>> THIS WEEK, ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, WHO IS IN AND OUT IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND A SUDDENLY COVETED CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

SHOULD RHODE ISLAND CHANGE THE WAY IT ELECTS ITS CANDIDATES?

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS FOR RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM AND PBS.

>> JOINING US ON THE PANEL, LEEANN SENNICK, NATIONAL COMMITTEE WOMAN FOR THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY, ATTORNEY AND FORMER PROSECUTOR EVA-MARIE MANCUSO, AND FORMER BOSTON GLOBE COLUMNIST DAN MCGOWAN.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING PART OF YOUR WE CAN WITH US.

.

WE MAY RUN OUT OF ROOM ON THE POLITICAL SCORECARDS BY THE TIME IT IS TIME FOR CANDIDATES TO FILE.

MAGAZINER ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY HE WOULD JOIN THE GROWING FIELD OF CANDIDATES TRYING TO REPLACE JIM BLANCHE OF AN -- LANGEVIN.

IN YOUR COLUMN, YOU SAID HE SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE RACE.

HE'S NOT TAKING YOUR ADVICE.

>> NOBODY LISTENS TO ME EVER.

I STILL FEEL THIS WAY.

THE REASON, TO HIS CREDIT, TREASURER MAGAZINER SPENT THE LAST SEVEN YEARS PLANNING OUT A GOVERNOR'S RACE, MEETING WITH KEY PEOPLE, NOT JUST THE POLITICAL PEOPLE, BUT SETH MAGAZINER IS A THOUGHTFUL GUY.

HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT THE INTRICACIES OF REAL JOBS AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS.

>> SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.

>> YOU KNOW, I SAID THAT -- I SAT DOWN WITH HIM THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO AFTER HE ANNOUNCED.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HOW MUCH THOUGHT HE HAD PUT INTO THE PROBLEMS OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

YOU COME ALONG AND YOU SAY, THIS RACE IS EASIER.

I WILL JUMP TO THAT.

I DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

I THINK IT IS A BAD LOOK, AND I THINK IT WILL BE -- THINK HE WILL BE MISUSED.

HE WOULD BE BETTER RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND POTENTIALLY WINNING.

>> HOW DOES THIS SIT WITH THE ELECTORATE?

>> HE NEEDS TO GET MORE EXCITED ABOUT RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AND HAS TO GET A STUMP SPEECH.

I AGREE WITH YOU, DAN, THAT HE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HIS HEART IS IN IT.

HE DID SIT DOWN WITH ME AS WELL AND, ACTUALLY, I WAS SITTING IN A BURGER KING PARKING LOT BECAUSE HE CALLED ME ON MY CELL PHONE AND I WANTED TO CHAT WITH HIM.

25 MINUTES LATER, I PULLED OUT.

HE WANTED MY FEELINGS ON EDUCATION, K-12, AND WHEN I WAS CHAIR OF THE BOARD AND INTERESTED IN THE POLITICS BEHIND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN HIGHER EDUCATION, AND HE WAS VERY INFORMED.

>> SO A GOOD WAY.

>> GIVE ME A GOOD WONK ANY DAY.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

BUT HE NEEDS TO GET MORE EXCITED IF HE IS GOING TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

I DON'T THINK HE WOULD WIN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE MYSELF, BUT AT LEAST HIS HEART AND SOUL WAS INTO IT.

IT DID NOT SEEM THAT WAY WHEN HE MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

IT WAS JUST LIKE, I AM GOING TO DO THIS.

I'M TERM LIMITED AND I NEED A JOB.

THAT'S HOW I FELT.

SO COME ON, SETH.

YOU HAVE TO PUT A LITTLE OOMPH INTO RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION AND IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE.

WE HAND JIM LANGEVIN, WHO WAS A QUIET LEADER IN THE SENATE, BUT LOOK WHAT HE HAS DONE ON CYBERSECURITY AND OTHER ISSUES.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT SEAT AND YOU HAVE TO BE EXCITED TO RUN.

>> IS THIS THE REPUBLICANS YEAR?

>> I HAVE NOT HAD A SIT DOWN WITH THE MAGAZINE.

>> LET ME TELL YOU.

>> I AGREE THAT IT IS LOOKING LIKE A POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.

MAYBE HIS NUMBERS WEREN'T LOOKING GREAT IN THE GOVERNOR'S PRIMARY, SO HE IS LOOKING WHERE HE CAN GET ELECTED.

BASICALLY, HE CAME OUT AND SAID HE'S RUNNING BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THIS SEAT TO FALL INTO REPUBLICAN HANDS, SO THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR GERRYMANDERING IN THE PAST HAS MADE THE DISTRICT MORE CONSERVATIVE, AND THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE A REPUBLICAN RUNNING WITH NAME RECOGNITION, WITH SUPPORT AND FUNDRAISING, COULD TAKE THAT SEAT.

PRETTY MUCH ANY REPUBLICAN WOULD BE BETTER THAN A DEMOCRAT IN THIS SPOT BECAUSE IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT RACE NATIONALLY IF THE REPUBLICANS TAKE THE HOUSE BACK.

THIS WOULD NOT BE THE SEA THAT WOULD MAKE OR BREAK THAT, PUT US OVER THE MAJORITY, BUT TO HAVE A PERSON IN THE MAJORITY PARTY WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO RHODE ISLAND RATHER THAN A FRESHMAN DEMOCRAT, PART OF THE MACHINE, IN THE MINORITY PARTY.

>> PICTURE THIS NEXT YEAR, OR NOVEMBER, THE REPUBLICANS TAKE THE HOUSE.

LET'S SAY ALAN FUNG WINS THE RACE.

EVERYONE WILL DESCEND ON RHODE ISLAND AND HAVE THE "HOW RHODE ISLAND WENT RED" STORY.

THAT WILL LOOK BAD FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN A STATE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SO BLUE.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS CROSS OVER AND VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS.

IN OUR STATE, PEOPLE VOTE FOR THE PERSON AND INDIVIDUAL AND DON'T LOOK AS MUCH AT THE NATIONAL PICTURE, SO I THINK ALLAN FUNG HAS A SHOT AT THIS SEAT BECAUSE HE IS LIKABLE AND HAS BEEN MORE MODERATE THAN OTHER REPUBLICANS ON SOME OF THE ISSUES.

STILL A LITTLE TOO CONSERVATIVE FOR ME ON SOCIAL ISSUES, BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, I THINK HE'S GOT A SHOT.

>> HE CAN TURN OUT THE BASE IN CRANSTON, IN WARWICK, SOUTH COUNTY.

HE HAS NAME RECOGNITION.

>> MY QUESTION ABOUT HIM IS I TEND TO THINK THIS MAY BE A COMPLEMENT -- MAYBE NOT TO HIM -- THE MEDIA, DEMOCRATS, TEND TO LIKE HIM MORE THAN THE CONSERVATIVE BASE.

HE'S ALWAYS RUNNING INTO THAT PROBLEM OF HERE IS THIS GUY WHO COMES ACROSS REASONABLE, MODERATE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL HIM AND ALWAYS FACES PUSHBACK WITHIN THE PARTY OF, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NOT CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH.

SO WILL THE FACE OF TOUGH PRIMARY?

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THAT WILL WORK.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT?

THERE'S ALREADY A SECONDARY CANDIDATE.

ISN'T THAT ALWAYS THE PROBLEM?

YOU HAVE TO GO CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL IN A PRIMARY AND THEN GO MORE TO THE CENTER.

>> IT IS AND IT WILL BE THE SAME THING ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

THEY WILL PUSH THEM MORE TO THE LEFT TOO, SO IT WILL COME DOWN TO WHICH OF THE ETIOLOGIES PEOPLE WILL AGREE WITH.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE CENTRIST NOW.

WE ARE SO DIVIDED IN THE COUNTRY AND EVERYONE IS EITHER FAR LEFT OR RIGHT AND I THINK WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYWHERE WITH THAT AS FAR AS GOVERNING.

IT HAS HURT OUR STATE, THE COUNTRY, AND PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THAT OUT A -- LOOK AT THAT TOO.

>> THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME TOGETHER.

I LIKE HER.

>> HERE WE GO.

>> THE SECOND REPUBLICAN THAT'S BEEN ON THE SHOW THAT I LIKE.

>> WE MAKE HISTORY EVERY WEEK.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ALL KUMBAYA MOMENTS BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES TO GET TO.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT SINCE JOHN CHANEY WAS IN THE SENATE, BUT WHAT DID HE SAY?

CONGRESS SWINGS RIGHT AND LEFT, THE ADMINISTRATION SWINGS, IS IT NOT GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE MINORITY PARTY?

THAT IS AN ARGUMENT THAT MAYBE ALLAN FUNG COULD USE.

I THINK HE WILL RUN INTO THE CHANEY PROBLEM.

WHEN HE RAN AGAINST SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, HE HAD A 65% APPROVAL RATING.

THAT WAS WHEN THE SENATE WAS IN THE BALANCE.

SO HE WILL HAVE TO WALK THAT LINE.

>> I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY WHO WORKED FOR GOVERNOR RAIMONDO AND I SAID, HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU AS A CAMPAIGN AND AS THE DEMOCRATS PUT BEHIND THAT ALLAN FUNG IN A TRUMP-PENCE?

-- IN A TRUMP HAT?

HE SAID $5 MILLION TRYING TO CONVINCE LOW INFORMATION PEOPLE THAT HE IS TOO CONSERVATIVE.

YOU WILL SEE THE SAME PLAYBOOK AND THAT ARGUMENT OF, YOU KNOW, RHODE ISLAND WILL NOT DECIDE WHO THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP IS, BUT THE NARRATIVE HERE WILL BE, IF YOU VOTE FOR ALLAN FUNG, YOU ARE VOTING FOR SPEAKER MCCARTHY, THAT SORT OF THING, AND THEY WILL RUN A VERY NATIONAL PLAYBOOK.

THE CHALLENGE IS ALLAN FUNG IS A LIKABLE GUY.

HE WAS MORE POPULAR ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR IN CRANSTON THEN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

HE WILL BE VERY POPULAR AND DIFFICULT TO BEAT IF HE RUNS.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN CONGRESS.

I ALMOST WONDER WHO WOULD WANT TO BE A CONGRESSMAN THESE DAYS?

THIS IS WHY BOB LEAGUE AND LEFT, YOU KNOW, PARTIALLY TO RUN FOR THE SENATE, BUT HE WAS LITERALLY NUMBER 435 BECAUSE OF HIS NAME.

HE WENT WITH THE NEWT GINGRICH CONGRESS IF YOU REMEMBER.

I KNOW IT IS A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, A BIG DEAL, BUT IF YOU GET IN, YOU WONDER WHAT YOU CAN DO DAY-TO-DAY BECAUSE OF THOSE CONDITIONS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT.

>> AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SEEN RHODE ISLAND MAKING STRIDES HAVING DEMOCRATS PART OF THE MAJORITY PARTY NOW.

WHEN THEY WERE IN THE MINORITY PARTY, IT STILL DID NOT BENEFIT RHODE ISLAND AS MUCH AS IT COULD.

>> HOW DOES THIS CHANGE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

>> IT IS SIGNIFICANT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT SETH MAGAZINER -- I WOULDN'T CERTAINLY CLASSIFY HIM AS THE FAVORITE, BUT HE WAS A REAL FACTOR AND RAISED MORE THAN ANYONE.

I THINK IT HELPS FOULKES.

FOR SOMEONE LIKE DAN MCKEE, WHO WILL NEVER BE WIDELY POPULAR ON THE PRIMARY SIDE, THE MORE CANDIDATES FOR HIM, THE BETTER.

YOU HAVE ONE LESS, IT HURTS HIM THE MOST.

THE UNANSWERED QUESTION IS WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR NELLIE GORBEA?

CAN SHE GAIN MORE RECOGNITION?

SHE WAS IN THE SHADOW OF SETH TO SOME DEGREE.

COULD NOW BE HER MOMENT TO GRAB ON?

>> WE TALK ABOUT MONEY AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS IN POLITICAL RACES, BUT IF THE LATE BRUCE SONDLAND WAS ALIVE, HE WOULD TELL YOU IT TOOK THEM THREE TIMES TO GET THERE, SO WHEN I LOOK AND COO, YOU KNOW, HELENA FOULKES HAS RAISED THIS MONEY AND WHAT HAVE YOU, RHODE ISLANDERS LOOK BEHIND THAT.

LOOK WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR THAT HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY.

IT WAS NOT THE PERSON.

FLAHERTY WAS AHEAD OF PALEY AND HE OUTSPENT HIM FOUR TIMES.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WILL PLAY IN.

DAN MCKEE IS AN AFFABLE GUY, IRREGULAR GUY.

SOME PEOPLE CALL HIM JOE, WHAT HAVE YOU.

HE'S HIS OWN MAN.

HE COMES ACROSS AS CARING.

FOR THIS ELECTORATE, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE SO SICK OF THE SLICK KIND OF CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE ALL STAGED AND WHAT HAVE YOU, YOU KNOW.

A COUPLE PEOPLE SAID TO ME AFTER THE STATE OF THE STATE IT WASN'T VERY POLISHED.

I AM LIKE, ISN'T THAT NICE THAT HE REALLY SPOKE TO PEOPLE?

HE LOOKED AT THE TELEPROMPTER AND SAID THIS IS THE WAY IT IS.

THAT IS REFRESHING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF US PUNDITS THAT LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW.

>> IT MAY BE REFRESHING BUT IT IS ALSO INDICATIVE OF KIND OF THE B-LIST STEPPING UP.

WE SAW THE SCHOOL CHOICE THING THIS WEEK WHEN THEY PUT OUT THE PROCLAMATION THAT HE SUPPORTS SCHOOL CHOICE AND THEN HOLD THAT BACK.

THAT TO ME SPOKE TO NOT BEING QUITE READY FOR PRIME TIME.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE JOKED ABOUT IT, BUT WE REMARKED THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY -- AND I KNOW YOU DON'T HATE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY -- BUT WE HAD OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER FOR A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, AND I WONDER, WHETHER TOWARD THE END OF JANUARY, THE TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY.

DON'T YOU THNK WE NEED TO HEAR SOMETHING SOON?

>> YES, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT WE DO.

>> ANY RUMBLINGS?

>> I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ONE PERSON WHO SPOKE WITH SUE ALSO AND THEY ARE TRYING TO DO THE THINGS IN THEIR LIFE THEY NEED TO DO TO COME FORWARD AND RUN.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> SOMETHING ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW -- YOU HAVE TO GO LOOK FOR IT, BUT A SMALL AD.

>> LOOKING FOR A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE?

>> LOOKING FOR A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

>> BUT SHE SAID SOMETHING LIKE I CAN SELF FUND OR I AM IN A GOOD POSITION TO GO.

WHO WOULD THAT BE?

>> WE'VE HEARD THESE RUMORS FOR A WHILE, THAT THERE'S SOMEONE WHO CAN DO THIS.

THE BENEFIT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IS THAT IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH WITH NO PRIMARY OR SIGNIFICANT PRIMARY, YOU CAN START LATER.

DON STARTED LATER THAN EVERYONE ELSE AND WAS UNKNOWN.

THAT'S THE THING.

THE LATER YOU GET INTO THIS -- YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DO NOT GET IN THE YEAR BEFORE, YOU CANNOT DOUBLE FUNDRAISER.

YOU CAN ONLY RAISE $1000 FROM EACH PERSON IN THE CALENDAR YEAR, SO IT HELPS TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN WRITE A CHECK.

I WORRY NOW, FOR THE REPUBLICANS, DOES ALL THE FOCUS GO TO CD2 AND TO THEY FORGET ABOUT WHO THE BEST CANDIDATE IS FOR GOVERNOR?

>> LIVELY VIEWERS WILL KNOW THAT WE HAD JOE ON HERE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HE HAS BEEN BEATING THE DRUM ON RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

A BILL HAS BEEN FILED NOW.

DAN, YOU ARE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS, SO SET THE TABLE, BUT THEN I WANT TO SEE THE PROS AND CONS OF THIS.

EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

IT IS AIMED AT PEOPLE WHO GET FEWER THAN 50% -- GINA RAIMONDO IN HER FIRST RACE.

PEOPLE FUNDAMENTALLY THINK, IF YOU ARE GOING TO WIN, HOW CAN YOU WIN WITH 35%?

>> THIS IS THE WAY BOSTON DOES THEIR CITY ELECTIONS.

YOU CAN DO DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU CAN SAY IT IS COMPLETELY NONPARTISAN OR YOU CAN HAVE REPUBLICAN LEEANN SENNICK, DEMOCRAT EVA MANCUSO AND PUT THE NAMES NEXT TO EACH OTHER, AND YOU END UP WITH THE TOP VOTE GETTERS ADVANCE FROM WHAT'S CALLED THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION TO THE GENERAL.

IT IS EXACTLY LIKE YOU DESCRIBED.

YOU DON'T HAVE LINCOLN CHAFEE AND JOHN ROBITAILLE, ONLY THE TOP TWO.

SAME THING WITH RAIMONDO AND FUNG, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER RACE LIKE THAT.

FOR ME, I SAY THIS HAVING -- GETTING TO MAKE OPINIONS NOW, IT IS GOOD.

>> IT MIGHT LEAVE A REPUBLICAN OFF THE BALLOT.

>> IF THERE'S NOT A STRONG REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, THEN YOU HAVE THE TWO TOP DEMOCRATS RACING FOR GOVERNOR.

I THINK THE PRIMARIES SERVE A PURPOSE FOR THE PARTIES.

THE PARTIES WILL NOT JUST LET THAT GO AWAY EITHER, BECAUSE YOU ARE PUTTING OUT THOSE PEOPLE AS YOUR CANDIDATE.

THE DEMOCRATS AND JOE PALEY TRYING TO PUSH THIS IDEA -- I UNDERSTAND NO ONE WANTS SOMEONE ELECTED WITHOUT THE MAJORITY OF VOTES.

I AGREE THAT A RUNOFF COULD BE HELD, SO YOU HAVE AN ELECTION AFTER, A FEW WEEKS FOLLOWING, WITH THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS, BUT EACH PARTY IS THERE.

>> I LIKE THE RUNOFF ELECTION.

EVERYBODY GOES ON THE BALLOT.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE NONPARTISAN BECAUSE I DON'T SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE SOME DAYS BETWEEN SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS AND PUBLICANS.

-- AND REPUBLICANS.

PUT YOUR PLANE OUT THERE.

I ALWAYS SAY I AM A DEMOCRAT BUT THERE'S SOMETIMES WHEN I LINE UP WITH REPUBLICANS ON SOME ISSUES, AS WE ALL DO, SO I VOTE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND THINK MOST OF RHODE ISLAND DOES AND THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 50% OF THE VOTE TO BE GOVERNOR.

YOU ARE GOVERNING FOR EVERYBODY SO I AGREE WITH IT.

I HOPE IT PASSES.

>> THE ONLY THING I GET CONCERNED ABOUT WITH THE RUNOFF FTER A GENERAL ELECTION, AND THIS HAPPENED ON ST. GEORGE LAST YEAR, VERY HIGH-PROFILE, YOU DO NOT GET THE SAME TURNOUT YOU GET ON ELECTION DAY.

I WANT THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHERE THE MOST TURNOUT IS, BUT I WONDER HOW YOU CAN MAKE THAT WORK TO YOUR POINT.

I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF HAVING A REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT OR WHATEVER THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS.

I DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING DEMOCRATS IS THE ONLY TWO CANDIDATES.

>> YOU CAN NOW VOTE -- I CAN GO AND DISS AFFILIATE AND -- AND DISAFFILIATE AND VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

I KNOW PEOPLE CROSS OVER.

>> FOR NEFARIOUS PURPOSES.

>> IT HURT ME A LOT IN CRANSTON WHEN I RAN IN 1998 FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE THEY HAD A BIG REPUBLICAN RACE THAT YEAR.

A LOT OF MY FRIENDS ARE REPUBLICANS, HAD TO GO VOTE.

MY OWN GODFATHER HAD TO GO VOTE.

HE WAS THE MAYOR OF THE TIME, AND THE PRIMARY.

MY AUNT AND COUSIN CROSSED OVER.

IT GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, AND IS THAT NOT WHAT WE WANT?

THERE'S SO MANY CROSSOVERS.

IT IS NOT LIKE IT WAS IN THE 1940'S WHERE, IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, YOU CHECKED ALL THESE BOXES.

WE ARE REALLY A MIXTURE NOW.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN THE STATE REGISTERED INDEPENDENT.

THAT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE AND THOSE PRIMARIES WHICH THEY WANT TO VOTE IN.

>> BUT IN HER SITUATION, IT WOULD HAVE -- >> RIGHT.

THEY COULD HAVE GONE INTO A GENERAL ELECTION AND VOTED FOR THE MAYOR AND VOTED FOR ME TOO.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> THIS IS A COLLATERAL ISSUE, BUT I'VE ALWAYS FELT -- AND THEY DO THIS IN OTHER STATES -- THE PRIMARY SHOULD BE IN MAY OR JUNE.

WHO IS PAYING ATTENTION?

ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT IS SEPTEMBER AND YOU ONLY HAVE A WEEKS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND I KNOW WHY THEY DON'T DO THIS, BECAUSE IF THEY ARE IN SESSION, THE INCUMBENTS DON'T WANT THEIR CHALLENGERS BANGING ON DOORS.

DO YOU SEE ANY PATH TO THE PRIMARY GETTING CHANGED TO SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER?

>> NO.

>> IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN?

>> BECAUSE OF THAT REASON.

I HAVE COVERED THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE FOREVER.

IT GETS DECIDED IN A 25,000 VOTE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY EVERY TIME, THE MAYORAL RACE.

IN THE GENERAL, DOUBLE THAT WILL VOTE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE A STRONG REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE.

>> TO BE CONTINUED.

BIG NEWS WITH -- YOU WOULD THINK I BOOKED THIS JUST BECAUSE I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

$114 MILLION SETTLEMENT OVER THE OPIOID CASE.

EVA MANCUSO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

YOU WERE THE ATTORNEY WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES ON THIS.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS?

>> SO THERE'S TWO PARTS OF THE LITIGATION.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND MOTLEY RICE HAD THE SAME -- HAD THE STATE CASE.

I REPRESENTED 33 OF 39 AND ULTIMATELY ALL 39 CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE MUNICIPAL LITIGATION GOING ON NOW, THE MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION IN FEDERAL COURT IN OHIO, SO IT IS THE NATIONAL LAWSUIT.

>> WHAT WAS THE SUIT AIMED AT?

>> THE ONE THAT WE JUST SETTLED WAS WITH THE DISTRIBUTORS, THE BIG THREE, MCKESSON, CARDINAL HEALTH AND AMERICA VIRGIN, SO WHAT HAPPENED IS IT THROUGH THE STATE SUIT -- THEY HAD A TRIAL DATE COMING UP AND THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO SETTLE A CASE THAN WHEN THERE'S A JURY IN THE BOX.

JANUARY 4 WAS THE TRIAL DATE, SO SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER, WE BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL SETTLEMENT.

IT IS A 308 PAGE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT SO BEAR WITH ME.

>> YOU WILL NOT READ ALL THREE HUNDRED EIGHT PAGES ARE YOU?

>> NO.

>> GIVE US THE READER'S DIGEST.

>> TOUGH CROWD, I WILL TELL YOU.

AND YOU WONDER WHY A WILL NOT RUN FOR CONGRESS.

TO GET ALL THE MONEY, RHODE ISLAND HAD TO GET ALL THE CITIES AND TOWNS AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT, SO IT REALLY GAVE US A SEAT AT THE TABLE, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, IT IS AN 80/20 SPLIT.

80% OF THE MONEY WILL GO INTO AN ABATEMENT POT SUPERVISED BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WITH EQUAL REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE CITIES, TOWNS AND STATE.

I FELT FROM THE BEGINNING, AND I STARTED THIS GOING FROM TOWN COUNCIL TO TOWN COUNCIL, DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, TO GET HIRED AS THEIR COUNSELOR IN THIS CASE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THE CITIES AND TOWNS HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BECAUSE TOO OFTEN IT IS TOP-DOWN.

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WILL BE BEST FOR YOUR COMMUNITY BY THE STATE.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOVERNOR MCKEE OR GOVERNMOR RAIMONDO OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN PROVIDENCE LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENED -- AND WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

SO THAT'S THE GIST OF THE SETTLEMENT.

THE OTHER PIECE THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC IS, A LOT OF TIMES IN THESE SETTLEMENTS, A BIG CHUNK COMES OUT FOR ATTORNEYS FEES AND COSTS.

THIS IS NOT.

WE NEGOTIATED A SEPARATE POT FOR THAT, SO EVERYONE WILL GET THE EXACT MONEY.

I GET PAID, JUST NOT OF THIS MONEY.

>> IT IS GREAT NEWS AND THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS THERE'S MORE TO COME, RIGHT?

WILL WE SEE A BIGGER SETTLEMENT?

ARE WE TALKING ANOTHER 100 MILLION DOLLARS OR SMALLER THAN THAT?

>> WE ARE HOPING IT WILL BE MORE THAN THAT, AND THE STATE HAS NOT FILED YET BUT WE HAVE.

THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ALL FILED AGAINST THE PROVIDERS, CVS, WALGREENS, RITE AID, AND NATIONALLY, THE JURY VERDICT ARE SPLIT ON IT.

SOME PLACES, YOU HEAR THE MANTRA THAT HAVE COME OUT RECENTLY OF, ALL WE DO IS FILL THE PILLS THAT THE DOCTORS FILL, AND THAT ARGUMENT AND SOME MORE CONSERVATIVE STATES HAS WORKED, NOT SO MUCH IN THE OTHERS.

SO WE ARE STILL IN TRIAL WITH THEM AND MOVING FORWARD.

THAT'S ALL BEING DONE OUT OF OHIO, OUT OF THE FEDERAL DISTRICT LITIGATION THERE, AND OUR NATIONAL COUNCIL, WHO I WORK WITH.

>> I HOPE YOU CAN ENLIGHTEN ME ON THIS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WE ARE GETTING SETTLEMENT MONEY TO ABATE THIS, MITIGATE DAMAGE FROM THE OPIOID CRISIS.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREVENT IT GOING FORWARD?

DOCTORS ARE STILL PRESCRIBING OXYCONTIN.

THE FDA HAS NOT REPEALED THAT APPROVAL THAT WAS SO KEY TO ALLOWING DOCTORS TO GIVE THOSE PRESCRIPTIONS.

Z HOW DO WE MAKE THAT CHANGEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ -- HOW DO WE MAKE THAT CHANGE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

OXYCONTIN HAS A PLACE IN MEDICINE.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT PLACE?

NOW THERE HAS TO BE NOTICE WHEN YOU HAVE AN UPTICK IN PILLS AND PRESCRIPTIONS.

THE FIRST THING WE DID WITH OPIOIDS WAS TO GO AFTER THE DOCTORS 10 YEARS AGO.

THEY GOT FINED OR WHATEVER AND THEN A NEW DOCTOR CAME IN, SO WE SAID THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS TO GET AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

YOU TALK ABOUT PREVENTION, AND THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY GOING TO THE CITIES AND TOWNS.

THE MAYORS AND TOWN ADMINISTRATORS ARE SAYING, THE SMALL AMOUNT COMING TO US, WE CAN USE FOR PREVENTION.

SO, JUST THIS WEEK, SOMEONE HIRED A SOCIAL WORKER TO DO THAT PREVENTATIVE WORK.

>> WE CAN CONTINUE THIS AFTERWARDS.

I'M SURE WE WILL.

LET'S DO OUTRAGES AND OR KUDOS.

>> MY OUTRAGE WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAVE RECORD INFLATION, NOT SEEN THAT HIGH IN FOUR DECADES.

EVERYONE YOU TALK TO HIS FRUSTRATED GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE GAS PUMPS, TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND IT IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.

THE BROADER CRISIS IS SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL, THE OPIOID CRISIS, FENTANYL COMING OVER THE BORDER, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT COULD BE MITIGATED IF WE HAD BORDER SECURITY, AND WE ARE JUST NOT INVESTING IN THAT, FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THOSE THINGS.

WE HAVE 500,000 PEOPLE CONSIDERED GETAWAYS, COMING TO THIS COUNTRY, BEING DISSEMINATED HERE, PUTTING A BURDEN ON OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE BOTCHED ROLLOUT OF THE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN, WHICH ONLY EMBOLDENED RUSSIA AND CHINA.

WE ARE LOOKING AT VILLE UKRAINE COMING IN AND ALL THESE THINGS GOING ON.

>> YOU ARE SETTING THE TABLE.

WE WILL DO A LIVELY EXTRA.

I AM MAKING THE CALL NOW.

WE ARE DOING AN ONLINE BONUS SEGMENT.

STAY TUNED.

>> I WILL TELL YOU, I AM RELIEVED TO HAVE MADE IT HERE TODAY, BECAUSE TWO WEEKS AGO, ACCORDING TO THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL, RURAL PROVIDENCE WAS GOING TO BECOME COMPLETELY LAWLESS BECAUSE OF A VACCINE MANDATE AND THE WORLD WOULD END.

I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE FROM MOUNT PLEASANT TO SIT HERE.

THEY ALL SAID THAT.

TWO WEEKS LATER, 95% OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES ARE VACCINATED.

POLICE, I THINK WE ARE DOWN TO 56 PEOPLE.

TO THE CREDIT OF THE PROVIDENCE POLICE UNION, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET THIS DONE.

THE MAYOR ACTUALLY GOT THIS RIGHT AND THE CITY COUNCIL WAS RIDICULOUS.

>> YOU GET THE LAST MINUTE.

>>>> I'M DISAPPOINTED IN NICOLE ALEXANDER-SCOTT, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MONEY.

IT IS JUST HOW DO YOU LEAVE YOUR PROFESSIONAL, HOW YOU LEAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC?

YOUR CONTRACT IS UP THIS SPRING.

HOW DO YOU LEAVE, GIVE TWO WEEKS NOTICE?

AS I UNDERSTAND SHE NEEDS A BREAK, SO TAKE THE MONTH OFF AND SAY I NEED A BREAK, BUT TO LEAVE AND HOLD THE STATE HOSTAGE ON THE MONEY POT -- I DON'T CARE IF IT IS $10.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.

I'VE BEEN VERY RESPECTFUL OF HER.

I THOUGHT SHE DID A WONDERFUL JOB REPORTING AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

HOW DO YOU WALK AWAY?

>> I THINK THERE'S A STORY -- WE MAY NEVER GET TO IT, BUT A STORY BEHIND THE STORY WE MAY NOT KNOW, BUT I AGREE, THE OPTICS, NOT GREAT.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S IT FOR OUR ON-AIR PORTION BUT WE HAVE NATIONAL ISSUES TO COVER, AS OUTLINED BY LEANNE.

WE WILL GO ONLINE TO RIP BS.ORG/LIVELY.

FOR THE REST OF YOU, DAVE, EVA AND LEANN, FIRST TIME PANELISTS.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

IT IS A DIZZYING NEWS CYCLE AND WE WILL BE BACK TO COVER IT FOR YOU NEXT WEEK AS THE LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

[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'M JOHN HAYS -- HAZEN WHITE.