JIM: THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, GOVERNOR MCKEE'S EMERGENCY ORDERS ALLOWING FOR COVERT RESTRICTIONS TO EXPIRE NEXT WEEK.

WILL HE RUN THEM?

ANOTHER WEEK GOES BY AND WE WILL TELL YOU WHO IS IN AND WHO IS OUT OF THE MAJOR POLITICAL RACES.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> I AM JOHN HAYES MY JUNIOR, AND FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE GREAT PROGRAM, THE RHODE ISLAND PVS.

JIM: JOINING US ON THE PANEL, DR. PABLO RODRIGUEZ, RETIRED PROFESSOR FROM THE WARREN ALBERT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

PUBLIC STRATEGIST LISA PELOSI.

AND POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR SAM HOWARD.

HELLO, EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO LIVELY EXPERIMENT.

I AM JIM HUMMEL AND IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK.

MASK GUARDS AT THE DOOR, ZOOM MEETINGS FOR PUBLIC BODIES.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLAY AS THE GOVERNOR'S LATEST COVINGTON ORDERS EXPIRE NEXT WEEK.

THIS TIME HE IS ASKING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP FOR MISSION TO EXTEND THEM FOR ANOTHER 60 DAYS.

LET ME SET THE TABLE, WE ARE TAKING FRIDAY MORNING THURSDAY NIGHT, THE GOVERNOR EXTENDED THE ORDER FOR 30 DAYS, BUT IT IS REALLY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S HANDS AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL GO FEBRUARY 14 AS THE DEADLINE FOR THE OTHER ORDER.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WERE TWO YEARS.

I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO NAVIGATE.

I WONDER AT WHAT POINT YOU WILL LOSE THE PUBLIC ON THIS.

LISA: RIGHT.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS AN ONGOING POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE GOVERNOR, BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WHEN WE HAVE CONGRESSPEOPLE GO ACROSS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES, YOU CAN'T HAVE 535 SECRETARIES OF STATE, YOU CAN'T HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE RUNNING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

YOU NEED TO HAVE A POINT PERSON HERE THAT SHOULD BE THE GOVERNOR.

IT SHOULD BE THE GOVERNOR WORKING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, HIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND DOCTORS AND PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THE BEST ADVICE, GET THE ADVICE FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS THE POWER TO DETERMINE WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

JIM: DO YOU THINK IT'S A POWER STRUGGLE OR DO YOU THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE FROM A HEALTH STANDPOINT, THE DISCUSSIONS WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH POLITICS.

PEOPLE THINK THEY KNOW BETTER THAN PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS.

I TRULY BELIEVE LIKELY SO THAT IN AN EMERGENCY, WHEN WE SEE HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED, WHEN WE HAVE SOLDIERS WORKING TOWARD AT THE HOSPITAL, IT IS NOT THE TIME TO HAVE A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE DETERMINING PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY FOR THE STATE.

WHETHER IT IS A POLITICAL STRUGGLE OR NOT, I DO NOT CARE.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WE NEED DECISIVE ACTION WHEN WE ARE FACING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND ONLY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS THAT ABILITY.

SAM: I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TO HAVE A FIGURE LIKE NICOLE SCOTT RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IT DAMAGES THE GOVERNOR'S CREDIBILITY BECAUSE HE WAS GIVING HIM ADVICE?

HE'S GOT SOME FOLKS CERTAINLY BUT THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT SET UP AT ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION TO MAKE DECISIONS QUICKLY.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND YOU NEED TO MAKE DEISIONS QUICKLY.

JIM: THE ISSUE -- I THINK WE HAVE HAD YOU OFF AND ON, MASKS IN SCHOOL.

IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT HAS SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT.

SCOTT GOTTLIEB, A FORMER COMMISSIONER, AND ANOTHER ARE BEGINNING TO TALK ABOUT MAYBE SCALING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

HAS YOUR THINKING CHANGED ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF SCHOOLS?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: OF COURSE.

WE WILL GET TO THAT POINT.

I DO NOT THINK WE ARE AT THAT POINT YET.

JIM: WHAT IN YOUR MIND WILL GET US TO THAT POINT?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: WE HAVE TO HAVE HOSPITALS I CAN FUNCTION.

[LAUGHTER] AND WE DO NOT HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND WE HAVE TO SEE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND NUMBER OF CASES.

LAST WEEK, WE HAD TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF PEDIATRIC CASES IN THE UNITED STATES.

TRIPLE FROM THE PEAK FROM DELTA.

SO WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AND I THINK THE PROBLEM IS NOT JUST WITH CHILDREN BECOMING INFECTED BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK KIDS DO NOT DIE SO IT IS OK.

THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR CHILDREN BECOMING INFECTED.

THE SCHOOLS, WHICH WE WANT TO REMAIN OPEN, THAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR THEM, THE ONLY WAY WE WILL KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN IS BY REDUCING THE CHANCE OF TRANSMISSION AMONG THE STAFF.

JIM: THE COUNTERARGUMENT IS THEN YOU ARE THERE FOR SIX HOURS A DAY AND THEN YOU GO IN OTHER SPOTS AND THE KIDS ARE NOT WITH THEIR MASK AND THEY ARE PLAYING WITH EACH OTHER, SO WHAT ABOUT THAT RISK?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: THAT'S AN ARGUMENT FOR USING MASKS IN SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU WILL BE BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS STILL CONSIDERED HIGH, TO THE SCHOOL AND CAUSING THE SCHOOL TO CLOSE, CAUSING MANY STUDENTS TO BE CONTAMINATED AND THEN HAVING TO SEND -- HAVING TO BE SENT HOME BECAUSE OF QUARANTINE RULES.

SO WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE BALL.

WHAT WE WANT?

SCHOOLS OPEN, KIDS IN SCHOOL.

HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THAT?

WITH MASKS OR WITHOUT MASKS?

IT IS SIMPLE.

LISA: THE PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING THROUGH THIS PAST COUPLE OF TWO YEARS IS A LACK OF CONSISTENCY.

WHEN IT COMES TO MASKS, DO YOU WEAR THEM OR NOT?

WHAT TYPE OF MASK YOU WEAR?

SHOULD YOU ARE 1, 2, WHAT KIND OF FACE COVERINGS?

THERE HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT MESSAGING.

RHODE ISLAND IS A COUNTY IN PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE ONE MANDATE FOR ALL, BUT IN OUR SMALL STATE OF RHODE ISLAND WITH 39 CITIES AND TOWNS, IT IS LIKE EVERYBODY CAN CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A CONSISTENT MASK POLICY AND I DO NOT THINK WE WANT TO BE A SOCIETY ALWAYS TO WEAR A MASK.

WE HAVE TO DETERMINE THE TIMES IT IS NECESSARY AND HAVE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND IMPORTANCE TO WEAR A MASK BUT THEN WE HAVE TO GET THE FREEDOM AND WEAR A MASK AGAIN.

SAM: I THINK THIS IS OVERWHELMINGLY POPULAR.

THERE IS A POLL RECENTLY, 70% OF PARENTS WANT THEM TO WEAR A MASK -- 78% OF PARENTS WANT THEM TO OUR MASK.

AND THEY WANT THEM IN SCHOOL.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER, THESE ARE WORKPLACES, THERE ARE ADULTS HERE.

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSMISSION BETWEEN CHILDREN, THERE ARE TEACHERS THAT HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO TO A WORKPLACE SAFE AND HEALTHY.

I THINK RATHER THAN BEING CONCERNED ABOUT MASKS, IS THE PROPER -- IS THERE PROPER VENTILATION IN THE SCHOOLS?

A LOT OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE OLD AND HAVE US PESTIS.

JIM: AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUPPOSEDLY INFLUX MONEY OF A FEW YEARS AGO AND THE FEDERAL MONEY, WHAT WAS DONE WITH THAT?

SAM: EXACTLY.

IF WE TALK ABOUT HEALTHY SCHOOLS, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS?

BUILDINGS ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL.

THAT HAS BEEN TERRIBLE.

JIM: MAYBE EVEN A FEW SCHOOLS YOU WENT TO BACK IN THE DAY?

SAM: DEFINITELY.

I WENT TO CLASSICAL HIGH SCHOOL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SLATED TO GET RENOVATIONS AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT WHEN I WAS THERE.

JIM: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE SCHOOL RENOVATIONS?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: THERE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTION AND FIXING OF THE SCHOOLS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO CREATE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS.

AND ONE MORE POINT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT, WE STILL ARE LEARNING ABOUT THIS BUG AND THIS PANDEMIC.

WE DO NOT KNOW THE LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECTS OF HAVING COVID, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS.

RIGHT NOW, CHILDREN ARE 2.5 TIMES THE RATE OF DIABETES AFTER HAVING COVID.

THAT IS NOT A TRIVIAL FINDING.

AS TIME GOES BY, I THINK WE WILL FIND MORE AND MORE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GO WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY.

JIM: I DO NOT MEAN TO BE A BUZZ KILL BUT I WAS READING THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS ANOTHER VARIANT BEYOND OMICRON.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS OMICRON TWO.

IT IS BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN EUROPE AND USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS IT GOES TO THE UNITED STATES AND THEN IT HAPPENS HERE.

THIS IS THE POINT.

POLITICIANS HAVE A ONE-WEEK MEMORY.

PUBLIC HEALTH OF OFFICIALS -- HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE A 100 WEEK MEMORY.

WE WERE ALMOST OUT IN FOURTH OF JULY AND EASTER, IT WILL BE OVER, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

NO, THEN COMES DELTA.

WHEN DELTA WAS CONTROLLED, IT IS OVER, CHRISTMAS WILL BE GREAT, OMICRON SHOWS UP.

IN TWO WEEKS, THE COUNTRY JUST -- JIM: GOVERNOR MCKEE ALSO ADMITTED THAT, SEEING AT THA THAT -- THAT.

HE SAID WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OVER.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE TESTS YOU GET TO THE POST OFFICE?

LISA: I PUT MY ORDER IN JANUARY 18 AND THEY HAVE NOT ARRIVED AT MY HOUSE YET.

DR. RODRIGUEZ: I DID IT ON THE FIRST DAY.

JIM: HAVE YOU GOTTEN THEM YET?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: NO, NOTHING.

LISA: ONE MORE POINT IF I COULD COME I WANT TO REFER TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE THIS CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

MAYBE ONE OF THE POSITIVES OUT OF THE LAST FEW YEARS OF COVID, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT FLU AS MUCH.

I KNOW LAST YEAR THE FLU SEASON WAS LOWER.

JIM: IT WAS NONEXISTENT LAST YEAR.

A LITTLE MORE THIS YEAR OR NOT?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: NO.

IT IS REALLY NOT AS BAD AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

I THINK IT IS REALLY ONE OF THE POSITIVE SIDE EFFECTS OF WEARING MASKS.

I HAVE NOT HAD A COLD IN TWO YEARS.

JIM: AND THAT'S WEARING PAJAMAS ON A ZOOM CALL AND NOBODY KNOWS IT.

[LAUGHTER] I WOULD TRADE THAT FOR NORMALITY.

LET'S MOVE ON TO POLITICS.

ANOTHER WEEK COMES THE CONGRESSIONAL CITY TO DISTRICT AS THE TALK OF THE TOWN.

WE TALKED ABOUT SETH MAGAZINER DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE.

A COUPLE HAVE GOTTEN INTO IT, HE FORMER STAFFER FOR JIM LANTER AND WORKED FOR GOVERNOR RAIMONDO.

SAM, LET ME PUT THE QUESTION TO YOU, WAS IT A SMART MOVE FOR THEM OR NOT?

SAM: I DON'T THINK SO.

IT STRIKES ME AS INAUTHENTIC.

HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE PRE-MUCH RIGHT ON THE MONEY THERE.

JIM: WHERE HE SUGGESTED HE NOT RUN.

SAM: YEAH.

I THINK HE DOES NOT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT REQUIRED, WE PROBABLY SHOULD NOT REQUIRE IT, IT FEELS WRONG LIKE HE HAS THE MONEY AND WILL FORCE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE OUT.

WHO ELSE IS RUNNING?

AND CHICO FEELS LIKE BELEN STATE IN 2010 JIM:.

JIM:JIM: WHEN CICILLINE RAN.

SAM: EXACTLY.

AND A THROWBACK FROM THE PAST, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY, JOY FOX IS THE POLITICAL OPERATIVE.

HOMER BAU, I DON'T THINK HE IS A POLITICAL BASE.

JIM: DOES THIS PUT SETH MAGAZINER IN THE FRONT DOOR DOES MONEY NOT DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU AT THIS POINT?

SAM: IT DOES FEEL LIKE -- I THINK THERE WAS AN ASK FROM THE LIBERAL WING OF THE PARTY FOR EITHER WOMAN OR PERSON OF COLOR TO RUN, AND HERE'S THIS RICH WHITE GUY WHO IS KIND OF A POLITICAL DIAGNOSED -- DIONIST AND IS COMING INTO THE MORE CONSERVATIVE OF THE TWO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I THINK THAT COULD BE HARMFUL.

I THINK HE COULD HAVE A TOUGH TIME.

JIM: THEY SAID THE GERRYMANDERING, FROM 10 YEARS AGO, THAT MADE IT MORE CONSERVATIVE MIGHT GIVE REPUBLICANS AN OPPORTUNITY THIS GO-ROUND.

LISA: SINCE WORLD WAR II, THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN FOUR REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE REPRESENTED RHODE ISLAND IN U.S. CONGRESS.

JIM: AND YOU WORK FOR ONE OF THEM.

LISA: I DID.

THIS COULD BE THE YEAR FOR A REPUBLICAN AND WE KNOW THAT THE FORMER MAYOR OF CRANSTON, ALLAN FUNG, IS CONSIDERING THE RUN, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT ENTRY TO THE RACE BECAUSE HE HAS RUN STATEWIDE BEFORE.

BUT HERE IS THE THING, I HAVE WORKED IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND CONGRESS.

PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OFFICES.

WHEN I THINK OF SETH MAGAZINER OR THINK OF JOY, I THINK OF WATCHING THE EVENING NEWS, WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON UKRAINE.

SHOULD WE HAVE TROOPS OVER TO EASTERN EUROPE?

WHAT ABOUT THE CYBERSECURITY ISSUES IN CHINA AND TRADE ISSUES?

THEY HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.

IT IS NOT JUST A POTHOLE ON ALICE AVENUE AND PROVIDENCE YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS.

FOR SETH, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND THOUGHT HE WOULD BE A STRONG, SERIOUS CONTENDER FOR GOVERNOR.

WHEN HE MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT OF WHY HE WAS RUNNING, IT WAS ALL POLITICS.

WE HAD TO KEEP THE SEAT AND DEMOCRATS HAND.

JIM: BUT WHAT IS YOUR VISION?

LISA: EXACTLY.

DR. RODRIGUEZ: HE WAS NOT GOING TO WIN.

JIM: LET'S GET THE DISCLOSURE OUT FIRST.

DR. RODRIGUEZ: HE IS MY BEST FRIEND.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: LET'S LET EVERYBODY KNOW.

DR. RODRIGUEZ: THAT'S RIGHT.

I HAVE SEEN THE POLLS AND THE CROSSTABS, AND THE RACE WAS BETWEEN NELLIE GORBEA AND THE GOVERNOR.

HE WAS A DISTANT THIRD.

I AM SURE HE DID BOTH TOO.

JIM: BUT IT IS FEBRUARY.

DR. RODRIGUEZ:DR. RODRIGUEZ: THE GOVERNOR HAS A MUCH MORE -- THE GOVERNOR HAS MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY TO SCREW UP.

NAME RECOGNITION, MONEY, THEN POLITICS.

THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE THE RACE BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

SO YOU HAVE TO RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE COMPETITIVE AND YOU HAVE TO BE NAME RECOGNIZED.

THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS NAME RECOGNITION IN THE RACE IS SETH MAGAZINER AND ALLAN FUNG.

THE BOSTON GLOBE IS ALREADY WRITING ABOUT THE FUTURE RACE BETWEEN ALLAN FUNG AND SETH MAGAZINER.

LISA: I WAS STARTING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE SUMMER WILL LOOK LIKE.

WE HAD THREE MAIN RACES, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A RUNOFF IF WE NEEDED FOR PRIMARIES BUT THERE WILL BE CERTAIN RACES OR KENNEDY SEES THAT WE WILL KNOW BY SEPTEMBER PRIMARY.

THEN YOU WORK BACKWARDS.

ALL OF THIS MONEY, YOU CANNOT BE SPENDING MONEY ON TV IN THE SUMMERTIME BECAUSE HE WAS AT HOME WATCHING TV?

I'M STARTING TO THINK MAYBE THE CANDIDATES SHOULD SET UP SHOP AT THE BEACHES AND HAVING THE PLANES GO BY WITH THEIR NAMES ON IT BECAUSE THE PRIMARIES IN SEPTEMBER ARE REALLY GOING TO DECIDE PERHAPS WHO WILL BE IN OFFICE NEXT YEAR.

JIM: HOW DOES THIS CHANGE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NOW THAT HE IS LEFT?

SAM: I THINK IT REBOUNDS TO NELLIE, BUT IT ALSO PUTS MCKEE IN THE STRONGEST WHEN INITIAL POSITION.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE -- IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH MCKEE, YOUR MAIN OPTION OR MAGAZINE -- MAGAZINER OR GORBEA.

OR YOU CAN GO TO MACK BROWN BUT I DO NOT THINK HE HAS MUCH OF A POPULAR BASE.

I THINK IT IS NOW DOWN -- IT IS MORE MCKEE AND PURVEY A AND I DO NOT SEE IT AS HAVING MUCH IMPACT.

JIM: THERE WAS A BIG SPLASH ON POLITICAL COOPERATIVE AND THEY WERE GETTING AT CYNTHIA MENDEZ AND RUNNING TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE NOT HEARD SO MUCH.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE GEARING UP AS WE GET CLOSER TO SIGNING TIME?

SAM: I THINK THEY ANNOUNCED EARLY EARLY THEY WERE NOT PREPARED FOR REDISTRICTING WHICH WAS A FORESEEABLE THING.

JIM: THE INCUMBENT PROTECTION PLAN.

SAM: RIGHT.

YOU KNEW THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND THEY COULD DO SHENANIGANS WITH THAT.

SO IT WAS BEHOOVE THEM NOT TO ANNOUNCE UNTIL THE DISTRICTS WERE IN PLACE.

ALSO, 50 CANDIDATES SOUNDS LIKE A LOT BUT IF THEY ARE RUNNING THEM ALSO LOCALLY, SO THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CONTROL MAJORITY.

IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT A GOVERNING MAJORITY IS IN THE STATE, EVEN IF YOU PUT IN NAT BROWN AND CYNTHIA AND MENDEZ IN THE TOP SPOTS, YOU HAVE TO PAST THINGS THROUGH LEGISLATURE, WHICH MEANS HAVING ENOUGH MAJORITY OF THE CARCASS AND DEMOCRATS HAVING A SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS TO PASS A BUDGET AND HAVING THE 3/5 MAJORITY TO OVERRIDE A VETO.

50 PEOPLE IS NOT ENOUGH.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM REPUBLICANS FACE EVERY YEAR, THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CANDIDATES TO TAKE POWER.

JIM: WHERE IS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE?

I KNOW YOU DON'T RUN THE PARTY -- [LAUGHTER] WE ARE WAITING, WAITING, WAITING.

LISA: AND THEN OUT THIS WEEK, I SHOULD GIVE CREDIT TO KATHY GREG, IT WAS A WOMAN, I CAN'T REMEMBER, AND I'M THINKING THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO?

WE CAN BRING SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR GOVERNOR OUT-OF-STATE.

JIM: IN ILLINOIS.

LISA: RIGHT.

TWO RHODE ISLAND.

THIS IS THE BEST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN DO?

JIM: YOU WONDER HOW MANY ASKS THERE WERE.

AND YOUR COLLEAGUE, DAVE DARLINGTON, IS HE IN WITNESS PROTECTION?

LISA: YOU HAVE THAT INITIAL FLURRY AND THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS WHY SOMEONE LIKE ME, I WAS LOOKING AT MAYBE BECAUSE I LIVE WITH SETH MAGAZINER AND THAT HE GOES OVER TO CD2 INSTEAD.

JIM: WHERE DOES HELENA FOLKS SIT IN?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: NAME RECOGNITION, MONEY, POLITICS.

SHE HAS ZERO NAME RECOGNITION.

JIM: BUT SHE HAS A LOT OF MONEY.

DR. RODRIGUEZ: A LOT OF MONEY BUT THE ONLY INANE RECOGNITIONS HE HAS IS SHE MADE $29 MILLION.

JIM: HUDSON BAY.

OPIOID CRISIS DR. RODRIUEZ: I MEAN THAT IS NOT THE TYPE OF NAME RECOGNITION YOU WANT IN A STATE THAT DOES NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

IN A STATE THAT INCREASINGLY IS HAVING MORE DIFFICULTY WITH RICH PEOPLE CONTROLLING THE POLITIS.

JIM: WHAT DOES SHE NEED TO DO TO GAIN TRACTION DO YOU THINK?

SAM: I THINK SHE HAS TO SPREAD THE MONEY AROUND.

THERE IS I THINK SPACE FOR -- WE HAVE SEEN POWELL AND OTHERS SHOW UP BEFORE.

I THINK THEY JUST DO NOT BUILD ORGANIC MOVEMENTS.

THEY DO NOT SUPPORT DOWN BALLOT RACES, WHICH IS WHAT THEY COULD DO AND THEY COULD BUILD THAT SORT OF GRASSROOTS SUPPORT BY BEING GOOD SUPPORTERS OF PROGRESSIVE OR LIBERAL CAUSES WITHIN THE STATE.

THEY HAVE A TON OF MONEY AND THEY RUN FOR THEMSELVES.

FOLKS MAY BE A PRETTY GOOD LIBERAL.

FROM A -- FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE POSITIONS, HE IS DOWN THE LINE SAYING THINGS I WILL AGREE WITH BUT IS THAT GOING TO MAKE ME A SUPPORTER OVER SOMEONE LIKE NELLY OR MATT BROWN?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: I'M GIVING MONEY TO MITCH MCCONNELL.

[LAUGHTER] SAM: THAT DID NOT HELP EITHER.

JIM: YOU KNOW EVERYBODY PLAYS THE GAME.

THEY GO ON BOTH SIDES.

THAT WILL HANG HER IN SOME WAYS BUT PEOPLE GIFT TO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

LISA: I DO NOT FALTER FOR THAT.

WHEN YOU ARE IN BUSINESS, YOU LOOK AT BOTH SIDES.

THAT WAS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

THAT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT HAS COME OUT.

SHE ALREADY PIVOTED AND HAS CHANGED HER CAMPAIGN STAFF AND PIVOTED.

SHE KNEW SHE NEEDED TO USE HER FAMILY NAME TO CONNECT WITH RHODE ISLAND THE WAY GINA RAIMONDO CONNECTED BY SAYING ABOUT HER FATHER AND HOW MANY TIMES WE HEARD THAT OVER AND OVER.

SHE HAS TO GET BEYOND THE EYE WROUGHT A BIG COMPANY AND I CAN RUN THE STATE.

I NEED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHY SHE IS A VIABLE CANDIDATE.

JIM: SAM MADE A GREAT POINT ABOUT THE PARTY BUILDING AND GETTING TO THE BUDGET.

I THOUGHT THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY WAS DON COULD CHERRY.

HE HAD A LOT OF POLITICAL CAPITAL IN 2002.

THE TIME WOULD BE 2004 TO GET REPUBLICANS -- WE HAD NOT HAD A REPUBLICAN SINCE 1983 WITH ALL OF THAT.

HE DID NOT PAY ATTENTION AND HAD HIS OWN REELECTION IN 2006.

BY THAT POINT, HE IS A LAME-DUCK ERIE IT ALL OF THOSE YEARS HE COULD HAVE CASHED IN ON THAT LET'S AT LEAST BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN A VETO AND IT NEVER HAPPENED.

LISA: THERE HAS BEEN DIFFERENT TIMES THE PARTY IS FOCUSED ON DOING GENERAL ASSEMBLY RACES OR TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FIELDING CANDIDATES FOR THE GENERAL OFFICERS SO WE HAVE ANY OPPONENT IN ALL OF THAT.

IT HAS BEEN A BACK-AND-FORTH BUT RHODE ISLAND IS A TOUGH STATE TO RUN AS A REPUBLICAN.

JIM: GO AHEAD.

SAM: I THINK THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH REPUBLICANS JUST AS A NUMBERS GAME.

YOU HAVE TO STAFF EVERY DISTRICT COMMITTEE.

THERE ARE 113 OF THOSE AND YOU HAVE TO STAFF FIVE TO SEVEN PEOPLE ON EACH OF THOSE.

JIM: THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SAM: THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF DISTRICT COMMITTEES, YOU CAN WATCH THE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY GO DOWN FROM THAT MOMENT.

I JUST THINK, IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CRACK -- THEY ARE ALSO JUST NOT RUNNING PEOPLE IN DISTRICTS THEY HAVE POTENTIAL TO RUN IN.

FUNG WAS THE FIRST CHALLENGER.

THE DISTRICT HAD BEEN REPUBLICAN FOR YEARS.

JIM: STEVE FRY IS, BUT -- YEAH.

ARE YOU POINT A MEETING IN A PHONE BOOTH OR ARE WE NOT ONTO THOSE NUMBERS?

LISA: YOU NEVER KNOW.

IT IS STILL FEBRUARY AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PUT THEIR NAMES FOR CANDIDACY UNTIL JUNE SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL COME FORWARD.

I THINK THERE WILL BE SURPRISES OF PEOPLE COMING FORWARD TO SAY THEY WILL RUN.

JIM: WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.

LET'S DO OUTREACHES AND KUDOS.

LET'S BEGIN WITH LISA.

LISA: I HAVE A KUDO AND TWO OUTREACHES.

JIM: I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

LISA: LAST SATURDAY, LIKE ALL OF US, I WAS WATCHING THE BLIZZARD OF 2022 HAPPEN AND WONDERING WHEN THE SNOW WOULD STOP, IS MY POWER GOING TO STAY ON, AND I'M LOOKING AT AN EMAIL AND SEE THE RUMORS OF TOM BRADY'S RETIREMENT.

I THOUGHT, HOW COULD THIS TAKE IT ANYWHERE'S?

THEN THE DAYS WENT BY AND HE MADE -- GET ANY WORSE?

IN THE DAYS WENT BY AND I REMEMBERED THAT MEMORIES INSUPERABLE VICTORIES.

THEN THE MEDIA AND SOME FOLKS STARTED SAYING HOW COME THEY DIDN'T MENTION PATRIOTS NATION IN HIS GOODBYE?

JIM: ARE YOU OUTRAGED AT THE MEDIA OR TOM BRADY?

LISA: NEVER TOM BRADY.

[LAUGHTER] SO HE WILL GO INTO THE HALL OF FAME BECAUSE OF THIS TIME IN NEW ENGLAND.

JIM: PABLO, WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: MY OUTRAGE IS DR. ALEXANDER-SCOTT'S COMPENSATION.

AND NOT THE OUTRAGE -- JIM: YOU DON'T THINK IT IS ENOUGH?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: I DO NOT THINK IT IS ENOUGH.

ALEXANDER-SCOTT GOT THE CONTRACT FOR $6,000 PER MONTH -- FOR $46,000 PER MONTH BECAUSE HER CONTRACT WAS BREACHED.

THE GOVERNOR DID NOT WANT HER AND SHE IS LIKE OK, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO NOT FOLLOW A CONTRACT, YOU HAVE TO PAY.

JIM: SO IS IT A BUYOUT?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: IT IS A BUYOUT, AND MY MIND THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

THE MEDIAN SALARY FOR A HEALTH OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES IS $175,000.

ALEXANDER-SCOTT MAKES $143,000.

JIM: AND THERE WERE MANY WHO ARE WELL INTO THE 200,000, RIGHT?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: STEFAN BREYER, OUR COMMERCE SECRETARY, I DO NOT FAULT HIM FOR IT, HE MAKES $225,000 AND RUNS AN OFFICE OF 200 FOR THE PEOPLE.

DR. ALEXANDER-SCOTT RUNS A DEPARTMENT OF 500.

THERE IS A LOT OF DIPS PARITY IN-STATE COVER MEANT -- THERE IS A LOT OF DISPARITY IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

JIM: DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT?

WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT LAST WEEK.

WHAT ARE WE MISSING?

DR. RODRIGUEZ: IF I DO, I CANNOT TELL.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: MY LIPS ARE SEALED.

SAM, DO YOU HAVE AN OUTREACH OR KUDOS?

SAM: OUTRAGE.

I THINK IT WILL BE THE UNDERSTAFFING AT HHS THAT IS BURNING ME.

I THINK THIS IS THE MOST ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAM WE HAVE AND THE STATE NEEDS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF IT.

WE CREATED SNAP LIKE A PUNCHING BAG IN THE STATE.

JIM: AND THERE WAS A LAWSUIT, RIGHT?

SAM: EXACTLY.

JIM: DEMING SHERMAN WAS APPOINTED TO BE THE OVERSEER.

SAM: I THINK THE CHAOS IN GETTING PEOPLE FOOD, THAT SHOULD NOT BE A HARD THING TO DO, THAT SHOULD BE VERY SIMPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE JUST LOADING MONEY TO A CARD.

IT SHOULD NOT BE HARD FOR PEOPLE TO QUALIFY.

IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING IN THIS PANDEMIC IT IS GIVING PEOPLE -- EASY, FAST, SIMPLE.STANCE CAN BE WE ARE MAKING SIMPLE THINGS HARD FOR NO GOOD REASON.

JIM: EXACTLY.

WE DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT LAST WEEK, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER IS RETIRING.

THIS OPENS UP THE FIRST PICK FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A MAY BE DISAGREEMENT IN STRATEGY UPON THE REPUBLICANS.

THE FEELING IS LET'S GO AFTER HIM BUT I HAVE READ ARTICLES THAT HAVE SAID IT IS GOING TO GO TO A LIBERAL REPLACEMENT JUSTICE, IS THIS WHAT WE WANT TO SPEND OUR CAPITAL ON?

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE DOING IN THIS?

YOU WOULD WANT TO DO THE CHECKS AND BALANCES BUT IS THIS THE HILL YOU WANT TO DIE ON?

LISA: I DON'T THINK SO.

EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID WITH THE BALANCE IN THE CORE, WE DO NOT SEE THAT CHANGING WITH THIS PICK.

GOING THROUGH THE NOMINATION PROCESS, NOT ONLY SHOULD WE WILL LOOK AT REPUBLICANS BUT LOOKING AT THE DEMOCRATS.

THEY HAVE SHOWN THEY ARE NOT FULL ON LOCKSTEP BEHIND PRESIDENT BIDEN ON A LOT OF ISSUES SO YOU CANNOT AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO THIS NOMINATION THINKING ALL DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE BEHIND THIS PICK.

IT IS NOT JUST REPUBLICANS.

THE TWO YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING OBVIOUSLY OUR MAINE SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS AND ALASKAN SENATOR SUSAN MAKOWSKI WHO TENDS TO WALK AWAY FROM THE PARTY LITTLE BIT DOWN THE ROAD OF INTEGRITY.

BUT WE HAVE THOSE TWO SENATORS WHO HAVE BEEN HOLDING UP SOME THINGS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT KINDS OF BACKDOOR BARGAINING IS GOING ON.

JIM: I LOVE HOW -- SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF, I LOVE HOW LINDSEY GRAHAM GOT BACK.

LINDSEY GRAHAM IS THE MOST DOWN THE LINE, LOVESTRUCK -- HE SAID HE THINKS THE BLACK CHILD FROM SOUTH CAROLINA WOULD BE GREAT.

THE BLOWBACK WAS UNBELIEVABLE BECAUSE HE AND THEIR EYES GAVE AN INCH.

DR. RODRIGUEZ: THIS IS THE SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THIS COUNTRY.

THE DEFAULT IS NOT LET'S SEE WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE, LET'S SEE HOW GOOD A JUDGE CAN BE, IT IS IT IS NOMINATED BY DEMOCRATS SO WE REPUBLICANS HATE THEM COMPLETELY.

LOCK OUR HANDS AND COMPLETELY BLOCK THE NOMINATION.

IT REALLY IS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.

JIM: I WAS REMISS IN NOT GIVING YOU AN OFFICIAL WELCOME.

I USUALLY DO THIS BEFORE THE OUTRAGE OF THE COULD UP.

THIS IS SAM HOWARD'S DEBUT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK.

THOUGHTS ON THE SUPREME COURT?

SAM: I THINK IT IS JUST GOING TO BE A 50-50 VOTE AT BEST.

WORST CASE, THERE IS A VOTE AGAINST IT.

JIM: WOULD THEY REALLY ON THIS ONE?

SAM: YEAH.

I DON'T TRUST THEM.

I DON'T TRUST THEM AS FAR AS I COLD THROW THEM.

I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO VOTE LOCKSTEP AGAINST WHATEVER HE PUTS UP.

IT DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS A BLACK WOMAN, IF IT IS A WHITE DUDE.

I THINK THEY WILL TURN THIS PERSON INTO A COMMUNIST OR SOMETHING AND SAY WE DO NOT WANT TO SUPPORT THEM.

[LAUGHTER] LISA: IT IS THE LEVERAGE.

THE TWO SENATORS YOU MENTIONED ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, LOOK AT THE LEVERAGE THEY HAVE.

HE NEEDS TO HAVE THE FULL 50 TO GET THIS PICK THROUGH, SO WHAT WILL THOSE TWO BE ASKING?

JIM: AND JOE MANCHIN KNOWS IT.

LISA: HE KNOWS HOW TO PLAY THE GAME.

SAM: IF REPUBLICANS CAN HOLD THE SEAT OPEN, THEY GET A 7-2 COURT AS OPPOSED TO A 6-3.

JIM: THEY SAID THEY WILL PUT IT THROUGH THE FAST TRACK.

LISA: TO MEET IT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE SENATE WILL GO REPUBLICAN.

JIM: EVERYBODY THINKS IT IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.

PABLO, LISA, AND SAM, GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

THEY CUE SO MUCH.

IF YOU DO NOT CATCH A 7:00 ON FRIDAY OR SUNDAY AT NOON, WE ARE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK.

GO TO OUR WEBSITE, RIPBS.ORG /LIVELY.

WE HAVE ALL THE SHOWS THEY ARE AND WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST.

COME BACK YOUR NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT ONE.

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

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

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF A POLITICAL ISSUES