[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," THE EASING OF SOME COVERT RESTRICTIONS IS ON THE HORIZON.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR RHODE ISLAND?

AND A DISSECTION FOR THE GOVERNORS RACE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AS WELL.

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

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

JIM: JOINING US ON THE PANEL, WENDY SCHILLER, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT BROWN UNIVERSITY, FORMER SKIPPER PRESENTED OF JOHN BRENNAN, AND WPRI 12 INVESTIGATOR TIM WHITE.

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "LIVELY."

I'M JIM HUMMEL.

AS COVID RATES DROP, MANDATES AND RESTRICTIONS WILL BE GRADUALLY PHASED OUT THIS WEEKEND.

GOVERNOR MCKEE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT SMALLER VENUES NO LONGER NEED TO REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINATION OR MASKING AND STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DITCH THEIR MASKS ON MARCH 4 IF THEIR OWN DISTRICTS AGREE.

JON, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

THE CHAIR WE HEARD WAS FROM A LOT OF STUDENTS, THE GROAN WAS FROM SCHOOL COMMITTEES WHO HAVE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION AND YOU HAVE SOME PARENTS ON EITHER SIDE OF IT.

THAT IS GOING TO BE THE REAL BATTLE, ISN'T IT?

JON: I AGREE.

THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS PEOPLE HOPING SOMEONE ELSE WOULD MAKE THE CALL.

THEY PUT IT BACK ON THE SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

WHAT YOU WILL FIND IS RIGHT NOW, I WASN'T DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MANDATE WASN'T JUST CUT OFF FOR THE KIDS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT I CAN GO INTO A BAR THIS WEEKEND WITH 100, 200, 500 PEOPLE AND WATCH THE SUPER BOWL, BUT THE NEXT DAY A CHILD HAS TO AIR MASK 8 HOURS A DAY.

I'M SURPRISED IT WAS NOT BEFORE MARCH 4, BUT I THINK PUTTING IT ON SCHOOL COMMITTEES, YOU WILL SEE THE MORE LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL COMMITTEES AROUND CITIES AND TOWNS ARE NOT GOING TO LIFT THAT MASK MANDATE.

I THINK THINK IS GOING TO GO TO AN OPTION FOR THE PARENTS WHO DECIDE IF THE KIDS ARE GOING TO WEAR MASKS.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN A PROGRESSIVE OR LIBERAL TOWN LIKE BARRINGTON, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE KEEPS THE MANDATE IN PLACE BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON, MASKS HAVE BECOME THE VIRTUE SIGNAL OF THE LEFT THAT SAYS WE ARE MORE ENLIGHTENED, WE ARE STILL AFRAID, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THESE MASKS, AND IF YOU DON'T YOU ARE TREATED LIKE A KNUCKLE DRAGGING TROGLODYTE.

IT IS REALLY SAD, ACTUALLY.

IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A CONSISTENT PATTERN ACROSS THE STATE.

I WISH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A STATEWIDE LIFTING OF MANDATES.

JIM: YOU WONDER AT THE STATEHOUSE, WITH ALL THE HEARINGS AND PEOPLE COMING OUT, IS IT A VOCAL MINORITY?

HOW DO YOU GAUGE IF YOU ARE A SCHOOL COMMITTEE, HOW DO YOU GAUGE WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS?

WENDY: I THINK THIS IS AN EMPIRICAL REALITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY YOUNGER CHILDREN VACCINATED.

I CAN UNDERSTAND PARENT AS VINCI.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE BEING SAFE.

BUT TEENAGE GROUP'S ARE FAIRLY WELL VACCINATED, ALMOST 70% OF KIDS OVER THE AGE OF 14.

IN HIGH SCHOOLS THEY ARE WELL VACCINATED.

I THINK THERE'S AN EFFORT BY SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND TOWNS TO GET PARENTS TO GET KIDS VACCINATED SO THEY CAN GET TO A SITUATION THAT IS SAFER.

I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO BUY A LITTLE TIME TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET PARENTS TO GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED, KNOWING THAT THE MACS ARE GOING TO COME OFF.

TIM: THE GOVERNOR'S MASK MANDATE EARLY ON -- MY DAUGHTER, A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL, POINTED THIS OUT TO MEET, SHE SAID "YOU KNOW, DAD, NOW THAT THE MANDATE IS BEING LIFTED COME THAT IS GOING TO APPLIED SOCIAL PRESSURE ON KIDS."

I DISAGREE WITH JON THAT SOME STUDENTS WILL WEAR THE MASK AND SOME WON'T.

THERE A SOCIAL ASPECT TO STUDENTS WHO WANT TO WEAR MASKS BUT WILL FEEL PRESSURE FROM THE REST OF THE SCHOOL.

YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT IS LIKE IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL -- JIM: TO BE THE OUTLIER.

JON: I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, THIS IS DECISION BY THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION TO PUT IT ON SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

WHAT YOU SAW AT THE STATEHOUSE, AMP IT UP BY 10 WITH BOTH SIDES TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT.

JIM: HOW DO YOUR KIDS -- THEY HAVE HAD TWO YEARS OF THIS AND THEY HAVE GONE FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND YOUR DAUGHTER IS IN HIGH SCHOOL -- A LITTLE BIT OLDER, BUT HOW IS IT BEEN FOR THEM?

TIM: IS HO-HUM.

WHAT WE HEAR -- AS REPORTERS WE HEAR A LOT FROM PARENTS.

MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE STUDENTS SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS MORE OR LESS ABOUT HAVING TO WEAR MASKS.

MY WIFE WORKS IN A KINDERGARTEN CLASS AND FOR YOUNGER KIDS IT IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER WITH THEM PARTICULARLY, SPEECH DEVELOPING KIND OF THINGS.

JON: MY DAUGHTER IS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE GROUSES ABOUT HAVING TO WEAR MASKS A LOT AND SO TO HER FRIENDS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT THEY HAVE TO WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOL AND THEN THEY PRACTICE FOR FIELD HOCKEY AND THEY ARE NOT WEARING MASKS, OR IN GYM ALL SITTING TOGETHER AND NOT WEARING MASKS AT THE TIME.

BUT THAN THEY HAVE TO PUT THE MASKS BACK ONTO GOING TO SCHOOL.

ONE OF THE POINTS I HAVE HEARD IS THE INABILITY TO HEAR THE TEACHER, TO UNDERSTAND, TO BE ABLE TO EXPOSE YOURSELF, THE FACT THAT IT WAS--EXPRESS YOURSELF, THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T CLEAR.

WITH THE VIRTUAL LEARNING AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED, KIDS HAVE FALLEN BEHIND.

MY DAUGHTER IS IN AP SPANISH AND SHE WAS TOLD "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO LEARN THAT LAST YEAR, ALL OF YOU KIDS WERE."

NONE OF THEM DID.

JIM: HOW IS THAT FROM THE PROFESSOR STANDPOINT?

YOU HAVE HAD TO TEACH IN A MASK.

WENDY: WITH LANGUAGES THEY HAVE COME TO SOME ACCOMMODATION, PERFORMANCE ART, THEATER, BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO SEE VERBAL FORMATION OF WORDS WHEN YOU TEACH LANGUAGES.

YOU MENTIONED AP SPANISH.

THERE IS SOME FLEX ABILITY ON THAT.

IT IS HARD FOR STUDENTS ON ZOOM TO HEAR ME IN A MASK SO I DO SPEAK MORE SLOWLY.

YOU KNOW THAT IS HARD FOR ME.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: HOW DID THAT GO?

WENDY: I'M USUALLY PRETTY LOUD, AND I HAD TO STOP AND SAY I WILL SAY THAT AGAIN BECAUSE YOU DID NOT HEAR ME ON ZOOM.

IT IS EASIER NOW WITH A MASK IN CLASS BECAUSE EVERYONE IS IN PERSON AND IT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY LIKES WEARING A MASK IT, EXCEPT WE ARE NOT GETTING COLDS AND SORE THROATS.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING TO US THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE HAD INTERACTED "NORMALLY."

NOBODY WANTS TO WEAR MASKS.

I THINK MOST KIDS ARE GOING TO SAY "I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ANYMORE."

I WONDER IF THAT MOMENTUM IS GOING TO SWING.

LARGER STATES THAT SURROUND US, STATES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS AND IN NEW YORK STATE, THE GOVERNOR SAID LET'S GIVEN UNTIL MARCH 4 AND SEE HOW THE KIDS ARE DOING.

JIM: COMING BACK FROM VACATION.

WENDY: AND THEN WE WILL DECIDE ABOUT KIDS AND MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

IT IS A WAY OF ENCOURAGING THOSE PARENTS WHO HAVE NOT VACCINATED THEIR KIDS, GET THEM VACCINATED AND WEEKEND -- JIM: THE COMMISSIONER MADE THAT POINT.

I LISTENED TO CHARLIE BAKER'S PRESS CONFERENCE THE OTHER DAY -- I DON'T LISTEN TO MASSACHUSETTS REGULARLY, BUT ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT THEY ARE COMING OFF THAT WE HEAR WE ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE KID'' MIDDLE HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT?

WE DO NOT HEAR ANY OF THAT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT STARTED -- GOVERNOR RAIMONDO, DISTANCE LEARNING IS GREAT.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD THAT COMPONENT WE HAVE FOR THE HEALTH CARE COMPONENT.

TIM: BUT WE ARE SEEING THE DATA ON THE IMPACT OF THE PAST TWO YEARS.

JIM: SLIPPAGE.

TIM: REMOTE LEARNING REALLY SET STUDENTS BACK, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS ARE OUT OF THE GATE ANYWAY.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT TEACHERS, COACHES, SCHOOL STAFF ARE ARE THE FRONT LINE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AT HOME.

THERE WAS A DROP -- WE DID A STORY ON REPORTS OF POTENTIAL CHILD ABUSE WENT WAY DOWN IN 2020 AND 2021.

IT IS NOT BECAUSE CHILD ABUSE WENT DOWN, IT IS REPORTING WASN'T THERE.

WENDY: SAME THING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GOES UP BUT THE COST OF THE HOTLINES WENT DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PRIVACY IN NO WAY FOR SOMEONE BEING ABUSED AT HOME.

IT IMPACTS CHILDREN.

IT HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO MOVE PAST IT.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED THAT IS GOOD AND WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED THAT IS BAD, SO THE NEXT TIME A HUGE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS HAPPENS WE ARE BETTER PREPARED.

JON: I THINK THAT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF THE BELIEF THAT THE KIDS SHOULD BE UNMASKED IMMEDIATELY -- I REALLY DO COME THAT IS HOW I FEEL -- ONE LAST BITE OF THE APPLE.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL TAKE UP AN AMENDMENT PUT FORWARD BITE REPUBLICANS ON EXECUTIVE POWERS LEGISLATION TO SEE IF THE MANDATE WILL BE LIFTED IMMEDIATELY.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE VOTE IS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY BASED ON THAT FROM THE VERY VOCAL PARENT GROUPS.

TIM: IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE 40 FIVE DAYS THE WAY NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING.

JIM: WENDY, THIS DOVETAILS TO THE POLYGONAL ASPECT.

GOVERNOR RAIMONDO THE WHOLE LAST YEAR WAS GOVERNING UNDER A PANDEMIC.

I WONDER AS WE BEGIN TO GET OUT OF THIS, THIS AFFECTS HOW MCKEE GOVERNS, BECAUSE IT IS THE LITTLE LESS PANDEMIC AND MORE WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR ME UP UNTIL THE PRIMARY.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS AFFECTS THE GOVERNOR?

WENDY: THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNOR MCKEE TO SHOW RHODE ISLANDERS HE IS A VISION FOR THE FUTURE.

IF HE WANTS FOUR MORE YEARS, WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO WITH THOSE YEARS?

HOW IS HE GOING TO DIRECT THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE ARE GETTING THAT WE HAVE NOT SPENT YET?

WHAT ARE HIS VISION, WHAT DOES HE THINK?

HE HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO ARTICULATE THAT BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN GOVERNING IN A PANDEMIC AND NOW THAT IS GOING TO SLIP AWAY AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HE WANTS TO DO, SO HE CAN BE ASSESSED BY THE VOTERS, NOT ONLY HIS OWN PARTY, BUT IN THE STATE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM THE QUESTION IS LITERALLY HOW IS HE GOING TO ANSWER THE CALL?

JIM: YOU HAVE COVERED MANY OF HIS MISSTEPS.

TELL ME, ON THURSDAY NIGHT YOU HAD REPORTING ABOUT THAT CONTROVERSIAL VACCINE BONUS.

TALK ABOUT THAT AND LET'S WIDEN IT OUT ABOUT THE LARGER THING WENDY IS TALKING ABOUT.

TIM: AS MANY PEOPLE MIGHT REMEMBER, THERE WAS A CONTROVERSIAL VACCINE BONUS WHERE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO GET UNIONIZED STATE WORKERS OR THE MAJORITY OF A $3000 BONUS IF THEY GOT THE SHOT PIT HE GOT A LOT OF HEAT FOR THAT ONE SO HE TO A VACCINE.FROM IT BEING TIED HE MADE IT WHAT HE CALLED A RETENTION STIPEND.

$1500 FIRST PAYMENT AND ANOTHER $1500 -- JIM: WHEN IS THE SECOND PAYMENT?

TIM: JULY.

JIM: WHEN IS THE PRIMARY?

TIM: SEPTEMBER.

JIM: JUST WANT TO GET BACK THERE.

TIM: NONE OF THE MONEY WOULD BE STATE FEDERAL REVENUE MONEY.

LAST I CHECKED THERE WAS FEDERAL INCOME TAX TAKEN OUT OF MY PAYCHECK, BUT REGARDLESS, THAT IS A VIDEO FOR POLITICIANS TO POINT THAT OUT.

ON THURSDAY WE GOT AN INTERNAL MEMO FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET THAT CALCULATED AT A MINIMUM THE BONUS WILL COST TAXPAYERS $18 MILLION AND HALF WILL COME FROM STATE REVENUE.

JIM: HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HIDE UNDER WE HAVE GO A $600 MILLION -- NOT $450 MILLION DEFICIT.

YOU ARE SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

JON: DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

THIS IS AWFUL RHODE ISLAND, BEST WAY I CAN PUT IT.

DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER IT IS COUCHED AS A VACCINE BONUS AND COUCHED ANOTHER WAY IS A RETENTION BONUS -- OH, THERE'S NO FEDERAL MONEY, NO STATE MONEY, OH YES, HALF BEING PAID FOR BY STATE MONEY PIT WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS YOU ARE GIVING BONUSES TO PEOPLE, YOU'RE CALLING IT RETENTION BONUSES.

PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REALLY AFFECTED EMPLOYMENT-WISE BY THE PANDEMIC GETTING A BONUS FOR STAYING AT WORK.

THEY KEPT THEIR JOB AND THEY WERE PROBABLY VERY THANKFUL.

I JOB WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS PIT I WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND I KNOW PLENTY OF JOBS THAT WERE AFFECTED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

BUT IN THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, SOMEHOW GETTING A BONUS -- JIM: WE QUESTION -- I QUESTIONED GOVERNOR RAIMONDO REPEATEDLY, ARE YOU CONSIDERING LAYOFFS OR FURLOUGHS OR ONE DAY A WEEK?

THAT NEVER HAPPENED FOR STATE WORKERS.

NOBODY LOST A PAYCHECK.

JON: LOOKING AT THE LARGER QUESTION, THIS IS BEEN A MASSIVE FAILURE BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PUTTING FORWARD A CANDIDATE TO JUSTIFY HIM OR HERSELF TO THE CURRENT GOVERNOR AND THE REST OF THE FIELD, BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MANDATE POSITIONS, BUT THERE IS NOBODY ON THE SCENE.

IT IS REALLY INTERESTING AND CONFUSING, ACTUALLY.

IT IS WEIRD.

JIM: WENDY, GO AHEAD.

WENDY: IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE DYNAMICS OF THE ACTUAL PRIMARY, LATINO VOTERS ARE INCREASINGLY REALLY IMPORTANT IN RHODE ISLAND AND LATINO POLITICIANS ARE ASCENDANT.

THEY HAVE ALREADY ASCENDED, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO BE ASCENDANT.

IF YOU HAVE THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE -- JIM: FOR TREASURER.

WENDY: AND JESSICA DE LA CRUZ -- LATINOS ARE NOT A MONOLITHIC GROUP.

YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND YOU THINK, WELL, HOW DOES MCKEE APPEAL TO THAT GROUP AND THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

THAT IS MY QUESTION.

A LOT OF THIS SEEMS TO BE APPEALING TO SUBURBAN VOTERS OR PEOPLE HE IS FAMILIAR WITH, WHAT HOW DOES THE EXTENT AND MAKE SURE HE IS PROTECTED IN THE PRIMARY?

YOU CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE EATING AWAY HIS DEMOCRATIC BASE.

THAT IS WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.

TIM: ONE WAY TO DO IT IS TO KEEP HOPE FOR MCKEE THAT THE PRIMARY CONTINUES TO BE PACKED.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE 5 -- FOUR ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES -- JIM: PLUS THE GOVERNOR.

TIM: WHO DOES NOT HAVE TO AN F BECAUSE HE GETS A LOT OF AIR TIME WITH STATE OF THE STATE, COVERING A SNOWSTORM -- JIM: HOLDING YOU AT BAY.

TIM: WENDY KNOWS THIS BETTER THAN I DO -- FIVE CANDIDATES IN A PRIMARY, WHAT YOU NEED TO THINK, 35%-PLUS?

THAT IS HIS BEST PATH TO THE PLUMBER.

JIM:--THE PRIMARY.

JIM: HOW DOES SETH'S LEAVING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AFFECT BOTH RACES?

JON: CD 2 -- JIM: ARE YOU CD 2 OR 1?

JON: I AM 1.

YOU HAVE A DEEP-POCKETED CANDIDATE AND SOMEONE WHO HAS A NATIONAL PEDIGREE THROUGH HIS FAMILY AND EXPENSE OF RUNNING THESE KINDS OF CAMPAIGNS.

THE TREASURER IS A NATURAL FIT TO RUN ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE FOR THAT RACE.

BUT IN THE PRIMARY SITE, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, IT SEEMS LIKE NOW IT IS GOING TO BE A RACE TO THE LEFT.

EVERYBODY IS GOING TO OUTDO EACH OTHER AND KEEP TACKING LEFT.

JIM: YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DRAG MCKEE WITH HIM?

JON: MCKEE WILL GET THE HEISMAN TRY TO HOLD THEM AT BAY.

HE WILL TRY TO COME ACROSS AS THE CENTRIST, RATIONAL CANDIDATE, AND IT WILL CANNIBALIZE THEMSELVES ON THE LEFT.

AS OF YESTERDAY THEY ALL CAME OUT, EVERY SINGLE ONE, AND SAID THIS IS TOO EARLY TO LIFT THE MASK MANDATE.

THAT IS EXACTLY THE WRONG MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR.

WHAT THEY ARE TRY TO APPEAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC BASE WHO WILL VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

JIM: PROFESSOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WENDY: I WONDER IF HE MADE THE DECISION A LITTLE TOO EARLY FOR SOME MAYBE YOU SHOULD'VE WAITED.

A LONG TIME BEFORE YOU AFTER FILE.

WHEN HE WENT IN, A LOT OF PEOPLE WENT IN.

ON CD 2.

NOW YOU HAVE A FREE-FOR-ALL.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, I WOULD THINK SOMEONE WHO HAS GOT LOCAL ELECTIVE EXPERIENCE, WHO HAS A BUILT-IN BASE, THAT IS HARD -- PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE MORE BALANCE IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

IN RHODE ISLAND -- PEOPLE THINK MCKEE IS GOING TO GET REELECTED AND THEY MAY SAY WE HAVE GOT TO GET A REPUBLICAN SOMEWHERE AND THAT MAY FEED INTO THE ULTIMATE GENERAL ELECTION FOR CD 2.

TIM: ALLAN FUNG HAS ANNOUNCED YET.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO -- JIM: ANOTHER LIVELY PANELIST WE HAVE TO KICK OFF THE PANEL.

[LAUGHTER] TIM: WITH THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW WELL MAGAZINER WAS DOING.

THERE IS NO POLLING TO SHOW US THE NUMBERS THAT WILL GIVE US THE IMPACT OF THE RACE.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS MAYBE NELLY HAS BENEFITED FROM MAGAZINER LEAVING THE RACE.

JIM: MAYBE HE SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL ALREADY.

WENDY: SHE HAS BEEN DOING INTERNAL POLLING.

JIM: TIM WHITE WOULD TELL YOU SHOW ME THE PULP.

TIM: CROSSTABS.

JIM: WHAT TIM WHITE IS THINKING IT AS ALL THESE PEOPLE JUMPING IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PODIUMS.

TIM: WE NEED TO FIND PRETTY BIG VENUES.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU SAY?

DR. MUNOZ -- THAT GETS PROBLEMATIC, TOO.

REMEMBER THE WHOLE INCLUDING CHRIS YOUNG OR NOT, TABLES FLYING.

FIVE PEOPLE IN A DEBATE, HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK?

TIM: I'VE DONE IT.

IN 2010 I MODERATED A GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE OF ALL PARTIES -- LINCOLN CHAFEE -- JIM: THANK CAPRIO, GENRE BUT I. TIM: I THINK WE ARE MISSING ONE.

THAT WAS DOWN AT URI, AND THAT WAS HERDING CAT.

IT WAS IN ONE OF THEIR THEATERS.

WENDY: ARE YOU SURE THE FUTURE OF DEBATES IN ELECTION YEARS IS INSECURE BECASE WE HAVE THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO DEBATES IN 2024.

JIM: ALL DIGITAL.

WENDY: I WONDER -- THEY SAY IF IT WILL NOT BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO ME, I WILL NOT GO TO THE DEBATE.

I WILL USE THE MEDIA TO CAMPAIGN.

JON: I AGREE WITH TIM, I THINK ALLAN FUNG WILL JUMP IN AND IT IS HIS RACE TO LOSE IF HE JUMPS IN.

RHODE ISLAND HAS A HISTORY OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS AND I THINK IF MCKEE GETS REELECTED FROM THERE IS NO ONE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE TO CHALLENGE HIM FOR THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE THAT IDEA THAT ALLAN RAN FOR GOVERNOR TWICE.

VOTERS SOMETIMES THINK I OWE HIM ONE.

ALL OF THE SUBURBAN CITIES AND TOWNS.

I THINK THEY WILL GO RED.

I BELIEVE IF ALLAN JUMPS IN, I AGREE WITH TIM, IT IS HIS TO TAKE.

JIM: WENDY SAID WE MAY NOT HAVE DEBATES AND LITTLE TEARS COMING DOWN.

[LAUGHTER] TIM: I WILL HAVE MORE TIME ON MY HANDS.

WENDY: I'M JUST SAYING THAT IS A NATIONAL TREND.

IN RHODE ISLAND WE ARE -- IT IS TOO COSTLY TO SAY I'M SKIPPING A DEBATE IN RHODE ISLAND.

BUT LARGER STATE POLITICS ARE GETTING CONTINUOUS AND PEOPLE MAY SAY I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

JIM: JON, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LET RHODE ISLAND VOTE ACT.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ON?

JON: I CANNOT BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE ARGUMENT IS, WELL, THIS WORKS REALLY WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE A PANDEMIC.

UNIVERSAL MAIL BALLOT APPLICATIONS WERE SENT OUT.

MY HOUSE, MY DAD, I COULD HAVE VOTED FOR HIM.

FORMER TENANTS GOT BALLOT APPLICATIONS AT THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN.

I COULD'VE VOTED FOR EVERYBODY AND NOBODY WOULD HAVE KNOWN.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE SIGNATURE WHEN IT COMES IN TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS?

JON: ARE THEY REALLY?

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, ARE THEY REALLY, OR ARE THEY JUST PUMPING THE BALLOTS -- WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

JIM: YOU DON'T LIKE EARLY VOTING.

JON: I DON'T LIKE EARLY VOTING.

WE HAVE CRATED A NATION AND A STATE OF LAZY NAMBY-PAMBY, IN MY OPINION.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SENT TO YOU AT HOME ON YOUR COUCH.

THERE IS A CIVIC DUTY.

PLEASE VOTE.

YOU HAVE 12 HOURS TO DO IT, IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.

IF YOU WANT SECURE ELECTIONS AND YOU DON'T WANT BALLOT HARVESTING AND MAIL BALLOTING, WHICH LEAD TO INSECURE ELECTIONS, WE COULD HAVE PAPER BALLOTS, WE HAD FOOD WRITING IN RHODE ISLAND, AND WE--VOTER ID IN RHODE ISLAND, SAME-DAY ELECTIONS.

I'M AN OLD-FASHIONED GUY COULD JIM: MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

JON: I THINK THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE BECAUSE IT LEADS TO FRAUD OR THE APPEARANCE OF A FRAUD AND YOU WANT INTEGRITY IN YOUR ELECTIONS.

THERE ARE POLITICIANS IN THE STATE THAT WANT TO GET AROUND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A VARIETYV-- VOTER ID.

I WORK FOR FIVE YEARS TO GET THAT BILL TO THE GENERAL OR SIMPLY COME AND MAIL BALLOTING I THE WAY TO GET AROUND VOTER ID.

WENDY: I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.

I DON'T DISAGREE THAT YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO GET OUT ON THE SAME DAY, ELECTION DAY.

THEN MAKE IT SAME-DATE REGISTRATION SO YOU CAN GET UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY I DID NOT GET AROUND TO GET REGISTERED, LET ME REGISTER TODAY.

JIM: WITHOUT A PROVISIONAL BALLOT.

WENDY: REGISTER THAT DAY, CONFIRM.

WE HAVE ELECTRONIC CONFIRMATION, WE CAN DO THAT WITH VOTER ID.

MAKE SURE THERE ARE POLLING PLACES EVERYWHERE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT MAIL-IN BALLOT OR EARLY VOTING, PAY MORE MONEY AND HAVE LOT OF ELECTORAL VOTING PLACES INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T ALWAYS HAVE GREAT REPUBLICANS ROTATION, PEOPLE WHO ARE--GREAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PEOPLE WERE WORKING, WERE TIRED, WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT -- MAKE IT EASY TO VOTE ALL DAY LONG EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE.

THAT IS WHAT I WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY OF THESE OTHER KINDS VOTING.

TIM: FROM A POLITICAL SCIENCE STANDPOINT COVERING ELECTIONS, THIS UNCERTAINTY MAKES IT VERY HARD TO GET A GRASP OF WHAT THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT VOTER TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE AS WE SIT HERE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF PENDING LEGISLATION.

TURNOUT WILL GO UP IF IT PASSES.

IT WILL GO DOWN IF IT DOESN'T.

IT TURNS--MIDTERMS TEND TO BE TOUGH ANYWAY, BUT IN RHODE ISLAND WE HAVE A GUBERNATORIAL RACE, CD 2 COULD DRAW MORE PEOPLE OUT.

THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH ALL OF THIS GOING ON.

IT MAKES IT HARD FOR REPORTERS AND CLINICAL SCIENTISTS TO PROTECT BUT ALSO FOR THE CAMPAIGNS AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ATTACK THE NEXT YEAR MOVING FORWARD.

JON: THE FACT THAT THE ARGUMENT IS THAT IT WORKED REALLY WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC DISH BUT IT WAS A PANDEMIC.

JIM: BUT EARLY VOTING -- IN NORTH CAROLINA, MY ADOPTED STATE, EARLY VOTING IS 20 DAYS BEFORE AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.

WENDY: NEVADA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.

THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH IT.

IT IS NOT LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PANDEMIC MAJOR HUGE ESTATES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS, AND THEY'VE ELECTED REPUBLICANS AND THEY HAVE ELECTED DEMOCRATS.

WHY DO POLITICIANS -- I'M NOT SAYING JUST YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE?

JON: DON'T THINK IT IS MUCH OF A BURDEN TO GO AND VOTE.

JIM: WHAT IS WRONG WITH EARLY VOTING?

TIM: THE ARGUMENT IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO WORK DURING THOSE DAYS AND THEY CANNOT STAND IN LINE FOR THREE TO FOUR HOURS.

THAT IS THE ARGUMENT -- >> THAT IS THE POINT NO ONE TO MAKE -- THERE ARE PLENTY POLLING PLACES INMAN SOCKET AND NOBODY'S STANDING IN LINE.

IT IS NOT THAT NOBODY IS COMING TO VOTE -- THERE ARE NO LINES.

13 HOURS AGO CAP -- JIM: WHAT YOU MIGHT BE THE OUTLIER.

THERE ARE PLACES WHERE YOU DO HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE.

WENDY: THERE ARE PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN PARTICULARLY IN SOUTHERN STATES IS THAT POOR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE A FEW WORK POLLING PLACES.

THE PUBLIC AND LEGISLATORS SAY THEY DON'T VOTE--REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS- SAY THEY DON'T VOTE FOR US SO WE WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO VOTE.

RHODE ISLAND IS A PRETTY SMALL STATE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS EASY TO VOTE.

I DON'T DISAGREE THAT WE WANT TO BE CIVIC THE MONEY TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

VOTING IS IMPORTANT CIVIC DUTY.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC OF SAYING THAT BUT NOT ALSO MAKING IT MUCH EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO REGISTER.

JON: IF YOU WANT TO DO UNIVERSAL MAIL BALLOT APPLICATIONS, CLEANUP THE ROLLS.

THAT IS NOT HAPPENING IN RHODE ISLAND.

JIM:YOUR DAD'S CASE, IT TAKES A COUPLE OF ELECTION CYCLES.

JON QUOTE IN MY SISTERS' CASE, THEY MOVED OUT DECADES AGO.

JIM: THAT IS A WHOLE 'NOTHER ISSUE.

OUTRAGEOUS AND--OUTRAGES AND/OR KUDOS.

TIM: I'M CALLING AN AUDIBLE FOR SUPER BOWL WEEKEND.

PEOPLE WHO CONSUME NEWS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER, STOP MAKING JUDGMENTS ON REPORTING BASED ON A TWEET OR READING THE VERY BEGINNING OF A SOCIAL-MEDIA POST.

CLICK THROUGH AND READ THE ARTICLE.

YOU MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING.

INEVITABLY WE GET A MESSAGE OR A TWEET -- WHY DIDN'T YOU REPORT THIS?

WE DID, IT IS IN THE ARTICLE.