JIM: THIS WEEK ON A "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," THE RAIMONDO RESIGNATION WATCH CONTINUES.

AS THE GOVERNOR'S SOON-TO-BE SUCCESSOR HAS PUBLIC CRITICISM FOR HER.

MORE CHANGES ARE COMING TO THE STATE'S TROUBLED VACCINE ROLLOUT PLAN.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> IT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLAND.

I'M JOHN I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM ON RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US WITH THE ANALYSIS, BROWN UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, WENDY SCHILLER.

FORMER CRANSTON MAYOR, ALLAN FUNG.

AND POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE PUBLIC'S RADIO, IAN DONNIS.

HI, EVERYONE.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS WEEK.

DESPITE A CALL FROM AN INCREASING NUMBER OF LOCAL MAYORS FOR THE GOVERNOR TO RESIGN, GINO RAIMONDO CONTINUES TO HANG ON UNTIL SHE IS CONFIRMED BY THE U.S. SENATE AS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S COMMERCE SECRETARY.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IS OVER.

IT LOOKS LIKE THAT CONFIRMATION MAY COME SOONER RATHER THAN LATE.

MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNOR INSISTS THAT SHE IS CONTINUING TO RUN GOVERNMENT DAY-TO-DAY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IAN, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LOT.

WE'LL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT UNTIL SHE LEAVES.

WE SEE A LITTLE MORE OF A CRACK IN THE ARMOR WITH DAN MCKEE NOW.

HE CAME OUT AND IS MORE CRITICAL.

YOU WONDER HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

THERE IS MORE FRICTION BETWEEN THE TWO.

IAN: IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT DAN MCKEE FEELS A LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION BECAUSE HE'S WAITING IN THE WINGS.

HE'S NOT YET GOVERNOR, BUT HE IS -- WE ARE KIND OF IN THIS IN BETWEEN LAND.

IT'S LIKE THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

IT'S A SHADOW REALM.

EVEN HEALTH DIRECTOR, ALEXANDERER SCOTT, TOUCHED ON THIS DURING A RECENT NEWS CONFERENCE WHEN ASKED WHO IS MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE STATE ON OWE INDIVIDUAL?

SHE SAID BOTH GOVERNORS.

DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TWO GOVERNORS?

ONE GOVERNOR, OR NO GOVERNOR?

THAT REFLECTS THE STRANGE SITUATION WE ARE IN.

I EXPECT IT COULD BE RESOLVED AS SOON AS EARLY NEXT WEEK.

GOVERNOR RAIMONDO HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO RESIGN AHEAD OF HER CONFIRMATION.

PEOPLE CAN DEBATE WHETHER THAT'S THE RIGHT OR WRONG THING TO DO.

I EXPECT THIS WILL BE RESOLVED VERY QUICKLY AND PERHAPS AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

JIM: WENDY, SHOULD SHE RESIGN OR THIS MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING AND IT HAPPENS WHEN SHE GETS CONFIRMED AND LATER THAN SOME PEOPLE EXPECTED?

WENDY: I THINK THE QUESTION OF RESIGNING SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE ASKED AND ANSWERED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

YOU CAN'T BLAME HER.

SHE'S GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND.

YES, WE EXPECT THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE, THE BARELY DEMOCRATIC SENATE, TO CONFIRM HER, BUT IT'S NOT DONE YET.

SO WHY SHOULD SHE RESIGN HER DUEL ELECTED POSITION BEFORE SHE'S CONFIRMED TO THE OTHER ONE?

WE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, I THINK WE PROBABLY ALL AGREE THERE NEEDED TO BE A MUCH BETTER JOB OF TRANSITION, EVEN WHEN SHE WAS NOMINATED, SHE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT MCKEE ONBOARD ON COVID, ON VACCINATIONS, SO MAYBE IT DON'T GO THROUGH.

THEN THE GOVERNOR IS BETTER PREPARED.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE CRITICISM IS JUSTIFIED.

THE GOVERNOR, I DON'T THINK SHE RESIGN ON IAN SAYS SHE COULD BE WITH THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT A MOOT POINT IF BY THE TIME WE CALL FOR HER RESIGNATION SHE RESIGNS AND THEN SHE'S ALREADY CONFIRMED, IT'S A MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

I THINK IN THE STATE NOT BRINGING LIEUTENANT -- MISTAKE WAS NOT BRINGING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MCKEE ONBOARD AND BRIEFING HIM AND CONSULTING AND MAKING SURE THAT PARTICULARLY THE VACCINATION PROGRAM WAS GOING TO GO WELL WITHOUT HER CAPACITY TO DIRECTLY AND DAILY RUN IT.

JIM: ALAN, I THINK IT MAY BE EASIER TO SWALLOW IF WE HEARD FROM HER PUBLICLY UP ON THE STAGE THE LAST SEVEN TO EIGHT WEEKS.

IF YOU WANT TO BE GOVERNOR, FINE, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

THAT COMES WITH T. RIGHT?

ALLAN: IT'S A BIG PART OF IT.

LIKE IAN MENTIONED.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS CONFLICT INTENTION GOING ON.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

FOR ME, IT IS TIME FOR GOVERNOR RAIMONDO TO RESIGN.

I THINK WE ARE ALL HAPPY FOR HER PERSONAL SUCCESS.

IT'S LIKE BREAKING UP WITH AN EX.

IT'S TIME FOR HER TO MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY SERIOUS CRISIS.

THIS PANDEMIC.

THAT'S IMPACTING NOT JUST RHODE ISLANDERS BUT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ACROSS THE GLOBE.

FOR RHODE ISLAND, THE INCOMING GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MCKEE, HAS A LOT THAT HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO TACKLE.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE THAT BUDGET, THAT LOOMING BUDGET CRISIS THAT HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO TACKLE.

STATE AGENCIES.

IAN BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT, ESPECIALLY WITH HEALTH NOW WITH COVID, ARE GOING TO NEED THAT LEADERSHIP.

IT'S TIME FOR DAN TO BE ABLE TO TAKE FULL RAINES TO IM-- REIGNS TO -- REINS TO IMPLEMENT HIS VISION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COVID CRISIS.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM ALREADY.

WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP MOVING ON.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS WITH COVID.

DATA AND SCIENCE BASED APPROACH AND NOT HAVE CONFLICTING OPINIONS OR POSSIBLY DEPARTMENT HEADS NOT KNOWING WHICH DIRECTION TO TURN INTO JIM: ALLAN, HANG ON A SECRETARY.

YOUR SUCCESSOR, MAYOR HOPKINS, AND INCREASING NUMBER OF MAYORS, HAVE GOTTEN ONBOARD.

I THINK CHARLIE LOMBARDI BROKE THE ICE.

DOES IT SURPRISE YOU NOW THERE IS A CHORUS LET'S RESIGN?

I'M SURE YOU ARE STILL IN TOUCH WITH THEM.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM?

WHY ARE THEY COMING TOGETHER AS ONE?

THEY LIKE DAN MCKEE, BUT ALSO FROM A POLICY SITUATION.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM?

ALLAN: JUST FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE EVEN WITH, FOR INSTANCE, THIS COVID VACCINATION ROLLOUT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SEEN THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN FROM THIS GOVERNOR WHERE A LOT OF TIMES IT'S LIKE, OK, WE ARE GOING TO ROLL THE GRENADE OUT THERE, AND YOU MAYORS HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE EXPLOSION TRY TO CATCH UP TO IT AND DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH.

THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION THAT'S GOING ON.

WE SAW A LITTLE BIT WITH THE TRANSITION WHERE THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION EARLY ON, AS WENDY HAD NOTED, LEADS TO THESE BIG BUMPS IN THE ROADS.

NOW WHEN THE TRANSITION IS HAPPENING.

AS MAYORS WE FELT A LOT OF THAT FRUSTRATION EARLY ON WITH THIS COVID CRISIS WHERE ONE THING'S ANNOUNCED YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO US AND WE ARE THE ONE THAT IS HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SMOOTH TRANSITIONS LOCALLY WITH A LOT OF COVID VACCINATIONS.

WE EXPERIENCED WITH TESTING EARLY ON.

COMMUNICATION IS A BIG PART.

AND WE ARE SEEING THAT NOW ALSO BETWEEN -- DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A BATTLE, BUT THE TENSIONS THAT ARE FLAIRING UP BETWEEN DAN AND THE GOVERNOR.

JIM: WENDY.

WENDY: I WANTED TO JUMP IN AND FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

I'M NOT A LIFELONG RHODE ISLANDER, I HAVE LIVED HERE A LONG TIME.

IT'S A WONDERFUL STATE.

IT'S A SMALL STATE.

IT'S A SMALL GEOGRAPHIC STATE.

IT'S GOT FEWER THAN A MILLION PEOPLE.

WHY WE COULDN'T HAVE SET UP STATEWIDE VACCINATION CENTERS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING?

WHERE YOU HAD -- IT'S AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES ACROSS THE STATE BORDER.

JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE STATEWIDE RUN, AND THAT YOU HAVE A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN REGISTER MUCH THE WAY OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN STARTING TO DO IT.

WE ARE NOT OHIO.

WE ARE NOT TEXAS.

WE ARE NOT FLORIDA.

IT'S NOT GEOGRAHICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.

THERE ARE BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THAT WASN'T THE APPROACH.

GIVEN THAT WE ARE A SMALL SIZE AND COMPACT, OUR DENSITY HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH COVID FOR SPREADING, COMPACT STATE, THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED AND ANSWERED.

I DON'T BLAME THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FROM NOT WANTING TO BE UP THERE ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS SINCE IT WASN'T HIS DECISION.

IT WASN'T HIS BODY TO ORGANIZE IT THAT WAY.

FOR A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT OR TRIED TO SELL ITSELF AS TRANSPARENT, IT'S BEEN STRIKINGLY NOT TRANSPARENT ON THIS.

THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER NOW, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS REMAINING.

JIM: IT'S A GREAT POINT FROM WENDY.

THE TIMING IS VERY VITAL NOW BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE FRUSTRATIONS AND CONFUSION ABOUT THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINATION IN RHODE ISLAND, GOVERNOR RAIMONDO CAN POINT TO HOW INFECTIONS ARE FALLING DRAMATICALLY.

THAT'S THE SITUATION IN A LOT OF PLACES.

THAT'S GOOD.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW THAT THE U.K.

VARIANT IS SPREADING VERY RAPIDLY ACROSS THE U.S. EXPECTED TO BECOME THE DOMINANT SOURCE OF INFECTIONS BY MARCH.

SO THERE IS KIND OF THIS RACE AGAINST TIME TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED BEFORE THE U.K.

VARIANT, WHICH WAS MORE CONTAGIOUS.

AFFECTS MORE PEOPLE.

THAT'S FUELING PART OF THE FRUSTRATION EXPRESSED BY DAN MCKEE.

JIM: WE'LL GET INTO THE HEART OF THE VACCINE IN A SECOND.

WENDY, LET ME ASK YOU.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD YOU AND IAN AND ALLAN AFTER LEAVING AS MAYOR.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT FROM A MCKEE ADMINISTRATION THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING -- THE FIRST MONTH THAT HE ACTUALLY HAS HIS HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND THE GOVERNOR'S OUT OF THE PICTURE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM THE INCOMING GOVERNOR?

WENDY: I THINK THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SOON-TO-BE GOVERNOR MCKEE, IT'S VERY BUSINESS ORIENTED.

IT'S HIS REPUTATION.

I KNOW FROM SOME PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES, HE MAKES A POINT OF VISITING THEM AND GOING TO THEIR MEETINGS.

HE CARES ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

GET THE ECONOMY BACK ON ITS FEET N PARTICULAR WITH COVID AND THE SUMMER, WE KNOW TOURISM IS A HUGE PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

RESTAURANTS ARE A HUGE PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE AREAS THAT ARE OK UNDER COVID, NOT AS BAD -- GETTING RHODE ISLAND TO BE A PLACE, PARTICULARLY MEME CAN DRIVE TO.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FLYING.

THEY FEEL SAFE TO COME.

IT WILL BE A BIG, BIG BOOST TO OUR ECONOMY.

I THINK THAT'S NUMBER ONE ON HIS LIST.

THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT.

WE'LL SEE HOW HE DOES WITH PROGRESSIVES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK HE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE THAT TO THE SPEAKER AND AS STATE PRESIDENT.

I THINK THAT'S NUMBER ONE ON HIS LIST.

HE HAS CREDIBILITY IN THAT AREA.

THAT'S SOMETHING HE'S KNOWN FOR.

I THINK THAT, TO ME, IS PROBABLY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE OUT OF THE GATE.

JIM: ALLAN?

ALLAN: FOR ME PERSONALLY, BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO THE ECONOMY, I WANT TO CHANNEL A QUOTE I HEARD FROM PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU JUST RECENTLY.

RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM.

IT'S AN ARMS RACE BETWEEN THE VACCINATIONS, AS IAN MENTIONED, THESE VARIANTS WE ARE SEEING.

HITTING OUR OWN BACK YARDS.

THE NUMBER ONE WAY WE ARE GOING TO GET OUR ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK IS GETTING THESE VACCINATION INTO EVERYONE'S ARMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM EXPECTING TO SEE FROM DAN BECAUSE IF I WERE IN CHARGE WHAT I WOULD BE WORKING ON IS GETTING -- CREATING MORE TYPES OF DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS BASED ON THE SCIENCE AND DATA.

MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE EMPOWERING THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO GET THOSE VACCINES INTO THEIR PATIENTS' ARMS.

IT'S NOT A HODGEPODGE APPROACH AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER ON THE SHOW.

JIM: MAYBE WE SHOULD CALL IT A SHOT IN THE ARMS RACE.

IAN, SO -- BEFORE I GET TO IAN, ALLAN, LET ME ASK YOU.

I REMEMBER SITTING AT THE VET, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST FALL, AND THE GOVERNOR WAS STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THIS VACCINE ROLLOUT.

I WAS THINKING, VACCINES ARE GOING TO BE FAR AWAY, WE WERE THINKING WARP SPEED WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT TRUMP HAD MADE UP.

WHAT WERE YOU HEARING IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT?

DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING UP TO THE STATE ROLLOUT?

DID THE STATE INCLUDE THE MUNICIPALITIES?

OR WAS IT ALL STATE?

ALLAN: IT WAS ALL STATE.

I CAN TELL YOU WE HEARD ZERO, JIM.

THAT'S PART OF THE FRUSTRATIONS, TENSIONS YOU ARE HEARING FROM SOME OF THESE MAYORS.

PROBABLY THAT CALL.

IT'S NOT JUST MAYORS.

YOU HEARD OTHER STATE LEADERS PLAYING AROUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THAT AS WELL.

BECAUSE WITH THIS VACCINATION WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO GET THESE SHOTS IN PEOPLE'S ARMS.

BUT WE HAVE TO INCREASE ACCESS THROUGH SPECIALTY DOCTORS.

LIKE ON KOHL GISTS -- ONCOLOGIES ON.

ONCOLOGISTS, GETTING THE NATIONAL GUARD MORE INVOLVED.

SO WE CAN REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY SOME OF THED -- THE HARDER HIT COMMUNITIES.

IT HAS TO BE THAT ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT AND THERE WASN'T ENOUGH COMMUNICATION.

REMEMBER, I WENT THROUGH IT FROM THE EARLY STAGES OF ALMOST A FULL YEAR OF IT, TOO.

I HAVE THAT PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF WHAT MANY OF THE LOCAL LEADERS WERE EXPERIENCING AND FEELING.

AND ALSO HEARING FROM MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS.

JIM: IAN, I'M SURE YOUR IN BOX IS FULL ALSO.

I HEAR FROM PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

WHAT DO I DO?

WHERE DO I GO?

IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS IT SEEMS LIKE THE STATE IS GETTING ITS ACT TOGETHER.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FRUSTRATION OUT THERE.

I'M SURE YOU HEAR IT IN YOUR EMAIL.

IAN: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S AN INDICATION OF A DISORGANIZED PROCESS IF RHODE ISLANDERS FEEL THE PROCESS HAS BEEN CONFUSING AND DISORGANIZED.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT RHODE ISLAND AND OTHER STATES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS ARE RAMPING UP TO PURSUE A LOT MORE VACCINATIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE QUESTION ON DAN MCKEE.

ONE OF HIS BIG ASSETS IS HIS REGULAR GUY CREDENTIALS.

HE'S VERY UNAFACTED.

HE'S DOWN TO EARTH.

PEOPLE LIKE HIM.

AS WENDY SAID HE'S ADVOCATED FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AT THE SAME TIME HE ALMOST SEEMS LIKE THE ACCIDENTAL GOVERNOR.

HE'S ALMOST 70 YEARS OLD.

BUT FOR A LESS THAN TWO PERCENTAGE POINT SWING, IT WOULD BE AARON INSTEAD OF DAN MCKEE WHO WOULD BE POISED TO BECOME GOVERNOR.

THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING THE NEXT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT DISORGANIZED FROM THE PUBLIC VIEW.

THEY HAD A BUNCH OF APPLICATIONS.

THEN THEY INDICATED THEY WERE EXTENDING THE DEADLINE AND ACCEPTING MORE APPLICATIONS.

THE QUESTION -- ALSO GOVERNOR FORMER LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, AN INSIDER.

THE QUESTIONS I HAVE ARE WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WILL DAN MCKEE HAVE WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT?

WILL THEY HAVE AN UPPER HAND BECAUSE OF THEIR GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF THE STATEHOUSE?

IS MCKEE TALKING TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE HIS BUBBLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PITFALL THAT IS WOULD FACE HIM AND ADMINISTRATION AS HE COMES IN AS GOVERNOR.

JIM: WENDY, TWO BIG ISSUES.

CHARTER SCHOOLS AND GUN CONTROL.

THAT'S A BIG CHANGE HE NOW.

WENDY: I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.

THE DECISION ON CHARTER SCHOOLS.

A MORATORIUM FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

DAN MCKEE WAS CHAMPIONED CHARTER SCHOOLS.

HE POINTS TO THAT AS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A POINT OF CONTENTION.

I THINK THERE IS SOME WORK TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF REPAIRING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHERS WHO ARE GENUINELY FRIGHTENED OF BEING IN THE CLASSROOM, IN-PERSON TEACHING WITHOUT VACCINATION, SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT IS WORKING FROM HOME WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND NEEDS THEM TO BE IN SCHOOL.

WE SEE THAT IN PAUTUCKETT.

THERE IS WORKING TO DONE TO BRING THE SIDES TOGETHER THERE.

THERE ARE GENUINE CONCERNS THERE.

BUT IT'S NOT A CONSTITUENCY THAT HE'S USED TO WORKING WITH IN A FAVORABLE WAY.

THE TEACHERS UNIONS IN PARTICULAR.

THE SECOND THING ON GUN CONTROL, AS YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN ON THIS SHOW A NUMBER OF TIMES TALKING ABOUT SECOND AMENDMENT.

THEN LIMITING ACCESS TO WEAPONS OF MASS MURDER.

YOU CAN HAVE A COMPROMISE.

THE STATE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT HAS INTRODUCED A BILL THAT LIMITS THE CAPACITY TO HAVE A GUN WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF SCHOOLS.

CAN'T HAVE GUNS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.

NOW A COMPANION BILL IN THE HOUSE TO DO THE SAME.

THAT WOULD BE A STEP FORWARD.

IT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY INFRINGE ON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AT ALL.

JUST SAYS YOU CAN'T BRING A GUN, A LOT OF OTHER STATES HAVE THIS, WITHIN 1,000 FEET OR SCHOOL PROPERTY N THAT SENSE I THINK THERE WILL BE MOVEMENT FORWARD.

I THINK MCKEE ONLY WINS IF HE CAN SIGN VERY TARGETED LEGISLATION IN GUN CONTROL AREA THAT WAY.

RATHER THAN BEING ASKED BY PROGRESSIVES TO GO IN A MUCH BIGGER AND BROADER DIRECTION OF GUN CONTROL.

BEING COOPERATIVE THERE MEANS THAT HE MAY NOT HAVE TO SUPPORT WHAT HE MIGHT VIEW AS MORE LIBERAL GUN CONTROL POLICIES.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THAT, ALLAN, NICK IS THE FIREWALL FOR YEARS REGARDLESS WHAT WENT ON IN THE SENATE.

AND THE SENATE BACK AND FORTH.

WHAT ABOUT GUN CONTROL OR CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THIS SECTION?

WHAT DO YOU SEE COMING OUT?

ALLAN: AS FAR AS CHARTER SCHOOLS, I DON'T -- JUST EXEE YOW WENDY'S POINT.

I'M NOT EXPECTING DAN MCKEE TO MAKE A 180-DEGREE TURN ON SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO HIM AS CHARTER SCHOOLS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S RAISED UP TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND MANY LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE IS THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME IRAREAS THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE WAY CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.

AND CERTAINLY FRUSTRATED BY THE WAY THEY TEND TO NOT EMBRACE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

THAT BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED AND IT'S BEING PUSHED ON THE MORATORIUM.

PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE THREE YEARS TO FIX SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS LIKE IT'S COMMONLY PROPOSED IN THAT BILL.

WE DO HAVE FAMILIES IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IN THIS STATE WHERE THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND BY THE SYSTEM, AND THEY NEED THE HELP IMMEDIATELY.

I AGREE, WENDY, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD BACK THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO GET SOMETHING DONE TO BALANCE BOTH SIDES ON THE ISSUE.

ON THOSE GUN CONTROL ITEMS YOU TALKED ABOUT, ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW IT'S BEEN PUT OUT THERE THAT, OH, SPEAKER, BUT THERE IS A STRONG AND ALSO VIBRANT BIPARTISAN SECOND AMENDMENT COMMUNITY THAT'S UP IN THE STATEHOUSE.

BOTH ON THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE SIDE.

I EXPECT THEM TO PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD DURING THIS SESSION.

BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE STATEHOUSE WITH THESE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN ON THE SENATE AND HOUSE SIDE.

WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN WE ARE SEEING PRESIDENT BIDEN ALREADY THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER TAKING A LOT OF INITIATIVE.

THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THESE ISSUES THAT BECOME MOOT, TOO.

JIM: AT THE END OF THE DAY UNLESS THE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE PIPE FOR THAT GUN CONTROL BILL, YOU COULD HAVE A VIBRANT BIPARTISAN.

UNLESS HE LETS -- THE WORD'S GOING TO COME FROM HIM TO HIS CONSTITUENCY, WOULDN'T YOU THINK?

ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE A NEW SPEAKER.

IT'S NOT TOTALLY NICK, BUT IT IS A LOT.

ALLAN: HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BALANCE ALL THOSE CONSTITUENTS.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ON BOTH SIDES.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO JUGGLE THAT.

WE HAVE HEARD THE SENATE ON THAT.

AND NOW WE ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE HOUSE.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S AT ALL LEVELS RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN TRYING TO PUSH ON SOME OF HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES, INCLUDING ON GUN CONTROL.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT BIPARTISAN PUSH BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES STRONG AND HEARD, TOO.

JIM: IAN, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR OUT OF THIS SESSION?

IAN: THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET.

ON ONE HAND THERE COULD BE AN ENORMOUS $500 MILLION-PLUS DEFICIT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR START -- ON THE OTHER HAND IF THERE IS A BIG STIMULUS PACKAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED CAPITAL IN D.C., THAT IS EXPECTED TO ALLEVIATE THE SITUATION AND REALLY REMOVE THAT AS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

THAT'S ONE HUGE FACTOR.

ON CHARTER SCHOOLS IT'S NO SECRET THAT RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN UNDERPERFORMING FOR YEARS.

THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT ONLY MORE DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE SCHOOLS.

I DID A STORY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO ABOUT HOW MORE THAN HALF OF PROVIDENCE ELECTED OFFICIALS SEND THEIR OWN KIDS TO SCHOOLS OTHER THAN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT SHOWS HOW THERE IS A REAL APPETITE FOR DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW THE TEACHERS UNIONS ARE NOT BIG FANS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

ON GUNS, JOE IS KNOWN AS A CONSENSUS BUILDER.

I EXPECT HE WILL MOVE SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY IN CONSIDERING GUN RELATED LEGISLATION.

JIM: LET'S DO OUTRAGES AND/OR KUDOS.

THEN WE'LL HEAD TO A LITTLE NATIONAL.

WENDY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE THIS WEEK?

WENDY: MY OUTRAGE.

MY OUTRAGE IS PROBABLY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

I'M OUTRAGED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN BETTER COMMUNICATION ON THE VACCINE.

THE REASON IS NOT THAT I WANT TO GET IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THERE IS SUSPICION OF VACCINES, RELUCTANCE TO TAKE VACCINES.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN SOME POOP PEW LATIONS IN RHODE ISLAND THAT HAVE SAID NO WE WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

I THINK THERE IS LEGITIMACY TO SAYING I'M WORRIED ABOUT ITS EFFECTS LONG-TERM, ETC.

BUT EVERY TIME YOU HAVE DISORGANIZATION IN A VACCINATION PROGRAM, YOU ALSO, I THINK, FEED PEOPLE'S CONCERNS AND FEARS ABOUT VACCINES.

AS MAYOR FUNG SAYS, WE HAVE TO GET COVID UNDER CONTROL YOU HAVE TO GET VACCINATED FOR LIFE TO RESUME.

MY OUTRAGE IS IT'S COSTLY, NOT JUST IN GETTING THE VACCINE BUT CERTAINLY ENCOUNTERING A LOT OF FEARS ABOUT THE VACCINE AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE HESITANT.

JIM: ALLAN, OUTRAGE OR KUDO?

ALLAN: A COMBINATION MIX.

OUTRAGE BUT ALSO A COUPLE KUDOS.

JIM: KEEP IT TIGHT HERE.

A COUPLE OF KUDO, COME ON.

WE HAVE TO GET TO THE NATIONAL AND YOUR BOY DONALD TRUMP.

ALLAN: DON'T START THAT WITH MY BOY.

KUDOS TO MY WIFE AND REPRESENTATIVE JULIE WORKING ON-N A BIPARTISAN WAY OFF AN IMPORTANT ISSUE WENDY RAISED.

WITH RELATION TO THE VACCINATION.

BOTH OF THEM GOT TOGETHR TO FIGHT TO GET PARENTS OR A CAREGIVER OF CANCER PATIENTS.

THEY WERE DEALING WITH A CHILD WHO WAS UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY, TO GET VACCINATED.

IT IS CRAZY, IT IS CRAZY YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH A WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THAT CAREGIVER OR PARENT ISN'T VACCINATED AND COULD BRING COVID INTO THE HOUSEHOLD TO SOMEONE IN A WEAKENED CONDITION.

IT HAD TO HAPPEN.

IT HAD TO HAPPEN YESTERDAY.

BUT KUDOS TO THE TWO OF THEM FOR WORKING TOGETHER AND A LOT OF IT IS, UNFORTUNATELY, I AM OUTRAGED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THAT THEY HAD TO WAIT ON AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COMMON SENSE BEFORE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CAME OUT TO SAY, OH, YEAH, YOU SHOULD VACCINATE THOSE OTHERS, TOO, SO IT DOESN'T BRING IT INTO THE HOUSEHOLD.

JIM: IAN?

IAN: A NOTE OF CONCERN ON THE WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES IN TEXAS AND THE DIFFICULT SITUATION THERE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT HEAT OR WATER IN TERRIBLY COLD WEATHER.

JIM, YOU KNOW AS A RESIDENT HOW OFTEN WE HAVE LOST POWER IN BARRINGTON, RUMPFORD, THAT SEEMS TO HAVE GROWN MORE COMMON.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE POWER GRID IS UNDER STRESS.

IT'S NOT REALLY ADJUSTED TO THE CHANGING WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN.

AND TEXANS LIKE THEIR CHEAP ENERGY WHEN THINGS ARE FINE, BUT THIS SITUATION RIGHT NOW IN TEXAS WHEN PEOPLE ARE -- HAPPEN TO GET BY IN FREEZING COLD WEATHER WITHOUT HEAT SHOWS -- COULD BE A HARBINGER OF MORE SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S A REAL CONCERN.

AS SOME HAVE POINTED OUT PARTISAN POLITICS IS LEADING MORE TO MORE PEOPLE IN SEPARATE PARTISAN CORNERS RATHER THAN WORKING ON SOLUTIONS.

JIM: WELCOME TO OUR WORLD IN THE WINTER.

NATIONAL.

ALLAN, WE BEGIN WITH YOU.

THIS IS THE FIRST AFTER YOUR LEAVING LEAFING AS MAYOR.

WE HAD YOU ON THE MAYOR SHOW.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT WHERE DONALD TRUMP WILL FIT IN WITH THE G.O.P.

GOING FORWARD?

GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

ALLAN: TRUMP IS INTERESTING IN THAT THE MAN STARTED OUT AS A DEMOCRAT.

UNTIL HE USED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO WIN THAT PRESIDENCY.

AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT STARTING A THIRD PATRIOT PARTY AND WHAT NOT.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE ALL THAT GOES WITH HIM.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM A LOT OF MY CONTACTS NATIONALLY, I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY WHAT I'M SEEING NATIONALLY BY THE YOUNGER, MORE DIVERSE, LITTLE MORE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CROWD THAT'S RISING UP IN THE PARTY.

PEOPLE LIKE THE NICKI HALEY'S OF THE WORLD WHO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AS GOFF GOVERNMENT I CERTAINLY WAS IMPRESSED WITH HER AS AMBASSADOR.

YOU GOT PEOPLE THAT HAVE STILL BEEN THERE LIKE MARCO RUBIO OR TIM SCOTT.

FOR ME, I'M QUITE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY.

NO MATTER WHAT MR. TRUMP DECIDES TO DO.

JIM: WENDY?

WENDY: I'M GLAD MAYOR FUNG MENTIONED TIM SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

WE'LLLY INTERESTING POLITICIAN THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO.

HE IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN 2022 I SPECIAL HIM TO BE BACK TOWARDS THE VERY CONSERVATIVE RANCH.

BUT HE DID CHALLENGE AND TAKE ON PRESIDENT TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN HE USED RACIST LANGUAGE, WHEN HE SUPPORTED -- WHEN HE DIDN'T DENOUNCE WHITE SUPREMECY.

TIM SCOTT WAS OUT THERE AND MADE SEVERAL REALLY GREAT SPEECHES ON THE SENATE FLOOR ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BUILDING ON THE GAINS THEY MADE IN THE ELECTION, WINNING A HIGHER SHARE OF LATINO VOTES, NOT ONLY IN TEXAS AS A STATE BUT FLORIDA AND CERTAIN COUNTIES.

SLIGHTLY HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS, PARTICULARLY MEN.

THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY.

THE QUESTION IS, IS THE PARTY GOING TO INVEST IN THE YOUNGER QUOTE-UNQUOTE, YOUNGER GENERATION AND BRING ALL THOSE FORCES TOGETHER NATIONALLY AS A MAJORITY?

OR ARE THEY GOING TO GO TOO MUCH OFF THE RANCH BACK TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHICH I DON'T THINK IS A WINNING STRATEGY FOR 2024.

MAY ACTUALLY NOT EVEN BE A WINNING STRATEGY FOR 2022?

JIM: WHAT DO YOU SEE, ALLAN, IN THE MID TERMS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AFTER TRUMP WAS ELECTED AND KIND OF THE PROGRESSION.

WE DIDN'T THINK -- THE SENATE WAS ULTIMATELY GOING TO COME OVER.

THE REPUBLICANS WOULD LOVE TO TAKE BACK TO THE HOUSE.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO TO MAKE INROADS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE IN THE MID TERMS?

ALLAN: NORMALLY WITH THE MID TERMS YOU DO SEE A SWING BACK FROM WHATEVER THE PARTY IS THAT'S IN CONTROL.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT BEFORE.

UP THAT I MENTIONED - THAT'S WHAT BRINGS OPTIMISM FOR ME NATIONALLY.

EVEN IN THE MID TERMS, STATEWID% OR EVEN LOCALLY, WE HAVE GOT SOME RISING STARS IN THE PARTY.

IT'S SMALL STILL.

BUT YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE SENATOR JESSICA DELLA CRUZ, WHO I THOUGHT DID A VERY EFFECTIVE JOB ON TELEVISION BEING THE COUNTER TO THE STATE OF GOVERNOR RAIMONDO'S ADDRESS, HER LAST ADDRESS.

OF COURSE -- JIM: I HAVE TO HOLD YOU THERE.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

BUT THANK YOU.

IAN AND WENDY AND ALLAN.

FOLKS, WE'LL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION ONLINE.

OUR SPECIAL BONUS SEGMENT.

GO RIGHT NOW TO RI PBS.ORG/LIVELY.

FOR THE REST OF YOU COME BACK NEXT WEEK AS THE "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

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I'M JOHN AND I'M PROUD TO