>> THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT."

IT IS OUR ANNUAL LOOK BACK AT THE YEAR THAT WAS.

OUR PANEL OFFERS UP ITS THOUGHTS ON THE HIGHS, THE LOWS, AND THOSE ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND MOMENTS.

SOME PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENDERLESS -- GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> WE HAVE PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

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

>> JOINING US AS THEY DO EVERY YEAR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT AND FORMER TELEVISION NEWS ANCHOR DAVE LEHMAN.

MARIE MOSTLY RETIRED POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND.

AND AND DONIS, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE PUBLIX RADIO AREA HELLO, EVERYONE.

I AM JIM HUMMEL.

I'’LL COME TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR.

IT WAS ANOTHER PACKED HERE FOR NEWS IN RHODE ISLAND AND WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER THIS WEEK YOU MAY NOTICE WE ARE MISSING ONE OF OUR REGULARS.

WENDY SCHILLER IS TRAVELING, AND SIGN THAT THE PANDEMIC IS LARGELY IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

BEFORE SHE LEFT, WE GOT HER PREDICTION FOR NEXT YEAR AND WE WILL PLAY THAT FOR YOU LATER.

WELCOME, PANEL.

HERE WE ARE.

AS THE YEARS GO BY MORE QUICKLY.

IT IS OUR USUAL TOPICS.

LET'’S START WITH TOP LOCAL STORY.

>> I SAID THE TOP LOCAL STORY WAS THE NOVEMBER ELECTION AND THE FACT THAT THERE WERE MORE LOSSES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

THE RACES FOR CONGRESS AND THE LEGISLATURE REALLY REINFORCED THE BLUENESS OF THE STATE.

THE PROGRESSIVES SLIPPED A LITTLE.

IT CHANGED THE PICTURE A LITTLE.

CERTAINLY, WE ARE BLUER THAN BLUE.

I THINK THAT IS MY TOP STORY.

JIM: WERE YOU SURPRISED OF THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT DO BETTER?

>> I DID.

I THOUGHT THEY WOULD.

THERE WAS ALL OF THIS PLAY ABOUT THAT, EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THAT.

BUT I THINK IT WAS SURPRISING THAT IT FELL SO WELL FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

JIM: KEYAN, WHAT IS YOUR TOP LOCAL STORY?

IAN: THE POLITICAL SUCCESS OF DAN MCKEE.

BACK IN 2018, HE WON A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR LIEUTENANT BY 7000 VOTES.

THIS YEAR, HE WAS LUCKY IN HOW ONE OF HIS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RIVALS, HELENA FOLKS, DID NOT RUN A VERY AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN.

HAD SHE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE, SHE WAS GAINING SUPPORT IN THE RUN-UP TO THE PRIMARY, I THINK SHE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO DEFEAT MICKEY, BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN.

AND THEN MICKEY HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF RUNNING AGAINST A REPUBLICAN, WHO HAD BEEN IN RHODE ISLAND FOR FIVE MINUTES, AND HAD AN OVERWHELMING GENERAL ELECTION VICTORY.

HE IS POISED TO PUT A GREATER IMPRINT ON RHODE ISLAND WITH A FULL FOUR-YEAR TURN -- TERM THAT HE WON.

HE IS MY TOP LOCAL STORY.

JIM: YOU SURPRISED BY THE MARGIN?

YOU DID A COUPLE OF THE DEBATES.

ASHLEY KILLS WAS PULLING WITHIN 10 POINTS, IT WAS NOT A CONTEST.

DID THAT MARGIN SURPRISE YOU?

IAN: YES AND NO.

KAYLA SPENT MOST $5 MILLION TO GET BETTER KNOWN TO PROMOTE HER VISIBILITY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT WARMED UP TO DAN MCKEE.

I THINK THE FACT THAT KALOS HAD A TENUOUS CONNECTION TO RHODE ISLAND WAS REALLY A FATAL FLAW FOR HER POLITICALLY.

AND MCKEE'’S CAMPAIGN DID EVERYTHING RIGHT.

THEY HAD GOOD COMMERCIALS THAT MADE HIM LIKABLE, MADE HIM RELATABLE.

I THINK YES AND NO.

JIM: MR. LEHMAN?

DAVE: I CONSIDER BOTH OF THOSE.

I ALSO DECIDED TO GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

JIM: BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS COME PREPARED.

DAVE: I THINK WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE ECONOMY WAS THE BIG STORY.

RHODE ISLAND.

IT IS GOOD AND BAD.

WE HAVE HAD THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT WE HAVE HAD IN 4, 5 DECADES.

WHICH IS GOOD, ABSOLUTELY, AFTER ALL OF THE YEARS WHERE IT WAS NOT THAT WAY.

IT ALSO AFFECTED EVERYTHING THAT WE BUY.

YOU CAN'’T OFFSET LOW ON WITH HIGH PRICES ON FOOD.

THESE ARE EVERYDAY ITEMS THAT PEOPLE BUY.

WE ARE A MODERATELY WEALTHY STATE, OR MIDTERM I WOULD SAY, ON WEALTH.

THIS AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN LOW HOURLY PAID JOBS.

THIS AFFECTS THEM.

I THINK THAT REALLY HAS HURT IN SOME WAYS, ALSO THE HOUSING NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A HOUSE.

A LOT OF MILLENNIALS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD A HOUSE.

THE ECONOMY AFFECTED ALL OF US.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE HIGHEST IMPACT.

IM: LET'’S GO TO TOP NATIONAL STORY.

IAN, LET'’S BEGIN WITH YOU.

IAN: I TOP NATIONAL STORY IS THE BACKLASH AGAINST DONALD TRUMP AND TRUMPISM.

THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS THAT DEMOCRATS WERE GOING TO GET CREAMED IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS , THAT USUALLY HAPPENS TO THE PARTY THAT HOLDS THE WHITE HOUSE.

INSTEAD, REPUBLICANS DID GAIN THE HOUSE, BUT DEMOCRATS HAD ONE OF THEIR BEST MIDTERM PERFORMANCES IN MANY YEARS.

WE HAVE SEEN BOTH OF THE HONORARY COCHAIRS OF TRUMP'’S CAMPAIGN IN 2020 MOVE AWAY FROM SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP.

HE VERY WELL MIGHT STILL BE THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE IN 2024.

HE HAS A MORE TENUOUS PATH AFTER HAVING A VERY NARROW ELECTION VIC RE-IN 2016.

I THINK IT SHOWS THE NATION'’S VERY TIRED OF DONALD TRUMP AND HIS APPROACH TO POLITICS.

JIM: MAYBE THE DEMOCRATS WOULD LOVE IT IF HE WAS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR THE TOP NATIONAL STORY?

DAVE: ALONG THAT LINE, DONALD TRUMP.

BUT MAYBE FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

IT BECAME THE ALL-CONSUMING REALITY SHOW FOR THE NATION.

WITH A LOT OF FALLOUT FROM THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE.

THE DIMINISHED STATUS OF DONALD TRUMP GOING FORWARD.

AS IAN MENTIONED.

BUT I THINK ALSO, I THINK IT SHOWED THAT THE UNITED STATES IS POLARIZED IN A WAY THAT IT WAS NOT MAYBE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.

THAT HAS BECOME WORSE.

I THINK DONALD TRUMP'’S BAD YEAR HAS ALSO AFFECTED HIM BY NOT HAVING THAT GLITTER THAT WAS AROUND DONALD TRUMP FOR THE FIRST TWO OR THREE YEARS OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

JIM: I SAW SOME NATIONAL PENDANT SAY, THEY ARE NOT TURNED OFF BY THE OUTRAGEOUS THINGS HE SAID AND ALL OF THE CRAZINESS.

IT IS THE FACT THAT HE NOT -- HE MIGHT NOT BE A WINNER ANYMORE.

THAT IS THE LITMUS TEST.

DAVE: I MIGHT ADD ANOTHER POINT.

ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP, AND THERE ARE NOT MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIM, IN MY VIEW, IS THAT HE HAS GOTTEN MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS.

IT USED TO BE WHEN EVERYTHING WAS ALL BELLS ON WESSELS AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING WELL, BACK IN THE 1990'’S, I REMEMBER PROBABLY ON THIS PROGRAM, JUST SO UPSET THAT MOST PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT CELEBRITIES, DIDN'’T CARE ABOUT POLITICS.

EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED RIGHT NOW, FOR GOOD OR FOR BAD.

I THINK THAT'’S A GOOD THING.

MAUREEN: MY TOP NATIONAL STORY IS THE JANUARY 6 RIOT INSURRECTION.

IT IS PROBABLY A STORY OF THE DECADE.

IT IS AMAZING, IT'’S REMARKABLE, AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR TRUMP ARE PROFOUND.

WE WERE -- WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHAT HAPPENED IS ASTONISHING.

IT JUST WAS NOT SOME LITTLE THING I THINK ULTIMATELY, PEOPLE ARE PAYING THE PRICE FOR THIS.

BUT IT WAS FRIGHTENING AND IT WAS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

AND I'’M HOPING THAT THE FEDS, WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS GOING AFTER SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AND ARRESTING THEM, BECAUSE IT WAS A SHOCKING EVENT.

AND I THINK JOE BIDEN WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID, HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO BRING THAT UP, DEMOCRACY.

IT WAS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

I THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY THE TOP NATIONAL STORY.

JIM: ISN'’T IT REFRESHING THAT THERE WAS TALK LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, OUR DEMOCRACY IS IN JEOPARDY, THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR -- YOU ARE ELECTION DENIERS, THEN KARI LAKE GOT STRUCK DOWN, MASTRIANO IN PENNSYLVANIA.

YOU DON'’T HEAR MUCH OF THAT TALK.

WE SURVIVED ALL OF THAT, AND THAT IS WHAT AMERICA HAS DONE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

IAN: VOTERS REPUDIATED ELECTION DENIERS AND ELECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK PROPONENTS OF SMALL DEEP DEMOCRACY CAN SEE THAT AS A HEARTENING THING.

DAVE: AND YET, THE SHOCKING THING THAT DONALD TRUMP, TO THIS DAY, STILL HAS 30% SUPPORT.

JIM: YEAH.

THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER SHOW THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT.

WE GO TO BIGGEST WINNER, BIGGEST LOSER.

DAVE, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU.

DAVE: I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO.

I WILL BE QUICK.

RHODE ISLAND DRIVERS.

I CONSIDER -- JIM: WINNERS AND LOSERS OR LOSERS?

DAVE: THEY ARE BOTH.

BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY MEMORY IN RHODE ISLAND, WE HAVE TAKEN ON THE ROADS.

DRIVERS, EVEN THOUGH THE BAD PART OF THIS, EVERYWHERE YOU GO, YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF CONES AND CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS.

IT IS SO REFRESHING FOR ME, IN SPITE OF ALL OF THE HASSLE THAT GOES WITH IT, THAT WE NOW ARE SEEING ROADS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 20, 30, 40 YEARS AGO AND THERE WAS NOT THE MONEY.

AND PEN BUCKET, THE TIDEWATER LANDING PROJECT APPEARS TO BE GOING FORWARD.

JIM: WHO IS THE WINNER AND WHO IS THE LOSER?

DAVE: THE WINNER IS PUT BUCKET.

THEY HAVE NOT HAD MUCH TO CELEBRATE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HELPING MEN OUT.

THE FINANCING ON THIS IS QUESTIONABLE TO ME.

AND THE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT THAT SURROUNDS THAT.

I'’M NOT SURE THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE FINAL PLANS.

AT LEAST NOT YET.

MAUREEN: I AGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK BUT BUCKET IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I APPLAUD AND MICKEY BECAUSE HE DID -- I APPLAUD DAN MCKEE BECAUSE HE DID ALL THAT VOTE.

I JUST HOPE THAT GIVEN THIS ANCHOR, THAT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN, BECAUSE I HAVE FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN PET BUCKET.

STORES ARE CLOSING EVERY DAY.

THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO THE TOWN.

WHEN HE SAID I AM DOING IT FOR PAWTUCKET,, IT IS NOT JUST THE STADIUM AND THE CHANGE IN PEOPLE'’S AFFECTION FOR SPORT.

BUT THE FACT IS THAT THIS COULD BE A LIFELINE TO GET THIS THING DONE I THINK THE ONUS IS ON MCKEE TO PUSH AS HARD AS HE CAN TO SEE THIS BECOME A REALITY.

JIM: I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THE WHOP OX TRAIL PAVED.

I ECHO THAT.

IT IS LIKE, WHEW.

MY MECHANIC IS NOT HAPPY BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE FRONT ENDS ALIGNMENTS ANYMORE.

MAUREEN: MINE IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST WINNER WAS SETH MAGAZINER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING HOW HE WAS CAST AS THE UNDERDOG.

AND IN FACT, HIS CAMPAIGN, THE PERSON WHO RAN HIS CAMPAIGN, SAID THAT THEY NEVER REALLY HAD A REAL POLL THAT SHOWED HIM IN THE LEAD.

I REALLY THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS AT THE END, HE KIND OF CHANGED HIS STRATEGY.

IN THE SENSE HE GOT MORE DOWN TO EARTH, WE TALKED MORE PASSIONATELY ABOUT LABOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK HE LENT TOO MUCH ON THE ABORTION ISSUE IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THERE WAS A REAL SHIFT.

THAT WAS WHY THE SURPRISE OF HAVING HIM THE WINNER IS A REAL WIN.

I THINK IT IS INTERESTING.

I THINK EVERYBODY EXPECTED HIM TO WIN.

AS SCOTT MCKAY POINTED OUT TO ME, THE PICTURE, IN THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL THAN A DAY ABOVE THE FOLD, HE WAS UNDER THE FOLD.

THEY WERE READY FOR HIM TO LOSE.

JIM: EVERYBODY EXPECTED HIM TO WIN.

DO YOU HAVE A BIGGEST LOSER?

MAUREEN: THAT IS ASHLEY TALUS.

I MEAN, -- JIM: THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO GET BASICALLY 5%.

MAUREEN: IT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO GET BASICALLY 5%.

I DO THINK SHE WAS THE BIG LOSER.

JIM: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

DO YOU THINK SHE WILL BE ON THE NEWPORT TO -- NEWPORT TURNER REVIEW?

MAUREEN: I DON'’T KNOW.

JIM: ASHLEY KALUS IS GOING TO STAY IN RHODE ISLAND, ACCORDING TO SOMEONE WE SPOKE TO.

BIGGEST WINNER EMMA BIGGEST LOSER.

IAN: NOTWITHSTANDING HER ENERGETIC EFFORTS, ROAD ON REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN -- RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.

THEY HELD WITH FIVE MEMBERS IN THE RHODE ISLAND SENATE.

ALLAN FUNG WAS THE GREAT REPUBLICAN HOPE, AND HE LOST.

THE RHODE ISLAND POLITICAL COOPERATIVE, THERE WAS A LOT OF TOUGH RHETORIC FROM MATT AROUND AND HIS -- MATT BROWN AND HIS REPORTERS.

THEY DID A POOR JOB OF VENTING THEIR CANDIDATES.

THEY RAN INTO STIFF OPPOSITION FROM MORE ENTRENCHED DEMOCRATS.

THERE IS ANOTHER PROGRESSIVE GROUP THAT DID WIN A NUMBER OF ITS RACES.

AND THE LEGISLATURE IS MOVING IN A MORE PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION.

BIGGEST WINNER IS DAN MCKEE, BECAUSE HE, NOTWITHSTANDING HIS REJECTION OF THIS ARGUMENT, HE DID COME INTO A FORTUNATE BUDGET SITUATION, THE WANING OF COVID.

TIMING IS IMPORTANT IN POLITICS, AND HE HAS BENEFITED FROM THE TIMING.

DAVE: I ACTUALLY OVERLOOKED MY BIGGEST LOSER.

I THINK THE BIGGEST LOSER WAS CRANSTON MAYOR ALLAN FUNG.

THREE ELECTIONS HE HAS LOST.

IT IS VERY TOUGH TO COME BACK FROM THAT.

HE WAS THE BRUCE SUTHERLAND MODEL IN A WAY.

IAN: BUT HE DID NOT GET IT THE THIRD TIME.

DAVE: HE DID.

THAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR HIM.

JIM: ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND MOMENT.

MARINE, LET'’S BEGIN WITH YOU.

MAUREEN: I HAVE ONE.

ANYWAY.

IT IS INTERESTING, AFTER THIS LAST ELECTION, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE STATE IS A DROP IN STATE FOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.

IN OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE OF THE TIGHT -- THE INTENSELY CONCENTRATED RELATION, AND THE MEDIA ENVIRONMENT, IT IS THE CASE THAT -- AND IT IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE TO RUN IN RHODE ISLAND.

ASHLEY CLOUSE SPENT $5 MILLION.

BUT SHE DID GET THE NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR OF THE STATE.

$5 MILLION, THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK IN PENNSYLVANIA, THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK IN CONNECTICUT, THAT IS NOT TO WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS.

JIM: WE ARE A CHEAP STATE.

MAUREEN: THAT IS THE WAY TO STATE -- TO SAY IT.

IT IS INTERESTING THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT REQUIREMENTS.

I DON'’T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

BUT IT IS THE FACT THAT IT IS EASY TO COME HERE AND BE WHAT YOU ARE.

THE OTHER ONE THAT I HAVE TO ADD, AND I KNOW I SAID IT LAST YEAR, BUT THE BLUE BUG IS THE BEST.

I WAS COMING UP A COUPLE DAYS AGO, UP TO PROVIDENCE, AND THERE HE WAS WITH ALL OF HIS REGALIA FOR CHRISTMAS.

IAN: ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND COULD YOU HAVE A SITUATION LIKE WITH HOMELESSNESS OUTSIDE THE STATE HOUSE WHERE TWO OF THE MAIN FIGURES, DAVID CRUZ AND GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE, ARE CLOSELY RELATED.

THEY ARE FIRST COUSINS.

THEY RAN AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR GOVERNOR.

EXCUSE ME, FOR MAYOR.

AND OF COURSE, CRUZ WAS APPOINTED BY FORMER GOVERNOR RAIMONDO, AND WAS A HIGH LEVEL AID TO RAMONDA.

JIM: THAT IS A GOOD ONE.

DAVE: ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND MOMENT, ASHLEY KALUS, WITH HER JUMPING INCOME AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

SPENDING $5 MILLION, $35 A VOTE WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER.

SHE LOST BIG TIME.

IN A LANDSLIDE.

THE WHOLE THING WAS INTERESTING ABOUT HER, THE FACT THAT SHE JUMPED IN, KIND OF MOVING HERE, AND THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER SHE REALLY DID LIVE HERE AS A PRIMARY RESIDENT, OR WHETHER IT WAS ILLINOIS OR FLORIDA.

THEN, WHAT BROUGHT HER BACK HERE WAS THAT SHE ENDED UP WITH A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE THROUGH THE MICKEY ADMINISTRATION -- THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION.

THEN LOST THE CONTRACT, AND SHE ENDED UP LOSING TO HIM WHEN SHE DECIDED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

JIM: I'’M GOING TO THROW IN A QUICK ONE.

ONLY COULD YOU HAVE A SITUATION AT THE ABORTION RALLY DOWNTOWN WHERE THE PROVIDENCE COP WHO WOUND UP SLUGGING ANOTHER PERSON WAS RUNNING AGAINST HER IN THE SAME RACE.

JOHN LUGO AND JEN ROURKE.

TURNS OUT, NEITHER OF THEM WON AND THE REPUBLICAN WOUND UP WINNING THE SEAT, A HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC SEAT, BECAUSE THE ESTABLISHMENT SUPPORTED HIM INSTEAD OF THE PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE.

LET'’S GET TO OUR PREDICTIONS FROM LAST YEAR.

I LOVE THIS.

WE WILL ROLL THE TAPE, AS WE ALWAYS SAY, ROLL THE TAPE.

IAN, LET'’S SEE WHAT YOU SAID FOR 2022.

WHAT YOUR PREDICTION WAS.

IAN: IT IS GOING TO BE MORE STRESS ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM.

WE ARE ALREADY HEARING ABOUT THIS DUE TO COVID, DUE TO TURNOVER IN STAFF.

THERE IS A LOT OF BURNOUT.

IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION, AS WENDY SAID, FOR HEALTH-CARE WORKERS.

MY WIFE IS A HEALTH CARE WORKER, AND THE INTEREST OF FULL DISCLOSURE.

ANOTHER PREDICTION, I PREDICT THE MERGER BETWEEN LIFESPAN CARE NEW ENGLAND AND BROWN UNIVERSITY WILL MOVE FORWARD.

HOWEVER, WITH CONDITIONS BROUGHT IN BY STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORS.

JIM: GOING BACK TO YOUR PREDICTION FOR LAST YEAR, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FULL SESSION WITH MARIJUANA.

I THINK IT IS THE GOVERNOR AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT THAT HAVE TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE.

BUT YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVES.

THEY ARE BECOMING A FORCE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IAN: AS YOU SAY, THERE IS A CONVERSION OF INTEREST, SUPPORTING THIS SOCIETALLY.

PEOPLE ARE MORE TOLERANT ABOUT MARIJUANA NOW.

AT ONE POINT, WE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO SEE THIS HAPPEN IN ELECTION YEAR.

BUT BECAUSE IT IS LESS CONTROVERSIAL IN THE PAST, I THINK THERE IS A CHANCE IT WILL HAPPEN IN 2022.

JIM: ANY OTHER PREDICTIONS OR ARE YOU DONE?

WE HAVE GOT IT ON TAPE.

IAN: THE RED SOX.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

ONE FOR THREE.

THAT IS A GOOD BATTING AVERAGE.

IAN: IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR, EVEN WITH THE REPUDIATION, WE SEE HOW THEY ARE CONTINUING TO WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY.

THE JEWELRY DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME A MORE DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

JIM: IS THIS YOUR PREDICTION?

IAN: IT IS.

AS BROWN CONTINUES TO EXPAND, PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL WILL MOVE IN A MORE PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION WITH A LOT OF TURNOVER.

I THINK WE WILL SEE MORE COMMUNITIES USE MORE OF THESE SPEED CAMERAS AND PLATE READERS AS A WAY TO ENHANCE THEIR REVENUE.

JIM: THAT IS A FULL PLATE.

YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BE RIGHT OR WRONG DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY.

DAVE, LET'’S RACK UP YOUR PREDICTION FOR 2022.

HERE IS WHAT DAVE HAD TO SAY.

DAVE: I THINK 2022 IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR FOR GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE AND PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, FOR VERY DIFFERENT REASONS.

I THINK IT WILL BE THE WORST YEAR IN THE LIFE OF DONALD TRUMP.

THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS A VERY SERIOUS -- IS IN VERY SERIOUS TROUBLE WITH ALL CANS OF INVESTIGATIONS.

IF HE DOES GET CHARGED, HE WILL BE THE FIRST FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT TO BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED.

THIS MAY ALSO TOTALLY AFFECT WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BEGINS TO REACT TO IT.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME STEPPING AWAY FROM HIM AS IT IS.

BUT IT MAY BE WHOLESALE BEFORE IT IS ALL OVER.

THERE ARE SO MANY INVESTIGATIONS, IN WASHINGTON, JANUARY 6 INVESTIGATION.

MORE IS COMING OUT ON THAT.

A GRAND JURY IN NEW YORK IS INVESTIGATING BUSINESS DEALS.

ANOTHER INVESTIGATION IN NEW YORK.

A DUAL INVESTIGATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE.

INVESTIGATION IN GEORGIA.

HE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION THERE BECAUSE OF HIS ALLEGED TAMPERING WIT THE ELECTION TO TRY TO REVERSE THE TOTALS SO HE WOULD BE THE PRESIDENT.

THEN OF COURSE THERE ARE THE LAWSUITS.

TRUMP IS FACING A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS FROM FORMER BUSINESS PARTNERS, HIS OWN KNEES, AND CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS.

FOR THIS REASON, I THINK IT WILL BE A TOUGH YEAR FOR DONALD TRUMP.

JIM: AND I THINK NEXT YEAR MIGHT BE A MIGHTY TOUGH YEAR TOO.

ONE ABOUT 2023?

DAVE: I WILL PICK UP ON WHAT I SAID THERE, AND I WILL BE BRIEF.

I THINK, AND PEOPLE THINK I'’M CRAZY FOR PREDICTING THIS, I THINK WITHIN THIS YEAR, 2023, DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED.

HE WON'’T GO TO TRIAL BY THEN, BUT HE WILL PROBABLY GET NAILED BECAUSE OF THE SECRET DOCUMENTS THAT HE TOOK OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

I THINK THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR HE IS GOING TO BE CHARGED.

JIM: HAVE YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS HIS CAMPAIGN?

HE HAS ANNOUNCED HE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

DAVE: I WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY DON'’T WANT TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BEING POLITICAL.

BUT I THINK BRINGING IN THIS NEW SPECIAL COUNSEL, THEY ARE ON TRACK TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, AND I THINK YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE HIM CHARGED WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

JIM: LET'’S GO TO MAUREEN:.

LET'’S SEE WHAT YOU PREDICTED FOR 2022.

MAUREEN: AS FAR AS NATIONALLY, I WILL BE CONSERVATIVE.

AFTER THIS LAST ONE.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL LOSE THE HOUSE.

AND I THINK POSSIBLY THE SENATE.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE INTERESTING, BECAUSE I DON'’T THINK THAT -- THERE WILL BE SIDE.

THERE IS A LOT A FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES THAT BIDEN WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AS FAR AS NATIONAL.

LOCALLY, I'’M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HOW THE LEADERSHIP IN THIS STATE AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO USE THE FEDERAL FUNDS.

I THINK THEY SEEM TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND I EXPECT REALLY INTERESTING AND POSSIBLY TRANSFORMATIVE POLICY ON HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION.

JIM: YOU ARE ONE FOR TWO FOR THE SENATE.

ALSO, I THINK THEY ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, JUST THE EXECUTION.

MAUREEN: AND THAT IS THE BIG DEAL.

JIM: MAYBE YOU WERE A YEAR AHEAD.

WE WILL SEE THAT.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR 2023?

MAUREEN: I THINK TRUMP IS GOING DOWN.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE INDICTED.

THAT IS MY FEEL.

TRUMP IS A -- TRUMP MAY STAY IN THE FORM OF RON DESANTIS IN FLORIDA.

BUT I THINK HE WILL LOSE.

I DON'’T THINK HE WILL BE THE NOMINEE.

CONVERSELY, FOR BIDEN, I THINK HE WILL BE REMEMBERED VERY WELL FOR HIS PRESIDENCY.

HOWEVER, I PREDICT HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN.

I PREDICT HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE A LAME-DUCK.

HE DOES NOT WANT TO START TOO EARLY.

IN THE END, I THINK HE'’S GOING TO BOW OUT.

JIM: A DELICATE BALANCE.

.

IF YOU SAY NOW, I AM NOT RUNNING, THEN ARE YOU A LAME-DUCK?

IF -- THAT IS A TOUGH CALL.

MAUREEN: IT IS.

I THINK HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN.

I WILL PREDICT HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN.

JIM: OUR COLLEAGUE ANDY SCHOLER IS A FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT THE MIRACLE OF VIDEOTAPE, WE HAVE HER PREDICTION BEFORE -- BEFOREHAND.

HERE IS WHAT SHE IS PREDICTING FOR 22 ANY THREE.

-- FOR 2023.

WENDY: I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SEEN WHAT THE MORE RIGHT-WING VERSION OF THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST DECADE.

THEY TAKE OVER THE PARTY.

THEY SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

THEY ARE NOT UNHAPPY BY THE OLDER RETIREMENTS WE ARE SEEING.

WHO ARE FROM SOME PARTS OF THE SOUTH AND MIDWEST AND THEY SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR PLATFORM TO BE THE DOMINANT PLATFORM.

THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE PLAYBOOK OF THE REPUBLICANS, WHETHER IT WORKS IN THE LONG RUN, WE WILL SEE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS GOT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT DONE THAT IS GOING TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE IDEA THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, THE PROGRESSIVES WILL ARGUE, IF WE CAN'’T GET IT DONE NOW, GIVE US MORE SEATS, MORE POWER, GIVE US OUR NOMINEE AND WE WILL GET IT DONE.

MOBILIZING THE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THEIR AGENDA WHO TEND TO BE YOUNGER, HARD TO DO IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

I DON'’T SEE THEM BEING SUCCESSFUL IN 20 IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

BUT I SEE THEM BEING INFLUENTIAL IN CHOOSING THE NOMINEE IN 20 24.

JIM: WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTIONS?

WENDY: COVID WILL BECOME MORE LIKE A SERIOUS FLU THAT WILL HAVE -- THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

IN THE NEXT SIX TO NINE MONTHS, WE WILL MAKE A TRANSITION FROM BEING VERY, VERY PANICKED ABOUT IT, TO UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WE WILL HAVE TO GET A YEARLY SHOT.

BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY TRANSITION TO THAT.

IT WILL REPLACE OUR EXISTING FLUE.

I THINK WE WILL SEE HISTORIC RATES OF EARLY RETIREMENT FOR PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 55.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE 4 MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETIRED OUR OVER THE AGE OF 55.

YOU WILL SEE MORE OF THOSE RETIREMENTS WHICH WILL PUT PRESSURE ON SYSTEMS LIKE 62-YEAR-OLD PEOPLE TAKING SOCIAL SECURITY, PEOPLE TRYING TO PUSH FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL, OR LOWERING THAT AGE FOR MEDICARE.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE PRESSURES ON STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AS THE MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE START TO RETIRE EARLIER.

JIM: MY APOLOGIES.

THAT WAS WENDY'’S PREDICTION FOR THIS YEAR.

I GOT ON VIDEOTAPE HER PREDICTION FOR NEXT YEAR.

LET'’S ROLL THAT.

WENDY: MY PREDICTION FOR 2023.

FIRST OF ALL, THE ECONOMY.

WE WILL HAVE A MILD RECESSION, IF AT ALL.

I THINK THE ECONOMY WILL REMAIN RESILIENT.

UNEMPLOYMENT WILL STAY LOW.

AND I THINK WE WILL WEATHER WHATEVER STORM PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS COMING.

I DON'’T THINK IT WILL MATERIALIZE.

AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL POLITICALLY, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL OVERREACH.

SPEAKER MCCARTHY WILL OWE HIS RIGHT-WING FLANK A LOT.

THEY WILL WANT TO GO AFTER HUNTER BIDEN.

THEY WON'’T WANT TO GO AFTER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

IN THE SENATE, PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL SEE THE REST OF HIS JUDICIAL NOMINEES CONFIRMED IN THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM.

AND HE WILL OVERTAKE DONALD TRUMP IN HOW MANY JUDGES HE GETS CONFIRMED IN THE NEXT YEAR.

AT THE STATE LEVEL, I THINK THE STATE WILL APPEAL THE TRUMP TOLL CASE, BUT I THINK THEY WILL LOSE IN COURT AND WILL HAVE TO REVISIT THIS ISSUE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND EXPAND POLES TO ALL TRUCKS IF THEY WANT TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE IN RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: SOME BOLD PREDICTIONS.

WE WILL SEE WHETHER THEY COME TRUE.

QUICKLY, PEOPLE TO WATCH IN 2023.

DAVE: I'’VE GOT PROVIDENCE MAYOR ELECT BRETT SMILEY.

MAUREEN: I HAVE TWO.

GINA RAIMONDO, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND ALSO HELENA FOLKS.

IS SHE GOING TO BE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IS SHE GOING TO RUN AGAINST MCKEE?

IAN: SHELBY MALDONADO, BROUGHT BACK AS A DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE BY SECRETARY OF STATE ELECT GREG AMORE.

AND RHODE ISLAND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER RYAN PEARSON, WELL-POSITIONED TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

JIM: THOSE ARE TWO GOOD ONES.

QUICK 30 MINUTES.

IT HAS BEEN A QUICKIE YEAR.

DAVE AND MAUREEN: AND IAN, THANK YOU FOR SPENDING SO MUCH OF THIS YEAR ON SAT WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR LOYALTY TO THE SHOW.

.

IF YOU DON'’T SEE US FRIDAY AT 7:00 SUNDAY AT NOON, WE ARE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE ARCHIVE OUR SHOWS.

THIS IS OUR LAST SHOW FOR THE YEAR.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG YEAR.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON, AND DRAWING US BACK HERE THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY AS QUOTE A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

♪ [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 -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

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