOR DID A NEWSWORTHY PODCAST WHERE HE SEEMED TO COME THE QUESTION GOT UNDER HIS SKIN ABOUT THE FBI INVESTIGATION, THE ISLA CONTRACT, AND THE REICH ESCORTS.

WHETHER THERE WERE UNDECIDED VOTERS THAT SAY I WILL PICK ONE OF THE THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES -- THERE ARE THREE OTHER CANDIDATES ON THE BALLET, PEOPLE MIGHT BE GOING FOR THEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING BUT HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE FINAL RESULTS IN THE RACE WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.

JIM: GET OUT TO VOTE IS IMPORTANT TOO.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE CD2 RACE AND A SECOND.

THE GOVERNOR'S RUN STATEWIDE RUN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND HE HAS THE LARGE UNION BACKING, NOT ALL OF THEM.

WHAT WORLD IS THAT PLAY AS OPPOSED TO AN OUTSIDER.

WE TALK ABOUT ASHLEY KAYLA'S BEING AN OUTSIDER -- KALUS BEING AN OUTSIDER.

PATRICK: I THINK THEY GET UP TO VOTE IS MORE DEVELOPED FOR DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A REPUBLICAN WHEN THE GOVERNOR RACE SINCE 2006.

I THINK THAT MAKES IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR A REPUBLICAN.

IT HELPS THAT KALUS HAS A LOT OF MONEY AND PUT CLOSE TO $5 MILLION IN HER CAMPAIGN AND MONEY CAN HELP SUPPORT THE GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT.

MCKEE DOES HAVE A LOT OF UNION SUPPORT.

THERE'S UNION APPARATUS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO SUPPORT DAVE ELECTION EFFORTS AND MAIL BALLOTS.

STEPH: I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TURN ONTO PROVIDENCE.

THEY DON'T HAVE A MAYORAL RACE BECAUSE BRETT SMILEY IS UNOPPOSED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE EARLY VOTE NUMBERS, PROVIDENCE IS COMING IN THIRD BEHIND WARWICK AND ABLE TO TURN UP TO VOTE IN BE PROVIDENCE WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR DEMOCRATS HOPES FOR THE ELECTION -- JIM: IF IT IS A CLOSE RACE.

STEPH: A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CARS SO THE FACT THERE ON EARLY VOTING, PEOPLE MAY BE WAITING TO GO TO THEIR POLLING PLACE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD RATHER THAN DOWNTOWN.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.

IAN: THERE'S ALSO THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE CD2 RACE AND I THINK THAT PLACING WARREN, CRANSTON, AND EARLY VOTING NUMBERS HIGHER IN CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE CD2 RACE PLAYS WITH THE GOVERNORS RACE, WHETHER THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHETHER THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE GROUND GAME THE DEMOCRATS HAVE CAN HELP SETH MAGAZINER AND WHETHER THAT IS AN ADVANTAGE THAT MIGHT SHOW UP AND GIVE HIM A SHOT, EVEN THOUGH -- HE HAS A SHOT DEFINITELY BUT WHETHER THAT CAN BRING THIS BACK TO WHERE WE THINK FUNG HAS HAD A LEAD OVER MOST THE CAMPAIGN.

JIM: I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY.

AS I WAS WATCHING YESTERDAY, ASHLEY KALUS TALKED ABOUT FAMILIES STRUGGLING AND I REMEMBER STRUGGLING AND SHE PUT ALMOST $4 MILLION OF HER OWN MONEY IN.

IT IS THE OLD WHAT IS THE GALLON OF MILK COSTS?

I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR AT SOME POINT MAY HAVE WANTED TO SAY MS. KALUS, YOU TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLES THAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH BUT YOU ARE A MULTIMILLIONAIRE NOW.

IAN: THAT IS A FAIR POINT.

I THING WE KEYS CAMPAIGN HAD FAIRLY EFFECTIVE ADS, 120 TO HOW KALUS NOT FROM RHODE ISLAND, USING SOME RHODE ISLAND ACCENT.

THAT IS PROBABLY A PRETTY EFFECTIVE AT AND YOU ARE RIGHT, KALUS IS NOT GOING TO BE IN THE FOODSTAMP LINE ANYTIME SOON.

SHE HAS RESPONDED BY POINTING TO THE HALF EMPTY GLASS ARGUMENT ABOUT THE DOWNSIDE OF RHODE ISLAND.

THERE IS FAIR CRITICISM TO BE MADE OF A LOT OF THINGS.

VOTERS WILL HAVE THEIR SAY.

JIM: THE GOVERNOR MADE NEWS LAST NIGHT AND YOU BROKE THE NEWS OVERNIGHT, ALL OF THE SOUND AND FURY ABOUT THE RIGHT COW SCORES AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A BIG NOTHING BURGER.

STEPH: THEY DID ULTIMATELY RELEASE THE REICH HAS SCORES THIS MORNING.

THEY SHOW STUDENTS DID BETTER IN MATH THAN LAST YEAR, WORSE IN ENGLISH, BUT BOTH SUSPECTS PROFICIENCY IS DOWN FROM PRE-PANDEMIC.

THIS BECAME THIS WEEK-LONG CONTROVERSY DURING THE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WASN'T GONNA COME OUT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION AND WE RECEIVED A VARYING LIST OF EXPLANATIONS AND THOSE CHANGED THROUGHOUT INTO A POLITICAL ATTACK FOR ASHLEY KALUS WHO ACCUSE GOVERNOR MCKEE OF HOLDING THIS COURSE HOSTAGE IS OUR WORDS UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION.

HE MENTIONED AT THE DEBATE THE SCORES WERE READY AND THEY WERE IMMINENTLY GOING TO BE RELEASED.

PATRICK: WHICH IS GREAT.

I THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE REICH ESCORTS AND OTHER DATA RELEASED IN DEBATE.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: ALWAYS LOVE THAT, LET'S MAKE SOME NEWS HERE.

IT'S NO SECRET, THEY TOLD THE EDUCATION REPORTERS -- AND THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, POLITICAL REESE'S -- RELEASES WHATEVER THEY ARE, EMBARGO.

I'M SURE HE WHEN YOU ARE WATCHING THE DEBATE YOU ARE HEARING THE GOVERNOR AND YOU ARE THINKING IT IS COMING SOON.

STEPH: HE MENTIONED MATH WAS UP IN ENGLISH WAS DOWN BUT DID NOT MENTION UP FROM WHAT?

THEY WERE UP FROM LAST YEAR MATH, OF FROM LAST YEAR BUT NOT STASH JIM: IT'S LIKE 27% EFFICIENCY.

STEPH: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT UP AND DOWN ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC WILL STUDENTS ARE DOING MATH AT GRADE LEVEL AND LESS THAN ONE THIRD OF STUDENTS IN THREE THROUGH EIGHT ARE READING AND WRITING AND GRADE LEVEL.

JIM: DID THE GOVERNOR BOX HIMSELF IN BY SAYING WHAT WE KNOW HE COULD HAVE CALLED AND PROBABLY DID AT SOME POINT THE COMMISSIONER AND SAY WE REALLY NEED TO GET THESE THINGS OUT OR DID HE POCKET HIMSELF AND SAYING THERE IS A WALL BETWEEN US AND THE OFFICE AND I DO NOT WANT TO PUSH THEM INTO WHATEVER?

IT SEEMS, ONCE HE LOCKED INTO THAT POSITION, HE COULD NOT MAKE THAT PHONE CALL TO SAY LET'S GET A GOING.

>> THAT WORKS BOTH WAYS.

IF IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RELEASE THE SCORES IN A TIMELY MANNER YOU HAVE TO QUESTION HIS LEADERSHIP IN GETTING THAT TO A FUNCTIONAL STATE.

HE IS THE LANG AFTER THE ELECTION EDDIES INTERFERING POLITICALLY.

AT ONE POINT TO BECOME SOMETHING WHERE HE COULD NOT QUITE WIN AND YOU WONDER IS NO ONE REALLY -- NO ONE REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS BEING DONE TO THE SCORES THAT THEY COULD NOT BE RELEASED.

IT WAS NOT LIKE THEY WERE BUILDING A BRIDGE OR SOMETHING.

JIM: THE PRINCIPAL SAID THEY HAD GOTTEN THEM, RIGHT?

STEPH: YEAH, AND REICH GETS HER RAW DATA FILE THAT THEY HAVE TO -- RICAS GETS A RAW DATA FILE AND THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT -- THERE IS DATA CRUNCHING THAT HE'S TO HAPPEN.

BUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY NEED TWO MONTHS TO DO THE WORK WAS IN QUESTION.

THE ARGUMENT THEY FINALLY LANDED ON, THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS GIVEN AS TO WHY THE SCORES COULD NOT COME OUT UNTIL MID NOVEMBER, BUT THEY ULTIMATELY LAND ON THIS ARGUMENT THAT IT TOOK 60 DAYS LAST YEAR FROM DATE OF RECEIPT TO RELEASE SO IT WILL TAKE 60 DAYS THIS YEAR.

THEY'VE MANAGED TO GET THEM OUT IN 50 DAYS SO THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT FASTER AMID PRESSURE TO GET THE SCORES ARE BEFORE THE ELECTION AND WE ARE TAPING THIS FRIDAY MORNING, I HAVE ASKED WHETHER THEY GOT A NEW DATA -- HOW THEY MANAGED TO GET THE SCORES OUT EARLIER THAN THE TIMELINE.

JIM: THEY GOT ONE GUY THAT CALLED IN SICK A COUPLE DAYS SO THAT PUSH US BACK.

STEPH: THEY INSISTED THIS WOULD TAKE TO MID-NOVEMBER SO WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK ON WHY THEY WERE ABLE TO SUDDENLY GET THEM OUT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

JIM: LET'S TALK ABOUT CD2, THE OTHER BIG RACE, LAST DEBATE FOR CLOCK BETWEEN FUNG AND MAGAZINER.

SAME TALKING POINTS.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING THEY COME HOME AS WE LIKE TO SAY.

ALLAN FUNG IS STRONG IN CD2.

>> THE OUTCOME OF THIS WILL BE FASCINATING.

I THINK POLLS INDICATED A SLIGHT EDGE FOR FUNG.

MAGAZINER TWEAKED HIS MESSAGE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, NOT SURPRISINGLY TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY.

IT SEEMED ODD FOR A LONG TIME EVERY POLL SHOWING COST-OF-LIVING AS BEING TOP OF MIND FOR MOST VOTERS AND HE WAS FOCUSED ON OTHER ISSUES BUT NOW HE IS MAKING A POPULIST ARGUMENT ABOUT THE HUGE PROFITS BEING MADE BY OIL COMPANIES, THAT IS HIS COUNTERPART ARGUMENT TO FUNG'S FOCUS ON THE COST-OF-LIVING.

IT WILL BE FASCINATING.

JIM: YOU GUYS DID THAT DEBATE JUST ONCE AND I WAS LISTENING TO THIS YESTERDAY.

JEAN VAL ASANTE -- YOU ARE TRYING TO ASK YES OR NO QUESTIONS -- I KNOW POLITICIANS DO THIS AND THEY PAY THAT, I WANTED TO SLAP THEM TO THE TV.

THEY WOULD ASK A DIRECT QUESTION AND SETH MAGAZINER WAS SAY THIS IS WHY.

THAT IS HALF THE BATTLE ON KEEPING THEM FOCUSED.

YOU WILL SAY WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE TODAY AND THEY WILL SAY THE MOON WAS FULL LAST WEEK.

>> OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS CAN BE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM ENTREE TO GO ONTO THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENT FOR EVERY QUESTION.

THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEIR TALKING POINTS AT THIS POINT SO WELL HONED THAT THEY CAN TURN AROUND A SIMPLE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT TIME OF DAY IT IS AND LAUNCH INTO THEIR SPIEL.

I DO NOT THINK -- LIKE THE GOVERNORS DEBATE YESTERDAY, I THINK IN CD2, THERE WAS NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF NEW GROUND COVERED.

IT WAS SIMILAR -- I THOUGHT MAGAZINER WAS AGAIN A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN HE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, WHICH MAY REFLECT A LITTLE BIT HE HAS BEEN TRAILING IN THE POLLS OR HE IS FINDING HIS FEET EVEN MORE.

HE WAS DEFINITELY ON THE ATTACK AND HAD DECENT DEBATE.

WHETHER THAT WILL CHANGE THINGS AT ALL AT THIS POINT I DO NOT KNOW BUT HE HAS AT LEAST GIVEN IT A GOOD GO.

STEPH: I THINK THE QUESTION I HAVE IS YOU MENTIONED WILL THE DEMOCRATS COME HOME?

HOW MANY VOTERS REALLY VOTE STRATEGICALLY?

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRATS OR LEFT-LEANING INDEPENDENTS WHO LIKE ALLAN FUNG BETTER THAN SETH MAGAZINER, WILL THEY MAKE THAT STRATEGIC CHOICE OF I DON'T WANT REPUBLICANS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE I VOTE FOR SETH MAGAZINER INSTEAD OF THE GUY I LIKE BEST.

THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT STILL REMAINS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A MONTH OR SO SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE PUBLIC POLLING AND THE RACE.

NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS WERE GOING FOR ALLAN FUNG.

MAGAZINER'S CAMPAIGN SAYS THE RACE TIGHTENING ANY THINK HE IS BRINGING DEMOCRATS BACK INTO HIS CAMP AS THEY TUNE INTO THE RACE AND WAKE UP TO THE IDEA THAT REPUBLICANS ARE IN A POSITION TO TAKE OVER THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE USE TO THE RIGHT OF ALLAN FUNG.

JIM: DOESN'T IT COME DOWN IF HE CAN TAKE RANSON AND WARWICK, THAT SETS HIM UP WELL, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES.

FUNG HAS BEEN RELENTLESSLY ON MESSAGE AS PATRICK SAID AND HE, DESPITE MAGAZINER'S ATTEMPTS TO ASSOCIATE HIM WITH THE REPUBLICAN FACTION IN CONGRESS, HIS PERSONA AS THE FORMER MAYOR COMBINED WITH INFLATION HAS PUT HIM WHERE HE IS IN THIS RACE.

THERE IS ONE POLL THAT SHOWED ABOUT 25% OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORTING FUNG AND IF HE IS -- IF MAGAZINER WILL HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT WINNING, HE HAS GOT HAVE PULLED BACK FOR THE VOTERS.

JIM: IF YOU ARE TUNING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY, WE WATCH THESE THINGS AS THE REPORTERS USED TO SAY WHEN THEY WERE COVERING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, THEY COULD GIVE EACH OTHER A SPEECH ON THE CANDIDATE COULD PROBABLY GIVE EACH OTHER SPEECH.

IF YOU ARE TUNING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WATCHING THE DODGING AND WEAVING AND PIVOTING, DOES THAT IRK YOU?

I KNOW IT IS A CRYSTAL BALL QUESTION BUT IF I'M TUNING IN AND I'M LIKE THESE GUYS ARE NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.

>> LESS THAN IT PROBABLY ARCS US.

[LAUGHTER] THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY TESTED THIS STUFF, THIS IS STUFF THAT COMES DOWN FOR THE NATIONAL LEVEL, ESPECIALLY THESE CAMPAIGNS ARE RUN TO SOME EXTENT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

THESE ARE NOT JUST THE KIND OF RHODE ISLAND OLD STAPLES AND FOLK WISDOM USED TO TEST THESE THINGS.

ONE OTHER THING I THOUGHT THAT IAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING -- WE WILL NEVER FIND OUT BUT HOW FUNG WOULD HAVE DONE IF HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR A THIRD TIME IN THESE CONDITIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING BETWEEN MCKEE AND KALUS, LOOK AT THE CD2 RACE, IT IS A MORE FAVORABLE CLIMATE FOR REPUBLICANS ARE NOW.

THIS IS THE YEAR TO RUN AS A REPUBLICAN IN RHODE ISLAND.

MAYBE HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT STATEWIDE AND AGAINST MCKEE.

WE WILL NEVER KNOW BUT INTERESTING QUESTION.

I DON'T JIM: JIM: THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A NASTY ERASE -- JIM: I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AS NASTY ERASE.

POLITICS GET UGLY I SOMETIMES BUT THEY'RE ON A FIRST NAME BASIS SO YOU NEVER KNOW.

WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO, THE GOVERNOR, TO CLOSE IT OUT THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS?

IAN: AS WE SAID WITH THE ABSENCE OF A COMPETITIVE MAYORAL RACE, YOU HAVE TO GET THE VOTE OUT IN PROVIDENCE, MCKEES RACE IS THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY, MCKEES -- THAT WAS A KEY SUPPORT FOR HIM IN THE PRIMARY WHERE HE HAD A NARROW VICTORY OVER HELENA FOLKS.

IF FOLKS IS HAVING BUYERS -- SHE HAD RUN A SKIN TILDE OF THE ADVERTISING THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY ASHLEY KALUS, THE OUTCOME OF THAT RACE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

BUT HE HAS GOT TO GET HIS VOTERS OUT.

I THINK HE HAS RUN A ROBUST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN TO GET HIS MESSAGE HOME ON ISSUES LIKE ABORTION AND RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT KALUS' BACKGROUND AND TIES TO RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: I KNOW THEY DO THE MOCK DEBATES AND HAVE ALL OF THE STAFFERS IN THERE.

I WOULD LOVE TO PULL ALL OF US IN THERE AND SAY WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE WE GOTTA SAY -- YOU ARE NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION, DON'T HAVE IT.

IT DOES NOISE HAPPEN THAT WAY IN A DEBATE.

A COUPLE DOWN BALLOT ISSUES, THE TREASURER, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I DO NOT KNOW -- JAMES DIO SO RUNNING AGAINST JAMES LATHROP AND THE CHARGER IS RACE.

LATHROP PICKED UP A COUPLE ENDORSEMENTS, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WILL BRIDGE THE GAP.

YOU WONDER WHAT LATHROP'S CHANCES WILL BE IN THE GENERAL.

PATRICK: I THINK HE IS STILL THE UNDERDOG AND IT FEELS LIKE, WHAT THE SENTIMENT IS OUT THERE THAT FOR REPUBLICANS, LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS RACE MIGHT BE A BETTER SHOT.

THAT IS FAIR AND KOOKY SABINA BADOSA.

THERE HAS MONEY FROM THE OUTSIDE GOING IN TO HELP THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SO -- WHICH ALSO GIVES YOU A SENSE MAYBE THEY THINK THEY CAN TAKE THAT ONE.

THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE OF THE DOWN BALLOT WANT EVEN THOUGH TREASURER HAS BEEN THE HOTTER CAMPAIGN FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

I THINK DIOSA ISN'T IN A GOOD IT IS NOT A SURE THING BUT I THINK HE WOULD BE THE FAVOR FOR TREASURER.

JIM: I WAS SURPRISED HOW MUCH GOOFY IN HAD SPENT.

IAN: I WAS PRIZED ALSO.

SOMETIMES ARE PUBLIC AND CANDIDATES ARE CHALLENGES FIRES FUNDING.

I THINK THE LIEUTENANT RACE IS ONE TO WATCH.

HE MIGHT NOT BE HAS KNOWN AS THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE A CONFEDERATE OF -- A COMPETITIVE RACE.

IT LATHROP HAS NOT GOTTEN HIS NAME AND MESSAGE OUT TO THE SAME DEGREE AS HIS OPPONENT.

JIM:JIM: STELLA'S ABOUT PROVIDENCE.

BRETT SMILEY WILL BE THE MAYOR ELECT BUT A LOT OF CHANGES WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

STEPH: EXACTLY.

A BRAND-NEW CITY COUNCIL, MOSTLY DECIDED IN THE PRIMARY.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS -- HAS BEEN 15 DEMOCRATS FOR A LONG TIME AT THIS POINT BUT THERE ARE A FEW GENERAL ELECTION RACES THAT ARE STILL YET TO BE DECIDED BUT BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS AND CITY COUNCILORS WHO DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT HALF THE COUNCIL AS BRAND-NEW MEMBERS SO IT IS REALLY CHANGING THE MAKEUP OF THE COUNCIL, BOTH IN TERMS OF GENDER DIVERSITY, RACIAL DIVERSITY, THERE WILL BE A NEW COUNCIL PRESIDENT, RACHEL MILLER, WHO HAS AMASSED 11 OUT OF THE 15 DEMOCRAT NOMINEES PLEDGING TO VOTE FOR HER FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

OFFICIAL VOTE IS NOT UNTIL JANUARY, CAVIAR CABBIE OUT.

I SPOKE TO HER ON MY SHOW THIS WEEK AND SHE IS A PROGRESSIVE.

SHE CAME UP IN PROGRESSIVE POLITICS BUT SHE IS ALSO MANAGED TO WORK WITH MODERATES LIKE JOHNNY LEO Z.

SHE SAYS SHE IS A PREGNANT -- PRAGMATIC PERSON.

SHE GOT JIM TAYLOR ON HER TEAM WHO WAS JOHN'S MAJORITY LEADER.

JIM: AND SMILEY IS A MORE -- STEPH: SMILEY IS A LITTLE MORE -- JIM: MODERATE.

STEPH: THEY ARE ALL LIBERAL DEMOCRATS BUT HE IS MORE MODERATE THAN MILLER I WOULD SAY AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE TWO OF THEM WERE TOGETHER, HOW THE NEW COUNCIL WORKS WITH SMILEY, IF THEY DISAGREE WITH A FUNG COMPROMISE OR WILL THEY BE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER AND ISSUING VETOES AND ALL OF THAT?

PATRICK: THEY GOT A DO EVERYTHING NOW BEFORE THE NEW REGIME TAKES HOLD.

HOST: PROVIDENCE PLACE MALL TAX TREATY WAS PROPOSED AT THE LAST MINUTE.

THIS IS A TAX DEAL THAT DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL 2028 AND THE MALL IS PROPOSING PLEASE GIVE US 20 MORE YEARS OF MULTIMILLION DOLLAR TAX BREAKS.

JIM: IT SOUND LIKE THE TWIN RIVER DEAL, DOESN'T IT?

STEPH: I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS WILL GET THROUGH BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL TAKES OVER BECAUSE -- ALREADY SAID -- HE HAS NOT ISSUED A VETO THREAT BUT SAYS SHOULD BE THE NEXT MAYOR.

I DO NOT THINK IT IS THE LAST HEARING NEXT WEEK.

JIM: WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OFF OF THE COUNCIL.

THAT CUTS BOTH WAYS BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND AND SEEN THINGS GOING ON.

FRESH IS NICE BUT ALSO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.

IAN: THAT'S THE DOWNSIDE OF TERM LIMITS.

WE REMEMBER THE LATE SENATE FINANCE CHAIRMAN MICHAEL LENIHAN WAS A GREAT BASTION OF KNOWLEDGE, A LONGTIME LEGISLATOR.

PEOPLE WOULD SAY HE WAS IN IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

IF YOU HAD TERM LIMITS, SOMEONE LIKE HIM WOUD HAVE HAD A SHORT TENURE.

STEPH DOES A GREAT JOB OUTLINING THE DRAMATIC CHANGES OF THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL THAT HAVE BEEN FORCED BY TERM LIMITS BUT AT THAT SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO NOTE HOW THE CHALLENGES OF PROVIDENCE COULD REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR 30 TO 40 YEARS.

THE UNDERFUNDED PENSION, LACK OF REVENUE AND WHETHER THIS NEW CROP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL HAVE MORE SUCCESS IN ADDRESSING THAT, WE WILL SEE.

STEPH: SOMETHING INTERESTING, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME TERM LIMITS TAKE EFFECT IN PROVIDENCE.

WE WOULD HAVE EVEN MORE COUNSELORS TURNING OVER TO TERM LIMITS.

BECAUSE TERMS ARE PRETTY LONG, FOUR YEARS, NOT EVERYONE LAST THE WHOLE FOUR YEARS.

SABINO MOTTOS LEFT TO BE LIT 70 GOVERNOR -- LEFT TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

ANOTHER GOT CONVICTED OF A FELONY.

THERE WERE MORE REPLACED AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND THOSE WERE NOT TERM LIMITED.

JIM: PEOPLE AGAINST THE TERM LIMITED WILL SAY THAT AS THE VOTERS, THE VOTERS HAD TO SAY.

BEFORE WE GET TO OUTRAGES, THE OTHER THING ON THE BALLOT WHEN PEOPLE WENT TO EARLY VOTE, YOU SEE THE BOND ISSUES AND THEN YOU SEE THE CANVAS QUESTION.

STEPH: 31 CITIES AND TOWNS VOTERS ARE BEING ASKED WHETHER TO APPROVE OR REJECT CANNABIS BUSINESSES.

I THINK THE POTSHOTS, RETAIL STORES ARE WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT HERE.

IT IS NOT THE BIG CITIES OR PROVIDENCE, CRANSTON, THEY WILL ALLOW THE STORES BUT YOU MAY SEE THE QUESTION ON YOUR BALLOT AND I HAVE A BREAKDOWN ON WPRI.COM ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS.

JIM: THE OTHER THING THAT STRUCK ME AS I LOOKED AT MY BALLOT AND SAW THE BOND ISSUES AND I WILL ADMIT STRAIGHT UP I HAVE VOTED FOR VERY FEW BOND ISSUES OVER THE YEARS REGARDLESS OF HOW GREAT THEY ARE BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE TOO MUCH IN DEBT.

I WONDER AS PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT WITH $1 BILLION OF MONEY AND A $1 MILLION SURPLUS, WHETHER THEY LOOK AT THAT AND SAY WHY ARE WE BORROWING AND PAYING INTEREST ON THIS, THIS, AND THIS EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE A GREAT THING TO DO?

PATRICK: SOME WELL AND I THINK THIS YEAR AND CLIMATE MAY THE YEAR WHERE YOU SEE SOME VOTED DOWN.

HOWEVER, USUALLY THEY ARE VOTED -- USUALLY THEY PASS.

JIM: OVERWHELMINGLY.

PATRICK: YES.

I WOULD NOT ASK FOR MANY OF THEM TO HAVE IT.

JIM: US TO OUTRAGES OR KUDOS.

IAN: IT IS HARD TO DESCRIBE OR DONNA AS A BASTION OF NORMALITY BUT WE ARE INSULATED TO SOME DEGREE FROM THE SELECTION TO NIHILISM MOVEMENT THAT IS AFOOT IN LARGE PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CANDIDATES, REPUBLICANS, WHO ARE ELECTION DENIERS AND LIKE THE OLD SAYING, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR OWN OPINION BUT NOT YOUR OWN FACTS.

THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAVE CANDIDATES RUNNING WHO SAY THEY WILL NOT AGREE TO THE OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION UNLESS THEY WIN.

JIM: YOU ALSO FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL AND THAT, DIDN'T YOU?

PATRICK: THAT'S RIGHT.

I HAD -- IAN: THAT'S RIGHT.

I LOOKED AT ELECTION DENIERS WHO CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $100,000 OF ALLEN'S PHONE.

MILLIONS BEING SPENT FOR BOTH FUNG AND MAGAZINER BY THEMSELVES, BY INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE GROUPS, AND FUNG STAYS ON MESSAGE AND -- MESSAGE ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

HE RECEIVED CAMPAIGN SUPPORT FROM KEVIN MCCARTHY AND STEVE SCALISE WHO VOTED AGAINST CERTIFYING THE ELECTION OF BIDEN IN 2020.

JIM: PATRICK?

PATRICK: THE COUNTRY REMAINS MORE POLARIZED THAN EVER ON DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.

[LAUGHTER] MY OUTRAGES IT IS COMING UP ON SUNDAY AND I HAVE MY PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT WHETHER STANDARD TIME OR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME IS BETTER OR WORSE BUT EITHER WAY, IF WE COULD JUST COME TOGETHER AND CHOOSE ONE OF THE OTHER.

JIM: BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.

[LAUGHTER] PATRICK: I'M FINE WITH EITHER.

FOR MORNING PEOPLE WHO LIKE STANDARD TIME AND MORE NIGHT PEOPLE WHO LIKE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, JUST PICK ONE.

THE PROBLEM IS CHANGING THE CLOCKS TWICE, IT IS UNNECESSARY, LET'S STICK WITH ONE AND GO WITH IT.

JIM: YOU KNOW FROM HAVING YOUNG KIDS, YOU DON'T GET THAT EXTRA HOUR BECAUSE THEY UP.

PATRICK: THAT'S THE WORST PART.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE KID, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CLOCK IS.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: I LOVE PATRICK IS THE ULTIMATE REPORTER.

I WILL NOT SAY WHICH ONE I LIKE -- [LAUGHTER] BUT PICK ONE AND STAY IN YOUR LANE.

YOU GET THE LAST MINUTE.

STEPH: I HAVE A KUDOS TO ED FITZPATRICK FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE, JUST AN UNFLAPPABLE INTERVIEW THAT HE DID WITH GOVERNOR MCKEE THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER.

MCKEE WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT HIS QUESTIONS AND IN THE PODCAST INTERVIEW HE AIRED IN FULL, ED WAS JUST THE CONSUMMATE REPORTER, HAD THIS GREAT LINE WHERE HE SAID YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE QUESTIONS BUT YOU CAN CONTROL THE ANSWERS, GOVERNOR.

JIM: THAT WAS A GOOD LINE.

STEPH: IT WAS.

JIM: WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THAT CHAIR.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH, HE MADE IT SOUND LIKE WE WOULD PLAY CARDS BUT I WILL KNOCK YOU QUESTIONS.

STEPH: HE SAID I THOUGHT THIS WAS A POSITIVE PEACE AND HAD SAID THIS IS NOT A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE PIECE.

AS JOURNALISTS WE DON'T GO TO POLITICIANS AND SAY -- TELL THEM -- JIM: I WILL NOT TELL YOU WHETHER IT IS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS.

IT IS A QUICK 30 MINUTES.

IAN, STEPH, PATRICK, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE ARE GLAD THE ELECTION WILL BE OVER.

[LAUGHTER] EVERYBODY.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL HAVE A FULL ANALYSIS, ALL OF THE RESULTS WILL BE IN.

HOPEFULLY RESULTS WILL BE IN.

LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

COME BACK AND WE WILL HAVE A FULL ANALYSIS.

IF YOU CANNOT JOIN US FRIDAY AT 7:00 OR SUNDAY AT NOON, CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR PBS -- RIPBS.ORG/LIGHTLY.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK WHEN A LIVELY SPARE MAN CONTINUES.

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

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> I AM JOHN HAZENWHITE JUNIOR.

FOR 30 YEARS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES